adding entertainment to life

The little birds looking adventurously in life with hope

Igbo Language (one of the three main Languages in Nigeria)

MKPỤRỤ EDEMEDE N’ASỤSỤ IGBO, NNUKWU NA OBERE [THE IGBO ALPHABETS, BIG AND SMALL]

Below are the Igbo alphabets commonly refered to, in Igbo as A, B, CH, D… . ; these alphabets are 36 in number according to Ọnwụ orthography in 1961.

Ndị nnukwu na ndị obere ha, [their big and their small letters]
Ndị nnukwu mkpụrụ edemede bụ, [the capital letters are]:
A, B, CH, D, E, F, G, GB, GH, GW, H, I, Ị, J, K, KP, KW, L, M, N, Ň, NW, NY, O, Ọ, P, R, S, SH, T, U, Ụ, V, W, Y, Z.

Ndị obere mkpụrụ edemede, [the small letters are]:
a, b, ch, d, e, f, g, gb, gh, gw, h, i, ị, j, k, kp, kw, l, m, n, ń, nw, ny, o, ọ, p, r, s, ,sh, t, u, ụ, v, w, y, z.

Just as in English or any other language, words are formed in Igbo by the combination of letters. Examples of words formed with the complete alphabets are:
A as in AHA – NAME
B as in BE – HOME
CH as in CHUKWU – GOD
D as in DEE – WRITE
E as in EGBE – GUN, KITE
F as in FEE – WORSHIP
G as in GEE – LISTEN
GB as in GBUO – KILL
GH as in GHASAA – SPREAD (clothes)
GW as in GWA – TELL
H as in HA – THEM
I as in IKUKU – AIR
Ị as in ỊBA – FEVER
J as in JEE – GO
K as in KỊTAA – NOW
KP as in KPUCHIE – COVER
KW as in KWUO – SAY
L as in LAA – GO (home)
M as in MỤ - ME
N as in NNE, NNA – MOTHER, FATHER
Ň as in ŇỤỌ - DRINK
NW as in NWATAKỊRỊ - CHILD
NY as in NYE – GIVE
O as in OKE – RAT
Ọ as in ỌKỤKỌ - FOWL
P as in PỊA – CARVE
R as in REE – SELL
S as in SAA – WASH
SH as in SHIE – COOK [noun]
T as in TINYE – PUT [into]
U as in UNU – YOU [plural]
Ụ as in ỤRỤ -SWAMP
V as in EVU – WASP
W as in WETA – BRING
Y as in YA – HIM, HER, IT
Z as in ZUO, ZỤỌ – STEAL, BUY.

It should be noted that some of the above words are nouns while others are verbs. But we hope to delve into the nuances in some other place.

NDỊ A BỤ GA ỤDAUME IGBO [THE FOLLOWING ARE THE VOWELS IN IGBO]:
Ụdaume Igbo dị asatọ. E kere ha otu abụọ [the vowels are eight in number and they are divided into two groups]
Group one which is regarded as the A group consists of A, Ị, Ọ,Ụ.
Group two which is regarded as the E group consists of E, I, O, U.
Together they are eight in number and they do the function of vowels as in other languages.

Haven taken away the vowels from the alphabets, the remaining letters are the consonants which are called mgbochiume. And mgbochiume are twenty-eight in number and they are: B, GB, CH, D, F, G, GH, GW, H, J, K, KP, KW, L, M, N, NW, NY, Ň, P, R, S, SH, T, V, W, Y, Z,

NDAKỌRỊTA ỤDAUME [VOWEL HARMONY]
TOWARDS THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE TWO GROUPS IN IGBO VOWELS.
The two groups of Igbo vowels as we have them above means that there are set down rules that govern Igbo vowels accordinly. Just as black garment is out of place in a serious assembly of whites vice versa, so are the words of the vowels of any group out of place in words that contain more of the vowels of another group, except in cases of exception, especially in borrowed words [we shall give the example of such words later].

Examples of words that obey the rules of vowel harmony include:
From “A” group also known as uda mfe: (This group is made up of “A” vowel and three dotted vowels).
A as in ahịa – market; akwụkwọ - leaf, book; ala – land; agụụ - hunger; arụrụ - ant.
Ị as in Ịba – fever; ịsha - crayfish.
Ọ as in Ọbọgwụ - duck; ọchịchịị - darkness; ọba – barn; ọgaranya – richman.
Ụ as in ụganị - draught; ụchịcha – cocroach; ụnyaa – yesterday; ụzọ - road.

From “E” group also known as uda aro: (this group is made up of “E” vowel and three undotted vowels)
E as in Ekwe – wooden gong; enyi – friend, elephant; eze – teeth, king; eriri – rope.
I as in idide – earthworm; iberibe – stupidity, particles; ime – inside.
O as in oge – time; okwukwe – faith; onyinye – gift; okirikiri – round; oke – rat.
U as in ude – cream, pomade; ube – spear, pear; udele – vulture; ute – mat.

The following are word which the promoters of the Igbo language and culture agreed to call the following English words [ndị a bụ ihe ndị otu na-ewelite asụsụ na omenala Igbo kwekọrịtara ka a na-akpọ okwu Bekee ndị a]:

Bekee Igbo
1. Proverb Ilu
2. Riddles Okwu ntụhị
3. Tongue twisters Okwu ntụgharị ire
4. Grammar Ụtọasụsụ
5. Composition Edemede
6. Literature Agụmagụ
7. Spelling Nsụpe
8. Proper noun Ahaaka
9. Common noun Ahaizugbe
10. Collective noun Ahaotu
11. Genda Jenda
12. Masculine Oke
13. Feminine Nwunye
14. Adverb Nkwuwa
15. Adjective Nkọwaaha
16. Verb Ngwaa
17. Pronoun Nnọchiaha
18. Noun Nkpọaha
19. Preposition Mbuuzọ
20. Auxiliary verb Nnyemaka ngwaa
21. Idiom Akpaalaokwu
22. Sụffix Nsonazụ
23. Prefix Nganiru
24. Subject Isiokwu
25. Object Mmejuokwu
26. Unit Nkebi
27. Dictation Agụọedee
28. Debate Arụmarụ ụka
29. Nursery rhymes Egwu ịgụgụ nwa
30. Culture Omenala
31. Paragraph Oke
32 Lullabies Egwu ụra
33. Participle Nkọwangwaa
34. Sentence Ahịrịokwu
35. Number Ọnụọgụgụ

ILU IGBO (Igbo proverbs)

About Igbo proverbs:
The Igbo proverbs are regarded as the nerve of the Igbo language, because it is that which gives the language its full colour for as it is said, “ilu bụ mmanụ ndị Igbo ji eri okwu” which literary mean that, [Igbo] proverbs are the oil with which words are eaten. Below are some very important Igbo proverbs.

1. Ilu bụ mmanụ igbo ji eri okwu, proverbs are the oil with which Igbo language is garnished.

2. A tụọrọ nwata ilu kọwaara ya, ego e jiri lụ nne ya lara n’iyi, the bride price of the mother to
whom the explanation of a proverb is given is a waste.

3. A kpọọ onye na nke ọ na-eme, ọ za, everyone answers briskly whenever one is called upon
for that which one knows how to do best.

4. Onye aghụghọ nwụọ, onye aghụghọ elie ya, if a crafty man dies, a crafty man buries him.

5. Agadi nwanyị e kunyere nwa ọ sị na eze adịghị ya n’ọnụ, e kunyere ya ka ọ tagbuo atagbu?,
the old woman who says she has no teeth when she was given a baby, was she given the
baby for her to eat it?

6. Onye ụjọ ji ndụ ya n’onye ike, the confidence of the coward lies in the brave.

7. Nwata chọwa nke ya a kpọọ ya ajọ nwa, a child is being frowned at when he goes for his
own quota.

8. Ọchụ nwaọkụkọ nwe ada, nwa ọkụkọ nwe mwemwe ọsọ, falling and getting up is for he that
runs after a (local) chick, while its own turn is gentle run.

9. Ọchụ abụọ na-agba aka, [is eqivalent to] he who hunts many hares catches none.

10. Ngana kpuo ute, agụụ ekpughepu ya, when laziness grips one hunger revolts.

11. Nwata mere ihe ọjọọ na-akwụgharị na ahụ aja, a child that has done some mischief
hibernates.

12. Onye sị na ya bu nna ya ụzọ mụta diọkpala, onyezi bụ nna ya?, he who claims to begot the
first issue before his father, who then is his father?

13. Nwata kwọchaa aka, o soro okenye rie nri, a child whose hands are clean eats with elders.

14. Agadi nwanyị kawa nka, ọ dị ka ejighi ego lụ ya, when a woman gets old, she appears as if
there was no bride price paid on her.

15. Anụ laa taa, echi bụ nta, if a game could not be caught today, tomorrow is another hunting
day.

16. Echi dị ime, tomorrow is pregnant.

17. Mgbe onye nwere otu anya ji ekele Chukwu bụ mgbe ọ hụrụ onye anya abụọ kpọrọ, the
person with one eye remembers to thank god when he sees the blind.

18. Mee onye ọzọ ihe ọ ga-abụ e mee gi, obi adị gị mma, do to another what you will like done to
you.

19. Anaghị eji ọkụkọ ụkwụ jiri aga be dibịa, one does not go to the native doctor with a cock with
broken leg.

20. Ahịa mbe abụọ zụkọrọ, uru anaghị adị ya, there is never a gain in any transaction involving
two crafty people (tortoise is seen by the race as the epitome of trick).

21. O ji ọsọ agbakwu ọgụ matakwa na ọgụ bụ ọnwụ, a wise ma does not rush to war because it
means death.

22. Otu osisi anaghị eme ọhịa, a tree does not make a forest.

23. Mmadụ anaghị abụ nwata na anụ o gburu, one does not feel inferior to what he is in charge
of.

24. Onye onye ya na-agba ajọ egwu na-akọ ọkọ ikuanya, he whose relation dances oddly
scratches his eyebrows.

25. Onye buru chi ya ụzọ, ọ gbagbuo onwe ya n’ọsọ, one who is impatient with fate is often
overtaken by misfortune.

26. Ekwurekwu amaghị ebe ndụ ji ụka, a talkatve does not know where and when to spare an
information.

27. Eze nwe ọha, ọha nwere eze, the king owns the people, the people own the king.

28. Onye rie so ya, ọ lụọ ọgụ sọ ya, If one eats alone, he fights alone.

29. Onye tawa mkpa, ọ fọdụ sọ isi, he is haggard and wretched who is giving to nagging.

30. Ero chọwa ịghọgbu ala, o puo n’elu osisi, when the mushroom wants to deceive the ground,
it springs on the tree.

31. Onye ji ihe nwata welie aka elu, aka lowe ya, o wetuo aka, nwata ewekwara ihe ya, he takes
his hands down for the child to take back what belongs to him, who has taken a child’s item.

32. Onye tụbara okwute ahịa, ọ ma maọbụ nne ya ka ọ ga-ada n’isi?, does he who throws a stone
inside the market know whether it will land on his mother’s head?

33. Were ire gị gụọ eze gi ọnụ! make use of your lips to count your teeth (make use of your
common sense).

34. Ihe onye ji tụnyere mmadụ ka e ji atụnyere ya, as one treats others so will one be treated.

35. Ụbọchị niile bụ nke onye ohi, ma otu ụbọchị bụ nke onye nwe ụlọ, everyday is for the thief,
but one day is for the owner of the house.

36. Onye mee mma ọ dịịrị ya, onye mee njọ, ọ dịịrị ya, one must reap whatever one sows.
37. If one meets a fortune, it appears as if he saw his maker.

38. Onye ya na ndị mmụọ na-erikọ nri na-eji ogologo ngaji, he who deals with the devil stays at
(his) arms length.

39. Enweghi nke dị n’aka na-eme ka nke dị na ntị tagbuo onwe ya n’ahụhụ, without the hope for
more makes the one at hand to suffer at lenght.

40. Onye anyaukwu na-amanye aka n’ọnụ agwọ che na ọ bụ ọnụ abụzụ, the greedy dips his hand into a snake’s hole thinking it to be cricket’s hole.

41. Ihe a kpụchatara n’agịga ọkụ, na-ala na agịga ọnụ, scraps only solves the problems that
needs only scraps.

42. Onye gba ọtọ chụwa onyeara yi akwa ka a na-akpọ onyeara, the sane necked man who
pursues the dressed madman is the one that people will see as mad.

43. Ngwere sị n’elu daa, sị a jaghị ya ike ka ya jaa onwe ya, the lizard that fell off a tree says that
it will praise itself if no one praises it.

44. Anya hụ aghaghị bụ ohi, not to overlook anything seen leads to stealing.

45. Onweghi ihe anya hụrụ gbaa mmee, the eyes never weeps out blood no matter what it sees.

46. Onye rere nkịta ya zụrụ enwe, ihe nwere ụkwụ anọ ka nọkwa be ya, to solve a problem by
inventing another problem is still a problem.

47. Onye a na-apị nkịta ya amụ na-ejide ya aka n’isi, he whose dog is being castrated, holds it on
the head.

48. Ire na-esu obodo ọkụ, the tongue inflames the town.

49. Ọgwụ a na-achọrọ akpakwuru danda anaghị adị ire, any medication that heaven and earth
are demanded for is never efficatious.

50. Ihe a na-agwa onyisi bụ na mmanụ adịghị n’ofe, ọbụghi na nnu adịghị ya, the blind is only told
that there is no oil in the sauce, but not that there is no salt.

51. Ihe na-esi nwamkpi isi dị ya n’ahụ, what makes for the wrong odour from the (local) hegoat is
inside its body.

52. Mkpụgharị mkpụgharị ka e ji ere nwamkpi, the he-goat is sold by advertising it around.

53. Anụ karịa n’ihu arụsị, ọ dị nwamba ka ya bụrụ ohu arụsị ahụ, when there is much meat in the
shrine of an idol, the pusy wishes to be the slave of the shrine.

54. E mee nwata ka e mere ibe ya obi adị ya mma, do onto a child what was done to another,
and he will be happy.

55. Ikwe buru nri ọgbakụta ala azụ, when the mortar bears food it turns against the ground.

56. Okenye anaghị anọ n’ụlọ ewu amụọ n’ọgbịrị, an old man should not be at home while the
goat delivers in tetter.

57. Ka e lee ofe nnu ka nwanyị ji aracha ite ofe, by pretending to taste for salt a woman licks up
the pot of sauce.

58. Di na nwunye gbaa izu, ibe ji aghọọ nnukwu nrị, when the husband and the wife discuss in
wispers, a piece of yam becomes a very big meal.

59. Nwata rie ihe ọ na-amụrụ anya, ụra atụọ ya, a child seeps when it has eaten what has been
preventing his sleep.

60. Anaghị anọ n’ihu ọgụ apị akụ, one does not set the gun in the war front.

61. Ọ bụ anụ kara obi na-ebi n’oke ọhịa, the brave animal lives in a thick forest.

62. Onye nna ya dunyere ohi na-eji ụkwụ agbawa ụzọ, he breaks the door with bare foor whom his
father sent to steal.

63. Udele sị na ebe mmadụ jụrụ anụ ya, na ọ ga na-eri nke mmadụ, the vulture says that since
people refuse to eat its meat, it will continue to eat people’s meat.

64. Ọ bụ dike gara ohi na be mmụọ buru isi lọta, it is the brave man who went to fight in the land
of the spirit and comes back with the head.

65. Okenye anaghị eri oke ejikwala eze kere ya ụmụaka, the old man that does not eat rat
should not make the mistake of sharing the meat for children with his teeth.

66. Onye nwere ihe e ji aga mba, ụjọ ịga mba naghị atụ ya, he that has what it takes to make a
difficult journey is not afraidof journey.

67. Agụụ nwere nchekwuwe anaghị egbu egbu, with hope, hunger does not kill.

68. Ụsụ maara ka o si jọ njọ were jiri abalị efe, the bath knows how bad it is and so resort to be
flying at night.

69. Ozu nwanne siwe isi, ndị enyi agbafuo, when brother’s corpse begins to stink, friends flee.

70. Onweghi ihe nwamba mere ndị mmadụ na-ekwe na ọ dị mma, there is never a time that
people give credit to the pusy for what it has done.

71. Anaghị achọ isi ehi achọ n’ite ofe, the head of the cow never lies hidden in a pot.

72. Ogoli lụọ di abụọ, ọ họrọ nke ka mma, when one gets two opportunities at once, he makes
his choice.

73. Ọkụkọ ọgaranya adịghị mma iji chụ aja, the richman’s property is always considered to be
sacred.

74. Ihe egbe mụrụ aghaghị ibu ọkụkọ, what the kite begets must go for chicken.

75. Awọ anaghị agba ọsọ ehihie na nkịtị, the toad does not run by day for nothing.

76. A na-eji ehihie achụ ewu ojii, makana chi jie, o sie ike, the time to chase the black goat is by
day, for night makes that venture difficult.

77. Nsị anaghị anọ n’afọ esi isi, human waste does not emit bad odour while in the stomach.

78. Ebe nwata na-ebe akwa arụ aka, nne ya ya anọghị ya, nna ya anọrọ ya, when a child cries
and points to a particular direction, it is either that the father or the mother is there.

79. Agwọ otu onye hụrụ na-aghọ eke, the snake that only a person sees, is deemed to be a
python.

80. Otu onye rie agwọ, ọ gwọọ ya n’afọ, if one person eats a snake it coils in his stomach.

81. Ọrịa ezubeghi ndị mmadụ, ndị dara ibi na-eto afọ, while a sickness is still to reach
everybody, those who are affected are growing tumor.

82. Onye nna ya bunyere ọfọ, ụjọ anaghị atụ ya, a son whom his father has given ọfọ [symbol of
authority], is never afraid.

83. Onye amaghị ebe mmiri nọrọ mawa ya anaghị ama ebe ọ nọ kwụsị ya, he that does not know
from where he is begun to be beaten by the rain, will not know where it stopped either.

84. Ọhịa a bịara bute ozu nza abụọ, ihe na-egbu nza nọ n’ime ya, the forest where two dead wrens
were got, there is something that kill wrens there.

85. Ehi ọha na-arahụ na agụ, the public cow always sleeps in the forest.

86. Mwanyị na-eke ogiri maara ijiji anya kpọrọ, the old woman who prepares the fermented
castor oil knows the blind fly.

87. Atụrụ na-anyụre ọdụ ya, o chee na ọ na-emegide onye nwe ya, when the sheep defecates its
tail, it thinks it is affecting the owner.

88. Ụwa bụ ntụgharị ntụgharị, the world is full of ups and down.

89. Onye nzuzu mụta ịta akị osisi dị n’ọhịa agwụ, when the fool learns to eat chewing stick, no
tree is spared in the forest.

90. Ekele ghara nku aka, ọ bụrụ ọgụ, when shaking of the hand is beyond the elbow, it turns to a
fight.

91. E mee onyeara kọndọkụtọ, o fegbuo onwe ya n’aka, when a madman is made a conductor,
his waving of hand is out of control.

92. Kama ihe dị na ọnụ m na-egwu ga-esi n’ọnụ tagbuo m, ya si na ụfụ pụọ, instead of what I am
after should bite me to death from the hole, let it escape from the escape chamber.

93. Nkatọ ọgaranya ka ogbugbu ya, to castigate the rich man is worse than killing him.

94. Anaghị agba aka arị ọjị, one does not climb the iroko tree with bare hands.

95. Nkịta sị na ndị nwere ike amaghị eji ya anọ ala, the dog says that those who have buttocks
do not know how to sit with it.

96. Diọkpala dị ike ọgụ, nna ya ahụrịa awa ji, if the first son is brave, his father eats roasted yam
seedling.

97. Ebe osisi kpọhuru ka ọ na-ada, the tree falls towards where it is bent.\

98. tupu I zọdo ajuala ụkwụ, I lezie ya anya, makana Ị zọdo ya ụkwụ n’isi, ọ jụọ gị ọdụ, Ị zọdo ya
n’ụkwụ, ọ taa gị arụ, be careful when you step over a viper, for if you match on its head, it
will whip you with its tail, if you match on its tail, it will bite you.

99. E jee a laa bụ isi ije, farewell and welcome back is the king of journey.

100. ụlọ udo dị, onye ndịdị nọ ya, any house where there is peace there is a patient somebody
there.

towards helping our youth

Dear Reader,

Most of us owe our successes in life on the legacy others left for us. Others too, on the quotations, references, influences and in fact, experiences and advises from other people who meant well for us. Therefore, to guide our teaming youth, indeed our semi-literate society live more fulfilled life, write me on one or on the following two:

a) An experience, inspiration, or piece of advice from another person that has helped you in life, stating how, when, (and if possible where), it took place, as well as how it has helped you.

b) A regrettable experience that seems to have done some harm to you, but or by reason of which you have changed for the better.

Eg: When Rev. Fr. Dr. Nnoruka was teaching us Modern Philosophy, He quoted Henry Begerson, a modern philosopher, as saying,

”To be alive is to be active.”

In explanation, he said the philosopher meant that it is the person who performs and contributes positively for a better society, who can be said to be really alive. I there and then decided and began to work to be one of such people.

(Rich. N. Ekegbo, a Catholic Priest of Awka Diocese)

Note:

i) If you wish, indicate the extent you would like your identity to be confidential.

ii) What you write will just be compiled in a book form along with those of others. No corrections or changes will be effected, because of that, try to make it very short; at most one page.

iii) The expected last date for this requirement is December, 2009.
iv) Because of your signature, (and perhaps you would like your contribution to appear in your own hand writing), scan the information to the below addresses:
E-mails: fada.rich@gmail.com
richploughman@yahoo.com,
or
P.O.Box 62, Amawbia,
Awka South L. G. A.
Anambra State, Nigeria.