Glossary

Half of a Yellow Sun

'Half of a Yellow Sun' uses words from the Igbo dialect. Though many unique words used in the novel are Igbo, some are pidgin, a simplified form of English that uses literal elements of Nigerian languages.

Joshua Ehiosun

Article written by Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

The inclusion of many locally unique words to the story of ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ made the book create an ideal scenario of Nigeria before and during the civil war.

Half of a Yellow Sun Glossary
  1. Sah: Sah is a pidgin word used in place of sir.
  2. Kedu afa gi?: Kedu afa gi is a question that translates from Igbo to English as “what is your name?”
  3. Akpu: Akpu is a West African delicacy made from fresh or fermented cassava. It looks like dough.
  4. Umunna: Umunna is an Igbo word used to address a distant relation from someone’s paternal side.
  5. Ugu: Ugu is a tropical vine that grows in West Africa. The vine has edible seeds and leaves made into a soup delicacy.
  6. Agbogho: A short version of the Igbo word Agboghobia which means “young lady.”
  7. Aja: The Igbo word for “sand.” It also alternatively means “appeasing the oracle.”
  8. Akamu: Akamu is a delicacy of pap made from corn.
  9. Akara: The Yoruba word for “Bean cake.”
  10. Aku: Winged termites that appear during the rainy season.
  11. Anara: The Igbo word for “Garden egg.”
  12. Aro festival: The word Aro translates to “spear.” Aro festival is a cultural festival held by the Aro people with their fierce masquerades.
  13. Oga: A pidgin word that refers to someone in a position of authority or someone wealthy.
  14. Biko: Translates to the English word “please.”
  15. Chineke: The Igbo word for “God the creator.”
  16. Fada: Fada is a pidgin word for father.
  17. Fiam: Fiam is used to express hurriedness.
  18. Garri: Garri is a popular West African food produced from processing cassava tubers into dried cassava flour.
  19. Ichie: Ichie is an Igbo word used as an honorary title for respected elders in a community.
  20. Ifukwa gi: Translated from Igbo to English as “look at you.”
  21. In ugo?: Translated from Igbo to English as “You hear?”
  22. Isi owu: This is a traditional Igbo hairstyle plaited with a wool attachment.
  23. Jollof Rice: A rice dish made combining spices, pepper, and tomatoes in the same pot with rice. It gets made during weddings or party occasions in Nigeria.
  24. Koboko: Koboko is a twined whip produced from rawhide.
  25. Moi-Moi: A steamed bean pudding delicacy made from washed and peeled beans, onions, pepper, and spices.
  26. Nee Anya: An Igbo word meaning “watch out” in English.
  27. Mmuo: An Igbo word meaning “spirit” in English.
  28. Nna m: A phrase that means “our father” in English.
  29. Nne: The Igbo word for mother.
  30. Nwa m: The Igbo phrase for “my child.”
  31. Nwanyi: The Igbo word for woman.
  32. Nwoke: The Igbo word for man.
  33. O ginidi?: A question that means “What is it really?” In English.
  34. Ofe nsala: Ofensala means white pepper soup. The delicacy is distinct for its colorlessness.
  35. Okpa: Okpa is a popular Igbo food made from dried flour of peas. The delicacy gets made into a cooked pudding.
  36. Okporoko: Imported dried stockfish from Norway.
  37. Red oil: Red oil is palm fruit oil.
  38. Sha: A pidgin phrase for “excuse me.”
  39. Yeye: A pidgin word meaning “useless.”
  40. Kiosk: A small shop popularly made from sheet metal or wood.
  41. Chin-chin: A delicacy made by rolling wheat flour into tiny puddings and frying them.
  42. Biko: The Igbo word for “please.”
  43. Biafra: The Igbo nation that was created by Colonel Ojukwu.
  44. Ugba porridge: A porridge made from fermented African oil bean seed.
  45. Tufia: A word used to declare a forbidding remark.


FAQs

What is the main indigenous language used in Half of a Yellow Sun?

The main indigenous language used in ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ is Igbo.

What is pidgin?

Pidgin is a simplified form of English that uses grammatical elements from other indigenous languages.

What is Garri?

Garri is a popular food eaten in Nigeria made by processing cassava into creamy flour.

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Joshua Ehiosun

About Joshua Ehiosun

C2 certified writer.

Joshua is an undying lover of literary works. With a keen sense of humor and passion for coining vague ideas into state-of-the-art worded content, he ensures he puts everything he's got into making his work stand out. With his expertise in writing, Joshua works to scrutinize pieces of literature.

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