105 essential Igbo phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.
Quick answers How are you?
I love you
A short phrase with its pronunciation, every day. No account and no card needed — just an email address.
One click to unsubscribe. We never sell your email.
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 Colours and describing Say what something looks like
Oji Black Ọcha White Uhie Red Agba Colour Ukwu Big Nta Small Ọma Good Ọjọọ Bad At home Name the things around you
Ụlọ House Ọnụ ụzọ Door Oche Chair Tebulu Table Ite Pot Akwa Cloth Aziza Broom Ọkụ Fire Body and health Say what hurts and ask for help
Isi Head Aka Hand Anya Eye Afọ Stomach Ahụ adịghị m ike I am sick Dọkịta Doctor Ụlọ ọgwụ Hospital Ọgwụ Medicine Work and school Talk about what you do
Ọrụ Work Ụlọ akwụkwọ School Onye nkuzi Teacher Nwa akwụkwọ Student Akwụkwọ Book Ana m amụ Igbo I am learning Igbo Ajụjụ Question Okwu Word Feelings Say how you feel
Obi dị m ụtọ I am happy Ike gwụrụ m I am tired A hụrụ m gị n'anya I love you Enyi Friend Agụụ na-agụ m I am hungry Ndo Sorry Daalụ Well done Obi ụtọ Happiness Small talk Keep a short conversation going
Ebee ka i si? Where are you from? Esi m Amerika I am from America Ị na-asụ Bekee? Do you speak English? Ntakịrị A little Ka echi See you tomorrow Ka chi fo Good night Imeela Thank you Ọ dịghị nsogbu No problem Questions people ask about Igbo How do you say "hello" in Igbo? "Hello" in Igbo is Ndewo , pronounced /n-DEH-wo/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
How do you say "thank you" in Igbo? "Thank you" in Igbo is Imeela , pronounced /ee-MEH-la/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
How do you say "how are you?" in Igbo? "How are you?" in Igbo is Kedu ka ị mere? , pronounced /KEH-doo ka ee MEH-reh/ (stressed syllables in capitals).
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.