Commands

Level 1

Say the verb alone, with the right ending: Bịa, Gaa, Rie.

How It Works

An Igbo command is the verb without a subject pronoun. The ending changes from verb to verb.

Root	Command	Example
bịa	Bịa	Bịa ebe a. Come here.
ga	Gaa	Gaa ụlọ. Go to the house.
ri	Rie	Rie nri. Eat food.

Learn each command form as you meet it. Many commands copy the last vowel (gaa), many add e or a, and some change more. For several people add -nụ. To say “do not”, a- or e- goes in front and -la follows.

For politeness, add biko “please”: Biko, bịa ebe a.

Examples (4)

Bịa ebe a.
Come here.
The verb stands alone.
Gaa ụlọ.
Go to the house.
Ga becomes gaa.
Rie nri.
Eat food.
Ri becomes rie.
Nye m mmiri.
Give me water.
A command can have two objects.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

CommandsLevel 1

Learn This First

A command is the verb root once the prefix is taken off, so verb names come first.

Verb Names With i- or ị-
Know verb names, because a command is the root left after you take off the prefix: ịbịa “to come” gives Bịa ebe a “come here”.
Level 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

bịagari

Practice Commands in Bubblegum

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