Ebira phrasebook

Ebira (also known to their Yoruba-speaking neighbors as Egbura or Igbira ) is a divergent Nupoid language spoken in the North Central region of Nigeria. Native speakers can be found in Kogi state, Nassarawa state, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kwara state, Niger State, Benue state, Edo state and Ondo State. Ebira people refer to speakers of their common language as, "Anebira."

Pronunciation guide

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Vowels

A - |ah|

E - roughly like |ei|, with less emphasis on the |I| sound

Ẹ - |eh| as in egg

I - as in issue

O - as in ocean

Ọ - |aw|

U - |oo|

Consonants

B

CH

D

G

H

J

K

M

N

NGW

NYH

P

R

S

Ṣ - as in shower

T

V

W

Y

Z

Zh - pronounced as in garage

All consonants are otherwise pronounced as they are in English.

Fun fact: the double consonant "gb", which is common to other Niger-Congo languages in the area, including Yoruba, does not exist in Ebira language. For this reason, native Ebira speakers with Yoruba as a second language tend to pronounce 'b' instead of 'gb' unless they consciously avoid doing so.

Phrase list

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Basics

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How are you?: Etemeya?
I am fine: Ma dahi
Hello: Ngwao
Hope you are fine?: Wadahi OR Avu dahi?: How is work?: Akoro yo?: How is your father?: Inda u yo? OR Ada u yo?:: How is your mother?: Inyha u yo? OR Onyha u yo?: He/she/it is fine.: O dahi
Long time no see: Anyari Ekuhi Eta
What is your name?: Ireha awu ri?
I thank God: Ma ku Ohomorihi Avo
Come and Eat: Ve Varisa
Please: Arihini
How much is this?: Oya Osoni vi?
Wait for me: Je zimi
Welcome: Nyhasẹ (from a journey), Anyharusẹ (from a short outing)
Good morning: Anyhene
Good afternoon: Anyhaọọdu
Good evening: Anyhaoruva
Goodbye: Adijọ
Goodnight: Aduhuọ : Since morning: Hurenene

Problems

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Come back: Vave
Leave me alone: Navomi he: To give a beating: Nyha-isa: Move out of the way: : Huroze:

Numbers

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Time (Úmé)

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Clock time

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Duration

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Year: Irayi
Month: Uhwẹ
Week: Ọsẹ
Morning: Ẹnẹnẹ
Afternoon: Ọọdu
Evening: Oruva
Night: Irahu

Days

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Monday: Osi’nyhima
Tuesday: Asuvuri
Wednesday: Ihiovi
Thursday: Asipita
Friday: Opotu
Saturday: Uhuotu
Sunday: Amoto

Months

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a; January : Etudaiye

February: Oyioji
March: Iruwa
April: Ireba
May: Orenyhi
June: Ori
July: Ageva
August: Engw’ome
September: Opisa
October: Okoruwa
November: Ododo
December: Obaji

Colors (Achẹrẹ)

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Ọvwọọvu: White.
Ojooji: Black.
Ovivi: Red.
Odozeyiri: Yellow.
Ọrẹ̀: Purple.
Ivuru: Blue.
Ọnidaadu: Brown.
Angẹrẹ: Green.
Ọnatiti: Pink.
Ọnakọkọ: Orange.
Ọnatitọ: Ash.

Transportation

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Musical Instruments (Enya Isohu)

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Agidibo: Slit Drum
Use: Metal Gong
Eze/Anuva: Pot Drum
Okokoro: Local Flute
Ugogonyi: Talking Drum
Okanga: Mambrane Drum
Ikakanchi: Trumpet
Ahihya: Gourd Rattle
Uhwere: Whistle
Ijabana: Tension Drum
Ichekene: Rattle
Izenyi: Small Bells
Okokoro Oyivo: Flute
Opanyi: Horn
Ireha: Big Local Bells

Part of the body

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Family

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Father: Àdá
Mother: Onyi
Child: Ozi
Grandchild: A’azi

Food

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Pounded yam: Iya
Porridge Beans: Epete
Cassava/Yam Flour: Uka
Moi-Moi (steamed cake) from Water Yam: Ọve

Moi-Moi (steamed cake) from unpeeled beans: Àpápà
Maize: Àpáapà
Beans Soup: Epeza
Egg: Ajẹ
Meat: Uye
Fried bean cake: Akara
Garden Egg Soup: Ebatu Soup

Animal

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Fish: Ivovo
Chicken: Ahue
Snake: Ewu
Monkey: Anchere
Spider: Arahi
Lion: Udu
Ram: Ideba

Learning more

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This Ebira phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!