Compound Nouns

Level 4

Two nouns often make one meaning: ụlọ ọgwụ.

How It Works

Igbo makes many nouns by putting nouns together.

WordMeaning
ụlọ akwụkwọschool (house of books)
ụlọ ọgwụhospital (house of medicine)
ụgbọ alacar
ụgbọ mmiriboat

Some compounds are written as one word, so do not guess; look the word up. A pointing word or number comes after the whole compound.

When you are not sure how to write a new compound, check the dictionary.

Examples (4)

  1. ụlọ akwụkwọ

    school

    House of books.

  2. ụlọ ọgwụ

    hospital

    House of medicine.

  3. ụgbọ ala

    car

    A land vehicle.

  4. Ụgbọ ala ahụ dị ọhụrụ.

    That car is new.

    In a sentence.

How It Connects

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

Compound NounsLevel 4

Learn This First

Compound nouns begin as noun plus noun and harmony shows if they are one word, so both come first.

Words in This Pattern

ụlọ akwụkwọụlọ ọgwụụgbọ ala