Street
owu ite
What does owu ite mean?
Describes serious financial hardship or lack of money. Originally an Ezza-dialect word for poverty that migrated into Otu-Onitsha market slang usage.
"Since he lost his job, the whole family has been in owu ite."
Origin
Originally a word from the Ezza dialect of Igbo meaning poverty/hardship, which was borrowed into Otu-Onitsha (Onitsha market) slang with the same meaning, as documented in Nkamigbo & Eme (2011).
Frequently asked questions
What does Owu Ite mean?
It means poverty, hardship, or being broke — literally 'pot's thread,' originally from the Ezza dialect of Igbo.
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