kaasan

Yoruba

Yoruba phrasebook

This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.

For other Yoruba entries on this topic, see Greetings.

Etymology

From kú +‎ àsán (“morning, variant of ọ̀sán”).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ká.ꜜsã́/

Interjection

káàsán

good afternoon! (used between noon and 4pm)

Usage notes

When speaking respectfully, this must be immediately preceded by the pronoun ẹ. Per the Standard Yoruba Orthography approved by the Joint Consultative Committee on Education in June 1974, to show a downstepped high-tone vowel, the vowel must be duplicated in the orthography.^[1] However, káàsán has cemented itself as an exception to this rule, with this spelling being universally used instead of the orthographically correct kásàn-án.

References

^ Ayọ̀ Bámgbóṣé (1974) “Yoruba Orthography”, in Ayọ̀ Bámgbóṣé, editor, Orthographies of Nigerian Languages: Manual 1, Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos: National Language Center, pages 43-54

[1] Ayọ̀ Bámgbóṣé (1974) “Yoruba Orthography”, in Ayọ̀ Bámgbóṣé, editor, Orthographies of Nigerian Languages: Manual 1, Federal Ministry of Education, Lagos: National Language Center, pages 43-54

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