Everyday Igbo Words
K
kill gbu; gburu; igbu (gbu anu ọhia – kill bush animal or meat)
king eze; igwe (eze obodo – king of the town)
kingdom obi eze (obi eze town – kingdom of a town)
kiss isuonu; isusu onu (agbobia isuonu – lady’s kiss)
kitchen ebe ano esi ri (nne no ebe ano esi ri – mother is in the kitchen)
knife mma (wete mma – bring a knife)
knock kụọ aka (mmadụ na kụọ aka - a person is knocking)
knock at the door kụọ aka na ụzọ (mmadụ na kụọ aka na ụzọ - a person is knocking at the door)
know mata; imata to know imata (Ada mata ihe – Ada knows something)
knowledge ima ihe (ogu akwụkwọ bu ima ihe – to read is knowledge)
kolanut oji (wete oji – bring kolanut)
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L
lady agbobia (lekwe agbobia – look at the lady)
land ala (ala ga di ma – the land will be good)
language asusu (Igbo bu asusu – Igbo is a language)
laugh amụ (Ebere na amụ amụ - Ebere is laughing)
law iwu (ngbaji iwu – broke the law)
learn muru; muta ihe (Chichi muru isi ri – Chichi learn cooking)
leave hapụ; rapụ (hapụ ihe aka – leave something alone)
left hand aka ikpa (ụgbọ di aka ikpa – the motor is a left hand)
lie asii (akụkọ bu asii – the story is a lie)
like ahuru nanya (ahurn gị nanya – I like you)
little ntakịrị (nri di ntakịrị - the food is little)
live bi; ibi (ele ebe ibi – where do you live)
load ịbu (ịbu di aru – the load is heavy)
lock gbachi; ngbachi (gbachi ụzọ - lock the door)
long ogologo (osisi di ogologo – the tree is long)
look le; ile; ne; ine (le mụ anyi – look at me)
looking lege; tuge; etu (ha lege anya - they are looking at you)
loud nkpọtu (egwu di nkpọtu – the music is loud)
love ihu nanya (ihu nanya Ada na John – love of Ada and John)
lunch ri ehihie (nye ya ri ehihie – give him lunch)
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M
make me; ime to make something ime ihe
man nwoke (nwoke na nwanyi – a man and a woman)
man inlaw ọgọ nwoke (ọgọ mụ nwoke di mma – my man inlaw is good)
manager onye isi; ọnye ịsị (Ekwe bu onye isi ebea – Ekwe is the manager here)
mango mangoro (mangoro di uto – the mango is sweet)
many ndi ririnne (ndi ririnne ndi mmadu di ebea – many people are here)
market ahia (ndi ririnne ndi mmadu di na ahia – many people are in the market)
marriage ịlu (ịlu Ada siri ike – marriage Ada was difficult)
master (young man) nwaokoro; nwaokorobia; mazi
mattress agada (biko wete agada – please bring the mattress)
mature oboole (oboole na nwaokorobia – mature to a young man)
me mụ; nmụ; nmụwa (mụ na ya gara ahia – me and her went to the market)
meal ri (ri dim ma – the meal is good)
meaning ihe owụ (ihe owụ bu – the meaning would be)
meat anu; ntanta (re anu – eat meat)
medicine ọgu (wete ọgu – bring medicine)
meet izu; izuko; ngbako (ya na anyi ga izu – she and us will meet)
meeting nzuko; ngbako (ya na anyi ga ga iwe ngbako – he and us will have a meeting)
mend mekwa; i dozi; imekwa (biko mekwa ụzọ - please mend the door)
mercy ebere (biko mere mụ ebere – please have mercy on me)
message ozi (Ngozi digara mụ ozi – Ngozi sent me on a message)
middle etiti; ekiti (Doze nọna etiti – Doze is in the middle)
midnight ime abali (anyi nọga ime abali – we stayed till midnight)
mind uche (na uche mụ - according to my mind)
mine kem; kemụ; kemụwa (ola bu kem – the jewelry is mine)
mirror nnyo; nnyo anya; ugegbe (le ihu gị na nnyo – look at your face in the mirror)
miss nwaagbọghọ; nwaagbọbia (le kwa ntakiri nwaagbọghọ - look at a little miss)
money ego (ego di na akpa – money is in the pocket)
moon onwa new moon onwa ọhụrụ (le kwa onwa ukwu – look at a full moon)
morning ụtụtụ (ụtụtụ mmara mma – the morning is very good)
mother nne; mama (nne mụ - my mother)
move gawa (bido gawa – start to move/go)
mr (mister) mazi; maazị (mazi apọla – mr/he is gone out)
mrs oriakụ; odoziakụ (Ugwa oriakụ apọla – Ugwa’s wife/mrs has gone out)
much ole; nụgụrụ (ọ bụ ole – how much)
murder egbu; egbru; igbu; igbu mmadu or madu (onye ka egbru – the person that murder)
murdered onye egbruegbu (onye ka egbruegbu – person that is murdered)
music egwu; nkwa; uri; uda (egwu uto – the music is sweet)
my mụ; kemụ; kemụwa (ụgbọ mụ no na ụzọ - my car is on the road)
my boyfriend enyi mụ nwoke (enyi mụ nwoke bu Obi – my boyfriend is Obi)
my friend enyi mụ (enyi mụ bu Ada – my friend is Ada)
my girlfriend enyi mụ nwanyi (enyi mụ nwanyi bu Reakụ – my girlfriend is Reakụ)
my greeting ekele mụ (ekele mụ nna – my greetings father)
my neighbour onye agbataobi mụ (onye agbataobi mụ wụ ndi Okoro – my neighbor is Okoro family)
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N
nail mbo aka (mbo aka ya di ogologo – her nail is long)
name aha (aha mụ bu Paul – my name is Paul)
nasty ajo; ihe ojoo (ajo nwanyi – nasty woman)
native doctor dibe; dibia (ahụrụ mụ dibe – I saw a native doctor)
near nso (ebemụ di nso – my place is near)
neat ocha (Uche di ocha – Uche is neat)
neck olu; onu (gịnị mere olu gị - what happened to your neck)
necklace ihe ana gba nolu (ihe ana gba nolu mụ di mma – my necklace is fine)
need cho; ịcho (a cho mụ ri – I need food)
neighbour ọnye agbataobi (ọnye agbataobi mụ di mma gara ọnye nbụ - my neighbour is good than the previous one)
new ọhụrụ; ihe ọhụrụ (ụgbọ mụ di ọhụrụ - my car is new)
nice mma (ụgbọ mụ dim ma – my car is nice)
night abalị (ọbụ abalị - it is night)
no mba (mba acho dmụ - no I don’t want)
noise nkpotụ; nkpatụ (emekwala nkpotụ - don’t make noise)
noisy ụzụ (ụgbọ di ụzụ - the motor is noisy)
noon ehihie (uda bu ehihie – now is noon)
not adirọ
not good adirọ mma (ri adirọ mma – food is not good)
nothing adirọkwa; enwedụ
now uda; ugba; ugbua (uda bu ehihie – now is noon)
number onuogụ; nomba (onuogụ bu isa – the number is five)
nut aki (aki di uto – the nut is sweet)
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O
offend kpasu iwe to offend ịkpasu iwe (John kpasu mụ iwe – John offends me)
oh dear ewoo (nne anwu, ewoo ịsị ngịnị, nne anwu – mother is dead, oh dear, what did you say, mother is dead)
oh God chimoo; cheimoo (chimoo, nne anwu – oh God mother is dead)
oh no ewoo (ewoo nne anwu – oh no mother is dead)
oil mmanụ (ndi ofe mmanụ - people that eat oil soup)
okay ọ dị mma; dị mma (ọ dị mma, a dị mma – okay, I am okay)
okra okro (ofe okro – okra soup)
old agadi; ochie; oshe (nna di agadi – father is old)
on na (ego no na oche – money is on the chair)
onion yabasi (yabasi a no dị no ofe – onion is not in the soup)
open mehe; meha; megha (mehe igbe – open the box
openly spoken hoo ha (Ngozi kwuru hoo ha - Ngozi openly spoken)
or ma; ma ọ bụ; mokwnu (Obi ma Ada ka eme ya – Obi or Ada will do it)
other ọzọ; ndi ọzọ (Ada ma ndi ọzọ ka eme ya – Ada or others will do it)
our anyi; anyị (uche anyi di mma – our mind is good)
our inlaw ọgọ anyi (ndi ọgọ anyi bu ndi ofe mmanụ - our inlaw is people that eat oil soup)
out opupu; pọla; prapu (dede prapu – uncle has gone out)
owe ụgwọ (Peter gị mụ ọgwọ - Peter owes me)
own nke (ọgbụ bu nke mụ - the motor is my own)
owner of the house onye nwe ụlọ (Opara bụ onye nwe ụlọ - Opara is the owner of the house)
oxygen ikuku (biko nye mụ ikuku – please give me oxygen)
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P
pain mgbu; o huhu (obi mụ na a hu mụ o huhu – my chest is in pain)
pair mkpi; di abua (agbalu ukwu di abua – the shoe is in pair)
palace obi-eze (nka bu obi-eze – this is the palace)
palm wine mmanya ngwọ (bute mmanya ngwọ - bring the palm wine)
paper akwụkwọ (nye mụ akwụkwọ - give me paper)
part nkabi; agba; nkewa (nye mụ nkabi ego – give me part of the money)
pay kwuo; kwuo ugwo (biko kwuo mụ ugwo – please pay me what you owe)
peace udo (udo diri gị - peace be with you)
people ndi mmadụ (ndi mmadu na ati nkputụ - people are shouting)
person onye; ọnye; mmadụ (onye mba - foreign person)
pepper ose (ose di na ofe – pepper is in the soup)
perhaps ikekwe; ike kwa (nna apọla ikekwe ọ no na eze-obi – father has gone out perhaps he is at the palace)
period oge; mgbe (nne na egbu oge – mother is killing time)
phone uda; mgbrịgba (Obi di na uda – Obi is on the phone)
picture foto; enyo (foto gị amka – your picture is very good)
pig ezi pig meat anụ ezi (gị dika ezi – you look like pig)
place ebaa (dede no ebaa ano agu nmaya – uncle is at a place where they are drinking)
plantain ọgede; ọgede ojoko (biko wete ọgede – please bring the plantain)
plate efere (efere ruru ụnyi – the plate is dirty)
play egwu; ịgwu egwu (nwata na egwu egwu – the child is playing)
please biko (biko biko jewe/jewa/lawa – please please go)
please please biko biko
pocket akpa (ego di na akpa – money is in the pocket)
power ike (Uche digwa ike – Uche has power)
police kotima; uwe ojii (le ndi kotima – look at the police)
praise otito (otito diri Chineke – praise to God)
pray ekpere (ekpere diri Chineke – pray to God)
pregnant ime (Nneka di ime – Nneka is pregnant)
prepare kwado; nkwado; gkwara (nne kwado ahia – mother prepare for market)
preserve chebe; chere (chebe mmaya – preserve the drink)
president ọnye ịsị obodo (Okoro na acho ịbu ọnye ịsị obodo – Okoro wants to be the country’s president)
press ide (ide edgbole gị - the press has finished you)
price onu (onu ji di mma – the price of yam is good)
prince nwa eze; nwoke eze (Onychi bu nwoke eze – Onychi is a prince)
princess ada eze; nwa eze (Kelechi bu ada eze – Kelechi is a princess)
prison nga; nkporo (Bonny ag la nga - Bonny has to prison)
problem nsogbu (ụmụ-aka nu na nsogbu – these children and problem)
profession aka oru (Adaeze kwere aka oru – Adaeze has a profession)
profit uru (ịcho ego wete mụ uru – business brought profit for me)
progress ịga niru (anyi choro ịga niru – we want progress)
promise kwe nkwa; ịkwe nkwa (agmụ nye ego – I will give the money)
proof agosi; ihe ga agosi (nne mụ ga agosi mgbe amuru mụ - my mother will proof when I was born)
protect ichedo; chedoro (onye nkuzi no ichedo ụmụ-aka – the teacher will protect the children)
proverb ilu (ilu siri – the proverb says)
pumpkin ụgụ (achormụ ịri ụgụ - I want to eat pumpkin)
put tinye; kpunye (tinye ego na akpa – put the money in the pocket)
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Q
qualify itọọzụ (Peter itọọzụ na ọnye na agbko ego – Peter qualify as an accountant)
quarrel ise okwu (nne Ada dika onye ise okwu – Ada’s mother is a person who likes quarrel)
queen eze nwanyi; lọlọ; lolo (eze nwanyi apọla – the queen has gone out)
question ajụjụ; jụ ajụjụ to question ịjụ ajụjụ (ajụjụ nka bu ngini – what type of question is this)
quick osiso (dada me osiso – aunty do quick)
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R
rain mmịrị odudo; mmịrị na edo; mmịrị na ezo (mmiri odudo – it is raining or water is falling)
rainy season udu mmịrị (udu mmịrị no – it is rainy season)
raise weli; welite; wele; kule to raise iweli; ikuli (Obina kule – Obina raise or get up)
raw ndụ; ihe ana esdiesi (anu di ndụ - the meat is raw)
razor reza (gi reza kpụcha – use razor to shave)
read gụ to read ịgụ (gụ akwụkwọ - read book)
reason ihe ogrime (kwamụ ihe ogrime – tell me the reason)
receive nata; nabuta; nabata to receive ịnata; ịnabuta; ịnabata (nata ego – receive money)
record nkwa; deto (deto ya – record/write it)
reduce weto (weto ego – reduce money)
refuse jụ to refuse ịjụ (jụ ịweto ego – refuse to reduce money)
relative nwa nnemụ (nwa nnemụ no ebaa – relative is here)
religion nsọ (nsọ kamụ bu kiristian – my religion is christain)
remember cheta to remember icheta (cheta aha mụ - remember my name)
repeat meya ozọ (meya ozọ aha mụ - repeat my name)
rest zuru ike (biko zuru ike – please rest)
return lọta; nlọghachi to return ịlọta (biko lọta ego – please return the money)
rice osikapa; rosi; urosi (Peter eri osikapa – Peter eats rice)
rich ogaranye; gi ego (Uhura di ogaranye – Uhura is rich)
right mma; ihe di mma everything is right
right hand aka ri (ụgbọ di aka ri – motor is right hand)
ring kpo (biko kpo mụ - please ring me)
river mmịrị (ụgbọ mmịrị no na mmịrị - boat is on the river)
road ụzọ (ụzọ mechi emechi – road closed)
roast ihụ; ihụ noku (ọkụkọ ihụ – chicken roast)
robbery oshi; ohi (ndi nwoke ahu bu ndi oshi – those men carrying out robbery)
rock nkume; okwute (ihe ahu bu nkume – that thing is a rock)
rocket ọgbụ-na-igwe (ọgbụ-na-igwe di na eli-igwe – rocket is in the sky)
room ime ụlọ (nna di na ime ụlọ - father is in the room)
rope eriri (wete eriri – bring rope)
rubber roba; nchicha (egi roba em ihe – roba is used for many things)
rubbish mekasa (ime ụlọ di mekasa – room is rubbish or messy)
rude nkpari; aso anya (Josephine di nkpari – Josephine is rude)
rule iwu (anyi were iwu – we have rule)
run gba ọsọ; gbalaga to run ịgba ọsọ; ịgbalaga (Bona na gba ọsọ - Bona will run)
rust ita nchara; tara agari; turu agari (ihe tara agari – something that is rusted or rust)
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S
sack akpa (tinye ji na akpa – put the yam in a sack)
sad nwute; nnwuta (adimụ nwute na nnanna anwu – I am sad grandfather is dead)
safety kpasara anya; adigi egwu (kpasara anya wụ ukwu anyi – safety is our priority)
said kwuru; ikwuru (Dike kwuru John gara ije obodo ozo – Dike said John travel to another country)
salary ụgwọ-ọnwa (ụgwọ-ọnwa mụ di ntakiri – my salary is small)
salt nnu (nnu anodi na ri – salt is not in the food)
salty nnu nnu; odi nnu nnu (ri di nnu nnu – food is salty)
same otuodi (ihe di otuodi – something that is the same)
sand aja (aja aja di ri – food is full of sand)
school ụlọ akwụkwọ (ụmụ-aka gawara ụlọ akwụkwọ - children went to school)
scissors nkpa; ncha (wete nkpa – bring scissors)
sea osịmịrị (ụgbọ mmịrị no na osịmịrị - ship is on the sea)
seat oche; duro oche; duro ala (duro oche – seat on a chair)
secret ezero ezo; nzuzo (dewe ego ebe ịga ezo ya – keep the money in a place that is secret)
see hụ; le to see ịhụ; le anya (le ịhụ dede – look to see uncle)
seek chọ; chọrọ; ịchọ (ịchọ ego – seek money)
select horo; ihoro selection nhoro; nhoputa (anyi horo Ngozi - we select Ngozi)
sell re; ire; ile to sell something ire ihe (achormụ ire ụgbọ - I want to sell the car)
selling rege (rege ụgbọ mụ - selling my car)
send wega; sipu; wegara (biko wega ego – please send the money)
share ike; keya (ike ihe – share something)
sharp dinkọ (bịaa dinkọ - come sharp)
shave kpụcha; ikpụcha; gwusa (kpụcha ngbe ị na bịaa – shave when you are coming)
shop shọọpụ (Tombo gawara shọọpụ - Tombo gone to the shop)
shout otiti; nti nkpu (ndi mmadu na eti otiti – people are shouting)
show gosi to show igosi (Caroline biko gosi mụ foto – Caroline please show me the picture)
sick ọrịa; nrịa (Uche di ihu na anya ọrịa – Uche is love sick)
sickness ọrịarịa; nrịarịa (nnenne no na ọrịarịa – grandmother has sickness)
sin njọọ (Okochi mere njọọ - Okochi has sinned)
sister nwanne nwanyị (nwanne nwanyị apọla – sister gone out)
sit nọrụ ọdụ; nọdụ ọdụ sitting or to sit ịnọrụ ọdụ; ịnọdụ ọdụ
skill nka; aka oru (Dona inwe aka oru – Dona have skill)
skin ahụ (ahụ nyaka di njọọ – the skin of the child is bad)
sky eli-igwe (ụgbọ elu no na eli-igwe – aeroplane is in the sky)
sleep ura (nna no na ura – father gone to sleep)
slow nwanyo (ụgbọ na agba nwanyo – motor is running slow)
small ntakiri (ri di ntakiri – food is small)
smell ụsị (azu na ụsị - fish smells)
smile amu (Iweha na amu amu – Iweha is smiling)
soap ncha (wete ncha – bring soap)
soil aja; ala aja (igwu aja – dig soil)
soldier soja; ọnye ogu (Kwuna wukwa soja – Kwuna is a soja)
someone otu ọnye; otu onye (achora mụ otu ọnye – I want someone)
something ihe (ihe di ebaa – something is here)
son nwoke; nwa nwoke first son ọkpara; ọkpala (nwoke bịaa – son come)
song ukwe; uri (ndi ukwe – song people)
sorry ndo (asị ịbu ọrịarịa, ndo – I heard you have sickness, sorry)
so that mana (bịaa mana ugwo ego gị - come so that money you owe is discussed or settled)
sound uri; uda; nkpotụ (uri di uto – the sound is sweet)
soup ofe (ofe di uto – the soup is sweet)
sovereign eze (eze obodo – sovereign of community)
sow iku (ndi iku ihe – people who sow things)
sowing iku ihe (iku ihe oka – sowing maize or corn)
space ohere (nye mụ ohere – give me space)
spare ọzọ (ha nyere anyi ọzọ - they gave us spare)
speak kwu (Ebere kwu okwu - Ebere speaks or spoke something)
speaking kwuru; kwuge (Obi kwuru - Obi is speaking)
speak openly hoo ha (Ngozi kwuru hoo ha - Ngozi speaks openly or Ngozi spoke openly)
speech okwu (biko cheru ka okwu – please waite for speech)
speed osiso (nya ụgbọ osiso – drive the motor at a speed)
spoon ngaji (nye mụ ri na ngaji – give me food and spoon)
stab mara (mmadu mara mụ mma – somebody stab me with knife)
stand fufere; fufere otọ; ikwudo (fufere ebea ngbe egburu gị - stand there until you are killed)
start bido; malite to start ibido; ịmalite (biko bido gawa – please start going)
stay noro; nodi (noro ebea ngbe egburu gị - stay there until you are killed)
stomach afo (afo ukwu – big stomach)
stop kwụsị to stop ịkwụsị (kwụsị ebeahu – stop there)
story akụkọ (onye akụkọ - a story teller)
stove ekwu igwe (ịgị ekwu igwe esieri – you are using stove to cook food)
street ụzọ (ụzọ anodi – there is no street ahead)
strength ike (nna egdi ike – father has no strength)
stress nsobu (nsobu mụ - I am stress out)
strong ike (Alloy di ike – Alloy is strong)
sun anwu (anwu dika okariri akari – the sun is like it is too much)
supermarket ahia ukwu (gara mụ ahia ukwu – I went to the supermarket)
sure kpasara anya (gị gawa kpasara anya – when you are going be sure)
surname aha nna gị; aha nnanna gị (nye mụ aha nnanna gị - give me your surname)
sweep za to sweep ịza (za ime ụlọ – sweep the room)
sweet uto (mangoro di uto – mango is sweet)
sweet potato ndụkụ (agmụ eri ndụkụ - I will eat sweet potato)
syringe ndudu (gba ya ndudu – inject him with syringe)
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T
take nara; were; kụrụ to take inara; iwere; ikụrụ (were ego na ụlọ ego – take money from the bank)
take away boopụ; brupowa; burugawa take it away burupo; burupuwanu
talk kwu ụka to talk ịkwu ụka (nne kwu ụka – mother talk)
tall ogologo (ụlọ gị di ogologo – your house is tall)
tasty di uto; ọ di mma (ri di uto – food is tasty)
tea tii; mmịrị oku (wete tii – bring tea)
teach kuze; kuzi to teach ikuzi (kuze mụ - teach me)
teacher onye nkuzi (onye nkuzi kuze mụ - teacher teach me)
telephone mgriga (koro mụ mgriga – telephone me)
tell gwa; ịgwa to tell ịgwa (gwa mụ ihe – tell me something)
thank kele; ekele (Chikaodi kele gị - Chikaodi thank you)
thank you imela (imela na ihe ịmere – thank you for something you did)
that nkehụ; nke ahụ (gawa ibe ahu – go that way)
theft oshi; ohi (onye oshi – a theft)
there ebe ahu (bịaa ebe ahu – come there)
therefore yaka (maka ego yaka ịgda eri ri – because of money therefore you won’t eat)
these ndiaa; ndị a (ndiaa bu ndi agadi abala – these old people have come)
they ha (ha di agadi – they are old)
thief onye ori; onye oshi (ya bu onye oshi – he is a thief)
thing; things ihe (ihe no ebea – things are here)
think chebe; che echiche to think ichebe; iche echiche
this nka; nke a (nka bu nwamụ - this is my child)
those ndiahụ; ndị eri (ndiahụ mere ihe ahu agala – those who did that thing have gone)
throat akpiri (Emma kwere akpiri ogologo – Emma has a long throat)
time oge (Uche na egbu oge – Uche is killing time)
today taa (taa bu onwa ọhụrụ - today is a new moon)
tomorrow echi (echi wụ ọnwa asaa – tomorrow is the month of July)
tongue ire (na ekwu ụka ịga tabiri ire – carry on talking you soon bite your tongue)
top elu (nnụnụ na efe na elu – bird that fly on top)
too bad ọ dị njo (oshi ọ dị njo – theft is too bad)
too cold ọ dị oyi (ihu ahu mmịrị oyi ọ dị oyi – having a bath with cold water may be too cold)
too hot ọ dị oku (ihu ahu mmịrị oku ọ dị oku – having a bath with hot water may be too hot)
too little ọ dị ntakiri (ri mụ ọ dị ntakiri – my food is too little)
too much ọ dị nụgụrụ; ọ karịrị akarị (ri mụ ọ dị nụgụrụ – my food is too much)
too small ọ dị ntakiri (ri mụ ọ dị ntakiri – my food is too small)
town ebe obodo ntakiri: ime obodo (Okoro no na ime obodo – Okoro is in town)
town ebe (once ebe is mentioned, the town’s name should follow, like: ebe Uluka, ebe Kaka, ebe Ireaya)
traditional ruler eze; igwe; nze; chief (Dike wụ eze ndi Ikeato – Dike is the traditional ruler of Ikeato)
tree osisi (osisi dara no ụzọ - the tree fall on the road)
trouble nsogbu (Okongwo bu nsogbu – Okongwo bu nsogbu)
truth esi okwu (kwu esi okwu – talk the truth)
twin children ụmụ ejima; ejima (Jona muru ụmụ ejima – Jona gave birth to twin children)
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U
ugly njo (Okereke di njo – Okereke is ugly)
underground ime ala (ịno emnu na ime ala – what are you doing underground)
understand nghọta (ihe nghọta - something to understand)
up elu (ụgbọ elu kwogara mụ London – aeroplane took me to London)
upset kpasu iwe to upset ịkpasu iwe (John kpasu mụ iwe – John upset me)
us anyi (wete anyi ri - bring food for us)
useful bara uru; ihe bara uru (ozi ịkwara anyi bara uru – information you gave is useful
u-turn tuhara (tuhara ebe ị na aga - about-turn from the place you're going)
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V
vary igbanwe (akụkọ gị igbanwe – your story vary)
vegetables akwụkwọ ri (akwụkwọ ri anodụ no ofe – there is no vegetables in the soup)
vehicle ụgbọ (ụgbọ gị siri ike – your vehicle is strong)
very dị (afo gị dị ukwu – your stomach is very big)
victory mmeri (Ada mmeri – Ada won or has the victory)
viewpoint ucheobi (ucheobi mụ wụ mmeri – my viewpoint is victory)
village ebe obodo ntakiri; ịbe obodo ntakiri (Obi gawara ebe ha obodo ntakiri – Obi went to their village)
village ebe (once ebe is mentioned, the village’s name should follow, like: ebe Uluka, ebe Kaka, ebe Ireaya)
visit ije fu; ịba elte; ịga elte (ịba elte nne mụ - I came to visit mother)
visitor ọnye mba; ọnye obia (ọnye obia bịara taa - visitor came today)
voice ọlụ (ọlụ mụ di njo ịkwe uri – my voice is bad to sing a song)
vomit agbọ vomiting ọgbọ gbọ (mmaya ịgbu dede, ya na agbọ - uncle is drunk, he starts to vomits)
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W
waist ukwu (ukwu na egb mgbu – my waist is paining)
wait chere; chebe; cheretụ to wait ichere; ichebe; icheretụ
wait for me chere mụ; cheretụ mụ
wake bilie (Kechi bilie nu ura – Kechi wake up from sleep)
walk ga (ga ahia – go or walk to the market)
want chọ; chọrọ to want ịchọ (gị chọ ọrụ - you want a job)
want to chọrọ ime (Obi chọrọ ime arụ - Obi want to commit a sin)
war agha; ogu (ọ bụ ogu ugba – it is now war)
water mmịrị (wete mmịrị - bring water)
way ụzọ (ụzọ mgbachi – way has closed)
we anyi; anyị (anyi gawara ahia – we went to the market)
wear yi; yiri; gba; gbara (yiri efe/uwe omma – put on good clothes)
weep ibe akwa (ịno tukwa ibe akwa – are you still weeping)
well mma; ọfuma; omi; odi mma; ahụike (odi mma dada – well aunty)
went gara; jere went to gawara; jewere (nnanna gara obi-eze – grandfather went to the palace)
what gịnị; ọ gịnị; ọlee; kedụ (gịnị ka isiri – what did you say)
what happened gịnị mere (gịnị mere ụgbọ gị - what happened to your motor)
what is gịnị bu (gịnị bụ nka ugbua – what is this now)
what is it ọ gịnị (ọ gịnị bụ nka oge ugbua – what is it this time now)
what is happening gịnị mega; ọ gịnị mega; ihe meganu (gịnị mega ugbua – what is happening now)
what of kedụ maka (kedụ maka di – what of husband)
when mgbeole; mgbe; kedụ (ele mgbe ọ mere – when did it happen)
where ebee; kedụ (ebee ọ mere – where it happened)
where is olee ebe (olee ebe obi-eze – where is the palace)
which nke ọle; kedụ (nke ọle wụ ri mụ - which food is mine)
white ocha (efe gị dika ocha – you clothes look white)
who onye; kedụ (onye na akpo – who is calling)
whole niile (ebe niile - the whole place)
why ọ bu maka gini (ọ bu maka gịnị ka igiri gawa – why did you go)
wife nwunye (nwunye no na ụlọ – wife is at home)
win mmeri to win ịmeriri (gị mmeri – you win)
wind ikuku (ikuku beforu uwe – wind blew clothes away)
winter uguru (uguru abịaala – winter has come)
with na (Uche na nkita – Uche with dog)
woman nwanyi (nwanyi di ara – woman is mad)
woman inlaw ọgọ nwanyi (ọgọ nwanyi di ara – woman inlaw di ara)
wood osisi (osisi siri ike – wood is strong)
work ọrụ; oru (John na etu ọrụ – John is looking for work)
world uwa (uwa gara ruru - world goes round)
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X
xenophobia asimba (ndi asimba – people of xenophobia)
xmas Ekesmesi (mgbe ekesmesi – during Christmas)
xylophone ngelenge (egwu ngelenge na ato uto – xylophone music is sweet)
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Y
yam ji (ji ọhụrụ mmeme abaa – new yam festival is here)
yes eya; eh (eya anu na mụ - yes I heard)
yesterday nyahụ (nyahụ Orji biara – yesterday Orji came)
yet ugbua (Okoro elobedu ugbua – Okoro hasn’t come back yet)
you unu; gị; ngị (gị na mụ ịgba ọsọ - you and me run)
you did well ị mere nke ọma (ị mere nke ọma ịkwụsị - you did well to stop)
young nwata (nwata nwoke ịgba ọsọ - young man run)
your gị; ngị (nkita ngị na nkemụ ịgba ọsọ - your dog and mine run)
yourself ngi (ngi na ezi dika ofu – yourself and pig look the same)
you will ịga (ịga aru ya wụ oru – you will do the work)
yourself onwe gị (kele onwe gị - thank yourself)
youth okorobia; agboghobia (ndi okorobia na ndi agboghobia bịaa nu – boys/girls or youth come)
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Z
Zeal ike ume (Uche gi ike ume o gi ịgba ọsọ - Uche has the zeal to run)
Zealot gwere ike (Ha gwere ike uka – They zealot of religion)
Zenith ịbe elu uwa (ịbe elu uwa onwa na kpakpandu nọ - Zenith or high up moon and star reside)
Zenith Bank ụlọ ego ndi Zenith (Uju gawara ebe ụlọ ego ndi Zenith – Uju went to Zenith Bank)
Zero adigi; adighi
Zero balance ego adiru na akwụkwọ edre (ego adiru na akwụkwọ edre na aha Egbele - No money in Egbele’s account)
Zero emission ụgbọ anwuru oku ojoo; achodu ụgbọ anwuru oku (ebe ha na achodu ụgbọ anwuru ugbo – place where they
don’t want smoky vehicles)
Zero emission vehicle ụgbọ na enwdu anwuru oku; ụgbọ eletrik (Chika zuru ụgbọ eletrik – Chika bought zero emission vehicle)
Zero grazing ebe ndi anumanu nọ eri ge du ri
Zero rate onweghi ihe putara nu
Zero tolerance achodu nsogbu (ebe ha achodu nsogbu – a place they don’t want trouble)
Zest kwadu ịme ihe
Zig gba ha riga
Zigzag ụzọ gbara rigo rigo
Zika virus ọria anwuta tara
Zilch enwedụ; adirọkwa (ego adirọkwa – money zilch or no money)
Zillion buru ibu (ihe buru ibu - something uncountable)
Zillionaire ọnye gi ego buru ibu (Joe bu ọnye gi ego buru ibu – Joe is a person with uncountable wealth)
Zinc gbngbm (ulo gbngbm – zinc house)
Zip kpọche; meche
Zone ebe ekewara
zoo ụlọ anumanu (ga na ụlọ anumanu – go to the zoo)
Zoom in bata osiso
Zoom out gawa osiso
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Everyday Igbo Words
K
kill gbu; gburu; igbu (gbu anu ọhia – kill bush
animal or meat)
king eze; igwe (eze obodo – king of the town)
kingdom obi eze (obi eze town – kingdom of a
town)
kiss isuonu; isusu onu (agbobia isuonu –
lady’s kiss)
kitchen ebe ano esi ri (nne no ebe ano esi ri –
mother is in the kitchen)
knife mma (wete mma – bring a knife)
knock kụọ aka (mmadụ na kụọ aka - a person
is knocking)
knock at the door kụọ aka na ụzọ (mmadụ na
kụọ aka na ụzọ - a person is knocking at the
door)
know mata; imata to know imata (Ada mata
ihe – Ada knows something)
knowledge ima ihe (ogu akwụkwọ bu ima ihe
– to read is knowledge)
kolanut oji (wete oji – bring kolanut)
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L
lady agbobia (lekwe agbobia – look at the
lady)
land ala (ala ga di ma – the land will be good)
language asusu (Igbo bu asusu – Igbo is a
language)
laugh amụ (Ebere na amụ amụ - Ebere is
laughing)
law iwu (ngbaji iwu – broke the law)
learn muru; muta ihe (Chichi muru isi ri –
Chichi learn cooking)
leave hapụ; rapụ (hapụ ihe aka – leave
something alone)
left hand aka ikpa (ụgbọ di aka ikpa – the
motor is a left hand)
lie asii (akụkọ bu asii – the story is a lie)
like ahuru nanya (ahurn gị nanya – I like you)
little ntakịrị (nri di ntakịrị - the food is little)
live bi; ibi (ele ebe ibi – where do you live)
load ịbu (ịbu di aru – the load is heavy)
lock gbachi; ngbachi (gbachi ụzọ - lock the
door)
long ogologo (osisi di ogologo – the tree is
long)
look le; ile; ne; ine (le mụ anyi – look at me)
looking lege; tuge; etu (ha lege anya - they
are looking at you)
loud nkpọtu (egwu di nkpọtu – the music is
loud)
love ihu nanya (ihu nanya Ada na John – love
of Ada and John)
lunch ri ehihie (nye ya ri ehihie – give him
lunch)
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M
make me; ime to make something ime ihe
man nwoke (nwoke na nwanyi – a man and a
woman)
man inlaw ọgọ nwoke (ọgọ mụ nwoke di
mma – my man inlaw is good)
manager onye isi; ọnye ịsị (Ekwe bu onye isi
ebea – Ekwe is the manager here)
mango mangoro (mangoro di uto – the
mango is sweet)
many ndi ririnne (ndi ririnne ndi mmadu di
ebea – many people are here)
market ahia (ndi ririnne ndi mmadu di na ahia
– many people are in the market)
marriage ịlu (ịlu Ada siri ike – marriage Ada
was difficult)
master (young man) nwaokoro;
nwaokorobia; mazi
mattress agada (biko wete agada – please
bring the mattress)
mature oboole (oboole na nwaokorobia –
mature to a young man)
me mụ; nmụ; nmụwa (mụ na ya gara ahia –
me and her went to the market)
meal ri (ri dim ma – the meal is good)
meaning ihe owụ (ihe owụ bu – the meaning
would be)
meat anu; ntanta (re anu – eat meat)
medicine ọgu (wete ọgu – bring medicine)
meet izu; izuko; ngbako (ya na anyi ga izu –
she and us will meet)
meeting nzuko; ngbako (ya na anyi ga ga iwe
ngbako – he and us will have a meeting)
mend mekwa; i dozi; imekwa (biko mekwa
ụzọ - please mend the door)
mercy ebere (biko mere mụ ebere – please
have mercy on me)
message ozi (Ngozi digara mụ ozi – Ngozi sent
me on a message)
middle etiti; ekiti (Doze nọna etiti – Doze is in
the middle)
midnight ime abali (anyi nọga ime abali – we
stayed till midnight)
mind uche (na uche mụ - according to my
mind)
mine kem; kemụ; kemụwa (ola bu kem – the
jewelry is mine)
mirror nnyo; nnyo anya; ugegbe (le ihu gị na
nnyo – look at your face in the mirror)
miss nwaagbọghọ; nwaagbọbia (le kwa
ntakiri nwaagbọghọ - look at a little miss)
money ego (ego di na akpa – money is in the
pocket)
moon onwa new moon onwa ọhụrụ (le kwa
onwa ukwu – look at a full moon)
morning ụtụtụ (ụtụtụ mmara mma – the
morning is very good)
mother nne; mama (nne mụ - my mother)
move gawa (bido gawa – start to move/go)
mr (mister) mazi; maazị (mazi apọla – mr/he
is gone out)
mrs oriakụ; odoziakụ (Ugwa oriakụ apọla –
Ugwa’s wife/mrs has gone out)
much ole; nụgụrụ (ọ bụ ole – how much)
murder egbu; egbru; igbu; igbu mmadu or
madu (onye ka egbru – the person that
murder)
murdered onye egbruegbu (onye ka
egbruegbu – person that is murdered)
music egwu; nkwa; uri; uda (egwu uto – the
music is sweet)
my mụ; kemụ; kemụwa (ụgbọ mụ no na ụzọ
- my car is on the road)
my boyfriend enyi mụ nwoke (enyi mụ
nwoke bu Obi – my boyfriend is Obi)
my friend enyi mụ (enyi mụ bu Ada – my
friend is Ada)
my girlfriend enyi mụ nwanyi (enyi mụ
nwanyi bu Reakụ – my girlfriend is Reakụ)
my greeting ekele mụ (ekele mụ nna – my
greetings father)
my neighbour onye agbataobi mụ (onye
agbataobi mụ wụ ndi Okoro – my neighbor is
Okoro family)
Top
N
nail mbo aka (mbo aka ya di ogologo – her
nail is long)
name aha (aha mụ bu Paul – my name is Paul)
nasty ajo; ihe ojoo (ajo nwanyi – nasty
woman)
native doctor dibe; dibia (ahụrụ mụ dibe – I
saw a native doctor)
near nso (ebemụ di nso – my place is near)
neat ocha (Uche di ocha – Uche is neat)
neck olu; onu (gịnị mere olu gị - what
happened to your neck)
necklace ihe ana gba nolu (ihe ana gba nolu
mụ di mma – my necklace is fine)
need cho; ịcho (a cho mụ ri – I need food)
neighbour ọnye agbataobi (ọnye agbataobi
mụ di mma gara ọnye nbụ - my neighbour is
good than the previous one)
new ọhụrụ; ihe ọhụrụ (ụgbọ mụ di ọhụrụ -
my car is new)
nice mma (ụgbọ mụ dim ma – my car is nice)
night abalị (ọbụ abalị - it is night)
no mba (mba acho dmụ - no I don’t want)
noise nkpotụ; nkpatụ (emekwala nkpotụ -
don’t make noise)
noisy ụzụ (ụgbọ di ụzụ - the motor is noisy)
noon ehihie (uda bu ehihie – now is noon)
not adirọ
not good adirọ mma (ri adirọ mma – food is
not good)
nothing adirọkwa; enwedụ
now uda; ugba; ugbua (uda bu ehihie – now
is noon)
number onuogụ; nomba (onuogụ bu isa – the
number is five)
nut aki (aki di uto – the nut is sweet)
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O
offend kpasu iwe to offend ịkpasu iwe (John
kpasu mụ iwe – John offends me)
oh dear ewoo (nne anwu, ewoo ịsị ngịnị, nne
anwu – mother is dead, oh dear, what did you
say, mother is dead)
oh God chimoo; cheimoo (chimoo, nne anwu
– oh God mother is dead)
oh no ewoo (ewoo nne anwu – oh no mother
is dead)
oil mmanụ (ndi ofe mmanụ - people that eat
oil soup)
okay ọ dị mma; dị mma (ọ dị mma, a dị mma
– okay, I am okay)
okra okro (ofe okro – okra soup)
old agadi; ochie; oshe (nna di agadi – father
is old)
on na (ego no na oche – money is on the
chair)
onion yabasi (yabasi a no dị no ofe – onion is
not in the soup)
open mehe; meha; megha (mehe igbe –
open the box
openly spoken hoo ha (Ngozi kwuru hoo ha -
Ngozi openly spoken)
or ma; ma ọ bụ; mokwnu (Obi ma Ada ka
eme ya – Obi or Ada will do it)
other ọzọ; ndi ọzọ (Ada ma ndi ọzọ ka eme ya
– Ada or others will do it)
our anyi; anyị (uche anyi di mma – our mind
is good)
our inlaw ọgọ anyi (ndi ọgọ anyi bu ndi ofe
mmanụ - our inlaw is people that eat oil soup)
out opupu; pọla; prapu (dede prapu – uncle
has gone out)
owe ụgwọ (Peter gị mụ ọgwọ - Peter owes me)
own nke (ọgbụ bu nke mụ - the motor is my
own)
owner of the house onye nwe ụlọ (Opara bụ
onye nwe ụlọ - Opara is the owner of the
house)
oxygen ikuku (biko nye mụ ikuku – please
give me oxygen)
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P
pain mgbu; o huhu (obi mụ na a hu mụ o
huhu – my chest is in pain)
pair mkpi; di abua (agbalu ukwu di abua –
the shoe is in pair)
palace obi-eze (nka bu obi-eze – this is the
palace)
palm wine mmanya ngwọ (bute mmanya
ngwọ - bring the palm wine)
paper akwụkwọ (nye mụ akwụkwọ - give me
paper)
part nkabi; agba; nkewa (nye mụ nkabi ego –
give me part of the money)
pay kwuo; kwuo ugwo (biko kwuo mụ ugwo
– please pay me what you owe)
peace udo (udo diri gị - peace be with you)
people ndi mmadụ (ndi mmadu na ati nkputụ
- people are shouting)
person onye; ọnye; mmadụ (onye mba -
foreign person)
pepper ose (ose di na ofe – pepper is in the
soup)
perhaps ikekwe; ike kwa (nna apọla ikekwe ọ
no na eze-obi – father has gone out perhaps
he is at the palace)
period oge; mgbe (nne na egbu oge – mother
is killing time)
phone uda; mgbrịgba (Obi di na uda – Obi is
on the phone)
picture foto; enyo (foto gị amka – your picture
is very good)
pig ezi pig meat anụ ezi (gị dika ezi – you look
like pig)
place ebaa (dede no ebaa ano agu nmaya –
uncle is at a place where they are drinking)
plantain ọgede; ọgede ojoko (biko wete
ọgede – please bring the plantain)
plate efere (efere ruru ụnyi – the plate is dirty)
play egwu; ịgwu egwu (nwata na egwu egwu
– the child is playing)
please biko (biko biko jewe/jewa/lawa –
please please go)
please please biko biko
pocket akpa (ego di na akpa – money is in the
pocket)
power ike (Uche digwa ike – Uche has power)
police kotima; uwe ojii (le ndi kotima – look
at the police)
praise otito (otito diri Chineke – praise to God)
pray ekpere (ekpere diri Chineke – pray to
God)
pregnant ime (Nneka di ime – Nneka is
pregnant)
prepare kwado; nkwado; gkwara (nne
kwado ahia – mother prepare for market)
preserve chebe; chere (chebe mmaya –
preserve the drink)
president ọnye ịsị obodo (Okoro na acho ịbu
ọnye ịsị obodo – Okoro wants to be the
country’s president)
press ide (ide edgbole gị - the press has
finished you)
price onu (onu ji di mma – the price of yam is
good)
prince nwa eze; nwoke eze (Onychi bu nwoke
eze – Onychi is a prince)
princess ada eze; nwa eze (Kelechi bu ada
eze – Kelechi is a princess)
prison nga; nkporo (Bonny ag la nga - Bonny
has to prison)
problem nsogbu (ụmụ-aka nu na nsogbu –
these children and problem)
profession aka oru (Adaeze kwere aka oru –
Adaeze has a profession)
profit uru (ịcho ego wete mụ uru – business
brought profit for me)
progress ịga niru (anyi choro ịga niru – we
want progress)
promise kwe nkwa; ịkwe nkwa (agmụ nye
ego – I will give the money)
proof agosi; ihe ga agosi (nne mụ ga agosi
mgbe amuru mụ - my mother will proof when
I was born)
protect ichedo; chedoro (onye nkuzi no
ichedo ụmụ-aka – the teacher will protect the
children)
proverb ilu (ilu siri – the proverb says)
pumpkin ụgụ (achormụ ịri ụgụ - I want to eat
pumpkin)
put tinye; kpunye (tinye ego na akpa – put
the money in the pocket)
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Q
qualify itọọzụ (Peter itọọzụ na ọnye na agbko
ego – Peter qualify as an accountant)
quarrel ise okwu (nne Ada dika onye ise okwu
– Ada’s mother is a person who likes quarrel)
queen eze nwanyi; lọlọ; lolo (eze nwanyi
apọla – the queen has gone out)
question ajụjụ; jụ ajụjụ to question ịjụ ajụjụ
(ajụjụ nka bu ngini – what type of question is
this)
quick osiso (dada me osiso – aunty do quick)
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R
rain mmịrị odudo; mmịrị na edo; mmịrị na
ezo (mmiri odudo – it is raining or water is
falling)
rainy season udu mmịrị (udu mmịrị no – it is
rainy season)
raise weli; welite; wele; kule to raise iweli;
ikuli (Obina kule – Obina raise or get up)
raw ndụ; ihe ana esdiesi (anu di ndụ - the
meat is raw)
razor reza (gi reza kpụcha – use razor to
shave)
read gụ to read ịgụ (gụ akwụkwọ - read book)
reason ihe ogrime (kwamụ ihe ogrime – tell
me the reason)
receive nata; nabuta; nabata to receive
ịnata; ịnabuta; ịnabata (nata ego – receive
money)
record nkwa; deto (deto ya – record/write it)
reduce weto (weto ego – reduce money)
refuse jụ to refuse ịjụ (jụ ịweto ego – refuse to
reduce money)
relative nwa nnemụ (nwa nnemụ no ebaa –
relative is here)
religion nsọ (nsọ kamụ bu kiristian – my
religion is christain)
remember cheta to remember icheta (cheta
aha mụ - remember my name)
repeat meya ozọ (meya ozọ aha mụ - repeat
my name)
rest zuru ike (biko zuru ike – please rest)
return lọta; nlọghachi to return ịlọta (biko
lọta ego – please return the money)
rice osikapa; rosi; urosi (Peter eri osikapa –
Peter eats rice)
rich ogaranye; gi ego (Uhura di ogaranye –
Uhura is rich)
right mma; ihe di mma everything is right
right hand aka ri (ụgbọ di aka ri – motor is
right hand)
ring kpo (biko kpo mụ - please ring me)
river mmịrị (ụgbọ mmịrị no na mmịrị - boat is
on the river)
road ụzọ (ụzọ mechi emechi – road closed)
roast ihụ; ihụ noku (ọkụkọ ihụ – chicken
roast)
robbery oshi; ohi (ndi nwoke ahu bu ndi oshi
– those men carrying out robbery)
rock nkume; okwute (ihe ahu bu nkume –
that thing is a rock)
rocket ọgbụ-na-igwe (ọgbụ-na-igwe di na eli-
igwe – rocket is in the sky)
room ime ụlọ (nna di na ime ụlọ - father is in
the room)
rope eriri (wete eriri – bring rope)
rubber roba; nchicha (egi roba em ihe – roba
is used for many things)
rubbish mekasa (ime ụlọ di mekasa – room is
rubbish or messy)
rude nkpari; aso anya (Josephine di nkpari –
Josephine is rude)
rule iwu (anyi were iwu – we have rule)
run gba ọsọ; gbalaga to run ịgba ọsọ;
ịgbalaga (Bona na gba ọsọ - Bona will run)
rust ita nchara; tara agari; turu agari (ihe
tara agari – something that is rusted or rust)
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S
sack akpa (tinye ji na akpa – put the yam in a
sack)
sad nwute; nnwuta (adimụ nwute na nnanna
anwu – I am sad grandfather is dead)
safety kpasara anya; adigi egwu (kpasara
anya wụ ukwu anyi – safety is our priority)
said kwuru; ikwuru (Dike kwuru John gara ije
obodo ozo – Dike said John travel to another
country)
salary ụgwọ-ọnwa (ụgwọ-ọnwa mụ di ntakiri
– my salary is small)
salt nnu (nnu anodi na ri – salt is not in the
food)
salty nnu nnu; odi nnu nnu (ri di nnu nnu –
food is salty)
same otuodi (ihe di otuodi – something that is
the same)
sand aja (aja aja di ri – food is full of sand)
school ụlọ akwụkwọ (ụmụ-aka gawara ụlọ
akwụkwọ - children went to school)
scissors nkpa; ncha (wete nkpa – bring
scissors)
sea osịmịrị (ụgbọ mmịrị no na osịmịrị - ship is
on the sea)
seat oche; duro oche; duro ala (duro oche –
seat on a chair)
secret ezero ezo; nzuzo (dewe ego ebe ịga
ezo ya – keep the money in a place that is
secret)
see hụ; le to see ịhụ; le anya (le ịhụ dede –
look to see uncle)
seek chọ; chọrọ; ịchọ (ịchọ ego – seek money)
select horo; ihoro selection nhoro; nhoputa
(anyi horo Ngozi - we select Ngozi)
sell re; ire; ile to sell something ire ihe
(achormụ ire ụgbọ - I want to sell the car)
selling rege (rege ụgbọ mụ - selling my car)
send wega; sipu; wegara (biko wega ego –
please send the money)
share ike; keya (ike ihe – share something)
sharp dinkọ (bịaa dinkọ - come sharp)
shave kpụcha; ikpụcha; gwusa (kpụcha ngbe
ị na bịaa – shave when you are coming)
shop shọọpụ (Tombo gawara shọọpụ - Tombo
gone to the shop)
shout otiti; nti nkpu (ndi mmadu na eti otiti –
people are shouting)
show gosi to show igosi (Caroline biko gosi
mụ foto – Caroline please show me the
picture)
sick ọrịa; nrịa (Uche di ihu na anya ọrịa –
Uche is love sick)
sickness ọrịarịa; nrịarịa (nnenne no na
ọrịarịa – grandmother has sickness)
sin njọọ (Okochi mere njọọ - Okochi has
sinned)
sister nwanne nwanyị (nwanne nwanyị apọla
– sister gone out)
sit nọrụ ọdụ; nọdụ ọdụ sitting or to sit ịnọrụ
ọdụ; ịnọdụ ọdụ
skill nka; aka oru (Dona inwe aka oru – Dona
have skill)
skin ahụ (ahụ nyaka di njọọ – the skin of the
child is bad)
sky eli-igwe (ụgbọ elu no na eli-igwe –
aeroplane is in the sky)
sleep ura (nna no na ura – father gone to
sleep)
slow nwanyo (ụgbọ na agba nwanyo – motor
is running slow)
small ntakiri (ri di ntakiri – food is small)
smell ụsị (azu na ụsị - fish smells)
smile amu (Iweha na amu amu – Iweha is
smiling)
soap ncha (wete ncha – bring soap)
soil aja; ala aja (igwu aja – dig soil)
soldier soja; ọnye ogu (Kwuna wukwa soja –
Kwuna is a soja)
someone otu ọnye; otu onye (achora mụ otu
ọnye – I want someone)
something ihe (ihe di ebaa – something is
here)
son nwoke; nwa nwoke first son ọkpara;
ọkpala (nwoke bịaa – son come)
song ukwe; uri (ndi ukwe – song people)
sorry ndo (asị ịbu ọrịarịa, ndo – I heard you
have sickness, sorry)
so that mana (bịaa mana ugwo ego gị - come
so that money you owe is discussed or
settled)
sound uri; uda; nkpotụ (uri di uto – the
sound is sweet)
soup ofe (ofe di uto – the soup is sweet)
sovereign eze (eze obodo – sovereign of
community)
sow iku (ndi iku ihe – people who sow things)
sowing iku ihe (iku ihe oka – sowing maize or
corn)
space ohere (nye mụ ohere – give me space)
spare ọzọ (ha nyere anyi ọzọ - they gave us
spare)
speak kwu (Ebere kwu okwu - Ebere speaks or
spoke something)
speaking kwuru; kwuge (Obi kwuru - Obi is
speaking)
speak openly hoo ha (Ngozi kwuru hoo ha -
Ngozi speaks openly or Ngozi spoke openly)
speech okwu (biko cheru ka okwu – please
waite for speech)
speed osiso (nya ụgbọ osiso – drive the motor
at a speed)
spoon ngaji (nye mụ ri na ngaji – give me food
and spoon)
stab mara (mmadu mara mụ mma –
somebody stab me with knife)
stand fufere; fufere otọ; ikwudo (fufere ebea
ngbe egburu gị - stand there until you are
killed)
start bido; malite to start ibido; ịmalite (biko
bido gawa – please start going)
stay noro; nodi (noro ebea ngbe egburu gị -
stay there until you are killed)
stomach afo (afo ukwu – big stomach)
stop kwụsị to stop ịkwụsị (kwụsị ebeahu –
stop there)
story akụkọ (onye akụkọ - a story teller)
stove ekwu igwe (ịgị ekwu igwe esieri – you
are using stove to cook food)
street ụzọ (ụzọ anodi – there is no street
ahead)
strength ike (nna egdi ike – father has no
strength)
stress nsobu (nsobu mụ - I am stress out)
strong ike (Alloy di ike – Alloy is strong)
sun anwu (anwu dika okariri akari – the sun is
like it is too much)
supermarket ahia ukwu (gara mụ ahia ukwu
– I went to the supermarket)
sure kpasara anya (gị gawa kpasara anya –
when you are going be sure)
surname aha nna gị; aha nnanna gị (nye mụ
aha nnanna gị - give me your surname)
sweep za to sweep ịza (za ime ụlọ – sweep the
room)
sweet uto (mangoro di uto – mango is sweet)
sweet potato ndụkụ (agmụ eri ndụkụ - I will
eat sweet potato)
syringe ndudu (gba ya ndudu – inject him
with syringe)
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T
take nara; were; kụrụ to take inara; iwere;
ikụrụ (were ego na ụlọ ego – take money from
the bank)
take away boopụ; brupowa; burugawa take
it away burupo; burupuwanu
talk kwu ụka to talk ịkwu ụka (nne kwu ụka –
mother talk)
tall ogologo (ụlọ gị di ogologo – your house is
tall)
tasty di uto; ọ di mma (ri di uto – food is
tasty)
tea tii; mmịrị oku (wete tii – bring tea)
teach kuze; kuzi to teach ikuzi (kuze mụ -
teach me)
teacher onye nkuzi (onye nkuzi kuze mụ -
teacher teach me)
telephone mgriga (koro mụ mgriga –
telephone me)
tell gwa; ịgwa to tell ịgwa (gwa mụ ihe – tell
me something)
thank kele; ekele (Chikaodi kele gị - Chikaodi
thank you)
thank you imela (imela na ihe ịmere – thank
you for something you did)
that nkehụ; nke ahụ (gawa ibe ahu – go that
way)
theft oshi; ohi (onye oshi – a theft)
there ebe ahu (bịaa ebe ahu – come there)
therefore yaka (maka ego yaka ịgda eri ri –
because of money therefore you won’t eat)
these ndiaa; ndị a (ndiaa bu ndi agadi abala –
these old people have come)
they ha (ha di agadi – they are old)
thief onye ori; onye oshi (ya bu onye oshi –
he is a thief)
thing; things ihe (ihe no ebea – things are
here)
think chebe; che echiche to think ichebe;
iche echiche
this nka; nke a (nka bu nwamụ - this is my
child)
those ndiahụ; ndị eri (ndiahụ mere ihe ahu
agala – those who did that thing have gone)
throat akpiri (Emma kwere akpiri ogologo –
Emma has a long throat)
time oge (Uche na egbu oge – Uche is killing
time)
today taa (taa bu onwa ọhụrụ - today is a new
moon)
tomorrow echi (echi wụ ọnwa asaa –
tomorrow is the month of July)
tongue ire (na ekwu ụka ịga tabiri ire – carry
on talking you soon bite your tongue)
top elu (nnụnụ na efe na elu – bird that fly on
top)
too bad ọ dị njo (oshi ọ dị njo – theft is too
bad)
too cold ọ dị oyi (ihu ahu mmịrị oyi ọ dị oyi –
having a bath with cold water may be too
cold)
too hot ọ dị oku (ihu ahu mmịrị oku ọ dị oku –
having a bath with hot water may be too hot)
too little ọ dị ntakiri (ri mụ ọ dị ntakiri – my
food is too little)
too much ọ dị nụgụrụ; ọ karịrị akarị (ri mụ ọ
dị nụgụrụ – my food is too much)
too small ọ dị ntakiri (ri mụ ọ dị ntakiri – my
food is too small)
town ebe obodo ntakiri: ime obodo (Okoro
no na ime obodo – Okoro is in town)
town ebe (once ebe is mentioned, the town’s
name should follow, like: ebe Uluka, ebe Kaka,
ebe Ireaya)
traditional ruler eze; igwe; nze; chief (Dike
wụ eze ndi Ikeato – Dike is the traditional ruler
of Ikeato)
tree osisi (osisi dara no ụzọ - the tree fall on
the road)
trouble nsogbu (Okongwo bu nsogbu –
Okongwo bu nsogbu)
truth esi okwu (kwu esi okwu – talk the truth)
twin children ụmụ ejima; ejima (Jona muru
ụmụ ejima – Jona gave birth to twin children)
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U
ugly njo (Okereke di njo – Okereke is ugly)
underground ime ala (ịno emnu na ime ala –
what are you doing underground)
understand nghọta (ihe nghọta - something
to understand)
up elu (ụgbọ elu kwogara mụ London –
aeroplane took me to London)
upset kpasu iwe to upset ịkpasu iwe (John
kpasu mụ iwe – John upset me)
us anyi (wete anyi ri - bring food for us)
useful bara uru; ihe bara uru (ozi ịkwara anyi
bara uru – information you gave is useful
u-turn tuhara (tuhara ebe ị na aga - about-
turn from the place you're going)
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V
vary igbanwe (akụkọ gị igbanwe – your story
vary)
vegetables akwụkwọ ri (akwụkwọ ri anodụ
no ofe – there is no vegetables in the soup)
vehicle ụgbọ (ụgbọ gị siri ike – your vehicle is
strong)
very dị (afo gị dị ukwu – your stomach is very
big)
victory mmeri (Ada mmeri – Ada won or has
the victory)
viewpoint ucheobi (ucheobi mụ wụ mmeri –
my viewpoint is victory)
village ebe obodo ntakiri; ịbe obodo ntakiri
(Obi gawara ebe ha obodo ntakiri – Obi went
to their village)
village ebe (once ebe is mentioned, the
village’s name should follow, like: ebe Uluka,
ebe Kaka, ebe Ireaya)
visit ije fu; ịba elte; ịga elte (ịba elte nne mụ -
I came to visit mother)
visitor ọnye mba; ọnye obia (ọnye obia bịara
taa - visitor came today)
voice ọlụ (ọlụ mụ di njo ịkwe uri – my voice is
bad to sing a song)
vomit agbọ vomiting ọgbọ gbọ (mmaya ịgbu
dede, ya na agbọ - uncle is drunk, he starts to
vomits)
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W
waist ukwu (ukwu na egb mgbu – my waist is
paining)
wait chere; chebe; cheretụ to wait ichere;
ichebe; icheretụ
wait for me chere mụ; cheretụ mụ
wake bilie (Kechi bilie nu ura – Kechi wake up
from sleep)
walk ga (ga ahia – go or walk to the market)
want chọ; chọrọ to want ịchọ (gị chọ ọrụ - you
want a job)
want to chọrọ ime (Obi chọrọ ime arụ - Obi
want to commit a sin)
war agha; ogu (ọ bụ ogu ugba – it is now war)
water mmịrị (wete mmịrị - bring water)
way ụzọ (ụzọ mgbachi – way has closed)
we anyi; anyị (anyi gawara ahia – we went to
the market)
wear yi; yiri; gba; gbara (yiri efe/uwe omma –
put on good clothes)
weep ibe akwa (ịno tukwa ibe akwa – are you
still weeping)
well mma; ọfuma; omi; odi mma; ahụike
(odi mma dada – well aunty)
went gara; jere went to gawara; jewere
(nnanna gara obi-eze – grandfather went to
the palace)
what gịnị; ọ gịnị; ọlee; kedụ (gịnị ka isiri –
what did you say)
what happened gịnị mere (gịnị mere ụgbọ gị -
what happened to your motor)
what is gịnị bu (gịnị bụ nka ugbua – what is
this now)
what is it ọ gịnị (ọ gịnị bụ nka oge ugbua –
what is it this time now)
what is happening gịnị mega; ọ gịnị mega;
ihe meganu (gịnị mega ugbua – what is
happening now)
what of kedụ maka (kedụ maka di – what of
husband)
when mgbeole; mgbe; kedụ (ele mgbe ọ
mere – when did it happen)
where ebee; kedụ (ebee ọ mere – where it
happened)
where is olee ebe (olee ebe obi-eze – where is
the palace)
which nke ọle; kedụ (nke ọle wụ ri mụ - which
food is mine)
white ocha (efe gị dika ocha – you clothes look
white)
who onye; kedụ (onye na akpo – who is
calling)
whole niile (ebe niile - the whole place)
why ọ bu maka gini (ọ bu maka gịnị ka igiri
gawa – why did you go)
wife nwunye (nwunye no na ụlọ – wife is at
home)
win mmeri to win ịmeriri (gị mmeri – you
win)
wind ikuku (ikuku beforu uwe – wind blew
clothes away)
winter uguru (uguru abịaala – winter has
come)
with na (Uche na nkita – Uche with dog)
woman nwanyi (nwanyi di ara – woman is
mad)
woman inlaw ọgọ nwanyi (ọgọ nwanyi di ara
– woman inlaw di ara)
wood osisi (osisi siri ike – wood is strong)
work ọrụ; oru (John na etu ọrụ – John is
looking for work)
world uwa (uwa gara ruru - world goes round)
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X
xenophobia asimba (ndi asimba – people of
xenophobia)
xmas Ekesmesi (mgbe ekesmesi – during
Christmas)
xylophone ngelenge (egwu ngelenge na ato
uto – xylophone music is sweet)
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Y
yam ji (ji ọhụrụ mmeme abaa – new yam
festival is here)
yes eya; eh (eya anu na mụ - yes I heard)
yesterday nyahụ (nyahụ Orji biara – yesterday
Orji came)
yet ugbua (Okoro elobedu ugbua – Okoro
hasn’t come back yet)
you unu; gị; ngị (gị na mụ ịgba ọsọ - you and
me run)
you did well ị mere nke ọma (ị mere nke ọma
ịkwụsị - you did well to stop)
young nwata (nwata nwoke ịgba ọsọ - young
man run)
your gị; ngị (nkita ngị na nkemụ ịgba ọsọ -
your dog and mine run)
yourself ngi (ngi na ezi dika ofu – yourself and
pig look the same)
you will ịga (ịga aru ya wụ oru – you will do
the work)
yourself onwe gị (kele onwe gị - thank
yourself)
youth okorobia; agboghobia (ndi okorobia na
ndi agboghobia bịaa nu – boys/girls or youth
come)
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Z
Zeal ike ume (Uche gi ike ume o gi ịgba ọsọ -
Uche has the zeal to run)
Zealot gwere ike (Ha gwere ike uka – They
zealot of religion)
Zenith ịbe elu uwa (ịbe elu uwa onwa na
kpakpandu nọ - Zenith or high up moon and
star reside)
Zenith Bank ụlọ ego ndi Zenith (Uju gawara
ebe ụlọ ego ndi Zenith – Uju went to Zenith
Bank)
Zero adigi; adighi
Zero balance ego adiru na akwụkwọ edre
(ego adiru na akwụkwọ edre na aha Egbele -
No money in Egbele’s account)
Zero emission ụgbọ anwuru oku ojoo;
achodu ụgbọ anwuru oku (ebe ha na achodu
ụgbọ anwuru ugbo – place where they don’t
want smoky vehicles)
Zero emission vehicle ụgbọ na enwdu
anwuru oku; ụgbọ eletrik (Chika zuru ụgbọ
eletrik – Chika bought zero emission vehicle)
Zero grazing ebe ndi anumanu nọ eri ge du
ri
Zero rate onweghi ihe putara nu
Zero tolerance achodu nsogbu (ebe ha
achodu nsogbu – a place they don’t want
trouble)
Zest kwadu ịme ihe
Zig gba ha riga
Zigzag ụzọ gbara rigo rigo
Zika virus ọria anwuta tara
Zilch enwedụ; adirọkwa (ego adirọkwa –
money zilch or no money)
Zillion buru ibu (ihe buru ibu - something
uncountable)
Zillionaire ọnye gi ego buru ibu (Joe bu ọnye
gi ego buru ibu – Joe is a person with
uncountable wealth)
Zinc gbngbm (ulo gbngbm – zinc house)
Zip kpọche; meche
Zone ebe ekewara
zoo ụlọ anumanu (ga na ụlọ anumanu – go to
the zoo)
Zoom in bata osiso
Zoom out gawa osiso
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