Ndewo! Daalu for joining my email list! As a reward, here is a sneak peak of some of my Igbo vocabulary lessons that I have not released to the public yet. The first version of the full beginner lessons will be out now!
This lesson goes over different Igbo vocabulary words that you can use to describe people in your family, friends, and other people you may run into.
Family | Friends | Other People
Family (ezinaụlọ / ndị be)
parents – nne na nna
mother – nne / mama
father – nna /papa
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
sibling – nwanne
brother – nwanne nwoke
sister – nwanne nwanyị
younger brother – nwanne nwoke nta
younger sister – nwanne nwanyị nta
husband – di
wife – nwunye
in-law – ọgọ
mother in law – nne di or nne nwunye
father in law – nna di or nna nwunye
daughter – nwa nwanyị
son – nwa nwoke
1st daughter – ada / ada nwanyị
1st son – ọkpara / di ọkpara
child – nwa
young child – nwata
baby – nwata kịrị / nwa ntakịrị / tata / nwa-bebi
children – ụmụ or ụmụaka or ụmụntakịrị
twins – ụmụ ejima
aunt – dada
uncle – dede / de
cousin – nwa nwanne gi nwoke / nwa nwanne gi nwanyi
niece – nwa nwanne mama nke nwanyi / nwa nwanne papa nke nwoke
nephew – nwa nwanne mama nke nwoke / nwa nwanne papa nke nwoke
relatives (mother’s side) – ụmụnne
relatives (father’s side) – ụmụnna
close relatives – nwanna
Friends (ndi enyi / ndi ọyị )
friend – enyi / ọyị
boyfriend or male friend – enyi nwoke / ọyị nwoke
girlfriend or female friend -enyi nwanyị / ọyị nwanyị
People (ndi / ndi mmadụ)
humans/ human beings – ndi mmadụ
person – mmadụ / onye
Igbo people – Ndi Igbo
Africans – Ndi afrika
Americans – Ndi emerika
Black person – Ndi ojii
White person or light skinned person – Ndi ocha
man – nwoke
woman – nwanyị
older man (to be respectful) – dede
older woman (to be respectful) – dada
distinguished elders – Ndiichie
Mrs. – Lọlọ
Mr./mister – Mazi
girl – nwa nwanyị
young lady – nwagbọghọbia / agbọghọbia
boy – nwa nwoke
young man – nwokorọbia / okorọbia
boss – onye isi
colleagues/coworkers/workers – ndi ọrụ
teacher – onye nkuzi
student – nwa akwụkwọ / nwata akwụkwọ