101-201 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 focusing on commonly used verbs, each supported with pronunciation guides.
We recommend using good-quality headphones to get the most out of the pronunciation guides.
English: Buy
Igbo: Gòté
English: Sell
Igbo: Réé
English: Pay
Igbo: Kwụ́ọ́
English: Cost
Igbo: Ọ́nụ́ àhị̀á
English: Use
Igbo: Úrù
English: Keep
Igbo: Dóbé
English: Lose
Igbo: túfúō
English: Win
Igbo: Émèrí
English: Choose
Igbo: Họ́rọ́
English: Decide
Igbo: Kpébíé
English: Agree
Igbo: Kwété
English: Disagree
Igbo: Ékwéghí
English: Explain
Igbo: Kọ́wá
English: Describe
Igbo: Kọ́wá
English: Show
Igbo: Gósí
English: Hide
Igbo: Zōo
English: Meet
Igbo: Zúté
English: Follow
Igbo: Sōrō
English: Lead
Igbo: dúō
English: Move
Igbo: méghárị́a
English: Turn
Igbo: Tụ́ghárị́a
English: Fall
Igbo: Dāā
English: Break
Igbo: Gbájíé
English: Fix
Igbo: Dózíé
English: Build
Igbo: Rụ́ọ́
English: Destroy
Igbo: Mébíé
English: Cut
Igbo: Bè
English: Hold
Igbo: jídé
English: Push
Igbo: kwāá
English: Pull
Igbo: dọ̀ọ́
English: Carry
Igbo: búrú
English: Throw
Igbo: tụ́ọ́
English: Catch
Igbo: jídé
English: Smile
Igbo: Ámụ́
English: Laugh
Igbo: ọ́chị́
English: Cry
Igbo: ákwá
English: Worry
Igbo: Nchékásị́
English: Hope
Igbo: òlíléānyā
English: Fear
Igbo: ụ́jọ́
English: Remember
Igbo: chétá
English: Forget
Igbo: chéfúó
English: Plan
Igbo: àtụ́màtụ́
English: Prepare
Igbo: kwádóró
English: Travel
Igbo: jēé
English: Visit
Igbo: létá
English: Arrive
Igbo: lọ́tá
English: Leave
Igbo: hápụ́
English: Drive
Igbo: nyāá
English: Ride
Igbo: nyāá
English: Stop
Igbo: kwụ́sị́
English: Wait
Igbo: chéré
English: Rest
Igbo: zūóíké
English: Dance
Igbo: gbá égwū
English: Sing
Igbo: gụ́ọ́ égwū
English: Read
Igbo: gụ́ọ́
English: Write
Igbo: déé
English: Study
Igbo: mụ́ọ́
English: Teach
Igbo: kuzíé
English: Learn
Igbo: mụ́ọ́
English: Practice
Igbo: Ímé ìhē
English: Watch
Igbo: lézíe
English: Listen
Igbo: géé ntị́
English: Look
Igbo: léé
English: Search
Igbo: chọ́ọ́
English: Find
Igbo: chọ́tá
English: Lose
Igbo: Túfúo
English: Meet
Igbo: Zúté
English: Call
Igbo: Kpọ́
English: Text
Igbo: déé
English: Answer
Igbo: záá
English: Reply
Igbo: zágháchị́
English: Share
Igbo: Kéé
English: Keep
Igbo: dóbé
English: Save
Igbo: chékwá
English: Spend
Igbo: Mméfù
English: Borrow
Igbo: bíri
English: Lend
Igbo: bínyé
English: Clean
Igbo: híchá
English: Wash
Igbo: sáá
English: Cook
Igbo: síé
English: Bake
Igbo: síé
English: Serve
Igbo: nyé
English: Order
Igbo: ìwū
English: Wait
Igbo: chéré
English: Cancel
Igbo: kágbuo
English: Accept
Igbo: nábátá
English: Refuse
Igbo: jụ́
English: Invite
Igbo: kpọ́kúó
English: Join
Igbo: sōnyé
English: Leave
Igbo: hápụ́
English: Miss
Igbo: lághárá
English: Enjoy
Igbo: Mkporíndụ́
English: Relax
Igbo: Zūóíké
English: Improve
Igbo: Mézíwányé
English: Practice
Igbo: Ímé ìhē
English: Repeat
Igbo: Mmégħárị́
English: Correct
Igbo: Mézíé
English: Explain
Igbo: Kọ́wá
English: Compare
Igbo: Tụ́nyéré
English: Choose
Igbo: Họ́rọ́
English: Change
Igbo: Mgbánwé
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.
FAQ
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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.
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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.
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Yes. We’re actively working on making a physical workbook for the Basic Igbo Words study available in the near future.
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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.
This lesson introduces another set of 100 core Igbo vocabulary words every learner should know, carefully selected to build a strong foundation in everyday Igbo usage. The list contains a final set of 100 Descriptors & Connectors that appear frequently in daily speech. Each word includes clear pronunciation guides to support accurate speaking and listening, making this resource especially useful for beginners and modern learners seeking practical fluency.