Igbo
/ˈɪɡ.boʊ/noun
A major ethnic group and language cluster of southeastern Nigeria.
Did you know?Igbo is an established ethnonym and language name, but its deeper origin is not securely known from standard etymological sources, so scholars treat it as a native name rather than a word with a traceable ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-colonial era
Igbo
Igbo
“The self-name of a people and their language in southeastern Nigeria.”
19th Century
English
Ibo
“An Anglicized spelling used in colonial and missionary records.”
20th Century
English
Igbo
“Standardized modern spelling in English for the ethnic group and language.”
Modern English
English
Igbo
“The contemporary ethnonym and language name used internationally.”