Section 1: Level 1: 3. Greetings and self introduction

Question 1

Good morning (Brittish way)

Answer 1

Ụtụtụ ọma (Morning good).

Question 2

Good morning (Have you woken up?/Have you seen the day break?)

Answer 2

Ị bọọla chi

Question 3

Have you woken up (from sleep)?

Three ways

Answer 3

1. I teela?
2. Ị saala chi?
3. Ị pụtago ụla? (Have you woken up from sleep?)

Question 4

Did you sleep well?

Two ways

Answer 4

1. Ị rahụkwara nke ọma?

2. Ị larụkwa ofụma?

Question 5

Good night (May the day break)

Two ways

Answer 5

1. Ka chi fo

2. Ka chi bọọ

Question 6

Good afternoon

Good evening

Answer 6

Ehihie ọma
Mgbebe ọma

Note: Are direct translations, but are rarely used. If you meet someone at these times go ahead and say “kedu?”

Question 7

How are you?

Answer 7

∙ Kedu?

Note: There are greetings that can be used at all times of the day like:

∙ mmamma (not central)

example:
∙ De mmamma
∙ "De" or "Dede" - an older male
∙ "Da" or "Dada" - an older female
They don't have to be related to you they just have to be older.

Ohafia people of Abia state say “Ka”

Question 8

Welcome

Answer 8

∙ Nnọọ
∙ Nnọọ nụ (plural)

∙ Ndeewo
∙ Ndeewo nụ (plural)
Note! Can be used to say “Thank you”.

∙ Ị bịala
∙ Una ubịala (plural)
Note! It is like a question. Have you come? It is not so common, but common.

Question 9

Welcome! Have you come?

Answer 9

∙ Nnọọ! Ị bịala?

∙ Ndeewo nụ! Una ubịala? (Welcome you all! Have you come?)

Question 10

Welcome back! (E.g. from work)

Answer 10

∙ Ị lọla or
∙ Ị lọtala
∙ Unu alọla (plural)

∙ Ị natago
∙ Unu anatago

Question 11

How are you?

Answer 11

∙ Kedu?
∙ Kedu ka ị mere?
∙ Ke k’ime?

Other ways:
Ke kwanụ? (Note! Only to be used in cases of familiarity)
Kedu nke n’eme = What’s up (Note! Only to be used in cases of familiarity)
I mere otu ole?
Olee otu I mere?
I di otu ole?
I ri kpa ole?
Ọlịa?
I mere añaa?
Are all dialectial variations of “how are you?”

Question 12

It is fine!

It is well!

Answer 12

Ọ dị mma

Question 13

I am fine!

I am well!

Answer 13

A di m mma

Question 14

How is your family?

Answer 14

∙ Kedu maka ezinaụlọ gị?

∙ Ke maka ezinaụlọ gị?

Question 15

∙ Fine!
∙ They are fine!
∙ We are fine

∙ It is moveing (fine)!

Answer 15

∙ Ọ dị mma!
∙ Ha dị mma!
∙ Anyị dị mma!

∙ Ọ na-aga (nke ọma)!

Question 16

How is work?

Answer 16

∙ Kedu maka ọrụ?

Question 17

How is school?

Answer 17

Kedu maka akwụkwọ?

Question 18

How is business?

Answer 18

Kedu maka ahịa

Question 19

Goodbye

Answer 19

Ka e mesia
Ka ọ di/Anyị ga-ahụ (See you later)
Ka chi fo (If it’s late at night)

Question 20

See you tomorrow
See you on Saturday
See you in the evening

Answer 20

Ka ọ di echi/anyị ga ahụ echi
Ka ọ di na Saturday
Anyị ga ahụ na mgbede

Question 21

Excuse me
Sorry to bother you
Apologies

Answer 21

Biko ewela iwe ( = please don’t be angry)

Question 22

Ndo
Biko gbahara
Biko ewela iwe

Answer 22

Sorry

Please forgive

Question 23

Thank you

Answer 23

Daalụ
I meela

Unu emeela (plural)

Question 24

Keep trying

Hurry up

Answer 24

Jisie ike

Note! This has a lot of meaning.Well

Question 25

Well done

Good job

Answer 25

I mere nke ọma

Igbalịala

Question 26

Get well soon

Answer 26

Arịakwala (= don’t be sick)

Question 27

Come and eat

Answer 27

Bia rie nri

Question 28

Safe trip

Answer 28

Ijeoma

Question 29

My name is ….

Answer 29

Aha m bụ …

Question 30

I am from Imo state

Answer 30

A bụ m onye Imo state

E si m Imo state (I come from/I am coming from)

Question 31

I am a lawyer

Answer 31

A bụ m onye oka iwu

Question 32

I live in New York

Answer 32

E bi m na New York

Question 33

What is your name?

Answer 33

∙ Gịnị bụ aha gị?
∙ Kedụ aha gị?
∙ Aha gị ọ gịnị?

Question 34

Where are you from?

Answer 34

∙ Kedụ ebe i si?
∙ Ị bụ onye ebee?
∙ Ị bụ onye ebe ole?

Question 35

What do you do as a profession?

Answer 35

∙ Gịnị ka ị na-arụ?

∙ Ị na-arụ gịnị? (What do you do for a living?)

Question 36

Where do you live?

Answer 36

Kedu ebe i bi?