Emergency

1. Nye m aka!

   nyeh m AH-kah

   Help me! (Give me a hand!)

   Usage

   The key phrase for calling help in an emergency. "Aka" means "hand/help"

   Grammar Note

   "Nye m aka" literally means "give me a hand" = "help me." The object pronoun "m" is written as a separate word in standard (Ọnwụ) Igbo orthography. "Aka" (hand) is a central Igbo metaphor for assistance and capability.

2. Kpọọ ndị uweojii!

   KPOH-oh N-dee oo-WEH-oh-JEE

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Calling for police. Nigeria's national emergency number is 112 (police, fire and ambulance; toll-free)

   Grammar Note

   "Ndị uweojii" = "ndị (people) + uwe (clothing) + ojii (dark/black)" = police. Igbo often describes professions through characteristic clothing or features. | Emergency number: Nigeria's single national number is 112.

3. Zitere m n'ụlọ ọgwụ

   ZEE-teh-reh m n'OO-loh ohg-WOO

   Take me to the hospital

   Usage

   "Ụlọ ọgwụ" = "house of medicine" = hospital. Used when urgent medical care is needed

   Grammar Note

   "Ụlọ ọgwụ" = "house (ụlọ) + medicine/magic (ọgwụ)." "Ọgwụ" is polysemous: medicine, magic, remedy — context determines the meaning.

4. Ahụ m na-egbu mgbu

   ah-HOO m nah-EH-gboo m-GBOO

   I am in pain

   Usage

   Expressing pain. "Mgbu" means pain

   Grammar Note

   "Ahụ m na-egbu mgbu" = "my body is hurting". "Na-egbu mgbu" is the common pattern for pain; swap the body part, as in "isi m na-egbu mgbu" (my head hurts).

5. A zuru m nke ọjọọ

   ah ZOO-roo m n-KEH oh-JOH-oh

   I was robbed / I was stolen from

   Usage

   Used when you have been robbed or stolen from

   Grammar Note

   "Ọjọọ" means "bad/evil." "Nke ọjọọ" = "the bad thing." Igbo nominalizes adjective phrases to describe incidents.

6. A chọrọ m ọgwụ

   ah CHOH-roh m ohg-WOO

   I need medicine

   Usage

   Requesting medicine. Used at pharmacies or hospitals

   Grammar Note

   "Ọgwụ" has broad meanings: medicine, treatment, magic. Context determines whether the meaning is medical or traditional/spiritual.

7. Onye m na ya nọ adala

   OH-nyeh m nah yah noh ah-DAH-lah

   My companion/friend has collapsed

   Usage

   Used when a companion has collapsed or lost consciousness

   Grammar Note

   "Adala" is the perfect form of "ada" (to fall/collapse). The "-la" suffix marks perfect aspect. Used to report a completed emergency event.

8. Ọ bụ ihe ọjọọ mere

   oh BOO ee-HEH oh-JOH-oh MEH-reh

   Something bad has happened

   Usage

   Reporting an accident or emergency

   Grammar Note

   "Mere" is the past/perfect form of "to happen/occur." "Ihe mere" (something happened) is a common Igbo expression for reporting events.

9. Zitere m n'ọdụ ndị uweojii

   ZEE-teh-reh m n'oh-DOO N-dee oo-WEH-oh-JEE

   Take me to the police station

   Usage

   Requesting transport to the police station for safety or to file a report

   Grammar Note

   "Ọdụ ndị uweojii" = "ọdụ (station/base) + ndị uweojii (police)" = police station. A compound using the general word for station.

10. A chọrọ m onye dọkịta

    ah CHOH-roh m ON-yeh doh-KEE-tah

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    Requesting to see a doctor

    Grammar Note

    "Dọkịta" is a loanword from English "doctor." "Onye dọkịta" = "person (onye) + doctor." Igbo uses "onye" (person) to form occupational noun phrases.

11. Hapụ m!

    Leave me alone!

    Usage

    Show it firmly to persistent touts or scammers — this is not meant to be softened

12. Emetụla m aka!

    Do not touch me!

    Usage

    Show it without speaking when someone crowds you. The "-la" ending makes it a negative command

13. Onye ohi

    Thief

    Usage

    The key word when reporting a theft — literally "person of stealing"

14. Amaghị m ebe m nọ

    I don't know where I am

    Usage

    When you have lost your bearings — fastest if you show a map alongside it

15. Ọkụ na-ere!

    Fire!

    Usage

    Raises the alarm for a fire — literally "fire is burning"

16. Ize ndụ

    Danger

    Usage

    One word for "this is dangerous" — literally "risk to life"

17. Ohi

    Robbery

    Usage

    To report being robbed; the word covers both theft and robbery

18. Akaakpa

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    To report that something was lifted from your pocket; the warning word at markets and bus stops

19. Ntọ

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    To report that someone has been taken away

20. Ọchụ

    Murder

    Usage

    To report that someone has been killed; the verb is "igbu ọchụ" (to commit murder)

21. Ọgba aghara

    Riot

    Usage

    To report that a crowd has turned violent; the word also covers unrest and commotion generally, and Igbo reporting uses it for riots

22. Ogbunigwe

    Bomb

    Usage

    To warn that there is an explosive device

23. Ọkụ na-ere! Gbapụnụ!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this when you see a fire and need bystanders to get out

24. Onye ohi! Jidenụ ya!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Point at the person who stole from you and ask bystanders to hold them

25. Ọdụ ndị uweojii dị ebee?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask where the police station is so you can file a report

26. Enwere onye na-asụ asụsụ Japanese ebe a?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police station or hospital whether anyone speaks Japanese

27. Mmiri na-eri ya!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Call for help when you see someone drowning

28. Ha kụrụ m ihe.

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report to police or medical staff that you were assaulted

29. Onye ohi batara n'ụlọ m.

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Report that someone broke into your room or lodging while you were out

30. Ọ bụ onye ahụ mere ya.

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police; literally "it is that person who did it"

31. Onye ohi zuru akpa ego m.

    My wallet was stolen

    Usage

    Report to the police that your wallet was stolen

32. Echefuola m ihe m.

    I left it behind

    Usage

    Tell staff that you left your belongings behind

33. Gbapụnụ n'ụzọ mgbapụ ihe mberede!

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Direct people to the emergency exit in a fire or similar

34. Lezie anya!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    Warn the person in front of you about an immediate danger

35. Mee ngwa ngwa!

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the person you called for help to hurry

36. Bịa ugbu a.

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Tell someone on the phone or nearby to come immediately

37. Ọ bụ ihe mberede.

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    Tell a desk or a call handler that this cannot wait

38. Ihe mberede okporo ụzọ mere.

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Tell bystanders or the police that a traffic accident has happened. "Ihe mberede" means accident or emergency, "okporo ụzọ" means main road, and "mere" means "happened".

39. A ghọgburu m.

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Tell the police or bystanders that you were cheated out of money or change, or made to believe a lie. The impersonal subject "A" plus a verb does the work of an English passive, and "ghọgburu m" means "deceived me".

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