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The Semantics of the Igbo Verbs of Opening 

 

Adaobi Ngozi Okoye 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria 

an.okoye@unizik.edu.ng 

 

Abstract 

Languages deploy various means in the description of opening 

events. Verbs of opening represent a subset of the separation verb 

class and comprise those verbs used to refer to the activity of 

removing or taking a part from an entity. The present study 

examines the Igbo verbs that carve up the semantic domain of 

opening events. The study specifically seeks to identify the members 

of this verb class and in addition ascertain if there are specific 

conceptualizations that can affect the verbs in relation to contexts 

of usage. Furthermore, the study seeks to determine if there are 

restrictions on the co-occurrence of the verbs with entities. Data for 

the study is based on elicitations with five competent native speakers 

of the Igbo language using relevant clips in the Cut and Break Video 

Stimuli. Other strategies devised by the researcher also formed 

sources of data for the study. The findings of the study reveal that 

Igbo verbs such as sàghéé, mèghéé, kwùghéé ,kpo ̩̀ghée, gbàghéé, 

ghù̩ghéé, kwàghéé and kpàghéé all translate to open and are used 

to describe opening events. In addition, the study observes that some 

verbs of opening can co-occur with the same object entity but 

usually with an apparent difference in the viewpoint from which the 

opening event is construed. 

Keywords: Igbo language, verbs, opening events, semantic domain 

 

 

 



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1. Introduction 

The activity of separation cuts across languages and culture. 

Separation events have been explored in different languages and 

certain postulations have been arrived at. For instance, in a cross 

linguistic study of 28 different languages, Majid, Boster and 

Bowerman (2008) discover that cut and break hereafter (C&B) 

verbs i.e., those verbs describing material destruction formed a 

distinct group from opening and peeling verbs. Thus, Majid, 

Bowerman, Van Staden and Boster (2007) posit that separation 

events involving opening and taking apart involve the destruction of 

the affected entity in a minimal way which can be easily reversed. 

This study explores the semantics of verbs of opening. Verbs of 

opening or detachment is a subset of the separation verb class, the 

other being the C&B subset.  Verbs of opening according to 

Atintono (2019) describe the separation of one distinguishable part 

of an object from another which is usually reversible while the C&B 

verbs describe the slightest or extreme severance or material 

destruction of an object which is usually not reversible.  

Discussions concerning the linguistic encoding of separation events 

across languages have occupied the linguistic fronts. Notable among 

these discussions are the works which featured in a special issue of 

the cognitive linguistic journal. Though the volume explored 

typologically divergent languages, the research findings in the 

volume suggests very interesting similarities that stimulate interest 

towards exploring languages whose separation events are yet to be 

accounted for. This has formed part of the motivation for the present 

study. Ameka and Hill’s study on the semantics of verbs of opening 

in Ewe, a Kwa language of West Africa and Longgu an Oceanic 

language of Solomon’s Island further adds interesting findings 

particular to verbs of opening in two typologically divergent 

languages. Ameka and Hill (2020) demonstrate that although the 



The Semantics of the Igbo Verbs of Opening - Okoye 

 

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two languages carve up the semantic space of opening differently, 

shared properties of objects of physical actions of opening exist 

between the two languages. Van Staden’s (2007) study of verbs of 

separation in Tidore language claims that many verbs cross-classify 

different aspects of separation events in Tidore and further posits 

that Tidore encodes aspects of the orientation of entities in 

description of specific separation events.  

Despite the outstanding contributions made in the direction of 

accounting for separation events across languages, the present study 

adds further understanding to earlier discussions. In particular, the 

verbs used in describing opening events in Igbo language which 

seem to divide along the instruments used as well as the manner of 

separation provides interesting insights which is specialized to the 

Igbo verbs of opening. 

Bowerman (2005) sets forth some characteristics of openable 

objects. According to the author, openable objects are unitary 

objects which may have parts. The objects separate along 

predetermined lines, (objects that are open can be closed, and hence 

the action can be reversible), separation involving opening provides 

access to something (a content, an interior space or a previously 

concealed part of the object with which one can do something). 

Bowerman’s characteristics, though based on the English language 

are adequate for the present study thus affirming that cross-cultural 

parallels exist between cultures in the same semantic domain.  

This paper centers on the verbs of opening in Igbo with the aim of 

determining the Igbo verbs that carve up the semantic domain of 

opening events, ascertaining the conceptualizations that can affect 

the verbs in relation to contexts of usage and the explanations behind 

restrictions on the occurrence of the verbs with entities. Opening 

verbs as earlier mentioned do not result to the destruction of the 

object. They describe the separation of one distinguishable part of 



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an object from another which is usually reversible. The rest of the 

paper is organized as follows; section two presents the methodology 

while section three and its succeeding subsections goes into the 

explication of the verbs of opening in Igbo. In section four, we 

summarize and conclude the study.  

 

2. Methodology  

Data for the study is based on elicitations with competent native 

speakers of the Igbo language using relevant clips in the Cut and 

Break Video Stimuli designed by Bohnemeyer, Bowerman and 

Brown (2001). The Video Clips contains fourteen (14) scenes which 

feature spatial separation such as opening the hand/mouth/eyes, a 

door, a cup, a scissors, a book, removing the cap of a pen etc. The 

consultants were asked to first observe and then describe the event 

observed in the video clips. Their explanations yielded the 

expressions used in the description of the observed clips. Further 

interrogations were put forth to the consultants especially where 

different verbs are used to describe the same scene. Other 

discussions resulted in the elicitation of verbs used for culture 

specific items. One other source of data involves the construction of 

some sentences involving opening events based on my own native 

speaker intuition. These sentences were cross- checked and 

discussed with the competent speakers. The elicitations are 

presented and discussed in section 3 following.  

 

3. Verbs of Opening in Igbo 

Some of the Igbo verbs used in describing opening events are 

mèghéé, kwùghéé, kpo ̩̩̀ghée, kpàghéé, gbàghéé, sàghéé. The verbs 

have their variants as mèpéé, kwùpéé, kpo ̩̀péé,kpàpéé, gbàpéé, 

sàpéé. These verbs all translate to English ‘open’ but in terms of 

intrinsic semantics, factors such as manner or instrument contribute 



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to their meanings. Although it is possible for more than one verb to 

occur with an entity, usually, this reveals a difference in the 

perception of the opening event. For instance, the verbs mèghéé 

‘open’ and sàghéé ‘open wide apart’ can occur with parts of the 

human body but there is perceived difference in the magnitude to 

which the body part is opened. Whereas meghe ‘open’ occuring with 

the body part o ̩nu ̩ ‘mouth’ can suggest open in such a way that the 

two lips are not together, sàghéé ‘open wide apart’ portends a 

scenario where the content of the mouth can be revealed. In 

subsections three following, we provide the elucidations of specific 

verbs used in the description of opening events in Igbo language. 

3.1 The Verb Meghe  

Mèghéé is a verbal compound comprised me ‘do’ depicting the 

action and ghe from ighe oghe ‘to be open’ which denotes the result. 

The verb mèghéé is the general verb for open in Igbo language. This 

is due to its prolific occurrence with diverse entities which can be 

animate, inanimate or institutions such as banks and schools.  

Mèghéé as a verbal compound denotes action result and is derived 

from ghé óghē ‘be open’.  The examples in (1) show the different 

occurrences of mèghéé. 

 

1) a. Mèghéé anya  gi 

       Open     eye   2SG 

       ‘Open your eye’ 

 

b.  Ó̩          nà          è-    méghé    úlo ̩̀       yá    táà 

    3SG   PROG   pref    open     house   2Sg today 

[Lit]He is opening his house today 

   ‘He is organizing a house warming ceremony’ 

 

c.  U̩lo̩       akwu ̩kwo̩     ga      e        meghe     echi 



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     House    School       FUT PREF   open    tomorrow 

     ‘School will resume tomorrow’ 

 

d. A       cho̩     ro̩       m       i         meghe akanwu ̩tu ̩   n’       u̩lo̩      

aku̩  

     1SG want PST   1SG   PREF   open    account   PREP 

house wealth 

    ‘I want to open an account with the bank’ 

 

e.  Onye nkuzi meghe re   akwu ̩kwo̩     

     Teacher      open   PST   book    

     ‘The teacher opened the book’ 

 

f.  O         ji       aka      meghe u ̩zo̩ 
      3SG   hold   hand    open   door 

   ‘He/She opened the door with hand’ 

 

g.  Meghe   obi       gi        nabata    Jizos Kraist 

      Open     heart   2SG     accept    Jesus   Christ 

      ‘Open your heart and accept Jesus Christ’ 

 

Examples (1a) – (1g) illustrate some of the structures that mèghéé 

can occur with. In all the examples there is a sense of opening 

associated with the verb. In example 1a, the verb is used 

intransitively in its occurrence with the body part ánaá ‘eye’. 1b 

instantiates a usage that is rather metaphorical where the whole 

event associated with housewarming is captured by activity of 

opening. In 1b and 1c, the verb is used transitively. Example 1d 

shows meghee occurring in a ditransitive construction. The event 

described by the verb has to do with opening account with financial 

institution typically, a bank. Meghee can occur with akwu ̩kwo̩ 



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‘book’ as in example (1e) to suggest targeted opening of the book as 

opposed to flipping through the book. Example (1f) suffices as a 

serial verb construction where the verb mèghéé occurs alongside 

another verb ji ‘hold’. In all these instances, one observes that the 

verb mèghéé ‘open’ retains its form irrespective of position 

occupied in the sentence i.e. when occurring in the initial or medial 

positions in sentential construct.  

3.2 The Verb Kwu ̩̀ghéé 

The verb kwu ̩̀ghéé typically occurs with openable objects for 

instance containers especially those with removable parts such as 

pots, cups, bottles, pen etc. The use of kwùghéé to describe an 

opening event suggests that the hand is the typical instrument 

involved even when it is implicit in the expression. Furthermore, 

kwu ̩̀ghéé seems to collocate with entities which when opened, the 

openable part remains detached from the whole. Consider the 

examples below: 

2) a. kwu ̩̀ghéé  ite  ahu ̩ 
        Open       pot Dem 

        ‘Open that pot’ 

 

b.  kwù̩ghéé mkpisi ode dee     aha    gi 

      Open       pen           write    name 2SG 

      ‘Open the pen and write your name’ 

 

c.  Nne        m      kwu̩ghe-re     bo ̩tu̩lu ̩  gbanye o ̩gwu ̩    na      ngaji    

nye      m 

     Mother 1SG   open - PST     bottle    pour     drug   

PREP spoon   give 1SG 

     ‘My Mother opened the bottle, poured syrup in the 

spoon and gave me’ 

 



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The verb kwu ̩̀ghéé do not collocate with body parts but only suffice 

for entities with detachable parts whose opening is achieved through 

the use of a body part typically, the hand. 

3.3 The Verb Kpàghéé 

Kpàghéé is used to describe opening events construed as being 

affected through the aid of an instrument other than the hand and 

key. The use of kpàghéé is usually evoked in a scenario where for 

instance an entity is locked with a padlock and the key to the lock is 

misplaced or not readily available. In order to open the padlock, an 

instrument other than the key and definitely not the bare hands will 

be required. Kpàghéé and for some varieties of Igbo kpàkáá denotes 

forceful opening of a previously locked entity. The verb collocates 

only with entities that can be locked for instance doors and boxes. 

Most times, entities which kpàghéé or kpàkáá collocates with have 

tops (for boxes) or sides (in the case of doors) which when opened, 

remains attached to the whole. 

3.4 The Verb Kpo ̩̀ghéé 

The verb Kpo ̩̀ghéé is typical for corked entities which such as bottles 

or tins which can be opened using either the hand or an instrument 

for instance tin openers or keys. It is also used in the description of 

opening events pertaining to garments especially those with zips 

and/or buttons. Kpo ̩̀ghéé is also appropriate for describing the 

opening of taps as well as events that involve unlocking fastened 

objects such as belts and/or seat belts on cars and planes. In the 

description of opening involving the hand as instrument, when the 

verb kpo ̩̀ghéé is used, it is required that the openable part of the 

entity be twisted with hands, for instance when trying to open a 

corked bottle of syrup. Kpo ̩̀ghéé co-occurs with entities that can be 

locked whose openable part for the most times remains attached to 

the whole. Entities opened using the verb kpo ̩̀ghéé can be locked i.e 

the action is reversible usually evoking the antonym kpò̩chíé ‘lock’, 



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an antonym which is inappropriate for kpàghéé. Typically, one can 

open the door with a key and afterwards lock it but when it is opened 

forcefully using the verb kpàghéé, there is often a partial damage 

inflicted on the entity. 

3.5 The Verb Sàghéé 

Sàghéé is used in the description of opening events involving 

entities that can be opened along predetermined lines, for instance a 

book. The opened part remains attached to the whole and can be 

closed thus being reversible. Consider the examples below 

 

3) O̩           na           a- saghe   akwu ̩kwo̩  

     3SG     PROG    pref-open    book 

     ‘He/She is flipping through a book’ 

 

The opening of the book as described by the example above is not 

considered targeted hence the use of sàghé. Targeted opening with 

regard to a book evokes the use of mèghé. 

Sàghé typically describe opening events where entities with 

divisible parts separate from each other in a manner that is wide 

apart. This separation causes the inner content of the entity to be 

revealed or accessed. Example following represents the collocation 

of sàghé with body parts. 

 

4) O̩        gwa -ra        ya             ka          O ̩    saghee    ukwu    

ya 

    3SG    tell PST    PRON     COMP   3SG open       leg      3SG 

    ‘He asked her to open her legs’ 

 

Example 4 above suggests a separation of the legs in a way that is 

wide apart such that the place in between the legs can be accessed. 

3.6 The Verbs Gbàghéé and Kwàghéé 



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Gbàghéé is used in the description of opening events involving a 

body part as the instrument. The part of the body commonly 

involved is u̩kwu ̩ ‘leg’ while the means usually adopted to achieve 

the opening is the application of force. Consider the instance below 

which depicts a scenario of force opening an entity (door) using the 

leg. 

 

5) Ha    gbaghe - re    u ̩zo̩  
    3PL   open    PST  door 

  ‘They opened the door’ 

  

The expression above conveys a sense of opening adjudged illegal. 

Usually, it is expected that rightful owners gain access through 

normal rather than forceful opening of an entity. Such normal 

opening will evoke the use of either mèghéé or kpò̩ghéé but not 

gbàghéé. 

 Kwàghéé comprising kwà ‘push’ and ghee ‘open’ literally 

means push open and is used to describe opening events which 

involve forceful opening of an entity using a part of the body other 

than the leg. The body part involved as instrument in achieving the 

opening though usually the hand can be other parts of the body such 

as the buttocks, the sides etc. Kwàghéé collocates with entities 

which can be locked for instance doors and windows. 

 

6) O̩       kwaghe-  re       u ̩zo̩  bata       n’         ime       u ̩lo ̩ 
   3SG    open  -  PST   door enter    PREP   inside    house 

   ‘He/She opened the door and entered inside the house’ 

 

Whereas, the examples in 5 and 6 above suggest a forceful access to 

an entity, they differ in the body part used in achieving the event as 

well as associated conceptualization. While gbàghéé suggests an 



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opening that is somewhat ‘illegal’ and carried out by hoodlums, 

kwàghéé typically describes an opening event which though 

achieved forcefully is devoid of a sense of illegality. In both cases, 

the opening event affords one access to something which hitherto 

remained inaccessible. 

3.7 The Verb Ghu ̩̀ghéé 

 Ghùghéé has culture specific restriction in usage. This verb of 

opening comprises verbal compound ghù ̩ ‘bore and ghéé where the 

later is the action while the former represents the result. Ghu ̩ghéé is 

used in description of opening events relevant to culture specific 

items such as aki ̩ bekee ‘coconut’. To achieve this opening, a pointed 

instrument which can be manipulated with the hand is required. A 

typical application of this verb is revealed when one tries to open 

the eye of a coconut in order to access the inner content (water) 

before finally breaking the coconut. The verb ghùghéé suffices as 

shown in the following example 

 

7) Ada   ji       mma  ghù ̩ghéé   aki bekee 

     PN   hold    knife  open        coconut 

    Ada opened the coconut with knife 

   

The above example in 7 is different from breaking the coconut 

which is described by the verb ku ̩́wá ‘break’ but will not be 

discussed as it is beyond the scope of the present study. 

Ghùghéé is also appropriate for describing opening events involving 

blockage for instance opening a blocked pipe to ease the flow of 

liquids and or semi-liquids. 

Having discussed the Igbo verbs of opening elicited from the study, 

I present below the verbs, instrument and manner of opening in 

addition to the compatible entities in table 1. 

 



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Table 1: Igbo Verbs of Opening 

Verb Gloss Instrument Typical 

Manner 

Compatible 

Entities 

mèghéé Open Hand Volitional Institutions, 

bodyparts, 

inanimate 

entities such 

as doors and 

windows  

kwùghéé Open Hand  Volitional Utensils, 

containers 

especially 

those with 

detachable 

parts 

kpò̩ghéé Open Hand, key Volitional 

using either 

a key or 

hand or 

teeth. 

Corked 

entities, taps, 

padlocks, 

belts and 

other 

fastened 

entities. 

kpàghéé Open Metal such 

as pliers 

Exerted 

force aided 

by an 

instrument 

Inanimate 

entities 

sàghéé Open Hand and 

voluntary 

opening 

Flipping and 

spontaneous 

opening 

Body parts, 

books and 

other plane 

surfaces  



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gbàghéé Open Leg  Force using 

the leg 

Inanimate 

entities 

kwàghéé Open Bodyparts 

other than 

the leg 

Force aided 

by a 

bodypart 

Inanimate 

entities 

ghu ̩̀ghéé Open Sharp 

pointed 

instrument 

Exerted 

force using a 

sharp 

pointed 

instrument 

Coconut 

 

 

4. Summary and Conclusion 

This study has identified eight Igbo verbs used in the description of 

opening events.  The verbs which include sàghéé, mèghéé, kwùghéé 

,kpò̩ghée, gbàghéé, ghu ̩̀ghéé, kwàghéé and kpàghéé translate to open 

in English. 

Igbo Verbs of opening differentiate opening events along the 

dimensions of degree of opening, manner of opening and the 

instrument(s) used in opening. With regard to the degree of opening, 

we notice the distinction drawn in the semantics of mèghéé and 

sàghéé when used to refer to opening a part of the body. As earlier 

indicated, mèghéé when used in conjunction with any part of the 

body denotes normal opening whereas sàghéé in collocation with 

any part of the body represents a ‘careless’ opening where the 

affected parts are flung wide open. The two verbs mèghéé and 

sàghéé also capture the differentiation along the dimension of 

manner of opening as observed in the use of the verbs in collocation 

with the entity book where the former represents targeted opening 

while the later has to do with flipping through the book. This points 



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to the fact that more than one verb can be used for the same opening 

event but with a difference in view. 

The distinction along the dimension of instrument used in the 

opening event is obvious in the use of use of gbàghéé for opening 

events where the leg is the sole instrument and ghù̩ghéé where a 

sharp pointed instrument is required. Kwàghéé also reveals the 

distinction along the dimension of instrument used. These 

distinctions collaborate the opinion of Enfield (2007) who suggests 

that “to truly figure out verbs of material separation requires an 

ethnographically grounded understanding of the social purposes for 

which communities maintain the semiotic distinctions they 

maintain”. 

Obvious restrictions exist in the occurrence of Igbo verbs of opening 

with object entities. This restriction at times, divides along 

animate/inanimate dimensions. Using the verb kwùghéé as an 

instance, we notice that kwùghéé is not compatible with body parts. 

This is also true of verbs such as kpo ̩ghéé, ghàghéé and kpàghéé 

which all translate to open but restricted to collocation with 

inanimate entities.  

The present study asserts the verb mèghéé as the basic verb for open 

in Igbo. This position is supported by the fact that among the Igbo 

verbs elicited from competent native speakers, the verb mèghéé cuts 

across the various dimensions of distinctions which seem to exist in 

the semantic domain of opening events in Igbo. 

 

 

References 

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Verbs of Opening. West Africa Versus Oceanic in Meaning, 

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