Lexicon · 125 entries

U

ùbàn

drum beaten for deities at second burial

ubè1n

A. spear, divided into B. short digging-stick (cf. m̀bàzụ̀)

ubē ǹzè ceremonial spear for ọzọ̄ ceremonies (= alọ̀), and fighting or hunting spears, see asùduù and àgànà

-ma ubè pierce with a spear

-sụ̀ ubè thrust, stab with the spear: Bikō asụ̀kwọ̀nà m̀ ubè Please do not stab me with the spear!

-tụ ubè throw spear

ubè2n

stroke (of cane): Pị̀a yā ubè osisi naàbọ̀ Give him two strokes of the cane

ùbe1n

native pear; "pear" (Pachylobus edulis Don), baked in hot ashes

ùbe ōkpoko bush-candle tree (Canarium schweinfurthii Engl.). The fruits are cooked by being put in hot water. See also ùbe ọ̀sà.

ùbe oyìbo avocado pear (Persea gratissima)

ùbe ọ̀sà Canarium schweinfurthii Engl. See also ùbe ōkpoko.

ùbe2n

end; limit

ubìn

farm

ùbin

black cobra (Naja melanoleuca Hall.)

ubom

see ìbome

ubòm̀n

A. sandbank B. the old boundary market, held in the dry season on the sandbar in the middle of the Niger opposite Onitsha C. male name

aja ubòm̀ white sand from river, used in building

ùbu1n

shoulder

-kpọ n’ùbu shrug shoulders: Àdâ kpọ̀lụ̀ n’ùbu ogè m gwasịlị ya ife ị sị̄ kà m gwa yā Ada shrugged her shoulders after my delivering your message to her

-ti ùbu compete (lit. strike shoulders)

ùbu2n

small fishing net

ùbùn

staleness: Azụ̄ à àdàgo ùbù This fish has gone stale

n. common bush by roadside in savannah with small fruit Nauclea latifolia (Rubiaceae) (ùbùrù Azbari?; ùvùrù Echie?)

uchèn

A. mind; sense; thought; wisdom; intelligence: Uchè m dị̀ yà I am concentrating on it B. male name (from -chè think)

ajọ̄ uchè bad plan

àkọ nà uchè intelligence; mind

àkpà uchè mind; memory

-chè uchè think; wonder; doubt; be perplexed

-chịghalị uchè consider; ponder; meditate

-debe uchè think; imagine

enwē uchè lack of sense; foolishness

-nwe uchè be wise, intelligent: Roseline nwèlụ̀ uchè Roseline is very intelligent

-tụghalị uchè consider; reconsider; reflect; change one’s mind

-tụ uchè be worried; anxious

-wepụ̀ uchè cease to expect; give up hope (lit. remove mind)

ùchichìn

night: Ùchichì adị̄ mma ọ̀gwụ̀ Night is not good for fighting

ètitī ūchichì midnight

kwà ùchichì nightly

nnī ūchichì supper

uchun

industry; perseverance; diligence

-chu uchu persevere; be industrious

-dị uchu be industrious, diligent: Àdâ dị̀ uchu Ada is industrious

ude

see udè

udè, uden

groan; groaning; grunt; grunting; hum; din; grunt used rhythmically to keep time in singing: Ndị egwū na-àgwụ; ndị udè àna-àsụ The soloists are singing; the chorus are keeping time

-sụ̀ ude groan; grunt; hum, etc.: Onye àrụ nà-ànwụ nà-asụ̀ udè The patient is groaning

ùde1n

ointment; palm-kernel ointment (Yoruba àdin and òroro)

ùde akụ̄ palm-kernel oil

ùde oyìbo factory-prepared pomade

-kpa ude rub in pomade, grease, ointment

ọgwụ̄ ū de local medicine prepared and stored in a bottle with palm- kernel oil, used for curing convulsions, poisoning

-te ùde anoint; rub with oil, pomade, ointment: Anà m̀ àchọ itē ùde n’ụkwụ m̄kpọ̄sịlị nkụ I am going to rub some pomade on my dry legs: Kèdụ ụ̄dị ū de ị tèlụ̀? What kind of pomade did you rub on?

ùde2n

fame; report; reputation; name

ùdèn

flood-plain; swampy farm land

ùdènèn

A. common or hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) B. hopeless, useless person

Udōn

very powerful divinity (alụ̄sị), whose worship is controlled by the Ọbịọ clan and before whom a king-elect of Onitsha must perform various rituals (Henderson 1972): Proverb: Udō sị̀ onye ya nà-àzọ jì akā ya zọ̀ọ ōnwe ya màkà nà ya adā àzọ onye tōlụ afọ (lit. Udo requests that whoever he is trying to save should try and help himself because he never saves anybody with ascites)

ùdon

peace; quietness; calmness

anya ūdo self-control; temperance

-bi n’ùdo self in peace, harmony

-chọ ùdo look for peace: Ànyị̂ chọ̀lụ̀ ùdo We want peace

ezi ūdo perfect peace

ùdun

Tobias Onyekwere (c.76), from Ohii in Owere, said ùdu means ‘frequency’ (Nwaozuzu Ph.D. 291); used in:

ùdu mmīli rainy season

ùdùn

earthenware pot used for storing water; musical pot playing by slapping a hole in the side-wall with the flat of the hand

egwu ùdù music in which ùdù features prominently

-sụ̀ ùdù beat ùdù (for music)

ùdudōn

spider

ọnyā ūdudo spider’s web (lit. spider’s trap)

ùfen

flight (-fe 1. fly)

-fe ùfe fly

-ti ùfe beat metal out thin

ufèlèn

wind; breeze

oke ufèlè great wind

ùfèsi, ùfèsịn

the other side; abroad; overseas

ùfèsi mmīli across the stream, river, etc.; the other side of the river, stream, etc.

n’ùfèsị over; on the other side

n’ùfèsị mmīli on the other side of the river

ufien

A. camwood (dye-wood from the tree Baphia nitida Lodd. or B. pubescens Hook.f.); red dye from it B. red; reddish

-ru ufie rub camwood on body

ùfìè1n

width; across; crosswise

anya ùfìè squint; cross-eyes

-gbà ùfìè lie across or crosswise

ùfìè 2., ùfìòn

royal drums; pair of very large cylindrical slit-gongs, held only by kings, the beating of which arouses the king from slumber and thus defines the beginning of a new day

ùfìè3n

used in:

ùfìè ji ọkụ̄ sacrifice, feast before eating new yams

ufìlì, ufùlùn

mark; track; footprint; trail (e.g. of snake); sunbeam: Ǹkaà bụ̀ ufìlì agwọ̄, ọ̀ bụrọ̄ ufìlì igwè This is the trail of a snake, not the track of a bicycle

ùfon

used in:

ùfochī, ùfochì dawn; dayspring; next day

ùfolōn

nothing; uselessness; vanity

ufùn

a faint

ùfùn

mongoose

ufulīn

used in:

ụ̀tabà ufulī dry raw tobacco leaves not yet chemically prepared

ufùlù1n

breath; air

ufùlù2

see ufìlì

ùgègbè, ùgògbèn

mirror; glass (= ènyò, èny ìnyò)

ùgègbè anyā (eye) glasses

-gbà ùgègbè anyā wear glasses: Ikê gbà ùgègbè anyā Ike has glasses on

ugilīn

wild mango tree (Irvingia gabonensis (Aubry-Lecomte ex O’Rorke) Baill.), and its fruit (cf. ọ̀gbọ̀nọ̀) used for soup: Ugilī teghete m̀bù egō abụ̄rọ ulù Nine ugilī fruits for one cowry is no gain (i.e. anything too cheap should be suspected of inferiority)

ùgòn

"eagle", bird valued for its rarity and beauty. Its white feather is a symbol of prestige worn with the red cap of onye ǹzè. (Palmnut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis, and/or West African River Eagle, Haliaetus vocifer.) B. beautiful fair-skinned girl (Proverb) Egbe bèlụ ùgò bèlụ ǹke sịlị ibè ya ebènà ǹkù kwaa yā If the kite perches and the eagle perches, whoever says to the other that it should not perch, may it break its wing. (cf. live and let live) (short form) Egbe bèlụ ùgò bèlụ

Ùgòchukwu male name (lit. Eagle of God)

ùgò mmā beautiful girl

Ùgònàchọmmā name of a masquerade

Ùgònnē male name (lit. Mother’s Eagle)

Ùgònnwā female name (lit. (Eagle child))

ọjị ùgò A. yellow kola, valued above the common brownish type

ùgògbèn

mirror (= ènyò, ènyìnyò)

ùgòdìn

lock; key

-gbachi ùgòdì turn the key

ùgòfụ̀n

steam

ùgolìn

hooting sound made by young men when dancing

ugòlon

used in:

ugòlo ọ̀mà Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

ùgolòn

bitter kola (Garcinia kola Heckel)

ùgom, ùgom̀n

prison yard

ugọnọm̀n

fish sp. (Bagrus bayad) (= ọ̀kpọ ọfụ̄)

ugbànàn

A. Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) B. male name

ugbèn

feather (cf. ugbènè)

ugbènèn

feather (cf. ugbè)

-kwosi ugbènè pluck feathers

ugbōn

farm

-gba n’ugbō cultivate adjoining farms; be farm neighbours

-gbu ugbō make farm; farm: Ugbō kà Nwan̄kwọ nà-ègbu èri o jìlì si n’ọlụ oyìbo zùlụ ikē Nwankwọ has been farming since his retirement from the Civil Service

-kọ̀ ugbō cultivate farm; farm

-lụ ugbō work a farm

-sụ ugbō weed farm

ugbòn

A. cave; den; lair; hole B. hiding-place for fish made out of hollow bamboo cane, in which they are then trapped

ugbokōn

A. forest; thicket; jungle; farm B. name of a town in Bendel State

anụ ugbokō stupid, uncivilized person

ùgbòlòn

time, times (in enumeration)

ùgbòlò naàbọ̀ twice; two times: Ejēgo m̄ ụnọ̀ ọgwụ̀ ùgbòlò naàbò I have been to the hospital twice

ùgbòlò òne? how often?; how many times?

ùgbòlo ùgbòlò frequently; often

ùgbun

small fishing net

ughelēn

yawn; yawning

-ghe ughelē yawn: Ọ nà-èghe ughelē He is yawning

ugwun

A. mountain; hill; any raised ground

Ugwu Awụsa Northern Nigeria Nwaàmàlụ̀bịa ejēnurọ̀ Ugwu Awụsa Nwaamalụbịa has never been to Northern Nigeria

Enugwū, Enugū Enugu

-lị ugwu climb mountain, hill

ugwùn

circumcision

-bè ugwù circumcise: Bikō jèe kpọ̀ọlụ m̄ nnā Ěmeka kà ọ bịa bèe nwa a mụ̄lụ ọfụụ̄ ūgwù Go and call me Emeka’s father to come and circumcise the new-born baby

ùgwùn

prestige

ugwùlùgwùn

chest

ugwùlùgwù anụ̄ breast (of meat)

ùgwulùgwun

abundance, large number (esp. of small things)

ujìjìn

leaf used for soup

ùjun

fullness; plenty: Ànyị̂ nọ̀ n’ùju nnī kịtāà We are at present in a time of plenty (of food)

uken

thorn, prickle

ùken

brightness; glitter

Ùkè1n

name of a town and its market

ùkè2n

bad, ill luck; misfortune: Ǹke à bụ̀ ùkè This is a misfortune, or This is bad luck: Ezùlụ̀ m̀ ùkè n’ụzọ̀ ogè m nà-èje ịkpọ̄lụ nnwa m̄nọ̄ n’ụnọ̀ ọgwụ̀ I encountered ill luck on my way to the hospital to take my child home

ukòn

used in:

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

ùkon

small store or recess, built up generally over fireplace

ukòlò

see ìkòlò

ukomn

steep clay cliff at bank of river

ukòm̀n

fowl

ji ukòm̀ White Guinea Yam (Dioscorea rotundata Poir.), fat and of good quality, features in feasts

ùku m̄bun

shoulder

ukpen

lamp

okụ ukpē lamp

ùkpò, ìkpòn

seat or bed made of mud; bed or plot for growing vegetables

ùkpò ezè royal throne

iru ùkpò area raised or demarcated within the òbi to keep ritual objects

ukpìn

tree from which ufie is obtained

ùkpolon

clod of earth

-tụ ùkpolo throw missile

ùkpoò, ukpom̀n

fishing hook

azụ̄ ukpoò fish caught with fishing hook (Proverb) Onye ǹdìdì nà-èli azụ̄ ukpoò The patient person eats fish caught with the hook

ùkwe1n

song; hymn

akwụkwọ ūkwe hymn-book

-kwe ùkwe sing: Anụ̀lụ̀ m̀ kà ụmụ̀ akwụkwọ nà-èkwe ū kwe n’ụnọ̀ ụkà I heard the school-children singing a hymn in the church: Bikō kwèelụ m̄òfu ū kwe ụnụ̄ kwèlụ̀ n’Àba ǹnyàafụ̀ Please sing me a song you sang at Aba yesterday

ùkwe2n

assent (= òkwukwe) (-kwe 1. agree)

ukwun

large; big

afọ ukwu gluttony

anya ukwu covetousness

àrụ ukwu leprosy

n. large size: Ọ dị̀ ukwu It is big

ukwùn

waist; loins; stump (of tree); base: Kèdo elili à n’ukwù gị Tie this string round your waist

ukwù isò base of pillar of house; pillar of house

ukwù osisi stump of tree

m̀bè n’ukwù skirt; native skirt worn as underwear

ùkwù1n

bundle

ùkwù azị̄zà broom (considered as a whole bundle of prepared palm fronds)

ùkwù nkụ̄ bundle of firewood

-lita n’ùkwù inherit, gain by inheritance

ùkwù2n

(also ùkwù egō) unit in cowrie counting system, consisting of ten èkpète (of six cowries each), thus sixty cowries

ùkwù naàbọ̀ 120 cowries

ùkwù naatọ̀ 180 cowries

ùlen

corruption; decomposition; rot (exam?)

-le ùle be rotten, lazy, corrupt

-te ule disgrace; put to shame; abase

ùlìn

indigo; plant (Randia malleifera Benth. and Hook.f. and/or R. maculata DC) whose juice, obtained on grinding the fruit, turns black on drying. Used traditionally by women for body designs to enhance their beauty. Also marked on the lower eye-lid of patient attacked by measles, influenza, smallpox, as prevention and/or cure

ùlì abụbà variety of ùlì

ùli ārụ indigo body designs

ùli ede èji variety of ùlì

ùlì mkpọ̀ variety of ùlì

ùlì nkịlịsị variety of ùlì, whose seeds are very small in size

-de ùlì mark parts of the body with ùlì

-gbu ùlì mark parts of the body with ùlì

ùlilì, ùlulùn

Giant Forest Squirrel (Protoxerus strangeri)

ùlòdìn

type of white lily

ùlòlon

hole for exit of water from house, compound

ulù1n

gain; profit; benefit

ulù egō profit

-bà ulù be useful; profit; benefit

-li ulù gain; profit; benefit

ulù2

see ulùghùlù

ùlùn

clay; mire (cf. ụ̀lọ̀)

ulùghùlù, ulù,n

flesh; small piece of meat without bones

ulùulù

ulū ārụ flesh

ùlùkòm̀bụbā,n

butterfly

òlòkòm̀bụbā,

ùlùmàkụmā

ulùkpùn

cloud

ùlulù

see ùlilì

ùlùmàkụmā

see ùlùkòm̀bụbā

ùlumēn

downy feathers; down

ùlume akpụ̄ kapok

ume1n

breath; sigh; strength

ume ànị̀ humility

ume n̄gwụ idleness; laziness

-fụ̀nye ume inflate

-gbà ume encourage (lit. strengthen the heart): O kwèsị̀lị̀ kà ànyị jee gbàa ụmụ̀ akwụkwọ nā-akwado ijē nnene akwụkwọ ume We ought to go and encourage the students preparing for examinations

-kùdebe ume stop breathing

-kùpù ume faint; be faint

-kù ume breathe

ǹkù umē breath

nwa mkpùkpù umē -nwe ume newborn infant be strong

òkùkù ume lung (human)

-tụ n’ume breathe shallowly or faintly (like patient nearing death or person who is exhausted from running); pant

-ze ume sigh; snort

ume2n

loins

ùmen

used in:

ùme nnwā, ọ̀mụ̀mụ̀ frequent loss of new-born children soon after birth

unen

calabash for storing wine

ùnèn

mouth-bow with cane-rope string

unèlèn

banana (Musa sapientum Linn.)

unyin

dirt

-lu unyi be dirty: Akwà gị̂ lùlù unyi Your cloth is dirty

unyìn

coal; charcoal; cinder

unyì okwutē coal

-gwu unyì okwutē dig, mine coal: A nà-ègwu unyì okwutē n’Enugū Coal is mined at Enugu

ùrun

sorrow; grief

akwā ūru sackcloth; mourning garment (usually black)

-ru ùru mourn; be sorrowful, downcast; grieve

ùruluchīn

evening; dusk

ùsokwūn

woman’s house (= m̀kpukè)

ùsòlòn

row of things or people; arrangement

-kwụlụ n’ùsòlò be in a line, single file: Kwụ̀lụ nụ̀ n’ùsòlò Stand in a line; or in single file: Mèe kà ụmụ̀ akwụkwọ kwụa n’ùsòlò Make the students form a procession

n’ùsòlò n’ùsòlò in order; one after the other

-sò n’ùsòlò be in line

usukēn

tree whose fruit resembles ụdalā ènwè in shape; when ripe, the fruit is red in colour

uten

A. mat B. tree (Pandanus candelabrum Beauv.) from whose leaves mats are made

ute Ādo (= ute stiff mat used for burial ceremonies or to form roofing or

m̄kpàla) shelter

-gbasà ute spread mat (in general, without necessarily implying for purpose of sleeping): Jèe gbasàa utē n’anwụ̄ Go and spread the mat in the sun

-kpọ ute buy mat

-tọ̀ ute spread mat (for sleeping on): Bikō jèe tọ̀ọ utē ebe ànyị gà-àlarụ Please go and spread mats where we are going to sleep

(ụ̀wà) -tọ̀ ute have an easy life

ùtùkpèn

lamp (= ìtè ọkụ̄): Ọnwa tụa, ùtùkpè àna When the moon shines, there is no need of a lamp (fig. used to express dependence on an outstanding person)

ùyòm̀n

newly-hatched chick; chick

ùyòm ọ̄kụkọ̀ chicks

nwa ùyòm̀, chick

nwuùyòm̀

ụmụ̄ ùyòm̀ chicks

uzèn

Giant Forest squirrel (Protoxerus strangeri) (cf. ọ̀sa)

uzelēn

sneezing

-ze uzelē sneeze

uzuzù, uzuzòn

sand; dust

-kpo uzuzù gather sand; play in and with the sand (of children)