Teach Your Children Igbo

(Emeka Oparah)--Please Teach Your Children the Names of Animals in Igbo Language (NA ASỤSỤ IGBO)

1) Goat = Ewu (Male = Mkpi, Female = Nne Ewu)

2) Fowl = Okuko (Male = Oke Ọkpa, Female = Nnekwu)

3) Guinea Fowl = Ọgazị

4) Chicken = Nwa Ọkụkọ

5) Turkey = Tolotolo/Torotoro

6) Duck = Obogwuma/Obuguma Obogwu/Obogu

7) Pigeon = Nduru/Nduli

8.) Ostrich = Enyi Nnunu

9) Antelope = Mgbada

10) Deer = Ele/Ene

11) Cow = Ehi/Efi

12) Horse = Ịnyịnya

13) Rat = Oke

14) Guinea Pig = Oke Bekee

15) Squirrel = Ọsa

16) Dog = Nkita

17) Hyena = Nkita Ọfia

18) Cat = Nwonogbo/Buusu/Nwamba

19) Sheep = Aturu/Atulu

20) Ram = Ebune/Ebule

21) Pig = Ezi

22) Lion = Ọdụm

23) Leopard = Agụ/owuru

24) Elephant = Enyi

25) Monkey = Enwe

26) Chimpanzee = Adaka

27) Gorilla = Ọzọdimgba (Ọzọ, the king of wrestling)

28) Snail = Eju/Ejune/Ejula

29) Snake = Agwo

30) Python = Eke

31) Lizard = Ngwele/Ngwere

32) Wall Gecko = Agu uno

33) Crocodile = Aguiyi

34) Toad = Awo

35) Frog = Mbala/Mbara/Nte/Akiri

36) Tortoise = Mbe/Nabe

37) Vulture = Udene/Udele

38) Eagle = Ugo

39) White Ant = Aruru

40) Black Ant = Agbisi

41) Mosquito = Añu Nta

42) Grasshopper = Ukpana

43) Kite = Nkwo

44) Spider = Ududo

45) Praying Mantis = Okongono

46) Earth Worm = Idide

47) Worm = Okpo

48) Scorpion = Akpi

49) Butterfly = Ilokolo Ibuba/Oruru Mbubara

50) Cockroach = Uchicha

51) House Fly = Ijiji

52) Cricket = Mbuzu/Abuzu/Mgbaja

53) Bed Bug = Chinchi/Ogii

54) Bee = Añu

55) Crab = Nchiko/Nshiko

56) Bat = Usu

57) Millipede = Esu

58) Centipede = Ogbakuluu

59) Rabbit = Ewi

60) Grasscutter = Nchi

61) Owl = Ikwikwi/Iyi Ochi

62) Wood Pecker = Otu Kpokpo

63) Chameleon = Ugwumagana/Ogwumagana

64) Fox = Nyanwuruede

65) Fish = Azu

66) African civet = Edi Ura (a nocturnal animal known to sleep all day during the day. Used to refer to anyone who sleeps a lot)

67) Wasp = Ebu (Isi kote ebu, O gbakasia nya aru. Wink)

68) Taylor Ant = Akpolide/Ido (Usually found on mango trees)

69) Porcupine = Ebi Ogwu

70) Shrew = Nkakwu/Nkapi (Mole-like rat that is known for its pungent smell.)

71) Eneke Nti Oba = Swallow (A type of bird that hardly perches on trees when in season to avoid being gunned down by human hunters)

72) Hawk = Egbe

73) Beetle = Mbuzu/Ebe

74) Periwinkle = Isam

75) Bush Fowl/Goose = Okwa

76) Stork = Okpoko

77) Boa Constrictor = Eke Ogba

78) Camel = Inyinya Ibu

79) Hippopotamus = Utobo/Akum

80) Iguana = Ngwele aghu

81) Tilapia = Azu asa

82) Eel = Ebi Iyi

83) Crayfish = Isha

84) Turtle = Mbe mmili

85) Egret = Chekeleke

86) Donkey = Jaki

87) Dragon Fly = Tatambeneke

88) Maggot = Ikpuru

89) Buffalo = Atu

90) Wolf = Agu Owulu

91) Sparrow = Nza

92) Parrot = Icheoku

93) Viper = Ajuani/Ajuala/Abuala/Abuana

94) Locusts = Igwulube/Igwurube

95) Galago/Bush baby = Ikili/Ikiri

96) Hog = Ezi Ofia

97) Bird = Nnunu (Generic name)

98) Gaboon Viper = Echi Eteka

99) Weaver bird = Egule

100) Cod fish = Okpoloko/Okporoko

Thank you so much Adimma Eugene Dibie for sharing. I've been making to put this together and share on this platform as a means of promoting the Igbo language.

My brother and friend, Alozie Aguwa, will find this interesting. When I met his kids in July in Texas, they wowed me with their Igbo language skills notwithstanding the fact that they were born and bred in the US. Ada speaks what I call "Queen's Igbo"! Proud of her.

Back home here, some children who live in Owerri, Enugu and Aba cannot speak Igbo. Most of those who live in Lagos are lost for good. And it's not as that they even speak perfect English. No! They waft from bad English to pigeon or broken English.

Yet, some of those parents who have abdicated their responsibility to their children would be first to call me Efulefu because they say I support Buhari and believe in One Nigeria. But they can't teach their children to speak their mother tongue! Ndi ara!

Lekwa nu anya, umunwoke na umunwanyi, children are like sponge; they soak in whatever you pour on them. They are capable of learning four or more languages at the same time. Language amplifies or accentuates identity. Teach your children Igbo. Ighotago? Start by abolishing English in the house. After all, they speak enough of that at school. Then, make time to not only converse with them in Igbo, but buy books to actually teach them.

The above names of animals is probably a good start. Even some adults, some grown ass efulefus, don't know them too. Atuora oma ya amara mana atuora ofeke, ya efenye isi n'ohia! Ighotago?

Gwazia ndi yard unu O!