Igbo-English Dictionary (Okowa Okwu) 8034737947, 9782900753

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NEW GENERATION BOOKS

IGBO-ENGLISH DICTIONARY (QKQWA OKWU)

NZE (DR.) JULIUS GINGER EKE - JP (ODEE)

· Published 2001 by

NEW GENERATION BOOKS Shop 51, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Shopping Mall, Ogui Road, P. 0. Box 3472, Enugu, Nigeria Mobile:234-8034737947 E-mail:[email protected]

©

Ginger Eke

ISBN: 978 2900-75-3

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and through the internet in whole or in part or by any known means without the prior permission of the publisher or copyright owner in writing. _

Printed and bo~nd in the Federal Republic of Nigeria by New Generation Ventures Limited, Enugu, Southeast Nigeria

Onye nyochara akwukwQ a ma oyekwa ndumodu ka Q' dabazie nke Qmabu:

MAAZI ODI AGWU Onye Ndu aru IWELITE ASl)Sl) NA OMBNALA IGBO NKE . NGALABA AFIKPO ZOONU EBONYI STATE and

Vice Principal, Comprehensive Secondary School, Unwana1 Afikpo

ii

DEDICATED TO Almighty God

iii

FOREWORD The word 'slictionary' is a systematically arranged list of words of· socialized linguistii;: forms arrangement compiled from speech habits of a given spooch community and commented on by the author in such a wa)' that the qualified reader understands the meaning of each separate fonns and is infonned of the relevant facts of that form in its community. Banhcat C.L.. (1966) in agrccmcnt to this, defines dictionary as a book containing a sa;µoil .ofwords usually arranged alphabetically with explanations of thcir..~ing and other information concerning them expressed in the same language or· another language. In the light of these and other gefinitions about dictionary not mentioned ·here, one can simply sec that dictionary is nothing mon< than, a book where words of a language are listed and explained. As for writing-of Igbo language dictionary, this has been strangely neglected by lexicographers. The r:eason for this neglect may be because of the long delay in the introduction of standard Igbo language as earlier seen as a difference in Hausa and Yoruba languages or may be that the language lack linguists who are native speakers of lgbo, who could, combined with their abilities to analyse and explain linguistic structure in producing definitive dictionaries of lgbo language. However, many lovers oflgbo language and culture have tried in one way or the other to write lgbo language dictionaries. For instance the underlisted authors hereby serve as clear example in this regard: Dennis T.J. (1923) Dictionary of Ibo language: English - Ibo Ogbalu F.C. (1959) lgbo- English dictionary Ogbalu F.C. (1962) English - lgbo dictionary Welmers B.F. ( 1968) lgbo l~arners dictionary (for peace corps members) Jay Williamson ( 1972) lgbo - English Dictionary Nnaji H.J. (1985) lgbo - English Dictionary. In fact, a careful observation on the dictionanes mentioned above has proved that they are all based on the Awka and Onitsha dialects. Therefore, the need for clearly written, explicit and possibly comprehensive dictionary, based on standard Igbo language which should lead not only the students of the language, but all and sundry by hand through the understanding of the lgbo lan~ge, c'.'°"ot be exaggerated. Nevertheless, lgbo - English Dictionary by Nze Julius Gmger Eke seems to me to serve this purpose admirably. This Igbo - English Dictionary is well thoughtout, comprehensive, written in IV

standard lgbo language with precise attention to detail. The author carefully listal the most common used words and phrases with simple definitions and examples of usage. As you go through this dictionaiy with some kind of ~ousncss, you will then discover that the author (Julius Ginger Eke) is a painstaking writer, most especially when it comes to the writing of a book in . Igbo lanugage. This, he started doing as far back as 1955. On 1ldnilration and proper use of this dictionary, I thereby remind Igbo sddars and lovers of lgbo language and culture, to see this work as an inspii'atioo to the writing of more lgbo language dictionaries, having in mind that llnguagc is not slltic IDd so desirable changes could be made in the light of new knowledge and experience. . Maui Odi Agwu Leader, Society f9mkwem K1>9k9j? Leta (letter) Mbuuzo Mangoio Mamiwota

Egbenduru

Mma ehw

Egbendu

Mmaoge Mmaagha Mgbaaka Nkanuuzu.

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F.nvelopu Ekwekwe Goolu Gw'"1.~4.m gwa rn

Goomenn Gbiirogbam Gwongworo

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Ndiichie Niile Nnyemaaka

Ncheanwu Ngwu ala. XII

Nnanna Ntaramahtlhu Nk~ {ogu/U\~elc) Nootu

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Nwaada Nwannem Nwayw

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