Lesson 5
Greetings In Igbo /Ekele N’igbo
Morning Greetings (Ekele Ụtụtụ)
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Have you woken up from sleep? | Ị pụtala ụra? | Ị pụtana ụla? | Ị pụtala ụra? |
Have you woken up this morning? | Ị bọọla chi? | Ị pụtana ụra? | Ị bọọla chi? /I saala Chi? |
Did you sleep well? | Ị lahụkwara nke ọma? | Ị lahụkwala nke ọfụma? | Ị lahụkwara nke ọma? |
Good morning | Ụtụtụọma | Ị pụtana ụla? | Ị bọla chi?/I sala Chi |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Have you woken up from sleep? | Ị pụtala ụra? |
| Have you woken up this morning? | Ị bọọla chi? |
| Did you sleep well? | Ị lahụkwara nke ọma? |
| Good morning | Ụtụtụọma |
Afternoon Greeting/ Ekele Ehihie (Not Conventional)
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Good Afternnon | Ehihieọma | – | – |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Good Afternnon | Ehihieọma |
Evening Greeting/ Ekele Mgbede (Not Conventional)
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Good Evening | Mgbede ọma | – | – |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Good Evening | Mgbede ọma |
Bed Time Greetings
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Let the morning come | Ka chi foo | Ka chi foo | Ka chi foo |
Let the morning break | Ka ọ bọọ | Ka ọ bọọ | Ka ọ bọọ |
Sleep well | Rahụ nke ọma | Rahụ ọfụma | Rahụ nke ọma/Hie nke ọma |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Let the morning come | Ka chi foo |
| Let the morning break | Ka ọ bọọ |
| Sleep well | Rahụ nke ọma |
Work Greetings
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Thanks for the job | Daalụ ọrụ | Daalụ ọrụ | Daalụ ọrụ/deeme ọrụ |
Well done
| Jisie ike Jisie….. hold forth íké …. Strength
NOTE: we also have íkè …..bottom | Jisie ike Jisie….. hold forth íké …. Strength íkè …..bottom
| Jisie ike Jisie….. hold forth íké …. Strength íkè …..bottom |
Thank you | Imeela | Daalụ | Imeela |
Hi | Ndewo /Kedụ | Kedu | Ndewo |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Thanks for the job | Daalụ ọrụ |
| Well done | Jisie ike Jisie….. hold forth íké …. Strength NOTE: we also have íkè …..bottom |
| Thank you | Imeela |
| Hi | Ndewo /Kedụ |
Travel Greetings
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Go well | Gaa nke ọma/Jee nke ọma | Gaa nke ọma/Jee nke ọma | Gaa nke ọma/Jee nke ọma |
Safe journey | Ije ọma | Ije ọma | Ije ọma |
| Jeenụ/Gaanụ | Nagboo | Jeenụ/Gaanụ |
Welcome | Nọọ | Nọọ | Nọọ |
You are back | Ịlọtala | Ịnatana | Ịlọla |
Are you back? | Ịlọtala? | Ịnatana? | Ịlọla? |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Go well | Gaa nke ọma/Jee nke ọma |
| Safe journey | Ije ọma |
| Jeenụ/Gaanụ | |
| Welcome | Nọọ |
| You are back | Ịlọtala |
| Are you back? | Ịlọtala? |
Parting Greetings
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
See you later | Ka e mesịa | Ka e mesịa | Ka e mesịa |
We shall see tomorrow | Ka ọ dị echi | Ka ọ dị echi | Ka ọ dị echi |
Go well | Laanụ | Laanụ | Laanụ |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| See you later | Ka e mesịa |
| We shall see tomorrow | Ka ọ dị echi |
| Go well | Laanụ |
Visitation Greetings
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
Is somebody at home? | Mmadụ anọkwa n’ụlọ? | Mmadụ anokwo n’ụnọ? | Mmadụ anọkwa n’ụlọ? |
Yes, somebody is at home. | Eee, Mmadụ nọ ya. | Eee, Mmadụ nọ ya. | Eee, Mmadụ nọ ya. |
Who is at home? | Onye nọ n’ụlọ? | Onye nọ n’ụnọ ee? | Onye nọ n’ụlọ? |
I am the one | Ọ bụ m | Ọ bụ m oo | Ọ bụ m |
Come in | Bata | Bataba | Bata/Kpute |
Welcome | Nnọọ | Nnọọ | Nnọọ |
Have you come? | Ị bịala? | Ị bịana? / Ị nwọna | Ị bịala? |
How are yu peole? | Olee ka unu mere? | Kedu ka unu mere? | Olee ka unu mere? |
We are fine | Anyị dị mma | Ayị dị mma | Anyị dị mma |
What of your mother? | Kedụ maka nne gị? | Kedu maka nne gị? | Olee maka nne gị? |
My mother is fine | Nne m dị mma | Nne m dị mma | Nne m dị mma |
My mother is not at home | Nne m anọghị n’ụlọ | Nne m anọrọ/ anọhọ n’ụnọ | Nne m anọghị n’ụlọ |
What of your father? | Kedụ maka nna gị? | Kedu maka nna gị? | Kedụ maka nna gị? |
My father is sleeping | Nna m na-arahụ ụra | Nna m na-arahụ ụra/ Nna m nọ n’ụra | Nna m na-ehi ụra |
I came to greet them | Abịara m ikele ha | Abịara m ikene ha | Abịara m ikele ha |
Tell them that I visited | Gwa ha na m bịara | Gwa ha na m bịara | Gwa ha na m bịara |
We shall see another day | Ka ọ dị mgbe ọzọ | Ka ọ dị oge ọzọ | Ka ọ dị ụbọshị ọzọ |
Greet your father and mother | Kelee nne gị na nna gị | Kelee nne gị na nna gị | Kelee nne gị na nna gị |
Let me go | Ka m laa | Ka m naa | Ka m laa |
It is okay | Ọ dị mma | Ọ dị mma | Ọ dị mma |
Thank you | Imeela | Daalụ | Imeela |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| Is somebody at home? | Mmadụ anọkwa n’ụlọ? |
| Yes, somebody is at home. | Eee, Mmadụ nọ ya. |
| Who is at home? | Onye nọ n’ụlọ? |
| I am the one | Ọ bụ m |
| Come in | Bata |
| Welcome | Nnọọ |
| Have you come? | Ị bịala? |
| How are yu peole? | Olee ka unu mere? |
| We are fine | Anyị dị mma |
| What of your mother? | Kedụ maka nne gị? |
| My mother is fine | Nne m dị mma |
| My mother is not at home | Nne m anọghị n’ụlọ |
| What of your father? | Kedụ maka nna gị? |
| My father is sleeping | Nna m na-arahụ ụra |
| I came to greet them | Abịara m ikele ha |
| Tell them that I visited | Gwa ha na m bịara |
| We shall see another day | Ka ọ dị mgbe ọzọ |
| Greet your father and mother | Kelee nne gị na nna gị |
| Let me go | Ka m laa |
| It is okay | Ọ dị mma |
| Thank you | Imeela |
General Greetings
Greetings to people, father, mother, grandfather/mother, brother, sister:
English | Standard Igbo | Anambra | Imo |
How is it? | Kedụ ka ọ dị? | Kedu ka ọ dị? | Olee ka ọ dị? |
It is well | Ọ dị mma | Ọ dị mma | Ọ dị mma |
How are you? | Kedụ ka i mere? | Kedụ ka i mere? | Kedụ ka i mere? |
I am fine/good | Adị m mma | Adị m mma | Adị m mma |
I am not feeling fine | Adịghị m mma. | Adịrọ/ Adịhọ m mma. | Adịghị m mma. |
How is your studies? | Kedụ maka akwụkwọ gị? | Kedu maka akwụkwọ gị? | Kedụ maka akwụkwọ gị? |
My studies is going on well | Akwụkwọ m na-aga nke ọma | Akwụkwọ m na-aga ọfụma | Akwụkwọ m na-aga nke ọma |
My studies is not going on well | Akwụkwọ m anaghị aga nke ọma | Akwụkwọ m anaghị aga ọfụma | Akwụkwọ m anaghị aga nke ọma |
Hope you are well? | Ahụ ọ́ dịkwa gị? | Arụ ọ́ dịkwa gị? | Ahụ adịkwa gị? |
I am well | Ahụ dị m mma | Arụ dị m mma | Ahụ dị m mma |
How is your father? | Kedụ maka nna gị? | Kedụ maka nna gị? | Kedụ maka nna gị? |
My father is fine. | Nna m dị mma | Nna m dị mma | Nna m dị mma |
How is your mother? | Kedụ maka nne gị? | Kedụ maka nne gị? | Kedụ maka nne gị? |
My mother is fine | Nne m dị mma | Nne m dị mma | Nne m dị mma |
How is your siblings? | Kedụ maka ụmụnne gị? | Kedu maka ụmụnne gị? | Kedụ maka ụmụnne gị? |
My siblings are doing well | Ụmụnne m na-eme nke ọma. | Ụmụnne m na-eme nke ọma. | Ụmụnne m na-eme nke ọma. |
How is your grandfather? | Kedụ maka Papa nnukwu? | Kedụ maka Papa nnukwu? | Kedụ maka Papa nnukwu? |
My grandfather is fine | Papa nnukwu dị mma | Papa nnukwu dị mma | Papa nnukwu dị mma |
Hope your grandmother is fine? | Mama nnukwu ọ dịkwa mma? | Mama nnukwu ọ dịkwa mma? | Mama nnukwu ọ dịkwa mma? |
Yes, my grandmother is fine | Eee, Mama nnukwu dị mma | Eee, Mama nnukwu dị mma | Eee, Mama nnukwu dị mma |
How is your paternal uncle? | Kedụ maka nna gị ochie? | Kedụ maka nna gị ochie? | Kedụ maka nna gị ochie? |
My paternal uncle is fine | Nna m ochie dị mma | Nna m ochie dị mma | Nna m ochie dị mma |
Is your maternal aunt well? | Nne gị ochie ahụ ọ dịkwa ya? | Nne gị ochie arụ ọ dịkwa ya? | Nne gị ochie ahụ ọ dịkwa ya? |
Yes, my maternal aunt is well | Eee, Ahụ dị nne m ochie | Eee, Arụ dị nne m ochie | Eee, Arụ dị nne m ochie |
Good morning my sister | Ụtụtụọma nwanne m nwaanyị | Ụtụtụọma nwanne m nwaanyị | Ụtụtụọma nwanne m nwaanyị |
Hope your sister is doing well? | Nwanne gị nwaanyị ọ na-emekwa nke ọma? | Nwanne gị nwaanyị ọ na-emekwa ọfụma? | Nwanne gị nwaanyị ọ na-emekwa nke ọma? |
Yes, she is doing well | Eee, ọ na-eme nke ọma | Eee, ọ na-eme ọfụma | Eee, ọ na-eme nke ọma |
How is your brother? | Kedụ maka nwanne gị nwoke? | Kedụ maka nwanne gị nwoke? | Kedụ maka nwanne gị nwoke? |
My brother is fine | Nwanne m nwoke dị mma | Nwanne m nwoke dị mma | Nwanne m nwoke dị mma |
My brother is not fine | Ahụ adịghị nwanne m nwoke | Arụ adịrọ nwanne m nwoke | Ahụ adịghị nwanne m nwoke |
My dear, how are you? | Nnaa, kedụ? | Nnaa, kedu? | Nnaa, kedụ? |
I am fine | Adị m mma | Adị m mma | Adị m mma |
Hope things are moving/going on well? | Ihe ọ na-agakwa nke ọma? | Ihe/Ife ọ na-agakwa ọfụma? | Ihe ọ na-agakwa nke ọma? |
Yes, things are moving/going on well | Eee, ihe na-aga nke ọma | Eee, ihe na-aga ọfụma | Eee, ihe na-aga nke ọma |
Is your work good? | Ọrụ ọ dịkwa mma? | Ọrụ ọ dịkwa mma? | Ọrụ ọ dịkwa mma? |
Yes, it is good | Eee, ọ dị mma | Eee, ọ dị mma | Eee, ọ dị mma |
How is your child? | Kedụ maka nwa gị? | Kedụ maka nwa gị? | Kedụ maka nwa gị? |
My child is fine | Nwa m dị mma | Nwa m dị mma | Nwa m dị mma |
| English | Standard Igbo |
| How is it? | Kedụ ka ọ dị? |
| It is well | Ọ dị mma |
| How are you? | Kedụ ka i mere? |
| I am fine/good | Adị m mma |
| I am not feeling fine | Adịghị m mma. |
| How is your studies? | Kedụ maka akwụkwọ gị? |
| My studies is going on well | Akwụkwọ m na-aga nke ọma |
| My studies is not going on well | Akwụkwọ m anaghị aga nke ọma |
| Hope you are well? | Ahụ ọ́ dịkwa gị? |
| I am well | Ahụ dị m mma |
| How is your father? | Kedụ maka nna gị? |
| My father is fine. | Nna m dị mma |
| How is your mother? | Kedụ maka nne gị? |
| My mother is fine | Nne m dị mma |
| How is your siblings? | Kedụ maka ụmụnne gị? |
| My siblings are doing well | Ụmụnne m na-eme nke ọma. |
| How is your grandfather? | Kedụ maka Papa nnukwu? |
| My grandfather is fine | Papa nnukwu dị mma |
| Hope your grandmother is fine? | Mama nnukwu ọ dịkwa mma? |
| Yes, my grandmother is fine | Eee, Mama nnukwu dị mma |
| How is your paternal uncle? | Kedụ maka nna gị ochie? |
| My paternal uncle is fine | Nna m ochie dị mma |
| Is your maternal aunt well? | Nne gị ochie ahụ ọ dịkwa ya? |
| Yes, my maternal aunt is well | Eee, Ahụ dị nne m ochie |
| Good morning my sister | Ụtụtụọma nwanne m nwaanyị |
| Hope your sister is doing well? | Nwanne gị nwaanyị ọ na-emekwa nke ọma? |
| Yes, she is doing well | Eee, ọ na-eme nke ọma |
| How is your brother? | Kedụ maka nwanne gị nwoke? |
| My brother is fine | Nwanne m nwoke dị mma |
| My brother is not fine | Ahụ adịghị nwanne m nwoke |
| My dear, how are you? | Nnaa, kedụ? |
| I am fine | Adị m mma |
| Hope things are moving/going on well? | Ihe ọ na-agakwa nke ọma? |
| Yes, things are moving/going on well | Eee, ihe na-aga nke ọma |
| Is your work good? | Ọrụ ọ dịkwa mma? |
| Yes, it is good | Eee, ọ dị mma |
| How is your child? | Kedụ maka nwa gị? |
| My child is fine | Nwa m dị mma |