🇳🇬Nigeria (Sud-Est)
Igbo vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Igbo vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nnọọ | Welcome | Culture: "Nnọọ" est une salutation d'accueil très chaleureuse, utilisée pour souhaiter la bienvenue. |
| Ị bọọla ọ dị mma | Good morning (have you arrived well?) | |
| Ụtụtụ ọma | Good morning | |
| Ehihie ọma | Good afternoon | |
| Anyasị ọma | Good evening | |
| Ọ dị mma | It's fine / OK | |
| Daalu | Thank you | |
| Daalu nke ukwu | Thank you very much | |
| Ndo | Sorry / Excuse me | |
| Kedu? | How are you? |
Food & drinks
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nri | Food | |
| Mmiri | Water | |
| Anụ | Meat | |
| Azụ | Fish | |
| Ji | Yam | Culture: L'igname est sacrée en culture igbo. Le "New Yam Festival" (Iri ji) est l'une des fêtes les plus importantes. |
| Ofe onugbu | Bitter leaf soup | |
| Akụ | Palm nut | |
| Ọjị | Kola nut | Culture: La noix de cola est sacrée lors des cérémonies igbo : elle symbolise l'hospitalité et l'union. |
| Mmanya | Drink / Alcohol | |
| Ofe | Soup / Sauce |
Family
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nna | Father | |
| Nne | Mother | |
| Nwa | Child | |
| Nwanne nwoke | Brother | |
| Nwanne nwanyị | Sister | |
| Di | Husband | |
| Nwunye | Wife | |
| Nnenna | Grandmother (paternal) | |
| Ụmụ | Children / Descendants | |
| Enyi | Friend |
Human body
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Isi | Head | |
| Anya | Eye | |
| Imi | Nose | |
| Ọnụ | Mouth | |
| Ntị | Ear | |
| Aka | Hand | |
| Ụkwụ | Foot / Leg | |
| Obi | Heart | |
| Afọ | Stomach | |
| Ahụ | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| otu | One | |
| abụọ | Two | |
| atọ | Three | |
| anọ | Four | |
| ise | Five | |
| isii | Six | |
| asaa | Seven | |
| asatọ | Eight | |
| itoolu | Nine | |
| iri | Ten | |
| iri na otu | Eleven | |
| iri na abụọ | Twelve | |
| iri na atọ | Thirteen | |
| iri na anọ | Fourteen | |
| iri na ise | Fifteen | |
| iri na isii | Sixteen | |
| iri na asaa | Seventeen | |
| iri na asatọ | Eighteen | |
| iri na itoolu | Nineteen | |
| iri abụọ | Twenty |
Colors
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ọcha | White | |
| Ojii | Black | |
| Ọbara ọbara | Red | |
| Anụnụ ọhịa | Green | |
| Ọcha ọnụ | Blue | |
| Odo | Yellow | |
| Oji oji | Grey | |
| Ọbara ọpụrụ | Orange |
Animals
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Odum | Lion | |
| Enyi | Elephant | |
| Nkịta | Dog | |
| Okuko | Chicken | |
| Efi | Cow | |
| Ewu | Goat | |
| Azụ | Fish | |
| Nnụnụ | Bird | |
| Ọchị | Crocodile | |
| Agu | Leopard |
Home & daily life
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ulo | House | |
| Ọnụ ọnụ | Door | |
| Ụlọ ọrụ | Office / Workplace | |
| Ahịa | Market | |
| Ụlọ akwụkwọ | School | |
| Ego | Money | |
| Uwe | Clothes | |
| Ọkụ | Fire / Light | |
| Akwụkwọ | Book / Paper | |
| Ọrụ | Work |
Time & weather
| Igbo / Ásụsụ Igbo | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Taa | Today | |
| Ụnyaahụ | Yesterday | |
| Echi | Tomorrow | |
| Anyanwụ | Sun | |
| Anyasị | Night | |
| Ozuzo | Rain | |
| Oyi | Cold | |
| Ọkụ | Heat | |
| Ikuku | Wind | |
| Oge ozuzo | Rainy season |
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Cultural immersion in Igbo
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