Igbo Enclitics (Nsokwunye)



Igbo enclitic extends the meaning of a sentence. A sentences can have complete meaning without an enclitic. Igbo enclitics are not verbs and they differ from verb suffixes. Enclitics can work with verbs, nouns, pronouns, and other parts of speech (except preposition). Enclitics in Igbo language include kwu, ri, kwa, cha, nụ, nụ, zi and others. One way of differentiating Igbo enclitics from verb suffixes is that enclitics can go with verbs and other parts of speech, but verb suffixes can only go with verbs.

When an enclitic is needed to extend the meaning of a verb, it is suffixed to the verb to form one word. When an enclitic is needed to extend the meaning of a part of speech other than a verb, it is written separately. See the examples in the tables below.

Nouns with Enclitics
encliticnoun and encliticsmeaningexampleEnglish translation
kwummiri kwutoommiri kwu ka o nyeghị gị?He didn't give you water too?
nụnwoke nụthat verye jidela nwoke nụ zuru oshithat very man that stole has been caught
chaise chaas much asise cha ka o nwere gi?He gave you as much as five?
kwagịnị kwathis timegịnị kwa ka o mere?what did he do this time?
riLondon rialreadyO ruola London ri tupu o kpoo mhe had already arrived London before he called me
kwanụJohn kwanụhow about?John kwanụhow about John?
nwaụlọ nwathe said howụlọ nwa ọ rụrụ dara adathe said house he built colapsed


Pronouns with Enclitics
encliticpronoun and encliticsmeaningexampleEnglish translation
zionye zithenonye zi riri nri m?who then ate my food?
kwumụ kwutooya kwu ka ị na-atụrụ ashị?you are lying to him too?
kwanụunu kwanụhow about?Unu kwanụhow about you (you guys)?


Verbs with Enclitics (enclitic is suffixed to verb to form one word)
encliticverb and encliticsmeaningexampleEnglish translation
nụbianụ[polite]bianụ ebe acome here
kwawetakwa[reminder]wetakwa yabring it (remember to bring it)
kwabụkwa[reconfirmation]ọ bụkwa ihe i kwuruis it what what you said?
zikpọzi[wondering]kedụ ebe ọ kpọzi ya aga?where is he taking me to?
zigbuzi[now]oge ka ọ na-egbuzihe is now wasting time
kwubụkwu[also]John bụkwu onye ọzọ mara mmaJohn is another person that is handsome
chakpucha[all]ha kpucha okputhey are all wearing hats