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Etu e Si Ede Maọbụ (Ma ọ bụ) na Maka na
Ọ dị mkpa ka anyị mara na a bịa n’ihe gbasara ndesa mkpụrụokwu, o nwere mgbe a na-eji edesa mkpụrụokwu 'maọbụ' edesa dịka 'ma ọ bụ' site n'ịgbado ụkwụ na nghọta o wepụtara n'ahịrịokwu. Ka anyị were ahịrịokwu ndị a na-esote maa atụ.
1.Nnwa ka anyị chọrọ; ma ọ bụ nnwa nwoke, ma ọ bụ nnwa nwaanyị.

2. Kọwaara anyị onye ọ bụ; ma ọ bụ onye Awụsa, ma ọ bụ onye Igbo.

3. Nye m nke a maọbụ nke ọzọ.

4. Bịa n'ụtụtụ maọbụ n'ehihie.

'Ma ọ bụ' (Whether it/she/he is...) {ndesa}
'Maọbụ' (or) {ndekọ ọnụ}

A bịa n'ide 'maka na', o kwesiri ka e desaa ya edesaa.
Echiche nke mmadụ ụfọdụ n'oge gara aga, nke tụpụtara ka a na-edekọ ya ọnụ dịka 'makana' agbadochaghị ụkwụ na nghọta mkpụrụokwu a etu miri emi, n'ọrụ ya n'usoro ndokọ akụkụ ahịrịokwu dị icheiche n'asụsụ Igbo.

Nchọcha miri emi e mere na Mbuụzọ Asusu Igbo, gosiri na 'maka' bụ mbuụzọ nke na-enwe 'nnara mbuụzọ' (preposition that has an object of the preposition).

Ọ dị mkpa ka anyị mata na nnara mbuụzọ nwere ike ịbụ ihe ọbụla so na mkpọaha, dịka aha/nnọchiaha/nkebiokwu kemkpọaha/nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha/ọnụọgugụ.

E nwere ụdị nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha nke 'na' na-ebido n'asụsụ Igbo nke na-arụkwa ọrụ mkpọaha dị icheiche n'ahịrịokwu. Otu n'ime ọrụ ndị ahụ bụ dịka 'nnara mbụụzọ', (maka so na mbụụzọ Asụsụ Igbo. Lee ọmụmaatụ:

Ana m asụ Igbo maka (na m bụ onye Igbo). Nkebiahịrị 'na' bidoro, nke e tinyere n'akarangụdo rụrụ ọrụ dịka nnara mbuụzọ. Mkpụrụokwu ndị ọzọ so na mkpọaha nwekwara ike ịrụ ọrụ n'otù ọnọdụ ahụ nke nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha a dị na ya - dịka ya/nne m/echi/dgz.

N'ahịrịokwu nke a na-esote, otu nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha ahụ nke 'na' bidoro rụrụ ọrụ dịka isiahịrị (subject).
“Na m bụ onye Igbo” anaghị ewute m.
O nwekwaziri ike ịrụ ọrụ n'ọnọdụ ndị ọzọ mkpọaha na-arụ ọrụ n'ahịrịokwu Igbo.

Ya bụ na idesa 'maka na' edesa kara daba ọfụma ma gbadokwa ụkwụ na nghọta miri emi nke ọrụ mkpụrụokwu ahụ n'usoro ndokọ mkpụrụokwu na ọrụ mkpụrụokwu n'ahịrịokwu Igbo.

Ụfọdụ na-eche na 'maka na' ga-abụrịrị otu mkpụrụokwu n'ihi na mkpụrụokwu Bekee a na-ejikarị atụgharị ya bụ 'because'. Mana ọ dịghị etu ahụ.

Ọ dị mkpa ka anyị mata na “maka na” bụ okwu a tụfuru otu okwu n’ime ya wee na-edezi ya naanị dịka “maka na” (maọbụ “makana*”). N’idewaru ya n’isi, etu ndị Igbo si asụru ya n’isi bụ “maka ihi na”. Ọtụtụ ndị bụ okenye n’okwu Igbo ka ga-echeta na oge ụfọdụ ndị ghọtara ma na-asụ Igbo ọfụma na-ekwu okwu, ha nwere ike ịsị “maka ihi na”, karịa ịsị sọọsọ “maka na”.

Nke ahụ wee bụrụ “for reason that” (ya bụ “for the reason that…”). Elekwene ya anya etu ọ dị na Bekee; o nweghi asụsụ ya na ibe ya bụ otu kpamkpam. Asụsụ ọbụla nwere etu o si emebere onwe ya ndokọ mkpụrụokwu nke a nabatara n’asụsụ ahụ. Ọ bụ n’ihi na ụfọdụ ndịmmadụ na-ewere otu okwu Bekee dị ha nso n’ọnụ wee na-atụgharị okwu Igbo etu nghọta ha ruru, na-eme ka ha na-edehie okwu Igbo ụfọdụ dịka m kwuru na mbụ. Ụfọdụ ndehie sitekwara n’aghọtaghị sịntaaks na gụrama etu kwesiri ka a ghọta ya.

Ụfọdụ na-edezikwu “n’ihi na”, dịka otu mkpụrụokwu (n’ihina*), maka na ha chere na ebe ọ bụ “because” ka a na-ejikara atụgharị ya na bekee, na ọ ga-abụrịrị otu mkpụrụokwu n’Igbo. Mana ihe ọ pụtara n’echiche nke onwe ya n’Igbo bụ ihe yetebere “in reason that” (in the reason that…).

Cheta na ọ dịghị mkpa ịsị na “for/in the reason that…” abụghị etu e si asụkarị Bekee. Mgbe a chọrọ itinye ya bụ okwu na Bekee nke ọ̀sa na uze na-asụ, e nwere ike iji “because” wee tụgharịa ya. Mana mgbe anyị bịara n’ọmụmụihe sịntaaks (syntax) na lịngwistiks, ndị ghọtara ihe ọ bụ ga-ewepụta ya etu o kwesịrị ịdị.

A bịa n’ihe a ga-akpọ “na” ma e dekọnyeghi ya na “maka”; ọ dị mkpa ka anyị mara na n’ọnọdụ a, na dịka isi mbido ụdị nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha a (noun clause) bụ “that...” N’asụsụ Igbo e nwere ụdị nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha dị icheiche. Abụọ n’ime ha bụ nke na-eji “na…” na nke na-eji “kà…/etu…” amalite. Lee ọmụmaatụ:
a. O kwuru ya maka (ihi) [na ọ ma onye m bụ]. (S/he said it ‘for the reason that [because] s/he knows me.*)
b. Ọ kọọrọ ya maka [kà/etu e si egbu mmadụ].

Cheta dịka m kwuru na mbụ na nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha ndị a nwekwara ike ịrụ ọrụ n’agbata ebe ndị ọzọ mkpọaha na-arụ ọrụ. Ọmụmatụ:
Dika isiahịrị: [Na ọ ma onye m bụ] bụzi ihe mkparị.
Dịka mmeju ngwaa: O kwuru [na ọ ma onye m bụ]. dgz.

Nchịkọta okwu m wee bụrụ na o doro anya nà nkọwa ndị a gosipụtara na dika isi mbido nke ụdị nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha a, nke e nwere ike iji sụọ Igbo n’akụkụ ahịrịokwu dị icheiche; n’ihi ya, ọ bụrụ na anyị wepụ na nke dị na ya, wee tipanyere ya maka, ọ gaghị adaba mgbe e were nkebiahịrị kemkpọaha ahụ gaa n’agbata ebe ọzọ o kwesiri ịrụ ọrụ ya.
Ọ bụrụkwa na otu onye achọọ ịkpọwaru okwu ya n’isi (maka ihi na), ọ gaghị adịkwa mma ma onye ahụ sị makana ihi*…, Nke ahụ agaghịzi abụ usoro sịntaaks/gụrama Igbo dabara adaba. Ọ bụrụkwanụ na anyị anabata ka a na-edekọ “maka na” ọnụ, anyị ga-anabatakwunụ idekọta “n’ihi na” ọnụ; mana nke ahụ adabaghị.
Ya gazie.
Abụ m
Vic. Akụdịgboo

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Adverbs in Igbo (by Victor Àkùdìgboo)

Adverbs are mainly verb modifiers. However, they can modify verbs, adjectives, other adverbs, phrases, clauses, or even sentences; expressing some relation of manner or quality, place, time, degree, number, cause, opposition, affirmation, or denial.

Some adverbs can be doubled in Igbo sentences according to the choice of the speaker – as shown below – especially for emphasis.

For example, we can say,
Mèe ngwa; or Mèe ngwan̄gwa. [Do quick.]

Apart from the onomatopoeic adverbs which the user my change their tones, and few others like échí [high-high] which also has the form – échī [high-mid], most adverbs in Igbo do not change their tones in Igbo sentences.

The following are some of Igbo adverbs with their natural unchanging tones (changing tones are indicated) -

ọsọ/ọsọọs̄ọ/ọsịịs̄ọ,
ngwa/ngwangwa, ̄
jụ̀ụ̀/jìì,
taà/taàtà,
echi/echiēchi,
kịtāà/kịtāàkịtāà,
òzùgbo/òzùgboòzùgbo,
gwòò/gwòògwòò,
tọ̀ọ̀tọ̀ọ̀,
ọ̀zọ /ọz̄ọ [Kwùe yā ọ̀zọ (say it again); Ị bịākwa ọ̄zọ (You have come again)]
kam̀gbè/kem̀gbè/kam̀gbè-kam̀gbè/kem̀gbè-kem̀gbè
Etc

Reach us to download a prepared file on Igbo adverbs to learn more. Or you can join the our WhatsApp group by clicking https://chat.whatsapp.com/0MKEiHc3xn87794gSvHlNz

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Etu e si ede 'na' n'asụsụ Igbo

Mgbe ọbụla a na-ede Igbo n'uzọ ziri ezi, e nwere iwu ndị kacha mkpa onye na-ede Igbo aghaghị ịgbaso ma ọ bụrụ na ọ chọrọ idezima Igbo ya nke ọma. Aga m agbali iwepụta ndị ahụ kacha mkpa; mana aga m eji nwayọọ nwayọọ na-ewere ha otu otu - maka na nwayọọ bụ ije. Ihe mbụ m ga-ede bụ etu e si ede na (n'ụdị dị icheiche) n'asụsụ Igbo.
N'asụsu Igbo, e nwere ụdị dị icheiche e si ede na. E nwere ike ide ya dịka na, n'maọbụ na. Nhọrọ etu e kwesiri isi dee ya na-agbado ụkwụ n'ọrụ ọ na-arụ n'okwu Igbo.

'Na' na-arụ ọrụ dị icheiche n'asụsụ Igbo. Ọrụ ndị ahụ bụgasị ndi a:

1. Dịka nnyemaka ngwaa (auxiliary verb): na-eri, na-abịa, na-ekwu, dgz (dirigawazie) . Mgbe 'na' na-arụ ọrụ dịka nnyemaka ngwaa, a na-eji akara uhie (hyphen) were jikọta 'na' na ngwaa ọ na-enyere aka. N'ọnọdụ a, anyị na-enweta ụdị ndeputa di etu a: Amaka na-abịa; M na-agụ egwu; Ha na-eri nri, dgz.

2. Dịka mbuụzọ (preposition): Mgbe a na-ede 'na' dịka mbuuzọ, ọ bụrụ na okwu bụ nnara mbuụzọ ahụ (the object of the preposition) bidoro na mgbochiume maọbu myiriudaume (consonant or m/n when they are immediately followed by a consonant), 'na' na-akwurụ onwe ya, ma zuo òkè (dịka na). Mana ọ bụrụ na okwu bu nnara mbuụzọ ahụ jiri ụdaume bido, a na-ewepụ a dị na 'na', ma were rịkọmelu (apostrophe) dochie anya ya, tipanyezie ya na mbido okwu ahụ bụ nnara ya.

N'ọnọdụ a, a na-edeputa ihe ndị dịka ndị a: n'ọnọdụ a, na mbụ, na nkịtị, n'efu, na Kalaba, na Sokoto, n'Aba, n'ime, n'elu, na mbido, na mmalite, dgz.

3. Dịka njikọ (conjunction): Mgbe a na-ede na dịka njikọ, na na-akwụrụ onwe ya, zuo òkè, wee jikọọ okwu abụọ nọ n'otu ọkwā. N'ọnọdu a, a na-edeputa ihe ndị dị ka ndị a: Obi na Ada bịara; Anyị ma na ọ ga-anwụ; Agwara m ya na m ga-abịa, Ndị a gụnyere bụ Okeeke, Okeafọ na Okonkwọ, dgz.
Biko gbalịa mụta etu e si edezi 'na' n'edemede Igbo, ka anyị na-ede Igbo etu kwesiri ekwesi. E mesịa, aga m ewepụtakwa iwu odide Igbo ọzọ ma m nwekwaa ezi ohere.

Birikwe nụ.
Abụ m,
Anaene Victor Akụdigboo

THE NAMES OF ANIMALS IN IGBO LANGUAGE (AHA ỤMỤANỤMANỤ DỊ ICHEICHE N'ASỤSỤ IGBO)

1) Goat = Ewu (Male = Mkpi, Female = Nne Ewu)
2) Fowl = Ọkụkọ (Male = Oke Ọkpa, Female = Nnekwu)
3) Guinea Fowl = Ọgazị
4) Chicken = Nwa Ọkụkọ
5) Turkey = Tolotolo Torotoro
6) Duck = Ọbọgwụma/Ọbọgwụ
7) Pigeon = Nduru/Nduli
8.) Ostrich = Enyi Nnụnụ
9) Antelope = Mgbada
10) Deer = Ene
11) Cow = Efi
12) Horse = Ịnyịnya
13) Rat = Oke
14) Guinea Pig = Oke Bekee
15) Squirrel = Ọsa
16) Dog = Nkịta
17) Hyena = Nkịta Ọfịa
18) Cat = Nwologbo Buusu / Nwamba
19) Sheep = Atụlụ
20) Ram = Ebune/Ebule
21) Pig = Ezi
22) Lion = Ọdụm
23) Leopard = Agụ/owuru
24) Elephant = Enyi
25) Monkey = Enwe
26) Chimpanzee = Adaka
27) Gorilla = Ọzọdimgba (Ọzọ, the king of wrestling)
28) Snail = Eju/Ejune/Ejula
29) Snake = Agwo
30) Python = Eke
31) Lizard = Ngwele / Ngwere
32) Wall Gecko = Agụ ụno
33) Crocodile = Agụiyi
34) Toad = Awọ
35) Frog = Mbala/Mbara
36) Tortoise = Mbe/Nnabe
37) Vulture = Udene/Udele
38) Eagle = Ugo
39) Ant = Arụrụ/Ahụhụ
40) Black stinging ant = Agbịsị
41) Mosquito = Anwụ Nta
42) Grasshopper = Ụkpana
43) Kite = Nkwọ
44) Spider = Ududo/Udude
45) Praying Mantis = Nchereọgụ / Otiọkpọ
46) Earth Worm = Idide
47) Worm = Okpo
48) Scorpion = Akpị
49) Butterfly = Olokolo mbụba
50) Cockroach = Ụchịcha
51) House Fly = Ijiji
52) Cricket = Mbụzụ/Mbụzọ/Mgbaja
53) Bed Bug = Chịnchị
54) Bee = Añụ
55) Crab = Nshịkọ/Nchịkọ
56) Bat = Ụsụ
57) Millipede = Arịrị/Esu
58) Centipede = Ọgbakụlụ
59) Rabbit = Ewi
60) Grasscutter = Nchi
61) Owl = Ikwighikwighi/Ikwiikwii/Iweọchị
62) Wood Pe**er = Ọtụ Kpọkpọrọrọ
63) Chameleon = Ugwumagana
64) Fox = Nyanwuruede
65) Fish = Azụ
66) African civet = Edi Ụra (a nocturnal animal known to sleep all day during the day. Used to refer to anyone who sleeps a lot)
67) Wasp = Ebu (Isi kote ebu, ọ gbakasịa ya ahụ)
68) Taylor Ant = Ido/ Akpolide (Usually found on mango trees)
69) Porcupine = Ebi Ogwu
70) Shrew = Nkakwụ/Nkapị (Mole-like rat that is
known for its pungent smell.)
71) Eneke Ntị ọba = Swallow (A type of bird that
hardly perches on trees when in season to avoid
being gunned down by human hunters)
72) Hawk = Egbe
73) Beetle = Ebe
74) Periwinkle = Ịsam
75) Bush Fowl/Goose = Ọkwa
76) Stork = Okpoko
77) Boa Constrictor = Eke Ọgba
78) Camel = Ịnyịnya Ibu
79) Hippopotamus = Utobo/Akụm
80) Iguana = Ngwele aghụ
81) Tilapia = Azụ asa
82) Eel = Ebi Iyi
83) Crayfish = ịsha
84) Turtle = Mbe mmili
85) Egret = Chekeleke/Chekeneke
86) Donkey = Jakị
87) Dragon Fly = Tatambeneke
88) Maggot = Ikpuru
89) Buffalo = Atụ
90) Wolf = Agụ Owulu
91) Sparrow = Nza
92) Parrot = Icheoku
93) Viper = Ajụani/Ajụala/Abọala
94) Locusts = Igwulube
95) Galago/Bush baby = Ikili/Ikiri
96) Hog = Ezi Ọfịa
97) Bird = Nnunu (Generic name)
98) Gaboon Viper = Echi Eteka
99) Weaver bird = Egule
100) Cod fish = Okpoloko

Igbo Verbs
Igbo verbs are one of the most important parts of Igbo language that learners need to study well and understand well to be able to speak Igbo language with ease.
A learner needs to understand that based on their structural forms, Igbo verbs can be simple, compound, or complex in their forms.
A simple verb is a one-morpheme verb like '[ọ] mà.' ([s/he] knows),
A compound verb is a verb of two or more morphemes (which are verbs) bound together in one word. Eg.: bùga (carry-go); wébàgá (take-enter-go).
A complex verb has one or more verbs with extra one or more meaningful affixe[s] (attached morphemes) to it. Eg.: búbàcháárá (bu/ba/chaa/ra = carry-enter-all-for; that it, carry all in for…).
Apart from the structural forms, Igbo verbs also have other functional forms that they take. Learners should also do well to understand these forms and their appropriate usage. They include
the infinitive form
participle form
present simple form
simple past form
past participle form
present continuous form
future form
future in the past and past in the future form,
imperative form
gerund
second or more structural order form, etc
Moreover, at times Igbo verbs usually showcase the operations of vowel harmony in some of their forms and contexts of use.
Igbo learners should understand all this well to speak Igbo very well. A file has been prepared on this. You can reach me to get it and understand more on the issues raised above concerning Igbo verbs.

Morning Cola - Comparison in Igbo

(If you need the full version of this essay with the useful formatting that aids understanding, you can reach me.)

When making comparisons, the key words are

• Ka/kacha /ka ... mma (verb [(verb)+complement]),
• Ka(rịrị)... (ike) (verb [+complement]),
• Kà/dịkà (comparative adverb),
• karịa/karịchaa (preposition/comparative adverb),
• -karị/-kàrị̀rị̀ (comparative morphemes attached to verbs).

Examples:
1.Ka/kacha /ka ... mma (verb [+complement]) – meaning bigger than; greater than; better than; taller than. Note that the form with -cha is used when comparing one person/thing with two or more others. But it is also used in comparing two things when indicating that one of the two things compared is better in all the comparative features involved.

a.Amà m nà m kà gị. (I know that I am bigger/greater/taller than you)
b.Ọ kà m mmā. (S/he is better than I.)
c.Ada kà Ngọzi ibù. (Ada is fatter than Ngozi.)
d.Ọ kà m too ogologo. OR Ọ kà m ogologo. (S/he is taller than
I.)
e.Ọ kacha ụmụaka ndị ọzọ àgba mbọ̀. (S/he struggles more than the rest of the children)

2.Ka(rịrị)... (ike) (verb [+complement]) - meaning 'greater than' or 'stronger than':
a.Onye nọ̄ n’ime m kà(rị̀rị̀) ha ike. (He that is in me is stronger than they.)
b.A sị, ‘onyeọbụla tìgbuo onye ọ ka(rịrị) ike,’ ònye gà-àfọ(dụ)? If it is said, ‘everyone should beat to death who is weaker to them,’ who shall remain?

3.Kà/dịkà (comparative adverb) – meaning 'like', 'as',

a.Mee ya kà m siri gwa gị. (Do it as I told you.)
b.Jizọs gà-àbịa dịkà onyeohi na-abalị. (Jesus would come like a thief in the night).
c.Ị nà-àdị kà nna gị. (You look like your dad.) [The underlined words are frequently used in teasing/bantering]
d.Ọ nà-àga kà nwaànyị dị̄ ime. (S/he moves like a pregnant woman.)

4.karịa/karịchaa) (preposition/comparative adverb). Note that the form with -chaa is used when comparing one person/thing with two or more others.

a.Ụmụ̀ ya naàbọ̀ màchà ihe; mana nke abụọ mà ihe karịa. (His/her two kids are wise; but the second one is wiser.

b.Nne ha nà-àsụ Igbo karịa nnà ha. (Their mum speaks Igbo more than their dad.)

c.Ha niile gụ̀rụ̀ akwụkwọ; mana otu n’ime ha gụrụ akwụkwọ karịchaa ndị ọzọ. All of them are educated; but one of them is more educated than the rest.

5. -karị/-kàrị̀rị̀/-karịala/-karịana (comparative morphemes attached to verbs). To use the morpheme -kàrị̀rị̀ the underlined r+vowel (past marker) is replaced with this comparative morpheme – see 5b below. The third form – any of them is right,

(-karịala/-karịana) is used on past perfect verb form – like nweela (ego) – has got (money); bùona (ibu) – has become fat; siena (ike) – has become (strong); etc. To use the morpheme -karịala/-karịana (any of them can be chosen), the underlined part of the verb is replaced with -karịala3/-karịana3 – see 5c&d below.

a.Ụgbọàlà Gọlf nà-àgba ọsọ̄; mànà ụgbọala Jiìp nà-àgbakarị ya n’ọsọ. (Gulf car runs; but Jeep/SUV runs more than Gulf.)
b.Ọ màkàrị̀rị̀ yà na mma. (She is more beautiful than she.)
c.Enwēkarịana m ha n’ego. (I have got money more than they.)
d.I bùkarịala m n’ibù. (You have become fatter than I am.)

Note that -karị also means usually or often (times). This meaning of -karị shouldn’t be confused with its comparative meaning. Exampla: Ọ nà-àbịakarị na mgbèdè. (S/he often/usually comes in the evening).

More on this can be seen in the original file

Morning cola for today
Do you know how to make positive and negative sentences in Igbo?

By adding the negative marker suffix -ghị (or -rọ in Onitsha dialect)/(-họ or -hụ in some other Anambra dialect)/ to the verb in the its base form;

Follow the examples below.
Ọ dị mma. It is good.
Ọ dịghị mma. (OR Ọ dịrọ mma. / Ọ dịhọ mma. / Ọ dịhụ mma.) It is not good.

Ị ma ihe. You are wise.
Ị maghi ihe. You are not wise.

If the verb ends in '-r plus a vowel' which marks the past - like bịaRA (came), kpọRỌ (called), hụRỤ (saw); the past marker is replaced with the negative marker mentioned earlier above.

Examples:
Ị hụrụ m. You saw me.
Ị hụghị m. You did not see me.

Ọ kpọrọ m. S/he called me.
Ọ kpọghị m. S/he did not call me.

Note that the pronoun (ị, i, o, ọ, m,) that starts the positive sentence has high tone but when it starts the negative sentence, it starts with the low tone.

So Ọ in Ọ kpọrọ m (has a high tone); but Ọ in Ọ kpọghị m has the low tone.

More would be said on this subject later.

Igbo cultural displays

Get a copy of a good tutorial book written for Igbo Learners fully translated and explained with English Language to facilitate easy understanding. The name of the book is Learn to Say Basic Things in Igbo. The contents are as follows

Introduction and the purpose of this book
Chapter 1: Igbo alphabet and tones
Chapter 2: Numbers and their application
Chapter 3: Igbo greetings
Chapter 4: Introducing and describing self/others
Chapter 5: Pronouns and the use
Chapter 6: Dining and wining
Chapter 7: Asking basic questions
Chapter 8: Relative places, positions and directions of things.
Chapter 9: Family and social relationships
Chapter 10: Parts of the body and related expressions
Chapter 11: Some verbs and tenses

Colours:in Igbo

Ọ̀cha = fair, white
Akwụkwọndụ̀-akwụkwọndụ̀ = green
Òji = dark, black,
Èdoèdò = golden/yellow
Ntụn̄tụ =ash
Ọ̀bàraọ̀bàrà OR mmeem̄mee= red

Note that when you want to describe any of the colours, you can use the expression
‘Ọ dị̀ (ọ̀cha/òji/ntụn̄tụ/etc). [It is (white/dark/ash/etc)].
OR (for the bright colours, you can also say)

‘Ọ nà-àcha ọ̄cha/mmeem̄mee/ntụn̄tụ/etc. ([It is white or fair/red/ash/etc].

For òji [dark gray/black], you can say Ọ dị̀ òji OR Ọ nà-èji oji. [It is black/dark gray]

Note that -
Igbo language does not have enough terms for all the colours we can hear in English. But there is an expression you can use to make up for the rest of the colours you would want to describe. You can say...

More in the book - Learn to Say Basic Things in Igbo.

Igbo Alphabet
A B CH D E F
G GB GH GW H I
Ị J K KP KW L
M N Ṅ NW NY O
Ọ P R S SH T
U Ụ V W Y Z

A (that sounds close to the English a in apple) is in áká (hand)
B (that sounds close to the English b in big) is found in íbú (load)
CH (------------“--------“---------- ch in church) is in échìchè (thought)
D (that sounds close to the English d in do) is found in ùdó (peace)
E (that sounds close to the English e in get) is found in ézè (king)
F (that sounds close to the English f in for) is found in áfọ́ (belly)
G (that sounds close to the English g in game) is found in ógè (time)
GB ............................................................ is found in Ìgbò (Igbo)
GH .............................................................. is found in ághá (war)
GW ..................................................... is found in ùgwù (prestige)
H (that sounds close to the English h in happy) is found in óhù (slave)..
Details in the book - Learn to Say the Basic Things in Igbo; reach us to get a copy.

Words and Affixes

Words as seen and used in languages are generally considered non-technically as units of meaning. In learning a language, memorising a great dose of increasing vocabulary of terms and expressions used in that language is always very helpful. So, Igbo learners are hereby advised to form that habit of always being hungry of learning new Igbo words. There are new words in different cultural and professional milieus of Igbo people (like, in business, feast, burial ceremony, hostility, marriage, romance, etc.); and if a learner does not have adequate vocabulary for every linguistic context, the learner’s ability to communicate fluently would be weakened.

Numerous words used in a language like Igbo are normally classified into 2 groups – the content words and the function words.

The content words can be seen as the major words that hold the meaning of the sentence, like the nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs; and the function words can be seen as the secondary words in the sentence like the pronoun, conjunction, preposition, quantifiers, etc. They do not hold much of the meaning of the sentence in which they are.

An affix (plural affixes) on the other hand, refers to the ‘extra meaningful attachment’ to a word. In Igbo language, affixes are usually attached at three positions: initial position (called prefix: n- + -kọ = ǹkọ [altercation]), final position (called suffix: pụ+rụ=pụrụ[went]), and joint initial and final positions (called circumfix: n-m + -je- = njem[journey])

There is usually a reason for attaching an affix to a word. It could be to show tenses, to show concord (i.e., agreement) with the person or number of the nominal subject, to change the word class of the word, or to add extra meaning to the word. Igbo language is a language of several affixes and morphemes.

Affixes and other smallest meaningful units in the word structure of a language are called morphemes. In Igbo language, affixes are found in most verbs and verbal expressions.

Igbo learners would do themselves favour if they always strive to learn the meaning of more and more affixes and morphemes they see or hear in spoken or written Igbo.

The following shows and utilises some of the morphemes (including affixes) seen or heard frequently in Igbo.
Nos. Morpheme and the meaning The utilisation and the slightly literal gloss The real meaning proper

1. -gharị
(suggests moving about [not being still/motionless] OR on/at different places or things)

a. Bị̀a kà ànyị na-èkwugharị ọnụ̄.
[Come let’s be speaking and moving (mouth).]

b. Ọ̀tụtụ ụmụ̀akā anāghị àchọ ịnọ̀ otù ebē; ha nà-àchọ ngagharị.
[Many kids don’t want to stay at a place; they want moving about.]

ch. Ọ̀ dịghị̄ mmā mmadụ̀ irīgharị nri ebe ọ̄bụlà/ọ̀bụ̀là.
[It is not good for one to eat food about everywhere.] a. Come let’s keep speaking (to avoid keeping the mouth still / static).

b. Many kids don’t want to stay at a place; they want to be moving about.

ch. It is not good for one to be eating (about) everywhere....
(You can read more in our prepared tutorial material on this subject matter.)

Introducing self and introducing others

When one is introducing oneself or others the following expressions are useful:
Ahà m bụ̀ ..... (My name is ...)
Abụ̀ m̀ nnwa ... (I am the child of ...)
Abụ̀ m̀ onye ... OR M bụ̀ onye ... (I hail from ...)
Ebì m̀ nà .... (I live in/at ...)
Agụ̀rụ̀ m̀ akwụkwọ nà ... OR M gụ̀rụ̀ akwụkwọ nà ... (I schooled at ...)
Anà m̀ àlụ ọlụ nà ... OR M nà-àlụ ọlụ nà ... (I work at ...)
Alụ̄ọla m di [for a married lady] OR Alụọla m nwaànyị̀ [for a married man] (I am married)
Àlụbèghì m di/nwaànyị̀. (I am not married yet)
Ejì m̀ ụmụ̀ àtọ. (I have 3 children)....
Get our E-book (Learn to Say the Basic Things in Igbo), and see more.You can also reach us for other tutorial/learning materials

Have you learnt the parts of the body
Isi (head) high-high tone
Anya (eye) "
Ntị (ear) high-low tone
Ọnụ (mouth) high-mid tone
Imi (nose) high-high tone
Agba (jaw) low-low tone
Olu (neck) high-high tone