Igbo
Niger-Congo
Igbo is one of West Africa's three major Nigerian languages (alongside Hausa and Yoruba), with ~24M L1 speakers in southeastern Nigeria across Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu states. It is tonal (high/low + downstep) with ATR vowel harmony, an eight-vowel system in two ATR sets, and a 30+ consonant inventory across dialects; the Ọnwụ orthography (1962) standardized the writing system. Igbo culture and oral literature reached global readership through Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart" (1958), and the language preserves a rich proverb/idiom tradition (ilu) considered the highest form of Igbo verbal art.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Igbo
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Igbo | Izii | Ekpeye | Welsh English | Nigerian English | Mancunian English | Jamaican English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mmiri /mːiɾi/ | mini /mini/ | mini /mini/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ | water /ˈwɔːtɐ/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ |
| Fire | ọkụ /ɔkʊ/ | oku /oku/ | ẹcị /ɛtʃɪ/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /faɪə/ | fire /faɪə/ |
| Sun | anyanwụ /aɲaŋʷʊ/ | anwu /aŋwu/ | ẹlaŋụ /ɛlaŋʊ/ | sun /sʌn/ | sun /sɔn/ | sun /sʊn/ | sun /sɵn/ |
| Moon | ọnwa /ɔŋʷa/ | onwa /oŋwa/ | adịgwẹ /adɪɡwɛ/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ |
| Star | kpakpando /kpakpando/ | kpokpode /kpokpode/ | opipinyenye /ɔpipiˈɲeɲe/ | star /staː/ | star /staː/ | star /staː/ | star /staː/ |
| Night | abalị /abalɪ/ | enyashi /eɲaʃi/ | abala /abala/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ | night /naɪt/ |
| Rain | mmiri ozuzo /mːiɾi ɔzuzo/ | — | — | rain /ɾeɪn/ | rain /ɹeːn/ | rain /ɹeɪn/ | rain /ɹeːn/ |
| Snow | snoo /sinoː/ | aka-mini-sunoo /aka mini sunoː/ | — | snow /snoʊ/ | snow /snoː/ | snow /snəʊ/ | snow /snoː/ |
| Wind | ifufe /ifufe/ | phẹrephere /ɸɛɾeɸeɾe/ | uweele /uweele/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ | wind /wɪnd/ |
| Earth | ala /àlà/ | alị /alɪ/ | ele /ɛlɛ/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːt/ | earth /ɜːθ/ | earth /ɜːt/ |
| Stone | nkume /ŋˈkume/ | mkpuma /mkpuma/ | igwu /iɡwu/ | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stoːn/ | stone /stɒʊn/ | stone /stoːn/ |
| Mountain | ugwu /úɡʷú/ | ubvu /ubvu/ | ebu /eɓu/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɛn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ | mountain /ˈmɵʊntn̩/ |
| Sea | oke osimiri /oke osimiɾi/ | eze-ẹnyimu /eze ɛɲimu/ | olimini /olimini/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ | sea /siː/ |
| Mother | nne /nːe/ | ne /ne/ | ịna /ɪna/ | mother /ˈmʌðə/ | mother /ˈmɔðə/ | mother /ˈmʊðɐ/ | mother /ˈmɵðə/ |
| Father | nna /nːa/ | nna /nːa/ | ịda /ɪda/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfɑːðə/ | father /ˈfaːðɐ/ | father /ˈfaːðə/ |
| Daughter | nwa nwaanyị /ŋʷa ŋʷaːɲɪ/ | nwada /ŋwada/ | — | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtɐ/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ |
| I | mụ /mʊ/ | mu /mu/ | ma /ma/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ | I /aɪ/ |
| You | gị /ɡɪ/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | yo /jo/ | you /juː/ | you /ju/ | you /juː/ | you /juː/ |
| We | anyị /aɲɪ/ | anyi /aɲi/ | ye /je/ | we /wiː/ | we /wi/ | we /wiː/ | we /wiː/ |
| Name | aha /aha/ | ẹpha /ɛɸa/ | ewa /ɛˈwa/ | name /neːm/ | name /nem/ | name /neɪm/ | name /neːm/ |
| Person | mmadụ /mmadʊ/ | amadụ /amadʊ/ | madu /madu/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsɔn/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ |
| Head | isi /isi/ | ishi /iʃi/ | ishi /iʃi/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ | head /hɛd/ |
| Eye | anya /aɲa/ | ẹnya /ɛɲa/ | anya /aɲa/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ |
| Ear | ntị /ntɪ/ | nchị /ntʃɪ/ | ẹtẹ /ɛtɛ/ | ear /iːə/ | ear /ia/ | ear /ɪə/ | ear /iːa/ |
| Nose | imi /īmī/ | imi /imi/ | emi /emi/ | nose /noʊz/ | nose /noːs/ | nose /nəʊz/ | nose /noːz/ |
| Mouth | ọnụ /ɔnʊ/ | ọnu /ɔnu/ | ụnụ /ʊnʊ/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | mouth /maʊt/ | mouth /maʊθ/ | — |
| Tooth | eze /eze/ | eze /eze/ | ize /ize/ | tooth /tuːθ/ | tooth /tuːt/ | tooth /tʊθ/ | tooth /tuːt/ |
| Tongue | ire /iɾe/ | ire /ire/ | idho /iðo/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ | tongue /tɔŋ/ | tongue /tʊŋ/ | tongue /tɵŋ/ |
| Hand | aka /aka/ | ẹka /ɛka/ | aka /aka/ | hand /hand/ | hand /hænd/ | hand /hand/ | hand /hand/ |
| Foot | ụkwụ /ʊkʷʊ/ | ọkpa /ɔkpa/ | uko /uko/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ |
| Heart | obi /obi/ | obu /obu/ | obi /obi/ | heart /haːt/ | heart /hɑːt/ | heart /haːt/ | heart /haːt/ |
| Bone | ọkpụkpụ /ɔkpʊkpʊ/ | ọkpu /ɔkpʊ/ | ukpo /ukpo/ | bone /boːn/ | bone /bon/ | bone /bɒʊn/ | bone /boːn/ |
| Blood | ọbara /ɔbaɾa/ | mmee /mːeː/ | ubala /ubala/ | blood /blʌd/ | blood /blɔd/ | blood /blʊd/ | blood /blɵd/ |
| Poop | nsị /n̩sḭ/ | nshị /nʃɪ/ | — | poo /puː/ | poop /puːp/ | poo /puː/ | poo /puː/ |
| Love | ịhụnanya /ɪhʊnaɲa/ | ihunanya /ihunaɲa/ | ihunanya /ihunaɲa/ | love /lʌv/ | love /lɔv/ | love /lʊv/ | love /lɵv/ |
| Tree | osisi /osisi/ | oshi /oʃi/ | osisi /osisi/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ |
| Dog | nkịta /ŋkɪta/ | nkita /ŋkita/ | akịta /akɪta/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɔɡ/ | dog /dɒɡ/ | dog /dɔɡ/ |
| Cat | nwamba /ŋʷamba/ | nwamba /ŋwamba/ | nwamba /ŋwamba/ | cat /kʰat/ | cat /kæt/ | cat /kat/ | cat /kʰat ~ kjaːt/ |
| Fish | azụ /azʊ/ | ema /ema/ | ukpa /ukpa/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | nnụnụ /nːʊnʊ/ | ẹnu /ɛnu/ | — | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ | bird /bɜːd/ |
| Butterfly | ulukurubụba /ulukuɾubʊba/ | — | — | butterfly /ˈbʌtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbɔtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbʊtəflaɪ/ | butterfly /ˈbɵtəflaɪ/ |
| Egg | àkwá /àkʷá/ | ẹkwa /ɛkwa/ | ukwa /ukwa/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | bịa /bɪa/ | bịye /bɪje/ | — | bear /bɛː/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /bɛə/ | bear /beːɹ/ |
| Horse | ịnyịnya /ɪɲɪɲa/ | ịnya /ɪɲa/ | inyanya /ɨɲaɲa/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ | horse /hɔːs/ |
| House | ụlọ /ʊlɔ/ | ulo /ulo/ | ulo /ulo/ | house /haʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /haʊs/ | house /hɵʊs/ |
| Milk | mmiri ara /mːiɾi aɾa/ | ẹra /ɛɾa/ | — | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | mmanụ aṅụ /mːanʊ aŋʊ/ | manụ ẹnwu /manʊ ɛŋwu/ | oga ogbenyi /ɔɡa ɔɡbɛɲɨ/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ | honey /ˈhɔni/ | honey /ˈhʊni/ | honey /ˈhɵni/ |
| Salt | nnu /nːu/ | unu /unu/ | aɗa /aɗa/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ | salt /sɔːlt/ |
| Wine | mmanya /mːaɲa/ | mẹe /mɛe/ | — | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ | wine /waɪn/ |
| Rice | osikapa /osikapa/ | — | alisu /alɨsu/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ |
| Iron | igwe /iɡʷe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | uci /utʃi/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ | iron /ˈaɪən/ |
| Wheel | wiil /wiːl/ | — | — | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ |
| Book | akwụkwọ /akʷʊkʷɔ/ | ẹkwo /ɛkwo/ | — | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ |
| Eat | iri /iɾi/ | ri /ɾi/ | ri /ɾi/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ | eat /iːt/ |
| Drink | ịṅụ /ɪŋʊ/ | nu /nu/ | ŋụ /ŋʊ/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | ịrahụ /ɪɾahʊ/ | ku mgbẹnya /ku mɡbɛɲa/ | nyi inina /ɲi inina/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ |
| One | otu /otu/ | nanụ /nanʊ/ | otu /otu/ | one /wʌn/ | one /wɔn/ | one /wʊn/ | one /wɵn/ |
| Two | abụọ /abʊɔ/ | ẹbo /ɛbɔ/ | gbibo /ɡbibo/ | two /tuː/ | two /tu/ | two /tuː/ | two /tuː/ |
| Three | atọ /atɔ/ | ẹto /ɛtɔ/ | bɨtọ /ɓɨtɔ/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /tɹi/ | three /θɹiː/ | three /tɹiː/ |
| Four | anọ /anɔ/ | ẹno /ɛnɔ/ | bɨnọ /ɓɨnɔ/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /fɔː/ | four /foː/ |
| Five | ise /ise/ | ise /ise/ | bise /ɓise/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ | five /faɪv/ |
| Hundred | narị /naɾɪ/ | ụkporo ise /ʊkpoɾo ise/ | — | hundred /ˈhʌndɾəd/ | hundred /ˈhɔndɹɛd/ | hundred /ˈhʊndɹəd/ | hundred /ˈhɵndɹɛd/ |
| Hello | nnọọ /nːɔː/ | ndo /ndo/ | nno /nːo/ | hello /həˈləʊ/ | hello /həˈloː/ | hello /həˈlɔʊ/ | hello /həˈloː/ |
| Thank you | daalụ /daːlʊ/ | ima ego /ima eɡo/ | imela /imela/ | thanks /θaŋks/ | thanks /taŋks/ | ta /taː/ | thank you /taŋk juː/ |
| Good | ọma /ɔma/ | oma /oma/ | oma /oma/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊd/ |
| New | ọhụrụ /ɔhʊɾʊ/ | ọphuu /ɔɸuː/ | — | new /nɪʊ/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ | new /njuː/ |
| Red | ọbara ọbara /ɔbaɾa ɔbaɾa/ | bara /bara/ | bara /bara/ | red /ɾɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ |
| White | ọcha /ɔtʃa/ | ọchaa /ɔtʃaː/ | usa /usa/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ | white /waɪt/ |
| Black | ojii /odʒiː/ | ojii /odʒiː/ | uyi /uji/ | black /blak/ | black /blæk/ | black /blak/ | black /blak/ |
| Green | ndụndụ /ndʊndʊ/ | oyingo-oyingo /ojiŋɡo ojiŋɡo/ | — | green /ɡɾiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ |
| Blue | anụnụ anụnụ /anʊnʊ anʊnʊ/ | urwukpu-urwukpu /uɾʷukpu uɾʷukpu/ | — | blue /blɪʊ/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ | blue /bluː/ |
| Computer | kọmpụta /kɔmpʊta/ | — | — | computer /kəmˈpɪʊtə/ | computer /kɔmˈpjuːta/ | computer /kəmˈpjuːtə/ | computer /komˈpjuːta/ |
| Sushi | sushi /suʃi/ | — | — | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuːʃi/ | sushi /ˈsuʃi/ |
| Tea | tii /tiː/ | — | — | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kọfị /kɔfɪ/ | — | — | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ | coffee /ˈkɒfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ |
| Sugar | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | — | — | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡɐ/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ |
| Orange | oroma /oɾoma/ | — | aledu /aledu/ | orange /ˈɒɾɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɒɹɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔɹɪndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | iri itoolu na itoolu /iɾi itoːlu na itoːlu/ | — | — | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ |
| Dopamine | dopamine /dopamine/ | — | — | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoːpamiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/ | dopamine /ˈdoʊpəmiːn/ |
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Word order compared
Compare with major world languages
Igbo
Achọrọ m
ịnwale
uwe
nke
m hụrụ
n'
ụlọ ahịa
n'iru
ụlọ nkwari
I
want to
try on
a suit
I
saw
in
a shop
across from
the hotel
Ich
möchte
einen Anzug
anprobieren
den
ich
in einem
Geschäft
gegenüber vom
Hotel
gesehen habe
मैं
होटल
के सामने
एक दुकान
में
देखा
सूट को
पहनकर देखना
चाहता हूँ
私は
ホテルの
向かいの
お店
で
見た
スーツを
試着
したいです
我
想
试穿
酒店
对面的
商店
里
看到的
那套西装
أنا
أريد
أن أجرب
بدلة
رأيتها
في
محل
مقابل
الفندق
Я
хочу
примерить
костюм
который
я увидел
в
магазине
напротив
отеля
Igbo
Aha m
bụ
Tanaka
My
name
is
Tanaka
Mein
Name
ist
Tanaka
मेरा
नाम
तनाका
है
私の
名前は
田中
です
我的
名字
是
田中
اسمي
هو
تاناكا
Моё
имя
—
Танака
Igbo
Ana m
eri
nri ụtụtụ
ụtụtụ ọ bụla
na elekere asaa
I
eat
breakfast
every morning
at 7 o'clock
Ich
frühstücke
jeden Morgen
um 7 Uhr
मैं
हर सुबह
7 बजे
नाश्ता
करता हूँ
毎朝
7時に
朝ごはんを
食べます
我
每天早上
七点
吃
早饭
أتناول
أنا
الإفطار
كل صباح
الساعة السابعة
Я
завтракаю
каждое утро
в 7 часов
Igbo
Olee
ebe nso
ọdụ ụgbọ
dị
Where
is
the nearest
station
Wo
ist
der nächste
Bahnhof
सबसे नज़दीकी
स्टेशन
कहाँ
है
一番近い
駅は
どこ
です
か
最近的
车站
在
哪里
أين
تقع
أقرب
محطة
Где
находится
ближайшая
станция
Igbo
Kọfị
a
dị nnọọ
ụtọ
This
coffee
is
very
delicious
Dieser
Kaffee
ist
sehr
lecker
यह
कॉफ़ी
बहुत
स्वादिष्ट है
この
コーヒーは
とても
おいしいです
这
咖啡
很
好喝
هذه
القهوة
لذيذة
جداً
Этот
кофе
очень
вкусный
Igbo
Ana m
amụ
asụsụ Japanese
na mahadum
I
study
Japanese
at university
Ich
studiere
Japanisch
an der Universität
मैं
विश्वविद्यालय में
जापानी
पढ़ता हूँ
私は
大学で
日本語を
勉強しています
我
在大学
学
日语
أنا
أدرس
اللغة اليابانية
في الجامعة
Я
изучаю
японский язык
в университете
Igbo
Ihu igwe
echi
ga abụ
anwụ
Tomorrow's
weather
will be
sunny
Morgen
wird
das Wetter
sonnig
sein
कल
मौसम
धूप वाला
होगा
明日の
天気は
晴れ
でしょう
明天
天气
会
晴天
سيكون
الطقس
غداً
مشمساً
Завтра
погода
будет
солнечной
Igbo
Mama m
na-esi
nri abalị
ụbọchị niile
My mother
cooks
dinner
every day
Meine Mutter
kocht
jeden Tag
Abendessen
मेरी माँ
हर रोज़
रात का खाना
बनाती है
お母さんは
毎日
夕食を
作ります
我妈妈
每天
做
晚饭
تطبخ
أمي
العشاء
كل يوم
Моя мама
готовит
ужин
каждый день
Igbo
Achọrọ m
ịga
na
Japan
afọ
ọzọ
I
want to
go
to
Japan
next
year
Ich
möchte
nächstes
Jahr
nach
Japan
fahren
मैं
अगले
साल
जापान
जाना
चाहता हूँ
私は
来
年
日本
に
行き
たいです
我
明
年
想
去
日本
أنا
أريد
أن أذهب
إلى
اليابان
العام
القادم
Я
хочу
поехать
в
Японию
в следующем
году
Igbo
Ị
nwere ike
ịsụ
Bekee
Can
you
speak
English
Können
Sie
Englisch
sprechen
आप
अंग्रेज़ी
बोल
सकते हैं
あなたは
英語が
話せ
ます
か
你
会
说
英语
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Igbo
Achọrọ m
ịnwale
uwe
nke
m hụrụ
n'
ụlọ ahịa
n'iru
ụlọ nkwari
Mo
fẹ́
dán
aṣọ
tí
mo
rí
nínú
ṣọ́ọ̀bù
ní iwájú
ilé ìsinmi
Igbo
Aha m
bụ
Tanaka
Orúkọ mi
ni
Tanaka
Igbo
Ana m
eri
nri ụtụtụ
ụtụtụ ọ bụla
na elekere asaa
Mo
jẹ oúnjẹ àárọ̀
ní gbogbo òwúrọ̀
ní aago méje
Igbo
Olee
ebe nso
ọdụ ụgbọ
dị
Níbo
ni
ibùdó tí ó sún jù lọ
wà
Igbo
Kọfị
a
dị nnọọ
ụtọ
Kọfí
yìí
dùn
púpọ̀
Igbo
Ana m
amụ
asụsụ Japanese
na mahadum
Mo
kẹ́kọ̀ọ́
èdè Japanese
ní ilé ẹ̀kọ́ gíga
Igbo
Ihu igwe
echi
ga abụ
anwụ
Ojú ọjọ́
ọ̀la
yóò jẹ́
pẹ̀lú oòrùn
Igbo
Mama m
na-esi
nri abalị
ụbọchị niile
Ìyá mi
sè
oúnjẹ alẹ́
ní gbogbo ọjọ́
Igbo
Achọrọ m
ịga
na
Japan
afọ
ọzọ
Mo
fẹ́
lọ
sí
Japan
ọdún
tó ń bọ̀
Igbo
Ị
nwere ike
ịsụ
Bekee
Ṣé
o
lè sọ
èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì
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