Nkọwa okwu · 288 entries

e

-e

see -a/-e/-ọ/o

-ŋeAV

step over

-ŋe òfìAValso òrì

step over somebody's outstretched legs; step over

-ŋefèAV

step over; trespass

Eŋēfègo m ōzu agwō dịchili ụzò — I have stepped over the dead snake on the path

-ŋefègaAV

step over; trespass

Bikō eŋēfègàkwònà okè mụ nà gị màkà nà achōrọ m kà ị bàta n’ànì m — Please do not overstep our boundary for I do not want to find you on my land

-ŋefètaAV

step over

(ebenebe) -gbuNNC

happen (of disaster, scandal, something serious)

Ebenebê gbùlù — It was a disaster

(egwù) -tụAV

be afraid

Egwù nà-àtụ m ijē ugbō n’anyàsì — I am afraid to go to the farm at night

ealso a

(dependent, indefinite; harmonizes) one; ‘they’ (indefinite); often translated by English passive

e-PREPalso a-

(harmonizes) verb prefix marking negative

Ìgbò enwē ezè — The Igbo have no kings

è-PREPalso à-

(harmonizes; tone high before low tone root) verb prefix marking sequential mood

Chi èfoo — Day breaks

Chi abòọ — Day breaks

e-/a- mPRN

(dependent, 1st person singular; harmonizes) I

Anà m èje — I am going

Elìlì m ife — I ate food

ebeNNC

place; where; while; since; whereas

Agà m èje ebe ọ nò — I will go where he is

Emēna mkpọtụ ebe m nà-àgụ akwụkwọ — Don’t make a noise while I’m reading

Kà ànyị chèlu yā n’ụzō à ebe ọ bū nà ọ gà-èsi ụzō à gafè — Let us wait for him here, since he will pass by this road

ebēNNC

yam beetle

ebe àDEM

1. this place, here
2. this place

ebe a nà-àmụ nnwāNNC

maternity home

ebe a nà-enì ozūNNC

burial ground

ebe a nà-èsi nnīNNC

kitchen

ebe afù

1. that place; there
2. that place

ebe dī (n’)ichè (n’)ichèNNC

different, various places

ebè èbèAV

endless

ebe ịtā nniNNC

pasture

ebe mgbabàAV

refuge

ebe niīneNNC

everywhere

ebe nzuzoNNC

secret place; retired spot

ebe ōbibiAV

habitation; dwelling place

ebe ọbụnàNNC

any place

èbeēINTJ

where (to)?

Èbeē kà ị jèkò — Where are you going?

Èbeē kà ọ dì? — Where is it?

Èbeē kà ọ nò? — Where is she?

èbeē zi?INTJ

Where then? where else?

èbelèNNC

mercy; pity

ÈbelèchukwuNNC

male name (literally mercy of God)

ebenebeNNC

extraordinary happening; disaster

ebīNNC

lungfish; mudfish (Protopterus annectens) (= ekwum)

ebìNNC

porcupine

ebì ntàNNC

Brush-tailed Porcupine (Atherura fricana Gray)

ebì ogwūNNC

Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata senegalica Cuv.)

èbìlìNNC

storm on water; wave

eboNNC

the smallest kinship-cum-residential unit, a subdivision of

EbōNNC

male name (short for Ebōzinam, literally stop accusing me)

èbùNNC

1. mildew; mould
2. wasp; hornet

èbùbèNNC

marvel; wonder; majesty

èbùbe āgụNNC

African Bowstring Hemp or Leopard Lily (Sansevieria liberica Gér. and Labr.), seen in Agwụ shrines and used as a charm against thieves or a medicine for pregnant women

ebùboNNCalso èbùbò

accusation; charge (-bo 2. verb accuse)

èbùboAV

levy accusation; accuse

E bòlù yà ebùbo orī — He has been accused of stealing

Èbùbo kà onya mmà — A false accusation is worse than a matchet wound

èbùnùNNC

ram

èbùnu IdemīliNNC

the ram of the Idemìli god (This ram lives mainly in the Idemìli god’s shrine and its surroundings. But it also roams about the village from compound to compound. The ram must not be beaten or killed by anybody, as it is believed that anyone who does this will automatically be visited and killed by the god.)

echiNNC

1. tomorrow
2. old type of money in form of bent wires

Proverb: Echī dì imē, ò nwerō onye mā ife ọ gà-àmụ — Tomorrow is pregnant, no one knows what it will bring forth

echi niīneNNC

tomorrow (emphatic)

echi yāNNC

the next day; the following day

Ndụ gbàlù akwụkwọ ụbòsì Krisìmaàsì, ò lue echī ya ò sie nnukwu ōlili — Ndù wedded on Christmas Day; the following day he gave a great feast

echìchèNNC

thought

echichiNNC

title; titled man (general; compare mmụō 2., ọzō)

edèNNC

cocoyam

edē ànàNNC

plant with spotted leaves and corm, the juice of which can be used to mark the body (Cynastrum cordifolium)

edè ekòNNC

cocoyam cooked like yam (Colocasia esculenta Schott)

edē mmụōNNC

Ground Arum, plants whose leaves resemble the cocoyam (Stylochiton hypogaens Lepr. and S. lancifolius Kotschy and Peyr.)

edē mmụọNNC

inedible plant similar to cocoyam

edē ūmakà (alsoNNC

cocoyam which requires boiling overnight, probably the

edè)NNC

oldest type (Xanthosoma mafaffa Schott.)

ediNNC

African civet (Viverra civetta), Genet (Genetta spp.), Two- spotted Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata)

edi ùmàNNC

civet-cat, which is very sensitive

edòNNC

tree whose trunk is used for canoes and whose roots and bark are used as medicine (prob. Terminalia glaucescens Planch. ex Benth., perh. also T. superba Engl. and Diels, possibly Distemonanthus benthamianus Baill.)

èdòNNC

yellow vegetable dye; yellow (of colour)

ÈdòNNC

divinity

èeINTJ

answer to a call

èè eINTJalso eee

yes

èe’è [èe?è]INTJalso e’è

no!

èèye!INTJ

yes! certainly!

èeyī!INTJ

yes!

efèNNC

chance; opportunity; leisure

Enwērọ m efè ịbīa ebe à — I didn’t have a chance to come here

èfèNNC

used in

èfelì akāNNC

withered hand

efiNNC

cow

èfìNNC

kind of fish

efi alūsịNNC

sacred cow (efi Ìgbò type) owned by village; cannot be killed; if it dies, it is given burial like a human

efi awụsaNNC

zebu cattle

efi ÌgbòNNC

1. dwarf cattle
2. dwarf cattle (versus efi Awụsa, zebu cattle)

efi ọfīaNNC

bush-cow; buffalo (Syncerus caffer beddingtoni Lyd.)

efìfìèNNC

afternoon; middle of the day; heat of the day

efìfìè naàbòNNC

noonday

èfifìè naàbòCDalso efìfìè naàbò

noonday

efùNNC

emptiness; vanity

Ọ mèlù ya n’efù — He did it in vain

efùlefùNNCalso èfùleèfù

empty; vain; useless (usually of a person)

efùrùNNC

African nutmeg (Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal)

egbeNNC

1. hawk; kite
2. rogue (slang)

egbèNNC

gun

ègbèNNC

boundary mark

Onye ropù ègbè ò je nga — Anyone who uproots a boundary mark will go to prison

egbē ādakāNNC

type of locally made gun

egbè igwēNNC

thunder

egbē ndùNNC

cannon

ègbenuNNCalso ègbene

cock

ègbènùNNC

warriors

ègbènu ōbaNNC

warriors

Ndi (òtu) ègbènu ōba — society of warriors. They are not necessarily warriors who go to battle. But their society is a warrior-like one. Members dress like warriors with helmet- like hats stuck full of long feathers, with cutlasses in their hands. They are usually invited to grand traditional ceremonies, funerals of great men and of course to funerals of their dead members. They greet each other by knocking the blades of each other’s swords together

ègbìlìNNC

fish (Heterotis niloticus) (= ìgbènù)

egbòNNC

boundary around compound or village; more especially the entrance, shaped like goalposts, of bamboo palm leaves or ògilìsì, which bears protective medicines

egbūNNC

tree (Alstonia congensis Engl.); bark used medicinally for cure of different kinds of ịbà or akòm

egbugbèlèNNC

used in

egbugbèlè ọnūNNC

lip(s)

egbugbuNNC

tattoo; mark

egedegeNNCalso egenege

front

egedege irūNNCalso egenege irū

forehead

egōNNC

money

ego akwụkwọNNC

1. currency note
2. currency note; paper money

ego àyòlòNNCalso àyò

cowry

ego chīNNC

money ritually received for one's chi

ego e nyèlù yaNNC

capital

ego edwòdNNC

money used during the reign of King Edward

ego kịlịkịlịNNC

coins

egō kịlịkịlịNNC

coins

ego mgbụdamgbụNNC

type of money made by blacksmiths

ego mmūọNNC

money ritually offered to the dead

ego naàbòNNC

twelve cowries (= èkpète naàbò)

ego naatōNNC

eighteen cowries

ego nwunyèNNC

bride-price

ego oyìboNNC

(literally European money) name given to the present currency when it existed side by side with cowrie currency

ègùlòNNCalso ègùlè

weaverbird

ègweNNC

wall of beaten earth

egwuNNC

1. drum
2. dance; play; entertainment

egwùNNC

1. fear
2. fearful, terrible or fierce-looking thing; dangerous thing

egwu alūsịNNC

1. traditional religious dances
2. sacred dances

egwu ọtāNNC

ritual drum

egwu ùdùNNC

music in which ùdù features prominently

egwugwuNNC

the most elderly and most venerated form of the incarnate dead, of Igala origin (Igala ègwùgwù, = mmụọ ogonogo)

ègwusiNNC

water-melon seeds (compare Yoruba ègùsì) (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.)

ejijiNNC

dress; adornment

èjìmaNNC

twin

èjò

see òjò

ejùNNCalso ejùnà, njùnà, njìnà

1. broken pot; potsherd
2. edible snail (compare kòso, nsam)

ejù isīNNC

top of skull

ekeNNC

Royal Python (Python regius), the smaller species of python, more common, lives in compounds and is freely handled, sacred in most parts of Igboland

EkèNNC

1. a divinity
2. ekè good luck, fortune

ekèNNCalso ekò

gizzard

ÈkeNNC

a day in the Igbo four-day week, following Ǹkwọ, personified as an alūsị

eke mmīliNNC

water python

eke nà ogwùlùgwùNNC

rainbow

ekē ōkụkòNNC

fowl gizzard

eke ukwuNNCalso eke

the larger python; African or Rock Python; (Python sebae)

èkèlèkeAV

amounts

èkèneNNC

thanks; salutation; greeting; gratitude

Èkène dìlị ChukwuNNC

Thanks be to God

ekikeNNC

1. adornment of the body
2. tie; belt; girdle

ekike ilēNNC

string of the tongue

ekòNNC

blacksmith's bellows

ekò mmīliNNC

plant with large leaves, used for shelter or to wrap fish (Anchomanes difformis (Bl.) Engl. and Cyrtosperma senegalense) (Scott) Engl.)

ekpēNNC

inheritance

ekpèNNC

earthwork constructed on the outskirts of a village for defence purposes, or on farm to mark boundary or check erosion

èkpèNNC

1. left (hand)
2. time

èkpè afù

then; at that time

èkpè niīneQTF

1. always; (at) all times
2. always; at all times

èkpe ōbụnàNNC

1. whenever; (at) any time
2. whenever; any time

èkpeleNNCalso èkpelu

prayer

èkpelu

see èkpele

èkpèǹtaNNCalso èkpènta

leprosy

ekpètè

see okpètè

èkpèteNNC

(= isi egō) unit of cowrie counting system, consisting of six single cowries (ego) mkpụlū

èkpète īliNNC

ten units of six cowries each (= òfu ùkwù)

èkpète naàbòNNC

twelve cowries (= ego naàbò)

ekuNNC

spoon; ladle (compare ǹgàjì)

ekweNNC

1. wooden slit gong
2. xylophone
3. string from aŋā

ekwèNNC

1. small uncarved stool
2. occiput (also òkpù n’ekwè)

ekwēekweNNC

stubbornness

ekwēèmeNNC

impossibility

ekwelēNNC

tie-rope; cane; fibre for making fish traps

ekwensuNNC

1. the malevolent spirits of those who have died a 'bad death' and cannot reincarnate; malevolent non-human spirits; (Christian usage) the devil
2. (fig.) a person who causes confusion and havoc

ekwòNNC

back of head; nape of neck

ekwòlòNNC

envy; jealousy

EkwuNNC

hearth spirit, the domestic spirit of women, worshipped by head woman of household

Ekwu#tòsìESUF

female name (literally Don’t slander)

èkwulèkwuESUF

1. talkativeness; loquacity
2. excessive talking; nagging

ekwumNNC

lungfish; mudfish (Protopterus annectens) (= ebī)

elèghelū

1. see elùuluū
2. giant ants, with very big heads, seen among smaller ones

èlèlèNNCalso èlìlè

1. profit; gain
2. food prepared with beans (after the chaff is removed, the beans are ground with water into pulp, then wrapped in leaves in convenient bits with normal food ingredients added, then boiled till done)

èlèle īkoNNC

èlèlè boiled in tins (e.g. milk tins) instead of being wrapped in leaves

èlèle īko èlèlèNNC

boiled in tins (e.g. milk tins) instead of being wrapped in leaves

èlèmNNC

fish-fry; small sprat-like fish caught when Niger rises

eliliNNC

rope (general term); string to tie yams; shoe lace (compare ùdò, ekwe, àbù) see èlèlè 1. and 2. elili

èlìlì

see èlùlù

elili afōNNC

the intestines

elili aŋāNNC

cane string (= ekwe)

elili ọfīaNNC

snake (euphemism)

elōNNC

1. mushroom
2. Standard-wing Nightjar (Macrodipteryx longipennis)

elo mmụọNNC

1. kind of poisonous mushroom (literally spirits' mushroom) (see also mmụō)
2. kind of poisonous mushroom

elū eluNNC

1. North (borrowed from Central Igbo)
2. (fig.) very far away

èlùlùNNCalso èlìlì, olìghìlì

electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) (= ǹdudù)

elùluū

see elùuluū

elùuluūNNCalso elùluū

black driver ant; soldier ant

emē eme e mekàta e mesia ọmā koòmè = ọmā ka ò mè however it may beAV

something that is not done

emēnjọNNC

innocence; infallibility (from -me do)

emesịa

afterwards

Ọ gà-àdị mmā n’èmesịa — It will be good at last, afterwards

emumeNNC

custom; observance

emumechīNNC

daybreak

eneNNC

Harnessed Antelope; bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus Pallas)

enekēNNC

swallow (bird)

enekē ntì ọbāNNC

swallow

enūNNC

height; top

enu ànìNNC

dry land (as opposed to water); high land between Asaba and Agbor

enu igwēNNC

1. heaven; sky
2. the sky; heaven

enu igwē nà ùwàNNC

1. heaven and earth
2. title for a king or chief

enū nà ànìNNC

‘up and down’; blouse and wrapper made of same material

enu nà ànìNNC

up-and-down; blouse and wrapper made of same material

O yì enu nà ànì — She is wearing an up-and-down

enu ntụlụNNC

hardship; misfortune

enu ōghịghaNNC

changes in the world

enu ụnòNNC

roof

enu ùwàNNC

1. whole world
2. the world, earth, universe

EnugwūNNCalso Enugū

Enugu

ènwèNNC

monkey; useless person

enwe ifele

unrestrained; unabashed

enwe ike

weak, feeble, incapable, incompetent, useless

enwe isi

useless

enwe uchè

simpleness; foolishness

enwē ifelēNNC

unrestrained; unabashed

enwē ikeNNC

strengthless; a weakling

enwē isiNNC

useless

ènwè ọfīaNNC

wild monkey

enwē uchèNNC

lack of sense; foolishness

enyiNNC

elephant

enyìNNC

friend (less common than òyì)

enyi mbàNNC

'Elephant people' (referring to the Igbo)

enyì nwaàyìNNC

girl-friend; woman friend

ènyòNNCalso ènyìnyò

1. mirror; glass (= ùgògbè)
2. mirror

ènyò anyaNNC

pair of glasses

ènyò anyāNNC

pair of spectacles

èri ogè afùAV

it is a long time since

Èri ogè afù ànyị afụnùrò — We haven’t seen each other for a very long time

eririNNC

1. power of transforming oneself into an animal
2. wart

èrùluNNC

red coral; coral bead

èsè

see àsè

èsèmokwuAV

1. quarrel; dispute; bickering (-sè draw, pull)
2. quarrel; dispute

esōNNC

gum from tree

esuNNC

(compare alịlị) millipede

esusoNNCalso etuto

blister; boil

esusuNNC

contribution to revolving benefit fund, to which each member contributes regularly and from which members profit in turn (? < Yoruba)

etc.NNC

— We are members of the Methodist Church

ètèNNC

rope for climbing trees

etekeNNC

used in

eteke uvīeNNC

fish (Hemichromis bimaculatus) (compare ìkpoòkpò)

ètètèNNC

woven shield used in war by the Ada people

ètitìNNC

middle; centre

ètitī àbànìNNC

midnight

ètitì naàbòCD

the middle, centre

ètitī ūchichìNNCalso ètitī àbànì

midnight

etuNNC

manner

etu àDEM

1. this way
2. thus; in this manner

etu afù

so; in that manner

etu ọ dì nọòfụNNC

as it is so

etùketùNNC

used in

etumNNC

long bamboo used to propel a canoe

ètùmNNC

dust in the air

etuto

see esuso

èvìNNC

snakehead fish (Channa obscura)

ewī

see eyī

ewō!INTJalso èwo!

exclamation of surprise

ewòò!INTJ

exclamation of sympathy or pity

ewuNNC

goat; (applied to person) fool

ewùNNC

fame; report; rumour

ewu chīNNC

a goat given to one's mother for her personal chi, which must never be killed

Ewu chī nwaànyì bù òfu ụzò nnwā — A woman’s chi-goat is as sacred as a child

Ewu kà ọ bùNNC

He is a fool

ewu-elī-òkụkò-atùNNC

(literally goat-never-touches, fowl-never-pecks) a poisonous plant

ewùù!INTJ

exclamation of regret, sympathy

eyīNNCalso ewī

Giant or Pouched Rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse; Yoruba òkètè)

eyī uchèAV

quite unexpected

ezēNNC

tooth

ezèNNC

king; chief

Ìgbò enwē ezè — The Igbo have no kings

ezè alūsịNNC

1. priest
2. priest (of a particular spirit that has a shrine and an organized cult)

ezè amōosuNNC

1. chief of witches
2. chief of wizards

ezē ÀnìNNC

life-size status of carved wood, representing Ànì

ezē ànìNNC

life-size image of carved wood

ezè anụmànùNNC

king of the beasts; elephant

ezè azùNNC

king of the fish (Gymnarchus niloticus)

ezē kachasị akasịNNC

God in heaven

ezē mmụōNNC

king of underworld

eze nkwōNNC

1. loss of tooth, teeth
2. loss of tooth (teeth)

ezè nnùnùNNC

1. king of the birds, the eagle
2. eagle; king of the birds

ezè nwaàyìNNC

queen

eziNNC

goodness; truth; kindness

ezìNNC

pig; domestic pig; dirty person

èziNNCalso ezi

outside or precincts of a house

èziNNC

1. menses
2. loan

ezi amāNNC

space in front of the compound outside the compound wall and beginning from the main gate; street

èzi ìbàAV

court of a native house

èzi īloNNC

precincts of a house

èzi nà ụnòNNC

1. household headed by one man
2. household

ezi ndùNNC

health

ezì ọfīaNNC

1. bushpig; Red River Hog (Choeropotamus porcus porcus L.)
2. bush pig; red river hog

ezi okènyèNNC

aged person

ezi okwūNNC

1. truth
2. true word, saying; truth

ezi òmùmeNNC

good deeds; righteousness

ezi ūdoNNC

perfect peace

ezigbōNNC

good; true; kind

Ọ bù ezigbō mmādù — He is a good person

èzùmikeAV

rest; leave

Source: Igbo API (Nkọwa okwu), Apache-2.0 · Tier 3