Advanced Conversational Igbo Words

Kwanu

What about / As for (e.g., Gị kwanu? - What about you?)

Kpa

Like this / In this manner (e.g., Mee ya kpa)

Maka

Because / Concerning / About

Ezie

Truly / Really (e.g., Ọ bụ ezie - It is true)

Tụmadị

Especially / Much more

Kama

Instead of / Rather than

Sọosọ

Only / Just (e.g., Sọosọ gị)

O nwere ike

It is possible / Maybe

Chei!

Exclamation of shock, dismay, or pleasant surprise

Ewo!

Oh no! / Alas! (Pity, bad news, or extreme surprise)

Otiọ!

No way! / God forbid! (Strong disbelief/rejection)

Helele!

Amazing! / Incredible! (Extraordinary things)

Ị nụla?

Have you heard? (Introducing news)

Onye mọ!

My goodness! (Literally: My person!)

Ịgba nkịtị

To keep silent / To stay quiet

Ịgba mbo

To make an effort / To try hard

Ịda mba

To give up / To lose heart / To faint

Ịtụ nwayọ

To take it easy / Calm down

Ime ngwa ngwa

To hurry up / Do quickly

Ịhụ nanya

To love (Literally: To see in the eye)

Mata ihe

To be wise / To be smart (Literally: To know things)

Ime mkpọtụ

To make noise / To cause a scene

Ma ọ bụ

Or

Mana

But

Tupu

Before

Gbasara

Regarding / Concerning

Ya mere

Therefore / So / That's why

E wezụga

Except for / Apart from

Karia

More than / Rather than