Lexicon · 66 entries

K

-ka1v

surpass; exceed; be more than; be superior to: Ị̀nọ kà ị̀tọ Four is more than three: Ọ kà m n’ọkwa He is senior to me: Ọ kà m ogonogo He is taller than me: Uchè ya kà afọ̀ ya He is advanced (in intelligence) for his age

ọ̀kịka surpassing; being bigger than

-ka aka be greater, stronger (than)

-kachasị surpass entirely; be pre-eminent

-kalị be more (than); surpass; excell

-ka mmā be better than: Ùdo kà agha mmā Peace is better than war: Ọnwụ kà ife ifelē mmā Death is better than dishonour

-kasị be greatest

-kasị akasị be pre-eminent

aka ịkā aka be stronger than (lit. hand to be greater than hand)

-ka2v

be hard, strong, firm, dry, mature, ripe (in firmness; contrast)

-cha be ripe as shown by change of colour) (of yam, cassava, corn, coconut); (fig.) be bold, brave, determined

-ka aka be hard, ripe, firm

-ka anya be bold, confident

-ka àrụ be strong, fearless, headstrong

-kaba àrụ try hard; strive

-kachi ntị̀ be stubborn, wilful, disobedient

-ka obì be bold, brave, determined: Ọ bụ̀ sọ̀ọsọ̀ ndi kālụ obì nà-èje ebe a nà-enì ozū n’anyàsị̀ Only bold people visit the cemetery at night: Ọ bụlụ nà ọ kaa gị̄ obì, sòlụ fā jèbe If you are determined, go with them

-kasì obì comfort (usually a bereaved person)

nkasì obì comfort; consolation

-kata àrụ be headstrong

-ka3v

be old, worn out, torn, rent, tattered; hence, apart, asunder (as result of tearing or cutting)

-ka nka tear; decay; grow old; wear out:

ụnọ̀ kalụ nka thatched house which is leaking as a result of the mats being spoilt: Nnā Īlo àkago nkā Ilo’s father has grown old

-kakpọ wear thin (of cloth)

-bèka cut asunder

-bìka cut asunder

-dọka be torn (by pulling); tear

-sèka tear by pulling

-sèkapụ̀ break off by pulling: Ọ chọ̀ isēkàpụ̀ òfu aka ewī She wants to tear off one foreleg of the giant rat

-sèkasị tear off into pieces

-taka spoil by biting (as of ants or termites destroying articles of (clothing): Àkịkà àtakago àfè m zụ̀tàlụ̀ ǹnyàafụ̀ The termites have destroyed the garment I bought yesterday

-ka4v

be stupid, foolish

-kaghè talk, act foolishly

-kakwù be stupid, foolish: Ị nà-àkakwū akakwù You are being stupid

nkakwù stupidity; foolishness

-ka +5v.:

-ka(ta) àrụ be of age, full-grown, developed

-kanite àrụ increase in stature; be mature

-ka6aux. v

marks the negative perfect and the unfulfilled verb forms: Chikē akà ègorọ jī Chike has not bought yams (negative perfect): Chikē àka na-ègo jī Chike should (habitually) be buying yams (but he is not doing so) (unfulfilled): M̀milī àka èzògo Rain should have fallen (but it didn’t)

kà1conj

that; as; as if to say; when; while; like: Kà azị What then? Kà m je Let me go

Kà chi fo goodnight (lit. let the day break)

Kà (chi) bọ̀ọ goodnight (this is used as a reply to kà chi fo):

kà...kà both…and:

kà nwokē kà both men and women (= mà...mà)

nwaànyị̀ Ǹgwụlọ̄ kà ị bụ̀ You are a powerless person (incapable of doing anything): Nwokē afụ̀ bị̀àlụ̀ kà m nà-èsi nnī The man came when I was cooking: Ọ̀ gịnị̄ kà ị nà-èle? What is it that you are selling?

kà ọ̀ bụ̀ or; nor

kà o si nà dị nevertheless; yet; notwithstanding

kà.....rà all; as many as; as much as; every single one; entirely: Onye nkụzî pị̀àgbàdòlụ̀ ụmụ̀ akwụkwọ yā ị̀tàlị̀, kà fa niīne rà The teacher flogged all his pupils, every single one of them: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ ịfụ̄ ndị egwū niīne kà fa rà I want to see all the dancers (none to be left out) Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ kà ànyị rà je I want all of us to go

kà.....wèe in order that; so that: Dètalụ m̄ akwụkwọ kà m wèe malụ nà ị nālugo Write to me so that I may know you have arrived

kèemesịa goodbye (lit. let it be till then)

kọ̀ọ (= kà ọ) dị̀ the present:

nwọọ̀ etu m dị̀ kà m dị̀ nwọọ̀ in my present (great) position

ya kà.....jì for that reason; so; therefore: Èkê dị̀ mkpụmkpụ ya kà e jì jụ iwè yà n’ọlụ àfè ojiī Eke is short; that is why he was not recruited into the police

-kà2v

guess

-kà àkà guess

-kàfìè guess wrongly

-kàta guess correctly

-kà3v

(make a) mark; fix; appoint

ọ̀kị̀kà ceremony

ọ̀kị̀kà manya ceremonial drinking

-kà àgbà make arrangement (for meeting)

-kà akàlà draw a line, mark

-kàcha erase; cancel

-kàchapụ̀ cancel out

-kàgha fix again; adjourn; postpone

-kàghalị re-fix; postpone

-kà nzū mark with chalk on ground

-kànye vaccinate; inoculate

-kà4v

speak; say

-kà ụkà hold divine service; converse; quarrel

-kà5v

afflict; torment; worry: Akwa ọ nà-èbe nà-akā m̄ arụ Her crying is worrying me (i.e. making me uncomfortable)

kaị̀!int

my word! goodness! (= paị̀!)

kalama, kalamamn

bottle

kamàconj

rather than; lest; but rather (after negative); instead of; even if (cf. tụmà): Kamà m gà-ème ife à m̀ nwụa I would rather die than do this: Agà m̀ èje ọ̀kị̀kà afụ̀ kamà àgarọ̄ m èli ife ọbụnà I shall attend the party, but I shall not take anything: Bàa n’ime ụnọ̀ kamà ị kwụ̄lụ nà mmīli Enter the house instead of standing in the rain: Ànyị gà-àbịa, kamà ànyị àghàlụ ilī ife We shall come even if we do not eat (there)/We must come, even if it means missing our food

-kàtaext. suff. 4

so much...that; to such an extent...that: Aŋụ̄kàtà m̀ mmanya n’ebe ànyị jè àgbàmakwụkwọ ǹnyàafụ̀ ọ̀ fọ nwantịntị afọ m̄ gbawaa I drank so much at a wedding yesterday that I almost burst: Ọ bụlụ nà òdìbọ̀ gị̂ nwè ntị̀ ikē i kwukàta okwū ìke agwụ gị̄ If your servant is stubborn you will be worn out with talking: O kwūkàtàlụ̀ okwu àkpịlị̄ gụ̀a yā He talked so much that he became hoarse

-ke1v

tie

òkike tying

-ke agbụ bind

-kebe get ready

-kedo prepare; tie on with rope: O jì ụ̀dọ̀ wèe kedo jī He used a rope to tie up the yams (cf. - fiedo) Kèdo akpàtì afụ̀ n’enu motò Tie that box on the car

-kedosi ike tighten

-ke ekike dress; adorn: O kèlụ̀ ekike ndi aghā He is dressed as a soldier

-ke imē cause abortion

-kekọta join together

-kekụ̀ coil; coiling

nkekụ̀ coil; coiling

-kekpụ̀ tie in a knot

-kekwa re-tie

-kelụ prepare

-ke ome jī break off premature yam shoots

-ke ọbā bind yams in barn

-kesi ike tie strongly

-ke ụ̀dọ̀ tie with rope, cord, etc.

anwụlụ̄, ụ̀tabā tied or rolled tobacco; bits of such tobacco retailed in small

èkèlèke amounts

-ke2v

shine; glitter Ọkụ dị̄ n’ụnọ̀ enū nà-èke kà kpakpaǹdò The lantern in the storey house is glittering like a star: Òkwutē afụ̀ nà-ègbuke kà goòlù The stone is glittering like gold

-kè1v

share; divide

òkìkè sharing; dividing

-kè ekpē make a will

-kè ikpe give judgement

-kè ị̀bụ̀ọ divide into two; bisect

-kèji divide into two

nkèji division; division into two halves

nkèji ụkwụ̄ ankle

-kèlụ take one’s share

-kèlụ okè, òkè take a share

-kèmù divide into small pieces

-kènye give a share

-kè okwu give judgement; settle a dispute

-kèpụ̀ divide out; separate from

-kèrà divide equally

nkerà division; sharing into equal parts

-kèsà distribute; divide among

-kèta take a share; inherit: Ekètàlụ̀ mụ òfu ànị̀ obì m̀gbè nna āyị nwụ̀lụ̀ I inherited a plot of land when our father died

nkèta sharing; inheritance

ife nkèta inheritance

onye nkèta inheritor

-kèta òkè take a share (and bring back)

-kèwa divide off; separate

-kèwalụ secede

-kèwapụ̀ separate from

-kèwọ̀ deny a person a share

-kè (èkè)2v

create

òkìkè creating; creation: Chukwû kèlụ̀ ụ̀wà God created the world

-kè-3v

give (daughter) in marriage; betroth B. give (daughter) in marriage

-kèbe betroth: Ọ kèbè m̀ àda yā He betrothed his daughter to me, or He gave me his first daughter in marriage

-kèli A. betroth daughter to a man irregularly by going to bargain with him instead of waiting until the girl is asked for

kèdu, kèdụint

how? which? Kèdụ kà i mèlụ̀? How are you?

kèdụ azị how then?

kèdụ ebe? where?

kèdụ èkpè? when?

kèdụ ife? what? which thing?

kèdụ m̀gbè? when? (lit. which time?)

kèdụ ǹkè which?

kèdụ ogè? when? (lit. which time?)

kèdụ onye? who? which person?

kèdụ uchè i? what is your opinion?

kèdu zi, kèe zi how then?

-kè-nev

greet; thank

-kè-taext. suff. 1

near(er)

-jekèta go near, nearer: Jekèta yā nso Go near him

-kpụkèta draw near, nearer: Kpụkèta akpàtì afụ̀ Go up to that box, or, Draw that box nearer

-kì-liv

look at; gaze at; witness; watch

-kì-liext. suff. 1

about; up and down (always with -gba) -gbakìli ànị̀ go about; go or move about hesitantly, worriedly, at random: Motō ị̀ kà esò je afị̄a enupụ̀go ebe ị nà-àgbakìli ànị̀ The lorry you were to have taken to the market has left while you were busy fussing about

kịlịkịlịn

tiny size: Ọ kụ̀tà ụmụ̀ kịlịkịlị azụ̀ He caught tiny fish

-dị kịlịkịlị be very tiny, small: Achọ̀lụ̀ m̀ àgwa dị̄ kịlịkịlị I want small beans

egō kịlịkịlị coins

kị̀lịkị̀lịkị̀lịint

word used by children when trying to count stars at night; each number is preceded by this word, and they try to count as far as possible on one breath

kịtāàn

now

azị̀ kịtāà youth of nowadays

kịtịkpān

smallpox

-ko1v

A. hang B. be arrested and suspended in fall

-kobe hang something on; spread out to dry; confer, bestow

-kobe èbùbè honour (lit. "hang honour on")

-kokwàsị hang upon (as a snake)

-kokwàsị akwà wrap a cloth about the body

-kolu remove from where hanging: Kòlu yā ebe à Remove it from here (where you left it hanging)

-kopụ̀ remove from where hanging: Kopụ̀ ya ebe à Remove it from here (where it is wrongly hanging)

-ko2v

used in:

-kolu prepare

-koni start; set out

-kò +1v

swell; distend; bulge B. distend; swell; bulge

òkùkò swelling; distending; bulging

-kò afọ distend abdomen; Nni ǹkaà nà-ekò afọ̄ This food is stodgy

-kò èkò A. writhe; bubble; froth; ferment

-kò ọ̀nụ̀mà be angry; swell with anger

-kò ukò put on airs; show off; be lavish in hospitality; puff oneself up

-kò2v

hook; take with a hook

-kòdo catch; entangle; be entangled

-kò èkò creep; climb (of plants)

-kòni enū hang up (on hook)

-kò okwu (fig.) cause trouble; invite quarrel, dispute (usually deliberately); assault

kòso

see òkòso

-kọ1v

tell; relate; guess

ọ̀kụkọ telling, relating; guessing

-kọ akụkọ tell a story; give news

-kọcha(cid:31) defame; revile; curse (= -kọ ọnū)

nkọcha defamation; reviling; curse

-kọ ọnụ quarrel; abuse; revile (= -kọcha) Àda nà Ǹkwọọma nà-àkọ ọnụ̄ Ada and Nkwọọma are quarrelling: Àdâ jì nnwa Ǹkwọọma āmụtārọ àkọ yā ọnụ; o lofùgo nà ọ bụ̀ Chukwu nà-ezìta nwā Ada has been taunting Nkwọọma with her childlessness; she has forgotton it is God who sends children

-kọsà reveal; declare: Ọ kọ̄sàgo ife m gwàlụ̀ ya He has revealed what I told him

-kọwa explain; introduce: Kọ̀walụ m̄ ọnye ọ bụ̀ Introduce him to me

-kọwa inu interpret a proverb or parable

-kọwa ọ̀dị̀nàànị̀ explain and set up new codes of ritual and political behaviour (esp. of Nri man)

-kọ +2v

scratch

-kọcha isi shave head

-kọfịa rub skin off hand

-kọ isi shave head; barb

ọ̀kọ īsi barber

-kọ ọkọ scratch; itch

-kọ3v

be dry

-kọ akọ dry

m̀gbè ọkọ̄chì dry season

-kọ4v

be scarce, no longer obtainable: Ego kọ̀lụ̀ m I am short of money

-kọ ụ̀kọ be scarce

-kọ +5v.:

-kọ nsi, -kọ ọgwụ̀ practise sorcery against

-kọ6ext. suff. 1

together (in company with); joining (cf. -kọ̀, where convergence, sometimes to the point of deformity, is stressed)

-dụkọ sew together

-gakọ bring together with thread (e.g. beads): Ọ nà-àgakọ jìgìda She is threading the waistbeads together: Ànyị nà-àchọ ịgbākọ mmilī màkà echi We want to draw water into a large container for tomorrow (lit. fetch water together)

-jekọ meet, walk together

-kọ7

ext. suff. 1 all; altogether

-chịkọta gather and bring a whole number

-gokọlụ buy all

-kpọkọlụ dry up completely

-kọ8infl. suff

present action; en route to: Ejèkọ̀ m̀ afịa I’m going to market

-kọ̀1v

plant (tubers)

-kọ̀ ugbō make a farm

-kọ̀2ext. suff. 1

together (i.e. converging) (cf. -kọ, where unity is stressed): Ọ nyākọ̀lụ̀ m̀kpọ igwè m He bent my steel walking stick: Ọ nyākọ̀lụ̀ ìko m̄ He pressed the edges of my cup together

-gbakọ̀ba come together: Ndi mmādụ̀ àgbakọ̀bago The people have come together

-nọkọ̀ba sit together: Achọ̀ m̀ kà ụnụ̀ nọkọ̀ba ọnụ̄ I want you to sit together

-tụkọ̀ba heap together

kọbọ̀, kọpọ̀, kobon

penny (˂ E. copper)

kọmkọmn

an old type of money

kọ̀ọ dị̀ nwọọ̀

see kà

kọtụ̀man

court messenger (˂ E.)

ndị kọtụ̀ma court messengers

Kraị̀stn

Christ

onye òtuū Kraị̀st òtuū Kraị̀st a Christian Christianity

-ku +1v

scoop up and carry liquid

-ku eku scoop; ladle

-ku mmilī scoop water out of a vessel

-kunye mmilī bring water: Kùnye m̄ mmilī Give me water

-ku ofe scoop up soup

-kute mmilī fetch water in a vessel

-ku2

see -kwu 3.

-kù1v

blow (of wind); fan; breathe

òkùkù blowing; fanning; breathing

-kù àkùpè fan

-kùdebe ume stop breathing

-kùfè moving rapidly past, creating a current of air

-kùfè èkufè pass away; blow over as the wind

-kù n’anya n’anya pant: Ọ gbàlụ̀ ọsọ, wèe na-ekù n’anya n’anya He ran and started panting

-kùpụ̀ ume faint; be faint

-kù ume breathe

-kùbì ume cease to breathe; die

ǹkù wing

òkùkù ume lung (human)

-kù-2v

carry

-kùbàta bring in (esp. of small child) Kubàta nnwa n’ụnọ̀ Bring the child into the house

-kùchi nwunyè take the wife of a dead relation

-kùdà bring down

-kù n’aka nurse; hold in the arms

-kùni lift up; rise; get up: O kùnigo! He is risen: Ọ nà-èje ikùnì nwa dālụ adà She is going to pick up the child who has fallen down

-kù n’obì hold at the breast; carry in the bosom

-kupùte, -kupụ̀ta present child at naming ceremony

-kù3v

call (cf. -kpọ)

-kù mmụọ̄ invite masquerader to a place (e.g. funeral)

-tikù call upon

kukuǹdùkun

sweet potato

-ku-ziv

teach

nkuzi teaching

onye nkuzi teacher; instructor

ọ̀zụ̀zụ̀ nkuzi teacher training

-kụ1v

plant (seeds)

ọ̀kụkụ planting; time for planting: Agà m̀ àbịa n’ọ̀kụkụ ọkà I shall come during the maize- planting season

-kụ ọkà plant maize

ife ọ̄kụkụ anything to be planted

-kụ2v

knock; strike; ring (a bell)

ọ̀kụkụ knocking; striking; ringing

-kụ aka clap hands

-kụji break into parts

-kụkọlịta collide

nkụkọlịta collision

-kụkpọ break; smash (e.g. egg); break down

-kụ kwali revenge/avenge a beating

-kụlì break into pieces

-kụ mgbịlịgba ring a bell

-kụ ọ̀fọ knock ọ̀fọ on the ground (of a priest in giving judgement)

-kụ ọ̀kpọ knock the head with the knuckles; box

-kụpịa smash into pieces

-kụpụ̀ knock off

-kụpụ̀ aka fail; give up

-kụsịsị aka Ife à kụ̀sị̀sị̀lị̀ ya aka This thing discouraged him

ọ̀kụ òkpòkpò influenza

-kụ3v

mix

-kụ mmanya mix wine

-kụ nsị mix poison; practise sorcery

-kụ ọgwụ̀ mix medicine

-kụ4v

ext. suff. 1 upon; to; against

-dàkụlụ fall against

-takụ stick to

-kụ̀1v

hook

-kụ̀ azụ̀ catch fish; fish with hook: Afụ̀lụ̀ m̀ ndi nā-akụ̀ azụ̀ na mmili Ōbosi I saw some people fishing in Obosi river, or I saw some fishermen in Obosi river

-kụ̀ ịgà put in fetters; handcuff

-kụ̀ ǹgwụlọ̄ sit cross-legged azụ̄ m̄gbaàkụ̀lụ̀ dried fish which is rolled up with a stick through it: Nwannē m nwaànyị̀ nà-èle azụ̄ m̄gbaàkụ̀lụ̀ My sister sells mgbaàkụ̀lụ̀ fish

-kụ̀2v

bring into use, esp. for food production; cultivate land; tend livestock

-kụ̀ nni supply with food; cultivate: Ọ̀ gịnị̄ kà ị nà-èje imē n’ubì n’ụ̀tụtụ̄ à? Anà m̀ èje ịkụ̀ nni What are you going to do in the farm this morning? I am going to cultivate some crops

-kụ̀ ọkụ̀ tend, keep livestock: Ịkụ̀ ọkụ̀ bụ̀ ezigbọ ọlụ̄ Keeping livestock is a good hobby

-kụ̀ +3v.:

-kụ̀ àkụ̀kụ̀ use slang word

-kụ̀4

ext. suff. 1 used in:

-gbakụ̀ta àzụ turn the back on

-makụ̀ press to one’s body; embrace

-makụ̀ta embrace completely

-kụ-jav

start; be startled

nkụjà a start, shock

-kụ-ta

ext. suff. (= -kụ 4. completely

(?) + -ta 5. D.)

-gbakụta contest all

-kwukụta say all

-makụta know all

-nụkụta hear all

-sàkụta reply to all