ị na-ara ara?
The English phrase "are you mad?" is translated into Igbo as ị na-ara ara?
This phrase is used to ask if a person is mentally ill or to express disbelief when someone makes an irrational or nonsensical suggestion.
What does it mean word for word?
The word ị is the second-person singular pronoun for "you", while na-ara is the continuous aspect of the verb ịra, which means "to dream".
How does it change in a sentence?
The construction uses the pronoun ị and the continuous aspect form na-ara to express the state of dreaming or being in a dream-like state.
Did you know?
- A slight change in the musical pitch of the word ara can completely alter the meaning of the sentence. The tone of voice is as important as the words themselves to avoid offense.
- While ị na-ara ara? can be an insult, it is frequently used as a playful exclamation of shock among friends when someone suggests something daring.
- Using this phrase to a stranger or an elder can be seen as highly confrontational. Its acceptability depends entirely on the social hierarchy and the relationship between speakers.
Examples in context
- Ị na-ara ara?Are you mad?
- Nwanne m, ị na-ara ara?My brother, are you mad?
Example conversation
Emeka is acting very strangely in public.
- IfunanyaEmeka, ị na-ara ara?Emeka, are you mad?
- EmekaMba, anaghị m ara.No, I am not mad.
- IfunanyaIhe ị na-eme dị ike.What you are doing is too much.
- EmekaỌ bụ naanị ihe m na-emere.It is just something I am doing.
