u [ù] pron. a form of the 2nd pers.
sing. that occurs as subject of a clause:
U rre nodẹ ― “You came yesterday.”
ube [úbè] n. a variety of native drum
beaten by women mainly in palace
festivals.
ubi [úbì] n. a slap: Ọ fi ẹre ubi ―
“She gave him a slap.”
ubidọn [ùbìdɔ̃̀] n. cheetah.
ubiẹmwẹn [ùbyɛ́mɛ̃̀] n. delivery; child-
birth.
ubo [ùbó] n. a variety of creeper with
large edible fruit.
ubọmwẹn [ùbɔ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. (< u ― bọ ―
mwẹn) the act of predicting through
oracle.
udahae [ùdàhàe] n. a string of coral
beads worn across the forehead (as
part of a ceremonial dress) by the
Ọba and some senior chiefs.
%%
Udazi [údazì] n. one of the praise
titles for the Supreme Being which
refers to his identity as the “Giver
of life”: “Osa n’Udazi.”
úde [údè] n. a sickness that commonly
afflicts infants, caused by the enlarge-
ment of the spleen.
ùde [ùdè] n. advice, counsel: Ọvbokhan
na i họn ude ― “This child does
not heed advice.”
udefiagbọn [ùdéfyagbɔ̃̀] n. (< u ― de
― fi ― agbon) “one who dropped
into the world: an orphan; one without
friends or relatives.”^
udeguọghọ [ùdéguɔ̀ɣɔ̀] n. (< u ― de
― guogho) “falling and breaking”:
a term for a long string of coral beads
worn to hang down around the neck.
udemwunrri [ùdèɱũ̀rì] adv. sudden-
ly; without warning: Ọ ladian
udemwunrri ― “He appeared sudden-
ly.” (also udomwunrri).
$Page 147$
uderhu [údèřú] n. (< u ― de ― rhu)
“falling upon”: the name of a variety
of hawk.
udẹn [údɛ̃́] n. a liquid preparation made
from palm kernels and used as body-
oil.
udian [ùdyã́] n. tsetse-fly.
udienni [ùdyẽ́nì] n. (< udian ― eni)
“elephant tsetse-fly”: a variety of
fly, larger than udian, (hence the
name) and found mainly in the bush.
Its sting is very painful.
udin [ùdĩ́] n. the oil palm tree.
udinmwẹn [ùdĩ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. being cou-
rageous; 2. courage, bravery.
udinmwinmwẹn [ùdĩ́ɱĩ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1.
depth; 2. being deep.
udọnmwẹn [ùdɔ̃́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. being lean;
2. leanness.
udu [ùdù] n. 1. heart; 2. udu n’ ẹko ―
“heart of the stomach”: liver; 3.
udu n’ ohogha ― “the empty heart”:
lungs (spleen).
ududu [ùdùdù] n. a lump; a piece of
compact mass (e.g. of chalk, clay,
dough, etc.): ududu-ugbe ― “a lump
of earth thrown as a missile.”
ufemwẹn [ùféɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. being rich; 2.
freedom; release from obligation or
bondage; 3. recovery from illness.
ufomwẹn [ùfóɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. end; ending.
ufua [ùfwá] n. a variety of yam which
may be pounded even though it is
white.
ugamwẹn [ùgáɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. Christian
church service: ugamwẹn owiẹ:
%%
“morning service”; ugamwẹn ota ―
“evening service”; 2. the act of
serving.
ugan [ùgã̀] n. the poles in a yam
stack to which the yams are tied.
ugie [ùgyé] num. twenty.
ugie [ùgyè] n. 1. a general term for
palace ceremonies, (such as iguẹ;
aguẹ; ugiama; ikhurhẹ; etc.); 2. a
celebration.
ugiọnmwinbi [úgyɔ̃́ɱĩ̀bĩ́] n. charcoal.
ugo [ùgó] n. wild yam-plant.
ugọngọn [úgɔ̃́gɔ̃̀] n. 1. the sharp edge
of something: Ọ ya ugọgọn-obọ fi
ẹre emwin ― “He used the edge of
his hand to strike him”: “^He struck
him with the edge of his hand”; 2.
ugọngọn-iyeke ― “the spine.”
uguakpata [ùgwákpátá] n. a special
hair-cut worn only by the Ọba and
chiefs in which all the hair is shaved
except a curved strip at the top of
the head around the face.
ugue [ùgwé] n. cover; lid: Ọ ya ugue
ẹre gue ẹre ― “He covered it with
its lid.”
uguowẹ [úgwówɛ̀] n. a very narrow
path.
uguu [ùgúù] n. vulture.
ugba [úg͡bà] n. a kind of dance usually
performed at second burial cere-
monies.
ugbadiye [ùg͡bàdìyɛ̀] n. (< u ― gbe ―
adiyẹ) “that which kills chickens”
a fatal disease of chickens.
ugbaro [úgbáɽò] n. 1. forehead; 2.
$Page 148$
face.
ugbe [úg͡bé] n. missile; stone e.g. pebble
used as a missile.
ugbefẹn [ùg͡bèfɛ̃́] n. 1. side of the
body; 2. a flat side of anything other
than the top surface: Ọ mwanmwaẹn
avbe iyan nii lele ugbefẹn ẹkpẹtin:
“He arranged those yams along the
side of the box.”
ugbemwẹn1 [ùg͡béɱɛ̃̀] n. (< u ― gbe
― mwẹn) 1. dancing; 2. dance.
ugbemwẹn2 [ùg͡béɱɛ̃̀] n. (< u ― gbe
― mwẹn) 1. flogging; 2. beating.
ugbeto [ùg͡bètò] n. scissors (also
alumagazi and etuheru).
ugbẹkun [ùg͡bɛ̀kũ̀] n. belt.
Ugbẹkun [ùg͡bɛ̀kũ̀] n. the name of a
village.
ugbẹn [ùg͡bɛ̃̀] n. period; time: De ugbẹn
ne u ya rre ― “What time that you
use to come?: When did you come?”;
(ugbẹn-eso) (cf. ugbẹnso).
ugbẹnso [ùg͡bɛ̃̀só] adv. (< ugben ―
eso) 1. sometimes; occasionally: Ọ
sẹ emwan ugbẹnso ― “He comes
here occasionally”^; 2. perhaps; maybe:
Nọọ ọnrẹn ghe, ugbẹnso ọ gha rẹn
ọnrẹn ― “Ask him and see, perhaps
he will know it.”
ugbẹrherhe [ùg͡bɛ̀řèřè] n. a sickness
of infants ― a condition clinically
known as “displaced fontanel” (“^the
fontanel is the membranous space
in an infant’s head at adjacent angles
of the parietal bones.”).
ugbidian [ùg͡bìdyã̀] n. fly-whisk (also
ugbudian).
%%
ugbihan [ùg͡bìhã̀] n. the blind side; a
position in which one is unguarded:
Ọ la ugbihan miẹ mwẹn re ― “He
came from my blind side to take
it away from me.”
ugbo [úg͡bó] n. farm: Ọ mu ugbo vbe
igue ― “He has a farm in the village.”
ugbogiorinmwin [úg͡bógyóɽĩ̀ɱĩ̀] n. a
mythical monstrosity believed to reside
in the ẹrinmwin; he is said to be
very ugly and frightful; hence 2.
a nickname for a deformed or very
ugly person.
ugbogbogan [ùg͡bógbógã́] n. a term
for a person who is very difficult
to work or live with.
ugboghodo [ùg͡bòɣòdò] n. a depres-
sion on the ground; a shallow pit.
ugboloko [ùg͡bòlòkò] n. bone; skel-
eton.
ugborre [ùg͡bórè] n. shea butter.
ugbudian [ùg͡bùdyã̀] n. cf. ugbidian.
ugbugbe [ùg͡búg͡bè] n. 1. cross (in the
Christian sense).
ugbugbe [ùg͡búg͡bè] adv. 1. horizontal-
ly: Ọ mwanmwan erhan nii ugbugbe
ye iba ― “He arranged the wood
horizontally on the slab.”; 2. crosswise.
ugbugbẹhia [ùg͡búgbɛhià] adv. always;
regularly; often: Ọ sẹ òwa mwẹn
ugbugbẹhia ― “He visits my house
regularly.”
ugha [ùɣà] n. 1. a special section of
the palace (in the form of a quad-
rangle) where the Ọba is buried and
his shrine installed.; 2. room.
ughaẹn [ùɣãɛ̃̀] n. 1. of a different
$Page 149$
sort: Ughaẹn ọghomwẹn khin ―
“Mine is of a different kind.”
ughanmwan [ùɣã̀ɱã̀] n. axe.
ughanmwẹn1 [ùɣã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. (< u ―
ghaan ― mwẹn) being expensive.
ughanmwẹn2 [ùɣã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. (< u ― ghan
― mwẹn) arrogance; haughtiness.
úghe [ùɣé] n. 1. a show; a perform-
ance (e.g. of dances or acrobatic
display); 2. look; gaze; stare: Ughe
ne ọ ghe mwẹn re ma yẹẹ mwen ―
“The way that she looked at me did
not please me.”
úghe [úɣè] n. the entrance into a
village.
ughegbe [ùɣègbè] n. mirror; 2. any
object of glass: ughegbe-aro ― “eye-
glasses; spectacles.”
ughẹdẹ [ùɣɛ̀dɛ̀] n. sun-glasses.
ugho [ùɣò] n. a kind of dance.
ughọtọn [úɣɔ̀tɔ̃́] n. the name of an
Ẹdo coastal village which served as
the port for the first European visitors
to Benin. It is also known as Gwatto.
ughu [úɣù] n. 1. boundary line.; 2.
line of demarcation between two
properties: Ọ kọ ivin ye ughu ― “He
planted a coconut tree along the
boundary line.” (cf. uwu).
ughugha [úɣúɣà] n. room; bedroom.
ughughan [ùɣúɣã̀] n. different types
or kinds: Emwin ughughan ẹre ọ viọ
gie ima ― “Different kinds of things
were what he brought us.”
ughughọn [úɣúɣɔ̃́] n. empty snail-
shell.
%%
ughunghunmwun [ùɣũ̀ɣũ̀ɱũ̀] n. 1.
roots of large trees that appear as
stumps above the surface of the
ground; 2. tree stump.
uhae [úhàe] n. well: Amẹ nẹ ọ rre
uhae na hian gbe ― “The water in
this well is very clear.”
uhaeso [úháesò] n. a bird; swallow.
uhanbọ [úhã́bɔ̀] n. bow (for shooting
with an arrow ― ifẹnmwẹn).
uharo [úháɽò] n. forehead (also ẹhae;
ugbaro).
uhe [ùhé] n. 1. vagina; vulva; 2. anus;
3. the lower end of an object (esp.
that with a normal vertical stance).
uhẹ [úhɛ̀] n. the Edo name for Ifẹ.
uhi [ùhì] n. 1. law: Ọ rra uhi ― “He
committed a breach of the law.”^; 2.
custom. (cf. iyi).
uhiamwẹn [ùháɱɛ̃̀] n. struggling (cop-
ing with problems or difficulties);
keeping up appearances.
uhiri [úhìɽì] n. a variety of large ape;
a baboon.
uhobo [ùhòbò] n. the Edo name for
the Urhobo people and their language.
uhoro [úhóɽò] n. pawpaw.
uhukpa [úhukpa] adv. (also urukpa)
1. once: Uhukpa ẹre ọ sẹ emwan ―
“He came here only once”^; 2. instant-
ly; at once: Ọ na wa sa eve rua uhukpa
― “She simply broke into tears instant-
ly.”^ (usually with “nii” in this second
sense).
uhuanmwẹn [ùhwã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. cleanli-
ness; neatness; 2. being clean.
$Page 150$
uhunmwonva [ùhṹɱṍvà] n. illness;
sickness (usually serious).
uhunmwun1 [ùhṹɱũ̀] n. 1. head: Ọ
mu ihẹ yan uhunmwun ― “She carried
a load on her head”^; 2. the top of;
the upper end of an object: Ọ tota
ye uhunmwun eteburu ― “She sat
on top of the table.”^; 3. the important
part of an issue: uhunmwun ẹmwẹn ―
“an important point.”
uhunmwun2 [ùhṹɱũ̀] n. errand; mes-
sage: Ọ gie mwẹn uhunmwun ― “He
sent me on an errand.”
uhunrun [ùhũ̀ɽṹ] n. the last day of
a period of 9 days; the 9th day. Ọ
khin uhunrun i ke ghi vbe miọọn ―
“It will be nine days’ time before I
see you again.”
ukata [ùkàtà] n. a straw hat with
broad rims.
uké [ùké] n. a pad used as filler in
special hair styles (such as okuku)
to give the hair a fuller look.
ukè1 [ùkè] n. a kind of merry dance
which entails short quick steps and
stamping of the feet.
ukè2 [ùkè] n. a cripple.
ukegbe [ùkégbè] n. lap: Ọ mu ọmọ
yan ukegbe ― “She carried the child
on her laps.”
ukeke [ùkéké] n. 1. a piece of stick;
a peg; 2. a pen.
ukẹn [ùkɛ̃́] n. kinky hair.
uki [ùkì] n. 1. moon; 2. month.
ukiọnfọn [ùkyɔ̃̀fɔ̃̀] n. (also ukhiọnfọn)
1. scarf; 2. handkerchief.
%%
uko [úkó] n. calabash (usually used
as containers for various household
items)^: ukamẹ (< uko ― amẹ):
“calabash of water”; ukedọlọ ― (<
uko ― edọlọ) “calabash used for
holding the muddy solution used for
rubbing the walls and floors of the
house; a calabash dish used for holding
various liquids; etc.”
ukodo [ùkòdò] n. a deep pot used
for cooking soups and porridge.
ukohunmwun [ùkòhũ̀ɱũ̀] n. pillow.
ukòko1 [úkòkò] n. pipe.
ukóko2 [úkókó] n. 1. joint, angle:
ukoko-abọ ― “elbow”; ukoko owẹ ―
“ankle.”
ukokọghọ [úkokɔ́ɣɔ̀] n. 1. a small
calabash used for storing medicine.;
2. a casual term for the young breasts
of an adolescent.
ukoni [ùkònì] n. kitchen.
ukorobozo [ùkòɽòbòzò] n. a variety
of wild-fowl.
ukotin [ùkótĩ́] n. a straight hair-pin
used by hair-plaiters for parting hair.
ukọ1 [úkɔ̀] n. 1. messenger, delegate:
Avbe ukọ ne iran gie rre nakhin ―
“These are the delegates that they
sent down.”; 2. (in contemporary
use): Commissioners or Ministers of
government: Ukọ ne ọ gbaro ghe
ẹmwẹn ígho ― “The Commissioner
in-charge of Finance.”
ukọ2 [úkɔ̀] n. blame; query: Ọ kan
mwẹn ukọ ígho ne i ma miẹ rhie
nẹẹ ― “He blamed me for the money
I did not have to give him.”
ukọnghọnrọn [ùkɔ̃́ɣɔ̃̀ɽɔ̃́] n. a formid-
$Page 151$
able task or difficult assignment; a
stalemate: Iwinna ọnrẹn khin
ukọnghọnrọn ― “His case has become
a stalemate.”
ukọnmwẹn [ùkɔ̃́ɱɛ̀] n. foolishness;
stupidity.
Uku [úkú] n. one of the praise-names
for the Oba: “Uku-Akpọlọkpọlọ”.
ukugba [ùkùgbà] n. 1. belt.; 2. disease:
inflammation of the groin glands.
ukugbakẹghẹrẹ [ùkúgbakɛ̀ɣɛ́ɽɛ̀] adv.
1. always; all the time; at all times:
Ukugbakẹghẹrẹ ẹre ọ ya viẹ ― “He
cries all the time.”
ukuoki [úkwoi] n. a pad used for
wedging a load on the head.
ukusẹ [úkúsɛ̀] n. a musical instrument
in the form of a round calabash rattle,
played mainly by women.
ukhiọnfọn [ùxyɔ̃̀fɔ̃̀] n. cf. ukiọnfọn.
ukhiọnmwẹn [ùxyɔ̃́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. half; 2.
portion of; part, rather than whole:
Ukhiọnmwẹn ẹre ọ ru iwinna nii
re ― “He only did a portion of that
work.”
ukhọn [ùxɔ̃̀] n. navel.
ukhú1 [ùxú] n. gag.
ukhú2 [ùxú] n. the sprouting tip of a
germinating seed.
ukhù [ùxù] n. inheritance (also arevbu-
khu).
úkhuerhe [úxwèřè] n. sugar-cane.
ùkhuerhe [ùxwéřé] n. a low stool.
ukhuegbe [ùxwégbè] n. skin.
%%
ukhuẹn [ùxwɛ̃́] n. the fibrous remains
of the oil palm fruit after the oil
has been extracted and the kernels
shelled and removed. It is often used
as fire-kindler or in the preparation
of native soap.
ukhukhu [úxuxù] n. the thick dried-
out bark of trees, usually gathered
and used for kindling fire.
ukhukhu [úxùxù] adj. individual va-
rieties; different kinds (of things):
Ukhùkhu ehan ẹre ọ viọ rre ― “Six
different kinds were what he brought”.
ukhùnmwun1 [ùxũ̀ɱũ̀] n. 1^.^ sky (also
odukhunmwun; iso); 2. up: Ọ hin
ukhùnmwun bu ẹre ― “He climbed
up to meet him.”
ukhùnmwun2 [ùxũ̀ɱũ̀] n. 1. med-
icine; drug; medication: Ọ kpogho
ukhùnmwun nẹẹ wọn ― “He mixed
some medicine for him to drink”;
2. magic charm: Ọ ru ukhùnmwun
osisi nẹẹ ― “He made a charm against
guns for him.”
ukhúnmwun [ùxṹɱũ̀] n. 1. famine;
2^.^ the period of two months before
harvesting season.
ukhurhẹ [ùxùřɛ̀] n. a carved staff which
constitutes part of ancestral shrines.
ukpa [úk͡pá] n. 1. lamp; lantern; 2.
any artificial source of light, such as
the electric bulb or a car light: Ọ
rhu ukpa yọ mwẹn aro ― “He beamed
his lights (car-lights) into my eyes.”
ukpabọ [ùk͡pàbɔ̀] n. a wash-basin.
ukpafẹn [ùk͡pàfɛ̃̀] n. the floor drain
or gutter in the quadrangle of tradi-
tional Edo houses.
ukpakọn [úk͡pákɔ̃̀] n. chewing stick.
$Page 152$
ukparanmwẹn [ùkpáɽã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. (also
ukparo) a disease which is often
described as “coated tongue”; symp-
toms include lack of appetite, fever,
and constipation.
úkpewẹn [úk͡péwɛ̃̀] n. a disease: pal-
pitation.
ùkpewen [ùk͡péwɛ̃̀] n. tip of the
breast; teat; nipple.
ukpẹ [ûk͡pɛ́] n. 1. point; tip: Ọ ya
ukpẹ-olodẹ so ẹre ― “He jabbed it
with the tip of a needle.”; 2. beak;
lips: ukpẹ-ahianmwẹn ― “the beak
of a bird.”
ùkpo [ùk͡pó] n. 1. year; ùkpo nọgberra
― “last year.”
úkpo1 [úk͡pò] n. 1. bed; 2^.^ couch.
úkpo2 [úk͡pò] n. 1. paved road; 2.
street.
úkpo3 [úk͡pò] n. position, rank: Úkpo
nọkhua ọ ye vbe eke ne ọ na winna ―
“He is in a high position where he
works.”
ukpogie [ùk͡pógyè] n. rank order:
ukpogieva ― “second”; ukpogieha ―
“third”; ukpogigbe ― “tenth”; etc.
ukpogho [ùk͡póɣó] n. 1. cowrie; 2. a
disease of the eye in which the eye-
ball is partially or wholly covered by
a white blotch and thereby resulting
in partial or total impairment of
vision; cataract.
úkpokpo [úk͡pòk͡pò] n. a staff; a walk-
ing stick.
ùkpokpo [ùk͡pòk͡pò] n. trouble; harass-
ment; nuisance.
ukpomobiẹ [ùk͡pómóbyɛ̀] n. the name
%%
for the different varieties of sunbirds.
ukpọbian [ùkpɔ́byã̀] n. a small variety
of squirrel.
ukpọkhọkhọ [ùkpɔ́xɔxɔ̀] n. “the beak
of a chicken”: the name of a special
hair style worn by the Ọba’s wives.
ukpọlọmwẹn [ùk͡pɔ́lɔɱɛ̃́] n. 1. fat-
ness; 2^.^ being large-sized: Vbe
ukpọlọmwẹn ọnrẹn a sẹ hẹẹ? “How
big is it?”.
ukpọn [ùk͡pɔ̃̀] n. 1. cloth; 2. women’s
wrapper: ukpenhe (< ukpọn ― ehe):
the dressing used for menstruation.
ukpu [úkpù] n. 1. cup; drinking glass;
2. measuring cup (esp. for selling rice,
grain, garri, etc.): mwaan ukpu eva
yọ ― “Measure two cups into it.”
ukpukpẹ [úk͡púk͡pɛ̀] n. 1. a kind of
brisk dance in which dancers jog
up and down to a fast-beat song
and music. It is usually performed
during second-burial processions, and
thanksgiving processions by chiefs; 2.
(fig.) an ordeal of going back and
forth for a cause that seems endless:
Ke ne ọ ya gha khuọnmwin gha dee,
ukpukpẹ asokito ẹre i gbe ― “Since
he became sick till now,
I have been going back and forth to
the hospital.”
ulakpa [ùlàk͡pá] n. red laterite soil con-
sidered good for house-building, but
not for farming; “ulakpa n’ ogiekẹn” ―
a euphemism for “the grave.”
ule [úlé] n. a state of excitement,
possibly generated by alchohol or
other intoxicants.
ulelefe [ùlèlèfè] n. ant-hill.
ulẹ [ùlɛ́] n. 1. race; Rẹn ẹre ọ ban
$Page 153$
mwẹn vbe ulẹ ne ima rhiere ― “He
was the one who finished first in the
race that we held.”; 2. flight (fleeing):
Ulẹ ẹre ọ ya kpaọ vbe ẹvbo nii ― “He
went away in flight from that town.”
uloko [ùlókò] n. Iroko tree.
ulọka [ùlɔ̀kà] n. a kind of corn-cake
eaten as a snack.
ulọmwan [ùlɔ́ɱã̀] n. an order restrict-
ing the public from coming near
certain locations where secret cere-
monies are being performed.
uma [ùmà] n. 1. a secret meeting set
up to plot against someone, or to
decide on issues disapproved of by
speaker: Iran ya so uma nasọn ―
“They held a secret meeting last
night.”
umamwẹn [ùmã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. being good or
beneficial; progress: Umamwen ẹvbo
na ẹre ima gualọ ― “It is the good
of this town that we seek.”
umaranmwẹn [ùmáɽã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. a fable;
a story about animals.
umẹ [ùmɛ̃́] n. the red dye obtained
from the camwood tree.
umẹwaẹn [ùmɛ̃́wã̀ɛ̃] n. a wise person;
an intelligent person.
umian [ùmyã́] n. hallucination; illusion.
Umogun [úmõ̀gṹ] n. the royal family
of Benin; their sib greeting is
“Lamogun.”
umozo [ùmõ̀zò] n. sword.
umọbiẹ [úmɔ̃̀byɛ̀] n. a woman who
gives birth to many children; a very
fertile woman.
%%
umọbọ [ùmɔ̃̀bɔ̀] n. 1. a foster child;
2. any foster-relation (used with
the term of the relative): umọberha ―
“foster father.” umọbiye ― “foster
mother”; etc.
umọdia [úmɔ̃̀dià] n. the stretch of
visible distance: Ọ dee vbe umọdia ―
“He is approaching in the distance.”
umọmọ [ùmɔ̃́mɔ̃̀] n. hammer.
umuadiyẹ [ùmwã̀dìyɛ̀] n. (also um-
uọkhọkhọ) tiger-cat (also translated
as “fox” by Melzian).
umuọkhọkhọ [ùmwɔ̃̀xɔ̀xɔ̀] n. cf. um-
uadiyẹ.
umwan [ùɱã́] n. 1. scale.; 2. a measur-
ing instrument.
umwẹn [ùɱɛ̃́ɛ̃̀] n. salt.
umwọnmwẹn [úɱɔ̃ɱɛ̃̀] n. equality;
being equal: Umwọnmwẹn ẹre iran
ye ― “They are equal.”
uniẹ [únyɛ̃́] n. a kind of hot spice,
used in medicinal sauces.
uniẹrẹ [ùnyɛ̃́ɽɛ̀] n. four days hence.
unu [ùnṹ] n. 1. mouth; 2. generally
entrance (esp. a narrow one) or access
route into an enclosed area: unu-odẹ ―
“gate-way: the entrance.”
unuẹhẹn [únwɛ̃́hɛ̃̀] n. (also uruẹnhẹn)
a deep soup spoon used for scooping
soup.
uremwẹn [ùɽéɱɛ̃̀] n. burial.
uri [ùɽí] num. two hundred.
uro [úɽó] n. line; ordered fashion: Ọ
ya iran ye uro: 1. “He placed them
into line: He made them orderly.”
$Page 154$
urodẹ [úɽódɛ̀] n. 1. passage way; 2.
the middle of the road: Ghẹ mudia
ye urodẹ ― “Don’t stand in the middle
of the road.”
uroramẹ [úɽòɽámɛ̀] n. a narrow drain;
a gutter.
uru [ùɽù] n. a big bulging narrow-
necked bottle, usually cased in wicker,
and used for storing or selling palm-
wine.
uruki [úrukì] n. a magical or spiritual
force that acts on people and thereby
causes them to act in a contrary
manner.
uruvba [úrùʋá] n. boil.
urhe [úřèé] n. a kind of snail.
urho [ùřò] n. 1. gate; entrance; 2.
door: ọ kie urho laọ owa ― “He
opened the door and entered the
house.”
urhomwẹn [ùřóɱɛ̃̀] n. adulation; wor-
ship.
Urhonigbe [ùřònígbè] n. the name of
an Edo town.
urhu [ùřù] n. 1. neck; Ọ se ivie ye
urhu ― “He wears a coral necklace
around his neck.”; 2. voice: Urhu
ẹre la gbe ― “His voice is too loud.”
urhuabọ [ùřwábɔ̀] n. (< urhu ― abọ):
“neck of the hand”: wrist.
urhuaro [ùřwàɽò] n. (< u ― rhu ― aro)
“that which blinds the eye”: a variety
of cactus whose sap is believed to
cause blindness.
urhuawẹ [ùřwáwɛ̀] n. (< urhu ― owẹ)
“neck of the leg”: ankle.
%%
urhukpa [ùřùkpà] n. 1. lantern; 2^.^ lamp.
urria [úryà] n. far distance: Urria ọ ke
dee ― “It is from a far distance that
he is coming.”
urrisẹ [ùrísɛ̀] n. (< urro ― isẹ) “the
tray of isẹ”: the portions of the
wooden frame of the isẹ game in which
seeds gained in the course of a game
are kept. (also ogi-urrisẹ).
urro [ùrò] n. a flat wooden tray with
a rim used as a kitchen implement.
Soup ingredients are ground on it
by means of a wooden dumb-bell:
ovbi-urunmwun.
Usama [úsàmá] n. a site at the Ọlọtọn
quarter used for some of the cere-
monies of the Oba’s coronation.
usana [ùsáná] n. matches.
use [ùsé] n. assistance (mainly in the
form of physical labour) which used
to be rendered reciprocally and
mutually among neighbours.
Use [ùsè] n. the name of an Edo
village.
Uselu [ùsèlú] n. the quarter of Benin
where the Edaikẹn has his court.
usẹ [ùsɛ́] n. 1. poverty; destitution: Ọ
kpẹre ne usẹ ke sọe ― “It is a long
time since he has been stricken by
poverty”^; 2. general want: usẹ-ígho ―
“want for money”; usẹ-ọmọ ― “want
for children”; etc.
usẹn [ùsɛ̃́] n. a period of five days:
usiẹnre (usẹn-ẹre): “five days hence.”
usi [ùsì] n. fame; renown.
usi [ùsí] n. starch; carbohydrate.
$Page 155$
usie [ùsyé] n. a nickname for a very
dark complexioned person.
usimwọngbẹn [úsiɱɔ̃̀gbɛ́] adj. num-
erous; very many: Usimwọngbẹn ẹvbo
ẹre ọ rre: “The people who came
were numerous.”
usun [ùsṹ] n. 1. things or people ar-
ranged in a file or row: Iran ya usun
dee ― “They are coming in files”;
2. some, from among a crowd; a
portion (of a large number of people
or things). Usun vbọ maa; enikẹre
i maa ― “Some of them are good,
the others are not.”
usunbunmwẹndin [úsṹbṹɱɛ̃̀dĩ́] n.
the remains of the oil-palm bunch
after the fruits have been removed.
usunsẹn [ùsṹsɛ̃̀] adv. (< usẹn ― usẹn)
every five days.
utete [útètè] n. a low hill.
utianmwẹn [ùtỹã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. praise; com-
mendation.
utọmwẹn [ùtɔ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. longevity.
utọnyotọ [ùtɔ̃̀yòtɔ̀] n. (< u ― tọn ―
ye ― otọ) “what is dug in the ground”:
a big drinking-pot buried to the rim
in the ground in order to keep the
water cool.
utukpumwenrhan [útúkpúɱẽ̀řã́] n.
a low tree stump.
utumwẹn [ùtúɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. crying; 2.
shouting.
utun [ùtṹ] n. mushroom.
uvẹ [ùvɛ̀] n. marrow bone.
uvianmwẹn [ùvyã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. complaints
and regrets (usually about what one
%%
lacks or needs); (also ovian); 2^.^ the
act of making such complaints.
uviẹn [úvyɛ̃́] n. line, file; row: Ọ
mwanmwan ibieka nii ye uviẹn ―
“He arranged the children in a line.”
uviẹmwẹn [ùvyɛ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. crying; 2.
lamentation (e.g. for the dead). (also
eve).
uvun [ùvṹ] n. a hole; uvun-ehọ ―
“ear passage”: the pierced hole on
the ear-lobe for ear-rings; uvun-ihue
― “nostril.”
uvbemwẹn [ùʋéɱɛ̃̀] n. scarcity; limited
supply.
uvbi [ùʋí] n. 1. a girl or woman of
royal birth.; 2. a young woman:
miss (also ọvbokhan-uvbi).
uwa1 [ùwà] pron. a form of the 2nd
pers. pl. pronoun.: you pl.
uwa2 [ùwà] n. prosperity; well-being;
affluence.
uwanmwẹn [ùwã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. brightness;
uwanmwẹn-ẹdẹ ― “day-light”; “the
brightness of the day.”; 2. growing;
development; 3. wisdom.
uwawa [ùwàwà] n. cooking clay-pot
(usually used for making soups).
uwaya [úwáyà] n. 1. wire; 2. telegraph.
uwẹ [ùwɛ̀] pron. a form of the 2nd
pers. sgl. pronoun: you.
uwẹnrhiẹn [úwɛ̃̀řyɛ̃́] n. cane; whip.
uwẹnrhiọntan [úwɛ̃̀řyɔ̃́tã̀] n. (<
uwẹnrhiẹn ― ọtan) “squirrel’s whip”: a
plant: Glyphaea laterifolia.
uwoha [úwóhà] n. (< uwu ― oha) in
$Page 156$
the thick of the jungle; inside the
bush.
uwowà [úwówà] n. (< uwu ― owa)
within the house; indoors (as against
outside). Ọ la uwowa ― “He went
indoors.”
uwowá [úwówá] n. (< uwu ― owa)
within the shed: Ọ rre uwowa ―
“It is inside the shed.”
uwọnmwẹn [ùwɔ̃̀ɱɛ̃̀] n. native soup,
used for eating meals like ema, ẹbae,
akasan, etc.
ùwu1 [ùwú] n. death.
úwu2 [úwù] n. cf. ughu.
uwú3 [úwú] n. 1. the inside of a thing
(esp. a container or vessel); 2. within.
uye [ùyè] n. a ditch; a pit.
uyẹngbe [ùyɛ̃̀gbè] n. tray; uyẹngbe-
emuẹn ― “ash-tray.”
uyẹnghẹn [úyɛ̃̀ɣɛ̃́] n. a variety of
brown rat with white stripes down
its back.
uyi [úyì] n. honour; prestige: Iran rhie
uyi ẹre nẹẹn ― “They accorded him
the honour that was due to him.”
uyinmwẹn [ùyĩ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. 1. behaviour;
%%
conduct; manner: Uyinmwẹn ọnrẹn i
ma ― “Her conduct is not good.”; 2.
custom; tradition: uyinmwẹn Ẹdo:
“Ẹdo custom.”
uyunmwun [ùyũ̀ɱũ̀] n. dry season ―
from December to early April.
uza [ùzà] n. destructive mischief; dam-
age.
Uzama [ùzámà] n. the council of seven
chiefs made up of: Oliha, Edọhẹn,
Ezọmọ; Ẹro; Ehọlọ n’Irre, Ọlọtọn
and Edaikẹn.
uze [ùzé] n. handle.
uzekhae [ùzèxàe] n. a sandy heap; a
sandy play-ground (for children).
uzẹbu1 [ùzɛ̀bú] n. (of ígho) counter-
feit money.
Uzẹbu2 [ùzɛ̀bú] n. the quarter in Benin
where the court of Chief Ezọmọ is.
uzẹmwẹn [ùzɛ́ɱɛ̃̀] n. arrogance; con-
ceit.
uzo [úzò] n. antelope.
uzọla [úzɔ̀lá] n. week (cf. izọla).
uzuanmwẹn [ùzwã́ɱɛ̃̀] n. displaying
(often brazenly) the desire for other
people’s food.
