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In this Episode, we put our question words into action by role playing two scenarios. This is a good exercise to help with comprehension as well as working on pronunciation and command of the Igbo question words.

Uchenna :So Ifunanya, here’s the scenario: let’s say, we’re siblings living in the same house. I have some juicy gossip to tell you, and I knock on your door. Our conversation may sound like this: I knock and you may say: “Onye no n’uzo?” which means “Who is at the door?” and I may reply “O bu m, Uchenna” which means “It is me, Uchenna.” You may then ask “Gini ka i choro?” What do you want?” And I may say “Achoro m ikwuru gi okwu” “I want to talk to you.” Now let’s act it out.

Exercise 1

Role play:

Uchenna: *kwai kwai kwai*

Ifunanya: Onye nọ n’ụzọ?

Uchenna: Ọ bu m, Uchenna.

Ifunanya: Gini ka i chọrọ?

Uchenna: Achoro m ikwuru gi okwu.

Uchenna: Now let’s switch roles.

Ifunanya: *kwai kwai kwai*

Uchenna: Onye nọ n'ụzọ?

Ifunanya: Ọ bu m, Ifunanya.

Uchenna: Gini ka i chọrọ?

Ifunanya: Achoro m ikwuru gi okwu.

Uchenna: Well done. I na-agbali. You’re putting in a great effort. Now let’s say we’re friends who have not seen each other in a while. I visit your home unexpectedly and you are surprised to see me. After I knock and tell you who I am, you may excitedly ask “Kedu mgbe i batara?”...”When did you get in?” And I may reply “Abatara m unyaahu”...”I came in yesterday.” And you may say “Ebee ka i si bata?”...”From where did you come?” And I may reply “Esi m Nigeria”...”I came from Nigeria.” And you may say “Maka gini ka i biara?”...”Why did you come?” And I may reply “Abiara m maka ezumike”...”I came for a vacation.” You may then say “Kedu otu i di? Biko bata nwere mmanya, nke olee ka i choro?”...”How are you? Please come in and take a drink. Which one do you want?” And I may say “Adi m mma, daalu. Achoro m mmiri”...”I’m fine, thank you. I want water.” Now let’s act it out.

Role play:

Uchenna: *kwai kwai kwai*

Ifunanya: Onye nọ n'ụzọ?

Uchenna: O bu m, Uchenna.

Ifunanya: Ewooooo, kedu mgbe i batara?

Uchenna: Abatara m ụnyaahụ 

Ifunanya: Ebee ka i si bata?

Uchenna: Esi m Nigeria.

Ifunanya: Maka gini ka i bịara?

Uchenna: Abịara m maka ezumike.

Ifunanya: Kedu otu i di? Biko bata were mmanya, nke olee ka i chọrọ?

Uchenna: Adi m mma, daalu. Achọrọ m mmiri

Uchenna: Now let’s switch roles again.

Ifunanya: *kwai kwai kwai*

Uchenna: Onye nọ n'ụzọ?

Ifunanya: O bu m, Ifunanya.

Uchenna: Ewooooo, kedu mgbe i batara?

Ifunanya: Abatara m ụnyaahụ.

Uchenna: Ebee ka i si bata?

Ifunanya: Esi m Nigeria.

Uchenna: Maka gini ka i bịara?

Ifunanya: Abịara m maka ezumike”

Uchenna: Kedu otu i di? Biko bata were mmanya, nke olee ka i chọrọ?

Ifunanya: Adi m mma, daalu. Achọrọ m mmiri

Recap Question Words 

Question Words

• Who?...Onye?
• What?...Gini?
• When?...Mgbe olee?
• Where?...Ebee? Ebe olee?
• Why?...Maka gini?
• How?...Otu olee? Or Olee Otu
• Which?...Nke olee?

(Note: "Otu olee" can be used when just simply asking "how?" While "Ole otu" is the start of a sentence beginning with "how" and followed by other words. 

Kedu in combination with these words are phrases that start a question. Here is what I mean:

• Kedu + onye...? means “who is…?”
• Kedu + mgbe...? means “when is...?”
• Kedu + ebe...? means “where is...?”
• Kedu + otu...? means “how is/are….?”
• Kedu + nke...? means “which one...?”
• Kedu in front of any other noun…? can mean “what is....?”

Music: Onye bu nwanne m by Onyeka --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/igbopodcast/support