100 Core Igbo Vocabulary Words Every Learner Should Know (with Pronunciation Guides)

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This Basic Igbo Words Series is designed to help modern Igbo learners build confidence from the ground up by focusing on the most essential vocabulary used in everyday communication.

This frequency list offers a practical, accessible starting point for improving comprehension, speech, and overall fluency by combining key pronouns, people-related terms, and commonly used verbs, each supported with pronunciation guides.

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English: I

Igbo: M

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English: Me

Igbo: Mụ́

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English: You

Igbo: Gị́

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English: He

Igbo: Ọ́

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English: She

Igbo: Ọ́

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English: It

Igbo: Ọ́

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English: We

Igbo: Ànyị́

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English: Us

Igbo: Ànyị́

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English: They

Igbo: Há

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English: Them

Igbo: Há

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English: This

Igbo: Nké ā

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English: That

Igbo: Nké àhụ̀

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English: These

Igbo: Ndị́

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English: Those

Igbo: Ndị́

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English: Who

Igbo: Ónyé

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English: Someone

Igbo: Ónyé

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English: Something

Igbo: Ìhē

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English: Everyone

Igbo: Ónyé ọ́bụ̀là

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English: Everything

Igbo: Ìhē nīīlé

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English: Nobody

Igbo: Ónwéghí ónyé

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English: Myself

Igbo: Ónwé m

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English: Yourself

Igbo: Ónwé gị́

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English: Himself

Igbo: Ónwé yá

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English: Herself

Igbo: Ónwé yá

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English: Itself

Igbo: Ónwé yá

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English: Ourselves

Igbo: Ónwé ànyị́

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English: Themselves

Igbo: Ónwé há

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English: Person

Igbo: Ónyé

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English: People

Igbo: Ndị́

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English: Man

Igbo: Nwōkē

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English: Woman

Igbo: Nwāanyị̀

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English: Child

Igbo: Nwá

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English: Friend

Igbo: Ényì

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English: Family

Igbo: Ézìnàụ́lọ̀

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English: Parent

Igbo: Nné nā Nná

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English: Mother

Igbo: Nné

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English: Father

Igbo: Nná

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English: Brother

Igbo: Nwānnē nwōkē

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English: Sister

Igbo: Nwānnē nwāanyị̀

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English: Name

Igbo: Áhà

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English: Be

Igbo: Bụ́rụ́

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English: Have

Igbo: nwērē

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English: Do

Igbo: mē

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English: Say

Igbo: kwúō

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English: Go

Igbo: gā

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English: Come

Igbo: bị́a

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English: Get

Igbo: wétà

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English: Make

Igbo: mēé

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English: See

Igbo: Léé

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English: Hear

Igbo: nụ́

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English: Speak

Igbo: kwúō

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English: Tell

Igbo: gwá

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English: Ask

Igbo: jụ́ọ́

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English: Answer

Igbo: záá

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English: Give

Igbo: nyé

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English: Take

Igbo: wéré

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English: Find

Igbo: chọ́tà

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English: Think

Igbo: chēé

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English: Know

Igbo: mā

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English: Learn

Igbo: mụ́ọ́

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English: Understand

Igbo: ghọ́tá

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English: Believe

Igbo: kwété

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English: Want

Igbo: chọ̀rọ̀

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English: Need

Igbo: chọ̀rọ̀

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English: Like

Igbo: mmásị́

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English: Love

Igbo: Ị́hụnānyā

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English: Hate

Igbo: ị́kpọ́àsị́

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English: Feel

Igbo: mmétụ́

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English: Try

Igbo: Gbàlị́a

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English: Help

Igbo: ényémáká

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English: Work

Igbo: ọ́rụ́

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English: Play

Igbo: égwū

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English: Live

Igbo: bī

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English: Die

Igbo: Nwụ́ọ́

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English: Eat

Igbo: írí

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English: Drink

Igbo: ṅụ́ọ́

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English: Sleep

Igbo: ụ́rá

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English: Wake

Igbo: tétá

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English: Walk

Igbo: íjé

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English: Run

Igbo: gbá ọ́sọ́

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English: Sit

Igbo: nọ̀ọ́dụ̀ àlà

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English: Stand

Igbo: Kwụ́rụ́

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English: Wait

Igbo: chéré

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English: Stay

Igbo: nọ̀dị́

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English: Leave

Igbo: hápụ́

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English: Arrive

Igbo: rùté

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English: Return

Igbo: Lágháchị́

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English: Start

Igbo: bídó

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English: Finish

Igbo: jédébē

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English: Stop

Igbo: Kwụ́sị́

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English: Continue

Igbo: Gá ná íhū

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English: Change

Igbo: Mgbánwē

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English: Grow

Igbo: tó

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English: Open

Igbo: Mépé

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English: Close

Igbo: Méchíé

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English: Enter

Igbo: Bányé

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English: Exit

Igbo: pụ́ọ́

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English: Bring

Igbo: wétà

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English: Send

Igbo: Zígá

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English: Receive

Igbo: Nátá

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Learning Tip: Review and listen to the word list multiple times, across different occasions, to get the most out of it as a learning resource for Igbo language.

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FAQ

• What is a “frequency list”?

  A frequency list is a ranked list of words based on how often they are used in a particular language. The words are typically ordered from most common to least common, using data gathered from spoken conversations, media, or other real-life language sources.

• Why use a word frequency list?

  Because learning the most frequently used words first is the most efficient way to build practical vocabulary. You can quickly gain the ability to understand and communicate in everyday situations, by focusing on high-frequency words, making your learning process faster and more effective.

• Will a workbook be available for analog learning?

  Yes. We’re actively working on making a physical workbook for the Basic Igbo Words study available in the near future.

• What other ways can we practice or master basic Igbo words?

  You can use the Igbo Words Matcher game we’re developing on KWUO to practice what you learn. Keep an eye on OMS Labs releases for updates on the game.

Meet Your Tutor

Uzoma Veer is a creative professional and founder of Veepress Integrated Services. Passionate about purposeful design and communication, Uzoma works as a UI designer, social media manager, Igbo tutor, translator, creative writer, and public speaker.