Igala phrasebook
Igala is the indigenous language of the Igala ethnic group which spread across Kogi, Enugu, Anambra, Delta and Benue States of Nigeria. It is classified as a Yoruboid language with over 1 million native speakers.
Pronunciation guide
- Vowels
à in álá (sheep)
è in égbé (grass)
ẹ in ẹ́gẹ (egg)
i in ìmọ (nose)
o in ógbó (old age)
ọ in ọdọ (year)
u in ùchú (yam)
- Cosonants
Phrase list
Basics
- I feel sleepy.
- Ólu ágò mí.
- I am hungry.
- Ébi ákpa mí.
- I am thirsty.
- Òlùgbẹ ákpa mí.
- I was ashamed.
- Ányọ́ fu mí mú.
- I love you
- Na fedo we
- Thank you.
- Nago
- Friend
- Onuku.
Problem/Emergency
Numbers
- 1
- Òókáà/Ényẹ́
- 2
- Èjì
- 3
- Ẹ̀ta
- 4
- Ẹ̀lẹ̀
- 5
- Ẹ̀lú
- 6
- Ẹ̀fà
- 7
- Èbie
- 8
- Ẹ̀jọ
- 9
- Ẹ̀lá
- 10
- Ẹ̀gwá
- 11
- Ẹ̀gwákáà
- 12
- Ẹ̀gwéjì
- 13
- Ẹ̀gwẹ́ta
- 14
- Ẹ̀gwẹ́lẹ̀
- 15
- Ẹ̀gwẹ́lū
- 16
- Ẹ̀gwẹ́fà
- 17
- Ẹ̀gwébie
- 18
- Ẹ̀gwẹ́jọ
- 19
- ẹ̀gwẹ́lā
- 20
- Ógwu
- 30
- Ógwú-ẹ́gwā
- 40
- Ọ̀gbọ̀méji
- 50
- Óóje
- 60
- Ọ̀gbọ̀mẹ́ta
- 70
- Ẹ̀tẹẹ̀gwá
- 80
- Ọ̀gbọ̀mẹ́lẹ̀
- 90
- Ẹ̀lẹ̀ẹ̀gwá
- 100
- Ógwúmẹ́lū
- 200
- Ọ̀gwọ́kọ́
- 300
- Ólímẹ́fà
- 400
- Úlú ọkọ́
- 500
- Ólí mẹ́gwā
- 600
- Ólí mẹ́gwējì
- 700
- Ólí mẹ́gwẹ̄lẹ̀
- 800
- Íchámúù
- 900
- Íchámú-ógwúmẹ́lū
- 1000
- Àdò-ókáà
Time
- This time
- Egba yii
- That time
- Egba le
- Night
- Ane
- Tomorrow
- Ona
- Today
- Eñini
- Next tomorrow
- Otona
- Every time
- Iko duu
- Week
- Aladi
- Second month
- Ochu ekeji
- This Week
- Aladi yii
- Yesterday
- Onale
Clock time
Duration
Days (Ojo)
Year (Odo)
Months (Ochu)
Teaching (Ukọ)
- Student
- Ọma Ukọ
- Book
- Otakada
- Teacher
- Ako Ọnẹ
- Pen
- Ukọ ẹnwu
- School
- Unyi Ukọchẹ
Colors (Achi)
- Black
- Èdudu
- Yellow
- Otukpa
- White
- Èfufu
- Red
- Èkpikpa
- Blue
- Oduwa
- Green
- Omi emi
- Orange
- Omi Alemu
- Indigo
- Omi Awu
- Violet
- Itoru
- Brown
- Omi Obé
Transportation
Part of the body
- Ímọ
- Nose
- Èti
- Ear
- Ano
- Skin
- Ogugu
- Bone
- Imalu
- Tongue
- Okuku
- Knee
- Owo
- Hand
- Oji
- Head
- Eju
- Face
- Eyó Eju
- Eye
- Ógba Oji
- Forehead
- Óma ówó
- Fingers
- Efu
- Stomach
Greetings
- Good Morning
- Olo-du-du
- Good Night
- Shu'du du
- Goodbye
- Shegbatuba
- Good Afternoon
- Olo'roka
- Good Evening
- Ola'ne
- Welcome
- Olale
- How are you?
- Adele
- I am fine
- Ucholafia
- Well done
- Olukolo
Family
- Father
- Atah.
- Mother
- Iye.
- Grandmother
- Oma
- Sister/Brother
- Omaye
- Child
- Oma
- Children
- Am'oma
- Female child
- Oma'onobule
- Male child
- Oma'enekele
- Sibling
- Omaye
- Siblings
- Am'omaye
- Female sibling
- Omaye'onobule
- Male sibling
- Omaye'enekele
- Aunt
- Omehi
- Uncle
- Omenyi
- Wife
- Oya
- Husband
- Oko
- Grandparent
- Okwo
- Granparents
- Am'okwo
- Male grandparent
- Okwo'onekele
- Female grandparent
- Okwo'onobule
Food
- Rice
- Ochikapa
- Swallow
- Oje
- Beans
- Egwa
- Yam
- Uchu
- Potatoe
- Odumu
- Maize
- Akpa
- Cassava
- Abacha
- Cowpea
- Okpa
- Cocoyam
- Ikachi
- Wheat
- Okili
- Melon
- Api
- Plantain
- Agbo
FRUITS
- Orange
- Alemu
- Pineapple
- Ogede oyibo
- Coconut
- Unoba
- Banana
- Ogede
- Sherry
- Eha
- Mango
- Mangolo
SOUP
- Beans soup
- Obo Egwa
- Egusi Soup
- Obo Api
- Okra
- Obo Oro
- Corn Soup
- Obo Aka
- Vegetable Soup
- Obo Emi
- Garden egg soup
- Obo Ika
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