Ekele (Greetings) – Basic 3 Igbo Lesson Note (Second Term)

Subject: Igbo Language
Class: Primary 3
Topic: Ekele (Greetings)
Duration: 35 minutes

Learning Objectives

Pupils will be able to:

• Use appropriate Igbo greetings
• Respond to greetings correctly
• Show respect through proper greetings

Ụdị Ekele (Types of Greetings)

Ekele Ụtụtụ (Morning Greetings)

• Ụtụtụ ọma – Good morning
• Kedu ka ị mere n’ụra? – How did you sleep?
• I hiela ụra ọma? – Did you sleep well?
• Ehihie ọma – Good afternoon (late morning)

Ekele Ehihie (Afternoon Greetings)

• Ehihie ọma – Good afternoon
• Kedu ka ị mere? – How are you?
• Kedu ka ihe si aga? – How are things going?

Ekele Anyasị (Evening Greetings)

• Mgbede ọma – Good evening
• Kedu ka ụbọchị gara? – How was your day?
• Ụbọchị ọma? – Good day?

Ekele Ịla (Farewell Greetings)

• Ka ọ dị – Goodbye/See you later
• Ka emee – Until later
• Ije ọma – Safe journey
• Nọọ nke ọma – Stay well

Azịza Ekele (Greeting Responses)

Azịza Ajụjụ Ọdịmma (Responses to “How are you?”)

• Adị m mma – I am fine
• Ọ dị mma – It is well
• Adị m nke ọma – I am very well
• Ekele mee gị – Greetings to you too

Azịza Ajụjụ Ụra (Responses to Sleep Questions)

• E hiri m ụra ọma – I slept well
• Ụra dị mma – Sleep was good
• Ehihie ọma – Good morning (response)

Azịza Ụbọchị (Responses about Day)

• Ụbọchị dị mma – Day was good
• Ọ gara nke ọma – It went well
• Ihe dị mma – Things are fine

Ekele Nkwanyere Ugwu (Respectful Greetings)

Maka Ndị Okenye (For Elders)

• Ezigbo ụtụtụ – Very good morning
• Ndewo – Hello (respectful)
• Kedu maka gị? – How about you? (very polite)
• Daalụ – Thank you (with greeting)

Maka Ndị Ọgbọ (For Age Mates)

• Ndewo – Hello
• Kedu? – How are you?
• Kedu ka ị mere? – How are you doing?

Maka Ndị Nta (For Younger Ones)

• Ụtụtụ ọma – Good morning
• Kedu aha gị? – What’s your name?
• Kedu otú ị mere? – How are you?

Omenala Ekele (Greeting Customs)

Usoro Ekele (Greeting Order)

1. Onye nta na-ebu ụzọ kele – Younger person greets first
2. Ndị okenye na-aza ekele – Elders respond to greetings
3. E kele onye ọbịa – Greet visitors
4. E kele mgbe ị na-abata ụlọ – Greet when entering house

Omume Ekele (Greeting Behavior)

• Doo anya ala – Lower your eyes (for elders)
• Nọọ n’ikpere – Kneel (for very important people)
• Jiri obi ụtọ kele – Greet with joy
• Tụle isi – Bow your head slightly

Common Greeting Conversations

Mkparịta Uka 1

A: Ụtụtụ ọma
B: Ụtụtụ ọma. Kedu ka ị mere?
A: Adị m mma. Gị nko?
B: Adị m nke ọma

Mkparịta Uka 2

A: Kedu ka ụbọchị gara?
B: Ọ gara nke ọma. Daalụ
A: Ọ dị mma. Ka ọ dị
B: Ka ọ dị

Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct greeting

1. At 7:00 AM you say: (Ụtụtụ ọma / Mgbede ọma)
2. When leaving you say: (Kedu? / Ka ọ dị)
3. To ask about sleep: (Kedu ka ụbọchị gara? / I hiela ụra ọma?)
4. In the evening: (Ehihie ọma / Mgbede ọma)

Exercise 2: Complete the conversations

1. A: Ụtụtụ ọma
   B: _______. Kedu ka ị mere?
2. A: Kedu ka ihe si aga?
   B: _______ dị mma
3. A: Ka ọ dị
   B: _______

Exercise 3: What would you say?

1. When you meet your teacher in the morning: _______
2. When you want to leave: _______
3. When someone asks how you slept: _______
4. When greeting your grandfather: _______

Exercise 4: Match greetings to responses

• Ụtụtụ ọma → Ọ gara nke ọma
• Kedu ka ị mere? → Ka ọ dị
• Kedu ka ụbọchị gara? → Adị m mma
• Ka ọ dị → Ụtụtụ ọma

Exercise 5: True or False

1. Onye nta na-ebu ụzọ kele ndị okenye ( )
2. A na-asị “Mgbede ọma” n’ụtụtụ ( )
3. “Daalụ” pụtara “thank you” ( )
4. A na-ado anya ala mgbe a na-ekele ndị okenye ( )

Class Work

Greeting Practice:

1. Students practice greeting each other at different times of day
2. Role-play greeting elders vs. age mates
3. Practice proper greeting behavior (bowing, eye contact)

Greeting Chain: Students form a circle and practice a chain of greetings and responses.

Cultural Notes (Ihe Omenala)

• Always greet people when you enter a place
• Show respect to elders through your greeting style
• Smile when greeting – it shows you’re happy to see them
• Don’t rush through greetings – take time to ask about well-being

Homework

1. Practice greeting your family members properly in Igbo every day
2. Teach someone at home 3 different Igbo greetings
3. Write down how your grandparents used to greet people in their time

Teacher’s Note: Model proper greeting behavior and emphasize cultural respect. Practice different scenarios and correct pronunciation. Encourage students to use these greetings at home and in the community.