Ebira phrasebook
Ebira (also known to their Yoruba-speaking neighbors as Egbura or Igbira ) is a divergent Nupoid language spoken in the North Central region of Nigeria. Native speakers can be found in Kogi state, Nassarawa state, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kwara state, Niger State, Benue state, Edo state and Ondo State. Ebira people refer to speakers of their common language as, "Anebira."
Pronunciation guide[edit]
- Vowels
A - |ah|
E - roughly like |ei|, with less emphasis on the |I| sound
Ẹ - |eh| as in egg
I - as in issue
O - as in ocean
Ọ - |aw|
U - |oo|
- Consonants
B
CH
D
G
H
J
K
M
N
NGW
NYH
P
R
S
Ṣ - as in shower
T
V
W
Y
Z
Zh - pronounced as in garage
All consonants are otherwise pronounced as they are in English.
Fun fact: the double consonant "gb", which is common to other Niger-Congo languages in the area, including Yoruba, does not exist in Ebira language. For this reason, native Ebira speakers with Yoruba as a second language tend to pronounce 'b' instead of 'gb' unless they consciously avoid doing so.
Phrase list[edit]
Basics[edit]
- How are you?
- Etemeya?
- I am fine
- Ma dahi
- Hello
- Ngwao
- Hope you are fine?
- Wadahi OR Avu dahi?: How is work?: Akoro yo?: How is your father?: Inda u yo? OR Ada u yo?:: How is your mother?: Inyha u yo? OR Onyha u yo?: He/she/it is fine.: O dahi
- Long time no see
- Anyari Ekuhi Eta
- What is your name?
- Ireha awu ri?
- I thank God
- Ma ku Ohomorihi Avo
- Come and Eat
- Ve Varisa
- Please
- Arihini
- How much is this?
- Oya Osoni vi?
- Wait for me
- Je zimi
- Welcome
- Nyhasẹ (from a journey), Anyharusẹ (from a short outing)
- Good morning
- Anyhene
- Good afternoon
- Anyhaọọdu
- Good evening
- Anyhaoruva
- Goodbye
- Adijọ
- Goodnight
- Aduhuọ : Since morning: Hurenene
Problems[edit]
- Come back
- Vave
- Leave me alone
- Navomi he: To give a beating: Nyha-isa: Move out of the way: : Huroze:
Numbers[edit]
- 1
- Ọọnyi
- 2
- Ẹẹva
- 3
- Ẹẹta
- 4
- Ẹẹna
- 5
- Ẹẹhi
- 6
- Ihinoyi
- 7
- Ihimba
- 8
- Ihinta
- 9
- Ihina
- 10
- Ẹẹwu
- 15
- Ẹẹwu Ri Ẹẹhi
- 20
- Oohu
- 25
- Oohu Rẹhi
- 30
- Oohu Rẹwu
- 35
- Oohu Rẹwu Rẹhi
- 40
- Ẹbẹẹva
- 50
- Ẹbẹẹva Rẹwu
- 60
- Ẹbẹẹta
- 70
- Ẹtarẹwu
- 80
- Ẹbẹẹna
- 90
- Ẹẹna rẹwu
- 100
- Ẹchẹhi
- 120
- Ẹchi Hinonyi
- 140
- Ẹchi Himba
- 160
- Ẹchi Hinta
- 180
- Ẹchi Hiina
- 200
- Irẹka
- 300
- Irẹka ri Ẹchẹhi
- 400
- Akava
- 500
- Akava ri Ẹchẹhi
- 600
- Akata
- 700
- Akata ri Ẹchẹhi
- 800
- Akana
- 900
- Akana ri Ẹchẹhi
- 1000
- Akahi
- 2000
- Akawu
Time (Úmé)[edit]
Clock time[edit]
Duration[edit]
- Year
- Irayi
- Month
- Uhwẹ
- Week
- Ọsẹ
- Morning
- Ẹnẹnẹ
- Afternoon
- Ọọdu
- Evening
- Oruva
- Night
- Irahu
Days[edit]
- Monday
- Osi’nyhima
- Tuesday
- Asuvuri
- Wednesday
- Ihiovi
- Thursday
- Asipita
- Friday
- Opotu
- Saturday
- Uhuotu
- Sunday
- Amoto
Months[edit]
- January
- Etudaiye
- February
- Oyioji
- March
- Iruwa
- April
- Ireba
- May
- Orenyhi
- June
- Ori
- July
- Ageva
- August
- Engw’ome
- September
- Opisa
- October
- Okoruwa
- November
- Ododo
- December
- Obaji
Colors (Achẹrẹ)[edit]
- Ọvwọọvu
- White.
- Ojooji
- Black.
- Ovivi
- Red.
- Odozeyiri
- Yellow.
- Ọrẹ̀
- Purple.
- Ivuru
- Blue.
- Ọnidaadu
- Brown.
- Angẹrẹ
- Green.
- Ọnatiti
- Pink.
- Ọnakọkọ
- Orange.
- Ọnatitọ
- Ash.
Transportation[edit]
Musical Instruments (Enya Isohu)[edit]
- Agidibo
- Slit Drum
- Use
- Metal Gong
- Eze/Anuva
- Pot Drum
- Okokoro
- Local Flute
- Ugogonyi
- Talking Drum
- Okanga
- Mambrane Drum
- Ikakanchi
- Trumpet
- Ahihya
- Gourd Rattle
- Uhwere
- Whistle
- Ijabana
- Tension Drum
- Ichekene
- Rattle
- Izenyi
- Small Bells
- Okokoro Oyivo
- Flute
- Opanyi
- Horn
- Ireha
- Big Local Bells
Part of the body[edit]
- Head
- Iresu
- Finger
- Igege
- Wrist
- Eguvo
- Hand
- Uvo
- Waist
- Öte
- Stomach
- Ireka
- Thigh
- Usi
- Knee
- Idunku
- Foot
- Otutu-ahu
- Toe
- Igege-inàhu
- Ankle
- Ibezi-ahu
- Leg
- Aahu
- Teeth
- Anyi
- Navel
- Iraje
- Elbow
- Okuvo
- Eye
- Eyi
- Nose
- Aahi
- Cheek
- Abami
- Chin
- Irewa
- Mouth
- Irenu
- Neck
- Ororko
- Nails
- Apara-igege
- Heel
- Ege-ahu
- Chest
- Irachi
- Hair
- Éyi
- Back
- Irema
- Shoulder
- Oguza
- Breast
- Ireva
- Eyebrow
- Egorgor
- Eyelids
- Papame-eyi
- Armpit
- Arivava
- Feet
- Petahu
Family[edit]
- Father
- Àdá
- Mother
- Onyi
- Child
- Ozi
- Grandchild
- A’azi
Food[edit]
- Pounded yam
- Iya
- Porridge Beans
- Epete
- Cassava/Yam Flour
- Uka
- Moi-Moi (steamed cake) from Water Yam
- Ọve
- Moi-Moi (steamed cake) from unpeeled beans
- Àpápà
- Maize
- Àpáapà
- Beans Soup
- Epeza
- Egg
- Ajẹ
- Meat
- Uye
- Fried bean cake
- Akara
- Garden Egg Soup
- Ebatu Soup
Animal[edit]
- Fish
- Ivovo
- Chicken
- Ahue
- Snake
- Ewu
- Monkey
- Anchere
- Spider
- Arahi
- Lion
- Udu
- Ram
- Ideba