Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. Each entry shows the Igbo spelling, the English meaning, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.
First words Greet someone and be polite
Ndewo Hello Daalụ Thank you Nnọọ Welcome Ka ọ dị Goodbye Ee Yes Mba No Biko Please Ndo Sorry Meeting people Say who you are and ask after someone
Kedu ka ị mere? How are you? Ọ dị mma I am fine Gịnị bụ aha gị? What is your name? Aha m bụ... My name is... Mmiri Water Nri Food Enyi Friend Ego Money Counting Numbers and asking a price
Otu One Abụọ Two Atọ Three Anọ Four Ise Five Iri Ten Ego ole? How much is it? Ahịa Market Ọ dị oke ọnụ It is too expensive Family The people closest to you
Nne Mother Nna Father Nwanne m nwoke My brother Nwanne m nwaanyị My sister Nwa Child Ezinụlọ Family Nwunye Wife Di Husband Days and times Say when something happens
Taa Today Echi Tomorrow Ụnyaahụ Yesterday Ugbu a Now Ụtụtụ Morning Ehihie Afternoon Mgbede Evening Abalị Night Food and drink Order and share a meal
Mmiri Water Nri Food Anụ Meat Osikapa Rice Achịcha Bread Nnu Salt Agụụ na-agụ m I am hungry Ọ na-atọ ụtọ It is delicious Getting around town Directions and travel words
Ụgbọala Car Ahịa Market Ụlọ House Okporo ụzọ Road Aka ekpe Left Aka nri Right Gaa n'ihu Go straight Kwụsị Stop Questions people ask about Igbo Is Igbo hard to learn? Tone is meaningful, and the same spelling can be two different words at different pitches. Dialects vary widely; the written standard is Central Igbo. Greetings often ask about your household rather than about you. Where is Igbo spoken? Southeastern Nigeria — around 30 million. Writing system: Latin alphabet with dotted letters (ị, ọ, ụ) and tone marks.
Can I learn Igbo for free? Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.