Tiv–English dictionary

Tiv Dictionary: W

118 entries

Every Tiv word in the archive's dictionary that begins with “W” — 118 entries, in alphabetical order. Each entry gives the English meaning and part of speech, and, where the archive records them, the pronunciation, an example sentence in Tiv with its English translation, and notes on usage. Select a word to open its own page with related words and sources.

wa

pack

Verb

wa

insert

Verb

Example
1. Wa ajingi sha ashe. Put on eyeglasses. 2. Wa akondo shin akwati. — “Place clothes in the suitcase.”

wa

grown

Verb

Example
The yam has grown a lot. (Note: The yam tubers grow underground.)

wa

taking

Verb

Also means
carrying
Example
A ngu wa akwagh sha kasua. — “She is taking items to the market.”

wa

pack

Verb

Wa ago iyol

get ready

Noun

Example
Get ready to go to church.

wa aie

to lie

Noun

Example
Kunte lies a lot.

wa ayom

clever (person)

Adjective

wa bo

stingy

Noun

Example
That man is too stingy.

wa kwagh

advise

Verb

Example
M wa ve kwagh mer ve de

wa1

insert

Verb

Also means
place in/on something. 1
Example
Wa ajingi sha ashe — “Put on eyeglasses. 2. Wa akondo shin akwati. Place clothes in the suitcase”

wa2

grown

Verb

Also means
Iyough wa kpishi
Example
The yam has grown a lot. (Note: The yam tubers grow underground.)

waarawa

sand

Noun

Example
Waarawa ngee ken kpe ifi u Benue. — “There is a lot of sand at the Benue River beach.”

waiko

prepare

Verb

Example
A waiko sha u henen kwagh kpishi. — “She considers studying a lot.”

Wam

My / mine (alternate form)

Pronoun

wam

mine

Noun

Also means
my
Example
1. Takeda ne ka u wam. 2. Ka takerada wam. — “This book is mine. It is my book.”

wam

my

Pronoun

Also means
mine

Wan

Child

Noun/wahn/

Example
Wan wam doo. — “My child is good.”

Wan

Child

Noun

wan

baby, child

Noun

Example
Kôr wan (hold the baby or child). See ônov (babies or children). Wankwase (daughter, female child/baby). Wannomso (son).

wan

son or daughter

Noun

Example
Terngu ka — “Wan wam (my child).”

wan

son; daughter; child

Noun

wan wam

Terngu is my child

Noun

Example
Wanbua (calf). Wanikegh (chick). Wanivo (kid or baby-goat).

wan1

baby, child

Noun

Also means
male or female child
Example
Kôr wan (hold the baby or child) — “Wankwase (daughter, female child/baby). Wannomso (son)”

wan2

son or daughter

Noun

Also means
a male or female child of a mother and or faher
Example
Wan wam (my child) — “Terngu ka”

Wang

clean

Adjective

wanger

clear, understand

Verb

Example
Tica pase nahan, wanger mo. — “The teacher explained so, I understood.”

wanger

bright

Adjective

Also means
clean

wanikundan

infant

Noun

Example
Wanikundan ngu shin gambe. — “The infant is in the crib.”

wankwagh iyol

false accusation

Phrase

Example
Jane wa un kwagh iyol er a tôô un takerada. — “Jane accused him of taking her book.”

Want

want

Verb

Example
M soo u yan kwagh — “I want to eat.”

wantor

queen, chief’s daughter

Noun

Example
Wantor ngu a mbawasen un kpishi. — “The queen/chief’s daughter has a lot of helpers.”

wanye kwaor

handsome young man

Phrase

Example
Ter has grown into a handsome young

war

save (rescue)

Verb

wase

help

Verb

Example
Wasem m mough sha. Wase se se pir usu.; We a rumun yô wase wanye a per gbenda — “Help me to stand up.; Please help the child cross the road”

wasen

helpful

Adjective

Washima

Sorry / apology

Interjection

We

You

Pronoun

We

you

Pronoun

we

you (singular)

Pronoun

wegh

hand

Noun

Example
Wegh ku imese. — “Left hand.”
Usage
Ave (hands), plural noun.

Wen

he

Pronoun

Also means
she

wen

she

Pronoun

Also means
her / it (feminine)

wer

moon

Noun

wo

mountain

Noun

won

in-law

Noun

won

brother-in-law

Noun

Also means
sister-in-law

won

brother- or sister-in-law

Noun

Example
Mngu ka won u Daniel. — “Mngu is Daniel’s sister-in-law.”

won

brother-in-law; sister-in-law

Noun

wondo

trousers

Noun

Example
Kasev kpa mba huwan (hough) wondo. — “Women wear pants, too.”

wondo

comb

Noun

Example
Nomikegh ngu a womdo. — “A cock has a comb.”

wondo1

trousers

Noun

Also means
a piece of clothing for the lower body that covers both legs
Example
Kasev kpa mba huwan (hough) wondo — “Women wear pants, too”

wondo2

comb

Noun

Also means
the freshy growth on the top of the head of chickens and some birds
Example
Nomikegh ngu a womdo — “A cock has a comb”

Wua

Kill/slew

Noun

wua

kill

Verb

wua

grind, sharpen

Verb

Example
Wua wua. — “Grind guinea corn.”

wua

Guinea corn

Noun

Example
Wua wua er ruam. — “Grind the guinea corn to make fufu.”

wua

kill

Verb

Example
Mato gba; wua or mom. — “The car crashed; killed one person.”

wua

Guinea corn

Noun

wua

kill

Verb

wua

kill

Verb

wua1

grind, sharpen

Verb

Also means
to grind something on a mortar or using a machine
Example
Wua wua — “Grind guinea corn”

wua2

Guinea corn

Noun

Also means
grass with tall stalk whose seeds are used for food
Example
Wua wua er ruam — “Grind the guinea corn to make fufu”

wua3

kill

Verb

Also means
to take a life
Example
Mato gba; wua or mom — “The car crashed; killed one person”

wuhe

jealous one

Noun

wuhe

cold, coldness, chill

Adjective

Example
Wuhe kôr. — “It is cold.”

wuhe

concubine

Noun

Example
Kwase u Solomon u sha utaan ka wuhe u kwase na u sha pue. — “Solomon’s fifth wife is the concubine of the tenth wife.”

wuhe

shut, close

Verb

Also means
imprison
Example
Wuhe hunda man senda u. — “Shut the door and lock it.”

wuhe

uproot

Verb

Example
Wuhe abun. — “Uproot a ground nut plant.”

wuhe

imprison

Verb

Also means
close

wuhe

cold; chill; concubine; shut; imprison; uproot

Verb

wuhe

cold

Adjective

Also means
chill

wuhe

to shut or imprison

Verb

wuhe

to uproot

Verb

wuhe kôr

it feels cold

Also means
cold catch

wuhe1

cold, coldness, chill

Adjective

Also means
when it is not hot
Example
Wuhe kôr — “It is cold”

wuhe2

concubine

Noun

Also means
the other wife in a polyandrous marriage
Example
Kwase u Solomon u sha utaan ka wuhe u kwase na u sha pue — “Solomon’s fifth wife is the concubine of the tenth wife”

wuhe3

shut, close; imprison

Verb

Also means
to close/shut a door or opening to contain something or a person
Example
Wuhe hunda man senda u — “Shut the door and lock it”

wuhe4

uproot

Verb

Also means
to uproot a plant or shrub or small tree
Example
Wuhe abun — “Uproot a ground nut plant”

wuna

storage place

Noun

Example
Wa wua sha wuna. — “Put corn in the storage place.”

wura

rain

Verb

Example
1. Wura ngu nôôn. 2. — “It is raining. Aber a wura tam sha itiough. I had drops of rain on my head.”

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