Lucumí is the Yoruba language as it is spoken in Cuba and the United States. Yoruba is a tonal language like Chinese. The accents serve to approximate the tones for those of us who aren’t familiar with tonal language. Also, some of the difficult sounds like the african “p” sound which is pronounced as kind of a “kp” sound is approximated using “kp” or “cu”. This vocabulary follows the Spanish orthography with a few exceptions to help English speakers:
- The “ch” in Spanish is used simply because there is no “sh” in Spanish. We use “sh” here.
- The “y” in Spanish often has an edge to it that approximates the English (and Yoruba) “j” sound. I have taken the liberty of using “j” here where applicable.
- The “ñ” sound is used very sparingly here and is usually substituted here with “y”.
- As in Spanish, the accent is on the second to last syllable unless there is an accent mark over another syllable.
I should note here that Lucumí is an oral tradition and that the written versions were meant to be more “cheat sheets” than anything else and should not be used as “proof” of the decomposition of the language. Lucumí speakers in Matanzas and other areas speak very much as any Yoruba speaker would. I have spoken with Nigerian born Yoruba speakers in Lucumí without any difficulty whatsoever. In fact, on one occasion I was greeted with a very surprised “you speak Yoruba!!!” from the astonished Yoruba man I was speaking with.
Here are a few words in Lucumí to get you started:
- Adié: Hen
- Abó: Ram
- Abebé: Fan
- Aberinkulá: Uninitiated Person or Thing
- Abure: Brother, Sister
- Adé: Crown
- Afefé: Wind
- Agó: Ask for Permission, Knock Knock
- Agogó: Bell, Hour
- Agoya: Enter
- Aikú: Health, Long Life
- Ajuba: We Salute You…
- Akukó: Rooster
- Ala: White Cloth
- Ala: Dream
- Alagba, Agbalagba: Respected
- Alejo: Outsider
- Aná: Road
- Ara: Thunder
- Arayé: Envy, Ill-Will
- Arun: Sickness
- Ashá: Cigar, Tobacco
- Ashé: So Be It, The Spiritual Power of the Universe, Talent
- Ashelú: Police
- Asheogún Otá: Victory Over Enemies
- Ashere: Maraca, Rattle
- Asho: Cloth
- Ataná: Candle
- Awó: Secret
- Ayán: Orisha of Drums
- Babá: Father
- Babalawo: Father of the Secrets
- Babalosha: Father of Orisha, Priest
- Busi: Bless
- Didé: Rise
- Dudu: Dark
- Egun: The Dead
- Eiyele: Dove, Pigeon
- Ejá: Fish
- Eje: Blood
- Ejo: Court Case
- Ekó: Corn Meal
- Ekú: Hutía
- Ekún: Leopard
- Ekpó: Palm Oil
- Ení: Mat
- Ení: Person
- Ese: Foot
- Eyín: Egg
- Fe: Love
- Foribale: Salute by Prostrating
- Fun: For, Give
- Funfún: White
- Gbogbo: All
- Gidigidi: Very Much
- Iñá: Fire
- Ibú: Stream, River
- Ibaé Bayé T’orún: Rest in Peace (Salute to the Dead)
- Igba: Calabash
- Ikú: Death
- Ilé: House
- Ilé: Ground, Land
- Ilekún: Door
- Iré: Blessings
- Irawo: Star
- Ishu: African Yam
- Iworo: Priest
- Iyá: Mother
- Iyalosha: Mother of Orisha, Priestess
- Iyawó: Bride
- Juba: Salute
- Kosí: There Is No
- Kunlé: Kneel
- Lo: Go
- Maferefún: Praise Be To…
- Mi: My
- Mo: I
- Moducué: Thank You
- Moforibale: I Salute You By Prostrating
- Mojuba: I Salute You
- Nlo: Is Going
- Obá: King
- Obí: Coconut, Obí Kola Nut
- Obirin: Woman
- Odo: River
- Ododó: Flower
- Ofún: White Chalk (made with eggshells)
- Ofo: Loss
- Ogun: Witchcraft
- Okún: Sea, Ocean
- Oke: Mountain
- Oko: Man, Husband
- Olo: Owner, On Who Has…
- Oluwo: Lord of Awos (Babalawo who became an orisha priest beforehand)
- Omí Dudu: Coffee
- Omí: Water
- Omo: Child
- Ona: road
- Oni: Owner of…
- Opolopo: Plenty
- Orí: Head
- Orí: Cocao Butter
- Orún: Heaven
- Orún: Sun
- Oshe: Double Headed Axe
- Osogbo: Negative Influence
- Otí: Rum
- Owó: Money
- Owú: Cotton
- Oyín: Honey
- Shishé: Work
- Surefun: Bless
- Temí: My, Mine
- Tie: Your
- Timbelese: At the Feet of…
- Tobí: Who Gave Birth
- Tutu: Cool, Fresh
- Wa: Come
- Waní: Who Come
- Yeye: Mama