gee ntị
The Igbo phrase for "listen" is gee ntị.
gee ntị is used to command someone to hear a specific sound or to command someone to pay attention to what is being said.
Meaning: to pay attention to a sound (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb gee (to give/do) and the noun ntị (ear), meaning literally "give ear".
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase gee ntị functions as an imperative command, used to tell someone to listen.
Did you know?
- Igbo is a tonal language, meaning that if you change the pitch of the words in gee ntị, you could accidentally say something entirely different.
- The word ntị for 'ear' is a cognate with the Yoruba word etí, showing a deep linguistic link between these two major West African languages.
- In some dialects, the act of listening is closely linked to the word for 'obeying', meaning gee ntị can imply not just hearing a sound but following an instruction.
Examples in context
- Gee ntị n'olu mmadụ.Listen to the person's voice.
- Gee ntị n'ụda mmiri.Listen to the sound of water.
- Gee ntị, ihe na-abịala.Listen, something is coming.
Example conversation
Obinna and Nneka are talking about a sound in the garden.
- ObinnaNneka, gee ntị!Nneka, listen!
- NnekaKedu ihe m ga-anụ?What should I hear?
- ObinnaỤsụ nnụnụ dị nso.A bird is singing nearby.
- NnekaEe, anụrụ m ya ugbu a.Yes, I hear it now.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ntị, CC BY-SA 4.0.
