nwunye m
The English phrase "my wife" is translated into Igbo as nwunye m.
This phrase is used by a man to refer to the woman to whom he is married.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of nwunye, meaning "wife" and the possessive pronoun m, meaning "my" or "me".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Igbo, the possessive pronoun m follows the noun it modifies, as seen in the structure nwunye m.
Did you know?
- In Igbo culture, calling a wife by her name in front of others can sometimes be seen as disrespectful, so a man might use 'my wife' or other titles as a more polite substitute.
- While nwunye m is the standard term, some Igbo dialects use different words for 'wife' depending on whether she is the first or second wife in a polygamous marriage.
- The pronoun m used in nwunye m is a linguistic relative of the Yoruba pronoun n̄, showing the deep historical connections between these major West African language families.
Examples in context
- Nwunye m dị ebe a.My wife is here.
- A hụrụ m nwunye m n'anya.I love my wife.
- Ọ bụ nwunye m.She is my wife.
Example conversation
Obinna is introducing Chioma to a friend.
- ObinnaNke a bụ nwunye m, Chioma.This is my wife, Chioma.
- ChiomaỌ dị mma ịhụ gị, Chioma.It is nice to meet you, Chioma.
- ObinnaỌ bụ onye nkà.She is a skilled person.
- ChiomaObinna, i nwere mma.Obinna, you are lucky.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries m, CC BY-SA 4.0.
