ẹ [ɛ̀] pro.
3rd per. sgl. pronoun in the negative:
Ọ maa ra ẹ i maa? “He is good or he is not good? i.e. is he good or not?”
.
ẹbae [ɛ́bàe] n.
a meal made from processed cassava and eaten with soup.
ẹbee [ɛ̀béè] n.
danger; adversity.
ẹbete [ɛ́bétè] n.
a variety of brown bush rat (also ekuọmọ).
ẹbẹe [ɛ̀bɛ́è] int.
used to express delight at somebody’s mishap, especially if the mishap had been planned by the sufferer to befall someone else; it is the equivalent of “serves you right!” and is used mainly by children and women.
ẹbẹn1 [ɛ̀bɛ̃̀] n.
a ceremonial sword carried by chiefs as part of their status symbols; it ranks lower than the sceptre, ada.
ẹbẹn2 [ɛ̀bɛ̃̀] n.
a tree, found near water, (Mitragyna macrophylla), from which ceiling planks are obtained.
ẹbi [ɛ̀bíì] n.
a force that draws one into danger or peril.
ẹbibi [ɛ̀bìbì] n.
1^.^ (used with the verb zẹ), bustle; excited activity:
ẹbibi zẹ vbe ore ― “there is a lot of bustle in town”^
;
2. publicity; news of a person’s reputation:
ebibi ẹre sẹ ehe hia nẹ ― “his publicity had reached everywhere”
.
ẹbo1 [ɛ́bò] n.
a variety of sedge, whose stems are used for weaving mats and bags.
ẹboo [ɛ̀bóò] n.
charm, medicine.
Ẹbomisi [ɛ̀bómìsí] n.
name of an Ẹdo deity who is said to have transformed himself into the hill now known as Oke Ẹbomisi along the Benin ― Agbor road.
ẹbọ [ɛ̀bɔ̀] n.
1. a god; deity;
2. symbolic objects instituted to represent particular gods and deities.
ẹbu [ɛ́bú] n.
a group of many individual objects or persons; a crowd:
Ghẹ rhie ẹre laọ uwu ẹbu ― “Don’t take him into the crowd”
.
ẹbubule [ɛ̀bùbùlé] n.
a herb used as vegetable in soups.
Ẹbue [ɛ̀buè] n.
name of Bini village.
ẹdekita [ɛ̀dékítà] n.
doctor, physician (cf. Engl.).
ẹdẹbiri [ɛ̀dɛ́biɽi] adv.
all day:
ẹdẹ biri ẹre ọ wa ya vbe odọ ― “It was the entire day that he spent over there; i.e. He stayed there all day.”
ẹdẹdẹmwẹndẹ [ɛ̀dɛ́dɛ́ɱɛ̃̀dɛ̀] adv.
forever; ever.
Ghẹ rha ẹdẹdẹmwẹndẹ ― “don’t steal ever.”
ẹ̀dẹgbe [ɛ̀dɛ́gbè] adv.
1. daybreak;
2. overnight.
ẹdẹgbedẹgbe [ɛ̀dɛ́gbedɛ́gbè] adv.
everyday; daily (also ẹdẹdẹgbe; and ẹdẹgbegbe).
ẹdẹgbegbe [ɛ̀dɛ́gbégbè] adv.
everyday; daily (also ẹdẹdẹgbe; and ẹdẹgbedẹgbe).
ẹdẹha [ɛ́dɛ̀há] adv.
three days duration:
ẹdẹha ọ ya ru ẹre foo ― “He took three days to complete it.”
ẹdẹhanrẹ [ɛ̀dɛ̀hã́rɛ̀] adv.
six days hence; in six days’ time.
ẹdẹikẹdẹ [ɛ̀dɛíkɛ̀dɛ́] adv.
any day; whatever day:
ẹdẹikẹdẹ ne ọ rhirhi nọọ, u ghi rhie nẹẹ ― “any day he asks at all, give it to him.”
ẹdẹruanrẹ [ɛdɛɽ̃wãɽɛ] adv.
eight days hence; in eight days time.
ẹdẹrriọ [ɛ́dɛ́ryɔ̀] adv.
the other day; that day.
Ẹdẹ ne i miọẹn, ẹdẹrriọ ẹre ọ sẹ Ẹdo ― “The day I saw him, that day he arrived in Benin: That day I saw him was when he arrived in Benin.”
ẹdiangbọn [ɛ̀dyã́gbɔ̃̀] n.
processed coconut oil, used as body cream.
ẹdienbo [ɛ̀dyẽ́bò] n.
“European palm-nuts”: pineapple.
ẹdikẹtin [ɛ̀dikɛ̀tĩ́] n.
“day of rest”; Sunday (in the Christian sense) (also ẹduzọla; ẹdizọla).
ẹdizọla [ɛ̀dízɔ̀lá] n.
Sunday (also ẹduzọla; ẹdikẹtin).
Ẹdo [ɛ̀dó] n.
1. the native name for Benin City, as well as for the language of its inhabitants and environs;
2. the classificatory name for the group of related languages spoken in most of Bendel State, and which is a subgroup of the Kwa branch of the Niger ― Congo family;
3. the ethnic label for the speakers of the Central-Edo group of languages.
ẹdogbo [ɛ̀dógbò] n.
neighbourhood; immediate environment.
ẹdun [ɛ́dũ̀] n.
“bitter cola”, the fruit of the tree, Garcinia Kola.
ẹduzọla [ɛ̀dúzɔ̀lá] n.
“day of the week”: Sunday (also ẹduzọla nọkhua; edikẹtin; esọnde; ẹdizọla).
ẹẹn [ɛ̃́ɛ̃́] int.
“yes”; positive response to a question requiring Yes/No answer.
ẹfe [ɛ̀fè] n.
wealth; property.
ẹfotọ [ɛ̀fótɔ̀] n.
(< ẹfe + otọ) “riches of the earth”: mineral.
ẹfua [ɛ́fuà] n.
whiteness; light complexion:
ovbi-ere nekherhe mwẹn efua ― “His smaller child has light complexion”
.
ẹgiẹgiẹ [ɛ̀gyɛ́gyɛ̀] n.
haste; hurry;
ya ẹgiẹgiẹ gha dee ― “use haste to come: Come with haste.”
ẹgiọn [ɛ́gyɔ̃́] n.
a single-stringed native musical instrument fashioned like a bow. It is put in the mouth and played with two sticks.
ẹgogo [ɛ́gógó] n.
1. bell:
iran kpe ẹgogo owiẹ nẹ ― “They have rung the morning bell.”
;
2. clock; watch:
ọ gba ẹgogo ye obọ ― “He straps a watch on his wrist: He is wearing a wristwatch.”
;
3. hour; time:
inu ẹgogo ọ tu? ― “How many hours have struck: what time is it?”
.
ẹguae [ɛ̀gwàe] n.
1. the Oba’s palace in Benin City;
2. the residence of a ruler.
ẹguẹn [ɛ́gwɛ̃́] n.
the variety of bat that lives in house ceilings.
ẹgun [ɛ́gũ̀] n.
1. the bathroom in the traditional Edo house;
2. an area in the traditional house for storing foodstuff such as yams and plantains.
ẹgbe [ɛ̀g͡bè] n.
a quick dancing step.
ẹgbenọgbifie [ɛ̀gbènɔ̀g͡bìfyé] n.
“Killer that kills the cleared bush”: harmattan wind (also ekhuakhua).
ẹgbẹdin [ɛ̀g͡bɛ̀dĩ́] n.
cylindrical drum; large barrel.
ẹgbẹle1 [ɛ̀gbɛ̀lé] n.
a small piece of embroidered cloth wrapped around the waist by people attending ugie.
ẹgbẹle2 [ɛ̀gbɛ̀lé] n.
an idiomatic word for suicide.
ẹgbo [ɛ́gbó] n.
forest; jungle.
ẹghele [ɛ́ɣèlè] n.
a man belonging to the ighele age-group; i.e. from 21 to 42 years. They were responsible for fighting during wars, and doing other community chores such as house building and tree felling.
ẹghẹ̀ [ɛ̀ɣɛ̀] n.
time; period;
ẹghẹ̀ hia ― “at all times;” “always”
;
ẹghẹ̀ naa ― “at this time”; “nowadays”; “now”
;
ẹghẹ̀ nii ― “at that time”; “then”; “in those days”
.
ẹghẹnẹdẹ [ɛ̀ɣɛ̀nɛ́dɛ̀] adv.
in the olden days; in the past.
ẹghẹso [ɛ̀ɣɛ̀só] adv.
sometimes; occasionally.
ẹghodo [ɛ́ɣòdò] n.
1. courtyard;
2. an unroofed and enclosed courtyard within the traditional Edo house into which rain water flows;
ẹghodo-ẹrriẹ ― “courtyard in the harem”
.
ẹghodo-ikun ― “courtyard in the ikun”
.
ẹghorhọ [ɛ̀ɣóřɔ̀] n.
(< ẹghẹ ― orhọ): “time of rains”: rainy season.
ẹghọẹn [ɛɣɔ̃ɛ̃] n.
a tree Terminalia superba, used as firewood only.
ẹghuyunmwun [ɛ̀ɣúỹũ̀ɱũ̀] n.
(< ẹghẹ ― uyunmwun) “time of dryness”: dry season.
ẹhae [ɛ̀haè] n.
forehead (also uharo).
ẹhan [ɛ́hã̀] n.
buffalo (also ede).
ẹhi [ɛ̀hì] n.
one’s guardian spirit.
ẹhiẹn [ɛ̀hiɛ̃́] n.
a general name for different varieties of native pepper.
ẹhiẹndo [ɛ̀hĩɛ̃́dò] n.
(< ehiẹn ― Ẹdo) “Benin pepper”: a variety of spice known as “alligator pepper”.
ẹhihi [ɛ̀híhì] n.
a very small variety of black ants usually found around sweet substances.
ẹhinakhọe [ɛ̀hìnáxɔè] n.
region at the back of the head.
ẹhiunhobo [ɛ̀hyúhòbò] n.
(< ẹhien ― Uhobo) “Urhobo pepper”; pepper soup ― a variety of soup prepared with much pepper and without oil, usually for convalescing people, or for women after childbirth. It is also prepared as an appetizer with choice meat or fish.
ẹho [ɛ̀hóò] n.
1. throat;
2. voice.
ẹhohẹziza [ɛ̀hóhɛzìzà] n.
(< ẹhoho ― ẹziza) “the wind of ẹziza” ― whirlwind.
ẹhoho [ɛ̀hóhò] n.
wind; breeze; ẹhohoni ― n. (< ẹhoho ― oni) “breeze of fever”: cool breeze (believed to cause a cold if exposed to it).
ẹhuan [ɛ́hwã̀] n.
1. lightness; brightness; light complexioned. (cf. efua).
2. light coloured kola-nut.
ẹhue [ɛ́hwè] n.
somebody/something with a large capacity for consumption; thing/person with big appetite.
ẹ́hun [ɛ́hũ̀] n.
fart (used with the verb nẹ).
ẹ̀hun [ɛ̀hṹ] n.
decayed parts of tree stems; effect of insect contamination in grain and other foodstuff; wormdust.
ẹkete [ɛ́kété] n.
1. a ruler’s throne;
2. the throne of the Oba.
ẹkẹ [ɛ̀kɛ́] n.
cunning; deception.
ẹki [ɛ̀kì] n.
1. market;
2. trade;
Eki-Ọba ― “Oba market”
;
Ẹki-agbado ― “Agbado market”
.
ẹkiudu [ɛ̀kyúdù] n.
force:
ọ ya ekiudu miẹ ẹre re ― “He used force to take it from him: He took it from him by force”
.
ẹko [ɛ̀kóò] n.
1. belly;
2. capacity:
Akhe na mwẹn ẹko ― “This pot has capacity i.e. it is large”
.
ẹkobalọmwẹn [ɛ̀kòbálɔ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
“hurting of the belly”: grief; sadness; distress.
ẹkohihiẹmwẹn [ɛ̀kòhíhyɛ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
“pouring of the belly”: diarrhoea.
ẹkokodu [ɛ́kókódù] n.
“apex of the chest”: heart.
ẹkokhọmwẹn [ɛ̀kòxɔ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
“badness of the belly”: displeasure; irritation.
ẹkorhiẹnrhienmwẹn [ɛ̀kòryiɛ̃́ryɛ̃́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
“sweetness of the belly”: happiness; joy; pleasure.
ẹkorriaramwẹn [ɛ̀kòráɽáɱɛ̃̀] n.
“bitterness of the belly”: unhappiness; sorrow.
ẹkọ [ɛ̀kɔ́] n.
hot cereal made from corn.
ẹkuẹ [ɛ̀kwɛ́] n.
1. the Edo name for the town of Akure and its natives;
2. a general name for the Yoruba people.
ẹkuonkhuo [ɛ̀kṍxwò] n.
(< ekun ― okhuo) “woman’s waist”: a large piece of cloth, usually four yards wide, wrapped by women as part of their traditional outfit.
ẹkhókho [ɛ́xóxó] n.
1. dark corner;
2^.^ any place characterized by secrecy.
ẹkhòkho [ɛ́xòxò] n.
a variety of large monkey.
ẹkhu [ɛ̀xù] n.
door; entrance.
ẹkhun [`xũ̀] n.
a person who is unable to work due to weakness or illness; a cripple.
ẹkperọkhuẹ [ɛ̀k͡péɽɔ̀xwɛ̀] n.
a shining black bird, the size of a pigeon.
ẹkpẹho [ɛ́kpɛ́hò] n.
deep and resonating voice quality.
ẹkpirro [ɛ́k͡pírò] n.
an edible fruit with velvety brown skin of the tree Chrysophyllum africanum.
ẹkpiyeke [ɛ́k͡píyèkè] n.
“space of the back”: middle of the back; region between shoulder blades.
ẹkpó [ɛ́k͡pó] n.
1. space between two objects; gap:
rhie ẹkpó ne iran ― “give them gaps.”
;
2. time period:
ekpó nii ― “during that time”
;
ẹkpó rriọ ― in those days; that period
.
ẹkpò [ɛ́k͡pò] n.
1. bag;
2. N200.00, or the equivalent of one hundred pounds sterling.
ẹkpofi [ɛ́k͡pófì] n.
“bag of yaws” ― a yaws-ridden person.
ẹkpoghò [ɛ́k͡póɣò] n.
a pint-sized bottle used for measuring palm-oil for sale.
ẹkpoghó [ɛ́k͡póɣó] n.
a variety of bamboo plant, used for building houses and sheds.
ẹkpoki [ɛ́k͡pókì] n.
a cylindrical leather bag.
ẹkpoliyẹkẹ [ɛ́k͡pòlíyɛ̀kɛ̀] n.
pregnant woman (also ẹkponiyẹkẹ).
ẹlẹdẹ [ɛ́lɛ́dɛ̀] n.
domestic pig (also elẹdẹ).
ẹlu [ɛ̀lú] n.
purple dye, obtained from the leaves and roots of a local plant. (also elaali).
ẹlubọ [ɛ̀lùbɔ́] n.
yam or plantain flour used for preparing the meal by the same name.
ẹmwẹn [ɛ̀ɱɛ̃̀] n.
1. word; speech; utterance:
I họn ẹmwẹn ne u tae ― “I heard the words you said; i.e. I heard what you said”
.
2. matter; subject; affair; case:
iran si ẹmwẹn nii sẹ ekọtu ― “They have dragged that case to court.”
ẹnina [ɛ́nĩ́nã́] n.
sensitivity; feeling.
ẹo [ɛo] n.
no; negative response to a question.
ẹre1 [ɛ̀ɽé] cop.
a variant of the focalizing copula ọre, which serves to link the focalized item with the rest of the sentence:
aga ẹre ọ tota yi. “It is a chair that he sat on”
, as opposed to
ọ tota ye aga ― “He sat on a chair”
― in which no item is focalized.
ẹre2 [ɛ̀ɽé/ɛ́ɽè] pron.
one of the forms of the 3rd person singular pronoun when it occurs as object or as possessive:
Ọzo gbe ẹre ― “Ozo beat him”
;
ebe ẹre nọ ― It is his book
. Other forms of this pronoun are: ẹnrẹn; ọre; ọnrẹn;
Ẹribo [ɛ́ɽíbò] n.
the title of the second senior chief of the Iwebo society.
ẹrin [ɛ̀ɽĩ̀] n.
a small variety of squirrel with bulging eyes.
ẹrinmwin [ɛ̀ɽĩ́ɱĩ̀] n.
1. the other world; the life hereafter; in the Christian sense: heaven; the seat of God and the other heavenly bodies, as well as the resting-place of the saved; in the traditional sense: the world of the spirits of the dead, as well as of Osa and the other gods;
2. infants;
3. the spirits of ancestors; masquerade dancers, who are symbolically linked with the gods they represent.
ẹrinmwin-Idu [ɛ̀ɽĩ́ɱĩ̀dú] n.
“god of Idu” (idu was an old name for Edo, as well as the name of a past Oba of Benin); the shrine of the Oba’s father at the Ẹguae.
ẹriyo [ɛ̀rìyó] n.
the title of a chief.
Ẹro [ɛ̀ɽó] n.
title of the chief whose court is at Urubi quarters in Benin City, and who is a member of the Uzama.
ẹro [ɛ́ɽó] n.
that part of a rope in a trap which entraps the victim.
ẹroro [ɛ́ɽóɽó] n.
a small bell which is found in shrines.
ẹrọnmwọn [ɛ́rɔ̃̀ɱɔ̃̀] n.
brass; brass bracelets and anklets.
ẹru [ɛ̀ɽù] n.
female antelope (cf. ẹrhuẹ).
ẹruvbọ [ɛ̀ɽúʋɔ̀] n.
river-tortoise (also elukeluke).
ẹrhaẹn [ɛ̀řã́ɛ̃̀] n.
blood. (also esagiẹn).
ẹrhẹ [ɛ̀řɛ̀] n.
groin; lower abdomen.
ẹrhia [ɛ́řià] n.
1. malefactor;
2. rubbish.
ẹrrẹe [ɛ̀rɛ́è] n.
1. someone else, who’s unknown to speaker,
Ghẹ rhie, ighẹ ọghe ẹrrẹe nọ ― “Don’t take it, for it belongs to someone else (who I don’t know)”
;
2. some unknown enemy:
ẹrrẹe ọ gha gbuẹ ― “May you be killed by some unknown enemy!”
― used as a common curse;
3. peer:
ẹrrẹegbe ― “peers of each other”
; matched pair: equals in strength and resources:
Iran vbe ọre se ẹrrẹegbe ― He and she are matched
.
ẹrriẹ [ɛ̀ryɛ́] n.
1. harem;
2. the Oba’s harem in the palace.
Ẹrriẹ [ɛ̀ryɛ̀] n.
the name of the street in which the first storey building in Benin City was constructed.
ẹse [ɛ̀sé] adv.
well, properly:
ọ le evbare na ẹse ― “She cooked this meal properly”
.
ẹsee [ɛ̀séè] n.
favour; kindness; good turn:
ẹsee Osanobua ― “God’s kindness”
.
ẹsẹse [ɛ̀sɛ́sè] adv.
very well; very much:
ọ yẹ mwẹn ẹsẹse ― “It delights me very much.”
ẹsẹsẹmwẹnse [ɛ̀sɛ́sɛ́ɱɛ̃̀sé] adv.
very much; exceedingly; extremely:
Ọ ghaan ẹsẹsẹmwẹnse ― “It is expensive very much: it is extremely expensive”^
.
Ẹsigie [ɛ́sigyè] n.
name of a past Oba of Benin.
ẹsọn [ɛ̀sɔ̃̀] n.
poverty; destitution.
ẹtẹbọ [ɛ̀tɛ̀bɔ́] n.
heap of mud collected for building purposes.
ẹti [ɛ́tì] n.
1. place in the forest which is rendered impassable by creepers and climbers;
2. confusion; obstruction.
ẹtin [ɛ̀tĩ́] n.
strength; power; force.
ẹtinfomwẹn [ɛ̀tĩ̀fóɱɛ̃̀] n.
(< ẹtin ― fo ― mwen): “the finishing of strength”: weakness.
ẹvbẹe [ɛ̀ʋɛ́è] n.
kola-nut, presented to guests as a sign of hospitality and good will; also used in several traditional ceremonies.
ẹvbigbagia [ɛ̀ʋígbàgya] n.
the variety of Kola that typically has only two cotyledons and is found mainly in Hausaland. It leaves an orange stain in the mouth. It is also known as evbigabari ― “Gambari-Kola”. It is not used in any ceremonial function in Edo land.
ẹvbii [ɛ̀uíì] n.
1. palm oil;
2^.^ animal fat.
ẹvbo [ɛ̀ʋò] n.
1. country; land:
ẹvbo-Igbo ― “Igbo-land”
;
2. people:
ẹvbo ne i rre owa ― “people who are at home”
;
3. language:
ẹvbo Uhobo ― “Urhobo-language”
.
ẹwae [ɛ̀wàe] n.
1. family; sib (also ẹgbee; uniẹ);
2. empire:
ẹwae Edo ― “Benin empire”
.
ẹwe [ɛ̀wé] n.
goat;
ẹwe-amwen ― “female goat”
;
ẹwe-ọwẹ: “he-goat”
;
ẹwe-owa: “castrated goat.”
Ẹwẹdọ [ɛ́wɛdɔ̀] n.
name of a past Oba of Benin.
ẹwẹe [ɛ̀wɛ́è] n.
chest (part of the body).
Ẹwẹka [ɛwɛka] n.
name of the first Oba of Benin in the present dynasty. The title was also assumed by the father of Ọba Akẹnzua II as Ẹwẹka II.
ẹwia [ɛ́wyà] n.
smell; very strong odour.
ẹwobi [ɛ́wóbí] n.
a despicable person.
ẹwu [ɛ́wù] n.
garment; dress.
Ẹwuakpẹ [ɛ́wwakpɛ̀] n.
name of a past Oba of Benin.
Ẹwuare [ɛ́wwaɽè] n.
name of a past Oba of Benin.
ẹyotọ [ɛ̀yòtɔ̀] n.
the foundation of a house.
ẹzi [ɛ̀zì] n.
1. tree stump when several feet above the ground;
2. the stem of an object that may be used as handle for lifting it;
3. the area surrounding the base of a tree.
ẹziza [ɛ̀zìzà] n.
a spirit believed to roam in the forest and give rise to whirlwinds: ẹhohẹziza.
ẹzọ [ɛ́zɔ́] n.
case; quarrel; law-suit.
ezuwunu [ɛ̀zúwúnú] n.
(< ẹzọ-uwuunu) “case of interior of mouth”: grumbling.