Igbo (Asụsụ Igbo)

travel phpto to inspire Igbo language study
A modern Igbo wedding. Photo by Peter489 - Own work, GFDL

ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS

Why learn Igbo?

Knowing Igbo opens the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, and science Knowing Igbo provides a competitive edge in career choices Analytical skills improve when you study Igbo. The study of Igbo teaches and encourages respect for other people.

How Long Does it Take to Learn Igbo?

*** NOTES *** There are over 500 languages spoken in Nigeria. Igbo is spoken in the south east of the country and is the native language of the Igbo people, one of the largest ethnic groups. It is also a regional minority language in Equatorial Guinea. Igbo can be written Ibo or, in the language, Asụsụ Igbo. Igbo is related to the Yoruba language: they are both members of the Volta-Niger language family. More distantly, it is related to the Bantu languages which spread across most of southern Africa, including Shona, Swhaili and Zulu. aka Eboe, language in Nigeria

Igbo Alphabet & Pronunciation

The Igbo alphabet, called Ọnwụ, consists of 28 consonants and 8 vowels. Sometimes tones are sometimes indicated in writing: low tones are shown with a grave accent over the vowel (à), and high tones with an acute accent over the vowel (á).

A a
[a]
B b
[b]
Ch ch
[tʃ]
D d
[d]
E e
[e]
F f
[f]
G g
[ɡ]
Gb gb
[ɓ~ɡ͡ɓ]
Gh gh
[ɣ]
Gw gw
[ɡʷ]
H h
[ɦ]
I i
[i]
Ị ị
[ɪ̙]
J j
[dʒ]
K k
[k]
Kp kp
[ɓ̥~k͡p]
Kw kw
[kʷ]
L l
[l]
M m
[m]
N n
[n]
Ṅ ṅ
[ŋ]
Nw nw
[ŋʷ]
Ny ny
[ɲ]
O o
[o]
Ọ ọ
[ɔ̙]
P p
[p]
R r
[ɹ]
S s
[s]
Ṣ ṣ
[ʃ]
T t
[t]
U u
[u]
Ụ ụ
[ʊ̙]
V v
[v]
W w
[w]
Y y
[j]
Z z
[z]

Basic Phrases in Igbo

HelloNnọọ
GoodbyeKa ọ dị
YesEe
NoMba
Excuse meCheregodi
PleaseBiko
Thank youDaalụ
You are welcomeAna m asị gị nnọọ
Do you speak englishỊ na-asụ Bekee?
Do you understandỊ ghọtara?
I understandAghọtara m
I do not understand
How are youKedu ka ị mere?
Fine thanksỌ dị mma daalụ!
What is your nameKedu aha gị?
My name isAha m bụ
Pleased to meet youỌ dị m ụtọ izute gị

Igbo Grammar

Igbo Nouns

ManNwoke
WomanNwanyi
BoyNwata nwoke ( )
GirlNwanyị
CatPusi
DogNkịta
FishAzu
WaterMmiri
MilkMmiri ara
EggAkwa
Houseụlọ
FlowerIfuru
TreeOsisi
ShirtUwe
PantsUwe ogologo ọkpa ( )

Igbo Adjectives

Colors in Igbo

BlackOjii
Whiteọcha
RedMerah
OrangeOroma
YellowEdo edo
GreenGriin
BlueBluu
PurpleOdo odo
PinkPink
GrayIsi awọ
BrownAja aja

Numbers in Igbo

ZeroEfu
OneOtu
TwoAbụọ
ThreeAtọ
FourAnọ
FiveIse
SixIsii
SevenAsaa
EightAsatọ
NineItoolu
TenIri
ElevenIri na otu
TwelveIri na abụọ
TwentyIri abụọ
ThirtyIri ato
FortyIri anọ
FiftyIri ise
SixtyIri isii
SeventyIri asaa
EightyIri asatọ
NinetyIri itoolu
HundredNarị
ThousandPuku

Igbo Verbs

To beịdị
To haveInwe
To wantChọrọ
To needMkpa
To helpNyere aka
To goGaa
To comeBia
To eatIri nri
To drinkInu
To speakIkwu okwu

Building Simple Sentences

More Complex Igbo Sentences

AndNa
OrMa obu
ButMana
BecauseN'ihi na
WithYa na
AlsoKwa
HoweverAgbanyeghị
NeitherAbughikwa
Norọ bụghịkwa
Ifọ bụrụ
ThenMgbe ahụ

Useful Igbo Vocabulary

Igbo Questions

WhoOnye
WhatKedu
WhenMgbe ole
WhereEbe
WhyN’ihi gịnị
HowKedu
How manyOle
How muchEgo ole

Days of the Week in Igbo

MondayMọnde
Tuesdayụbọchị taa
WednesdayWenezde
ThursdayTọzdee
FridayFraide
SaturdaySatọde
SundaySọnde
Yesterdayụnyaahụ
TodayTaa
TomorrowEchi

Months in Igbo

JanuaryJenụwarị
FebruaryFebruary
MarchMachị
AprilEprel
MayMee
JuneJuunu
JulyJulaị
AugustỌgọstụ
SeptemberSeptemba
OctoberỌktoba
NovemberNọvemba
DecemberDisemba

Seasons in Igbo

WinterWinta
SpringMmiri
SummerOge ọkọchị
AutumnMgbụsị akwụkwọ

Telling Time in Igbo

What time is itKedu ihe na-akụ?
HoursIkp
MinutesNkeji
SecondsNkeji
O clockElekere
Halfọkara
Quarter pastNkeji iri na ise gara aga
BeforeTupu
AfterMgbe