Esan

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Esan (pronounced /aysan/) is one of the major ethnic groups in Edo State in Nigeria. The name 'Esan' was once corrupted to 'Ishan' by colonial Britain. The people populate areas such as Uromi, Ewatto, Igueben, Irrua, Ubiaja, Ebele, Ehor, Ekpoma, Idunwele-Ewu, etc in central Edo State, South-South Nigeria. Esan are proud of their ancestry and heritage. The people are said to be positive in outlook, creative, industrious and highly educated. History has it that they hailed from ancient Bini, and their language is of Kwa subdivision of the Niger-Congo language family. Replete with different dialects, Esan language is quite unintelligible to even many native speakers. For instance, the Esan word for person (or, somebody) is variously called by the different kingdoms' dialects as ọria (by Uromi, etc), ọhia (by Uzea, etc), ọyia (by Unea, etc), ọhan (by Ugbọha, etc). This obvious difficulty associated with speaking others' dialect other than one's mother dialect has given rise to the widespread use of Pidgin English, which is the local patois.

During the era of the military,the Esan had between five to six high ranking military, police and Naval officers as governors of various states around the country at different occasions, a feat that owed much to their learning and sociability. Chief Ikimi and Chief Aneni—have been known to occupy the position of chairman of two national parties—NRC and SDP respectively.

Esan Day is celebrated at the Tafawa Balewa square, Lagos every December; there, names of all prominent Esan people are read to loud ovation. Esans believe in self help, thus asisting to reach villages and towns to achieve development. Prominent Esan are Chief Anthony Enahoro, who raised the motion for the independence of Nigeria; Peter Enahoro, who wrote How to be a Nigerian, Tony Anenih, a top Nigerian politician and former minister of Works and Housing. Other names include the late Ambrose Alli, Governor of Bendel State; Bishop Ekpu, Anthony Cardinal Okogie; late first lady Stella Obasanjo(late); and musician Sonny Okosun. Also included are Chief Tom Ikimi, former foreign minister (during the period of Gen. Sani Abacha); former Lagos state police commissioner, Oyakhilomen; former vice president of Nigeria, Augustus Aikhonmu (retired Real Admiral); former deputy commissioner of Lagos state Vincent Airebamen.

Esan are fun-loving people who have various festivities and ritualistic traditions.Their folktales and folklores serve as forms of learning and entertainment, like the famous Igbabonelimin. They have prominent traditional rulers who keep order and sanity in a complex society where beauty and manners are intertwined. Despite the long-term impact of Christianity among Esan, the people are festish in that a large number still practice traditional beliefs in the form of worship of ancestral spirits and other gods. A large percentage of Esan are Christians, mostly of the Catholic faith and recently of other denominations. Esan has various dialects that all stem from Ẹdo-Bini and there is still close affinity between the Esan and the Bini, which leads to the common saying 'Esan ii gbi Ẹdo' meaning, Esan does not fight the Ẹdo.

Esan are great poets, writers, singers, carvers, farmers, scholars, storytellers, etc. The folklore and history of the Esan tribe is worth re-visting and attempt should be made to research the various ways that the villages are related to the Ẹdos, and others who may have occupied Ifeku Island many years ago. The Esan heritage is unique despite the variation of dialects.

A handful of Esan families are known to possess Portuguese ancestry, resulting from links dating back to the 16th Century when Portuguese sailors first entered the Bini Kingdom via the coast. British arrived Bini in the wake of the Portuguese numerous expeditions to, and intercourse with, Bini.

ESAN LGAs (with the constituent villages/towns)

The autonomous clans/kingdoms in Esan land are currently administratively arranged as follows under the current five local government areas:

(1) Esan North East LGA, Uromi:

   Uromi, Uzea 

(2) Esan Central LGA, Irrua:

   Irrua, Ugbegun, Okpoji, Idoa, Ewu

(3) Esan West LGA, Ekpoma:

   Ekpoma, Urohi, Ukhun, Egoro

(4) Esan South East LGA, Ubiaja:

   Ubiaja, Ewohimhin, Emulu, Ohordua, Ẹbhoato, Okhuesan, Orowa,
   Ugboha, Oria (lllushi), Onogholo

(5) Igueben LGA, Igueben:

   Igueben, Ebele, Amaho, Ẹbhosa, Udo, Ekpon, Ujorgba,  Ogwa, Ugun,
   Okalo 

ESAN NAMES

(Some popular Esan names and their meanings) Abhuluimẹn (corrupted to 'Aburimẹ', abbr. Abu) a congratulatory name literally meaning ‘the verdict is in my favour’; ‘the decision/ruling has worked to my advantage’, often given to a child in memory of a major feat or victory over one’s foe or difficulty

Abulogho, Abulogholo, Abuman (abbr. Abu) m Esan equivalent of the Hebrew name Abraham, meaning ‘father of multitude’, as blessing or wish for a child to be a future father

Aburẹkhan (abbr. Abu, Abure /aburay/) m a name, meaning ‘one followed by a multitude’, given to esp the lastborn in a family of several children

Agbọnkhese (abbr. Agbọn) m an allusive name meaning ‘human beings are the unseen forces contending with humans’; ‘humans are their own enemies’, used to suggest that one’s problems, difficulties or travails are caused, not by invisible powers as people are being made to believe but, by fellow humans themselves

Aigbọkhan m a name meaning ‘you don’t strive with sb for no just cause’, used by parents to inform their foe/hater that they are not culpable/guilty as alleged, and as such should be left alone

Akhigbe (abbr. Aigbe, in full Aah khi gbi ọnan) m 1. a name meaning ‘this child of mine won’t be killed, hurt or harmed’ 2. [esp Chris. based on Ps. 105:15; Is. 54:17] a name meaning ‘not (meant) to be harmed/hurt/killed’; ‘too defended to be a victim’ [Reason: many parents give their children this name either after losing some child(ren) to death or when they wish to safeguard one whose conception or birth was costly■ Related name: Ujangbe, Otọibhi]

Aimiẹndẹ (abbr. Aimiẹn, in full Aah ii min ọmọn dẹ) f a name meaning ‘a child can’t be bought’, used to emphasise how precious or valuable a child is

Aituajiẹ (abbr. Aitua) m/f an allusive and proverbial name meaning ‘it is not ideal to laugh/make mockery in a hurry’, used to suggest that there is nearly always the possibility of seeing a fallen person rise up, or that the future could be better or more favourable

Aiwuanfo m a proverbial name meaning ‘one can never possess infinite wisdom’, used to emphasise the limit of human wisdom that makes people subject to errors

Aiwuansubhor /aiwuansu:bhọ/ (abbr. Aiwuan) m/f a name meaning ‘death defies human wisdom’; ‘death makes mockery of human intelligence’; death cannot be tricked, cheated, played upon’, used to suggest how helpless and vulnerable humans can be humbled by death no matter how wise or intelligent they seem

Aiyegbeni (abbr. Aiye, in full agbọn ii yi egbe ni) m an allusive name suggesting that no one wants their neighbour’s good, progress, well-being or that human beings have a tendency to wishing each other ill-luck

Ẹbhodaghe (abbr. Ẹbho, Ẹbhoghe) m a name meaning ‘people are seeing’; ‘the world is a witness’, used to suggest that one’s hands are clean, or that you are not guilty as alleged

Ebosẹrẹmẹn (abbr. Ebosẹ, Osẹrẹmẹn) m Esan name meaning ‘whom God has given me’, equivalent to Jonathan (in Hebrew)

Ebosẹtae, Ebosẹtale (abbr. Ebosẹ, Osẹtae, Osẹtale) m/f a name meaning ‘whom/what God has ordained’, suggesting that the will of God can’t be squashed

Ẹhiz /èhis/ m abbr. the abbreviated and stylistic form of most names beginning with ‘Ẹhi’ See Ẹhi

Ẹhizojie, Ẹhizogie (rarely Ẹhiọzojie, Ẹhiọzogie, abbr Ẹhiz) m a name meaning ‘God is the one who makes one king’; or loosely ‘rising to greatness is God’s doing’ [Related names: Ẹhizọkhae]

Ẹhizọkhae, Ẹhizọkhale m (abbr Ẹhiz, Ọkhae) a name meaning ‘God is the one who makes someone a hero’; ‘achieving greatness in life is God’s doing’ (perhaps partly influenced by Chris. [Eccl. 9:11])

Ejele /ayjaylay/ m Esan equivalent of the Hebrew name Aaron, meaning ‘esteem, lofty or loftiness, exalted or exaltation’ [Related names: Ọsẹmeje, Ọmọ(n)zeje,]

Enaholo (abbr. Enaho) m Esan name literally meaning ‘these are the ones desired’, or (loosely) ‘long desired’, usually given to a male child esp in a family that has long longed or wished for one, similar to the French name Désirée /dayziray/ (fem. Désiré)

Erejele, Abejele (abbr. Ejele) m Esan (near) equivalent of the Hebrew feminine name Abigail ‘father of exaltation/esteem’ [in which sense, ‘Ọtibhor’ may be a related name]

Erọmhọsẹle, Erọmhọsẹ, Erọmọsẹle, Erọmọsẹ (abbr. Ero /ayro/, Erọmor) m/f a name meaning ‘(the) prayer has been effective’; ‘(the) supplication was effectual’, given to a child whose prebirth condition(s) called for prayer or divine intervention [Related name: Osẹiwuẹ, Ẹbosẹ(le), Ebosẹta(le)]

Ẹseleọhẹ (abbr. Ẹse, Ẹsele) m/f a name meaning ‘free gift’; ‘offer needing no payback’, a reference to the benevolent God who freely gives children to humans in the belief that the poor couldn’t have afforded the costs if children were to be purchased

Ibhakẹwuanlan, Ibhankẹwuanlan (abbr. Ẹwuanlẹn) m a name meaning ‘I didn’t get wise early (enough)’; ‘I’m wiser, more careful now’ [Reason: a name parents give to a child when, after losing several children or after allowing themselves to be deceived, cheated or fool, eventually realise their mistake]

Ibọi m a moribund name originating from a misunderstanding of the British colonial officers’ often repeated word “boy” or “oh boy”, when calling the attention of an African worker or young man

Inẹgben- m a prefix that is added to a noun to mean ‘I hide/seek protection under’ the thing mentioned Inẹgbenẹbọ, Inẹgbenosun (I hide under a shrine, god, idol; my shrine is my shelter) Inẹgbenẹhi, Inẹgbenosẹ [Chris. based on Prov. 18:10; Ps. 61:3] (I seek God’s protection; I hide under the shadow of the Almighty)

Irọbekhian m a name, when reordered, means ‘I go with that which is good’; ‘I like peace’; ‘I dislike trouble’ [Related name: Ikuenọbe, Ibhaje, Ibhajọbe, Ọsẹmẹikhian]

Izẹhinọmhẹn (abbr. Ẹhi, Ẹhinọmhẹn, Izẹhi) m/f a name meaning ‘I have chosen the good God’; ‘I have opted for the God of goodness’, God here being symbolic of one’s guiding angel

-khiẹna m/f a suffix to which a noun is added to affirm that you are wary of the noun mentioned in the belief that it is in it you suspect you may be hurt/killed Oaikhiẹna (I am wary of my family); Amẹńikhiẹna (I am wary of water, river, etc); Ọshiọikhiẹna (I am wary of my friend)

Manatuẹ, Imanatuẹ m a corruption of the name ‘Matthew’

Obehiaghe : We are looking out for God's time

Osẹzẹe m a name meaning ‘the reason is God’ or ‘God is the cause’, being an acknowledgment of divine help either in the conception or delivery of the child

Ogudu m a moribund name that has its origin in the spoken English expression “Oh good!”, used by colonial officers to commend a hardworking Afrcan, which uneducated Esan natives misunderstood to be a name for an industrious worker [See also: Ibọi, Ikpotoki, Imanatuẹ, Inono]

Ojiẹ m Esan name meaning ‘laughter’ influenced by the Hebrew name Isaac

Okhueleigbe (in full 'okhuele ii gbi agogo') m literally meaning ‘the constant ringing of a bell does not destroy a bell’, used to suggest that the fact that your name is being repeatedly subjected to slander, insult, or is maligned (esp because people misunderstand your good intentions) does not harm you [Statistics: a common name among Uromi, Uzea]

Oko, Okoh m a prefix that is added to a noun to suggest the kind of relationship the person has with the noun mentioned 1. son of Okojie (king’s son; male relative of a royal family) 2. [esp ATR] son of, or dedicated to Okosun (son of shrine, god, idol) 3. friend of; born into Okougbo (born in the farm); Okorọ (born during raining season); Okoamẹn (friend of water, rain); Okouromi (friend of Uromi Town); Okoemu (friend of Emu Town) [Compare: Ọmosun)]

Okotuẹ m (fem. Ọmotuẹ) 1. Esan name meaning Pastor 2. a regular churchgoer or church worker 3. loosely a child born in a church

Omiojieahiọ, Omiogieahiọ m (abbr Omiojie, Omiogie) a name meaning ‘everyone’s wish is to be a king’s heir’; ‘to be a prince is everyone’s desire’

Ọmhẹn m/f Esan name meaning ‘pleasant’, equivalent to Hebrew’s Naomi

Osẹidobor, Ẹhiidobor m/f a name meaning ‘God does not make mistake’, often given to a child whose sex is the reverse of what was what predicted or anticipated [Related names: Idobọiyikosẹ, Osẹilukholor]

Osẹikhuẹmhẹn m/f (abbr Ekhuẹmhẹn) a name meaning ‘It is God I praise’ [Related name: Osẹigẹn, Osẹiga, Osẹiro]

Osẹmudiamhẹn m/f a name meaning ‘God is standing for me’; ‘God is my support, fortress, stronghold’

Osẹnọbhuohiẹn m a name meaning ‘God is judge’, equivalent of the Hebrew name Daniel

OsẹzẹleỌdegua f a name meaning ‘she has mixed up with’ or ‘a mix-up with’, given to the first or the lone female child in a family dominated by males

Ọdianọsẹn (abbr Ọdia) m a name (usually responsorial or positively consolatory) meaning ‘it is well’; ‘fine’

Ọdiọn m/f a name, meaning eldest, given to the first child in multiple births [See Akhere, Adesẹ]

Ọduẹki, Ọduaki (abbr Ẹki, Aki) f a memorial name meaning ‘trader’, given to a child born on a market day, or right in the marketplace/trading centre

Ọfure m/f [esp Chris. based on Phil. 4:7] a name meaning ‘peace’; ‘tranquility’

Ọghanivie (abbr Ivie) m/f a name meaning ‘more precious than gold’; ‘more valuable than gold’; ‘costlier than gold’, with gold here symbolic of the world’s costliest or most precious thing [Related name: Ọghanẹkan, Inẹkanbivie, Inojie]

Ọhainlosẹ, Ọhainlo m/f Esan equivalent of the English name ‘wonder’, ‘miracle’, ‘marvel’ ‘awesomeness’ given to a child often as a tribute to God, who is believed to be at work

Ọinọghosẹ, Ọilọghosẹ (abbr Osẹ) m/f 1. a name meaning ‘it is not difficult for God (to do)’ 2. [esp Chris. based on Mk. 12:16; Jer. 32:27] a name meaning ‘nothing is difficult for God (to do)’, suggestive of God’s infinite might

Ọmejele (abbr. Ejele) m/f Esan name meaning ‘child of exhortation, loftiness, esteem’, near equivalent to the Hebrew name Barnabas

Ọmẹnlosẹ (abbr. Ẹlo, Ẹlosẹ, Osẹ) m/f [esp Chris. based on Zech. 2:8] a name meaning ‘(the) apple of God’s eye’, used to suggest how precious a child is [Related name: Aimiẹndẹ, Ọghanẹkan, Ọghanivie]

Ọmobera, Ọmejele m Esan name meaning ‘child of esteem’; ‘child of (my) right hand’, considered near equivalent of the Hebrew name Benjamin

Ọmọnkherebhe (abbr. Ọmọn) f a name meaning ‘all are children’, used by parents to emphasise that they accept a baby born to them despite the fact that it is different from their expectation/preference esp in terms of the sex

Ọmọnkhose (abbr. Ọmọn or Ose, in full ọmọn khi ose si iẹlẹn) f a name meaning ‘child is the beauty of life’, used to affirm one’s fulfilment in, and satisfaction with, life

Ọnahoẹmhọnlẹn m a name meaning ‘beloved’, equivalent of the Hebrew name David

Ọnuwabhagbe (abbr. Uwa, Uwabhagbe, in full ọrhia ni uwa bha gbe, ẹbholo ii sabi ọle ) m/f an affirmative name meaning ‘the person whom the family hasn’t forfeited, offered, given out’, used to state publicly, in a more spiritual tone, that your child should not be harmed, imperilled, killed [See also: Akhigbe, Ujangbe]

Ọtibhor (in full ọmọn na ti imẹn bhọ) f a celebratory name meaning ‘this child makes me glad’; ‘this baby is a source of joy to me’; ‘this child causes me excitement’ [Related name: Eghọnghọn, Ẹduje]

Uhọnmhọnebamhọn (abbr Uhọnmhọn) m a name meaning ‘one’s life is greater than one’s possession’, used to emphasise the consideration of oneself as primary/basic

Urẹkpa m/f a name menaing ‘help’, equivalent to the Hebrew name Ezra

Uwahimhinre /uwa:hibhinre/, Oahimhinre /oa:hinbhinre/ (reversed form Aah ii hinmhin emhin yi ughe) m/f a name literally meaning ‘it is to one’s home one brings things’, with the advisory message that one should learn to favour one’s family, town, people, etc

ESAN LANGUAGE

Efforts are variously being made to have dictionaries of Esan language. The information below will be of some assistance in the direction of understanding Esan:

Alphabet.

Esan uses the Latin alphabet, and a total number of 25 letters make up the alphabet: a, b, d, e, ẹ, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, ọ, p, r, s, t, u, v, w, y, z. The diphthong consists of 10 sets of double letters: bh, gb, gh, kh, kp, kw, mh, nw, ny, sh.

Noun.

All Esan nouns begin with vowel letters (i.e. a, e, ẹ, i, o, ọ, u): aru, eko, itohan, ozẹ, ọrhia, etc. Due to the influence of neighbouring tongues and Western languages, especially English, there is the tendency among Esan to pronounce many non-Esan nouns beginning with a consonant letter. In the event of such within the boundary of Esan write-up, an apostrophe may be employed before the first consonant letter both to Esanise and ease the pronunciation. In speech however such apostrophe is often pronounced as ‘i’ /i:/: ’bazaar, ’Jonah, ’labour, ’zoo, etc.

All Esan nouns end in either vowel letters (e.g. ato, Ẹkpoma, uri, oya) or the vowel-associated letter ‘n’: agbọn, eran, ẹnyẹn, itọn, isẹn, etc. Exception to this rule is the writing of proper nouns where a name can end in letter ‘r’ always after a letter ‘ọ’ to make it sound like ‘or’ in English as well as the use of letter ‘h’ after a letter ‘o’ to make it sound as ‘oh’ in English: Isẹribhor, Okoh.

In nouns, following the first vowel letter is always a second consonant letter: ahoho, avan, ilo, udia. For the expression of a feminine gender, the second consonant letter following a vowel letter is doubled: ahhihi (=female ant), ọshọ (=female friend), ọrrhia (=female person), etc. This style is better understood by French speakers, who usually differentiate genders – masculine, feminine, neuter.

Pluralization in Esan two forms, the first of which has to do with nouns that have original plural forms, in which case the first letter is replaced/displaced by another letter: Singular Plural ọmọn (baby) imọn (babies) ọmọle (man, male) imọle (men, males) okpea (man) ikpea (men) okhuo (woman, female) ikhuo (women, females) ọshọ, ọmuọe (friend) ishọ, imuọe (friends) obhio (relation) ibhio (relations) obhokhan (child) ibhokhan (children) oghian (enemy) ighian (enemies) usẹnbhokhan (boy) isẹnbhokhan (boys) ọmamhẹn, ọmọhin (girl) imamhẹn, imọhin (girls) ọwanlẹn (elder, adult) iwanlẹn (elders, adults) ọrhia (person) erhia (persons)

A situation where two or more of these nouns form a compound word or are used together, there is usually a fusion in which the plural in only one is used: ọmokpea (male child), iminkpea (male children); ọmokhuo (female child), iminkhuo (female children). If the plural in these nouns are retained when such nouns are used one after the other as in ‘imọn ikpea’, ibhokhan ishọ’, etc, a completely different idea is being expressed such as ‘men’s children’ and ‘children’s friends’.

Pronoun.

All Esan pronouns have plural forms different from singular, and both subject and object cases are the same: Singular Plural imẹn (I, me) iman (we, us) uwẹ (you, or thou) ibha (you) ọle (he, him) ele (they, them) ọlle (she, her) elle (they, them) ọhle (it) ehle (they, them) - Aah otuan ituan ukpọle ikpọle

(‘Aah’, ‘otuan’ and ‘ukpọle’ have no English equivalent, and while ‘Aah’ can only be used as subject, ‘otuan’ and ‘ukpọle’ can both be used in either way: Otuan ọkpa ni ele dia; Dati ituan eva re. Ukpọle ọkpa ribhọ. Jia ikpọle ea re. Note that ‘otuan’ (pl. ituan) is used for humans, ‘ukpọle’ (pl. ikpọle) is used for non-humans and ‘Aah’ depends on the context in which it is used.)

Sentence order.

The use of Esan is open to three orders or arrangement: (subject-verb-object (SVO), object-subject-verb (OSV), and object-verb-subject (OVS)) to express themselves Okoh ’h gbi ele (SVO). Okoh imẹn ddaghe (OSV). Ena yẹ imẹn (OVS). SVO is commonest and most employed. The use of OVS is restricted to a limited number of grammatical constructions.

Verb.

All Esan verbs start with consonant letters and end in either vowel letter or the vowel associated letter ‘n’: bi, dẹ, fan, hẹn, lolo, etc. In expressing the past, doubling of initial letter of a verb takes place such that ‘bi’ changes to ‘bbi’ and ‘hẹn’ becomes ‘hhẹn’. A verb can also begin with a diphthong: khian, gbe, bhanbhan. The formation of past tense in this case is not different: kkhian, ggbe, etc. Some Esan dialect such as Uzea makes use of ‘ah’ (or ’h) to show present participle (as in “He is going home.”). Although this is absent in majority of Esan dialects, it is used and placed before the main verb when writing: Ele ’h khọa = They’re having bath.

Adjective.

Esan adjectives are of two distinct types: ‘word adjective’ and ‘phrasal adjective’.

Word adjective.

A word adjective is an adjective consisting of a single word: esi, khọlọ, hu, jian, etc. This form of adjective is subdivided into three types: pre-noun adjective, post-noun adjective, numeral adjective, nounal adjective, and restricted adjective. A pre-noun adjective appears only before the noun it modifies, provides information about the noun’s size and/or quantity, and they start with a vowel letter: ukpomin, ekitui, udede, ikwẹkwi, etc. These adjectives are not subject to the law of tenses and do not take the suffix ‘mhin’. A post-noun adjective comes immediately after the noun it modifies: khọlọ, khọriọn, fuọ, ba, to, han, lẹnlẹn, bhihi, hu, khisin, khere, re(le) (far), re (deep), re (grown up), re (well attended), bue, tan, etc. These adjectives are subject to the law of tenses such that they are used to reflect time (e.g. “Okoh rẹ kkhọriọn.”).

Exception of the adjective ‘khọriọn’ all others can be used with the suffix ‘mhin’, and (‘ebe’ and ‘esi’ which are also called noun adjectives) they all start with consonant letters. A numeral adjective is one that can be used to answer such question as “how many?”: ọkpa, eva, ea, igbe, etc. Because they are also nouns, they all start with vowel letters. They are neither subject to the law of tenses nor can they be used with the suffix ‘mhin’. A nounal or noun adjective is one that comes before a noun and can easily be manipulated to become a noun in usage: esi, ebe. It can neither be used with ‘mhin’ nor are they subject to tense law. A restricted adjective is one that can only be used with a particular noun e.g. ‘bhibhi’ in “ewewẹ bhibhi.”

Some adjectives that can be placed under the word adjective are adjectives that are formed from the doubling of a word adjective: fanọn-fanọn (unkempt; untidy), rughu-rughu or ragha-ragha (disorderly), sankan-sankan (muddy and rough), yagha-yagha (untidy), kpadi-kpadi (rough or even), ose-ose (beautiful). This system can also be used thus: fanọn/2, yagha/2, kpadi/2, sankan/2, ose/2, etc.

Phrasal adjective.

A phrasal adjective is one that consists of more than one word; it is made up of a phrase. More often than not, an adjectival phrase usually contains either a noun + verb or an adjective+preposition+noun which combine to perform the work of an adjective. Some common examples are: rui ẹlo (blind), yi ehọ (deaf, rebellious), di ọmalẹn (old, senile), di itọn a (wretched), bhọn ose (beautiful), fi ahiẹ a (serene), fua amẹn (light-complexioned), ba bhi egbe (painful), mhẹn bhi egbe (body-friendly), mhẹn bhi unu (sweet), mhẹn bhi ẹlo (beautiful or not offensive to sight), mhẹn bhi ihue (not offensive to the nose), mhẹn bhi ehọ (not offensive to the ear), khọ bhi unu (unpalatable; offensive), khọ bhi egbe (unbearable), etc.

Below are some Esan adjectives and their meanings (and those that can be used with the suffix ‘mhin’ are shown) Ukpomin (little), ekitui (many; much), udede (big), ikwẹkwi (tiny; trivial), khisin-mhin (small; diminutive), khere-mhin (small; little), hu-mhin (big; foamy), khuẹlẹ-mhin (slim), re-mhin (far; deep; well attended; grown up), dia-mhin (straight; appropriate), bhala-mhin (light-complexioned), bhia-mhin (large, spacious), riẹriẹ-mhin (smooth), rẹrẹ-mhin (restless), kpoloa (smooth), gọ-mhin (crooked) kpono-mhin (slippery), kwọn (slippery; slimy), to-mhin (irritating), kpọ-mhin (widespread), khia-mhin (holy, righteous), fu-mhin (peaceful), bhiẹlẹ-mhin (lazy), fa-mhin (dirt-free, clean), lẹ-mhin (scarce), tua-mhin (quick), zaza-mhin (skilful), sun-mhin (slimy), kholo (spherical), hian-mhin (efficacious; alcoholic), nwun-mhin or mun-mhin (sharp; alcoholic), khọlọ-mhin (bad; painful), sẹ-ẹ (ordinary), nọghọ-mhin (difficult), kpataki (real), lo-mhin (inexpensive; deep), khua-mhin (heavy; hot), tọnọ-mhin (itchy), luẹn (ripe), khekhea (sour), riala-mhin (bitter), fua-mhin (white), bhihi-mhin (black; dark-complexioned), kẹnkẹn-mhin (multicoloured), kọnkọn (fat), kaka-mhin (hard; serious), toto-mhin (serious; taut), ghan-mhin (costly), ghantoa (costly), wualan-mhin (wise), sọnọ-mhin (offensive), lẹkhẹ-mhin (soft), khẹrẹ-khẹrẹ (muddy), gban-a (expansive), tan-mhin (tall; elegant), guẹguẹ (ingratiating), mhẹn-mhin (good), lẹnlẹn-mhin (sweet), zeze-mhin (strong), wo-mhin (powerful; mature), bie (cooked or done), fe-mhin (wealthy); fanọn-fanọn (unkempt; untidy), rughu-rughu or ragha-ragha (disorderly), sankan-sankan (muddy and rough), yagha-yagha (untidy); rui ẹlo (blind), yi ehọ (deaf, rebellious), di ọmalẹn (old, senile), di itọn a (wretched), bhọn ose (beautiful), fi ahiẹ a (serene), fua amẹn (light-complexioned), ba bhi egbe (painful), mhẹn bhi egbe (body-friendly), mhẹn bhi unu (sweet), mhẹn bhi ẹlo (beautiful or not offensive to sight), mhẹn bhi ihue (not offensive to the nose), mhẹn bhi ehọ (not offensive to the ear), khọ bhi unu (unpalatable; offensive), khọ bhi egbe (unbearable), etc.

Determiner.

‘ọni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘the’ (as singular) in English: ọni emhin = the thing ‘eni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘the’ (as plural) in English: eni emhinh = the things ‘ni’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘that’ in English: emhin ni or ọni emhin ni ‘na’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘this’ in English: emhin na or ọni emhin na In the determiner phrases below, the determiners are in boldface:

‘ukpi’ (pl. ‘ikpi’) in Esan is equivalent to the indefinite article ‘a’/‘an’ in English: ukpi ẹmhin = a thing ikpi emhinh = … things ‘ọsoso’ (pl. ‘esoso’) in Esan is equivalent to ‘any’ in English: emhin ọsoso = any thing emhinh esoso any things

‘eso’ /ayso/ in Esan is equivalent to ‘some’ in English: emhinh eso = some things

‘ikpeta’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘few’ in English: ikpeta emhinh = few things

‘nekirẹla’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘whoever’/‘whichever’ in English: emhin nekirẹla = whatever thing

‘erebhe’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘all’ in English: emhin erebhe = all things

‘eveva’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘both’ in English: Emhinh eveva = both things

‘ekitui’ in Esan is equivalent to ‘many’ in English: ekitui emhinh = many things

OUR LORD’S PRAYER (OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN)

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. [For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever.] Amen.

OTUẸ SI EBIALẸN IMAN (ERA IMAN NỌ RIBHI OKHUN)

Era iman nọ ribhi okhun, ji elin uwẹ khin ebi Aah gẹn, ni ejele sẹ vae, ni Aah lu bhi otọ na bi eji Aah lu bhi okhun. Rẹ ni iman le ebale ni iman la le ẹlẹna. Ri olukhọ si iman humhin iman bi eji iman rẹ rẹhumhin ene lui iman khọlọ. Kha ii ji iman deọ bhi edọmhẹn – himhin iman sibhi ebeimhẹn re. [Ọsẹ khi ọni ejele, ọni ahu bi ọni oriri-ejele dabhi eji Aah ye na rẹ sẹ bhi ẹdẹdẹmhẹndẹ.] Isẹ.