Yoruba

[ yawr-uh-buh, yohr- ]

/ ˈyɔr ə bə, ˈyoʊr- /

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noun, plural Yo·ru·bas, (especially collectively) Yo·ru·ba for 1.

a member of a numerous West African coastal people.

the language of the Yoruba, a Kwa language.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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OTHER WORDS FROM Yoruba

Yo·ru·ban, adjective

Words nearby Yoruba

Yorkshire terrier, Yorkton, Yorktown, Yorktown, Battle of, yorp, Yoruba, Yorubaland, Yosemite, Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, Yoshihito

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Yoruba in a sentence

Long and staff-like, a “diviner’s tool” used in Yoruba culture to advise individuals on what paths to take in the future, marks the beginning of the exhibition.
The Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building is finally reopening. Here’s what to know before you visit.|Kelsey Ables|November 18, 2021|Washington Post
Four years later, she launched Oríkì, a natural skincare luxury brand named after a Yoruba word that means “your crown, heritage and inspiration.”
The Wonderful World of Wellness|Eromo Egbejule|September 27, 2021|Ozy
Meaning “House of Lines” in her native Yoruba language, Oshinowo designs distinct and minimalist chairs and table sets.
Stunning New Designs for Your Home|Sean Culligan|July 22, 2021|Ozy
The 28-year-old is a New Yorker born in London to Nigerian parents, and his rich, stunning paintings speak to his Yoruba heritage, with stylized figures and an appreciation for the natural world.
25 Rising Stars to Track in 2021|Daniel Malloy|December 20, 2020|Ozy

This is why Americans speak English even though more of us are ethnically German or Yoruba.
Can Walmart Change?|Megan McArdle|November 29, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And Marta Moreno Vega, an Afro-Caribbean expert on Yoruba philosophy, seems to dare you to sum up her ethnicity.
The Latin Look|Blake Gopnik|August 19, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Hence, blue, red, and yellow may be designated as the colors of Yoruba or Central Africa.
Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party |Martin Robinson Delany
The domestic trade among the natives in the interior of our part of Africa—Yoruba—is very great.
Official Report of the Niger Valley Exploring Party |Martin Robinson Delany
Labour might be brought from Yorubaland close by, and a Yoruba colony has been experimentally started.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3|Various
Ibadan is the capital of one of the Yoruba states and enjoys a large measure of autonomy.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 2|Various
It was carried at the point of the bayonet by the Yoruba troops, who proved themselves fully equal to the Hausa.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for Yoruba

Yoruba

/ (ˈjɒrʊbə) /

noun

plural -bas or -ba a member of a Negroid people of W Africa, living chiefly in the coastal regions of SW Nigeria: noted for their former city states and complex material culture, particularly as evidenced in their music, art, and sculpture

the language of this people, belonging to the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family

Derived forms of Yoruba

Yoruban, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012