I haven't posted today and I'm feeling really sleepy, so I guess I'll make this about sleep and things related.

Read through and wish me a great night.

Sleep, n... owesẹ
Sleep, v... Weshẹshi
Dream... Owina
Pillow... Akpẹsẹ which is short for akpẹsẹ ukomi
Music... Uwolo (because I'm listening to a nice track on wazobia fm)

I am sleepy... Owesẹ o la mẹ alo.
Í want to sleep... Mi laa weshẹshi
Till tomorrow... O ki akọ

Dua for sleep
Bismika rabbi amuutu wa ahya
In your name, my lord, I die and come to life

Eva ẹ, Ọgẹna mẹ, lẹ mi rọ gwu lẹ mi rọ liegbe bẹ agbọ.

Eva ... Name
Ọgẹna... Lord
Gwu... Die
Liegbe... Return
 bẹ... Come
Agbọ.. Life


Dua for waking up from sleep
Alhamdulillah alladhi ahyaana ba'da maa amaatana wa ilayhi nushuur.
Praise be to Allah who gave us life after causing us to die and we will all be gathered to him.

Ishinẹgba lọ mhuẹli ikpẹmi, Ọni ọ r'ayẹmẹ n'eyẹ oshimi n'ọ rọ r'egwuli rue eyẹ. Ai Lẹli a laa wolọ eyẹ buli.
Ishinẹgba... God
Mhuẹli... Have
Ikpemi... Thanks, praises.
Egwuli.... Death
Wolọ... Pack

So with this and at this juncture I say o ki akọ. Onagie o nu vhẹ gbẹ.

Ogbe. The weather

Oni ogbe?
How is the weather?

Ogbe o dala.  The weather is fine

Ulili o la ogbe. There is cold in the weather i.e it is cold

Ulili o aa gbe mẹ. Í am catching a cold

Efọse o aa gbe mẹ.   Í am hot

Amẹ o bi. It is cloudy i.e about to rain

Amẹ o aa dena. It is drizzling

Amẹ o aa ruẹ. It is raining

Efọse e la. There is heat

Ovọ o ze.  The sun is severe

Uki o gba. The moon is hidden

Uki o she lase.  The moon is out

Akpekpe o aa fi. It is windy

Ogbe o she gbe.  It is daybreak

Ogbode o she le - It is evening

Obili o she bi. It is night-time

• Ovọ o she lase.  The sun is out

NB - sometimes ogbe is used to mean time (ẹrẹgẹ).  It's synonym, ogo, May also be used.

Se? How?

Se is only used to ask a question.

Se ki yọ? _ How is that? How come?

So mi li..... How did I
S'u li.......... How did you
S'ọ li ......... How did he
S'o li ......... How did it
S'eyẹ li...... How did we
So vha li... How did you (pl.)
S'e li.......... How did they?
S'a li.......... How did one

Abinoyẹsẹ

1. S'u li yẹsẹ? ..... How did you know?
2. S'ọ li rami aayọ ?.. How did he get there?
3. S'o li ku kua? ........ How did it pour away?
4. So mi li ẹ?............... What did I do to you? (Lit. How did I you?)
5. Si vha li dobẹ?....... How were you able to?
6. S'e li mẹ oni ebe?.. How did they find (lit. See) the book?
7. S'a li laa yẹsẹ aayọ? How will we know there?

Abinoyẹsẹ ewese. Other examples

S'ọ mhe ẹ?... What (lit. How ) did he tell you? 

S'u ke li na gọ? ... How come you're so stupid?

So mi aa li ẹ?........ How will I do you? What will I do to you? What will I do with you?

S'ibaba ọ gu n'ẹ? What did father tell you?

S'ọni ọmọ ọ li de ? How did the child fall?

Obo u nyele? Where do you live?

ETA - conversation

Ọchuwa: se, Ẹshiogie! Se, Ogie!
                 How is it Ẹshiogie?. How is it, Ogie?

Ẹshiogie ali Ogie: o chi. U wẹẹ ze?
                It's good. Hope you're well.
                 
Ọchuwa : Eli.
                 Yes, I am.

Ẹshiogie : oni egbe??
                 How is your body

Ọchuwa: o fọmẹ. Oni afẹ??
                It's cool. How is home?

Ẹshiogie: o chi. A kpẹmi.
                It's good. We give thanks.

Ogie : Ọchuwa, obo u nye?
            Ọchuwa, where do you live?

Ọchuwa : Ibini mi nyele
            I live in Benin

Ogie : obolọ o nuẹ?
           Is that place far?

Ọchuwa: o vha ma nuẹ. Giẹ, obo u nyele?
          It is not very far. You, where do you live?

Ogie : Afẹmai mi nyele
           I live in Afemai

Ẹshiogie : mi she a je afẹ.
            Í am going home

Ọchuwa : oo. O kila ne
            Okay. Bye for now.

Ogie: kia wẹ.
             Go well.

Ogie: oo. U ma kale. O kila ne.
             Alright. Thanks a lot. Bye for now.

Se / abe - How (are you)? Said when you meet someone
Fọmẹ- cool
Egbe - body
Nyele- live. May be shortened to Nye.
Obo - where? Used when asking about a place considered far
Asho - where? Used when asking about a place considered close
Obolọ - that place / there. Used when talking about a place considered far by the speaker.
Ayọ - There. Used when talking about a place that is considered near.
Afẹ - home
Kpẹmi (v) - to thank
Ali - and
Nuẹ - far
Lodẹ - remote / far
Ogie- a name meaning king or chief
Kia - walk
Ma- Very. Comes after a pronoun.

Verb conjugation - past perfect

Past perfect tense- ẹrẹgẹ n'o she dọsẹ fuse

Da
Mi she da..... I have drunk
U she da....... You have drunk
Ọ she da....... He / she / it has drunk
Eyẹ she da... We have drunk
Vha she da..  You people have drunk
E she da.......  They have drunk
A she da.......  One has drunk

Vhia........ To give birth
Mi she vhia...... I have given birth
U she vhia........ You have given birth
Ọ she vhia........ He / she/it has given birth
Eyẹ she vhia.... We have given birth
Vha she vhia... You people have given births
E she vhia........ They have given birth
A she vhia....... One has given birth

Vhiẹ..,................. Cry
Mi she vhiẹ
U she vhiẹ
Ọ she vhiẹ
Eyẹ she vhiẹ
Vha she vhiẹ
E she vhiẹ
A she vhiẹ

Verb conjugation - past tense

Ẹrẹgẹ n'o she dọsẹ_ Past tense

Weshẹshi _ sleep
Mi weshẹshi  I slept
U weshẹshi. You slept
Ọ weshẹshi   He/she/it slept
Eyẹ weshẹshi.  We slept
Vha weshẹshi.  You (pl.) Slept
E weshẹshi.  They slept
A weshẹshi.  One slept

Le _ Eat
Mi le.  Í ate
U le.  You ate
Ọ le.  He/she/it ate
Eyẹ le. We ate
Vha le.  You (pl.) ate
E le.  They ate
A le.  One/ people ate

Na _ run
Mi na _ I ran
U na_ you ran
Ọ na _ he/she/it ran
Eyẹ na_ we ran
Vha na_ you people ran
E na _ they ran
A na _ people ran.

NB -Eyẹ is also commonly heard as "ma" in other parts of Afemai

U aa suọ etsakọ ? Do you understand etsakọ?

WAtodẹ
In the Street


Oshiozẹ: se !! U aa suọ etsakọ ?
                 Hello! Do you understand etsakọ?

Efwe : ee. Mi aa suọ etsakọ.
            Yes. I understand etsakọ Tu

Oshiozẹ: asho oki o la w'aana?
                 Where is the market around here?

Ẹfwe: o la ekekẹ aayọ.
            It is over there.

Oshiozẹ: u ma kale. Eva mẹ ki oshiozẹ. Giẹ, s'aa lu eva ẹ?
                 Thank you very much. My name is oshiozẹ. What is your name?

Ẹfwe: Eva mẹ ki Ẹfwe.
           My name is Ẹfwe.

Oshiozẹ: ekekẹ aana u nye?
                Do you live around here?
Ẹfwe : ee ! Ekekẹ aana mi nyele.
            Yes! I live here.


Oshiozẹ: Obekha

Ẹfwe: Obekha

Oshiozẹ: okila ne
                Bye for now.
Ẹfwe: okila
            Bye.

Aana: here
Aayọ: there
Ẹfwe: wealth
Swọ: hear
Eva: name
Ekekẹ: area

Otsẹ - greeting

Otsẹ - Greeting
Synonym - oruẹ

Na egbia - Good morning (greeting for dawn)
Agbelọ.   Good morning ( after daybreak, before midday)
Oviẹna.   Good afternoon
Mo ota, Mo oni ogoota - Good afternoon
Obugala.   Good evening
Mo ogode, Mo oni ogbode - Good evening
Moo o!   Well done
Mo akanya.  Well done (to a working person)
Mo ishito.  Said to people at a gathering
Mo oni azumi - said to someone fasting
Mo oni okiamẹ - said to someone fasting
Mo oni ẹlẹ n'amo - well-done today i.e good day
Mo oni ukpo n'ogbọ - well-done on the new year I.e happy new year
Mokhia (mo okhia) - welcome
Mekhia (mo ekhia) - welcome

Moo is a greeting that is commonly heard in Afẹmai. It can be used in different situations and at any time of the day. It roughly tranalates to well done. In other parts of Edoland, one may hear it as doo (as in urhobo wa doo)

Saying Goodbye
  Okila.  Bye i.e see you later
Okila ne.  Bye for now
Khia wẹ - Go well
Guẹ khia - Go well
Lẹ khia - Go well
O ki akọ.   Till tomorrow
O ki idegbe.  Until later
O kia n'a ke mẹ egbe.  Till we see eachother.
O kia ni mi ke bẹ.  Until I come
O kia n'u ke je le - until you return

Common Verbs

Most verbs are monosyllabic and disyllabic except compound verbs i.e verbs derived from the combination of two verbs or a verb and a noun.

All verbs begin with consonants.

1. Sleep    weshẹshi, guẹ
2. Wake up.  vu [owesẹ] le, ki ogue
3. Share - kemi, kẹ
4. Eat.   le
5. Drink   da (variations - wa, ya)
6. Laugh.  gia, giẹ
7. Sing.   tuwolo (to uwolo)
8. Dance    gbishimi (gbe ishimi)
9. Want /look for.   nono, kele
10. Try.  dua / nyakua
11. Plan.   masẹ
12. Open.  guege
13. Close.  kuku, koko, guese
14. Come -   bale (var - bẹ, vare, bade, lare)
15. Go.   vu
16. Run.  na
17. Cover.   guese
18. See.  mẹ (var - miẹ)
19. Look.   ge (var - gue)
20. Watch.  fẹ
21. Buy.  dẹ[nọ]
22. Sell.   rọ dẹ, duo
23. Check.  Bino
24. Think.  Sa
25. Collect.  Nyie (var - mie)
26. Give.  Rọ na
27. Call.  Nyalu, wegie, guele
28. Answer.   Yemi/ sọ wọ
29. Know.  Yẹsẹ
30. Nyẹsẹ.  To lower
31. Yasẹ. To lift up
32. Fula - to turn inside out
33. Nyagọ a . To be torn to shreds
34. Saka ku. To bẹ scattered about
35. Soku.  To feel. To sense
36. Touch.  R'obọ chi
37. Sit.  Shitọ, gietọ, detọ
38. Stand.  Vu le, kpa otọ
39. Drive (q vehicle) - nya, gua
40. Pursue - Ku
41. Be - kila (var - kia, ki)
42. Wear.  Rọ sọ / gbanọ
43. Carry - rue
44. Write.   Kẹkẹ
45. Disturb.  Kpakpa (var - kpọkpọ)
46. Tell.  Gu na / gu kasẹ / guasẹ
47. Forget.   Yele a ( var - yeya)
48. Remember.  Sa to wọ
49. Remind.  Yele le 
50. Chat.  Neta
51. Leave.  Dobẹ, ze obọ
52. Bathe.  Kuẹ-a (var - kuẹya)
53. Bathe (s.o else).  kuẹsẹ a
54. Work    gbe akanya
55. Rest.   Yẹmẹ a
56. Breathe.   Yẹmẹ
57. Break - guọgọ, shasha, tala, gbe ki
58. Show.  Rọ kasẹ
59. Check - bino
60. Look - ge, gue
61. Watch- fẹ, ro
62. Pay - fali, fẹ
63. Pluck - fanọ
64. Nasẹ - pack
65. Pretend - fami
66. Hide.  Gbagba
67. Lift - tua, du
68. Beat, hit- gbe
69. Kill - gbe-a
70. Call - nyalu, wegie, guele
71. Reveal.  Rọ lase
72. Teach/learn.   Wẹna
73. Walk.  Khia
74. To muga.  Stand still
75. Stand - muga (var - miza, muza, mija, mudia)
76. De viga.  Squat
77. De fia. Fall off
78. De shitọ. Sit down
79. Digua.  To kneel down
80. Dọmi. To threaten
81. Dami.  To test. To try.
82. Fo.  To end
83. Fall down.  De
84. Wala.  Charge (as in electronic devices). To come on. To boil.
85. Quarrel - wola, rolo
86. Imagine - roro
87. Pack - wolọ
88. Fetch - jẹ, walọ
89. Count - lolo, kalọ
90. Read - zẹ
91. Sigh - ku ayẹmẹ
92. Calm down - ku egbe
93. Relax - shukpe
94. Follow - rọkali, rẹka
95. Bleed - Ku ọlia
96. Sweat - ku efọse
97. Chat - neta
98. Talk - mhe, mẹ, ta
99. Confess - tanọ
100. Testify - mẹ tanọ
101. Live - nyele
102. Cry - viẹ
103. Give birth - via
104. Throw away - tua fia, du fia
105. Pour away - ku kua
106. Put on - rọ ru
107. Put off - fuse, funo
108. Cut - ki
109. Khọlo - crawl
110. Tuela - line up
111. Tuama - to be in a hurry
112. Kpẹmi - thank
113. Khọkhọ kasẹ - describe
114. Kọkọ - to stare
115. Lolo kasẹ - explain
116. Tisha - sneeze
117. Nẹ - defecate
118. Nitọ - defecate
119. Nefu - fart
120. Danọ - treat
121. Dọmi - threaten
122. Suọ - hear
123. Khọli, kuẹ - fighting
124. Fiala - Fly
125. Kpe - wash
126. Kpege a - rinse
127. Kpẹgiẹ - to loosen (as in a nut)
128. Tagiẹ - to loosen (as in a rope)
129. Gbagia - to digest, to come apart (as in fabric)
130. Gbasẹ - begin (var - gbale)
131. Chiki - to shake slightly
132. Jigi - to shake heavily
133. Type, tap - tonabọ (tono abọ)
134. Fiele - to appear
135. Yakhọ le - to leave
136. Kpele - to play (an instrument), to shiver
137. Kpela - to give off a sweet aroma
138. Toa - to become burnt
139. Tosẹ-a - to burn
140. Fiono - to clear (as in grass)

Common Verbs

Sleep weshẹshi
Wake up vul

Common Sentences

• Okiami o aa gbe mẹ.   I am hungry

• O lọsẹ mẹ.     Í am tired
• U she le emenaale?   Have you eaten?
• Yaagwa.   please
• Imo.   sorry
• U ma kale.    Thank you
• Bale aana.   come here
• Rọ na mẹ.   Give me
• R'amẹ na mẹ da.   Give me water to drink
• Rọ kasẹ mẹ.  Show me
• Gu kasẹ mẹ.   Tell me
• Dobẹ mẹ shilẹ.  leave me alone
• Kpagiẹ mẹ.   help me
• Mọ.   Také
• Nyie mẹ.  Collect from me
• Ọ she lase.  he has gone out
• Elọ a mẹ.   What is the matter?
• Agogo imhẹ lọ?    What time is it?
• Mi she kiẹ fuse.   I am done
• Mi laa weshẹshi.  Í want to sleep
• Shitọ.   Sit down
• Koko unu.  Shut up
• U ti mẹ wọ.  Í love you
• U gwẹ mẹ.  Í love you
• O vhiọlọ. It is delicious
• Mi she kue. I am satisfied
• Kuku odẹ. Shut the door
• Vule.   Stand up
• Muga kẹ mẹ.  Wait for me
• Okila ne.  Bye for now
• Ulili o la wọ. There is cold
• Efọse e la wọ.   There is heat
• Amẹ o aa dena. It is drizzling
• Amẹ o aa ruẹ. It is raining
• O she somi.   It is enough
• U somote.   You are beautiful
• U she womi elwe.  You are mature
• Imẹ mhu ofu.   Don't be angry
• Ọ she na vu.  He has run away
• E aa Kiẹtse inet. They are browsing the net

Olema (prayers)

Prayers are a very important part of the etsakọ culture and there are prayers for almost every situation.

The response to a prayer is isẹẹ which means may it be so or may it hit the mark.

Eguma mẹ e ka mila mẹ w'obọ ẹ, [gu na vhẹ] khi mi chi mama vhẹ. Olema n'Ọfiolema ọ fi, mi laa sọ wọ. Tirali ona, e sọ mẹ wọ, e nyielama mẹ (e zẹ imani shi mẹ egbe) e kẹ yafi.

When my servants ask you about Me then I am close. I answer the call of  the caller when he calls upon me. So let them answer me and believe in me so that they may be successful.
_Quran

Ishinẹgba ọ gbe etse kua
May God forgive

Ishinẹgba ọ gwege odẹ a
May God open up doors (also ways)

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ọ kila oni agie
May God make it a good one

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ọ shi asha agie
May God put him in a good place

Ishinẹgba ọ yele a
May God overlook

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ọ bu n'ẹ
May God increase you

Ishinẹgba ọ zẹ kh'o vọ n'ẹ
May God replenish you

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ọ tẹsẹ agbọ
May God make him live long

Ishinẹgba o r'ọ te asha agie
May God make it pass through a good place

Ishinẹgba ọ r'egia shi ẹ w'alo
May God put laughter in your face

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ẹ ze
May God heal you

Ishinẹgba ọ r'ọ lọkhọ
May God make it easy

Ishinẹgba ọ m̄u ekpẹ shi ẹ w'egbe
May God honour (have mercy on) you

Ishinẹgba ọ kpagie ẹ
May God help you

Ishinẹgba ọ ku oni obe a
May God do away with evil

Ishinẹgba o r'eyẹ rami ayo
May God make us reach there

Eka (insults)

Eka n'e la Etsakọ e ze gua. Imẹli ọgbọ r'ibọla ka ọgbọ ọwesẹ tirali ọ laa m̄u ofu.

Insults in etsakọ are usually very strong and should not be used lightly. A person is very likely to feel offended.

Ishinẹgba ọ gbe ẹ
May God kill you

Ishinẹgba ọ de m̄u ẹ
May God fall upon you

Ilimi e n'itọ shi ẹ w'unu
May the dead defecate in your mouth

A n'itọ shi ẹ w'unu
May they defecate in your mouth

Evhevhẹ e rwe ẹ
May madness take you

U de gua
May you fall down dead

U sha gua
May you die in a bad way

Itọ ali efu
Faeces and farts i.e nonsense
Abinoyẹsẹ: u a m̄e italefu (itọ ali efu)
Example: you're talking faeces and farts (nonsense)

U li ukomi swi
You have such a small head

U li ukomi kpẹfẹ
You have such a flat head

U li ukomi digili
You have such a shapeless head

Ekpita

Isomofa o vha m̄uẹ "sọ mẹ wọ"
A gift has no "respond to me"

Explanation: Gifts should not be given with an expectation of a payback because then it would no longer be a gift.

Isomofa: gift
M̄uẹ[li]: have
Sọ wọ: respond

Ekpita

Around the house

Elemi owa

Ochika wall
Odẹ door
Ivhia mat

Pronouns

Subject Pronouns

Mẹmẹ _ Me

Eyẹ/ ma _ We

Giẹ _ You

Vhẹvhẹ _ You (plural), Them

Lọli _ Him/She/It

Subject pronouns (used before a verb)

Mi _ I

E.g 

mi she bale

I have arrived

U_ you

E.g

U she bale

You have arrived

Ọ _ He/she/it

Ọ she vu

He has gone

E - They

E she vu

They have gone

Eyẹ _ We

Eyẹ she vu

We have gone

 

Vha- You (plural)

Vha she gbasẹ

You have started

A - We/One (used when one does not one to specify or in a passive sense)

A she gbasẹ

We have started

One has started

People have started

They have started

Etsako NUMBERS

Inọmba Etsakọ

Count- kalọ, lolo

1-1000

1- ogwo, ọkpa

2- eva

3- esẹ

4- ene

5- ishe

6- eseesa

7- ishiila

8- eleele

9- itiili

10- igbe

11- igbe ali ogwo

12-igbe ali eva

13- igbe ali ẹsẹ

14- igbe ali ene

15- igbe ali ishe

16  igbe ali eseesa

17. Igbe ali ishiila

18 igbe ali eleele

19 igbe ali itiili

20 uye

30 igbe-esẹ (igbesẹ)

40 iye-eva (iyeva)

50 igbishe

60 iyesẹ

70 igbe-ishiila

80 iyene

90 igbe-itiili

100 iyishe, igbigbe.

200 iyishe eva

300 iyishe ese

400 iyishe ene

500 iyishe ishe

1000 

Eva Ishinẹgba

Names of God in Edo Dialects

Osanobua (Benin)
Osenobua (Esan)
Ọghẹnẹ (Urhobo)
Ọghẹna (Etsako)
Osinegba (Etsako)
Ishinẹgba (Etsako)
Oselebua (Owan)
Oshokunu (Akoko Edo)
Osonugue (akoko edo)
Tamara (Izon)
Oshiomoshi (Akoko Edo)
Osanobula (Akoko Edo)
Oshinegba (Akoko Edo)
Akosi (Akoko Edo)
Evieshio (Akoko Edo)

Mekia (Welcome)

Wẹna uruli Afemai
Learn Afemai language

Mekia bale alo-ebe eyẹ, Edo Afemai.
Welcome to our page, Edo Afemai.

U dobẹ la aana wẹna uruli Afęmai
You can learn the Afemai Language here

Uruli Afęmai o mema chi esuọ
Afemai language is very nice-sounding

Afẹmai o de shi ukpamotọ Ẹdo
Afemai falls in Edo state

Ẹdo (Ibini) l'ivhiẹ afẹmai e te lase.
The people of of Afemai came from Bini.

Iruli Ẹdo e gbili.
Edo languages are numerous.

A mhuẹli iruli ẹdo (Ibini), esan, afẹma, urhobo, itsekiri. Yọ yọ kee lẹ.
There are bini, esan, afẹma, urhobo, itsekiri etc.

Ena ku, ibini l'e te lase
All these were derived from Bini.

Ona l'o zẹ o mhunu kh'agbọ n'e te evholi n'e degbea e rọ dobẹ neta.
For this reason, communication between two people is too difficult.

Ama Ishinẹgba ọ ka lama, agbọ ẹdo e laa mhuẹli uruli oghuo.
However if God wills, the Edos will have a common language

Gue mekhia
Welcome once again.