Money & Exchange

1. Ego ole ka ọ dị?

   EH-goh OH-leh kah oh dee

   How much does it cost? / What is the price?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry at markets or shops. "Ego" means "money," "ole" means "how much"

   Grammar Note

   "Ego ole?" is the standard Igbo price inquiry. "Ego" is the basic money word. Nigerian currency "naira" is referred to as "ego naira" in Igbo.

2. Ọnụ ahịa ya bụ naịra ole?

   OH-noo ah-HEE-ah ya boo NAI-rah OH-leh

   How many naira does it cost?

   Usage

   Confirming a price in Nigerian naira

   Grammar Note

   "Ọnụ ahịa ya bụ naịra ole?" = "its price is how many naira?" "Ọnụ ahịa" is price and "ole" asks for a number. Nigeria's currency "naira" was introduced in 1973; its subdivision is "kobo."

3. Biko belata ọnụ ahịa

   BEE-koh BEH-lah-tah OH-noo ah-HEE-ah

   Please reduce the price / Please give a discount

   Usage

   Price negotiation phrase at markets. Bargaining is common practice in Igbo markets

   Grammar Note

   "Ọnụ ahịa" (market price) is a compound noun. "Ahịa" means "market/trade." Igbo traditional markets rotate on a 4-day cycle: Eke, Orie, Afor, Nkwo.

4. Nwere m ego

   n-WEH-reh m EH-goh

   I have money

   Usage

   Indicating ability to pay. "Nwere" is the possession verb

   Grammar Note

   "Nwere m ego" follows "subject + possession verb + object" order. "Nwere" is a versatile verb meaning "have/possess/contain," similar to English "have."

5. Enweghị m ego

   eh-NWEH-ghee m EH-goh

   I don't have money / I am short of money

   Usage

   Saying you don't have money. Useful for explaining payment issues

   Grammar Note

   "Enweghị m" = "I do not have": "enwe" (to have) plus the negative suffix "-ghị". "Ego" is money.

6. Tụgharịa ego m

   too-GHAH-ree-ah EH-goh m

   Give me change / Change my money

   Usage

   Asking for change or currency exchange

   Grammar Note

   "Tụgharịa" means "to turn/change/reverse." It is used both for giving change and for currency exchange. The noun "ego tụgharịa" means "change/returned money."

7. Ị na-anabata card?

   ee nah-ah-NAH-bah-tah CARD

   Do you accept card payment?

   Usage

   Checking if card payment is accepted. "Card" is widely used as an English loanword

   Grammar Note

   "Anabata" means "to receive/accept/welcome." The progressive "na-anabata" also expresses habitual policy ("we accept/we take"). This is common for asking about payment methods.

8. Ego ọ dị ọnụ

   EH-goh oh dee OH-noo

   The price is high / It is expensive

   Usage

   Saying the price is too high. A starting point for price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Ọ dị ọnụ" (it is at the mouth/top) is an idiom for "expensive." "Ọnụ" (mouth/top) metaphorically means "high." Antonym: "ọ dị ala" (it is low/cheap).

9. A na-ere ya n'ọnụ ahịa dị ala

   ah nah-EH-reh ya n'OH-noo ah-HEE-ah dee AH-lah

   It is sold cheaply / It is a good deal

   Usage

   Expressing that something is cheap or a good deal. "Ala" means "low/ground"

   Grammar Note

   "Ala" (ground/low) functions metaphorically for "cheap/low price." The pair "ọ dị ala" (cheap) vs "ọ dị ọnụ" (expensive) forms the core of Igbo price evaluation language.

10. Akwụọ m

    ah-KWOO-oh m

    I have paid / Please pay me

    Usage

    Confirms payment was made or requests payment. Tone distinguishes the two meanings

    Grammar Note

    "Akwụọ" is the completive aspect of "akwụ" (to pay). "Akwụọ m" can mean "I have paid" or "pay me" — distinguished by tone. Tone and context are central to Igbo interpretation.

11. Ka anyị kewaa ụgwọ

    Let's split the bill

    Usage

    Show it when you want the bill divided — "ụgwọ" is the amount owed

12. Ọ dị oke ọnụ

    That is too expensive

    Usage

    The opening move in a haggle — "oke" means excessive

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