Tones – Ohùn

Note:

In Yoruba it is essential to pronounce each word with the correct tones. There are three tones in Yoruba: low tone ( ̀), mid tone ( ), and high tone ( ́). In parenthesis are the marks that identify the tone. The tones in Yoruba also correlate to the sounds of the musical notes do (low), re (mid), and mi (high).

Lesson

The first step is learning the proper pronunciation of the three tones in Yoruba. For me it is easier when I correlate the tones to actual Yoruba words that I know how to pronounce.

Do – Dòdò – plantain

Re – Rere – well/good

Mi – Mímọ́ – holy

Practice

  • re mi
    • ọkọ́ (hoe)
  • re re
    • ọkọ (husband)
  • re do
    • ọkọ̀ (vehicle)
  • do mi
    • ìgbá (a fruit)
  • do do
    • ìgbà (time)
  • re mi
    • igbá (calabash)
  • re re
    • igba (200)
  • re do
    • igbà (type of rope)