Lexicon · 48 entries

KW

kwa, kwọ

enc. also; in addition to (additive, denoting repetition, emphasis, or an action in addition to an action previously mentioned; occurs after verbs and nominals): Jèkwa Go again: `Kwèkwanụ u kwe afụ̀ ọ̀zọ Please sing that song again: # Ònye kwa nụ bụ̀ ǹke à?Who else is this? gịnị̄ kwọ bụ̀dụ̀ ǹke à? What is this again?: O sìkwọ̀ ike He is very strong: Ị bị̄arọkwọnụ akwụkwọ ǹnyàafụ̀I’m sure you didn’t come to school yesterday

-mekwa do again

-rikwa eat again

-kwa

1. pack; carry off; clear away

ọ̀kwụkwa packing; carrying off

-kwachakọ take away everything

-kwachi move into place vacated by another

-kwachị remove to another house

-kwadebe prepare; propose to do something

-kwadèbe bring everything near

-kwado prepare; get ready; pack for journey: Akwàdò m̀ ijē afịa I am ready to go to market

-kwafè move over; remove (belongings to another house)

nkwafè transfer (by packing bag and baggage and going to another place)

-kwaghalị move (things) about: Ọ nà-àkwaghalị ife yā He is moving his things about

-kwa ibu pack loads, belongings, luggage: Ọ bụlụ nà ị kpāchàpụ̀rọ̀ anya ndi oriị̀ gà-àkwa ibu niiị̀ne dị̄ n’ụnọ̀ gị If you are not careful thieves will carry off all the loads in your house

-kwaju gather and fill; amass

-kwakọ pack up; pack together: Ànyị nà-àkwakọ ife ānyị ọnụ We are bringing our belongings together

-kwakọbà gather together (into); collect; prepare

-kwakọlụ take, remove everything; pack away everything

-kwakọta pack things together

-kwalụ pack up: Ọ kwàlụ̀ ife yā wèe naa He packed up and went home

-kwalụ afịa pack and move wares away

-kwanye ọkụ stir up a fire; accelerate a car: (fig.) stir up (trouble): Ọ kwànyèlụ̀ nsògbu à He stirred up this crisis

-kwa obì settle (in a place): Akwāgo m obì n’Enugwu# I’ve settled in Enugu

-kwapụ̀ clear out everything

-kwa ụzọ̀ open road (by clearing); prepare way

-kwa 2. +v

A. weep; cry; lament

-kwa akwa cry; weep; lament

-;kwakpọsị anya B. cry bitterly (lit. blind oneself with tears) keep funeral: Ànyị nà-àkwa Ijè We are keeping Ije’s funeral

ọ̀kwụkwa keeping of funeral; funeral ceremony: Ijè nwụ̀lụ̀ ǹnyàafụ̀ mà a gà-èbido ọ̄kwụkwa yā echi Ije died yesterday but his funeral will begin tomorrow

-kwa ozu perform burial ceremony; keep funeral: A gà-àkwa ozu echi A funeral will take place tomorrow #

àkwamozu funeral ceremony: Ànyị gà-èje ākwamozu echi We shall attend a funeral ceremony tomorrow

C. cry (of animals and birds) Oko ọ̀kpà kwàlụ̀ The cock crowed: Ugòlo ọ̀mà nà-àkwa The crows are cawing: Àkị̀lị nà-àkwa Frogs croak

D. used in:

-kwa m̀mààlụ̀ regret: I gà-àkwalụ ǹkaà m̀mààlụ̀ You’ll regret this: Ọ kwàlụ̀ m̀mààlụ̀ nà o mèlụ̀ ya He’s sorry he did it

-kwa 3. +v

cough

-kwa ụkwalà cough

(ụkwalà) -kwa have a cough

-kwa4v

sew

ọ̀kwụkwa sewing

-kwa (akwà) sew (cloth)

-kwachi repair; patch (up): Kwàchielụ m̄ akwà m Patch my clothes for me

-kwakọdo sew together

-kwa nga àgbà tie bandage under chin of a dead person

ọ̀kwa àkwà tailor (lit. sewer of clothes)

-kwa5ext. suff. 1

well; so as to restore good condition

-dokwa repair; put in the proper position; (fig.) settle quarrel: Ọ nà-èje idōkwa motò ya mē mmebì She is going to repair her lorry which has got a fault: Ọ gà-èdokwa ya bụ̄ okwu He will settle that case

-jikwa dress (someone else)

-lụkwa repair

-mekwa, -mekwata repair; please by an action; give a tip, small present: Ọ sị̀ nà ya amā ana mà ọ bụlụ nà fa emēkwatarọ ya He said he would not go if he was not pleased (i.e. if something was not done to please him)

-nọ̀kwalụ sit firm, well

kwà1prep

every; each (with reference to periods of time

kwà ànyasị̀ every evening

kwà arọ̀ yearly; annually

kwà daa daily

kwà èfifìè every midday

kwà izù weekly

kwà mbọ̀sị̀ daily

kwà mgbèdè every evening

kwà ọnwa monthly

kwà ùchichì nightly

kwà ụbọ̀sị̀ every day; daily

kwà ụ̀tụtụ̀ every morning

-kwà2v

push

ọ̀kwụ̀kwà pushing

-kwà aka push; urge; drive

-kwabànye push in; hustle in:

kwabànye yā níme ụnọ̀ hustle him inside the house

-kwadà push down

-kwàdo support; hold up; stop from falling

-kwafè push over

-kwàghe push open

-kwàkọ push together

-kwàkọ isi nísi set people at loggerheads

-kwàkpọ overthrow; push down; demolish

-kwànị ọkụ

A. (lit.) fan fire

B. (fig.) instigate someone to do something

-kwànye push in

-kwàsi ike push firmly

-kwàtù knock down; push down

-kwà ụzọ̀ open a road; prepare way

-kwà3v

miss; slip

ọ̀kwụ̀kwà disappointment; missing (something) as a result of some hindrance: Ọ bụ̀ egwu ọ̀kwụ̀kwà mèlụ̀ nà ị fụ̄rọ onye isi egwu ụmụ̀ àgbọghọ̀ a sị̀ nà ọ bụ̀ yā mànàrị̀sị̀lị̀ egwu àgba n’ Ògidi It is your missing the dance that prevented your seeing the leader of young women’s dance, reputed to be the greatest dancer in Ogidi: Egwu afụ̀ mụ ējedōrọọ̀ bụ̀ m̀ nnukwu ife ọ̀kwụ̀kwà (lit. The dance that I did not meet is to me a great disappointment) I’m very disappointed about missing the dance: Ọ bụ̀ ife ọ̀kwụ̀kwà mèlụ̀ nà mụ esòrọ̀ nnene akwụkwọ n’ụkā à je Something prevented me from taking the examination this week: Òlili nà ọ̀nụnụ dị̄ nébe à ǹnyàafụ̀ akwàgo gi You have missed the feasting that took place here yesterday

-kwàcha slip off and fall down

-kwà4v

blow (e.g. pipe); sing

ọ̀kwa àbụ̀ soloist

ọ̀kwa ọ̀jà piper; flute-player

-kwà5v

pour, spill (water, liquid)

-kwafù spill: Ọ kwāfùlù mmiliị̀ He spilt the water, or He poured away the water

-kwà6v.:

-kwà ụta regret; be sorry

-kwa-cha

v. scrape; chip

-kwacha àkwacha -kwacha ji (edè) chip; scrape cut off roots of yam (cocoyam)

kwalị̀kwatà

n. louse, very stubborn, found on clothes, pubic hair, etc. of habitually dirty persons ( H. cf. igwu louse)

-kwà-sa

see -kwà-sị 1.

-kwà-sị 1, -kwà-sa

ext. suff. 1 upon; on

-dakwàsị fall upon (of thing): Ọ dākwàsị̀ nénu ọchē It fell on the chair Ọ nọ̄kwàsị̀ nénu ikpo akwụ̄ She sits on the heap of palmnuts: O biị̀kwàsị̀ yà aka He lays his hands on him

-kwà-sị2ext. suff. 1

again

-kwukwàsị speak again

-mekwàsị do again

-kwe1n

believe; agree; obey; be willing; permit: Nwoke afụ̀ kwèsị̀lị̀ ịjā ike The man deserves praise

òkwukwe agreement

-kwekọ agree together

nkwekọ agreement; harmony

-kwekọlịta come to an agreement: Ànyị èkwekọlịtago We have come to an agreement

-kwelụ accept

-kwe nísi nod the head

-kwenye agree; allow

-kwenyelụ agree with

-kwesị deserve; be fitting; be suitable; correspond

òkwùkwe belief; faith

ùkwe assent

-kwe 2. +v

sing

-kwe ùkwe sing hymns, songs in chorus

ùkwe song; hymn

-kwe3v

grip

-kwedo aka lay hold of

-kwe n’aka shake hands

-kwerùbe shake (e.g. bottle of oil)

nkweko akā wrist

-kwe 4. +v

bargain; price

-kwedà lower (price)

-kwe ọnụ̄ offer (a price)

-kwe5v

set, prepare for use (something involving strings)

-kwe akwà weave cloth (usu. with hand loom)

-kwe ọnyà set (rope, wire) trap

-kwe ụta string a bow

-kwezi ụta re-string a bow

-kwo

v. pluck, extract forcibly or prematurely; remove from position (e.g. fruit, foetus) prematurely

òkwukwo plucking

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

eze nkwō loss of tooth (teeth)

-kwosị ugbènè pluck feathers

-dàkwo (of fruit) fall from tree before it is ripe

-kakwo (esp. of fruits) pluck prematurely

-takwo (of fruits) eat unripe: Ọ nà-àtakwo ugiliị̀ acharọ̄ àcha She is eating an unripe wild mango

-kwò1v

be crowded; be in a rush; rush; jerk

òkwùkwò rushing

-kwòbà rush in

-kwòbàta rush in

-kwò èkwò rush in numbers

-kwò ekwòlò envy; contest enviously

-kwòjili rush violently

-kwò ọnwụ be at point of death; struggle with death

-kwòpụ̀ rush out

mmili nā-ekwō

èkwò

A. tap or stream where there is a rush of people wishing to fetch water

B. fast-flowing stream, river, water-way: Mmili (pọm̀pụ̀) Ụmụ̀agụ̄ nà-ekwō èkwò n’ụ̀tụtụ̀ There is usually a rush at the stream (tap) of Ụmụagụ in the mornings

(mmiliị̀) -kwò

A. undergo a rush of people anxious to fetch water (of a stream)

B. rush, flow rapidly (of water-way, stream)

(pọm̀pụ̀) -kwò be surrounded by anxious, pushing crowd trying to get water (of tap)

-kwò2v

uproot

-kwò ìlìlò uproot a plant

-kwò +

3. v.

-kwò ekwòlò envy; be jealous of

-kwò +

4. v.

-kwò ụla snore

kwọ

see kwa

-kwọ

1. grind; grate; saw; rub; (with aka as object) wash (hands)

ọ̀kwụkwọ grinding; grating; sawing: Fa nà-àkwọ osisi fa gbùlụ̀ ǹnyàafụ̀ They are sawing the tree they felled yesterday

-kwọ aka wash the hands

-kwọ akpụ grate cassava; make gari: Ọ nà-àkwọ akpụ ọ gà-ejì ghe gàlị She is grating the cassava with which she is going to make farina

-kwọbè saw asunder: Ànyqị chọ̀lụ̀ ijiị̀ mmà ọdụ̄ kwọbè osisi dāchilị ụzọ̀ We want to saw asunder the tree which fell across the road

-kwọcha file

-kwọcha isi be bald

isi nkwọcha baldness; bald head (i.e. as if head has been scraped)

onye isi nkwọcha -kwọ ìgbì bald-headed person rub the gums (of teething child)

-kwọjipụ̀ saw off

-kwọ mụlụmụlụ be smooth (of stone); be very smooth and shining

-kwọ osè grind pepper: Ọ nà-àkwọ osè She is grinding pepper

ǹkwọ òsè pepper-grinder (stone, machine, etc.)

-kwọ ọkà grind corn: Ị̀ nà-àkwọ ọkà ị gà-èji me nni ọkà? Are you grinding the corn with which to prepare pap?

-kwọpị̀à grind to little bits or pulp; crush; mash

(motò) -kwọpị̀à be crushed (by lorry or any vehicle): Motò gà-àkwọpị̄a gị̄ isi otù ụbọ̀sị̀ màkà nà ị dị̄ achàlụ motò ọ̀fụma A lorry will crush your head one day because you never give way properly to lorries

-kwọzè grind to pulp; reduce by grinding

kwọzè (slang, usu. among school-children) snack, small edibles like àkàlà, groundnuts, èlèlè, bought and eaten by school-children during the recess period by those who can afford it

-ta kwọzè eat such snacks

-kwọ 2. +v

scoop up (water)

-kwọ mmiliị̀ bale; dip up water (with hands or container)

-kwọsa mmiliị̀

A. throw water over the hands or body (as in taking a shower)

B. wipe off water from the floor or any wide surface (also - kwọcha)

-kwọ̀

v. carry on the back

-kwọ̀lụ carry on the back (e.g. child)

-kwọ̀ nnwa carry child on the back: Kwọ̀lụ nnwā Carry the child on your back

-kwọ̀ nnwa n’àzụ -kwọ̀pụ̀ carry child on the back put down from the back something carried on it

-kwu

1. speak

òkwukwu speaking

-kwubì end a speech: Bikō, kwubìzịa okwu afụ̀ Please, end that speech

-kwubìdo interrupt

-kwubulu foretell; say beforehand

-kwudebe cease speaking

-kwudide continue speaking

-kwu èkwulèkwu -kwu ezi okwu talk excessively or like a chatter-box; nag speak the truth:

# Ọ bụ̀ ezi okwu kà m nà-èkwu I am speaking the truth #

-kwufìè speak wrongly, incorrectly

-kwughalị say the opposite of what one said before

-kwujọ speak evil of

-kwukwàsị speak again

-kwulụ blaspheme; revile

-kwu mpụ talk at random

-kwunyị̀ overwhelm with talking: I kwu nyị̀ m! You overwhelm me with talk! #

-kwu òfegà, -kwu ofega talk in a flippant way

-kwu okwu speak; utter words

-kwu okwu alụ̄ speak abominable word(s)

-kwu okwu āsị speak falsehood

-kwu okwu azụ̄ slander; back-bite: Ọ nà-èkwu m̄ okwu āzụ He is talking about me behind my back

-kwu okwu ụ̄gha -kwu ọnụ naàbọ̀ speak falsehood say different things on different occasions or to different people

-kwupụ̀ speak out

-kwupụ̀ta speak out; confess: O kwu pụ̀tago echìchè ya He has put forward his views #

nkwupụ̀ta confession; profession (of faith, etc.)

-kwusà(sị) proclaim; declare; publish abroad

-kwusàsịba begin to spread news in all directions

-kwusi ike speak strongly, loudly

-kwute make mention of

-kwutọ̀, -kwutị̀ slander; speak evil of

Ekwu tọ̀sị̀ female name (lit. Don’t slander)

#

nkwutọ̀ evil-speaking

-kwuwa speak plainly

-kwuwapụ̀ speak out plainly

Chinèekwu female name (lit. It is God who speaks, i.e. it is God who says what will happen)

èkwulèkwu excessive talking; nagging

okwu speech

ọ̀ka ēkwukwu chatterbox

ọnụ nā-ekwulụ + ọnụ nā-ekwulụ spokesman our spokesman:

ānyị Ọjị̀ bụ̀ ọnụ nā-ekwulụ ānyị Ọjị is our spokesman

ọnụ nā-ekwulụ ọ̀rà spokesman of the public, all

-kwu-, -kwụ-2v

cork

-kwuchi cork; stopper

nkwuchi cork; covering

-kwuchi ọnụ̄ cover, plug hole, mouth, opening

okwuchi, okwu stopper; cork; cover

-kwụghe open; uncover

-kwu 3., -kuext. suff.1

to; towards

-chèkwube trust in: Chèkwube Chinēkè Trust in God

nchèkwube trust; confidence: Nchèkwube ānyqị dị̀ nà Chinēkè Our trust is in God

-gbakwu(te), - run towards, to:

gbakurịta Ọ nà-àgbakwu nnē ya She is running to her mother

-jekwu go to; towards: Achọ̀ m̀ ijēkwu nnà m I want to go to my father

-kpụkwu move, crawl towards: Ọ nà-àkpụkwu nwa nnē ya She is moving towards her sister

-kwu4ext. suff.1

more; more of

-likwu eat more: Ị̀ chọ̀ iliị̀kwu nni? Do you want to eat more food?

-mụ̀kwù read more (of): Ọ chọ̀ ịmụ̀kwù akwụkwọ She wants to study further

-nụlụkwu drink more of: Nụ̀lụkwue mmiị̀li Drink more water

-wètakwu bring more (of): Wètakwuelụ m̄ mmadụ̀ naàbọ̀ Bring me two more persons

-kwù-

v. cover; cover with lid; invert

-kwùchi close (opening): Kwùchie ìte siị̀ nó`kụ Cover the pot on the fire

-kwùchikpò cover in

-kwùghe open (bottle, tin, pot, etc.)

-kwùghepụ̀ uncover

-kwùpụ̀ uncork (a bottle, etc.)

-kwu-do

v. meet

-kwu-kọ, -kwụ-kọ

v. join, piece together

-kwụkọ aka rub the hands together in supplication

-kwukọnye, - join, piece together

kwụkọnye

-kwù-kwù1v

hold together, clench (of hand)

-kwùkwù aka clench, close the hand

nkwukwù akā fist

-kwù-kwù2v

be foolish

kwùlìkwùlì

n. used in:

-me kwùlìkwùlì behave like a harmless madman

kwùlu

used in:

ọnwa kwùlu ọnwā arọ̀ kwùlu arọ̀ month after month year after year

nnụ̀ kwùlu nnụ̀ thousands upon thousands; million(s): Nnụ̀ kwùlu nnụ̀ ndi be ānyị nà-èje Òbòdò Oyìbo kwà arọ̀ Thousands of our people go to Europe each year

-kwụ1v

pay

ọ̀kwụkwụ paying Anà m̀ àbịa ịkwụ̄ onye ọ̄bụnà dịkà ọlụ yā sìlị̀ dị I am coming to pay everyone according to his work: Ibì egō adā àdị ọlọ̄ kà ọ̀kwụkwụ yā Borrowing money is not usually as difficult as repaying it

-kwụchìgha pay back; repay; refund

-kwụ ngọ̀

A. pay bride-price

B. repay the bride-price paid on a wife

òkwụkwụ ngọ̀ payment of bride price

-kwụta send payment (of debt or wages, to speaker): Ọ kwụ̄tagolụ m̄ ụgwọ o jì m She has sent payment of his debt to me

-kwụ ụgwọ̄ pay wages, debt: Kwụ̀a m̄ ụgwọ̄ m̄ Pay me my wages, or Pay your debt to me

ọ̀kwụkwụ (ụgwọ̄) akwụ̄cha akwụcha payment (of debt, wages) irredeemable; that which can never be completely repaid; debt which can never be completely liquidated

-kwụ2v

stand; set

-kwụba stand (something); place

-kwụbìdo interfere; stand in the way of

-kwụchi resist; stand in front of; block someone’s view; replace; stand in for

-kwụ chị̀m̀ be firm; stand firm; be firmly established or secure in a place (of person)

-kwụdèbe stand near

-kwụdo meet; fall in with; overtake; stand on

-kwụghalị loiter

-kwụlụ n’ùsòlò be in a line, single file

-kwụlụ ọtọ = -kwụ ọtọ

-kwụ ọtọ

A. stand upright, straight

B. be right, upright, just

-kwụrube stand around

-kwụsị stop; stay: Ọ chọ̀ ịkwụ̄sị motò He wants to stop the car

nkwụsị termination; abolition

-kwụsi ike stand firm

-kwụ ụgbà turn a somersault

-kwụzi make straight

akwụ̄do akwụdo instability; shakiness; that which is never stable

-kwụ3v

hang

-kwụba hang

-kwụba akwà hang up a cloth

-kwụ èfè swing to and fro; be neutral

-kwụ elili commit suicide by hanging

-kwụfè suspend; hang

-kwụfèghalị swing; hang around

-kwụgbu kill by hanging

-kwụ ụ̀dọ̀ commit suicide (by hanging); hang oneself

-kwụ 4. +v

smoke

-kwụ àlụ̀lụ̀ be misty

-kwụ anwụlụ̀ smoke (of a fire)

-kwụgbu suffocate by smoke

-kwụni, -kwuni rise (of mist, smoke, etc.)

-kwụ5v

jump

ọ̀kwụkwụ jumping

-kwụbà jump in

-kwụdà lower; let down

-kwụfè jump over

-kwụpụ̀ jump off

-kwụtù jump down

-kwụ6

see -kwu