Cooking & Markets

1. Ị na-esi ofe onugbu?

   ee nah-EH-see OH-feh oh-NOO-gboo

   Are you cooking bitter leaf soup?

   Usage

   Ask if someone is preparing the traditional Nigerian bitter leaf soup

   Grammar Note

   "Na-esi" is the progressive of "ịsi" (to cook), so "na-esi ofe" = "is cooking soup". ("Agụ" means "to read/count", not "to cook".)

2. Ọ bụ ihe ndị ole ka ị na-etinye n'ime ofe a?

   oh boo EE-heh n-DEE OH-leh kah ee nah-EH-tin-yeh n-EE-meh OH-feh ah

   What ingredients are you putting in this soup?

   Usage

   Ask about the ingredients in a dish being prepared

   Grammar Note

   "Ihe ndị" = "things/items (plural)." "N'ime" is a locative preposition meaning "inside/within."

3. Jikorọ oha na egusi

   JEE-koh-roh OH-hah nah eh-GOO-see

   Mix the oha leaf with egusi melon seeds

   Usage

   Cooking instruction for preparing traditional Igbo dishes

   Grammar Note

   "Jikorọ" is the imperative of "ịjikọ" (to mix). "Na" is a conjunction meaning "and/with."

4. Ọ chechara nri

   oh cheh-CHAH-rah n-REE

   The food has overcooked / burnt

   Usage

   Inform someone that food has burnt or overcooked

   Grammar Note

   "Chechara" is the perfect of "to burn/overheat" with the completive marker "-ra."

5. Tinye mmanụ nkwụ ọbara ọbara

   TIN-yeh m-MAH-noo n-KWOO oh-BAH-rah oh-BAH-rah

   Add red palm oil (to the sauce)

   Usage

   Instruct to add red palm oil — a key ingredient in Nigerian cooking

   Grammar Note

   "Mmanụ nkwụ" = "palm oil". "Ọbara ọbara" repeats "ọbara" (blood) to mean "red". ("Mmanya" means drink/alcohol, not oil.)

6. Enwere ebe a na-akụzi ịsi nri?

   eh-NWEH-reh EH-beh ah nah-ah-KOO-zee ee-SEE n-REE

   Is there a cooking class?

   Usage

   Used to inquire about local cooking classes

   Grammar Note

   "Ebe a na-akụzi ~" = "a place where ~ is taught". With "ịsi nri" (cooking) the whole question asks whether there is a place that teaches cooking, i.e. a cooking class.

7. Eji m akwụkwọ ntụziaka nri igosi ụzọ esi nri

   EH-jee m ah-KWOO-kwoh n-too-zee-AH-kah n-REE ee-GOH-see OO-zoh EH-see n-REE

   I use a recipe book to show how to cook

   Usage

   Used in cooking classes or when sharing recipes

   Grammar Note

   "Ụzọ esi nri" = "way/path to cook food." "Esi nri" = "to cook/prepare food."

8. Ahụọla ofe ahụ eme nri

   ah-HOO-oh-lah OH-feh AH-hoo EH-meh n-REE

   The soup is ready

   Usage

   Announce that food preparation is complete

   Grammar Note

   "Ahụọla" is the perfect of "to see/appear" used to mean "ready/done." "Ofe" = soup/stew.

9. Ọ dị ụtọ ofe a!

   oh dee OO-toh OH-feh ah

   This soup is delicious!

   Usage

   Compliment a dish or express enjoyment while eating

   Grammar Note

   "Dị ụtọ" = "is in a sweet/delicious state." "Ụtọ" means sweetness/deliciousness in Igbo.

10. Ọ dị ọkụ nri a

    oh dee OH-koo n-REE ah

    This food is hot / spicy

    Usage

    Describe food as spicy or very hot

    Grammar Note

    "Ọkụ" means fire/heat. "Dị ọkụ" = "is in a hot state." Used for both temperature heat and spiciness.

11. Etinyela ose

    Please do not add chilli

    Usage

    Pass it to the kitchen when ordering. The "-la" ending makes it a negative command

12. Etinyela nnu

    Please do not add salt

    Usage

    Show it to the kitchen when you are on a low-salt diet

13. Ose ntakịrị

    Just a little chilli

    Usage

    For toning the heat down rather than removing it altogether

14. Sie ya nke ọma

    Please cook it thoroughly

    Usage

    Show it to the kitchen when you want nothing left undercooked

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