Yoruba

noun

Yor·​u·​ba ˈyȯr-ə-bə How to pronounce Yoruba (audio)
plural Yoruba or Yorubas
: a Niger-Congo language of southwestern Nigeria and parts of Benin and Togo
also : a member of any of the Yoruba-speaking peoples of this region
Yoruban noun or adjective

Examples of Yoruba in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In addition to starring, Oyelowo executive produces under his Yoruba Saxon banner. Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 17 Apr. 2025 The play becomes a delta itself, where tributary identities—Muslim, Yoruba, traditional, modern—mingle and, when the priest’s hypocrisy is exposed, surge toward confrontation. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025 Their insights provide a variety of perspectives on Yoruba music’s cultural significance and its enduring legacy. Jem Aswad, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 The piece includes sounds of water, wind, deep vibrating sine tones, electronic drones, whispers of Yoruba prayer and Buford’s own humming and singing within the electronics; the violin blends with and enhances its atmosphere. Jane Levere, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Yoruba

Word History

Etymology

Yoruba Yorùbá

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yoruba was in 1841

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Cite this Entry

“Yoruba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yoruba. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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