Ẹ̀dó
Edo
Niger-Congo (Edoid)
Edo, also known as Bini and written Ẹ̀dó (ISO 639-3: bin), is a North-Central Edoid language of the Niger-Congo family spoken chiefly in and around Benin City in Edo State, southern Nigeria. It is the heritage language of the Edo people and was the principal language of the historic Kingdom of Benin; modern estimates commonly place its speaker population around two million. Edo is tonal and has seven oral vowel qualities /i e ɛ a ɔ o u/, represented in standard Latin orthography with letters including ẹ and ọ; tone marks may be written where needed. It remains widely used in community life, traditional institutions, broadcasting, literature, and education, and Glottolog classifies it as an educational language rather than endangered.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Edo
Sources
- Edo Bible 1996 (EDO96), bible.com version 3935; H. Melzian, A Concise Dictionary of the Bini Language of Southern Nigeria (1937); Agheyisi, An Edo-English Dictionary (1986) via Wiktionary (okuta, esagiẹn)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Edoid)
| Meaning | Edo | Yekhee | Isoko | Urhobo | Degema | Yoruba | Aja |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amẹ /amɛ̃/ | amɛ /amɛ/ | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ | amin /amin/ | omi /omi/ | esi /esi/ |
| Fire | erhẹn /eɾɛ̃/ | eria /eɾia/ | erae /eɾae/ | erhanre /eɾanɾe/ | itany /itaɲ/ | iná /iná/ | ezo /ezo/ |
| Sun | ovẹn /oʋɛ̃/ | ovan /ovan/ | ọvẹ /ɔvɛ/ | uvo /uvo/ | uvuwo /uvuwo/ | oòrùn /oòɾũ̀/ | ewe /ewe/ |
| Moon | uki /uki/ | ukpoki /ukpoki/ | ọwa /ɔwa/ | emeranvwe /emeɾanβwe/ | obaam /obəəm/ | òṣùpá /òʃùkpá/ | esun /esun/ |
| Star | orhọnmwẹ /oɾɔ̃mwɛ̃/ | isi /isi/ | esi /esi/ | isio /isio/ | ụsemese /ʊsɛmɛsɛ/ | ìràwọ̀ /ìràwɔ̀/ | wlecivi /wletʃivi/ |
| Night | asọn /asɔ̃/ | eridai /eridai/ | aso /aso/ | aso /aso/ | ạsu /asʊ/ | alẹ́ /alɛ́/ | zan /zã/ |
| Snow | isonorhọ /isonoɾɔ/ | — | ekpalekpa-ame /ekpalekpaame/ | — | — | yìnyín /jĩ̀jĩ́/ | — |
| Wind | ẹhoho /ɛhoho/ | — | ofou /ofou/ | aphopho /aɸoɸo/ | — | afẹ́fẹ́ /afɛ̃fɛ̃/ | jihɔn /dʒihɔ̃/ |
| Earth | otọ /otɔ/ | — | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | — | ilẹ̀ /ilɛ̀/ | nyigban /ɲiɡbã/ |
| Stone | okuta /okuta/ | udo /udo/ | — | oraga /oɾaɡa/ | ohinw /ohiŋʷ/ | òkúta /òkúta/ | kpe /kpe/ |
| Mountain | oke /oke/ | — | ugbehru /uɡbehɾu/ | ugbenu /uɡbenu/ | igu /iɡu/ | òkè /òkè/ | — |
| Sea | okun /okũ/ | — | abade /abade/ | abadi /abadi/ | — | òkun /òkũ/ | axu /axu/ |
| Mother | iye /ije/ | iye /ije/ | oni /oni/ | oni /oni/ | onomo /onomo/ | ìyá /ìjá/ | nɔ /nɔ/ |
| Father | érhá /eɾa/ | eθa /eθa/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | ọsunomo /ɔsʊnɔmɔ/ | bàbá /bàbá/ | eda /eda/ |
| Daughter | ọmọ okhuo /ɔmɔ oxuo/ | — | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | ọkpatam /ɔkpatam/ | ọmọbìnrin /ɔmɔbĩrĩ/ | vi nyɔnuvi /vi ɲɔnuvi/ |
| I | mẹ /mɛ̃/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹẹ /mɛɛ/ | èmi /èmi/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ |
| You | wẹ /wɛ/ | wẹ /wɛ/ | whẹ /ʍɛ/ | wẹ /wɛ/ | wọọ /wɔɔ/ | ìwọ /ìwɔ/ | wo /wo/ |
| We | ma /ma/ | mae /mae/ | ma /ma/ | avwanre /aβwanɾe/ | eni /eni/ | àwa /àwa/ | mí /mí/ |
| Name | eni /ẽ̀nĩ̀/ | ena /ena/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | ini /ini/ | orúkọ /orúkɔ/ | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ |
| Person | ọmwa /ɔmwã/ | — | ohwo /ohwo/ | ohwo /ohwo/ | oweey /oweej/ | ènìyàn /ènìjã̀/ | amɛ /amɛ/ |
| Head | uhunmwu /uhũmwũ/ | usumi /usumi/ | uzou /uzou/ | uyovwi /ujoβwi/ | utom /utom/ | orí /orí/ | ta /ta/ |
| Eye | aro /aro/ | evua /evua/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | ụnwo ạḍu /ʊŋʷɔ aɗʊ/ | ojú /odʒú/ | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ |
| Ear | ehọ /ehɔ/ | eo /eo/ | ozọ /ozɔ/ | erhọn /eɾɔ̃/ | ụsow /ʊsɔw/ | etí /etí/ | eto /eto/ |
| Nose | ihue /ihue/ | isue /isue/ | unwe /unwe/ | uwen /uwẽ/ | isuveny /isuveɲ/ | imú /imú/ | — |
| Mouth | unu /unu/ | uno /uno/ | unu /unu/ | unu /unu/ | enu /enu/ | ẹnu /ɛnu/ | enu /enu/ |
| Tooth | akọn /akɔ̃/ | ako /ako/ | akọ /akɔ/ | ako /ako/ | ụku /ʊkʊ/ | eyín /ejĩ́/ | aɖu /aɖu/ |
| Tongue | aranmwẹ /aranmwɛ̃/ | olemi /olemi/ | erou /eɾou/ | erebe /erebe/ | ụḍem /ʊɗɛm/ | ahọ́n /ahɔ́n/ | aɖe /aɖe/ |
| Hand | obọ /obɔ/ | oba /oba/ | obọ /obɔ/ | obọ /obɔ/ | ụḅo /ʊɓɔ/ | ọwọ́ /ɔwɔ́/ | alɔ /alɔ/ |
| Foot | owẹ /owɛ/ | — | owọ /owɔ/ | owọ /owɔ/ | avi /avi/ | ẹsẹ̀ /ɛsɛ̀/ | afɔ /afɔ/ |
| Heart | ekhọe /exɔe/ | itsu /itsu/ | udu /udu/ | udu /udu/ | ụnwo ivom /ʊŋʷɔ ivom/ | ọkàn /ɔkã̀/ | eji /edʒi/ |
| Bone | ùgbòlòkò /ùɡbòlòkò/ | ugoa /uɡoa/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | uḅuwo /uɓuwo/ | egungun /eɡũɡũ/ | xu /xu/ |
| Blood | esagiẹn /esaɡiɛ̃/ | atale /atale/ | azẹ /azɛ/ | ọbara /ɔbaɾa/ | ịjzalam /ɪzalam/ | ẹ̀jẹ̀ /ɛ̀dʒɛ̀/ | hun /hũ/ |
| Love | arhuẹmwonmwan /aɾuɛ̃mwɛ̃/ | gbele /ɡbele/ | ọsuọ /ɔswɔ/ | ẹguọnọ /ɛɡwɔnɔ/ | — /—/ | ìfẹ́ /ìfɛ́/ | lɔ̃ /lɔ̃/ |
| Tree | erhan /eɾã/ | orhan /oɾhan/ | orhan /oɾan/ | urhe /uɾe/ | ụtany /ʊtaɲ/ | igi /iɡi/ | aci /atʃi/ |
| Dog | awa /awa/ | agbon /aɡbon/ | ebọ /ebɔ/ | eranko /eɾanko/ | ạḅuwa /aɓʊwa/ | ajá /adʒá/ | avu /avu/ |
| Cat | apusi /apusi/ | otsuvua /otsuvua/ | ọtọmha /ɔtɔmha/ | ọtọma /ɔtɔma/ | pọsi /pɔsɪ/ | ológbò /olóɡbò/ | ami /ami/ |
| Fish | ehẹn /ehɛ̃/ | eseri /eseri/ | yei /jei/ | eri /eɾi/ | esen /esen/ | ẹja /ɛdʒa/ | kpavi /kpavi/ |
| Bird | ahianmwẹ /ahjãmwɛ̃/ | apfiami /apfiami/ | evra /evɾa/ | ọphran /ɔɸɾan/ | ẹfen /ɛfɛn/ | ẹyẹ /ɛjɛ/ | xevi /xevi/ |
| Butterfly | ebalabala /ebalabala/ | aviẹviẹ /aviɛviɛ/ | ẹvbovbo /ɛʋoʋo/ | erhi /eɾi/ | — | labalábá /labalábá/ | — |
| Egg | ekẹrẹ /ekɛrɛ/ | — | ike /ike/ | ukẹn /ukɛ̃/ | — | ẹyin /ɛjĩ/ | — |
| Horse | ẹ́sín /ɛsĩ/ | akazi /akaʒi/ | anyenya /aɲeɲa/ | esi /esi/ | — | ẹṣin /ɛʃĩ/ | esɔ /esɔ/ |
| House | owa /owa/ | ukekpe /ukekpe/ | uwowhe /uwowhe/ | uwevwi /uweβwi/ | ụvay /ʊvaj/ | ilé /ilé/ | avia /avia/ |
| Milk | ewẹn /ewɛ̃/ | — | imiliki /imiliki/ | ameivie /ameivie/ | — | wàrà /wàrà/ | anɔshu /anɔʃu/ |
| Honey | owọn /owɔ̃/ | — | ọnyọ /ɔɲɔ/ | ọnyọn /ɔɲɔ̃/ | — | oyin /ojĩ/ | enyishi /eɲiʃi/ |
| Salt | umwẹ /umwɛ̃/ | umeri /umeri/ | uwhei /uʍei/ | ughweraka /uɣʷeɾaka/ | uḅuwan /uɓuwən/ | iyọ̀ /ijɔ/ | eje /edʒe/ |
| Wine | ayọn /ajɔ̃/ | — | enwaene /enwaene/ | iwaini /iwaini/ | — | wáìnì /wáìnì/ | vɛn /vɛ̃/ |
| Rice | izẹ /izɛ/ | — | osikapa /osikapa/ | irosu /iɾosu/ | — | ìrẹsì /ìɾɛsì/ | mɔlu /mɔlu/ |
| Iron | ematọn /ematɔ̃/ | akure /akuɾe/ | ayọno /ajɔno/ | utehru /utehɾu/ | ikulele /ikulele/ | irin /irĩ/ | ega /eɡa/ |
| Wheel | owe /owe/ | — | ẹtẹ /ɛtɛ/ | adjugẹn /adʒuɡɛn/ | — | táyà /tájà/ | — |
| Book | ebe /ebe/ | — | ụbị /ʊbɪ/ | ọbe /ɔbe/ | — | ìwé /ìwé/ | wema /wema/ |
| Eat | re /re/ | remi /ɾemi/ | re /ɾe/ | re /ɾe/ | ḍi /ɗi/ | jẹ /dʒɛ/ | ɖu /ɖu/ |
| Drink | da /da/ | yamẹ /jamɛ/ | da /da/ | da /da/ | nyọnw /ɲɔŋʷ/ | mu /mu/ | nu /nu/ |
| Sleep | vbiẹ /ʋiɛ/ | — | wezẹ /wɛzɛ/ | vwerhẹ /βweɾɛ/ | mẹse /mɛsɛ/ | sùn /sũ̀/ | dɔ alɔn /dɔ alɔ̃/ |
| One | ọkpa /ɔkpa/ | ɔkpa /ɔkpa/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ọvu /ɔvʊ/ | ọ̀kan /ɔ̀kã/ | eɖe /eɖe/ |
| Two | eva /èʋà/ | eva /eva/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | iva /ivə/ | eéjì /eédʒì/ | eve /eve/ |
| Three | eha /eha/ | ela /ela/ | isa /isa/ | erha /eɾa/ | ịsay /ɪsaj/ | ẹẹ́ta /ɛːta/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ |
| Four | enẹ /ènɛ̀/ | ezie /eʒie/ | ịnị /ɪnɪ/ | ẹne /ɛne/ | — | ẹẹ́rin /ɛːrĩ/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ |
| Five | isẹn /isɛ̃/ | ise /ise/ | isoi /isɔi/ | iyori /ijoɾi/ | isuwon /isuwon/ | àrún /aːɾṹ/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ |
| Hundred | iyisẹn /ijisɛ̃/ | — | ẹgba /ɛɡba/ | ujori /udʒoɾi/ | itany isuwon /itaɲ isuwon/ | ọgọ́rùn-ún /ɔɡɔ́ɾṹṹ/ | — |
| Hello | kóyo /kojo/ | udze /udze/ | mavọ /mavɔ/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | — /—/ | ẹ kú /ɛ kú/ | nɛnɛ /nɛnɛ/ |
| Thank you | ù rú èsé /ù rú èsé/ | oyabuwere /ojabuweɾe/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | miguo /miɡuo/ | — /—/ | ẹ ṣé /ɛ ʃé/ | amɛ akpe /amɛ akpe/ |
| Good | ma /ma/ | edue /edue/ | ọwhọ /ɔwhɔ/ | emamọ /emamɔ/ | ovi /ovi/ | dára /dáɾa/ | nwi /nwi/ |
| New | ọgbọn /ɔɡbɔ̃/ | — | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | ọfany /ɔfaɲ/ | tuntun /tũtũ/ | yoyu /joju/ |
| Red | baa /baː/ | bara /bara/ | wowe /wowe/ | wowe /wowe/ | ạtuatu /atʊatʊ/ | pupa /pupa/ | ejun /edʒũ/ |
| White | fua /fua/ | pfa /pfa/ | ọfuafụ /ɔfuafʊ/ | fafa /fafa/ | ọfufu /ɔfʊfʊ/ | funfun /fũfũ/ | eyi /eji/ |
| Black | nekhui /nexui/ | wisi /wisi/ | obiebi /obiebi/ | biebi /biebi/ | obibi /obibi/ | dúdú /dúdú/ | eyu /eju/ |
| Green | ebeebe /ebeebe/ | — | — | ọgiọgiọ /ɔɡiɔɡiɔ/ | — | àwọ̀ ewé /àwɔ̀ ewé/ | — |
| Blue | raghoragho /raɣoraɣo/ | — | iburu /ibuɾu/ | iblu /iblu/ | — | dúdú /dúdú/ | — |
| Computer | ekọmputa /ekɔmputa/ | — | ekọmputa /ekɔmputa/ | ikọmputa /ikɔmputa/ | — | kọ̀ǹpútà /kɔ̀ŋ̀kpútà/ | ɔdinatɛɛ /ɔdinatɛː/ |
| Tea | eti /eti/ | — | iti /iti/ | iti /iti/ | — | tíì /tíì/ | ti /ti/ |
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