Ndewo, kedụ ka ị mere?
The English phrase "hi, how are you?" is translated into Igbo as Ndewo, kedụ ka ị mere?
This phrase is a common greeting used to say hello and ask about a person's well-being. You can use the component Ndewo to mean "Hello" and Kedụ to mean "How are you?"
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kedụ ka ị mere? is composed of kedụ (how), ka (as/that) and ị mere (you did/are doing), which literally means "how are you doing?"
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the question from singular to plural, or to show respect to an elder, change ị (you, singular) to unu (you, plural) to say kedụ ka unu mere?
When do people say it?
A common response to kedụ ka ị mere? is Ọ dị mma, which means "It is well" or "It is good".
Did you know?
- The greeting Ndewo shares a root with words related to peace, effectively wishing the other person a state of harmony upon meeting.
- Because Igbo is a tonal language, the meaning of the word ka can change entirely depending on the pitch used, even if the spelling remains the same.
- Igbo greetings often lead into a series of questions about one's family and health, making the initial kedụ ka ị mere? the start of a ritualized social exchange.
Examples in context
- Ndewo, kedụ ka ị mere?Hi, how are you?
