Esan phrasebook



Esan is a language spoken mainly in Edo State of Nigeria. It is a tonal language in the Edoid family, with several dialects.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Vowels[edit]

a e ẹ i o ọ u

Consonants[edit]

bh gb gh kh kp sh ch

Common diphthongs[edit]

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Common signs


OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN

parts of the body[edit]

Ear. (Ehọ) armpit. (Elihele) fingers. (Ìkpiabọ) face. (Ẹ̀lo) hand. (Obọ) tongue. (Olanmẹ (Ukpolanmẹ)) stomach. (Ẹkẹkẹ (Ẹkpẹkẹ))

Hello.
. ()
Hello. (informal)
. ( )
How are you?
? (Bodiaye ?)
Fine, thank you.
. (Ohuma Obulu )
What is your name?
? (B'átí ọ ?)
My name is ___ ____ .
___ . ( __Imẹ tiẹ ____ .)
Nice to meet you.
. ( )
Please.
. ( uwandodo)
Thank you.
. (Obulu Ohio )
You're welcome.
. (Obokhian )
Yes.
. ( )
No.
. ( )
Excuse me. (getting attention)
. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
. ( )
I'm sorry.
. ( )
Goodbye
. (Okinbue )
Goodbye (informal)
. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].
[ ]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
? ( ?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
? ( ?)
Help!
! ( !)
Look out!
! ( !)
Good morning.
. ( )
Good evening.
. ( )
Good night.
. (Ọkhin ewiẹ )
Good night (to sleep)
. ( )
I don't understand.
. ( )
Where is the toilet?
? ( ?)

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone.
. ('Ze Mobo' .)
Don't touch me!
! ( !)
I'll call the police.
. ( .)
Police!
! (police !)
Stop! Thief!
! ! ( Mhudia! Oyhi!)
I need your help.
. ( .)
It's an emergency.
. ( .)
I'm lost.
. (Mhewhi .)
I lost my bag.
. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
. ( .)
I'm sick.
. (Mhoquomhi .)
I've been injured.
. ( .)
I need a doctor.
. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
? ( ?)

Numbers[edit]

1
(Ọkpa )
2
(Eva )
3
(Ea )
4
(Enẹn )
5
(Isẹn )
6
(Ehan )
7
(Ihinlọn )
8
( Elẹnlẹn)
9
(Isinlin )
10
(Igbe )
11
(Ugbolọo )
12
(Igbeva )
13
(Igbelea )
14
(Igbenẹn )
15
(Isẹn-yan-igbe )
16
(Ehan-yan-igbe )
17
(Ihinlọn-yan-igbe )
18
(Elẹnlẹn-yan-igbe )
19
(Isinlin-yan-igbe )
20
(Ujie (or- Ọgbọlọ "Ọgbọọ") )
21
( )
22
( )
23
( )
30
(Ọgban )
40
(Egbọlọ Eva "Egbọeva" )
50
(Igbe-yan-egbọeva (or- Ikigbesiyeha) )
60
(Iyeha (or- La Egbọlọ ea "Egbọea") )
70
(Igbe-yan-iyeha (or Ikigbesiyenẹ) )
80
(Iyenẹn (or- La Egbọlọ Enẹn "Egbọ Enẹn") )
90
(Igbe-yan-iyenẹn (or- Ikigbesiyiẹn) )
100
(Iyisẹn (or Egbọisẹn) )
200
(iyisen-eva )
300
(iyisen-ea )
1,000
(iyisen- igbe(la uli) )
2,000
( )
1,000,000
(ebo )
1,000,000,000
(egbo-iyisen igbe(la uye) )
1,000,000,000,000
( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
( )
less
( )
more
( )

Time[edit]

now
(Nia )
later
( )
before
( )
morning
(Do eijie )
afternoon
( )
evening
(Airani )
night
( )

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock AM
(Egogo Okpa whowie )
two o'clock AM
(Egogo Eva whowie )
noon
(Ewhava )
one o'clock PM
(Egogo Okpa Whason )
two o'clock PM
( Egogo Eva Whason )
midnight
(Ogieason )

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s)
( )
_____ hour(s)
( )
_____ day(s)
( )
_____ week(s)
( )
_____ month(s)
( )
_____ year(s)
( )

Days[edit]

today
(Ehna )
yesterday
(Node )
tomorrow
(Akue )
this week
(Uzalar nha )
last week
(Uzalar Nhogberha )
next week
(Uzalar Nhodhe )
Sunday
(Eduzala Nhokhua )
Monday
(monday )
Tuesday
(tuesday )
Wednesday
( wednesday)
Thursday
(thursday )
Friday
(friday )
Saturday
(Eduzala Nekhere )

Months[edit]

January
(Uki Okpa )
February
(Uki Eva )
March
(Uki Eha )
April
(Uki Ene )
May
(Uki Isen )
June
( Uki Ehan)
July
(Uki Ehion )
August
(Uki Eheee )
September
(Uki Ehihi )
October
( Uki Igbe )
November
(Uki Owhoo )
December
( Uki Iweva)

Writing time and date[edit]

Colors[edit]

black
(Ubhimbin )
white
(Afua or Efua )
grey/gray
( )
red
( )
blue
( )
yellow
( )
green
( )
orange
( )
purple
( )
brown
( )

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____?
( )
One ticket to _____, please.
( )
Where does this train/bus go?
( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ?
( )
...the train station?
( )
...the bus station?
( )
...the airport?
( )
...downtown?
( )
...the youth hostel?
( )
...the _____ hotel?
( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
( )
...restaurants?
( )
...bars?
( )
...sites to see?
( )
Can you show me on the map?
( )
street
( )
Turn left.
( )
Turn right.
( )
left
(Aghobho )
right
(Aghogberha )
straight ahead
( )
towards the _____
( )
past the _____
( )
before the _____
( )
Watch for the _____.
( )
intersection
( )
north
( )
south
( )
east
( )
west
( )
uphill
( )
downhill
( )

Taxi[edit]

Taxi!
( )
Take me to _____, please.
( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
( )

Lodging[edit]

Do you have any rooms available?
( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
( )
Does the room come with...
( )
...bedsheets?
( )
...a bathroom?
( )
...a telephone?
( )
...a TV?
( )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
( )
What time is breakfast/supper?
( )
Please clean my room.
( )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
( )
Do you accept British pounds?
( )
Do you accept euros?
( )
Do you accept credit cards?
( )
Can you change money for me?
( )
Where can I get money changed?
( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
( )
What is the exchange rate?
( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
( )

Eating[edit]

A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
( )
lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
( )
I want _____.
( )
I want a dish containing _____.
( )
chicken
( )
beef
( )
fish
( )
ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
( )
(fresh) vegetables
( )
(fresh) fruit
( )
bread
( )
toast
( )
noodles
( )
rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
( )
butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars[edit]

Do you serve alcohol?
( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
( )
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
( )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping[edit]

Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
( )
cheap
( )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
( )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
( )
...a toothbrush.
( )
...tampons.
. ( )
...soap.
( )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
( )
...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )

Driving[edit]

I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
( )
gas (petrol) station
( )
petrol
( )
diesel
( )

Authority[edit]

I haven't done anything wrong.
( )
It was a misunderstanding.
( )
Where are you taking me?
( )
Am I under arrest?
( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
( )


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