How to Say ‘I Love You’ in a Dozen Nigerian Languages www.swordify.com.ng

We know how to say “I love you” in many of the world’s
languages; Ti amo, Je t’aime, Ich liebe dich, Te amo…and that’s all
good, but what about languages spoken here in Nigeria?

Here’s how to say “I love you” in just 12 of the languages
spoken across Nigeria, which has over 250 ethnic groups:

1. “Mo ni fe re” is Yoruba for “I love you” and
   literally translates to “I have your love.” Yoruba language needs
   little introduction as it is one of the 4 official languages of
   Nigeria. Yoruba is spoken principally in Nigeria and Benin
   Republic, but there are communities in other countries where Yoruba
   is spoken as a native language, including Brazil.
2. “Na fedo we” is simply “I love you” in Igala
   language, spoken by the Igalas of Kogi State, where Lord Lugard had
   his first residence and office in Nigeria. A bathtub belonging to
   him is still in Kogi State to this day.
3. “Me vwe eguono kpa ho we”: This is “I love
   you” in Urhobo, the mother tongue of the Urhobo people including
   our beloved thespian Richard Mofe-Damijo, Rev. Chris Okotie, poet
   and novelist Ben Okri, late statesman Gamaliel Onosode, and late
   gospel singer Kefee. Literal translation? “I have love for you.”
   Alternatively, some say “Wo jevwe” for “I love you”, which
   literally means “You please/delight me”.
4. “I like your trouble” is the literal translation of “Me
   hue ebhon e”, “I love you” in Esan, the language of the
   Esan people in Edo State. Esanland is home to Ambrose Alli
   University (AAU), which used to be Edo State University (EDSU) and
   was originally created by Esan son Ambrose Alli when he was
   Governor of Edo State, as Bendel State University. Pastor Chris
   Oyakhilome, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Anthony Enahoro, Charles Inojie,
   Anthony Anenih, late musician Sunny Okosun and former first lady
   Stella Obasanjo of blessed memory, are just a few of the many
   notable Esan people.
5. “A fuulu m gi n’anya”/“Ahuru m gi n’anya”:
   This is how to say “I love you” in Igbo. Literal translation: “I
   see you in my eye.” Igbo is also one of Nigeria’s 4 official
   languages, and it is the language in which the first Nollywood
   movies (Living in Bondage, Evil Passion, Taboo, etc) were
   made.
6. “Ina son ka”: These were the first words I
   learnt to say in Hausa. If you’re saying “I love you” to a female,
   it’s “Ina son ki.” Literal
   translation: “I want you”. Sexy, no? Hausa is one of Nigeria’s
   official languages, and it is the mother tongue of our current
   president, Muhammadu Buhari.
7. “Ye tare me/Eh tari mi” is how you say “I love
   you” in Ijaw language, which has about 9 dialects. Ijaws are found
   in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States. There are also Arugbo Ijaws
   (Yoruba Ijaws) and Edo Ijaws who speak Ijaw mixed with Yoruba and
   Edo (Bini) respectively. Immediate past president, Goodluck
   Jonathan, renowned poet and playwright John Pepper Clark,
   founder/president of Silverbird Group Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, and
   Miss World 2001 (first black African to win the title) Agbani
   Darego, are native speakers of Ijaw.
8. “Ami mme uma fien” is I love you in Ibibio,
   spoken in Akwa Ibom State. Contrary to what a lot of people think,
   they’re not “Calabar” even though both are neighbours and their
   languages are very similar. Star actress Nse Ikpe-Etim, and
   sister-filmmakers Emem Isong and Uduak Isong-Oguamanam, are
   Ibibio.
9. “Mmema fi” is “I love you” in Efik, spoken in
   Cross River State whose capital is Calabar. The state is host to Mo
   Abudu’s Ebony Life TV, as well as the popular Obudu Cattle Ranch.
   Efik is the mother tongue of the amiable actress, Kate
   Henshaw.
10. “Ma nyi-oyi si awu” is “I love you” in Ebira,
    spoken by the Ebira people of Kogi State (the Ebiras can also be
    found in neighbouring Kwara State, as well as Nasarawa State). Not
    sure you know any Ebira person? You do, if you know screen darling
    Mercy Johnson-Okojie.
11. “Ndoka’o ga ga” literally means “I like you
    very much” but that’s how to say “I love you” in Idoma, the
    language of the Idoma people of Benue State, the food basket of the
    nation. Former Senate President, David Mark, is Idoma.
12. In the ancient city of Benin in Edo State, “Iru emwen
    rue” is how you say “I love you” and it simply means “I
    love you!” The University of Benin, which produced Nigeria’s first
    female Vice-Chancellor, is located in Benin.

How do you say “I love you” in your own language? Do leave a
comment!

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