###
Welcome to Lesson 15 of the Latinum Institute Igbo course, where we explore the fundamental verb ime (to do, to make). This is one of the most versatile and frequently used verbs in Igbo, essential for expressing action, creation, and accomplishment.
In Igbo, ime functions as both an action verb meaning “to do” or “to make” and appears in countless idiomatic expressions and proverbs. The root form me combines with various prefixes and suffixes to indicate tense, aspect, and mood. Understanding this verb is crucial because Igbo values action and accomplishment—reflected in sayings like Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya (What a person does is what the drum calls them).
Igbo Orthography Note: Igbo uses the Ọnwụ orthography (established 1961), a Latin-based script with 36 letters including special diacritics. The underdot vowels (ị, ọ, ụ) indicate retracted tongue root sounds, while the dot-above letter (ṅ) represents the velar nasal. Igbo is a tonal language where pitch changes meaning, though tones are often unmarked in everyday writing.
Script Clarification: Unlike some West African languages (Hausa, Yoruba), Igbo does not have a traditional Ajami (Arabic script) tradition, as Igbo-speaking southeastern Nigeria developed outside the Islamic trade networks that brought Arabic literacy. For this lesson, line ‘a’ uses standard Ọnwụ orthography (BOKO), and line ‘b’ provides simplified romanization with pronunciation guidance.
Course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
FAQ: What does “ime” mean in Igbo?
“Ime” (pronounced ee-meh) is the Igbo infinitive meaning “to do” or “to make.” The root verb is “me,” which combines with tense markers: “na-eme” (doing/making), “mere” (did/made), “ga-eme” (will do/make). It also appears in many compound verbs and idiomatic expressions throughout the language.
In this lesson you will learn the Igbo verb ime (to do/make), its conjugation across present, past, and future tenses, vowel harmony principles affecting its forms, and its use in authentic Igbo expressions and proverbs celebrating action and achievement.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
15.1a M I na-eme am-doing ọrụ work
15.1b M (mm) I na-eme (nah-eh-meh) am-doing ọrụ (aw-roo) work
15.2a Gịnị what ka EMPH ị you na-eme are-doing
15.2b Gịnị (gee-nyee) what ka (kah) EMPH ị (ee) you na-eme (nah-eh-meh) are-doing
15.3a Ọ he/she mere did ihe thing ọma good
15.3b Ọ (aw) he/she mere (meh-reh) did ihe (ee-heh) thing ọma (aw-mah) good
15.4a Anyị we ga-eme will-do ya it echi tomorrow
15.4b Anyị (ah-nyee) we ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) will-do ya (yah) it echi (eh-chee) tomorrow
15.5a Ha they emeghi did-not-do ihe thing ahụ that
15.5b Ha (hah) they emeghi (eh-meh-ghee) did-not-do ihe (ee-heh) thing ahụ (ah-hoo) that
15.6a Nne mother m my na-eme is-making nri food
15.6b Nne (nneh) mother m (mm) my na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-making nri (nree) food
15.7a Kedu how ka EMPH e IMPERS si from eme do nke this a DEM
15.7b Kedu (keh-doo) how ka (kah) EMPH e (eh) IMPERS si (see) from eme (eh-meh) do nke (nkeh) this a (ah) DEM
15.8a Onye person ọbụla every nwere has ike ability ime to-do ihe thing ọ he/she chọrọ wants
15.8b Onye (oh-nyeh) person ọbụla (aw-boo-lah) every nwere (nweh-reh) has ike (ee-keh) ability ime (ee-meh) to-do ihe (ee-heh) thing ọ (aw) he/she chọrọ (chaw-raw) wants
15.9a Mee do-IMP ihe thing m I gwara told gị you
15.9b Mee (meh-eh) do-IMP ihe (ee-heh) thing m (mm) I gwara (gwah-rah) told gị (gee) you
15.10a Emela do-not-IMP ihe thing ọjọọ bad
15.10b Emela (eh-meh-lah) do-not-IMP ihe (ee-heh) thing ọjọọ (aw-jaw-aw) bad
15.11a Ihe thing onye person na-eme is-doing ka EMPH ekwe drum na-akpọ is-calling ya him/her
15.11b Ihe (ee-heh) thing onye (oh-nyeh) person na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-doing ka (kah) EMPH ekwe (eh-kweh) drum na-akpọ (nah-ah-kpaw) is-calling ya (yah) him/her
15.12a Ọ he/she maara knows ime to-do ọrụ work aka hand
15.12b Ọ (aw) he/she maara (mah-ah-rah) knows ime (ee-meh) to-do ọrụ (aw-roo) work aka (ah-kah) hand
15.13a Anyị we na-eme are-making mmemme celebration ukwu big
15.13b Anyị (ah-nyee) we na-eme (nah-eh-meh) are-making mmemme (mmeh-mmeh) celebration ukwu (oo-kwoo) big
15.14a Ị you ga-eme will-do nke which ọma good ma if ọ it bụ is na that ị you gbalịsịrị tried ike strength
15.14b Ị (ee) you ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) will-do nke (nkeh) which ọma (aw-mah) good ma (mah) if ọ (aw) it bụ (boo) is na (nah) that ị (ee) you gbalịsịrị (gbah-lee-see-ree) tried ike (ee-keh) strength
15.15a Obi Obi ji with obi heart ya his niile all na-eme is-doing ọrụ work ya his
15.15b Obi (oh-bee) Obi ji (jee) with obi (oh-bee) heart ya (yah) his niile (nee-leh) all na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-doing ọrụ (aw-roo) work ya (yah) his
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
15.1 M na-eme ọrụ. M na-eme ọrụ. “I am working.” (lit. “I am doing work”)
15.2 Gịnị ka ị na-eme? Gịnị ka ị na-eme? “What are you doing?”
15.3 Ọ mere ihe ọma. Ọ mere ihe ọma. “He/She did a good thing.”
15.4 Anyị ga-eme ya echi. Anyị ga-eme ya echi. “We will do it tomorrow.”
15.5 Ha emeghi ihe ahụ. Ha emeghi ihe ahụ. “They did not do that thing.”
15.6 Nne m na-eme nri. Nne m na-eme nri. “My mother is making food.”
15.7 Kedu ka e si eme nke a? Kedu ka e si eme nke a? “How does one do this?” (lit. “How is this done?”)
15.8 Onye ọbụla nwere ike ime ihe ọ chọrọ. Onye ọbụla nwere ike ime ihe ọ chọrọ. “Everyone has the ability to do what they want.”
15.9 Mee ihe m gwara gị. Mee ihe m gwara gị. “Do what I told you.”
15.10 Emela ihe ọjọọ. Emela ihe ọjọọ. “Don’t do bad things.”
15.11 Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya. Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya. “What a person does is what the drum calls them.” (Proverb: Your actions define you)
15.12 Ọ maara ime ọrụ aka. Ọ maara ime ọrụ aka. “He/She knows how to do handwork.”
15.13 Anyị na-eme mmemme ukwu. Anyị na-eme mmemme ukwu. “We are making a big celebration.”
15.14 Ị ga-eme nke ọma ma ọ bụ na ị gbalịsịrị ike. Ị ga-eme nke ọma ma ọ bụ na ị gbalịsịrị ike. “You will do well if you tried hard.”
15.15 Obi ji obi ya niile na-eme ọrụ ya. Obi ji obi ya niile na-eme ọrụ ya. “Obi is doing his work with all his heart.”
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
15.1 M na-eme ọrụ. M na-eme ọrụ.
15.2 Gịnị ka ị na-eme? Gịnị ka ị na-eme?
15.3 Ọ mere ihe ọma. Ọ mere ihe ọma.
15.4 Anyị ga-eme ya echi. Anyị ga-eme ya echi.
15.5 Ha emeghi ihe ahụ. Ha emeghi ihe ahụ.
15.6 Nne m na-eme nri. Nne m na-eme nri.
15.7 Kedu ka e si eme nke a? Kedu ka e si eme nke a?
15.8 Onye ọbụla nwere ike ime ihe ọ chọrọ. Onye ọbụla nwere ike ime ihe ọ chọrọ.
15.9 Mee ihe m gwara gị. Mee ihe m gwara gị.
15.10 Emela ihe ọjọọ. Emela ihe ọjọọ.
15.11 Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya. Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya.
15.12 Ọ maara ime ọrụ aka. Ọ maara ime ọrụ aka.
15.13 Anyị na-eme mmemme ukwu. Anyị na-eme mmemme ukwu.
15.14 Ị ga-eme nke ọma ma ọ bụ na ị gbalịsịrị ike. Ị ga-eme nke ọma ma ọ bụ na ị gbalịsịrị ike.
15.15 Obi ji obi ya niile na-eme ọrụ ya. Obi ji obi ya niile na-eme ọrụ ya.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
These are the grammar rules for ime (to do/make).
Igbo verbs consist of a root that combines with prefixes and suffixes to indicate tense, aspect, mood, and sometimes subject. The verb ime breaks down as follows:
i- = infinitive prefix me = verb root meaning “do/make”
Present Continuous (Progressive): na- + a/e prefix + verb root
The present continuous uses the marker na- followed by a vowel prefix that harmonizes with the verb root. For me, the harmonic vowel is e, giving us na-eme (is doing/making).
Subject pronoun + na-eme: M na-eme (I am doing), Ị na-eme (You are doing), Ọ na-eme (He/She is doing), Anyị na-eme (We are doing), Unu na-eme (You all are doing), Ha na-eme (They are doing)
Simple Past: verb root + -re/-rV (vowel harmony)
The past tense adds -re (or a vowel-harmonized variant) to the root. For me, this becomes mere (did/made).
Subject pronoun + mere (alternative: E- + verb + -re + m for 1st person): M mere / Emere m (I did), Ị mere (You did), Ọ mere (He/She did), Anyị mere (We did), Unu mere (You all did), Ha mere (They did)
Simple Future: ga- + a/e prefix + verb root
The future uses the marker ga- followed by the harmonic vowel prefix. For me: ga-eme (will do/make).
Subject pronoun + ga-eme: M ga-eme / Aga m eme (I will do), Ị ga-eme (You will do), Ọ ga-eme (He/She will do), Anyị ga-eme (We will do), Unu ga-eme (You all will do), Ha ga-eme (They will do)
Negative Forms: add -ghi/-ghị suffix
Present negative: anaghị eme (is not doing) Past negative: emeghi (did not do) Future negative: agaghị eme (will not do)
Imperative (Commands):
Affirmative: Mee! (Do!/Make!) - uses the root with lengthened final vowel Negative: Emela! (Don’t do!) - uses e- prefix + root + -la suffix
Igbo has two sets of vowels based on tongue root position:
+ATR (Advanced Tongue Root): i, e, o, u -ATR (Retracted Tongue Root): ị, a, ọ, ụ
The verb me contains e (+ATR), so it harmonizes with other +ATR vowels. This is why we see na-eme (not na-ame) and ga-eme (not ga-ame).
Igbo pronouns do not distinguish gender. The same word ọ means he, she, or it.
Separable pronouns: M/Mụ (I), Gị/Ị (you sg.), Ọ/Ya (he/she/it), Anyị (we), Unu (you pl.), Ha (they)
Confusing ime (to do) with ịme which can mean “to become pregnant” in some dialects due to tonal differences.
Forgetting vowel harmony when adding prefixes (using na-ame instead of correct na-eme).
Using the wrong negative suffix (emegha instead of correct emeghi).
Omitting the harmonic vowel prefix after tense markers (na-me instead of correct na-eme).
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Igbo people place tremendous cultural value on action, achievement, and self-made success. The proverb Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya (What a person does is what the drum calls them) encapsulates this philosophy—your actions, not your words or lineage, define your identity and reputation.
This cultural emphasis on doing explains why ime is one of the most frequently used verbs in Igbo. The concept of ime extends beyond mere activity to encompass creation, accomplishment, and the very act of making one’s way in the world.
Formal: In formal speech and traditional settings, the full infinitive ime appears in proverbs and ceremonial language.
Informal: In everyday conversation, the conjugated forms na-eme, mere, ga-eme dominate, often with contracted pronouns.
Proverbial: Many Igbo proverbs feature ime or its forms, as proverbs are considered “the oil with which Igbo people eat their words” (Chinua Achebe).
While the standard form is ime/me, dialectal variations exist across Igbo-speaking regions (Owerri, Onitsha, Nnewi, Aba, etc.). The core meaning remains consistent, though pronunciation and some conjugation patterns may vary slightly.
ime covers a broad semantic range:
“To do” (general action): M na-eme ọrụ (I am doing work) “To make/create”: Ọ na-eme nri (She is making food) “To perform”: Ha na-eme egwu (They are performing a dance) “To cause”: Gịnị mere nke a? (What caused this? / What happened?) “To commit”: Ọ mere njọ (He committed a wrong)
Ime mmekọrịta - to have relations (social or intimate) Ime aka - to do by hand, to craft Ime ụzọ - to make way, to lead Ime njem - to make a journey, to travel Ime egwu - to perform music/dance
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The following proverbs represent authentic Igbo wisdom emphasizing the cultural significance of ime (doing/making):
F-A: Interlinear Analysis
Ihe thing onye person na-eme is-doing ka EMPH ekwe drum na-akpọ is-calling ya him/her
Ihe (ee-heh) thing onye (oh-nyeh) person na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-doing ka (kah) EMPH ekwe (eh-kweh) drum na-akpọ (nah-ah-kpaw) is-calling ya (yah) him/her
Nkụ firewood onye person kpara gathered n’ọkọchị in-dry-season ka EMPH ọ he/she na-anya is-seeing n’udummiri in-rainy-season
Nkụ (nkoo) firewood onye (oh-nyeh) person kpara (kpah-rah) gathered n’ọkọchị (naw-kaw-chee) in-dry-season ka (kah) EMPH ọ (aw) he/she na-anya (nah-ah-nyah) is-seeing n’udummiri (noo-doo-mmee-ree) in-rainy-season
Aka hand aja dirty aja dirty na-ebute brings ọnụ mouth mmanụ oil mmanụ oil
Aka (ah-kah) hand aja (ah-jah) dirty aja (ah-jah) dirty na-ebute (nah-eh-boo-teh) brings ọnụ (aw-nyoo) mouth mmanụ (mmah-nyoo) oil mmanụ (mmah-nyoo) oil
F-B: Natural Text with Translation
Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya. “What a person does is what the drum calls them.” (Your actions define your reputation)
Nkụ onye kpara n’ọkọchị ka ọ na-anya n’udummiri. “The firewood one gathered in dry season is what one sees in rainy season.” (One’s actions today determine one’s position in the future)
Aka aja aja na-ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ. “Dirty hands bring an oily mouth.” (Hard work brings prosperity; the hand that toils will feast)
F-C: Original Script Only
Ihe onye na-eme ka ekwe na-akpọ ya.
Nkụ onye kpara n’ọkọchị ka ọ na-anya n’udummiri.
Aka aja aja na-ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ.
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
These proverbs showcase key grammatical features of ime and related action verbs:
Ekwe (drum) - The traditional Igbo drum that announces news and calls people. In the proverb, it metaphorically represents public opinion or reputation.
ka...na- construction - This emphatic structure highlights the direct relationship between cause and effect: “it is X that...”
Reduplication (aja aja, mmanụ mmanụ) - Igbo uses reduplication for emphasis and intensification. “Dirty dirty” means thoroughly dirty; “oil oil” means thoroughly oily/prosperous.
n’ọkọchị / n’udummiri - Locative expressions using the preposition na (in/at) contracted with vowel-initial nouns. The contrast between dry season (time for preparation) and rainy season (time of need) carries moral weight.
F-E: Literary Commentary
These proverbs reflect the Igbo philosophical emphasis on personal responsibility and the connection between labor and reward. The recurring theme is that ime (doing) determines outcome—not birth, not words, but action.
Chinua Achebe famously wrote that proverbs are “the palm oil with which words are eaten” in Igbo culture, and proverbs featuring action verbs like ime are among the most frequently cited in both traditional and modern Igbo discourse.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
This dialogue takes place at a local market (ahịa) where a mother teaches her daughter about buying and selling—actions central to Igbo economic life.
15.16a Ada Ada bịa come ka let anyị we mee do ahịa market
15.16b Ada (ah-dah) Ada bịa (bee-ah) come ka (kah) let anyị (ah-nyee) we mee (meh-eh) do ahịa (ah-hee-ah) market
15.17a Gịnị what ka EMPH anyị we ga-eme will-do taa today nne mother
15.17b Gịnị (gee-nyee) what ka (kah) EMPH anyị (ah-nyee) we ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) will-do taa (tah) today nne (nneh) mother
15.18a Anyị we ga-eme will-do ihe thing ọtụtụ many
15.18b Anyị (ah-nyee) we ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) will-do ihe (ee-heh) thing ọtụtụ (aw-too-too) many
15.19a Biko please mee do ngwa quick ngwa quick
15.19b Biko (bee-koh) please mee (meh-eh) do ngwa (ngwah) quick ngwa (ngwah) quick
15.20a M I na-eme am-doing ihe thing m I nwere have ike ability
15.20b M (mm) I na-eme (nah-eh-meh) am-doing ihe (ee-heh) thing m (mm) I nwere (nweh-reh) have ike (ee-keh) ability
15.21a Nwanyị woman a this na-eme is-doing ego money ọma good
15.21b Nwanyị (nwah-nyee) woman a (ah) this na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-doing ego (eh-goh) money ọma (aw-mah) good
15.22a Kedu how ka EMPH ị you si from eme do akara bean-cake a this
15.22b Kedu (keh-doo) how ka (kah) EMPH ị (ee) you si (see) from eme (eh-meh) do akara (ah-kah-rah) bean-cake a (ah) this
15.23a M I mere did ya it n’ụtụtụ in-morning taa today
15.23b M (mm) I mere (meh-reh) did ya (yah) it n’ụtụtụ (noo-too-too) in-morning taa (tah) today
15.24a Ọ it dị is mma good nke which ukwu big
15.24b Ọ (aw) it dị (dee) is mma (mmah) good nke (nkeh) which ukwu (oo-kwoo) big
15.25a Anyị we ga-eme will-do ego money taa today
15.25b Anyị (ah-nyee) we ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) will-do ego (eh-goh) money taa (tah) today
15.26a Jee go zụta buy akwụkwọ vegetables ka so-that m I mee do/make ofe soup
15.26b Jee (jeh-eh) go zụta (zoo-tah) buy akwụkwọ (ah-kwoo-kwaw) vegetables ka (kah) so-that m (mm) I mee (meh-eh) do/make ofe (oh-feh) soup
15.27a Emeghi did-not-do m I ihe thing ọjọọ bad o Q
15.27b Emeghi (eh-meh-ghee) did-not-do m (mm) I ihe (ee-heh) thing ọjọọ (aw-jaw-aw) bad o (oh) Q
15.28a Mba no ị you mere did nke that ọma good
15.28b Mba (mbah) no ị (ee) you mere (meh-reh) did nke (nkeh) that ọma (aw-mah) good
15.29a Nne mother ọma good na-eme is-doing ka that nwa child ya her mara know ime to-do ihe thing
15.29b Nne (nneh) mother ọma (aw-mah) good na-eme (nah-eh-meh) is-doing ka (kah) that nwa (nwah) child ya (yah) her mara (mah-rah) know ime (ee-meh) to-do ihe (ee-heh) thing
15.30a Ọrụ work anyị we mere did taa today ga-eweta will-bring uru profit
15.30b Ọrụ (aw-roo) work anyị (ah-nyee) we mere (meh-reh) did taa (tah) today ga-eweta (gah-eh-weh-tah) will-bring uru (oo-roo) profit
15.16 Ada, bịa ka anyị mee ahịa. “Ada, come let us do market.” (go shopping/trading)
15.17 Gịnị ka anyị ga-eme taa, nne? “What will we do today, mother?”
15.18 Anyị ga-eme ihe ọtụtụ. “We will do many things.”
15.19 Biko, mee ngwa ngwa. “Please, do it quickly.”
15.20 M na-eme ihe m nwere ike. “I am doing what I can.”
15.21 Nwanyị a na-eme ego ọma. “This woman is making good money.”
15.22 Kedu ka ị si eme akara a? “How do you make this bean-cake?”
15.23 M mere ya n’ụtụtụ taa. “I made it this morning.”
15.24 Ọ dị mma nke ukwu. “It is very good.”
15.25 Anyị ga-eme ego taa. “We will make money today.”
15.26 Jee zụta akwụkwọ ka m mee ofe. “Go buy vegetables so that I make soup.”
15.27 Emeghi m ihe ọjọọ o? “I didn’t do anything bad, did I?”
15.28 Mba, ị mere nke ọma. “No, you did well.”
15.29 Nne ọma na-eme ka nwa ya mara ime ihe. “A good mother makes her child know how to do things.”
15.30 Ọrụ anyị mere taa ga-eweta uru. “The work we did today will bring profit.”
15.16 Ada, bịa ka anyị mee ahịa.
15.17 Gịnị ka anyị ga-eme taa, nne?
15.18 Anyị ga-eme ihe ọtụtụ.
15.19 Biko, mee ngwa ngwa.
15.20 M na-eme ihe m nwere ike.
15.21 Nwanyị a na-eme ego ọma.
15.22 Kedu ka ị si eme akara a?
15.23 M mere ya n’ụtụtụ taa.
15.24 Ọ dị mma nke ukwu.
15.25 Anyị ga-eme ego taa.
15.26 Jee zụta akwụkwọ ka m mee ofe.
15.27 Emeghi m ihe ọjọọ o?
15.28 Mba, ị mere nke ọma.
15.29 Nne ọma na-eme ka nwa ya mara ime ihe.
15.30 Ọrụ anyị mere taa ga-eweta uru.
Serial Verb Constructions: Example 15.26 shows the common Igbo pattern of stringing verbs together: jee zụta (go buy). The first verb indicates manner or purpose, the second the main action.
Question Tags: Example 15.27 uses the question particle o at the end to form a tag question expecting confirmation.
Causative Constructions: Example 15.29 shows na-eme ka (makes/causes that), a construction using ime to express causation.
Instrumental “ji”: The preposition ji (with/using) appears in expressions of manner, similar to earlier examples.
“Mee ahịa”: This idiomatic expression literally means “do market” and covers both buying and selling activities—the full range of market transactions.
Reduplication for Emphasis: Ngwa ngwa (quickly quickly) shows how Igbo uses reduplication for emphasis and intensification.
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
a - as in “father” e - as in “bed” i - as in “machine” ị - similar to “i” but with tongue pulled back (schwa-like) o - as in “go” ọ - similar to “o” in “hot” (more open) u - as in “moon” ụ - similar to “u” but with tongue pulled back
gb - simultaneous g and b (labial-velar) kp - simultaneous k and p (labial-velar) gh - voiced velar fricative (like French “r” or Arabic “غ”) gw - g followed by w kw - k followed by w nw - n followed by w ny - as in “canyon” ṅ - velar nasal (as in “sing”) ch - as in “church” sh - as in “ship”
Igbo has three tones (high, mid, low), though they are often unmarked in everyday writing: -
High tone: often marked with acute accent (á) -
Low tone: often marked with grave accent (à) -
Mid tone: usually unmarked or with macron (ā)
Tone changes meaning: ákwà (cloth) vs. àkwà (bed) vs. àkwá (egg)
ime (ee-meh) - to do/make me (meh) - do (root) na-eme (nah-eh-meh) - is doing mere (meh-reh) - did ga-eme (gah-eh-meh) - will do emeghi (eh-meh-ghee) - did not do mee (meh-eh) - do! (imperative) emela (eh-meh-lah) - don’t do!
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
The Latinum Institute has been creating comprehensive language learning materials since 2006. Our approach emphasizes the construed text method, where learners see both the original language structure and English equivalents in interlinear format, allowing the brain to absorb grammatical patterns naturally without excessive memorization of abstract rules.
The Igbo course uses the standard Ọnwụ orthography established in 1961, which is the official writing system used in education, literature, and media throughout Igbo-speaking Nigeria. While dialectal variations exist, this standard form provides a solid foundation for understanding all Igbo varieties.
For autodidact learners, our method offers: -
Direct exposure to authentic language patterns -
Grammar explanations that clarify rather than overwhelm -
Cultural context that brings the language to life -
Literary citations that connect learners to the living tradition
Igbo is spoken by approximately 30 million people, primarily in southeastern Nigeria, and is recognized as one of Nigeria’s national languages alongside Hausa and Yoruba. Learning Igbo opens doors to a rich cultural heritage, vibrant contemporary literature, and a people renowned for their entrepreneurial spirit and philosophical wisdom.
Course index: https://latinum.substack.com/p/index
For reviews of Latinum Institute courses: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾ ✾ ❦ ✾ ❦ ✾
Nexal Code: @ᴸᴱˢˢᴼᴺ.15.ᴵᴳᴮᴼ.ᴵᴹᴱ.ᵛᴱᴿᴵᶠᴵᶜᴬᵀᵁᴹ
✓ Lesson 15 Igbo complete
---