aan [ã̀ã́] int.
1. an exclamation of disbelief, surprise or shock; it usually entails a request for confirmation of what had been said. Also: aan nia?
2. indicates that an utterance was either not heard properly or not understood:
Aan, vbua kha hẹẹ? ― “What did you say?”
ee [éé] int.
response to most greetings and directives:
A: lare! B: ee! ― A: come here! B: okay!
.
efukẹ [èfùkɛ̀] int.
an expression which implies that what had been said was a joke, a lie or a bluff.
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.
ẹẹn [ɛ̃́ɛ̃́] int.
“yes”; positive response to a question requiring Yes/No answer.
gidigbo-gidigbo [gídígbògídígbò] int.
a formula pronounced at the initiation of a wrestling match by one of the contending pairs.
heu [héù] int.
an exclamation of surprise; regret, or lamentation.
hii [hìí] int.
1. exclamation of shock, regret, or disappointment:
Hii! u ghẹ giẹ de ― “Oh dear, you shouldn’t have let it drop.”
;
2. adj.; adv. very quiet; very calm.
íyà [iiyà] int.
an exclamation of irritation or impatience.
Iya, wẹ i hẹnmwẹn ne a ta? ― “Why, don’t you hear what is being said?”
ọbevbaru [ɔ́béʋàɽú] int.
well-done (cf. ọba).
saa [sáà] int.
“shoo!” an exclamation used to chase out domestic animals.
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 . . . !”
tẹẹ [tɛ̀ɛ́] int.
an address term, expressive of speakers favourable disposition toward the person addressed while at the same time disfavouring a third person:
Lare, tẹẹ ― “Come (”
good person“, etc.)”
tohio [tòhió] int.
Introductory formula used by a story-teller to invite an audience to listen to his story: Story-teller: Tohio. Audience: Hia hia kpoo. Story-teller: I ra ta okha ọkpa ma uwa ― (“I am going to tell you a certain story”). Audience: tae tao ighẹ ma danmwẹnhọ ― (“Go on and tell it for we are listening”). And then the story begins.
tokha [tóxà] int.
an exclamation indicating surprise, and requesting for confirmation of what had been said. May be interpreted by expressions such as “Really?”; “Is that so?”, etc.