Instruction With ẹ

Giving a Respectful Instruction

Level 1

Ẹ + verb phrase gives a plural or respectful instruction.

How It Works

Place ẹ before the verb phrase to address several people or show respect to one person. Context determines which use applies. The verb receives no plural ending. Preserve the underdot and capitalize initial Ẹ at the beginning of a sentence.

When referring to the addressee's possessions, yín supplies the plural or respectful possessor. Compare familiar singular Mú àpò rẹ wá. with Ẹ mú àpò yín wá.. Both retain high-tone mú; adding ẹ does not change that lexical tone.

Respectful address does not itself express 'please' or guarantee gentleness. Jọ̀wọ́ explicitly softens a request. For a Standard Yoruba negative instruction, put má after ẹ. These are Standard Nigerian Yoruba constructions; regional negation patterns require separate study.

Examples (3)

  1. Ẹ wọlé.

    Come in (respectful or plural).

    Ẹ marks the addressee; no separate please is expressed.

  2. Ẹ fi àpò yín síbí.

    Put your bag here (respectful or plural).

    Yín supplies the matching possessor.

  3. Ẹ jọ̀wọ́, ẹ dúró díẹ̀.

    Please wait a little (respectful or plural).

    Jọ̀wọ́ explicitly softens the request.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Instruction With ẹLevel 1Giving a Respectful Instruction

Learn This First

Use ẹ before an instruction for a group or respected person.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.