Shopping

1. Ego ole ka ihe a na-ere?

   EH-goh OH-leh kah ee-HEH ah nah-EH-reh

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Basic price inquiry. Used at Onitsha and other Igbo markets

   Grammar Note

   "Na-ere" is the progressive of "ere" (to sell). "Ego ole ka" is the price question structure "how much is...?"

2. Belata ọnụahịa ya

   beh-LAH-tah oh-NOOH-ah-HEE-ah yah

   Please reduce the price

   Usage

   Haggling phrase. Price negotiation is standard at Igbo markets

   Grammar Note

   "Ọnụahịa" = "ọnụ (mouth/price) + ahịa (market)" = market price. Igbo business vocabulary frequently contains "ahịa" (market) as a component.

3. Achọrọ m ịzụta ihe a

   ah CHOH-roh m ee-ZOO-tah ee-HEH ah

   I want to buy this

   Usage

   Expressing intent to purchase. Point at the item while speaking

   Grammar Note

   "Ịzụta" is the infinitive form of "to buy." Igbo infinitives begin with "ị-" or "i-." "Chọrọ ịzụta" = "want to buy."

4. Ọ dị ọnụ

   oh dee OH-noo

   It is expensive / It is too costly

   Usage

   Expressing that the price is too high. A common opening for price negotiation

   Grammar Note

   "Dị ọnụ" = "is in the state of ọnụ (mouth/price)" = expensive. "Ọnụ" is polysemous: "mouth" and "price" — likely from the oral tradition of price-naming.

5. Ọ dị mma, m ga-azụta ya

   oh dee MAH, m gah-ah-ZOO-tah yah

   Okay, I will buy it

   Usage

   Announcing agreement after negotiation and confirming purchase

   Grammar Note

   "M ga-azụta ya" = "m (I) + ga- (future) + azụta (buy) + ya (it)." "Ga-" marks the future, and the subject "m" makes it "I will buy."

6. Ahịa dị ebe a

   AH-hee-ah dee EH-beh ah

   There is a market here

   Usage

   Informing about a market location. "Dị ebe a" means "is here"

   Grammar Note

   "Ahịa" refers to market and trade broadly. Onitsha Main Market is one of the largest in West Africa. "Dị" means "to be (located)/exist".

7. Nye m akwụkwọ ego

   nyeh m ah-KWOO-kwoh EH-goh

   Give me a receipt

   Usage

   Requesting proof of purchase. Used in larger stores and formal shops

   Grammar Note

   "Akwụkwọ ego" = "akwụkwọ (paper/book) + ego (money)" = receipt. Igbo frequently forms vocabulary through compound nouns.

8. Ihe a dị mma nke ukwuu

   ee-HEH ah dee MAH n-KAY oo-KWOO-oo

   This is very good quality

   Usage

   Praising the quality of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Nke ukwuu" = "nke (that of) + ukwuu (big)" = "in a big way/very." Igbo degree adverbs often use nominal expressions.

9. Nwanne, ọ dị mma ka anyị kwekọrịtara

   NWAHN-neh, oh dee MAH kah AH-nyee KWEH-koh-ree-tah-rah

   Friend, let us agree on a price

   Usage

   Moving forward in price negotiation. "Nwanne" is a friendly form of address

   Grammar Note

   "Kwekọrịtara" is a reciprocal verb "to agree/come to terms." Igbo has verbal affixes for reciprocal actions, expressing mutual activity in one word.

10. Daalu, ọ bụ uru

    DAH-ah-loo, oh BOO OO-roo

    Thank you, it was a good deal

    Usage

    Thanking the seller after purchase. "Uru" means "profit/good deal"

    Grammar Note

    "Uru" means "profit/benefit" — an important Igbo business term. "Ọ bụ uru" = "it is a profit/benefit," an equative copula sentence.

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