Nkuzi

Izu ỤKA MBỤ or Week 1 – Itu Aha or to say hello

Nkọwa | Outline

1. Ekele / Greeting
2. Nsọpụrụ / Respect
3. Nkpuru okwu iga echeta / words to remember
4. Akụkọ ndị bara uru / Useful phrases
5. Mmechi / Conclusion

1. Ekele / Greeting

In Igbo culture and in formal situations, there are different levels of greetings:

There is epithet, which is an adjective or phrase used to express an individual’s quality, attribute or characteristic.

For example, “Ome mgb’oji” meaning “someone who gives when he has or comfortable.”

There’s title people’s appellation, like “Ezeanị,” “Onowu,” or “Ide.”

There’s peer group type of greeting, such as “Di-anyị m'ọbụ Nwokem,” “Agụ,” “Odogwu.”

Then, there’s the normal phrasal greeting, such as “Ịpụtala?” “Ịbọkwara?” “Ifokwere?”

These later types of greetings appear as a question to the recipient, which they respond by saying: “nna m apụtala  m,” or “nne apụtala m.”

Ụtụtụ ọma, meaning “good morning” can be said to be evolving. Below are two titled men exchanging greetings.

Two titled men greeting

• Ezeanị Akụkalịa! Ekenekwee ngi!
• Ichie Aziefe Chukwu, Udo dịrị gị!

English translation:

• Ezeanị Akụkalịa, I greet you.
• Ichie Aziefe Chukwu, peace be with you.

2. Nsọpụrụ / Respect

In Igbo culture, the young will greet the elder first as mark of respect. In this case, a male greeting an elder would bow and a female greeting an elder would bend one knee.

At times, if the elderly person is a man and the greeter is a female, the elderly male would pat her on back. At times, it could be the opposite, depending on the circumstances.

When Igbos greet, it is customary to shake hands (kwee n’aka) or embrace (ibi ọma).

However, title people use their traditional title fans to greet one another by knocking the fans together three times on their back hands and once on their front.

An Igbo woman patting the back of an Igbo man

3. Nkpuru okwu iga echeta | words to remember

• Ụtụtụ ọma- Good morning
• Ka chi fo / ka chi bọọ - Good night
• K’ ọdị echi - See you tomorrow
• Jee nkeọma - Goodbye.
• Ị bọkwara / I fokwere / E mela kpole / kedụ / I pụtala? - How are you? / How do you do?

Two young men talking

Two young men exchanging pleasantries:

• Dị anyị.
• Kedụ K’ ịmere?
• Adị m mma.
• Gịnwa kwanụ?
• Udo dị.

English translation:

• My friend.
• How are you?
• I’m well.
• And you?
• There’s peace.

Two young men shaking hands

Two young men shaking hands as they say:

• Agụ, ole ebe ịno kemgbe?
• Kedụ k’ ịmere?
• Adị m mma.
• Gịnwa kwanụ?
• Nsogbu adịghị.

English translation:

• Lion! Where have you been?
• How are you?
• I’m fine.
• And you?
• There’s no problem.

A elderly man waving at a woman

An elderly man waving at a woman while standing on a path as they exchange words:

• Nn’anyị, emela kpole?
• Ada, adịm mma. Kedụ maka ụmụaka?
• Ha ṇo mma. Jee nkẹoma!
• Jisieike!

English translation:

• Our father, how are you?
• Daughter, I’m well. How are your children?
• They are fine. Have a good journey.
• Be well!

4. Akụkọ ndị bara uru | Useful phrases

Two students having a conversation

Two students meeting for the first, begins a conversation:

• Gịnị bụ aha gị? / What is your name?
• Aha m bụ Nwamaka. / My name is Nwamaka.
• Nke gị kwanụ, gịnị bụ aha gị? / And you, what is your name?
• Aha m bụ Nwoye. / My name is Nwoye.
• Udo dịrị gị. / Peace be with you.
• D'alụ nwanne m. / Thank you my brother.

In Igbo culture, Nwanne m is not gender restrictive. You can refer to a male or female person in your family, or extended family or clan as ‘nwanne m.’

5. Mmechi / Conclusion

Anyị amụọla make ihe ndịa:

1. Ekele / Greeting
2. Nsọpụrụ / Respect
3. Nkpụrụ okwu ịga echeta / Words to remember
4. Akụkọ ndị bara ụrụ / Useful phrases

Nke n'eso ya bụ ihe gbasara Ndị ụmụnne / Coming next is about Relatives 

Next page Ndị Ụmụnne