Learn Igbo: Numbers, Greetings & Conversation

Days, weeks and seasons

The four market days, the word for week, moon and year, and names taken from the days.

Lesson 1 of 3

The four market days

The traditional Igbo week has four days: Eke, Orie, Afọ and Nkwọ. Each is also the name of a market.

Tap a day to meet it

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Lesson 2 of 3

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One learner’s list of weekdays borrows English names such as mọnde and tusude. Only Sunday, ụbọchị ụka, is native.

Lesson 3 of 3

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The prefix Oke- or Oko- plus a market day gives these men’s names. Women’s names with Mgbe-, such as Mgbeafọ and Mgbeke, also exist.

★ quiz

How many days are in a traditional Igbo week (izu)? → 4. Eke, Orie, Afọ, Nkwọ.

What does “ọnwa” mean? → Moon and month. Ọnwa means moon.

Which is the dry season? → ọkọchị. ọkọchị is dry; udu mmiri is rainy.

Which name comes from the market day Afọ? → Okafọ. Oka- plus Afọ.

What is the native word for Sunday mentioned here? → ụbọchị ụka. ụbọchị ụka means church day.