Tones matter
Yoruba has three tones, and they change meaning: ọkọ (husband), ọkọ̀ (vehicle), oko (farm). Lina writes every word with its tone marks and points out the ones you miss.
Learn Yoruba · 2Lingua
Learn Yoruba by speaking it. 🇳🇬
Don't just memorize words. Have real conversations with Lina — greet your elders properly, order àmàlà at a bùkà, joke with your cousins. Like a tutor, but for $7 a month.
30 min/day voice • Report card after every chat • No download
See Lina in action
Lina plays Mama at a bùkà
LinaẸ káàsán o! Kí ni ẹ fẹ́ jẹ lónìí?Good afternoon! What would you like to eat today?
YouẸ káàsán ma. Mo fẹ́ ra àmàlà àti ewédú.Good afternoon, ma. I want to buy amala and ewedu.
LinaÓ dáa! Ṣé ẹ fẹ́ ẹran?Great! Would you like meat?
✅ “Mo fẹ́ ra” = perfect - you used “I want to buy” correctly
💡 Tip: Yoruba greetings change with the time of day: Ẹ káàárọ̀ (morning), Ẹ káàsán (afternoon), Ẹ kú alẹ́ (evening). Adding “ma” or “sir” shows respect to an elder.
Why Yoruba is different
Respect built in
Learn when to say ẹ (respectful you) and when ìwọ or o (casual you) is fine. Use the casual form with an elder and Lina will tell you.
Real life, not textbook
Markets, church, family parties, Lagos traffic — not just "the cat is on the table."
What you'll learn
- Week 1Greetings for morning, afternoon, night + introducing yourself
- Week 2Market + food - ordering, prices, bargaining
- Week 3Family + respect - elders, titles, proverbs
- Week 4Daily life - transport, phone calls, small talk
5 phrases you'll speak today
A free preview. Press ▶ to hear each one, then say it out loud.
- 1Báwo ni?How are you? (casual)
- 2Ẹ káàsánGood afternoon (respectful)
- 3Mo nífẹ̀ẹ́ rẹI love you
- 4Ẹ ṣéThank you (respectful)
- 5Kí ni orúkọ rẹ?What is your name?
Conversations with Lina work in Yoruba today. The phrasebook, stories and podcasts are in Spanish and German so far; more languages are coming.
Free vs paid for Yoruba
FREE
- Read this page
- The 5 phrases above
- 1 free text demo with Lina (3 min)
PAID · $7/mo
- 30 min/day voice with Lina in Yoruba
- Unlimited text chat
- Full report cards
- Full phrasebook
- Unlimited vocabulary garden
Yoruba questions
Is Yoruba hard?
Tones are the hardest part. Lina shows the correct tone marks on every line and repeats the right form when you slip, so most learners can manage a basic greeting conversation within a week of daily practice.
Can I learn Yoruba for my kids?
Yes, many diaspora parents use 2Lingua so kids can speak to grandparents.
Does Lina speak Yoruba with proper tones?
Lina writes Yoruba with full tone marks and dots (ẹ, ọ, ṣ). Hearing her depends on your browser: many browsers don't have a Yoruba voice yet. This page tells you whether yours does, and you can always practise by text.
Which dialect?
Standard Yoruba, with notes when Lagos slang differs.