àda [àdà] n.
crossroads; road junction.
adesẹ [àdèsɛ̀] n.
1. centre, middle:
ọ mudia ye adesẹ ode ― “He stood at the centre of the road.”
2. between:
ọ mudia ye adesẹ iran eveva ― “he stood between them both”
; (also adesẹneva).
3. core, kernel:
rhie adesẹ ọre mẹ ― “Give its core to me”
.
agbadi [àg͡bàdì] n.
bridge (Melzian).
agbẹn [ág͡bɛ̃́] n.
1. line, row.
2. course, route.
ásẹ [ásɛ́] n.
1. proximity; environ ―
ásẹ ni ọ rhie ẹre yi ― “It is around that place that he put it”
;
ásẹ ni ọ na ru ẹre ― “It was around that time that he did it.”
atata- [átátá] bd. n.
surface, as in atata-obọ ― palm (i.e. surface of hand); atata-owẹ ― “sole of the feet.”
azagba [àzàgbà] n.
the open; a public place:
ghẹ talọ ẹmwẹn mwẹn sẹ azagba ― “don’t announce my affairs to the open, i.e. keep my affairs secret.”
ebẹn1 [èbɛ̃̀] n.
a boundary, a line of demarkation, especially between adjacent farms.
ediran [èdíɽ̃ã̀] n.
this way; this side; this part; (also oderan: < odẹ + eran).
efọnkpa [èfɔ̃́k͡pá] n.
1. a certain place; a certain location;
2. the same place (also ehọkpa).
ega-ifi [ègáifì] n.
an enclosed area in which traps are set.
eghute [éɣúté] n.
1. beach; riverside;
2. port; harbour.
ehe1 [èhé] n.
1. place; location (also eke)
De ehe ne i gha mu enrẹn yi ― “What place shall I put it?”
2. journey:
I gha ye ehe akhuẹ ― “I shall go on a journey tomorrow.”
eheikehe [èhéikèhé] n.
anywhere; wherever:
eheikehe ne u rhirhi na miẹ ọnrẹn, u ghu khama mwẹn ― “wherever you happen to find it, you tell me.”
ehọkpa [èhɔ́kpá] n.
same as efọnkpa.
eke [èké] n.
place; location:
I yo eke ne ọ na winna ― “I visited the place where he works.”
(cf. ehe).
eko1 [èkó] n.
temporary camp; settlement used for purposes of hunting, farming and, in the past, war.
ekongbe [èkṍgbè] n.
(< ekẹ̀n + ogbe) “wall of Ogbe”; the wall that encloses the Oba’s palace in Benin City.
ekhuọrhọ [éxwɔ̀řɔ̀] n.
swamp; muddy soil; slush.
evba [èʋáà] adv.
over there; there:
mu ye evba: “place it over there.”
ẹdogbo [ɛ̀dógbò] n.
neighbourhood; immediate environment.
ẹguae [ɛ̀gwàe] n.
1. the Oba’s palace in Benin City;
2. the residence of a ruler.
ẹgbo [ɛ́gbó] n.
forest; jungle.
ẹkuẹ [ɛ̀kwɛ́] n.
1. the Edo name for the town of Akure and its natives;
2. a general name for the Yoruba people.
ẹkhókho [ɛ́xóxó] n.
1. dark corner;
2^.^ any place characterized by secrecy.
ẹkhu [ɛ̀xù] n.
door; entrance.
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
.
ẹrhunrhunmwun [ɛ̀řũ̀řũ̀ɱũ̀] n.
tail.
ẹti [ɛ́tì] n.
1. place in the forest which is rendered impassable by creepers and climbers;
2. confusion; obstruction.
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”
.
ẹzẹ [ɛ̀zɛ̀] n.
river; stream.
gie [gyè] prep.
indicates a direction: towards; to:
Rhie ígho gie Ozo ― “Take the money to Ozo”
.
gbè [g͡bè] prep.
against:
Ọ mu uhunmwun gbe ẹkhu ― “He hit his head against the door.”
idagbo [ìdàgbó] n.
1. a public place;
2. bright and open place, as opposed to a shady and private place.
ideghedeghe [ìdèɣédèɣè] n.
heights; a very high place.
idunmwun [ìdṹɱũ̀] n.
a neighbourhood; quarters in a town:
Idunmwun-Oliha: “Oliha quarters”
.
igie [ìgyè] n.
1. the main part; the base;
igiogbẹ ― the seat of operation; the headquarters
;
2. corner.
igiodẹ [ìgyòdɛ̀] n.
(< i-gie-ode) “describing the road”: guidance, direction.
igọgọ [ígɔ́gɔ̀] n.
corner; bend (of a road).
igue [ígwé] n.
village; interior.
ighaan [ìɣã́ã̀] n.
the Edo name for Igarra and its environs.
ìhan [ìhã̀] n.
1. the wrong side; the awkward direction;
Ọ la mwẹn ihan rre ― “It came through my wrong side.”
íhan [íhã́] n.
a deep dry well.
ihe [ìhè] n.
1. location; place;
2. position, rank.
ihe ne iran do rhie ẹre yi na ma zẹdẹ ke nẹẹ ― “The position at which they have now placed him does not suit him at all.”
iko [ìkó] n.
council; meeting.
ikotu [ìkótù] n.
court. (cf. Engl.).
ikpẹkpẹ [ìk͡pɛ̀kpɛ́] n.
cemetery (also itẹ).
íro [íɽó] n.
main road; main highway.
irriwẹ [ìríwɛ̀] n.
beach.
isẹguẹn [ísɛ́gwɛ̃́] n.
1. rough, gravelly terrain that’s very uncomfortable to walk on barefoot.
isi1 [ìsí] n.
foreign land; a place other than the homeland. (also isiẹvbo).
isi2 [ìsí] n.
source; origin; the base:
Emwin ne u ru na hia, ẹ i mwẹn a ma miẹ isi ẹre ― “All these things you are doing, we must see the source.”
Isi [ìsì] n.
name of a group of Ẹdo villages.
isiẹvbo [ìsyɛ́ʋò] n.
foreign land. (cf. isi).
iso1 [ìsó] n.
sky; space.
isoko [ísókó] n.
1. outskirts of; environs: isoko-Edo ― the outskirts of Benin;
2. the people of Isoko ethnic group.
itẹ [ítɛ́] n.
cemetery (also ikpẹkpẹ).
ivbiẹ [ívyɛ̀] n.
quiet and solitary place or time.
iya [ìyà] n.
1. ditch; valley;
2. the big ditch around the Benin walls: Iya Oguọla ― Oguọla’s ditch (the ditch was said to have been dug at the instance of Oba Oguọla).
ke4 [ké] prep.
1. (occurs with verbs of motion, such as yo, rre, dee, etc.) indicates source or origin of motion: from:
Igue ọ ke rri iwinna: “It is from the village that he comes to work.”
;
2. general “source” notion (i.e. in respect to time and place).
Ẹgogo eva ẹre ọ ke winna: “He has been working from 2 p.m., i.e. he has been working since 2 p.m.”
kue3 [kùé] prep.
on, over, at:
Amẹ sa kue Ọzo ukpọn ― “Water spilled on Ozo’s cloth”
.
Ekhae tue kue otọ ― “Sand poured on the floor”
. It is realised as
kui in clause-final position:
Vbe ọ sa kui ― “Where did it pour?”
and as
kuọ before mwẹn or mwan:
Amẹ tue kuọ mwẹn ― “Water poured on me.”
lele3 [lèlé] prep.
1. along; with:
Ọ viẹ lele ẹre dee ― “He is crying along with him as they approach”
(i.e. either he alone is crying or they are both crying);
2. after:
Ọ rhulẹ lele ẹre dee ― “She is running after him as he approaches”
(i.e. he is ahead of her, and not running. If he were also running with her, then the meaning of lele in the sentence would be “along” or “with” rather than “after”).
lẹgaa [lɛ̀gàá] vb.
to surround; to go around. 2. as a prep. it means “around”:
Ọ gba ogba legaa owa re ― “He built a fence around his house.”
obẹlẹ [óbɛ̀lɛ̀] n.
a rough path; a track:
Iran fian obẹlẹ dee ― “They are making a track as they approach.”
oberhọmwan [òbéřɔ́ɱã̀] n.
(< obọ-erha-ọmwan) “one’s father’s hand”: the right hand; the right-hand side.
obiyọmwan [òbíyɔ́ɱã̀] n.
(< obọ-iye ọmwan) “one’s mother’s hand”: the left-hand; the left-hand side (also agobọ).
odaro [òdáɽò] n.
front; forward direction; ahead:
Sikẹ odaro ― “Move forward.”
odẹ [òdɛ́] n.
1. way:
Imọto de gbee odọ ― “A car is blocking the way.”
Ma ọnrẹn odẹ ne ọ gha la ― “Show him the way that he can take.”
;
2. a path, road:
Odẹ na i maa ― “This road is not good.”
;
3. manner of doing things:
Gie odẹ evbene a ya ruẹe hẹẹ ma mwẹn ― “Describe the way to do it to me.”
odín1 [ódĩ́] n.
the deep portions of a river or pool.
odín2 [ódĩ́] n.
(as part of the expression kpa-odin) mind; the basis of one’s conviction or reason:
Emwin ne ọ ru nii ke ghi kpa agbọn hia odin ― “That thing that he did indeed disturbed everyone’s mind; i.e.: astonished everyone.”^
odiyeke [òdíyèkè] n.
behind; at the back of.
odore [òdóɽé] n.
the front of a house (facing the street).
odọ [òdɔ́] n.
over there:
Yaa mudia vbe odọ ― “Go and wait over there.”
odukhunmwun [òdúxũ̀ɱũ̀] n.
1. top (of); top side; up:
Mu ẹnrẹn ye odukhunmwun ― “Place it at the top”^
;
2. the skies:
Ọ gbaro ghee odukhunmwun ― “He raised his eyes toward the skies.”
ogboleghan [ógbóléɣã̀] n.
“the yard of prisoners”: prison yard.
ohiamẹ [òhyámɛ̀] n.
(< ohio-ame) hole in tree-trunks filled with rain water, in which birds bathe, and other small animals drink water.
ohinmwin [óhĩ̀ɱĩ̀] n.
the Edo name for the River Niger.
oke [òké] n.
hill; cliff.
òko2 [òkó] n.
nest (usually of a bird; but also applicable to other small animals, such as lice):
Ahianmwẹn bọ oko ye ẹrhunrhunmwun-owa na ― “A bird built a nest in the eaves of this house.”
òkun1 [òkṹ] n.
sea; also ocean.
okhi [óxì] n.
circle, ring.
okhiẹ1 [òxẏɛ́] n.
edge; margin:
Ọ mudia ye okhiẹ úkpo gha khẹ imọto ― “He stood at the edge of the road to wait for a vehicle.”
okpa [òk͡pá] n.
path; passage; track:
okpa-ame ― “drain”
;
okpa àranmwẹn ― “The track through which animals pass.”
okpẹvbo [òk͡pɛ́ʋò] n.
(< okpe- ― ẹvbo) a big town, country, etc.
okpẹzẹ [òk͡pɛ́zɛ̀] n.
(< okpe- ― ẹzẹ) a big river.
olokun [ólókũ̀] n.
the sea (also okun).
òre [óɽé] n.
1. outdoors; outside (i.e. from the house.)
Erhae rrie òre ― “His father has gone outside.”
;
2. the streets of a town; within the boundaries of the town:
Óre Ẹdo ― “within the City of Benin”
;
óre ẹvbo ― “centre of town”
. (also orere).
orogho [òɽòɣò] n.
muddy puddle (esp. of rain on the road).
ototọ [òtótɔ̀] n.
bottom of; under:
ototọ erhan ― “under the tree.”
otọ1 [òtɔ̀] n.
(also otọe, esp. in the speech of the elderly).
1. ground; soil:
Ghẹ gie ẹre ya owẹ kan otọ ― “Don’t let him touch the ground with his feet.”
;
2. bottom of: (e.g. of a container):
Iku hẹnhẹn ye otọ ọre ― “Dust particles have settled at the bottom of it”
; (in this sense, also ototọ):
Ọ rhie ẹre lẹre ye otọ (or ototọ) ẹkpẹtin: “He hid it at the bottom of the box”
;
3. floor; ground:
Ọ tota ye otọ ― “He sat on the floor.”
otọwa [òtɔ́wà] n.
the floor of a room (as opposed to iba (slab) or úkpo (bed))^.
ovẹn [òvɛ̃̀] n.
sun; sunshine:
Ovẹn yunmwun: “The sun is shining.”
ówa [ówá] n.
market stall.
owamẹ [òwámɛ̃̀] n.
(< òwa ― amẹ): water tower.
owẹn [òwɛ̃̀] n.
sun; setting sun.
ọghọdọ [ɔ̀ɣɔ̀dɔ̀] n.
pond.
ọkotọ [ɔ́kòtɔ̀] n.
the bottom position; the last:
ọmọ-ọkotọ ― “the last born child”
.
ọkpẹn [ɔ̀kpɛ̃́] n.
side of; edge of:
Ọ mudia ye ọkpẹn úkpo ― “He stood at the side of the road.”
ọkpẹnzẹ [ɔ̀kpɛ̃́zɛ̀] n.
(< ọkpẹn-ẹzẹ) bank of the river.
ọrhọre [ɔ̀řɔ̀ɽé] n.
waterfall.
ọwara [ɔ̀wàɽà] n.
1. straight, uninterrupted stretch (of time or space):
ọwara uki eha ― “for an uninterrupted period of three months.”
udinmwinmwẹn [ùdĩ́ɱĩ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
1. depth;
2. being deep.
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.”
uguowẹ [úgwówɛ̀] n.
a very narrow path.
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.”
ugboghodo [ùg͡bòɣòdò] n.
a depression on the ground; a shallow pit.
ugbugbe [ùg͡búg͡bè] adv.
1. horizontally:
Ọ mwanmwan erhan nii ugbugbe ye iba ― “He arranged the wood horizontally on the slab.”
;
2. crosswise.
úghe [úɣè] n.
the entrance into a village.
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).
uhae [úhàe] n.
well:
Amẹ nẹ ọ rre uhae na hian gbe ― “The water in this well is very clear.”
ukhùnmwun1 [ùxũ̀ɱũ̀] n.
1^.^ sky (also odukhunmwun; iso);
2. up:
Ọ hin ukhùnmwun bu ẹre ― “He climbed up to meet him.”
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.”
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.
ulelefe [ùlèlèfè] n.
ant-hill.
umọdia [úmɔ̃̀dià] n.
the stretch of visible distance:
Ọ dee vbe umọdia ― “He is approaching in the distance.”
uro [úɽó] n.
line; ordered fashion:
Ọ ya iran ye uro: 1. “He placed them into line: He made them orderly.”
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.
urho [ùřò] n.
1. gate; entrance;
2. door:
ọ kie urho laọ owa ― “He opened the door and entered the house.”
urria [úryà] n.
far distance:
Urria ọ ke dee ― “It is from a far distance that he is coming.”
utete [útètè] n.
a low hill.
uviẹn [úvyɛ̃̀] n.
line, file; row:
Ọ mwamnwan ibieka nii ye uviẹn ― “He arranged the children in a line.”
uvun [ùvṹ] n.
a hole;
uvun-ehọ ― “ear passage”: the pierced hole on the ear-lobe for ear-rings
;
uvun-ihue ― “nostril.”
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.”
uwú3 [úwú] n.
1. the inside of a thing (esp. a container or vessel);
2. within.
uye [ùyè] n.
a ditch; a pit.
uzekhae [ùzèxàe] n.
a sandy heap; a sandy play-ground (for children).