WAEC Yoruba 2025
Questions & Answers

A student might mistakenly choose 'Ọlá', 'Orúkọ rere', or 'Ìwà rere' by confusing general terms for wealth, fame, or good character with the direct contextual meaning of praise. In the given sentence, 'ògo' translates directly to 'ìyìn' or the glory and praise a person receives due to their actions, whereas 'Ọlá' means wealth, 'Orúkọ rere' means a good name, and 'Ìwà rere' refers to good behavior. Common mistake: Confusing the praise or glory denoted by 'ògo' with the accumulated wealth of 'ọlá'.

An examinee could incorrectly select Ọlátúndé, Fádípẹ̀, or Àkànní, guessing alternative traditional names not supported by the literary text. Within the storyline of 'Ìkúnlẹ̀ Abíyẹ', Adéyẹmí is specifically identified as the young boy who holds deep affection for Abíyẹ. Common mistake: Confusing secondary character names from the novel with the primary companion of Abíyẹ.

A student might mistakenly choose proverbs about joy, the lack of meaning in behavior, or general actions yielding results, missing the specific karmic retribution element. The proverb 'Ẹni tí ó bá ṣe ìwà búburú yóò rí èsì rẹ̀' directly highlights that anyone who commits wicked acts will inevitably face the negative consequences of those actions. Common mistake: Mixing up general behavioral proverbs with specific warnings about reaping the negative consequences of wrongdoing.

One might mistakenly pick Táyé, Ìdòwú, or Àlàbá, mixing up the strict Yoruba naming conventions associated with twin births and special circumstances. In traditional Yoruba culture, a child born while the mother is traveling towards twins or following twin phenomena is designated as 'Kéhìndé', representing the second-born twin. Common mistake: Confusing the traditional name assigned to the second twin (Kéhìndé) with other specific birth-order names like Ìdòwú.

Students might mistakenly select options like Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Èṣù, or Ògún because they are well-known Yoruba deities, making them plausible guesses if the specific title is forgotten. The correct answer is Ọbàtálá because this divinity is recognized as 'Alámọ̀' due to the foundational role of shaping human beings out of clay. Common mistake: Confusing the unique praise titles and creative attributes assigned to different Yoruba deities.

Test-takers could easily confuse 'àpèrè' with other linguistic terms provided in the options, such as 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìtúpalẹ̀' or 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìwé', assuming they all relate generally to grammar or literature. The correct classification is 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìfiwéra' because an 'àpèrè' functions as a figure of speech utilized explicitly for comparing one entity to another. Common mistake: Mistaking comparative linguistic terms for general analytical or text-based vocabulary.

A student might incorrectly choose an option like 'Ó lẹ́wà bí òṣùpá' or 'Ó ga bí òkè' if they misinterpret what constitutes a negative description among the choices. The correct choice is 'Ó rẹwà bí ẹlẹ́dẹ̀' because comparing someone's beauty to a pig uses an unflattering and unfavorable imagery, whereas the other options employ positive attributes. Common mistake: Overlooking the specific derogatory animal comparison embedded within the incorrect descriptive phrase.

Learners might be tempted to pick 'Bàbá Adùn' or 'Ìyá Adùn' due to the direct inclusion of the main character's name in those distractor options. The right choice is 'Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Àkànní' because the text specifically establishes him as the instructor who educated Adùn. Common mistake: Assuming familial titles within the options automatically denote the teacher character from the literary text.

Candidates might select 'Ìrètí' or 'Ìfẹ́' since these emotional terms frequently appear alongside discussions of belief and expectation in everyday sentences. The correct choice is 'Ìdánilójú' because 'ìgbàgbọ́' in this context specifically denotes a strong conviction or assurance that a future event will happen. Common mistake: Equating general hope or desire with absolute certainty and trust.

A test-taker could mistakenly select 'Ọmọ Ọba Àtìbà' or 'Ọmọ Ògúnmọ́lá' because they are prominent historical praise names associated with other regions. The correct option is 'Ọmọ Ọ̀rànmíyàn' because it specifically establishes a direct genealogical and historical link to Ọ̀rànmíyàn, the powerful founding king of Ilé-Ifẹ̀. Common mistake: Mixing up the specific praise poetry tied to Ilé-Ifẹ̀ with those belonging to surrounding historical towns.

Students might mistakenly lean toward options like 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìtúpalẹ̀' or 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìṣàpèjúwe' assuming a folk story involves structural analysis or descriptive grammar. The correct selection is 'Ìtàn tí ó ní ẹ̀kọ́' because an 'àlọ́' is fundamentally a narrative designed to impart moral instruction or provide entertainment. Common mistake: Defining traditional folklore as technical linguistic analysis rather than instructional storytelling.

An examinee might select Ọ̀rúnmìlà, Èṣù, or Ògún by confusing the various primordial deities worshipped in traditional folklore. The correct answer is Ọbàtálá because this divinity holds the title 'Ọba Orí' specifically for crafting the human head. Common mistake: Attributing the creation of the human head to divination or war deities instead of the sculptor deity.

A candidate might choose a simpler phrase like 'Ìkà kò ní ìdí' or 'A kò lè ṣe ìkà tán' thinking they carry a similar cautionary tone about wickedness. The correct choice is 'Ẹni tí ó bá ṣe ìkà yóò rí èsì rẹ̀' because it directly explicitly articulates that perpetrators of evil will harvest the exact consequences of their actions. Common mistake: Failing to match the precise philosophical outcome stated in the proverb regarding the retribution of evil.

Learners might opt for names like 'Bàbátúndé' or 'Àbíọ́lá' which are common traditional names denoting reincarnation or wealth, leading to a natural confusion in naming customs. The correct answer is 'Ọmọníyì' because it translates directly to 'a child possesses honor' and is traditionally given following the death of an older sibling. Common mistake: Assuming all traditional birth names following a sibling's death strictly follow reincarnation naming patterns.

Test-takers could be misled by 'Bàbá Àjò' or 'Ìyá Àjò' because they cleverly mirror the protagonist's name within the distractor choices. The correct choice is 'Ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Àkànní' because the narrative explicitly designates him as the teacher who instructed Àjò. Common mistake: Assuming the mentor's name derives from the main character's moniker in travel-themed literature.

Students might mistakenly pick 'Ìgbẹ́kẹ̀lé' or 'Ìrètí' supposing the term deals with trust or anticipation rather than emotional response. The correct option is 'Ìdùnnú' because 'ìyọ̀nú' translates to experiencing joy or satisfaction regarding something one has witnessed. Common mistake: Confusing emotional satisfaction with trust or expectation.

Candidates might choose 'Ọmọ Olúbàdàn' or 'Ọmọ Àtìbà' because they represent major Yoruba chieftaincy titles and historical lineages. The correct answer is 'Ọmọ Olúmọ' because it draws an explicit geographic and cultural connection to the iconic Olúmọ rock in Abẹ́òkúta. Common mistake: Associating regional praise poetry with the wrong historical landmark or city.

An examinee might select 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìtúpalẹ̀' or 'Ọ̀rọ̀ ìdánilójú' by mistaking historical records for linguistic breakdowns or statements of certainty. The correct choice is 'Àkọsílẹ̀ ìṣẹ̀lẹ̀' because 'ìtàn' fundamentally functions as an account or record of significant past events and cultural histories. Common mistake: Treating historical accounts as mere linguistic terminology.

Students might mistakenly choose Ọbàtálá or Ṣàngó because they are prominent elemental deities often associated with major natural forces. The correct choice is Yemọja because the title 'Ọba Àwọ̀n' specifically highlights her divine dominion over water bodies and her role as a mother figure. Common mistake: Attributing water-related royal titles to sky or creation deities.

A learner could mistakenly select 'Ó rẹwà bí ẹlẹ́dẹ̀' if they fail to translate the negative animal imagery embedded in the option. The correct answer is 'Ó lẹ́wà bí òdòdó' because it correctly employs the pleasant beauty of a flower to deliver a flattering comparison. Common mistake: Overlooking the derogatory nature of livestock comparisons in descriptive phrases.