Lexicon · 161 entries

E

e, apron

(dependent, indefinite; harmonizes) one; ‘they’ (indefinite); often translated by English passive: A nà-èsi nnī Food is being cooked: E jì yà aka He has been arrested

e-, a-pref

(harmonizes) verb prefix marking negative: Ìgbò enwē ezè The Igbo have no kings

e-/a- ...mpron

(dependent, 1st person singular; harmonizes) I: Anà m̀ èje I am going: Elìlị̀ m̀ ife I ate food

è-, à-pref

(harmonizes; tone high before low tone root) verb prefix marking sequential mood Chi èfoo Day breaks: Chi abọ̀ọ Day breaks

-e

see –a/-e/-ọ/o

eben

place; where; while; since; whereas: Agà m̀ èje ebe ọ nọ̀ 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’ụzọ̄ à ebe ọ bụ̄ nà ọ gà-èsi ụzọ̄ à gafè Let us wait for him here, since he will pass by this road

ebe à this place:

n’ebe à here

ebe afụ̀ that place:

n’ebe afụ̀ there

ebe a nà-àmụ nnwā ebe a nà-enì ozū maternity home burial ground

ebe a nà-èsi nnī kitchen

ebe dị̄ (n’)ichè different, various places

(n’)ichè,

ebe ịtā nni pasture

ebe mgbabà refuge

ebe niīne everywhere

ebe n̄zuzo secret place; retired spot

ebe ōbibi habitation; dwelling place

ebe ọbụnà any place

ebēn

yam beetle

èbeēint

where (to)?: Èbeē kà ị jèkọ̀ Where are you going? Èbeē kà ọ dị̀? Where is it?: Èbeē kà ọ nọ̀? Where is she?

èbeē zi? Where then? where else?

èbelèn

mercy; pity

Èbelèchukwu male name (lit. mercy of God)

-dị èbelè be kind-hearted

-me èbelè have pity on; be sorry for; have mercy on:

Mèelụ ānyị èbelè -nwe obī ēbelè Have mercy on us be kind-hearted

obī ēbelè kindness; mercy

onye ēbelè the merciful (person)

onye kāsị èbelè the most merciful: Chinēkè Onye kāsị èbelè Most merciful God

ebeneben

extraordinary happening; disaster

(ebenebe) –gbu happen (of disaster, scandal, something serious): Ebenebê gbùlù It was a disaster

ebīn

lungfish; mudfish (Protopterus annectens) (= ekwum̀)

ebìn

porcupine

ebì ntà Brush-tailed Porcupine (Atherura fricana Gray)

ebì ogwū Crested Porcupine (Hystrix cristata senegalica Cuv.)

èbìlìn

storm on water; wave

-tụ èbìlì be agitated; swell (as river or sea in gale)

ebon

A. the smallest kinship-cum-residential unit, a subdivision of B. (= ogbè) ‘village’; a constituent part of a ‘quarter’ which is itself part of a ‘town’ (òbòdò), containing a number of patrileages (ụmụ̀ nnà):

ụmụ̀ nnà (patrilineage); sublineage: Ebo unù bụ̀ gịnī? What is your special sublineage?

Ọ̀nị̀chà Ebo the Nine Villages of Onitsha

Ìtènaānị

Ebōn

male name (short for Ebōzinam, lit. stop accusing me)

èbù1n

mildew; mould

-ma èbù grow mould: Ụtàlà e lōfùlù n’ime akpàtì nnī amago èbù The pounded fufu forgotten in the food-box has gone mouldy

èbù2n

wasp; hornet

àkpa èbu wasps’ nest

èbùbèn

marvel; wonder; majesty

ife èbùbè a wonder

-kobe èbùbè honour (lit. hang honour on)

-me èbùbè beautify; decorate

èbùbe āgụn

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

ebùbo, èbùbò,n

accusation; charge (-bo 2. v. accuse)

èbùbo

-bo ebùbo 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

èbùnùn

ram

èbùnu Idemīli 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.)

echi1n

tomorrow Proverb: Echī dị̀ imē, ò nwerọ̄ onye mā ife ọ gà-àmụTomorrow is pregnant, no one knows what it will bring forth

echi niīne tomorrow (emphatic)

echi yā the next day; the following day: Ndụ gbàlụ̀ akwụkwọ ụbọ̀sị̀ Krisìmaàsị̀, ò lue echī ya ò sie nnukwu ōlili Ndụ̀ wedded on Christmas Day; the following day he gave a great feast

nwanne echī day after tomorrow

ụ̀tụtụ̀ echī tomorrow morning

echi2n

old type of money in form of bent wires

echìchèn

thought

-chè echìchè think; ponder; meditate

echichin

title; titled man (general; cf. m̀mụọ̄ 2., ọzọ̄)

edèn

cocoyam

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

edè ekò cocoyam cooked like yam (Colocasia esculenta Schott)

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

edē ụ̄makà (also cocoyam which requires boiling overnight, probably the

edè) oldest type (Xanthosoma mafaffa Schott.)

mkpà edè room where cocoyams are stored

edin

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

òsì edī genitals of edi, which smells and is used for medicines

edòn

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.)

èdò1n

yellow vegetable dye; yellow (of colour)

-cha èdo èdò be yellow Àfè m nà-àcha èdo èdò My shirt is yellow

-dị èdo èdò be yellow

ọnā èdò gold

ọnà ọcha nà ọnā silver and gold (fig. fine luxuries)

èdò

Èdò2n

divinity

èdùn

wild grass (Udi)

èdù agụ̄ open grassland

èeint

answer to a call

èe’è [èe?è], e’èint

no!

èè e, eeeint

yes

èèye!int

yes! certainly!

èeyī!int

yes!

efèn

chance; opportunity; leisure: Enwērọ m efè ịbị̄a ebe à I didn’t have a chance to come here

àrụ efè unoccupied; at leisure

-dị efè be vacant

-fụ efè find time, chance, opportunity

-nwe efè have a chance, an opportunity

-nye efè give chance, opportunity

èfè1

(dialectal) = àfè

èfè2n

used in:

-kwụ èfè swing to and fro; be neutral

efin

cow

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

efi awụsa zebu cattle

efi Ìgbò dwarf cattle

efi ọfị̄a bushcow; buffalo (Syncerus caffer bedingtoni Lyd.)

ala efī cow’s milk

anụ efī beef

ozu efī carcase of cattle

èfìn

kind of fish

efìfìèn

afternoon; middle of the day; heat of the day

efìfìè naàbọ̀ noonday

àzị̀ efìfìè lunch

-gba (àzị̀) efìfìè take lunch

kwà efìfìè, kwà every midday

èfifìè

m̀gbè efìfìè during the afternoon

efùn

emptiness; vanity: Ọ mèlụ̀ ya n’efù He did it in vain

efùlefù, èfùleèfù empty; vain; useless (usu. of a person)

efùrùn

African nutmeg (Monodora myristica (Gaertn.) Dunal)

egedege, egenegen

front

egedege irū forehead

egōn

money B. a hundred pounds B. capital

ego akwụkwọ currency note; paper money

ego àyọ̀lọ̀, àyọ̀ cowry

ego edwọ̀d money used during the reign of King Edward

ego e nyèlụ̀ ya capital

ego kịlịkịlị coins

ego mgbụdamgbụ ego naàbọ̀ type of money made by blacksmiths twelve cowries (= èkpète naàbọ̀)

ego naatọ̄ eighteen cowries

ego nwunyè bride-price

àkpà egō A. purse

anya mkpụ̄lụ egō -chọ egō eye with pupil whitened by disease seek for money by hook or by crook

isi egō A. unit of six cowries (= èkpète)

-kpata egō acquire money

mkpụlụ egō a cowrie, coin, shilling

oke egō fantastic riches

-zu egō steal money

-zụ egō build up, increase one’s capital

ègùlò, ègùlèn

weaverbird

egben

A. hawk; kite B. rogue (slang)

egbèn

gun

egbē ādakā type of locally made gun

egbè igwē thunder

egbē ndù cannon

-gba egbè fire gun

ndị jī egbè èje orī ntụ egbè armed robbers gunpowder

ọnụ egbè opening of a gun barrel

-pị egbè carve wooden part of gun

-sụ̀ egbè load gun

utù egbè trigger (lit. penis of the gun)

ègbèn

boundary mark: Onye ropụ̀ ègbè ò je n̄gaAnyone who uproots a boundary mark will go to prison

ègbenu, ègbenen

cock

ègbènùn

warriors

ègbènu ọ̄ba warriors Ndi (òtu) ègbènu ọ̄ba 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

ègbìlìn

fish (Heterotis niloticus) (= ìgbènù)

egbòn

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

egbūn

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

egbugbèlèn

used in:

egbugbèlè ọnụ̄ lip(s)

egbugbun

tattoo; mark

-gbu egbugbu tattoo; mark

ègwen

wall of beaten earth

egwun

A. drum B. dance; play; entertainment

egwu alụ̄sị sacred dances

egwu ọtā ritual drum

egwu ùdù music in which ùdù features prominently

-gba egwu dance

ọ̀gba ēgwu dancer

-gwù egwu play

-gwùli egwu play about

-gwùsò egwu play with someone

nnwa egwū doll

òtù egwū dancing club

ọ̀gụ ēgwu singer; minstrel

-te egwu dance in a peculiar way

-gwọ̀ egwu dance very well in type of dance in which back muscles come into play

egwùn

A. fear B. fearful, terrible or fierce-looking thing; dangerous thing

àbànị̀ dị̀ egwù bandit

atụ̄ egwù courage; bravery; boldness

-dị egwù be dangerous, dreadful

-tụ egwù fear; respect; be afraid of

-yi egwù frighten

egwugwun

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

ègwusin

water-melon seeds (cf. Yoruba ẹ̀gùsì) (Citrullus vulgaris Schrad.)

ofe ēgwusi melon, egusi soup

ejijin

dress; adornment

èjìman

twin

-bụ èjìma be twins

nwa èjìma a twin

ụmụ̄ èjìma twins: Mmadụ̄ à naàbò bụ̀ èjìma These two persons are twins

èjò

see òjò

ejùn

broken pot; potsherd

ejù isī top of skull

ejùnà, njùnà, njìnàn

edible snail (cf. kòso, nsam)

nkekele ejùnà snail-shell

eken

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

eke mmīli water python

eke nà ogwùlùgwù eke ukwu, eke ọgbà rainbow the larger python; African or Rock Python; (Python sebae)

Ekè1n

A. a divinity B. ekè good luck, fortune

ekè 2., ekòn

gizzard

ekē ọ̄kụkọ̀ fowl gizzard

Èken

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

M̀gbeēke female name (for child born on Èke)

Nweēke, Òkeēke, Èkeèmezie male names (for someone born on Èke)

èkènen

thanks; salutation; greeting; gratitude:

Èkène dị̀lị Chukwu Thanks be to God

ekiken

A. adornment of the body B. tie; belt; girdle

ekike ilē

string of the tongue

ife ekike finery; adornment

-ke ekike dress; adorn

ekò1n

blacksmith’s bellows

-fụ̀ ekò pump bellows

-fụ̀ ekò blow bellows

ekò2

see ekè 2.

ekò mmīlin

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

ekun

spoon; ladle (cf. ǹgàjì)

ekpēn

inheritance

-kè ekpē make a will

-lite ekpē inherit

ekpèn

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

-ti ekpè make low mud wall, usually on farm, to mark boundary

èkpè1n

left (hand)

aka èkpè left hand

ife dị̄ n’aka èkpè anya aka èkpè something on the left: the left eye

èkpè2n

time

èkpè afụ̀ then; at that time

èkpè niīne always; (at) all times

èkpe ọ̄bụnà whenever; (at) any time

èkpele, èkpelun

prayer

-kpe ekpele say prayer

èkpelu

see èkpele

èkpèǹta, èkpèntan

leprosy

onye èkpèǹta leper

ekpètè

see okpètè

èkpèten

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

èkpète īli ten units of six cowries each (= òfu ùkwù)

èkpète naàbọ̀ twelve cowries (= ego naàbọ̀)

ekwe1n

wooden slit gong

-su ekwe beat the gong

ekwe2n

xylophone

ekwe3n

string from aŋā

akpụ̀lụ̀ ekwē unsplit cane

ekwè1n

small uncarved stool

ekwè2n

occiput (also ọ̀kpụ̀ n’ekwè)

ekwēekwen

stubbornness

ekwēèmen

impossibility

ekwelēn

tie-rope; cane; fibre for making fish traps

ekwen̄sun

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

ekwòn

back of head; nape of neck

ọ̀kpụ̀n’okwò back of head; occiput

ekwòlòn

envy; jealousy

-gba ekwòlò compete (in bad sense); be jealous, envious

-kwò ekwòlò envy; contest enviously

Ekwun

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

mmà ekwū small kitchen knife

èkwulèkwun

talkativeness; loquacity:

onye èkwulèkwu -kwu èkwulèkwu oke èkwulèkwu a talkative be loquacious, talkative talkativeness; bragging

ekwum̀n

lungfish; mudfish (Protopterus annectens) (= ebī)

elèghelū

see elùuluū

èlèlè, èlìlè1n

profit; gain 

-bà èlèlè be useful; profit; benefit

-li èlìlè gain

èlèlè, èlìlè2n

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

èlèmn

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

elilin

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

elili afọ̄ intestines

elili ọfị̄a snake (euphemism)

-gbà elili wear strings round ankles

-kwụ elili commit suicide by hanging

èlìlì

see èlùlù

elō1n

mushroom B. (fig.) live for ever

elo m̄mụọ poisonous mushroom sp. (lit. spirits’ mushroom) (see also mmụọ̄)

-pu elō A. grow fungus

elō2n

Standard-wing Nightjar (Macrodipteryx longipennis)

elū elun

A. North (borrowed from Central Igbo) B. (fig.) very far away

èlùlù, èlìlì, olìghìlìn

electric catfish (Malapterurus electricus) (= ǹdudù)

elùluū

see elùuluū

elùuluū, elùluū,n

black driver ant; soldier ant

elèghelū

ìkeǹgà elùluū giant ants, with very big heads, seen among smaller ones

emēnjọn

innocence; infallibility (from -me do)

emumen

custom; observance

emumechīn

daybreak

enen

Harnessed Antelope; bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus scriptus Pallas)

enekēn

swallow (bird)

enekē ntị̀ ọbā swallow

enūn

height; top

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

enu igwē heaven; sky

enu igwē nà ụ̀wà enu nà ànị̀ heaven and earth up-and-down; blouse and wrapper made of same material: O yì enu nà ànị̀ She is wearing an up-and-down

enu ntụlụ hardship; misfortune

enu ọ̄ghịgha changes in the world

enu ụnọ̀ roof

enu ụ̀wà whole world

-buni enū lift up; bring up; carry shoulder-high

-gba enū be shallow

-kòni enū hang up

-mani enū jump up

n’enū above; upon

-nọ̀ n’enu mmīli be in trouble, difficulty

-se n’enū float; (fig.) be ignorant of what is happening

ụgbọ enū aeroplane

ụkwụ enū by land; overland

-wèni enū raise up

-wèni aka enū raise hand

-wènita enū lift up; take up

-wụ̀nị enū jump up

Enugwūn

Enugu

ènwèn

monkey; useless person

ènwè ọfị̄a wild monkey

enyin

elephant

ajị̀ enyī severe dysmenorrhoea (see ajị̀)

ọdụ enyī elephant’s tusk

enyìn

friend (less common than ọ̀yị̀)

enyì nwaàyị̀ girl-friend; woman friend

ènyò, ènyìnyòn

mirror; glass (= ùgògbè)

ènyò anyā pair of spectacles

eriri1n

power of transforming oneself into an animal

eriri2n

wart

èrùlun

red coral; coral bead

èsè

see àsè

èsèmokwun

quarrel; dispute; bickering (-sè draw, pull)

esōn

gum from tree

esun

(cf. alịlị) millipede

esuso, etuton

blister; boil

-so esuso form boil abscess

esusun

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

ètèn

rope for climbing trees

eteken

used in:

eteke uvīe fish (Hemichromis bimaculatus) (cf. ìkpoòkpò)

ètètèn

woven shield used in war by the Ada people

ètitìn

middle; centre

ètitì naàbọ̀ the middle, centre

ètitī ūchichì, ètitī àbànị̀ midnight

n’ètitì amidst; in the middle

n’ètitì mụ nà gị between you and me

etu1n

manner

etu à thus; in this manner

etu afụ̀ so; in that manner

etu ọ dị̀ nọọ̀fụ as it is so

etu2n

leech

etùketùn

used in:

-kpọ etùketù hiccough

etum̀n

long bamboo used to propel a canoe

ètùm̀n

dust in the air

etuto

see esuso

èvìn

snakehead fish (Channa obscura)

ewī

see eyī

ewō!, èwo!int

exclamation of surprise

ewòò!int

exclamation of sympathy or pity

ewun

goat; (applied to person) fool

anụ ewū goat-meat

Ewu kà ọ bụ̀ He is a fool

ewu-elī-ọ̀kụkọ̀-atụ̀ nwa ewū (lit. goat-never-touches, fowl-never-pecks) a poisonous plant young goat; kid

ewùn

fame; report; rumour

ewùù!int

exclamation of regret, sympathy

eyī, ewīn

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

ezēn

tooth

eze nkwō loss of tooth, teeth

aka ezē toothache

-gado ezē grip (but not bite into) with teeth

ìkili ezē part of jaw near molar

-kpopụ̀ ezē extract a tooth

-kwo ezē take out, extract teeth; lose tooth, teeth

-tachapụ̀ ezē grin; (coll.) smile; laugh

-ta ìkekele ezē grind teeth

-wa ezē file teeth

ezèn

A. king; chief: Ìgbò enwē ezè The Igbo have no kings B. (fig.) the best or chief of its kind

ezè alụ̄sị priest (of a particular spirit that has a shrine and an organized cult)

ezè amōosu chief of wizards

ezē ànị̀ life-size image of carved wood

ezē kachasị akasị ezē m̄mụọ̄ God in heaven king of underworld

ezè nwaàyị̀ queen

àda èzè princess

ànị̀ ezè kingdom

-chi ezè become, be installed chief or king

Ndụ̀beezè, Ndụ̀bezè oche ezè male name (lit. life is king or life is most important) throne

òkpu ezè crown

-zọ ezè contest for chieftancy title

ezè anụmànụ̀ king of the beasts, the elephant

ezè azụ̀ king of the fish (Gymnarchus niloticus)

ezè nnụ̀nụ̀ king of the birds, the eagle

ezin

goodness; truth; kindness

n’eziē (shortened from n’ezi okwū) truly: N’eziē onye orī kà ọ bụ̀ Truly he is a rogue

ezi ndụ̀ health

ezi okènyè aged person

ezi okwū truth

-kwu ezi okwū speak the truth

ezi òmùme good deeds; righteousness

ezi ūdo perfect peace

n’ezi okwū really; in reality; indeed; truly

ezìn

pig; domestic pig; dirty person

ezì ọfị̄a bushpig; Red River Hog (Choeropotamus porcus porcus L.)

anụ ezì pork

ọkwụ̀lụ̀ ezì pawpaw; papaya

èzi 1., ezin

outside or precincts of a house

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

èzi ị̀bà court of a native house

èzi īlo precincts of a house

èzi nà ụnọ̀ household headed by one man

-nwe èzi nà ụnọ̀ become a householder

-bọ èzi clear a path, road, of weeds

m̀bala ēzi compound inside walls (contrast ìlo)

ọkpụ ezi ụzọ̀ middle of path or road; main road; permanent path

ụzọ̀ ezi amā main entrance to a compound

èzi2n

menses

èzi3n

loan

ezigbōn

good; true; kind: Ọ bụ̀ ezigbō mmādụ̀ He is a good person