How to speak in the future tense in Yoruba

How to speak in the future tense in Yoruba

We are about to dive into completely new territory…the future tense in Yoruba.

Thankfully, the future tense in Yoruba is very simple, to write in the future tense you use the word ‘máa’. This word is placed after a pronoun and before a verb.

pronoun + máa + verb

Example
Mo máa sùn
I will sleep

NB: máa can be be used with both Emphatic and regular pronouns.

Example
Èmi máa sùn
I will sleep

Some example sentences of how to write in the future tense in Yoruba are given in the table below, using the verb sùn (to sleep).

Example future tense sentences with different pronouns

Yoruba	English
Mo máa sùn	I will sleep
O máa sùn	You will sleep
Ó máa sùn	She/He/It will sleep
A máa sùn	We will sleep
Ẹ máa sùn	You all will sleep
Wọ́n máa sùn	They will sleep

You have been shown example sentences with the verb sùn, example sentences with different verbs are displayed below.

Example future tense sentences with different verbs

Yoruba	English
Mo máa jẹun	I will eat
Ìwọ máa lọ	You will go
Àwa máa fọ aṣọ	We will wash clothes
Òun máa ka ìwé	He will read
Àwọn máa wọ̀ bàtà	They will wear their shoes
Ẹ̀yin máa kọ́	You all will teach
Ó máa ṣiṣẹ́	She will work
Èmi máa sọ̀rọ̀	I will talk
A máa sí í	We will open it

NB: sometimes the future tense is indicated in a slightly different way in Yoruba, this is displayed in the table below.

Another way of indicating the Yoruba Future Tense (Alternative form)

Yoruba	English
Mà á lọ	I will go
Wà á lọ	You will go
Á á lọ	He/She/It will go
À á lọ	We will go
Ẹ̀ ẹ́ lọ	You all will go
Wọ́n á lọ	They will go

Example future tense sentences (using the alternative form)

Yoruba	English
Mà á lọ sí ilé-ìwé	I will go to school
Mà á ba lọ sí ọjà láti mú iṣu	I will go to the market to get yam
Mà á ba se ìrẹsì	I will help her to cook rice
Ṣé wà á bámi lọ sí oko ní ọ̀sẹ̀ tí ó ń bọ̀?	Will you follow me to the farm next week?
Ṣé wà á sọ fún àwọn olùkọ́ rẹ?	Will you tell your teachers?
Nígbà wo ni wà á lọ sí oko?	When will you go to the farm?
Á á dára o!	It will be well!
Wọ́n á fún ẹ ní abẹ́rẹ́ nínú eyín	They will give you an injection in your gum?
Wọ́n á wọ agbádá	Wọ́n á wọ agbádá

Now you know how to speak in the future tense in Yoruba! Go practice this tense with your family and friends!