Learn Igbo ten words at a time
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Igbo words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Ndeewon-deh-EH-woh
- Hello
- Ututu omaoo-TOO-too O-ma
- Good morning
- Mgbede ọmam-GBEH-deh OH-ma
- Good evening
- Ka ọ dịka oh DEE
- Goodbye
- Ka emesiaka eh-MEH-see-ah
- See you
- BikoBEE-ko
- Please
- DaluDA-loo
- Thank you
- Ọ dịghị iheoh DEE-ghee EE-heh
- You're welcome
- Ndon-DOH
- Sorry
- Gbaghara mgba-gha-RA m
- Excuse me
- Obi dị m ụtọ ịhụ gịOH-bee dee m OO-toh ee-HOO ghee
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Achọrọ m...a-CHOH-roh m
- I would like...
- Nke ankeh a
- This one
- Ego ole?EH-goh OH-leh
- How much is it?
- Ego ole ka m ga-akwụ?EH-goh OH-leh ka m ga-ah-KWOO
- The bill, please
- Na kaadịna KAH-dee
- By card
- Na ego nkịtịna EH-goh n-KEE-tee
- In cash
- MmiriMMEE-ree
- Water
- KọfịKOH-fee
- Coffee
- Tiitee
- Tea
- BiyaBEE-ya
- Beer
- Na-enweghị...na-en-WEH-ghee
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- EeEH-eh
- Yes
- Mbam-BAH
- No
- O di mmao dee MMA
- Okay
- Aghọtaghị ma-ghoh-TA-ghee m
- I don't understand
- I na-asụ Bekee?ee na-AH-soo beh-KAY
- Do you speak English?
- Biko, kwughachi yaBEE-koh, kwoo-ghah-CHEE ya
- Can you repeat that?
- Biko, jiri nwayọọ kwuoBEE-koh, JEE-ree nwa-YOH KWOO-oh
- Slowly, please
- Gịnị bụ nke a?GHEE-nee boo n-keh a
- What is this?
- Ọ dị m mkpa...oh dee m m-KPA
- I need...
- Biko, nyere m akaBEE-koh, NYEH-reh m AH-ka
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- OtuOH-too
- One
- Abuoah-BOO-oh
- Two
- AtoAH-to
- Three
- AnoAH-no
- Four
- IseEE-seh
- Five
- Isiiee-SEE
- Six
- Asaaah-SAH
- Seven
- Asatọah-SAH-toh
- Eight
- Itooluee-TOH-loo
- Nine
- IriEE-ree
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Ị nwere...?ee NWEH-reh
- Do you have...?
- Ebee ka ... dị?EH-beh ka ... dee
- Where is...?
- Ọ meghereoh meh-GHEH-reh
- Open
- Ọ mechirioh meh-CHEE-ree
- Closed
- Akpa?AHK-pa
- A bag?
- Ọ dị oke ọnụoh dee OH-keh oh-NOO
- Too expensive
- Enwere m ndokwaen-WEH-reh m n-DOH-kwa
- I have a reservation
- Nri ụtụtụ ọ gụnyere?n-REE oo-TOO-too oh goo-NYEH-reh
- Is breakfast included?
- Kedu paswọọdụ wifi?KEH-doo PAS-woh-doo WAI-fai
- What's the wifi password?
- Enwere m ike...?en-WEH-reh m EE-keh
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Tebul maka abuoTEH-bool MA-ka a-BOO-oh
- A table for two
- Biko, menuBEE-ko, MEN-oo
- The menu, please
- Gịnị ka ị na-atụ aro?GHEE-nee ka ee na-ah-TOO AH-roh
- What do you recommend?
- Anaghị m eri...a-NA-ghee m EH-ree
- I don't eat...
- Enwere m allergy na...en-WEH-reh m A-ler-jee na
- I'm allergic to...
- AnụAH-noo
- Meat
- Ọkụkọoh-KOO-koh
- Chicken
- AzụAH-zoo
- Fish
- Ọ tọrọ ụtọoh TOH-roh OO-toh
- It's delicious
- Cheers!CHEERS
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Kedu ka i mere?KEH-doo ka ee MEH-reh
- How are you?
- Ọ dị mma, daalụoh dee MMA, DAH-loo
- I'm fine, thanks
- Gị kwanụ?ghee KWA-noo
- And you?
- Kedu aha gị?KEH-doo AH-ha ghee
- What's your name?
- Aha m bụ...AH-ha m boo
- My name is...
- Ebee ka i si?EH-beh ka ee SEE
- Where are you from?
- Esi m...eh-SEE m
- I'm from...
- Ọ masịrị moh ma-SEE-ree m
- I like it
- Ọ mara mmaoh MA-ra MMA
- It's beautiful
- Nnọọn-NAW
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Ebee ka ụlọ mposi dị?EH-beh ka OO-loh m-POH-see dee
- Where is the toilet?
- Kedu ka m ga-esi ruo...?KEH-doo ka m ga-EH-see ROO-oh
- How do I get to...?
- Aka ekpeAH-ka EHK-peh
- To the left
- Aka nriAH-ka N'REE
- To the right
- Gaa n'ihugah nee-HOO
- Straight ahead
- Ebe aEH-beh a
- Here
- Ọdụ ụgbọ olokooh-DOO oog-BOH oh-LOH-koh
- Train station
- Bọsbos
- Bus
- Ọdụ ụgbọ eluoh-DOO oog-BOH EH-loo
- Airport
- Biko, tikit otuBEE-ko, TIK-it OH-too
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- Ugbu aOOG-boo a
- Now
- Emesiaeh-MEH-sia
- Later
- TaaTAH
- Today
- EchiEH-chee
- Tomorrow
- N'abalị ana-BA-lee a
- Tonight
- Kedu mgbe?KEH-doo m-GBEH
- When?
- Kedu oge ọ na-emepe?KEH-doo OH-geh oh na-eh-MEH-peh
- What time does it open?
- Chere ntakịrịCHEH-reh n-ta-KEE-ree
- One moment, please
- Nkejin-KEH-jee
- Minutes
- AwaAH-wa
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Nyem aka!n'YEM AH-ka
- Help!
- Kpọọ dọkịtaKPAW doh-KEE-ta
- Call a doctor
- PolisPOH-lis
- Police
- Ụlọ ahịa ọgwụOO-loh a-HEE-a OH-gwoo
- Pharmacy
- Ụlọ ọgwụOO-loh OH-gwoo
- Hospital
- Efuola meh-FOO-oh-la m
- I'm lost
- Ahụ adịghị m mmaa-HOO a-DEE-ghee m MMA
- I don't feel well
- E zụrụ yaeh ZOO-roo ya
- It was stolen
- Ọ bụ ihe mberedeoh boo EE-heh m-beh-REH-deh
- It's an emergency
- Hapụ m akaha-POO m AH-ka
- Leave me alone