Lexicon · 47 entries

GH

-gha1v

A. change (usu. for worse); turn; alter; turn round B. toss about before dying B. followed by -lị, used as suffix meaning ‘about’

ọ̀ghụgha, ọ̀ghịgha change, turning (usu. for worse) aya ọ̄ghụgha, enu ọ̄ghụgha, ife ọ̄ghụgha changing of state of things for the worse, esp. in social matters, fashion, etc.: Ọ bụ̀ aya ọ̄ghụgha mèlụ̀ nà ụmụ̀ àgbọghọ̀ nà-èjizi akā fa arọ̀lụ di sọ̄lụ fa It is the changing of the state of things for the worse that has brought about marriageable girls choosing their husbands by themselves

-gha agha change, alter (usu. for worse)

-gha anya turn the eyes; long for; expect: Bikō ghà anyā Please look this way

-gha anya n’àzụ look backwards; look, glance back: Agwàlụ̀ m̀ yà kà o jìsie ikē ghàlụ ịghā anya n’àzụ I told him to strive hard without looking backwards: Onye nā-amụ̀ ịgbā igwè adā àgha anyā n’àzụ ọgè ọ nọ̀ n’enu# ya A person just learning to ride a bicycle does not look backward while on it

-ghagbu A. confuse; play complicated trick (on someone); cheat: Ibè àghagbugo m̄; o kwèsị̀lị̀ kà mụ kèta ego īli n’ego mụ nà ya kètàlụ̀, mà sọ̀ọsọ̀ ego ị̄nọ kà m kètàlụ̀ Ibe has tricked me; I ought to get one naira out of the money we shared, but I got only forty kobo

nghagbu cheating; trickery

onye nghagbu trickster

-ghaghalị turn round, about

-ghakpù iru turn upside down; lie face downwards

-ghalị àzụ turn round; go back

àma ụ̄gha false witness

-jeghalị stroll about: Agụ̄ nà-èjeghalị n’ọ̀zàlà ịmā mà ọ nwè ife ọ gà-àfụ kpachalị Agụ is going about in the grassland to see if he can find some (animal) to take

-kwaghalị move (things) about

-kwụghalị loiter about lazily

-maghalị jump about

-gha2v

scatter, throw (broadcast); sow (broadcast)

ọ̀ghụgha scattering:

Anà m̀ èje ịghā osè -gha mkpụlụ̄ I am going to sow pepper seeds (broadcast) sow seeds (broadcast)

-gha mkpụlụ osisi -ghasà sow seeds (broadcast) sow by scattering; scatter

-ghàv

pass; overtake; leave; surpass; let alone; leave off; fail

ọ̀ghụ̀ghà passing, etc. Ghàa yā aka Leave him alone! Ụgbọ afụ̀ ghàlụ̀ àyị nà Nnoòbì The car overtook us at Nnoobi

-ghàgbu leave someone far behind: Ndị mmụ nà fa yị̀bido ijè aghàgbugo m̄ The people I started the journey with have left me far behind

-ghàlụ = -ghà

-gbaghà overshoot (one’s target)

-gha-lị

see –gha 1.B.

-ghe1v

be open; open; yawn; gape

-ghekpọ yawn; pant

-ghe oghe, -ghe be open:

oghē Ụzọ̀ ghè oghē The door is open

-ghe ughelē yawn

-kwùghe open; take off lid or cover: Bikō kwùghee ìtè Please uncover the pot

oghē opening

oghele opening; opportunity

-ghe2v

fry

òghighe frying

-ghekpọ fry dry

-ghe ògèdè fry plantains

anụ ōghighe fried meat

anụ eghēleghe fried meat

-ghèv

be properly cooked

òghìghè being properly cooked

-ghèdè cook very soft (esp. of carbohydrate food)

-ghèkpọ̀ cook properly (esp. of meat, fish); be well cooked

-sighè cook properly

-ghè-liv

cut into pieces: Ghelìe anụ afụ̀ Cut that meat into pieces

-jeghèli wander about at random

-meghèli fool about

ghòlòghòlòn

watery, light consistency (of soup, broth etc.; cf. gologolo)

-dị ghòlòghòlò be watery

-gba ghòlòghòlò be watery

-ghọ1v

A. go wrong; miss; be mistaken B. show a loss

ọ̀ghụghọ mistaking

-ghọ aghọ be a mistake; show a loss: Ibè akpāchàpụ̀rọ̀ anya wèlụ gbu ewu m̄madụ̀ kamà ọ ghọ̀lụ̀ yà àghọ Ibe did not deliberately kill another man’s goat; it was a mistake

ọ̀ghọm̄ mistake; mishap

-ghọ afịa suffer loss in trade: Àda àkwụsigo m̄gbele azụ̀ màkà nà ọ ghọ̄go yā afịa Ada has stopped her fish trade because it has shown a loss

ọ̀ghọm̄ loss

-ghọ2v

A. catch (object falling from a height or thrown) B. pick, pluck fruit C. collect dripping liquid Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ijī afele wèlụ ghọta mmili na-ātụsịsị n’ànị̀ I want to use a plate to collect the water dripping on the floor D. understand

ọ̀ghụghọ catching: Anà m̀ èje ịghọ̄ ife ọ nà-àchọ ịtụ̄pụ̀lụ̀ m̀ site n’enu osisi I am going to catch what he is going to drop for me from the top of the tree

-ghọdo catch something falling

-ghọlụ = -ghọ catch: Ghọ̀lụ ife ọ nà-àchọ ịtụ̄pụ̀lụ̀ gị Catch what he is going to throw to you

-ghọta pick; pluck; snatch at

-ghọdo understand well: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ kà ị ghọdo ife m nà-èkwu ọ̀fụma I want you to understand what I am saying well: Àghọdōsịrọ m okwu ị nà-èkwu n’ụ̀tụtụ̀ màkà nà anà m̀ akụ̀ mgbanụ̀ ọgè ị nà-èkwu okwu# I did not quite get what you were saying in the morning because I was in a hurry when you were speaking

-ghọta understand: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ kà ị ghọta okwu m I want you to understand my # word: Aghọ̄tago m̄ife ị nà-àkụzili m̄I have understood what you are teaching me

nghọta understanding

-ghọ̀1v

change, develop into; become

ọ̀ghụ̀ghọ̀ changing

-ghọ̀lụ change, develop into; become: Akpụkpa dị̄ n’àrụ Īwu aghọ̀lụgo ọyà ọcha The rash on Iwu’s body has developed into leprosy

-ghọ̀2v

play trick; trick; work deceit: Kèdụ ife ị nà-aghọ̀ ebe afụ̀? What trick are you up to there?

-ghọ̀ aghụ̀ghọ̀ be cunning; deceive; work deceit; play trick; trick

-ghọ̀do trick someone into missing something elsewhere

-ghọ̀gbu confuse, play trick on someone

-ghọ̀lị ‘deceive’ by exerting pre-natal influence on child to resemble oneself. If a pregnant woman keeps constant company with another person, during much of the pregnancy, the child is very likely to resemble that person when born: Ọ̀bị̀àgèlî ghọ̀lị̀lị̀ Àda ọgè a dị̀ ime Āda, ị fụ̄rọ etu Àda sìlì yi yā? Ọbịageli ‘deceived’ Ada while Ada was in the womb; don’t you see how Ada resembles her?

-ghuv

cook; boil (cf. -si)

òghughu cooking: Gịnị̄ kà ị nà-àchọ ighu# ? What are you preparing to boil?

-ghụ1v

(cf. -gwọ̀) pluck out; extract (e.g. like eyes); remove, scoop (e.g. coconut flesh from shell)

ọ̀ghụghụ plucking out; extraction: Ì jèkọ̀ ịghụ̄ m anya? Are you going to pluck out my eye?

-ghụlụ pluck out; extract (and take away)

-ghụ2v

bath

-gi-de, -ji-de, -deext. suff.1

against:

-kwugide speak against: Fa nà-èkwugide yā èkwugide They are speaking against him

-megide act against

-nwụde seize; throw in wrestling; catch (e.g. thief) red-handed

gìdìgìdìn

disorder; trouble (cf. Yoruba gìdìgìdì of violent physical movement, esp. fighting): Ụnọ̄ à nà-adà gìdìgìdì There is great trouble in this house.: Ogè ife à mèlụ̀ m̀madụ̀ niīne wèe na-àgba gìdìgìdì When this thing happened all the people were running helter-skelter

gịpron

(independent; 2nd pers. sg.) you, your (sg.); thou; thee; thy (cf. ǹgị):

mụ nà gị you and I

ǹkè gị yours; thine: Ọ nà-àgwa gị̄ He is telling you

-gị-gàdo +:

-gịgàdo aka catch hold of (of someone weak, e.g. spider)

gịlịgịlịn

thinness; slightness; slenderness

gịnị̄?int

what?

gịnị̄ zị? what? what then?

gịnị̄ kpàtàlụ̀? why?

gịnị̄ mèlụ̀? what happened?

màkà gịnị̄? for what? for what reason?

ọ̀ gịnị̄? what?

-go1v

buy; hire (men, things)

-gokọ buy together

-gokọlụ buy all

-golu buy; hire (things)

-gote buy from

-gotelụ buy for someone

-go 2. +v.:

-go n̄go give a reward or inducement

-go3infl. suff

(perfect marker): Ọ nātago He has arrived: Ọ gwụ̄go It has finished: Ị̀ pụ̀tago ụ̄la Good morning (lit. Have you come out of the sleeping room?)

-go4ext. suff. 1

upwards (related to ngō, upper part): Ụmụ̀ akwụkwọ nà-akwàgo motō Ōbelē enu ugwu Students # are pushing Obele’s car up the hill.: Afụ̀ m̀ Obelē kà ọ nà-àgbago ụzọ̀ ụnọ̀ akwụkwọ I saw Obele going upwards in the direction of the school.: Afụ̀ m̀ Obelē kà ọ nà-àlịgo ajā I saw Obele climbing up the wall

-gò +1v

make a noise

-gò akwa bewail; lament

-gòli rejoice; make a joyful noise

-gò +2v.:

-gò iru be coy; hesitate to grant a favour which one actually wants to grant

-go-du

ext.suff. first; beforehand; preceding (cf. -du 3.): Bị̀àgodu fụ̄ m̄tupu ị̀ jebe afị̄a Come and see me first before going to the market: Chèegodu! Wait first!

gogògon

fish sp. (Ichthyborus besse)

gologolon

wateriness (of soup, broth, etc.; cf. ghòlòghòlò): Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ofe dị̄ gologolo I want a watery soup

-go-siv

show O gōsigo ōnwe yā He has shown himself (in his true colours): Ọ nà-èje igōsi ya ụnọ̄ Ọ̄fọ He is going to show him Ọfọ’s house

ngosi revelation; show

-mụ̀gosi teach: Ọ nà-amụ̀gosi yā etu e sì egbē àkàmù He is teaching him how liquid pap is prepared

-gọ1v

deny

-gọ àgị̀gọ̀, àgụ̀gọ̀ deny (a fact)

-gọ agọ deny

-gọnarị deny (knowledge of something)

-gọ2v

worship

-gọ alụ̄sị worship a deity

-gọ ọjị offer kolanuts to the ancestors or deities

-gọ mmụọ̄ worship spirits (by presenting kolanuts) Fâ nà-àgọ mmụọ̄ They are worshipping spirits

ịgọ̄mmụọ worshipping spirits

-gọ3v

bless B. female name

-gọ ọ̀fọ bless with ọ̀fọ, the symbol of authority

-gọzi bless; invoke a blessing

ngọzi A. blessing

-gọ̀ +1v

be related by marriage

-gọ̀ ọgọ̀ perform duties of a relation by marriage

ọgọ̀ in-law; relative by marriage

ọgọ̀ nwaànyị̀ mother-in-law; female relative by marriage

ọgọ̀ nwokē father-in-law; male relative by marriage

-gọ̀2ext. suff. 1

make, be bent (cf. ngọ̀ crookedness)

-dọgọ̀ pull crooked

-tigọ̀ bend by beating: Ụzụ nà-ètigọ̄ m̄kpịsị̄ The blacksmith is beating the spike to bend it

-gu

see -gwu

-gù +v.:

-gù mmilī be damp (as of salt)

-gụ1v

count; read

ọ̀gụgụ figures; number(s); counting; reading; recitation

ọnụ ọ̄gụgụ numbering; the Book of Numbers (Bible)

-gụdà read through

-gụfìè misread

-gụkọta add up; reckon; count

-gụmì read deeply

-gụnwụ̀ read again

-gụnye add; reckon; count in: fị̀ gụnyego fā? Have you counted them in the group?

-gụnye nà reckon as; account

-gụ ọnụ̄ count; reckon

-gụpụ̀ count out

-gụsi ike read out forcefully

-gụtè aka read for a long time agụkata àgbà àwarị an uncountable number

-gụ- +2v

desire; like; want; need (with thing desired or needed as subject)

-gụ agụụ̄ hunger; desire; long for

(agụụ̄) -gụ be hungry

(mmilī) -gụ be thirsty: Mmilī nà-àgụ yā She is thirsty

(ndụ̀) -gụ want to live

(ọnwụ) -gụ want to die: fị̀ chọrọ̄ ịchàlụ̀ motò ọ̀fụma, ọ dị̀ kà ọnwụ ọ̀ nà-àgụ gị̄? You don’t want to give way properly to the lorry; it seems you want to die?

-gụ-3v

bring; fetch; pick out

-gụpụ̀ta rescue (from fire or water: Ọ gụpụ̀tàlị̀ yà nà m̀milī He rescued him from drowning

-gụta ọkụ fetch fire

-gụ4

see -gwụ

-gụ̀ +1v

give name to; name

-gụ̀ afà name; give a name

agụ̀ namesake

-gụ̀ +2v.:

(àkpịlị̄) -gụ̀ lose voice (as a result of excessive straining of the voice resulting from long speech or cold)

-gụ̀3v

embrace; grip; enclose in arms

-gụ̀-gụ̀v

soothe, hush, comfort (e.g. small child): Ọ nà-àgụgụ̄ yā akwa She is soothing (the baby) to make it stop crying

-gụ̀gụ̀ta soothe; comfort; soothe to make stop crying (small child)