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Nexal Code: @ᴵᴳᴮᴼ.13.ᴬᴴᵁ.ᴰᴱᴹᴼᴺˢᵀᴿᴬᵀᴵⱽᴱ
Welcome to Lesson 13 of the Latinum Institute Igbo Course. This lesson introduces one of the most essential demonstrative words in Igbo: ahụ, meaning “that.” As a demonstrative, ahụ points to something distant from the speaker, contrasting with a (this), which indicates proximity. In Igbo, demonstratives follow the noun they modify, so “nwoke ahụ” means “that man” and “ụlọ ahụ” means “that house.”
Igbo is a tonal language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken by over 30 million people primarily in southeastern Nigeria. The language uses the Ọnwụ orthography, a Latin-based script with special characters including the dotted vowels ị, ọ, and ụ, which represent sounds produced with a retracted tongue root.
The demonstrative ahụ appears constantly in daily conversation, in proverbs, in storytelling, and in all registers of Igbo speech. Understanding how to use ahụ correctly is fundamental to pointing, referring, narrating, and creating cohesion in Igbo discourse.
For the complete course index, visit: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “ahụ” mean in Igbo? The Igbo word “ahụ” is a distal demonstrative meaning “that” in English. It indicates something far from the speaker, either physically or conceptually. When used with nouns, it follows them (post-nominal position): “ụlọ ahụ” = “that house.” When standing alone as a pronoun, it combines with “nke” to form “nke ahụ” (that one) for singular reference and “ndị ahụ” for plural (those).
Key Takeaways -
Ahụ means “that” and indicates distance from the speaker -
It follows the noun it modifies: NOUN + ahụ -
“Nke ahụ” = that one (singular pronoun) -
“Ndị ahụ” = those (plural pronoun) -
“Ebe ahụ” = there (that place) -
Contrasts with “a” (this/these)
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The Igbo Alphabet (Ọnwụ Orthography)
Igbo uses 36 letters based on the Latin alphabet. The eight vowels are divided into two harmony groups:
E-Group (ATR+): e, i, o, u - produced with advanced tongue root A-Group (ATR-): a, ị, ọ, ụ - produced with retracted tongue root
The three vowels with underdots (ị, ọ, ụ) are pronounced with the tongue pulled back and positioned lower in the mouth than their non-dotted counterparts.
Tone System
Igbo has two primary tones: high and low. In pedagogical texts, high tone is marked with acute accent (á), low tone with grave accent (à). Tone distinguishes meaning: “àkwà” (bed) vs. “ákwà” (cry) vs. “àkwá” (egg) vs. “ákwá” (cloth).
Pronunciation of “ahụ”
The word ahụ is pronounced approximately as /a.hʊ/ - the first syllable “a” as in “father,” followed by “hụ” where the ụ sounds like the “oo” in “book” but with the tongue pulled back.
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This section presents 15 examples with granular word-by-word glossing. Part a shows the standard Igbo orthography with English glosses directly below each word. Part b adds pronunciation guidance in parentheses.
13.1a Ụlọ house ahụ that dị is mma good
13.1b Ụlọ (ù-lɔ̀) house ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that dị (dì) is mma (m̀-mà) good
13.2a Nwoke man ahụ that bịara came ụnyaahụ yesterday
13.2b Nwoke (nwò-ké) man ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that bịara (bì-á-rà) came ụnyaahụ (ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀) yesterday
13.3a Nke one ahụ that bụ is nke one m my
13.3b Nke (n̄-ké) one ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that bụ (bʊ̀) is nke (n̄-ké) one m (m̀) my
13.4a M I hụrụ saw nwanyị woman ahụ that n’ahịa at-market
13.4b M (m̀) I hụrụ (hʊ̀-rʊ̀) saw nwanyị (nwà-nyì) woman ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that n’ahịa (ná-hì-à) at-market
13.5a Ndị people ahụ those bụ are ndị people obodo village anyị our
13.5b Ndị (n̄-dì) people ahụ (à-hʊ̀) those bụ (bʊ̀) are ndị (n̄-dì) people obodo (ò-bò-dò) village anyị (à-nyì) our
13.6a Ị you hụrụ saw akwụkwọ book ahụ that m I zụrụ bought
13.6b Ị (ì) you hụrụ (hʊ̀-rʊ̀) saw akwụkwọ (à-kwʊ̀-kwɔ̀) book ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that m (m̀) I zụrụ (zʊ̀-rʊ̀) bought
13.7a Ebe place ahụ that dị is anya far
13.7b Ebe (è-bé) place ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that dị (dì) is anya (à-nyà) far
13.8a Nwata child ahụ that na-eri is-eating nri food
13.8b Nwata (nwà-tà) child ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that na-eri (nà-è-rí) is-eating nri (ǹ-rí) food
13.9a Oge time ahụ that agaghị will-not azụta return
13.9b Oge (ò-gé) time ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that agaghị (à-gà-ghì) will-not azụta (à-zʊ̀-tà) return
13.10a Nna father m my kwuru said okwu word ahụ that
13.10b Nna (ǹ-nà) father m (m̀) my kwuru (kwù-rù) said okwu (ò-kwú) word ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that
13.11a Ihe thing ahụ that dị is mma good nke one ukwuu great
13.11b Ihe (ì-hé) thing ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that dị (dì) is mma (m̀-mà) good nke (n̄-ké) one ukwuu (ù-kwú-ù) great
13.12a Ha they biara came n’ụbọchị on-day ahụ that
13.12b Ha (hà) they biara (bì-á-rà) came n’ụbọchị (nʊ̀-bɔ̀-chì) on-day ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that
13.13a Ego money ahụ that bụ is nke one ya his/her
13.13b Ego (è-gó) money ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that bụ (bʊ̀) is nke (n̄-ké) one ya (yà) his/her
13.14a Ọ he/she nọ is-at ebe place ahụ that kita now
13.14b Ọ (ɔ̀) he/she nọ (nɔ̀) is-at ebe (è-bé) place ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that kita (kì-tà) now
13.15a Anyị we maara know onye person ahụ that nke very ọma well
13.15b Anyị (à-nyì) we maara (mà-à-rà) know onye (ò-nyé) person ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that nke (n̄-ké) very ọma (ɔ̀-mà) well
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13.1 Ụlọ ahụ dị mma. (Ù-lɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ dì m̀-mà) “That house is good.”
13.2 Nwoke ahụ bịara ụnyaahụ. (Nwò-ké à-hʊ̀ bì-á-rà ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀) “That man came yesterday.”
13.3 Nke ahụ bụ nke m. (N̄-ké à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-ké m̀) “That one is mine.”
13.4 M hụrụ nwanyị ahụ n’ahịa. (M̀ hʊ̀-rʊ̀ nwà-nyì à-hʊ̀ ná-hì-à) “I saw that woman at the market.”
13.5 Ndị ahụ bụ ndị obodo anyị. (N̄-dì à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-dì ò-bò-dò à-nyì) “Those people are from our village.”
13.6 Ị hụrụ akwụkwọ ahụ m zụrụ? (Ì hʊ̀-rʊ̀ à-kwʊ̀-kwɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ m̀ zʊ̀-rʊ̀?) “Did you see that book I bought?”
13.7 Ebe ahụ dị anya. (È-bé à-hʊ̀ dì à-nyà) “That place is far.”
13.8 Nwata ahụ na-eri nri. (Nwà-tà à-hʊ̀ nà-è-rí ǹ-rí) “That child is eating food.”
13.9 Oge ahụ agaghị azụta. (Ò-gé à-hʊ̀ à-gà-ghì à-zʊ̀-tà) “That time will not return.”
13.10 Nna m kwuru okwu ahụ. (Ǹ-nà m̀ kwù-rù ò-kwú à-hʊ̀) “My father said that word.”
13.11 Ihe ahụ dị mma nke ukwuu. (Ì-hé à-hʊ̀ dì m̀-mà n̄-ké ù-kwú-ù) “That thing is very good.”
13.12 Ha bịara n’ụbọchị ahụ. (Hà bì-á-rà nʊ̀-bɔ̀-chì à-hʊ̀) “They came on that day.”
13.13 Ego ahụ bụ nke ya. (È-gó à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-ké yà) “That money is his/hers.”
13.14 Ọ nọ ebe ahụ kita. (Ɔ̀ nɔ̀ è-bé à-hʊ̀ kì-tà) “He/She is there now.”
13.15 Anyị maara onye ahụ nke ọma. (À-nyì mà-à-rà ò-nyé à-hʊ̀ n̄-ké ɔ̀-mà) “We know that person very well.”
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13.1 Ụlọ ahụ dị mma. (Ù-lɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ dì m̀-mà)
13.2 Nwoke ahụ bịara ụnyaahụ. (Nwò-ké à-hʊ̀ bì-á-rà ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀)
13.3 Nke ahụ bụ nke m. (N̄-ké à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-ké m̀)
13.4 M hụrụ nwanyị ahụ n’ahịa. (M̀ hʊ̀-rʊ̀ nwà-nyì à-hʊ̀ ná-hì-à)
13.5 Ndị ahụ bụ ndị obodo anyị. (N̄-dì à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-dì ò-bò-dò à-nyì)
13.6 Ị hụrụ akwụkwọ ahụ m zụrụ? (Ì hʊ̀-rʊ̀ à-kwʊ̀-kwɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ m̀ zʊ̀-rʊ̀?)
13.7 Ebe ahụ dị anya. (È-bé à-hʊ̀ dì à-nyà)
13.8 Nwata ahụ na-eri nri. (Nwà-tà à-hʊ̀ nà-è-rí ǹ-rí)
13.9 Oge ahụ agaghị azụta. (Ò-gé à-hʊ̀ à-gà-ghì à-zʊ̀-tà)
13.10 Nna m kwuru okwu ahụ. (Ǹ-nà m̀ kwù-rù ò-kwú à-hʊ̀)
13.11 Ihe ahụ dị mma nke ukwuu. (Ì-hé à-hʊ̀ dì m̀-mà n̄-ké ù-kwú-ù)
13.12 Ha bịara n’ụbọchị ahụ. (Hà bì-á-rà nʊ̀-bɔ̀-chì à-hʊ̀)
13.13 Ego ahụ bụ nke ya. (È-gó à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ n̄-ké yà)
13.14 Ọ nọ ebe ahụ kita. (Ɔ̀ nɔ̀ è-bé à-hʊ̀ kì-tà)
13.15 Anyị maara onye ahụ nke ọma. (À-nyì mà-à-rà ò-nyé à-hʊ̀ n̄-ké ɔ̀-mà)
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These are the grammar rules for “ahụ”
1. Basic Function
The word ahụ is a distal demonstrative in Igbo, corresponding to English “that” (singular) or part of “those” (plural). It indicates something distant from the speaker, either in physical space or in time/discourse.
2. Position in the Sentence
Igbo demonstratives are post-nominal, meaning they follow the noun they modify. This contrasts with English, where “that” precedes the noun.
English: that house Igbo: ụlọ ahụ (house + that)
English: that man Igbo: nwoke ahụ (man + that)
English: that time Igbo: oge ahụ (time + that)
3. Demonstrative Pronoun Forms
When used as a pronoun (standing alone, not modifying a noun), ahụ combines with nke (one) for singular and ndị for plural:
Nke ahụ = that one (singular) Example: Nke ahụ dị mma. (That one is good.)
Ndị ahụ = those (plural) Example: Ndị ahụ bụ ndị obi. (Those are thieves.)
4. Contrast with “a” (this/these)
Igbo has a two-way demonstrative system based on distance:
Proximal (near speaker): a - this/these -
nke a (this one) -
ndị a (these) -
ebe a (here)
Distal (far from speaker): ahụ - that/those -
nke ahụ (that one) -
ndị ahụ (those) -
ebe ahụ (there)
5. Adverbial Uses
Ahụ combines with other words to form adverbials: -
ebe ahụ = there (that place) -
oge ahụ = then (that time) -
ụzọ ahụ = that way (that road/path) -
n’ụbọchị ahụ = on that day
6. Dialectal Variation
In some Igbo dialects, particularly in certain regions, afụ is used instead of ahụ. Both forms are understood throughout Igboland.
7. Relative Clauses
When ahụ appears after a noun that has been modified by a relative clause, it reinforces the definiteness:
Nwoke ahụ m hụrụ = that man whom I saw (man + that + I + saw)
8. Vowel Harmony Considerations
The word ahụ belongs to the A-group of vowel harmony (containing a and ụ). When constructing sentences, be aware that verbal prefixes and suffixes often harmonize with the vowels in the verb root.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Placing ahụ before the noun Incorrect: Ahụ ụlọ dị mma Correct: Ụlọ ahụ dị mma (That house is good)
Mistake 2: Using ahụ alone as a pronoun without nke Incorrect: Ahụ bụ nke m Correct: Nke ahụ bụ nke m (That one is mine)
Mistake 3: Confusing with “a” (this) “Nke a” means “this one” (near) “Nke ahụ” means “that one” (far)
Mistake 4: Forgetting the underdot on ụ The word is ahụ (with underdot), not ahu (without underdot) Ahụ can also mean “body” as a noun, so context is important.
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The Importance of Demonstratives in Igbo Discourse
Demonstratives like ahụ play a crucial role in Igbo storytelling, proverbs, and everyday communication. In a culture with rich oral traditions, the ability to point to and reference people, objects, times, and places is fundamental to narrative cohesion.
In Proverbs (Ilu)
Igbo proverbs often use demonstratives to create vivid imagery. The phrase “ihe ahụ” (that thing) appears frequently when referring to well-known truths or experiences. As the Igbo say, “Ilu bu mmanụ Igbo ji eri okwu” - “Proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten.”
In Storytelling
Traditional Igbo stories (akụkọ) rely heavily on demonstratives for anaphoric reference - pointing back to characters or events already introduced. When the storyteller says “nwoke ahụ” (that man), the audience understands exactly which character is being referenced.
Pointing and Gesture
In Igbo culture, pointing is often accompanied by speech, and demonstratives connect the verbal and the gestural. “Ebe ahụ” (there/that place) accompanied by a pointing gesture is standard in giving directions. Note that in traditional Igbo etiquette, pointing directly at elders is considered disrespectful.
Time and Memory
The phrase “oge ahụ” (that time) frequently appears in discussions of the past, particularly when elders share wisdom about events before colonization or during important historical moments. It carries a weight of nostalgia and significance.
Regional Variations
While ahụ is standard across most Igbo dialects, the variant afụ is heard in certain regions. Both are mutually intelligible, and speakers typically understand both forms regardless of their home dialect.
Modern Usage
In contemporary urban Igbo, demonstratives function much as they do in traditional speech, though code-switching with English is common among younger speakers. However, proper use of demonstratives like ahụ marks a speaker as having good command of the language.
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Source: Igbo Proverb (Ilu Igbo)
The following proverb demonstrates authentic use of demonstratives in traditional Igbo wisdom literature.
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Eze king mbe tortoise sị said na that olu work ọha community dị is mma good mana but oriri eating ọha community na-aka is-more-than ahụ that
Eze (è-zé) king mbe (m̀-bé) tortoise sị (sì) said na (nà) that olu (ò-lú) work ọha (ɔ̀-hà) community dị (dì) is mma (m̀-mà) good mana (mà-nà) but oriri (ò-rì-rì) eating ọha (ɔ̀-hà) community na-aka (nà-à-kà) is-more-than ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that
F-B: Text with Translation
Eze mbe sị na olu ọha dị mma, mana oriri ọha na-aka ahụ. (È-zé m̀-bé sì nà ò-lú ɔ̀-hà dì m̀-mà, mà-nà ò-rì-rì ɔ̀-hà nà-à-kà à-hʊ̀)
“The tortoise said that community work is good, but feeding the community is harder than that.”
F-C: Igbo Text Only
Eze mbe sị na olu ọha dị mma, mana oriri ọha na-aka ahụ. (È-zé m̀-bé sì nà ò-lú ɔ̀-hà dì m̀-mà, mà-nà ò-rì-rì ɔ̀-hà nà-à-kà à-hʊ̀)
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
Vocabulary: -
Eze mbe - the tortoise (literally “king tortoise”); the tortoise is a central figure in Igbo folklore, known for wisdom and trickery -
sị - said (quotative verb) -
na - that (complementizer introducing the content of speech) -
olu - work, labor -
ọha - community, the public -
dị mma - is good (dị = copula for qualities, mma = good) -
mana - but, however -
oriri - eating, feeding (verbal noun from “iri” = to eat) -
na-aka - is greater than, surpasses (present continuous of “ka” = to be more) -
ahụ - that (demonstrative, referring back to the concept of community work)
Grammatical Points: This proverb beautifully demonstrates ahụ used as a discourse referent, pointing back to the previous concept (olu ọha - community work). The structure shows how ahụ creates cohesion in Igbo discourse, connecting ideas across clauses.
F-E: Literary and Cultural Commentary
This proverb reflects the communal values of Igbo society while acknowledging the practical challenges of collective living. The tortoise (mbe) is the quintessential wise trickster of Igbo folklore, often serving as the voice of uncomfortable truths.
The proverb’s wisdom applies to many situations: while collaborative efforts are valuable, the resources required to sustain a group often exceed expectations. It is frequently quoted in discussions about family obligations, community projects, and shared responsibilities.
The use of ahụ at the end is crucial - it points back to the entire concept of “community work” and creates a comparative frame. The listener understands that “ahụ” refers to everything just mentioned, not merely a physical object.
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This section presents a dialogue at a village meeting, demonstrating how ahụ functions in conversational Igbo. The scenario involves elders discussing community matters.
Part A: Interlinear Construed Text
13.16a Okenye elder ahụ that kwuru spoke eziokwu truth
13.16b Okenye (ò-kè-nyé) elder ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that kwuru (kwù-rù) spoke eziokwu (è-zì-ò-kwú) truth
13.17a Anyị we gara went ebe place ahụ that ụnyaahụ yesterday ma but ọ it dịghị is-not mma good
13.17b Anyị (à-nyì) we gara (gà-rà) went ebe (è-bé) place ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that ụnyaahụ (ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀) yesterday ma (mà) but ọ (ɔ̀) it dịghị (dì-ghì) is-not mma (m̀-mà) good
13.18a Ụmụnna kinsmen m my ndị people ahụ those na-ekwu are-speaking okwu word ezi compound anyị our
13.18b Ụmụnna (ù-mù-n̄-nà) kinsmen m (m̀) my ndị (n̄-dì) people ahụ (à-hʊ̀) those na-ekwu (nà-è-kwú) are-speaking okwu (ò-kwú) word ezi (è-zì) compound anyị (à-nyì) our
13.19a Kedu what ihe thing ahụ that ị you chọrọ want
13.19b Kedu (ké-dù) what ihe (ì-hé) thing ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that ị (ì) you chọrọ (chɔ̀-rɔ̀) want
13.20a Nke one ahụ that adịghị is-not mma good nye for anyị us
13.20b Nke (n̄-ké) one ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that adịghị (à-dì-ghì) is-not mma (m̀-mà) good nye (nyè) for anyị (à-nyì) us
13.21a Oge time ahụ that gara went aga go bụ was oge time ọjọọ bad
13.21b Oge (ò-gé) time ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that gara (gà-rà) went aga (à-gà) go bụ (bʊ̀) was oge (ò-gé) time ọjọọ (ɔ̀-jɔ̀-ɔ̀) bad
13.22a Mmadụ person ahụ that nọ is-at n’ụlọ in-house eze chief
13.22b Mmadụ (m̀-mà-dʊ̀) person ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that nọ (nɔ̀) is-at n’ụlọ (nʊ̀-lɔ̀) in-house eze (è-zé) chief
13.23a Ha they jụrụ asked ajụjụ question ahụ that tupu before nzukọ meeting a this
13.23b Ha (hà) they jụrụ (jʊ̀-rʊ̀) asked ajụjụ (à-jʊ̀-jʊ̀) question ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that tupu (tù-pù) before nzukọ (n̄-zù-kɔ̀) meeting a (à) this
13.24a Ndị people okenye elders kwuru said na that ụzọ road ahụ that kwesịrị is-proper imezi to-repair
13.24b Ndị (n̄-dì) people okenye (ò-kè-nyé) elders kwuru (kwù-rù) said na (nà) that ụzọ (ʊ̀-zɔ̀) road ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that kwesịrị (kwè-sì-rì) is-proper imezi (ì-mè-zì) to-repair
13.25a M I ga-ekwu will-speak banyere about ihe thing ahụ that echi tomorrow
13.25b M (m̀) I ga-ekwu (gà-è-kwú) will-speak banyere (bà-nyé-rè) about ihe (ì-hé) thing ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that echi (è-chì) tomorrow
13.26a Nwanne sibling ya his/her bụ is onye person ahụ that nọ is-sitting ebe place ahụ there
13.26b Nwanne (nwàn-nè) sibling ya (yà) his/her bụ (bʊ̀) is onye (ò-nyé) person ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that nọ (nɔ̀) is-sitting ebe (è-bé) place ahụ (à-hʊ̀) there
13.27a Okwu word ahụ that ị you kwuru said dị is oke great mkpa importance
13.27b Okwu (ò-kwú) word ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that ị (ì) you kwuru (kwù-rù) said dị (dì) is oke (ò-ké) great mkpa (m̀-kpà) importance
13.28a Anyị we ekwesịghị should-not echefuo forget ihe thing ndị people ahụ those mere did
13.28b Anyị (à-nyì) we ekwesịghị (è-kwè-sì-ghì) should-not echefuo (è-chè-fù-ó) forget ihe (ì-hé) thing ndị (n̄-dì) people ahụ (à-hʊ̀) those mere (mè-rè) did
13.29a Nzukọ meeting ahụ that ga-abụ will-be n’abalị at-night uka week na-abịa coming
13.29b Nzukọ (n̄-zù-kɔ̀) meeting ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that ga-abụ (gà-à-bʊ̀) will-be n’abalị (nà-bà-lì) at-night uka (ù-kà) week na-abịa (nà-à-bì-à) coming
13.30a Ihe thing nke one ahụ that bụ is ihe thing anyị we ga-eme will-do ọnụ together
13.30b Ihe (ì-hé) thing nke (n̄-ké) one ahụ (à-hʊ̀) that bụ (bʊ̀) is ihe (ì-hé) thing anyị (à-nyì) we ga-eme (gà-è-mé) will-do ọnụ (ɔ̀-nʊ̀) together
Part B: Natural Sentences
13.16 Okenye ahụ kwuru eziokwu. (Ò-kè-nyé à-hʊ̀ kwù-rù è-zì-ò-kwú) “That elder spoke the truth.”
13.17 Anyị gara ebe ahụ ụnyaahụ ma ọ dịghị mma. (À-nyì gà-rà è-bé à-hʊ̀ ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀ mà ɔ̀ dì-ghì m̀-mà) “We went there yesterday but it was not good.”
13.18 Ụmụnna m, ndị ahụ na-ekwu okwu ezi anyị. (Ù-mù-n̄-nà m̀, n̄-dì à-hʊ̀ nà-è-kwú ò-kwú è-zì à-nyì) “My kinsmen, those people are discussing our family matters.”
13.19 Kedu ihe ahụ ị chọrọ? (Ké-dù ì-hé à-hʊ̀ ì chɔ̀-rɔ̀?) “What is that thing you want?”
13.20 Nke ahụ adịghị mma nye anyị. (N̄-ké à-hʊ̀ à-dì-ghì m̀-mà nyè à-nyì) “That one is not good for us.”
13.21 Oge ahụ gara aga bụ oge ọjọọ. (Ò-gé à-hʊ̀ gà-rà à-gà bʊ̀ ò-gé ɔ̀-jɔ̀-ɔ̀) “That past time was a bad time.”
13.22 Mmadụ ahụ nọ n’ụlọ eze. (M̀-mà-dʊ̀ à-hʊ̀ nɔ̀ nʊ̀-lɔ̀ è-zé) “That person is at the chief’s house.”
13.23 Ha jụrụ ajụjụ ahụ tupu nzukọ a. (Hà jʊ̀-rʊ̀ à-jʊ̀-jʊ̀ à-hʊ̀ tù-pù n̄-zù-kɔ̀ à) “They asked that question before this meeting.”
13.24 Ndị okenye kwuru na ụzọ ahụ kwesịrị imezi. (N̄-dì ò-kè-nyé kwù-rù nà ʊ̀-zɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ kwè-sì-rì ì-mè-zì) “The elders said that road should be repaired.”
13.25 M ga-ekwu banyere ihe ahụ echi. (M̀ gà-è-kwú bà-nyé-rè ì-hé à-hʊ̀ è-chì) “I will speak about that matter tomorrow.”
13.26 Nwanne ya bụ onye ahụ nọ ebe ahụ. (Nwàn-nè yà bʊ̀ ò-nyé à-hʊ̀ nɔ̀ è-bé à-hʊ̀) “His/her sibling is that person sitting there.”
13.27 Okwu ahụ ị kwuru dị oke mkpa. (Ò-kwú à-hʊ̀ ì kwù-rù dì ò-ké m̀-kpà) “That word you said is very important.”
13.28 Anyị ekwesịghị echefuo ihe ndị ahụ mere. (À-nyì è-kwè-sì-ghì è-chè-fù-ó ì-hé n̄-dì à-hʊ̀ mè-rè) “We should not forget what those people did.”
13.29 Nzukọ ahụ ga-abụ n’abalị uka na-abịa. (N̄-zù-kɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ gà-à-bʊ̀ nà-bà-lì ù-kà nà-à-bì-à) “That meeting will be next week at night.”
13.30 Ihe nke ahụ bụ ihe anyị ga-eme ọnụ. (Ì-hé n̄-ké à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ ì-hé à-nyì gà-è-mé ɔ̀-nʊ̀) “That thing is what we will do together.”
Part C: Igbo Text Only
13.16 Okenye ahụ kwuru eziokwu. (Ò-kè-nyé à-hʊ̀ kwù-rù è-zì-ò-kwú)
13.17 Anyị gara ebe ahụ ụnyaahụ ma ọ dịghị mma. (À-nyì gà-rà è-bé à-hʊ̀ ù-nyà-à-hʊ̀ mà ɔ̀ dì-ghì m̀-mà)
13.18 Ụmụnna m, ndị ahụ na-ekwu okwu ezi anyị. (Ù-mù-n̄-nà m̀, n̄-dì à-hʊ̀ nà-è-kwú ò-kwú è-zì à-nyì)
13.19 Kedu ihe ahụ ị chọrọ? (Ké-dù ì-hé à-hʊ̀ ì chɔ̀-rɔ̀?)
13.20 Nke ahụ adịghị mma nye anyị. (N̄-ké à-hʊ̀ à-dì-ghì m̀-mà nyè à-nyì)
13.21 Oge ahụ gara aga bụ oge ọjọọ. (Ò-gé à-hʊ̀ gà-rà à-gà bʊ̀ ò-gé ɔ̀-jɔ̀-ɔ̀)
13.22 Mmadụ ahụ nọ n’ụlọ eze. (M̀-mà-dʊ̀ à-hʊ̀ nɔ̀ nʊ̀-lɔ̀ è-zé)
13.23 Ha jụrụ ajụjụ ahụ tupu nzukọ a. (Hà jʊ̀-rʊ̀ à-jʊ̀-jʊ̀ à-hʊ̀ tù-pù n̄-zù-kɔ̀ à)
13.24 Ndị okenye kwuru na ụzọ ahụ kwesịrị imezi. (N̄-dì ò-kè-nyé kwù-rù nà ʊ̀-zɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ kwè-sì-rì ì-mè-zì)
13.25 M ga-ekwu banyere ihe ahụ echi. (M̀ gà-è-kwú bà-nyé-rè ì-hé à-hʊ̀ è-chì)
13.26 Nwanne ya bụ onye ahụ nọ ebe ahụ. (Nwàn-nè yà bʊ̀ ò-nyé à-hʊ̀ nɔ̀ è-bé à-hʊ̀)
13.27 Okwu ahụ ị kwuru dị oke mkpa. (Ò-kwú à-hʊ̀ ì kwù-rù dì ò-ké m̀-kpà)
13.28 Anyị ekwesịghị echefuo ihe ndị ahụ mere. (À-nyì è-kwè-sì-ghì è-chè-fù-ó ì-hé n̄-dì à-hʊ̀ mè-rè)
13.29 Nzukọ ahụ ga-abụ n’abalị uka na-abịa. (N̄-zù-kɔ̀ à-hʊ̀ gà-à-bʊ̀ nà-bà-lì ù-kà nà-à-bì-à)
13.30 Ihe nke ahụ bụ ihe anyị ga-eme ọnụ. (Ì-hé n̄-ké à-hʊ̀ bʊ̀ ì-hé à-nyì gà-è-mé ɔ̀-nʊ̀)
Part D: Grammar Notes for Genre Section
Village Meeting Register
The dialogue demonstrates formal Igbo speech appropriate for community gatherings (nzukọ). Key features include:
1. Respectful Address Forms -
“Ụmụnna m” (my kinsmen) - a formal address to male relatives and community members -
“Ndị okenye” (the elders) - showing deference to senior members
2. Multiple Uses of “ahụ” The genre section shows ahụ in various functions: -
Modifying people: “okenye ahụ” (that elder), “mmadụ ahụ” (that person) -
Modifying time: “oge ahụ” (that time) -
Modifying place: “ebe ahụ” (there) -
Modifying abstract concepts: “okwu ahụ” (that word/matter), “ihe ahụ” (that thing) -
Pronoun form: “nke ahụ” (that one)
3. Complex Sentences Note the embedded clauses with demonstratives: -
“Ihe ndị ahụ mere” = what those people did -
“Okwu ahụ ị kwuru” = that word you said
4. Verb Tense Markers -
Past: gara (went), kwuru (said), mere (did) -
Present continuous: na-ekwu (is speaking), na-abịa (is coming) -
Future: ga-ekwu (will speak), ga-eme (will do) -
Negative: adịghị (is not), ekwesịghị (should not)
5. Discourse Cohesion The repeated use of “ahụ” creates anaphoric links throughout the dialogue, demonstrating how demonstratives maintain topic continuity in extended Igbo discourse.
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Key Sounds in This Lesson
The vowel ụ (with underdot) -
Pronounced like the “oo” in “book” but with tongue pulled back -
IPA: /ʊ/ -
Example: ahụ /a.hʊ/
The vowel ọ (with underdot) -
Pronounced like the “o” in “dog” but more open -
IPA: /ɔ/ -
Example: ọma /ɔ.ma/
The vowel ị (with underdot) -
Pronounced like the “i” in “sit” but with tongue pulled back -
IPA: /ɪ/ -
Example: dị /dɪ/
Double consonants (digraphs) -
kp - pronounced simultaneously as k and p -
gb - pronounced simultaneously as g and b -
nw - n followed by w -
ny - n followed by y (like Spanish “ñ”)
Tones While not always marked in everyday writing, tones are phonemic in Igbo. In this lesson, we’ve indicated approximate tones in the pronunciation guides using accent marks.
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The Latinum Institute has been creating language learning materials since 2006, with a focus on making languages accessible to autodidact learners. Our approach emphasizes the construed text method, where each word is glossed individually, allowing learners to grasp the structure of the target language directly.
The Construed Text Approach
Rather than presenting translations that restructure sentences into English word order, our interlinear glossing preserves the original syntax of the target language. This allows learners to: -
See how words function in their natural position -
Understand grammatical relationships directly -
Build intuition for the language’s structure -
Progress to reading authentic texts more quickly
About Igbo
Igbo is one of Africa’s major languages, spoken by over 30 million people primarily in southeastern Nigeria. It has a rich literary tradition, beginning with Pita Nwana’s groundbreaking novel “Omenuko” (1933). The language features a tonal system, vowel harmony, and a syntax that differs significantly from English, making it a rewarding challenge for language learners.
Course Structure
This course follows a systematic vocabulary progression based on frequency, ensuring learners encounter the most useful words early. Each lesson stands alone while building on previously introduced concepts.
For more information about the Latinum Institute and to read reviews from learners worldwide, visit: -
Course Index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index -
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Acknowledgments
This lesson was prepared with reference to scholarly resources on Igbo grammar and authentic usage examples from the Igbo-speaking community. The proverb in Section F represents traditional Igbo wisdom literature.
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