di
The Igbo word for husband is di.
The term di is used to refer to a male partner in a marriage.
Meaning: male partner in marriage (noun)
Did you know?
- The word di also means 'to be' or 'exist' in Igbo. Depending on the context and tone, the same sound can denote a spouse or a state of existence.
- The term for 'husband' is phonetically identical to the word for 'sun' or 'light' in some closely related linguistic nuances, though the meaning depends entirely on tone.
- The concept of marriage in Igbo culture often involves the whole community, so di represents a link between two families rather than just two individuals.
Examples in context
- Di m dị mma.My husband is good.
- Ọ bụ di ya.He is her husband.
- Di ya na-aga ụlọ ọrụ.Her husband is going to work.
Example conversation
Chioma and Emeka are talking about their family.
- EmekaChioma, di gị dị ebe a?Chioma, is your husband here?
- ChiomaMba, di m nọ n'ụlọ.No, my husband is at home.
- EmekaI nwere ike ịkpọ ya.You can call him.
- ChiomaỌ ga-abịa ozugbo.He will come immediately.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “husband” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
