Yoruba

noun

Yor·u·ba ˈyȯr-ə-bə

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

ˈyȯr-ə-bən

noun or adjective

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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Yoruba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yoruba. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

truculent

Listen to the pronunciation of truculent

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

Popular in Wordplay

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Skibidi, Mog & More: Gen Alpha Slang

13 Wonderful Words That You're Not Using (Yet)