NOUN = Nawun
Nawun anee ere te tomi ke tombo,aniania ama, aniania ye, aniania
gboru anga sinari ye.
THINGS TO STUDY
1. Ogbo ere [ Generic noun ]
2. Gberiye kien ere [ Singular noun ]
3. Tomai kien ere [ Plural noun ]
4. Ama n'ere na [ Gender ]
5. Kobiri sin ere [ Collective noun ]
1. Generic Noun ( ogbo ere)
Generic word for name is = [ere]
Generic word for human(sng) = [tombo]
Generic word for human(plr) = [tomi]
Generic word for man =
[owibo]
Generic word for men = [owiapu]
Generic word for boy = [owibo
tubo]
Generic word for boys = [owiapu awome]
Generic word for woman = [ erebo]
Generic word for women = [ ereme]
Generic word for animals = [ nama]
Generic word for fish = [ inji]
Generic word for birds = [feni]
Generic word for insects = insekiti kw/ sonia buo swa fin nama
Generic word for house = [wari]
Generic word for seat = [legiye]
Generic word for food = [fiye]
Generic word for occupation / proffession = [bara
korinama]
Generic word for student = [diri dawobo]
Generic word for tutor = [ ye tolumabo
]
Generic word for vehicles = [
aru ]
Generic word for water ] = [ minji ]
Generic word for soap
= [ oson ]
more to come...
2. Kalabari Nomenclature ( tomi ere)
Some common names which Kalabari people bear are given below. Masculine names are marked ( m
); feminine ( f )
NB: Generally, any name that ends
in ye is masculine; the ones that end in ba
is feminine.
Adaye m = daughter's son
Adaba f = daughter of a daughter
Abiye m = my petition ( from God)
Akonte m = I have made wealth
Agbani f
Boma m,f = blessing, praises
Belema f = love
Belemina m = brotherly love
Biobele f = joy, happiness
Boiyaa f = ( God's blessing ) not hidden
Basoene m,f = tomorrow comes
Dawari m = Father's house, God's house
Diepriye m = God's gift
Damiete m,f = thanks be to God
Daye m = son of a father
Data f = wife of a father ( affectionate name by a father to his daughter)
Dein f = peace
Dabomate m = God has blessed
Daboikiabo m = father's friend
Enene f = my day will come
Ibitroko f = good fortune ahead
Ibiba m, f = it will be well
Ibim m, f = it is well
Ibitein f = best
Ibifubara m, f = good luck
Ibinabo m, f = coming with good prospect
Ibiye m, f = good
Jenewari m = tomorrow's generation
Jenbarimiema m = a petition that another (unpleasant event) should not occur
again.
Kalada m = junior father
Lolo m,f = prosperity
Mpakaboari m = (children) are coming
Obelebra f = His ( God's ) will be done
Omubo m = warrior
more...
3. Singular Noun - Plural Noun
In the Kalabari language, plural nouns are expressed differently from the patterns
we have in the English language. Below are some examples:
a. Human nouns that end in [ bo ]
Generally, singular human nouns that end in [ bo ]
have their plural forms changed to : [ head word + apu ]. There could be
exceptions.
Singular
Plural
boy = owibo tubo boys
= owiapu awome
girl = erebo tubo girls
= eremina awome
man = owibo men
= owiapu
woman = erebo
women = ereme
cheif = alabo
cheifs = alapu
king = amadabo
kings = amadapu
father = dabo
fathers = dapu
more to come...
