Noun Formation
Igbo nouns can be formed in different ways.
1. By the use of prefixes:
when any of the eight vowels is prefixed to a verb root.
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Prefix Verb root Noun_____________
a kwa akwa (cloth)
e ku eku (wooden spoon)
o ke oke (rat)
ọ ka ọka (corn)
u te ute (mat)
ụ tụ ụtụ (a kind of fruit)
i te ite (pot)
ị gba ịgba (drum)
2. By prefixing the consonants ‘m’ or ‘n’ to the verb root.
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Prefix Verb root Noun____________
m ma mma (knife)
n ri nri (food)
m bọ mbọ (finger nails)
n ti nti (cheek)
n cha ncha (soap)
n tị ntị (ear)
3. By combining two nouns and placing them side by side as two different words or joining both nouns to form one word.
ụlọ (house) + ụka (Sunday) = ụlọụka (church)
di (husband) + nta (hunting) = dinta (hunter)
ụlọ (house) + akwụkwọ (books) = ụlọakwụkwọ (school)
onye (person) + ohi (stealing) = onyeohi (thief)
elu (height/up) + igwe (sky) = eluigwe (heaven)
ụgbọ (vehicle) + ala (land/ground) = ụgbọala (car)
okwu (talk) + chukwu (God) = okwuchukwu (sermon)
ụgbọ (vehicle) + elu (height/up) = ụgbọelu (airplane)
ụgbọ (vehicle) + mmiri (water) = ụgbọmmiri (ship/boat/canoe)
4. Most proper nouns are formed by writing a phrase, clause, or even a sentence as one word.
Chi na-edu = Chinedu (God leads)
Ọ bia ga-eri = Ọbiageri (She has come to eat)
Nwa bụ eze = Nwabeze (Child is king)
Ihe anyighi chukwu = Iheanyichukwu (Nothing is impossible with God)
O me na ụkọ = Omenụkọ (He [performs or acts when there is nothing]- he is resourceful.)
O me mgbe o ji = (He [performs when he has] is generous)
5. Some nouns are actually clauses that describe objects/ people/places. These are called clause nouns.
Igwe na-ekwu okwu = radio
ụgbọ elu = airplane
onye na akwugbu mmadu = hangman
onye uwe ojii = police
onye agha = soldier
onye ọzụzụ atụrụ = shepherd
mkpịsị ode akwụkwọ = pen/pencil
akwụkwọ ozi = letter
6. By the use of the verb and its related noun. Note that these nouns are written with no hyphens.
ọgba mgba (wrestler) ọgba (verb) and mgba (related verb)
ọti ọkpọ (boxer)
ọgba ọsọ (runner)
oti egwu (musician)
oti ịgba (drummer)
ọkụ ekwe (town crier)
ọlụ ọgụ (fighter)
7. By the adaptation of English forms. The adapted noun is spelled using the Igbo alphabet.
yunivasitii (university)
windo (window)
tebulu (table)
bọọlu (ball)
elektriki (electric)
steti (state)
rula (ruler)
Noun Classification
There are four prominent noun classes:
1. Proper nouns (Ahaaka) as in names of people (Obi, Ngozi); places (Boston, Anambra.) This is the name by which a particular person, place, or thing is known.
Obi na Ngozi biara na ụlọ m. (Obi and Ngozi came to my house.)
Boston bụ obodo m. (Boston is my city.)
2. Common nouns (Ahaizugbe) This is any name given to a group of people, places, or things that are alike (aha jikọrọ ọtụtụ ihe). This applies to names of animals, trees, birds, insects, materials, all in one.
Example: Osisi juru na ọhia. (Too many trees in the forest.)
Nnụnụ (Birds)
udele (vulture)
egbe (eagle/kite)
apia (blue jay)
Ahụhụ (Insects)
anwu (mosquito)
chinchi (bed bugs)
ijiji (fly)
ụgbala (grasshopper)
añụ (bees)
Mmadu (People)
nwanyi (female)
nne (mother)
nwoke (male)
Example: Mmadu nọ ebe ahụ buru ibu. (There are too many people there.)
Anụmanụ (Animals)
ewu (goat)
nkita (dog)
ehi (cow)
agu (lion)
atụrụ (sheep)
Example: Anyi hụrụ anụmanu. (We saw animals.)
3. Collective nouns (Ahaigwe) are general names for classes or groups of nouns whether proper or common nouns. (Nke a bu aha eji amata ọtutu ihe ekpukọrọ ọnu)
Examples:
mmadu is the collective noun for all people
obodo is the collective noun for all towns and cities
anụmanu is the collective noun for all animals
osisi is the collective noun for all trees
ahụhụ is the collective noun for all insects
nnunu is the collective noun for all birds
4. Abstract nouns (Ahauche) are nouns we cannot see or touch.
Examples:
ihunanya (love)
echiche (thought)
iwe (anger)
añuri (happiness)
echiche (thought)
Examples
1. O nwe ihunanya na ebe m no. (He has love on me)
2. Anuri juru ya obi. (He is filled with joy)
3. Iwe na ewe ya. (He is angry)
4. Echiche gi amaka. (You thoughts are good)
