gba¹ [ '][g͡bá] {SS::} adv. indicates that the ac-
tion in the main vb. was performed
collectively: Iran gba rrievbare ―
“They ate together”.

gba [ `][g͡bà] {SS::} vb. to tie; to bind: ya
irri gbae ― “Use a rope to tie it:
Tie it with a rope”.

gba³ [ '][g͡bá] {SM::} vb. 1. to be complete; to
be accurate; 2. to assemble; to gather
(of people): Ẹvbo gba ye evba ―
“People are gathered there.” Ígho
nii gbae ― “That amount is accurate.”

gbakhẹẹ [ ` `'][g͡bàxɛ̀ɛ́] {SS::} vb. to waylay; to
lie in wait for.

gbaa [ `'][g͡bàá] {SS::} vb. to know somebody
thoroughly, (especially his/her weak-
nesses or failures): Iran hia gbaa ruẹ
nẹ ― “They all know all your weak-
nesses already.”

gbaan [ `'][g͡bã̀ã́] {SS::} vb. to shift; to cause to
%%

move or fall by brushing against:
Ọ ya ukoko-obọ gbaan mwẹn emiowo
fua vbe obọ ― “He used his elbow
to knock down my meat from my
hand”.

gbadaa [ ' ''][gbádáá] {SS::} adj.; adv. (with ye)
wide and expansive (e.g. field; lake).
(also gbalaa; gbalazaa, gbodoo).

gbae [ '`][g͡báè] {SS::} vb. to be big; to be
full-sized (also digba).

gbaẹngbe [ ` '][g͡bã̀ɛ̃gbé] {SS::} vb. (< gbaẹn-
egbe): “to shift body”: to move out
of the way for something/someone;
to shift one’s position; to avoid.

gbaghada [ ` ` `][g͡bàɣàdà] {SS::} adv. describes a
manner of falling: like the fall of
something with branches or extensions
(e.g. a person falling from a height
with the limbs spread out).

gbaigbai¹ [ ` ` ][g͡bàig͡bài] {SS::} adv. with the
$Page 053$

verb yunnu: to open and close re-
peatedly; to gasp: ọ ghi yunnu gbaigbai
vbene ọ khian wu ― “He is now
gasping like someone about to die.”

gbaigbai² [ ` ` ][g͡bàig͡bài] {SS::} adv. describes a
manner of walking: with confident
strides: ọ gha ze owe gbaigbai: “He
is striding confidently”.

gbakiyẹyẹ [ ' ' ` '][g͡bákíyɛ̀yɛ́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-
akiyẹyẹ) “to make a joke”, to make
a fool of; to make a joke of: Iran gha
yae gbakiyẹyẹ ― “They are making
a fool of him”.

gbakpan¹ [ ' '][g͡bákpã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-akpan)
to be bald.

gbakpan² [ ' '][g͡bák͡pã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-akpan):
“to cause obstruction with foot”:
1. to obstruct or intercept someone
walking along by causing him/her
to stumble over his/her foot: Ọ
gbakpan yọ mwẹn owẹ, i na de ―
“He caused me to stumble, and I fell”:
to cause to falter in one’s walk: Ukpọn
ne ọ rhuaen gbakpan ye ọre owẹ
“The cloth she had wrapped around
her caused her to falter in her walk.”

gbalama [ ' ` `][g͡bálàmà] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ―
alama) to be meddlesome; to under-
take responsibilities that normally
belong to others.

gbalaza [ ' ' '][g͡bálázá] {SS::} adj.; adv. cf. gbadaa.

gbaleto [ ` ` '][g͡bàlètó] {SS::} vb. (< gbalọ ― eto)
“to wrap hair”: to wear a head-scarf.

gbalọ [ ` '][g͡bàlɔ́] {SM::} vb. 1. to wrap; 2. pl.
or iter. sense of gba: to tie several
objects; or to tie a rope round and
round several times.

gbangbanangban [ ' '' '][g͡bã́g͡bã́ã́g͡bã́] {SM::} adj.;
adv. 1. (introduced by the verb
ye): strong; tight; 2. (used with
%%

other verbs): tightly; firmly: Ọ ya
ise kan iran kugbe gbangbanangban
― “He nailed them together firmly.”

gbangbanangban [ ` `` `][g͡bã̀g͡bã̀ã̀gbã̀] {SS::} adj.;
adv. erect; stiff; rigid.: ọ mudia
gbangbanangban: “It stood erect.”

gbankangbankan [ ` ` ` `][g͡bã̀kã̀g͡bã̀kã̀] {SS::} adj.;
adv. describes shape: big and thick
(of several objects).

gbannọ [ ` '][g͡bã̀nɔ̃́] {SM::} vb. 1. to clear; to
brighten up; (e.g. of cloudy weather):
Iso hia gbannọ nẹ ― “The entire sky
has cleared. (i.e. it won’t rain any
longer)”^; 2. (of sickness) to improve:
Oni ne ọ gbẹe fẹko gbannọ nẹ ― “The
fever that had afflicted him is now
gradually improving.”

gbaroghee [ ' ` `'][g͡báɽòɣèé] {SS::} vb. (< gbe² ―
aro ― ghee): to take care of; to look
after: Rẹn ẹre ọ gbaroghe mwẹn vbe
asikito ― “He was the person who
looked after me in the hospital”.

gbasan [ ' '][g͡básã́] {SM::} vb. 1. (< gbe³ ― asan)
“to beat (with) cane”; to whip; to
cane; 2. (idiomatic); to urinate (of
male only).

gbe¹ [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to hatch: ọkhọkhọ
mwẹn gbe ihinrọn ― “My hen hatched
seven (chicks)”^; 2. to break (of day):
Ẹdẹ ma he gbe ― “The day has not
broken: It is not yet daybreak.”;
3. to force open (e.g. door) Urho-
iyekowa ẹre oyi gbe laọ owa ― “It
was the back door that the thief
forced open to get into the house.”;
4. (with ete olighi, etc.): to pre-
cipitate something; to cause; to bring
about: Ọ gbe olighi ye iran iko ―
“He caused a disruption in their
meeting.”

gbe² [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to dance: Iran gha
gbe ugho ― “They are dancing ugho
$Page 054$

---

dance”. 2. to move: ọ gha gbe yo
gbe re ― “It is moving back and
forth; i.e. it is not stable”.

gbe³ [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. to beat; flog: Iye
Ozo gbẹẹ ye emwin ne ọ mu-fua ―
“Ozo’s mother beat him on account
of the thing he lost”. 2. to catch
in a trap: Ọ ya ifi gbe uzo ― “He
caught an antelope with his trap.”
3. to kill; imọto gbe arhunmwenva
vbe odẹ Ẹdo ― “A car killed two
people along the Benin road.”

gbe⁴ [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to pick leaves of a
plant by hand: I khian ya gbe
ebuwọnmwẹn vbe iyekowa ― “I
am going to pick vegetables from
the back-yard.”

gbe⁵ [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to undertake; to do;
to make; to produce; gbugbo gbe ―
ugbo): “to do farm” ― to make a
farm, or to engage in farming.

gbe⁶ [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} vb. 1. (usually with liquids)
to pour, to spill: Ọ gbe amẹ ye otọ ―
“He poured water on the ground”;
2. to expose to; to come into contact
with: Ọ ya egbe gbe amẹ ― “He got
his body wet.” 3. to soil; to make
dirty: Ọ gbe ukpọn gbe ― “she wears
out cloth too readily.”

gbe⁷ [ '][g͡bé] {SS::} vb. to be forfeited; to be
gone for good: Igho hia ne o zẹ ye
ovbokhan ren uhunmwun gbee ―
“All the money he had paid on his
wife’s head (i. e. as bride-price) is
forfeited.”

gbe⁸ [ '][g͡bé] {SM::} adv. 1. very well; very
much: ọ mose gbe ― “She is very
beautiful”; 2. excessively; too much.
Ọghue bun gbe ― “Yours are too
plentiful i.e. Yours are more than
you should have.”

gbè [ `][g͡bè] {SS:loc:} prep. against: Ọ mu uh-
%%

---

unmwun gbe ẹkhu ― “He hit his
head against the door.”

gbè-gué [ ` `'][g͡bègwèé] {SS::} vb. to protect
one’s secrets or weakness; to cover
up for someone.

gbè-kaan [ ` ' ][gbèkã́ɛ̃] {SS::} vb. “to move and
touch”: to venture into contact with;
to cross somebody’s path (in an
adventurous sense): Ghẹ gbe-kaan
rẹn ighẹ ẹ i maa ― “Don’t cross his
path, for he is not good!”.

gbe-kue [ ` '][g͡bèkweé] {SS::} vb. “to break and
spill over”: to abuse vituperatively;
to revile a person. Okhuo nii ghi
gbe-kue Ozo nẹ, ekhue na ghi mu
ẹnrẹn ― “After that woman had
reviled Ozo, he became ashamed.”

gbe-muotọ [ ` ' `][g͡bèmwótɔ̀] {SM::} vb. “to beat to
the ground” 1. to ruin completely;
to exhaust someone’s resources; 2.
to deface; to wreck.

gbe-rua [ ` '][g͡bèɽuá] {SS::} vb. “to beat to the
limit”: to kill. (also gbua).

gbee [ `'][g͡bèé] {SM::} vb. 1. to slant: Owẹ
ọvbokhan na gbeere ― “This child’s
legs are slanted i.e. they are not
straight.” 2. Iran mu erhan
gbee odẹ ― “They placed a stick
across the road to block it.”

gbegbeegbe [ ' '' '][g͡bég͡béég͡bé] {SS::} adv. all
(without exception); totally: Iran
hia kpaa gbegbeegbe ― “They all
left totally.”

gbei [ '][g͡beí] {SS::} adv. usually occurs after a
clause or sentence to denote that the
action expressed by the verb in the
clause/sentence was performed in vain:
Vbene iran gualọ ọre sẹ, gbei, a ma
miọẹn ― “In spite of how hard they
looked for it, it was in vain; it was
not found.”
$Page 055$

gbehẹn [ ' `][g͡béhɛ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ― ehen)
“to catch fish”: to fish.

gbenbe [ ` '][g͡bẽ̀bé] {SS::} vb. (< gbẹn-ebe) “to
write book”: to write; to write a letter.

gbele [ ` '][g͡bèlé] {SS::} vb. pl. or reit. of gbe: Ọ
ya asan gbele iran ― “He flogged
them with a cane.”

gberraa [ ` `'][g͡bèràá] {SS::} vb. to pass; to cross;
to go through.

gbẹbẹn [ ' `][gbɛ́bɛ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe²-ebẹn) “to
dance (with) ẹbẹn”: to toss ẹbẹn in
the ceremonial dance performed by
chiefs while paying their respects
to the Ọba.

gbẹhun [ ` '][g͡bɛ̀hṹ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ẹhun)
“to break into a decayed state”: to
decay from insect contamination.

gbẹmwẹnho [ ` ` '][g͡bɛ̀ɱɛ̃̀hó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-
ẹmwẹn-ẹho): to spell out the mean-
ing of a word in direct terms; to
speak in direct, rather than idiomatic
language.

gbẹn¹ [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to write; to carve; to
mark.

gbẹn² [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to deflesh a piece of
meat; to chew around bone.

gbẹn³ [ '][g͡bɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. to clear off grass from
a plot: gbẹn irunmwun ― “cut grass”.

gbẹngbẹn [ ` '][g͡bɛ̃̀gbɛ̃́] {SM::} vb. 1. intensive
sense of gbẹn²; 2. to narrate in great
detail, especially in secret: Emwin
hia ne iran ru ẹre vbe iyẹe i rre owa,
ọ na doo gbẹngbẹn ehia ma iyẹe ―
“All the things that they had done
to her when her mother was away
from home, she then narrated it all
in great detail to her mother”.

gbẹnnẹ [ ` '][gbɛ̃̀nɛ̃́] {SS::} vb. pl. and reit. sense
%%

of gben¹: Ọ gbẹnnẹ emwin ye aro ―
“She has marks on her face.”

gbẹro [ ' '][g͡bɛ́ɽó] {SS::} vb. to be exterminated.
U gha gbẹro ― “May you become
exterminated”. (a common curse).

gbẹtẹ [ ' `][g͡bɛ́tɛ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ẹtẹ): to
have an ulcer or a sore (usually on a
leg or foot).

gbẹu [ ` ][g͡bɛ̀u] {SS::} adv. describes a sudden
and hard fall.

gbidii [ ' ''][g͡bídíí] {SS::} adv. with the verb
(hunwan): mute; without uttering a
sound. I tuẹ ọre: ọ hunwan gbidii ―
“I greeted him; he remained dead
silent.”

gbìdii [ ` ``][g͡bìdìì] {SS::} adv. describes the sound
of something heavy, such as a tree
falling into water.

gbigiawẹ [ ` ' `][g͡bìgyáwɛ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe² ―
igiawẹ) to move with loud steps:
to stamp around; to step firmly and
loudly.

gbigunma [ ` ' `][g͡bìgṹmã̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe⁵ ―
iguma) to grunt (e.g. with pain or
fatigue).

gbigbi [ ` '][g͡bìg͡bí] {SS::} vb. to spread like the
wind: Iyẹn nii gbigbi se ehe hia nẹ ―
That news has spread everywhere
(like the wind).

gbigbigbi [ ` ` `][g͡bìg͡bìg͡bì] {SM::} adv. describes 1.
the sound of a forceful knock on
the door; 2. the movement of a
strong wind or storm.

gbigbo [ ' `][g͡bíg͡bò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ― igbo)
“to hit a top”^: to play the game of
igbo (in which a top is spinned in
sand, by means of a piece of string
tied to a stick).
$Page 056$

gbii [ ''][g͡bíí] {SS::} adj.; adv. (with ye) nu-
merous; very many.

gbighidi [ ` ` `][g͡bìɣìdì] {SS::} adv. describes the
falling of a big and heavy object.

gbikhiavbọ [ ' `][g͡bíxyavɔ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ―
ikhiavbọ) to beat okro in a wooden
mortar with a pestle (the traditional
method of preparing okro for use
in soup.)

gbinna¹ [ ` '][g͡bĩ̀nã́] {SS::} vb. to fight.

gbinna² [ ` '][gbĩ̀nã́] {SS::} vb. to seek the pro-
tection of somebody (from an
adversary).

gbinrunmwun [ ' ` `][g͡bĩ́ɽũ̀ɱũ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbẹn
― irunmwun): to clear grass.

gbirhu¹ [ ` '][g͡bìřú] {SS::} vb. (< gbe⁵ ― irhu)
to make a roost (of a bird) to sit
on eggs; to brood.

gbirhu² [ ` '][g͡bìřṹ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe⁵ ― irhu)
“to make a shade” to cast a shade.

gbirro [ ' `][g͡bírò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― irro):
to pose a riddle.

gbiyarre [ ` ' `][g͡bìyárè] {SS::} vb. (< gbe-iyare)
“to shout ‘Iyare’”: to wish well
somebody who is embarking on a
challenging enterprise by uttering
“Iyare” (May you go and come);
to wish safe return from the per-
formance of a feat.

gboba [ ' `][g͡bóbà] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― oba): to
be dented; to cave in.

gbobodo [ ' '` `][g͡bóbóòdò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ―
obodo): “to dance obodo”: to
pirouette; to spring and spin round
and round on one foot.

gbodan [ ' '][g͡bódã́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― odan):
to interrupt; to obstruct.
%%

gbodoo [ ' ''][g͡bódóó] {SS::} adj.; adv. very
wide, broad (also gbodoo [ ` ``][gbòdòò];
gboo).

gbogiẹ [ ` '][g͡bògyɛ́] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ogié)
laugh at; to make fun of.

gbohio [ ` '][g͡bòhyó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ohio):
to cave in; (of ground): to give way.

gbokoo [ ' ''][g͡bókóó] {SS::} adj. (used with ye)
well-built; (of human beings); tall
and stout.

gbokhokho [ ' `][g͡bóxoxò] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ―
okhokho): to hit on the head with
the knuckles.

gbokhokheve [ ` ' ` '][g͡bòxóxèvé] {SS::} vb. (<
gbe¹ ― okhokho-evẹ): to burst into
tears; gbokhokhogie: “to burst into
laughter”.

gboo [ ''][g͡bóó] {SS::} adj. cf. gbodoo.

gbotọ¹ [ ' `][g͡bótɔ̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ― otọ):
to wear routinely; to wear everyday.

gbotọ² [ ' `][g͡bótɔ̀] {SS::} adv. (< gbe ― otọ):
against the ground; down: Ọ de gbotọ:
“It fell down”; “it dropped”.

gbọfọ [ ][g͡bɔfɔ] {SS::} vb. (< gbe ― ọfọ): to
break out (with) sweat: to become
damp; to be wet.

gbọhun [ ' ''][g͡bɔ́hṹṹ] {SS::} adj.; adv. of hu-
man beings: to be tall and stout (e.g.
an over-grown child).

gbọọ [ `'][g͡bɔ̀ɔ́] {SS::} vb. to bark (of a dog).

gbọọ [ `'][g͡bɔ̀ɔ́] {SS::} vb. to plant seedlings or
cuttings: Ọ gbọọ iyan ― “He planted
yam seedlings.”

gbọọọ [ ```][g͡bɔ̀ɔ̀ɔ̀] {SS::} adv. staring foolishly;
looking agape.
$Page 057$

gbọrho [ ' `][g͡bɔ́řɔ̀] {SM::} vb. (< gbe¹ ― ọrho):
“to hit mud”: 1. to be muddy, to
get into mud; 2. to move around in
the mud.

gbọtọn [ ' `][g͡bɔ́tɔ̃̀] {SS::} vb. (< gbe¹ ― ọtọn)
to break out with rust: to become
rusty.

gbọvo [ ` '][g͡bɔ̀vó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe⁵ ― ọvo―)^:
to begrudge; to resent.

gbua [ `'][g͡bùá] {SS::} vb. (see gbe-rua).

gbubi [ ' `][g͡búbì] {SS::} vb. (< gbe³ ― ubi):
to slap (somebody).

gbugbo [ ' '][gbúgbó] {SS::} vb. (< gbe⁵ ― ugbo)
%%

“to make farm”: to farm.

gbuke [ ' `][g͡búkè] {SS::} vb. (< gbe² ― uke):
“to dance uke dance”: to dance with
joy by stamping around to a beat.

gbukegbuke [ ' ' ' '][g͡búkég͡búké] {SS::} adv. de-
scribes a revolting smell: Ọ wia
gbukegbuke ― It smells very badly.

gbukpukpẹ [ ' ' `][g͡búk͡púk͡pɛ̀] {SM::} vb. (< gbe²
― ukpukpe) 1. to dance “ukpukpe”
dance; 2. to trek back and forth
anxiously.

gbuu [ ``][g͡bùù] {SS::} adv. describes a bad
smell; (e.g. of fermented cassava.).