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SYNONYMS IN AMAIYI DIALECT OF IGBO 

 

 

Chinedum Enweonye 

Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Igbariam, Anambra State 

& 

Francisca Ukwuoma Egwuekwe 

Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State 

 

 

 

Introduction 

Sense relation refers to how the meanings of individual words are either similar or 

different. Many scholars have studied how the meanings of words are interrelated. Some 

words have similar meanings, some others are quite different. These similarities and 

differences range from close to distant relationship. Upon these varying degrees of 

relationships, words are sorted out using different criteria. Sense relation is one area of 

language to which we can continually add throughout our lives because we are always 

learning new words and their meanings. Speakers of a language as part of the knowledge of 

their language have also mastered the words and the kinds of relationship they have with one 

another. Again, the vocabulary of a language is not an unrelated aggregate of words rather 

there are systematic relations between the words of a language and it becomes part of the 

burden of a linguistic account of lexical meaning to provide a characterisation of the 

relations.(Anagbogu et al 2010). 

Synonymy is a term used in semantics to refer to the major types of sense relation 

between lexical items. Lexical items which have the same meaning are synonyms. For two 

items to be synonyms, does not mean that they should be identical in meaning that is 

interchangeable in all contexts and with identical connotations. This unlikely possibility is 

sometimes referred to as absolute synonymy. Synonyms can be said to occur if items are 

close enough in their meaning to allow a choice to be made between them in some contexts, 

without there being any difference for the meaning of the sentence as a whole. Linguistic 

studies of synonymy have emphasised the importance of context in deciding whether a set of 

lexical items is synonymous. Synonymy is distinguished from such other sense relations as 

antonym, hyponymy and incompatibility etc. (Anagbogu et al 2010). 

The aim of this research is to examine synonyms, how to test synonyms, reasons for 

synonym and some list of synonyms in Amaiyi dialect. This will enable one to ascertain 

whether there are real synonyms in Amaiyi dialect or not. Amaiyi dialect is a member of 

Nwaozuzu's (2006) East Niger group of dialects. The research work is divided into five 

sections, the first is introduction, the second section is definitions of the topic of the research, 

third section is the reasons for synonyms, and synonyms in Amaiyi dialect and the fourth 

section is the findings and conclusion. 

 

 

 



      

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Concept of synonymy 

According to Anagbogu, Mbah and Erne (2010:224), "Synonym refers to the study of 

how different lexical items share similar meanings". So, when two or more words have the 

same meaning, they are said to be synonyms. Some words that are believed to be synonyms 

are:  

(1.)  a. church-synagogue 

b.   buy-purchase 

c.   conceal - hide 

d.   chase – pursue 

 

In other words, synonyms are different words with identical or very similar meanings. 

Words that are synonyms are said to be synonymous and the state of being a synonym is 

synonymy. The word 'buy' and 'purchase' are synonyms. The word synonyms comes from 

Ancient Greek syn (with) and onoma ('name'). Synonyms can be any part of speech such as 

verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs or prepositions, as long as the members of the pair are the 

same part of speech. Here are more examples of English synonyms 

 

(2)   a.  Adjective: 

sad and unhappy 

b. Verb: 

buy and purchase 

c. Adverb: 

quickly and fast 

            d. Preposition: 

below and beneath 

(Obiora, 2010:139-152) 

 

Yule(1996:119) states that synonyms are two or more forms with very closely related 

meanings which are often, but not always, intersubstitutable in sentences. Some examples of 

synonyms are the pairs: 

(3)    a. broad -wide 

b.  hide - conceal 

c.  almost - nearly 

d.  cab - taxi 

e.  answer- reply 

 

According to Saeed, (2007:65) "synonym is seen as different phonological words which have 

the same or very similar meanings". Some examples might be the pairs below: 

(4)    a. couch - sofa 

b.  boy - lad 

c.  lawyer - attorney 

d.  toilet - lavatory 

e.  large – big 



      

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Cruse (1986) as quoted in Anyanwu (2008:193), states that synonymy is the lexical relation 

which parallels identity in the membership of classes. It is a sense relation between items that 

have the same meaning. The emphasis is on identity of meaning rather than on similarity of 

meaning. Lexical items that are involved in this kind of relation are referred to as synonyms. 

Synonyms do not only need to have a high degree of semantic overlap, they must also 

manifest a low degree of implicit contrastiveness. They are lexical items whose senses are 

identical in respect of 'central' semantic traits, but differ, if at all, only in respect of what may 

be provisionally described as 'minor' or peripheral traits. 

Synonymy, according to Palmer (1976:59) as quoted in Agbedo (2000:152), "... is 

used to mean "sameness of meaning". Superficially, the notion of synonymy is a straight 

forward one: two words are synonyms if they have the same meaning. Finch, (2000:184), 

stresses that synonym is a sense relation which exists between words which have a similar 

meaning or sense. For example: 

 

(5)    a. drunk - intoxicated  

b. mad - insane 

 

Furthermore,   Hurford   and   Heasley   (1983:102),   say that synonymy   is   the relationship 

between two predicates that have the same sense. Examples: 

 

(6)   a. stubborn - obstinate 

b.  brigand - bandit 

c.  mercury - quicksilver. 

 

The above examples are synonyms in different languages. 

Finegan (2008:184) opines that two words are said to be synonymous if they mean the same 

thing. The terms movie, film, flick and motion pictures all have the same set of referents in 

the real world and are usually taken to be synonymous terms. To address the notion of 

synonymy more formally, we can say that term 'A' is synonymous with term 'B' if every 

referent of 'A' is a referent of 'B' and vice versa. For example, if every movie is a film and 

every film is a movie, the terms movie and film are synonymous. 

According to Fromkin and Rodman (1993:131), "There are also words that sound 

different but have the same or nearly the same meaning." Such words are called synonyms. 

There are dictionaries of synonyms that contain many hundreds of entries, such as: 

(7)  a. Apathetic/phalgmatic/passive/sluggish/indifferent.  

b. Predigree/ancestry/genealogy/descent/lineage 

 

Crystal, (2008:47), states that synonymy is a term used in semantics to refer to a major type 

of sense relation between lexical items. Lexical items which have the same meanings are 

synonyms. Some scholars have written on synonyms in the Igbo language. Synonym can be 

said to mean sameness of meaning when different phonologically realised words with 

different etymology are referring to or interpreted as one thing. Examples are: 

 



      

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(8)  a. omume/agwa - character  

b. oyibo/Bekee - English 

c.  abụ/mbem/ukwe - poem 

d.  alaka/ngalaba - branch 

e.  iberibe/nzuzu - fool  

(Obiora, 2010:139- 152) 

 

In the examples, it shows that there are real synonyms in the Igbo language because the 

words can be used interchangeably without any problem.  

Ọgbalụ (1974:70) in his proposals states that words of identical meanings in all dialects 

should not be condemned simply because they are not central dialect or union Igbo but rather 

be employed as synonyms, examples: 

  

(9)  a.  Abali, uchichi, anyasị - night 

b.  Ọgbọ, ebiri, uke, uro - age mate 

c.  Abọ, akpa, mkpukuru - oblong container 

d.  Ejula, ọkpatụ - snail 

e   Mbubo ọba, ebele, ụgba, egbee – calabash 

 

All the above definitions are pointing at one thing. Thus, synonym can be said to mean 

sameness of meaning, when two words that are pronounced differently will have the same 

meaning. It will merely indicate collocational possibilities and these do not seem necessary to 

be always closely related to nearness of meaning. 

 

Tests for synonyms 

Some ways of testing synonym include: 

Substitution 

Oppositeness 

 

Substitution: Substitution can be said to mean using one word for another. 

Synonyms are mutually interchangeable in all their environments. What we shall find, of 

course, is that some words are interchangeable in certain environments only, example 'deep' 

or 'profound' may be used with 'sympathy' but only deep 

with 'water' but this will give us little measure of synonymy or of similarity of meaning. 

Another way is to investigate the opposite (the antonyms) of the lexical items. Thus, 

'superficial' is to be contrasted with both 'deep' and 'profound' but shallow is for the most part, 

in contrast only with 'deep'. Perhaps, the fact that two words appear to have the same 

antonyms is a reason for testing them as synonyms. 

Two or more expressions will be defined to have the same sense (that is to be 

synonymous) over a certain range of utterances without affecting their descriptive meaning. 

Examples of synonyms in Amaiyi dialect using substitution criteria 

 



      

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(10)  a. Emeka na Obi ga-abụ ọgbọ 

    Emeka and Obi will be age mates 

    Emeka and Obi are age mates  

b. Emeka na Obi ga-abụ ebiri 

    Emeka and Obi will be age mates 

    Emeka and Obi are age mates 

 

The two lexemes 'ọgbọ’ and 'ebiri' can be used interchangeably as true synonyms because one 

can replace the other without affecting their descriptive meaning as in example 10 and 11. 

 

(11)  a. Otu ọgbọ ha masịrị m. 

    Age mate they be good to me.  

    Their age grade pleases me.  

b. Otu ebiri ha masịrị m. 

    Age mate they be good to me.  

   Their age grade pleases me. 

  

In this case 'ọgbọ' and 'ebiri' can replace each other in any context. 

 

(12)  a.   Nri ahụ na-atọ ose ose. 

    Food that is testing pepper pepper. 

    The food is pepperish.  

b. Nri ahụ na-atọ ịgbaka ịgbaka. 

    Food that is testing pepper pepper 

    The food is pepperish. 

 

The two lexemes 'ose’ and 'ịgbaka' are synonyms because they can be used interchangeably 

in any context. 

(13)  a.  Ose ekweghị ya eri nri ahụ. 

   Pepper allow not him eat food that.  

   Pepper did not allow him to eat that food,  

b. Ịgbaka ekweghịi ya eri nri ahụ.  

    Pepper allow not him eat food that. 

    Pepper did not allow him to eat that food. 

(14)  a.  Ọ bịara mụnyere ha ọkụ. 

    He come past put give past them fire. 

    He came and  put fire for them,  

b. Ọ bịara mụnyere ha ngwa. 

     He come past put give past them fire. 

     He came and put fire for them. 

 

The two  lexemes   'ngwa'   and  'ọkụ'  can   be  used   interchangeably  as  true synonyms 

because one can replace the other. 



      

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(15)    a.  Ị gara ebe ọkụ dị? 

 You go past where fire be? 

 Did you go where there is fire?  

b. Ị gara ebe ngwa dị? 

    You go past where fire be?  

    Did you go where there is fire? 

 

In this example 'ọkụ' and 'ngwa' can substitute each other. 

 

(16)   a.     Anyị hụrụ gị ebe ị pịara ya ụtarị 

      We see past you place you flog him cane.  

       We saw you where you flogged him.  

b.   Anyị hụrụ gị ebe ị pịara ya apịansụ.  

      We see past you place you flog him cane.  

      We saw you where you flogged him. 

(17)  a.     Ụtarị dị n'uko. 

     Cane be in ceiling. 

     The cane is in the ceiling.  

b.  Apịansụ dị n’uko.  

     Cane be in ceiling.  

     The cane is in the ceiling. 

 

The two lexemes 'ụtarị' and 'apịansụ' can be used interchangeably as synonyms because they 

can replace each other in both 16 and 17 examples above. 

(18)   a. Emeka nọ n'ụlọ'mkpọrọ'. 

    Emeka is in house prison.  

    Emeka is in the prison.  

b. Emeka no n'ụlọ 'nga'   

    Emeka is in house prison.  

    Emeka is in the prison. 

(19)    a.  Mkpọrọ ha tụrụ ya abaghị uru. 

     Prison they put past him is not gain.  

     His imprisonment is not necessary,  

b. Nga ha tụrụ ya abaghị uru. 

Prison they put past him is not gain. 

 His imprisonment is not necessary. 

 

The two lexemes 'mkpọrọ', and 'nga' can be used interchangeably as synonyms because they 

can substitute each other is in 18 and 19 examples above. 'Nga' can be used in place of 

'mkpọrọ' in any speech event. Using the substitution criteria it was observed that some 

lexemes in Amaiyi dialect are true, complete and absolute synonyms in any context. 

 



      

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Reasons for synonyms 

Synonymy is very important in all languages because it helps to increase the 

vocabularies of the language. The use of 'ụtarị' in place of 'apịansụ' helps the language to 

have variety. Synonyms add flavour to the utterances as they spice the speech events because 

variety they say is the spice of life. In the use of 'ụsa' and 'azịza' the speaker of a language 

like the Igbo language cannot be using 'ụsa' in all sentences. Therefore, 'azịza' can substitute 

'ụsa' and it, will make the sentence interesting and shows that the speaker is competent in the 

language. Synonymy makes language dynamic instead of static because a linguistic situation 

can be presented in different ways. Learning the synonyms will help the second language 

learners to master the language very well. 

It also helps to describe the similarities between the meanings of different terms in the 

lexicon.Synonymy may portray positive or negative attitudes of the speaker, for example 

naive or gullible seem more critical than ingenious. Synonymy is a tasty ingredient of 

language. It helps both the native speakers and language learners to have competence of the 

language. 

 

 

Synonyms in Amaiyi dialect 

Some of the underlisted linguistic items assumed to be synonyms in Amaiyi dialect 

are tested using the yardstick formulated by Palmer (1981), that is, substitution and 

oppositeness. 

 

Remember  that the convention used for tone marking is to tone mark only the high tones and 

downsteps. The low tones are left unmarked. 

 

high tone (/) 

low tone 

downsteps (-) 

 

Some of them are as follows: 

S/NO Synonymous lexemes in Amaiyi dialect English equivalent 

1 éhihie/owu afternoon 

2 úkwú / ókpa leg 

3 útarị / apịánsú cane 

4 ngá / ébé place 

5 ódō / ókirī mortar 

6 ntú / así lie 

7 ịgbàká / ósè pepper 

. . . 

. . 

. . 

. 



      

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8 ńgwā/ ọkú fire 

9 ípata /ákpúkpọ úkwü shoe 

10 óhü / ikè buttocks 

11 àhúrú / éréghéré sweat 

12 odógwu ọzárá/ ákpị scorpion 

13 ḿméé ḿméé / ọbara ọbara blood 

14 ajadu / ísímkpē widow 

15 oyibó / bekéē English 

16 úbi / úgbō farm 

17      ákwà / ọgọdọ cloth 

18 úrì / égwú dance 

19 ụchụ / azị bad luck 

20 otikpa / óka corn 

21 úkpáala/ ahụékéré groundnut 

22 ugórò / ákí ilū  bitter kola 

23 ḿgbede / uhúhurú chi evening 

24 omumé / agwa character 

25 ngà / ḿkpórö  prison  

26 ógbákọ/ńzukó meeting  

27 ụsa /ázìzá answer 

28 ḿkpa / azú úló backyard 

29 njije / ụlarị head tie 

30 ọkwa úzọ / igodo key 

31 ngajì / ákụkọ spoon 

32 ílóm / ólóló bottle 

. . . . 

. 

. . 

. 

. 

. . 

. . 

. . . 

. 



      

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33 agadịgbọ / nwáanyí nọdụrụ ókwù kitchen stool 

34 kpókọjó / éfére plate 

35 ḿméhìe / njó sin 

36 ọgbó / ébiri age mate/peer 

37 íké / ụlịghịlị strength 

38 mbúbó / úbì farmland 

39 aparapa / útara cassava fufu 

40 ókwụrụ órū / ḿgbíḿgbí paw-paw 

41     ímé ńdúrú / ímé ọghó m unwanted pregnancy 

42 akọm / íba malaria 

43 áhụ / úkwa bread fruit 

44 ọkpụkpọ ókū / ékwú ókụ tripod stand 

45 ókéaha / ókenye old person 

46 ḿgbíríḿgbá / átáṅú bell 

47 banyéré / gbasarà about 

48 akpatì/igbé box 

49 inyóm / nwáanyi women 

50 dum / níílé all 

The examples above can be used in sentences below: 

 

(20)    a.   Akpị gbara nwoke ọcha ahụ. 

      Scorpion sting past man fair that. 

     Scorpion stung that fair man.  

b.  Odogwu ọzara gbara nwoke ocha ahụ. 

     Scorpion sting past man fair that. 

      Scorpion stung that fair complexioned man. 

 

In these two examples the lexemes 'akpị' and odogwu ozara can be used in place of the other 

in the two contexts. 

 

 

. 

. . 

. 

. 

. 

. 

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. 

. 

. 

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(21)    a.   Anyị tara ọka 

    We eat past corn.  

    We ate corn,  

b. Anyị tara otikpa 

    We eat past corn.  

    We ate corn. 

In the examples above 'ọka' and 'otikpa' mean the same thing therefore, they are synonyms 

because one can replace the other in all the context. 

 

(22)   a.    Ha biara n'uhuru chi. 

     They come past in evening. 

     They came in the evening,  

b.  Ha bịara na mgbede. 

    They come past in evening. 

    They came in the evening. 

In the examples above 'uhuru chi' and 'mgbede' can be used interchangeably in the same 

speech event. 

 

(23)     a.   Akpatị ahụ mara mma. 

      Box that fine.  

      That box is fine  

b.   Igbe ahụ mara mma.  

      Box that fine.  

      That box is fine 

 

The examples above 'akpatị' and 'igbe' are synonymous because they can replace each other 

and the meaning will still be very clear. 

 

(24)     a.   Ha dum bịara nzụkọ ahụ. 

      They all come past meeting that.  

      All of them came to the meeting.  

b.   Ha niile bịara nzụkọ ahụ. 

                They all come past meeting that.  

                 All of them came to the meeting. 

 

The above examples show that the two words 'dum' and 'niile' can stand in for each other and 

still have the same meaning not minding how the words are pronounced or spelt. They are 

conveying the same meaning.  

 

(25)    a.  Ngozi zụtaara m odo. 

    Ngozi buy past me mortar. 

    Ngozi bought mortar for me.  

b. Ngozi zụtaara m okiri. 



      

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    Ngozi buy past me mortar. 

    Ngozi bought mortar for me. 

 

The examples above show that 'odo' and 'okiri' can stand in for each other in any speech 

event. 

 

 

Findings 

a.   It was found out that synonymy can be said to mean sameness of meaning, when two 

words that are pronounced differently are referred to or interpreted as one thing.  

b.   It was observed that there are many synonymous words in Amaiyi dialect. 

c.   That synonyms help to increase Igbo vocabulary and for stylistic effect. 

d.   That synonyms help native speakers and language learners to have 'competence of the    

       language. 

 

 

Conclusion 

Synonymy as a sense relation cuts across all natural languages. Synonyms were x-

rayed and tested and the result showed that there are many synonyms in Amaiyi dialect. This 

is due to the fact that these words help to enrich the vocabulary and help language learners to 

master the language well. This research work concludes that there are true and real synonyms 

in Amaiyi dialect. Some synonyms in the dialect were listed out. Students should be 

encouraged to do the same research in other Igbo dialects to improve the study of the Igbo 

language. 

 

 

 

References 

Agbedo, C.U. (2000). General Linguistics: An Introductory Reader. Nsukka: ACE 

Resources. 

Anagbogu, P.N., B. M.. Mbah, & C.A. Erne, (2010). Introduction to Linguistics (2nd ed) 

Awka: Amaka Dreams. 

Anyanwu, O, (2008). "Essentials of Semantics." in B.M. Mbah (eds) History of Language 

and Communication. A Festschrift in Honour of Professor P.A. Nwachukwu (Pp. 186-

201). Nsukka: Pashal Communication. 

Crystal, D. (2008). A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics (6th ed), Maiden: Blackwell. 

Finch, G. (2000), Linguistic Terms and Concepts, Palgrave: Palgrave Macmillan. 

Finegan, E. (2008). Language: Its Structure and Use (5th ed), Australia: Thomson 

Wardsworth. 

Fromkin, V. & R. Rodman. (1993). An Introduction to Language (6th ed), Australia: 

Thomson Wardsworth, 

Huford, J.R. & B. Heasley, (1983). Semantics: A Course Book. Cambridge: Cambridge 

University. 



      

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Nwaozuzu, G.I. (2006). Dialects of lgbo Language. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Press. 

Obiora, T. (2010). "Synonyms in Igbo Language". In Andah, B. (eds) International Journal 

of Research in Arts and Social Sciences 2. Retrieved 14th June, 2012. 

www.academicexcellencesoajsty_.gom 

Ogbalu, F.C. (1974). Standard Igbo, Path to its Development, Onitsha: University Publishing. 

Palmer, F., (1981).   Semantics (2nd ed). Britain: Cambridge University. Saeed, J. (2007). 

Semantics (2nd ed.), Oxford: Blackwell Publishing. 

Yule, G. (1996). The Study of Language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

http://www.academicexcellencesoajsty_.gom/

