Yoruba is a Niger-Congo language spoken in West Africa, primarily in Southwestern and Central Nigeria, Benin, and parts of Togo. It is spoken by the Yoruba people, with approximately 50 million speakers, including around 2 million second-language or L2 speakers. The language is pluricentric, primarily spoken in a dialectal area spanning Nigeria, Benin, and Togo, with smaller migrated communities in Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. Yoruba vocabulary is also used in African diaspora religions such as Candomblé, Santería, and various Afro-American religions. Yoruba is classified among the Edekiri languages, forming the Yoruboid group of languages within the Volta–Niger branch of the Niger–Congo family. The language has several dialects, including Northwest, Northeast, Central, Southwest, and Southeast Yoruba. Literary Yoruba, also known as Standard Yoruba, is the written form of the language and the variety spoken by newsreaders on the radio. Yoruba has a substantial body of literature, used in radio and television broadcasting, and is taught at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

Yoruba Americans are individuals of Yoruba descent residing in the United States. The Yoruba people, a West African ethnic group primarily located in southwestern Nigeria, with smaller indigenous communities in Benin and Togo, have a rich history deeply intertwined with the United States. Descendants of the first Yoruba people arrived in the U.S. as slaves during the Atlantic slave trade, bringing with them their cultural practices, languages, cuisine, and religious beliefs rooted in spirit and ancestor worship. The Yoruba, along with other African ethnic groups, significantly influenced the development of Louisiana Voodoo and Santería in the U.S.Since the abolition of slavery, many modern Nigerian immigrants of Yoruba ancestry have come to the United States, especially following the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, which facilitated significant immigration from Nigeria. Today, numerous prominent individuals of Yoruba descent have made significant contributions to various fields in the U.S., including sports, entertainment, academia, politics, and the arts. Notable Yoruba Americans include basketball player Hakeem Olajuwon, artist Kehinde Wiley, rapper Wale, actor David Oyelowo, and many others.The legacy of the Yoruba people continues to thrive in the United States, with their descendants making lasting contributions to the nation's diverse cultural tapestry across various domains.