Yoruba/Vocabulary

Roots

Most verbal roots are monosyllabic of the phonological shape CV(N), for example: dá (to create), dán (to polish), pọ́n (to be red). Verbal roots that do not seem to follow this pattern are mostly former compounds in which a syllable has been elided. For example: nlá (to be large), originally a compound of ní (to have) + lá (to be big) and súfèé (to whistle), originally a compound of sú (to eject wind) + òfé or ìfé (a blowing). Vowels serve as nominalizing prefixes that turn a verb into a noun form.

Nominal roots are mostly disyllabic, for example: abà (crib, barn), ara (body), ibà (fever). Monosyllabic and even trisyllabic roots do occur but they are less common.