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This episode focuses on what is known as Udamkpi in Igbo, as digraphs by linguist, and more colloquially as "double consonants." There are nine digraphs in Igbo language. Digraphs are two letters written together to represent single sounds. Igbo digraphs are made up of consonants and are regarded as single letters:

• ch, gb, gh, gw, kp, kw, nw, ny, sh 

In the Igbo alphabet there are 36 Igbo letters total, 19 consonants, 9 Digraphs (double consonants) and 8 vowels. Overview of Alphabets : A B CH D E F G GB GH GW H I Ị J K KP KW L M N NW NY Ṅ O Ọ P R S SH T U Ụ V W Y Z (ran through quickly in this episode, for more on the entire alphabet check out youtube and other online resources) 

Digraphs and Examples

•  Ch: Chara (ripe), icho (to want) , 
• Gb: Gbara (to run) ezigbo (good) igbo 
• Gh: ghoro (to chose) a ghotaghi (I dont understand) 
• Gw: Sounds like gwara (told) egwu (music) ogwu (medicine/drug) Kp: Sounds like akpa- bag. 
• Mkpuru- seed apku- fermented casava 
• Kw: Kwuo (speak) Kwusi (stop) 
• Nw: Nwaanyi (woman) Nwoke (man) 
• Ny inyere- to give , Anya (eyes) Onye ( depends on where it is in a sentence can me who, or can mean person) 
• Sh Nshiko (crab) isha (crayfish) 
• Ṅ ** nnuo (drink) inu (drink) anuli (happiness/rejoice) 
• **Note: Ṅ a digraph but difficult to pronounce for learners and gone over in this episode** 

Pronunciation Tools 

•  Gb- say "tug boat" quickly and that sound that is made between the words 
•  Kp- say " stuck pot" quickly and that sound that is made between the two words 
•  Ṅ- Try saying Longing or Long then try saying it dropping the other letters except the "n and g." 

Exercise 1: (Try listening to identify the sound you are hearing in the words before looking at these answers) 

1. Onye (context dependent who or person) 
2.  Kwusi (stop) 
3.  Nwata (child)
4.   Okpukpu - (bone) 
5.  Enyo- (mirror) 
6.  ikpo - (to call) 
7.  Ishi (crab) 
8.  Ngwa
9.  Ekpere (Prayer) (note this is very different from Ebere which means Mercy or Pitty) 

Music: Ejeagha by Obiako Nnwam