Here’s an example of ways to practice your Igbo. Use this page to practice listening and pronouncing Igbo words.
Listen to the video below, see if you recognise any words.
Excerpt from the movie Akaeze:
Try to read the text aloud, the audio clips are there to help you with the pronunciation.
Igbo
O nwere akụkọ m ga kọrọ ụnụ
Kọrọ anyị ka obi dị anyị mma
O nwere adaeze ha na-akpo Akwaeke
Akwaeke bụ ada eze Amanatọ Okporo
Akwaeke mara mma nke ukwu
Nke mere, ụmụ okorobịa Amanatọ Okporo ji wee na-achọ ka ha lụwa ya
Akwaeke nna ya Ochikeze na nne ya Ugoeze hụrụ ya n’anya nke ukwu
If you can, record yourself reading the dialogue out loud. Does it sound right? If not, try to use both the video and the audio clips to keep practicing.
Igbo/English
O nwere akụkọ m ga kọrọ ụnụ.
There’s a story I’m going to tell you.
Kọrọ anyị ka obi dị anyị mma.
Tell us so our hearts will be happy.
O nwere adaeze ha na-akpo Akwaeke.
There was a princess that they called Akwaeke.
Akwaeke bụ ada eze Amanatọ Okporo.
Akwaeke is the first daughter of King Amanato Okporo.
Akwaeke mara mma nke ukwu.
Akwaeke is very beautiful.
Nke mere, ụmụ okorobịa Amanatọ Okporo ji wee na-achọ ka ha lụwa ya.
For this, young men of Amanatọ Okporo want to marry her.
Akwaeke nna ya Ochikeze, na nne ya Ugoeze, hụrụ ya n’anya nke ukwu.
Akwaeke’s father, Ochikeze, and her mother, Ugoeze, loved her a lot.
Song Practice: Umu Obiligbo – Culture
Try to listen to the verse again, see if you can follow along with the lyrics below. After, try it again without the music.
Onye amụma sị anyị gbalụ ụmụ nwanyị ọsọ
Ma ka m jụọ gị Okpuozor
Anyị ga agbalụ ụmụ nwanyị ọsọ?
Ijele nwanne
Asị m anyị ga agbalụ ụmụ nwanyị ọsọ?
Ana m agbalụ ọlụ ọsọ?
Nwanne adịghị agbalụ ọlụ ọsọ
ị na anụ ka mụ na ekwu eh?
To listen to the whole song click here, for the full lyrics click here.