Table of Contents

Preface 5

Introduction 6

Lesson 1 7

1.1 Dialogue: The Teacher 8

1.2 Common Yoruba Names 10

1.3 Yoruba Alphabet 12

1.4 Yoruba Greetings 16

1.5 Vocabulary 18

1.6 The Yoruba People 19

1.7 Map of Yorubaland 20

1.8 Exercise 21

Lesson 2 23

2.1 Dialogue: Good Afternoon 24

2.2 Vocabulary 26

2.3 Expressions 27

2.4 Yoruba Words 28

2.5 Yoruba Tone Patterns and Signs 31

2.6 Exercise 32

Lesson 3 33

3.1 Dialogue: Moji and lyabo 34

3.2 Vocabulary 36

3.3 Expressions 37

3.4 Pronouns 38

3.5 Exercise 43

Lesson 4 45

4.1 Dialogue: Ayo travels to Chicago 46

4.2 Vocabulary 46

4.3 Expressions 49

4.5 Tenses 50

4.5 Exercise 59

Lesson 5 61

5.1 Dialogue: Moji and Iyabo meet Ayo and Kunle 62

5.2 Vocabulary 64

5.3 Expressions 65

5.4 Tenses, continued 66

5.5 Yoruba Literature 72

5.6 Exercise 73

Lesson 6 75

6.1 Dialogue: Dele and Bimpe talk about home 76

6.2 Vocabulary 78

6.3 Expressions 79

6.4 Simple Sentences 80

6.5 Yoruba Songs 83

6.6 Exercise 87

Lesson 7 89

7.1 Dialogue: Ola and Simi meet for the first time 90

7.2 Vocabulary 92

7.3 Expressions 93

7.4 Numerals 94

7.5 Yoruba Poetry 102

7.6 Exercise 107

Lesson 8 109

8.1 Dialogue: Ayo and Teni talk about sports 110

8.2 Vocabulary 112

8.3 Expressions 113

8.4 Nouns 114

8.5 Exercise 119

Lesson 9 121

9.1 Dialogue: Congratulations 122

9.2 Vocabulary 124

9.3 Expressions 125

9.4 Elision 126

9.5 Yoruba Proverbs 129

9.6 Exercise 132

Lesson 10 133

10.1 Dialogue: Yemi and Bola look for jobs 134

10.2 Vocabulary 136

10.3 Expressions 137

10.4 Question Types 138

10.5 Yoruba Idioms 144

10.6 Exercise 147

Lesson 11 149

11.1 Dialogue: Yemi and Bola find jobs 150

11.2 Vocabulary 152

11.3 Expressions 153

11.4 Complex Verbs 154

11.5 Yoruba Riddles 159

11.6 Exercise 161

Lesson 12 163

12.1 Dialogue: Wale and Dupe talk about religion 164

12.2 Vocabulary 166

12.3 Expessions 167

12.4 Adjectives 168

12.5 Yoruba Religious Beliefs 171

12.6 Exercise 172

Lesson 13 173

13.1 Dialogue: Seun returns from Nigeria 174

13.2 Vocabulary 176

13.3 Expressions 177

13.4 Adverbs 178

13.5 Yoruba Religious Beliefs, continued 184

13.6 Exercise 185

Lesson 14 187

14.1 Dialogue: Simi goes to the hospital 188

14.2 Vocabulary 190

14.3 Expressions 191

14.4 Conjunctions 192

14.5 Prepositions 199

14.6 Exercise 202

Lesson 15 203

15.1 Dialogue: Taye and Yetunde meet at a market 204

15.2 Vocabulary 206

15.3 Expressions 207

15.4 Seasons And Times 208

15.5 Weights and Measures 211

15.6 Exercise 213

Exercise Key 215

Glossary English-Yoruba 249

Glossary Yoruba-English 263

Audio Track List 279

Bibliography 282