Rainforest
Ásụ̀sụ́ Ìgbò
Clear, tonal, and built for conversation.
Beginner Intermediate Professional Kids yard Eré Ilu
Yard school
A short path a child can clap.
Igbo is tonal too. A small change in pitch can turn ‘house’ into another word. Listen first.
beginner
Ụdaume — vowels
Eight vowels. The dots under ị ọ ụ are signs: they make a heavier sound.
The eight vowels a e i ị o ọ u ụ. Letters English skips gb kp nw ny ṅ — one sound each.beginner
Àlà ụda — tone marks
High and low. The signs on the word change the meaning.
High and low ´ high. ` low. Unmarked often high in school books. Signs on a word Read ụ, ọ, and the tones together.beginner
Ndewo
Open a conversation the Igbo way.
Hello A greeting is respect before it is words. Kedu? Ask, then answer without rushing. Aha m Give your name, ask for theirs.beginner
Ezi na ụlọ
The household, named with care.
Nna and nne The two words every child learns first. In the house Water, food, come in. Ahịa Buy, count, ask the price.beginner · kids
Agba — colours
Point at the cloth, the leaf, the sky. Made for children.
Uhie and ọcha Red pepper, white cloth. Green and blue Leaves and the sky over the compound.beginner · kids
Ahụ — my body
Tap your head. Name your hand. The first game.
Isi and anya Head, eyes, ears, mouth. Aka and ụkwụ Hands, feet, the whole body.beginner · kids
Anụmanụ — animals
Dog at the gate, goat in the yard, fish in the pot.
N’ezi Nkịta, nwamba, ọkụkọ, ewu, azụ. Ihe ha na-eme Run, jump, eat, drink, sleep.beginner · wisdom
Ilu — first sitting
Ilu bụ mmanụ e ji eri okwu. Speech is eaten with proverb-oil. Add yours so they are not lost.
Ilu — first sitting Five to keep in the mouth. Ilu · sitting 3 Five more. Hear them. Say them. Ilu · sitting 4 A third sitting. Still beginner.beginner · kids
Mmetụta — feelings
Happy, sad, tired, hungry — a child can say it.
How I feel Name the face.beginner · kids
Uwe — clothes
Shirt, shoe, wrapper.
What I wear Name it, put it on.beginner · kids
Nri ụmụaka — food
Rice, yam, fruit, water.
I want to eat Ask at the table.beginner · kids
Gụọ — six to ten
Keep counting.
Isii ruo iri After five.beginner
Ajụjụ — questions
Who, what, where, why.
Onye na gịnị Ask clearly.beginner
Ngwaa — daily verbs
Do, see, know, give, hear.
The core five Every sentence leans on these.