How to say hello in Igbo; and a host of other greetings Correctly

Are you wondering how to say hello in Igbo? Or maybe just how to say a few pleasantries in Igbo. Well, sit tight, in this article, we will be showing you how to say hello in Igbo. But we are not going to stop there, we will show you how to say a few greetings in Igbo language.

How to Say Hello in Igbo?

To say hello in Igbo, you should say “Ndeewo”.

But here’s is the thing, no one actual uses the word “Ndeewo” to say hello in Igbo again. What people actually say in Igbo is a bunch of other words that can go for hello.

If you use google translate to transcribe hello in Igbo, what you’d get is “Nnọọ”. “Nnọọ” in Igbo is actually welcome. It is used when you want to tell someone welcome when they just come back from somewhere.

For example, when your friend comes back home from work, what you say is “Nnọọ”. So sorry to say, but google got this one wrong.

Also Read: How to Start a POS Business in Nigeria (Step by Step)

So how exactly do you say hello in Igbo?

First of all, hello in Igbo is all based on context.

When you see someone and you want to say hello, you can say: “Kee kwanu”? “Kee kwanu” means “how are you doing” and can pass as hello.

You can also say, Kedụ? Kee ka ị mee? Olee otu i mere? Kedụ ka ọ dị? Kee kwanụ? Kedụ ka ị mere?

And they all mean how are you.

 How to say other greetings in Igbo

So like I said, Igbo language is very contextual and requires you to know what situation requires what greeting in Igbo.

Here are a bunch of other greetings in Igbo.

1. To say “Welcome” in Igbo, you should say “Nnọọ” or “Daalụ”
2. To say “How are you?” in Igbo, say “Kedụ?” or “Kee ka ị mee?” or “Olee otu i mere?” or “Kedụ ka ọ dị?” or  “Kee kwanụ?” or  “Kedụ ka ị mere?”

To reply, say: “Ọ di mụ mma” or “A di mụ mma”

3. To say “Long Time No See” in Igbo, say “Anya ịị” or “Anya gị” which literally means “your eye”.

To reply, say: “Anya n’ibe ya”

4. “What’s your name?” in Igbo means “Kedụ aha gị?” or “Kedụ afa gị?”
5. To say “Where are you from?” in Igbo, say “Onye ebee ka ị bụ?”
6. To say “My name is …” in Igbo, say “Aha m bụ …” or “Afa m bụ …”
7. To say “I’m from …” in Igbo, say “A bụ m onye …” or “E si m …”
8. To say “Pleased to meet you“, say, “Nnọọ or Daalụ.”
9. Good morning means “Ị bọọla chi” or “Ị saala chị” or “Ị pụtakwaa ọfụma” or “Ị larụkwaa ọfụma”
10. To say “Good afternoon” in Igbo, say “Ndeewo”. The same goes for good evening.

Here is a list of other important ways to greet in Igbo.

English	Igbo
Good night	Ka chi foo Ka ọ bọọ (reply)
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Ka ọmesịa Ka ọ dị (see you) Ya gazie Ka ọ dị echi (see you tomorrow)
Good luck!	Ya gaziere gị Nwee chi ọma
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)	Mma mma nụ!
Have a nice day	Ya gaziere gị taa (May it go well for you today)
Have a nice meal	Rie nke ọma Nri abịagọ Oriri adaa
Bon voyage / Have a good journey	Ijeọma
I understand	Aghọtara m Aghọtalụ m
I don’t understand	Aghọtaghị m Aghọtarọ m
I don’t know	Amaghị m Amarọ m
Please speak more slowly	Biko jịrị nwayọ kwuo okwu
Please say that again	Biko, kwuo ịhe ahụ ọzọ
Please write it down	Biko detuo ya
Do you speak English?	Ị na-asụ Bekee? Ị na-asụ oyibo?
Do you speak Igbo?	Ị na-asụ Igbo?
Yes, a little (reply to ‘Do you speak …?’)	Eee, a na m asụ obele Igbo Eee, a na m asụ ntakịrị Ịgbo
Speak to me in Igbo	Sụọrọ m Igbo Sụọlụ m ịgbo Gwam okwu n’Igbo
How do you say … in Igbo?	Kedụ ịfe ana akpọ … n’asụsụ Igbo? Kedụ ịhe ana akpọ … N’asụsụ Igbo? Kedụ ka e si ekwu … n’asụsụ ịgbo? Gịnị ka a na-akpọ … n’Igbo?
Excuse me	Biko chere (for attention) Biko, chetụ (for attention) Biko, iwe e wela gị (begging pardon) Biko, e wel iwe (begging pardon)
How much is this?	Ego ole ka ihe a bụ? Egọ one ka ịfe a bụ? Ihe a ọ bụ ego ole?
Sorry	Ndo Gbaghara m (Forgive me) Gbaghalụ m (Forgive me)
Please	Biko
Thank you	Ị meela Daalụ
Reply to thank you	Nsogbu adịghịị Nsogbu adịrọọ (No worries)
Where’s the toilet / bathroom?	Ebee ka ụlọ mposi dị?
This gentleman will pay for everything	Ezi Nwoke a ga-akwụ ụgwọ ịhe niile
This lady will pay for everything	Ezi nwanyị a ga-akwụ ụgwọ ịhe niile
Would you like to dance with me?	Ị chọrọ ka mụ na gị gbaa egwu?
I miss you	Obi gị na-eme m
I love you	A hụrụ m gị n’anya A fụlụ m gị n’anya
Get well soon	Ndo Ayakwana Gbakee ngwa ngwa
Go away!	Pụọ ebe a! Si ebe a pụọ! Si m n’iru pụọ!
Leave me alone!	Hapụ m aka! Rapụ m aka! Haa m aka!
Help!	Nyere m aka! A chọrọ m enyemaka! Nyelụ m aka!
Fire!	Ọkụ! Ọkụ na-agba!
Stop!	Kwụsi!
Call the police!	Kpọọ ndị uwe ojii!
Christmas greetings	Ekene Ekeresimesi
New Year greetings	Ekene afọ ọhụụ Ekene arọ ọfụụ
Easter greetings	Ekene mbilite ọnwụ Kristi
Birthday greetings	Ekene ncheta ọmụmụ
Congratulations!	Nnọọ nụ! Chukwu alụka! Ị nwaka! (you’ve done well) Unu anwaka! (you (plural) have done well)
One language is never enough	Otu asụsụ anaghị ezu  Ofu asụsụ anarọ ezu
My hovercraft is full of eels	Azụ juputara na hovercraft m Azụ juputara n’ụgbọ ikuku m

I hope I have been able to show you how to say hello in Igbo and other greetings. Please leave us a comment below.

Reference

https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/igbo.php