Language/Igbo/Grammar/Adjectives

Igbo Grammar - Adjectives

Hi Igbo learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on adjectives in Igbo.

What are adjectives?

Adjectives are words that modify or describe other words. In Igbo language, adjectives are used to describe the noun they are in agreement with. This means that adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in terms of gender, number, and class.

Gender and Adjectives

In Igbo, there are two genders: masculine and feminine. To describe a masculine noun, you will use adjectives in the masculine form, and vice versa.

Examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
nwoke	/nwóké/	man
wulu	/wùlù/	book
nke	/ǹké/	of, for
nwoke nke wulu	/nwóké nkè wùlù/	the man of the book

In the example above, the adjective "nke" which means "of" always agrees with the noun in gender and number.

To describe a feminine noun, you will use adjectives in the feminine form.

Examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
nwanyị	/nwànyị̀/	woman
akwụkwọ	/àkwȕkwɔ̀/	chair
nwa	/nwà/	of, for
nwanyị nwa akwụkwọ	/nwànyị̀ nwà àkwȕkwɔ̀/	the woman of the chair

Number and Adjectives

In Igbo, nouns can be singular or plural, and adjectives will agree with them in number.

Examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
ọnụ	/ǒnụ́/	eye
obi	/óbị̣/	heart
ana	/ànà/	two
ọnụ abụọ	/ǒnụ́ abụ́ɔ̀/	two eyes

In the example above, the adjective "ana" which means "two" always agrees with the noun in number.

Class and Adjectives

In Igbo, there are over 20 noun classes, and adjectives will agree with the noun they describe in class.

Examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
ụwa	/ǔwà/	world
oké	/òké/	hill
nke	/ǹké/	of, for
ụwa nke oké	/ǔwà nkè òké/	the world of the hill

In the example above, the adjective "nke" which means "of" agrees with the noun class.

Comparison of Adjectives

In Igbo, adjectives can be compared using the following words:

• Mkpụrụ: which means "more"
• Lọọ: which means "less"
• Kwụ̀sị: which means "as...as"

Examples:

Igbo	Pronunciation	English
ọma	/ǒmá/	beautiful
mkpụrụ ọma	/mkpụ̀rụ́ ǒmà/	more beautiful
lọọ ọma	/lọọ́ ǒmà/	less beautiful
ọma kwụ̀sị mbọ	/ǒmà kwụ̀sị̀ mbọ̀/	as beautiful as a flower

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue between Ada and Chidi:

• Ada: Kedu ka ịnọna ụmụaka anyị? (/kédu ka ìnọ̄na ụmúáka anyị̄/)
  Translation: How are our little boys?
• Chidi: Daberechi dịghị ọchị. (/dàbȇrèchì dìɣì ǫchì/)
  Translation: Daberechi is not small.
• Ada: Ị bụ kacha mma. (/ị̄ bú káchà mmá/)
  Translation: You are very correct.

Practice

Use the following adjectives to form simple sentences in Igbo:

1. Large 2. Small 3. Old 4. New 5. Good 6. Bad 7. Happy 8. Sad

Conclusion

In this lesson, we've learned about adjectives in Igbo language. Remember that adjectives must always agree with the noun they describe in terms of gender, number, and class. To improve your Igbo Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions to further your understanding of adjectives in Igbo. Also, feel free to check out the Grammar page on the Igbo page for more resources.

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➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Related Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Questions
• Give your Opinion
• Negation
• Pronouns
• Future Tense
• Plurals
• How to Use Be
• How to Use Have

Sources

• Igbo Grammar - Igboguide.org
• Adjectives in Igbo Language – Ezinaụlọ
• Igbo language - Wikipedia