Difference between revisions of "Igbo phrasebook"
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− | + | [[file:Igbo welcome banner.jpg|1280px|ftt=yes}} | |
− | Countries with Igbo as an official language.svg|Igbo is spoken widely in West and West-Central Africa and is a national language of Nigeria and a recognised language of Equatorial Guinea. | + | Countries with Igbo as an official language.svg|Igbo is spoken widely in West and West-Central Africa and is a national language of Nigeria and a recognised language of [[Equatorial Guinea]]. |
Ukara cloth - An Ókárá Ẹ̀kpẹ̀ resist-dyed with nsibidi symbols. | Ukara cloth - An Ókárá Ẹ̀kpẹ̀ resist-dyed with nsibidi symbols. | ||
− | '''Igbo''' (''ásụ̀sụ̀ Ìgbò'') is a Niger-Congo language spoken primarily in [[Nigeria]]. There are between 18–25 million Igbo speakers living primarily in Southeast Nigeria|southeastern Nigeria in an area known as Igboland. Igbo is a national language of Nigeria and is also recognised in Equatorial Guinea. Igbo is made up of many different dialects which aren't mutually intelligible to other Igbo speakers at times. A standard for Igbo called 'Igbo izugbe' has been developed. Igbo is written in the Latin alphabet introduced by British colonialists and missionaries. Secret societies such as the Ekpe use nsibidi ideograms to write Igbo and other languages around its area of influence. Nsibidi is an ideographic writing system used for over 500 years. | + | '''Igbo''' (''ásụ̀sụ̀ Ìgbò'') is a Niger-Congo language spoken primarily in [[Nigeria]]. There are between 18–25 million Igbo speakers living primarily in Southeast Nigeria|southeastern Nigeria in an area known as Igboland. Igbo is a national language of Nigeria and is also recognised in [[Equatorial Guinea]]. Igbo is made up of many different dialects which aren't mutually intelligible to other Igbo speakers at times. A standard for Igbo called 'Igbo izugbe' has been developed. Igbo is written in the Latin alphabet introduced by British colonialists and missionaries. Secret societies such as the Ekpe use nsibidi ideograms to write Igbo and other languages around its area of influence. Nsibidi is an ideographic writing system used for over 500 years. |
Major cities where Igbo is most spoken include Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri (''oh-weh-reh''), Port Harcourt, and Asaba (in Igbo, ''ah-hah-bah''). | Major cities where Igbo is most spoken include Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri (''oh-weh-reh''), Port Harcourt, and Asaba (in Igbo, ''ah-hah-bah''). | ||
− | Through the transatlantic slave trade and the Igbo language has influenced many creole languages in the Americas, especially in the former British Caribbean, including islands such as Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Variations of Igbo known as Suámo can be found in [[Cuba]]. Igbo is spoken by a significant number of people on Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea, formerly known as Fernando Po, and in micro-communities in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, and it is also spoken by recent migrants of Igbo descent all over the world. | + | Through the transatlantic slave trade and the Igbo language has influenced many creole languages in the Americas, especially in the former British Caribbean, including islands such as [[Jamaica]], [[Barbados]], [[Dominica]], and [[Trinidad and Tobago]]. Variations of Igbo known as Suámo can be found in [[Cuba]]. Igbo is spoken by a significant number of people on Bioko island in [[Equatorial Guinea]], formerly known as Fernando Po, and in micro-communities in [[Cameroon]] and [[Equatorial Guinea]], and it is also spoken by recent migrants of Igbo descent all over the world. |
==Pronunciation guide== | ==Pronunciation guide== | ||
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Nouns in Igbo have no grammatical number and there are no gendered pronouns or objects. Igbo grammar generally maintains a subject–verb–object clause order; ''mádụ̀ àbụ́ghị̀ chúkwú'', "human[s -[itis[not -God", "man is not God". Adjectives in Igbo are post-modifiers, although there are very few Igbo adjectives in the Closed class|closed class; many so called "adjectives" in Igbo are considered nouns, especially when the word is a pre-modifier like im ''ágádí nwóké'' transliterated as "elderly man". Igbo features vowel harmony between two vowels and commonly features vowel assimilation where a preceding vowel influences the articulation (or the elision with /a/) of the next such as in ''ǹk'â'', "this one", analysed as ''ǹkè'' "of" and ''â'' "this". Igbo syllable shapes are CV (consonant, vowel) which is the most common, V, and North which are syllabic nasals and there are also semi vowels like /CjV/ in the word ''bìá'' (/bjá/) "come" and /CwV/ in ''gwú'' /ɡʷú/ "swim". | Nouns in Igbo have no grammatical number and there are no gendered pronouns or objects. Igbo grammar generally maintains a subject–verb–object clause order; ''mádụ̀ àbụ́ghị̀ chúkwú'', "human[s -[itis[not -God", "man is not God". Adjectives in Igbo are post-modifiers, although there are very few Igbo adjectives in the Closed class|closed class; many so called "adjectives" in Igbo are considered nouns, especially when the word is a pre-modifier like im ''ágádí nwóké'' transliterated as "elderly man". Igbo features vowel harmony between two vowels and commonly features vowel assimilation where a preceding vowel influences the articulation (or the elision with /a/) of the next such as in ''ǹk'â'', "this one", analysed as ''ǹkè'' "of" and ''â'' "this". Igbo syllable shapes are CV (consonant, vowel) which is the most common, V, and North which are syllabic nasals and there are also semi vowels like /CjV/ in the word ''bìá'' (/bjá/) "come" and /CwV/ in ''gwú'' /ɡʷú/ "swim". | ||
− | Igbo dialects are roughly split into a Northern Igbo (''NI'') and Southern Igbo (''SI'') class which is defined by the area in southeastern Nigeria where Igbo is spoken. Further classification can split the Northern Igbo dialect into a Inland Western Igbo dialect (areas around Onitsha and Awka), a Northeastern Igbo dialect (around Abakaliki) and a Western Igbo or Niger Igbo dialect (Asaba to Agbor); the Southern Igbo dialect can be split between a South Central or Inland East Igbo dialect (around Owerri and Aba), an Eastern or Cross River Igbo dialect (around Arochukwu and Afikpo), and a Riverine or Niger Delta Igbo dialect (around | + | Igbo dialects are roughly split into a Northern Igbo (''NI'') and Southern Igbo (''SI'') class which is defined by the area in southeastern Nigeria where Igbo is spoken. Further classification can split the Northern Igbo dialect into a Inland Western Igbo dialect (areas around Onitsha and Awka), a Northeastern Igbo dialect (around Abakaliki) and a Western Igbo or Niger Igbo dialect (Asaba to Agbor); the Southern Igbo dialect can be split between a South Central or Inland East Igbo dialect (around Owerri and Aba), an Eastern or Cross River Igbo dialect (around Arochukwu and Afikpo), and a Riverine or Niger Delta Igbo dialect (around [[Bonn]]y Island and Port Harcourt). In reality there are dozens of Igbo dialects all with their own subtleties and the farther one dialect group is from the other and the less they'll probably be able to understand each other. In response to the feasible difficulty of Igbo speakers understanding the opposite extremes of the dialects to theirs, a Standard Igbo dialect (''Ìgbò ìzùgbé'') has since evolved from the early 20th century and is the standard used for official uses and education. In training, Standard Igbo has no population base in the Igbo speaking world and is largely ignored except for in formal education. There has also been much criticism and rejection of the constructed language, with accusations of inauthenticity, difficulty, and bias towards dialects that were chosen in the forming of the dialect. |
===Addressing people=== | ===Addressing people=== | ||
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===Written Igbo=== | ===Written Igbo=== | ||
− | Indomie Igbo Advert, Abia - Indomie Noodles advert in Igbo, Abia State | + | Indomie Igbo Advert, Abia - Indomie [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-certified-noodles/ Noodles] advert in Igbo, Abia State |
There are hundreds of Igbo dialects and Igboid languages spoken by different clans and former nation-states. The high variation and low mutual intelligibility between many Igbo dialects has been a hindrance to written Igbo and Igbo literature over the years. This has led to the development of a standard form of Igbo known as 'standard Igbo' or ''Igbo izugbe''. This standard form was based on dialects around the central parts of Igboland. Although it is was created to boost Igbo literature, it received a little bit of backlash and opposition from Igbo speakers such as author Chinua Achebe, who see it as artificial and prefer to speak their own dialects. Igbo izubge is the standard used in the curriculum of Igbo language studies, and an Igbo lingua franca. | There are hundreds of Igbo dialects and Igboid languages spoken by different clans and former nation-states. The high variation and low mutual intelligibility between many Igbo dialects has been a hindrance to written Igbo and Igbo literature over the years. This has led to the development of a standard form of Igbo known as 'standard Igbo' or ''Igbo izugbe''. This standard form was based on dialects around the central parts of Igboland. Although it is was created to boost Igbo literature, it received a little bit of backlash and opposition from Igbo speakers such as author Chinua Achebe, who see it as artificial and prefer to speak their own dialects. Igbo izubge is the standard used in the curriculum of Igbo language studies, and an Igbo lingua franca. | ||
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===Seasons=== | ===Seasons=== | ||
− | There are only two seasons in the Igbo homeland; the dry season and the rainy season. There is also a dusty trade wind known as harmattan that blows throughout West Africa. | + | There are only two seasons in the Igbo homeland; the dry season and the rainy season. There is also a dusty trade wind known as harmattan that blows throughout [[West Africa]]. |
; Rainy season : Ùdù ḿmírí (''oo-doo MMonday - MEE-REE'') | ; Rainy season : Ùdù ḿmírí (''oo-doo MMonday - MEE-REE'') | ||
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; Is there a house specialty? : Ọ dì íhnyé nani ha ne shi nga? (''aw dee EE-HEE-YEAH NAH-NEE HAH nay SHEE in-GAH?'') | ; Is there a house specialty? : Ọ dì íhnyé nani ha ne shi nga? (''aw dee EE-HEE-YEAH NAH-NEE HAH nay SHEE in-GAH?'') | ||
; Is there a local specialty? : Ọ dì ihe ori ha ma ndi ebe nka màkà? (''aw dee EE-HEE-YEAH oh-REE HAH mah IN-DEE AY-BAY in-KAH-ah mah-kah?'') | ; Is there a local specialty? : Ọ dì ihe ori ha ma ndi ebe nka màkà? (''aw dee EE-HEE-YEAH oh-REE HAH mah IN-DEE AY-BAY in-KAH-ah mah-kah?'') | ||
− | ; I'm a | + | ; I'm a [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/plant-based-food/ Vegetarian]. : Monday bu vegitériyan. (''MM boo veh-gee-TEH-REE-yen.'') |
; I don't eat Pork. : À nam e ri ánú ézì. (''ah-NAHM eh REE AH-NOO AY-zee.'') | ; I don't eat Pork. : À nam e ri ánú ézì. (''ah-NAHM eh REE AH-NOO AY-zee.'') | ||
; I don't eat beef. : À nam e ri ánú efi. (''ah-NAHM eh REE AH-NOO AY-FEE.'') | ; I don't eat beef. : À nam e ri ánú efi. (''ah-NAHM eh REE AH-NOO AY-FEE.'') | ||
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; I want _____. : Monday chọrọ _____. (''MM chore-roh.'') | ; I want _____. : Monday chọrọ _____. (''MM chore-roh.'') | ||
; I want a dish containing _____. : Monday chọrọ órí _____. (''MM chore-roh OH-REE'') | ; I want a dish containing _____. : Monday chọrọ órí _____. (''MM chore-roh OH-REE'') | ||
− | ; chicken : ánú ọkúkọ (''AH-NOO aw-KOO-koh'') | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-chicken-meat/ Chicken] : ánú ọkúkọ (''AH-NOO aw-KOO-koh'') |
; beef : ánú efi (''AH-NOO ay-FEE'') | ; beef : ánú efi (''AH-NOO ay-FEE'') | ||
; goat : ánú éwú (''AH-NOO AY-WOO'') | ; goat : ánú éwú (''AH-NOO AY-WOO'') | ||
; fish : azụ (''AH-zoo'') | ; fish : azụ (''AH-zoo'') | ||
; ham : ánú ezi (''AH-NOO AY-ZEE'') | ; ham : ánú ezi (''AH-NOO AY-ZEE'') | ||
− | ; | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-sausages/ Sausages] : sọseji (''SOH-seh-jee'') |
− | ; cheese : chizu (''CHEE-zoo'') | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-certified-cheese-food-products/ Cheese] : chizu (''CHEE-zoo'') |
; yam : jí (''JEE'') | ; yam : jí (''JEE'') | ||
; eggs : àkwá (''ah-KWAH'') | ; eggs : àkwá (''ah-KWAH'') | ||
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; bread : achicha (''ah-chee-chah'') | ; bread : achicha (''ah-chee-chah'') | ||
; toast : tosutu (''TOE-SU-too'') | ; toast : tosutu (''TOE-SU-too'') | ||
− | ; Noodles : índomi (''IN-DOE-mee'') | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-certified-noodles/ Noodles] : índomi (''IN-DOE-mee'') |
− | ; rice : osikapa (''aw-see-kah-pah'') | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/asean-halal-food/halal-shop/halal-certified-rice/ Rice] : osikapa (''aw-see-kah-pah'') |
; soup : ǹsàlà, súpu (''in-sah-lah, SOO-poo'') | ; soup : ǹsàlà, súpu (''in-sah-lah, SOO-poo'') | ||
; stew/soup (like Gumbo|gumbo) : ófé (''OH-FAY'') | ; stew/soup (like Gumbo|gumbo) : ófé (''OH-FAY'') | ||
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; May I have a bottle of _____? : Monday nweriki were otu kalama _____? (''mm weh-REE-KEE WEH-REH OH-too KAH-lah-mah _____?'') | ; May I have a bottle of _____? : Monday nweriki were otu kalama _____? (''mm weh-REE-KEE WEH-REH OH-too KAH-lah-mah _____?'') | ||
Nmili Ukwa A drink from special ukwa porridge from Igbo land Eastern part of Nigeria - Nmili Ukwa, a beverage made of African breadfruit | Nmili Ukwa A drink from special ukwa porridge from Igbo land Eastern part of Nigeria - Nmili Ukwa, a beverage made of African breadfruit | ||
− | ; coffee : kọfi (''KOR-fi'') | + | ; [https://ehalal.io/buy-halal-food/halal-coffee-tea/ coffee] : kọfi (''KOR-fi'') |
; tea (''drink'') : ti (''tee'') | ; tea (''drink'') : ti (''tee'') | ||
; juice : ùmì ósísí, jusu (''oo-mee OH-SEE-SEE, joo-soo'') | ; juice : ùmì ósísí, jusu (''oo-mee OH-SEE-SEE, joo-soo'') | ||
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; water : mmiri (''mm-MI-ri'') | ; water : mmiri (''mm-MI-ri'') | ||
; organic juice : biye (''bee-YEAH'') | ; organic juice : biye (''bee-YEAH'') | ||
− | ; | + | ; : waini ufie/ọcha (''WINE-nee OO-fi-yeah/aw-CHAH'') |
; May I have some _____? : O kam nweturu _____ ntakiri? (''aw KAHM WEH-TOO-ROO _____ IN-tah-KEE-REE?'') | ; May I have some _____? : O kam nweturu _____ ntakiri? (''aw KAHM WEH-TOO-ROO _____ IN-tah-KEE-REE?'') | ||
; salt : ńnú (''IN-NOO'') | ; salt : ńnú (''IN-NOO'') | ||
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; Do you serve alcohol? : Ì nè ré ḿmáñyá? (''ee NAY ray mm-MAN-YAH?'') | ; Do you serve alcohol? : Ì nè ré ḿmáñyá? (''ee NAY ray mm-MAN-YAH?'') | ||
; Is there table service? : Hà nè ché tébulu? (''HAH neh CHAY TEH-boo-loo?'') | ; Is there table service? : Hà nè ché tébulu? (''HAH neh CHAY TEH-boo-loo?'') | ||
− | ; A | + | ; A Cola/two soft drinks, please. : Ótù ḿmáñyá/ḿmáñyá abụo, biko. (''OH-too MMonday - MAHN-YA ah-BWORE, BEE-COE.'') |
− | ; A glass of | + | ; A glass of fruit cocktail, please. : Nkalama ḿmáñyá mmẹ mmẹ/ọchá, biko. (''NN-kah-lah-mah MMonday - MAHN-YA m-MEH-m-MEH/aw-CHAH, BEE-COE'') |
; A pint, please. : Ótù paint, biko. (''OH-too pah-int, BEE-COE'') | ; A pint, please. : Ótù paint, biko. (''OH-too pah-int, BEE-COE'') | ||
; A bottle, please. : Ótù aba, biko. (''OH-too AH-BAH, BEE-COE'') | ; A bottle, please. : Ótù aba, biko. (''OH-too AH-BAH, BEE-COE'') | ||
− | ; _____ (''hard | + | ; _____ (''hard drink'') and _____ (''mixer''), please. : _____ (''ḿmáñyá ȯkụ'') na _____ (''ihe é jị à gbagwa ya''), biko. (''(MMonday - MAHN-YA AW-KUH) nah _____ (EE-HEE-YEAH AY jee ah g-BAH-GUAH YA), BEE-COE.'') |
; stout : stawt (''STAH-woot'') | ; stout : stawt (''STAH-woot'') | ||
; whiskey : wiski (''WEE-skee'') | ; whiskey : wiski (''WEE-skee'') | ||
; vodka : vọ́dkà (''VOHD-kah'') | ; vodka : vọ́dkà (''VOHD-kah'') | ||
− | ; | + | ; : rộm (''ROHM'') |
; spirit : ḿmáñyá ọ́kụ́ (''MMonday - MAHN-YA AW-KUH'') | ; spirit : ḿmáñyá ọ́kụ́ (''MMonday - MAHN-YA AW-KUH'') | ||
− | ; palm | + | ; palm : ḿmáñyá ǹgwọ̀, ḿmáñyá ṅkwú (''MMonday - MAHN-YA nn-gwor, MMonday - MAHN-YA NN-KWOO'') |
; water : mmiri (''MMonday - MEE-REE'') | ; water : mmiri (''MMonday - MEE-REE'') | ||
; drinking water : mmiri ọñuñu (''MMonday - MEE-REE aw-nngoo-goo'') | ; drinking water : mmiri ọñuñu (''MMonday - MEE-REE aw-nngoo-goo'') | ||
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; Cheers! : Má mmá nụ̀! (''MA MMA-noo'') | ; Cheers! : Má mmá nụ̀! (''MA MMA-noo'') | ||
− | == | + | == Shopping in {{FULLPAGENAME}} == |
Igbo garment-Nigeria - Igbo garment | Igbo garment-Nigeria - Igbo garment | ||
; Do you have this in my size? : Ì nwẹrẹ ihëa na àsàm?/Ì nwẹrẹ ihëa na amàm? (''...'') | ; Do you have this in my size? : Ì nwẹrẹ ihëa na àsàm?/Ì nwẹrẹ ihëa na amàm? (''...'') |
Latest revision as of 08:22, 20 September 2024
[[file:Igbo welcome banner.jpg|1280px|ftt=yes}} Countries with Igbo as an official language.svg|Igbo is spoken widely in West and West-Central Africa and is a national language of Nigeria and a recognised language of Equatorial Guinea. Ukara cloth - An Ókárá Ẹ̀kpẹ̀ resist-dyed with nsibidi symbols.
Igbo (ásụ̀sụ̀ Ìgbò) is a Niger-Congo language spoken primarily in Nigeria. There are between 18–25 million Igbo speakers living primarily in Southeast Nigeria|southeastern Nigeria in an area known as Igboland. Igbo is a national language of Nigeria and is also recognised in Equatorial Guinea. Igbo is made up of many different dialects which aren't mutually intelligible to other Igbo speakers at times. A standard for Igbo called 'Igbo izugbe' has been developed. Igbo is written in the Latin alphabet introduced by British colonialists and missionaries. Secret societies such as the Ekpe use nsibidi ideograms to write Igbo and other languages around its area of influence. Nsibidi is an ideographic writing system used for over 500 years.
Major cities where Igbo is most spoken include Onitsha, Enugu, Owerri (oh-weh-reh), Port Harcourt, and Asaba (in Igbo, ah-hah-bah).
Through the transatlantic slave trade and the Igbo language has influenced many creole languages in the Americas, especially in the former British Caribbean, including islands such as Jamaica, Barbados, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Variations of Igbo known as Suámo can be found in Cuba. Igbo is spoken by a significant number of people on Bioko island in Equatorial Guinea, formerly known as Fernando Po, and in micro-communities in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, and it is also spoken by recent migrants of Igbo descent all over the world.
Contents
Pronunciation guide
Igbo is a tonal language with a high, mid, and low range, in addition there are rising and falling tones. Accents are used to indicate the high and low tones; an acute accent such as 'ó' are used for high tones, and a grave accent such as 'è' is used for a low tone. There are further accents that indicate nasal or backed vowels. The lower dotted accent such as 'ọ' combined with a grave accent ('ọ̀') is used to indicate a low backed vowel, and an upper dotted accent such as 'ė' or a lower dotted accent with an acute accent ('ọ́') is used for a high backed vowel. The trema (¨) such as 'ö' or a simple dot underneath is used for a mid backed vowel. Other diacritics include the caron (ˇ) for rising tones and the circumflex (ˆ) for falling tones, and the macron (¯) for down-steps or long vowels.
Vowels
Vowels in Igbo are very similar to those in English when there is little tone stress on them. Most of the times vowels in Igbo are written with accents indicating this tone.
vowel | English equiv. | vowel | English equiv. | vowel | English equiv. | vowel | English equiv. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
a | like 'a' in "father" | e | like 'e' in "get" | i | like 'ee' in "seen" | ị | low tone nasal 'i' | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
o | like 'o' in "coat" | ọ | low tone nasal 'o' | u | like 'oo' in "pool" | ụ | low tone nasal u
ConsonantsConsonants do not have a tone in Igbo apart from 'n' and 'm' which are the only letters that can be written with accent marks.
|