Breath Before Coin • Language Notes

Pronunciation Guide

Reader-friendly approximations for names and terms drawn predominantly from an Igbo‑influenced language base.

Stress is usually on the first syllable unless noted. Doubled consonants should feel weighted, not rushed. The dotted “ọ” is pronounced like the “aw” in “law.”

These spellings are guides meant for flow and clarity in English. Exact tones are not marked, and some consonants may soften or syllabify in context. Notes are included where English ears often trip.

Stress first syllable (unless marked) Hold doubled consonants Ọ = “aw” as in “law” W after U can be soft N can be its own syllable These are approximations

Eri in armour riding Eze Ugo in war form at night, with glowing gauntlet chains, distant monsters, and the Protectorates below. — Eri and Eze Ugo above the Protectorates: patrol, warning, friendship, and the hard discipline of power held back.

How to read these entries

Each entry lists a name followed by a plain‑English pronunciation. Capitals mark the primary stress when it falls away from the first syllable. Short notes flag syllabic consonants, softened W, and common pitfalls.

Afọ—ah-FAW

Agu Iyi—AH-goo EE-yee

Amadioha—ah-mah-dee-OH-hah

Ani—AH-nee

Anioma—ah-nee-OH-mah

Anzû—ahn-ZOO

Chukwu—CHOO-kwoo(W nearly silent)

Echieteka—eh-chee-eh-TEH-kah

Eke—EH-keh(sound like “air-care”)

Ekenma—eh-KEHN-mah

Eri—EH-ree(sounds like “airy”)

Eri-aka—EH-ree AH-kah(sounds like “airy-are-kah”)

Ezu—EH-zoo

Eze—EH-zeh(sound like “air-zair”; means “king”)

Eze Agu—EH-zeh AH-goo(sound like “air-zair are-goo”)

Eze Ugo—EH-zeh OO-go(not “YOU-go”)

Gyanganj—GYAN-ganj(hard G)

Haggi—HAH-gee

Idemili—ee-deh-MEE-lee

Izu—EE-zoo

Kafari—kah-FAH-ree

Kashta—KAHSH-tah

Lamashtu—lah-MAHSH-too

Nef-ball—NEF-ball

Nefertari—neh-fer-TAH-ree

Nka—N-kahThe N is a syllable. Sounds like “oon” or “soon” without the “s”: oon-kah

Nkwọ—N-KWAWsounds like “oon-kwor,” where “oon” sounds like “soon” without “s”

Nnenna—n-NEHN-nahdoubled N is weighted

Nneamakụ—n-neh-ah-MAH-koo

Nweke—n-WEH-keh

Oba Mmiri—OH-bah m-MEE-ree

Obinna—oh-BEEN-nah

Ọja (Ọjà)—aw-JAHsounds like “Or Jah”; a traditional Igbo flute

Ogbologbo—oh-gbo-LOG-bo

Ogochinyere—oh-go-chee-NYEH-reh

Okwankagụlụ—oh-kwan-kah-GOO-loo

Oboli—oh-BOH-lee

Ọmambala—aw-mahm-BAH-lah

Onyelum—oh-nyeh-LOOM(sounds like “or-near-loom”)

Ọnwa—AWN-wah

Orie—OH-ree-eh

Owu Mmiri—OH-woo m-MEE-ree

Raziel—RAH-zee-elor just “Raz”

Shabaka—shah-BAH-kah

Tatabukita—tah-tah-boo-KEE-tah

Ugochi—oo-GOH-chee

Ziphion—ZIH-fee-on

“Say it slowly. Weight the consonant. Let the breath finish the word.”

— Field notes for new readers

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Breath Before Coin is a mythic epic of civic law, phoenix fire, river memory, engineered magic, family duty, and a king learning that restraint may be the highest form of power.

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