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Friday 23 December 2016

LEARN THE NAMES OF SOME ANIMALS IN THE YORUBA LANGUAGE



We are all in love with nature; Several times we often get carried away with their activities. As a Nigerian who was born and bred in the Yorubaland, you probably might find it difficult at times to know what some animals are called in the English language and vice versa.


Here are some names of animals with their translation:

  1. Cobra - Sebe
  2. Ox , Bull - Malu
  3. Dog -Aja
  4. Hedgehog -Ọya
  5. Crocodile -Ọoni
  6. Alligator -Ahọnrihọn
  7. Pig -Ẹlẹdẹ
  8. Vulture -Igun, Gunnugun, Gurugu, Akala
  9. Wood-Carrier -Arigiṣẹgi
  10. Hawks - Asa
  11. Palm Bird -Ologiri
  12. A species of Bird -Olofẹrẹ -
  13. Sparrow -Ologoṣẹ
  14. Peacock -Ọkin
  15. Squirrel -Ọkẹrẹ
  16. Rabbit -Ehoro
  17. crickets -Okinrin
  18. Pouch Rat -Okete
  19. Wild Goat -Edu
  20. A specie of Deer -Ekulu
  21. Shark -Akurakuda
  22. Rat/Mouse -Eku/Ekute
  23. Earthworm -Ekolo
  24. Sing Bird -Ẹyẹ-Orin
  25. Partridge -Aparo
  26. Horse -Ẹṣin
  27. Donkey -Kẹtẹkẹtẹ
  28. Camel -Rakunmi
  29. Ass -Ibakasiẹ
  30. Bat -Adan
  31. Pelican -Ẹyẹ-Ofu
  32. Water-bird -Osin
  33. Dove -Adaba
  34. Viper -Paramọlẹ
  35. Sea-Gulls -Pẹju-pẹju
  36. Yellow-haired Monkey -Sọmidọlọti/Oloyo
  37. Sea-Bird -Yanja-yanja
  38. Mosquito -Ẹfọn/Yanmu-yanmu
  39. Raven -Ẹyẹ-Iwo
  40. Snail-Igbin/Aginniṣọ
  41. Freshwater Snail-Iṣawuru
  42. Stay - Igala
  43. Steer -Ẹgbọọrọ-Akọ Malu
  44. Trout -Ẹja
  45. Buffalo -Ẹfọn
  46. Monkey-Ọbọ .
  47. Ape -Ẹdun
  48. Lizard-Alangba, -
  49. Lobster-Alakasa
  50. Boa-Constrictor Ere
  51. Boar Ẹlẹdẹ-Igbo,
  52. Gorilla, Baboon -Inaki, Inoki, Iro
  53. Chimpanzee - Elegbede
  54. Phython-Constrictor -Ojola
  55. Electric Fish -Ojigi
  56. Scorpion -Ojogan/Akeekee
  57. Toad -Opolo
  58. Antelope -Egbin
  59. Tick/Flee -Eegbọn
  60. Hippopotamus -Erinmi
  61. Rhinoceros -Ẹranko bi Imado.
  62. Reynard (Fox) -Kọlọkọlọ
  63. Hyena/Wolf -Ikoko
  64. Giraffe -Agbanrere
  65. Cow Abo-Malu
  66. Crab -Akan
  67. Wild Pigeon-Oriri
  68. Porcupine -Oorẹ, Eerẹ, Ojigbọn
  69. Black-Ants -Tanpẹpẹ
  70. Centipede -Tanisanko
  71. Millipede -Ọkun
  72. Frog -Konko
  73. Chicken-Oromọ-Adiẹ
  74. Nocturnal Animal-Ajao
  75. Hound-Aja-Ọdẹ -
  76. Elephant-Erin/Ajanaku
  77. Sheep-Aguntan
  78. Ram-Agbo
  79. Woodcock -Agbe
  80. White-feathered Bird -Lekeleke
  81. Chamelon Ọga, Alagẹmọ
  82. Crane-Bird -Akọ -
  83. Parrot -Odidẹrẹ
  84. Ostrich -Ogongo
  85. White-Ant Ikan, Ikamudu
  86. Tortoise-Ijapa
  87. Tiger-Ẹkun
  88. Lion-Kiniun
  89. Pigeon-Ẹyẹle
  90. Pig/Swine Ẹlẹdẹ
  91. Eagle-Idi .
  92. Guinea Fowl-Awo
  93. Guinea Fowl-Ẹtu
  94. Guinea Pig-Ẹmọ-Ile
  95. Spider-Alantakun
  96. Butterfly-Labalaba
  97. Bee-Oyin
  98. Cockroach -Ayan
  99. Cricket-Irẹ
  100. Crab -Akan
  101. Housefly-Eṣinṣin/Eṣin
  102. Gnats-Kokoro-Ojuọti
  103. Wall-Gecko-Ọmọnle
  104. Mouse-Eliri
  105. Colt Young Horse-Agodongbo
  106. Woodpecker-Akoko
  107. Palm-Bird-Ẹga
  108. Insect-Ipin
  109. Red-Ant-Abonilejọpọn
  110. Civet-cat-Ẹta
  111. Zebra-Kẹtẹkẹtẹ-Abila -
  112. Owl-Owiwi
  113. Lice-Ina-Ori
  114. Bed-bug-Idun
  115. Leopard-Amọtẹkun
  116. Hind Abo-Agbọnrin
  117. Cat-Ologinni
  118. Turkey-Tolotolo
  119. Swallow-Alapandẹdẹ
  120. Kine -Abo-Malu
  121. Stallion-Akọ-Ẹṣin
  122. Gadfly-Iru, Eṣinṣin- Nla
  123. Duck-Pẹpẹyẹ
  124. Jackal-Akata
References
Ifayemi(1999): Yoruba and Animals    Osogbo, MKB                     Press.
Dungan J. (2006): Animals and Life, Accra, New Dawn             Press.

64 comments:

Adedamola Olusunmade said...

Nice blog, very helpful, cool and original

Ibrahim olayemi said...

Nice one.
But not all accurate e.g tiger is not found in Nigeria even Africa as a whole. So tiger is not ekun it is leopard while cheetah is amotekun.

Unknown said...

Thanks!
but cobra is not sebe,Cobra is Oka. likely to be the shortest snake especially in Yoruba land

Segun said...

Cobra is a black snake that do spit and oka is not black and does not spit.
So cobra is sebe not oka.
Thanks a lot.

Babade Emmanuel Deji said...

Thank you so much omo yoruda atata

Folarin Oyebisi said...

Please what is the English name for Ikún?

Folarin Oyebisi said...

What's the English name for Líìlí?

Ridwan Salami said...

Please what is the English name of Màsìà?

Rofiat said...

Thanks alot but what is in english

Rofiat said...

What is ikun in english

Anonymous said...

@Rofiat, Ikun in English is Land Squirrel.

Raregift said...

Pls, what is Armadillo in Yoruba language?

Raregift said...

Please, which animal do the Yorubas call 'Owawa'?

Anonymous said...

Please what animal is adifa in yoruba and does it have another name?

Cletman said...

What is cheetah in English?

Kay said...

Cheetah is owawa

Unknown said...

Quite an impressive compilation. However I felt there is typo error at no 42 probably it should have been stag rather than the stated Stan and no 80 as well. White egret is lekeleke in Yoruba and not the descriptive whit coloured bird stated as well.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much i am so happy for this translation

Anonymous said...

What is the Yoruba tagged with jaguar?. Though not on the list of animals.

Anonymous said...

What is the Yoruba name tagged with jaguar?. Though not on the list of animals.

Unknown said...

Good work indeed. Leopard remain Àmòtékun.Others should please develop on this.

Unknown said...

Jaguar I think is Ijakumo in yoruba

Anonymous said...

Please what is the English name of eta (bush dog)

Unknown said...

What's oka in English

Unknown said...

Please, what's the English name for ogidan?

Unknown said...

What animal is agbonrin in English ????

Unknown said...

What is English name of ewujo

Unknown said...

Am searching for mongudu

Anonymous said...

this is a great way for people to learn thank you

Anonymous said...

Armadillo is Akika
Òwàwà is Cheetah
Tiger is Ekùn
Leopard is Àmòtékùn

Anonymous said...

Ògìdán is another Yoruba name for Tiger (Ekùn)
Àgbònrín (or Ìgalà) is Antelope but Deers are also called àgbònrín in yoruba because they are similar. The difference is that antelopes have only two unbranched parmanent horns while deers have beached horns that they she'd every year

Anonymous said...

Deer has branched (not bleached) horns

Wole Olaoye said...

Mògúdú is the earthenware pot used to cook family meals.

Anonymous said...

Please what is the English name of Agilitin or agilinti

Unknown said...

Please which animal is called ewuju in Yoruba.

Anonymous said...

So much misinformation on this blog. The Leopard is Ekun and is sometimes also referred to as Ogidan while the cheetah is Amotekun or Owes because of its resemblance to the leopard since it has spots like a leopard's rosette.

There's no tiger in Africa so yoruba can't have a name for something that's not in our locality.

Surajudeen Ibrahim said...

Pls wat is kowe and olubioju

Unknown said...

What is aiyah

Anonymous said...

Giraffe is Agunfon not Agbanrere which is Rhinoceros/Unicorn (so called from its one stout horn above its nose).

Unknown said...

English name of Aika,

Erlinda Kaes said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Unknown said...

What guinea pig in Yoruba

Anonymous said...

Guinea Pig is Emo (Re Mi)

Unknown said...

Please what is the meaning of IJAKUMO

Anonymous said...

If chameleon is also Alagẹmọ in Yoruba,what then is praying.
.

Anonymous said...

What is praying mantis if chameleon is also Alagẹmọ?

Unknown said...

Please what's the English name for omólé?

Anonymous said...

Any animal that start with Q and name in Yoruba

Segun said...

You that you said cobra is not sebe that is oka, you are wrong.
Cobra is sebe while oka is called bitis gabonica or you call it Gabon viper

Oni Bidemi said...

Giraffe is Agunfon, Hedgehog is Eliri, Rhino is Agbamurere,Oya is Greater cane rat,okete is Poich rat,Zebra is Egbin.

Akingboye Ajayi-Obe said...

What is the English name of an animal called Ëkìrì by Yorubas?

Anonymous said...

Please what does the animal Ehono mean in English Language?!

Anonymous said...

Well done,but tiger is kìnnìún not ẹkùn while lion is ẹkùn/ ogidan

Naija chops and grills said...

Please which animal is EKURU..

Unknown said...

Pls.names of ega and opere in English.

Dele 4 Windibiziri said...

Thank you so very much for this list. I appreciate it. Its useful to me now.

Tdurst said...

I had fun learning this names. Yoruba is so rich

Michael said...

Please what is the English name for eran arika

Dele 4 Windibiziri said...

Dear Michael, good morning. Let me help you there in your inquiry. Eran as you know, means meat. Arika is the name for Pangolin, a rare and precious breed of animal in the wild. it is highly priced as a medicinal animal. its scally skin is highly valued by the chinese in thier traditional practise and its meat is beloved here by africans who eat bush meat.
I also need to point out very seriously that Arika (Pangolin) is boldly on the top list of endangered animals. So if you see it, help preserve it.

Femi said...

Could someone that is sure clarify me for their names in youruba. People usually interchange their names which confuses me. Cobra, Viper, Rattlesnake.

Femi said...

Which snake is Sebe, Oka, Paramole, Mona-mona?
People interchange their names which is confusing.

Femi said...

Which animal is referred to as Egbin? Zebra or Gazlle or Spotted deer?

Amuda said...

Kangaroo is Sasamura

Olabode said...

Cobra is sebe.