What it means
- buru Verb form
- is large (buru ibu) / go first (buru ụzọ)Form of ‘bu’ (carry) inside two set expressions: ‘Ezinụlọ anyị buru ibu’ - our family is large; ‘Ka anyị buru ụzọ kwuo’ - let us speak first. It is not ‘bụrụ’ (if).
- bụrụ Verb form
- if / becomeThe 'if' sense belongs to the frame 'ọ bụrụ na' (if it is that): 'Ọ bụrụ na mmiri zoo…' = if it rains… Elsewhere it is 'become'.
How to say it
Say it as buru. Keep every written vowel clear, including dotted vowels, without adding an English stress pattern.
Igbo is tonal, so pitch can change a word’s meaning. The marks above show this reading.
buru in a sentence
- Ụlọ a buru ibu.This house is big.
- Ezinụlọ anyị buru ibu.Our family is large.
- Ka anyị buru ụzọ kwuo maka njem ahụ.Let us discuss the trip first.