If you are learning Igbo, some of the most useful words you can learn are the simple, polite expressions you use every day.
Please. Sorry. Excuse me. Pardon me. Thank you.
These are words you can start using immediately, even if you cannot have a full conversation in Igbo yet.
In this guide, you’ll learn polite words in Igbo, including how to say please in Igbo, sorry in Igbo, and thank you in Igbo, plus two other expressions that can make your everyday conversations more natural.
Polite Words in Igbo: Quick Answer
If you just need the words, start here:
| English | Igbo |
|---|---|
| Please | Biko |
| Sorry | Ndo |
| Excuse me | Cheregodi |
| Pardon me | Gbaghara m |
| Thank you | Imeela / Daalụ |
These are the five magic words taught in IgboLearn’s free Basic Greetings and Introductions lesson.
The tutor teaches each expression, how to pronounce it, and when you can start using it in everyday conversation.
Now, let’s look at each one.
How Do You Say “Please” in Igbo?
Please in Igbo is “Biko.”
Biko.
Please.
This is one of the simplest polite words in Igbo to add to your vocabulary because you can start using it even when the rest of your sentence is in English.
The important thing is to get comfortable saying it.
Biko.
The more you use these small Igbo words in your everyday conversations, the more natural speaking Igbo starts to feel.
How Do You Say “Sorry” in Igbo?
To say sorry in Igbo, say:
Ndo.
Ndo.
Sorry.
Again, this is a word you don’t need to wait until you can form complicated Igbo sentences to use.
Someone gets hurt?
Ndo.
You want to express sympathy or say sorry?
Ndo.
Start with the words you can use now.
How Do You Say “Excuse Me” in Igbo?
To say “Excuse me” in Igbo, the lesson teaches:
Cheregodi.
Cheregodi.
Excuse me.
This is another useful expression to know for everyday conversations.
Instead of learning Igbo only as lists of nouns and verbs, learning expressions like Cheregodi gives you words you can actually use when interacting with people.
How Do You Say “Pardon Me” in Igbo?
To say “Pardon me” in Igbo, say:
Gbaghara m.
Gbaghara m.
Pardon me.
In the lesson, the tutor encourages you to use Gbaghara m when you offend someone.
So you now have:
Ndo — Sorry.
Gbaghara m — Pardon me.
They may appear similar in English, but the lesson teaches them as two different polite expressions worth knowing.
How Do You Say “Thank You” in Igbo?
There are two expressions taught in the lesson for saying thank you in Igbo:
Imeela.
and
Daalụ.
Both can be used to express thanks.
Imeela.
Thank you.
Daalụ.
Thank you.
The tutor also explains Imeela as: You have done well.
So if someone does something for you and you want to show appreciation, you can say:
Imeela. Or simply: Daalụ.
These are two Igbo words worth getting comfortable with because you’ll hear and use them often.
If you’re unsure how Biko, Ndo, Cheregodi, Gbaghara m, Imeela or Daalụ should sound, use the IgboLearn Dictionary to search for the words, listen to their pronunciation and practise saying them aloud.
What Is the Difference Between Imeela and Daalụ?
If you’re learning how to say thank you in Igbo, you will probably come across both Imeela and Daalụ.
In this lesson, the tutor teaches that you can use either: Daalụ. Imeela.
Both are given as ways to say thank you.
The lesson also explains Imeela as “You have done well.”
For a beginner, the important thing is to recognise both expressions so that when someone uses either one, you understand what is being communicated.
Read: How to Say Good Morning in Igbo
The Five Magic Words in Igbo
Let’s put all five together again:
Biko — Please
Ndo — Sorry
Cheregodi — Excuse me
Gbaghara m — Pardon me
Imeela / Daalụ — Thank you
You don’t need to memorise these and then wait for some future day when your Igbo is perfect.
Use them now.
The tutor’s challenge at the end of the lesson is actually to go out and start using these polite expressions in Igbo.
Say Biko when you want to say please.
Say Ndo when you want to say sorry.
Use Cheregodi for excuse me.
Say Gbaghara m if you offend someone.
And appreciate someone with Imeela or Daalụ.
That’s how the language starts becoming part of your everyday life.
Practice These Polite Words in Igbo
Knowing what a word means and being able to say it confidently are two different things.
Igbo is a language you need to hear and speak, so don’t stop at reading the words on this page.
Say each one aloud:
Biko. Ndo. Cheregodi. Gbaghara m. Imeela. Daalụ.
Then find opportunities to actually use them.
You don’t even need to have an entire conversation in Igbo. If someone does something for you today, start with:
Imeela.
That’s one more Igbo word you are actually speaking.
Learn Polite Expressions in Igbo for Free
Want to hear how these words are pronounced?
This article is based on the Polite Expressions: The Five Magic Words topic in IgboLearn’s Basic Greetings and Introductions free Igbo lesson.
You can watch the free lesson sample, listen to an Igbo tutor pronounce each expression and practise saying the words along with her.
Watch the Free Igbo Lesson Now →
You can also search for individual words using the IgboLearn Dictionary and listen to their pronunciation as you practise.
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