Urhobo Dictionary
Urhobo Dictionary
Urhobo Dictionary
by
The present Urhobo dictionary was locally published in Nigeria, printed by Ilupeju Press, Benin City. The
original is not dated, but the preface is dated 1986, so perhaps this is the date of publication. It was typed
into the computer, originally into Macintosh and later transferred to PC at the behest of Kay Williamson (†)
who has some role in encouraging it s original publication.
The following changes were made by Roger Blench for this circulation version;
1. English corrected
2. Fonts changed from IPA Kiel to Times New Roman
3. Text formatted as a table
The original has a grammatical introduction, and an appendix listing Urhobo proper names and towns. The
original also has an IPA-like transcription following the main Urhobo orthographic entry. This was not
typed and indeed, since the orthography is phonemic these values can be reconstructed.
Urhobo phonology is summarised in Elugbe (1986) who also gives references to earlier studies. A striking
difference with between the two authors is that Ukere claims /l/ and /n/ are allophones and ‘l’ is thus absent
from the dictionary. Elugbe on the other hand, distinguishes a lenis l, /l/ from its non-lenis counterpart /l/.
Elugbe also notes the occasional presence of an eighth vowel, /Ë/ in two words, ɔvË$, ‘one’, and ɔsË$,
‘hawk’, transcribed by Ukere as ọvo and ọso.
ch tS
dj ◊
ẹ ε
gh ƒ
mw ŋm
ọ ɔ
ph ∏
rh r8
sh S
vw B
Ukere treats Urhobo as having two tones, High and Low, as well as rising and falling tones. The dictionary
marks only high tone; all other tones are considered to be either low or glides. Elugbe (1986) discusses
different analyses of the tonal system, eventually concluding that Urhobo has two tones plus downstep. He
admits, however, that further analysis is required.
i
Parts of Speech
Urhobo words can be classified according to the function they have in the sentence. The following table
gives the abbreviations potentially used in the dictionary with short explanations;
References
Elugbe, B.O. 1989. Comparative Edoid: phonology and lexicon. (Delta Series No. 6.) University of Port
Harcourt Press.
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Bb
CH ch
Dd
da v.t. drink
dádá a. sharp
dede v.t. welcome
dédévwo conj. nevertheless
dẹ v.t. buy
dédé a. careful
di v.t block
dia v.i menstruate
dié int. what
diguẹ v.t request one to say
dino adv. nearly
do1 v.t thank, general greeting which expresses variety of sentiments
dó2 (vwi) v.t throw
doghodogho a. slack
dọdọn a. lean/thin
du v.t mate
duvwu v.t pound
Dj dj
djádjá a. peppery
djávwe (sínu) v.t hide
djé1 v.t show/explain
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Ee
Ẹẹ
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Gg
GB gb
GH gh
GHW ghw
Hh
HW hw
Ii
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Jj
Kk
kada exp. response of kings and chiefs to the greetings and praise-singing of their
subjects
kákán (phiéphié) adv. at all
kare1 v.t lock
kare2 v.t scratch
karovwiyọ v.i remember
kasakasa n. anywhere
kere v.t count
kerhọ v.i listen
ke v.t give
kẹdẹkẹdẹ adv. everyday, daily
kédófa exp. till another day/goodbye
kẹkẹrẹkẹ adv. precise or required amount
kẹré prep. near, next, by
késiéfa exp. till another time/goodbye
kẹsiéye (távwe) conj. before
kidia (tidia) (chidia) v.t sit
kídié int. what else
kíré conj. as/like
ko v.t sew
kódẹ (tódẹ) exp. till tomorrow/goodnight
kokakoka id. all kinds, any kind
koko adv. together
kokódo1 a. deep
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
KP kp
Mm
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
na art. the
nabe adv. properly
nana dem. this/these
nánánáná adv. now, just now
ne v.t excrete, pass out faeces
nené v.t follow
nẹ prep. from
nẹrhẹ v.t pacify
ni v.t look
no v.i shine
nọ1 v.t ask
nó2 v.t grind, sharpen
nónó1 v.t drip, pour a drop at a time
nọnọ2 a. soft
nọnọnọ a. greasy, oily
nuvie v.t open (locked object only)
NY ny
Oo
óba n. end
obáro (aro) n. front, forward
obere n. basket
obiebi a. black (used in some contexts as biebi)
obo pron. what
obóhwẹre (obágobọ) n. left hand
obónẹ dem. this side, here
obótọ (ótọ) prep. under
obóyi dem. that side, there
obọ1 n. hand
obọ2 adv. recently
obọde a. intact
obórhe n. right hand
obọúnu exp. I am at table
obọvo (ẹsiẹvo) adv. once
obúko n. back, behind
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Ọọ
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Pp
paparapa a. flat
patapata adv. anyhow
pépé a. throbbing
pépé1 adv. quietly
pẹpé2 v.t pet
pẹtẹpẹtẹ a. watery
piápiá a. state of not being ripe
piọpiọpiọ a. pointed (sharp tip)
potokri n. Portuguese person
pọkọpọko a. robust
pueké a. massive
puépué a. clean
puéché a. sluggish
puépué a. over-ripe or overcooked
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Rr
RH rh
Ss
SH sh
Tt
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
ubeku n. bone
ubékpe n. wing
úbi1 n. seed
ubí2 n. charcoal, soot
úbiáko n. tooth
úbiébi n. emphatic word for dark complexion
úbiédada n. rib
úbiédi n. palm-nut
úbiéhú n. kidney
úbiényẹ n. angle
úbiérágha n. stone
(úbiúkuta)
úbieri n. mudfish sp.
úbígho n. cowry
úbióhoró n. clitoris
ubiota n. letter (a, b, c, etc.)
ubiotako n. consonant
ubiotaupho n. vowel
úbiówọ n. ball by the ankle
úbiri n. spear
úbiúdú n. heart
úbiúgbo n. knee cap
úbiupho n. Adam's apple
úbiúrhe n. stick
úbivie n. coral bead
úbívun n. intestine
ubuara n. handwoven wrapper worn by elders
úbrésiso n. hundred Naira (N100)
ubrevwiẹ n. last born
úbro n. half
úbrótọ n. state
úbrúwevwi n. room
úchébro n. advice
uché n. quantity
uchere n. cookery
uchivwo n. pillar
úchúkówọ n. heel
úchuku n. stump
uchunu n. amount
udene (ódókó) n. male agama lizard
udi1 n. drink, wine
údí2 n. grasscutter, cane-rat
udiáme (ọgọrọ) n. palmwine
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Vv
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Urhobo Dictionary A.O. Ukere (1986) Web version by Roger Blench (2005)
Ww
Yy
Zz
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