Learn Igbo: Numbers, Greetings & Conversation

Building sentences

Open syllables, the tiny word na, the future, the negative and the names of the parts of speech.

Lesson 1 of 4

The shape of words

Open syllables

A beginner’s grammar states that a consonant is always followed by a vowel and that two consonants never stand side by side except in digraphs.

A dictionary shows this is a simplification: syllabic nasals, as at the start of mmiri “water”, also occur. Nouns usually begin with a vowel, a semivowel or a syllabic nasal; verbs always begin with a consonant.

When vowels meet

When two words join, one vowel may be lost (elision): nwa + oke becomes nwoke “male”, nwa + anyị becomes nwanyị “woman”, uso + ekwu becomes usekwu “kitchen”.

The dotted vowels ị, ọ, ụ tend to stay together in the same word, and a goes with either set (vowel harmony).

Lesson 2 of 4

The little word na

One word, four jobs

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Did you know?

The little word na shows up everywhere. Learn its four jobs and you will understand many sentences.

Lesson 3 of 4

Future, negative and plural

Plans for tomorrow

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Ada

Chidi

Ada

The negative

The negative is built with the suffix -ghị: Ada bịara ma ọ hụghị anyị, “Ada came but did not see us”. That is why Aghọtaghị m means “I do not understand”.

Plurals

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Lesson 4 of 4

Parts of speech in Igbo

Igbo names for grammar

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Did you know?

Igbo has few true adjectives. A primer lists about ten: big, small, black, white, new, good, bad, old, long and dirty. Nouns often do the work of adjectives, often with dị “be”.

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