Usem Efik
Efik
Niger-Congo
Efik is a Lower Cross Niger-Congo language of southeastern Nigeria, the historic literary lingua franca of the Old Calabar region (the historic Efik kingdom of Calabar, which was the major Atlantic slave trade port and palm oil/ivory trade center 17th-19th centuries). The Calabar Efik literary tradition began in 1846 with Hope Waddell's Presbyterian missionary work and the 1862 Goldie Dictionary, making Efik one of the longest-continuously-written sub-Saharan African languages. Modern Efik has ~2 million speakers and serves as a shared lingua franca with the related Ibibio (ibb) and Anaang languages within the Ibibio-Efik dialect continuum. Linguistically, Efik shares Cross River features: noun-class system, tonal (high/low/mid), and SVO order with elaborate verb extension morphology.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Efik
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Efik | Ibibio | Isoko | Urhobo | Ateso | Jola-Fonyi | Gilbertese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mmọñ /m̩mɔŋ/ | mmọọñ /m̩mɔːŋ/ | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ | akipi /akipi/ | mumel /mumel/ | ran /ɾan/ |
| Fire | ikañ /ikaŋ/ | ikañ /ikaŋ/ | erae /eɾae/ | erhanre /eɾanɾe/ | akim /akim/ | sambun /sambun/ | ai /ai/ |
| Sun | utin /utin/ | utịn /utɪn/ | ọvẹ /ɔvɛ/ | uvo /uvo/ | akolong /akoloŋ/ | balay /balaj/ | taai /taːi/ |
| Moon | ọfiọñ /ɔfiɔŋ/ | afiọñ /afiɔŋ/ | ọwa /ɔwa/ | emeranvwe /emeɾanβwe/ | elap /elap/ | jileeŋ /ɟileːŋ/ | namwakaina /namʷakaina/ |
| Star | ntantaọfiọn̄ /n̩tantaˈɔfiɔŋ/ | ntantaafiọñ /ntantaːfiɔŋ/ | esi /esi/ | isio /isio/ | akanyeret /akaɲeret/ | sili /sili/ | itoi /iˈtoi/ |
| Night | okoneyo /okonejo/ | akonayio /akonajio/ | aso /aso/ | aso /aso/ | akware /akʷare/ | huk /huk/ | bong /boŋ/ |
| Rain | edim /edim/ | edịm /eˈdɪm/ | oso /oso/ | osio /osio/ | akiru /akiru/ | — | karau /kaˈɾau/ |
| Wind | ofim /ofim/ | afịm /afɪm/ | ofou /ofou/ | aphopho /aɸoɸo/ | ekwam /ekʷam/ | — | ang /aŋ/ |
| Earth | isọñ /isɔŋ/ | isọñ /isɔŋ/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | alup /alup/ | mof /mɔf/ | tano /tano/ |
| Stone | itiat /itiat/ | itiat /itiat/ | — | oraga /oɾaɡa/ | amoru /amoru/ | — | atibu /aˈsibu/ |
| Mountain | obot /obot/ | abod /abod/ | ugbehru /uɡbehɾu/ | ugbenu /uɡbenu/ | emoru /emoru/ | — | maunga /mauŋa/ |
| Sea | inyañ /iɲaŋ/ | akpa inyañ /akpa iɲaŋ/ | abade /abade/ | abadi /abadi/ | angolol /aŋolol/ | — | marawa /maɾawa/ |
| Mother | eka /eka/ | eka /eka/ | oni /oni/ | oni /oni/ | toto /toto/ | — /—/ | tina /ˈsina/ |
| Father | ete /ete/ | ete /ete/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | papa /papa/ | ampa /ampa/ | tama /tama/ |
| Daughter | eyen an̄wan /ejɛn aŋwan/ | ayịn awonwaan /ajɪn awoŋwan/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | akoku /akoku/ | — | natiu te aine /nasiu te aine/ |
| I | ami /aˈmi/ | ami /àmì/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | eong /eoŋ/ | iñje /iɲɟe/ | ngai /ŋai/ |
| You | afo /aˈfo/ | afo /àfò/ | whẹ /ʍɛ/ | wẹ /wɛ/ | ijo /iɟo/ | au /au/ | ngkoe /ŋkoe/ |
| We | nnyin /nɲin/ | nnyịn /ǹɲìn/ | ma /ma/ | avwanre /aβwanɾe/ | siong /sioŋ/ | uli /uli/ | ngaira /ŋaira/ |
| Name | enyiñ /eɲiŋ/ | anyịn̄ /aɲɪŋ/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | ekiror /ekiror/ | eriñ /eriɲ/ | ara /ˈara/ |
| Person | owo /owo/ | awo /awo/ | ohwo /ohwo/ | ohwo /ohwo/ | etunganan /etuŋanan/ | — | aomata /aomata/ |
| Head | ibuot /ibuot/ | iwuod /iwuod/ | uzou /uzou/ | uyovwi /ujoβwi/ | akou /akou/ | — | atu /ˈatu/ |
| Eye | enyin /eɲin/ | anyen /aɲen/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | akongu /akoŋu/ | u-kil /ukil/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | utọñ /utɔŋ/ | utọñ /utɔŋ/ | ozọ /ozɔ/ | erhọn /eɾɔ̃/ | akit /akit/ | — | taninga /taniŋa/ |
| Nose | ibuo /ibuo/ | iwuo /iwuo/ | unwe /unwe/ | uwen /uwẽ/ | ekume /ekume/ | eñund /eɲund/ | bwairi /bʷairi/ |
| Mouth | inua /inua/ | inua /inua/ | unu /unu/ | unu /unu/ | akituk /akituk/ | — | — |
| Tooth | edet /edet/ | edet /edet/ | akọ /akɔ/ | ako /ako/ | ekialai /ekialai/ | kañin /kaɲin/ | wi /wi/ |
| Tongue | edeme /edeme/ | edeme /edeme/ | erou /eɾou/ | erebe /erebe/ | angajep /aŋaɟep/ | furerep /furerep/ | newe /newe/ |
| Hand | ubọk /ubɔk/ | ubọk /ubɔk/ | obọ /obɔ/ | obọ /obɔ/ | akan /akan/ | bu-kal /bukal/ | bai /bai/ |
| Foot | ukot /ukot/ | ukot /ukot/ | owọ /owɔ/ | owọ /owɔ/ | akeju /akeɟu/ | — | wae /wae/ |
| Heart | esit /esit/ | esịd /esɪd/ | udu /udu/ | udu /udu/ | etau /etau/ | pu-ngor /puŋɡor/ | nano /nano/ |
| Bone | ọkpọ /ɔkpɔ/ | akpọ /akpɔ/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | akoyit /akojit/ | kolaku /kolaku/ | ri /ri/ |
| Blood | iyip /ijip/ | iyiib /ijiːb/ | azẹ /azɛ/ | ọbara /ɔbaɾa/ | awokot /awokot/ | fasim /fasim/ | rara /ɾaɾa/ |
| Poop | ifuọ /ifuɔ/ | uduañ /uduaŋ/ | isọ /isɔ/ | isọn /isɔ̃/ | acin /atʃin/ | — | butae /butae/ |
| Love | ima /ima/ | ima /ima/ | ọsuọ /ɔswɔ/ | ẹguọnọ /ɛɡwɔnɔ/ | akimina /akimina/ | bu-yopo /bujopo/ | tangira /taŋiɾa/ |
| Tree | eto /eto/ | eto /eto/ | orhan /oɾan/ | urhe /uɾe/ | ekitoi /ekitoi/ | bu-rok /burok/ | kai /kai/ |
| Dog | ebua /ebua/ | ewa /ewa/ | ebọ /ebɔ/ | eranko /eɾanko/ | ekingok /ekiŋok/ | e-buy /ebuj/ | kamea /kamea/ |
| Cat | nyabudaha /ɲabudaha/ | ekpe /ekpe/ | ọtọmha /ɔtɔmha/ | ọtọma /ɔtɔma/ | ekapa /ekapa/ | e-busa /ebusa/ | katama /katama/ |
| Fish | iyak /ijak/ | iyak /ijak/ | yei /jei/ | eri /eɾi/ | ekoleit /ekoleit/ | ewol /ewol/ | ika /ˈika/ |
| Bird | inuen /inuen/ | inuen /inuen/ | evra /evɾa/ | ọphran /ɔɸɾan/ | akweny /akʷeɲ/ | — | mannikiba /mannikiba/ |
| Butterfly | ọfọñekpo /ɔfɔŋekpo/ | mkpufiopufiop /m̩kpufiopufiop/ | ẹvbovbo /ɛʋoʋo/ | erhi /eɾi/ | apelipelet /apelipelet/ | — | bwebwe /bʷebʷe/ |
| Egg | nsen /n̩sen/ | ñkwaunen /ŋkwaunen/ | ike /ike/ | ukẹn /ukɛ̃/ | abeet /abeet/ | — | bunnimoa /bunːiˈmoa/ |
| Horse | enañ mbakara /enaŋ mbakara/ | enañ mbakara /enaŋ mbakara/ | anyenya /aɲeɲa/ | esi /esi/ | ebalasit /ebalasit/ | — | aoti /aosi/ |
| House | ufọk /ufɔk/ | ufọk /ufɔk/ | uwowhe /uwowhe/ | uwevwi /uweβwi/ | etogo /etoɡo/ | e-laaf /elaːf/ | auti /ˈausi/ |
| Milk | mmọñeba /m̩mɔŋeba/ | mmọñ eba /m̩mɔŋ eba/ | imiliki /imiliki/ | ameivie /ameivie/ | akile /akile/ | — | miriki /miɾiki/ |
| Honey | aranọkwọk /aranɔkwɔk/ | adan akwọk /adan akwɔk/ | ọnyọ /ɔɲɔ/ | ọnyọn /ɔɲɔ̃/ | asik /asik/ | — | meri /meɾi/ |
| Salt | inuñ /inuŋ/ | inụñ /inʌŋ/ | uwhei /uʍei/ | ughweraka /uɣʷeɾaka/ | abalang /abalaŋ/ | — | taoro /taoro/ |
| Wine | wine /wain/ | wain /wain/ | enwaene /enwaene/ | iwaini /iwaini/ | ebino /ebino/ | wayin /wajin/ | wain /wain/ |
| Rice | edesi /edesi/ | edesi /edesi/ | osikapa /osikapa/ | irosu /iɾosu/ | emuceeri /emutʃeeri/ | — | raiti /ɾaisi/ |
| Iron | ukwak /ukwak/ | ukwak /ukwak/ | ayọno /ajɔno/ | utehru /utehɾu/ | asowat /asowat/ | man /man/ | biti /ˈpisi/ |
| Book | ñwed /ŋwed/ | ñwed /ŋwed/ | ụbị /ʊbɪ/ | ọbe /ɔbe/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | — | boki /ˈboki/ |
| Eat | dia /dia/ | dia /dia/ | re /ɾe/ | re /ɾe/ | akinyam /akiɲam/ | e-ri /eri/ | amwarake /amʷaɾake/ |
| Drink | ñwọñ /ŋwɔɲ/ | ñwọñ /ŋwɔŋ/ | da /da/ | da /da/ | akimat /akimat/ | ka-piti /kapiti/ | nima /nima/ |
| Sleep | de /dɛ/ | daiya /daija/ | wezẹ /wɛzɛ/ | vwerhẹ /βweɾɛ/ | ajo /aɟo/ | — | matu /ˈmatu/ |
| One | kiet /kiet/ | keed /kèèd/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ediopet /ediopet/ | enor /enor/ | teuana /teuana/ |
| Two | iba /iˈba/ | iba /ìbà/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | iarei /iarei/ | sikaba /sikaba/ | uoua /uˈoua/ |
| Three | ita /ita/ | ita /ita/ | isa /isa/ | erha /eɾa/ | iuni /iuni/ | sifegir /sifeɡir/ | tenua /teˈnua/ |
| Four | inaŋ /inaŋ/ | inaŋ /ìnàŋ/ | ịnị /ɪnɪ/ | ẹne /ɛne/ | iwongon /iwoŋon/ | sibaakiir /sibaːkiːr/ | aua /aua/ |
| Five | ition /itiɔn/ | ition /itiɔn/ | isoi /isɔi/ | iyori /ijoɾi/ | ikany /ikaɲ/ | futok /fuˈtok/ | nimaua /nimaua/ |
| Hundred | ikie /ikie/ | ikie /íkíè/ | ẹgba /ɛɡba/ | ujori /udʒoɾi/ | akwatat /akʷatat/ | — | tebubua /tebuˈbua/ |
| Hello | mọñọ /mɔɲɔ/ | mesiere /mesiere/ | mavọ /mavɔ/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | yoga /joɡa/ | kasumay /kasumaj/ | mauri /mauɾi/ |
| Thank you | sọsọñọ /sɔsɔɲɔ/ | sọsọñọ /sɔsɔŋɔ/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | miguo /miɡuo/ | eyalama /ejalama/ | abaraʼk /abaraʔk/ | ko rabwa /ko ɾabʷa/ |
| Good | eti /eti/ | mfọn /mfɔn/ | ọwhọ /ɔwhɔ/ | emamọ /emamɔ/ | ejok /eɟok/ | esum /esum/ | raoiroi /ɾaoiɾoi/ |
| New | obufa /obufa/ | ufa /ufa/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | lokitetet /lokitetet/ | — | bou /bou/ |
| Red | ndandat /ndandat/ | ndandat /ndandat/ | wowe /wowe/ | wowe /wowe/ | lokarengan /lokareŋan/ | yim /jim/ | uraura /uɾaˈuɾa/ |
| White | afia /afia/ | afia /afia/ | ọfuafụ /ɔfuafʊ/ | fafa /fafa/ | akwang /akʷaŋ/ | fit /fit/ | mainaina /mainaina/ |
| Black | obubit /obubit/ | obubit /obubit/ | obiebi /obiebi/ | biebi /biebi/ | lokirionon /lokirionon/ | — | roro /ɾoɾo/ |
| Green | awawa /awawa/ | awawa /awawa/ | — | ọgiọgiọ /ɔɡiɔɡiɔ/ | — | — | mawawa /mawawa/ |
| Blue | awawa /awawa/ | bru /bru/ | iburu /ibuɾu/ | iblu /iblu/ | lobululu /lobululu/ | — | mawawa /mawawa/ |
| Computer | kọmputa /kɔmputa/ | — | ekọmputa /ekɔmputa/ | ikọmputa /ikɔmputa/ | akompiuta /akompiuta/ | — | kaombiuta /kaombiuta/ |
| Coffee | kọfi /kɔfi/ | kọfi /kɔfi/ | ekọfi /ekɔfi/ | ikọfi /ikɔfi/ | ekawa /ekawa/ | — | kobe /kobe/ |
| Sugar | suka /suka/ | — | isugẹ /isuɡɛ/ | oyibu /ojibu/ | esukali /esukali/ | — | tioka /sioka/ |
| Orange | sokoro /sokoro/ | — | otiowo /otiowo/ | utiẹn /utiɛ̃/ | — | — | aoranti /aoɾansi/ |
| Ninety-nine | anaŋ ye efurenaŋ /anaŋ je efurenaŋ/ | anaŋ ye duop ye usukeed /anaŋ je duop je usukeːd/ | — | — | akaisakany kaungon ka ikanykawongon /akaisakaɲ kauŋon ka ikaɲkawoŋon/ | — | ruabwi ma ruaiwa /ruabʷi ma ruaiwa/ |
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