Review this page to learn Igbo vocabulary words that describe your family members such as your siblings and parents, friends, people you may work or go to school with, and other people in your every day life.
Family | Friends | Other People
Family (ezinaụlọ / ndị be)
parents – nne na nna
mother – nne
father – nna
grandfather – Father’s side: nna nna / nna ochie (nna); Mother’s side: nna nne / nna ochie (nne)
grandmother – Father’s side: nne nna / nne ochie (nna); Mother’s side: nne nne / nne ochie (nne)
grandchild – nwa nwa
grandkids/grandchildren – ụmụ ụmụ
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
sibling – nwanne
brother – nwanne nwoke
sister – nwanne nwanyị
younger brother – nwanne nwoke nta
younger sister – nwanne nwanyị nta
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
husband – di
wife – nwunye
in-law – ọgọ
mother in law – nne di / nne nwunye
father in law – nna di / nna nwunye
daughter – nwa nwanyị (Some people use 2 a’s in nwaanyị)
son – nwa nwoke
1st daughter – ada / ada nwanyị
1st son – ọkpara / di ọkpara
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
child – nwata
baby – nwa
children – ụmụ / ụmụaka / ụmụntakịrị
twins – ụmụ ejima (Some people just say ejima)
aunt – dada / nwanne nna / nwanne nne
uncle – dede / de / nwanne nna / nwanne nne
cousin – nwa nwanne nwoke (male) / nwa nwanne nwanyị (female)
cousins – ibenna (paternal) / ibenne (maternal)
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
niece – nwa nwanyị nwanne nwoke (brother’s daughter) / nwa nwanyị nwanne nwanyị (sister’s daughter)
nephew – nwa nwoke nwanne nwoke (brother’s son) / nwa nwoke nwanne nwanyị (sister’s son)
relatives (mother’s side) – ụmụnne (Some also say this is another word for siblings).
relatives (father’s side) – ụmụnna
close relatives – nwanna
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
Friends (ndị enyi / ndị ọyị )
friend – enyi / ọyị
boyfriend or male friend – enyi nwoke / ọyị nwoke
girlfriend or female friend -enyi nwanyị / ọyị nwanyị
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
People (ndị / ndị mmadụ)
humans/ human beings – ndị mmadụ
person – mmadụ / onye
adults – ndị okenye
Igbo people – Ndị Igbo
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
Africans – Ndị Afrika
Americans – Ndị Emerika
Black person – onye ojii
Black people – Ndị ojii
light skinned person – onye ocha
white person – onye ocha
White people – Ndị ọcha
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
man – nwoke
woman – nwanyị (Again, some people spell it as nwaanyị)
older man (to be respectful) – dede
older woman (to be respectful) – dada
distinguished elders – Ndị ichie
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
Mrs. – Lọlọ
Mr./mister – Mazi
girl – nwa nwanyị / nwata nwanyị
young lady – agbọghọ
boy – nwa nwoke / nwata nwoke
young man – okorọbia
Source: http://www.ezinaulo.com
boss – onye isi
colleagues/coworkers/workers – ndị ọrụ
teacher – onye nkụzị
student – nwa akwụkwọ / nwata akwụkwọ
