There are question starters in Igbo, just like you have in English.
Things like ‘where’, ‘how’, ‘what’, etc.
Most questions in Igbo start with ‘kedụ?’ or olee?. It is then usually followed by a word that clarifies the question eg:
Kedụ ihe - what thing/what?
Kedụ ebe - what place/where?
Kedụ mgbe - what time/when?
Kedụ ka/kedụ otu - how?
Kedụ nke - which?
Kedụ ụdị - what type?
Others are:
Maka gịnị - why?
Ole - how many?
With the examples above, you can swap ‘olee’ for ‘kedụ’, eg: olee ihe? etc.
Note that ‘how many’ has only one ‘e’, ole?
Kedụ ihe?/ Gịnị? (What?)
Kedụ ihe ị na-eme?
M na-eme isi m
What are you doing?
I am doing my hair
Kedụ ihe bụ aha gị?
Aha m bụ Ijeoma
Gịnị bụ aha gị?
Aha m bụ Ijeoma
Kedụ ebe?/ Ebee? (Where?)
Ebe means place
Kedụ ebe ị nọ?
M nọ n’ụlọ
Where are you?
I’m at home
Ebee ka ị nọ?
M nọ n’ụlọ
Kedụ mgbe? (When)
This can also be ‘kedụ oge?’
Mgbe/oge means time
Kedụ mgbe ị ga-abịa?
M ga-abịa echi
When will you come?
I will come tomorrow
Kedụ ka/Kedụ otu (How?)
Kedụ ka i mere?
Ọ dị mma
How are you?
It is well
Kedụ ka e si eme achịcha?
Amaghị m
How is bread made?
I don’t know
Kedụ nke? (Which?)
Kedụ nke ọ bụ?
Ọ bụ nke a
Which one is it? or Which one?
It is this one
Kedụ akwa nke ọ bụ?
Akwa ojii
Which cloth?
The black cloth
Kedụ ụdị? (What type?)
Kedụ ụdị ị chọrọ?
M chọrọ nke ojii
What type do you want?
I want the black one
Kedụ ụdị nri ị chọrọ?
M chọrọ osikapa
What type of food do you want?
I want rice
Maka gịnị? (Why?)
Maka gịnị?
O nweghị
Why?
Nothing
Maka gịnị ka i ji mee ya?
Maka na iwe were m
Why did you do it?
Bcause I was angry
Ole? (How many/how much?)
Ego ole?
Naira iri
How much?
Ten naira
Mmadụ ole na-abịa?
Mmadụ abụọ
How many people are coming?
Two people
Daalụ for visiting and for reading this post
Which of these Igbo question starters will you use today?