5 Common Mistakes English Speakers Make When Learning Yorùbá

Learning Yorùbá as an English speaker is exciting — but it can also be tricky. Yorùbá is a tonal language, meaning that how you say something can completely change what it means. Add in pronunciation differences and sentence structure, and it’s easy to fall into common traps.

If you’re just starting out (or even practicing regularly), this guide will help you avoid the five most common mistakes English speakers make when learning Yorùbá — and how to fix them.

1. Ignoring Tone Marks

This is the biggest one. Yorùbá has three tones — high (´), mid (no mark), and low (`).
The same word can have different meanings depending on tone.

For example:

• òwò → business

• ówó → money

• òwó → hand

To English speakers, they sound similar at first. But to native speakers, these are entirely different words.
Fix: Use learning tools with tone guides — like Ajíire’s flashcards and audio companion — and listen to native pronunciation daily.

2. Translating Directly from English

English and Yorùbá don’t follow the same sentence structure.
An English phrase like “I am going home” translates to Mo ń lọ sílé — which literally means I (am) go home.

Trying to translate word-for-word can lead to awkward or incorrect sentences.
Fix: Learn Yorùbá in phrases, not single words. Flashcards and conversational examples will help you think in Yorùbá instead of English.

3. Skipping Pronunciation Practice

Many English speakers focus on reading and forget that Yorùbá sounds matter just as much.
Vowel sounds in Yorùbá are pure and consistent — unlike English vowels, which often change. For example, a in Yorùbá always sounds like “ah,” not “ay” or “uh.”

Fix: Repeat what you hear aloud. Record yourself and compare it to native audio. The more you practice out loud, the more confident and natural you’ll sound.

4. Neglecting Cultural Context

Yorùbá communication isn’t just about vocabulary — it’s about respect, rhythm, and social awareness. The way you greet someone depends on age, time of day, and relationship.
For example, saying “Báwo ni?” to an elder might be seen as too casual; instead, you’d say Ẹ káàárọ̀ (Good morning).

Fix: Pay attention to context cues and cultural norms when learning phrases. Language and culture go hand in hand.

5. Giving Up Too Soon

Many learners stop after a few weeks because they feel stuck or self-conscious. But language learning takes time — especially one as expressive and tonal as Yorùbá.

Fix: Focus on small wins. Learn a few new phrases each week, and celebrate progress. Tools like the Ajíire Yorùbá Flashcards and audio companion make it easy to build steady confidence, one word at a time.

Final Thoughts

Mistakes are part of the journey — and each one helps you improve. The key is consistency and exposure.
When you pair visual flashcards, audio repetition, and real-life practice, you’ll start understanding tone patterns, flow, and phrasing naturally.

So don’t stress every accent mark — listen, repeat, and enjoy the rhythm of the language.

👉 Start learning with Ajíire Yorùbá Flashcards and audio guides today at ajiire.com — your guide to clear pronunciation, real-world phrases, and cultural confidence.