sa1 [sá] vb. 1. (of water) to draw,
to collect: Ọ sa amẹ vuọn akhe hia ―
“She drew water into all the pots”.;
2. (of liquids, generally): to scoop;
to collect with a hollow container:
Sa uwọnmwẹn ye ọkpan mẹ ― “Scoop
some soup into the plate for me.”
sa2 [sá] vb. to cast (in brass or bronze):
Iran sa ẹre ye ama ― “They cast a
%%
figure of him.”
sa3 [sá] vb. 1. to sting; to bite: Ẹyẹn
sa mwẹn vbe oha ― “A snake bit
me in the bush.”; 2. to shoot (with
a weapon): Ọ ya uhanbọ sa ẹre ―
“He shot it with a bow.”
saa1 [sàá] vb. to burst; to break open
explosively: Ọmọ-okpagha saare ―
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“The cassia-pod has burst open.”
(cf. salọ).
saa2 [sàá] vb. 1. to weave or braid
hair (by hand); 2. to weave generally:
Ozo gua saa ẹbo ― “Ozo knows how
to weave a sack.”
saa [sáà] int. “shoo!” an exclamation
used to chase out domestic animals.
saan [sã̀ã́] vb. to jump: Ọ saan ogba
gberra ― “He jumped over the fence.”
saba [sàbá] modal 1. to be able; to be
capable: Ọ saba winna ― “He is able
to work: He works well.”; 2. to be
permitted; may: U saba kpaọ ― “You
may go”; 3. to be possible; can, could,
might, etc.: Ọ saba lẹẹ deghẹ u ma
gbaro sotọ vbe egbe ẹre ― “He could
escape if you do not watch him
diligently.”
sahẹ [sáhɛ̀] vb. to faint; to lose con-
sciousness.
salọ1 [sàlɔ́] vb. 1. Plural or reiterative
sense of sa (“to sting”): Ehihi salọ
mwẹn egbe hia ― “Ants have bitten
me all over my body”; 2. Pluralor
reiterative sense of saa1: Ọmọ okpagha
hia salọ vuọn otọ ― “Cassia pods
have burst and are all over the
ground.”
salọ2 [sàlɔ́] vb. to comb (hair): Ọ ma
salọ eto ẹre ― “He did not comb his
hair.”
sakaan [sàkã̀ã́] vb. to be spoiled; to
be over-indulged (usually of children).
Transitive sense = sakan: Ọ sakan
ọmọ na ― “she spoiled this child”.
sakọn1 [sákɔ̃̀] vb. (< sẹ ― akọn) “to
chip teeth”: to have one’s teeth filed
(for cosmetic effect).
%%
sakọn2 [sákɔ̃̀] vb. (< se1 ― akon) “to
sew teeth”: to grip (something) with
the teeth: Ọ sakọn mu ẹnrẹn ― “She
gripped it with her teeth.”
sakparẹghodin [sákpáɽɛɣòdĩ̀] n. cf.
esakpareghodin.
samẹ [sámɛ̀] vb. (< sa1 ― amẹ) (in
the Christian sense) to baptize; to
be baptized: I samẹ vbẹ ẹghẹ ne i
na ye kherhe ― “I was baptized when
I was very small.”
sanmwẹn [sã̀ɱɛ̃́] vb. (of specks or
small drops of liquid). 1. to splash
on: amẹ sanmwẹn kuọ nwen ―
“Water splashed on me.”; 2. to snatch:
Ọ sanmwẹn ọnrẹn vbe obọ mwẹn ―
“He matched it from me.”; 3. to shake
out (to release excess water, dust,
dirt, etc.). sanmwẹn ọnrẹn u ke taẹn ―
“Shake it out before you spread it.”
sata [sátà] n. 1. to charter (a lorry):
Ọ sata imọto gha dee ― “He chartered
a lorry to come.”; 2. to buy whole-
sale: Ọ sata alimoi nii vbe obọ enọgude
― “She bought those oranges whole-
sale from the seller.”
se1 [sé] vb. to sew ― Ọ se ukpọn ẹse ―
“She sews (cloth) well.”
se2 [sé] vb. to break open a shell;
to husk: Ivin ma se vbe odọ sin ―
“We have since been husking palm
kernels over there.”; 2. (with ivin)
to have multiple births: Ọ se ivin eva ―
“She gave birth to twins.”
sekhae [séxàe] vb. to march.
sẹ1 [sɛ́] vb. 1. to reach; to be up to:
(applicable to time and space): O
sẹ uki eha ne ọ ghi kpaọ ― “It has
reached three months since he left.”
Ọ sẹ ibiriki isẹn ne ima he la ― “It
is up to five miles that we have
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walked.”; 2. to be adequate; to be
enough: Igho na i sẹ mwẹn ya dẹ ọre ―
“This money (amount) will not be
enough for me to buy it.”; 3. to arrive
(at a location). De ẹdẹ ne ọ sẹ emwan
yi? “When did he arrive here?”; 4.
to visit; to come or go: Ọ ma he sẹ
owa mwẹn ke ne ọ ya sẹ evbo na ―
“He has not visited my house since
he arrived in this town.”; 5. to come
to be; to come true: Emwẹn ọbo sẹe ―
“The word of the oracler has come
to be.”
sẹ2 [sɛ́] vb. to chip: Ehọ akhe na sẹ
fua ― “The tip of this pot has chipped
off.”
sẹ3 [sɛ́] vb. (of osẹ ― witness) to
testify as witness (usually combines
with its generic object, osẹ as a single
word ― sosẹ ― when they are not
discontinous)^ Ọ sosẹ gbe iran ― “She
testified against them.” Ose ohoghoe
ẹre ọ sẹe gbe iran ― It was false testi-
mony that she gave against them.
sẹẹ [sɛ̀ɛ́] vb. 1. to surpass; to be
superior to: Etin ẹnrẹn sẹẹ ọghuẹ ―
“His strength is superior to yours.”;
2. (in a comparative sense): to be
more or geater than: Ọna kpolọ sẹẹ
ọnii ― “This is bigger than that.”
sẹkẹsẹkẹ [sɛ̀kɛ̀sɛ̀kɛ̀] adj. describes an
untidy and irritating object or sight:
Ukpọn ren ye sẹkẹsẹkẹ ― “Her cloth
is filthy.” (also sẹlẹkẹ).
sẹlẹkẹ [sɛ̀lɛ̀kɛ̀] adj. 1. describes a dirty
or filthy obj. or sight.; 2. (of ovbiogue
― poor person) the level of complete
destitution.
sẹrae [sɛ́ɽàé] vb. (< sẹ ― rae) to leave
behind; to leave alone.: Ọ sẹ ovbi ẹre
rae ye owa ― “She left her child
behind at home.”
%%
sẹrhiẹnrhiẹn [sɛ̀řyɛ̃̀řyɛ̃́] vb. to revoke a
curse; to absolve (a person) from the
effect of a curse: I sẹrhiẹnrhiẹn ruẹn
ihẹn ne i tie nuẹn ― “I absolve you
from the effect of the curse I had
pronounced on you.”
sẹrriọ [sɛ́rìɔ́] adv. (< sẹ1 ― eriọ) “up
to that”: such that; so much so.: Ọ
dae sẹriọ ọ na gha viẹ ― “It was so
severe that she was crying.” (also
sẹvberriọ).
sẹsẹsẹ [sɛ̀sɛ̀sɛ̀] adv.; adj. describes
something that is either very clean
or very white: Ewu ẹre fua sẹsẹsẹ:
“Her dress was sparkling white.”
sẹtin [sɛ̀tín] vb. (< sẹ1 ― ẹtin) “to
be able” to be strong enough (to do
something); to be capable of (doing
something). (also saba, mẹtin).
sẹvberriọ [sɛ̀ʋérìɔ̌] adv. cf. sẹrriọ.
si1 [sí] vb. 1. to cause; to bring about:
Ọ si amẹ gbe iran ― “He caused rain
on them.” Rẹn ẹre ọ si ẹre ighẹ ọ
wu ― “He was the one that caused
it that she died: He brought about
her death.”
si2 [si] vb. 1. to pull (something); to
drag (something): Ọ si ukpọn gue
egbe ― “He pulled the cloth to cover
his body: He pulled the cloth over
his body.”; 2. to shift (something):
Si ẹre hin odẹ rre ― “Shift it out of
the way.”; 3. to move; to change
location: Iran si kpaọ gha rrie ẹvbo
ọvbehe ― “They moved away to go
to another town” (cf. si-kẹẹ; si-mama;
si-koko etc.).; 4. (of baby): to crawl:
Ẹi he si ― “She is not crawling yet.”
si3 [sí] vb. to reduce; to grow less
(in size, intensity, or capacity): Amẹ
ne ọ te ro vuọn ukpo si nẹ ― “The
water that had flooded the road has
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reduced.”^ (cf. siame).
si4 [sí] vb. to smoke (i.e. cigarette or
pipe): Ọ si esiga ― “He smokes
cigarettes.”
si-kaẹn [sìkã̀ɛ̃] vb. (< si2 ― kaẹn)
to be or become sound and strong.
si-kẹẹ [sikɛ̀ɛ́] vb. (< si2 ― kẹẹ) to
be close to.
si-koko [sìkòkó] vb. (< si2 ― koko)
to assemble.
si-kuẹn [sìkwɛ̃́] vb. (< si2 ― kuẹn)
to crouch; to fold over; to bend.
si-khua [sìxwá] vb. (< si2 ― khua)
to hinge (something); to hold in place.
si-mama [sìmàmá] vb. (< si2 ― mama)
to crowd together; to become jammed
together.
si-yo [sìyó] vb. (< si2 ― yo) to move
away, move off.
siamẹ1 [syámɛ̃̀] vb. (< si3 ― amẹ) to
emaciate.
siamẹ2 [syámɛ̀] vb. (< si1 ― amẹ) to
cause rain to fall (usually by magical
means).
sie1 [sìé] vb. to be dark (in shade
or complexion). Ovbi ẹre sie sẹ mwẹn
― “Her child is darker than me.”
(also siere).
sie2 [sìé] vb. to lower (something)
down (e.g. a load carried on the
head, or a pot on the fire). Ọ sie
ihẹ ne ọ mu ― “She put down the
load that she was carrying.”
siere [sìěɽě] vb. to be black: Ọvbokhan
na siere ― “This child is black in
complexion.” (also sie1 ).
%%
siẹn1 [ɛ̀yɛ̃́] vb. to deny.
siẹn2 [syɛ̃́] vb. 1. to drain: Siẹn amẹ
ọnrẹn kua ― “Drain out the water.”;
2. to flow steadily; to drip: Ameve
siẹn kua vbe aro ọre ― “Tears are
streaming from her eyes”; 3. to be
drenched: Egbe ẹre siẹn ne ọfo ―
“His body is drenched with sweat.”
siẹn3 [sĩ̀ɛ̃́] vb. 1. (of structure) to
collapse: Ekẹn siẹn rhu ẹre ― “The
walls collapsed on him.”; 2. (of a
crowd): to pour from all sides: Iran
siẹn rhu ẹre ― “They crowded on
him.”
siẹnrẹnrẹn1 [sĩɛ̃̀ɽ̃ɛ̃̀ɽ̃ɛ̃̀] adv.; adj. 1.
describes clarity of light or flame: Ọ
baa siẹnrẹnrẹn ― “It is shining brightly
and clearly.”; 2. (with ye) describes
something very clean and spotless.
siẹnrẹnrẹn2 [sĩɛ̃́ɽ̃ɛ̃́ɽ̃ɛ̃́] adv.; adj. (of
water): clean and pure: amẹ na
hianrẹn siẹnrẹnrẹn ― “This water
is extremely clean and clear.”
siẹnsiẹn [sĩ́ɛ̃́sĩ́ɛ̃́] adj. describes things
that are thin and long (e.g. thin fingers
or thin and long plantains).
siẹnsiẹnẹnsiẹn [syɛ̃̀syɛ̃̀ɛ̃̀syɛ̃̀] int. (used
as part of the introduction of a tale
or a story): implies that the story
is very interesting: Okha ọkpa
siẹnsiẹnẹnsiẹn na doo rre . . . ! “Once
came a very interesting story . . . !”
sigẹnsigẹn [sígɛ̃́sígɛ̃́] adj. describes
something or someone very lean.
sihuan [sìhũã́] vb. (< so ― ihuan) “to
sing a song”: to sing.
sikan [sìkã́] vb. 1. to struggle (with
somebody or thing): Ọ sikan lẹlẹe ―
“He kept up the struggle with him
(in a fight)”^; 2. to gum to something;
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to be stuck to: ukpọn ọnrẹn sikaẹn
mu aga ― “His cloth stuck to the
chair”; 3. to be tough; hard to chew
(of meat).
sikansikan [sìkã̀sìkã̀] adv.; adj. de-
scribes something tough (i.e. to cut
or separate) or stringy.
silasila [sìlàsìlà] adv.; adj. describes
something untidy and disorderly. (also
silosilo).
silo [sìló] vb. plural or reiterative sense
of si2: Ọ silo emwin ẹnrẹn hia kpaọ ―
“He moved all his things away.” Ọ
silo ehia khian ― “He is dragging all
along.”
sin1 [sĩ́] vb. to miss (e.g. in a game);
to fail to perform according to the
rules (such as dropping a dice, etc.).
It usually means that the player
loses points and also his turn.
sin2 [sĩ́] vb. (usually occurs as a second
vb.) ― to rub on; to smear: Ọ ya
iruẹn sin mwẹn ukpọn ― “She used
dirt to rub on my cloth: She soiled
my cloth with dirt.”
sin3 [sĩ́] adv. for a long time; for
long: Ọ khẹẹ ruẹ sin ― “He has been
waiting for you for a long time.”
sin-aro [sĩã́ɽò] vb. to make faces (usu-
ally associated with brides); to put
on a haughty look.
sin-ẹro [syɛɽo] vb. (with ẹro) to be
diligent; to be perceptive (same as
wẹro).
sinmwin1 [sĩ̀ɱĩ́] vb. to struggle (with
somebody else) to obtain something;
to obtain by force: Ọ sinmwin ẹnrẹn
emiowo rhie ― “He obtained the piece
of meat from him by force.”
%%
sinmwin2 [sĩ̀ɱĩ́] vb. 1. to cure; to
heal with medication: Ọ sinmwin
ẹnrẹn vbe emiamwẹn ne ọ khuọnmwin
― “He cured him of his illness.”; 2.
to save; to protect: Osanobua sinmwin
ima vbe obọ ẹbee ― “God saved us
from danger.”
sinmwin3 [sĩ̀ɱĩ́] vb. to have as a
younger sibling: Ozo ẹre Atiti sinmwin
kegbe ― “Ozo is the person Atiti
has as her immediate younger sibling.”
sioi [síóí] adv.; adj. describes something
that’s solitary and gracelessly erect:
Ọ mudia vba sioi ― “It stood there,
alone and awkward.”
siosa [syòsá] vb. (< si2 ― osa) “to draw
a debt”: to demand payment of a
debt.
sira [sìɽà] adv. in the presence of: Ọ
sira mwẹn gbẹe ― “He, in my presence,
beat her: He beat her in front of
me.” (also sirra).
sire [sìɽé] pre-vb. “Is it true that . . . ?”
“Is it the case that?”: occurs in an
interrogative clause to indicate that
special confirmation is desired regard-
ing the action or state expressed in
the verb: Ọ sire ma? Is it “really”
good? (somewhat like “gele” ―
“really”,“truly”).
sirra [sìrà] adv. cf. sira.
siwu [síwù] vb. to make the tribal
tattoo-marks.
so1 [só] vb. 1. to prick; to pierce
slightly: Igban so mwẹn owẹ ― “a
thorn has pricked my foot”; 2. to
jab (with a pointed object, such as
a nail, or with a fist): Ọ so ekpa ye
ọre ẹkoo ― “He jabbed her on the
stomach with his fist”.; 3. to tap fluid
(e.g. from a boil, or the trunk of a
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tree).
so2 [só] vb. 1. (with obọ (hand) as
obj.) to touch in hand-shake (usually
occurs as one word with its direct
obj., obọ when they are not dis-
continuous): Iran ghi sobọ nẹ, iran
na tota ― “After they had shaken
hands, they sat down.” cf.: Ọ sọ mwẹn
obọ ― “He shook hands with me”.;
2. to grip (usually with the hands):
Ọ so obọ ye ọre ukpọn ― “He gripped
her cloth (with her hands)”.
so3 [só] vb. to shout; to make a loud
cry or vocal sound: Ọ so dee vbe
umọdia ― “She shouts as she ap-
proaches in the distance.”
so4 [só] vb. (with ihuan as obj.) to
sing; to utter musically (usually occurs
with its generic object, ihuan, as one
word): Ọ sihuan ẹsẹse ― “She sings
songs very well: She sings very well.”;
2. (of asukpẹ): to have the hiccups:
Asukpẹ so mwẹn ― “I have the
hiccups.”
so5 [só] vb. 1. (with ebiebi “darkness”
as subj.): to fall; to occur: Ebiebi
ma he so ― “Darkness has not fallen.”;
2. to effect; to hatch; to make: so
uma ― “to make a conspiracy”.
sobọ [sòbɔ́] vb. cf. so2.
sogho1 [sòɣó] vb. to rinse (container,
mouth, etc.) by filling with water or
other liquid, shaking and emptying;
to cleanse from impurities by rinsing:
Sogho akhe nii u ke samẹ yọ ― “Rinse
that pot before you store water in it.”
sogho2 [sòɣó] vb. to cause something
to rattle; to cause a rattling noise
by shaking something: Ghẹ ghi sogho
emwin yọ mwẹn ehọ ― “Stop rattling
things in my ears.”
%%
sogho3 [sòɣó] vb. same as logho.
soghosogho1 [sóɣósóɣó] n. cf.
esoghosogho.
soghosogho2 [sóɣósóɣó] adv. 1. de-
scribes a rattling noise; 2. same as
loghologho.
sokpan1 [sòkpã́] conj. 1. but: Ọ yẹẹ
mwẹn, sokpan ígho mwẹn i gba re ―
“I like it, but my money is not enough
to buy it.”; 2. unless: Ẹi yo sókpan
u gbẹe ― “She will not go unless you
beat her.”
sokpan2 [sòkpã́] vb. to make an ex-
ception of: Gbe enena ne u sokpan
enikẹre ― “Beat these (ones) and
exempt the rest.”
solo1 [sòló] vb. 1. plural or reiterative
sense of so1 and so3: Emwin solo iran
owẹ ― “Things pricked their feet.”
Ibieka nii gha solo ― “Those children
are shouting.”
solo2 [sòló] vb. to pick one by one
with a pointed obj. (e.g. of birds
eating grain).
sosẹ [sósɛ̀] vb. cf. sẹ3.
sotọ [sótɔ̀] vb. (< sẹ ― otọ) “to reach
the ground”: to be imminent; soon
to happen: Emwiunkpo sotọ nẹ ―
“The New-Year is at hand.”
sọguọ [sɔ̀gwɔ́] adj. soft, tender, and
immature: Ọvbokhan sọguọ he nọ ―
“He is yet a tender and immature
child.”^ (also sọguọsọguọ).
sọguọsọguọ [sɔ̀guɔ̀sɔ̀guɔ̀] adj. de-
scribes things soft, tender and delicate
on account of being yet young.
sọn1 [sɔ̃́] vb. 1. to sprout; 2. to grow
high or bushy (used of grass and hair).
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sọn2 [sɔ̃́] vb. to take or consume time
and or energy (usually occurs in neg.
clauses). Ẹi sọn iran ruẹe foo ― “It
will not take time before they com-
plete it.”
sọnnọ [sɔ̃̀nɔ̃́] vb. 1. to irritate; to
aggravate: Emwin ne ọ ru sọnnọ mwẹn
gbe ― “What she does irritates me
a lot.”; 2. to feel resentful toward;
to feel aversion toward: Ẹi sọnnọ
ọmwan rhọkpa ― “She does not
resent anybody.”
sọọ [sɔ̀ɔ́] vb. 1. to tear or be turn; to
rip (e.g. of cloth or paper); 2. to
split into pieces (e.g. of wood with
an axe): Ọ ya ughamwan sọọ erhan
nii ― “He split the wood into pieces
with an axe.”
sọsọsọ [sɔ̀sɔ̀sɔ̀] adv. 1. excessively
foamy (e.g. soapy water): Evbakhuẹ
na hu sọsọsọ ― “This soap foams
very much.”; 2. describes the intensity
of grave anger: Ohu mu ẹnrẹn sọsọsọ ―
“He is extremely angry.”
sọtẹ [sɔ́tɛ̀] vb. 1. to defy; 2^.^ to rebel
against.
sọyẹnmwẹn [sɔ́ỹɛ̃̀ɱɛ̃̀] vb. to rejoice;
to make merriment.
su1 [sú] vb. 1. to guide; to lead; to
direct.; 2. to escort: su mwẹn sẹ
umọdia vbodọ ― “Escort me to the
lane over there.”; 3. to tend livestock:
ọsuohuan ― “shepherd.”
su2 [sú] vb. to pay as interest on
money borrowed or in forbearance
of debt: Ikpọn eheha ẹre ọ hae vbe
uki ne ọ ya su ig͡ho ne ọ mọmọe rre ―
“He pays three pounds a month as
interest on the money he borrowed.”
sua [sùá] vb. cf. to push, to shove: Ọ
sua mwẹn gbotọ ― “He pushed me
%%
down.” (cf. rrua).
suakpa [swákpá] vb. to make a click
with the thumb and middle finger
as part of the gesture of denouncement
or disgust.
suẹn [sũ̀ɛ̃́] vb. to begin, to initiate: Ọ
suẹn okhian nẹ ― “He has started
to walk.”
suku [sùkú] vb. (with aro as obj.):
squeeze; to wrinkle: Ọ suku aro ―
“He squeezed his face: he frowned.”
sukusuku [sùkùsùkù] adv.; adj. un-
pleasantly twisted, such as a frown
or a grimace: Ọ ru aro sukusuku:
“He made a grimace.”
sukpẹ [sùkpɛ́] vb. (with owẹ as obj.)
to limp: Ọ sukpe owẹ dee ― “He
is approaching with a limp.”
sulele [súlèlé] adv. (with mu) to carry
― usually a person across the shoulder
with legs straddled around the neck.
suma [súmã̀] vb. (< se1 ― uma) “to
make a conspiracy” to conspire: Iran
suma gbẹe ― “They conspired and
killed him.”
sun1 [sṹ] vb. 1. to move slowly; to
be slow: Ọ sun gbe ― “He is very
slow.” to crawl.
sun2 [sṹ] vb. to be sticky or glutinous.
Ọ sun vbe ọdan ― “It is sticky like
gum.”
sun3 [sṹ] vb. to have a smooth con-
sistency; to be free of granular or
other solid contents (e.g. of well-
pounded yam): Ema na ma sun; ikpẹ
vuọẹn ― “This pounded-yam is not
smooth; it is full of lumps.”
sunnọ [sũ̀nɔ̃́] vb. pl. or reiterative sense
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of sun1: Iran sunnọ gbe ― “They are
very slow.” Egilẹ hia sunnọ kua ―
“All the snails have crawled away.”
sunnọsunnọ [sũ̀nɔ̃̀sũ̀nɔ̃̀] vb. describes
a very slow, lifeless gait.
sunsun [sũ̀sṹ] vb. to be blurred; to be
dim (of perception): Ehia sunsun
yọ mwẹn aro ― “They have all become
blurred in my eyes. (I am confused
about them).”
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sunu [sùnṹ] vb. to happen; to occur.
Nodẹ ẹre ọ sunu ― “It was yesterday
that it happened.”
suo [sùó] vb. to collapse; to cave in
(e.g. of walls or the ground).
suuun [sṹṹṹ] adv. with a fixed gaze,
or prolonged silence.
susẹ [susɛ] vb. to be in poverty; to
suffer.
