Tèẹ̀ -English

̣ Dictionary

Tabtàb Tèẹ̀ ̣ Turé Bu Bekéè

by

Elder Wilson Kpàkpàn Nwí-Bàrì

Retired Inspector of Education
Ministry of Education
Port Harcourt

ONYOMA RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Port Harcourt

P.O. Box 125, Uniport, Choba, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
P.O. Box 126, Nembe, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

© Wilson Kpakpan Nwi-Bari, 2001

First published 2002

ISBN 978-35075-7-5

Printed by ISCOM, Port Harcourt

Tel: 084-571103
 Dedication

Dedicated to my late father

Chief Nwí-Bàrì Mgbárà

of Nónwà, Tèẹ̀ ̣, TALGA
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version

Foreword
This dictionary is, to the best of my knowledge, the first published book on Tèẹ̀ ̣ (Tai), which has previously
been treated as a dialect of Kana. As linguists, we know there is no rigid dividing line between a dialect and
a language; we try to describe all speech-forms which are of interest in so far as they differ from others. In
spite of its closeness to Kana, Tèẹ̀ ̣ has a number of sounds which are not found in Kana, and which are
represented in this dictionary as hl, hn, hw, hy and (in at least one word) as hm. These stand for sounds
which are quite rare in the languages of the world and, in the case of hl, hn, and hm, are not found in any
neighbouring language.

The author deserves praise for his careful collection of the words of Tèẹ̀ ̣, which he has written systematically
and with correct tone-marking. He carried on this work at home on his own initiative, and it should be a
great help both to those who speak Tèẹ̀ ̣ and to those non-speakers who wish to know more about it.

Kay Williamson (†)

University of Port Harcourt
12 November 1994

Note on the Web version

The Tẹẹ dictionary was finally published in 2002, many years after the ms. was completed. Sold locally in
Nigeria, it has perhaps not reached the international audience it deserves. After the death of Kay Williamson
in January 2005, I began the web publication of her electronic files. The original font was IPA Kiel, which
was quite difficult to read at times, so I have converted the entire document to Times New Roman Unicode,
as well as increasing spacing and other features to increase legibility. I trust those interested in Cross River
languages will find it useful. A few new lexical items have been added, particularly mammal names
collected by Bruce Powell, and some comparative words cited in the thesis on comparative Keggoid
[=Ogoni] by Suanu Ikoro dating from 1989.

Roger Blench
Cambridge
26 May 2008

i
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version

Acknowledgements

My gratitude goes to:

Professor Kay Williamson (†), University of Port Harcourt for her untiring efforts in contributing
towards the successful accomplishment and publication of this book;

Professor Peter Ladefoged, Department of Linguistics, University of California, Los Angeles

(UCLA), for his verification of the pronunciation of some Tèẹ̀ ̣ words, and for recognising and upgrading Tèẹ̀ ̣
as one of the languages susceptible of development;

Elder Mrs Enid W. K. Nwi-Bari, my wife, for her moral support;

Dr N.A. Ndegwe, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, for his interest and
encouragement shown;

Professor E. J. Alagoa, University of Port Harcourt, for his help in publishing the book.

ii
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
INSERT MAP

Introduction
The main purpose of this book is to make Tèẹ̀ ̣ legible and understandable to both the Tèẹ̀ ̣ indigenes
and foreigners and for the application of its knowledge to practical tasks in industry. It also makes certain
English words intelligible to English students. This book precedes A vocabulary of primary science of
nature and mathematics.
Tèẹ̀ ̣ is a language spoken by a particular group of people inhabiting the Tèẹ̀ ̣ Local Government Area
(TALGA) in Rivers State, to the north of Gokana Local Government Area, east of Eleme Local Government
Area, west of Bori Local Government Area and south of the River Imo. It belongs to the Kegboid (Ogoni)
group of languages.

1. ALPHABET
Tèẹ̀ ̣ possesses 38 letters, some of which are quite distinct from those used by the surrounding
languages, e.g. hl, hn, hy, and hw, which takes the place of f used by others. For example, the word fá is
written and pronounced hwá in Tèẹ̀ ̣ meaning ‘intestine’; fáà is pronounced hwáà in Tèẹ̀ ̣ meaning ‘canoe,
ship, vehicle’. The following are Capital Letters, Gbène Àhyúúkpá, followed by the Small Letters,
Ḿgbárà Áhyúúkpá.

1.1. Gbène Áhyúúkpá

’ A Ã B D
E Ẹ Ẽ G H
I Ĩ K L M
N O Ọ Õ P
R S T U Ũ
W Y Z

GB GW HL HN HW
HY KP KW NW NY
(38 Letters)

1.2. Ḿgbárà áhyúúkpá

’ a ã b d
e ẹ ẽ g h
i ĩ k l m
n o ọ õ p
r s t u ũ
w y z

gb gw hl hn hw
hy kp kw nw ny

iii
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version

2. VOWELS

Tèẹ̀ ̣ possesses 7 oral vowels and 5 nasal vowels. The oral vowels are a e ẹ i o ọ u, while the nasal
vowels are ã ẽ ĩ õ ũ (12 vowels).

2.1. ORAL VOWELS: These are the vowels pronounced through the mouth only.

2.2. NASAL VOWELS: These are the vowels pronounced through the nose as well as the mouth: ã ẽ ĩ
õ ũ. The sign of nasality is the tilde, indicated as ( ˜ ). The vowels ẽ õ sound like ẽ ̣ õ ̣, but to simplify the
writing we leave off the dots. For economy in writing, we mark only the first of a sequence of nasal
vowels: kõ̀ ò ‘fowl; chicken’. When nasal vowels occur next to a nasal consonant, we leave off the tilde ( ˜
): thus mee ‘neck’ is pronounced as if it was mẽẹ̃.̣ These rules simplify the reading and writing of the nasal
vowels.

3. CONSONANTS

Consonants are the letters sounding together with the vowels to give word sounds. For example
consonant b sounds together with the vowel á to give the word bá ‘hand’; kp + á, kpá ‘book’.

Tèẹ̀ ̣ possesses 16 single consonants and 10 double consonants (26 consonants).

3.1 SINGLE CONSONANTS: These are the single individual letters that sound together with the
vowels to give word sounds. They are ’ b d g h k l m n p r s t w y z.

3.2 DIGRAPHS OR DOUBLE CONSONANTS: Digraphs are those double letters that sound
together as one, combining with the vowels to give the word sound. They are gb gw hl hn hw hy kp kw nw
ny. The examples are kp + á, kpá ‘book’; gb+à gbà ‘swing, pendulum, sway’.

4. VOWELS AND TONE

4.1 VOWELS: A vowel, as already taught, is an open sound uttered in speaking, each sound capable of
forming a unit of pronunciation (syllable) with a consonant. The word is derived from the Latin vox ‘voice’.
In Tèẹ̀ ̣ some words appear to consist only of vowels, such as àà ‘leave, depart, go away’; õ ‘drink’;
u ‘die’. In pronunciation, however, such words begin with a glottal stop. The glottal stop is not written at
the beginning of words, but only in the middle: a’àà ‘departure, going away’. It is treated as the first letter
of the alphabet.

iv
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
4.2 TONE: This is the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice in speaking. It is indicated by tone
markings and comprises high tone, mid tone and low tone. High tone is represented by the sign (ˊ) (forward
sloping) as bá ‘hand’, kpá ‘book’, ló ‘salt’. Mid tone is represented by no sign as ba ‘yam porridge’, while
low tone is represented by ( ˋ ) (backward sloping) as bà ‘eat fish or meat’. Tones are alphabetized in the
order low, mid, high, after all the letters have been alphabetical order. Nouns derived from verbs often have
a higher tone than the verb; thus the noun frequently follows the verb on which it is based.

4.3. HOMONYMS: These are words which differ in meaning but are similar in form. There are many
homonyms in Tèẹ̀ ̣: e.g. tṍ ‘ear’ and tṍ ‘ashes’. To distinguish them in the dictionary, we use small figures:
tṍ1 ‘ear’ and tṍ2 ‘ashes’.

5. ABBREVIATIONS

5.1 Parts Of Speech

The parts of speech in the dictionary are written in abbreviated form, thus:

adj. adjective Describes a noun.

adv. adverb Modifies a verb phrase.
aux. auxiliary Helps a main verb.
conj. conjunction Joins phrases or clauses.
dem. demonstrative Indicates nearness or distance.
id. ideophone Describes with sound symbolism.
interj. interjection An exclamation.
interrog. interrogative A question word.
n. noun Names a concrete or abstract entity.
n.phr. noun phrase Functions as subject, object, complement, etc.
num. numeral Indicates a cardinal or ordinal number.
pred.adj. predicative adjective Acts as complement after copula verb lu.
prep. preposition Introduces noun phrase acting as complement or
adverbial phrase.
pron. pronoun Refers to a previous noun phrase.
quant. quantifier Indicates quantity.
v.adj. verb adjectival Verb translating an English adjective.
v.cs. verb causative Derived verb indicating agent of action.
v.i. verb intransitive Verb without object.
v.p. verb passive Verb whose subject is not agent of action.
v.phr. verb phrase Verb + object or serial verb construction.
v.refl. verb reflexive Verb whose subject affects itself.
v.t. verb transitive Verb with object.

v
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
5.2 Other Abbreviations

Other grammatical terms are:

abs. abstract
cog.obj. cognate object
emph. pron. emphatic pronoun
fig. figurative
int. intensity
obj. object
pers. person
pl. plural
pred. predicative
refl. pron. reflexive pronoun
sing. singular
subj. subject
v.n. verbal noun (treated under the verb)

6. Alphabetization

1. Words are alphabetized according to their letters before any diacritics are taken into account:
té1 n. tree
té2 n. seat; chair; table
tè ̣ n. father
tẹb v.adj. be shaky, not firm
téḅ id. describes cutting with very sharp knife
tèba v.i. struggle
téba n. struggle

2. Hyphens are ignored in alphabetization:

ákpóbá-nòo n. bone of the upper arm; humerus
ákpóbee n. catfish
ákpó-beèdṹ n. knee-cap; knee-pan; patella

3. The glottal stop (’) is treated as the first letter of the alphabet:
a’a! interj. What! (indicates surprise and serious thoughts)
a’àga adj. hard; strong; difficult
1
àà v.i. leave; depart; go away

vi
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
4. Subdotted letters (ẹ, ọ) are treated after plain ones (e, o) and before letters with the tilde (showing
nasalization):
bo1 v.t. heal
bo2 n. deformity
bó ̣ v.i. be fit
bõ̀ v.i. bleat like sheep or goat

5. Tones are treated after subdots and the tilde, and alphabetized in the order low, mid, high:
tò n. load, burden
to v.i. weep
tó n. weeping
tò1̣ v.t. mix with water to make soft
2
tò ̣ v.t. spoil; damage, destroy
1
tọ n. house
2
tọ n. foot
tõ1 v.t. decant, pour wine gradually from a decanter
2
tõ v. select good from evil and do it
3
tõ v.t. weld
4
tõ v.t. order; give an order
tṍ1 n. ear
2
tṍ n. ashes

vii
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
A
-a [a] dem. this: lo wáa this woman
à [ʔà] pron. he/she; À ére ̣ zó ̣ He/she has wealth; (tone becomes high in the future) Á érẹ
̣ zó ̣ He/she will
have wealth.
a’a! [ʔaʔa] interj. What! (indicates surprise and serious thoughts)
a’àga [ʔaʔàga] adj. hard; strong; difficult: À lú a’àga It is hard.
àà [ʔàà] v.i. leave; depart; go away: v.n. a’àà leaving; departure; going away
àà [ʔàà] n. appearance; likeness; image (=mèà)
àa [ʔàa] v.t. arrest; catch; seize; take by force; àa bá ló hold (with hand): v.n. a’áá arresting, etc.
áá [ʔáá] n. arrest
ã̀ ๠[ʔãã ̀ ̀ ] v.i. be strong, able to support a heavier object or condition; bear
ã̀ ಠ[ʔãã ̀ ̀ ] adv. away: Sú kpìgì ã̀ à Go away with the money.
ã̀ á? [ʔã̀ ã́ ] interj. Is it true? (an indication of surprise)
ã́ a¹ [ʔã́ ã] n. mark: Yèrè ãá lo Put a mark on it.
ã́ a² [ʔã́ ã] n. tack; small flat-headed nail of iron, copper, etc.
ã́ a³ [ʔã́ ã] n. long stitches as temporary fastening in needlework; tacking
ã́ á [ʔãã ́ ́ ] adj. new
́Ãábunwe [ʔãã ́ ́ bũŋwɛ]̃ n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
aagá [ʔaagá] v.refl. redeem oneself: Aagá Redeem yourself.
ààra [ʔààra] n. administration
aará [ʔaará] v.t. hold; keep; rule; administer: v.n. a’áárá holding; keeping; ruling; administering
áàràbàrà [ʔáàràbàrà] n. farm management; agronomy (coinage)
ààrabe [ʔààrabe] n. home management; home economics (coinage)
ã́ á’uwè [ʔãã ́ ́ ʔuwè] n. news
ab๠[ʔabà] pron. (3rd pers. pl. subj.) they
abಠ[ʔabà] n. piece of yam; sheet of paper or cloth; abà-dem piece of rock; abà-hyáà slice of yam (=abà-
zĩ́ ã́ ); abà-kẽẽ̀̀ piece of cloth; abà-làlà iron sheet; abà-zĩ́á slice of yam
ábá¹ [ʔábá] n. tuber of yam
ábá² [ʔábá] adj. only: ábá zì nee only one person: ábá àbà they alone: ábá bòọ̀ ̣ only you: Bò beè dòò
adàmaló ábá bòọ̀ ̣ You alone did yourselves harm: ábá èẹ̀ ̣ himself, herself alone: ábá ii ourselves alone:
ábá m̀ myself alone: ábá òọ̀ ̣ yourself alone
abaa [ʔabaa] n. direction; abaa-anàànì-lọò ̣le east (coinage); abaa-anàànì-uùne west (coinage)
abaàmáá [ʔabãã̀ mãã ́ ́ ] n. drainage channel
abàsĩ́¹ [ʔabàsĩ́] n. half of one whole thing; part of
abàsĩ́² [ʔabàsĩ́] n. area (=bárá)
abàté [ʔabàté] n. plank
abè [ʔabè] n. abscess
ábéé [ʔábéé] n. lies
abèm$ [ʔabɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] n. rottenness
abè ̣ [ʔabɛ̀] n. sputum
abẽe [ʔabɛε̃ ] (=abii) n. need
abò [ʔabò] n. soft-stemmed shrub of the group of alligator pepper or ginger, the pulp of the fruit being
edible
abùdèléè ̣ ̣ ̣ [ʔabùdɛ̀lέɛ̀] n. lily
abùè [ʔabùè] n. plantain or banana (general term) (Musa spp. MUSACEAE)
abùèdè ̣ [ʔabùèdɛ̀] n. banana (Musa spp.)

1
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
abunùkpã́ [ʔabũnũ̀ kpã́ ] n. small kind of caterpillar that stings in its larval stage
adà [ʔadà] n. standard
adàm̀ [ʔadã̀ m̀ ] n. male (of animals): adàm gbèrè male lizard
àdè [ʔàdè] conj. or
ádéḿ [ʔádɛ́ m ̃ ́ ] n. tongue
adè ̣ [ʔadɛ̀] n. stomach
ado¹ [ʔado] n. measurement
ado² [ʔado] n. attempt; trial
adòo [ʔadòo] adj. male (applied to animals): adòo kõ̀ ò cock: adòo nám̀ bull
adùu [ʔadùu] n. bird species which cries duu-dú-duu-duu-duu to foretell nightfall and daybreak
ága [ʔága] aux. (negative) should not (used without a pronoun in 3rd pers. sing.): Ága dòò He/She should
not, shouldn’t do it : Bà ága dòò They should not do it.: (assimilated to vowel of 2nd pers. sg. & pl.) Óga
dòò Don’t do it (sg.): Bò óga dòò Don’t do it (pl.).
agã̀ ¹ [ʔagã̀ ] n. needle
agã̀ ² [ʔagã̀ ] n. freshwater crab
agã̀ ³ [ʔagã̀ ] n. cane type used for rope for climbing oil palm trees and for other crafts
agã [ʔagã] n. edge
ágã́ [ʔágã́ ] n. mouth
ã̀ gã [ʔã̀ gã] v.i. be choked up; be over-crowded: Bà ãgã́ bu They are crowded inside.
agãburè [ʔagãburè] n. scorpion
agã̀ léḅ [ʔagã̀ lέb] n. shoulder (=beèléb, ̣ gàgànà)
ã̀ gànà [ʔã̀ gã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. penetrate by opening the way; tear, as hawk tears its prey; make oneself free with
effort from surrounding pressure or oppression
aganí [ʔagãnĩ́] n. leak; leakage: Ká aganí Close the leak; (fig.) Ka yé aganí ló Isolate him; À ká aganí ló
ye He isolates himself.
àgàra [ʔàgàra] n. answer; reply; (coinage) redemption
àgárá¹ [ʔàgárá] v.t. answer; reply to; redeem
àgárá² [ʔàgárá] v.t. sharpen one matchet against another
àgàrẹ [ʔàgàrε] v.cs. make strong: Àgàrẹ bá Make it strong (as in tying); also kwá àgàrẹ make strong
agbà [ʔagbà] n. fence
agbe [ʔagbe] n. thickness
ágbé [ʔágbé] n. box
ágbé ̣ [ʔágbέ] n. dishonour; disrespect; disregard; contempt
agbi [ʔagbi] n. plant species producing pods
agbò [ʔagbò] n. age group
agbo [ʔagbo] adj. leaking; broken
ágbọ [ʔágbɔ] n. shield
ágbṍ-dẽ́ e [ʔágbɔ́ ̃-dɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ adj. not plentiful
agbònyúgṹ [ʔagbòɲṹgṹ] n. children
agboro [ʔagboro] n. shellfish like snail found in salt water
agbuùb [ʔagbuùb] n. owl (STRIGIDAE)
ágéb [ʔágéb] n. pimple
agèẹ̀ ̣ [ʔagɛɛ̀̀] n. sceptre; staff borne as symbol of personal sovereignty; royal or imperial authority
(=kpó ̣ró ̣, túḿ-méné)
agẽhínyá [ʔagɛh̃ ĩ́ɲã́ ] n. coal of fire
ágéré [ʔágéré] adj. young (of person): ágéré nee young person
2
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
àgi [ʔàgi] v.i. walk like an old person
ágíní [ʔágĩ́nĩ́] n. charcoal; carbon (tech.)
ágíní-bèẹ̀ -tób-pyùgù
̣ [ʔágĩ́nĩ́-bɛɛ̀̀-tób-pjùgù] n. carbon dioxide (CO²) (coinage)
agírí [ʔagírí] v.t. rumple
ago [ʔago] n. butterfly
agwaàni [ʔagwãã̀ nĩ] adj. pred. (of taste) not quite bitter; (of colour) not quite (green, red, etc.)
ágyéẹ̀ ḅ [ʔágjέɛ̀b] n. Buff-throated Sunbird with dark brown body and white throat (Nectarinia adelberti
NECTARINIIDAE)
ahmèè [ʔahmɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. lymph-glands; lymph-nodes; glands in the groins and the neck that secrete the white
corpuscles that fight against the poison injected by insects
ahwã̀ [ʔaʍã̀ ] n. honour; respect; regard
ahwèe [ʔaʍèe] adv. prematurely; À beè ú ahwèe He died prematurely; adj. premature: ahwèe hlu
premature death
ahwẽe [ʔaʍɛɛ̃]̃ adj. soft and smooth like silk
áhwẽ́ é [ʔáʍɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. mosquito
áhwéré ̣ hwé
̣ ̣ [ʔáʍέrέʍέ] n. woven rope
ahwo [ʔaʍo] n. cotton
áhwó ̣b [ʔáʍɔ́b] n. wind
ahwùlò ̣ [ʔaʍùlɔ̀] adj. missed (in shooting): Lo nwínam beè lú ahwùlò ̣ The bird was missed.
ahwùtṍ [ʔaʍùtɔ́ ]̃ adj., adv. faintly heard
áhya’ọọ [ʔáɕáʔɔɔ] n. mushroom
ahyarí [ʔaɕarí] adj. burnt (of food): ahyarí zíã́ burnt yam; ahyarí póro burnt fish
ahyèèga [ʔaɕèèga] adj. open: ahyèèga bũ open door
áhyéẹ́ ̣ [ʔáɕέέ] n. vision: neè-áhyéẹ́ ̣ “visionist”; someone who sees visions
ahyima¹ [ʔaɕĩmã] n. sourness
ahyima² [ʔaɕĩmã] adj. sour
ahyimá¹ [ʔaɕĩmã́ ] n. calm(ness)
ahyimá² [ʔaɕĩmã́ ] adj. calm
ahyò ̣aʔòò [ʔaɕɔ̀aʔòò] n. greediness
ahyòọ̀ ̣ga [ʔaɕɔɔ ̀ ̀ ga] n. anything that drops off when over-ripe, as palmfruits that drop from the bunch, also
ahyòọ̀ ̣ga zóo: ye ahyòọ̀ ̣ga the fruits (etc.) that have dropped off; (fig.) something that fails to happen as
expected
ahyòòrì [ʔaɕòòrì] n. flower
ahyọò ̣ri [ʔaɕɔɔ̀ri] adj. slippery; smooth: ahyọò ̣ri kẽ slippery ground; À lú áhyọò ̣ri It is smooth/not rough.
áhyó ̣ọrí [ʔáɕɔ́ɔrí] n. plant species, the dry leaf of which is used as sandpaper
ahyòrì [ʔaɕòrì] n. tendril of the fluted pumpkin
áhyúú [ʔáɕúú] n. seed; also áhyúúté
áhyúu-náa [ʔáɕúu-nã́ ã] n. bullet
áhyúú-yírà [ʔáɕúú-jírà] n. anther (of flower) (coinage)
áká [ʔáká] n. mullet
akaà [ʔakaà] n. crab
akáḿ [ʔakã́ ḿ ] n. insects
àkàrà [ʔàkàrà] n. bean-cake; bean-ball
akàtẽ́ [ʔakàtɛ́ ]̃ n. bottom; foundation: akàtẽ́ hwéẹ́ ré ̣ ló
̣ foundation of peace; Jerusalem
ákátọ [ʔákátɔ] n. foot
akè ̣ [ʔakɛ̀] n. age group (=akù)
3
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
akẽ́ a [ʔakɛ́ ã̃ ] adv. (of place) here (=awo): Lú akẽ́ a Come here. (=kẽ́ a)
akẹẹ [ʔakεε] n. alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta K.Schum. ZINGIBERACEAE)
akẽ̀ è [ʔakɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. hoop
ákéẹ́ bạ́ [ʔákέέbá] n. wrist
ákéẹ́ tọ
̣ [ʔákέέtɔ] n. ankle
ákékéé
̣ ̣ ̣ [ʔákέkέέ] n. wedge, to tighten drum or split wood
akení [ʔakɛñ ĩ́] adv. (of place) there; Si (a)kení Go there.
ákéré [ʔákéré] n. “tomtom”; wooden slit-gong
akò [ʔakò] n. a game played with shells; game of football
ákó [ʔákó] n. shell
akò ̣ [ʔakɔ̀] n. cockroach
akòb [ʔakòb] n. flat saltwater fish with sandy back
ákó ̣b [ʔákɔ́b] n. broken calabash
ákóbee [ʔákóbee] n. head
akọdo [ʔakɔdo] n. saltwater fish species
ákókẽ¹ [ʔákókɛ]̃ n. empty place
ákókẽ² [ʔákókɛ]̃ n. rubbish; refuse (=ákpéẹ́ kẽ, ̣ ákpákẽ)
ákólóó¹ [ʔákólóó] n. nakedness
ákólóó² [ʔákólóó] adj. naked; unadulterated; unmixed
akoo [ʔakoo] n. spirit; shade; shadow: Akoò-Átṍ Holy Spirit
ákóó [ʔákóó] n. cockle (Senilia senilis Linn. ARCIDAE)
ákóọ̀ ̣bté [ʔákɔ́ɔ̀bté] n. woodpecker (PICIDAE)
akoòtáḿ [ʔakoòtã́ ḿ ] n. angel
akoòtó ̣ọ [ʔakoòtɔ́ɔ] (=akùtó ̣ọ) n. shade
ákóọ̀ ̣rè [ʔákɔ́ɔ̀rè] n. crab with black back
akpà [ʔakpà] n. cover for vessels, especially bottle
ákpá [ʔákpá] (=kpá) n. skin; outer covering
ákpá-ádó [ʔákpa-ádó] n. (different) countries
akpabee [ʔakpabee] n. head-cover; hat
ákpábũ [ʔákpábũ] n. hinge(s)
akpà-deè-ọọgẹ [ʔakpà-deè-ɔɔgε] n. epiglottis (coinage)
akpògo’òò [ʔakpògoʔòò] n. Adam’s apple; larynx (coinage)
akpàhínyá [ʔakpàhĩ́ɲã́ ] n. matchbox; match
ákpákẽ [ʔákpákɛ]̃ n. rubbish
ákpákìrà [ʔákpákìrà] n. maize; corn [Zea mays Linn. GRAMINEAE)
ákpákìrà-gínì [ʔákpákìrà-gĩ́nĩ̀] n. guinea-corn; sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (Linn.) Moench. GRAMINEAE)
(coinage)
ákpákìrà-kpèẹ̀ ̣ [ʔákpákìrà-kpɛɛ̀̀] n. elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach. GRAMINEAE)
ákpáló [ʔákpáló] n. outer body or skin
ákpásĩ́ [ʔákpásĩ́] n. appearance; physiognomy
ákpáté [ʔákpáté] n. bark of a tree; fungi that feed on it; saprophyte, some of which are edible and are
cultured in sawdust, etc.
ákpázĩ́á [ʔákpázĩ́á] n. yam peelings
akpã̀ [ʔakpã̀ ] n. guinea-pig
akpã [ʔakpã] n. cane type used for handicrafts; the plant from which the cane is obtained
ákpéè [ʔákpéè] n. sweetness
4
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
akpèẹ-ákáḿ
̣ [ʔakpɛ̀ε-ákã́ ḿ ] n. caterpillar
ákpéẹ́ kẽ ̣ [ʔákpέέkɛ]̃ n. rubbish; refuse (=ákókẽ))̣
ákpéènuló [ʔákpéènũló] n. sweet smell
akpèẹpéé
̣ [ʔakpɛ̀εpéé] n. he-goat
ákpékpéé ̣ ̣ ̣ [ʔákpέkpέέ] n. beater used for beating mud floor hard
ákpítọ [ʔákpítɔ] n. broom (=asã̀ )
akpò [ʔakpò] n. piece of meat or fish
akpo [ʔakpo] n. pounded yam or cassava; lump for swallowing
ákpó [ʔákpó] n. bone; (fig.) power; energy; force; political ascendancy
ákpó-aà-tẹẹ-yìè [ʔákpó-aà-tεε-jìè] n. centrifugal force (coinage)
ákpó-ábá-bèẹ [ʔákpó-ábá-bɛɛ̀̀] n. autocracy; absolute rule (coinage)
ákpó-agã̀ léḅ [ʔákpó-agã̀ lέb] n. shoulder-blade; scapula (tech.)
ákpó-ákábá [ʔákpó-ákábá] n. any of the bones of the hand; metacar-pus (tech.)
ákpó-ákátọ [ʔákpó-ákátɔ] n. any of the bones of the foot; metatarsus (tech.)
ákpó-ákéẹ́ bá ̣ [ʔákpó-ákέέbá] n. wrist-bone (coinage)
ákpó-ákéẹ́ tọ ̣ [ʔákpó-ákέέtɔ] n. ankle-bone (coinage)
ákpóbá [ʔákpóbá] n. arm (=léb) ̣
ákpó-báná-nyíẽ [ʔákpó-bã́ nã́ -ɲĩ́ɛ]̃ n. breast-bone; sternum (tech.)
ákpóbá-nòo [ʔákpóbá-nɔ̀ ɔ̃ ]̃ n. bone of the upper arm; humerus (tech.)
ákpóbee [ʔákpóbee] n. catfish
ákpó-beèdṹ [ʔákpó-beèdṹ] n. knee-cap; knee-pan; patella (tech.)
ákpó-bùbùì [ʔákpó-bùbùì] n. thigh-bone; femur (tech.)
ákpó-dònà [ʔákpó-dɔ̀ ̃nã̀ ] n. force of gravity (coinage)
ákpó-dùme [ʔákpó-dũ̀ mɛ]̃ n. backbone; lumbar vertebrae (tech.)
ákpó-gáátẽ́ [ʔákpó-gáátɛ́ ]̃ n. the uppermost of the three sections of the hip-bone; ilium (tech.)
ákpó-hwííbá [ʔákpó-ʍííbá] n. finger-bones; phalanges (tech.)
ákpó-hwíítọ [ʔákpó-ʍíítɔ] n. bones of the toes; phalanges (tech.)
ákpó-karáàlè [ʔákpó-karáàlè] n. collar-bone; clavicle (tech.)
ákpó-kikìì-tẹẹ-nyíe [ʔákpó-kikìì-tεε-ɲĩ́ɛ]̃ n. centripetal force (coinage)
ákpó-kóo [ʔákpó-kóo] n. ribs
ákpókpé [ʔákpókpé] n. iron rod; iron pipe
ákpó-kpénẽ́ kẽ [ʔákpó-kpɛ́ ñ ɛ́ k̃ ɛ]̃ n. leg-bone; gbène ákpó-kpénẽ́ kẽ shinbone; tibia; ḿgbárà ákpó-
kpénẽ́ kẽ fibula (tech.)
ákpó-kúrútẽ́ [ʔákpó-kúrútɛ́ ]̃ n. the lowest fused vertebrae; sacral vertebrae (tech.)
ákpó-kyonò [ʔákpó-kjɔ̃nɔ̀ ]̃ n. kidney(s)
ákpómèe [ʔákpómɛ̀ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. backbone
ákpómee [ʔákpómɛɛ̃]̃ n. neck-bone; cervical vertebra (tech.)
akpòté [ʔakpòté] n. seat
akpòté-méné [ʔakpòté-mɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. throne (=tã̀ )
ákpóté [ʔákpóté] n. cane; whip; stick
ákpótẽ́ [ʔákpótɛ́ ]̃ n. caudal bone
ákpótọ [ʔákpótɔ] n. leg
akpùru [ʔakpùru] adj. short; brief (in time); vertically or horizontally small in stature; dwarfish
ákpúwé [ʔákpúwé] n. freshwater fish with spines on the back, probably Tilapia nilotica CICHLIDAE
akù [ʔakù] n. age group (=akè)̣
akurá [ʔakurá] n. leakage: Lo bã́ érẹ ̣ akurá The pot has a leakage.
5
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
akuwerá [ʔakuwerá] adj. leaking: akuwerá bã́ leaking pot
ákúwé ̣ [ʔákúwέ] n. funnel
ákwã́ [ʔákwã́ ] n. hawk that eats chickens; Lizard Buzzard (Kaupifalco monogrammicus ACCIPITRIDAE)
akwãà [ʔakwãã̀ ] n. spiny plant, the leaf of which is used for feeding goats
akwerè [ʔakwerè] n. ringworm
ákwérè [ʔákwérè] n. piassava
ákwií⁄ [ʔákwíí] n. chaff left after the liquid has been extracted or pressed out, e.g. palm fruit chaff
ákwíríká [ʔákwíríká] n. fish-rack
akwò ̣ [ʔakwɔ̀] n. mistake; error; wrongdoing
alè [ʔalè] n. stammering
álékéré [ʔálékéré] n. clock
álérẹ́ kẽ
̣ [ʔálέrέkɛ]̃ n. a creeping stem
alíi [ʔalíi] n. herb species with alternate leaves
aliì [ʔaliì] n. mud seat
alò¹ [ʔalò] n. one kind; a particular type; a model
alò² [ʔalò] n. (of bird or monkey) movement from one branch of a tree to another; (fig.) (of money)
movement from one hand into another; person who is not steady in a place
alò ̣ [ʔalɔ̀] n. mistake; error; wrong-doing
álò ̣ [ʔálɔ̀] interj. Let it not be effective in its evil intent!; Let it fail!
alò ̣-ákpó-kóo [ʔalɔ̀-ákpó-kóo] n. false rib; floating rib (coinage)
alòga [ʔalòga] n. substance that makes the body itch in the forest. (The scientific research for its
identification is necessary.)
aloló [ʔaloló] n. small edible fruit, black when ripe
álóló [ʔálóló] n. bottle
áló’uwè [ʔálóʔuwè] n. news; story (=lóó)
álú [ʔálú] n. masquerade (general term)
aluwà [ʔaluwà] n. an ill-bred person; a dishonourable person
am [ʔãm] v.t. press into: À beè ã́ ḿ beèté yere bu kwìì He pressed fruits into the basket; v.i. press inside:
À beè ã́ ḿ yìì He pressed forward/inside.
ama [ʔãmã] n. lineage; descent
àn๠[ʔã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. deny
ànಠ[ʔã̀ nã̀ ] v.i. bet
àna [ʔã̀ nã] v.i. grow old
áná¹ [ʔã́ nã́ ] n. old age
áná² [ʔã́ nã́ ] n. very sweet yellow drupe
ànà-ànà [ʔã̀ nã̀ -ã̀ nã̀ ] n. competition; debate (=èrà-è
̣ rà)
̣
anàànì [ʔãnãã ̀ ̀ nĩ̀] n. sun (general)
ànàhyã̀ ¹ [ʔã̀ nã̀ ɕã̀ ] n. denial; disbelief
ànàhyã̀ ² [ʔã̀ nã̀ ɕã̀ ] n. betting
ánéǹdè ̣ [ʔã́ nɛ́ ñ ̀ dɛ̀] n. orange
ànìì [ʔã̀ nĩĩ̀̀] num. six
aníi [ʔãnĩ́ĩ] adv. today
áníí [ʔã́ nĩĩ́́] n. line
ànììgá [ʔã̀ nĩĩ̀g̀ á] n. hexagon; a plane figure with six angles (=ànìì-hwĩĩ́́kẽ) (coinage)
ànìì-hwĩĩ́́kẽ [ʔã̀ nĩĩ̀̀-ʍĩĩ́́kɛ]̃ n. hexagon (=ànììgá) (coinage)
ànìnyìà [ʔã̀ nĩ̀ɲĩ̀ã̀ ] num. nine
6
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
anò [ʔãnɔ̀ ]̃ n. cane type used for cane chair (cf. agã̀ )
anoò [ʔãnɔɔ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. eczema
anoo [ʔãnɔɔ̃̃] n. moon; month
ánóóní [ʔã́ nɔɔ ́ ̃ ́ ñ ĩ́] n. chameleon
w
anwìi [ʔãŋ ĩ̀ĩ] adj. fresh; new
anyà [ʔãɲã̀ ] n. carnivorous animal
anya [ʔãɲã] adj. ill-bred
apà [ʔapà] n. spoon
apãà [ʔapãã̀ ] n. feather
ápáhinya [ʔápáhĩɲã] n. leaf
apàkpé [ʔapàkpé] n. spoon
apàra [ʔapàra] n. decanter
apàté [ʔapàté] n. axe
ápátẽ́ [ʔápátɛ́ ]̃ n. buttocks
ápéẹ́ ̣ [ʔápέέ] n. pieces of raphia wood used for lighting fire and for tying fence
ápĩ́ [ʔápĩ́] adj. stingy
ápĩ [ʔápĩ] n. stinginess
ápnyó [ʔápɲɔ́ ]̃ adj. sharp-pointed
ápnyógá [ʔápɲɔ́ ̃gá] n. acute angle (coinage) (=tóbgá)
apoo [ʔapoo] n. part of a whole; amount
apõo [ʔapɔɔ̃]̃ n. mason wasp; an insect that builds its nest on walls
apoo-apoo [ʔapoo-apoo] n. many parts of a whole
apoò-kììrà [ʔapoò-kììrà] n. degree (of angle) (coinage): hlòb apoò-kìrà ten degrees (¹0º); nyìà tub nè
hlòb apoò-kìrà ninety degrees (90º); hlòb nè èrè ̣ taà
̣ tub apoò-kìrà three hundred and sixty degrees
(360º)
àrà [ʔàrà] adj. of the same kind
àra [ʔàra] v.i. contract (as dead body)
ára [ʔára] v.i. huddle up
àrà’àbà [ʔàràʔàbà] pron. (refl. & emph., 3rd pers. pl. obj.) themselves
àràhínyá¹ [ʔàràhĩ́ɲã́ ] v.i. be hot: Dúwe àrà hínyá The sun is hot.
àràhínyá² [ʔàràhĩ́ɲã́ ] n. being hot; heat: àràhínyá dúwe heat of the sun
àrànee [ʔàrã̀ nɛɛ̃]̃ n. fellow human beings
àràzĩ̀ì [ʔàràzĩĩ̀̀] pron. (refl., reciprocal) one another
asã̀ [ʔasã̀ ] n. broom (=ákpítọ)
ásã́ [ʔásã́ ] adj. very small, little (thing)
asãa [ʔasãã] n. sand
ásã́ nee [ʔásã́ nɛɛ̃]̃ n. nobody; no one
áséẹ́ ̣ [ʔásέέ] n. tinder; dry substance ready to catch fire (as sawdust); also áséẹ́ té ̣
asẽ̀ è¹ [ʔasɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. pity; mercy: asẽ̀ è nyí Bàrì God’s mercy
asẽ̀ è² [ʔasɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ adj. poor; pitiful; attracting sympathy: é lo asẽ̀ è nee that poor man
asò [ʔasò] n. joint
asù [ʔasù] n. mark made on face
ásṹú [ʔásṹṹ] n. anger
atã [atã] n. extreme poverty
átã́ á [ʔátãã́ ́ ] n. line
atè [ʔatè] n. small freshwater fish
7
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
atè ̣ [ʔatɛ̀] n. soft place prepared to keep something delicate; pad
atèkúrú [ʔatèkúrú] n. crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus CROCODYLIDAE)
atèlọ́ [ʔatɛ̀ló] n. panic
atì [ʔatì] adj. (of water) not flowing and ebbing fast; stagnant; (fig.) not progressing fast
átṍ [ʔátɔ́ ]̃ adj. holy: Akoò Átṍ Holy Spirit
átṍ¹ [ʔátɔ́ ]̃ n. holiness
átṍ² [ʔátɔ́ ]̃ n. large type of garden egg, used for cooking soup
atõ̀ a [ʔatɔ̀ ã̃ ] n. order; command; commandment(s)
átṹ [ʔátṹ] n. conical cap with crest at the top
atùe [ʔatùe] n. leech
atuu [ʔatuu] n. periwinkle: ákó atuu periwinkle shells
atũù [ʔatũũ̀ ] n. palm used to prepare “thatches”. It grows in freshwater swamps.
awà [ʔawà] adj. (of prepared food) old: awà zĩ́á old food warmed up
áwárá [ʔáwárá] n. cattle egret, white migratory bird (Ardeola ibis ARDEIDAE)
awèe [ʔawèe] n. itching and irritating herb
awè ̣ [ʔawɛ̀] n. top (of a tree, house, etc.); also fig. Bà beè dẽe iná awè ̣ They climbed to the top.
awèra ̣ [ʔawɛ̀ra] adj. light; easy; not difficult: Tò lú awèra ̣ The load is light (cf. wéẹ́ )̣
áwíí [ʔáwíí] n. grass; weed
awo [ʔawo] adv. (of place) here (=akẽ́ a): Lú awo Come here.
awònù [ʔawɔ̀ ñ ũ̀ ] n. grace (=nenè-Bàrì)
aya [ʔaja] adv. around: À dè aya He is around (cf.kẽáya)
ayàa [ʔajàa] n. tree species producing brown fruit with yellow edible flesh and stony seed; the fruit so
produced (Cola sp. STERCULIACEAE)
ayẹ [ʔajε] adj. delicate; susceptible; sensitive to pain or injury
ayìm$ [ʔajĩ̀m̀ ] adj. raw; not cooked; fresh
áyíra [ʔájíra] n. rules; regularities; the way things work
áyo [ʔájo] n. onion (Port. Ajo ‘garlic’)
ayò ̣ [ʔajɔ̀] n. pain
ayò ̣-báná-nyíẽ [ʔajɔ̀-bã́ nã́ -`ĩ́ɛ]̃ n. chest-pain; sternalgia (coinage)
ayò ̣-kẽkóo [ʔajɔ̀-kɛk̃ óo] n. lumbago (pain of the loins) (coinage)
ayò ̣-kóo [ʔajɔ̀-kóo] n. chest-pain; sternalgia (coinage)
ayò ̣-nyó-ázĩ́í-bu-míi [ʔajɔ̀-ɲɔ́ -̃ ázĩĩ́́-bu-mĩ́ĩ] n. filariasis (coinage)
ayò ̣-sib-ákpó-gáátẽ́ [ʔajɔ̀-sib-ákpó-gáátɛ́ ]̃ n. sciatica; neuralgia of the sciatic nerve (coinage)
ayò ̣-tọ-ni [ʔajɔ̀-tɔ-nĩ] n. elephantiasis (coinage)
ayò ̣-yii-máá-bu-míi [ʔajɔ̀-jii-mã́ a-bu-mĩ́ĩ] n. lymphangitis; inflammation of the lymphatic vessels
azà [ʔazà] n. skirt; edge of clothes or lappa
ázá [ʔázá] n. small freshwater shrimp
ázákpom [ʔázákpɔm ̃ ] n. cassava (=bòròʔḿ)
azẽe [ʔazɛɛ̃]̃ n. pith
ázéré [ʔázéré] n. “children’s matches”; type of parasitic plant; (fig.) fruit in general; Ázéré naá úwé
pyòòri naá kùwè ̣ Let birds destroy all the fruits (proverb used to invoke destruction on people who stole
another person’s goods)
azì [ʔazì] n. looting
ázĩ́í [ʔázĩĩ́́] n. rope; thread
ázĩ́ìahyòòrì [ʔázĩ́ĩ̀aɕòòrì] n. filament (coinage)
azììna¹ [ʔazìĩ̀nã] n. barrenness
8
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
azììna² [ʔazìĩ̀nã] adj. barren
aziirá [ʔaziirá] n. arrow
azù [ʔazù] n. confusion; lack of clarification

B
b๠[bà] v.t. eat fish or meat
bಠ[bà] n. abscess
bà³ [bà] pron. (3rd pers. pl. subj.) they: Bà ága si They should not go.
ba [ba] n. pottage; “porridge”, e.g. yam “porridge”
bá¹ [bá] n. hand
bá² [bá] n. art
bã̀ [bã̀ ] n. forked stick
bã [bã] n. axil
bã́ [bã́ ] n. cooking-pot
bà๠[bàà] v.t. share into portions; cleave (wood)
bàಠ[bàà] n. blindness; pred. adj. blind: neè bàà blind person
bàa [bàa] v.t. hate
báá¹ [báá] n. enmity; enemies
báá² [báá] n. strong tropical tree
bààdṹ [bààdṹ] v.t. kneel
bã̀ àgã̀ ¹ [bãã̀ ̀ gã̀ ] v.i. ponder; consider; think out
bã̀ àgã̀ ² [bãã
̀ ̀ gã̀ ] n. pondering; consideration; thinking out
bã́ asãa [bã́ asãã] n. clay pot
bàb [bàb] n. wickedness: À wée dòò bàb He practises wickedness.
bàbà [bàbà] n. child’s name for fish or meat
bàgà [bàgà] v.i. crack like dry clay; tear like old cloth: À wée bàgà It cracks/tears.
bàga [bàga] n. freshwater fish like a small catfish (Auchenoglanis occidentalis BAGRIDAE)
bàgi [bàgi] v.t. cut into many pieces
bákìye [bákìje] n. left hand
bákpé [bákpé] n. firmness (lit.‘iron hand’): Sú bákpé yé ãa Hold him firmly.
bálè [bálè] n. right hand
bànà [bã̀ nã̀ ] n. pit
bànàmáá [bã̀ nã̀ mãã ́ ́ ] n. well
bánányíe [bã́ nã́ ɲĩ́ẽ] n. outer surface of chest
bànàpóro [bã̀ nã̀ póro] n. fishpond
Bánì [bã́ nĩ̀] n. Ogoni name for Bonny
bàr๠[bàrà] n. farm or farmland
bàrಠ[bàrà] n. fishing screen to enclose fish
bàra¹ [bàra] v.t. ask for
bàra² [bàra] v.refl. lean against (of person or animal): Bàra lóó dẽ́ é Lean against the wall; Nee ga bará lóó
té A man is leaning against the tree.
bàra³ [bàra] n. request
bárá¹ [bárá] n. inhabited area; length and breadth of an object
bárá² [bárá] n. one side of a many-sided object
Bàràálè [bàràálè] n. Barale, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣

9
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
Bàrà-Álúwé [bàrà-álúwé] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣`
Bàràkàra-Nóónwa-Bunù [bàràkàra-nɔɔ ́ ̃ ́ ŋ̃ wã-bũnũ̀ ] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
bárákìye [bárákìje] n. left side
bárálè [bárálè] n. right side
Bàràóbàrá [bàràóbàrá] n. former name of Bóròbàrà, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
Bàràyirá [bàràjirá] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣`
Bàrì [bàrì] n. God
bárí [bárí] n. sardine (Sardinella spp. CLUPEIDAE)
báyàànù, báyaànu [bájãã ̀ ̀ nũ̀ , bájãã̀ nũ] n. fashion; the prevailing style of dressing
bè¹ [bè] v.t. enclose; make fence or enclosure round something
bè² [bè] v.i. swell; be swollen
bè³ [bè] n. hourglass-shaped rattle
be¹ [be] v.t. fight
be² [be] n. home
bé [bé] n. fight; war
bè ̣ [bɛ̀] n. spring-trap
bẹ [bε] v.i. burn: catch fire
bé ̣ [bέ] v.i. be hot (like pepper)
bèạ [bɛ̀a] v.t. marry (a man) (of a woman): Bèa dám Marry a man.
bèḅ [bɛ̀b] n. chin
bẹbèẹ̀ -piyá-zó
̣ ̣ [bεbɛɛ̀̀-pijá-zɔ́] n. plutocracy (coinage)
beè [beè] part. past tense marker: À beè lu He came.
bee¹ [bee] n. fruit
bee² [bee] n. head
bée [bée] n. name
béé [béé] v.t. resemble; take after: À béé ye tè ̣ He takes after his father.
bèẹ̀ ¹̣ [bɛɛ̀̀] v.t. rule; govern; v.n. bẹbèẹ̀ ̣ ruling; government
bèẹ̀ ²̣ [bɛɛ̀̀] n. cough
bèẹ̀ ³̣ [bɛ̀ɛ̀] num. two: bèẹ̀ ̣ nee two persons
bèẹ̣ [bɛ̀ε] v.t. blow (fire): Bèẹ̣ hínyá Blow fire.
bẹẹ¹ [bεε] v.t. watch
bẹẹ² [bεε] n. bird that talks a lot (?Common Garden Bulbul) (Pycnonotus barbartus PYCNONOTIDAE)
Béẹ̀ ̣ [bέɛ̀] n. traditional initiation of adolescent male into manhood, now obsolete
béẹ́ ̣ [bέέ] n. cheek; jaw
bẽ̀ e [bɛɛ̀ ̃ ]̃ v.t. bend
bẽ̀ e [bɛɛ̀ ̃ ]̃ n. fish-rack
bẹè-Bàrì
̣ [bεɛ̀-bàrì] n. theocracy; rule by God (coinage)
béẹ̀ bĩ́ ̣ à [bέɛ̀bĩ́ã̀ ] n. bat’s wing
beèdṹ [beèdṹ] n. knee
bèẹ̀ gà ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀gà] v.refl. pledge oneself for a loan: À bẹègà ̣ ye ló He pledges himself to him.
bẹègà ̣ [bεɛ̀gà] v.i. slope (of vertical object)
bẹẹgá [bεεgá] v.refl. curve; turn to one side: Bèẹgá ̣ kii bálè Turn to the right.
bẽ̀ ègã̀ ¹ [bɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. lean on; (fig.) depend on
bẽ̀ ègã̀ )Ÿ² [bɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] adv. dependently; Tõ̀ ò ye bẽ̀ ègã̀ Live in dependence on him.
bẽègã̀ [bɛɛ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.t. happen to: De à bẽèga orò, a nyía ẹ? If it happens to you, will you like it?
bẽegã́ [bɛɛ̃g̃ ã́ ] v.i. be flexible
10
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
bèẹgákẽ ̣ [bɛ̀εgákɛ]̃ n. a curve
bèẹ̀ kà ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀kà] num. two whole (objects): bèẹ̀ kà ̣ nu two whole things: Sú bèẹ̀ kà ̣ Take two.
bèẹ̀ kùnàkùnà ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀kũ̀ nã̀ kũ̀ nã̀ ] n. two halves; half-way
beèléḅ [beèlέb] n. shoulder (=gàgànà, agã̀ léb) ̣
bèẹ̀ ̣ máá [bɛɛ̀̀ mãã ́ ́ ] v.phr. collect water from the roof
bẹèmáá ̣ [bεɛ̀mãã ́ ́ ] n. collection of water from the roof; gutter for collecting water from the roof
bèẹ̀ -piyá-bũe ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀-pijá-bũɛ]̃ n. democracy; government by the people (coinage)
bèẹ̀ sị̃́ [bɛɛ̀̀sĩ́] n. insincerity; untruthfulness; neè bèẹ̀ sị̃́ a person who takes two sides
bèẹ̀ -tub ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀-tub] num. forty
bèẹ̀ -tub-nè-hlòb ̣ [bɛɛ̀̀-tub-nɛ̀ -̃ hlòb] num. fifty
bèga ̣ [bɛ̀ga] v.i. bend; wind; À béga ̣ It winds (as road).
bégábé ̣ gá¹
̣ [bέgábέgá] pred. adj. not straight; winding; undulating; wavy
bégábé ̣ gá²
̣ [bέgábέgá] n. curvature
bègàrà ̣ [bɛ̀gàrà] v.t. carry on the shoulder; (fig.) shoulder (e.g. responsibility)
bègárá ̣ [bɛ̀gárá] v.t. turn (something) to another direction from a straight line: Bègárá ̣ o kpé Turn your
bicycle.
bège¹ [bège] v.t. (of hen) fail to hatch eggs: Kõ̀ ò bége kẽ́ The hen fails to hatch the eggs.
bège² [bège] v.t. blame; scold; rebuke; chide; objurgate
bège³ [bège] adj. short and stout (of person)
bège sĩ́ [bège sĩ́] v.phr. scowl; look bad-tempered
bégèsĩ́ [bégèsĩ́] n. scowl; bad-tempered look
bekéè [bekéè] n. white person
bèm$ ̣ [bɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] v.i. decay; rot; produce undesirable odour; decompose; stink
bèra [bèra] n. resemblance; image
bèrà ̣ [bɛ̀rà] v.i. lean against (of object, as a result of having been placed there): Gò bẹra lo@o@ te@ The ladder
leans against the tree.
bérè [bérè] n. profit
bére [bére] n. stone thrown
bèrẹ¹̣ [bɛ̀rε] v.t. pledge: À beè bèrẹ ̣ ye kòrokẽ̀ ló ye kóò He pledged his land to his friend: À beè bèrẹ ̣ ye
kòrokẽ̀ ye ló He pledged his land to him.
bèrẹ²
̣ [bɛ̀rε] v.t. lean (something) against: Bèrẹ ̣ gò lóó té Lean the ladder against the tree.
béré
̣ kẽ ̣ [bέrέkɛ]̃ n. lower jaw
bèrè ̣ ̣ [bɛ̀rɛ̀] n. sack, bag
bèrè ̣ -màni ̣ [bɛ̀rɛ̀-mã̀ nĩ] n. (urine) bladder
betè ̣ [betɛ̀] n. father’s home; family
béwa [béwa] n. gonorrhea; sexually transmitted disease
bèzẽ̀ ̣ è [bɛ̀zɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. spring-trap
bí [bí] n. faeces
bìì [bìì] v.t. press; squeeze (orange); squeeze up (of people sitting close together); v.n. bibìì pressing;
pressure
bii [bii] n. play
bììga [bììga] n. pressure
biìg๠[biìgà] v.p. be pressed; be tightened
biìgಠ[biìgà] v.adj. be tight
bììló [bììló] v.i. go secretly, stealthily or surreptitiously
bììna [bĩĩ̀̀nã] n. question
11
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
biiná [bĩĩnã́ ] v.t. ask question: Biiná bììna Ask question (cog.obj.)
biiní [bĩĩnĩ́] v.i. be cooked; be done
bííní [bĩĩ́́nĩ́] adj. cooked; done
bíìra [bíìra] adj. black
bíìrakpé [bíìrakpé] n. iron
bììre [bììre] v.cs. tighten
bínà [bĩ́nã̀ ] n. “grasscutter”; cutting-grass; cane rat; bush animal that cuts grass and eats cassava
(Thryonymys swinderianus THRYONOMIYIDAE)
bínàhyúu [bĩ́nã̀ ɕúu] n. porcupine, especially the Brush-Tailed Porcupine (Atherurus africanus HYSTRICIDAE)
(=hyúùlóbínà)
bìrà [bìrà] v.t. play: bìrà bii play game
bìra máá [bìra mãã ́ ́ ] v.refl. bathe
bìrihwò ̣ [bìriʍɔ̀] n. toad
bìya [bìja] v.refl. remain: Bìya lo kẽ̀ Remain there; Hold yourself back.
bìye [bìje] v.t. leave (something where it is or a person where he is); let remain
bíyé [bíjé] n. object to swear on
biyè-atuu [bijè-atuu] n. small crab that makes a periwinkle shell its home; hermit crab
bò¹ [bò] v.i. be common: À bo It is common.
bò² [bò] pron. (2nd pers. pl. subj.) you: bò óga do not; don’t (plural)
bo¹ [bo] v.t. heal
bo² [bo] n. deformity
bo³ [bo] adj. deformed
bó ̣ [bɔ́] v.i. be fit: À bó ̣ ló He is fit.
bõ̀ [bɔ̀ ]̃ v.t. bleat like sheep or goat: Naanà wée bõ̀ bõ (cog. obj.) A sheep bleats.
bõ [bɔ]̃ n. bleating
bòa [bòa] v.p. be healed: À nà bóa He has been healed.
bóa [bóa] n. healing
bòb¹ [bòb] v.t. beat (=zìb)
bòb² [bòb] v.t. make wealth
bòb³ [bòb] n. making wealth
bob [bob] n. beating
bọb [bɔb] v.t. bind; tie; unite: v.n. bọbó ̣b binding; tying; uniting
bó ̣b [bɔ́b] n. bundle; bond: bó ̣b té bundle of wood
bò ̣ba [bɔ̀ba] v.refl. be tied to; be united with; cleave to: Bà bó ̣ba They are united.
bò ̣bkéẹ̣ [bɔ̀bkέε] n. shame
bõ̀ gàna [bɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ nã] n. gathering
bõ̀ gáná [bɔ̀ g̃ ã́ nã́ ] v.refl. be gathered: Bò bõ̀ gáná Gather yourselves together.
bõ̀ gànàló [bɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ nã̀ ló] n. gathering
bõ̀ gẽ́ [bɔ̀ ̃gɛ́ ]̃ v.t. stir
bõ̀ géné [bɔ̀ g̃ ɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ v.t. gather
bọgèrè ̣ ̣ [bɔgɛ̀rɛ̀] n. lending; borrowing
bò ̣gèrẹ̣ [bɔ̀gɛ̀rε] v.t. lend to; borrow from: v.n. bọbò ̣gèrẹ ̣
bò ̣gó ̣m̀ bò ̣ [bɔ̀gɔ́m̀ bɔ̀] n. vegetable whose seeds are used like “egusi” (Cucumeropsis mannii Naud.
CUCURBITACEAE)
bom [bɔm
̃ ] n. puff-adder; adder
Bóḿ [bɔ́ m
̃ ́ ] n. Tèẹ̀ ̣ weekday, also Déèbóm
12
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
bònà [bɔ̀ ñ ã̀ ] v.t. contribute; share; v.n. bõbònà contribution
bòne [bɔ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ v.t. cook yam and soup together, adding fish, oil, pepper and salt
bonèzĩ́ ã́ [bɔ̃nɛ̀ z̃ ĩ́ã́ ] n. yam so prepared
boo¹ [boo] v.t. collect; gather; amass; accumulate (esp. wealth)
boo² [boo] n. rain
bóó¹ [bóó] num. four hundred: bóó zĩ́ ã́ four hundred yams: À beè yéẹ́ ̣ bóó zĩ́ ã́ He/she bought four hundred
yams.
bóó² [bóó] n. amassed wealth; amassing of wealth: À wée boo bóó He amasses wealth.
bòọ̀ ̣¹ [bɔɔ
̀ ̀ ] n. fear
bòọ̀ ̣² [bɔɔ̀ ̀ ] pron. (2nd pers. pl. obj.)you: Daà/Ḿ kanamué bòọ̀ ̣ I salute/greet you (pl.).
bọọbé ̣ kéẹ̣ [bɔɔbέ kέε] v.phr. shame; put to shame: Bò ̣bẹ yé kéẹ̣ Put him/her to shame.
Bootéḿ [bootɛ́ḿ ] n. Botem, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
bórá ágã́ [bórá ágã́ ] pred. adj. dumb: neè bórá ágã́ dumb person
bòrò¹ [bòrò] adj. foolish: bòrò nee foolish person
bòrò² [bòrò] n. foolishness
borò [borò] emph. pron. (2nd pers. pl., both subj. and obj.) you: Borò lu You people come: M` kọò ̣ nè
borò I speak to you (people).
bòrò’ḿ [bòròʔḿ] n. cassava (=ázákpọm)
Bóròbàrà [bóròbàrà] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
bù¹ [bù] v.t. take shelter; seek security under a stronger power
bù² [bù] v.t. till the soil
bù³ [bù] v.t. weed; illegally uproot something planted
bu¹ [bu] n. belly
bu² [bu] prep. inside: Yii bú tọ Enter into the house.
bu³ [bu] adv. inside: Yère bu Put it in.
bũ̀ [bũ̀ ] n. bow
bũ [bũ] n. door
bṹ [bṹ] n. “bush-cat”; Two-Spotted Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata PARADOXURINAE)
búbe [búbe] n. compound
bùbùì [bùbùì] n. thigh
bùgàrà [bùgàrà] v.t. uproot a stump; exhume; dig out
bugàrà [bugàrà] n. uprooting of a stump; digging out; exhuming
bùge¹ [bùge] v.t. make dry mulching; make air enter to the roots of planted crops
bùge² [bùge] v.t. multiply; increase
bùgère [bùgère] adj., adv. sudden; suddenly
bùgéré [bùgéré] v.t. come suddenly (to surprise someone)
bùì [bùì] v.t. cook; v.n. bubùì cooking
búí [búí] n. mat
bũi [bũĩ] n. pus
búlẹẹ [búlεε] n. compound
bùna [bũ̀ nã] v.p. be born in a household; bùna be tè ̣ be born to one father
búna [bṹnã] v.i. break (e.g. of stick): Té búna A stick breaks.
bùnàbetè ̣ [bũ̀ nã̀ betɛ̀] n. a cluster of children born to the same father: (proverb) Bùnàbetè ̣ ágú pẽ̀ è (lit.)
Children in a household are clusters of pears; i.e. right is given to the person to whom it is due by being the
most closely related
bunòo [bũnɔ̀ ɔ̃ ]̃ n. sky; heaven(s) (=kágara)
13
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
Bunù [bũnũ̀ ] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
bunwà [bũŋwã̀ ] n. number
bùnwe [bũ̀ ŋwɛ]̃ v.t. train; rear: bùnwe nwíí Train the child.
bunwe¹ [bũŋwɛ]̃ v.t. beget
bunwe² [bũŋwɛ]̃ n. town; city (big or small): Bunwè Kpègà Jerusalem (‘secure habitation’)
bùr๠[bùrà] v.i. think
bùrಠ[bùrà] n. thought
bùra¹ [bùra] v.i. be constructed
bùra² [bùra] n. structure
bùrẹ [bùrε] v.cs. make soft
bũ̀ ù [bũũ ̀ ̀ ] v.t. count; number; read
bũ̀ u [bũ̀ ũ] v.t. break; snap: Bũ̀ u té Break a stick.
bṹú [bṹṹ] n. kolanut
bũ̀ ùgã̀ [bũũ ̀ ̀ gã̀ ] v.i. become muddy or impure
bũ̀ ùgã [bũũ ̀ ̀ gã] adj. muddy
bũ̀ ùgẽ [bũũ ̀ ̀ gɛ]̃ v.cs. make clean water muddy
buwe [buwe] v.t. build by applying mud to a framework of sticks; Búwé tọ Mud a house.
buwẹ [buwε] v.adj. be soft
byáaga [bjáaga] v.adj. be easily available or common
byam [bjãm] n. wasp
byã́ [bjã́ ] n. “iguana”; monitor lizard (Varanus niloticus VARANIDAE)
byã́ à [bjã́ ã̀ ] n. bat (general) (CHIROPTERA)
byã́ à-beèté [bjã́ ã̀ -beèté] n. fruit-bat (MEGACHIROPTERA) (gbọ byã́ à, kpàm̀ byã́ à)
byã́ à-tó ̣ [bjã́ ã̀ -tɔ́] n. house-bat (MICROCHIROPTERA) (= kpírí byã́ à)
byẽ [bjɛ]̃ v.i. be far; live long: Lo kẽ byẽ́ That place is far: Lo nee nà byẽ́ a That man has lived long.
byébyéé
̣ ̣ ̣ [bjέbjέέ] n. termite; white ant
byẽ̀ byèŸm̀ [bjɛ̀ b̃ jɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] n. iron rod
byèẹ̀ ̣ [bjɛɛ̀̀] v.t. judge
byẹẹ [bjεε] n. judgment
byéẹ́ ¹̣ [bjέέ] n. dirt
byéẹ́ ²̣ [bjέέ] adj. dirty
byṍ [bjɔ́ ]̃ n. nose
byõ̀ gõ [bjɔ̀ g̃ ɔ]̃ n. indigo

da [da] v.t. lick

dá¹ [dá] n. “altar”; drying-rack
dá² [dá] n. scar; mark left after healing of wound, burn, sore; (fig.) indelible impression in mind
dã [dã] v.t. hear: dãàdã́ v.n. hearing
dàa [dàa] v.i. sleep
daà [daà] pron. (emph. ¹st pers. sg. subj. and obj.) I; me: Nè daà Give it to me.
dáa¹ [dáa] n. madness
dáa² [dáa] n. tooth
dáá¹ [dáá] n. pancreas; sweetbread; gland near the stomach discharging a digestive secretion and insulin
dáá² [dáá] n. sleep
14
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
dàà bá ló [dàà bá ló] v.phr. touch
dààbálóòhyékarì ̣ [dààbálóòɕέkarì] n. gecko
dáàkõ̀ ò [dáàkɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. cowry (lit. ‘fowl’s tooth’)
dàb¹ [dàb] v.t. dodge
dàb² [dàb] adj. tasteless; insipid; without flavour
dàb³ [dàb] n. acid
dab [dab] v.i. stray
dáb¹ [dáb] aux.v. can; be able
dáb² [dáb] n. small bird species, very scarce
dábá [dábá] n. oyster
dàga [dàga] v.i. hold (as gum): Dèḅ dága The gum holds.
dàgàdágà [dàgàdágà] adj. distant from the road or from an open space
dàm̀ [dã̀ m̀ ] n. ulcer
dam [dãm] v.t. bite; ache (of belly)
dáḿ [dã́ ḿ ] n. husband; expert
dámana [dã́ mãnã] n. ram
dám$-dám$ [dã́ m̀ -dã́ m̀ ] pred.adj. mild; not severe; not much
dáḿpiyè [dã́ ḿ pijè] n. doctor
dáḿtóọ̀ ̣ [dã́ ḿ tɔ́ɔ̀] n. expert hunter (=tóọ̀ ̣kùwè)̣
dàr๠[dàrà] v.t. carry; raise: Dàra bá Raise your hand (to vote).
dàrಠ[dàrà] n. credit
darà [darà] n. African Star Apple, Chrysophyllum delevoyi De Wild. SAPOTACEAE)
dàra dùme [dàra dũ̀ mɛ]̃ v.phr. carry (child) on back (=yaa dùme)
dàrakẽ [dàrakɛ]̃ v.t. support
daràkẽ [daràkɛ]̃ n. support
dè¹ [dè] v.i. be present; be in existence: À dè She/He/It exists: Kẽ́ a dè dòò lo That is how it is.
dè² [dè] conj. if: Dè ò lúù, ó mue If you come, you will see.
de [de] v.t. eat
dẹ [dε] n. wide fish-pond; still water (opp. máátée running water)
dé ̣ [dέ] n. an era
dẽ̀ a [dɛ̀ ã̃ ] v.t. eat soup
dèb¹ ̣ [dɛ̀b] n. gum
dèb²̣ [dɛ̀b] n. euphorbia, a spiny plant used for fencing
dẹb [dεb] v.adj. be thick like àkàmù
deè¹ [deè] n. the way
deè² [deè] n. hole
dée [dée] n. day; date: Dée a yira Good morning! (The response is Dée a yira (and not yiradée, which
means ‘daybreak’.). The Tèẹ̀ ̣ weekdays in succession are:
Déèbóm
Déèzĩ́a
Deésõo
Deékọ
Déèmòò
dẹẹ [dεε] n. bed
dẽ̀ e [dɛ̀ ɛ̃ ]̃ v.t. climb
dẽ́ e¹ [dɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. eye
15
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
dẽ́ e² [dɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. colour
dẽ́ é [dɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. wall
dèègà [dèègà] v.i. ponder; consider; think out: À ga beè dèègà He was pondering (it).
deè-mani [deè-mãnĩ] n. urethra (coinage)
dẽ́ e-nyààna-mèà [dɛ́ ɛ̃ -̃ ɲãã ̀ ̀ nã-mɛ̀ ã̃ ̀ ] n. eye condition where sight is distorted; metamorphopsia
deè-ọọgẹ [deè-ɔɔgε] n. windpipe; trachea (coinage)
dèère! [dèère] interj. It’s none of my business!
Deèyọ [deèjɔ] n. Deeyor, name of a Gokana village
Deèyọ-Kìrà [deèjɔ-kìrà] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
dègàrà ̣ [dɛ̀gàrà] adj. collected (as rainwater): dègàrà ̣ máá collected water
dẹgàrà [dεgàrà] v.i. collect as rainwater
dègẹ¹ ̣ [dɛ̀gε] v.t. dodge (as in football)
dègẹ² ̣ [dɛ̀gε] v.cs. seal; stick to; be stuck to; cleave to; dẹèdé ̣ gé
̣ ̣ v.n. sealing; sticking to; cleaving to
dègè ̣ rè ̣ ̣ [dɛ̀gɛ̀rɛ̀] adj. (of vertical object) not tall
dèm [dɛ̀ m ̃ ] v.t. create; mould
dem [dɛm ̃ ] n. rock; stone; block
dem̀ -aka~tẽ́ -be [dɛm ̃ ̀ -aka~tɛ́ -̃ be] n. foundation stone
dem̀ -gbẽà-nu [dɛm ̃ ̀ -gbɛã̃ ̀ -nũ] n. grinding-stone
dem~-nyààna-mèà [dɛm ̃ ~-ɲãã ̀ ̀ nã-mɛ̀ ã̃ ̀ ] n. metamorphic rock (coinage)
dèrè ̣ ̣ [dɛ̀rɛ̀] n. vulture, Neophron monachus ACCIPITRIDAE
dò [dò] v.t. measure
do [do] n. camwood tree (Baphia nitida Lodd. LEGUMINOSAE-PAPILIONIOIDEAE); its wood is ground into
powder and rubbed on body
dò ̣¹ [dɔ̀] v.i. fall; fail
dò ̣² [dɔ̀] v.t. dig
dò ̣³ [dɔ̀] v.t. summons
dò4̣ [dɔ̀] v.i. blow (as wind)
dò5̣ [dɔ̀] n. summons: dò ̣ dò ̣ take court action
dò6̣ [dɔ̀] n. sound
dò7̣Ÿ [dɔ̀] n. position
dọ¹ [dɔ] n. failure; falling
dọ² [dɔ] n. pile; spike; a stake or digging-stick driven into the ground
dò ̣bá [dɔ̀bá] n. sound of the palm of the hand struck on the body
dodo [dodo] adj. red
dò ̣gàr๠[dɔ̀gàrà] v.i. wriggle, as a person who wants to be released; also fig., as in an argument: v.n.
dọdò ̣gàra
dò ̣gàrಠ[dɔ̀gàrà] n. wriggling
dògò [dògò] n. behaviour; character
dònà [dɔ̀ ñ ã̀ ] n. heaviness
donà [dɔñ ã̀ ] v.adj. be heavy
dòò¹ [dòò] v.t. do: À beè dòò He did it. v.n. dodòò
dòò² [dòò] v.t. (usu. dòò bí) defecate (cf. sí kùwè ̣ a polite expression)
dòó [dòó] adv. in that way; in that manner
dòọ̀ ̣ [dɔɔ ̀ ̀ ] v.i. fall (of rain): Boo ga dòọ̀ ̣ It is raining (lit. Rain is falling).
dọò ̣ [dɔɔ̀] n. fishing; fishing-water
dõ̀ ò [dɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. share, divide out
16
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
dõò [dɔɔ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. one’s share; division
dóódóó [dóódóó] n. bird species
dòògà [dòògà] n. effect(s); result(s)
doògà [doògà ] v.i. be done; happen: A beè dòògà It was done by him: Nú o ga kọ beè dòòga dòó What
you are saying happened so/was done so.
dóoga [dóoga] v.adj. be sticky
dóógá [dóógá] adj. sticky
dòògànù [dòògã̀ nũ̀ ] n. incidents; happenings
doònà [dɔɔ̃ ̀ ñ ã̀ ] adj. another
dòọ̀ ̣rà [dɔɔ ̀ ̀ rà] v.t. harvest yam or dig stumps
dòò tẽe [dòò tɛɛ̃]̃ v.phr. succeed (=dòò yie)
dòòwó [dòòwó] interj. goodbye
dòò yie [dòò jie] v.phr. succeed (=dòò tẽe)
du [du] n. market; cost; value or worth of something
dũ̀ [dũ̀ ] n. tail
dũ̀ gã̀ ¹ [dũ̀ gã̀ ] v.i. be sad; be sorrowful
dũ̀ gã̀ ² [dũ̀ gã̀ ] n. resting of chin on hand as evidence of sadness
dũ̀ m̀ [dũ̀ m̀ ] n. soul
dum [dũm] n. life
dùme¹ [dũ̀ mɛ]̃ v.cs. enrich: Dùme ye Enrich him.
dùme² [dũ̀ mɛ]̃ n. back
dùnèè¹ [dũ̀ nɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.i. strive with one another
dùnèè² [dũ̀ nɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. strife
dúu¹ [dúu] n. dust
dúu² [dúu] n. hard edible part at the base of fungus
dùùg๠[dùùgà] v.refl. withdraw from sight or danger; avoid; retract body into shell (of snail): À nà duùgà
He has withdrawn himself; Kpéẹ́ ̣ nà dùùga yii bu ákó The snail has withdrawn itself into the shell.
dùùgಠ[dùùgà] n. withdrawal; disappearance; (fig.) salvation
dùùr๠[dùùrà] v.t. pull; draw out; deliver; save: v.n. dudùùra
dùùrಠ[dùùrà] v.t. sip
dúwá¹ [dúwá] n. year
dúwá² [dúwá] n. cow’s horn used by the old men for drinking wine
Dúwá³ [dúwá] n. annual New Yam Festival
dúwe [dúwe] n. heat of the sun; sunshine (cf. anàànì)

E, Ẹ, Ẽ

e [ʔe] n. a vowel
e? [ʔe] interr. what?
ẹ [ʔε] v.t. pluck leaves
ẽ́ ’ẽ̀ [ʔɛ́ ʔ̃ ɛ̀ ]̃ interj. no; negative
èḅ [ʔɛ̀b] v.t. look at
èè [ʔèè] adj. A. better: À lée èè It is better; B. bigger; greater: À gbuwe èè It is bigger; C. taller; longer: À
nyóo èè It is taller/longer.
ee [ʔee] v.t. collect fire
éé [ʔéé] n. fluted pumpkin (Telfairia occidentalis CUCURBITACEAE)
17
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
éẹ́ ̣ [ʔέέ] adj. white; pure
ẽe [ʔɛɛ̃]̃ interj. yes (affirmative)
éẹ́ -akaà ̣ [ʔέέ-akaà] n. crab species
èèbá [ʔèèbá] v.t. overcome
eèbá [ʔeèbá] n. overcoming; victory
éẹ́ dée ̣ [ʔέέdée] n. daylight (=èrà = pìyè)
èèg๠[ʔèègà] v.i. spill
èẹ̀ gಠ̣ [ʔɛɛ̀̀gà] v.refl. look at oneself; examine oneself
ẽegã́ [ʔɛɛ̃g̃ ã́ ] v.i. brag
ẽ́ ega [ʔɛ́ ɛ̃ g̃ a] n. bragging
eègà [ʔeègà] v.i. become late (of time): Sṍ ga èègà It is becoming late.
éẹ́ kpé ̣ [ʔέέkpé] n. silver
Ẹ́émáá ̣ [ʔɛ́ ɛ̃ ́ m ̃ ãã ́ ́ ] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
éẹ́ nyíe ̣ [ʔɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ɲ̃ ĩ́ɛ]̃ n. joy (lit. ‘pure heart’)
ègàr๠[ʔègàrà] v.t. pour; cause to spill
ègàrಠ[ʔègàrà] v.t. sow (seed)
égárá [ʔégárá] adj. mature (of fruit)
ègárá ̣ [ʔɛ̀gárá] v.i. mark a position before digging for planting
ège [ʔège] v.i. mature
ẽ̀ gẽ [ʔɛ̀ g̃ ɛ]̃ v.t. fry
ègèrè [ʔègèrè] n. road
ẽ̀ hẽè¹ [ʔɛ̀ h̃ ɛɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ interj. oho! (expression of remembering something forgotten)
ẽ̀ hẽè² [ʔɛ̀ h̃ ɛɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ interj. that is what you want; you deserve it!
ẽ̀ hẽ́ è [ʔɛ̀ h̃ ɛ́ ɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ interj. you have started again? (calling the attention of a trouble-maker)
em [ʔɛm ̃ ] v.t. write
èm๠[ʔɛ̀ m ̃ ã̀ ] v.t. examine; test; try; tempt
èmಠ[ʔɛ̀ m ̃ ã̀ ] n. examination; test; trial; temptation
ém̀ nu [ʔé)m̀ nũ] n. writing
enáa [ʔɛñ ã́ a] v.t. receive
èr๠[ʔèrà] v.i. be wrong
èrಠ[ʔèrà] n. daylight (=éẹ́ dée ̣ = pìyè)
èra [ʔèra] v.i. be complete in number or amount; Kpìgì/Bũã̀ náa éra The money/number is not complete.
èrạ̀ [ʔɛ̀rà] v.i. compete
èrabá [ʔèrabá] adj. every; each; èrabá kẽ everywhere; wherever (=kùràkúrá kẽ): Èrabá kẽ́ o si ó mue
ye Wherever you go you will see him; èrabá nu everything; èrabá nu (=kùràkúrá nu): Èrabá nu dè
There is everything.
èrà-è ̣ rà
̣ [ʔɛ̀rà-ɛ̀rà] n. competition
ère [ʔère] v.t. make complete
èrẹ ̣ [ʔɛ̀rε] v.t. have; possess; tè-é ̣ rẹ
̣ n. possessor; owner
ẹrè ̣ [ʔεrɛ̀] pron. emph. pron. (3rd pers. sg. subj. and obj.) he/she; him/her: È`rè ̣ beè dè He was there: Bà
bè kó ̣ nè ẹrè ̣ They spoke to him/her (emph. obj.)
èrè ̣ bà ̣ [ʔɛ̀rɛ̀bà] num. seven
èrè ̣ hínyá ̣ [ʔɛ̀rɛ̀hĩ́ɲã́ ] v.cs. make hot; heat
èrè ̣ taa ̣ [ʔɛ̀rɛ̀taa] num. eight
èrè ̣ taàga ̣ [ʔɛ̀rɛ̀taàga] n. octagon (coinage)

18
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
F

fínímáá [fĩ́nĩ́máá] n. shark

ga¹ [ga] part. (particle indicating present continuous tense): À ga lu He is coming: Bà ga lu They are
coming.
ga² [ga] part. don’t (particle indicating negative command): Ó ga dòò Don’t do it (2nd pers. sg.); Bò óga
dòò Don’t (you people) do it (2nd pers. pl.); Á ga dòò Let him not do it (3rd pers. sg.); Bà ága dòò Let
them not do it (3rd pers. pl.
gá [gá] n. angle; corner (=hwĩ́ íkẽ)
gã̀ [gã̀ ] n. adultery; fornication; concubine; concubinage; informal marriage
gã [gã] n. extended family
gãã̀ ̀ [gãã ̀ ̀ ] v.i. hesitate; take time to consider before reacting: À náa beè gãã
̀ ̀ He did not hesitate.
gãã ̀ ̀ té [gãã ̀ ̀ t é] n. almond tree [id]
gãã̀ té [gãã̀ té] n. fishpond
gàdá [gàdá] n. table
gadè [gadè] conj. even if
gàgànà n. [gàgã̀ nã̀ ] n. shoulder (=beèléb) ̣
gàm̀ ¹ [gã̀ m̀ ] v.t. tell tales
gàm̀ ² [gã̀ m̀ ] n. tale-bearing
gámàló [gá)mã̀ ló] n. boldness; agility
gànìté [gã̀ nĩ̀té] n. four-legged kitchen stool
ganòo [gãnɔ̀ ɔ̃ )]̃ n. height
gárá [gárá] n. mangrove
garagárà [garagárà] n. bitter kola (Garcinia kola Heckel GUTTIFERAE)
gárágárá¹ [gárágárá] n. agility
gárágárá² [gárágárá] adj. agile
gárágárá³ [gárágárá] adv. agilely
garí [garí] n. gari; fried or baked cassava
gb๠[gbà] v.t. twist; twine: Gbà ázĩ́ í Twist the thread.
gbಠ[gbà] v.i. (fig.) swing back and forth like a pendulum: À ga tora gbà He is not steady in life.
gbà³ [gbà] v.t. accuse
gbà4 [gbà] v.t. divert
gbà5 [gbà] n. swing; pendulum
gbà6 [gbà] n. ill-luck
gba [gba] v.t. sew; join
gbá¹ [gbá] n. mud
gbá² [gbá] adv. altogether
gbãa [gbãa] v.i. intercede; mediate; arbitrate; v.n. gbãgbã́ á intercession; mediation; arbitration
gbáàbẹẹ [gbáàbεε] n. tongs
gbààgà [gbààgà] v.refl. separate themselves
gbaàgà [gbaàgà] v.i. give up the ghost; die: v.n. gbagbààgà
gbã̀ àgã̀ [gbãã ̀ ̀ gã̀ ] n. hesitation
gbãàgà [gbãã̀ gà] v.i. hesitate
19
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
gbã́ agã [gbã́ ãgã] v.i. be excessive; be too much
gbàaló [gbàaló] v.i. be gathered together
gbáàló [gbáàló] n. congregation
gbààrà [gbààrà] v.t. separate (as thread); unravel; separate (two persons fighting)
gbáàtõ̀ ò [gbáàtɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. community (=gbáàyìì)
gbáàyìì [gbáàjìì] n. community (=gbáatɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ )̃
gbága [gbága] v.i. chip, as when an enamel object falls on cemented ground; (fig.) (of persons) die
frequently
gbágá [gbágá] n. hook type, metal or wooden, used to draw an object nearer; (fig.) attraction (of someone
to something good or bad): À lú gbágá yé ló It is a source of attraction to him (good or bad).
gbàgárá [gbàgárá] v.t. disjoin; separate; peel; remove the outer covering
Gbákẽ [gbákɛ]̃ n. Gbaken, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
gbàm$¹ [gbã̀ m̀ ] id. the banging of a door: Bũ doo gbàm$ The door banged shut.
Gbàm$² [gbã̀ m̀ ] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
gbam [gbãm] n. Blue or Maxwell’s duiker (Cephalophus monticola, C. maxwelli CEPHALOPHINAE)
gbànà [gbã̀ nã̀ ] adj. not parallel; not vertical; not square
gbanà [gbãnã̀ ] v.i. slope; incline; not to be parallel; not to be vertical
gbàra [gbàra] n. oil-bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla LEGUMINOSAE-MIMOSOIDEAE)
gbárà [gbárà] n. man (=neèdám)
gbára¹ [gbára] v.i. go fast; hasten: Gbàra! Go fast!
gbára² [gbára] v.adj. be not straight, not vertical, crooked
gbáregbáre [gbáregbáre] adv. fast; in haste
gbé¹ [gbé] v.i. be spoilt
Gbé² [gbé] n. village in Gokana
gbè ̣ [gbɛ̀] n. Bates’s Dwarf Antelope (Neotragus batesi NEOTRAGINAE)
gbẹ [gbε] v.t. despise; treat with disregard
gbẽ̀ [gbɛ̀ ]̃ v.t. grind: v.n. gbẽgbẽ̀
gbée [gbée] v.t. spoil; damage
gbéẹ́ ¹̣ [gbέέ] n. filth; filthiness
gbéẹ́ ²̣ [gbέέ] adj. filthy
gbẽ̀ è [gbɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. slant; slope
gbẽ̀ ègã̀ [gbɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. not to be vertical; slant; slope; gbẽgbẽẽ̀̀gã̀ v.n. not being vertical; sloping
gbẽ̀ è tṍ [gbɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ̃ tɔ́ ]̃ v.phr. listen; incline the ear to
gbẹgà [gbεgà] v.i. waver; oscillate unsteadily; be undecided between opinions
gbém̀ gbéré [gbém̀ gbéré] n. bivalve (probably Tagelus adansonii SOLECURTIDAE)
gbène [gbɛ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ adj. big; great; magnificent; splendid; elder: nà gbène nwííkà-neèdáḿ my elder brother
gbènekpò [gbɛ̀ ñ ɛk̃ pò] n. mountain
gbènepóro [gbɛ̀ ñ ɛp̃ óro] n. shark
Gbène-Úwé [gbɛ̀ ñ ɛ-̃ úwé] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
gbèrè [gbèrè] n. lizard
gbĩ¹ [gbĩ] v.t. want; desire; look for; search for; seek; v.n. gbĩgbĩ́ seeking
gbĩ² [gbĩ] v.t. dig (yam)
gbímùe [gbĩ́mũ̀ ẽ] v.t. find; discover; find out
gbò¹ [gbò] v.t. make wealth; become rich
gbò² [gbò] n. club; group
gbó [gbó] n. dog
20
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
gbò ̣ [gbɔ̀] v.i. vomit: À ga gbò ̣ He is vomiting.
gbọ [gbɔ] n. vomiting
gbõ̀ ¹ [gbɔ̀ ]̃ v.t. give comfort to a sorrowful person
Gbõ̀ ² [gbɔ̀ ]̃ n. Tèẹ̀ ̣ name for Igbo
gbṍò¹ [gbɔɔ ́ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. a climbing rope
gbṍò² [gbɔɔ ́ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. castnet
gbóoni [gbɔ́ ɔ̃ ñ ĩ] n. poor person; poverty of the highest degree
gbòra [gbòra] v.i. work hard
gbóra [gbóra] n. hard work
gbórò [gbórò] n. white round yam
gbubeèté [gbubeèté] n. stump of tree
gbúgu [gbúgu] n. small squat type of calabash
gbùgùrù [gbùgùrù] n. (of place) that particular (place) surrounded by a boundary
gbùgùrù-máá [gbùgùrù-mãã ́ ́ ] n. lake
gbùre [gbùre] v.t. make great; magnify
gbùre ágã́ [gbùre ágã́ ] v.phr. exaggerate
gburè-ágã́ [gburè-ágã́ ] n. exaggeration
gbùrùgbù [gbùrùgbù] n. carton
gbùrùnoo [gbùrũ̀ nɔɔ̃]̃ n. centipede
gbùwè [gbùwè] v.adj. be great; be fat
gbuwe [gbuwe] n. greatness
gé¹ [gé] n. kind of small fish
gé² [gé] part. a word indicating a question: Ò sũà gé? Do you know?
gẽ̀ [gɛ̀ ]̃ n. cutlass; matchet
gẽ [gɛ]̃ v.i. get worse; spread (as news); putrefy (of wound)
gée¹ [gée] v.i. drop; flow slowly and drop like oil
gée² [gée] v.i. be rather far
gẹẹ [gεε] v.i. be light and flying away
gẽ́ é [gɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. bell
gèẹ̀ gà
̣ [gɛɛ̀̀gà] v.i. move steadily without making a sound
gẹẹgẹẹ [gεεgεε] adj. delicate; needing careful handling
géèrèbá [géèrèbá] adj. not very far (but politely and ironically used to indicate a far distance)
gègé ̣ ̣ [gɛ̀gέ] adj. circular and wide
gẽ̀ hyó ̣rò ̣ [gɛ̀ h̃ jɔ́rɔ̀] n. shrimp
gẹrà [gεrà] v.i. become oily; become septic or infected; putrefy (of wound)
gèrẹ̀ ̣ [gɛ̀rɛ̀] n. (music) response of chorus
gèrègè [gèrègè] adv. exactly (of a central position) at the point
gérégéré¹ [gérégéré] n. xylophone; masquerade accompanied by the xylophone
gérégéré² [gérégéré] adj. slender, tall, and handsome or beautiful
gĩ̀๠[gĩ̀à] n. valour; bravery; prowess; a brave person; a hero
gĩ̀ಠ[gĩ̀à] adj. brave; courageous; valiant
gírà [gírà] n. clapperless iron bell; “gong”
gírí [gírí] n. small bird that eats bananas
gó [gó] n. namesake
gò¹ [gò] n. eagle
gò² [gò] n. ladder
21
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
gò ̣ [gɔ̀] n. gesture
gõ [gɔ]̃ v.t. hide
gõ̀ ã¹ [gɔ̀ ã̃ ] v.i. be hidden
gõ̀ ã² [gɔ̀ ã̃ ] n. hiding; secret place; secrecy
góọ́ ̣ [gɔɔ
́ ́ ] n. laziness; a lazy person
gùm̀ [gũ̀ m̀ ] n. noise
gú⁄ḿ [gú⁄)ḿ] n. barn
gùnàkẽ̀ -éẹ́ déẹ [gùnàkɛ̀ -̃ έέdée] n. twilight
gùrù [gùrù] n. buffalo; bushcow (Syncerus caffer BOVINAE)
gùwè ̣ [gùwɛ̀] n. loud continuous sound, as of a plane
gwa [gwa] v.t. mix; intermingle; v.n. gwagwá mixing; mixture
gwàgwá [gwàgwá] pred.adj. mixed: À lú gwàgwá It is mixed.
gwéré [gwéré] n. a tree used for making canoes
gwiì [gwiì] n. electric fish (Malapterurus electricus MALAPTERURIDAE)
Gyóó [gjóó] n. Gio, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣

há-háà! [háháà] interj. haha! (sound of laughter)

hẽ̀ ! hẽ̀ ! [hɛ̀ ̃ hɛ̀ ]̃ interj. look out! (warning of danger)
hínyá [hĩ́ɲã́ ] n. fire
hínyáhínyá [hĩ́ɲã́ hĩ́ɲã́ ] adj. hot; (fig.) very soon; immediate
hìnyanuló [hĩ̀ɲãnũló] v.t. smell
hla [l̥ a] n. yawning
hlàà [l̥ àà] n. extensive area (of land): máá hlàà expanse of sea
hlàa [l̥ àa] n. pangolin, which rolls up when seen or touched (Manis spp. PHOLIDOTA)
hláá [l̥ áá] n. gari pot
hlabà [l̥ abà] n. wing(s)
hlẹ [l̥ ε] n. panting; gasp(ing)
hlèb [l̥ èb] id. scattered in panic and running helter-skelter: Bà doo hlèb They are scattered in panic and
run helter-skelter.
hlèbàrà [l̥ èbàrà] v.t. remove the small tender yam tuber to produce many “seedlings” (=kẹ)
hlèègà [l̥ èègà] v.i. hesitate
hleegá [l̥ eegá] v.i. be dislocated (=toomá)
hléégá [l̥ éégá] adj. dislocated; hléégá tọ dislocated leg
hleegará [l̥ eegará] v.t. dislocate (=toománá)
hlègẹ¹ ̣ [l̥ ɛ̀gε] n. fontanelle; where babies’ breathing is felt on head
hlègẹ²̣ [l̥ ɛ̀gε] n. hiccup(s)
hlòb [l̥ òb] num. ten
hlòb-nè-ànìì [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔã̀ nĩĩ̀̀] num. sixteen
hlòb-nè-ànìnyìà [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔã̀ nĩ̀ɲĩ̀ã̀ ] num. nineteen
hlòb-nè-azĩ̀ì [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔazĩĩ̀̀] num. eleven
hlòb-nè-bèẹ̀ ̣ [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ bɛɛ̀̀] num. twelve
hlòb-nè-èrè ̣ bạ̀ [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔɛ̀rɛ̀bà] num. seventeen
hlòb-nè-èrè ̣ taa
̣ [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔɛ̀rɛ̀taa] num. eighteen
hlòb-nè-nyìà [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ɲĩ̀ã̀ ] num. fourteen
22
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
hlòb-nè-òò [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ ʔòò] num. fifteen
hlòb-nè-taa [l̥ òb-nɛ̀ -̃ taa] num. thirteen
hlòb tub [l̥ òb tub] num. two hundred
hlóó [l̥ óó] n. navel
hlú [l̥ ú] n. death: U hlu Die the death!
hm̀ [hm̀ ] interj. grunt with the mouth closed, complaining about life; expression of fear or disgust
hnà [n̥ ã̀ ] n. hornbill (BUCEROTIDAE)
hnó [n̥ ɔ́ ]̃ n. war; (fig.) struggle
Hò ̣rò ̣ [hɔ̀rɔ̀] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
hwà [ʍà] v.t. weed
hwa [ʍa] v.t. throw to the ground forcibly in order to break
hwá [ʍá] n. intestine
hwã̀ [ʍã̀ ] v.t. respect (n. ahwã̀ )
hwáà [ʍáà] n. canoe; ship; vehicle
hwã̀ gànà [ʍã̀ gã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. wrest, take violently (something from somebody)
hwã̀ gíní [ʍã̀ gĩ́nĩ́] v.t. squeeze; compress; (fig.) prevent someone from doing something; twist (facts)
hwẹ [ʍε] v.t. kill
hwèḅ [ʍɛ̀b] id. sagging: Noo tọ dọ hwèḅ The roof is sagging.
hwẹb [ʍεb] adj. low: hwẹb kẽ low(-lying) land
hwéé [ʍéé] n. calabash (general)
hweerá [ʍeerá] v.t. break down (e.g. old wall)
hwẹẹréló ̣ [ʍεεrέló] v.adj. be peaceful; abide in peace
hwéẹ́ ré ̣ lọ́ [ʍέέrέló] n. peace
hwègẹ̀ ̣ [ʍɛ̀gɛ̀] n. humble service; humility
hwem [ʍɛm ̃ ] v.t. keep on pressing in massage; press oil from palm fibre
hwénkéré [ʍɛ́ ñ kéré] n. groundnuts
hwéré ̣ ̣ [ʍέrέ] n. plate, especially breakable
hwèrè ̣ hwè
̣ ̣ [ʍɛ̀rɛ̀ʍɛ̀] n. herb with indented leaf, used as medicine (Laportea ovalifolia (Schum.) Chew
URTICACEAE)
hwìì¹ [ʍìì] v.t. cut with knife or axe
hwìì² [ʍìì] v.t. stop action or bad behaviour; end
hwìì³ [ʍìì] n. will-power; zeal
hwíí⁄¹ [ʍíí⁄] n. mango
hwíí [ʍíí] pred. adj. dry and hard, needing water to soften: À lu hwíí It is dry and hard.
hwììri [ʍììri] v.t. blow with mouth (fire, musical instrument)
hwìnì [ʍĩ̀nĩ̀] n. monkey
hwíní [ʍĩ́nĩ́] n. freshwater plant with cocoyam-like leaf and thorny stem (Cyrtosperma senegalense
(Schott) Engl. ARACEAE)
hwìrì [ʍìrì] n. beard
hwo [ʍo] v.t. plant (crops)
hwọgó ̣ró ̣ [ʍɔgɔ́rɔ́] n. big black edible frog, found in fresh water
hwòọ̀ ̣ [ʍɔɔ̀ ̀ ] n. small frog
hwulò ̣ [ʍulɔ̀] v.i. miss target, (also used fig.): À hwulò ̣ It misses the target.
hwùrà [ʍùrà] v.i. break; end; stop (of rope or action)
hwùù¹ [ʍùù] v.i. be swollen
hwùù² [ʍùù] n. swelling disease, probably kwashiokor
23
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
hwúuga¹ [ʍúuga] v.i. swoop down, like a kite on chickens
hwúuga² [ʍúuga] v.i. be strong enough (of pounded yam or fufu)
hyáà [ɕáà] n. yam when cooked or roasted, to be eaten by chewing
hyára [ɕára] v.i. burn: Zĩ́ á hyára The yam is burnt.
hyárá [ɕárá] adj. dry; without water
hyẹẹ¹ [ɕεε] v.t. roll between the palms into a ball or small cylinder; spin into thread
hyẹẹ² [ɕεε] v.t. (of fire) blow from a glow to a flame; (fig.) make grow from an undeveloped to a
developed stage
hyeègà [ɕeègà] v.adj. be left open: e.g. À hyeègà It is left open.
hyèère [ɕèère] v.t. open; leave open (=kpaaná)
hyèrẹ̣ [ɕɛ̀rε] v.cs. make burnt: À hyérẹ ̣ zĩ́ a He makes the yam burnt.
hyím¹ [ɕĩ́m] v.adj. be sour: À hyím It is sour.
hyím² [ɕĩ́m] v.adj. be calm: Bàrà hyím The farm is calm.
hyòb [ɕòb] v.t. make a hole (=hyògàrà)
hyób [ɕób] id. describes the crack of a whip
hyòg๠[ɕògà] v.adj. be deep
hyògಠ[ɕògà] n. depth; e.g. ye hyòga its depth
hyògà³ [ɕògà] adv. deeply: À bura hyogà He thinks deeply.
hyògàrà [ɕògàrà] v.t. make a hole; pierce (as ear) (=hyòb)
hyò ̣gàrà [ɕɔ̀gàrà] v.t. swallow
hyó ̣ọ [ɕɔ́ɔ] n. snake
hyóọ́ ̣ [ɕɔɔ́ ́ ] n. music; song: Úwé ̣ hyóọ́ ̣ Sing a song.
hyọò ̣gà [ɕɔɔ̀gà] v.i. drop from the bunch (like palm fruit); slip out of joint; (fig.) fail to happen: À hyọò ̣gà
It drops off (because it is over-ripe, as palmfruit), (fig.) It fails to happen.
hyọò ̣rẹ [ɕɔɔ̀rε] v.i. be unsuccessful (of seed-yams that fail to grow); (fig.) fail to happen
hyòòri [ɕòòri] v.i. flower
hyoori [ɕoori] n. tea-bush; spice used for cooking (Ocimum gratissimum Linn. LABIATAE)
hyọò ̣ri [ɕɔɔ̀ri] v.i. slip
hyó ̣rò ̣ [ɕɔ́rɔ̀] n. shrimp; “crayfish”; “lobster” (general term)
hyõó’e [ɕɔɔ̃ ́ ̃ʔe] n. tomorrow
hyũe [ɕũɛ]̃ v.t. “butcher”, cut up (dead animal)
hyúnú-póro [ɕṹnṹ-póro] n. fish on a small rack
hyúu¹ [ɕúu] n. thorn(s)
hyúu² [ɕúu] n. louse
hyṹú [ɕṹ)ṹ] n. rat; mouse
hyuúbũ [ɕuúbũ] n. key (=ígara, =hyúùgòdò)
hyúùgò [ɕúùgò] n. step; (fig.) university degree (coinage): túá hyúùgò first or Bachelor’s degree; érèbèẹ̀ ̣
hyúùgò second or Master’s degree; érètaà hyúùgò third or doctoral degree
hyúùgòdò [ɕúùgòdò] n. key (=ígara, = hyuúbũ̀ )
hyúùlóbínà [ɕúùlóbĩ́nã̀ ] n. porcupine (Atherurus africanus HYSTRICIDAE)
hyúúkã̀ à [ɕúúkãã ̀ ̀ ] n. eggplant; “garden-egg” (Solanum spp. SOLANACEAE)

I, I)

í, ì [ʔí, ì] pron. (1st pers. pl. subj.) we : Í doo We shall/will do (it): Ì ga sí doo We are going to do (it).
ib [ʔib] v.t. massage

24
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
íb¹ [ʔíb] n. palm-nut, kernel
íb² [ʔíb] n. a kind: lo íb that kind
ìbéré [ʔìbéré] v.t. forget
ìbi [ʔìbi] v.t. collect water
ìgà [ʔìgà] v.adj. be twisted: À igà It is twisted.
ìga¹ [ʔìga] v.adj. be mature: À íga It is mature.
íga² [ʔíga] v.adj. be compressed (of air under high pressure); be well mixed: À íga It is well mixed.
ìgàr๠[ʔìgàrà] v.t. twist or make rope
ìgàrಠ[ʔìgàrà] v.t. wring (clothes)
ígara [ʔígara] n. key (=hyuúbũ)
ìgárá [ʔìgárá] v.t. lock (door or box): Ìgárá bũ Lock the door.
ii [ʔii] v.t. marry a woman or women
íí¹ [ʔíí] adj. dead: íí nee dead body; corpse; íí nam dead animal; carcass
íí² [ʔíí] n. corpse; carcass
ììgà [ʔììgà] v.adj. be bent, not straight (of line): À iìgà It is bent/not straight.
íiga¹ [ʔíiga] v.i. be locked
íiga² [ʔíiga] v.i. tumble
i-i-i-i [ʔi-i-i-i] interj. a distant call in the bush
ììm๠[ʔĩĩ̀̀mã̀ ] v.adj. be patient, accommodating: Ó dáb yé ììmà gé? Can you accommodate (put up with)
him?
ììmಠ[ʔĩĩ̀̀mã̀ ] n. patience
iinétẽ́ [ʔĩĩnɛ́ t̃ ɛ́ ]̃ v.i. join together and act as a group in opposition to another group: Bà íinetẽ́ wa kpèe sí
They joined together and faced them.
ìna¹ [ʔĩ̀nã] v.t. arrive; reach; visit
ìna² [ʔĩ̀nã] n. a short visit: À wée ina ìna He pays short visits (cognate object)
ìnye [ʔĩ̀ɲɛ]̃ v.t. set (pot on fire): Ì nye bã́ dẽ́ è hínyá Set the pot on the fire.
ìnyetẽ́ [ʔĩ̀ɲɛt̃ ɛ́ ]̃ v.i. sit; sit down
irì [ʔirì] pron. (emph. pron., ¹st pers. pl. subj. and obj.) we; us: Irì beè nè yààló Gbárà We gave Gbara a
coat: Gbárà beè nè yààló irì Gbara gave us a coat.
íyà! [ʔíjà] interj. an expression of surprise; What!
ìyàà! [ʔìjàà] interj. Good! (an ironic expression of approval)
ìye [ʔìje] v.t. leave; give up; surrender; forgo

k๠[kà] v.t. give praise, glory, honour, respect to

kಠ[kà] n. mother
kà³ [kà] n. size
kà4 [kà] n. lamp shade
ka [ka] n. praise; glory; honour; respect
-ka [ka] suffix the whole: e.g. zìkà nu one whole thing: bèẹ̀ kà
̣ nu two whole things
kàabùè [kàabùè] n. plantain
kààgà [kààgà] v. refl. boast; praise, glorify oneself
kàànà [kãã̀ ̀ nã̀ ] v.t. pick (fruit); pluck (leaves)
Kaanì [kããnĩ̀] n. a village in Ogoni, in Khana LGA
Kaanì-Bunù [kããnĩ̀-bũnũ̀ ] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
25
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
káani [kã́ ãnĩ] n. firewood
kàb¹ [kàb] v.t. scratch: À kab ló ye He scratches himself.
kàb² [kàb] v.t. work with effort: À kab áwíí He weeds grass with effort.
káb [káb] id. describes the going out of a light, wink or blink of the eye; (fig.) of any sudden action: À doo
káb It happens suddenly.
kàbàrà [kàbàrà] v.t. break open; clear a virgin forest
kàbáàrì [kàbáàrì] n. an aged man
kága [kága] v.adj. be dry: À kága It is dry: À kága ta It dries up (as water).
kágara [kágara] n. sky; heaven(s) (=bunòo)
kágárá [kágárá] adj. dry; needing water; kágárá sṍ dry season
kagéré ̣ ̣ [kagέrέ] v.cs. make dry: kagéré ̣ ̣ bu dúwe dry in the sun (=kẹgéré
̣ )̣
kàhyáà [kàɕáà] n. type of water-yam
kàk๠[kàkà] n. truth; reality; honesty
kàkಠ[kàkà] adj. true; real; honest: kàkà úwe true story
kàm̀ [kà)m̀ ] v.t. give money to somebody who is going to market to buy something for one
kam¹ [kãm] v.t. hang in the air from something projecting: À ká⁄ḿ té He hangs from something projecting.
kam² [kãm] v.t. cut small branches of tree with leaves for easy burning
kam³ [kãm] v.t. tie yam to sticks after harvesting and cleaning
kam4 [kãm] n. debt
káḿ¹ [kã́ ḿ ] n. language
káḿ² [káḿ] n. the handle of an object, e.g. bucket, peg, or hook for hanging something on
kànà [kã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. try; attempt
kàna [kã̀ nã] n. quarrel: À kána kàna He quarrels (with someone).
Kanà [kãnã̀ ] n. Kana or Khana, a part of Ogoni; the Kana language
kána [kã́ nã] v.t. quarrel with: À kána ye He quarrelled with him.
káná [kã́ nã́ ] n. water-pot
kànàmùè [kã̀ nã̀ mũ̀ ɛ̀ ]̃ n. greeting; salutation
kànamue [kã̀ nãmũɛ]̃ v.t. greet; saluteũ̀
kanee [kãnɛɛ̃]̃ n. senior; kanee nwííkà elder brother or sister
kanwaà [kaŋwãã̀ ] n. mother-in-law; wife’s mother
kàr๠[kàrà] v.t. disown
kàrಠ[kàrà] n. fish-trap type
karà³ [karà] n. prayer; incantation (=tã̀ àgã̀ ló)
kárá [kárá] n. edible frog
karáàlè [karáàlè] n. coral bead (<English)
kawa [kawa] n. old woman
kẹ¹ [kε] v.t. cut open (one end) (of coconut); cut (the top of immature yam tuber when the yam is still
growing to help produce many seedlings)
kẹ² [kε] v.t. hatch
kẽ¹ [kɛ]̃ adv. how; kẽ́ a dè dòò how it is
kẽ² [kɛ]̃ n. place
kẽ³ [kɛ]̃ prep. under
kẽ́ [kɛ́ ]̃ n. egg: kẽ́ kõ̀ ò fowl’s egg
kèà [kèà] n. killing
kẽ́ a [kɛ́ ã̃ ] adv. this place; here
kẽ́ abá [kɛ́ ã̃ bá] n. that place; there
26
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kẽákẽ [kɛã̃ ́ kɛ]̃ n. this place (right here); here (before me/us)
kẽáya [kɛã̃ ́ ja] adv. around: À dè kẽáya He is around (just near here) (more specific than aya)
kèb [kèb] adj. short and thick
kèbá [kèbá] n. short arrow (contrast pégé)
Kẽbàrà-Kìrà [kẽbàrà-kìrà] n. Kebara-Kira, a village in Te`e`
kébkéb [kébkéb] adj. breaking easily (like thread)
kébké ̣ ḅ [kέbkέb] n. minute (coinage)
kèè [kèè] v.t. butcher (animal); kill (for cannibalism): Kèè péé Butcher a goat; v.n. kekèè killing
kéẹ¹ ̣ [kέε] n. shame (also bò ̣bkéẹ) ̣
kéẹ² ̣ [kέε] adj. shameful: À lú kéẹ̣ It is shameful.
kéẹ³ ̣ [kέε] n. thatch
kéẹ́ ¹̣ [kέέ] v.i. fast
kéẹ́ ²̣ [kέέ] n. fasting
kéẹ⁄̣̀ ³ [kέέ] n. week
kéẹ́ 4̣ [kέέ] n. holiness
kéẹ́ 5̣ [kέέ] adj. holy
kẽ̀ è¹ [kɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. visit regularly
kẽ̀ è² [kɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. (piece of) cloth; wrapper
kẽe [kɛɛ̃)]̃ n. a climbing plant whose leaves are used for salad
kẹèg๠̣ [kεɛ̀gà] v.i. hang down: À tób kèẹ̀ gà ̣ It holds on to something and hangs from it (like bat).
kèẹ̀ gಠ̣ [kɛɛ̀̀gà] adv. hanging down
kẹẹgá [kεεgá] v.i. stroll: v.n. kéẹga ̣ stroll
kẽ̀ èkpò [kɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ k̃ pò] n. a somersaulting game; a masquerade that somersaults
kéẹ́ nu ̣ [kέέnũ] n. fasting
kèg๠[kègà] v.t. frequent; resort
kègಠ[kègà] n. frequenting: À ére kèga lo kẽ̀ He frequents that place (lit. He does frequenting of that
place)
kẹgárá [kεgárá] v.i. rove; wander
kégara ̣ [kέgara] n. stroll
kègẹ ̣ [kɛ̀gε] v.i. laugh
kègé ̣ ré ̣ ̣ [kɛ̀gέrέ] (=kagéré
̣ )̣ v.cs. dry: À kégẹrẹ
̣ póro He dries fish.
kéna [kɛ́ ñ ã] v.i. shiver; tremble
kení [kɛñ ĩ́] n., adv. that place; there
kèrà ̣ [kɛ̀rà] v.refl. hang on one’s neck or on the shoulder (e.g. bag, sling)
kèrè [kèrè] n. drum
kère¹ [kère] adj. different
kère² [kère] n. difference
kérè¹ [kérè] n. one piece of a whole: kérè té stick; piece of wood
kérè² [kérè] adj. incomplete; not full (of liquid or number): kérè làlá máá basin of water which is not full
kére [kére] adv. truly; actually; certainly: Á kére doo lo nu He will truly do that thing.
kéré [kéré] n. ancient time; piyá kéré people of old
kèrè ̣ ̣ [kɛ̀rɛ̀] n. deception; deceit; craftiness
kèrẹ¹ ̣ [kɛ̀rε] v.t. deceive
kèrẹ²
̣ [kɛ̀rε] v.t. hang up: Kèrẹ ̣ nu yààlo Hang up the dress.
kèrẹ³ ̣ [kɛ̀rε] v.t. watch the movement of a person or something to find an opportunity to act
kérè ̣ ̣ [kέrɛ̀] n. beans
27
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kérèkẽ̀ è [kérèkɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. piece of cloth
kétọ [kétɔ] n. sitting-room
kíbdáa [kíbdáa] v.i. toil
kìgéré [kìgéré] v.t. roll: v.n. kìkígéré
kìgi [kìgi] n. gum (in mouth)
kìì [kìì] v.i. go away; depart; v.n. kikìì going
kii [kii] n. departure; escape
kíi [kíi] n. famine; scarcity
kììgà [kììgà] v.i. turn about; change; repent
kiigá [kiigá] v.i. roll; v.n. kìkíígá rolling (by itself)
kììgàkẽ̀ [kììgàkɛ̀ ]̃ n. repentance
kíìri-kíìri [kíìri-kíìri] n. rooting about; moving around in search of things
kìm̀ [kìm̀ ] v.t. refuse; reject; object to; v.n. kimkìm̀ refusing; rejecting; objecting
kìmà [kĩ̀mã̀ ] (=kùmà) n. boundary
kíná [kĩ́nã́ ] adj. small (=ḿgbárà)
kìnyà [kĩ̀ɲã̀ ] v.i. walk
kinyà [kĩɲã̀ ] n. travel; journey
kìnyalò ̣ [kĩ̀ɲãlɔ̀] v.i. transgress
kinyàlò ̣ [kĩɲã̀ lɔ̀] n. transgression
kiri [?] n. angwantibo
kìyẹ [kìjε] n. left (hand, side); west (when facing the north) (coinage)
kò¹ [kò] v.t. parcel; wrap: v.n. kokò wrapping
kò² [kò] n. small black stinging ant
ko [ko] n. parcel; package
Kó [kó] n. village in Ogoni (called Òpùòkó in Nḅanị)
kò ̣ [kɔ̀] v.t. tear from the bunch (of palm bunch): v.n. kọkò ̣
kọ [kɔ] v.t., v.i. say; speak; make speech; report; v.n. kò ̣kó ̣
kõ̀ [kɔ̀ ]̃ v.t. pack things forcibly with nothing left: v.n. kõkõ̀
kõ [kɔ]̃ n. fodder; food for animals; (fig.) our food
kọb¹ [kɔb] v.t. scoop up scanty water with small container to fill a larger one: (fig.) find something little by
little when it is scarce; (fig.) improve life little by little: Ì ga kó ̣b dùm̀ We are improving life gradually.
kọb² [kɔb] n. scabies
kọb³ [kɔb] n. bunch of fruit or keys (=ágú)
kò ̣b๠[kɔ̀bà] n. a lame person
kò ̣bಠ[kɔ̀bà] adj. lame: À lú kò ̣bà He is lame.
kóbara [kóbara] n. thickness; (fig.) personality
kò ̣bẹ¹ [kɔ̀bε] v.cs. make lame
kò ̣bẹ² [kɔ̀bε] n. hook
kò ̣béré ̣ ̣ [kɔ̀bέrέ] v.cs. curve; bend
kó ̣béré ̣ ̣ [kɔ́bέrέ] adj. curved; bent: : À lú kó ̣béré ̣ ̣ It is curved.
kó ̣bérẹ́ bu¹ ̣ [kɔ́bέrέbu] n. concave object
kó ̣béré ̣ bu² ̣ [kɔ́bέrέbu] adj. curved; bent; concave (coinage)
kó ̣béré ̣ dùme ̣ [kɔ́bέrέdũ̀ mɛ]̃ adj. convex (coinage)
kò ̣gò ̣rò ̣ [kɔ̀gɔ̀rɔ̀] n. roof; (fig.) any type of cover
kòm๠[kɔ̀ m ̃ ã̀ ] v.i. hoot
kòmಠ[kɔ̀ ̃mã̀ ] n. hooting
28
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kòò [kòò] v.t. circumcise: v.n. kokòò circumcision
koò [koò] n. horn
koo [koo] n. timid animal (antelope group)
kóò [kóò] n. friend; friendship
kóo¹ [kóo] n. chest; thorax
kóo² [kóo] n. “Indian gong”
kòọ̀ ̣ [kɔɔ
̀ ̀ ] v.t. smoothe; plane (planks)
kó ̣ọ [kɔ́ɔ] n. chewing-stick
kõ̀ ò [kɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. fowl; chicken
kṍò [kɔɔ ́ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. spear
kọọbá [kɔɔbá] v.refl. be curved, bent: Kọọbá Bend yourself.
kó ̣ọba [kɔ́ɔba] v.adj. be curved, bent: À kó ̣ọba It is curved/He is bent.
kõ̀ òbèkéè [kɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ̃ bèkéè] n. duck
kòòg๠[kòògà] v.refl. develop; unfold; open; grow; v.n. kokòògà developing; unfolding; opening;
growing
kòògಠ[kòògà] n. development; unfolding; opening; growth
kõ̀ ògã̀ [kɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. (of liquid) flow gradually from the higher or former position; (of persons) move
gradually from the former position: v.n. kõkõ̀ ògã̀ : I kõkõ̀ ògã ága yerebá í nè Our moving from the
former position will not help us.
kòòkòòpéé [kòòkòòpéé] n. castrated goat
kòònà [kɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ñ ã̀ ] v.i. skim off surface oil from water
kòòrà [kòòrà] v.t. develop; unfold; open; grow; unwrap; kokòòrà v.n. developing; unfolding; opening;
growth; unwrapping
kòọ̀ ̣r๠[kɔɔ ̀ ̀ rà] v.t. make clean/neat a place that has been left unused; tidy a place
kòọ̀ ̣rಠ[kɔɔ ̀ ̀ rà] v.t. (of the action of hot oil) scald
kòọ̀ ̣rà³ [kɔɔ ̀ ̀ rà] v.t. unload; pack out goods from a ship or vehicle: v.n. kọkòọ̀ ̣rà
4
kòọ̀ ̣rà [kɔɔ ̀ ̀ rà] v.t. remove skin; kòọ̀ ̣rà kpá flay; skin; v.n. kọkòọ̀ ̣rà flaying; skinning
kòọ̀ ̣ra [kɔɔ ̀ ̀ ra] v.refl. kòọ̀ ̣ra kpá change skin (as snake)
kòòro [kòòro] n. Western tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis HYRACOIDAE), black climbing animal which
cries harshly at night
kóró [kóró] n. large hollow naturally scooped out by decay in a living tree where water collects
kòrokẽ̀ [kòrokɛ̀ ]̃ n. earth; soil; ground
kòròko [kòròko] n. vegetable used as salad (= sògo)
Kòròkòrò [kòròkòrò] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
kòw๠[kòwà] v.i. (of dry leaves) shrivel
kòwಠ[kòwà] v.t. cover
kòwà³ [kòwà] n. cover: À de kẽ kòwà He is under the cover.
kòwàahyòòrì [kòwàaɕòòrì] n. calyx; the outer covering of a flower (coinage)
kpà [kpà] v.t. uncover forcibly
kpa¹ [kpa] v.t. beat (drum); strike
kpa² [kpa] n. drumming
kpá [kpá] n. book; skin; leather
kpã̀ [kpã̀ ] v.i. stand on tiptoe to reach something; v.n. kpãkpã̀ reaching on tiptoe
kpã́ [kpã́ ] n. screaming; shout
kpã̀ à [kpãã ̀ ̀ ] n. yam beetle
kpãa [kpãã] n. stage
29
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kpã̀ àgã̀ [kpãã ̀ ̀ gã̀ ] n. going up; kpã̀ àgã̀ nyíe high-mindedness
kpaaná [kpããnã́ ] v.t. open; declare open
kpàbé [kpàbé] n. weeding hoe
kpá-doò-piyè [kpá-doò-pijè] n. pharmocopoeia (coinage)
kpágárá [kpágárá] adj. old (like forest); difficult to crack (like kernel)
kpágárá-kùwè ̣ [kpágárá-kùwɛ̀] n. forest
kpánam [kpánãm] n. animal skin
kpánee [kpánɛɛ̃]̃ n. human skin
kpàr๠[kpàrà] adj. poor
kpàrಠ[kpàrà] n. poverty
Kpárá [kpárá] n. masquerade that walks on stilts
kpátọ [kpátɔ] n. shoe
kpè [kpè] v.adj. be sweet: À kpe It is sweet.
kpé [kpé] n. metal; metal goods; bicycle, etc.
kpè ̣ [kpɛ̀] n. track (of animal); trace
kpẹ [kpε] v.t. pay; v.n. kpẹkpé ̣ paying: nee-kpẹkpé-kpìgì ̣ paying cashier
kpẽ [kpɛ]̃ v.t. plant crops close to each other
kpèạ [kpɛ̀a] v.t. report; complain
kpèạ [kpɛ̀a] n. report; complaint; testimony: lé kpèạ good testimony: Ì ga nè kpèạ lé Bàrì We are giving
testimony to God’s goodness.
kpẽ́ a [kpɛ́ ã̃ ] v.i. be planted close to each other: Zĩ́ á kpẽ́ a The yams are closely planted.
kpèe¹ [kpèe] v.cs. make sweet: Bùì kpèe Cook it sweet.
kpèe² [kpèe] v.t. turn; kpèe sĩ́ face; turn to a specific direction
kpèẹ̀ ¹̣ [kpɛɛ̀̀] v.t. remove lightly; brush away; (fig.) brush off
kpèẹ̀ ²̣ [kpɛɛ̀̀] n. weaver-bird
kpẹẹ [kpεε] v.t. sweep
kpéẹ́ ̣ [kpέέ] n. snail (general); (fig.) food: kpèra ̣ kpéẹ́ ̣ look for food
kpẽ̀ è¹ [kpɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. tie very tight
kpẽ̀ è² [kpɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ prep. near: Yira yé kpẽ̀ è Stand near him.
kpẽ̀ e³ [kpɛ̀ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. yellow long yam
kpẽe [kpɛɛ̃]̃ v.t. close (door); (fig.) close (work)
kpẽègã̀ [kpɛɛ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. droop; hang down (as bunch of plantain that weighs down the plant) (cf. suùgà)
kpèg๠[kpègà] v.t. protect
kpègಠ[kpègà] n. protection; defence; shield
kpegene [?] n. genet spp.
kpéhínyá [kpéhĩ́ɲã́ ] n. heater
kpènà [kpɛ̀ ñ ã̀ ] v.t. take care of (as a child); ḿkpènà child taken care of
kpèna [kpɛ̀ ñ ã] v.adj. be closed: Bũ kpéna The door is closed; kpèna bũ closed door
kpènaló [kpɛ̀ ñ ãló] v.i. be ready
kpenàló [kpɛñ ã̀ ló] n. readiness
kpène [kpɛ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ v.t. drive away; pursue
Kpèté-Bunù
̣ [kpɛ̀té-bũnũ̀ ] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
kpìgì [kpìgì] n. money
kpígírí [kpígírí] adj. small size
kpĩ́ i [kpĩ́ĩ] n. mark made on an object or a person as a sign of identification
Kpììté [kpììté] n. Kpite, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
30
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
Kpììté-Zṍgṍgagáà [kpììté-zɔ́ g̃ ɔ́ g̃ agáà] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
kpìm̀ [kpĩ̀m̀ ] id. sound of a heavy object falling
kpírí [kpírí] n. a bunch of dried oil bean shells used as rattle for music
kpìya [kpìja] v.t. deride
kpíya [kpíja] n. derision
kpò¹ [kpò] n. hill; mountain
kpò² [kpò] n. hump; protuberance on the back of camels and some persons as a deformity
kpo¹ [kpo] v.t. drive away; pursue
kpo² [kpo] v.t. take small quantity of food to swallow at a time
kpò ̣ [kpɔ̀] adj. (of anything soft, like cloth) big in a heap
kpọ [kpɔ] v.t. cut into small pieces
kpõ̀ [kpɔ̀ ]̃ n. yam seedlings
kpṍ [kpɔ́ ]̃ v.i. (of salt) be enough to give sufficient taste to the soup
kpó ̣a [kpɔ́a] v.i. fall and break into pieces as yam; (fig.) fall out, become disunited (as people); v.n.
kpọkpó ̣á falling out; disorganizing
kpọb [kpɔb] v.i. be shaken; become loose, not tight; (of screw, nail, knot) be loose so that it can easily fall
out
kpòbànà [kpòbã̀ nã̀ ] n. rubbish heap
kpògà [kpògà] adv. to one side; not squarely
kpọgà [kpɔgà] v.i. be loose, so that it can easily fall off
kpò ̣gẹ [kpɔ̀gε] v.cs. shake; make loose so that one can easily bring out (a pinned stick, etc.)
kpò ̣gèrẹ̣ [kpɔ̀gɛ̀rε] v.t. (of the eye) gaze at something
kpògòrò [kpògòrò] n. mongoose; “fox”
kpoli [kpoli] n. grave
kpòme nyíe [kpɔ̀ m ̃ ɛ̃ ɲĩ́ɛ]̃ v.phr. take heart; comfort
kpòmenyíe [kpɔ̀ ̃mɛɲ̃ ĩ́ɛ]̃ n. comfort
kpòḿ-kpòḿ [kpɔ̀ ̃ḿ -kpɔ̀ ̃ḿ ] id. sound made when water gurgles out of a narrow opening
kpònà [kpɔ̀ ñ ã̀ ] n. friction
kponà [kpɔñ ã̀ ] v.i. do something with difficulty or friction: Ó ga kpònà Do it quickly and smoothly.
kpòògà [kpòògà] v.refl. make way; move aside for someone
Kpòọ̀ ̣gọ [kpɔɔ ̀ ̀ gɔ] n. Kpoghor, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
kpòòrà [kpòòrà] v.t. put aside for future use; suspend action on
kpopiyè [kpopijè] n. image
kpòrà [kpòrà] v.t. keep (someone) at a distance; disconnect from or separate in thought or in fact
kpò ̣ra [kpɔ̀ra] v.i. fall rolling to a lower level (like a coin or any cylindrical object)
kpò ̣rẹ [kpɔ̀rε] v.cs. roll or push like wheelbarrow
Kpòro [kpòro] n. village in Eleme
kpórò [kpórò] n. bulging scar left after wound has healed
kpóró [kpóró] n. worst stage of poverty; extremely poor person
kpò ̣rò ̣ [kpɔ̀rɔ̀] adj. lazy and dirty (pred.): À lu kpò ̣rò ̣ S/he is lazy and dirty.
kpó ̣ró ̣ [kpɔ́rɔ́] n. sceptre; staff borne as symbol of personal sovereignty; (abs.) royal or imperial authority
(= agèẹ̀ ̣ = túḿ-méné)
kpóróko¹ [kpóróko] n. manilla
kpóróko² [kpóróko] n. jigger
kporokúnwá [kporokṹŋwã́ ] n. mortar
kpùgúrú [kpùgúrú] adj. round: kpùgúrú kwĩ̀ì round basket
31
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kpùgúrúkpé [kpùgúrúkpé] n. ring
kpúwé ̣ [kpúwέ] n. genet (Genetta spp. VIVERRIDAE)
krúùs [krúùs] see kurúùsù
kù¹ [kù] v.t. cut with knife: v.n. kukù
kù² [kù] v.t. dodge; escape danger
kù³ [kù] v.t. throw out and make empty
ku [ku] interrog. how many?: Ku nee? How many persons? (Note: In most cases, kukà is used.)
kúgúrú [kúgúrú] n. rake
kukà [kukà] interrog. how many?: Kukà nu? How many things?
kum¹ [kũm] v.t. pound food, pepper, etc.; strike: kúḿ mùnù strike with the fist; punch
kum² [kũm] n. bunch of palm fruit; pod of fluted pumpkin
kúḿ [kṹḿ] id. click expressing anger and unhappiness
kùmà [kũ̀ mã̀ ] see kìmà
kumbè [kũmbè] n. manilla, an old currency changed finally at ¹² for one shilling
kùme [kũ̀ mɛ]̃ v.t. give a goat or fowl to a person as a sign of love; both share the offspring for some time
before returning the original mother to the original giver
kúmè [kũ@mɛ̀ ]̃ n. a mother animal whose offspring have been shared when it is returned to the owner
kùm̀ m$ [kũ̀ mm
̀ ̀ ] id. the sound of a gun
kùna [kũ̀ nã] n. cutlass (=gẽ̀ )
kunà [kũnã̀ ] v.adj. be equal
kùnu [kũ̀ nũ] v.i. be folded or contracted; squat
kúnwá [kṹŋwã́ ] n. mortar
kúnwá-áwíí-nam [kṹŋwã́ -áwíí-nãm] n. manger (coinage)
kùnwè [kũ̀ ŋwɛ̀ ]̃ v.t. print; type
kùrà [kùrà] v.p. be named or called: Daà kurà Légbárà I am named Legbara.
kùràkúrá [kùràkúrá] adj. whatever; kùràkúra nu whatever (thing)
kúrù [kúrù] n. tortoise
kúrú [kúrú] n. plantain flower
kurúùsù [kurúùsù] (= krúùs) n. cannon
kùù [kùù] v.i. creep
kuu [kuu] n. creeping
kúu [kúu] n. cut; mark made or left by cutting
kúúnékpé [kṹṹnɛ́ k̃ pé] n. iron pot-stand
kùwa¹ [kùwa] n. hawk; a carnivorous bird
kùwa² [kùwa] n. bonga-fish
Kúwá [kúwá] n. Tèẹ̀ ̣ name for the Okrika people
kuwè [kuwè] n. leopard
kuwe¹ [kuwe] v.t. call; summon; name; call the name: Bà kúwè me Légbárà They call/name me Legbara.
kuwe² [kuwe] v.i. leak (as pot); (fig.) (as news or secret) be revealed: Lo èmạ̀ kúwé The exam leaked.
kúwé [kúwé] n. call; naming
kùwè ̣ [kùwɛ̀] n. bush
kuwẹ¹ [kuwε] v.t. remove sand from harvested yams
kuwẹ² [kuwε] n. bamboo tree; raphia palm: míí kuwẹ raphia palm-wine
kwa [kwa] v.t. do; make; manufacture
kwáá [kwáá] id. harsh sound made by cutting glass
kwaagáló [kwaagáló] v.refl. take care of oneself
32
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
kwáló [kwáló] v.t. take care of, tend (a young plant)
kwìì¹ [kwìì] v.t. shave (hair)
kwìì² [kwìì] v.t. plant (crops)
kwii¹ [kwii] v.i. commit adultery, fornication
kwii² [kwii] n. razor
kwĩ̀ì [kwĩĩ̀̀] n. basket
kwĩ̀ì-akpà [kwĩĩ̀̀-akpà] n. basket with a cover
kwò ̣ [kwɔ̀] v.t. mix well; stir

la¹ [la] v.t. cause to itch: À lá ye It causes him to itch.

la² [la] n. palm fronds
lá [lá] n. second son
láa¹ [láa] n. strength: Láa tá yé ló He loses strength, hence (fig.) He is hungry.
láa² [láa] n. spider
làb [làb] v.t. scatter
lab [lab] v.t. collect; gather
làg๠[làgà] n. wine-palm frond pinned on a piece of land as sign of ownership
làgಠ[làgà] adj. not in good condition; needing repairs: làgà tọ a house in need of repair; (fig.) maimed: À
lú làgà tọ He is maimed.
làgàrà [làgàrà] n. instability; confusion; disunity; disorgani-zation
làgìri [làgìri] v.t. scatter; bring confusion to; disorganize: Làgìri wa Disorganize them.
lákà [lákà] n. the second brother
làlà [làlà] n. enamel basin; roofing-sheets (of any material)
làlà-míìkpé [làlà-mĩ́ĩ̀kpé] n. bronze
lè [lè] n. right (hand, side); east (coinage)
lé [lé] adj. good: À lú lé It is good: lé nu good thing
lẹ [lε] v.t. arrange; put in order
lé ̣ [lέ] adj. pred. interesting; joyful; (fig.) sweet; : À lu lé ̣ It is interesting; It is sweet.
lèạ [lɛ̀a] v.t. as in: lèạ ló take off (as clothes); lèạ bá hand over; deliver; surrender: Lèạ bá yé ne Surrender
it to him; (fig.) Lèạ pó ̣ró ̣ dògo bá Put away bad actions.
lèàbánè
̣ [lɛ̀àbã́ nɛ̀ ]̃ n. surrender; handing over; delivery; (fig.) handing down; tradition: À lu lèàbánè
̣ It is
tradition.
lèạ byéẹ́ bu ̣ [lɛ̀a bjέέbu] v.phr. defecate (lit. put away dirt)
lèatẽ́ ̣ kẽ [lɛ̀atɛ́ k̃ ɛ]̃ v.i. defecate:À bee lèatẽ́
̣ kẽ He defecated.
léb¹ ̣ [lέb] n. arm (from shoulder to wrist) (=ákpóbá); foreleg (of animal)
léb²
̣ [lέb] n. fat (of animal)
Lédò ̣ [Lédɔ̀] n. Ledor, a village in Tɛɛ̀̀
lee [lee] adj. bitter: À lú lee It is bitter.
lée [lée] v.adj. become good: À lée It is good; À ga lee It is becoming good.
lèẹ̀ ¹̣ [lɛɛ̀̀] v.t. remove; take away: Sú kpìgì lèẹ̀ ̣ Take away the money (to another place); lèẹ̀ ̣ akpà remove
the cover; bring out (e.g. periwinkle); lèẹ̀ ̣ bá ló remove ; (fig.) ostracize; banish; destroy (dangerous
persons); v.n. lẹlèẹ̀ ̣ removal; ostracism; banishment (of dangerous persons)
lèẹ̀ ²̣ [lɛɛ̀̀] conj. before: M̀ beè sí táḿ lèẹ̀ ̣ a ga lú I finished the work before he came. (=sa)
léẹ̣ [lέε] v.adj . be flexible (of things): Lo ázĩĩ́́ léẹ̣ The rope is flexible: v.n. lẹléẹ́ ̣ being flexible
33
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
léẹ́ ̣ [lέέ] n. a tree (Sacoglottis gabonensis (Baill.) Urb. HUMIRACEAE); its bark, which tappers add to palm-
wine to make it stronger; (general) alcohol
léẹga
̣ [lέεga] v.adj. be flexible, adaptable (of people): Lẹẹgá! Be flexible!: lèléé
̣ ̣ gá
̣ v.n. flexibility
léẹ́ gá ̣ [lέέgá] n. flexibility
léẹ́ lẹẹ ̣ [lέέlεε] adj. flexible (of things): léẹ́ lẹẹ
̣ ázĩĩ́́ flexible rope
lèèr๠[lèèrà] v.t. praise; glorify
lèèrಠ[lèèrà] n. praises; glory
lèẹ̀ r๠̣ [lɛɛ̀̀rà] v.t. order; command; send; commission
lèẹ̀ rಠ̣ [lɛɛ̀̀rà] n. order; command; sending; mission; commission
léẹ́ ráló ̣ [lέέráló] n. weakness; tiredness
lège [lège] v.i. melt; run (as oil); (fig.) run fast to reach somewhere: À lége si He rushed there.
lègère [lègère] adj. not damaged (of fruit, etc.): lègère beè zóo undamaged palmfruit
lègéré [lègéré] v.t. melt
Lékùmà [lékũ̀ mã̀ ] n. Lekima-Tai, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣ (lit. ‘good boundary’)
lèr๠[lèrà] v.adj. be stiff and straight; be drawn taut
lèrಠ[lèrà] adj. under-cooked: lèrà zĩ́ á under-cooked yam
lerà [lerà] v.adj. be under-cooked: Zĩ́ á lerà The yam is under-cooked.
lèr๠̣ [lɛ̀rà] v.t. contribute
lèrಠ̣ [lɛ̀rà] n. contribution
lère [lère] v.t. straighten; make taut (as rope): Lère bee si/Lère bee kìì Go straight ahead.
léyèb [léjèb] n. joy (=éẹ́ nyíe) ̣
lì [lì] v.t. bury; lilì v.n. burial
li [li] n. root
lì๠[lìà] v.p. be buried: À bee lìà He was buried; v.n. lilìà being buried
lìಠ[lìà] n. burial: À beè ẹrẹ le lìà He had a good burial.
lia [lia] n. pregnancy
lìe¹ [lìe] v.p. be weaned: À líe He is weaned.
lìe² [lìe] v.t. wean: Ye kà líe ye nwíí The mother weans her child.
lìgà [lìgà] v.i. concentrate; lilìgà v.n.concentration; concentrating
lò [lò] v.t. weave; lò zía plait hair; v.n. lolò weaving
lo¹ [lo] v.t. speak; tell; state; declare
lo² [lo] dem. that; the: lo wáa this woman; lo wa áya that woman (nearer, can be seen); lo wa ní that
woman (further, can be seen); lo wa á that woman (who cannot be seen)
lo³ [lo] adv. if so: Lu lo If so, come.
ló¹ [ló] n. common salt
ló² [ló] n. self; -self (used to form reflexive pronouns): À doo ye ló He does it to himself.
ló³ [ló] rel.part. who; whom: E`rè ̣ ló a bè siá He is the person who went: E`rè ̣ ló m bè nèa He is the person
I gave (it to).
ló4 [ló] prep. to: Tãà ye bá turé ló dé)é Push him to the wall.
lò ̣ [lɔ̀] adv. amiss; (fig.) off the point; À beè tã́ lò ̣ He shot amiss, He went off the point.
lob [lob] v.t. wash (thing)
lòbárá [lòbárá] v.t. wake someone up; (fig.) make someone active
lògà [lògà] v.t. choose; claim: Lògà ńlóò Choose your own.
lóga [lóga] v.i. fade (of colour); wash out: À lóga It fades.
lò ̣gàrà [lɔ̀gàrà] v.t. break, violate (law)
lolóóbé [lolóóbé] n. lullaby
34
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
lómúnu [lṍmṹnũ] interr. which?
loò [loò] n. hut
lóo [lóo] n. “antelope”; sitatunga and/or bushbuck; (Tragelaphus spp. TRAGELAPHIN AE)
lóó¹ [lóó] n. story
lóó² [lóó] n. body: lóó ye his body
lóó³ [lóó] prep. against: Nee ga bèra ̣ lóó té A man is leaning against the tree.
lóọ́ ̣ [lɔɔ
́ ́ ] n. a particular part of the flesh (of fowl or other birds)
loobá [loobá] v.i. wake from sleep
loobé [loobé] v.cs. lull (a child) to sleep: v.n. lolóóbé lulling
lu [lu] v.i. come v.n. lulú coming
lúé [lúé] n. Giant Rat; “rabbit” (Cricetomys gambianus CRICETIDAE)
lui [lui] adj. tough: À lú lui It is tough: lui nam tough meat
lùr๠[lùrà] v.adj. be tangled
lùrಠ[lùrà] n. tangle
lùrà³ [lùrà] adj. very hard; not easy to break or cleave (as wood); interwoven
lùrà4 [lùrà] n. starch

m [m] pron. (tone varies) I: M̀ ga si I am going; Ḿ ga sí I won’t go: Nú m ga si I am not going.

ḿ- [ḿ-] prefix (diminutive prefix preceding b, gb, kp, m, p): ḿpyám small drinking cup, tumbler; used
chiefly as a pet form of names: bàrà farm, Bàrà (name given to someone born in the farm), Ḿbàrà (pet
form); similarly Ḿgbárà, Ḿkpẹè,̣ Ḿpúènyíe ̣
m๠[mã̀ ] v.i. lie down; ma kẽ lie down (on the ground)
mಠ[mã̀ ] n. vagina
má¹ [mã́ ] n. breast, mammary gland; breast-milk
má² [mã́ ] n. tendril: má zĩ́ á yam tendril(s)
maá [mãã́ ] n. child’s name for mother; mummy
máá [mãã ́ ́ ] n. water
máá-bu-míi [mãã ́ ́ -bu-mĩ́ĩ] n. lymph; colourless fluid containing white blood cells (coinage)
mááló [mãã ́ ́ ló] n. soup
máámáá [mãã ́ ́ mãã́ ́ ] adj. watery
máásíá [mãã ́ ́ síá] n. saliva
máátée [mãã ́ ́ tée] n. running water; river, stream (opp. dẹ ‘pool’)
màgãló [mã̀ gãló] v.i. run into, collide with; mágã̀ ló v.n. collision, coming together violently
máḿló [mã́ ḿ ló] v.t. strike; mám$ló v.n. colliding with, running into
màni [mã̀ nĩ] n. urine
Mà-Úwé [mã̀ -ʔúwé] n. a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
ḿbòólóò [ḿbòólóò] pron. yours (plural)
mè [mɛ̀ ]̃ conj. but
me [mɛ]̃ pron. (¹ pers. obj.) me: Nè me lo kpá Give me the book.
mè๠[mɛ̀ ã̃ ̀ ] v.p. be born
mèಠ[mɛ̀ ã̃ ̀ ] n. nature (of something); appearance; figure; image
mèàkpéẹ́ ̣ [mɛ̀ ã̃ ̀ kpέέ] n. cochlea; spiral cavity in inner ear (coinage)
mèè [mɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. give birth, be delivered of (a child); v.n. memèè nwíí giving birth (to a child)
mee [mɛɛ̃]̃ n. neck
35
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
mée¹ [mɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. seedling
mée² [mɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ interr. who?
mèeeè [mɛ̀ ɛ̃ ɛ̃ɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ interj. the cry of goat or sheep; bleating
mèène dẽ́ e [mɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ñ ɛ̃ dɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ v.phr. aim at
mèènèdẽ́ e [mɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ñ ɛ̀ d̃ ɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ n. aiming at; thing(s) aimed at; target; objective; goal
mékẽ̀ [mɛ́ k̃ ɛ̀ ]̃ interr. where? at what place?
méḿ [mɛ́ḿ ] n. zeal
mènà [mɛ̀ ñ ãŸ] v.i. reproduce: Nee wée mènà Human beings reproduce.
mènamèna [mɛ̀ ñ ãmɛ̀ ñ ã] n. generation: wa mènamèna their generations
méné¹ [mɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. placenta
méné² [mɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. king or queen; ruler; rich person
mésṍ [mɛ́ s̃ ɔ́ ]̃ interr. when? at what time?
ḿgbárà [ḿgbárà] adj. small (=kíná)
ḿgbárà nwííkà [ḿgbárà ŋwĩĩ́́kà] n.phr. younger brother or sister
míi [mĩ́ĩ] n. blood
míí [mĩĩ́́] n. wine; drink
míìkpé [mĩ́ĩ̀kpé] n. copper; brass
míí kuwẹ [mĩĩ́́ kuwε] n. palm-wine from the wine-palm (Raphia hookeri PALMAE)
míimíi [mĩ́ĩmĩ́ĩ] adj. red (=dodo)
míímòò [mĩĩ́́mɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. sugarcane
míímò-zíḿ [mĩĩ́mɔ̀ ̃-zĩ́⁄ḿ] n. bamboo palm (=ńkárágbà) (Raphia vinifera P.Beauv. PALMAE)
́
mììn๠[mĩĩ̀̀nã̀ ] v.t. blow nose
mììnಠ[mĩĩ̀̀nã̀ ] v.t. bring out a pinned peg from the ground
mììnಠ[mĩĩ̀̀nã̀ ] v.t. miscarry (of animal): Péé miìna nwíí The goat miscarried.
míízoo [mĩĩ́́zoo] n. palm-wine from the oil-palm (Elaeis guineensis PALMAE)
mìnyà [mĩ̀ɲã̀ ] n. bribery and corruption; telling lies
ḿkpènà [ḿkpɛ̀ ñ ã̀ ] n. the specially favoured last child
ḿma¹ [ḿmã] v.adj. be full: Làlà ḿma The basin is full.
ḿma² [ḿmã] v.t. fill: À mmá làlà It fills the basin: À mmá bu làlà It becomes full in the basin.
m$me¹ [m̀ mɛ]̃ v.cs. cause to be or make full: M̀ me gàri làlà Fill the basin with gari.
m̀ me² [m̀ mɛ]̃ v.t. lead to, cause to reach; reach a place with (somebody): M̀ me yé lo kẽ̀ Lead him there, to
that place.
mmè [mmɛ̀ ]̃ adj. full: mmè làlà full basin: Làlà lú m̀ me The basin is full.
Mòghò [mògò] n. Mogho, name of a village in Gokana
mom [mɔm ̃ ] n. laughter
mòn๠[mɔ̀ ̃)nã̀ ] n. suffering (=mùènà)
mònಠ[mɔ̀ ̃nã̀ ] n. consultation
monà (=muenà) [mɔñ ã̀ (=mũɛñ ã̀ )] v.i. suffer
ḿpyáḿ [ḿpjã́ ḿ ] n. tumbler
ḿsáló ̣gó ̣ló ̣gó ̣ [ḿsálɔ́gɔ́lɔ́gɔ́] n. small dark green lizard or skink
ḿtígi [ḿtígi] n. pestle
mùè [mũ̀ ɛ̀ ]̃ v.t. see
mue [mũɛ]̃ n. voice (Note: uwè ‘word’ and mue ‘voice’ should not be used together as mué-uwè.)
mùènà [mũ̀ ɛ̀ ñ ã̀ ] adj. passive: Núm beè agara nú a beè me dòò; m beè mùènà I did not respond to what
he did to me; I remained passive.
muen๠[mũɛñ ã̀ ] v.i. suffer (=monà)

36
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
muenà², monà [mũɛñ ã̀ , mɔñ ã̀ ] v.i. consult: Bà beè mùènà They consulted each other.
mùm$ [mũ̀ m̀ ] n. dangerous larva found in uncemented floors, notorious for sucking human blood
mum [mũm] n. productivity (of fruit trees); sõ mum season of production
múḿ¹ [mṹḿ] v.t. produce: À múḿ bee It produces fruit.
múḿ² [mṹḿ] n. sandfly; a biting insect, very small to the naked eye, that sucks blood early in the morning
and in the evening in the forest area
múǹgò [mṹǹgò] n. mug
mùnù [mũ̀ nũ̀ ] n. clenched fist (=gbùgù)

ń- [ń-] pref. diminutive prefix preceding d g k l n r s t z: Ńdògò (pet form of Dògò)

nà (=ńdáa) [nã̀ ] pron. (poss. adj. ¹st pers. sing.) nà zó ̣, ńdáa zó ̣ my property, wealth, goods, etc.
nàà [nãã ̀ ̀ ] n. termite
naà [nã)ã̀ ] n. branch
náa [nã́ ã] n. gun
naanà [nããnãŸ] n. sheep
náànoo [nã⁄ã̀ nɔɔ]̃ n. lightning and thunder
nágé [nã́ gé] adv. again; another time
nam [nãm] n. animal, meat
nám$ [nã́ m̀ ] n. cow
náḿ¹ [nã́ ⁄ḿ] n. cleared farmland
náḿ² [nã́ ḿ ] n. casting of lots
námà [nã́ mã̀ ] n. zebu cow
náma [nã́ mã] v.t. be older than
námá [nã́ mã́ ] adj. old: námá nee old man: À lú námá He is old.
námákà [nã́ mã́ kà] n. female ancestor
námátè ̣ [nã́ mã́ tɛ̀] n. male ancestor
nàmàkírí [nã̀ mã̀ kírí] n. lion
ńdáa [ńdáa] pron. (poss. adj. ¹st pers. sing.) my: ńdáa zó ̣ my property, etc. (=nà)
ńdáà [ńdáà] pron. (poss. pron. indep. ¹st pers. sing.) mine
ńdè ̣ [ńdɛ̀] n. cocoyam with heart-shaped leaves, in which small corms develop off the main one
nè [nɛ̀ ]̃ v.t. give; nenè mue making announcement
nee [nɛɛ̃]̃ n. human being; person
néé¹ [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ v.t. lack
néé² [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. want; scarcity; lack
néé³ [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. deafness
néébá [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ b̃ á] n. poverty
neébee [nɛɛ̃ ́ b̃ ee] n. chief
néébèẹ̀ ̣ [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ b̃ ɛɛ̀̀ ] n. anarchy; state of being without a ruler (coinage)
neèdáḿ [nɛɛ̃ ̀ d̃ ã́ ḿ ] n. male (of human beings); man
neè-gwagwá⁄-piyè [nɛɛ̃ ̀ -̃ gwagwá-pijè] n. pharmacist (coinage)
néé⁄míi [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ m̃ ĩ́ĩ] n. lack of blood; anemia (coinage)
néénu [nɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ñ ũ] n. want; scarcity; lack
neètã́ a [nɛɛ̃ ̀ t̃ ã́ ã] n. wizard
neéwa [nɛɛ̃ ́ w ̃ a] n. woman; female (of human beings)
37
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
neéyib [nɛɛ̃ ́ j̃ ib] n. thief
neèyíí [nɛɛ̃ ̀ j̃ íí] n. lawyer
neèzàsĩ́ [nɛɛ̃ ̀ z̃ àsĩ́] n. leader
nègã̀ [nɛ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. move like a very big snake; nenègã̀ v.n.
nem [nɛm ̃ ] n. chalk
néḿnéḿ [nɛ́ m ̃ ́ nɛ́ m ̃ ́ ] n. powder
néḿnéḿ [nɛ́ m ̃ ́ nɛ́ m ̃ ́ ] adj. impalpable; that cannot be touched or felt
nenè [nɛñ ɛ̀ ]̃ n. gift
ni [nĩ] n. elephant
nìgénélo [nĩ̀gɛ́ ñ ɛ́ l̃ o] v.t. identify
nígènèló [nĩ́gɛ̀ )ñ ɛ̀ l̃ ó] n. identification
nìi [nĩ̀ĩ] v.t. rule a line: Nìi áníí Rule a line.
níi [nĩ́ĩ] part. (conditional emphasis): Deè nóobeè lu niì, nu gá beè dòògà If you had not come at all,
something would have happened.
níi ga [nĩ́ĩga] (negative, ¹st pers. pl.) We are not going to; Níi ga si We aren’t going to go.
níii [nĩ́ĩĩ] (interrogative emph.) À beè lu níii? Did he come at all?
nímdeè [nĩ́)mdeè] v.i. go secretly or stealthily: Nímdeè yì Go secretly and enter.
ńkárágbà [ńkárágbà] n. bamboo palm (Raphia vinifera P.Beauv. PALMAE) (=míímò-zím)
ńkì [ńkì] n. tattoo; indelible indigo patterns made on the skin
ńlábà [ńlábà] pron. (poss. pron. indep. 3rd pers. pl.) theirs
ńlába [ńlába] pron. (poss. adj. 3rd pers. pl.) ; their: À lú ńlába nu It is their own thing.
ńléẹ̀ ̣ [ńlέɛ̀] pron. (poss. pron. indep. 3rd pers. sing.) his; hers
ńléẹ̣ [ńlέε] pron. (poss. adj. 3rd pers. sing.) his; her: ńléẹ̣ nu his/her thing
ńlíì [ńlíì] pron. ( poss. pron. indep. ¹st pers. pl.) ours
ńlíi [ńlíi] pron. (poss. adj. ¹st pers. pl.) our
ńlóò [ńlóò] pron.. (poss. pron. indep. 2nd pers. sg.) yours
ńlóo [ńlóo] pron. (poss. adj. 2nd pers. sing.) your: ńlóo nu your thing
ńlòọ́ ̣lòọ́ ̣ [ńlɔ̀ɔ́lɔ̀ɔ́] n. ‘hare’; ?ground squirrel
ńlóo nu Nookpò [ńlóo nũ nɔɔ̃k ̃ pò] n. N okpo, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
no [nɔ]̃ v.t., v.i. study
nonóbùrà [nɔñ ɔ́ b̃ ùrà] n. psychology (coinage)
nonódùm$ [nɔñ ɔ́ d̃ ùm̀ ] n. biology (coinage)
nonó-nyògã̀ -kòrokẽ̀ [nɔn ̃ ɔ́ -̃ ɲɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ -kòrokɛ̀ ]̃ n. seismology, the study of earthquakes (coinage)
nonópiyè [nɔñ ɔ́ p̃ ijè] n. medical science (coinage)
nòò¹ [nɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. lay as blocks
nòò² [nɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. plan; v.n. nonòò planning; programming
noo [nɔɔ̃]̃ prep. on; up: Kpá de noo gàdá There is a book on the table.
nóo [nɔ́ ɔ̃ ]̃ n. oil; nóò dem crude oil; nóò hwáà petrol; nóò ńzì engine oil (=nóò kpé)
noogẽ́ [nɔɔ̃g̃ ɛ́ ]̃ v.i. speak slowly; be slow
nóòkpé [nṍ ɔ̀ k̃ pé] n. gold
nòònù [nõ̀ õ̀ nũ̀ ] n. programme
Nóónwá [nɔɔ ́ ̃ ́ ŋ̃ wã́ ] n. N onwa, village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
nu [nũ] n. thing; something
nùa [nũ̀ ã] n. cause
núà [nũ@ã̀ ] n. second daughter
núa [nṹã] v.t. cause
38
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
nudé [nũdé] n. food; foodstuff
nudé-ákpó [nũdé-ákpó] n. carbohydrate (coinage)
nudé-yuwẹ [nũdé-juwε] n. protein (coinage)
nùkùm$-nùkùm̀ [nũ̀ kũ̀ m̀ -nũ̀ kũ̀ m̀ ] id. describes creeping of maggot or caterpillar
nù [nùm̀ ] v.i. groan
nùmà [nũ̀ mã̀ ] v.i. be early; start early
nùmàlọò ̣le [nũ̀ mã̀ lɔɔ̀le] n. dawn
nùmànà [nũ̀ mã̀ nãŸ] v.t. move, change position of (heavy object)
nùm kẽ [nũ̀ m kɛ]̃ v.phr. go under
nùn๠[nũ̀ nãŸ] v.i. hum; v.n. nunùnà humming
nùnಠ[nũ̀ nãŸ] n. humming
nútọ [nṹtɔ] n. doorway
-nwaà [-ŋwãã̀ ] (suffix) (feminine suffix for names): Zíánwaà female named after the god of yam; Dúnwaà
female born in a market
nwa๠[ŋwãã̀ ] n. woman
nwaಠ[ŋwãã̀ ] (when followed by another word the low tone is removed) n. a young female animal:
nwaa-péé a young female goat which has not given birth
nwààgã̀ [ŋwãŸã̀ gãŸ] v.i. hover, be unsteady physically and morally; be impatient
nwám̀ báná [ŋwã́ m̀ bã́ nã́ ] n. cat
nwàrã̀ [ŋwãŸrãŸ] v.i. warm a painful part of the body by covering it together with a pot of boiled medicine to
get the benefit of the steam: À beè nwàrã piyè He warmed himself on the medicine.
nwárã́ ló [ŋwã́ rã́ ló] n. health, healthiness, agility
nwé [ŋwɛ́ ]̃ n. the edible part of cocoyam taken from the corm
nwèè [ŋwɛ̀ ɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.t. dry or smoke over fire or in sun (fish, foodstuff, to preserve it)
nwee [ŋwɛɛ̃]̃ v.i. recover from ill-health
nwééló [ŋwɛɛ́ ̃ ́ l̃ ó] v.i. be agile, smart and active
nwíí [ŋwĩĩ́́] n. child; offspring of any animal
nwííkà [ŋwĩĩ́́kà] n. brother or sister of the same mother
nwííkà-neèdáḿ [ŋwĩĩ́́kà-nɛɛ̃ ̀ d̃ ã́ ḿ ] n. brother
nwííkà-neéwa [ŋwĩĩ́́kà-nɛɛ̃ ́ w ̃ a n. sister; sister-in-law
w
nwíí-neèdáḿ [ŋ ĩĩ́́-nɛɛ̃ ̀ d̃ ã́ ḿ ] n. son
nwíi-neéwa [ŋwĩ́ĩ-nɛɛ̃ ́ w ̃ a] n. daughter
w w
nwíínwaà [ŋ ĩĩ́́ŋ ãã̀ ] n. son-in-law; daughter’s husband
nwíítè ̣ [ŋwĩĩ́́tɛ̀] n. brother of the same father
nwíítọ [ŋwĩĩ́́tɔ] n. houseboy or housegirl
nwíítòb [ŋwĩĩ́́tòb] n. the best of the shooter’s/hunter’s arrows; (fig.) essential possession
nwínam [ŋwĩ́nãm] n. bird (general)
nwo [ŋwɔ]̃ v.i. hover about
nwomnwom [ŋwɔm w
̃ ŋ ɔm
̃ ] adj. greedy: À lú nwomnwom He is greedy.
nyàà [ɲãŸãŸ] v.i. grow wild (from excessive fertility of the soil); (of human being) grow wild as result of
non-training and overfeeding
nyáá [ɲãã ́ ́ ] n. nit produced by lice
nyààgã [ɲãŸãŸgã] n. being changed, changing
nyaagã́ [ɲããgã́ ] v.i. be changed
nyaaná [ɲããnã́ ] v.t. change; v.n. nyayááná
nyámá [ɲã́ mã́ ] n. spirit of ancestors
39
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
nyànyà [ɲã̀ ɲãŸ] n. beast of burden; horse; ass; donkey; camel
nyè [ɲɛ̀ ]̃ v.i. stop growth; cease movement or progress
nyee [ɲɛɛ̃]̃ v.i. be leavened, rise (of bread); swell (e.g. as result of kwashiokor)
nyèèga nòo [ɲɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ a nɔ̀ ɔ̃ ]̃ v.phr. remember: Nyèègã̀ ye nòo Remember him.
nyeegẽ [ɲɛɛ̃g̃ ɛ]̃ n. mild form of madness
nyèègẽ nyíe [ɲɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ɛ̃ ɲĩ́ɛ]̃ v.phr. remind: Nyèègẽ mé nyíe Remind me (of it).
nyìà [ɲĩ̀ã̀ ] num. four
nyìa [ɲĩ̀ã] n. liking; desire; pleasure
nyía [ɲĩ́ã] v.t. please: À nyía me It pleases me/I like it.
nyìàgá [ɲĩ̀ã̀ gá] n. quadrangle (coinage)
nyìàkpẽ̀ è [ɲĩ̀ã̀ kpɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. rectangle (coinage)
nyìàkùnàkpẽ̀ è [ɲĩ̀ã̀ kũ̀ nãŸkpɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. square (coinage)
nyìà-tub [ɲĩ̀ã̀ -tub] num. eighty
nyìà-tub-nè-hlòb [ɲĩ̀ã̀ -tub-nɛ̀ -̃ hlòb] num. ninety
nyíe [ɲĩ́ɛ]̃ n. heart, mind (both physical and psychological)
nyó [ɲɔ́ ]̃ n. worm
nyó-ázĩ́í-bu-míi [ɲɔ́ -̃ ázĩĩ́́-bu-mĩ́ĩ] n. filaria worm; any threadlike nematode worm of the family FILARIIDAE,
introduced into blood by biting insects (coinage)
nyògã̀ ¹ [ɲɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.i. shake or be shaken; tremble (=yèègà)
nyògã̀ ² [ɲɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] n. shaking, trembling (also nyògã̀ nyògã̀ )
nyògã̀ korokẽ̀ [ɲɔ̀ g ̃ ã̀ korokɛ̀ ]̃ n. earthquake (coinage)
nyògẽ [ɲɔ̀ g̃ ɛ]̃ v.t. shake, jingle (of bell); v.n. nyonyògẽ shaking, jingling
nyòo [ɲɔ̀ ɔ̃ ̃] v.adj. be tall (vertical); be long (horizontal)
nyòòne¹ [ɲɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ v.t. follow; v.n. nyonyòòne following; neè-nyòòne follower, disciple (opp. ne-zàsi, neè-
tùre leader)
nyòòne² [ɲɔ̀ ɔ̃ ̀ )̃nɛ]̃ n. “followership” (opp. zàsi, tùre leadership)
nyooné [ɲɔɔ̃ñ ɛ́ ]̃ v.cs. uplift; heighten; increase height or length; prolong (condition); v.n. nyonyóóné,
heightening; etc. (cf. yìra height; length, distance)
nyóónyoo [ɲɔɔ ́ ̃ ́ ɲ̃ ɔɔ̃ ))] adj. tall; long

ọ [ʔɔ] v.t. carve (wood)

õ [ʔɔ]̃ v.t. drink (water, medicine, wine, etc.)
òb [ʔòb] v.t. bail water
ò ̣b [ʔɔ̀b] v.i. stop, cease
ọb¹ [ʔɔb] v.t. burn; roast: Ó`b úwé Burn the farm.
ọb² [ʔɔb] v.t. drive (vehicle)
ò ̣ba [ʔɔ̀ba] v.i. be burnt
òbàrà [ʔòbàrà] v.t. return, take back, give back; stop progress of
ò ̣bẹ [ʔɔ̀bε] v.cs. stop; cause to stop
ò ̣bè-ò
̣ ̣bè ̣ [ʔɔ̀bɛ̀-ɔ̀bɛ̀] adj. neither hot nor cold; lukewarm
òbéré [ʔòbéré] n. raffia cloth tied as clothing and also used as sail
ò ̣gà [ʔɔ̀gà] v.i. show remorse; regret; feel sorry
õ̀ gànà [ʔɔ̀ g̃ ã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. remove liquid or soft substance with soft material like cotton-wool
ọgárá [ʔɔgárá] v.t. rub in/on (pomade, etc.): Ọgárá nóo Rub in oil/pomade.

40
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
ò ̣géré
̣ ̣ [ʔɔ̀gέrέ] v.t. rub oil (on somebody)
òkò ̣rò ̣ [ʔòkɔ̀rɔ̀] n. okro, okra
Ólókó [ʔólókó] n. name of two villages in Tèẹ̀ ̣, distinguished as Oloko 1 and Oloko 2
òm̀ ¹ [ʔɔ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] v.t. remove undesirable substances or conditions
òm̀ ² [ʔɔ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] v.t. take quantity of soup, more than required
òŸm̀ ³ [ʔɔ̀ ̃m̀ ] n. fish with scales and spines along the back, found in fresh water, probably Tilapia galilea
CICHLIDAE
óḿ [ʔɔ́ m ̃ ́ ] n. the handle of weeding hoe, usually óḿ kpàbé
ònèè [ʔɔ̀ ñ ɛŸɛ̃ )Ÿ] v.i. fade
óni-óni [ʔɔ́ ̃nĩ-ɔ́ ñ ĩ] adv. dodging: À kinya óni-óni He dodges about as he moves.
òò¹ [ʔòò] n. throat
òò² [ʔòò] num. five
òo [ʔòo] v.t. sell
óò [ʔóò] interj. exclamation expressing sorrow
òòbà [ʔòòbà] v.i. return, go back, desist, stop progress: òòbà kẽ return, go back
òògà [ʔòògà] v.i. be easily stripped off (of bark): Ákpáté oògà The bark of the tree is easily stripped off.
òògá [ʔòògá] n. pentagon, a plane figure with five sides and five angles (coinage)
oogá [ʔoogá] v.i. be sold at a good price (for the seller): Garí óoga aníi Gari sells well today.
ọọgẹ [ʔɔɔgε] v.t. air
oomè [ʔɔɔ̃m ̃ ɛ̀ ]̃ n. brownish-yellow, very long snake (possibly Blanding’s Tree Snake)
òòmeló [ʔɔɔ ̀̃ ̀m
̃ ɛl̃ ó] adv. neatly, smoothly, without problems: À beè kìnya òòmeló kìì He/she moved
smoothly and went away.
òòrà [ʔòòrà] v.t. strip off the bark easily
òò-tub [ʔòòtub] num. hundred; fivescore
orà [ʔorà] v.i. be easily eroded (as soft material); be easily scraped off
ó ̣ra [ʔɔ́ra] v.i. be smooth and slippery
ò ̣rẹ [ʔɔ̀rε] v.t. make smooth and slippery
ò ̣rọ [ʔɔ̀rɔ] n. mudfish; snakehead (Channa obscura CHAN N IDAE)
òwè [ʔòwè] v.t. wear out: Sṍ i tẽ́ gẽ̀ noo dem, à owe (dem) When we sharpen a cutlass on a stone, it wears
it (the stone) out.
ò ̣wẹ dẽ́ e! [ʔɔ̀wε dɛ́ ɛ̃ !̃ ] interj. look out! take care!

pà [pà] n. effect of force on a person or object; impact

pa [pa] n. “alligator”; Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis CROCODYLIDAE)
pá๠[páà] n. white cotton cloth; anything white
páಠ[páà] interj. not at all! (an expression of denial of an accusation with shrugging of the shoulders)
pã́ à [pã́ ã̀ ] n. hurdle
pàb [pàb] v.t. inveigle (a person) out of, or into, doing something: v.n. papàb inveigling
pàgàrà [pàgàrà] adj. flat
pám̀ [pã́ m̀ ] n. pound, twenty shillings (<English)
pàpá [pàpá] n. child’s name for father (<English)
pàrà [pàrà] n. expertise
parà [parà] v.t. be expert in: À parà He is expert.
pàrapa [pàrapa] adj. flat
pè¹ [pè] v.i. be missing; be lost

41
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
pè² [pè] n. loss
pè ̣ [pɛ̀] v.t. select only the useful objects from the useless ones with effort
péḅ [pέb] id. suddenly (of waking up from sleep): À lóo ba dòò péḅ He woke up suddenly from sleep.
pẹbbee kùwè ̣ [pεbbee kùwɛ̀] n. fallow bush (with vegetation of same height)
pẹbkẽ [pεbkɛ]̃ n. shallow water, shallow pit
pèe [pèe] v.t. lose
péé [péé] n. goat; akpèẹpéé ̣ n. he-goat; kòòkòòpéé castrated goat; úúpéé female goat
pèẹ̣ [pɛ̀ε] v.i. fly, jump: pẹpéẹ́ ̣ v.n. flying, jumping
péẹ̣ [pέε] n. flying, jumping
pẽ̀ è [pɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. African pear (Dacryodes edulis (G.Don) H. J. Lam BURSERACEAE)
pẽ̀ è-bekéè [pɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ -̃ bekéè] n. avocado pear (Persea americana Mill. LAURACEAE)
péẹ́ péé ̣ ̣ ̣ [pέέpέέ] adv. at all; completely (often accompanied by slapping of the two hands)
pégé [pégé] n. long arrow (contrast kèba short arrow)
pègè ̣ rè ̣ ̣ [pɛ̀gɛ̀rɛ̀] n. hat; cap
pègè ̣ rè ̣ méné
̣ [pɛ̀gɛ̀rɛ̀mɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. crown
pègi ̣ [pɛ̀gi] v.i. leap for joy
pégipé ̣ gi
̣ [pέgipέgi] id. walking very fast
pèmíi [pɛ̀ m ̃ ĩ́ĩ] n. a child who does not perform up to the expectation of a human being (lit. ‘lost blood’)
péra¹ ̣ [pέra] v.i. be unable to control desire: À péra sṍ a mue nu He is unable to control his appetite when
he sees things (such as food).
péra² ̣ [pέra] n. uncontrollable desire; complaint; such expression
pèrẹ ̣ [pɛ̀rε] v.t. slant, slope
pèrẹpẹ̣ [pɛ̀rεpε] n. flat freshwater fish species
péré ̣ pé ̣ ré ̣ ̣ [pέrέpέrέ] n. small piece of plank
péḿ¹ [pɛ́ m ̃ ́ ] n. cataract in the eye
péḿ² [pɛ́ m ̃ ́ ] n. mosquito larvae: Pém de bu máá There are mosquito larvae in the water.
pène¹ [pɛ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ v.i. penetrate
pène² [pɛ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ n. wide river, sea, ocean
pĩ̀ [pĩ̀] v.t. sprinkle, spray (water, disinfectant, etc.)
pìb [pìb] v.t. twist rope or roll thread on the reel; twine (as yam round stick); spin
pìgà [pìgà] v.i. be twisted, interwoven (as thread); coil (like snake round something); also figuratively: À
wée pìga ló ne He gets people into trouble.
pìgà [pìgà] v.i. struggle to make wealth
píi [píi] v.i. dry, shrivel (of fruit, leaves, preserved yam, etc.)
pĩ̀i [pĩ̀ĩ] v.i. be silent
pĩ́ ì [pĩ́ĩ̀] n. penis
pĩ́ í [pĩĩ́́] n. silence
piigá [piigá] v.i. try very hard; Piigá Try hard!: À wée pììgà He tries very hard.
píiga [píiga] n. trying hard: À wée dòò píiga He does hard work.
piiré [piiré] v.cs. cause to shrivel or become dry (as fruit in sun or water boiled in pot)
pìna [pĩ̀nã] n. cricket
pìpí [pìpí] n. cannibal
pirípiri [pirípiri] adj. very small (of yams)
piyá [pijá] n. people of
píyà [píjà] adj. bad, evil
pìyè [pìjè] n. daylight (= èrà = éẹ́ dée) ̣
42
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
piyè [pijè] n. medicine
píyò [píjò] quant. some: píyò nee some people: píyò ìì some of us; píyò bòọ̀ ̣ some of you: píyò àbà some
of them
pògòrò [pògòrò] adj. wide; broad (as leaf): À lú pògòrò It is broad.
pòmm ̀ ̀ [pɔ̀ m ̃ ̀ m̀ ] id. sound as of a coconut falling: À dọ pòmm
̀ ̀ It falls pomm!
pọm¹ [pɔm ̃ ] v.i. burst (as boil)
pọm² [pɔm ̃ ] v.i. shout at; “bully at”
pòò [pòò] v.t. divide (large quantities or numbers) into portions, shares or groups
pòòg๠[pòògà] v.i. divide into groups (of people): Bà poògà They are divided into groups.
pòògಠ[pòògà] n. division into parts
póro [póro] n. fish (general)
pó ̣ró ̣ [pɔ́rɔ́] a. bad
pórògẽ̀ [pórògɛ̀ ]̃ n. sawfish
pyãagã́ [pjããgã́ ] v.i. come out with effort from a group; succeed in standing out from a group
pyáḿ¹ [pjã́ ḿ ] n. drinking-cup; tumbler (usu. ḿpyám)
pyáḿ² [pjã́ ḿ ] id. describes running quickly past and disappearing: À doo pyáḿ He/She runs quickly past
and vanishes.
pyàra¹ [pjàra] v.t. carry child (on hip)
pyàra² [pjàra] v.t. sharpen (razor-blade); whet (knife on another knife)
pyõ [pjɔ]̃ n. nail (finger- or toe-)
pyob [pjob ] v.t. suck
pyò ̣b [pjɔ̀b] n. game of throwing an orange on the ground and shooting at it with arrows (practice for
aiming at live targets)
pyõò [pjɔɔ̃Ÿ̃] n. lungs
pyoogá [pjoogá] v.i. shoot out (vertically or horizontally)
pyoorá [pjoorá] v.t. draw out (peg, periwinkle from the shell)
pyùgù [pjùgù] n. steam; gas (tech.); tób-pyùgù oxygen (coinage)

sà [sà] v.t. select the useful from the useless, the good seeds from the chaff, the qualified from the
unqualified (=sèẹ̀ )̣
sa¹ [sa] n. brush
sa² [sa] conj. before: Sí sa ò lu Finish before you come.
sáágweré [sáágweré] n. hairy crab, Wrinkled Swimcrab (Liocarcinus corrugatus)
sááhyẹkẽ [sááhjεkɛ]̃ n. ant-lion
sáákà [sáákà] n. the first son of the mother
sáanee [sã́ ãnɛɛ̃]̃ n. guest; stranger
sáápùrùkáká [sáápùrùkáká] n. grasshopper which makes a noise when flying
sááró [sááró] n. the first son of the parents
sàb [sàb] v.t. abuse; misuse (=tùè)
sàbà [sàbà] v.i. be scattered, unkempt (of hair, etc.)
sábekéè [sábekéè] n. pepper (general)
sadáa n. toothbrush
sàg๠[sàgà] v.i. discredit oneself: À sagà He is behaving in a way unworthy of himself.
sàgಠ[sàgà] v.i. produce new leaves; (fig.) recover from ill-health
43
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
sàga [sàga] v.t. cut indiscriminately with knife
sàgasàga [sàgasàga] adj. behaving discreditably: À lu sàgasàga nee He is a badly-behaved person.
sàniló [sã̀ nĩló] v.i. show indifference
sáráb [sáráb] id. rustling; describes sound of walking through dry material (as leaves)
sàsu [sàsu] v.t. choose
sè¹̣ [sɛ̀] interrog. at all: Ò súnwà nú a kii ló sè?̣ Do you know anything about it at all? Ò lú gé sè?̣ Will
you come at all?
sè²̣ [sɛ̀] adv. silent: Doò sè ̣ Be silent.
sẽ [sɛ]̃ v.i. (of rain) drizzle
sẽ́ [sɛ́ ]̃ n. fish egg, roe; frog spawn
sèbe [sèbe] v.t. throw down something carried on the head; throw somebody in wrestling; cause to fall;
(fig.) cause to fail in life
sébegi [sébegi] v.t. throw down frequently or indiscriminately; (fig.) cause frequent failure
sèẹ̀ ̣ [sɛɛ̀̀] v.t. pick out good seeds from the chaff; pick out the qualified from the unqualified (=sà)
sẽ́ é [sɛɛ́ ̃ ́ ]̃ n. beads
sẽ̀ è dẽ́ ẽ [sɛ̀ ɛ̃ ̀ ̃ dɛ́ ɛ̃ ]̃ v.phr. aim at (target) (lit. ‘direct eye’), also figurative
seemá [sɛɛ̃m ̃ ã́ ] v.i. “hiss”
séema [sɛ́ ɛ̃ m ̃ ã] n. “hissing”
sẽ́ gã [sɛ́ g̃ ã] v.i. smash; fall and break into small pieces
sẽ̀ gáná [sɛ̀ g̃ ã́ nã́ ] v.t. give bit by bit
sègẹ ̣ [sɛ̀gε] v.t. pick out many good objects or things of the same kind or size, also used figuratively
ségé ̣ ̣ [sέgέ] n. raffia worn by masquerade
sẽ́ gẽ [sɛ́ g̃ ɛ]̃ v.t. catch by trap: À sẽ́ gẽ nam It (trap) caught an animal.
sẽ̀ gèm̀ [sɛ̀ g̃ ɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] adv. falling like a heavy blanket; (of person) making no move or progress in life
sẽ́ géné [sɛ́ g̃ ɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. tree species with tiny leaves and very hard wood
ségéré [ségéré] adj. petty: ségéré kàna minor quarrel
sègè ̣ rè ̣ ̣ [sɛ̀gɛ̀rɛ̀] id. unexpectedly: À doo sègè ̣ rè
̣ ̣ He appears unexpectedly.
sègè ̣ rẹ ̣ [sɛ̀gɛ̀rε] v.t. tie loosely
sègé ̣ rè ̣ ̣ [sɛ̀gέrɛ̀] n. loose trap for large animals like sitatunga, which the animal can drag about but not
escape from
ségé ̣ ré ̣ ̣ [sέgέrέ] id. walking as if exhausted: À kìnyà ségé ̣ ré
̣ ̣ He walks as if exhausted.
sẽ́ gẽsẽ́ gẽ [sɛ́ g̃ ɛs̃ ɛ́ g̃ ɛ]̃ n. raffia cloth
sem [sɛm ̃ ] v.t. use something valuable economically or sparingly
Sèmè [sɛ̀ m ̃ ɛ̀ ]̃ n. Sime, a village in Tɛɛ̀̀
sèrè [sèrè] v.t. keep; maintain; observe; preserve; save money; sère átṍ keep holy
sẽ́ sẽ́ [sɛ́ s̃ ɛ́ ]̃ adj. having beautiful small dots on the surface like cloth; make such beautiful small dots like
the body of gecko
si [si] v.i. go and come back; sí kùwè ̣ go to bush, hence, a polite expression for ‘defecate’ (cf. dòò bí)
sĩ̀¹ [sĩ̀] v.i. make a cracking sound before a tree falls
sĩ̀² [sĩ̀] v.t. sneeze: Sĩ̀ sĩ̀ Sneeze!
sĩ¹ [sĩ] n. sneeze
sĩ² [sĩ] n. fly (general)
sĩ́ [sĩ́] n. face; surface; the direction faced; north (coinage)
sìa [sìa] n. aerial yam; “up-yam” (Dioscorea bulbifera DIOSCOREACEAE)
sĩ̀a bàrà [sĩ̀ã bàrà] v.phr. manifest; show: Sĩ̀a lóó bàrà Show yourself.
sìb [sìb] v.t. “pin” (stick in ground)
44
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
sib [sib] n. nerves
sìbà [sìbà] v.i. stand firm; be unshakeable at crucial points, also used figuratively
sìéè [sìéè] interj. atishoo! (showing sneezing)
sĩgã̀ [sĩgã̀ ] v.i. refuse to move
sĩ̀gànà [sĩ̀gã̀ nã̀ ] v.t. rub clean
sììg๠[sììgà] v.i. rest after labour or after a long journey
sììgಠ[sììgà] v.i. be top-heavy so that s.t. falls
síiga [síiga] v.i. remain: À síiga Some remains.
sĩ̀ìgã̀ [sĩĩ̀̀gã̀ ] v.i. slip from the proper position or alignment, as in earthquake: À sĩìgã dò ̣ It slips and falls.
sììge [sììge] v.i. breathe in and out: Sììge ọọgẹ Breathe (air) in and out.
siigé [siigé] v.t. use part and allow part to remain: De siige Eat and leave some.
sììge ló [sììge ló] v.phr. walk lame
sìm̀ [sìm̀ ] v.t. rub out; erase (something wrongly written)
sim [sĩm] v.t. tie cloth (for another person)
sìma [sĩ̀mã] v.t. tie cloth for oneself: Sìma kẽ̀ Tie cloth (for yourself).
sínuló [sĩ́nũló] v.i. smell, give odour
sìrà [sìrà] v.i. appear, come out from a secret or hiding place, also used figuratively; Sìra bàrà Come out
in the open.
síra [síra] n. first daughter
sìra ee [sìra ʔee] v.i. go out
sìra kẽ [sìra kɛ]̃ v.phr. descend
sĩ́ -tọ [sĩ́tɔ] n. housefly (coinage)
sò [sò] v.t. join (as rope); v.n. sosò joining
só ̣ [sɔ́] n. conversation
sṍ [sɔ́ ]̃ n. time
sób [sób] n. scabies (on the head)
sò ̣b [sɔ̀b] id. describes something falling on a soft material: À doo sò ̣b It falls on something soft.
sṍ bòo [sɔ́ ̃ bòo] (=sṍó bòo) n.phr. rainy season
sṍ dáá [sɔ́ ̃ dáá] sṍó dáá n.phr. time to sleep
sṍ dúe [sɔ́ ̃ dúe] (=sṍó dúe) n.phr. dry season
sò ̣gẹrè ̣ [sɔ̀gεrɛ̀] n. grey hair
sògo [sògo] n. vegetable used as salad (=kòròko)
Sógò [sógò] n. a village in Kana
sò ̣gò ̣ [sɔ̀gɔ̀] n. small beetle that destroys yam leaves
só ̣gó ̣ [sɔ́gɔ́] adj. small; little (of yams or leaves, in great numbers)
sọhínyá [sɔhĩ́ɲã́ ] n. smoke
sòm̀ [sɔ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] adj. calm
sṍ makẽ [sɔ́ ̃ mãkɛ]̃ (=sṍó makẽ) n.phr. bedtime
sóḿsóḿ [sɔ́ ̃ḿ sɔ́ ̃ḿ ] adv. quietly; calmly
sóó [sóó] n. kitchen
só ̣ọga¹ [sɔ́ɔga] v.i. enter stealthily
só ̣ọga² [sɔ́ɔga] adj. lazy
só ̣ọga³ [sɔ́ɔga] n. laziness
sóosóo [sóosóo] interj. please; I plead; I beg pardon
sò ̣rà [sɔ̀rà] v.i. squat
su [su] v.t. take; accept; receive
45
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
súnee [sṹnɛɛ̃]̃ v.i. mix together
sùnwà [sũ̀ ŋwã̀ ] n. knowledge
sùnwa¹ [sũ̀ ŋwã] v.t. know; v.n. sũsúnwá
sùnwa² [sũ̀ ŋwã] v.t. connect two objects by means of a rope, etc.
sunwe [sũŋwɛ]̃ n. tobacco; cigarette
suu [suu] v.i. stand not straight, droop (of person)
suu dáá [suu dáá] v.i. nod off; fall asleep while sitting up (of person)
suùgà [suùgà] v.i. hang down, incline, droop with weariness (of person) (cf. kpẽègã̀ )
súzĩ̀ì [súzĩĩ̀̀] v.i. mix together

ta [ta] v.i. finish; end: À nà táa It has finished; (fig.) À tá mé nyíe I forget (lit. ‘It finishes in my mind’);
v.n. tatá
tá¹ [tá] v.t. accommodate, contain; fig. accept, tolerate: Ágbé ta The box contains/accommodates it: À tá
èrabá nu nee yé dòò He tolerates/accepts everything someone does to him.
tá² [tá] adj. nothing at all (used only in negative): Tá nu náa ee yé bá N othing at all is impossible for him.
tá³ [tá] interj. exclamation to intimidate or drive away
tã̀ [tã̀ ] n. throne (=akpòté-méné)
tã¹ [tã] v.i. shoot : À beè tã́ náa He shot the gun.
tã² [tã] v.t. draw
tã³ [tã] v.t. urinate; make water
tàa¹ [tàa] v.t. chew
tàa² [tàa] n. evil spirit
taa [taa] num. three
tã̀ a [tã̀ ã] v.t. shoot with gun or bow and arrow; sting: À beè tãã́ zìkà nam He shot an animal.
tã́ a [tã́ ã] n. anything that kills by personally directed malice; poison; witchcraft: nee tã́ a wizard; waà tã́ a
witch
tã́ á [tãã́ ́ ] prep. instead of: Tã́ á bèẹ̀ kà, ̣ nè me taa Instead of two, give me three.
tãàbá [tãã̀ bá] v.t. push; v.n. tãtã́ ábá
taàgá [taàgá] n. triangle; kùnàkpẽ̀ è taàgá equilateral triangle; kùnàákpótọ taàgá isoceles triangle;
náakunakpẽ̀ è taàgá scalene triangle (all coinages)
tã̀ àgã̀ [tãã ̀ ̀ gã̀ ] n. trouble; problems; difficulties; suffering
tã̀ àgã̀ ló¹ [tãã ̀ ̀ gã̀ ló] n. pleading: À náa we dá tã̀ àgã̀ ló He does not listen to pleading.
tã̀ àgã̀ ló² [tãã ̀ ̀ gã̀ ló] n. prayer (=karà)
tã̀ àgã ló¹ [tãã ̀ ̀ gãló] v.t. plead: Tã̀ àgã̀ ye ló Plead with him.
tã̀ àgã ló² [tãã ̀ ̀ gãló] v.t. pray: Tã̀ àga ló Bàrì Pray to God.
taaná [tããnã́ ] v.i. be straight, vertically or horizontally; be right, correct; (fig.) be upright, righteous; v.n.
tatááná being straight
tááná¹ [tãã ́ ́ nã́ ] n. straightness
tááná² [tãã ́ ́ nã́ ] adj. straight; right; correct; upright; right; rectangular; correct: À lu tááná nee He is a
righteous man.
táánágá¹ [tãã ́ ́ nã́ gá] n. right angle (90˚) (coinage)
táánágá² [tãã ́ ́ nã́ gá] adj. rectangular (coinage): tã́ ánágá kwĩ̀ì rectangular basket
taará [taará] v.t. set free: v.n. tatáárá
taà-tub [taàtub] num. sixty
46
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
taà-tub-nè-hlòb [taà-tub-nɛ̀ -̃ l9òb] num. seventy
tàb¹ [tàb] v.t. translate; interpret: v.n. tabtàb
tàb² [tàb] v.t. draw with rope, vertically or horizontally: v.n. tabtàb
tàb๠[tàbà] v.t. catch as ball, etc.; fig. understand; v.n. tatàbà
tàbಠ[tàbà] n. meaning; understanding
tàba [tàba] v.t. carry a child in the arms
tàgi [tàgi] v.t. chew indiscriminately, as rat eats maize from one side of the cob to the other; gnaw
táhè [táhè] interj. exclamation to terrify somebody while jumping out at them
tàláa [tàláa] n. hunger
tam [tãm] v.t. ask somebody going to market to buy something for one, the money to be given when he
has returned with the goods
táḿ [tã́ ḿ ] n. work; job; piece of work
tã̀ -méné [tã̀ -mɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. king’s throne
tatá [tatá] n. agreement, tolerance: À náa érẹ ̣ tatá kìma ló piyá nee He has no tolerance towards people.
té¹ [té] n. tree
té² [té] n. seat; chair; table
tèba [tèba] v.i. struggle
tè ̣ [tɛ̀] n. father
tẽ [tɛ]̃ v.t. sharpen
tẹb [tεb] v.adj. be shaky, not firm
téḅ [tέb] id. describes cutting of something with very sharp knife
téba [téba] n. struggle
tée [tée] n. run; running; race
Tèẹ̀ ¹̣ [tɛɛ̀̀] n. people living south of the River Imo, east of Eleme, west of Kana and north of Gokana; the
language of the people
tèẹ̀ ²̣ [tɛɛ̀̀] adv. exactly; at the point: tèẹ̀ ̣ nyíe exactly at the centre (=gèrègè); centre: À tõṍ tèẹ̀ ̣ nyíe bunwe
He lives in the centre of the town.
téẹ̀ ̣ [tέɛ̀] n. child’s name for father, daddy; title for a man
téẹ̣ [tέε] v.i. be loose
téẹ́ ̣ [tέέ] n. saltwater fish species
tẽ̀ è [tɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. keen desire; lust
tẽe¹ [tɛɛ̃]̃ v.t., v.i. pass; pass by; pass (examination); tẽ́ é yie pass over, across
tẽe² [tɛɛ̃]̃ v.i. be thick like soup
tèẹ̀ gà
̣ [tɛɛ̀̀gà] adj. lazy and hopeless
tẽ̀ èmáá [tɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ m ̃ ãã
́ ́ ] n. thirst
tèène [tɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ñ ɛ]̃ adj. same
teené [tɛɛ̃ñ ɛ́ ]̃ v.t. make straight; straighten: v.n. tẽtééné
teerá [teerá] v.t., v.i. run
tẹẹré ̣ [tεεrέ] v.t. make loose; loosen
téẹ́ tẹẹ
̣ [tέέtεε] adj. circular and broad
tẽ́ gã [tɛ́ g̃ ã] n. outside the centre
tẽ́ gẽ/tẽ́ kẽ [tɛ́ g̃ ɛ/̃ tɛ́ k̃ ɛ]̃ n. dregs
tèŸm̀ [tɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] n. room
tèma [tɛ̀ m ̃ ã] v.t. cause to pass; pass (ball, in football); serve drink or food; circulate (letters)
tèngí [tɛ̀ ŋ̃ gí] n. sleeper (fish sp.)
tẹnwaà [tɛŋ̃ wãã̀ ] (=tènwíí) ̣ n. father-in-law; wife’s father
47
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
tẹnwãgùzẽ̀ è¹ [tɛŋ̃ wagùzɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. trapper
tẹnwãgùzẽ̀ è² [tɛŋ̃ wagùzɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. a bird named after its cry, the Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitor-quata
COLUMBIDAE)
téra [téra] v.i. be negligibly small or meagre; diminish
tẹrẹ [tεrε] v.t. drop; lay (egg); post (letter); vote (by dropping ballot paper)
tèrẹpéé
̣ [tɛ̀rεpéé] n. goat
tèsị̃́ [tɛ̀sĩ́] n. leader; chief
ténkíri [tɛ́ ŋ̃ kíri] v.i. be up and doing about something
ti [ti] v.i. drum lightly; pound food very lightly; (fig.) speak on a surface level only; reserve (one’s
opinion)
tìmm [tĩ̀mm] id. the sound of a very heavy object falling
tò [tò] n. load, burden
to [to] v.i. weep
tó [tó] n. weeping
tò ̣¹ [tɔ̀] v.t. mix with water to make soft
tò ̣² [tɔ̀] v.t. spoil; damage, destroy
tọ¹ [tɔ] n. house
tọ² [tɔ] n. foot
tõ¹ [tɔ̃] v.t. decant, pour wine gradually from a decanter
tõ² [tɔ]̃ v.t. select good from evil and do it
tõ³ [tɔ]̃ v.t. weld
tõ4 [tɔ]̃ v.t. order; give an order
tṍ¹ [tɔ́ ̃] n. ear
tṍ² [tɔ́ ]̃ n. ashes
tòb [tòb] v.t. scoop; make deep
tob¹ [tob] v.t. throw
tob² [tob] v.t. build (house)
tob³ [tob] v.t. heap; deposit
tób [tób] adj. sharp
tó ̣b [tɔ́b] v.i. drip, as a drop of liquid
tóba [tóba] v.i. be heaped
tò ̣bẹ [tɔ̀bε] v.t. drop (medicine into the eye or ear)
tóbgá [tóbgá] n. acute angle (coinage) (=ápyɔ́ gá) ̃
tobíòko [tobíòko] n. yellow ant
tób-pyùgù [tób-pjùgù] n. oxygen (coinage)
tó ̣du [tɔ́du] n. market shop or shed
tòg๠[tògà] adj. deep: À lú tògà It is deep.
tògಠ[tògà] n. depth
tògàtòg๠[tògàtògà] adj. very deep: À lú tògàtògà It is very deep
tògàtògಠ[tògàtògà] n. depth
tòge [tòge] v.cs. make deep
tò ̣gè ̣ [tɔ̀gɛ̀] n. teaching; neètò ̣gè,̣ teacher
tò ̣gẹ [tɔ̀gε] v.t. teach
tọkpá [tɔkpá] n. school
tọkpìgì [tɔkpìgì] n. bank
tọkùwè ̣ [tɔkùwɛ̀] n. toilet; water closet
48
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
tọláa [tɔláa] n. spider’s web
tòmà [tɔ̀ m ̃ ãŸ] v.t. bear; endure; (fig.) A. keep a child, who serves in the house; B. accommodate, tolerate
offences
tọmáá [tɔmãã ́ ́ ] n. bathroom
tọmàni [tɔmã̀ nĩ] n. urinal
tóḿ-tóḿ [tɔ́ m ̃ ́ -tɔ́ ̃ḿ ] id. testing the taste of salt in the soup
tóó [tóó] n. paste; tóó dáa toothpaste
tóọ̀ ̣ [tɔ́ɔ̀] n. expert: bàràtóọ̀ ̣ expert farmer
tó ̣ọ [tɔ́ɔ] adj. cold
tõ̀ ò¹ [tɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ v.i. take position, be present, stay; dwell, live: tõo átṍ live a holy life; tõ̀ ò bẹẹ wait for; watch
tõ̀ ò² [tɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. position, condition, presence, a long stay
tõ̀ ò³ [tɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ adj. many: tõ̀ ò nee many people
tòọ̀ ̣gà [tɔɔ ̀ ̀ gà] v.i. struggle to look for and find
tóọ̀ ̣kíkìrà [tɔ́ɔ̀kíkìrà] n. harmattan
tóọ̀ ̣kùwè ̣ [tɔ́ɔ̀kùwɛ̀] n. expert hunter (=dámtóọ̀ ̣)
toomá [tɔɔ̃m ̃ ã́ ] v.i. be dislocated (=hleegá)
toománá [tɔɔ̃m ̃ ã́ ná] v.t. dislocate (=hleegará)
toorá [toorá] v.t. carry load; (fig.) bear, be held responsible for
tõ̀ òtẽ́ [tɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ t̃ ɛ́ ]̃ n. hip; ákpó tõ̀ òtẽ́ hip-bone
tó ̣ọtó ̣ọ [tɔ́ɔtɔ́ɔ] adj. wet
tõ̀ òtõ̀ ò [tɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ t̃ ɔɔ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ adj. very many, numerous, manifold: tõ̀ òtõ̀ ò nwíí very many children
tóọ̀ ̣’úwé [tɔ́ɔ̀ʔúwé] n. expert hunter (=dámtóọ̀ ̣)
torà [torà] (=tuwerà) n. abuse
tòra gbà [tòra gbà] v.phr. swing
tó ̣ró ̣ [tɔ́rɔ́] n. one-quarter of one shilling
tọwa [tɔwa] v.t. inspire: Ye tò ̣gè ̣ beè i tọwa ló His teaching inspired us.
tù [tù] v.i. be thick like palm wine; (of liquid) thicken
túákà [túákà] n.adj. the first
tùb [tùb] adj. thick and tough; difficult to cleave (of wood), (fig. of condition)
tub¹ [tub] v.t. spit out
tub² [tub] (num.) twenty
tub-nè-azĩ̀ì [tub-nɛ̀ -̃ azĩĩ̀̀] num. twenty-one
tub-nè-bèẹ̀ ̣ [tub-nɛ̀ -̃ bɛɛ̀̀] num. twenty-two
tub-nè-hlòb [tub-nɛ̀ -̃ l9òb] num. thirty
tùgu [tùgu] v.t. pick (hot substance etc.) with pin; peck (wood, etc.) like the woodpecker
túgu [túgu] v.i. produce a new shoot after the main stem has been cut off; bud
tùgùrù [tùgùrù] n. a small squarish saltwater fish
tùkpúḿ [tùkpṹḿ] id. sound made by small but heavy thing falling into the water
tum [tũm] n. advice: À beè wa nè tum He gave them some advice
túḿ [tṹḿ] n. thick heavy stick; cudgel; pestle
Tumbéè-Tèẹ̀ ̣ [tũmbéè-tɛɛ̀̀] n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
túmkinyà [tṹmkĩɲã̀ ] n. walking-stick
túmkúmanu [tṹmkṹmãnũ] n. pestle
túmméné [tṹmmɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ (=kpó ̣ró ̣ =agèẹ̀ )̣ n. sceptre, staff borne as symbol of personal sovereignty, royal or
imperial authority
túnwà [tṹŋwà] n. mudskipper
49
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
tùrà [tùrà] v.t. reach
tùra [tùra] v.t. contribute (money, effort)
tùre¹ [tùre] v.cs. lead to; cause to reach: Ture yé lo kẽ̀ Lead him to that place.
tùre² [tùre] n. leadership: Ì de kẽ ye tùre We are under his leadership.
túrú [túrú] n. nail
tùtúgù [tùtúgù] n. boil
tùtúgùakpọmté [tùtúgùakpɔ̃mté] n. praying mantis
tùtúgùakpòté [tùtúgùakpòté] n. very painful boil
tùtùkpé [tùtùkpé] n. motor-cycle
túú [túú] n. three-leaved yam (Dioscorea dumetorum DIOSCOREACEAE)
tùwà [tùwà] n. digging-hoe
tùwè [tùwè] v.t. abuse; misuse
tuwe [tuwe] v.t. pierce; make a hole: Túwé deè Make a hole.
tuwerà [tuwerà (=torà) n. abuse; misuse
túwéra [túwéra] v.t. pierce: Hyúu túwéra mé tọ A thorn pierces my foot.
tùwi [tùwi] n. land crab

u [ʔu] v.i. die

úra¹ [ʔúra] v.i. be folded
úra² [ʔúra] v.i. rush: Bà úra They rush.
ùre¹ [ʔùre] v.t. hasten someone or something: Ùre ye Hurry him up; Ùre táḿ Hasten the work.
ùre² [ʔùre] v.t. boil : Ùre máá Boil water; Ùre zĩ́á Boil yam.
ùu [ʔùu] v.t. cover a fowl (e.g. with a basket) so that it may not go out
úú [ʔúú] adj. female animal or bird: úú gbèrè female lizard: úú nám̀ (female) cow
uugá [ʔuugá] v.t. shade oneself with umbrella
úuga [ʔúuga] n. cover; shelter; umbrella
uùne [ʔũũ̀ nɛ]̃ n. night
úwá [ʔúwá] adj. dead
uwè [ʔuwè] n. word
úwé [ʔúwé] n. farm
ùwè ̣ [ʔùwɛ̀] adj. dark red: À érẹ
̣ ùwè ̣ dẽ́ é It has a dark-red colour.
ùwẹ [ʔùwε] v.i. be slippery: À úwé ̣ It is slippery (=ó ̣ra)
uwẹ [ʔuwε] v.t. sing: Úwé ̣ hyóọ́ ̣ Sing a song.
úwé ̣ [ʔúwέ] n. fish resembling ò ̣rọ but smaller
Úwédùme [ʔúwédũ̀ mɛ]̃ n. Uedume, a village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
Úwékẽ [ʔúwékɛ]̃ n. village in Tèẹ̀ ̣
uwi¹ [ʔuwi] v.i. boil (of water); (fig.) boil with anger: À beè úwí bu ásṹú He boiled with anger.
uwi² [ʔuwi] v.t. fold
uwi³ [ʔuwi] n. basket with cover, lid

wa¹ [wa] n. wife

wa² [wa] pron. (poss. adj. 3rd pers. pl.) their: wa zó ̣ their property, their wealth, their goods, etc.
50
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
wa³ [wa] pron. (3rd pers. pl. obj.) them: Nè wa kpìgì Give them money.
wàá [wàá] id. the sound of tearing a dry, hard substance like dry wood
waàtã́ a [waàtã́ ã] n. witch
wàb [wàb] v.t. tear (as carnivorous animal or bird its prey)
wagà [wagà] v.i. break and collapse like a pit
wé ̣ [wέ] n. maggot
wèè [wèè] v.t. proclaim; wewèè v.n. proclaiming
wée [wée] aux. (marking the simple habitual form): À wée kọ; à wée bũ̀ ù; à wée em He speaks; he reads;
he writes.
wèẹ̀ ̣ [wɛɛ̀̀] n. flute
wẹẹ [wεε] n. somersault
wéẹ́ ¹̣ [wέέ] v.adj. be light, easy: Tò wéẹ́ ̣ The load is light: Táḿ wéẹ́ ̣ The work is easy.
wéẹ́ ²̣ [wέέ] v.i. be near: À wéẹ́ ̣ It is near.
wèègà [wèègà] (=wììgà) v.i. swoop down; make a sudden flight from the tree (like hawk) to the ground to
catch a chicken; (of person) make a sudden run to seize something from somebody
wẹẹgá¹ [wεεgá] v.i. somersault
wẹẹgá² [wεεgá] v.i. return
wèrẹ¹
̣ [wɛ̀rε] v.cs. make easy
wèrẹ²
̣ [wɛ̀rε] v.cs. make to be near
wèreló [wèreló] v.t. love
werèló [werèló] n. love
wii [wii] v.i. shout
wò [wò] v.adj. be gracious
wó [wó] adv. so
wò ̣ [wɔ̀] n. bragging; boasting (by someone who can do nothing)
wọ [wɔ] v.t. clear bush
wọb [wɔb] v.t. sacrifice: wó ̣b zọọ offer sacrifice
wóò [wóò] interj. expression of sympathy, pity
wu¹ [wu] v.t. pin together
wu² [wu] v.t. set; stand up (fallen table, etc.)
wùa¹ [wùa] v.i. be set
wùa² [wùa] v.i. stand: Wùa lo kẽ̀ Stand there.
wùrà [wùrà] v.i. be in love; love each other/one another
wurà [wurà] n. mutual love
wúra¹ [wúra] v.i. scream together for danger; v.n. wuwúrá screaming
wúra² [wúra] n. screaming together

yàà [jàà] v.t. put on (clothes)

yaa [jaa] v.i. thank you (=mamma)
yaa dùme [jaa dũ̀ mɛ]̃ v.phr. carry (child) on back (=dàra dùme)
yààgà [jààgà] v.i. be scattered
yáaga [jáaga] v.i. suspend or be suspended (cf. yẹẹgé)̣
Yáágò [jáágò] n. traditional initiation of adolescent female into womanhood (no longer practised)
yáágó [jáágó] n. bee
51
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
yààri [jààri] v.cs. cause to scatter; spread (news); spread (cloth) etc.
ye¹ [je] pron. (3rd pers. sing. obj.) him/her: Nè ye kpìgì Give him/her money.
ye² [je] pron. (poss. 3rd pers. sing.) his/her: ye zĩ́ á his/her yam; ye kpìgì his/her money
yẹ [jε] v.t. peel
yèb [jèb] v.t., v.i. dance
yeb [jeb] n. a dance: yèb yeb dance a dance (cog. obj.)
yẹb [jεb] v.adj. (of wound) become infected, putrefied
yéḅ [jέb] v.i. (of wood) burn without flame; smoulder
yẹẹ [jεε] v.t. buy
yéẹ̣ [jέε] v.i. float
yèègà [jèègà] v.i. fear; be terrified; tremble (=nyògã̀ )
yéẹga
̣ [jέεga] v.i. go neatly
yèège [jèège] v.cs. terrify
yẹẹgé ̣ [jεεgέ] v.t. suspend
Yègè ̣ ̣ [jɛ̀gɛ̀] n. Yeghe, a town in Ogoni
yégé ̣ ̣ [jέgέ] n. decoration, beauty, adornment
yègèrè [jègèrè] n. sudden outburst of gaiety and dancing
yèm̀ [jɛ̀ m ̃ ̀ ] n. mourning
yènèyéné [jènɛ̀ j̃ ɛ́ ñ ɛ́ ]̃ n. exchange
yèrè [jèrè] v.t. put in; enter, register, deposit (money): yère bu put in; yèrè kpo tẽ́ put a heap around
(plant, to protect it); (fig.) support (a statement)
yèrèbá [jèrèbá] v.t. help
yerèbá [jerèbá] n. help
yìb [jìb] v.t. steal
yib [jib] n. theft; thief
yibè [jibè] adj. whole; yibè kà one whole
yìì [jìì] v.i. enter: yii bu enter in
yii¹ [jii] v.t. contain
yii² [jii] n. vessel; container
yíí [jíí] n. law
yii-máá-bu-míi [jii-mãã ́ ́ -bu-mĩ́ĩ] n. lymphatic vessels (coinage)
yìr๠[jìrà] v.i., v.t. believe
yìrಠ[jìrà] n. faith; belief
yìra¹ [jìra] v.i. stand; wait; (fig.) contest (election)
yìra² [jìra] n. height; length; distance
yírà-ahyòòrì [jírà-ahjòòrì] n. stamen (of flower) (coinage)
yirànuyààló [jirànũjààló] n. long robe
yìraya [jìraja] v.i. stand
yò [jò] v.i. get ripe, mature
yọ [jɔ] n. deity; divinity; god; (Christian usage) devil; Satan; demon; fetish
yó ̣b [jɔ́b] n. rash on body
yò ̣bà [jɔ̀bà] v.t. warm oneself by the fire; (fig.) expose oneself to: À yọba ye tã̀ àgà He faces the trouble
with him.
yò ̣bàrà [jɔ̀bàrà] v.t. untie
yò ̣bárá [jɔ̀bárá] v.t. gather up with the two hands (e.g. rice)
yògòyògò [jògòjògò] adj. red and conspicuous
52
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
yoò [joò] n. pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima Duch. CUCURBITACEAE)
yò ̣ò ̣ [jɔɔ
̀ ̀ ] n. python
yòọ̀ ̣bà [jɔɔ ̀ ̀ bà] v.i. be untied
yó ̣ọba [jɔ́ɔba] v.i. become more serious (of sickness or trouble)
yó ̣ọbẹ [jɔ́ɔbε] v.t. irritate: Yó ̣b yó ̣ọbe ye The rash irritates him: (fig.) make impatient; Uwe yó ̣ọbe ye He is
impatient (as a result of something said).
yóoga [jóoga] v.i. be too much
yòọ̀ ̣gà [jɔɔ ̀ ̀ gà] v.i. suck and drop like leech, tsetse fly, etc.
yò ̣rò ̣yò ̣rò ̣¹ [jɔ̀rɔ̀jɔ̀rɔ̀] adj. evil; abominable (of person or thing)
yò ̣rò ̣yò ̣rò ̣² [jɔ̀rɔ̀jɔ̀rɔ̀] n. abomination
yuè [juè] n. meat; muscle: yuè nam animal meat

zà [zà] v.i. move forward; za sĩ́ be in front; be a leader

za [za] v.t. strike into pieces
zá [zá] n. expression of sympathy, pity, condolence, sorrow: À ga bà zá He is showing sympathy.
zàb [zàb] v.t. tread indiscriminately
zàg๠[zàgà] v.t. tread: Èb tọ nwíi a kèrẹ ̣ zàgà See the foot of the child who trod (on the place) and (shot
with) care (Said in the game of pyò ̣b when the first child has shot successfully and others try to imitate
him); (fig.) imitate a successful person
zàgಠ[zàgà] n. ram’s or lion’s mane
zágárá [zágárá] n. dream
zàsĩ́ [zàsĩ́] n. leadership
zẽ̀ è [zɛɛ̀ ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. trap (also fig.)
zẽè [zɛɛ̃ ̀ ]̃ n. Musk Shrew (Crocidura spp.), small, sharp-nosed insectivorous rodent with an obnoxious
smell
zèẹ̀ gà ̣ [zɛɛ̀̀gà] adj. hopeless; inactive
zẹẹnee [zεεnɛɛ̃]̃ n. young people; adolescents
zèẹ̀ rẹ ̣ [zɛɛ̀̀rε] v.t. soak
zège [zège] n. young person (=ágéré)
zègẹ¹ ̣ [zɛ̀gε] v.t. sift; sieve
zègẹ² ̣ [zɛ̀gε] v.t. tend seedlings (of pepper, etc.) before transplanting
zégè ̣ ̣ [zέgɛ̀] n. sieve
zì¹ [zì] v.t. loot
zì² [zì] num. one (qualifying form): zì nee one person; zì tọ nam one hind leg of an animal: zì kpá Class
One (In many cases, zì cannot be used but is replaced by zìka.)
zi [zi] n. bush pig; Red River Hog (Potamochoerus porcus SUIDAE)
zí [zí] n. yellow fly species
zià [zià] n. squirrel
zía [zía] n. hair
zĩ̀a¹ [zĩ̀ã] v.t. cheat, deceive
zĩ̀a² [zĩ̀ã] n. cheating, deception, deceit
zĩ́ á [zĩ́ã́ ] n. yam; hence, a general name for food (=nudé)
zìb [zìb] v.t. beat (person) (=bòb)
zib [zib] n. beating
53
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
zígízígí¹ [zígízígí] id. drizzling
zígízígí² [zígízígí] n. drizzle
zígízígí³ [zígízígí] n. vibrating dance type
zìgìzìgìyíí [zìgìzìgìjíí] n. small destructive caterpillars
zii [zii] n. darkness
zĩ̀ì [zĩĩ̀̀] num. one (used in counting)
zĩi [zĩĩ] v.adj. be barren: Lo wa zĩi That woman is barren.
zìkà [zìkà] n. one whole: zìkà kpá one book; zìkà nee one whole person; zìkà zĩ́ á one whole yam: Kukà
kpá? Zìkà. How many books? One.
zim [zĩm] v.i. be out (of fire); be destroyed and extinct (of line of descent)
zíḿ¹ [zĩ́ḿ ] v.i. be completely destroyed
zíḿ² [zĩ́ḿ ] n. spirits; ancestral spirits
zimá [zĩmã́ ] n. knife
zìmáá [zĩ̀mãã ́ ́ ] n. domestic pig
zìme¹ [zĩ̀mɛ]̃ v.t. put out, extinguish (light, fire)
zìme² [zĩ̀mɛ]̃ v.t. destroy completely; make extinct
zína [zĩ́nã] n. star; zína adò ̣ meteor; falling or shooting star
zó ̣ [zɔ́] n. wealth; riches; products; goods
zõ̀ ¹ [zɔ̀ ̃] v.t. poke with stick, fight with horns, as rams or cows
zõ² [zɔ]̃ v.t. close leakage in vessels and in the roof
zòb [zòb] n. brass ring worn on the leg by women during festival
zób [zób] id. action of skipping as evidence of smartness and healthiness
zò ̣gẹ [zɔ̀gε] v.t. show
zò ̣gò ̣dée [zɔ̀gɔ̀dée] n. eye sickness with symptoms of eye pus
zò ̣gò ̣zò ̣gò ̣¹ [zɔ̀gɔ̀zɔ̀gɔ̀] adj. wet
zò ̣gò ̣zò ̣gò ̣² [zɔ̀gɔ̀zɔ̀gɔ̀] n. wetness
zò ̣m̀ [zɔ̀ ̃m̀ ] id. expressing the falling of a person or an object on to a soft material
zóo [zóo] n. oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq. PALMAE)
zọọ [zɔɔ] n. sacrifice
zõ̀ ògã̀ [zɔɔ ̀ ̃ ̀ g̃ ã̀ ] v.t. meet (person or object) coming from opposite direction; run into
zọrò ̣ [zɔrɔ̀] n. red ants that eat yam and cassava tubers
zù [zù] n. the interwoven growth of climbing plants in a tree
zũ [zũ] n. slimy substance secreted by palm-wine tree
zùb [zùb] v.adj. be foolish: À zub He/She is foolish.
zùge¹ [zùge] v.cs. make a fool of
zùge² [zùge] v.t. disturb a hiding place for an animal so that it runs out
zugèhínyá [zugèhĩ́ɲã́ ] n. bellows (=bémàhínyá) ̣
zùguzùgu [zùguzùgu] adj. easily deceived (=zùùgà)
zṹu [zṹũ] n. mucus; slimy substance secreted by mucous membrane
zùùg๠[zùùgà] n. a person who can be easily deceived; a lazy person
zùùgಠ[zùùgà] adj. easily deceived

54
Tẹẹ Dictionary. Web version
Appendix

In modern times, there is a need for technical words in many fields. In English, these are formed either by
processes of compounding or by borrowing. In many cases, the borrowed words are themselves built up by
compounding either Latin or Greek words. The table that follows shows how technical words can equally be
built up by compounding Tèẹ̀ ̣ words.

English Greek/Latin Tèẹ̀ ̣

Agriculture Latin Agricultura Tèẹ̀ ̣ dò`dò`-koroke)$
= agri- 'field' = dò`dò` 'tillage'
+ cultura 'tillage'
+ koroke)$ 'soil'
Anthropology Greek anthropologia nonó-nee
= anthropos 'man' = nonó 'study'
+ logia 'study' + nee 'man'
Biology Greek biologia nonó-dùm$
= bios 'life' = nonó 'study'
+ logia 'study' + dùm$ 'life'
Chemistry Greek khumeia egara 'pouring'
'pouring'
Hydrology Greek hydrologia nonó-máá
= hudro 'water' = nonó 'study'
+ logia 'study' + máá 'water'
Mathematics Greek mathéma sùnwà ‘learning, science’
= learning, science
Economics Greek oikonomos ààra-be
= oìkos 'house/home' =ààra 'management'
+ nomos 'management' + be 'house/home'
Philanthropy Greek philanthropia werèló-nee
= philos 'love of' = werèló 'love'
+ anthropos 'man' + nee 'man'
Physics Greek phuziké/epistemé sùnwà-mèà
= natural things from = sùnwà 'knowledge'
phusis 'nature' + mèà 'nature'
+ episteme#
knowledge
Seismology Greek seismologia nonó-nyògà-koroke)
= seismos ‘earthquake’ = nonó ‘study’
+ logia ‘study’ + nyògà-koroke)
‘earthquake'
Technology Greek technologia nonó-batam
= tekhne# ‘art, skill’ = nonó- ‘study’
+ logia ‘study’ + batam ‘art, skill’

55