A collection of useful phrases in Efik, a Benue-Congo language spoken in Cross River State in southern Nigeria
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Efik |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Emedi |
| Hello (General greeting) | Mọkọm Ekọm do |
| How are you? | Idem fo? Etie didie? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Idem mi ọsọñ |
| Long time no see | Ikut enyin |
| What's your name? | Ekere didie? |
| My name is ... | Enyin mi edi ... Ekot mi ... |
| Where are you from? | Oto mmọñ? |
| I'm from ... | Nto ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Enem mi ndi kut fi |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Emesiere Emesiere nde (reply) |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Mọkọm Ekọm do |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Mọkọm Ekọm do |
| Good night | Esiere Esiere Nde (reply) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Tie suñ Ka di |
| Good luck! | Mfọn iso! |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Nsọñ idem! |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Saña suñ |
| Yes | In |
| No | Ínín |
| Maybe | Ekeme ndidi |
| I don't know | Ndiọnọke |
| Do you understand? | Anwaña fi? |
| I understand | Anwaña mi |
| I don't understand | Inwañake mi |
| Please speak more slowly | Mbọk tin suñsuñ |
| Please say that again | Mbọk fiak tin ise |
| Please write it down | Mbọk wet |
| Do you speak English? | Emesem ikọ mbakara? |
| Do you speak Efik? | Emesem ikọ Efik? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
In, esisit |
| Do you speak a language other than Efik? |
Emesem usem efen akan ikọ Efik? |
| Speak to me in Efik | Tin ikọ Efik ye ami |
| How do you say ... in Efik? | Didie afo edọhọ ... ke usem Efik? Ọdọgọ didie ... ke ikọ Efik? |
| Excuse me | Mbọk |
| How much is this? | Okuk ifañ? Akpa okuk ifañ? |
| Sorry | Ìnín |
| Please | Mbọk |
| Thank you | Sọsọñọ Sọsọñọ eti eti |
| Reply to thank you | Ọfọn o |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Wut mi itie ukeñ idem/esa uyere mmọñ? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Akparawa emi eye ekpe kpukpru |
| This lady will pay for everything | Nkaiferi emi eye ekpe kpukpru |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Eye enek unek ye ami? |
| I miss you | Itọñ fo ọdọñ mi |
| I love you | Mme ama fi |
| Get well soon | Kudọñọ aba |
| Go away! | Daga! |
| Leave me alone! | Sana mi yak! |
| Help! | Mbọk nwam mi! |
| Fire! | Ikañ! |
| Stop! | Tre! |
| Call the police! | Kot borisi! |
| One language is never enough | Usem kiet ikemke |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Ubom mi ọyọhọ ye nko |
Phrases and corrections provided by Fifi Edem and Grace Otu Edem
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Hear some Efik phrases
Information about Efik | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Efik phrases
http://calabarforum.org.uk/learn-efik-phrases
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