abẹmwẹn1 [àbɛ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
stammerer. (cf. bẹmwẹn).
abigẹngẹn [ábigɛ̃́gɛ̃́] n.
a derogatory nickname for a very skinny or undernourished person.
adazẹ [àdàzɛ́] n., adj.
an affluent and respectable person in a community:
Adazẹ-ọmwan nọ ― “He is a respectable person”
.
afa [àfá] n.
a Moslem priest (cf. Yoruba “àlùfaá”).
afuozu [àfwózú] n.
a blind person (cf. arhuaro).
agan [àgã̀] n.
1. a childless woman;
2. an infertile person or plant.
agbakpan [àg͡bákpã̀] n.
a bald person. (cf. akpan).
agbaziro [ág͡bàzíɽò] n.
confidant; one with whom one confers.
ahuẹmwẹn [àhwɛ́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
troublemaker; (also aruẹmwẹn).
akeegbe [àkèègbé] n.
a pretentious person.
akọwe [ákɔ̀wé] n.
clerk. (cf. Yoruba: akọwe).
akhasẹ [áxasɛ̀] n.
prophet.
akhiọnkpa [àxĩɔ̃̀k͡pà] n.
loner (also okhiọnkpa).
akhọwa [àxɔ̀wà] n.
1. night-watchman; security guard.
2. deputy.
akpà [àk͡pà] n.
a foolish person.
akpannago [àk͡pã̀nã́gó] ?.
left-handed person.
akpẹlẹ [àk͡pɛ̀lɛ̀] n.
a woman pregnant for the first time.
akpo [àk͡pò] n.
a nickname for a very short person.
alagbodẹ [àlág͡bòdɛ̀] n.
the last born of a woman. lit. meaning: “one who passes and blocks the way.”
amufi [àmũ̀fì] n.
acrobats who used to perform at the isiokuo ceremony.
apiẹntisi [àpỹ́ɛ̃́tisì] n.
1. apprentice driver.
2. apprentice in general. (cf. Engl.).
arowa [àɽòwà] n.
1. master, boss.
2. husband.
arhunmwun [ářṹɱṹ] n.
individual person:
arhunmwun-ọkpa ― “one person”
(also orhunmwun).
arrale [áralè] n.
a busybody; a gossip.
asanikaro [àsàníkàɽò] n.
pioneer.
aseza [ásézà] n.
soldier; (possibly from English: soldier); warrior (also ovbi-iyokuo).
asimo [ásímó] n.
a nickname for a very lean person.
atanunuyan [àtánũ̀nṹỹã̀] n.
a nickname for a very talkative person (a-ta-ne-unu-yan): “one who talks till (his) mouth tires.”
avbiẹrẹ [àʋiɛ̀ɽɛ̀] n.
1. a coward; a weak person.
ayighẹ [áyíɣɛ́] n.
a weakling; also ayinghẹn.
ebo [ébo] n.
white-man; European.
edede [èdèdé] n.
old woman.
edigue [èdìgwè] n.
villager; unsophisticated person.
ediọn [èdỹɔ̃̀] n.
1. the elders of a clan or village usually about 42 and above in age;
2. pl. of ọdiọn: “older ones.”
ediọnmwan [èdỹɔ̃̀ɱã́] n.
old man.
edirẹva [èdírɛ́và] n.
driver of a vehicle (cf. Engl.: driver) (also edrrẹva).
edọkita [èdɔ́kítà] n.
doctor (cf. Engl.) (also ẹdokita).
efada [èfàdá] n.
a Roman Catholic Father. (cf. Engl.).
egosimeti [ègòsìmétì] n.
gold-smith (cf. Engl.).
egbakhian [èg͡bàxyã́] n.
1. lovers;
2. a close friend of any sex.
egbe2 [èg͡bé] n.
one another; each other:
Iran tuẹ egbe ― “They greeted each other.”
eghian [éɣỹã̀] n.
enemy; 2. pl. of oghian ― enemy.
eghọẹn [èɣɔ̃́ɛ̃̀] n.
foreigner.
ekabita [èkábítà] n.
carpenter (cf. Engl.).
ekuku [èkúkù] n.
cook (cf. Engl.).
ekhaẹmwẹn [èxàɛɱɛ̃̀] n.
chiefs; pl. of okhaemwen.
ekhẹn [èxɛ̃̀] n.
a band of travellers, whether on foot or by some public means of transport:
ekhẹn ni rrie ẹki ― “travellers going to the market”
;
ekhẹn ni rrie ugbo ― “travellers going to the farm.”
ekpaye [èk͡pàyɛ̀] n.
followers; attendants.
elọya [èlɔ́yà] n.
lawyer (also ulaya) (cf. Engl.).
emabule [èmábule] n.
a nickname for a very stupid person.
emazuọkọ [èmázuɔ́kɔ́] n.
a very stupid person; imbecile.
emitẹ [émĩ̀tɛ̀] n.
a dwarf; a stunted person.
emọ [èmɔ̃́] n.
children; off-spring (pl. of ọmọ).
enaimwẹn [ènã́iɱɛ̃̀] n.
“my owner”; “my lord”; a deferential address term used by women to their husbands and the latters’ relatives.
enigie [ènĩ́gyè] n.
chiefs and other titled rulers.
enikaro [ènĩ́kàɽò] n.
(< ene-i-karo) “those who came in front”.
1. the ancestors.
2. pioneers.
eniwanrẹn [ènĩ́w̃ãɽ̃ɛ̃̀] n.
1. a deferential address term used for a group of elderly people. (sg. ― enọwanrẹn);
2. elders.
eniwanrẹn-asọn ― “elders of the night”: an idiomatic expression for witches, wizards, and other evil spirits
.
enọyaenmwan [ènɔ̃́ỹãɛ̃́ɱã̀] n.
“our owner”: (in Christian sense): our Lord.
epa [èpàá] n.
a colloquial address term for a man, used mainly by young people. (cf. Engl. Pa).
erha [éřá] n.
1. father; male parent;
2. ancestor for whom a shrine is mounted in the home.
erherha [éřéɽ̌á] n.
“father’s father”: paternal grandfather.
erhiye [éříyé] n.
“mother’s father”: maternal grandfather.
erha-nagbọn [éřànág͡bɔ̃̀] n.
“earthly father”; lover.
erha-nasagbọnmiẹn [éřànàsàg͡bɔ̃̀myɛ̃́] n.
“father-one-reaches the world to find”: foster father or benefactor.
erha-nọkhua [éřànɔ́xwà] n.
“big father”: grandfather.
erha-odede [érháodèdè] n.
great grandfather; also grandfather.
Erhamwonsa [éřàɱṍsà] n.
“Osa, my father” an appellation for the Supreme God, Osa.
erhuaengbe [èřw̃ã̀ɛgbè] n.
disciples; followers; attendants.
erhunmwunyẹn [èřṹɱũ̀yɛ́] n.
stranger; guest in a house.
errọ [èrɔ́] n.
1. the state of being a tenant rather than landlord:
errọ ẹre o ye vbe òwa nii ― “He is a tenant in that house.”
;
2. suspense; uncertainty.
esakparẹghodin [èsákpáɽɛɣòdĩ̀] n.
great-grandchild.
eseku [èsèékʋ] n.
a dwarf-like being believed to wander in the dense forest, with a woven mat tucked under his armpit.
etẹn [ètɛ̃́ɛ̃̀] n.
relatives; siblings. (also pl. of ọtẹn ― relation).
evbàvba [èʋàʋá] n.
an address and reference term meaning “father”, used mainly by adults. It also conveys some degree of respect and deference; in Christian prayers, it is usually used as an address term for God.
evbávba [èʋávà] n.
1. the supreme authority;
2. an address term often used for the Ọba.
evbibiọmọ [eʋibyɔmɔ̃] n.
parents.
èwoe [èwɔ̀è] n.
attendants; followers.
eyeyẹ [èyéyɛ̀] n.
(< eyẹ ― eyẹ) “grandchild-grandchild”: cousins.
eyẹ [èyɛ́] n.
grandchild.
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”
.
ẹgbẹ̀e [ɛ̀g͡bɛ̀e] n.
widow.
ẹgbẹ́e [ɛ̀gbɛ́è] n.
family; sib.
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.
ẹhue [ɛ́hwè] n.
somebody/something with a large capacity for consumption; thing/person with big appetite.
ẹkhun [`xũ̀] n.
a person who is unable to work due to weakness or illness; a cripple.
ẹkpofi [ɛ́k͡pófì] n.
“bag of yaws” ― a yaws-ridden person.
ẹkpoliyẹkẹ [ɛ́k͡pòlíyɛ̀kɛ̀] n.
pregnant woman (also ẹkponiyẹkẹ).
ẹriyo [ɛ̀rìyó] n.
the title of a chief.
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
.
ẹwobi [ɛ́wóbí] n.
a despicable person.
ibiro [ìbíɽò] n.
an address term that means comrades; peers:
Ibiro mwan, wa lare ne a doo kuu! ― “Comrades, come and let us play.”
ibisi [ìbìsì] n.
of despicable character; of villainous quality:
Ekhoe ibisi ọ gue okhuo na ― “This woman has a villainous mind.”
idada [ídàdá] n.
a frizzled haired person, usually believed to possess some magical powers; the shaving of the hair must be preceded by some rites. (cf. Yoruba: dáda).^
idasẹ [ìdàsɛ́] n.
novice; freshman.
idegbe [ìdèg͡bè] n.
unbethrothed girl.
ifiento [ìfyẽ̀tò] n.
the name of a group of men who wear their hair in small plaits and dance in certain palace ceremonies.
igabari [ìgàbàɽí] n.
“Gambari”; the Edo reference term for the Hausa/ Fulani people and various Arab tribes.
igbesa [ìgbèsà] n.
supporters of each side of a context or a quarrel.
igbiragia [ìgbìɽàgyà] n.
prostitute; harlot.
igbo [ìgbò] n.
the Igbo-speaking people; (also igbọn).
igbọn2 [ìgbɔ̃̀] n.
a derogatory Edo word for the Igbo-speaking people; (not much in use any more with this meaning, but as a general abusive term).
ighọnmighọn [íɣɔ̃́mìɣɔ̃̀] n.
the Edo name for a native of Igarra (it is not complimentary).
iho [ihòò] n.
1. one’s peer; comrade; one’s equal: when used with a pronoun, iho becomes ihua:
E i re ihua mwẹn ― “He is not my peer”
(usually implies he is inferior to me).
ikeferi [ìkèfèɽí] n.
non-Christians; heathens; pagans.
ikọ [íkɔ̀] n.
adversary; opponent; enemy.
ikuekẹn [íkwékɛ̃̀] n.
attendants; followers.
ikpata [ík͡pátá] n.
highway robbers.
ikpayẹ [ìk͡pàyɛ̀] n.
followers; attendants.
ikpotoki [ìk͡pòtòkí] n.
the Edo name for the Portuguese, the people and their language. (also ikpotokin).
ilavbodẹ [ìlàuòdɛ̀] n.
passers-by.
ilelegumaza [ìlélégúmàzà] n.
hunchback.
Inẹ [ínɛ́] n.
title of a chief; he is a member of the Ibiwe society.
inẹnẹ [ínɛ́nɛ̀] n.
an endearment term for mother.
irhuaengbe [ìřw̃ã̀ɛ̃gbè] n.
pl. disciples. (also erhuaengbe) (Christian).
irriegie [ìrỳegyè] n.
(pl. of ọriegie); title-holders; chiefs.
itakpa [íták͡pà] n.
the Edo name for the Nupe people; (the name derives from the tribal marks which they wear on their faces).
ivbiorre [ìvyórè] n.
(< ivbi-orre): members of the new generation: the youth; the young people.
izigha [ízìɣá] n.
murderer.
(e)nọkhaevbisẹ [nɔ̃̀xaeʋìsɛ] adj.; n.
“he who says what comes to be”: the one in authority; the presiding authority. (pl. nikhaevbisẹ).
obẹrure [òbáɽúɽé] n.
“the hand that does not do to eat”: a resourceless person; a person with no means:
Ghẹ rhie ọmọ nẹẹn ighẹ obẹrure nọ ― “Don’t give him your child (to marry) for he is a resourceless person.”
odede [ódèdè] n.
1. (with kin terms): grand:
erha-odede ― “grandfather”
;
iye-odede ― grandmother
;
2. senior; leader; elder:
odede iko ― “leader of a society.”
odibo [òdìbò] n.
1. a reliable and conscientious servant or assistant;
2. a delegate; messenger.
odìn [ódĩ̀] n.
a deaf and dumb person.
ogie [ògyè] n.
a titled ruler; a ruling chief; 2. an outstanding or superior variety of any set of things:
ogie-ukpọn ẹre emitin ima dẹe ùkpo na ― “It is a very superior cloth that our society bought this year.”
ogienebo [ògyènébò] n.
“The white ruler”: the British Monarch, or the white local administrator during the colonial rule.
ogieva [ógyèvà] n.
comrade; friend, associate, etc.:
Ogieva mwẹn nọ ― “He is my friend.”
ogologo [ógòlógó] n.
a dancer on stilts; 2. a nickname for an excessively tall person.
ogboi [ògboì] n.
1. an ignorant person; an uninformed person:
Ogboi nọ vbe egbe owa ne a bọ ― “He is uninformed about house construction.”
2. someone who has not been initiated into the mysteries of a particular cult.
oghẹn [òɣɛ̃̀] n.
1. crowd; a large collection:
Iran ya oghen khian ― “They are going in a crowd.”
;
2. (of animals) a flock.
oghian [óɣyã̀] n.
1. enemy, adversary;
2. a euphemism used in reference to anybody favoured by the speaker, when the event concerning the referent(s) is unpleasant or unfavourable:
Oni waa gbe oghian mwẹn ― “Fever is afflicting my enemy (i.e. me)”^
:
A wẹ erha oghian Ozo wu ― “They said the father of Ozo’s enemy is dead (i.e. poor Ozo’s father) etc.”
oghunmwun [oɣũɱũ] n.
prisoner of war; a captive, traditionally used for sacrifice.
ohọnmi [óhɔ̃̀mĩ́] n.
the person who is free from faults; the faultless person in a dispute, or in comparison to others.
òko1 [òkó] n.
an address term used by peers for each other:
oko, gu mwẹn ru ẹre ― “Please mate, help me to do it.”
okobo [òkóbó] n.
a foolish person.
okoro [òkóɽó] n.
1. prince;
2. the address and reference term for the male offsprings of the Oba, and some chiefs.
okhiọnkpa [òxỹɔ̃̀kpà] n.
a solitary person; a loner. (cf. akhiọnkpa).
okpokhuo [òk͡póxwò] n.
(< okpe ― okhuo) “a great woman”; an illustrious woman.
okpọmwan [òk͡pɔ́ɱã̀] n.
(< okpe- ― ọmwan) “big person”: an eminent person.
olaga [ólágá] n.
chairman (e.g. of an occasion).
oleghan [óléɣã̀] n.
prisoner.
olẹtin [ólɛ́tĩ̀] n.
a very strong person.
olotu [ólótù] n.
the chairman or head of a society.
ominigie [òmĩ̀nĩ̀gyè] n.
class of titleless people; the common people.
orhunmwun [óřũ̀ɱũ̀] n.
(cf. arhunmwun) individual; person.
orhunmwunyẹn [òřṹɱũ̀ỹɛ̃́] n.
visitor; guest.
osẹ [ósɛ̀] n.
1. witness.
óso [ósó] n.
wizard; sorcerer.
osukhọn [ósùxɔ̃́] n.
a person with a raised navel.
ovbi-aleke [òvyálèkè] n.;
(idiom) young lady; miss. (also uvbi).
ovbi-ẹrrẹe [òvyɛ́rɛ́è] n.;
(idiom)
1. poor fellow; poor innocent person;
Sẹ ovbi-ẹrrẹe rae ighẹ ọ ma ruẹ emwin rhọkpa ― “Leave the poor fellow alone, for he did you no wrong.”
;
2. someone else’s child.
ovbieghoẹn [òvyéɣɔ̃ɛ̃̀] n.
foreigner; non-native.
ovbiogue [òvyógwè] n.
a poor person; a destitute.
oyi [òyí] n.
thief; robber:
oyi ẹrinmwin (idiom) ― “a very crafty thief.”
Ọba [ɔ́bá] n.
1. The ruler of Benin kingdom;
2. (without the captial letter): king; ruler.
Ẹvbo na i mwẹn ọba ― “This town has no ruler.”
ọbiro [ɔ̀bírò] n.
oracler; a diviner.
ọdayọn [ɔ̀dàyɔ̃̀] n.
an excessive drinker of alcoholic drinks; a drunkard.
ọ̀ga [ɔ̀gá] n.
boss; master.
ọgiodẹ [ɔ̀gẏòdɛ̀] n.
guide.
ọgueva [ɔ̀gwèvà] n.
a double-faced person, who fosters trouble by stealthily backing both parties in a quarrel.
ọguiẹzọ [ɔ̀gwyɛ̀zɔ̀] n.
(< ọ-gui-ẹzọ) “one who argues a case”: litigant.
ọgbalama [ɔ̀g͡bàlàmà] n.
a nosey person; a busy-body.
ọgbenbe [ɔ̀g͡bẽ̀bè] n.
(< ọ ― gbẹn ― ebe) clerk.
ọ̀ka [ɔ̀ká] n.
leader; usually followed by the noun or pronoun denoting what òka is leader of:
ọ̀ka ẹgbẹe ― “leader of clan; head of family”
;
ọ̀ka idunmwun ― “head of the neighbourhood (same as ọdiọnwere).”
ọkaruosa [ɔ̀káɽwòsà] n.
debtor.
ọkhaẹmwẹn [ɔ̀xáɛ̀ɱɛ̃̀] n.
chief; special rank of traditional elders, appointed by the Ọba. They discharge various responsibilities within the traditional judicial system. The ọkhaẹmwẹn status is less important than that of an Ogie ― “a titled ruler” ― though every ogie is by implication an ọkhaẹmwẹn.
ọkhẹn [ɔ̀xɛ̃̀] n.
clientele; customers!
Obọ ọre tie okhẹn ― “His hands invites clientele; i.e. His patronage attracts additional clientele”
.
ọkpema [ɔ̀kpèmà] n.
drummer.
ọkpẹtu [ɔ̀kpɛ̀tú] n.
a disagreeable event, or person: a nuisance.
ọkporhu [ɔ̀kpòřù] n.
1. rooster;
2. preacher.
ọkpọnmwẹnse [ɔ̀kpɔ̃̀ɱɛ̃̀sè] n.
a grateful person.
ọmaẹn [ɔ̀mãɛ̃̀] n.
old person; the aged.
ọruero [ɔ̀ɽwèɽò] n.
(< ọ-ru-ero) a cunning person; a deceitful person.
ọruẹbọ [ɔ̀ɽwɛ̀bɔ̀] n.
(< ọ-ru-ẹbọ) pagan.
ọruosa [ɔ̀ɽwòsà] n.
(< ọ-ru-osa) debtor.
ọrhiae [ɔ̀řiáè] n.
useless thing; a no-good (person or thing).
ọrriegie [ɔ̀rẏègẏè] n.
(< o-rri-egie) titlebearer; a titled person.
ọrriọvbe [ɔ̀rẏɔ̀ʋè] n.
alien; stranger; foreigner.
ọmwan [ɔ̀ɱã́] n.
person; human being (pl.: emwan):
emwan nibun ― “Many people.”
ọmwanbabe [ɔ̀ɱã̀bàbè] n.
a witch (also azẹn).
ọmwẹnmwẹn [ɔ̀ɱɛ̃́ɱɛ̃̀] n.
a mad person.
ọyarra [ɔ̀yàrá] n.
an uncouth person.
ọzuọ [ɔ̀zuɔ̀] n.
fool; idiot.
ugbogbogan [ùg͡bógbógã́] n.
a term for a person who is very difficult to work or live with.
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.”
ulẹ [ùlɛ́] n.
1. race;
Rẹn ẹre ọ ban 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.”
umẹwaẹn [ùmɛ̃́wã̀ɛ̃] n.
a wise person; an intelligent person.
usie [ùsyé] n.
a nickname for a very dark complexioned person.