Bini phrasebook

Bini (Ẹ̀dó) is a language spoken by people in Edo State which also spread across the Delta, Ondo, and Rivers states of Nigeria. It is the primary language of the Benin Empire which came into existence around the 11th century AD.

Pronunciation guide

• Vowels (Ola)

A a - [a]

E e - [e]

Ẹ ẹ - [3]

I i - [i]

O o - [o]

Ọ ọ - [ɔ]

U u - [u]

• Consonant (ikpo)

B - [bi]

D - [di]

F - [fi]

G - [gi]

H - [hi]

K - [ke]

L - [le]

M - [mi]

N - [ni]

P - [pi]

R - [ri]

S - [si]

T - [ti]

V - [vi]

W - [wi]

Y - [yi]

Z - [zi]

• Other letters

GH - [ghi]

VB - [vbi]

RH - [rhi]

RR - [rri]

MW - [mwi]

KH - [khi]

KP - [kpi]

GB - [gbi]

Phrase list

Basics

Thank you

Obiluu (O-bi-lu).

Hello

Kọyọ (CORE-your), kọọ (core).

How are you?

Vbèè óye hé?

Until tomorrow morning/good night

Òkhíen òwie.

Good morning

Ọbowiẹ (OR-BOW-we-YEAH).

Good afternoon

Ọbavan (OR-BAR-van).

Good evening

Ọbota (OR-BOW-tar).

Marriage

Oronmwen.

Complements of the seasons

Ìsélógbé.

Great

Uzébu.

Greetings accepted

I horen.

Welcome

Obo kia.

God blesses you all

Osa no fangbe u wa hia

Numbers

One

owo/ọkpa

Two

eva

Three

eha

Four

enẹ

Five

isẹn

Six

ehan

Seven

ihinrọn

Eight

erẹnrẹn

Nine

ihinrin

Ten

igbe

Eleven

owọọrọ

Twelve

iweeva

Thirteen

iweeha

Fourteen

iweenẹ

Fifteen

ekesugie

Sixteen

ọkpa yan ekesugie

Seventeen

eva yan ekesugie

Eighteen

eha yan ekesugie

Nineteen

enẹ yan ekesugie

Twenty

ugie

Thirty

ọgban

Fourty

iyeva

Fifty

ekigbesiyeha

Sixty

iyeha

Seventy

ekigbesiyenẹ

Seventy-five

isẹn yan ekigbesiyenẹ

Eighty

iyenẹ

Eighty-five

isẹn yan iyenẹ

Ninety

ekigbesiyisẹn

Ninety-five

isẹn yan ekigbesiyisẹn

100

iyisẹn

200

uri

Days

Sunday

Uzóla-nokhua

Monday

Èdè okaro vbe Uzóla

Tuesday

Èdè ogieva vbe Uzóla

Wednesday

Èdè ogieha vbe Uzóla

Thursday

Ede ogiene vbe Uzóla

Friday

Ede ogisen Uzóla

Saturday

Uzóla-nekhere

Months

January

Uki Ague

February

Uki Ifie

March

Uki Egbo

April

Uki Ekhuen

May

Uki Egua

June

Uki Ikpesi

July

Uki Iviema

August

Uki Ohie

September

Uki Eho

October

Uki Emorho

November

Uki Ewe

December

Uki Igue

Seasons

Dry season

Uyunmwu

Spring

Ohonrre

Rainy Season

Orho

Harvest Season

Erho

Colors (Ikọlọ)

White

ọfasẹ

Black

nekhui, ọbishi

Red

ọlilẹ

Green

ọmebe

Blue

ọdane

Yellow

ọnivọ

Purple

ọbiebie

Part of the body

Head

Uhun

Ear

Ehor

Hair

Eto

Eyes

Aro

Nose

Ihue

Tongue

Arramwen

Lips

Ukpunu

Armpit

Ihere

Breast

Ewęn

Palm

Atata obọ

Thigh

Ekuaowẹ

Toes

Ikpian’owẹ

Fingers

Ikpian’bọ

Teeth

Akọn

Knee

Igbọn

Mouth

Unu

Foot

Atata owẹ

Face

Ugb’aro

Back

Iyeke

Belly

Eko

Shoulder

Izabọ

Family

Father

Érhá.

Mother

Iye.

Child

Ovbi, Omo.

Grandfather

Erha nokhua.

Food

Native puddy

Akasan

Beans fired cake

Eka

Plantain baked cake

Imieki / emieki

Corn or maize

ọka

Rice

izẹ

Beans

erere

Sweet potatoe

iyenbo

Buscuits

Ekaebo

Melon soup

Ikpogi

Ogbolor soup

Uwonmwen ohere

Pounded yam

Ema

Yam

iýan

Water yam

iýan igiowa

Coco yam

akarha

Purple coco yam

akarha iyokho

plantain

ọghẹdẹ

ogi

mellon

Cocoa

ekoko

Maize puddy

ẹkọ

starch

Usi

• Ingredients

Salt

Umwen

Maggi

Emagi

Palm oil

ofigbon

Tomatoes

etomatosi

Okro

ikhiavbor

Onion

alubarra

locust bean paste/maggi

Evbarhie

• Fruit

Orange

alimo

Grape

alimo asidi

lime

alimo negiẹrẹ

pepper fruit

ako

Banana

ebanana

Palm fruits

ẹdin

Pineapple

edin-ebo

Cashew

ekasiu

Tangerine

etengari

Cherry

orruru

Palm nut

ikpẹdin

Pawpaw

uvbohoro

Bush mango

ogui

Pear

ohun