Edo Language By Uwagboe Ogieva
| Female Names | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abies | Abies is not a complete name but a short version, an abbreviation of how some people pronounce their names. e.g Abieyuwa, Abiemwense etc. |
| 2 | Abiẹmwense | Abiemwense means my birth process was ok , was born good or I am a well born/brought up child. |
| 3 | ||
| 4 | Abiẹyuwa | Born in riches or one born with golden spoon or a child born into wealth. |
| 5 | Adesusu | "Adesusu" is not really a name, the meaning is a grown up boy turning to a man, the opposite is ovbialeke. |
| 6 | Adesuwa | "adesuwa" means in the minst of wealth,not onley money it could be peace or something good happened at the time of the birth |
| 7 | Aduwa | Destined place of weath or richesse in life |
| 8 | Aghabiọmon | "Aghabiomon omo vbe biomwan" when you give birth to a child and the child will also give birth to others orwhen you give birth to a child, the child have to give birth to you in return that is returning your parenta care when they are old |
| 9 | Aibuẹdọmwan | literarily means you can't predict ones day i.e. Either of destiny, fame, death etc |
| 10 | Aimierrọvbiye | No body can be compared to your blood sister from the same mother or some would rather say there is nothing like your mother, meaning your mother is unique and precious/td> |
| 11 | Aizẹhi | "aizehionmwan vba ye" - meanning you don't choose your destiny on earth but from above |
| 12 | Aizehineomo. | You dont choose destiny for a child. |
| 13 | Amazẹmen | Meaning no one chosen for me but myself |
| 14 | Amen | Amen is abreviated from amenaghawon. There are some beautiful Edo names of which the abbreviation "Amen" was or has been derived. Note...(Amen) in this case should not be seen as a response to prayers in English, it simply means Water. |
| 15 | Amenaghawon / Amenaghawon | “Amen na gha won ighi le se omwan rhae” or “.Amen ne agha won ele se omwan rae”- the water destine for you to drink will not leave you or will surely come to be. Amenaghawon also refers to destiny. What is destined to be yours will never pass you by |
| 16 | Amenzẹ / Ameze | Amenze is abbreviated from “Amen eze ighi sie ofor” or “Amen eze eghi si ofo”.- Water from the stream will not cause you to sweat. A cool and calm manner can douse a red hot situation. the sea water can not make you sweat. |
| 17 | Amenghasihien | Ameghasihien.......Amen gha se ihien. This means what goes around comes around. What affects the eyes can affect the nose, the same as what affects the friend or enemy can come around so thou shall not revel in others misfortune. |
| 18 | Amowie | “Amen owie ne gbe orumwokpa.” This is specific about the storm of life; it doesn't select or chose who it touches. |
| 19 | Atinien | Atinien is more or less a tag name sometimes use to call a child when small or have a small stature. |
| 20 | Ẹbọzẹ | Eboze meaning the gods or deity saved me |
| 21 | Ẹbuwa / Ebiuwa | Ebuwa means a group or compounded gift of wealth |
| 22 | Ẹdamwen | Edamwen is abbreviated from Erokpaedamwen. |
| 23 | Erokpaedamwen. | “Erokpaedamwen” - means I am not pained or offended |
| 24 | Ẹde | |
| 25 | Ẹdẹki | |
| 26 | Ediagbonya | |
| 27 | Ẹdorose | |
| 28 | Ẹdowaye | |
| 29 | Ẹdugie | |
| 30 | Ẹdunekhui | |
| 31 | Eduzọla | |
| 32 | Ẹghẹ | Eghe is taken from Eghenayariore. |
| 33 | Eghenayariore. | “Eghenayariore” in full is “Eghe na ya rhiore ero owie” - meaning the time of your awakening in life is your bright morning |
| 34 | Egbebaloakhamen | “Egbe ighi balo akhe amen”. The water pot is always cool and not often boiling. An elder or leader must be cool tempered. |
| 25 | Ẹhigiode | |
| 36 | Ẹhikhamen | |
| 37 | Ẹhimwenma | |
| 38 | Ẹhiọzogie | |
| 39 | Ẹki | Eki is abbreviated from ekinadoese or ekiuwa . Eki means market/business/company/investment |
| 40 | Ẹkinadose | “Ekinadoese ” in derived from “Eki na dose, ah rrie ihe ere” - its a well manage business you gain. |
| 41 | Ẹkiuwa | Wealthy market |
| 42 | Ẹkoigiawe | |
| 43 | Ekuase | |
| 44 | Emotan | |
| 45 | Eniye | |
| 46 | Enoghaýin | |
| 47 | Enosadeba | One God is with or God support |
| 48 | Ẹronmwon | |
| 49 | Ẹseosa | |
| 50 | Ẹsọhẹ | |
| 51 | Ẹsọhẹ | |
| 52 | Ẹtinosa | |
| 53 | Ẹwemade | |
| 54 | Ibizugbe | |
| 55 | Idia | |
| 56 | Idiaghe | |
| 57 | Idiakosa | |
| 58 | Ifuẹko | |
| 59 | Igbinomwanhia | |
| 60 | Imade | |
| 61 | Imatitikua | |
| 62 | Imose | |
| 63 | Imuentinýan | |
| 64 | Imuwahen | |
| 65 | Iroghama | |
| 66 | Itohan | |
| 67 | Ivie | |
| 68 | Iyobọ | |
| 69 | Iyobosa | |
| 70 | Iyore | |
| 71 | Izẹhiuwa | |
| 72 | Izẹvbokun | |
| 73 | Iziegbe / Izinegbe | |
| 74 | Izokun | |
| 75 | Nọghaýin | |
| 76 | Nọmamien / Nomamieidobo | |
| 77 | Ọdion | |
| 78 | Oduwa | "Osa gioduwa ma mwen". meanning, God lead me to my place of success. Oduwa simply mean road of successful life. |
| 79 | Oduware | Oduware is abbreviated from Oduwaregbe |
| 80 | Oduwaregbe | |
| 81 | Ọfure | |
| 82 | Oghọghọ | |
| 83 | Oloi | |
| 84 | Ọmodamwen | |
| 85 | Ọmodiamen | |
| 86 | Ọmorovbiye | |
| 87 | Ọmosẹde | |
| 88 | Ọmosigho | |
| 89 | Ọmoyẹmwen | |
| 90 | Ọmozẹ | |
| 91 | Ọmuwa | |
| 92 | Osakioduwa | |
| 93 | Osarenọmase | |
| 94 | Osarugue | |
| 95 | Osasogie | |
| 96 | Osasumwen | |
| 97 | Osatohanmwen | |
| 98 | Osayanmon | |
| 99 | Osayamen | |
| 100 | Osayemwenre. | |
| 101 | Osẹdo | |
| 102 | Ọsemwonýenmwen | |
| 103 | Ọsọrọýenmwen | |
| 104 | Ovbiye | |
| 105 | Ovbokhan | |
| 106 | Owaeghianye | |
| 107 | Ọyemwen | |
| 108 | Udinmwen | |
| 109 | Uhunwa | |
| 110 | Uki | |
| 111 | Uvbi | Uvbi is actually a title and not a name. It is used to define a youthful female of age either when you their name is unknown, when addressing them as a young adult and mostly a female Princess as their actual name was was not used in the early |
| 112 | Uwaifiokun | |
| 113 | Uwaila | |
| 114 | Uwailekhue | |
| 115 | Uwazogie | |
| 116 | Uyinmwen |
African names always have a definite meaning.
| AMA | |||
| iyama emwinagben | punctuation mark. | vbe ifiemwen | |
| abidi nọkhua | A | capital letters | odomwen nuwa urhuese thank you my darling |
| abidi nekhere | a | small letters | ta manren w'ih rrie owa tell him, i'm going home |
| igbentin | . | full stop | emwen rhue yemwen i like you. |
| ama iyakhuen | , | comma | vbe n'emwanta, we orhuere ra? sincerely, did you do it? |
| ama sikuen | ; | semi colom | uko; a mien ukamen vbe ekiosa cup; there are water cups at ekiosa market |
| ama ekọlon | : | colon | ugbo: ugbo eminko ye farm: there you finds plants |
| ama inọta | ? | question mark | vbua khare? what did you say?. |
| ama esohie | ! | exclamation mark | kpa vbe evbani rre ! leave there! |
| ama emwen nọmwan tae | “” | quotation mark | igho ingilisi tiere “money” “igho” is what is called money in english |
| ama ukhun / | ´ | apostrophe | oh de gber'owe . it fell on his leg |
| ama ekpotọ | _ | hyphen | uwagboe_ogieva@otedo.com |
| ama ekpo | - | dash | ose iyenagbon - eha three girl friends. |
| ama ako | ( ) | bracket | ikpen iyisen ( 200) two hndred nairra |
| ama nọkpọlọse | > | greater than | igbe > ehan 10 is greater than 6 |
| ama nọkherese | < | less than | isen < ihinrin 5 is lesser than 9 |
| ama uvien | | | seperation sign | owa|eva|eha one|two|three |
| ama uvien nogore | / | slash | 20/10/13 |
| ama uvien nogore | \ | backslash | Owa \ house |
| hati | @ | at | otedotv@otedo.com |
| debae | & | Amper and | Uyi & Ada rre - Uyi and Ada came |
| ama ọghe asiteriki | * | asterisk | .*123456* |
| ama ihen enọýanren | © | copyright symbol | Ebe edo © Erhahon Ogieva |
| ama ehasi | # | hash | 1245# |
| ukamwen | counting | Ukamwen elaba Edo Edo number counting |
|
| Emwonta | speech | Abo emwonta parts of speech |
|
| ipapa ebe | page | Ipapa ebe n'ogieha page three |
|
| ewanienmwen | answer | Rrie ewanienmwen yo answer it / put your answers |
|
| ikun ifiemwen | types of sentence | De avbe ikun ifiemwen un kha? What type of sentence you talking about?. |
|
| ikuenmwen | comprehension | Ikuenmwen ni bungbe that comprehension was too much |
|
| ikpemwen | word | Ikpemwen n'ogben the word he/she wrote |
|
| ifiemwen | clause / sentence | ogbomwan rre live your life |
|
| itemwen | statement | Adesuwa otamwen Adesuwa told me |
|
| inọta | question | Rrie ewanienmwen ye inota na answer these questions |
|
| esohie | exclamation | Iye ! Owu ooo Mother! ..he/she is dead.oooo! |
|
| evbawaru | command | Viogie go give it to him/she |
|
| eno | wish | Ih ye eno noma ya wue I wish you good luck |
| Eni – Name | Evboere | Ovbie Evbo |
| Edoghogho | Naigirria | Ovbi'Edo |
| Maria | Sipeni | Ovbie Sipeni |
| Kati | Giamany | Ovbie Giamany |
| Tebia | Ganan | Ovbie Ganan |
| Maris | Italy | Ovbi'Italy |
| Mandela | Satafrica | Ovbie Satafrika |
| Efosa | Fransi | Ovbie Fransi |
| Mamadu | Seniga | Ovbie Seniga |
| Diego | Potoki | Ovbie Potoki |
| Maradona | Agientina | Ovbi'Agientina |
| Giuli (Julie) | Polandi | Ovbie Polandi |
| Igor | Rusia | Ovbie Rusia |
| Devidi (David) | Ostrelia (Australia) | Ovbi'Ostrelia |
| Gioni (John) | Kanada | Ovbie Kanada |
| Dii (dee) | Kiaena | Ovbie Kiaena |
| Emeka | Naigirria | Ovbie Naigirria |
| Hasan | Morroko | Ovbie Morroko |
| Language - Evbonoze | Iwina - Profession | ||
| Edo | Edo | Tisa | Teacher |
| e-Sipeni | Spanish | Ogbugbo | Farmer |
| e-Giamany | German | Edokito / Edokita | Doctor |
| Asanti | Ghanian | Mankaniki | Mechanic |
| Italo | Italian | Enonsi | Nurse |
| Suahili | South African | Ohue | Hunter |
| e-Fransi | French | Odueki | Trader |
| Wolofi | Senegalese | Okpemaba | Musician |
| e-Potoki | Portuguese | Ovbirhuemwin | Student |
| e-Sipeni | Argentina | Ofimoto | Driver |
| e-Polisi | Polish | Oguokor | Ship Captain |
| e-Ruso | Russian | Olevbare | Cook |
| Ingilisi | Australian | Ogbebe | Writer/ Author |
| Ingilisi/e-frensi | Canadian | Okporu | Spokesman |
| e-kiaena | Chinese |
Oguiezor
/
Omugui |
Lawyer |
| Igbo | Nigerian | Obo | Traditional Doctor |
| Arabu | Morrocan |
Ovbirhuemwin
Olakpa
Ogbalegbe
Isukpo
Okarioba
Osukpon |
Student
Police
MobilePolice
Road
Constructors
Governor
Tailor |
EDAYI ODUWA |
Ẹmwen na guegbe guan nokaro |
|
Koyọ Ọsemwen! vbe ọ ye rẹ? /“Vbọyerẹ?”
- Hello Dear/friend! How are you?
❶
|
Ọ yẹ'se, uruẹse. / Ọyẹse, uruẹse”
- I'm fine, thank you
|
audio |
Vbe a tie wẹ?/ vbe ọre eni wẹ?
- What is your name?
❷
|
Eni mwen ọre Oduwa / Oduwa a tie mwen
- My name is Oduwa
|
audio |
Wẹ ma ye iwina ẹrẹna?
- Didn't you go to work today?
❸
|
Ẹo, I ma yo
- No, I didn't.
|
audio |
Vbọ siẹẹ ne u ma na yo? / Vbe ọ siẹẹ?
- Why didn't you go?
❹
|
Rhumwunda egbe ma rranmwen
- Because I am not feeling fine
|
audio |
U ma ye Ọsikita / Owaisinmwiegbe?
- Did you go to the hospital?
❺
|
I gha yo vbe agha zẹkpẹ
- I will go later
|
audio |
Gbaro ghe egbe rhuẹ ẹsẹse?
- Take care of your body very well
➅
|
I hoen, Uruẹse
– I heard you, thanks
|
audio |
Ọma, gie tuẹ ẹgbẹ rhuẹ me
- Ok, extend my greetings to your family
➆
|
Ọma, uruẹse
- Ok, thank you
|
audio |
Edayi vbe Oduwa |
Arhuẹmwegbe ọ gbe ọmwan sẹ ayon |
| Mathematics of Money in Edo | |||
| 1 kobo = itọrọ 10 kobo = Isele ọkpa (10 itọrọ) 100 kobo = Isele igbe 1 naira = Isele igbe 2 naira = ikpen ọkpa 10 naira = ikpen isen 20 naira = ikpen igbe 30 naira = ikpen ekesugie 40 naira = ikpen ugie 50 naira = ikpen isen yan ugie 60 naira = ikpen ọgban 70 naira = ikpen isen yan ọgban 80 naira = ikpen iyeva 90 naira = ikpen isen yan iyeva 100 naira = ikpen ekigbesiyeha 200 naira = ikpen iyisen / Ẹkpo ọkpa |
300 naira = Ẹkpo ọkpa vb'ukhionmwen 400 naira = Ẹkpo eva 500 naira = Ẹkpo eva vb'ukhionmwen 600 naira = Ẹkpo eha 700 naira = Ẹkpo eha vb'ukhionmwen 800 naira = Ẹkpo enen 900 naira = Ẹkpo enen vb'ukhionmwen 1000 naria = Ẹkpo isen 2000 naira = Ẹkpo igbe 3000 naira = Ẹkpo ekesugie 4000 naira = Ẹkpo ugie 5000 naira = Ẹkpo isen yan ugie 6000 naira = Ẹkpo ọgban 7000 naira = Ẹkpo isen yan ọgban 8000 naira = Ẹkpo iyeva 9000 naira = Ẹkpo isen yan iyeva 10000 naira = Ẹkpo ekigbesiyeha |
||
| Totọ eh hia | ||||||
| itọrọ | Ikobo | isele | Note(ENaira #) | (#:K) | ||
| 1 | 1 | 1 | #00:01K | |||
| 2 | 10 | 10 | 1 | #00:10K | ||
| 3 | 100 | 100 | 10 | 1 | #01:00K | |
| 4 | 1000 | 1000 | 100 | 10 | #10:00K | |
| 5 | 10,000 | 10,000 | 1000 | 100 | #100:00K | |
| 6 | 100,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 | 1000 | #1000:00K | |
| 7 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 100,000 | 10,000 | #10,000:00K | |
| 8 | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 100,000 | #100,000:00K | |
| 9 | 100,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 10,000,000 | 1,000,000 | #1,000,000:00K | |
| 10 | 1,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 100,000,000 | 10,000,000 | #10,000,000:00K | |
| 11 | 10,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | 100,000,000 | #100,000,000:00K | |
| 12 | 100,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | #1,000,000,000:00K | |
| 13 | 1,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 | #10,000,000,000:00K | |
| 14 | 10,000,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 | #100,000,000,000:00K | |
| 15 | 100,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000,000 |
|
1,000,000,000,000 | #1,000,000,000,000:00K |
| Totọ eh hia | |||||
| X | ... | Isele = Coin/Cent /10kobo | Equivalent in (Note) | Equivalent in (Ikpen=2x/x2) | Naira(#): Kobo |
| 1 | Isele | ọkpa | ten kobo | #00:10k | |
| 2 | Isele | eva | twenty kobo | #00:20k | |
| 3 | Isele. | eha | thirty kobo | #00:30k | |
| 4 | Isele. | enen | forty kobo | #00:40k | |
| 5 | Isele. | isen | fifty kobo | #00:50k | |
| 6 | Isele. | ehan | sixty kobo | #00:60k | |
| 7 | Isele. | ihinron | seventy kobo | #00:70k | |
| 8 | Isele. | erenren | eighty kobo | #00:80k | |
| 9 | Isele. | ihinrin | ninety kobo | #00:90k | |
| 10 | Isele. | igbe | One naira (100 kobo) | #01:00k | |
| 11 | Isele. | owọrọ | One naira ten kobo | #01:10k | |
| 12 | Isele. | iweva | One naira twenty kobo | #01:20k | |
| 13 | Isele. | iweha | One naira thirty kobo | #01:30k | |
| 14 | Isele. | iwenen | One naira forty kobo | #01:40k | |
| 15 | Isele. | ekesugie | One naira fifty kobo | #01:50k | |
| 16 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe ugie | One naira sixty kobo | #01:60k | |
| 17 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe ugie | One naira seventy kobo | #01:70k | |
| 18 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe ugie | One naira eighty kobo | #01:80k | |
| 19 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | One naira ninety kobo | #01:90k | |
| 20 | Isele. | ugie | Two naira | Ikpen ọkpa | #02:00k |
| 21 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren ugie | Two naira ten kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ọkpa | #02:10k |
| 22 | Isele. | eva yanren ugie | Two naira twenty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele eva | #02:20k |
| 23 | Isele. | eha yanren ugie | Two naira thirty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele eha | #02:30k |
| 24 | Isele. | enen yanren ugie | Two naira forty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele enen | #02:40k |
| 25 | Isele. | isen yanren ugie | Two naira fifty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele isen | #02:50k |
| 26 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe ọgban | Two naira sixty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ehan | #02:60k |
| 27 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe ọgban | Two naira seventy kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ihinrin | #02:70k |
| 28 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe ọgban | Two naira eighty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ihinron | #02:80k |
| 29 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe ọgban | Two naira ninety kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ihinrin | #02:90k |
| 30 | Isele. | ọgban | Three naira | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele igbe | #03:00k |
| 31 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren ọgban | Three naira ten kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele owọrọ | #03:10k |
| 32 | Isele. | eva yanren ọgban | Three naira twenty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele iweva | #03:20k |
| 33 | Isele. | eha yanren ọgban | Three naira thirty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele iweha | #03:30k |
| 34 | Isele. | enen yanren ọgban | Three naira forty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele iwenẹn | #03:40k |
| 35 | Isele. | isen yanren ọgban | Three naira fifty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ekesugie | #03:50k |
| 36 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe iyeva | Three naira sixty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele enẹn ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #03:60k |
| 37 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyeva | Three naira seventy kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele eha ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #03:70k |
| 38 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyeva | Three naira eighty kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele eva ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #03:80k |
| 39 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyeva | Three naira ninety kobo | Ikpen ọkpa vbe isele ọkpa ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #03:90k |
| 40 | Isele. | iyeva | Four naira | Ikpen eva | #04:00k |
| 41 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyeva | Four naira ten kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ọkpa | #04:10k |
| 42 | Isele. | eva yanren iyeva | Four naira twenty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele eva | #04:20k |
| 43 | Isele. | eha yanren iyeva | Four naira thirty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele eha | #04:30k |
| 44 | Isele. | enen yanren iyeva | Four naira forty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele enẹn | #04:40k |
| 45 | Isele. | isen yanren iyeva | Four naira fifty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele isen | #04:50k |
| 46 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe ekigbe s´iyeha | Four naira sixty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ehan | #04:60k |
| 47 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe ekigbe s´iyeha | Four naira seventy kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ihinron | #04:70k |
| 48 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe ekigbe s´iyeha | Four naira eighty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ehẹnhẹn | #04:80k |
| 49 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe ekigbe s´iyeha | Four naira ninety kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ihinrin | #04:90k |
| 50 | Isele. | ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira | Ikpen eva vbe isele igbe | #05:00k |
| 51 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira ten kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele owọrọ | #05:10k |
| 52 | Isele. | eva yanren ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira twenty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele iweva | #05:20k |
| 53 | Isele. | eha yanren ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira thirty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele iweha | #0530k |
| 54 | Isele. | enen yanren ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira forty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele iwenen | #05:40k |
| 55 | Isele. | isen yanren ekigbe s´iyeha | Five naira fifty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ekesugie | #05:50k |
| 56 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe iyeha | Five naira sixty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele enẹn ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #05:60k |
| 57 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyeha | Five naira seventy kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele eha ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #05:70k |
| 58 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyeha | Five naira eighty kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele eva ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #05:80k |
| 59 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyeha | Five naira ninety kobo | Ikpen eva vbe isele ọkpa ẹi rrọ vb’ugie | #05:90k |
| 60 | Isele. | iyeha | Six naira | Ikpen eha | #06:00k |
| 61 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyeha | Six naira ten kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ọkpa | #06:10k |
| 62 | Isele. | eva yanren iyeha | Six naira twenty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele eva | #06:20k |
| 63 | Isele. | eha yanren iyeha | Six naira thirty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele eha | #06:30k |
| 64 | Isele. | enen yanren iyeha | Six naira forty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele enẹn | #06:40k |
| 65 | Isele. | isen yanren iyeha | Six naira fifty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele isen | #06:50k |
| 66 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe iyeha kevb’igbe | Six naira sixty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ehan | #06:60k |
| 67 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyeha kevb’igbe | Six naira seventy kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ihinron | #06:70k |
| 68 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyeha kevb’igbe | Six naira eighty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele erenren | #06:80k |
| 69 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyeha kevb’igbe | Six naira ninety kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ihinrin | #06:90k |
| 70 | Isele. | iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira | Ikpen eha vbe isele igbe | #07:00k |
| 71 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira ten kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele owọrọ | #07:10k |
| 72 | Isele. | eva yanren iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira twenty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele iweva | #07:20k |
| 73 | Isele. | eha yanren iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira thirty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele iweha | #07:30k |
| 74 | Isele. | enen yanren iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira forty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele iwenẹn | #07:40k |
| 75 | Isele. | isen yanren iyeha kevb’igbe | Seven naira fifty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ekesugie | #07:50k |
| 76 | Isele. | enẹn ẹirrọ vbe iyenen | Seven naira sixty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele enẹn ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #07:60k |
| 77 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyenen | Seven naira seventy kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele eha ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #07:70k |
| 78 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyenen | Seven naira eighty kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele eva ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #07:80k |
| 79 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyenen | Seven naira ninety kobo | Ikpen eha vbe isele ọkpa ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #07:90k |
| 80 | Isele. | iyenen | Eight naira | Ikpen enen | #08:00k |
| 81 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyenen | Eight naira ten kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ọkpa | #08:10k |
| 82 | Isele. | eva yanren iyenen | Eight naira twenty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele eva | #08:20k |
| 83 | Isele. | eha yanren iyenen | Eight naira thirty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele eha | #08:30k |
| 84 | Isele. | enen yanren iyenen | Eight naira forty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele enẹn | #08:40k |
| 85 | Isele. | isen yanren iyenen | Eight naira fifty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele isen | #08:50k |
| 86 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe iyenen kevb’igbe | Eight naira sixty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ehan | #08:60k |
| 87 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyenen kevb’igbe | Eight naira seventy kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ihinron | #08:70k |
| 88 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyenen kevb’igbe | Eight naira eighty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele erenren | #08:80k |
| 89 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyenen kevb’igbe | Eight naira ninety kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ihinrin | #08:90k |
| 90 | Isele. | iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira | Ikpen enen vbe isele igbe | #09:00k |
| 91 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira ten kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele owọrọ | #09:10k |
| 92 | Isele. | eva yanren iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira twenty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele iweva | #09:20k |
| 93 | Isele. | eha yanren iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira thirty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele iweha | #09:30k |
| 94 | Isele. | enen yanren iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira forty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele iwenẹn | #09:40k |
| 95 | Isele. | isen yanren iyenen kevb’igbe | Nine naira fifty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ekesugie | #09:50k |
| 96 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe iyisen | Nine naira sixty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele enẹn ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #09:60k |
| 97 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe iyisen | Nine naira seventy kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele eha ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #09:70k |
| 98 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe iyisen | Nine naira eighty kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele eva ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #09:80k |
| 99 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe iyisen | Nine naira ninety kobo | Ikpen enen vbe isele ọkpa ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #09:90k |
| 100 | Isele. | iyisen | Ten naira | Ikpen isen | #10:00k |
| 101 | Isele. | ọkpa yanren iyisen | Ten naira ten kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ọkpa | #10:10k |
| 102 | Isele. | eva yanren iyisen | Ten naira twenty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele eva | #10:20k |
| 103 | Isele. | eha yanren iyisen | Ten naira thirty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele eha | #10:30k |
| 104 | Isele. | enen yanren iyisen | Ten naira forty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele enẹn | #10:40k |
| 105 | Isele. | isen yanren iyisen | Ten naira fifty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele isen | #10:50k |
| 106 | Isele. | ehan yanren iyisen | Ten naira sixty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ehan | #10:60k |
| 107 | Isele. | ihinron yanren iyisen | Ten naira seventy kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ihinron | #10:70k |
| 108 | Isele. | erenren yanren iyisen | Ten naira eighty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele erenren | #10:80k |
| 109 | Isele. | ihinrin yanren iyisen | Ten naira ninety kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ihinrin | #10:90k |
| 110 | Isele. | igbe yanren iyisen | Eleven naira | Ikpen isen vbe isele igbe | #11:00k |
| 111 | Isele. | owọrọ yanren iyisen | Eleven naira ten kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele owọrọ | #11:10k |
| 112 | Isele. | iweva yanren iyisen | Eleven naira twenty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele iweva | #11:20k |
| 113 | Isele. | iweha yanren iyisen | Eleven naira thirty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele iweha | #11:30k |
| 114 | Isele. | iwenen yanren iyisen | Eleven naira forty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele iwenẹn | #11:40k |
| 115 | Isele. | ekesugie yanren iyisen | Eleven naira fifty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ekesugie | #11:50k |
| 116 | Isele. | enen ẹirrọ vbe ugie yanren iyisen | Eleven naira sixty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele enẹn ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #11:60k |
| 117 | Isele. | eha ẹirrọ vbe ugie yanren iyisen | Eleven naira seventy kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele eha ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #11:70k |
| 118 | Isele. | eva ẹirrọ vbe ugie yanren iyisẹn | Eleven naira eighty kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele eva ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #11:80k |
| 119 | Isele. | ọkpa ẹirrọ vbe ugie yanren iyisen | Eleven naira ninety kobo | Ikpen isen vbe isele ọkpa ẹi rrọ vbe ugie | #11:90k |
| 120 | Isele. | ugie yanren iyisen | Twelve naira | Ikpen ehan | #12:00k |
| Vb’ihe (igbe-10) | (x 10) vb’ihe igbe / (ọrẹ (Edo) | Totọ eh hia (#:K) | (Naira & Kobo)English | Total | ||||
| (Itọrọ ọkpa | x 10) | = | Isele ọkpa | 00:10 | (One kobo | x 10) | = | Ten kobo |
| (Isele ọkpa | x 10) | = | Naira ọkpa | 01:00 | (Ten kobo | x 10) | = | One naira |
| (Naira ọkp | x 10) | = | Ikpen isen (2 x 5) | 10:00 | (One naira | x 10) | = | Ten naira |
| (Ikpen isen (2 x 5 | x 10) | = | Ikpen ekigbesiyeha (2 x 50) | 100:00 | (Ten naira | x 10) | = | Hundred naira |
| (Ikpen ekigbesiyeha (2 x 50 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo isen (200 x 5) | 1000:00 | (Hundred naira | x 10) | = | One thousand naira |
| (Ẹkpo isen (200 x 5 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo ekigbesiyeha (200 x 50) | 10,000:00 | (One thousand naira | x 10) | = | Ten thousand naira |
| (Ẹkpo ekigbesiyeha (200 x 50 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo iyisen isen (200 x 500) | 100,000:00 | (Ten thousand naira | x 10) | = | Hundred thousand naira |
| (Ẹkpo iyisen isen (200 x 500 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo arriaisen isen (200 x 1000 x 5) | 1,000,000:00 | (Hundred thousand naira | x 10) | = | One million naira |
| (Ẹkpo arriaisen isen (200 x 1000 x 5 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo arriaisen ekigbesiyeha (200 x 1000 x 50) | 10,000,000:00 | (One million naira | x 10) | = | Ten million naira |
| (Ẹkpo arriaisen ekigbesiyeha (200 x 1000 x 50 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo arriaisen iyisen isen (200 x 1000 x 100 x 5) | 100,000,000:00 | (Ten million naira | x 10) | = | Hundred million naira |
| (Ẹkpo arriaisen iyisen isen (200 x 1000 x 100 x 5 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo Ẹbo isen (200 x 1000 000 x 5) | 1,000,000,000:00 | (Hundred million naira | x 10) | = | One Billion naira |
| (Ẹkpo Ẹbo isen (200 x 1000 000 x 5 | x 10) | = | Ẹkpo Ẹbo ekigbesiyeha (200 x 1000 000 x 50) | 10,000,000,000:00 | (One Billion naira | x 10) | = | Ten Billion naira |
| (Ẹkpo Ẹbo ekigbesiyeha (200 x 1000 000 x 50 | x 10) | Ẹkpo Ẹbo iyisen isen (200 x 1000 000 x 500) | 100,000,000,000:00 | (Ten Billion naira | x 10) | = | Hundred Billion naira | |
| (Ẹkpo Ẹbo iyisen isen (200 x 1000 000 x 500 | X 10) | Ẹkpo Ẹbo arriaisen isen (200 x 1000 000 x 5000) | 1,000,000,000,000:00 | (Hundred Billion naira | x 10) | = | One Trillion | |
| NOTE: itọrọ = kobo |
| Totọ eh hia | ||
| isele | Note(Naira #) | (#:K) |
| #00:01K | ||
| 1 | #00:10K | |
| 10 | 1 | #01:00K |
| 100 | 10 | #10:00K |
| 1000 | 100 | #100:00K |
| 10,000 | 1000 | #1000:00K |
| 100,000 | 10,000 | #10,000:00K |
| 1,000,000 | 100,000 | #100,000:00K |
| 10,000,000 | 1,000,000 | #1,000,000:00K |
| 100,000,000 | 10,000,000 | #10,000,000:00K |
| 1,000,000,000 | 100,000,000 | #100,000,000:00K |
| 10,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000 | #1,000,000,000:00K |
| 100,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000 | #10,000,000,000:00K |
| 1,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000 | #100,000,000,000:00K |
| 10,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000 | #1,000,000,000,000:00K |
| 100,000,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000,000 | #10,000,000,000,000:00K |
| 1,000,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000,000 | #100,000,000,000,000:00K |
| 10,000,000,000,000,000 | 1,000,000,000,000,000 | #1,000,000,000,000,000:00K |
| 100,000,000,000,000,000 | 10,000,000,000,000,000 | #10,000,000,000,000,000:00K |
| 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 | 100,000,000,000,000,000 | #100,000,000,000,000,000:00K |
| Aro (eyes) | N'ah ya ghere (dẹghere) | Use in view |
| Ehor (ears) | N'ah ya danmwehor | Use in listening |
| Ihue (nose) | N'ah ya hionron | Use to breath |
| Arramwen (tongue) | N'ah ya danmwemwin | Use to taste |
| Ukpunu (lips) [ukpẹ unu] | N'ah ya guan kevbe rri'evbare | Use to speak and eat |
| uhun (head) |
| ẹrrerre ( brain) |
| aro (eyes) |
| ehor (ears) |
| ihue (nose) |
| arramwen (tongue) |
| ukpunu (lips) [ukpẹ unu] / akhuarrunu |
| akon (teeth) |
| ẹho-(troat ) |
| ẹýaen ( neck ) |
| ifuanro (eye lashes) |
| avavaro (eye ball) |
| uvun ihue (nose hole) |
| eto ihue (nose hair) |
| eto uhun / etuhun (head hair ) |
| eto ihere (handpit) |
| akhuarrunu (lips) |
| obọ errọmwan (right hand) |
| obọ iyọmwan / agobọ (left hand) |
| izabọ (showder) |
| ikpianbọ (hand fingers) |
| ikpianwẹ (legs fingers) |
| atatobọ (hand pam) |
| atatowẹ (leg pam) |
| akowẹ |
| akobọ |
| ihien obọ (hand finger neils) |
| ihien owẹ (leg finger neils) |
| ovbukhon |
| ekia (penis) |
| uhe (vargina) |
| ukpekia (penis pik) |
| urhuabọ () |
| urhuawẹ () |
| ẹko (stomach) |
| ibuẹ ẹko (intestine) |
| iyeke (back) |
| ewen (breast) |
| ẹwẹ (chest) |
| Igbon (elbow) |
| ekuabọ |
| ekuawẹ |
| Ihere (armpit) |
| ọkpa ọkpa | one one / in 1s | ghae ọkpa ọkpa / ọkpọkpa | share/divide one one |
| eva eva | two two /in 2s | ghae eva eva / eveva | share/divide two two |
| eha eha | three three /in 3s | ghae eha eha / eheha | share/divide three three |
| enen enen | four four /in 4s | ghae enen enen / enenen | share/divide four four |
| isen isen | five five /in 5s | ghae isen isen | share/divide five five |
| ehan ehan | six six /in 6s | ghae ehan ehan / ehehan | share/divide six six |
| ihinron ihinron | seven seven /in 7s | ghae ihinron ihinron / ihihinron | share/divide seven seven |
| erenren erenren | eight eight /in 8s | ghae erenren erenren / erenrenrenren | share/divide eight eight |
| ihinrin ihinrin | nine nine /in 9s | ghae ihinrin ihinrin / ihihinrin | share/divide nine nine |
| igbe igbe | ten ten /in 10s | ghae igbe igbe / igbigbe | share/divide ten ten |
| urukpa | once | ghae urukpa | share/divide once |
| igbava | twice | ghae igbava | share/divide twice |
| igbaha | trice | ghae igbaha | share/divide trice |
| igbaenen | four times | ghae igbaenen | share/divide four times |
| igbaisen | five times | ghae igbaisen | share/divide five times |
| igbaehan | six times | ghae igbaehan | share/divide six times |
| igbaihinrin | seven times | ghae igbaihinrin | share/divide seven times |
| igbaerenren | eight times | ghae igbaerenren | share/divide eight times |
| igbaihinrin | nine times | ghae igbaihinrin | share/divide nine times |
| igbaigbe | ten time | ghae igbaigbe | share/divide ten time |
| Inugba | how many times | ghae Inugba | share/divide how many times? |
| Igbaigbọgban | at everytime or in anytime | ghae Igbaigbọgban | share/divide at everytime or in anytime |
| kẹdẹkẹdẹ | any day | ghae kẹdẹkẹdẹ | share/divide any day |
| kokẹkodẹ | anyway or which ever way | ghae kokẹkodẹ | share/divide anyway or which ever way |
| ẹghẹhia | always | ghae ẹghẹhia | share/divide always |
| kẹghẹkẹghẹ | anytime or which ever time | ghae kẹghẹkẹghẹ | share/divide anytime or which ever time |
| De ẹghẹ | which time / what time | ghae de ẹghẹ | share/divide which time / what time |
| tẹbitẹ tẹghori | forever | ghae tẹbitẹ tẹghori | share/divide forever |
| udohori | untimely or unpredicted | ghae udohori | share/divide untimely or unpredicted |
| ẹghẹ | time | ghae ẹghẹ | share/divide time |
| ihe ọkpa | into 1 | Ghae ihe ọkpa | share/divide into 1 |
| ihe eva | into 2 | Ghae ihe eva | share/divide into 2 |
| ihe eha | into 3 | Ghae ihe eha | share/divide into 3 |
| ihe enen | into 4 | Ghae ihe enen | share/divide into 4 |
| ihe isen | into 5 | Ghae ihe isen | share/divide into 5 |
| ihe ehan | into 6 | Ghae ihe ehan | share/divide into 6 |
| ihe ihinron | into 7 | Ghae ihe ihinron | share/divide into 7 |
| ihe erenren | into 8 | Ghae ihe erenren | share/divide into 8 |
| ihe ihinrin | into 9 | Ghae ihe ihinrin | share/divide into 9 |
| ihe igbe | into 10 | Ghae ihe igbe | share/divide into 10 |
| Edo | Igilisi | Ifiẹmwen | Sentense |
| ẹdẹgbe | day break / early morning | Ihian gbe ne ẹdẹgbe | They dance till early morning/day break |
| ẹdẹrriọ | the other day | Vbua kharẹ ẹdẹrriọ ? | What did you say they other day? |
| narrianusin | Pasted generation | Narrianusin ọh ghi rrie agbon? | it/he/she came to life last generation |
| ẹ n'ọgberra | time in the past / long time ago | ẹ n'ọgberra, okhuo ka ghare Ọba Edo vbe otọ-Edo, | A woman was once a king in Edoland long time ago. |
| ẹ n'aye | this time | ẹ n'aye na we na ye duena? | You still doing this, this time? |
| avbe ẹ n'ọgberra | Many time pass | Arhanmwen oha ka gu emwanagbon ýin | Many time ago, wild animals lived with human |
| ẹdẹ ọvbere | another day | Urhuẹse, ẹdẹ ọvbere uh rrie me. | Thank you, you give it to me another day. |
| ẹghe ọvbere | another time | Uh sẹtin sorẹ ẹghe ọvbere | You can sing it another day |
| uzọla nọde | next week | uzọla nọde ima tamaen | We tell him next week |
| uki nọde | next month | uki nọde ọh we ihien de rha? | Did she say, she is coming next week? |
| ukpo nọde | next year | Oduwa gha ze esuku obọ ukpo nọde | Oduwa will leave school next year |
| uzọla n'ọgberra | last week | uzọla n'ọgberra ihian ghi rre | They came last week |
| uki n'ọgberra | last month | uki n'ọgberra Oba rhu iguẹ | Oba celebrated “iguẹ” last month |
| ukpo n'ọgberra | last year | ukpo n'ọgberra arrioba fie urhi werrie | The government changed the laws last year |
It is specifically important at this point to direct attention at the alphabetical system of the Edo people, considering the present circumstances of the Edo language, which is almost fading away as a result of the influence of other cultures within and outside the Nation state, Nigeria, in which the Edo ethnic group occupy the present Edo state´ and by extension, parts of Ondo, Delta, and Anambra states. Language, it should be noted, is part of a people´s culture. It is the one most important means of expressing a people´s culture, values, and beliefs.
It is used for communication,
interaction and exchange of ideas. Consequently, the extent to which
a people´s language is developed and influenced necessarily reflects
upon the culture of the people, and a change or loss of language
invariably affects the perception of the people; viz their culture
and socio-cultural realities. thus, language is a means of
experiencing, and perceiving the environment and at same time, of
communicating same to others. In view of the foregoing, the Edo
language is therefore the medium of interaction within the cultural
frame of the Edo people. The unit constituents of language are the
alphabets, and to properly understand the nature of the Edo language,
it is important to have recourse to the alphabets and sounds which
make up the language. In this piece, the focus will be the Edo -
Benin/Bini tribe of the Edoic race or ethnic group.
The objective of this paper is to present the Edo alphabet and sounds in relation to the Edo language as core to the people´s socio cultural´ development and survival, and to expose certain misapplication of. the language and/or introduction´ of foreign letters and sounds into the Edo alphabet. Here the words Edo, Benin and Bini shall be used interchangeably. There are 24 alphabets in the Edo language with 7 (vowels and 17 consonants. Interestingly, there are also 7 pairs of consonants (that is the pair or double consonants) which though are not part of the 24 consonant letters.
They occupy a special category in the Edo alphabetical system and are pronounced differently from the single consonants. The Benin letters include the following: a/aa/; b/bi/; d/di/; e/a; e/e/; f/fi/; g/gi/; i/i/;; h/hi/; k/k a I; 1/1 a I; m/mi/; n/nil; o/;Q/or/ p/pi/; r/ril; s/si/; tltil; u/uu/; v/vi/; w/wi/; y/yi/; z/zi/. The vowels include a; e;e;i o/o;and u, while the consonants are b• d• f• g. h• k• I• m• n• p: r• s• t• v• w• y. and z The double consonants, which are combinations of two consonant letters and sounds, include the following: gb, as in Ugbowo; gh, as in ughe; kh as in Ekhosuehi; kp as in Akpakpava; rh, as in Erhun; mw as in Omwan; and vb as in Ovbokhan. These´ double consonants are pronounced together and not separately or arbitrarily choosing and pronouncing one of them as most people, of other ethnic groups, do.
There are also corresponding double consonants in other Edoic groups or tribes. For example bh, as in Ibhadomen; kp as in Okpebho; gh as in Ighalo in Esan. In Etsako, there is vh as in Ivhador etc. The bh in Esan and vh . in Etsako, are closely pronounced like the vb in Benin. Also to be noted is wh as in Emoborowho; kp as in Akpo; gh as in oghene; rh as Omoriobokirhie; in Urhobo and ts as in Oritsejafo in Itsekiri etc.• It is clear from the above that there is no j/ji/ in the Benin alphabet nor is there the shl C / or kr/kri/ double consonants or sounds. It is therefore surprising how certain ,words purportedly claimed to be Bini words are then pronounced or even spelt with “j” and “sh”, “kr”, etc. This is. rather a misnomer and a far shift from the Bini language, hence the people´s socio-cultural reality. A people´s alphabetical system constitutes the basis of their word formation (morphology) and the sound dictates their pronunciation (phonetics)
The language of• the people therefore is predicated upon the variety of letters and symbols available in that particular culture for the construction of its language as language is “a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols”. Hence, words cannot be formed in isolation but necessarily from a system of conventional signs, sounds, and gestures. Linguistic formation, in other words, follows the alphabetical systems of such linguistic groups. As such, no symbol or sound not being part of the linguistic system cat”: be used to form words within such linguistic cum cultural frame. This is because a people´s culture is essentially tied to the language, as what cannot be expressed by the language of a people is considered not to exist - at least there is lack of knowledge of its existence - within the cultural realities of the people, and a people´s expression of their realities and existence through language is limited by the symbols and sounds used for such purpose.
Thus, it is through language, that the knowledge, belief, values and behaviour of a people can be experienced, expressed and shared. Consequently, no words could be formed in a particular culture or language where the letters) and/or sound(s) used does not occur in the alphabetical system of that culture. Accordingly, the use of the “t and “sh” symbol and sound in the formation of certain words within the Bini lingua context is practically inappropriate and intolerable as neither the single letter “j” nor the double consonants “sh” as well as their sounds can be found in the Edo alphabetical system. Although, sociologically, language is flexible, ´yet a foreign or new or modified word, symbol or sound cannot be regarded as belonging to the given culture unless´ and until it is forthwith included in the linguistic/alphabetical frame of such people.
There is, therefore, no word as “Jesu” or “ljesu” or any of its inflections as in “Jesurobo”, in the ´Edo language. Similarly, there are no words like “Oshodin”, “Ologboshere”, “Iyashere”, “Tatashe”, etc whether in their spellings or pronunciation, in the Benin language. These are improper words or names and do not, reasonably and culturally speaking, fit into the Benin linguistics or socio-cultural realities. This is because there is no “j” letter nor the “Stl” in the Bini alphabet. Words which are expressed with such symbols are not B-ini words neither in their spelling, as in “Oshodin” nor in their pronunciation /osodin/. However, an accurate spelling and pronunciation of these words would exclude the “j” symbol and substitute it with “y” as in “Yesu”, “Iye”, whereas “oshodin”, “tatashe”, will loss the “h” letter and the “sh”1s1 sound to become “Osodin”, “tat´ase”, “Iyase” etc. ´ The use of the “j” and “sh” letters and sounds is due partly to inadequate knowledge of the Edo, alphabet and partly to the influence of foreign and local cultures.
For example “Jesu” is a corruption of the foreign word Jesus and in an attempt to arrive, at a near accurate of the word, the letter “j” was equally used for the localized name, disregarding the fact that the “j” letter does not exist in the Benin alphabet. The common misapplication and mispronunciation of the “y´ letter and sound for “j” also aided this inaccurate and intolerable transliteration. As for example, in some homes you hear some children call their mother “ije” rather than “iye”. , The, occurrence of the “j” letter in some Edoic culture like U-le Esan, as well, hastens its use in the Benin language . The “sh”/ S I and “Ch”/tS I sound can be found in some Nigerian languages like Hausa, and other Nigeria languages. In unequivocal terms, neither the “j” nor the “sh” feature in the Benin language. It ´will be submitted that though, the “j” and “sh” symbols and sounds form part of the linguistics of some Nigerian languages, they are however not included in that of the Benin - the primordial
Edoic tribe - and as such cannot ´be used for constructing or forming words, names or anything whatsoever within the cultural existence and experience of the, people. Until these symbols and sounds are so incorporated into the Benin alphabetical system, they, and whatever words are formed therefrom, remain linguistic misnomers.
