Igbo enclitic extends the meaning of a sentence. A sentences can have complete meaning without an enclitic. Igbo enclitics are not verbs and they differ from verb suffixes. Enclitics can work with verbs, nouns, pronouns, and other parts of speech (except preposition). Enclitics in Igbo language include kwu, ri, kwa, cha, nụ, nụ, zi and others. One way of differentiating Igbo enclitics from verb suffixes is that enclitics can go with verbs and other parts of speech, but verb suffixes can only go with verbs.
When an enclitic is needed to extend the meaning of a verb, it is suffixed to the verb to form one word. When an enclitic is needed to extend the meaning of a part of speech other than a verb, it is written separately. See the examples in the tables below.
Nouns with Enclitics
enclitic
noun and enclitics
meaning
example
English translation
kwu
mmiri kwu
too
mmiri kwu ka o nyeghị gị?
He didn't give you water too?
nụ
nwoke nụ
that very
e jidela nwoke nụ zuru oshi
that very man that stole has been caught
cha
ise cha
as much as
ise cha ka o nwere gi?
He gave you as much as five?
kwa
gịnị kwa
this time
gịnị kwa ka o mere?
what did he do this time?
ri
London ri
already
O ruola London ri tupu o kpoo m
he had already arrived London before he called me
kwanụ
John kwanụ
how about?
John kwanụ
how about John?
nwa
ụlọ nwa
the said how
ụlọ nwa ọ rụrụ dara ada
the said house he built colapsed
Pronouns with Enclitics
enclitic
pronoun and enclitics
meaning
example
English translation
zi
onye zi
then
onye zi riri nri m?
who then ate my food?
kwu
mụ kwu
too
ya kwu ka ị na-atụrụ ashị?
you are lying to him too?
kwanụ
unu kwanụ
how about?
Unu kwanụ
how about you (you guys)?
Verbs with Enclitics (enclitic is suffixed to verb to form one word)