A Dictionary and Grammatical Sketch of Dagaare

A dictionary and grammatical sketch of Dagaare

Mark Ali Scott Grimm Adams Bodomo

language African Language Grammars science press and Dictionaries 4 Chief Editor: Adams Bodomo Editor: Firmin Ahoua

In this series:

1. Schrock, Terrill B. The Ik language: Dictionary and grammar sketch.

2. Brindle, Jonathan. A dictionary and grammatical outline of Chakali.

3. Friesen, Dianne. A grammar of Moloko.

4. Ali, Mark, Scott Grimm & Adams Bodomo. A dictionary and grammatical sketch of Dagaare.

ISSN: 25124862 A dictionary and grammatical sketch of Dagaare

Mark Ali Scott Grimm Adams Bodomo

language science press Mark Ali, Scott Grimm & Adams Bodomo. 2021. A dictionary and grammatical sketch of Dagaare (African Language Grammars and Dictionaries 4). Berlin: Language Science Press.

This title can be downloaded at: http://langsci-press.org/catalog/book/245 © 2021, Mark Ali, Scott Grimm & Adams Bodomo Published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence (CC BY 4.0): http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ISBN: 978-3-96110-306-5 (Digital) 978-3-98554-002-0 (Hardcover)

ISSN: 2512-4862 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.4501694 Source code available from www.github.com/langsci/245 Collaborative reading: paperhive.org/documents/remote?type=langsci&id=245

Cover and concept of design: Ulrike Harbort Typesetting: Scott Grimm Proofreading: Alena Witzlack, Amr El-Zawawy, Andreas Hölzl, Aniefon Daniel, Felix Hoberg, Jean Nitzke, Jeroen van de Weijer, Ludger Paschen, Steven Moran, Tom Bossuyt, Yvonne Treis Fonts: Libertinus, Arimo, DejaVu Sans Mono Typesetting software:Ǝ X LATEX

Language Science Press xHain Grünberger Str. 16 10243 Berlin, Germany langsci-press.org

Storage and cataloguing done by FU Berlin Contents

Preface iii

Acknowledgments vii

Authors’ contributions ix

Dictionary orthography and corresponding IPA symbols xi

List of abbreviations xiii

Grammatical sketch of Dagaare 1 1 The Dagaare language and Dagaare studies ...... 3 2 Phonology ...... 4 2.1 Orthography and sound system of Dagaare ...... 4 2.2 Consonants ...... 4 2.3 Vowels ...... 6 2.4 Tone ...... 7 2.5 Phonological processes ...... 8 3 Morphology ...... 9 3.1 Nominal morphology ...... 10 3.2 Verbal morphology ...... 18 3.3 Other word classes and morphological processes .... 25 4 Syntax ...... 28 4.1 Sentence types ...... 28 4.2 The simple sentence ...... 28 4.3 Complex sentences ...... 31 4.4 Discourse phenomena ...... 34

References 41 Contents Contents

Dagaare dictionary 45 a ...... 45 b ...... 51 d ...... 90 e ...... 113 ɛ ...... 115 f ...... 116 g ...... 125 gb ...... 134 gy ...... 142 h ...... 147 i ...... 148 k ...... 149 kp ...... 171 l ...... 180 m ...... 192 n ...... 206 ny ...... 224 ŋ ...... 232 ŋm ...... 232 o ...... 237 ɔ ...... 238 p ...... 239 s ...... 259 t ...... 278 u ...... 295 v ...... 296 w ...... 304 y ...... 312 z ...... 323

ii Preface

With this work, we present a more expansive dictionary of the Dagaare language than previously available, paired with a grammatical sketch. We have had to make some choices in putting together this dictionary, and the dictionary should not be seen as representing the whole of the Dagaare language in all its variation. Languages are always changing, and this dictionary presents the vocabulary of a particular variety of Dagaare at a particular time. Dagaare is spoken by a large number of people (one million speakers according to Simons & Fennig 2017, although this may be conservative, see Section 1) and throughout a large area. Dagaare constitutes a dialect continuum which covers mainly the Upper West Region of Ghana. Varieties of the language can be found in the Savanna Region of Ghana. The language is also found in Burk- ina Faso where it is known mainly as Dagara. The Dagaare Language Committee (Dagaare Language Committee 1982) established orthographical conventions and made broad dialect divisions into Northern, Central and Southern Dagaare. Al- though these dialects are mutually intelligible to varying degrees, there is a high degree of variation, even from village to village (Bodomo 1997: 2-5). This dictionary is primarily concerned with the vocabulary of Central Dagaare, spoken around the area of the towns Jirapa and Ullo. This dialect has served as the standard dialect for educational materials in Ghana, church literature and radio broadcasts, and we follow that tradition here. Central Dagaare is also the basis for most linguistic analysis on Dagaare, including the early work of Wil- son (1962), Kennedy (1966) and Hall (1977). Southern Dagaare (also known as Waale) is centered around the towns of Wa and Kaleo and widely used as a trade language throughout the region (Bodomo 1997). While the Central and South- ern dialects overlap to a substantial degree, there are certainly many differences, some of which are noted in this dictionary. Two other relevant dialects lying to the West are Southern Birifor, which is mutually intelligible with Southern Da- gaare, and Safaliba (population 4000) near Bole in the Northern Region, which, according to Simons & Fennig (2017), has a large lexical similarity to Southern Dagaare. It is our hope that the publication of this dictionary will serve as a first step to documenting the diversity of the Dagaare language, and will bring to light lexical and grammatical variation across the varieties of Dagaare. Preface

To illustrate, we list several concepts which are expressed by different lexical items in different dialect zones in Table 1. Table 1: Lexical variation across four dialect zones

Word/Concept Northern Central Southern Western dance yag seɛ sɛo sɛo footwear nafag nɔɔteɛ nageteɛ nataba grandfather saangkom saangkoma nabaale nabaale groundnuts simmie seŋkãa gyɛnee gyɛnee horse wir wiri wɛo ycho man dɛb dɔɔ dao dao rat dɛrebaa dayuu gbunno gbinti run zɔ zo zɔ gyɔ salt nyaaro nyɛnoŋ/nyɛnoo yaaroŋ yaaroŋ talk/speak ɛr yeli yɛle yɛle tree squirrel telocra lɔnnɔ/lanna lanta anta uncle (maternal) madɛb areba aheba areba

Further variation is found in the other direction: One lexical item may have different meanings in different dialects. We illustrate with the term nabaale which has two different meanings in two different Southern dialects, Waale and Manlaale:

• nabaale: ‘grandfather’ (Walee), ‘paternal uncle (older than one’s father)’ (Manlaale)

We also note that some entries retain earlier orthographical forms, even though in modern pronunciation a reduced form is current. This is particularly present for weak vowels following ŋ, as in bɛŋe ‘to sift’, which is pronounced [bɛŋ]. We would like to acknowledge the prior lexicographic work on Dagaare, most notably Durand (1953) and Bodomo (2004a), both being works which we have consulted and have attempted to build upon.

The structure of the entries The entries in the dictionary are structured as follows. Each entry is followed by (i) its phonetic transcription, including tones, (ii) its part of speech, (iii) its definition in English, (iv) one or more examples in Dagaare illustrating theuse

iv Preface of the word and the corresponding translation(s), and (iv) any further inflectional or derivational forms. Due to the nature of this work, the grammatical information contained in the entries is limited. In addition to the sketch grammar provided here, several grammars on Dagaare exist which describe the grammatical features of the language and other selected topics. We encourage readers to consult Bodomo (1997), Bodomo (2000), Bodomo (2004a,b), and Kropp Dakubu (2005) for further information on the grammar of Dagaare.

Nouns For nouns, the following number forms are given:

• pl. — Plural • 2ndpl. — Second Plural (also known as a Distributive Plural) • sg. — Singulative

Adjectives Adjectives inflect for number in Dagaare, thus plural and second plural forms are listed when present.

Pronouns Pronouns list plural forms, although due to their common occurrence, the plural forms of pronouns are also given their own main entry.

Verbs The verbal entries specify the following six forms at the end of the entry in this order:

• Perfect • Imperfect • Agentive Singular • Agentive Plural • Agentive Derivation -aa Singular • Agentive Derivation -aa Plural

These forms do not exhaust the derived verbal forms available in Dagaare, such as various nominalizations or derived adjectives, which we plan to incorporate in a future edition of this dictionary.

Other parts of speech Adverbs, conjunctions, and interjections are indeclin- able in Dagaare, so only the single form is listed along with its gloss.

v References

References

Bodomo, Adams. 1997. The structure of Dagaare. Stanford: CSLI. Bodomo, Adams. 2000. Dagaare (Languages of the World Materials No. 165). München, Germany: Lincom Europa. Bodomo, Adams. 2004a. A Dagaare-Cantonese-English lexicon for lexicographical field research training. Cologne, Germany: Rudiger Köppe Verlag. Bodomo, Adams. 2004b. The syntax of nominalized complex verbal predicates in Dagaare. Studia linguistica 58(1). 1–22. Dagaare Language Committee. 1982. A guide to Dagaare spelling. Wa, Ghana: Catholic Press. Durand, Rev. J.B. 1953. Dagaare-English dictionary. Catholic Mission Duplicator. Hall, Edward. 1977. Dagaare. In M. K. Dakubu (ed.), West African language data sheets, vol. 1. The West African Language Society. Kennedy, Jack. 1966. Collected field reports on the phonology of Dagaari (Collected Language Notes 6). University of Ghana, Accra: Institute of African Studies. Kropp Dakubu, Mary E. 2005. Collected language notes on Dagaare grammar (Col- lected Language Notes, Vol. 26). Legon, Ghana: Institute of Language Studies. Simons, Gary F. & Charles D. Fennig (eds.). 2017. Ethnologue: Languages of the world. 20th edn. Online version: http://www.ethnologue.com. Dallas, Texas: SIL International. Wilson, William A. 1962. The vowel system of Dagaari and Lobiri. University of Ghana, Accra: Institute of African Studies.

vi Acknowledgments

Mark Ali and Scott Grimm gratefully acknowledge the assistance, encourage- ment and support of Adams Bodomo, without whom this dictionary would have never come to pass. Adams Bodomo put us in contact initially in 2008, and has supported our continued collaborative efforts in various ways since, always pro- viding very valuable input. Mark Ali would like to acknowledge Damasus Sundeme, Bede Tankur and Robert Daah for contributing words and clarifications. Scott Grimm would like to thank two outstanding students who aided with the preparation of the manuscript. First, Kathryn Fulton lent us her editorial skills in correcting the entire dictionary, leading to far greater consistency. Second, Rebbeca Everson aided in the conversion from the dictionary’s original format, a Toolbox file, intoA LTEX. Further details on this process can be found in Everson & Grimm (2017). All the authors would like to acknowledge our appreciation to Martin Haspel- math, who provided detailed comments on the grammatical sketch, and to Sebas- tian Nordhoff, for assisting us with the publication of the manuscript. Thanks also to Firmin Ahoua for various helpful comments. This work developed out of work carried out during the second author’s field trip to Ghana in 2011, for which funding from NSF Grant # 1023289 is gratefully acknowledged.

References

Everson, Rebecca & Scott Grimm. 2017. From Toolbox database to LATEX dictionary. Poster presented at 5th International Conference on Language Documen- tation and Conservation (ICLDC), March 2017, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI.

Authors’ contributions

Mark Ali and Scott Grimm contributed the dictionary. Mark Ali is the primary author of the content of the dictionary, much of which was developed collabo- ratively with Scott Grimm. Scott Grimm was responsible for the organizing the entries, editing, typesetting, proofreading, and writing the front matter. Adams Bodomo contributed the grammatical sketch, based on Bodomo (2000). Scott Grimm edited and typeset the grammatical sketch for this volume.

References

Bodomo, Adams. 2000. Dagaare (Languages of the World Materials No. 165). München, Germany: Lincom Europa.

Dictionary orthography and corresponding IPA symbols

A a [a] ŋm ŋm [ŋm] B b [b] Ny ny [ɲ] D d [d] O o [o] or [ʊ] E e [e] or [ɪ] Ɔ ɔ [ɔ] Ɛ ɛ [ɛ] P p [p] F f [f] R r [r] G g [g] S s [s] Gb gb [gb] T t [t] Gy gy [dz] U u [u] H h [h] V v [v] I i [i] W w [w] K k [k] Y y [j] Kp kp [kp] Z z [z] KY ky [ʧ] ́ high tone L l [l] ̀ low tone M m [m] ̂ high-low tone N n [n] ̌ low-high tone ŋ ŋ [ŋ] ̃ nasalization

NB: This differs from the orthography of Dagaare Language Committee (1982) in representing ŋ as a single character rather than ng. The grammatical sketch retains the ng orthography.

List of abbreviations

adj adjective n noun adv adverb neg negation art article nmlz nominalizer assert assertive nonhuman nonhuman comp complementizer part particle conj conjunction prf perfect def definite pst past tense det determiner pl plural foc focus postp postposition human human pron pronoun idph ideophone rel relative impf imperfective recp reciprocal impv imperative sg singulative indf indefinite str strong intens intensifier top topic interj interjection v verb intr intransitive var variant loc locative 2ndpl second plural

Grammatical sketch of Dagaare by Adams Bodomo

1 The Dagaare language and Dagaare studies

One of the best resources for the development of literacy and literary practices in a language is a comprehensive dictionary of the language informed by sound linguistic analysis. Dagaare has quite a lot of resources including grammars (Bodomo 1997b; 2000; Kropp Dakubu 2005), many word lists and specialized dictionaries (Durand 1953; Bodomo 2004a), readers (Zakpaa 1978) and numerous linguistic analyses in the form of theses, monographs and journal articles. How- ever, there does not exist a comprehensive dictionary that is general and substantial enough for everyday use by native speakers and learners of the language. The present dictionary therefore fills a major void in Dagaare studies. Inthis foreword, I provide some background information about the Dagaare language and Dagaare studies. I also present a sketch of the grammar of the language, based largely on my grammar sketch in Bodomo (2000).1 All this is intended to assist the user to understand some basic aspects of the grammar towards understanding the various entries, including grammatical categories, and nominal and verbal categories and groupings.

1 The Dagaare language and Dagaare studies

In terms of demographic and socio-political importance, Dagaare (also written variously as Dagaari, Dagara, and Birifor) is one the prominent languages of West Africa, spoken in northwestern Ghana and adjacent areas of Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire. It is broken down into various variants across these three countries: in Ghana it is mainly called Dagaare, in Burkina Faso, it is mainly called Dagara and in Côte d’Ivoire it is mainly called Birifor. It is spoken by between two and three million people in all these countries, with far more speakers in Ghana than in the other two countries. In terms of genetic relationship, it belongs to the Mabia (also known as Gur, although this term is dispreferred by many Dagaare-speaking linguists) group of languages of the Niger-Congo language family, along with other languages such as Dagbane, Waale, Gurenne, Mampruli, Kusaal, Buli, Kasem, Sisaali and Moore. Dagaare is being vigorously studied and used both as a language of education at lower levels of the educational ladder and as a school subject at higher levels of the ladder. Indeed, in universities and colleges of higher education in Ghana and Burkina Faso, Dagaare programs have some of the highest enrollments. We can indeed talk of an emerging field of Dagaare Studies in the sense that, notonly is there vibrancy at all these levels of education in teaching programs, Dagaare

1I thank Lincom Europe for permission to use parts of that work in this grammar sketch.

3 2 Phonology is also the subject of vigorous research by linguists and other scholars in West Africa (Ghana, Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire) and other parts of the world. Da- gaare books and articles have appeared in some of the best linguistics journals (such as, Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, Lingua, and Studia Linguistica) and some of the most prominent book publishing houses such as Stanford Uni- versity CSLI Press, and Oxford University Press. There is even an existing (but currently dormant) Journal of Dagaare Studies. What all this indicates is that a comprehensive user-friendly dictionary is long overdue in this area of study. A Daagare-English dictionary is therefore a most welcome resource. In the next section, I will introduce some of the major features of the structure of Dagaare towards understanding the dictionary entries in the book.

2 Phonology

2.1 Orthography and sound system of Dagaare A note on the orthography of the language is necessary for an understanding of the written forms of the entries. The standard orthography, developed by the Catholic Church in Ghana and now widely used in educational institutions, is based on the Central dialect but there are several alternative orthographies (e.g. Nakuma 1999; 2002). All of these are basically phonemic. Dagaare is a two-tone language, but tone is not marked in the standard orthography. Table 2 shows the standard Dagaare alphabet, which has 31 graphemes, comprising 24 single-letter graphemes (representing 17 consonants and 7 vowels), 6 digraphs and 1 trigraph (Table 2).

2.2 Consonants Dagaare has twenty-five consonants and two glides (semi-consonants) in under- lying representation. This is shown in Table 3. The glottal implosive counterparts of /h/, /l/ and /m/ are attested only in the Northern dialect of the language (spoken mostly in Burkina Faso and called Da- gara); the Southern and Central dialects do not have them. Two additional consonants [r] and [ɣ] are found at surface level, occurring as allophones to /d/ and /g/ at initial positions and intervocalically, respectively. Consider the following words:

(1) [dì] ‘to eat’, [dìré] ‘eating’, [górí] ‘dowry’, [pɔ́ɣɔ́] ‘woman’ In these examples [d] and [g] occupy the word initial position. The sounds [r] and [ɣ], on the other hand, occur intervocalically. Voiceless plosives are usually

4 2 Phonology

Table 2: Standard Dagaare Alphabet

A, a as in bàná lá wààná ‘It is they who are coming’ B, b as in bàà ‘dog’ D, d as in dúní ‘knee’ E, e as in kpéré ‘to cut up’ ɛ, ɛ as in gɛ̀rɛ́ ‘going’ F, f as in fànfánè ‘soap’ G, g as in gánè ‘book’ GB, gb as in gbɛ́rè ‘leg’ GY, gy as in gyìlé ‘xylophones’ H, h as in húólí ‘to mock at someone’ I, I as in bìbììrí ‘children’ K, k as in kànnè ‘to read’ KP, kp as in kpááré ‘occiput’ KY, ky as in kyɛ́ngé ‘to walk’ L, l as in láá ‘bowl’ M, m as in má ‘mother’ N, n as in néɛ̀ ‘person’ NG, ng as in bòngó ‘donkey’ NY, ny as in nyɛ́ ‘to see’ NGM, ngm as in ngméǹ ‘God’ O, o as in zòró ‘running’ Ɔ, ɔ as in sɔ́wɔ́lɔ́ ‘kind of dish’ P, p as in pɛ̀nnè ‘to rest’ R, r as in pùrì ‘to burst’ S, s as in sénsɛ́ ‘cakes’ T, t as in tùòrì ‘to meet’ U, u as in dùndúló ‘worms’ V, v as in vóóróng ‘breath, life’ W, w as in wááó ‘snake’ Y, y as in yánngáá ‘grandchild’ Z, z as in zàgá ‘pen’ aspirated when they occur in word initial position. The phonetic transcriptions: [tʰàllɪ]̀ ‘to walk fast’ and [pʰàllɪ]̀ ‘to weave’ illustrate aspiration. As can be seen on the chart, some of the consonant phonemes such as /kp/, /gb/, and /ŋm/ have a dual place of articulation. What the term “labial-velar” means is that the sound involved is produced simultaneously with the velum and the lips as active or-

5 2 Phonology

Table 3: Consonants

labio- alveo- labial- bilabial dental dental alveolar palatal palatal velar velar glottal Stops: voiceless p t k kp ʔ voiced b d g gb Affricates: voiceless ky [ʧ] voiced gy [dz] Fricatives: voiceless f s h voiced v z Lateral l Nasals m n ɲ ŋm ŋ Glides y [j] w gans of sound production. These sounds are known as double articulations or co-articulations. Examples are /ŋmámá/ ‘calabashes’ and /gbɛrɪ́ /́ ‘cripple’.

2.3 Vowels Nine oral vowel phonemes may be established for Dagaare and these are shown in Figure 1.

Front Back +atr i u high −atr ɪ ʊ mid-high +atr e o

mid-low −atr ε ɔ

low a

Figure 1: Vowels

6 2 Phonology

The + and – signs in the chart show that the relevant distinctive features, High, Low, Round and atr (Advanced Tongue Root), are present or absent, respectively. These are then the basic vowel phonemes of Dagaare, but processes such as vowel lengthening, nasality, harmony and sequencing make the system a bit more complex. Each of the above nine short vowels has a long counterpart, and the opposition of short and long vowels of the same quality brings about differences in meaning, as is manifest in the following minimal pairs:

(2) /tɔ̌r/ ‘-self’ : /tɔ̀ɔ́r/ ‘far’ /kǔr/ ‘tortoise’ : /kùúr/ ‘hoe’ /bà/ ‘fix to the ground’ : /bàà/ ‘grow up’

On the basis of this evidence, then, we may say that vowel length is phonemic in Dagaare. In addition, each of the nine oral vowels may be nasalized. An interesting type of co-occurrence restriction in Dagaare involves the distinctive feature [±atr]. In a Dàgáàrè phonological word, only vowels of the same atr value can occur. The following will briefly illustrate the point:

(3) /dìré/ ‘eating’ : +atr vowels /dɪrɛ́ /́ ‘taking’ : -atr vowels /púò/ ‘farmland’ : +atr vowels /pʊ́ɔ́/ ‘stomach’ : -atr vowels

This co-occurrence restriction involving both contiguous and non-contiguous vowels is called vowel harmony.

2.4 Tone Dagaare is a register tone language with two levels of tone, high and low, and a downstepped high unit. Downstep is said to occur when in a given phonological unit the second of two high tones (with relatively low tone in between them) happens not to be as high as the first high tone (Kennedy 1966). However, downstep can also occur with two successive high tones. The data in (4) are words showing high and low tonal contrasts:

(4) tú ‘to dig’ tù ‘to follow’ dá ‘to push (many items)’ dà ‘to buy’ nɔ́ŋ ‘to massage’ nɔ̀ŋ ‘to like, love’

7 2 Phonology

2.5 Phonological processes Various types of phonological processes occur in the language. I shall outline three types here. These are vowel harmony, vowel assimilation, and vowel elision.

2.5.1 Vowel harmony One of the most pervasive phonological processes is vowel harmony, as has been described above. Besides vowel co-occurrence restriction based on [±atr], as in (3), there is also a minor vowel co-occurrence restriction based on roundness, [±round]. This happens mainly with the imperfective suffix /rɔ/ with mid vowels which must be in total harmony with root vowels in Central Dagaare. The following examples in (5) illustrate this phonological process.

(5) zò ‘run’ → zò-ró ‘running’ ngmɛ̀ ‘beat, kick’ → ngmèɛ̀-rɛ́ ‘beating, kicking’ gbè ‘grind roughly’ → gbìè-ré ‘grinding roughly’ dɔ̀ɔ̀ ‘squat’ → dɔ̀ɔ̀-rɔ́ ‘squatting’

2.5.2 Vowel assimilation While vowel harmony may involve both contiguous and non-contiguous vowels, vowel assimilation occurs only with contiguous vowels, that is, vowels without any intervening consonants, though they may belong to different syllables or words. I illustrate this phonological process with the following quantifier NPs, involving a noun and a numeral, as shown in (6).

(6) a. wàà-ré áyì → wàà-rá áyì yam-pl two ‘two (tubers of) yam’ b. bóóré átà → bóó-rá átà goat-pl three ‘three goats’ c. kyúú-rì ànáárè → kyúú-rà ànáárè month-pl four ‘four months’

8 3 Morphology

2.5.3 Final vowel elision/apocope Final vowel elision is a pervasive phonological process in Dagaare and other Gur languages (see Kennedy 1966, Anttila & Bodomo 1996, Bodomo 1997b for Dagaare; Rialland 1985 for Moba; Hyman 1993 for Dagbani; and Cahill 1999 for Konni). In Dagaare, there is the tendency for the final vowel that is often not a distinctive functional morpheme to be dropped in various speech situations, such as fast speech, recitations and songs. In (7a), the final high and mid vowels are elided, thus giving us reduced forms of the words in which they are found. The examples show broad phonemic transcriptions, not orthography.

(7) a. /mírì/ ∼ /míŕ/ ‘rope’ /wírí / ∼ /wír/ ‘horse’ /bíírí/ ∼ /bíír/ ‘children’ /pɪɪ́ rɪ́ ̀ / ∼ /pɪɪ́ r/́ ‘sheep’ /bóórɪ/́ ∼ /bóór/ ‘goats’ /bírì/ ∼ /bîr/ ‘seed’ /dàgáárɪ/̀ ∼ /dàgáàr/ ‘Dagaare’ /zùmmú/ ∼ /zǔm/ ‘fish’ /lɔ́ŋɔ́/ ∼ /lɔ́ŋ/ ‘toad’ /sɔ́ŋɔ́/ ∼ /sɔ́ŋ/ ‘wood carrier’ /pɔ́g-ɔ́/ ∼ /pɔ́g/ ‘woman’ /tɛ̀gɛ/́ ∼ /tɛg/̌ ‘only’ b. /pɔ́g-bɔ́/ ∼ */pɔ́gb/ ‘women’

Sometimes, even vowels representing a distinctive functional morpheme, such as the singular suffix marker in the word for ‘woman’ in(7a) can be elided, with the understanding that the root word also stands for the singular form of the noun. The final vowel of the item pɔ́g-bɔ́ cannot be elided probably because the consonant segment alone cannot indicate the plural form of the word, and such syllable structure in coda position is forbidden in Dagaare.

3 Morphology

This section comprises two main subsections on nominal and verbal morphology, followed by a discussion of other words classes and morphological processes. Un- der nominal morphology, I shall outline the main systems in the Dagaare noun phrase, including number, definiteness/referentiality, and possession. I shall also

9 3 Morphology outline other categories in the noun phrase, including pronouns, adjectives, numerals. Under verbal morphology, I describe parts of the verb, including its root, various inflectional and derivational affixes, as well as adverbs and pluractionality. I then describe in a final section ideophones and additional morphological processes, namely reduplication and compounding.

3.1 Nominal morphology 3.1.1 The noun 3.1.1.1 Number/class Dagaare has an intricate system of number suffixes that divides its nouns into about ten classes. Each of the nouns in Table 4 represents a class of nouns. Table 4: Classes of nouns based on singular-plural pairings

Class Stem Singular Gloss Plural 1: pɔ́g- /pɔ́g-ɔ́/ ‘woman’ /pɔ́gɪbɔ́ ́/ 2: zí- /zí-é/ ‘place’ /zíí-rí/ 3: gyí- /gyì-lì/ ‘xylophone’ /gyí-lé/ 4: pɪ-́ /pɪ-rʊ́ ́ʊ́/ ‘sheep’ /pɪɪ́ -rɪ́ /́ 5: zú- /zû-Ø/ ‘head’ /zú-rí/ 6: bí- /bí-rì/ ‘seed’ /bí-é/ 7: gán- /gá-nɪ/̀ ‘book’ /gá-má/ 8: gbɪngbɪ́ l-́ /gbɪngbɪ́ -áà/́ ‘drying spot’ /gbɪngbɪ́ l-lɪ́ /́ 9: dí- /dí-íú/ ‘food’ (no plural) 10: búúl- (no singular) ‘porridge’ /búúl-úńg/

The basic class distinction in Dagaare then for number. One may be able to predict the singular and plural suffixes of a noun depending on its class. Un- like in Bantu languages, where linguists have developed a labeled system of classes, there is no recognized system of labeled classes in the Mabia languages. In Bodomo (1997b), an attempt is made to group Dagaare nouns into a labeled system of classes. Table 4 is based on that classification. There is the need for a large-scale investigation of Mabia languages from a comparative perspective, with a view to establishing a system of labeled classes for the whole sub-group that covers quite a substantial landmass of the West Africa sub-continent (see also Miehe & Winkelmann 2007).

10 3 Morphology

3.1.1.2 Definiteness/Referentiality Definiteness of nouns is expressed in Da- gaare by placing the article à before the noun. Hence:

(8) a. à bíé / à bíírí ‘the child’ / ‘the children’ b. à pɔ́gɔ́ / à pɔ́gɔ́bɔ́ ‘the woman’ / ‘the women’ c. à sàkúúrì / à sàkúè ‘the school’ / ‘the schools’

This is illustrated in (9).

(9) a. à bíé dé lá à áískèrìɪm̌ dì def child take.pfv foc def icecream eat.pfv ‘The child has eaten up the ice cream.’ b. à bíírí gàá lá sàkúúrì zénɛ̀ def child.pl go.pfv foc school today ‘The children have gone to school today.’

Indefiniteness is marked by a bare noun, as shown in(10), or by placing the article kàngá after the bare noun, as11 in( ):

(10) bíé káá-ó wáá lá túó child look-nmlz be foc bitter ‘It is difficult to look after a child.’ or ‘Taking care of a child is difficult.’

(11) pɔ́gɔ́ kàngá dà wá lá kyɛ́ woman certain pst come foc here ‘A certain woman came here.’

When we make reference to a specific item, the prenominal definite article à, as seen above, and a postnominal demonstrative article ná are employed alongside the bare noun. This use of the article to signal specificity is illustrated12 in( ).

(12) à bíé ná dà wá lá kyɛ́ def child that pst come foc here ‘That child came here.’

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3.1.1.3 Case Lexical nouns are not overtly marked for case in Dagaare. Even with pronouns, it is only in the first person singular that there is a morphological distinction between the nominative and accusative case forms, as shown in the list of pronouns in §3.1.2.

3.1.1.4 Possession The associative relation is not overtly marked in Dagaare by any affixes. Instead, this is signaled by word order. In an associative construction (genitive/possessive) involving a pronoun, the pronoun occurs before the head noun. Where there are two nouns or noun phrases, the first one is the genitive (modifier) and the second the head. This is illustrated13 in( ). (13) a. fò gánè 2sg book ‘your book’ b. nààná gánè Naana book ‘Naana’s book’ c. à dɔ̀ɔ̀-fáá ná gàn-vìlàà def man-bad that book-good ‘That bad man’s good book.’ In (13a), the pronoun occurs before the head noun; in (13b) the first noun, Nàà- ná, is the genitive and the second is the head noun. In (13c) we have two noun phrases within the constellation of the genitive construction. The first phrase serves as the genitive to the second phrase that is the head of the construction.

3.1.2 Pronouns Under pronouns, I will briefly discuss personal, demonstrative, reflexive, reciprocal, relative, possessive, interrogative, and indefinite pronouns.

3.1.2.1 Personal pronouns In the Dagaare pronominal system, personal pronouns do not indicate gender differences, as does English with he and she, and there is hardly any case marking. Only in the first person singular pronominal paradigm is there a distinction between nominative and accusative forms, ǹ and mà, respectively. One salient feature in the Dagaare system of pronouns is that, for subject pronouns, we have a distinction between weak and strong forms, quite like the French, je ‘I’ - moi ‘me’, tu ‘you’ - toi ‘you’ paradigm. Another important feature in this system is the distinction between human and non-human

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Table 5: Dagaare personal pronouns

Subject (Nom) Object (Acc) Weak form Strong form 1st pers. sg ǹ màá mà 2nd pers. sg fò fòó fò 3rd pers. sg ò ónó ò 1st pers. pl tè tènéè tè 2nd pers. pl yɛ̀ yɛ̀néè yɛ̀ 3rd pers. pl (human) bà báná bà 3rd pers. pl (non-human) à áná à forms for third person plural pronouns. Table 5 shows a list of Dagaare personal pronouns.

3.1.2.2 Demonstrative pronouns The pronouns in (14) are a few of the demonstrative pronouns in Dagaare. As with personal pronouns, there is a distinction between human and non-human forms for the third person plural pronouns.

(14) nyɛ̌ ‘this (one)’ ónɔ́ng ‘that (one)’ bánàng ‘those (ones) - humans’ ánáng ‘those (ones) - non humans’ lɛ̌ ‘like that (one)’ nyɛɛ́ ̀ ‘like this (one)’

3.1.2.3 Reflexives The word mèngɛ́ or mèngɛ́ tɔ̌r (singular) and mènné or mèn- né tɔ̌r (plural), used after any of the personal pronouns above, expresses reflexiv- ity in Dagaare. This is tabulated in Table 6. The constructions in (15) illustrate how they are used.

(15) a. ǹ tòńg lá à tómɔ́ ǹ mèngɛ́ tɔ̌r 1sg work foc def work 1sg self self ‘I did the work by myself.’ b. màá mèngɛ́ tɔ̌r lá tòng à tómɔ́ 1sg.str self self foc work def work ‘It is I that did the work all by myself.’

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Table 6: Reflexives pronouns

Weak reflexive pronouns Strong reflexive pronouns ǹ mèngɛ́ (tɔ̌r) ‘myself’ màá mèngɛ́ ‘me, myself’ fò mèngɛ́ ‘yourself’ fò ó mèngɛ́ ‘you, yourself’ ò mèngɛ́ ‘him/herself’ ónɔ́ mèngɛ́ ‘s/he, him/herself’ tèmènné (tɔ̌r) ‘ourselves’ tènéè mènné! ‘we, ourselves’ yɛ̀ mènné ‘yourselves’ yɛ̀néè mènné ‘you, yourselves’ bà mènné ‘themselves’ báná mènné ‘they, themselves’ à mènné ‘themselves’ áná mènné ‘they, themselves’

3.1.2.4 Reciprocal pronouns Reciprocal pronouns in Dagaare include tɔ̌, tɔ́ sòbá, táá and táábá. However, the most commonly used is táá. Example (16) illustrates its syntactic position.

(16) tè nɔ̀nɔ́ lá táá 1pl love foc recp.pron ‘We love each other / one another.’

3.1.2.5 Relative pronoun Dagaare does not distinguish between the human and non-human form of relative pronouns as the English ‘who’ (for humans) and ‘which’ (for non-humans). For both of these the relative pronoun is nàng. The following are example constructions illustrating the use of the relative pronoun:

(17) a. à dɔ́ɔ́ ná náng wà def man comp rel.pron come ‘the man who came’ b. à gánè ná náng lè def book comp rel.pron fall ‘the book that fell’

3.1.2.6 Possessive pronouns The words tóɔ́r and dèń (sg) dèmé (pl), meaning ‘own’, combined with any of the personal subject pronouns, express possession in Dagaare. This is illustrated below:

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(18) n tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘mine, my own’ fò tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘yours, your own’ ò tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘his/hers, his/her own’ tè tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘ours, our own’ yɛ̀ tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘yours , your own’ bà tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘theirs, their own (humans)’ à tóɔ́r, děn, dèmé ‘theirs, their own (non-humans)’ (19) a. tè dèn lá 1pl own foc ‘It is ours.’ b. tè dèmé lá 1pl own.pl foc ‘They are ours.’

3.1.2.7 Interrogative pronouns The following is a list of interrogative pronouns in the language. Some appear in example sentences to show how they would be used in the language. (20) bòńg, bòlúù ‘what’ bóò ‘which one, which of them’ bábóò, bábóbò ‘which of them (humans)’ ábóò, ábòbò ‘which of them (non-humans)’ àńg ‘who (singular, humans)’ àńg mìné ‘who (plural, human)’ (21) a. bòng lá ká ó dě wà nè ? what foc comp s/he take come with ‘What did s/he bring?’ b. bóó lá zèng à bè ? which foc sit def there ‘Which of you/ which of them is sitting there?’ c. bábóbò lá zèng à bè ? which foc sit def there ‘Which of them are sitting there?’ d. àńg lá àrè à bè ? who foc stand def there ‘Who is standing there?’

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e. àńg mìné lá àrè à bè ? who pl foc stand def there ‘Who are standing there?’

3.1.2.8 Indefinite pronouns Strictly speaking, Dagaare does not seem to have indefinite pronouns as, for instance, the French quelqu’un, ‘someone’. The situation is more like the English somebody, someone, etc., where a noun like ‘body’ combines with the item kàngá:

(22) a. néɛ̀ kàngá wà-ɛ̀ lá person indf come-pfv foc ‘Someone has come.’ b. kàngá sóbɔ́ bé lá kyɛ̌ another person be foc here ‘Someone is here.’

3.1.3 Honorific system Dagaare does not have a system of high and low 2nd person pronouns to de- ploy respectful address, as we find in some European languages like French and German, or as we find in Cantonese and some South-East Asian languages by the choice of classifiers. However, like CantoneseKillingley ( 1993), one way of deploying honour is to bestow a real or fictitious relationship on people, rather than addressing them by their bare names. So words like ǹ bǎ ‘my father, friend’, ǹ béɛ́rè ‘my big brother’ may be used to address people, even if they are complete strangers, as a sign of respect or honour for them.

3.1.4 Numerals The Dagaare numeral system is a mixed system of decimals and multiples of twenty, so that 15 is ‘ten and five’, while 40 is ‘two twenties’. Both cardinal and ordinal numerals exist in the language. Table 7 shows a list of cardinal numerals from 1 to 10. The table shows numeral roots and, depending on whether the noun is human or non-human, a prefix or element precedes the root. Cardinal numerals follow the above regulation, shown in (23a), as do ordinal numerals, which add the element sòbɔ́ following the numeral, as shown below in (23b). For multiplicative numerals, the element bois added to the root of the numeral (from 1 to 9), as

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Table 7: Numerals

Numerals Root (+human count) (-human count) 1 -yeni nényéni bónyéní 2 -yi báyì áyì 3 -ta bátà átà 4 -naare bànáárè ànáárè 5 -nuu bànúú ànúú 6 -yoɔo bàyòɔ̀ó àyòɔ̀ó 7 -yɔpoi bàyɔ̀pòî àyɔ̀pòî 8 -nii bànîî ànîî 9 -wae bàwáé àwáé 10 (nóbá) píé (bómá) píé shown in (23c), although from 10 onwards, people tend to prefer the expressions such as gbɛ́ɛ́ píé, ‘ten times’, etc., to using the element bo-.

(23) a. dɔ́bɔ́ bànúú ‘five men’ bóóré ànúú ‘five goats’ b. bátà sòbɔ́ ‘the third person’ átà sòbɔ́ ‘the third (thing)’ c. bóyì ‘two times’ bótà ‘three times’ gbɛɛ́ ̀ píé ‘ten times’ gbɛɛ́ ̀ lèzárè ‘twenty times’

3.1.5 Adjectives An adjective may be used as a verbal predicate (24a), or a predicative with a copular verb (24b), or in combination with a root of the noun it qualifies to form a compound (24c). Not all adjectives can be used in these three different ways.

(24) a. à pɔ́g-ɔ́ vèɛ̀lɛ́ lá def woman-sg be.beautiful foc ‘The woman is beautiful.’

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b. à pɔ́g-ɔ́ é lá vèlàà def woman-sg be foc beautiful ‘The woman is beautiful.’ c. pòg-vèlàà lá woman-beautiful foc ‘That is a beautiful woman.’

The comparative is expressed by the use of verbs of surpassing such as gàngè and zùò, as in (25).

(25) a. à pɔ́g-ɔ́ nyɛ́ vèɛ̀lɛ́ lá gàngè à pɔ́g-ɔ́ ná def woman-sg dem be-beautiful foc surpass def woman-sg dem ‘This woman is more beautiful than that woman.’ b. à pɔ́g-ɔ́ nyɛ́ é lá vèlàá zùò à pɔ̀g-ɔ̀ ná def woman-sg dem be foc beautiful surpass def woman-sg dem ‘This woman is more beautiful than that woman.’

The superlative is expressed in Dagaare using the adjective, the surpass verb and the intensifier à zàá or ba zàá, as in (26).

(26) a. à móngó nyɛ́ lá nòmɔ́ gàngè à zàá def mango dem foc sweet surpass 3pl.nonhuman intens ‘This mango is the sweetest (of all)’ b. à dɔ́ɔ́ nyɛ́ lá è bɛrónǵ gàngè bà zàá def man dem foc be fat surpass 3pl.human intens ‘This man is the fattest (of all).’

3.2 Verbal morphology In this section we shall outline the verbal morphology of Dagaare, including the main verb, inflectional and derivational affixes, adverbs and pluractionality.

3.2.1 The verb 3.2.1.1 Main verb Dagaare does not have what may be called an “infinitive verb”, as is commonly found in many Indo-European languages; so it is often better to talk of a dictionary entry or citation form. In a sentence like: Ǹ yèlí ká “kúlɪ́” Ǹ bá yèlì ká “à zèngè” ‘I say “go home”, I did not say “sit down”’, the citation forms are à kúlí or kúlí and à zèngè or zèng. These full forms may also

18 3 Morphology have incomplete forms: kúlí ∼ kúl, zèngè ∼ zèng. It is these full forms that would be featured as the key entry in any Dagaare dictionary. In its conjugated form the main verb has three other forms marking perfective and imperfective aspect. The following forms illustrate:

(27) tèɛ̀nè dictionary form tèɛ̀nè perfective aspectual form tèɛ̀n-ɛ́ɛ́ perfective intransitive aspectual form tèɛ̀n-nɛ́ imperfective aspectual form’

There are basically two aspectual forms in Dagaare: the perfective (completive) and the imperfective (progressive). These are often expressed by suffixes. They respond to phonological rules such as vowel harmony and assimilation, taking on the features of the root of the verb. The perfective aspect, in turn, has two subtypes. The usual type is normally not morphologically realized. The second type normally occurs when there is no object element immediately after the verb, hence the term ‘perfective intransitive’ aspectual form. These aspectual suffixes function in conjunction with the preverbal particles to express temporal, aspectual, and polarity features. Basically then, the morphology of the main verb is one of a root followed by a suffix. The basic system of the Mabia verb isoften labeled as aspect–the perfective and imperfective aspect. It may also be called, according to Bendor-Samuel (1971), event and process, punctiliar and linear, etc. In this basic system, the speaker sees the action as either completed or not yet completed. This is irrespective of whether the action is viewed as being in the past or not, as is shown in the following sentences:

(28) a. Ò dà kúl-éé lá 3sg pst go.home-pfv.intr foc ‘S/he went home.’ b. ò dà kúl-ó lá 3sg pst go.home-impf foc ‘S/he was going home.’ c. ò kúl-ó lá 3sg go.home-impf foc ‘S/he is going home.’

In languages like Dagbane and Mampruli there is, in addition to this basic inflectional system, another inflectional positive imperative suffix -ma which is added to the verb. This is illustrated below in Dagbane and Mampruli:

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(29) ìsì-má get.up-impv ‘Get up!’

Further still, there are other verbal suffixes, -ya in Dagbane and Mampruli and -ng in Dagaare, which serve to affirm or emphasize the verbal action, often known as a focus or factitive marker. This is also shown in (30):

(30) a. Dagbane/Mampruli ò ìsì-yà 3sg get.up-foc ‘S/he has gotten up.’ b. Dagbane/Mampruli ò kyàm-yá 3sg walk-foc ‘S/he has gone.’ c. Dagaare ò kyɛng-ɛ́ ɛ́ -ńǵ 3sg walk-pfvintr.-foc ‘S/he has walked.’

In Dagaare and, possibly, in Mampruli and Dagbane, these focus/factitive/affirmative affixes are in complementary distribution with the so-called postverbal lá.

3.2.1.2 Verb root The most basic part of the verb is, of course, the root or stem. Most verb roots in Dagaare are monosyllabic. An understanding of the relationship between verb roots and their affixes is important for categorizing Dagaare verbs into classes. The following are examples of Dagaare verb roots:

(31) nyu- drink zo- run vɔg- turn up, open In addition to these, there is a dictionary form, the equivalent of infinitive verbs in other languages. This may also be called the citation form. So, in citing any of the above verbs, designated by their roots, we would say:

(32) à nyú to drink à zó to run à vɔ̀gè to turn up, open

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These forms, excluding the à, are the ones that would appear in dictionary entries.

3.2.1.3 Inflectional affixes As has been discussed, the main inflectional affixes of Dagaare express aspect. There are three forms, one imperfective affix and two perfective affixes. In addition to this is the affixal counterpart of the factitiveor affirmative particle. I shall use two of the verb roots above to illustrate the various inflectional affixes:

(33) a. zo- verb root à zò dictionary form zò-Ø pfv zò-e pfv.intr zò-ró impf zò-é-ńg foc particle on pfv b. vɔg- verb root à vɔ̀gè dictionary form vɔ̀gè-Ø pfv vɔ̀g-ɛ̀ɛ́ pfv.intr vɔ̀g(è)-rɔ́ impf vɔ̀g-ɛ̀ɛ̀-ńg foc particle on pfv

Imperative forms are homophonous with the perfective transitive forms.

3.2.1.4 Derivational affixes and changes Derivational affixes, unlike their inflectional counterparts, are not easily separable from the verb root: their forms are not easily discernible, so we will discuss them under their functions in the next section.

3.2.1.5 Functional systems of the verb An interesting aspect of Dagaare and other Mabia verbal systems is that verbs can be classified into pairs or even several classes of oppositions depending on derivational processes such as causativity, transitivity, reversivity and many others. Table 8 is an attempt to illustrate this with a number of Dagaare verbs. The pairs of oppositions from 1 to 7 seem to illustrate causativity oppositions, with the members to the left being the causatives. While illustrating causativity the pairs from 1 to 4 also illustrate transitivity, with the pairs to the left being the transitive verbs while those to the right are the intransitives.

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Table 8: Oppositions in verbal forms

1 kó ‘kill’ kpì ‘die’ 2 lɔ́ɔ́ ‘make fall’ lè ‘fall’ 3 gáálè ‘put to sleep’ gángè ‘put oneself to sleep’ 4 zèglè ‘seat’ zèng ‘sit’ 5 túúlí ‘make drink’ nyú ‘drink’ 6 sù ‘feed’ dì ‘eat’ 7 séǹg ‘wake one up’ ìrì ‘wake up (from sleep)’ 8 yàglè ‘hang’ yàgè ‘take off’ 9 vɔ̀glè ‘put on (hat)’ vɔ̀gè ‘remove (hat)’ 10 ùù ‘bury’ ùnnì ‘exhume’ 11 léng ‘tie’ lórì ‘untie’ 12 nyòglì ‘hold loosely’ nyɔ́gè ‘hold’ 13 sɔ́glè ‘to hide’ sɔ́ɔ̀ ‘to be black’ 14 yíélì ‘sing, say iter.’ yèlì ‘say, speak’

Pairs from 8 to 11 illustrate the reversivity oppositions, while pair 12 may illustrate what may be called the releasive opposition. Pair 14 seems to illustrate the repetitive or iterative opposition between the two members. In addition to these oppositions one may also find other oppositions. One good example is the polarity opposition between the following Mampruli verbs: mi ‘to know’; zi ‘to not know’. This is illustrated in the following sentences where zi is an inherent negative verb: (34) a. ǹ mí 1sg know ‘I know.’ b. ǹ pá mí 1sg neg know ‘I don’t know.’ c. ǹ zì 1sg neg+know ‘I don’t know.’ d. *ǹ pá zí 1sg neg neg+know ‘I don’t know.’

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Now, a glance at the table of oppositions shows that derivational affixation is not a very developed phenomenon in Dagaare and other Mabia languages, certainly not as developed as the derivational systems of Bantu. In Table 8, there is only one consistent suffix -li in the pairs of oppositions. One cannot, however, say that it is any particular derivational suffix, as the pairs of words in which it occurs cut across several derivational classes. In this regard, there are no regular sequences of derivational affixes. As can be seen, the rest of the morphological changes in these oppositions do not involve affixation but rather internal vowel changes as in pairs 1 and 2 on the table. This near lack of derivational morphology with respect to the verb is not surprising in such languages where verb serialization is very productive. Within African languages there seems to be an interesting relation between verb serialization and verbal extensions; the two possibly have complementary functions. It seems that languages with a rich verb serialization system will necessarily have a poor verb derivational system and vice versa. This is an interesting comparative research agenda, at least, within African linguistics.

3.2.2 Adverbs The most recurrent morphophonological structure of adverbs in Dagaare is a reduplicated structure, as shown in (35a), though there are some others deviating from this recurrent structure, e.g. (35b). Example sentences are provided in (36) to show how this main group of adverbs is used.

(35) a. lígílígí ‘quietly, silently’ wíèú wíèú ‘quickly, fast’ lɛmɛ́ ́ lɛmɛ́ ́ / lɛ̀mɛ̀lɛ̀mɛ̀ ‘very sweet’ b. gyɔ̀s ‘in an unrefined way’ yɔ̀s ‘in an unrefined way’ bàràtàtà ‘in a huge way’

(36) a. à dɔ́ɔ́ zìng-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá líglíg lɛ́ def man seat-pfv foc quiet part ‘The man is sitting quietly/in a quiet way.’ b. à bíé zò-ró lá wíéwíé def child run-impf foc quickly/fast ‘The child is running fast.’ c. à ànkàá é lá nòɔ́ lɛmɛ́ lɛ́ mɛ́ ́ lɛ́ def orange be foc sweet very-sweet part ‘The orange is very sweet.’

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3.2.3 Pluractional verbal constructions In Dagaare and some other languages, number is not exclusively a nominal system of singular and plural nouns. Plurality of action can also be expressed in the verbal system. Plurality here can mean that the action is repeated several times or that the same action affects several entities. Pluraction is a quite complex morphological process in Dagaare that cannot be discussed at length here, and I will simply provide some constructions in (37) that illustrate the syntactic restrictions involved in the expression of the phenomenon. In (37a), we have an action, cutting, that affects a couple of entities, the hands. As such this plurality is expressed inside the verbal predicate. In (37b), the action affects only one entity, and as such, the plurality expressed within the verbal predicate is ungrammati- cal. In (37c), we have a normal case of the action affecting only one entity with no marked plurality inside the predicate.

(37) a. ǹ núú-rì ngmàà-r-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá 1sg hand-pl cut-pl-pfv foc ‘My hands are cut.’ = ‘I am broke.’ b. * à nǔ ngmàà-r-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá 1sg hand cut-pl-pfv foc ‘My hand is cut.’ c. à mí-rì ngmàà-ɛ̀ lá def rope-sg cut-pfv foc ‘The rope is cut.’ d. * à mí-rì ngmàà-r-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá def rope-sg cut-pl-pfv foc ‘The rope is cut.’ e. à mí-è ngmàà-r-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá def rope-pl cut-pl-pfv foc ‘The ropes are cut.’ f. à mí-rì ngmààré ngmàà-r-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá def rope-sg cut cut-pl-pfv foc ‘The rope is cut at several places.’

In (37d)-(37e), we expect a normal case of an unacceptable plural affix within the predicate and an acceptable case of the same expressed plurality, respectively. However, in (37f), we are faced with a case in which even though the entity is single, we still have an acceptable plural affix within the verbal predicate. This

24 3 Morphology needs explanation. One important observation is that the verb is repeated, reduplicated. Reduplication is the next issue to explain in this grammatical sketch. Pluraction seems to be definable, not just in terms of the number of entities the predicate action affects, nor on the number of occurrences on the same entityin the same place, but also on various parts it occurs on the same entity.

3.3 Other word classes and morphological processes In this section, I discuss the additional word class of ideophones and the general morphological processes of reduplication and compounding.

3.3.1 Ideophones Trask (1993: 131–132) defines an ideophone as “[O]ne of a grammatically distinct class of words, occurring in certain languages, which typically express either distinctive sounds or visually distinctive types of action.” Ideophones have a specific morphophonological structure in Dagaare that no other word class consistently exhibits. First, it generally has a three-syllable structure. Second, the vowels of the first syllable are copied on to the subsequent syllables. Third, and quiteim- portantly, there is usually only one tonal quality, either low or high, on the entire stretch of the three-syllable word. Fourth, each ideophone can be produced either as a uniquely low tone lexeme or as a uniquely high tone one, with a slight variation in meaning. The low-toned ones refer to heavier, longer, or fatter entities, while the high-toned ones refer to lighter, shorter and thinner entities. These are shown in (38), with example sentences in (39).

(38) gbànggbàlàng / gbángbáláng ‘of a long pole or thing falling down’ vàrkpàrà / várkpárá ‘in a messy way’ gàrmànà / gármáná ‘spread across a surface’ bɔ̀nggɔ̀lɔ̀ng / bɔ́nggɔ́ng ‘of a fat and unwieldy mass’ bìlbàlàà / bílbáláá ‘of a huge item lying down’

(39) a. à lánggbáráà lá ká ó dé lɔ́ɔ́, gbàngbàràng def hook top comp 3sg take throw-down, idph ‘It is the hook s/he has thrown down.’ b. bíní lá ká ó nyɛ̀ bìng, vàrkpàrà excreta top comp 3sg shit put-down, idph ‘It is excreta s/he has shit.’

25 3 Morphology

c. à bíé bàl-ɛ̀ɛ̀ lá, à páà lè gàngè, gàrmànà def child tire-pfv foc def then fall lie-down, idph ‘The child is tired and then is lying there.’ d. nyɛ́ ò nàng páà zèng bɔ̀nggɔ̀lɔ̀ng lɛ́ see 3sg when then sit idph part ‘Just see how s/he is seated!’ e. ò dé lá à dàngmáá lɔ́ɔ́, bìlbàlà 3sg take foc def log throw-down idph ‘He threw down the log.’

Another aspect of ideophones is that, besides having their unique morphophonol- ogy, which is quite different from those of comparative word classes likead- verbs, adjectives and verbs, they, again unlike these other word classes, do not seem to have independent semantics. As can be seen from the above glosses and transliterations, it is hard to pin them down and assign denotational, dictionary meanings to them. They depend on adjacent words and other contexts for their meaning. This again makes this class of words unique in the language. It seems that there are compelling reasons for setting up a word class of ideophones in Dagaare. From a comparative point of view, these facts of ideophones raise important empirical issues for discussing linguistic categorization.

3.3.2 Reduplication Reduplication is a pervasive morphological process across the languages of the world. It involves repetition or multiple occurrence of a morphological entity within a larger unit. Formally, two types are recognized, partial and full reduplication. In the (40), I illustrate full reduplication involving verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and partial reduplication involving an ideophone.

(40) zò zò (v.) ‘run, run’ wóg wóg (adj.) ‘tall, tall; long, long’ vɛ̀lvɛ̀lvɛ̀l (adv.) ‘very long’ vɛ̀nvɛ̀lvɛ̀ng (ideo.) ‘description of a position occupied by a long entity’

In a partial reduplication, not all the material of the segment being repeated is carried over, hence we have vɛ̀ng becoming vɛ̀ in the case of the partial reduplication. A notion of reduplicative compounds exists in Dagaare. In this morphological process, a compound is formed by repeating or bringing together certain

26 3 Morphology segments if even they belong to different word classes to form agentive nouns. This is illustrated in (41).

(41) gɔ́ngé gɔ́nnè → gɔ́nggɔ́nɔ̀ ‘to make noise’ ‘noise’ ‘noise-maker’

dì bóndìríì → bòndìdíre ‘to eat’ ‘food’ ‘food eater, glutton’

This kind of phenomenon occurs in South-East Asian languages like Tagalog and Malay and should constitute a useful area of comparison between African and Asian languages. While the forms of reduplication are interesting in themselves, the way the morphological process functions across languages is also interesting. In Dagaare, as may be seen in (40), it involves intensity and also a constant repetition of the action. But this is by no means universal, as reduplication can also express less of something in some languages. In some languages like Cantonese, it can express the diminutive. Again this should provide the frame- work of useful comparisons between Asian and African languages.

3.3.3 Compounding Compounding has already been discussed in some of the above morphological processes. It is a very productive process in the language. Many new words and expressions are formed through compounding of several entities including noun+affix (42a), noun+adjective (42b), noun + noun (42c), verb + verb (42d), verb + noun (+ affix) (42e), and even elements of a phrase (42f).

(42) a. dɔ́ɔ́ + -léé → dɔ̀ɔ̀léé man + small ‘boy’ b. néɛ̀ + fáá → néngfáá person+ bad ‘bad fellow’ c. dìé + pɔ́gɔ́ → dìépɔ́gɔ́ room + woman ‘wife, housewife, homemaker’ d. yɔ́ + tá → yɔ́tá roam + reach personal name (one who gets to destination) e. bɔ̀ng + gánè → gánbɔ́gnɔ́ know + book ‘literate’ f. kà + á + pɔ́gè → kààpɔ́gè comp + def+ get.target ‘maybe’

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4 Syntax

In this part of the grammatical sketch, I provide brief comments about the structure of the simple sentence including word order, voice, polarity, adpositions, and comparison. I also provide illustrations of more complex sentence formation involving relativization, question formation, small clause constructions, serialization, and serial verb nominalization. I end the chapter with a survey of discourse particles, involving especially topic and focus in the language.

4.1 Sentence types Dagaare is basically an SVO language, although there are some complications when we deal with much more complex sentences than the basic ones. It therefore means that verbal elements in the most unmarked cases come after the subject NP and before the object NP if there is any. There are three basic types of sentences in Dagaare: the verbless sentence, the simple sentence, and complex sentences. Verbless sentences do not have an overt verb in the structure. Here are two examples: (43) nààná lá Naana foc ‘That is Naana.’ (44) á sákúúrì lá nyɛ́ def school foc this ‘This is the school.’ I now discuss the other two types of sentences in the following sections.

4.2 The simple sentence One of the most distinctive aspects of general Mabia syntax is the presence of particles between the subject NP at the beginning of a canonical declarative sentence and the main verb. These particles, traditionally termed preverbal particles, express most of the temporal and modal aspects of the sentence. Another distinctive aspect is the presence of a postverbal particle that expresses polarity and focus phenomena. The following schema characterizes the Dagaare simple declarative sentence involving a transitive verb. (45) Subject NP |preverbal particles - main verb - postverbal particle| Object NP

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I now describe each of these parts of the simple sentence, illustrating with (46).

(46) Dàkóráá dà nyúú-ró lá à kòɔ́ à dìè póɔ́ Dakoraa pst drink-impf foc def water def room postp ‘Dakoraa was drinking the water in the room.’

In (46), Dàkóráá is the subject NP. No special affixes and particles mark the subject NP in Dagaare, hence it is not an ergative language. Grammatical functions are marked mainly by positional distribution in the sentence, with the subject occurring before the verb in a canonical declarative sentence, as is the case with the sentence above. This is followed by the preverbal particle dà, which expresses the temporal features of the construction. We then have the main verb, nyúú-rò. The suffixal parts of the main verb express the aspectual features of the construction. The postverbal particle is lá; it functions as a focus particle. It may also mark features of polarity. Finally à kòɔ́ is the object NP of the sentence. This is followed by an adverbial phrase comprising an NP, à díè and a locative postposition, póɔ́. The pervasive use of body part postpositions, rather than prepositions, is another distinctive aspect of Dagaare and Gur syntax. This basic declarative sentence provides the basis for a number of syntactic alternations expressing aspect (perfective/imperfective), mood (imperative), polarity (negation/positivity), voice (unaccusative) and for encoding more complex thought with constructions such as relativization, serialization, and serial verb nominalization. In the following, I shall briefly illustrate these various syntactic alternations.

4.2.1 Imperative This syntactic structure functions to compel (47) or exhort (48) an interlocutor or other participant in a speech situation. A special feature of the exhortative or the hortative is that it imposes an inherent high tone on any preceding pronoun (48).

(47) nyú drink ‘Drink!’

(48) ó nyú 3sg.hortative drink ‘S/he should drink.’

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4.2.2 Negation Negation is expressed in Dagaare by preverbal particles. Negation has a relationship to mood in the language. We may distinguish between a negative declarative particle as in (49) and negative imperative particle as in (50).

(49) Dàkóráá dà bà nyú à kòɔ́ Dakoraa pst neg drink def water ‘Dakoraa did not drink the water.’

(50) Tá nyú! neg drink ‘Don’t drink!’

The postverbal particle is mutually exclusive with the negative particle in such negation constructions, as shown in (51).

(51) a. tè dà gáá lá dàá 1pl pst go foc market ‘We did go to the market.’ b. tè dà bá gàà dàá 1pl pst neg go market ‘We did not go to the market.’ c. * tè dà bá gáá lá dàá 1pl pst neg go foc market ‘We did not go to the market.’

4.2.3 Comparative constructions Verbs/adjectives like gàngè ‘more than’, sèɛ̀ ‘better than’, and zùò ‘more than’, which mean ‘over’, ‘pass’, etc., are used to express the comparison of different items within the Dagaare sentence. Here are examples:

(52) Bádɛré́ é lá kpóǹg gàngè Àyúó Badere be foc big pass Ayuo ‘Badere is bigger than Ayuo.’

(53) ò dà zó gàngé má lá 3sg pst run pass 3sg.obj foc ‘He ran faster than me.’

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(54) fò dèmé zùó lá ǹ dèmé 2sg own.pl pass foc 1sg own.pl ‘Yours are more than mine.’

4.3 Complex sentences Complex sentences serve to encode the relationship between two or more ideas, entities and events. The relationship may be one of conjunction, relational, se- quential, or the quest for information about another idea, entity or event.

4.3.1 Coordination and Subordination Several ways of conjoining sentences exist in Dagaare. For a more extensive pre- sentation, see Bodomo (1997b). There are about seven coordinating conjunctions and four subordinating conjunctions in the language. These are à, àné, kyɛ́, kyɛ́ kà, béé and kyɛ́ béé and ká, kà, ká kà and nàng respectively. The two sentences below in (55) and (56) illustrate one case each of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions respectively.

(55) nààná dà yí lá sàkúúrì kúlí à tè zéng dì-ré bó-má Naana pst get.out foc school go.home conj go sit eat-impf thing-pl ‘Naana went home from school and sat down eating food.’

(56) à tè téngɛ́ nàá yèlì ká té kóɔ́-rɔ́ yágà def 1pl country king say conj 1pl farm-impf intens ‘The king of our country says that we should farm a lot.’

4.3.2 Relativization Relativization in Dagaare involves embedding one construction into another, usually rendered by an overt relativizing element which occurs after the noun in question.

(57) ɑ̀ dɔ́ɔ́ ná náng záà wà kyɛ̂ nyú lá à kòɔ́ def man rel rel yesterday come here drink foc def water ‘The man who came here yesterday drank the water.’

The usual relativizing element is a complex, (ná) náng, involving an optional first element. The relativizing complex is neutral for human and non-human nouns.

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4.3.3 Question formation Dagaare presents some challenges to the so-called wh-parameter, which deter- mines whether wh-expressions, in the case of Dagaare, bòńg-expressions (Bodomo 1997b), can or cannot be moved to the front of the sentence. Consider the following sentences:

(58) a. ò bóɔ́-rɔ́ lá dííú 3sg want-impf foc food ‘S/he wants food.’ b. bòng lá ká ó bóɔ́-rɔ̀ WH foc that 3sg want-impf ‘What does s/he want?’ c. ò bóɔ́-rɔ̀ lá bóng 3sg want-impf foc WH ‘What does he want?’

(59) a. ò gɛ̀-rɛ́ lá hɔ́ng kɔ́ng 3sg go-impf foc Hong Kong ‘S/he is going to Hong Kong.’ b. yèng lá ká fó gɛ̀-rɛ́ WH foc that 2sg go-impf ‘Where are you going?’

(60) a. ǹ yúórí lá bòǹglàkyɛrè́ 1sg name foc Bonlacher ‘My name is Bonlacher.’ b. fò yúórí lá bóng 2sg name foc WH ‘What is your name?’ c. ?? bóng lá fò yúór̀ WH foc 2sg name ‘What is your name?’

In each of the above sentences, the (b.) and (c.) are questions inquiring about the second NP of the (a.) sentences. The question word is freely found both at the beginning and at the end of the question constructions. This seems to con- travene the wh-parameter pervasive in the principles and parameters approach

32 4 Syntax to grammar. Such analyses claim that languages may be parametrized to be wh- fronting or in situ languages. The above data shows that Dagaare seems to be at both sides of the parameter. It must, however, be observed that the (c.) question construction is unnatural in the language.

4.3.4 Small clause constructions Small clause constructions involve a complex of at least two clauses. While the first clause may have overt verbal predicate elements, the second or subsequent clause may not have an overtly expressed verbal predicate. This second or subsequent part is termed a reduced clause or a small clause. Here are two examples.

(61) tè bìng’ó lá nàá 1pl put.3sg foc king ‘We made him King.’

(62) a. ò tú lá à bògí z̀lùńg 3sg dig.pfv foc def hole deep ‘S/he dug the hole deep.’ b. ò tú lá à bògí sígí 3sg dig.pfv foc def hole go.down ‘S/he dug the hole deep.’

Alongside such small clause constructions, in the form of object depictive re- sultative predicates as we have in (61) and (62a), Dagaare also has a serial verb constructions, as in (62b). Serialization is the next typical syntactic construction to be discussed.

4.3.5 Verb serialization Verb serialization (or the serial verb construction) is a productive syntactic process in Dagaare and many other West African languages. Hardly any analysis of these languages can be successfully undertaken without an understanding of the basic properties of this pervasive grammatical construction. The following example illustrates a serial verb construction, involving as many as four verbs within the construction.

(63) Dàkóráá nà dé lá à kúúrí zá lɔ́ɔ́ èng à kòɔ̀ póɔ́ Dakoraa fut take foc def stone throw fall put def water inside ‘Dakoraa will throw the stone into the water.’

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Many issues have been raised within the literature about these constructions and they continue to be discussed (e.g. Bodomo 1993; 1997b,a). Some of these are whether the serial verb construction consists of one clause or a series of clauses; whether we can arrive at a definitive typology of serial verbs; whether the complex of verbs expresses a single event or not; and how we can account for the fact that many of the verbs in the series share grammatical functions such as subject and object. This syntactic process can be altered in several ways, one being the serial verb nominalization.

4.3.6 Serial verb nominalization In the serial verb nominalization, the object of a declarative serial verbal sentence (64a) gets “moved” to the beginning of the construction, and the second gets a nominal affix attached to it(64b). The whole construction is a nominalized phrase.

(64) a. ò dà dé lá à kòɔ̀ nyú 3sg pst take foc def water drink ‘He drank the water./He took the water and drank it./ He drank up the water.’ b. à kòɔ̀ dé nyú-ù def water take drink-nmlz ‘the drinking of the water.’ c. à kòɔ̀ dé nyú-ù bá è yèl-sòńg def water take drink-nmlz neg be deed-good ‘The drinking of the water is not a good thing (to do).’

This nominalized construction can form part of a sentence, and is indeed mostly the subject of a more complete sentential construction (64c). This construction is unique in Dagaare and a few other Mabia languages, but largely absent in the Kwa languages of West Africa, such as Akan. This construction has not been widely examined in the linguistic literature, especially in the light of nominalization across languages. Bodomo (1997b,a) and Bodomo (2004b) provide a useful point of departure for such a cross linguistic study.

4.4 Discourse phenomena In this section, I will first list and briefly comment on some expressive particles, which express various types of feelings on the part of the speaker during a dis-

34 4 Syntax course situation. The various types of emotive feelings and the particles that encode them include the following: nàng: expression of politeness, as in 65.

(65) nàng dé à gánè nyɛ̀ kó má part take def book dem. give 1sg ‘Please, give me this book.’ wɛ̀, yáà: pleading tone, as in (66) and softening particle, as in (67), in the sense of extenuating a command or a potentially harsh tone:

(66) dé kò má wɛ̀ take give 1sg part ‘Give it to me’ = ‘Why not give it to me?’

(67) dé kò má yàà take give 1sg part ‘Give it to me, eh.’

àɪ́, wɛ̀: exasperation, as shown in (68).

(68) àɪ́ wɛ̀, ìrì à kyɛ̌ part part get.up def here ‘Oh please, get up from here!’ mɔ̀ɔ̀, bée, mɔ̀ɔ̀ béé: question/interrogation in (69a) and (69b); exclamation in (69c):

(69) a. fò kúlò lá béé 2sg go.home-impf foc part ‘Are you going home?’ b. fò mɔ̀ɔ́ kòng gángè bèè 2sg part neg lie.down part ‘Won’t you lie down /sleep overnight?’ c. yɛlɛ́ ́ mɔ̀ɔ̀ béé matter part part ‘Oh, what matter = Oh, my God!’ wóówóóì, ǹ sáá wóóI, ǹ má wóóì: pain, as in (70a), which is actually used in situations of mourning; surprise, as in (70b).

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(70) a. ǹ sàà wóóí, ǹ sàà wóóí 1sg father part 1sg father part ‘Oh my father, oh my father.’ b. wóó, bòng lá ká ó déɛ̀ gángè lɛ̌ part why foc comp 3sg just lie.down that.way ‘Oh, why is s/he just lying down that way?’

This list is not exhaustive but only just indicative of the particles and the feelings they encode in discourse situations. This aspect of Dagaare still awaits a detailed study. It is interesting both with respect to language internal considerations and to typological considerations. A second aspect of discourse phenomena that I will briefly address involves two particles and their variants which tend to express topic and focus phenomena in the language.

4.4.1 Topic The topic of a sentence or enunciation is that element on which the rest of the sentence (the comment) refers to. Dagaare is much like English and many other languages in which the topic is normally realized by the unmarked grammatical subject (71a).

(71) a. à dɔ́ɔ́ kú-ló lá def man go.home-impf foc ‘The man is going home.’ b. à dɔ́ɔ́ nyɛ́ éng (ò) kú-ló lá def man this top (3sg) go.home-impf foc ‘As for this man, he is going home.’

(72) a. ǹ nà nyú lá kòɔ́ 1sg fut drink foc water ‘I will drink water.’ b. màà éǹg (ǹ) nà nyú lá kóɔ́ 1sg.str. top (1sg) fut drink foc water ‘As for me, I will drink water.’

However, there are instances in which the grammatical subject is associated with an element, top, that topicalizes the whole NP entity. This NP entity is co-referential with an optional resumptive subject pronoun, as indicated in (71b).

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This is the case of a marked topic construction in Dagaare. Dagaare has two types of alternate pronominal subjects in its pronominal system–known as weak and strong pronouns (Bodomo 1997b). Unmarked grammatical subjects use the weak subject pronouns, as in (72a). When pronominal subjects are topicalized, it is the strong pronouns that are used, as exemplified in72b ( ).

4.4.2 Focus The particle lá and its variants expresses focus among many other functions. Trask (1993: 105) defines focus as “[S]pecial prominence given to some element in a sentence which represents the most important new information in that sentence or which is explicitly contrasted with something else.” Virtually any part of the sentence can be focused in Dagaare. The sentence in (73a) may be focused in various ways, or rather parts of it may be emphasized in various ways. First, the sentence as a whole, in its neutral form, is marked with the particle lá, which acts as a default focus or assertive/factitive marker. It has been glossed variously as foc, ass, or fact. This is just a subset of the many ways the particle lá may be used in Dagaare (Bodomo 1997b,a; Kropp Dakubu & Saanchi 1998) and other Mabia languages. Having illustrated the use of the focus particle with respect to the whole sentence, we now illustrate argument focus, predicate focus and adjunct focus in the Dagaare sentence.

(73) a. Dàkóráá dà dì lá sááó à bágúó nyɛ́ Dakoraa pst eat foc/assert saao def morning dem ‘Dakoraa ate saao this morning.’ b. Dàkóráá là dà dì sááó à bágúó nyɛ́ Dakoraa foc pst eat saao def morning dem ‘It is DAKORAA that ate saao this morning.’ c. sááó lá kà Dàkóráá dà dì à bágúó nyɛ́ saao foc comp Dakoraa pst eat def morning dem ‘It is SAAO that Dakoraa ate this morning.’ d. bágúó nyɛ́ lá kà Dàkóráá dà dì sááó morning dem foc comp Dakoraa pst eat saao ‘It was THIS MORNING that Dakoraa ate saao.’ e. Díí-ú lá kà Dàkóráá dà dì à sááó eat-nmlz foc comp Dakoraa pst eat def saao ‘Dakoraa ATE the saao.’ (What he did was eat the saao.)

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Any argument position may be focused in Dagaare. The structure in (73b) illustrates subject focus. The subject NP Dàkóráá is being emphasized as the actor and not any other entity. To focus the subject, the subject NP is preposed and the focus marker, foc, comes right after it. Unlike other languages like Yoruba where a pronominal clitic may occupy the position from which the NP subject is preposed, this does not happen in Dagaare. The structure in (73c) illustrates object focus. In this type of focus, a complementizer, comp, is introduced in the structure. It comes right after the focus marker and before the subject/actor of the sentence. The structure in (73d) illustrates adjunct focus. The adverbial, à bágúó nyɛ́, is focused. The following features of focus obtain. First, the adverbial is preposed. Next, it is immediately succeeded by the focus particle, and, finally, a complementizer, comp, follows the focus marker. Predicates may be also focused. First, the verbal predicate is nominalized and preposed, as shown in (73e). However, unlike the situation with argument focus, the preposed predicate still has a verbal copy in situ. As with object focus, however, the focus particle and the complementizer occur after the focused predicate item. From the above, a rule for focusing elements in a Dagaare sentence seems to emerge. In each instance, the focus element lá comes immediately after the focused element, which is preposed. However, depending on the type of focus in question, we may or may not have a copy of the focused (preposed) item in situ. Also, we may or may not have a complementizer element right after the focus marker.

4.4.3 Focus and Negation The above illustrates focus with respect to declarative, affirmative constructions in the language. However, sentences with negation may also be focused. I shall illustrate this with the structure in (74a), which is the negative version of (73a). As can be seen in (74b), the focus element in the form of lá cannot co-occur with the negative particle dà in the same sentence.

(74) a. Dàkóráá dà bá dì à sááó bágúó sángà Dakoraa pst neg eat def saao morning period ‘Dakoraa did not eat the saao this morning.’ b. * Dàkóráá dà bá dì là à sááó bágúó sángà Dakoraa pst neg eat foc def saao morning period ‘Dakoraa did not eat the saao this morning.’

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c. Dàkóráá náá dà dì à sááó bágúó sángà Dakoraa foc.neg pst eat def saao morning period ‘DAKORAA did not eat the saao this morning.’ (It was not him.) d. à sááó náá kà Dàkóráá dà dì bágúó sángà def saao foc.neg comp Dakoraa pst eat morning dem ‘It is not the SAAO that Dakoraa ate this morning.’ e. Bágúó sángà náá kà Dàkóráá dà dì à sááó morning period foc.neg comp Dakoraa pst eat def saao ‘It was not THIS MORNING that Dakoraa ate the saao.’ f. Dííú náá kà Dàkóráá dà dì à sááó bágúó sángà eat-nmlz foc.neg comp Dakoraa pst eat def saao morning period ‘Dakoraa did not EAT the saao in the morning.’

From the above it may be noticed that the negative focus particle náá has identical distribution with its positive counterpart lá regarding the syntax of focus constructions in Dagaare. Argument and predicate focus are deployed in the same way as for positive focus in the language.

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Anttila, Arto & Adams Bodomo. 1996. Stress and tone in Dagaare. Rutgers Optimal Archive (ROA). Bendor-Samuel, John Theodor. 1971. Niger-Kongo, Gur. In T. A. Sebeok (ed.), Current trends in linguistics, 7: Linguistics in sub-Saharan Africa, 141–178. The Hague & Paris: Mouton & Co. Bodomo, Adams. 1993. Complex predicates and event structure: an integrated analysis of serial verb constructions in the Mabia languages of West Africa (Univ. of Trondheim working papers in linguistics 20). Trondheim: Norwegian Univ. of Science & Technology (NTNU). Bodomo, Adams. 1997a. Paths and pathfinders: Exploring the syntax and semantics of complex verbal predicates in Dagaare and other languages. Trondheim: Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU). Bodomo, Adams. 1997b. The structure of Dagaare. Stanford: CSLI. Bodomo, Adams. 2000. Dagaare (Languages of the World Materials No. 165). München, Germany: Lincom Europa. Bodomo, Adams. 2004a. A Dagaare-Cantonese-English lexicon for lexicographical field research training. Cologne, Germany: Rudiger Köppe Verlag. Bodomo, Adams. 2004b. The syntax of nominalized complex verbal predicates in Dagaare. Studia linguistica 58(1). 1–22. Cahill, Michael S. 1999. Aspects of the morphology and phonology of Kɔnni. Ann Abor: Ohio State University. (Doctoral dissertation). Dagaare Language Committee. 1982. A guide to Dagaare spelling. Wa, Ghana: Catholic Press. Durand, Rev. J.B. 1953. Dagaare-English dictionary. Catholic Mission Duplicator. Hyman, Larry Michael. 1993. Structure preservation and postlexical tonology in Dagbani. In Sharon Hargus & Ellen Kaisse (eds.), Studies in lexical phonology (Phonetics and phonology 4), 235–254. San Diego: Academic Press. Kennedy, Jack. 1966. Collected field reports on the phonology of Dagaari (Collected Language Notes 6). University of Ghana, Accra: Institute of African Studies. Killingley, Siew-Yue. 1993. Cantonese (Languages of the World/Materials 6). München: Lincom. ii+50. References References

Kropp Dakubu, Mary E. 2005. Collected language notes on Dagaare grammar (Col- lected Language Notes, Vol. 26). Legon, Ghana: Institute of Language Studies. Kropp Dakubu, Mary E. & James A. Saanchi. 1998. Constituent focus in Dagaare. ms. University of Ghana. Miehe, Gudrun & Kerstin Winkelmann. 2007. Noun class systems in Gur languages: Vol. I Southwestern Gur languages (without Gurunsi). Gudrun Miehe & Kerstin Winkelmann (eds.) (Gur Monographs 9). Köln: Rüdiger Köppe. Nakuma, Constancio. 1999. Phonie et graphie tonale du dagaare (langue voltaïque). Paris: L’Harmattan. Nakuma, Constancio. 2002. Guide to Dagaare orthography. Journal of Dagaare Studies 2. 19–57. Rialland, Annie. 1985. Le fini/l’infini ou l’affirmation/l’interrogation en Moba (langue voltaïque parlée au nord-togo). Studies in African Linguistics Suppl. 9. 258–261. Trask, Robert Lawrence. 1993. A dictionary of grammatical terms in linguistics. New York: Routledge. Zakpaa, B. B. 1978. Te koɔbo yɛlɛ. Accra, Ghana: Bureau of Ghana Languages.

42 Dagaare dictionary by Mark Ali and Scott Grimm a abaa a a [à] conj. (1) and • O waɛ la a wa “ãa.” I called the child and he an- gaŋ. S/he came and left. (2) in or- swered, “Yes.” (2) what? (exclama- der to • O waɛ la a na nyɛ te. S/he tion of disbelief) • Ka Naa boɔle has come in order to visit us. fo ka fo zagere, ãa. You refuse to a [á] conj. but • A wola ka o ba wa? answere the chief’s call, what? But why didn’t s/he come? Var. ana ãaa [ã̀ã́ã̀] interj. is that so? (expression of uncertain surprise) • a [à] pron. they, them (3rd per- Bayuoː A pɔgebil-pɛɛre na taa son plural weak form nonhuman) • la poɔ. Ayuoː Ãaa? Bayuo: That Vɛŋ ka a kpɛ a zage. Let them go teenage girl is pregnant. Ayuo: Is into the pen. • De a moɔ eŋ a. Give that true? them the grass. âaa [ã̀ã́ã́] part. answer in agreement a [à] def. art. the • A bie kpɛ la a die. • Fo na gaa la? âaa. Will you go? The child has gone into the room. Yes, I will. a [á] v. to hate • Te a ba la. We hate aa-ee [áá-ɪɪ̀ ]́ interj. expression of them. aɛ, aara, aara, aareba, aaraa, lack of confidence in someone’s aareba ability to perform a task • Aa-ee, aa [áà] interj. expression of surprise fo koŋ daŋ ma ta. I don’t think you and regret • A ŋmane ŋmarɛɛ la, can get there before me. aa. The calabash is broken; what a aa-hii [áá-hĩĩ̀ ]̀ interj. expression of pity! • Aa, ka N da baŋ ka lɛ N total despair gaaɛ. Oh, if I had known, I would aane [áánɪ]̀ adj. infertile (woman ) pl: have gone. aama 2pl: aanɛɛ aa [áá] interj. expression of regret aaŋ [áàŋ] interj. well then aa [àà] interj. expression expressing aba [ábà] interj. (1) expression of de- “I told you so.” spair over a repeated mishap • A bie la lee la, aba. The child has aae [ááɪ]́ interj. expression of pain fallen again, oh no! (2) expression a-a [á-à] interj. (1) expression of dis- of satisfaction or agreement • Aba, approval • A-a, ta de ona. Oh no, lɛ ka N boɔrɔ. Good, that is what I don’t go that way. (2) why?; ex- want. (3) expression of empathy • pression of doubt • A-a, fo naŋ ba Aba, mɔ kyɛ so a bie kõɔ Try and gaa? Well, you haven’t gone yet? bathe the child. ãa [ã̀ã́] adv. (1) yes (answer to a call) abaa [ábàà] interj. (1) exclamation • N boɔle la a bie ka o sage ka of satisfaction or commendation •

45 abɛ aku

Abaa, fo waa bie. Well done, you agoo [àgòò] v. to ask for permission are a good child. (2) exclamation of to join someone (knock door) despair or being distraught • Abaa, agoo [àgòò] n. a type of silky, colour- vɛŋ a zɔɔre lɛ. Oh, stop the fight. ful fabric pl: agoori 2pl: agooree abɛ [àbɛ]́ n. (1) palm tree (2) palm agye [ádzé] n. bad luck pl: agyeri fruit 2pl: agyeree abɛbiri [àbɛ̀bírì] n. palm fruit sg: ahâa [àhã́ã́] interj. that’s right (ex- abɛbiruu pl: abɛbie 2pl: abɛbiree pression of agreement) • Ahaa, o abɛdãã [àbɛdã́ ́ã̀] n. palm wine sg: binzie la be. That’s right, that is its abɛdããõ 2pl: abɛdaanɛɛ position. abɛkãã [àbɛkã́ ́ã̀] n. palm oil 2pl: ahaŋ [àháŋ] interj. an expression abɛkaanɛɛ that denotes “well?” • Ahaŋ a abɛsaare [ábɛsáárɪ́ ]̀ n. palm-frond polisi la waana. All is well, as the broom pl: abɛsaɛ 2pl: abɛsaarɛɛ police are coming. abɛteɛ [àbɛ̀tɪɛ̀ ̀] n. palm tree pl: abɛ- ai [àí] part. no teere 2pl: abɛteerɛɛ aii [áìì] interj. an expression of de- abuobo [ábúóbò] interrogative pro- spair • Aii, a nɔgyɛle ŋmarɛɛ. Oh noun which ones (nonhuman) • no; the egg is broken! Abuobo ka fo boɔrɔ? Which ones akaase [àkáásɪ]̀ interj. expression of do you want? boastful challenge • Akaase, neɛ Afereka [áfɪrɪ́ kà]́ n. Africa pl: Afer- kyebe na daŋ ma kɔnoɔre. I dare ekare 2pl: Aferekarɛɛ anyone to finish his portion of the Aferekaneɛ [áfíríkànɪɛ́ ]́ n. African weeding before me. pl: Aferekanoba akaasemanakei [ákáásɪmànà]̀ interj. afu [àfú] n. preface (of a book) pl: expression of disappointment at afuri 2pl: afuree failure • A bie ba toɔ tuo daga, age [ágɪ]́ v. (1) to dance (2) to akaasemanakei. The child has jump up and down agɛɛ, agra, agra, failed to carry the box, what a pity. agreba, agraa, agreba Var. akaase akai [àkàí] interj. expression of dis- age [ágɪ]̀ v. (1) to fly (2) erect, ejacu- gust and disagreement • Akai, fo late (penis) (3) to jump over (4) to deme kyebe. Too bad, you have no be frightened; to miss a heartbeat case. agɛɛ, agra, agra, agreba, agraa, aku [ákú] interj. expression of de- agreba spair, loss, empathy • A nannyigri pɔlaa age to be frightened la maaleŋ fa la n zɔmeŋɛ na, aku.

46 akuroku ammine

The thieves have robbed my friend aloopelee [álóópèléè] n. aeroplane again, how awful! Var. akuroku pl: aloopelli 2pl: aloopellee Var. akuroku [àkúrókú] interj. emphatic ayɔɔmapelee form of aku Var. akuraku; aku aloopeleeduoraa [álóópèléédúóráà] n. airport pl: aloopeleeduori akuu [àkúú] interj. expression indicating one’s inability to do a task • ama [àmá] conj. but, however • A Akuu, ta ko ma, N koŋ toɔ̂ a tuori bɔlŋmeɛrebɛ mɔɛ la ama ba ba tuo. Ei, don’t kill me; I can’t carry di. The football players played well, the load. but they did not win. ama [ámà] pron. these (3rd person Ala [álà] n. God plural demonstrative nonhuman) • ala [álà] interj. I swear • Ala, a dɔɔ A dogere ama daaroŋ tuo. These ŋa naane so a woɔ. I swear, the pots are expensive. bag does not belong to this man. ambaŋenaa [ámbáŋɪnáá]́ n. a type alaakosebaroo [àláákosɪbárʊ́ ́ʊ́ ] in- of small tree with large leaves and terj. in the name of God pink fruit pl: ambaŋene 2pl: am- baŋenɛɛ ale [álɪ]̀ v. to open (ring), to stretch out • Ka fooŋ ba ale a fenetere, Ameleka [ámɪlɪ́ kà]́ n. America pl: o koŋ kpɛ a fo nubiri. If you don’t amelekare 2pl: amelekarɛɛ Var. open up the ring you can’t put it on Hameleka your finger. alɛɛ, alla, alla, aleba, aminekaŋa [àmínékàŋá] adv. (1) allaa perhaps, maybe • Aminekaŋa o koŋ wa pampana. Perhaps s/he alee [àléé] part. expression ordering will not come now. (2) sometimes one to get out; away with you • A Var. minekaŋa bibiiri naŋ di a bondirii baare la ka ba ba yeli ka alee, ka ba wa amma [ámmá] conj. much more than yi gaa sakuuri. When the children (exaggeration) • A bie zoro to, had finished eating, their father or- amma soɔŋaa. The boy runs really dered them to go to school at once. fast, much faster than the hare. ammeseɛrɛ [ámmɪsɪ̀ ɛ́ rɛ́ ̀] n. thanks • aleɛma [àlɪɛ́ mà]́ n. metaphor (litera- Fo taa la ammeseɛrɛ ne fo naŋ ture) toŋ a toma. I am thankful to you alɛ [álɛ̀] interj. expression of sur- for doing the work. 2pl: amme- prise mixed with fear • Alɛ, fen- seɛrɛɛ tel diglii ka fo deɛnɛ ne? Whoa, ammine [ámmìné] pron. which peo- you’re playing with electricity? ple (3rd person plural human inter- aloo [álòó] interj. hello rogative pronoun)

47 ampe annoo ampe [ámpé] n. a game traditionally early. (2) although, despite • Ane played by women pl: amperi 2pl: ka zie e la kpeɛŋaa kyɛ noba amperee mine naŋ ba sage dɔge seŋ lɛ ana [áná] pron. those (3rd person puori tuubu. Although times are plural strong form nonhuman) • hard, some people do not want to Ana ka te na wuo. We’ll collect practise family planning. (3) with those. • O pɔge daa la a dɔɔ ane o faŋa zaa ka o te le. The woman pushed anaare [ànáárɪ]̀ adj. four pl: anaare the man with all her strength and 2pl: anaarɛɛ Var. naare he fell over. ananso [ánánsʊ́] conj. because • O naŋ taa libie ananso ka o ba mɛ aneazaa [ánɪázàá]́ conj. despite, even yiri. S/he built a house because though, in spite of • Aneazaa ka s/he has money. Var. ana la so saa ba miire kyɛ kõɔ naŋ be la a baa poɔ. Even though it has not ananso [ánánsʊ] n. reason • A fo ́ been raining, there is still water in toma zagere gaabo ananso la the pond. wola? What is your reason for refusing to go to work? aneɛ [ánɪɛ́ ̀] n. effort, attempt • A tontonema da erɛ la aneɛ na anaŋ [ánǎŋ] pron. those ones (3rd baare a toma kyɛ ka saa ba sage. person plural demonstrative) • Te The workers tried to finish the job na iri la anaŋ naŋ sãa te wuli but the rain would not allow them. a boŋkoɔrɔ. We’ll select the ones that are bad and show them to the anesɛ [ánɪsɛ́ ̀] adj. welcome (an ex- seller. pression of goodwill to a stranger who has just arrived) • Anesɛ, anaŋ [ánáŋ] pron. it (a problem, a sit- kpeɛrɛ waana. Welcome, come in! uation) • Ka anaŋ waa lɛ, ta di a seemaa. If that is the case, don’t angyoɔso [ándzʊ̀ ɔ̀sʊ́] n. gratitude, eat the food. thanks • Fo taa la angyoɔso ne a kyɔɔtaa fo naŋ ko ma. Accept my andonɛɛ [ándʊ́nɛɛ́ ]́ n. (1) world • thanks for the gift. pl: angyoɔsere Andonɛɛ waa la yɛloŋ. The world 2pl: angyoɔserɛɛ is large. (2) people of the world • Andonɛɛ ba baŋ ka a wono ba anii [àníì] adj. eight pl: aniini 2pl: mine. People of the world do not aniinee know that some people are suffer- anlee [ánléé] n. (1) a traditional ing. women’s dance (2) music for ane [ànɪ]̀ conj. (1) and • Dɛre ane such a dance pl: anleeri 2pl: an- Daŋyi maŋ daŋ la sakuuri gaabo. lerri/anleree Var. an-yee Dɛre and Daŋyi always go to school annoo [ánnʊ́ʊ́] pron. who; which

48 ansaŋ apa

person (interrogative pronoun) Var. bibile na. S/he cries like a baby. aŋ la o Var. ŋa ansaŋ [ánsáŋ] conj. before • Vɛŋ ka aŋgaara [áŋgáárá] adj. having the saa mi ansaŋ ka fo bore a ka- blades burnt away, leaving the maana. Let it rain before you sow stalks (used for grass) • A kyeɛ the maize. zo kpɛ la a mɔ-aŋgaara poɔ. The ansiŋinee [ánsíŋínéé] n. (1) a type of squirrel has escaped into the stalky edible berry that turns violet when bush. pl: aŋgaare 2pl: aŋgaarɛɛ ripe (2) the tree of this fruit sg: an- aŋgeli [áŋgélí] n. a type of long grass siŋinuu pl: ansiŋini Var. ansiinee used to weave sleeping mats pl: ansoɔnee [ánsʊ́ɔ́nɪɪ́ ]́ n. a woman aŋgelli 2pl: aŋgelee who has recently given birth pl: an- aŋgoɔle [áŋgʊ́ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to adorn, to dec- soɔne/ansoɔmɔ 2pl: ansoɔnɛɛ orate • Ba aŋgoɔle la a naa wiri. antere [ántèré] n. noon; used as a They have decorated the chief’s greeting, good afternoon (Southern horse. aŋgoɔlɛɛ, aŋgoɔlɔ, aŋgoɔlɔ, Dagaare dialect) aŋgoɔleba, aŋgoɔlaa anuu [ànúú] adj. five pl: anuuri 2pl: aŋguoŋaa [áŋgúóŋáà] n. a type of anuuree tree with round, pink fruit pl: aŋguoni/aŋguomo 2pl: aŋguonee anwoŋ [ánwóŋ] n. one who is great Var. pl.var. aŋguôaa or strong (physically or spiritually) pl: annwonni 2pl: anwonnee aŋkaa [àŋkàá] n. orange (fruit) sg: aŋkaaroo pl: aŋkaare/aŋkaɛ 2pl: aŋ [ǎŋ] adj. to be alerted; used to cau- aŋkarɛɛ tion or persuade • Ka fo wa gɛrɛ a libidaana na yiri, aŋ baŋ ne Aŋkara [àŋkàrà] n. Accra pl: baare. If you are going to that rich Aŋkarre 2pl: Aŋkarrɛɛ man’s house you’d better beware of aŋko [áŋkò] n. river blindness pl: the dogs. aŋkori 2pl: aŋkoree aŋ [áŋ] pron. who (interrogative pro- aŋkorɔ [áŋkʊ̀ rɔ́] n. barrel, drum noun) • Aŋ la ba nɔŋ bompaala? pl: aŋkorre 2pl: aŋkorɛɛ/aŋkorrɛɛ Who does not like new things? Var. aŋkora aŋa [áŋá] n. no one (retort; implies ão [ã̀ʊ̀̃ ] interj. of course (expression the matter is none of the asker’s of certainty) • A. Fo na kuli la be? business) • Aŋ la wa a kyɛ? Aŋa la B. ão. A. Will you go home? B. Of wa. Who came here? No one. (Why course I willl. do you care?) apa [ápà] interj. expression of un- aŋa [àŋá] adv. like • O kono la aŋa pleasant surprise • A soɔŋaa muri

49 aparapa awola

la a baa bare kyɛ zo, apa. The the branches tore off. arɛɛ, ara, ara, rabbit dodged the dog and escaped, areba, araa, areba what a pity. Var. aparapa areba [árɪbá]́ n. maternal uncle pl: aparapa [ápárápà] interj. emphatic aremine 2pl: arrɛɛ expression of despair • Aparapa, a arekpoŋ [árɪkpóŋ]́ n. eldest niece pl: soɔŋaa ŋa meŋ la zoe? Oh no, this arekponni 2pl: arekponnee hare too has escaped? Var. apa arelee [árɪlèé]́ n. nephew or niece pl: ara [àrá] adj. to gather up one’s arebilii 2pl: arebilee/arebillee courage • A pɔge ara kyɛ daa aremateke [àrɪmátɪ́ kɪ́ ]̀ n. arithmetic la a dɔɔlee eŋ tambɔgeŋ. The pl: arematekere Var. kuntaŋ woman gathered up her courage (Akan) and pushed the man into a ditch. arezie [àrɪzíé]̀ n. (1) standing place, arambiri [árámbírí] n. kidney • A spot (2) post, position, rank • O dɔɔta yeli ka a baala arambiri arezie kpoŋ. S/he holds a high po- kaŋa sãaɛ la. The doctor said one sition. (3) position, stand (for or of the patient’s kidneys had failed. against an idea) • O ba wuli o sg: arambiruu pl: arembie 2pl: arezie a nɔkpeɛne poɔ. She has arambiiree not indicated her position with re- are [árɪ]́ v. pl. to cut, harvest (maize) gard to the argument. pl: areziiri 2pl: areziiree are [árɪ]́ v. to be related through the mother’s line • N are la Kusielee. aroozie [árʊ́ʊ́zíé] n. (1) standing I am maternally related to the place; position (2) adverb of place Kusielee clan. arɛɛ, ara, ara, areba, (on, under) pl: arooziiri 2pl: aroo- araa ziiree are [àrɪ]̀ v. (1) to stand (2) to wait aseŋ [àsɪŋ]́ adv. for instance, like • N baŋ ka o na are la ka N gaa asibiti [ásíbítì] n. hospital, clinic pl: te pɔge o. I know s/he will wait so asibitiri 2pl: asibitiree Var. asiiti, that I go to meet him/her. (3) to asimeti, asebere stop • A wɔɔkye kyɛŋɛɛ la tasoga ata [átà] adj. three pl: atare 2pl: tasoga leɛ are. The watch worked atarɛɛ for a while and then stopped. arɛɛ, ata ata in threes ara, ara, areba, araa awae [àwáɪ]̀ adj. nine pl: awarre 2pl: are [árɪ]̀ v. to tear off from the main awarɛɛ/awarrɛɛ Var. wae body (branch or limb of an animal) awae awae nine each • A maŋgo wɔŋ zue la ka a ulee awola [àwʊ́là] interrogative pronoun kaŋa are le. The mango tree has (1) how much (price) • Awola ka borne so many fruits that one of fo da a kparoo? How much did the

50 awommu ba

shirt cost you? (2) how many (non- ŋmɛ la kulinni, ayililili, eŋ a human) • Teere awola ka yɛ sɛle? bawaseɛrebɛ. The women made How many trees did you plant? shrill noises of commendation for awommu [àwómmú] n. hardship, the dancers. Var. ayiyiyiyi suffering • Ka kɔŋeŋ le awommu ayoɔbo [àyʊ̀ ɔ̀bʊ́] adj. six pl: ayoɔre maŋ pɔge la noba yaga. When 2pl: ayoɔrɛɛ there is a famine, many people Ayoree [áyóréé] n. name of a clan pl: experience a lot of suffering. 2pl: Ayoruu awonnee Var. awonaa Ayɔɔ [áyɔ̀ɔ̀] n. name traditionallly awulo [áwúló] n. continuous, loud, given to a female child born on sharp cry of pain • A pɔge na a market day pl: Ayɔɔmine 2pl: bie naŋ kpi la lɔɔrɔ awulo. The Ayɔɔrɛɛ woman who lost her son is crying hysterically. 2pl: awulee ayɔpõĩ [àyʊ̀ ɔ̀pṍĩ]̀ adj. seven pl: ayoɔ- ayi [áyì] adj. two pl: ayiri 2pl: ponni 2pl: ayoɔponnee ayiree Ayuo [áyúó] n. name traditionally ayi ayi in twos given to a female child born on a fu- ayililili [áyílílílí] interj. joyous, neral day pl: Ayumine 2pl: Ayuu- shrill shouting in commendation ree (usually by women) • A pɔgeba Azaasoba [àzàásʊ́bá] n. almighty b ba [bá] adv. not (negative particle) • firmly in the ground • Ba ba la N ba nyɛ o zenɛ. I have not seen daare gɔlle a dabɔgɔ zaa. They him today. have put up planks around the ba [bà] pron. (1) they, them (3rd per- whole garden. baɛ, baara, baara, son plural weak form human) • Ba bareba, baaraa na wa la. They will come. (2) their ba [bà] v. to take a long drink from a (3rd person possessive human) • Te container • A saana de la a kõɔ de la ba bondirii biŋ. We have ba lɛɛ ka a ŋmane wa te kyɛre. reserved their food. (3) them (hu- The stranger drank deeply until the man) • Te de la a bondirii ko ba. calabash was empty. baɛ, baara, We have given them the food. baara, bareba, baaraa ba [bà] v. to fix a pointed object ba [bá] v. to gallop baɛ, baara, baara,

51 ba baalombiri

bareba, baaraa baaebaae [bááɪbááɪ́ ]́ interj. goodbye ba [bâ] n. (1) father (2) friend (be- baage [báágɪ]̀ n. bag pl: baagere 2pl: tween males) (3) Mister pl: bamine bagerɛɛ Var. baagye 2pl: barɛɛ baala [bààlá] n. patient, sick person baa [báà] conj. or (normally used in pl: baalba 2pl: baalbɛɛ question tag) • Te na gaa la, baa baalaa [bààlàà] adj. (1) slim, slender, wolɔ? We’ll go, won’t we? Var. bee thin • N da nyɛ la pɔgebil baalaa baa [báá] n. dog pl: baare 2pl: kaŋa a seɛre zie. I saw a slender baarɛɛ girl at the dance. (2) narrow • A baa [báá] n. a small black ground ant- sori waa la baalaa lɛ. The road is like creature which burrows into very narrow. pl: baale 2pl: baalɛɛ the ground with the tip of its ab- baale [báálɪ]̀ v. to ache slightly (dis- domen pl: baare 2pl: baarɛɛ confort of the stomach) • Ka maaŋ baa [báá] n. a type of children’s iri ba gaa bangyeraa n poɔ maŋ game pl: baare 2pl: baarɛɛ baala la. If I don’t go to the toilet baa [bàá] n. body of water pl: bare for the day I normally have a slight 2pl: barɛɛ stomachache. baalɛɛ, baala, baala, baa [bàà] v. (1) to grow up, to flour- baaleba, baalaa ish • Sẽɛ saŋa, moɔ maŋ baa la baale [báálɪ]̀ v. to separate (grains wogiri lɛ. During the rainy season, from unwanted material) • A grass normally grows tall. (2) to pɔge baale iri la a seŋkãabie mature • A pɔgelee naŋ ba baa yi a pɛgere poɔ. The woman azuiŋ o ba ta serɛ kuluu. The girl separated the groundnuts from has not yet matured enough, so she the shells. baalɛɛ, baala, baala, is not marriageable. (3) to survive, baaleba, baalaa to live • A baala naŋ ba kpi zenɛ o baalebayiri [bààlbáyírì] n. hospital na baa la. Since the patient has not pl: baalebayie 2pl: baalebayiree died today, s/he will survive. baa, baalimbo [bààlímbò] n. the act of baaɛ, baara, baara, baaraa, baabo supporting someone by holding baabaa [bààbáá] n. father (familiar them by the midsection • Ba kpɛ term of address used by toddlers) pl: la a baala baalimbo gaa ne a asi- baabaamine 2pl: baabaarɛɛ biti. They supported the patient by Baabol [báábʊ̀ l] n. Bible pl: baabola the midsection and took him to the 2pl: baabolɛɛ/baabollɛɛ hospital. pl: baalimbori 2pl: baal- bãabõo [bã̀ã̀bʊ̃́ʊ̃́] n. bustard pl: imboree Var. boolimbo bãaboomɔ/bãaboone 2pl: bãa- baalombiri [bààlʊ́mbírì] n. germ, boomɛɛ/bãaboonɛɛ bacterium pl: baalombie 2pl:

52 baalomboɔlaa baataŋaa

baalombiiree baaluuri 2pl: baaluuree baalomboɔlaa [báálʊ̀ mbʊ̀ ɔ̀làá] n. baa-ne-ŋmaaŋa [bàá-nɪ-ŋmááŋà]́ n. feast organised for a friend • Te Ursa Major (constellation); also daare gaa la baalomboɔlaa Lo- known as Big Dipper, Plough, raa poɔ. We attended a friendship Great Bear feast in Lawra. pl: baalomboɔle baapɛmpɛle [bàápɛ̀mpɛlɛ́ ̀] n. lily baalonlɔnnaa [bààlʊ̀ nlɔ́nnáá] n. con- pads (pl.) sg: baapɛmpɛloo tagious disease pl: baalonlɔnnɔ 2pl: pl: baapɛmpɛlɛ 2pl: baapɛm- baalonlɔnnɛɛ pɛlɛɛ/baapɛmpɛllɛɛ baalonnooraa [bààlʊ́nnʊ̀ ʊ̀ ráà] n. re- baaraa [bááráá] n. end, last • A curring illness pl: baalonnoore baaraa zaa te na nyɛ la a nan- baaloŋ [báálʊ́ŋ] n. friendship • Ba nyige. At the end of it all, we will nyɔge la baaloŋ saŋa zaa. They find the thief. have been friends for a long time. baaraakyi [báárááʧì] n. bridge pl: pl: baalondeme baaraakyiri 2pl: baaraakyiree baaloŋ [bààlʊ́ŋ] n. illness, sickness baare [báárɪ]̀ v. (1) to finish, to • A baala baaloŋ seɛ o la zenɛ. end, to complete • A tontonema The patient’s illness has improved baare la a toma. The workers today. have finished the work. (2) to be baaloŋ [bààlʊ̀ ŋ] adj. (1) calm • Zenɛ, used up • A baaloŋ vɛŋɛɛ la ka a mane kõɔ̃ e la baaloŋ. Today, a dɔɔ bɛroŋ na baare la o zaa. the sea is calm. (2) gentle, gen- Sickness has caused that man to tly • A doɔ baaloŋ na wa la kyɛ. lose weight. baarɛɛ, baara, baara, That gentle man came here. • A baareba, baaraa doɔ wa la baaloŋ. The man is baasaabiri [bààsààbírí] n. (1) a seed gentle. • De a bileɛ baaloŋ. Take from a type of tree (2) a type the baby gently. (3) soft (objects, of large bead made from this seed sounds) • A kapuro ŋa e la baaloŋ sg: baasaabiruu pl: baasaabie 2pl: yelmeŋɛ. This pillow is really soft. baasaabiiree (4) smooth (powdery substances) • Baasaale [bàásààlɪ]̀ n. Baasare (eth- Bɛnzɔŋ maŋ waa la baaloŋ. Bean nic group) sg: baasaaloo flour is usually smooth. baasakuuri [báásàkúúrì] n. bicycle baalugiri [bààlùgìrí] n. armpit sg: pl: baasakue 2pl: baasakuuree baalugiruu pl: baalugo 2pl: baalu- baataŋaa [báátáŋáá] n. a type giree Var. bagelugri of tree that resembles the shea baaluu [bààlúú] n. (1) gallon mea- nut tree pl: baataŋema 2pl: sure (2) balloon sg: baaluuruu pl: baataŋemɛɛ/baataanɛɛ

53 babammo bagane babammo [bábámmʊ́] n. ignorance badalane [bàdàlánɪ]́ n. uncastrated babaŋena [bábáŋɪná]́ n. one who male dog pl: badalama 2pl: is innocent pl: babaŋenema 2pl: badalamɛɛ babaŋenemɛɛ badalee [bàdàléé] n. male puppy babaŋyeli [bábàŋyélí] n. innocence pl: badabilii 2pl: badabi- Var. dakumo lee/badabillee babẽe [bàbɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. broth from dog meat badavaraa [bàdàváràà] n. cas- 2pl: babeenɛɛ trated dog pl: badavarre 2pl: ba- davarɛɛ/badavarrɛɛ babeɛ [bábɪɛ́ ]́ n. a friend that cannot be trusted pl: babeere 2pl: badɛre [bádɛrɪ́ ]́ n. (1) spider (2) babeerɛɛ cunning person pl: badɛrre 2pl: badɛrɛɛ babeɛraa [bàbɪɛ̀ ráà]́ n. bridge pl: badie [bàdìé] n. the deepest part of babeɛre 2pl: babeɛrɛɛ Var. a body of water pl: baderi 2pl: baaraakyi, takoriko baderee babere [bàbɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. the breast of a dog badoge [bàdʊ̀ gɪ]̀ n. a plant with a pl: baberɛ 2pl: baberɛɛ sweet smell, used to season sauce babini [bàbíní] n. dog faeces pl: babi- pl: badogre 2pl: badogrɛɛ nee 2pl: babinnee badɔgerɔ [bàdɔ̀grɔ́] n. female dog babiŋ [bábíŋ] n. a type of tree pl: that has recently given birth pl: babinni 2pl: babinnee badɔgere 2pl: badɔgerɛɛ Var. babiri [bábírì] n. bosom friend pl: ba- badɔgera bie 2pl: babiiree Var. batuo bafoɔlaa [bàfʊ́ ɔ́láá] n. (1) valley (2) babogi [bàbógí] n. the deepest part creek pl: bafoɔle 2pl: baroɔlɛɛ of a body of water pl: babogri 2pl: baga [bágà] n. a triangular garment babogree worn by men as underwear pl: babullaa [bàbùlláà] n. spring, pond bagere 2pl: bagerɛɛ Var. lere, para where water is drawn in small baga [bàgà] n. not caring, uncon- amounts (usually during dry sea- cerned • Ka onaŋ ba wa a pɔge- son) pl: babulli beɛloŋ kyɛ n baga kyebe. I don’t badaa [bàdáá] n. male dog pl: care if s/he doesn’t attend the wed- badaare 2pl: badaarɛɛ ding. badaa-de-nyoɔre [bàdáádíɲɛʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. baganaa [bàgànàà] n. dog leash pl: the last day of a festival 2pl: baganne 2pl: baganɛɛ/bagannɛɛ badaadenyoɔrɛɛ Var. baraade- bagane [bàgánɪ]̀ n. dog skin, dog nyoɔre hide pl: bagama 2pl: bagannɛɛ

54 bagaŋ bakpoŋ bagaŋ [bágáŋ] n. a mad dog pl: bagupipi [bágùpípí] n. very early baganne 2pl: baganɛɛ/bagannɛɛ morning pl: bagupipiri 2pl: Var. bagao bagupipiree Var. bagupi bagao [bàgáʊ̀ ] n. mad dog pl: baga- bagbɛre [bàgbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. leg of a dog pl: gre 2pl: bagagrɛɛ Var. bagaŋ bagbɛɛ 2pl: bagbɛɛrɛɛ bageba [bágɪbá]́ n. a type of sacred bagbɛre [bàgbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. valley pl: ba- cult which initiates boys and girls gbɛɛ 2pl: bagbɛɛrɛɛ into adulthood 2pl: bagebɛɛ Var. bagboŋ [bágbòŋ] n. fool pl: bagbon- bɔgebɔ ni 2pl: bagbonnee bageboge [bàgɪbʊ̀ ̀ gɪ]̀ n. the act of bagbori [bàgbòrí] n. trough for a dog divining • Kiritabiiri kyiiruŋ la pl: bagboe 2pl: bagboree bageboge. It is a taboo for Chris- bagyeɛnɛ [bàdzɪɛ̀ ̀nɛ]́ n. a type of chil- tians to participate in divining. Var. dren’s dance 2pl: bagyeɛnɛɛ bɔgeboge bagyoɔ [bàdzʊ́ɔ́] n. (1) squirrel-like bageboge-dagoli [bàgɪbʊ̀ ̀ g-dàgólí] rodent (believed to be very sexually n. divining stick pl: bageboge- active) (2) sex maniac (male) Var. dagolo 2pl: bageboge-dagolee Var. bagyoa, bazoɔ bɔgeboge-dagoli bagyɔroo [bàdzɔ̀rʊ́ ʊ́] n. a thick, bageboge-karaa [bàgɪbʊ̀ ̀ g-kàràá] n. fleshy, poisonous creeping plant chief diviner pl: bagebogekarre 2pl: bagebogekarɛɛ Var. bɔgeboge- ba-irime [bá-írímé] n. a type of wild karaa mouse found along river valleys which has tender skin pl: ba-irri bageboge-woɔ [bàgɪbʊ̀ ̀ gɪ-wʊ̀ ́ɔ́] n. di- 2pl: ba-iree vining bag pl: bageboge-woore 2pl: bakana [bàkáná] n. broth from dog bageboge-woorɛɛ Var. bɔgeboge- meat, made with flour 2pl: bakanɛɛ woɔ bakore [bákʊ́rɪ]́ n. trusted friend bagere [bàgrɪ]́ n. sacrifice for gods pl: pl: bakorɔ/bakoremine 2pl: bako- baga 2pl: bagɛɛ Var. bɔgere rɛɛ/bakorrɛɛ bagukyɔfeɛle [bágùʧɔ̀nfɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. very bakɔ [bàkɔ̀] n. a type of yam (early early morning (usually cold) maturing) pl: bakɔɛ 2pl: bakɔrɛɛ baguo [bágúó] n. morning pl: baguu- bakpoŋ [bàkpóŋ] n. (1) large stream, ri 2pl: baguuree Var. beguo river (2) (capitalized) the name bagupi [bàgùpí] n. early morning pl: of a tributary of the Black Volta baguipiri 2pl: bagupiree Var. be- River in the Upper West Region pl: bipi bakponni 2pl: bakponnee

55 balaa bama balaa [báláà] n. waistband (pair of daare to ma lɛnso ka o maŋ wa shorts) pl: balle 2pl: balɛɛ nyɛ ma bale. She insulted me the balambaaraa [bálámbááráá] n. peg last time, and that’s why she avoids used for tethering animals pl: bal- me when she sees me. (2) divert ambaare 2pl: balambaarɛɛ Var. • Ba naŋ da beɛrɛ a baa ba bale balambiri la a sori. When they were con- stucting the bridge, they diverted balambiri [bálámbírí] n. peg used the road. balɛɛ, bala, bala, baleba, for tethering animals pl: balambie balaa, baleba 2pl: balambiiree Var. balambaaraa bale [bálɪ]́ adj. of a kind • A toma ŋa balantamm [bàlàntàmm] adv. large bale ba kye kyɛ. We do not have and heavy • Wɔɔ waa la kpoŋi his kind of work here. balantamm. The elephant is enor- mously large. balee [bàléé] n. brook, stream pl: babilii 2pl: babillee balante [bálántɪ]́ n. belt sg: balantee- rɛɛ pl: balantere 2pl: balantere balee [bàléé] n. puppy pl: babilii 2pl: Var. bɛlɛnte babillee balee [bàlɪɪ̀ ]̀ adj. of a dubious and bale [bàlɪ]̀ v. (1) to be tired • O toŋ dangerous nature • Pɔge koŋ sage la a toma te zuo lɛnso ka o bale. toŋ tombalee ŋa tɔ. A woman will He has overworked himself; that’s not do this sort of shady thing. why he is tired. (2) to be fed up • Bebiri zaa ka o maŋ wa sɔre libie, baleŋkpɔgre [bàlɪŋkpɔ́ ̀grì] n. tick pl: maa eŋ bale la o yɛlɛ. He comes to baleŋkpɔgɔ 2pl: baleŋkpɔgrɛɛ beg for money every day; I’m fed balɔre [bálɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) ugly person or up with him. (3) to be weak • Ka thing (2) one without strength pl: neɛŋ kore o maŋ bale la. One be- balɔɛ 2pl: balɔrɛɛ comes weak when one is old. (4) to balɔrroŋ [bálɔ̀rrʊ́ŋ] n. (1) not being be soft • A gane koe la, yɛ mere strong (2) act of being ugly kõɔ ka o bale. The animal skin is bam [bǎm] n. a type of large yam pl: dry and hard, so sprinkle water on bama 2pl: bamɛɛ it to make it soft. balɛɛ, balla, balla, bama [bámà] pron. these (3rd person baleba, balaa, baleba plural demonstrative human) • A bale [bálɪ]́ n. tribe, ethnic group noba bama la maŋ toŋ a toma • Dagaaba bale kaŋa yuori la wiẽu. These are the people who Kowɛrɛɛ. Kowɛrɛɛ is one of the normally do the work quickly. • tribes among the Dagaaba. pl: Bibiiri bama la ka ba iri. These balmine 2pl: balɛɛ are the children that have been cho- bale [bálɪ]́ v. (1) avoid, evade • O sen.

56 bambaala bandazeɛraa bambaala [bàmbààlá] n. unassum- ies of water, whose dry stalks are ing person; poor person pl: bam- used for weaving sg: bamoɔnoo pl: baaleba 2pl: bambaalebɛɛ bamoore 2pl: bamoorɛɛ bambaalaa [bámbááláá] n. small fish, bandaa [bándáá] n. lizard fingerling pl: bambaale 2pl: bam- (male) pl: bandaare 2pl: ban- baalɛɛ darɛɛ/bandaarɛɛ Var. baŋa, bɔn- bambalaaraa [bámbálááráá] n. swal- daa low (bird) pl: bambalaare 2pl: bam- bandaakpogilo [bàndáákpóglò] balaarɛɛ n. the act of hitting the oppo- bambaŋ [bámbáŋ] adv. hot, steamy nent’s armpits with one’s knees to • A zee, re ba taa diibu, a toloŋ weaken the opponent (a wrestling bambaŋ. The soup is too hot; it move) • Bayuo to la Dɛre ka Dɛre can’t be eaten. • Tentoloŋ saŋa a nyɔge o lɔɔ tɔ bandaakpogilo. ŋmenaa maŋ toloŋ bambaŋ. Dur- Bayuo insulted Dɛre, and Dɛre ing the hot season, the sun is al- threw Bayuo down and used his ways extremely hot. knees to hit his armpits. 2pl: ban- bambiŋi [bàmbìŋ] n. an arrange- daakpogilee ment made in advance by two par- bandakarekpele [bàndàkárkpɪlɪ́ ]́ n. ties Agama agama lizard; also known bambugo [bámbúgó] n. confused as red-headed rock agama pl: ban- person; fool pl: bambugri 2pl: dakarekpelɛ 2pl: bandakarekpelɛɛ bambugree Var. karekpele bambuŋi [bàmbúŋ] n. salp (fish of bandakarema [bàndàkàrɪmà]̀ n. the class Thaliacea) pl: babunni large male lizard 2pl: ban- 2pl: bambunnee dakaremɛɛ bambuŋi [bàmbúŋ] n. locally made gunpowder pl: babunni 2pl: bam- bandanyene [bàndàɲɪnɪ́ ]́ n. tooth of bunnee a lizard pl: bandanyemɛ 2pl: ban- danyennɛɛ/bandanyemɛɛ bamm [bàmm] adv. big and heavy • A nannyige zu mɔrɛɛ bamm lɛ. bandapoleɛne [bàndàpʊ́lɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. fe- The thief’s head is badly swollen. male lizard pl: bandapoleɛmɛ 2pl: bammo [bàmmʊ́] n. intelligence, wit bandapoleɛmɛɛ/bandapoleɛnɛɛ • Kɔkɔlaa taa la bammo gaŋ baa. Var. poleɛne The cat is more intelligent than the bandazeɛraa [bàndàzɪɛ̀ ráá]́ n. kite; dog. small bird of prey (family Accip- bamoɔ [bàmʊ́ ɔ́] n. a type of tall, itridae) pl: bandazeɛre 2pl: ban- strong grass found around bod- dazeɛrɛɛ

57 bandazoore baŋe bandazoore [bàndàzʊ́ʊ́ rɪ]́ n. tail of banzeɛraa [bǎnzɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. bird that a lizard pl: bandazoɛ 2pl: banda- eats lizards pl: banzeɛre 2pl: zoorɛɛ banzeɛrɛɛ banfane [bànfánɪ]́ n. a bangle that banzɔlɔ [bànzɔ̀lɔ̀] n. chain pl: is believed to have medicinal value banzɔlle 2pl: banzɔllɛɛ Var. and may be worn to cure a disease bɔnzɔlɔ pl: banfama 2pl: banfanɛɛ banyaa [bàɲáà] n. chest of a dog pl: bangye [bándzɪ]́ n. bank pl: banyaɛ/banyaane 2pl: banyaanɛɛ bangyere 2pl: bangyerɛɛ banyagere [bàɲágrɪ]́ n. intes- bangyeraa [bándzɪráá]́ n. (1) latrine; tine of a dog pl: banyaga 2pl: washroom • Pampana ka fooŋ mɛ banyagɛɛ/banyagerɛɛ yiri a seŋ ka bagyeraa bebe. Mod- banyaŋaa [bàɲáŋáá] n. female dog ern houses are supposed to have pl: banyaŋene/banyanne 2pl: built-in washrooms. (2) feces • banyaŋenɛɛ/banyannɛɛ A bie nyɛ la bini meele a sɛŋ. Banyene [bàɲɪnɪ̀ ]̀ n. homeland of the The child has soiled the mat with Banyenɛɛ clan feces. pl: bangyerre 2pl: bangy- Banyenɛɛ [bàɲɪnɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. name of a erɛɛ/bangyerrɛɛ clan sg: banyenoo ba-nimie-anaare [bà-nímíè-ànàárɪ]̀ banyɛtɔgle [báɲɛtɔ́glɪ]́ n. imitation • n. a dog, usually with big spots Bibiiri taa la banyɛtɔgle, azuiŋ above the eyes that look like a sec- neŋkponni seŋ ka ba taa ba ond pair of eyes, believed to have menne velaa. Children like to im- supernatural powers pl: ba-nimie- mitate, so adults should behave anaare 2pl: ba-nimie-anaarɛɛ well. bantakperee [bàntákpérèé] n. a type baŋa [báŋá] n. bangle pl: banne 2pl: of spotted lizard (believed to be poi- bannɛɛ Var. bɔŋɔ sonous) pl: bantakperri 2pl: ban- baŋa [bàŋá] n. lizard pl: banne 2pl: takperree bannɛɛ Var. bandaa bantoɔ [bántʊɔ] n. rectal bulb sy- ́ ́ baŋe [bàŋ] v. (1) to know (some- ringe pl: bantoore 2pl: bantoorɛɛ thing or someone) • N baŋe la a Var. bɔntoɔ pɔge ŋa serɛ, o yuori la Dabuo. banweebaa [bànwɪɪ́ báá]́ n. carnivo- I know this woman’s husband; he rous bird (bigger than a kite but is called Dabuo. (2) to be aware strong and fast) pl: banweere 2pl: of • N baŋe ne la o waabo. I banweerɛɛ know he’s coming. baŋɛɛ, banna, banzeɛ [bànzɪɛ̀ ̀] n. copper bangle pl: banna, banema, bannaa, banema banzeere 2pl: banzeerɛɛ Var. bɔŋe

58 baŋena bare baŋena [bàŋɪná]́ n. (1) area be- that has many compartments pl: tween the shoulder and neck (2) bapimbaare 2pl: bapimbaarɛɛ trickster pl: baŋema/banema 2pl: bara [bárá] n. boastful threat, often baŋemɛɛ/banemɛɛ Var. bɔŋenɔ considered inappropriate or rude • baŋenaa [báŋɪnáá]́ n. a type of tree Dakoraa naŋ baŋ ka dɔɔ zaa kye that has medicinal properties pl: a yiri poɔ la so ka o wa fare a baŋene 2pl: baŋenɛɛ Var. bɔŋenaa bara ama taaba. Knowing that all baŋene [bàŋɪnɪ̀ ]́ n. cleverness • Nan- the men had left the house, Dako- nyige maŋ taa la baŋene, ka o raa went to make boastful threats. nyɔgebo maŋ e tuo. A thief usually 2pl: barɛɛ has such cleverness that it is diffi- baraa [báráá] n. not making any ef- cult to catch him. Var. bɔŋene fort; helpless baŋgori [báŋgórí] n. high-heeled bare [bàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to leave, to release, shoes sg: baŋgoruu pl: baŋgorri to let go • Ba bare la sakubiiri. 2pl: baŋgoree/baŋgorree They have let the schoolchildren go baŋkaroŋ [bàŋkàrʊ́ŋ] n. a type of for vacation. (2) to discontinue, to brown bird with long, thin legs pl: abstain, to cease, to stop • A baala baŋkarre 2pl: baŋkarɛɛ/baŋkarrɛɛ bare la a dɔɔta gaabo. The patient baŋkoroŋ [bàŋkʊ́rʊ́ŋ] n. foreknowl- has stayed away from the hospital. edge (3) to divorce (initiated by husband) • A dɔɔ gaa bare la o pɔge. The baŋŋmeɛle [bàŋŋmɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. twisted man has divorced his wife. (4) not bangle, often with a spiritual having power • A dɔɔ ŋa eŋ barɛɛ or medicinal significance pl: la te zuo, o koŋ tõɔ a dɛre do. This baŋŋmeɛlɛ 2pl: baŋŋmeɛlɛɛ man is so useless that he cannot ba-ɔge [bà-ɔ̀gɪ]́ n. a dog’s nest, usu- climb the ladder. barɛɛ, bara, bara, ally for a female that has recently bareba, baraa, bareba given birth pl: ba-ɔgre 2pl: ba- bare gyɛle to be careless; to not pay ɔgɛɛ/ba-ɔgrɛɛ attention bapare [bápárɪ]́ n. close friend pl: ba- bare yɛŋe to feel free, to relax paremine 2pl: baparɛɛ Var. batuo bare [bàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to cultivate seeds • bapare [bàpárɪ]́ n. end of a valley pl: A pɔge bare la kommie a dabɔge baparɛɛ poɔ. The woman has cultivated bapiiraa [bàpííráá] n. a puppy ear- tomato seeds in the garden. (2) to marked for someone pl: bapiiri 2pl: offer firstfruits to the gods • Bɔge- bapiiree bogereba maŋ bare la bompaala bapimbaare [bápímbáárɪ]̀ n. a small kyɛ baŋ di. Diviners normally of- part of the stomach of a ruminant fer firstfruits to their gods before

59 barekanneɛbaa bebe

eating. barɛɛ, bara, bara, bareba, bazoɔ [bàzʊ́ɔ̀] n. a type of wild fox baraa, bareba 2pl: bazoorɛɛ Var. bazoa, bagyoɔ barekanneɛbaa [bàrɪkánnɪ̀ ɛ́ báá]́ n. bazoraa [bàzóráà] n. fast dog pl: local spirits (alcohol) pl: barekan- bazorri 2pl: bazorree neɛbaare 2pl: barekanneɛbaarɛɛ bazugiri [bázúgrí] n. a type of wild barre [bárrɪ]́ v. to haggle barrɛɛ, mouse that has thick fur pl: bazugo barra, barra, bareba, barraa 2pl: bazugee/bazugiree ba-sakɔre [bà-sakɔrɪ]́ n. lazy and be [bě] v. to exist, to be there • A useless dog baala be la asibiti poɔ. The pa- basasale [bàsàsàlɪ]́ n. slippery water- tient is in the hospital. bee, bere, way 2pl: basasalɛɛ bere, beribe, beraa, beribe ba-soɔmee [bà-sʊ́ɔ́mɪɪ́ ]́ n. weak and be nimiri to be awake, to be alert sickly dog Var. ba-sakɔre be [bě] loc. there (place) • N ba nyɛ bataabo [bátáábʊ́ ] n. the state of not fo be. I did not see you there. having anything be [bɪ]̀ v. (1) to become boiled or batara [bátárá] n. poor or needy per- cooked • A nɛne ba be, o varema. son pl: batareba 2pl: batarebɛɛ The meat is not well boiled, it is batuo [bátúó] n. bosom friend pl: hard. (2) to be smooth (flour) • A batuuri 2pl: batuuree Var. bakore mansinni ɛre la a bɛnzɔŋ ka a bapare, bameŋɛ, babiri be. The machine has ground the bean flour very smooth. (3) to ma- bavilime [bàvílímé] n. lake pl: bavil- ture, to ripen (fruit, millet) • Ka imeri 2pl: bavilimee taŋaaŋ wa be o maŋ pɔre le la. bawaa [báwáá] n. a type of dance pl: A ripe shea fruit normally falls off bawaare 2pl: bawaarɛɛ the tree. (4) to ferment (alcohol) • Bayaayiree [báyààyíréé] n. people A dãa naŋ ba be azuiŋ a ba bu- of Bayaayiri sg: bayaayiruu giro. The pito is not yet fermented, Bayaayiri [báyààyírí] n. (1) a settle- so it is not alcholic. (5) to fortify ment in the Upper West Region (2) (spiritually) • Pɔlebilii yaga maŋ ancestors’ dwelling; next world boɔrɔ ka ba tegere ba menne a be. Bayuo [báyúó] n. name traditionally Today, most young men want to given to a male child born on a fu- fortify themselves through spritual neral day 2pl: bayumine powers. beɛ, berɛ, beerɛ, berebɛ, bazẽe [bàzɪɪ̃́ ]̀̃ n. blood of a dog 2pl: beraa, berebɛ bazeenɛɛ be [bɪ]́ conj. or • Fo na gaa la be? bazele [bàzɪlɪ̀ ]́ n. tongue of a dog pl: Will you go or not? Var. bee bazelɛ 2pl: bazelɛɛ bebe [bèbé] adj. present, available

60 bebelaa beene

• Noba yaga da be be la kyɛ ka bebisaana [bèbísááná] n. strange Naa wa. There were many people day pl: bebisaama present when the Chief came. bebisoŋ [bèbísʊ́ŋ] n. good day, holy bebelaa [bɪbɪ́ láá]́ n. termite hill pl: day pl: bebisonne 2pl: bebisonnɛɛ bebelle 2pl: bebellɛɛ Var. belaa bebitɔɔre [bèbítɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. distant date bebelebiri [bɪbɪ́ lɪ̀ bírì]̀ n. white ant sg: pl: bebitɔbɔ 2pl: bebitɔɔrɛɛ bebelebiruu pl: bebelebie 2pl: be- bebivuo [bèbívúó] n. free day pl: be- belebiiree bivori 2pl: bebivoree beberaa [bébéráà] n. a pessimist pl: beberri Var. beberee bebiyeni [bèbíyéní] n. one day, a single day pl: bebiyaga Var. bebiye- beberee [bébéréè] n. one who is ma- naa licious pl: beberri 2pl: beberree Var. bebberaa bee [bèé] adj. to exist; to be present • O bee be. S/he is there. Var. be; be beberiyɛlɛ [bébèrìyɛlɛ́ ]́ n. malicious la talk sg: beberiyeli beberuŋ [bébérúŋ] n. the act of caus- bee [bɪɪ́ ]́ conj. or • O gaaɛ la bee o ing trouble ba gaa? Has s/he gone or not? Var. be, beɛ, baa bebibaaraa [bèbíbááráá] n. last day pl: bebibaare 2pl: bebibaarɛɛ bẽe [bɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. (1) concentrated extrac- bebibalaa [bèbíbàlàà] n. particular tion from something (tasty, inter- day esting) (2) broth from meat 2pl: beenɛɛ bebidɛŋe [bèbídɛŋ]́ n. first day pl: be- bidɛnne 2pl: bebidɛnnɛɛ Var. be- beele [bɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to envy (with evil in- bidɛndɛŋ tent) beelɛɛ, beelɛ, beelɛ, beelebɛ, beelaa, beelebɛ bebifaa [bèbífáá] n. sabbath; sacred day pl: bebifaare 2pl: bebifaarɛɛ beele [bɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to move slightly away bebigbuli [bèbígbùlì] n. whole day from a spot beelɛɛ, beelɛ, beelɛ, pl: bebigbulo 2pl: bebigbulee beelebɛ, beelaa, beelebɛ bebikore [bèbíkʊ́rɪ]́ n. a former beene [bɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. (1) strong person day, a day in the past pl: be- (2) one with supernatural power pl: bikorɔ/bebikora 2pl: bebikorɛɛ beemɛ 2pl: beemɛɛ bebipaalaa [bèbípááláá] n. new day; beene [bɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ adj. (1) well-cooked, different day pl: bebipaala 2pl: be- boiled (2) ripe (fruit) pl: beemɛ 2pl: bipaalɛɛ beenɛɛ bebiri [bèbírì] n. date, day pl: bebie beene [bɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to move majes- 2pl: bebiiri/bebiiree tically (2) to roam round leisurely

61 beere bele

beenɛɛ, beenɛ, beenɛ, beenemɛ, beɛre [bɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ v. to follow up beɛrɛɛ, beenaa beɛrɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrebɛ, beɛraa, beere [bɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to kill, to finish beɛrebɛ off, to beat mercilessly (2) to boil beɛre [bɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to cut into strips pito in the final stage of produc- beɛrɛɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrebɛ, tion beerɛɛ, beerɛ, beerɛ, beerebɛ, beɛraa, beɛrebeɛraa Var. beɛle beeraa bege [bɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to stop up, to close beɛ [bɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to move out of a passage begɛɛ, begerɛ, begeraa, the way (allowing another to pass) begerebɛ, begeraa, begerebɛ (2) to divert (3) to pass someone bege [bɪgɪ̀ ]́ n. law pl: begɛ 2pl: begɛɛ by, to overtake beɛɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrɛ, Var. merɛ (Akan) beɛrebɛ, beɛraa beɛ [bɪɛ̀ ̀] v. to slice (meat) • A nɛŋŋ- begebinne [bɪgɪ̀ bínné]̀ n. (1) law- maara beɛ la a nɛne eŋ a doge maker (2) member of parliament pl: poɔ. The butcher sliced the meat begebinime 2pl: begebinimee and put it into the pot. beɛɛ, beɛrɛ, begebiŋi-duoraa [bɪgɪ̀ bíŋ-duoraa]̀ beɛrɛ, beɛrebɛ, beɛraa, - Var. beɛle n. parliament house pl: begebiŋi- beɛ [bíɛ]́ adj. funny; strange pl: duori 2pl: begebiŋi-duoree beere 2pl: beerɛɛ Var. beɛbeɛ begere [bɪgɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]́ n. wing pl: begɛ 2pl: bẽɛ [bɪɛ̃́ ̀̃] n. beer sg: beɛnoo 2pl: begerɛɛ beɛnɛɛ belaa [bɪláá]́ n. anthill pl: belle 2pl: beɛbeɛ [bɪɛ́ bɪ́ ɛ́ ]́ adj. strange Var. beɛ bellɛɛ Var. bebelaa beɛlaa [bɪɛ́ láá]́ adj. small, little belaa [bìláà] pron. what (interroga- (quantity, time) pl: beɛlɛ tive pronoun) • Belaa ka fo erɛ? beɛle [bɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to accompany beɛlɛɛ, What are you doing? beɛlɛ, beɛlɛ, beɛlebɛ, beɛlaa, belaa [bɪláá]́ adv. (1) small (quan- beɛlebɛ Var. beɛre tity), few • A laa poɔ bondirii waa beɛle [bɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to cut in strips (meat, la belaa lɛ. The amount of food is hide) beɛlɛɛ, beɛlɛ, beɛlɛ, beɛlebɛ, very small. • Zenɛ a tontonema beɛlaa, beɛlebɛ Var. beɛre waa la belaa. Today the workers beɛlɛbeɛlɛ [bɪɛ́ lɛ́ bɪ́ ɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. slowly; are few. (2) short while (time) • bit by bit Vɛŋ ka belaa ka fo gaa. Wait for a short while before you go. bẽɛo [bɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃ʊ̃́ ] n. multitude, crowd pl: beɛnɛɛ bele [bɪlɪ́ ]́ v. to do extraneous work beɛre [bɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. older brother pl: belɛɛ, belɛ, belɛ, belbɛ, belaa beɛremine 2pl: beɛrɛɛ bele [bɪlɪ́ ]́ n. yeast pl: belɛ 2pl: belɛɛ

62 belefele beroŋkãa belefele [bɪlɪ̀ fɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ adv. big and fat berekpulo [bɪrɪ̀ kpúló]̀ n. hard, firm (person) breasts (of a young woman) 2pl: benee [bènéé] adv. that place berkpulee benne [bɪnnɪ̀ ]̀ v. to intrude ben- beremɛ [bɪrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. one who pos- nɛɛ, bennɛ, bennɛ, benemɛ, ben- sesses supernatural powers 2pl: naa, benemɛ beremɛɛ bennɛ [bɪnnɛ́ ]́ n. intruder (especially berenɛmɛ [bɪrɪ̀ nɛ̀ mɛ́ ]́ n. the flower of to meals) pl: benemɛ 2pl: benemɛɛ the bere plant sg: berenɛnoo 2pl: berenɛmɛɛ Var. bere benni [bénnì] v. to doubt bennee, benne, benne, benime, bennaaVar. berenoɔ [bɪrɪ̀ nʊ̀ ́ɔ̀] n. a bird used in bonne rituals to induce breast milk in a nursing mother pl: berenoore 2pl: bentere [bɪntɪrɪ] n. a large gourd ̀ ́ ̀ berenoorɛɛ drum pl: benteɛ 2pl: benterɛɛ Var. berenoɔre [bɪrɪnʊɔrɪ] n. nipple (of a bontere ̀ ̀ ́ ́ ̀ breast) pl: berenɔɛ 2pl: berenɔrɛɛ beo [bɪʊ̀ ̀ ] adv. big and stagnant berese [bɪrɪ̀ sɪ̀ ]̀ adv. extremely large bere [bɪrɪ́ ]́ n. (1) a type of small plant and fat whose leaves and flowers are used berewoɔ [bɪrɪ̀ wʊ̀ ́ ɔ́] n. slang term for as vegetables (2) the leaves of this female breast pl: berewoore 2pl: plant 2pl: berrɛɛ Var. berenɛmɛ berewoorɛɛ bere [bɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. (1) breast pl: berɛ 2pl: bereyɛre [bɪrɪ̀ yɛ̀ rɪ́ ]́ n. a type of wild berɛɛ plant that is used as a vegetable 2pl: bere [bɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. protect by supernatural bereyɛrɛɛ means berɛɛ, berɛ, berɛ, berebɛ, be- berɛ [bìrɛ]́ v. (1) to wish • O berɛ ŋa raa, beremɛ zie da koŋ nyaa. S/he wished day bere [bɪrɪ̀ ]̀ adj. powerful (supernatu- would never come. • O berɛ ona rally) la da na gaa a tigiri. S/he wished berebaaraa [bɪrɪ̀ bááráá]̀ n. last born s/he would be the one to attend the (of humans and other mammals) pl: feast. (2) take by surprise • O berɛ berebaare ka saana la wa kpɛ. Before he re- berekaroo [bɪrìkàrʊ̀ ́ʊ́] n. (1) a type alized it, a stranger arrived. of disease of the breast (2) a type berondɔndɔre [bɪrʊ̀ ́ndɔ̀ndɔ̀rɪ]́ n. cur- of charm believed to inflict this dis- dled milk 2pl: berondɔndɔrɛɛ ease pl: berekarre 2pl: berekarɛɛ beroŋ [bɪrʊ̀ ́ŋ] n. milk berekuuri [bìrɪkúúrí]̀ n. thick cen- beroŋkãa [bɪrʊ́ ́ŋkã́ã̀] n. fat from tre of the breast sg: berekuuree pl: fresh milk; butter sg: beroŋkaamo berekubo 2pl: beroŋkaanɛɛ

63 berroŋ bɛmpɛge berroŋ [bɪrrʊ̀ ́ŋ] n. the state of being bɛlɛnte [bɛlɛ́ ntɪ́ ]̀ n. belt pl: bɛlɛntere supernaturally powerful 2pl: bɛlɛnteerɛɛ bɛ [bɛ̀] v. to be sick, to be ill • Ka bɛlle [bɛ̀llɪ]̀ v. to deceive bɛllɛɛ, bɛllɛ, saaŋ poɔ a bie o na bɛ la. If the bɛllɛ, bɛlbɛ, bɛllaa child is out in the downpour he will bɛlle [bɛ̀llɪ]̀ v. to coax (a baby) bɛllɛɛ, get sick. bɛɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrɛ, beɛrebɛ, bɛllɛ, bɛllɛ, bɛlbɛ, bɛllaa beɛraa, beɛrebɛ bɛlle [bɛllɪ́ ]̀ v. to look at closely, to in- bɛ [bɛ̀] v. to seal, to close a hole with spect bɛllɛɛ, bɛllɛ, bɛllɛ, bɛlbɛ, bɛl- a muddy substance • Ka fooŋ ba laa bɛ a peɛ voɔre ka saaŋ wa miire a die na kyire la. If you do not patch bɛllebɛllɛ [bɛ̀lbɛllɛ́ ]́ n. bean flour the hole in the roof, the room will shaped into slabs and steamed 2pl: leak when there is rain. bɛɛ, beɛrɛ, bɛllebɛllɛɛ Var. tumpanne beɛrɛ, beɛrebɛ, beɛraa, beɛrebɛ bɛmbɛŋ [bɛmbɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. extremely bɛ [bɛ]́ pron. where (interrogative black • A peroo e la sɔgelaa bɛm- pronoun) • A libie bɛ? Where is bɛŋ. The sheep is extremely black. the money? Var. bɛɛ bɛmbɛŋ [bɛ̀mbɛŋ]̌ v. to move in a bɛbɛgere [bɛ̀bɛgrɪ̌ ]̀ n. mud pl: bɛbɛgɛ shaky manner bɛmbɛŋɛɛ, bɛmbɛnɛ, 2pl: bɛbɛgerɛɛ bɛmbɛnɛ, bɛmbɛnemɛ, bɛmbɛnaa bɛɛ [bɛɛ́ ̀] pron. where (interrogative bɛmbiri [bɛmbírì]́ n. bean seed pl: pronoun), emphatic form • A libie bɛmbie 2pl: bɛmbiiree bɛɛ? Where the hell is the money? bɛmbugo [bɛmbùgó]́ n. barn for stor- Var. bɛ ing beans pl: bɛmbugri 2pl: bɛmbu- bɛɛɛ [bɛ̀ɛɛ́ ̀] n. sheep pl: bɛɛre 2pl: gree bɛɛrɛɛ bɛmbuli [bɛmbúlí]́ n. bean sprout pl: bɛɛne [bɛɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. hemp seeds bɛmbulo 2pl: bɛmbullee bɛge [bɛ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to embank bɛmpaala [bɛmpáálà]́ n. new, fresh (2) to block with a dam bɛgɛɛ, beans 2pl: bɛmpaalɛɛ bɛgerɛ, bɛgerɛ, bɛgerebɛ, bɛgeraa, bɛgerebɛ bɛmpelaa [bɛmpɪ́ láá]́ n. white beans pl: bɛmpeɛle 2pl: bɛmpeɛlɛɛ bɛgelaa [bɛ̀gɪlàá]̀ n. a shell of a particular type of seed, used to scrape bɛmpɛɛre [bɛmpɛ́ ̀ɛ̀rɪ]́ n. unripened inside of cooking utensils pl: bɛgele bean seed pl: bɛmpɛbɛ 2pl: bɛm- 2pl: bɛgelɛɛ pɛbɛɛ bɛlɛmbɛgere [bɛ̀lɛ̀mbɛgrɪ́ ]́ n. night- bɛmpɛge [bɛmpɛ́ gɪ́ ]́ n. bean husk engale pl: bɛlɛmbɛgɛ 2pl: bɛlɛm- pl: bɛmpɛgre/bɛmpɛgɛ 2pl: bɛmpɛ- bɛgerɛɛ Var. bɛlembɛgre grɛɛ

64 bɛndaa bibile-deɛnaa bɛndaa [bɛndàà]́ n. bean stalk bɛraa [bɛ̀ràá] n. razor pl: bɛrre 2pl: pl: bɛndaare 2pl: bɛn- bɛrrɛɛ darɛɛ/bɛndaarɛɛ bɛre [bɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to set (a trap) bɛndaa [bɛndáá]́ n. a cooked bean (2) to poison • Dabẽɛ deme maŋ dish (usually not seasoned) pl: bɛn- boɔrɔ ka ba bɛre ba dendɔmɔ ko. daare 2pl: bɛndarɛɛ/bɛndaarɛɛ Cowards always try to kill their bɛnwɔne [bɛnwɔ́ ́nɪ]́ n. the fruit of a enemies by poisoning them. bɛrɛɛ, bean plant pl: bɛnwɔmɔ 2pl: bɛn- bɛrɛ, bɛrɛ, bɛrebɛ, bɛraa, bɛrebɛ wɔnnɛɛ bɛre [bɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to ponder, to wonder • bɛnzɔŋe [bɛnzɔ́ ́ŋ] n. bean flour pl: O da di la a bondirii tasoga leɛ bɛnzɔnne 2pl: bɛnzɔnnɛɛ zeŋe bɛre. After eating for some bɛnzɔɔre [bɛnzɔ́ ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. tender (seed- time, she sat back and thought. less) fruit of a bean plant pl: bɛrɛɛ, bɛrɛ, bɛrɛ, bɛrebɛ, bɛraa, bɛnzɔbɔ 2pl: bɛnzɔrɛɛ bɛrebɛ bɛŋe [bɛŋ] v. (1) to sift, to sepa- ̂ bɛre [bɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to exclude, to sep- rate grains from unwanted mate- arate from the herd • A naakyee- rial (2) to skim (usually by tap- nɛ bɛre la naadɔgerɔ na bare. ping water with the back of the The cattle herder has separated the hand or a container to push away cow that had recently calved from debris) (3) to move unsteadily, to the herd. (2) to detach or cut off sway bɛŋɛɛ, bɛnnɛ, bɛnnɛ, bɛnemɛ, (a large piece) • A naŋkpaana bɛnnaa, bɛnemɛ Var. pɛŋe bɛre la a naabo gbɛre koɔre. The bɛŋe [bɛ̀ŋ] v. to pretend to invite butcher has cut off and sold the someone to share something (but thigh of the cow. bɛrɛɛ, bɛrɛ, bɛrɛ, not whole-heartedly) bɛŋɛɛ, bɛnnɛ, bɛrebɛ, bɛraa, bɛrebɛ bɛnnɛ, bɛnnaa, bɛnemɛ bɛren-uri [bɛ̀rɪn-ùrí]̀ n. pollen from bɛŋɛ [bɛŋɛ́ ̀] n. beans sg: bɛmmo 2pl: the kenaf plant (a fibre-producing bɛnnɛɛ plant similar to hibiscus cannabi- bɛŋgbɛre [bɛ̀ŋgbɛ̀rɪ]́ n. a variety of nus) which causes itching 2pl: beans pl: bɛŋgbɛrre 2pl: bɛŋgbɛrɛɛ bɛren-uree Var. bɛren-uri bɛŋkorɔ [bɛŋkʊ́ ́rɔ́] n. old beans 2pl: bɛroŋ [bɛrʊ́ ́ŋ] adj. fat, thick pl: bɛrɛ bɛŋkorɛɛ Var. bɛŋkora 2pl: bɛrɛɛ/bɛrrɛɛ bɛŋkuoŋaa [bɛŋkúóŋáá]́ n. dry bean pl: bɛŋkuoni 2pl: bɛŋkuonee bibile [bìbílé] n. small child pl: bibilii bɛraa [bɛráá]́ n. (1) trap, snare (2) bait (fishhook) (3) poison pl: bɛrre bibile-deɛnaa [bìbílédɪɛ́ náá]́ n. toy 2pl: bɛrɛɛ pl: bibiledeɛne 2pl: bibiledeɛnɛɛ

65 bibilpɔɔ biirikpoŋi bibilpɔɔ [bìbìlpɔ̀ɔ́] n. young child pl: bifaa [bífáá] n. bad pebble pl: bifaare bibilpɔɔre 2pl: bibilpɔɔrɛɛ 2pl: bifaarɛɛ bibore [bíbʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. the act of playing bifẽe [bífɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. small quantity of peb- chess bles pl: bifeene 2pl: bifeenɛɛ bidɛndɛŋe [bìdɛ̀ndɛŋ]́ n. firstborn bifõɔo [bífʊ̃́ɔ̃́ʊ̃́ ] n. light pebble pl: bi- (human) pl: bidɛndɛnne 2pl: foɔne 2pl: bifoɔnɛɛ bidɛndɛnnɛɛ Var. bidɛŋ bigaalaa [bìgáálàá] n. any bedding bidɛŋe [bìdɛŋ]́ n. firstborn (human) for a child pl: bigaale pl: bidɛnne 2pl: bidɛnnɛɛ Var. bigaale [bìgààlɪ]̀ n. postnatal care pl: bidɛndɛŋ bigaale bidɔŋe [bìdɔ̂ŋ] n. sibling (clan level) bigane [bìgánɪ]̀ n. leather spread for pl: bidɔnne 2pl: bidɔnnɛɛ a baby cot pl: bigama 2pl: bigamɛɛ bidɔɔ [bìdɔ́ɔ́] n. son pl: bidɔbɔ 2pl: bidɔɔrɛɛ bigeŋ [bìgèŋ] adv. all over (area) bie [bíé] n. child pl: biiri 2pl: biiree bigeŋ [bìgèŋ] adv. big heavy sound (fall of a big wall, gunshot) bie [bíé] n. day, date • Fo sori na yiibu bie la dabuo? What date have bigileŋ [bìgìlèŋ] adj. large and heavy you set for your journey? pl: biiri • A kuuri waa la bigileŋ lɛ. The 2pl: biiree stone is large and heavy. bie [bíè] n. a type of game played us- bigiri [bígírí] n. (1) fibre (2) kenaf; ing marbles pl: biree/biiree a plant that produces fibre pl: bige bie [bíé] adv. tomorrow Var. bieo 2pl: bigee bie [bìè] v. to come to pass • A pɔl- bigiri [bígírí] adj. fibre-like • A bile na de la pɔge, a bebiri la maŋgo deɛ waa la bigiri. The naŋ ba bie. The young man will mango is fibrous. marry, it just has not happened bigiri [bìgìrì] v. to describe bigiree, yet. -, biere, biere, bieribe, bieraa, bigire, bigire, bigiribe, bigiraa, bi- bieribe giribe biebie [bíébíé] adv. daily; every day biiree [bììréé] n. sand pl: biiri 2pl: bieo [bíèó] adv. tomorrow • Bieo, biiree ba na wa la. Tomorrow, they will biiridalempoɔ [bììrìdàlɪmpʊ̀ ̀ ɔ̀] n. come. Var. bie desert pl: biiridalempoore 2pl: bii- bieri [bíérí] n. stinginess, unwilling- ridalemporɛɛ Var. biirikpoŋ ness to share or open up biirikpoŋi [bíírìkpôŋ] n. desert pl: bifaa [bìfáá] n. bad child pl: bifaare biirikponni 2pl: biirikponnee Var. 2pl: bifaarɛɛ biiridalempoɔ

66 bikaa bimeŋɛ bikaa [bìkáà] n. the act of caring for bileɛ [bìlɪɛ́ ]́ n. young baby pl: bileɛre children 2pl: bileɛrɛɛ Var. bilɛɛ bikaale [bíkààlɪ]̀ n. the act of gather- bilembileŋ [bílémbíléŋ] adj. round ing pebbles and smooth bikaara [bìkáárá] n. caretaker of a bilembileŋ [bìlèmbíléŋ] n. caterpil- child pl: bikaareba 2pl: bikarebɛɛ lar track, continous track pl: bilem- biko [bìkʊ́] n. the act of killing chil- bilenni 2pl: bilembilennee dren bilembileŋ [bìlèmbíléŋ] adj. large bikoŋkonaa [bìkóŋkónáá] n. a child and heavy, with weight distributed that cries a lot pl: bikoŋkonni 2pl: unevenly bikoŋkonnee bilentimm [bìlèntìmm] adj. bloated and large bikoɔraa [bìkʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. industrious person pl: bikoɔre bilɛɛ [bìlìɛ̀] n. baby (newly born) pl: bilɛɛre 2pl: bilɛɛrɛɛ Var. bileɛ bikore [bìkʊ́rɪ]́ n. old chap, child pl: bikorɔ/bikoreba 2pl: bikorɛɛ bilibala [bìlìbálá] adv. grabbing on to a huge object by throwing both bikũu [bìkṹũ̀] n. baby cot pl: bikuuni arms around it • O le nyɔge la 2pl: bikuunee a bombɛroŋ na lɛ bilibala. S/he bikũu [bìkṹṹ] n. dead child pl: firmly grabbed the fat one. bikuuni 2pl: bikuunee billi [bìllì] v. to roll (a heavy ob- bikpeebɛ [bìkpɪɪ́ bɛ́ ]́ n. orphan ject along the ground) billee, bille, pl: bikpeere/bikpeemine 2pl: bille, bilibe, billaa bikpeerɛɛ billi [bíllí] v. to roll between the bikyelaa [bìʧɪláà]́ n. smart child pl: palms; to mould billee, bille, bille, bikelle 2pl: bikyelɛɛ bilibe, billaa bikyɛnaa [bìʧɛnáá]́ n. toddler bimaraa [bìmáráá] n. baby sling pl: pl: bikyɛnne/bikyɛnemɛ 2pl: bimarre Var. maraa bikyɛnemɛɛ bimbiŋ [bímbíŋ] adv. extremely dark bildɛŋe [bìldɛŋ]́ n. firstborn (nonhu- (rain clouds) • A saa koe la bim- man) pl: bildɛnne 2pl: bildɛnnɛɛ biŋ lɛ. The rain clouds have gotten bile [bílé] adj. (1) small • A kparoo awfully thick. waa la bile; o koŋ kpɛ a bie. The bimbiŋe [bìmbìŋé] n. pen, poultry shirt is small; it won’t fit the child. shed pl: bimbinni 2pl: bimbinnee (2) younger pl: bilii Var. nɔzage bile [bílé] n. offspring (nonhuman) bimeŋɛ [bìmɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. good child pl: bi- pl: bilii 2pl: bilee menne 2pl: bimennɛɛ

67 bimm biri bimm [bìmm] adv. large and solid • binne, binne, binime, binnaa, bini- A bugo e la kpoŋ bimm lɛ. The me granary is big and solid. biŋibiŋi [bìŋìbíŋí] v. to shift un- bimpeɛle [bìmpɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. (1) white fae- steadily, teeter • A tanzuŋ waa la ces (2) fear (used with nyɛ...) • Ba bile, ka a doge biŋibiŋine. The toŋ yeli ka n pɔge ma beɛrɛ la ka pot holder is small and so the o deɛ yɔ nyeɛrɛ bimpeɛle. A mes- pot is moving unsteadily. biŋibiŋee, sage was sent to inform my wife biŋibiŋine, biŋibiŋine, biŋibiŋini- that her mother was sick and she is me, biŋibiŋinaa, biŋibiŋinime in utter distress and fear. 2pl: bim- biŋkõɔ [bǐŋkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. watery faeces, di- peɛlɛɛ arrhoea 2pl: biŋkoɔnɛɛ bimporɔ [bìmpʊ́rɔ́] n. flatu- biŋkɔnnyeɛrɛ [bìŋkɔ́nɲɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. lence pl: bimporre 2pl: bim- one suffering from diarrhoea porɛɛ/bimporrɛɛ Var. bimpora pl: biŋkɔnnyeɛrebɛ 2pl: biŋkɔn- bin-eɛraa [bìn-ɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. cloth used nyeɛrebɛɛ for cleaning faeces (of a baby) pl: bipeɛ [bìpɪɛ́ ]́ n. baby cot pl: bipɛre bin-eɛre 2pl: bin-eɛrɛɛ 2pl: bipɛrɛɛ Var. bikũu bini [bíní] n. excrement 2pl: binee bipoɔnaa [bìpʊ́ɔ́náá] n. pampered child pl: bipoɔne 2pl: bipoɔnɛɛ binkyoo [bìnʧóó] n. open place full of defecation pl: binkyoori 2pl: bipɔlbile [bìpɔ́lbílé] n. a lad; young binkyooree man binnyeɛbo [bìnɲɛɪɛ́ bʊ́ ́ ] n. act of mis- bipɔlee [bìpɔ́lɪɪ́ ]́ n. young man, lad behavior pl: bipɔlɔ 2pl: bipɔlɛɛ/bipɔllɛɛ Var. bipɔlee, bipɔlbile binɔnaa [bìnɔ̀náá] n. beloved child; favorite pl: binɔnne bipɔllee [bìpɔ́lléé] n. young man pl: bipɔlɔ 2pl: bipɔlɛɛ Var. bipɔlee, binɔŋe [bìnɔ̀ŋ] n. the act of loving bipɔlbile children; the act of pampering pl: bipuulee [bìpúúléé] n. young binɔnema woman pl: bipuuli bintanyeɛrɛ [bìntàɲɪɛrɛ] n. a type of ́ ́ ́ biraa [bíráá] n. one who stammers diarrhoea pl: bintanyeɛre 2pl: bin- pl: biribe 2pl: biribee tanyeɛrɛɛ biri [bírí] v. cause debris to drop ́ binzẽe [bìnzɪɪ̃ ]́ n. dysentery 2pl: (down from a height) • Gyaŋgbon- binzeenɛɛ ni biri la tɛne a dasɛrɛɛ poɔ eŋe biŋi [bìŋ] v. (1) to put down, to place, a kõɔ poɔ. The mice broke de- to set out (2) to store (up) biŋee, bris from the ceiling into the wa-

68 biri biyaalaa

ter. biree, bire, bire, biribe, biraa, birisi [bìrísì] n. brick sg: birisiruu pl: biribe birisiri 2pl: birisiree Var. birikyi biri [bírì] v. to stutter, to stammer biriyokpekperaa [bìríyǒkpɪkpìráà]́ biree, bire, bire, biribe, biraa n. wild duck-like water bird pl: biri [bìrì] v. to pass by narrowly, to biriyokpekperre 2pl: biriyokpe- slip past • O deɛ biri la a taŋa kyɛ kperɛɛ le. S/he just passed the hill a little biriyonaameɛo [bíríyònààmɪɛ̀ ʊ]́ and fell. biree, bire, bire, biribe, bi- n. very large duck pl: biriyon- raa, biribe aameɛne 2pl: biriyonaameɛnɛɛ biri [bírì] n. chaff from malt pl: biree biriyuo [bìríyúó] n. duck sg: biriy- biri [bírì] n. seed, nut pl: bie 2pl: bii- oruu pl: biriyori/biriyoe 2pl: biri- ree yoree Var. biriyori biri [bírì] n. something of worth • Te bisaa [bìsàá] n. father (human) pl: zenɛ toma ŋa eŋ yi la biri. Our bisaamine 2pl: bisaarɛɛ work today has been fruitful. biribiri [bìrìbìrì] adv. rushing in bisoŋ [bìsʊ́ŋ] n. good child, well- large numbers e.g. in a stampede behaved child pl: bisonne 2pl: bisonnɛɛ biribiri [bíríbírí] adv. (1) completely, totally • O zagerɛɛ biribiri ka bitoroo [bìtòróò] n. virgin pl: bitorri o koŋ gaa. He has completely re- 2pl: bitoree fused to go. (2) completely black bitɔgelɔ [bìtɔ́glɔ̀] n. midwife pl: biribiri [bìrìbírí] v. to slip, to not bitɔgelebɔ/bitɔgeleba 2pl: bitɔgele- fit in (joint) • A sori na taa la bɛɛ Var. bitɔgela kusiwara te zuo ka fo maŋ kyɛnɛ bituuro [bìtúúró] n. baby adopter, ka fo gbɛɛ bibire. That road has nanny pl: bituuribo 2pl: bituuri- too much gravel, so your feet slip bee around as you walk on it. biribiree, biweɛmɛ [bìwɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. strayed or biribire, biribire, biribiribe, biribi- wayward child pl: biweɛne 2pl: biraa weɛnɛɛ birikyi [bìríʧì] n. (1) brake (2) brick pl: birikyiri 2pl: birikyiree Var. biweɛraa [bìwɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. spoilt child birisi pl: biweɛre birikyilaa [bìríʧìláá] n. mould (for biwolaa [bìwʊ́láá] n. (1) problem bricks) pl: birikyilaa 2pl: birikyi- child (2) beloved child pl: biwolle laarɛɛ 2pl: biwolɛɛ birikyisaabo [bìríʧìsáábʊ́] n. brake biyaalaa [bìyááláá] n. babysitter pl: pad 2pl: birikyisaarɛɛ biyaalba 2pl: biyaalbɛɛ

69 biyaale bogigbɛre-katakye biyaale [bìyáálɪ]́ n. the act of babysit- bobɔge [bʊ̀ bɔ̀gɪ]́ n. huge carnivorous ting bird pl: bobɔgre 2pl: bobɔgrɛɛ biyaaleyieluŋ [bìyáálɪyíélúŋ]̀ n. lul- bodaa [bʊ̀ dáá] n. male goat pl: bo- laby pl: biyaaleyiele Var. biya- daare 2pl: bodaarɛɛ/bodaɛ gleyieluŋ bodaa-ansiinee [bʊ̀ dáá-ánsíínéé] n. biyoɔraa [bìyʊ́ ɔ́ráá] n. well- a type of tree with edible fruit pl: travelled person; one who roams bodaa-ansiini Var. boraa-ansiinee a lot pl: biyoɔre 2pl: biyoɔrɛɛ bodaanonnoonaa [bʊ̀ dáánʊ́nnʊ́ʊ́- biyopore [bìyópʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. naming cere- náá] n. a type of tree with edible mony (baby) fruit pl: bodaanonnoone 2pl: bo- biyuori [bìyúórí] n. popular person daanonnoonɛɛ Var. bononnoonaa pl: biyoe 2pl: biyoree bodaasensɔɔre [bʊ̀ dáásɪnsɔ̌ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. bizɛgɛ [bìzɛ̀gɛ]́ n. young baby pl: wild tigernut (not edible) pl: bo- bizɛgre 2pl: bizɛgɛɛ daasensɔbɔ 2pl: bodaasensɔɔrɛɛ bizɔnzɔɔ [bìzɔ̀nzɔ́ɔ́] n. young baby pl: bodalane [bʊ́dàlánɪ]́ n. male goat bizɔnzɔɔbɔ 2pl: bizɔnzɔɔrɛɛ (uncastrated) pl: bodalama 2pl: bo- dalamɛɛ bo [bʊ́] v. to gather momentum (rain seen coming from afar in full bodalee [bʊ̀ dàléé] n. young male scale) boɛ, boorɔ, boorɔ, booreba, goat pl: bodabilii 2pl: bodabilee booraa, booreba bodateɛne [bʊ̀ dàtɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. male goat bo [bʊ̀ ] v. (1) to confer, to deliber- with long hair on the chin; bearded ate, to plan together • Ba na bo male goat la sɛre kyɛ gaa a kɔɔto. They will bodavaraa [bʊ̀ dàváràà] n. castrated confer before they go to court. (2) male goat pl: bodavarre 2pl: bo- to suppose • Fo bo ka boŋ ka a davarɛɛ/bodavarrɛɛ saana na taa wa ne? What do bogere [bʊ́grɪ]̀ v. to break into you suppose the stranger will bring little bits or pulp bogerɛɛ, along? boɛ, boorɔ, boorɔ, booreba, bogerɔ, bogerɔ, bogerebɔ, bogeraa, booraa, booreba bogerebɔ bobɛllɛ [bʊ̀ bɛllɛ́ ]́ n. a type of carniv- bogi [bògí] n. (1) hole (2) grave, orous bird pl: bobɛlle tomb (3) pit (4) ditch (5) limit pl: boboo [bʊ̀ bʊ́ʊ́ ] adj. extremely volu- bogiri 2pl: bogree minous bogigbɛre-katakye [bògìgbɛre- boboruu [bóbórúú] n. a type of kátákyè] n. subway, underground termite pl: boborri/boboree 2pl: train pl: bogigbɛre-katakyeri 2pl: boborree bogigbɛre-katakyeree

70 bogikantoo bole bogikantoo [bògíkántóó] n. a type bogiwɛraa [bògwɛráà]́ n. oblong of rodent (not edible) pl: bogikan- tomb pl: bogiwɛrre tori 2pl: bogikantoree bogizeɛ [bògzɪɛ̀ ̀] n. grave, deep pit pl: bogisulee [bògsùlèè] n. round, deep bogizeere 2pl: bogizeerɛɛ tomb (like a well) pl: bogisulli 2pl: bogɔbogɔ [bʊ́gɔ́bʊ́gɔ́] adv. ground bogisullee into pulp Var. bogaboga bogiti [bógítì] n. bucket pl: bogitiri boguolo [bʊ̀ gúóló] n. goats given to 2pl: bogitiree one to raise in return for some 2pl: bogi-ũu [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀] n. the act of bury- boguolee ing a human corpse bog-uuno [bòg-úúnó] n. one who bogi-ũu-faare [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀-fáárɪ]́ n. xy- buries the dead; undertaker pl: bog- lophone music signaling the com- uunimo 2pl: bog-uunimee pletion of the burial of the dead 2pl: bokolɔ [bʊ̀ kʊ̀ lɔ̀] n. tasteless pow- bogi-ũu-faarɛɛ dered stuff, tobacco pl: bokolle 2pl: bogi-ũu-libie [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀-líbíè] n. fee bokolɛɛ Var. bokola for those who bury the dead 2pl: bokontawɛ [bʊ̀ kòntáwɛ]́ n. a daily bogi-ũu-libiiree marketplace pl: bokontawɛre 2pl: bogi-ũu-naazoɔ [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀-náázʊ́ɔ́] n. bokontawɛrɛɛ chief undertaker (one who buries bokoŋ [bʊ̀ kóŋ] n. lean or thin goat the dead) pl: bogi-ũu-naazoore 2pl: pl: bokonni 2pl: bokonnee bogi-ũu-naazoorɛɛ bokore [bʊ̀ kʊ́rɪ]́ n. old goat pl: bogi-ũuno [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀nó] n. one who bokora 2pl: bokorɛɛ buries the dead pl: bogi-ũunimo bokpɛ [bʊ̀ kpɛ̀] v. to sympathise with 2pl: bogi-ũunimee bokpɛɛ, boorɔkpeɛrɛ, bokpeɛrɛ, bogi-ũu-saabo [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀-sáábʊ́] n. bokpeɛrebɛ, bokpeɛraa ritual TZ for those who bury the bolaakaatoo [bʊ̀ lààkààtʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adv. dead 2pl: bogi-ũu-saarɛɛ talking continuously, noisy ̀ ̀ bogi-ũu-sawɔlɔ [bògì-ũũ-sáwɔ́lɔ́] n. bolaare [bʊ̀ láárɪ]́ v. to burst strongly ritual dish for those who bury the • A lɔɔre kɔbɔ da bolaarɛɛ la. dead 2pl: bogi-ũu-sawɔlɛɛ The lorry tyre blasted with a loud bogi-ũu-zanna [bògì-ũ̀ũ̀-zànná] n. noise. bolaarɛɛ, bolaara, bolaara, amateur undertaker pl: bogi-ũu- bolaareba, bolaaraa, bolaareba zanema 2pl: bogi-ũu-zanemɛɛ Var. belaare bogivuo [bògìvùò] n. uncovered bole [bʊ́lɪ]́ v. to smear all over bolɛɛ, tomb pl: bogivori 2pl: bogivoree bola, bola, bolba, bolaa

71 bolebole bombiri bolebole [bʊ̀ lbʊ́ lɪ]́ v. to speak un- or strange) • Yeŋ ka fo ta pɔge a intelligibly, to mumble bolebolɛɛ, bombalaa ŋa? Where did you get bolebolɔ, bolebolɔ, bolebolebɔ, this kind of thing? bolebolaa, bolebolebɔ bombaltakyelmɛ [bòmbàltáʧɪmɛ́ ]́ n. bolee [bʊ̀ léé] n. kid (young goat) pl: things of all sorts 2pl: bombal- bobili 2pl: bobillee takyelmɛɛ bolenaa [bʊ̀ lénáá] n. (1) tethered bombannaa [bʊ́mbànnáà] n. some- goat (2) one restricted from mov- thing which is known pl: bom- ing pl: bolenni 2pl: bolennee banne Var. bombaŋenaa bo-leŋi [bʊ-léŋ] n. the act of tether- ̀ bombaŋe [bʊ́mbàŋ] n. (1) the act of ing goats knowing (2) knowledge boli [bólí] v. to be foolish bolee, bombare [bʊ̌mbàrɪ]̀ n. (1) the act of bolo, bolo, bolibo, bolaa, bolibo releasing; the act of setting animals boli [bòlí] adj. not adulterated, pure free (2) the act of offering first- e.g. honey or oil fruits to gods pl: bombarre bolle [bʊ̀ llɪ]̀ v. to murmur; to talk in- bombeene [bʊ́mbɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. something audibly bollɛɛ, bolla, bolla, boleba, that is cooked or ripe pl: bombeemɛ bollaa, boleba 2pl: bombeenɛɛ bolɔ [bʊ̀ lɔ́] n. a type of vegetable Var. bombeɛ [bʊmbɪɛ] n. some- bola ́ ́ ́ thing strange or mysterious pl: bolɔbolɔ [bʊlɔbʊlɔ] adv. lukewarm ́ ́ ́ ́ bombeere 2pl: bombeerɛɛ (water) Var. bolabola bombeɛraa [bʊ́mbɪɛ̀ ráà]́ n. (1) sliced boluu [bòlúú] pron. what (interroga- strips (of leather) (2) that which is tive pronoun) patched or to be patched (as in car bombaala [bʊ́mbààlá] n. a sick thing tyre) pl: bombeɛre 2pl: bombɛrɛɛ pl: bombaaleba 2pl: bombaalɛɛ bombeɛre [bʊ́mbɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]́ n. boils pl: bombaalaa [bʊ́mbààlàà] n. a slim or bombɛbɛ 2pl: bombɛrɛɛ narrow thing pl: bombaale bombiiri [bʊmbíírí] n. very young bombaaraa [bʊ́mbààráà] n. some- ́ thing that can grow pl: bombaare ones; unhatched embryos in eggs 2pl: bombiiree bombaaraa [bʊ́mbááráá] n. the last one pl: bombaare bombile [bòmbílé] n. young donkey; foal pl: bombilii 2pl: bombillee bombalaa [bʊ́mbáláá] n. something which is avoided pl: bomballe bombile [bʊ́mbílé] n. small thing pl: bombalaa [bʊ́mbàlàà] n. kind of bombilii thing (referring to something huge bombiri [bʊ́mbírì] n. seed; cereal sg:

72 bombo bommannaa

bombiruu pl: bombie 2pl: bombi- bombore [bʊ́mbʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. the act of iree sowing bombo [bǒmbò] n. (1) a small plant bombo sawɔlɔ [bòmbò sáwɔ́lɔ́] with a jellylike tuber (2) the tu- n. fried duff from bombo (flour) ber or flour made from the tuber of 2pl: bombo sawɔlɛɛ Var. bombo this plant (3) fried dish made from sawala the flour of this plant sg: bomboruu bombɔ [bʊ́mbɔ́] n. quest for wealth (for plant or tuber) pl: bombori 2pl: bomboree bombɔge [bʊ́mbɔ́gɪ]́ n. the act of bombolaa [bʊ́mbʊ́láá] n. a thing that grinding into fine pulp pl: bombɔ- is not of the same species; a strange gre 2pl: bombɔgrɛɛ thing pl: bombolle 2pl: bombollɛɛ bombɔgɔ [bʊ́mbɔ́gɔ́] n. the forearm bombone [bʊ́mbʊ́nɪ]̀ n. a useless or leg of an animal pl: bombɔgerɔ thing pl: bomboma 2pl: bombon- 2pl: bombɔgerɛɛ Var. bombɔge nɛɛ bombugilaa [bʊ́mbúglàá] n. some- bombonoone [bǒmbònʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ n. a thing that is nursed pl: bombugili type of tree pl: bombonooma 2pl: bombulaa [bʊ́ mbúláá] n. something bombonoonɛɛ that can sprout from a seed pl: bom- bomboŋɔ [bʊ́mbʊ̀ ŋɔ́] n. something bulli 2pl: bombullee that cannot be classified pl: bom- bonne 2pl: bombonnɛɛ bombuli [bʊ́mbúlí] n. shoot of a new plant pl: bombulo 2pl: bombullee bombooree [bʊ́mbʊ́ʊ́rɪ]́ n. (1) something that is kept for posterity (2) bombuuraa [bʊ́mbúúràá] n. (1) a seed for sowing pl: bomboora 2pl: measure (2) something that is re- bomboorɛɛ spected pl: bombuuri bomboorɔ [bʊ́mbʊ́ʊ́rɔ́] n. seed for bommaalaa [bʊ́mmààláà] n. some- planting sg: bombooroo 2pl: bom- thing that is made pl: bommaale boorɛɛ Var. bomboora bommaale [bʊ́mmààlɪ]̀ n. the act of bomboɔraa [bʊ́mbʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. some- making pl: bommaaleba thing that is sought; something that is wanted or liked pl: bom- bommaane [bʊ́mmàànɪ]́ n. (1) an boɔre 2pl: bomboɔrɛɛ egg that is immature (2) something that is tiny pl: bommaama bomboɔre [bʊ́mbʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) things one wishes to have (2) wealth bommaaroŋ [bʊ́mmáárʊ́ŋ] n. a wet, bomboraa [bʊ́mbʊ̀ ráà] n. something cold, or fresh thing pl: bommaara that is sown; a crop pl: bomborre bommannaa [bʊ́mmánnáà] n. a mea- 2pl: bomborrɛɛ sure; something that is measured

73 bompaala bompiiraa bompaala [bʊ́mpáálà] n. (1) new or bompere [bʊ́pɪrɪ́ ]́ n. the act of fresh things (2) firstfruits of crops scratching (as by fowl) pl: bompaala 2pl: bompalɛɛ bompɛɛre [bʊ́mpɛ̀ɛ̀rɪ]́ n. an imma- bompaare [bʊ́ mpáárɪ]̀ n. the vulva ture thing pl: bompɛbɛ of any animal pl: bompɛɛrɛɛ bompɛge [bʊ́mpɛgɪ́ ]̀ n. the act of bompaare [bǒmpáárɪ]̀ n. the vulva washing the shell or bark of some- of a donkey pl: bompaɛ 2pl: bom- thing pɛɛrɛɛ bompɛgelaa [bʊ́mpɛgláà]́ n. some- bompaare [bǒmpáárɪ]̀ n. foot rot pl: thing that is carried by holding it to bompaɛ 2pl: bompɛɛrɛɛ one’s side pl: bompɛgele 2pl: bom- bompare [bʊ́mpárɪ]̀ n. (1) residue pɛgelɛɛ (2) bottom pl: bomparɛɛ bompɛgeraa [bʊ́pɛgráá]́ n. (1) some- bompeelaa [bʊ́mpɪɪ́ láá]́ n. a very thing that has been washed (2) young animal pl: bompeele 2pl: something for washing pl: bom- bompeelɛɛ pɛgere 2pl: bompɛgerɛɛ bompeelaa [bʊ́mpɪɪ́ láá]́ n. a piece bompɛlaa [bʊ́mpɛláá]́ n. something torn from a piece of cloth pl: bom- that can be peeled pl: bompɛlle 2pl: peele 2pl: bompeelɛɛ bompɛllɛɛ bompege [bʊ́mpɪgɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act of bompɛle [bʊ́mpɛlɪ́ ]́ n. the act of peel- decorating, improving or adding ing worth to something bompɛle [bʊḿpɛ̀lì] n. peel pl: bom- bompegelaa [bʊ́mpɪgláà]́ n. some- pɛlɛ 2pl: bompɛllɛɛ thing that is moving and must be in- bompɛnnaa [bʊ́mpɛ̀nnáá] n. some- tercepted pl: bompegele 2pl: bom- thing that is carved pl: bompɛnne pegelɛɛ 2pl: bompɛnnɛɛ bompegeraa [bʊ́mpɪgráà]́ n. some- bompɛnne [bʊ́mpɛ̀nnɪ]̀ n. the act of thing that is adorned pl: bom- carving pegere 2pl: bompegerɛɛ bompi [bʊ́mpí] n. (1) the process bompegɛ [bʊ́mpɪgɛ́ ]́ n. a piece of of becoming distended or bloated a broken container (calabash) pl: (2) claims in advance for something bompegerre 2pl: bompegerɛɛ (see pi) bompelaa [bʊ́mpɪlàá]̀ n. a white bompigiraa [bʊ́ mpǐgráà] n. something pl: bompeɛle 2pl: bompeɛlɛɛ thing that is to be watched or ought bompere [bʊ́mpɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act of de- to be watched pl: bompigiri husking (removing the dry outer bompiiraa [bʊ́ mpììráà] n. (1) a lost cover of a grain) thing that is found; an unexpected

74 bompiiraa bondaana

find (2) an easy find pl: bompiiri bompɔgeraa [bʊ́mpɔ̀gráà] n. some- bompiiraa [bʊ́ mpííráá] n. a dis- thing that is confined in an enclo- tended thing pl: bompiiri sure pl: bompɔgere bompiiraa [bʊ́mpííráá] n. something bompɔle [bʊ́ mpɔ́lɪ]̀ n. a young thing that has been earmarked for some- pl: bompɔlɔ 2pl: bompɔllɛɛ one pl: bompiiri bompɔre [bʊ́mpɔ́rɪ]́ n. the act of bompiire [bʊ́mpííré] n. one who plucking something; (fruits or finds a lost item pl: bompiiribe 2pl: groundnuts) bompiiribee bompɔrɔ [bʊ́mpɔ́rɔ̀] n. harvester pl: bompɔreba 2pl: bompɔrebɛɛ bompollaa [bʊ́mpʊ́lláá] n. something on which an oath is taken pl: bompugo [bʊ́mpúgó] n. an ash- bompolle coloured thing pl: bompugri 2pl: bompugree bompoɔ [bʊ́mpʊ́ ɔ́] n. a pregnant thing (nonhuman) pl: bompoore bompulonpuloŋ [bʊ́mpùlònpúlóŋ] 2pl: bompoorɛɛ n. various things mixed up bompoɔraa [bʊ́mpʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. some- bompuuraa [bʊ́mpùùráà] n. something by which one swears pl: bom- thing that has flowered pl: bom- poɔre 2pl: bompoɔrɛɛ puuri 2pl: bompuuree bomporaa [bʊ́mpʊ́ráá] n. something bompuuraa [bʊ́ mpùùráà] n. some- that is poured pl: bomporre 2pl: thing that is or can be praised pl: bomporrɛɛ bompuuri 2pl: bompuuree bompore [bʊ́mpʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. a situation of bompuuri [bʊ́mpúúrí] n. flowers of plentiful things pl: bomporre things 2pl: bompuuree bompore [bʊ́mpʊ́rɪ]́ n. something bonaare [bʊ̀ náárɪ]̀ adj. four times that is small and short; a little thing bon-agraa [bʊ́ŋágráà] n. (1) winged pl: bompora 2pl: bomporɛɛ creature (2) insect pl: boŋ-agre bompore [bʊ́mpʊ́rɪ]̀ n. the act of bonda [bʊ́ndà] n. the act of buying pouring bondaa [bòndáá] n. male donkey pl: bompɔ [bʊ́mpɔ́] n. the act of swear- bondaare 2pl: bondarɛɛ ing or taking an oath on something bondaa [bʊ́ndáá] n. a male thing pl: bompɔge [bʊ́mpɔ́gɪ]́ n. a female bondaare 2pl: bondarɛɛ thing pl: bompɔgeba 2pl: bompɔ- bondaa [bʊ́ ndáà] n. the act of push- grɛɛ ing pl: bonda bompɔge [bʊ́ mpɔ̀gɪ]̀ n. the act of bondaana [bʊ́ ndááná] n. rich per- confining animals in enclosures son; one who has wealth pl: bon-

75 bondaaraa bonfaa

daanema/bondaama 2pl: bon- bondirii [bʊ́ndìríì] n. food, things to daamɛɛ/bondaanɛɛ eat 2pl: bondirree bondaaraa [bʊ́ndààráà] n. some- bondi-sãa [bʊ́ndì-sã̀ã̀] n. the act of thing that is bought; something wasting food that is meant for sale pl: bondaare bondizie [bʊ́ndìzíé] n. restaurant pl: bondaga [bòndàgà] n. carefree pl: bondiziiri 2pl: bondiziiree bondagre 2pl: bondagrɛɛ bondogelaa [bʊ́ndʊ́gláá] n. some- bonde [bʊ́ndɪ]́ n. (1) the act of taking thing that is used for cooking pl: (2) the act of harvesting bondogele bondegere [bʊ́ndɪgrɪ]̀ n. a dwarflike bondogeraa [bʊ́ ndʊ́gráá] n. a boiled thing pl: bondegɛ thing pl: bondogere bondemannewullaa [bʊ́ndɪmán-́ bondonaa [bʊ́ndʊ̀ náà] n. (1) some- nɪwúlláá]́ n. example pl: bonde- thing that bites (2) insect, bug pl: mannewulli bondonne 2pl: bondonnɛɛ Var. kyibe bondɛgere [bʊ́ndɛgrɪ̌ ]̀ n. a dirty thing pl: bondɛgɛ bondori [bʊ́ndórí] n. heap pl: bon- doree 2pl: bondorree bondi [bʊ́ndì] n. the act of eating bondɔgelaa [bʊ́ndɔ́gláá] n. an extra bondikaama [bʊ̀ ndìkáámá] n. deli- thing pl: bondɔgele cious and assorted food; luncheon 2pl: bondikaanɛɛ bondɔgeraa [bʊ́ndɔ̀gèràà] n. hat which has been born pl: bondɔgere bondikaraa [bʊ́ ndìkáráá] n. raw food; food that is not well cooked bondɔgerɔ [bʊ́ndɔ̀gèrɔ̀] n. an ani- pl: bondikare 2pl: bondikarɛɛ mal that has recently littered pl: bondɔgere 2pl: bondɔgerɛɛ bondi-kpaa [bóndì-kpàà] n. leftover food pl: bondi-kpaare 2pl: bondi- bone [bʊ́nɪ]̀ n. thing pl: boma 2pl: kpaarɛɛ bonnɛɛ bone [bʊ́nɪ]́ adj. worthless or useless bondimaala [bʊ́ ndímáálá] n. cook, pl: boma one who prepares food bon-ennaa [bʊ́n-ɪnnáà]́ n. container bondiraa [bʊ́ndìráà] n. (1) food; pl: bon-enne 2pl: bon-ennɛɛ something that is edible (2) a sharp thing (blade) pl: bondirri 2pl: bonfa [bʊ́nfá] n. the act of robbing, bondirree robbery bondire [bʊ́ndíré] n. (1) one bonfaa [bʊ́nfáá] n. a bad or evil who eats (2) rightful owner pl: thing pl: bonfaare 2pl: bonfaarɛɛ bondiribe 2pl: bondiribee bonfaa [bʊ́nfáà] n. robbery

76 bonfaara bonneɛ bonfaara [bʊ́nfáárá] n. robber, thief that threatens pl: bonfuuri 2pl: pl: bonfareba 2pl: bonfabarɛɛ bonfuuree bonfaaraa [bʊ́nfááráá] n. something bonii [bʊ̀ níì] adj. eight times that is robbed pl: bonfaare 2pl: bonkyaaraa [bʊ́ nʧááráá] n. gift pl: bonfaarɛɛ bonkyaare 2pl: bonkyaarɛɛ bonfane [bʊ́nfànɪ]́ n. a rough thing bonkyẽɛ̃ [bʊ́nʧɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. a torn thing pl: bonfama 2pl: bonfannɛɛ pl: bonkyeɛne/bonkyeɛnɛ 2pl: bonfarafara [bʊ́ nfàràfàrà] n. a bonkyeɛnɛɛ rough, scaly thing bonkyeɛraa [bʊ́nʧɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. (1) some- bonfẽe [bʊ́nfɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. a small quantity thing that is contributed (2) some- pl: bonfeene 2pl: bonfeenɛɛ thing that is cut (3) something used for cutting pl: bonkyeɛre 2pl: bonfeeloo [bʊ́ fɪɪ́ lʊ́ ́ ʊ́] n. an opening bonkyeɛrɛɛ that is small and tight pl: bonfeelɛ 2pl: bonfeelɛɛ bonkyɛlee [bʊ́ nʧɛlɪ́ ɪ́ ]́ n. a half thing pl: bonkyɛlle bonfegɛ [bʊ́ nfɪgɛ̀ ]́ n. narrow space Var. bonfogeloo bonlaane [bʊ́nláánɪ]́ n. a worthless thing pl: bonlaama 2pl: bonlaanɛɛ bonfogeloo [bʊ́nfʊ́ glʊ́ʊ́] n. a narrow thing pl: bofogela 2pl: bonfogelɛɛ bonlane [bʊ́nlánɪ]́ n. uncastrated animal pl: bonlama 2pl: bonlamɛɛ bonfogiluu [bʊ́nfóglúú] n. a seed- bonlee [bʊ́nléé] n. a small thing e.g. less pod pl: bonfogilo 2pl: bon- object/nonhuman pl: bombilii Var. fogilee bombile bonfole [bʊ́nfʊ̀ lɪ]́ n. an immature bonlee [bònléé] n. colt, young don- thing pl: bonfola 2pl: bonfolɛɛ key pl: bombilii bonfolo [bʊ́nfòló] n. powerful spir- bonnaakale [bǒnnààkálɪ]́ n. the act itual beings pl: bonfolo 2pl: bon- of rolling over and over. (donkey folee having a sun bath) 2pl: bonnakalɛɛ bonfõɔo [bʊnfʊ́ɔ́ʊ́] n. a light thing pl: ́ ̃ ̃ ̃ bonnaŋ [bʊ́ nnáŋ] n. scarcity pl: bon- bonfoɔne 2pl: bonfoɔnɛɛ nanne 2pl: bonnannnɛɛ bonfɔraa [bʊ́ nfɔ́ráá] n. a narrow bonne [bʊ̀ nnɪ,̀ bʊ́nnɪ]́ v. to doubt; to thing pl: bonfɔrre 2pl: bonfɔrɛɛ speculate, to guess bonnɛɛ, bonnɔ, bonfuraa [bʊ́ nfùráà] n. something bonnɔ, bonema, bonnaa, bonema that is used to plug an opening pl: bonneɛ [bʊ́nnɪɛ́ ]́ n. (1) the act of bonfurri 2pl: bonfurree trampling on things (2) the act of bonfuuraa [bʊ́nfùùráá] n. (1) some- ironing clothes pl: bonneɛne 2pl: thing that is cool (2) something bonneɛnɛɛ

77 bonni bonseɛraa bonni [bónní] v. (1) to burn (pain) bononnoonaa [bʊ̀ nʊ́nnʊ́ʊ́náá] n. a (2) to burn with fire bonnee, type of tree with juicy fruits Var. bonno, bonno, bonnaa, bonimo bodaanonnoonaa bonnimiri [bʊ́nnímírì] n. something bonoone [bʊ̀ nʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ n. a type of tree that is very valuable pl: bonnimie with fleshy edible fruits; medicinal 2pl: bonimiiree pl: bonooma 2pl: bonoonɛɛ bonnoɔ [bʊ́ nnʊ̀ ɔ̀] n. a sweet thing pl: bonɔbonɔ [bʊ̀ nɔ̀bʊ̀ nɔ̀] adv. oily- bonnoore 2pl: bonnoorɛɛ looking • A zeɛre zu deɛ e la bonɔbonɔ lɛ. The surface of the bonnyaa [bʊ́nɲáà] n. (1) chest of; soup looks oily. Var. bonabona (2) most important part of pl: bon- ̀ ̀ nyaane 2pl: bonnyaanɛɛ bonsãa [bʊ́nsãã] n. the act of being wasteful, destructive bonnyaanaa [bʊ́nɲáànáà] n. a clever bonsaalaa [bʊ́nsààlàà] n. something or wise animal pl: bonnyaane that is smooth pl: bonsaale 2pl: bonnyaara [bʊ́nɲàárɪ]̀ n. coarseness bonsaalɛɛ (flour) 2pl: bonnyaarɛɛ bonsaaloŋ [bʊ́nsààlʊ́ŋ] n. a slippery bonnyagere [bʊ́nɲágɪrɪ́ ]́ n. in- thing pl: bonsaale 2pl: bonsaalɛɛ testines of nonhuman creatures pl: bonsaana [bʊ́ nsáánà] n. a new or bonnyaga 2pl: bonnyagerɛɛ strange thing pl: bonsaama 2pl: bonnyaŋaa [bʊ́nɲáŋáá] n. female pl: bonsaanɛɛ bonnyaŋene/bonnyaane 2pl: bon- bonsaana [bʊ́nsááná] n. one who de- nyaanɛɛ stroys pl: bonsaanema bonnyaŋaa [bònɲàŋáà] n. female bonsaanaa [bʊ́nsáánáá] n. a spoilt donkey pl: boŋnyaŋene 2pl: thing pl: bonsaane 2pl: bonsaanɛɛ boŋnyaŋenɛɛ bonsammo [bʊ́nsàmmʊ́ ] n. un- bonnyuu [bʊ́nɲúú] n. (1) something shelled nut pl: bonsama 2pl: bon- that smells (2) smelling medicinal samɛɛ lotion pl: bonnyuuri 2pl: bonyuu- bonsaraa [bʊ́nsáràà] n. a young feree male pl: bonsarre 2pl: bonsarɛɛ bonnyuu [bʊ́nɲúú] n. the neck bonseenaa [bʊ́nsɪɪ́ náà]́ n. something of something pl: bonnyuuri 2pl: that is touched pl: boseene 2pl: bonyuuree bonseenɛɛ bonnyuuraa [bʊ́nɲúúráá] n. (1) bonseɛraa [bʊ́nsɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. (1) some- something that is drunk; a drink (2) thing that is worn on the waist something that is used for drinking (2) something that is sewn pl: bon- pl: bonnyuuri seɛre 2pl: bonseɛrɛɛ

78 bonseɛraa bontara bonseɛraa [bʊ́ nsɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. that which bonsooraa [bʊ́nsʊ́ʊ́ ráà] n. some- is better than pl: bonseɛre 2pl: thing that is asked for or wanted bonseɛrɛɛ bonsɔgelaa [bʊ́nsɔ́gláà] n. (1) a bonseɛraa [bʊ́nsɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. something black thing (2) a hidden thing pl: that is roasted pl: bonseɛre 2pl: bonsɔgelɔ 2pl: bonsɔgelɛɛ bonseɛrɛɛ bonsɔgele [bʊ́nsɔ́glɪ]́ n. the act of bonsennaa [bʊ̀ nsɪnnáà]́ n. some- hiding things thing that is the right size pl: bon- bonsɔraa [bʊ́nsɔ̀ráà] n. something senne 2pl: bonsennɛɛ that is begged for pl: bonsɔrre 2pl: bonserɛ [bʊ́nsɪrɛ̀ ]́ n. a valuable bonsɔrɛɛ thing pl: bonserre 2pl: bon- bonsɔraa [bʊ́sɔ́ráá] n. something serɛɛ/bonserrɛɛ that has been counted • A pɔge iri bonsɛgeraa [bʊ́nsɛgráá]́ n. some- la a bonsɔraa kaŋa. The woman thing that is written pl: bonsɛgere took one of the already counted 2pl: bonsɛgerɛɛ ones. pl: bonsɔrre bonsɛgeraa [bʊ́nsɛ̀gráà] n. some- bonsu [bʊ́nsù] n. the act of wearing thing that is used to make another (clothes) thing sturdy pl: bonsɛgere bonsu [bʊ́nsù] n. the act of pushing bonsigiraa [bʊ́nsìgráà] n. (1) some- things into an opening thing whose price is reduced (2) bonsugo [bʊ́ nsúgò] n. things in something that is lowered (height) great numbers pl: bonsugri 2pl: pl: bonsigiri 2pl: bonsigiree bonsugree bonso [bʊ́ nsʊ́ ] n. the act of owning bonsuuraa [bʊ́nsúùráà] n. garment bonso [bónsó] pron. why (interrog- pl: bonsuuri 2pl: bonsuuree ative pronoun) • Bonso ka fo ba bontaa [bʊ́ntáà] n. the act of owning gaa a daa? Why have you not gone to the market? bontage [bʊ́ntàgɪ]́ n. a thick thing pl: bontagre 2pl: bontagrɛɛ bonso [bónsó] conj. because • Ba ba gaa a sori bonso a lɔɔre sãaɛ la. bontage [bʊ́ntágɪ]̀ n. the act of They could not go on the trip be- pulling things cause the car broke down. bontale [bʊ́ntálɪ]̀ n. a lobe of (kola) bonsoŋ [bʊ́nsʊ́ŋ] n. a good or pl: bontala 2pl: bontalɛɛ blessed thing pl: bonsonne 2pl: bontaŋa [bòtáŋá] n. camel pl: bon- bonsonnɛɛ tanne 2pl: bontannɛɛ bonsooraa [bʊ́nsʊ́ʊ́ráá] n. that bontara [bʊ́ntárá] n. rich man; which is owned; a belonging pl: one who owns many things pl: bonsoore 2pl: bonsoorɛɛ bontareba 2pl: bontarebɛɛ

79 bonteɛ bonveraa bonteɛ [bʊ́ntɪɛ̀ ̀] n. (1) the act of bontobo [bʊ́ ntòbó] n. (1) a type of shooting (2) the act of supporting plant; medicinal (2) the immedi- things ate tender leaves of a plant (bean bonteɛraa [bʊ́ ntɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. something leaves as vegetable for soup) (3) an that supports something else pl: animal with prominent ears bonteɛre 2pl: bonteɛrɛɛ bontoɔlaa [bʊ́ntʊ́ ɔ́láá] n. that which bonteɛraa [bʊ́ntɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. a boil pl: is sent by a messenger pl: bon- bonteɛre 2pl: bonteɛrɛɛ toɔle/bontoɔlɔ 2pl: bontoɔlɛɛ bonteɛraa [bʊ́ ntɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. something bontɔraa [bʊ́ntɔ̀ráà] n. something that is shot at pl: bonteɛre 2pl: bon- that is shared pl: bontɔrre teɛrɛɛ bontɔre [bʊ́ ntɔ̀rɪ]́ n. a worthy thing bonteɛrɛ [bʊ́ntɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. shooter pl: pl: bontɔɛ 2pl: bontɔrɛɛ bonteɛrebɛ 2pl: bonteɛrebɛɛ bontɔre [bʊ́ntɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. the act of giving bontegeroŋ [bʊ́ntɪgrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. a heavy out or sharing to as many as possi- thing pl: bontegerɛ 2pl: bonte- ble gerɛɛ bontuo [bʊ́ ntúó] n. (1) a bitter thing bonteraa [bʊ́ntɪráà]́ n. something (2) a poisonous or dangerous thing that is given out or offered pl: bon- pl: bontuuri 2pl: bonturee terre bonuu [bʊ̀ núú] adj. five times pl: bontere [bʊ́ntɪrɪ́ ]́ n. the act of giving bonuuri 2pl: bonuuree out things bontere [bʊ̀ ntɪrɪ]́ n. a big drum made bonvaane [bʊ́nvàànɪ]́ n. a shrivelled of animal skin and a gourd Var. ben- thing pl: bonvaama 2pl: bonvaa- tere nɛɛ bontɛge [bʊ́tɛgɪ́ ]̀ n. the act of ex- bonvaraa [bʊ́nváràà] n. castrated changing animal pl: bonvarre 2pl: bonvar- rɛɛ bontɛgeraa [bʊ́ntɛ̀gráà] n. something that is traded for pl: bon- bonvelaa [bʊ́nvɪlàá]̀ n. a good thing tɛgere 2pl: bontɛgerɛɛ pl: bonveɛle 2pl: bonveɛlɛɛ bontɛgerɛ [bʊ́ntɛgrɛ́ ]́ n. one who ex- bonveraa [bʊ́nvɪráà]̀ n. (1) an imple- changes pl: bontɛgerebɛ ment used in throwing stones (cat- bonto [bʊ́ntʊ́] n. act of insulting of apult) (2) something that has been things shot at by means of a catapult pl: bonto [bòntó] n. type of cigar made bonverre by the Dagaabe pl: bontori 2pl: bonveraa [bʊ́nvɪráà]̀ n. a shift of a bontoree bone pl: bonverre

80 bonvere bonyɛ bonvere [bʊ́nvɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act of about (2) rheumatism pl: bon- spraining (body part) yoɔre 2pl: bon-yoɔrɛɛ bonvere [bʊ́nvɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act of shoot- bon-yɔmɔ [bʊ́n-yɔ̀mɔ́] n. plentiful ing with a catapult and free thing(s) 2pl: bon-yɔmɛɛ bonvooraa [bʊ́nvʊ́ʊ́ráá] n. some- bon-yuo [bʊ́n-yúó] n. different one thing that breathes pl: bonvoore • A bie yage la a kparoo na bare 2pl: bonvoorɛɛ kyɛ de bonyuo. The boy took off bonvoɔloŋ [bʊ́nvʊ̀ ɔ̀lʊ̌ŋ] n. a slimy that shirt and took a different one. thing pl: bonvoɔle 2pl: bonvoɔlɛɛ pl: bon-yuobo Var. boŋyuo bon-yuori [bún-yúórì] n. a popular bonvore [bʊ́nvʊ́rɪ]̀ n. a living thing pl: bonvoɛ/bonvoba 2pl: bonvorɛɛ or prominent thing pl: bon-yoe 2pl: bon-yoree bonvuo [bʊ́nvùó] n. an open thing; bonzaa [bʊnzàá] n. (1) anything, ev- an uncovered enclosure or con- ̂ erything • Fo na nyɛ la bonzaa fo tainer pl: bonvori 2pl: bonvoree naŋ boɔrɔ. You will get anything bonvuuraa [bʊ́nvúúráá] n. (1) a that you want. (2) everyone • Bon- thing that crawls (e.g. creature zaa naŋ wa kyɛ taa la puoraa. without legs) (2) a thing that is Thanks to everyone who has come dragged along the ground pl: bon- here. vuuri 2pl: bonvuuree bonzagelaa [bʊ́nzágláá] n. an empty bonweɛ [bʊ́nwɪɛ́ ]́ n. a common thing pl: bonzagele thing pl: bonweere 2pl: bon- bonzeɛ [bʊ́nzɪɛ̀ ̀] n. a red thing pl: weerɛɛ bonzeere 2pl: bonzeerɛɛ bon-yaga [bʊŋ-yágà] n. many ́ bonzoolɔ [bʊ́nzʊ́ʊ́ lɔ́] n. a thing with things 2pl: bon-yagrɛɛ Var. hairy ends (corncob) 2pl: bonzoo- boŋyaga lɛɛ Var. bonzoola bon-yeɛle [bʊ́n-yɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. that which bonyanlori [bʊ̀ ɲánlórí] n. very large is winnowed or to be winnowed female goat 2pl: bonyanloree bon-yɛɛ [bʊn-yɛɛ] n. (1) unimpor- bonyaŋaa [bʊ̀ nɲáŋáá] n. female tant things (2) wild crops sg: bon- mother goat pl: bonyaŋene 2pl: yɛroo 2pl: bon-yɛrɛɛ Var. boŋyɛɛ bonyaŋenɛɛ bon-yɛraa [bʊ́n-yɛ̀ráà] n. (1) some- bonyɛ [bʊ̀ ɲɛ]́ n. the act of having thing that is hung around the neck wicked ideas • A dɔɔ suuri da iri (2) garment pl: bon-yɛrre 2pl: bonne la o pɔge kyɛ o da ba de bonyɛ yɛrrɛɛ tuuro ne o. The man was annoyed bon-yoɔraa [bʊ́ n-yʊ́ ɔ́ráá] n. (1) with his wife but he did not have something that roams or wanders any wicked ideas towards her.

81 bonyɛ boŋkoɔraa bonyɛ [bʊ̀ ɲɛ]́ adj. having wicked boŋgbuli [bʊ́ŋgbùlí] n. (1) a whole ideas thing (2) tumour pl: boŋgbulo 2pl: boŋ [bóŋ] pron. what (interrogative boŋgbulee pronoun) • Boŋ ka fo na e zenɛ? boŋkaa [bʊ́ŋkáá] n. invocation What will you do today? of spirits pl: boŋkaareba 2pl: boŋemaŋ [bʊ́ŋɪmáŋ]̀ adj. hazy boŋkaarebɛɛ Var. boŋkaale boŋganaa [bʊŋganaa] n. bed, some- boŋkaa [bʊ́ŋkàà] n. (1) the act of tak- thing that is slept on pl: boŋganne ing care of something (2) the act of 2pl: boŋganɛɛ staring at something boŋgoraa [bʊ́ŋgʊ̀ ráà] n. something boŋkãa [bʊ́ŋkã́ã̀] n. (1) oil or fat that is abundant pl: boŋgorre 2pl: from an animal (2) something oily boŋgorɛɛ or full of fat sg: boŋkaanoo 2pl: boŋgori [bʊ́ŋgòrí] n. half-ripe fruit boŋkaanɛɛ pl: boŋgoe 2pl: boŋgoree boŋkaara [bʊ́ŋkáára] n. one who boŋgori [bóŋgórí] n. shoes (pl.) 2pl: watches over something pl: boŋgoree boŋkaareba 2pl: boŋkaarebɛɛ boŋgu [bʊ́ŋgù] n. the act of watch- boŋkaŋa [bʊ́ŋkáŋá] n. something pl: ing over something (crops from an- bommine Var. boŋkaŋa imals) boŋkapala [bʊ́ŋkpálá] n. a type of boŋguolaa [bʊ́ŋgúóláá] n. (1) some- plant 2pl: boŋkapalɛɛ thing that is raised or reared (2) an animal given to someone to be boŋkaraa [bʊ́ŋkáráá] n. a raw, un- raised pl: boŋguoli 2pl: boŋguolee cooked, or unripe thing pl: boŋkare 2pl: boŋkarɛɛ boŋguoli [bʊ́ŋgúólí] n. domestic animals and birds (poultry and animal boŋkoŋi [bʊ́ŋkǒŋ] n. a lean thing pl: husbandry) pl: boŋguolo boŋkonni 2pl: boŋkonnee boŋguoli [bʊ̌ŋgúólì] n. the rearing of boŋkõɔ [bʊ́ ŋkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. a watery thing animals 2pl: boŋkoɔnɛɛ boŋguolo [bʊ́ŋgúólò] n. things that boŋkoɔraa [bʊ́ŋkʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. (1) crop; are reared (domesticated animals something that is cultivated (2) and birds) Var. doŋguolo something used for ploughing boŋguraa [bʊ́ŋgùráà] n. something or farming pl: boŋkoɔre 2pl: jumped upon pl: boŋgurri boŋkoɔrɛɛ boŋguuro [bʊ́ ŋgúúro] n. one who boŋkoɔraa [bʊ́ŋkʊ́ɔ́ráà] n. some- watches over things pl: boŋguuribo thing meant for sale (goods) pl: 2pl: boŋguuribee boŋkoɔre 2pl: boŋkoɔrɛɛ

82 boŋkorabinzie bõɔ boŋkorabinzie [bʊ́ŋkʊ́rábìnzíé] n. boo [bóò] pron. which one; which of museum pl: boŋkorabinziiri them (interrogative pronoun) Var. boŋkore [bʊ́ ŋkʊ́rɪ]́ n. old thing pl: buori boŋkorɔ 2pl: boŋkorɛɛ boo [bʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adj. voluminous e.g. a boŋkuoŋaa [bʊ́ŋkúóŋáá] n. a dress dry thing pl: boŋkuoni 2pl: bõo [bʊ̀̃ ʊ̀̃ ] adv. oily-looking (top of boŋkuonee sauce) boŋkũu [bʊ́ŋkṹṹ] n. a dead thing pl: boolimbo [bòòlímbò] n. taking one bokuuni 2pl: boŋkuunee by the shoulders and chest (pa- boŋkpɔgɔ [bʊ́ ŋkpɔ́gɔ̀] n. (1) tient) (typically used with kpɛ) pl: lumps (2) a type of disease boolimbori 2pl: boolimboree whose symptoms are swellings boore [bʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to attack suddenly and boils 2pl: boŋkpɔgerɛɛ Var. and fiercely, to rush on boorɛɛ, boŋkpɔga/boŋkpaga boorɔ, boorɔ, boorebɔ, booraa, Boŋŋo [bóŋŋò] n. a traditional festi- boorebɔ val of Jirapa traditional area boore [bʊ́ʊ́rɪ]́ n. of same stalk, species, descendant pl: boora 2pl: boŋŋmaa [bʊ́ŋŋmáá] n. a piece of something pl: boŋŋmaara 2pl: boorɛɛ Var. booree boŋŋmaarɛɛ boore [bʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]́ n. agreement, plan 2pl: boorɛɛ boŋŋmaa [bʊ́ŋŋmàà] n. the practice of cutting things boorɔ [bʊ́ ʊ́rɔ́] n. (1) off same type, family (2) seed for planting sg: boŋŋmaa [bʊ́ŋŋmàà] n. the confin- booroo Var. boora ing of domestic animals that have been ranging freely (usually at the boɔ [bʊ́ɔ́] n. goat pl: boore 2pl: beginning of the farming season) boorɛɛ ̀ ̀ boŋŋmare [bʊ́ŋŋmárɪ]́ n. the act of bõɔ [bʊ̃ ɔ̃] v. to scoop up a large breaking things pl: boŋŋmarre 2pl: amount of something • O bõɔ la boŋŋmarɛɛ a kãa poli o eŋɛ zaa. She scooped up a large amount of lotion and boŋŋmare [bʊ́ŋŋmàrɪ]́ n. something rubbed it all over her body. bõɔɛ, that is spoilt (food) 2pl: boŋŋmarɛɛ boɔnɔ, boɔnɔ, boɔnema, boɔnaa boŋŋmeɛraa [bʊ́ŋŋmɪɛ́ ráà]́ n. musi- bõɔ [bʊ̀̃ ɔ̀̃] v. snub • A dɔɔ suuri cal instrument pl: boŋŋmeɛre iree la ka o maŋ deɛ bõɔ neɛ te boŋo [bòŋó] n. donkey pl: bonni 2pl: lɔɔ. The man is so annoyed that bonnee he snubs anybody he comes across. boŋɔ [bʊ̀ ŋɔ́] adv. done anyhow Var. bõɔɛ, boɔnɔ, boɔnɔ, boɔnema, boɔ- boŋa naa

83 boɔbo bosaraa boɔbo [bʊ́ ɔ́bʊ̀ ] n. (1) something that boreŋmaakpantoli [bʊ̀ rɪŋmàáak-̀ is preferred (2) the act of liking or pántólí] n. a type of large, beautiful searching for something bird with a sweet voice pl: boreŋ- boɔlaa [bʊ̀ ɔ̀làá] n. (1) a call (2) an maakpantolo 2pl: boreŋmaakpan- invitation tolee boɔle [bʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. (1) to call (2) to in- boreŋmaao [bʊ̀ rɪŋmààʊ̀ ́] n. a large vite boɔlɛɛ, boɔlɔ, boɔlɔ, boɔleba, bird with a strong sweet voice pl: boɔlaa, boɔleba boreŋmaane 2pl: boreŋmaanɛɛ boɔraa [bʊ̀ ɔ̀ráà] n. (1) sack (2) boreŋmanlee [bʊ̀ rɪŋmánléé]̀ n. cal- one hundred pounds pl: boɔre 2pl: abash for sowing pl: boreŋmambili boɔrɛɛ 2pl: boreŋmambilee boɔre [bʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]́ v. to smear with boribara [bòrìbàrà] adv. done thick paste boɔrɛɛ, boɔrɔ, boɔrɔ, poorly boɔrebɔ, boɔraa, boɔrebɔ boribori [bòrìbórí] v. to carry out boɔrɔ [bʊ́ ɔ́rɔ̀] v. (1) to like, to love; poorly (cleaning, talk) boriboree, to desire, to want (2) to need bɔɛ, boriboro, boriboro, boriboribo, boɔrɔ, boɔrɔ, boɔreba, boɔraa boriboraa boɔso [bʊ́ɔ́sʊ́] n. bus pl: boɔsere 2pl: boroboro [bòròbòrò] n. bread pl: boɔserɛɛ boroborri 2pl: boroboree bopeɛ [bʊ̀ pɪɛ́ ]́ n. traditional storey boroborozɔŋ [bòròbòròzɔ̂ŋ] n. bread building pl: bopeere 2pl: bopeerɛɛ flour 2pl: boroborozɔnnɛɛ Var. peɛzudie boroto [bòròtò] adj. big and round boraa [bʊ́ráá] n. a stick used in sowing grains pl: borre 2pl: borrɛɛ Var. boroto [bʊ̀ rʊ̀ tʊ̀ ] adv. fall flat • A bie boredaa zoro gɛrɛ te ŋmɛ gbɛre a gaa te boroto o naŋ le. As the boy ran bore [bʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to break part of a lump along he stumbled on a stone and off in big chunks borɛɛ, bora, bora, crashed to the ground. boreba, boraa borɔbɛ [bʊ̀ rɔ̀bɛ]́ n. pineapple fruit or bore [bʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to sow, to plant borɛɛ, plant pl: borɔbɛre 2pl: borɔbɛrɛɛ bora, bora, boreba, boraa, boreba borɔborɔ [bʊ̀ rɔ̀bʊ̀ rɔ̀] adv. dull colour boredaa [bʊ̀ rɪdàá]̀ n. a stick for sowing pl: boredaare 2pl: borɔso [bʊ̀ rɔ́sʊ̀ ] n. brush pl: borɔ- boredarɛɛ/boredaarɛɛ sore 2pl: borɔsorɛɛ borenyɛ [bʊ́rɪɲɛ́ ̀] n. Christmas pl: bosaraa [bʊ̀ sáràà] n. young female borenyɛre 2pl: borenyɛrɛɛ goat pl: bosarre 2pl: bosarrɛɛ

84 bosere bɔgele bosere [bʊ̀ sɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. a necklace made of bɔbɔlaa [bɔ́bɔ́láá] n. a wild animal huge beads pl: boseɛ/boserre 2pl: like a dog pl: bɔbɔlle 2pl: bɔbɔlɛɛ boserɛɛ bɔe [bɔ̀ɪ]́ n. servant pl: bɔemine bovammo [bʊ̀ vàmmʊ́ ] n. a type of bɔ̃ee [bɔ̀̃ɪɪ̀̃ ]̀̃ adv. calmly, slowly • O bow, usually not made from bam- yeli la ayɛlɛ bɔ̃ee lɛ. She spoke boo pl: bovama 2pl: bovannɛɛ gently. bovaraa [bʊ̀ váràá] n. castrated goat bɔge [bɔ́gɪ]́ v. to grind into pl: bovarre 2pl: bovarrɛɛ smooth flour bɔgɛɛ, bɔgerɔ, bɔgerɔ, bowola [bʊ́wʊ́lá] adv. how many bɔgerebɔ, bɔgeraa, bɔgerebɔ Var. times bage boyaa [bóyáá] interj. expression of bɔge [bɔ́gɪ]́ v. (1) to hit with surprise Var. boyaaŋ many arrows; to sting or bite boyaaŋ [bòyááŋ] interj. expression many times (insects) (2) to apply of surprise poisonous lotion to arrows bɔgɛɛ, bɔgerɔ, bɔgerɔ, bɔgerebɔ, bɔgeraa, boyoɔbo [bʊ̀ yʊ̀ ɔ́bʊ́] adj. six times bɔgerebɔ Var. bage boyɔpõi [bʊ̀ yɔ̀pṍĩ]́ adj. seven times bɔge [bɔ́gɪ]́ v. to put a fence around bozeɛ [bʊ̀ zɪɛ́ ]́ n. dog pl: bozeere 2pl: something bɔgɛɛ, bɔgerɔ, bɔgerɔ, bozeerɛɛ bɔgerebɔ, bɔgeraa, bɔgerebɔ Var. bɔ [bɔ́] v. (1) to search; to look for bage • N bie bɔrɛɛ la, yɛ soŋe, ma ka bɔge [bɔ́gɪ]́ n. (1) shoulder (2) fore- N bɔ. My child is lost; help me limb of an animal pl: bɔgere 2pl: look for her. (2) to court, to woo bɔgerɛɛ Var. bɔga/baga • Dagaaba maŋ bɔ la pɔge kyɛ bɔgebie [bɔ̀gìbíé] n. misfortune pl: de. The Dagaaba usually court a bɔgebiiri 2pl: bɔgebiiree Var. bɔɔ- woman before marriage. (3) to en- bie/bagebie gage in sexual intercourse, to make love • Ka fooŋ bɔ neɛ pɔge ba na bɔgebiesoba [bɔ̀gɪbíésʊ̀ ́ bá] n. unfor- ŋmɛ fo la sane yaga. If you make tunate person; unlucky person pl: love to a married woman, you will bɔgebiedeme Var. bagebiesoba be heavily fined. bɔɛ, boɔrɔ, boɔrɔ, bɔgebogerɔ [bɔ̀gɪbʊ̀ ́grɔ́] n. sorcerer, boɔrebɔ, boɔraa, boɔrebɔ soothsayer pl: bɔgebogerebɔ 2pl: bɔ [bɔ̀] v. to clean a very dirty place bɔgebogerebɛɛ Var. bagebogera or thing bɔɛ, boɔrɔ, boɔrɔ, boɔrebɔ, bɔgedie [bɔ̀gɪdìè]̀ n. room for divin- boɔraa, boɔrebɔ ing pl: bɔgederi 2pl: bɔgederee bɔbɔe [bɔ́bɔ́ɪ]̀ n. duck pl: bɔbɔɛ 2pl: bɔgele [bɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to stalk (hunt- bɔbɔrɛɛ ing) • Naŋkpaana zaa maŋ

85 bɔgemaale bɔndaa

bɔgele la wɛdoŋɔ a pɔge o ŋmɛ. through the initiation process for A hunter will normally stalk a wild a cult pl: bɔgetaŋkpolli 2pl: bɔge- animal to get close enough to shoot. taŋkpolee Var. bagetaŋkpolo (2) to feel, to move one’s hand over bɔgɔ [bɔ́gɔ̀] n. track, path (usu- • A zɔŋɔ bɔgele la a gado zu te ally left by passing through grassy nyɛ a o kparoo. The blind man felt bush) pl: bɔgere 2pl: bɔgerɛɛ Var. along the bed and found his shirt. bɔga bɔgelɛɛ, bɔgelɔ, bɔgelɔ, bɔgeleba, bɔgɔ [bɔ́gɔ́] n. shoulder pl: bɔgere bɔgelaa 2pl: bɔgerɛɛ Var. bɔge/bɔga/bage bɔgemaale [bɔ̀gɪmààlɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act of bɔlaa [bɔ̀làà] adv. long, round and making sacrifice pl: bɔgemaaleba smooth 2pl: bɔgemaalbɛɛ Var. bagemaale bɔle [bɔ́lɪ]́ n. ball pl: bɔlɔ 2pl: bɔgeŋmampegere [bɔ̀gɪŋmǎmpɪ̀ gɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ bɔlɛɛ/bɔllɛɛ n. shoulder Var. bageŋmampere bɔle [bɔ̀lɪ]̀ n. field rat sg: bɔloo pl: bɔgeŋmampere [bɔ̀gɪŋmàmpɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ n. bɔlɔ 2pl: bɔllɛɛ shoulder blade pl: bɔgeŋmamperre 2pl: bɔgeŋmamperɛɛ Var. bɔgeŋ- bɔlembɔ [bɔ̀lɪmbɔ̀ ́] n. bottle sg: mampegere bɔlembɔroo pl: bɔlembɔre 2pl: bɔlembɔrɛɛ Var. pilintoɔ bɔgeŋmane [bɔ̀gɪŋmánɪ̀ ]́ n. forearm pl: bɔgeŋmama 2pl: bɔgeŋmamɛɛ bɔll [bɔ̀ll] adj. long and roundish Var. bageŋmane bɔlle [bɔ̀llɪ]̀ v. (1) to move all over bɔgere [bɔ̌grɪ]́ n. part, portion of a an object (insects) (2) to smear liq- whole 2pl: bɔgerɛɛ Var. bɔgre uid on a surface in an untidy way bɔllɛɛ, bɔllɔ, bɔllɔ, bɔlbɔ, bɔllaa bɔgere [bɔ̀gɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. (1) fetish, object believed to embody a spirit (2) bɔlɔmbɔlɔŋ [bɔ́lɔ́mbɔ́lɔ́ŋ] adj. sacrifice, offering to a divinity pl: smooth and shiny bɔgɔ/bɔga 2pl: bɔgerɛɛ/bɔgɛɛ Var. bɔmbɔrezeɛ [bɔ̀mbɔ̀rzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of bagere snake pl: bɔmbɔrezeere 2pl: bɔm- bɔgesaa [bɔ̀gsàà] n. counsellor for bɔrezeerɛɛ a person being initiated into the bɔmbɔroŋ [bɔ̌mbɔ̀rʊ́ŋ] n. a type of bagre cult pl: bɔgesaamine 2pl: snake pl: bɔmbɔrre 2pl: bɔmbɔrɛɛ bɔgesaarɛɛ Var. bagesaa bɔmpɔrɔ [bɔ̀mpɔ́rɔ́] n. mumps pl: bɔgesoŋ [bɔ̀gɪsʊ̀ ̂ ŋ] n. luck pl: bɔmpɔrre 2pl: bɔmpɔrɛɛ bɔgesonne 2pl: bɔgesonnɛɛ Var. bɔndaa [bɔ̀ndáá] n. lizard (varia- bagesoŋ tion of ‘bandaa’(individual) and bɔgetaŋkpolo [bɔ̀gɪtáŋkpóló]̀ n. cult ‘baŋa’(dialectal)) pl: bɔndaare 2pl: members, those who have gone bɔndarɛɛ Var. bandaa

86 bɔŋenaa bugi bɔŋenaa [bɔ́ŋɪnáá]́ n. type of tree, bu [bù] v. (1) to get wet • Saa medicinal pl: bɔŋene 2pl: bɔŋenɛɛ poɔ la a tontonema ka ba bon- bɔŋenɔ [bɔ̀ŋɪnɔ́ ́] n. witty person pl: suuri zaa bu. The rain beat down bɔŋenema 2pl: bɔŋenemɛɛ on the workers and soaked all their clothes. (2) to mix dry powder with bɔŋɔ [bɔ̀ŋɔ́] n. lizard pl: bɔnne 2pl: liquid or oil (mortar) • A demeɛrɛ bɔnnɛɛ Var. baŋa/bɔŋa bu la tɛne na mɛ a dankyini. bɔŋɔ [bɔ́ŋɔ́] n. bangle pl: bɔnne 2pl: The mason has prepared mortar to bɔnnɛɛ Var. baŋa build the wall with. bue, buuro, bɔɔ [bɔ̀ɔ̀] v. to dress very well buuro, buuribo, buuraa, buuribo bɔɔɛ, bɔɔrɔ, bɔɔrɔ, bɔɔrebɔ, bɔɔraa, bu [bú] v. to measure (liquid), to bɔɔrebɔ calculate • Ba bu la kãã bɔlem- bɔɔderoo [bɔ̀ɔ̀dɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́ ] n. plantain bɔre ata eŋ a doge poɔ. The have sg: bɔɔderoo pl: bɔɔdeɛ 2pl: measured out three bottles of oil bɔɔdeerɛɛ into the pot. bue, buuro, buuro, bu- bɔɔdoa [bɔ̀ɔ̀dʊ́áá] n. towel pl: bɔɔ- uribo, buuraa, buuribo doore 2pl: bɔɔdoorɛɛ bu [bú] v. (1) to ponder, to reflect • bɔɔre [bɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. sacrifice, deity pl: N bu la a yɛlɛ n zu poɔ lɛɛ kyɛ N bɔbɔ Var. bɔgre naŋ ba baŋ a pare. I’ve pondered over the issue for some time now, bɔre [bɔrɪ] v. to break off a large ́ ̀ but I can’t seem to come to terms chunk (from a bigger mass) bɔrɛɛ, with it. (2) to respect , to value • Ka bɔrɔ, bɔrɔ, bɔreba, bɔraa, bɔreba fooŋ ba bu ma N meŋ koŋ bu fo. bɔre [bɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to blossom, to flourish If you don’t respect me, I wont re- (plants) bɔrɛɛ, bɔrɔ, bɔrɔ, bɔrebɔ, spect you either. bue, buuro, buu- bɔraa ro, buuribo, buuraa, buuribo bɔre [bɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to get lost, to go astray; bufuli [bùfúlí] n. a blood-sucking to make a mistake bɔrɛɛ, bɔrɔ, bɔrɔ, maggot-like worm, usually found bɔrebɔ, bɔraa under floors pl: bufulo 2pl: bu- bɔre [bɔ́rɪ]́ n. puff adder; a thick fulee large poisonous snake pl: bɔrre 2pl: bugagu [bùgàgú] n. a type of bɔrɛɛ Var. bɔsere tree, medicinal pl: bugaguri 2pl: bɔreferoo [bɔ̀rɪfɪ́ rʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. pawpaw pl: bugaguree bɔreferre 2pl: bɔreferrɛɛ bugi [bùgì] v. (1) to be confused, Bɔrefɔ [bɔ̀rɪfɔ̀ ́] n. English pl: to be perplexed (2) to be drunk bɔrefɔre 2pl: bɔrefɔrɛɛ Var. • O yãã nyu la dãã bugi. As bɔrɔ/naasaaleŋ usual, he has been drinking and is

87 bugi bumbunturi

drunk. bugee, bugiro, bugiro, bu- bukulo. Fire has burnt the house giribo, bugiraa completely. bugi [búgí] v. to pound into powder bulee [búléé] n. well pl: bulli 2pl: • Ba bugi a kyooma na tɔ kãã. bullee The shea nuts have been pounded buli [búlí] v. (1) to germinate, to into powder in order to prepare sprout, to grow out from • Ba bore shea butter. bugee, bugro, bugro, la kyi kyɛ a naŋ ba buli sɛre. bugribo, bugraa They have sown millet, but it has bugi [búgí] v. to make fresh mounds not germinated yet. (2) to spring (farming) • A koɔraa bugi la o up, to ooze (water) • Te tu la a weɛ yuoni ŋa azuiŋ o bɛŋɛ wɔŋɛɛ bulee ka o sigi kyɛ o naŋ ba buli la soŋ. The farmer made fresh kõɔ. We have dug the well quite mounds; consequently, he had a deep, but water has not started to good yield of beans. bugee, bugro, flow. bulee, bulo, bulo, bulibo, bu- bugro, bugribo, bugraa laa, bulibo bugikpara [bùgìkpárá] n. a moulded buli [búlí] n. sprout pl: bulo granary with two apartments pl: buliba [búlíbà] v. to run fast bulibaɛ, bugkparre 2pl: bugkparɛɛ bulobaara, bulibaara, bulibaareba, bugili [búgílì] v. to tend (seed) bulibaaraa bugilee, bugilo, bugilo, buglibo, bulinimiri [bùlnímírì] n. the point in bugilaa, - Var. buuli/buoli a well from which water flows out pl: bulinimie 2pl: bulinimiiree bugiliŋe [bùglíŋé] n. lid for a barn or granary pl: bugilinni 2pl: bugilin- bulli [bùllì] v. to collect bits of wa- nee ter flowing from a well or hole (e.g. during draught) bullee, bullo, bugimoɔ [bùgìmʊ́ɔ́] n. a type of bullo, bulibo, bullaa, bulibo grass, the straw of which is mixed bulo [bùlò] n. soup from seed with clay to build a granary sg: or nuts (beans, groundnuts) 2pl: bugimoɔnoo 2pl: bugimoɔnɛɛ bulee/bullee bugipelaa [bùgìpɪlàá]̀ n. a small gra- bulugiri [bùlùgrí] n. a container nary pl: bugipeɛle 2pl: bugipeɛlɛɛ made from a gourd pl: bulugo 2pl: bugita [búgítà] n. kettle pl: bugitare bulugiree Var. buluuri 2pl: bugitarɛɛ buluuri [bùlùùrí] n. a fat goat 2pl: bugo [bùgó] n. granary pl: bugri 2pl: buluuree. Var. bulugiri bugree bumbunturi [bùmbùntùrì] n. a type bukulo [búkúló] adv. perish com- of tree with edible fruits pl: bum- pletely • A vũũ di la yiri zaa bunturri 2pl: bumbunturee

88 buŋi buuli buŋi [búŋ] v. to get mouldy (seed) mogebo. He likes eating unsoaked buŋee, buŋino, buŋino, buŋinimo, flour. pl: burri 2pl: burree buŋinaa, buŋinimo buroni [bùròní] n. white man pl: buo [búò] pron. which one (interrog- buroniri 2pl: buroniree ative pronoun) Var. buori buroŋ-buroŋ [búróŋ-búróŋ] adv. buoli [búólì] v. to nurse (a seedling) done haphazardly (without order) • buolee, buolo, buolo, buolibo, buo- A yɛlɛ deɛ waa la buromburoŋ lɛ. laa, buolibo Var. buuli/bugili The case is just in a confused state. buori [bùòrì] v. to hurt buoree, Var. buromburoŋ buoro, buoro, buoribo, buoraa, burri [búrrì] v. to fool, to outwit bur- buoribo ree, burro, burro, buribo, burraa, buori [bùórì] pron. which (inter- burro rogative pronoun) Var. buo/booː buseli [búsélí] n. very heavy object abuo/abobo pl: busele 2pl: buselee buri [bùrì] v. to soften by moisten- buulaa [bùùláá] n. playground pl: ing • O buri la a gane a na tõɔ̃sɛ buuli 2pl: buulee a woɔ. He softened the leather so he could sew the bag. buree, buro, buuli [bùùlí] n. an insect that makes buro, buribo, buraa, buribo honey in the ground pl: buulo 2pl: buri [bùrì] v. to gain weight • Beri buulee Var. wirikuoluŋ ayi ŋa a dɔɔ ŋmeene na leɛ buri buuli [búúlí] n. bells worn on the la o zaa. Lately, that lean man wrist to play xylophone pl: buulo has been putting on weight. buree, 2pl: buulee buro, buro, buribo, buraa, buribo buuli [búúlì] v. nurse (seed) • O buu- buri [búrí] v. to immerse a container li la kommie a dabɔge poɔ. She in liquid or powder to fill it buree, has nursed tomoto seed in the gar- buro, buro, buribo, buraa, buro den. buulee, buulo, buulo, buulibo, buriburi [bùrìbúrí] v. to be confused buulaa, buulibo Var. buoli/bugili buriburee, buriburo, buriburo, buuli [bùùlì] v. to boil (first stage in buriburibo, buriburaa, buriburibo making porridge paste; saabo) buu- buriburi [búríbúrí] n. state of confu- lee, buulo, buulo, buulibo, buulaa, sion buulo burimo [bùrìmó] n. a type of wild an- buuli [bùùlì] v. to murmur, to grum- imal the size of a zebra pl: burri 2pl: ble • Ka o poɔŋ sãã o maŋ buuli burree la yɛlɛ yaga. When she is sad, she buro [bùró] adj. in dry powdered grumbles a lot. buulee, buulo, buu- form (flour) • O nɔŋ la zɔmburo lo, buulibo, buulaa, buulo

89 buulo dãabeerɛ buulo [búúló] n. something that ridge used in the preparation of complements or adorns another TZ 2pl: buulunwoɔlɛɛ Var. buulun- thing • Nɔtoro e la dɔɔ noɔre woɔla buulo. A mustache complements a man’s mouth. buuluŋ [búúlúŋ] n. porridge 2pl: buulunee buulunwala [bùùlùnwálá] n. light porridge 2pl: buulunwalɛɛ buuluŋ [bùúlúŋ] n. fleshy portion buulunwoɔlɔ [bùùlùnwʊ́ɔ́lɔ́] n. por- (meat) pl: buulo 2pl: buulee d da [dà] part. past tense marker • Ba day. pl: daare 2pl: darɛɛ da wa la kyɛ. They came here. daa [dàá] n. week (six-day) • O naŋ da [dà] n. time in the past; olden wa kyɛ, o daare ayi la. It is two days weeks since he came here. pl: daare da [dá] v. (1) to push (2) to blow 2pl: darɛɛ (wind) (3) to wander (in the bush) daa [dàá] n. cost, price • Sẽɛ̃ saŋa • A naŋkpaana da la moɔ yaga bondirii daa maŋ do la. The cost kyɛ ba nyɛ nɛne. The hunter wan- of food rises during the middle of dered all day but did not get any the farming season. pl: daare 2pl: game. daɛ, daara, daara, daareba, darɛɛ Var. daaroŋ daaraa, daareba daa [dáá] adv. last time • O daa wa da lɔɔ to push or blow down la kyɛ? Did s/he come here last da [dà] v. to buy daɛ, daara, daara, time? Var. daare dareba, daaraa, daareba daa [dáà] v. to push daaɛ, daara, daa [dàá] n. (1) stick, piece of wood daara, dareba, daaraa, dareba (2) gun pl: daare 2pl: darɛɛ daa [dáá] adj. male (nonhuman) pl: daa [dàá] n. (1) market; place for daare/daɛ 2pl: darɛɛ/daarɛɛ buying and selling • Ba maŋ ti la dãa [dã́ã̀] n. (1) brewed drink, alco- sampare daa poɔ. Sheds are often holic beverage (pito) (2) container put up at the marketplace. (2) day of drink sg: daamo pl: daanɛɛ or occasion for buying and selling • Wa daa ane Kaane daa la maŋ dãabeene [dã́ã́bɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. fermented laŋ kpɛ. The Wa market day and pito pl: dãabeemɛ Kaane market day fall on the same dãabeerɛ [dã́ã́bɪɪ̀ rɛ̀ ]́ n. second stage

90 dãabele daane

in brewing pito 2pl: dãabeerɛɛ dãagyemɛ [dã́ágyɪmɛ́ ]́ n. pito soda dãabele [dã́ábɪlɪ́ ]́ n. pito yeast pl: dãagyemɛ [dã́ágyɪmɛ̀ ̀] n. soda from dãabelɛ 2pl: dãabelɛɛ pito brewing 2pl: dãagyemɛɛ/dãa- dãabinnaa [dã́ã́bìnnáà] n. pito re- gyennɛɛ served for a regular customer pl: dãakaraa [dã́ákáráá] n. unfer- dãabinni 2pl: dãabinnee mented pito pl: dãakare 2pl: dãabiri [dã́ã́bírí] n. residue from pito dãakarɛɛ (local beer) 2pl: dãabiree dãakonni [dã́ã̂́kònnì] n. pito that is dãabiri [dã́ã́bírì] n. chaff of pito malt fermenting 2pl: dãabiree/dãabirree dãakoɔre [dã́ã́kʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. residue of daadaa [dáádáá] adv. straight ahead pito from the last brewing stage 2pl: dãada [dã́ã́dà] n. the act of buying dãakoɔrɛɛ alcohol dãakɔgere [dã́ã̂́kɔ́grɪ]́ n. the daa-daa [dàá-dàá] adv. weekly; from first stage of pito brewing 2pl: time to time • Daa-daa ka a dɔɔta dãakɔgerɛɛ maŋ wa. The doctor comes every dãakuoli [dã́ã́kúólì] n. drunkenness, week. condition of being drunk dãadaara [dã́ã́dáárá] n. one who daakuolo [dáákúóló] n. drunk pl: buys alcohol pl: dãadareba 2pl: daakuolibo 2pl: daakuolibee dãadarebɛɛ daale [dààlɪ]̀ v. to float; to be sus- dãadagoli [dã́ã́dàgólí] n. one who pended (on liquid) • Ka fooŋ kyiri loves drinking alcholic beverages kãã eŋ kõɔ poɔ a maŋ iri daale pl: dãadagolo 2pl: dãadagolee la. If oil is poured into water it dãadie [dã́ã́dìè] n. pito shop pl: will float on the top. daalɛɛ, daala, dãaderi 2pl: dãaderee daala, daaleba, daalaa, daaleba dãadoge [dã́ã́dʊ́gɪ]́ n. pito pot or pot daama [dáámá] n. state of ease; free- of pito pl: dãadoggre 2pl: dãado- dom • Ka a toma ŋaŋ wa baare N grɛɛ na nyɛ la daama fẽẽ. When this dãadogerɔ [dã́ã́dʊ́grɔ́] n. brewer, work is over I shall be free a bit. 2pl: one who brews alcohol pl: daamɛɛ dãadogerebɔ 2pl: dãadogerebɛɛ Daana [dááná] n. God dãafaare [dã́áfáárɪ]́ n. bad alcoholic daana [dááná] n. owner, lord, mas- beverage 2pl: dãafaarɛɛ ter pl: daanema 2pl: daanemɛɛ Var. dãafaraa [dã́áfáráá] n. well- daŋena fermented pito pl: dãafarre 2pl: daane [dàànɪ]̀ v. (1) to change, to dãafarrɛɛ make different • O naŋ gaa o sori

91 daanyu dãazu

na te waana la ka o daane (la) o daare [dáárɪ]́ adv. (1) day before yes- zaa. Returning from his trip he had terday; (2) last time Var. daa changed completely. (2) to steer, daaroŋ [dààrʊ́ ŋ] n. cost of • Uoni to redirect, to turn away • O poɔ saŋa kommie daaroŋ maŋ e la sãaɛ la ka o daane o niŋe bare kpeɛŋaa. During the dry season ziyuo. She was sad and turned her the cost of tomatoes goes high. face away. daanɛɛ, daana, daana, ́ ́ daanema, daanaa, daanema dãasenyoɔle [dããsɪɲʊ́ ́ɔ́lɪ]́ n. (1) sugar ant (2) one who likes ́ ́ daanyu [dããɲú] n. the act of drink- drinking alcohol pl: dãaseny- ing alcohol oɔlɔ/dãasenyoɔla 2pl: dãaseny- daanyuuro [dã́ã́ɲúúrò] n. (1) an al- oɔlɛɛ coholic, a habitual drinker of al- dãa-so [dã́ã́-sò] n. a ritual that in- cohol (2) a person who is drink- volves bathing a corpse with pito ing alcohol pl: daanyuuribo 2pl: before burial daanyuribee dãasunni [dã́ã́súnní] n. sticky sub- ́ ́ dãaŋmane [dããŋmánɪ]́ n. (1) cal- stance from pito sg: dãasunnuu abash used for drinking pito (2) a 2pl: dãasunnee calabash of pito pl: dãaŋmama 2pl: ́ ́ dãaŋmamɛɛ dãasuoro [dããsúóró] n. a corpse that is to be bathed with pito before ́ ́ dãapare [dããpárɪ]́ n. residue of pito burial pl: dãasuoribo 2pl: dãa- from the pot 2pl: dãaparɛɛ suoribee ́ ́ dãapelaa [dããpɪlàá]̀ n. palm wine pl: dãatambalaaraa [dã́ã́támbálááráá] n. dã́apeɛle 2pl: dãapeɛlɛɛ sweet pito 2pl: dãatambalaarɛɛ ́ ́ dãapɔge [dããpɔ́gɪ]́ n. pito brewer or dãateɛ [dã́ã́tɪɛ́ ]́ n. grapevine pl: dãa- seller pl: dãapɔgeba 2pl: dãapɔge- teere 2pl: dãateerɛɛ bɛɛ/dãapɔgrɛɛ dãatuo [dã́ã́túó] n. pito meant for a daare [dààrɪ]̀ v. to get out of ritual pl: dãatuuri 2pl: dãatuuree control. (bad behaviour) • Ka bibileŋ ba nyɛ wuluu velaa o daayi [dááyí] v. to stand out bile saŋa, o maŋ daare la. If daa yiee, daara yire, daayire, a child does not get good guid- daayiribe, daayiraa ance during his early life, he gets dãazeɛ [dã́ã́zìɛ]́ n. locally brewed out of hand. daarɛɛ, daara, daara, beer (pito) 2pl: dãazerɛɛ/dãazeerɛɛ daareba, daaraa, daareba dãazu [dã́ã́zú] n. the first pito to be daare [dààrɪ]́ n. firewood (collective) poured from the pot pl: dãazuri 2pl: 2pl: daarɛɛ dãazuree

92 dãazukpala dabozẽe dãazukpala [dã́ã́zúkpálá] n. pito dabeɛmɛ [dàbɪɛ̀ mɛ́ ̀] n. coward • Nyɛ, without yeast froth 2pl: dãazukpa- a dɔɔŋ leɛ zoro, dabeɛmɛ la. Look, lɛɛ Var. dããzukpoli the man is running away, he is a dabaala [dàbáálà] n. effort, struggle coward. 2pl: dabeɛmɛɛ 2pl: dabaalɛɛ Var. dabagla dabegere [dábɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. (1) piece of, dabaaraa [dàbááráá] n. a three- portion (2) paragraph pl: dabegɛ forked stick on which pots or cal- 2pl: dabegerɛɛ abashes are placed pl: dabaare 2pl: dabegere [dábɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. (1) a type of dabaarɛɛ white ant (2) the nest of such ants pl: dabegɛ 2pl: dabegerɛɛ dabagelakala [dàbáglàkálà] interj. an expression of surprise at some- dabilikpeo [dàbìlkpɪʊ́ ́] n. a type of thing great • A pɔge tõɔ lɔɔ la tree with medicinal properties and a dɔɔ, dabagelakala. The woman edible fruits pl: dabilikpenne 2pl: was able to throw the man down; dabilikpennɛɛ that’s great! dabilkaŋkanyogelɔ [dàbìlka- dabaŋkalɛ [dàbàŋkálɛ]́ n. looking ́ŋkáɲʊ́glɔ́] n. small twigs used as back with dissatisfaction; had I firewood, kindling 2pl: dabilka- known, regret, remorse • Selaa de ŋkanyoglɛɛ Var. dabilkaŋkanyo- zeɛ la a nɔlee kaŋa, ka N da gla baŋ ka lɛ N pɔge a. A hawk has dabiltuo [dàbìltúó] n. a bitter herb snatched one of the chickens; if I used to treat abdominal problems had known, I would have put them pl: dabiltuuri 2pl: dabiltuuree in a pen. dabodabo [dábʊ́dábʊ́] n. duck pl: dabaŋkoroŋ [dàbàŋkʊ́rʊ́ŋ] n. prior dabodabore 2pl: dabodaborɛɛ knowledge • A seŋ ka karemamine maŋ de karembiiri dabogi [dàbògí] n. hole in a tree pl: dabaŋkoroŋ wuli ba. Teachers dabogri 2pl: dabogree should base their teaching on dabolore [dàbʊ́lʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. a type of tree pupils’ prior knowledge. with medicinal properties and edi- dabẽe [dàbɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. (1) juice ble fruits 2pl: dabolorɛɛ (2) semen pl: dabeene 2pl: daboorabɔge [dàbʊ̀ ʊ̀ rábɔ́gɪ]́ n. pray- dabeemɛɛ/dabeenɛɛ ing mantis pl: daboorabɔgere 2pl: daboorabɔgerɛɛ dabẽɛ [dàbɪɛ̃́ ]́ n. (1) fear (2) danger, fearsome • A vũuzele taa la dabẽɛ. dabozẽe [dàbòzɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. a type of small The burning flame is looking dan- brown bird pl: dobazeene 2pl: gerous. pl: dabeɛmɛ 2pl: dabeɛnɛɛ dobazeenɛɛ

93 dabɔge daguo dabɔge [dàbɔ̀gɪ]́ n. a type of large killing most of the traditional prac- bird (carnivorous) pl: dabɔgere 2pl: tices of the Dagaaba. dabɔgerɛɛ dagalaa [dàgàláà] n. a large, long dabɔgɔ [dàbɔ́gɔ̀] n. fenced enclosure; plank used to support weak struc- garden pl: dabɔgre 2pl: dabɔgrɛɛ tures pl: dagalle 2pl: dagallɛɛ Var. dabɔga/dabɔge dagaŋgaanaa [dàgàŋgàànáà] n. dabɔle [dàbɔ́lɪ]́ n. round smooth large vine of a creeping or climb- stick, club pl: dabɔlɔ 2pl: dabɔlɛɛ ing plant pl: dagaŋgaane 2pl: da- gaŋgaanɛɛ Var. gaŋgaanaa dabɔlmakasogi [dábɔ́lmákásògí] n. a type of tall straw hat pl: dabɔlmaka- dagaŋgaŋ [dàgàŋgáŋ] n. wit • A bie sogiri 2pl: dabɔlmakasogiree Var. taa la dagaŋgaŋ, fo na yeli ka sõɔ. dabɔlkasogi/dabɔlkosogi The child is so full of wit that it might be attributed to witchraft. pl: Dabuo [dàbúó] n. name traditionally dagaŋganne 2pl: dagaŋgannɛɛ given to one born after the death of the father pl: Dabumine 2pl: Da- Dagao [dàgáʊ̀ ] n. (1) native speaker buuree of Dagaare (2) the homeland of the speakers of Dagaare pl: Dagaaba dabuo [dàbúó] n. abandoned house 2pl: Dagaabɛɛ Var. Dagara pl: dabori 2pl: daboree Dagara [dàgàrà] n. the Dagaare lan- dabuori [dàbúórì] pron. when (inter- guage (North Dagaare variant) Var. rogative pronoun) • Dabuori ka fo Dagao tu fo sori na? When will you make your trip? dagaraa [dàgàráà] n. (1) cross; symbol of Christianity (2) crossbeam dadagere [dàdàgɪrɪ́ ]́ n. a kind of fish pl: dagarre 2pl: dagarrɛɛ pl: dadaga 2pl: dadagerɛɛ dageliŋe [dágelíŋé] n. lid of a box pl: daduŋi [dàdúŋí] n. wood weevil pl: dagelinni 2pl: daglinnee dadunni 2pl: dadunnee dagoli [dàgólí] n. cudgel; a hook- daga [dágà] n. box pl: dagere 2pl: shaped stick used in throwing, usu- dagerɛɛ ally at game during hunting pl: Dagaare [dàgàárɪ]̀ n. Dagaare; a lan- dagolo 2pl: dagolee/dagollee guage of the Moore-Gurma family daguo [dàgùó] n. club with a 2pl: dagaarɛɛ Var. Dagara knobbed end; a short, large-headed dagaareŋ [dàgààrɪŋ]̀ adj. done ac- piece of wood used for breaking cording to the practices of the Da- mud-built walls and lumps of earth gaaba • Ziyuo vɛŋɛɛ la ka Da- pl: dagori 2pl: dagoree/dagorree. gaareŋ deɛ bɔrɔ. Civilisation is Var. guo

94 Dagbɛmmo dakpiri

Dagbɛmmo [dàgbɛmmʊ́ ́ ] n. a native dakoɔroŋ [dàkʊ́ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. celibacy speaker of the Dagbaane language Dakoraa [dàkʊ́ráá] n. name tradi- pl: Dagbɛnne 2pl: Dagbɛnnɛɛ tionally given to a reincarnated Dagbɛnne [Dàgbɛnnɪ́ ]́ n. Dagbaane male child pl: dakormine 2pl: dako- language 2pl: dagbɛnnɛɛ rɛɛ/dakorrɛɛ Dagbɛnnoo [dàgbɛnnʊ́ ́ ʊ́] n. a na- dakoraa [dàkòràá] n. walking stick tive speaker of the Dagbaane lan- with a curved top pl: dakorri 2pl: guage pl: Dagbɛnne 2pl: Daggbɛn- dakoree/dakorree nɛɛ. Var. Dagbɛmmo dakoroŋ [dàkʊ̀ rʊ̀ ŋ] n. former times; dagboli [dàgbólí] n. large piece of olden days Var. dasaŋa wood (firewood) pl: dagbolo 2pl: dakɔɔre [dàkɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. armlet made dagbolee from enamel pl: dakɔbɔ 2pl: dagbollo [dàgbólló] n. the fifth day dakɔɔrɛɛ from now pl: dagbolli 2pl: dagbol- dakɔɔre [dàkɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. cob (maize) pl: lee dakɔbɔ 2pl: dakɔɔrɛɛ dagbuli [dàgbùlí] n. the act of buy- dakuoŋaa [dàkúóŋáá] n. dry or dead ing as a whole pl: dagbulo 2pl: da- wood pl: dakuoni/dakuomo 2pl: gbullee dakuonee dagbulo [dàgbùló] n. appellation of Dakpaa [dàkpàá] n. (1) name of a a kinship group village (2) a kinship group dagyu [dàdzú] n. a type of large, dakpaa [dàkpáà] n. a type of wasp pl: hairy spider; believed to be poi- dakpaare 2pl: dakpaarɛɛ sonous pl: dagyuri 2pl: dagyuree Dakpaaloo [dàkpáálʊ́ʊ́] n. member daha [dáhá] n. a type of game simi- of the Dakpaa kinship group pl: lar to chess pl: dahare Var. dara Dakpaalɛɛ dakala [dàkálá] n. dried sperm 2pl: dakpalori [dàkpàlórí] n. a type of dakallɛɛ small bug that sucks blood (usually found in crevices of walls) sg: da- dakogi [dàkógí] n. chair, stool pl: kpaloruu pl: dakpaloree 2pl: da- dakogiri 2pl: dakogiree kpalorree dakogidɛllaa [dàkògìdɛlláá]́ n. chair dakpele [dàkpɪlɪ́ ]́ n. hard wood pl: with a back pl: dakogidɛlle dakpelɛ 2pl: dakpelɛɛ dakogilee [dàkògìléé] n. small stool dakpiri [dàkpíri] n. stump sg: pl: dakogibilii 2pl: dakogibilee dakpirruu pl: dakpirri 2pl: dakoɔre [dàkʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. bachelor pl: dakpiree/dakpirree Var. dakpaa, dakɔbɔ 2pl: dakoɔrɛɛ daŋmaparekpiri

95 Dakpɔge dalogi

Dakpɔge [dàkpɔ́gɪ]́ n. a kinship dala [dàlà] n. conceited talk; arro- group pl: dakpɔgɔ gance, self-importance • A pɔgelee dakyage [dàʧàgɪ]́ n. lazy chair (for zagere la a toma kyɛ yele o dala. men), deckchair or sun lounger pl: The girl refused to do the work and dakyagre 2pl: dakyagrɛɛ put on airs. dakyara [dàʧárà] n. forked piece of dalaa [dàlàá] n. small drum, made wood pl: dakyɛrre 2pl: dakyɛrrɛɛ with hide and the rim of a pot pl: dalle 2pl: dallɛɛ Var. dalaraa Dakyeeloo [dàʧɪɪ́ lʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. member dalaraa [dàláràà] n. small drum, of some type of kinship (Dakyeɛ) made with hide and the rim of a pot group pl: dakyeelɛɛ (Northern Dagaare) pl: dalarre 2pl: dakyeerekpaglaga [dàʧɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ kpàglá-̀ dalarɛɛ Var. dalaa gá] n. a type of tree pl: dakyee- dalee [dàléé] n. dry twig pl: dabili rekpaglagre 2pl: dakyeerek- 2pl: dabilee Var. delee paglagrɛɛ daleerɛ [dàlɪɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. total knowledge dakyeɛ [dàʧɪɛ]́ n. brother- or sister- of • A nannyige daleerɛ zaa ka a in-law pl: dakyeere/dakyemine polisri baŋ. The police have gotten 2pl: dakyeerɛɛ to know all the thief’s tricks. dakyeɛraa [dàʧɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. tree meant dalege [dàlɪgɪ́ ]́ n. stampede pl: dale- to be felled pl: dakyeɛre gre 2pl: dalegrɛɛ dakyeɛraa [dàʧɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. something dalempoɔ [dàlɪmpʊ́ ́ɔ́] n. an area used for cutting wood pl: dakyeɛre without vegetation cover pl: dalem- dakyeɛrɛko [dàʧɪɛ́ rɛ́ kò]́ n. wood- poore 2pl: dalempoorɛɛ Var. pecker pl: dakyeɛrɛkori 2pl: dampoɔ dakyeɛrɛkoree Var. tekoliŋkuoraa dalendeɛloo [dàlɪndɪ́ ɛ́ lʊ́ ̀ ʊ́] n. leech; dakye-nɔguu [dàʧɪ-nɔ̀ ́gùú] n. par- a blood-sucking aquatic worm pl: rot pl: dakye-nɔguuri 2pl: dakye- dalendeɛlɛ 2pl: dalendeɛlɛɛ nɔguuree daliiri [dàlíírì] n. substance • O yɛlɛ dakyeraa [dàʧɪràà]̀ n. (1) canary (2) na o naŋ yeli ba taa daliiri. There parrot (3) weaver (bird) or weaver- is no substance in his/her speech. bird pl: dakyerre 2pl: dakyerrɛɛ sg: 2pl: daliiree dakyeroo Var. dakyeɛ dalogeraa [dàlʊ́gráá] n. wood bug pl: dakyɛ [dàʧɛ]́ n. carelessness • N dalogere 2pl: dalogerɛɛ nɛɛse dakyɛ la so ka a bie kpi. dalogi [dàlógì] n. an area where one The child died because of the piles up firewood for use in the nurse’s carelessness. kitchen pl: dalogri 2pl: dalogree

96 daloraa dankyinsɔglaa daloraa [dàlòràá] n. neat stack of dandayieni [dándáyíéní] n. a type firewood pl: dalorri 2pl: daloree of small toad pl: dandayieme 2pl: dalugiri [dàlúgrí] n. Y-shaped plank dandayiemee/dandayienee Var. that supports roof beams pl: dalugo dayieni 2pl: dalugiree dandɔɔ [dàndɔ́ɔ́] n. owner (male) pl: daluri [dàlúri] n. a type of calabash dandɔbɔ 2pl: dandɔbɛɛ pl: dalurri 2pl: daluree danduli [dàndúlí] n. caterpillar, damadama [dàmàdàmà] adj. big, worm pl: dandulo 2pl: dandulee large, extensive Var. dunduli daneenɛ [dànɪɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. the fifth day damagara [dàmàgàrà] n. act of from today pl: daneene 2pl: da- showing wit; adeptness pl: dama- neenɛɛ Var. daneŋenɛ garre 2pl: damagarɛɛ danegere [dànɪgrɪ́ ]́ n. a type of hon- damannaa [dàmánnáá] n. (1) mea- eycomb where bees store their food suring stick (2) example, compari- pl: danegɛ 2pl: danegerɛɛ Var. son (3) simile (lit.) pl: damanne 2pl: sedanegre damaannɛɛ daneŋenɛ [dànɪŋɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. the sixth dambo [dàmbó] n. soup not spiced day from today pl: daneŋene 2pl: pl: dambori 2pl: damboree daneŋenɛɛ damboli [dàmbólì] n. stupid or danfaraŋ [dànfàràŋ] adj. numb foolish person pl: dambolo 2pl: dankyimmiri [dànʧǐmmírì] n. layer dambolee of a wall; horizontal layer of plas- damɔlɔ [dàmɔ́l] n. cheap price (be inter pl: dankyimmie 2pl: dankyim- expensive) miree dampoɔ [dàmpʊ́ɔ́] n. an area with- dankyini [dànʧíní] n. wall out vegetation cover (short form pl: dankyime 2pl: danky- of dalempoɔ) pl: dampoore 2pl: imee/dankyinnee. Var. daŋkyini dampoorɛɛ dankyin-ŋmaa [dǎnʧǐn-ŋmáá] n. dampuori [dàmpúórí] n. the back of broken wall (reduced in height) a house pl: dampoe 2pl: damporee pl: dankyin-ŋmaara 2pl: dankyin- damui [dàmùí] n. a type of tree with ŋmaarɛɛ medicinal properties dankyinsɛgeraa [dǎnʧǐnsɛgráá]́ dandamiine [dàndàmííné] n. a n. chalkboard (writing wall) pl: type of red ant (found in trees) dankyinsɛgre 2pl: dankyinsɛgrɛɛ pl: dandamiime 2pl: dan- dankyinsɔglaa [dǎnʧǐnsɔ́gláá] damiimee/dandamiinee Var. n. blackboard (black wall) pl: gyangyamiime dankyinsɔgle

97 dankyinsɔɔraa daŋkasaŋ dankyinsɔɔraa [dǎnʧǐnsɔ́ɔ́ráá] n. danyagere [dàɲágrɪ] n. root pl: blackboard (blackened wall) pl: danyaga 2pl: danyagerɛɛ dankyinsɔɔre 2pl: dankyinsɔɔrɛɛ danyaŋe [dàɲáŋ] adj. quickly, fast dankyiŋkogilaa [dànʧìnkógláá] n. daŋ [dàŋ] adj. before • O daŋ kpɛ inner corner of a wall e.g. a room pl: la aloopelee. S/he has travelled by dankyiŋkogli/dankyiŋkoglo 2pl: plane before. dankyiŋkoglee daŋaa [dàŋàá] n. hearth; fireplace dankyo [dánʧó] n. single-barreled for cooking pl: danne 2pl: dannɛɛ gun pl: dankyori 2pl: dankyoree daŋaa [dàŋàà] adj. big and heavy danne [dánnɪ]̀ v. to praise dannɛɛ, danna, danna, danema, dannaa, daŋe [dáŋ] v. to be ahead of; to beat, danema Var. dɛnne to be the first to do something • N na daŋ fo la ta. I will get there dannoŋ [dànnʊ́ŋ] n. praise before you. daŋɛɛ, danna, danna, danooraa [dànʊ́ ʊ́ráá] n. a type danema, dannaa, danema of wood bug pl: danoore 2pl: daŋe [dàŋ] v. (1) be early • Zenɛ, danoorɛɛ o daŋe la toma waabo. Today danse [dánsɪ]̀ n. a paid dance session s/he came to work early. (2) come pl: dansere 2pl: danserɛɛ earlier • Zenɛ, o daŋe la toma danseɛ [dánsɪɛ́ ]́ n. witness pl: waabo gaŋe bebiri zaa. Today danseere 2pl: danseerɛɛ Var. s/he came to work earlier than all danseɛsoba other days. daŋɛɛ, danna, danna, danseɛsoba [dánsɪɛ́ sʊ́ ́bá] n. witness danema, dannaa, danema pl: danseɛdeme daŋena [dáŋɪná]́ n. stack of pots on Danteɛ [dàntɪɛ́ ]́ n. a town in the Up- top of one another pl: daŋene 2pl: per West Region daŋenɛɛ Danteɛloo [dàntɪɛ́ lʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. a member daŋgoɔne [dàŋgʊ́ɔ́nɪ]́ n. cliff pl: daŋ- of the Danteɛ clan pl: Danteɛlɛɛ goɔmɔ 2pl: daŋgoɔnɛɛ dantiŋ [dàtíŋ] n. a type of tree pl: daŋgbala [dáŋgbála] n. bare and dantinni 2pl: dantinnee open place pl: daŋgballe 2pl: daŋ- gbalɛɛ danwẽɛ [dànwẽ́ɛ̀̃] adj. first, ahead • Bayuo la a zoobu danwẽɛ soba. daŋgbale [dàŋgbàlɪ]́ n. walking stick Bayuo is the first in the race. pl: daŋgbala 2pl: daŋgbalɛɛ/daŋ- danyagela [dàɲáglá] n. the sixth gballɛɛ day coming pl: danyaegle 2pl: daŋkasaŋ [dáŋkásáŋ] adj. bloated- danyagelɛɛ looking

98 daŋkuuri dare daŋkuuri [dàŋkúúrí] n. stone used dapeɛlkammo [dàpɪɛ́ lkámmʊ́ ́ ] n. a to support a cooking pot in the type of bean 2pl: dapeɛlkamɛɛ hearth pl: daŋkubo/daŋkurri 2pl: daperaa [dàpɪràa]́ n. small dove or daŋkuree/daŋkuuree pigeon (grey and red) pl: daperre daŋŋa [dáŋŋá] n. mischief 2pl: daperɛɛ/daperrɛɛ Daŋyi [dàŋyí] n. name traditionally daperekalonni [dàpɪrɪ́ kálónnì]́ n. a given to the firstborn of a set of type of trap for birds (usually twins Var. Zeɛmɛ made of bamboo and twine) 2pl: daŋmaa [dàŋmáá] n. log pl: daŋ- daperekalonnee maara 2pl: daŋmaarɛɛ daperenyaa [dàpɪrɪ̀ ɲáà]̀ n. the breast daŋmeɛlɛ [dàŋmɪɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. the sixth of a type of dove day from today pl: daŋmeɛlɛ 2pl: dapɛɛre [dàpɛ̀ɛ̀rɪ]́ n. immature tree daŋmeɛlɛɛ or wood pl: dapɛbɛ 2pl: dapɛbɛɛ daŋmeɛraa [dàŋmɪɛ́ ráà]́ n. stick dapɛge [dàpɛgɪ́ ]́ n. bark (of tree) pl: used to beat someone pl: daŋmeɛre dapɛgre/dapɛgɛ 2pl: dapɛgrɛɛ daŋmeɛraa [dàŋmɪɛ́ ráà]́ n. solution, dapɛle [dàpɛlɪ́ ]́ n. splinter of wood answer to a problem pl: daŋmeɛre sg: dapɛloo pl: dapɛlɛ 2pl: daoo [dàʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adv. large and firm- dapɛlɛɛ/dapɛllɛɛ looking dapɛlemɛ [dàpɛlmɛ́ ]́ n. splinters of da-ɔɔraa [dà-ɔ́ɔ́ráá] n. chewing stick wood 2pl: dapɛlmɛɛ (tooth cleaner) pl: da-ɔɔre dapɛlɛŋe [dàpɛ̀lɛ̀ŋ] n. a type of tiny dapaaloŋ [dàpáálʊ́ŋ] n. (1) vanity wild bat pl: dapɛlɛnne 2pl: dapɛlɛn- (2) splendour, glory nɛɛ dapare [dàpàrɪ]́ n. dwelling place of dara [dárá] n. a game played by the dead; heaven, eternity moving small pins into marked-out daparedaa [dàpárɪdàá]́ n. death, holes pl: darre 2pl: darɛɛ/darrɛɛ next world daransaŋ [dàránsáŋ] n. heavy, daparekpeɛŋaa [dàpàrɪkpɪ̀ ɛ́ ŋáá]́ n. cast-aluminium cooking pot pl: strong spirit pl: daparekpeɛne 2pl: daransanne 2pl: daransannɛɛ daparekpeɛnɛɛ dare [dárɪ]́ v. to be hysterical darɛɛ, daparenuulee [dàpàrɪnúúléé]̀ n. dara, dara, dareba, daraa, dareba cockalo pl: daparenuuli dare [dàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to harden (2) to get daparoo [dàpárʊ́ ʊ́] n. soul or spirit acustomed to; to be used to some- of the dead sg: daparrɛɛ 2pl: da- thing unpleasant darɛɛ, dara, dara, parɛɛ dareba, dara, dareba

99 Dasãã dazugivũu

Dasãã [dàsã́ã́] n. name traditionally daveene [dàvɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ n. a type of small given to a child born on a rainy day bird with very thin legs pl: davee- pl: dasaamine 2pl: dasaanɛɛ mɛ 2pl: daveenɛɛ Var. veene dasaŋa [dàsáŋà] n. olden times 2pl: daveraŋkantoll [dàvɪràŋkántóll]̀ n. dasaŋɛɛ Var. dakoroŋ last warning, last chance dasaraa [dàsáràà] n. plank pl: davoro [dàvòró] n. courtyard pl: da- dasarre 2pl: dasarrɛɛ vorri 2pl: davorree daseelɛ [dàsɪɪ̀ lɛ̀ ̀] n. suicide 2pl: davuo [dàvùó] n. a hollowed out log daseelɛɛ pl: davori 2pl: davoree dasɛgeraa [dàsɛgɪ́ ráá]́ n. piece of dawɛge [dàwɛgɪ́ ]́ n. a big plunk of wood used to cover gaps between wood used in the construction of bigger plunks of wood in an earth- earth-made roof pl: dawɛgre 2pl: constructed roof 2pl: dasɛgere, dawɛgrɛɛ Var. wɛge dasɛgerɛɛ dawɛrɛ [dàwɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. person who saws dasɛrɛɛ [dàsɛrɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. small sticks or splits wood pl: dawɛrebɛ 2pl: that are used to close a gap in a dawɛrebɛɛ thatch earth-made roof of a build- daworo [dáwóró] n. a type of bell ing sg: dasɛroo 2pl: dasɛrrɛɛ Var. used in music and to call for atten- dasɛgeraa tion pl: dawoe 2pl: daworee dasugo [dàsúgò] n. many kinds of trees pl: dasugiri 2pl: dasugree dayeni [dàyénì] adj. once pl: dayeme 2pl: dayennee dasuoluŋ [dàsùólúŋ] n. shadow pl: dasuolo 2pl: dasuolee Var. salin- dayere [dàyéré] n. the day after to- suuri morrow 2pl: dayeree dataa [dàtáá] n. (1) rival (between dayieni [dáyíéní] n. a type of small males) (2) antagonist (lit.) pl: toad pl: dayieme 2pl: dayienee Var. dataare 2pl: dataarɛɛ dandayieni datara [dàtárá] n. third day from dayuu [dàyúú] n. giant rat pl: dayu- now pl: datarre 2pl: datarrɛɛ uri 2pl: dayuuree datuo [dàtúó] n. a type of tree dazɛllaa [dàzɛlláá]́ n. swing pl: with medicinal properties and edi- dazɛlle 2pl: dazɛllɛɛ ble fruits pl: datuuri 2pl: datuuree dazugiri [dàzùgrí] n. pl: dazugo 2pl: datuo [dàtúó] n. being expensive pl: dazugiree Var. kɔndazugri datuuri 2pl: datuuree dazugivũu [dàzùgvũ̀ù] n. intense dave [dàvɪ]́ n. spoke pl: davere 2pl: fire; hell; inferno 2pl: dazugvuu- daverɛɛ nee

100 de deɛne de [dɪ]̌ v. (1) to take (2) to accept (3) dẽɛkpãao [dɪɛ̀ ̀kpã́áʊ́] n. guineafowl to believe deɛɛ, derɛ, derɛ, derebɛ, meant for one’s in-law pl: deraa, derebɛ dẽɛkpinni 2pl: dẽɛkpinnee de pɔge to take a wife deɛlaa [dɪɛ̀ ̀láá] n. nightjar pl: dedeekɔɔ [dèdéékɔ́ɔ́] n. act of stand- deɛle/deɛlɛ/deɛlɛɛ ing steadily e.g. a child beginning deɛle [dɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to glide away to walk Var. dedee, dedeekporo, from the target, to deviate (2) to de- zazaakɔɔ flect, to dodge deɛlɛɛ, deɛlɛ, deɛlɛ, dẽe [dĩĩ̀ ]̀ adv. unlimited deɛlebɛ, deɛlaa, deɛlebɛ deedee [déédéé] adj. straight, up- deɛle [dɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. (1) to spread out (to right dry) (2) to expose completely (3) to deɛ [dɪɛ́ ̀] adv. just • N deɛ ba baŋ a float on liquid deɛlɛɛ, deɛlɛ, deɛlɛ, pare. I just don’t understand it. deɛlebɛ, deɛlɛ, deɛlebɛ n. drizzle deɛ [dɪɛ́ ̀] v. to remain somewhere • deɛlɛɛpoo [dɪɛ́ lɛ́ ɛ́ pʊ́ ́ʊ̀ ] n. drizzle pl: O gaa la a tigiri te deɛ. S/he went deɛlɛɛpoone 2pl: deɛlɛɛpoonɛɛ to the feast and never returned. dẽɛmakoma [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀màkʊ́má] n. deɛɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrebɛ, deɛraa, grandmother-in-law pl: dẽɛ- deɛrebɛ makommine dẽɛ [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] v. to play, to joke dẽɛ̃ɛ̃, dẽɛmɛ [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀mɛ]́ n. (1) in-law (fa- deɛnɛ, deɛnɛ, deɛnemɛ, deɛnaa ther or mother) (2) son-in-law pl: dẽɛbaŋ [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃bàŋ] n. drama, play dẽɛmine 2pl: dẽɛmɛɛ dẽɛdẽɛkaraa [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃kàràà] n. (1) deɛmɛkonlɔŋ [dɪɛ́ mɛ́ kʊ́ ́nlɔ́ŋ] n. the lead player (2) protagonist (lit.) pl: first layer of TZ in a bowl pl: dẽɛdẽɛkarre 2pl: dẽɛdẽɛkarɛɛ dẽɛmɛkonlɔnne 2pl: dẽɛmɛkon- dẽɛdeɛnɛ [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃dɪɛ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. (1) one who lɔnnɛɛ plays e.g. of a child (2) a character dẽɛmpɔge [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀pɔ́gɪ]́ n. mother-in- in a story, drama pl: dẽɛdeɛmɛ 2pl: law pl: dẽɛmpɔgeba/dẽɛmpɔgemine dẽɛdeɛmɛɛ Var. deɛne 2pl: dẽɛmpɔgrɛɛ dẽɛkakalle [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀kákàllɪ]́ n. rough, deɛnaa [dɪɛ́ náá]́ n. plaything, toy pl: dangerous play e.g. throwing deɛne 2pl: deɛnɛɛ hard objects at each other 2pl: deɛndɔɔ [dɪɛdɔ̀̃ ́ɔ́] n. father-in-law dẽɛkakalɛɛ/dẽɛkakallɛɛ pl: deɛndɔbɔ/deɛndɔɔmine 2pl: dẽɛkoɔbo [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀kʊ́ɔ́bʊ́] n. farmwork deɛ̃dɔɔrɛɛ done for one’s in-law 2pl: dẽɛkɔrɛɛ deɛne [dɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]́ n. (1) play • Bibiiri dẽɛkuori [dɪɛ̃́ ̃kúórí]́ n. funeral of an nɔŋe la deɛne yaga. Children love in-law pl: dẽɛkoe 2pl: dẽɛkoree play. • A bibiiri ba nɔŋe a deɛne

101 deɛraa dendɔre

ŋa. The children do not like this deme [dèmé] pron. own pl. play. (2) joke • Bonso ka fo de (yours/mine) • Fo deme la gaŋ n a yelnimize ŋa eŋe deɛne? Why deme. Yours are more than mine. do you take this serious matter for demee [déméé] n. unidentified peo- a joke? (3) drama • Zenɛ te na ple • Yeŋ demee la wa? Which kaa la karembiiri deɛne na naŋ people have come? kyaare ‘bibiiri emmaaroŋ yɛlɛ’. Today we shall watch a drama demee [déméé] n. owners • A noore piece by pupils on the title ‘chil- taa la demee. The fowls have own- dren’s health’. 2pl: deɛnɛɛ Var. ers. dẽɛdeɛnɛ demm [dèmm] adv. large and upright deɛraa [dɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. an instrument for scraping and smoothing the edge dendãee [dɪndã̀ ̀ɪɪ̀̃ ]̀̃ adv. appearing of objects pl: deɛre 2pl: deɛrɛɛ suddenly and frighteningly deɛre [dɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to trim, to cut to dendege [dèndégé] n. a woman make even (mouth of calabash) given in marriage to her sister’s deɛrɛɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrebɛ, husband pl: dendegri 2pl: dede- deɛraa, deɛrebɛ gree dẽɛsãakoma [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃sã̀ã̀kʊ́má] n. dendeŋe [dèndèŋé] adj. upright pl: grandfather-in-law pl: dẽɛsãakom- dendenni 2pl: dendennee mine dendeŋi [děndéŋ] adv. upright, dẽɛyiri [dɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃yírí] n. house of an in- straight law pl: dẽɛyie 2pl: dẽɛyiree dendeŋŋe [déndéŋŋé] n. (1) dagger degedaga [dɪgɪ̀ dàgà]̀ adv. thick, (2) the longest toe of a bird pl: den- heavy, and immovable denni 2pl: dendennee degere [dɪgrɪ̀ ]́ n. dwarf, one stunted dendɔgaŋe [dɪndɔ̀ ́gǎŋ] n. bastard pl: in growth pl: degɛ 2pl: degerɛɛ dendɔganne 2pl: dedɔgannɛɛ Var. degili [dèglì] v. not to be of sub- dendɔgaŋa stance degilee, degile, degile, dendɔlee [dɪndɔ̀ ́léé] n. bastard pl: degilibe, degilaa, degilibe dendɔbilii 2pl: dendɔbillee degili [dèglì] v. to marry one’s dendɔmɔ [dɪndɔ́ ́mɔ́] n. enemy pl: sibling’s husband degilee, degile, dendɔnne 2pl: dendɔnnɛɛ Var. degile, degilibe, degilaa, degilibe dendɔma, dɔndɔmɔ deli [délí] v. to have one’s eyes daz- dendɔre [dɪndɔ̀ ́rɪ]̀ n. (1) doorway zled; to look without seeing delee, (2) frontage of the main house pl: dele, dele, delibe, delaa, delibe dendɔɛ 2pl: dendɔrɛɛ

102 deni dɛmmo deni [dèní] pron. that which be- dɛbiri [dɛbírì]́ n. stair pl: dɛbie 2pl: longs to (possessive pronoun) • A dɛbiiree Var. dabiri dagere poɔ n deni la bile. Among dɛbogi [dɛbògí]́ n. step on a ladder; the boxes mine (the one that be- stairs pl: dɛbogiri 2pl: dɛbogiree longs to me) is the smallest. dɛdɛrɛɛ [dɛdɛ́ rɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ adv. shallow denni [dénnì] v. to carry on one’s dɛ̃ɛ [dɛ̀̃ɛ̀̃] adv. open and endless e.g. head without the support of one’s grassland, desert, ocean hands dennee, denne, denne, den- ime, dennaa, denimee Var. delli dɛge [dɛgɪ́ ]́ v. to be dirty dɛgɛɛ, dɛ- grɛ, dɛgrɛ deŋgeluu [dèŋgélúú] n. sweet potato pl: deŋgele 2pl: deŋgellee dɛgelɛkɛlɛ [dɛ̀glɛ̀kɛ̀lɛ̀] adj. fatty and plentiful e.g. of a big dinner (food) deŋgereŋ [dèŋgèrèŋ] adv. upright, on a rich couple’s wedding day stiff, unbending and strong dɛgere [dɛgrɪ́ ]̀ n. dirt pl: dɛgɛ 2pl: deŋo [dɪŋʊ̀ ́] n. preference, wish (not dɛgerɛɛ caring about others) dɛgere iribu [dɛgrɪ̌ íríbú] n. (1) cir- deraa [dɪràà]̀ adj. strong and hard, ́ unbendable cumcision (male) (2) excision (female) deree [déréé] n. negligence, carelessness dɛlle [dɛllɪ́ ]́ v. to lean against, to rely upon for support dɛllɛɛ, dɛllɛ, dɛllɛ, deri [dèrì] v. (1) to harden, to dɛlebɛ, dɛllaa, dɛlebɛ dry (wet or muddy place or substance) • Pampana ŋa ka ba salle dɛlle [dɛllɪ́ ]́ v. to stage a corpse a dankyini o naŋ ba deri. The dɛllɛɛ, dɛllɛ, dɛllɛ, dɛlebɛ, dɛllaa, wall has just been plastered and is dɛlebɛ not hardened yet. (2) to go into a dɛlle [dɛ̀llɪ]̀ v. to remove the top state of convulsion, to collapse in layer of liquid, to decant, to skim hysteria • Ka kɔmmaaroŋ waare dɛllɛɛ, dɛllɛ, dɛllɛ, dɛlebɛ, dɛllaa, pɔgenyaŋaa naŋ zoro ɔɔre o na dɛlebɛ deri la. If cold water is accidently dɛmɛdɛmɛ [dɛ̀mɛ̀dɛmɛ́ ]́ n. making sprayed with water she will col- an effort lapse in cold. deree, dere, dere, de- dɛmɛdɛmɛ [dɛ̀mɛ̀dɛ̀mɛ̀] adv. (1) ribe, deraa, deribe full to capacity with liquid e.g. a detaareŋ [dɪtáárɪ̀ ŋ]̌ adv. 3 years ago swollen foot (2) big, fat and tall or deyɛŋ [dɪyɛ̀ ŋ]̌ adv. last year long e.g. a huge python dɛ [dɛ̀] v. pl. to cut to make even (fin- dɛmmo [dɛ̀mmʊ́] n. conversation, gernails) dɛɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrɛ, deɛrɛ, talk, a pending problem pl: dɛmɛ deɛraa, deɛrebɛ 2pl: dɛmɛɛ

103 dɛndɛlɛŋ di dɛndɛlɛŋ [dɛ̀ndɛ̀lɛ̀ŋ] adv. long and Dɛrepɔge [dɛ̀rɪpɔ̀ ́gɪ]́ n. name tra- wavy ditionally given to a female child dɛndɛŋe [dɛ̀ndɛŋ]́ adj. first, earlier born after the death of an infant Var. dɛŋ girl of the same mother dɛnne [dɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to straighten di [dì] v. (1) to eat, to consume • • Da maaroŋ ka ba maŋ dɛnne, Bibiiri seŋ ka ba maŋ di bondirii ba ba dɛnnɛ dakuoŋaa. You can kyɛ gaa sakuuri. (2) to burn, to straighten a fresh stick, but not a blaze • Vũũ di la a tuu zaa. The dry one. (2) to roam • A teŋɛ zaa whole shrub has been burnt down ka o dɛnne kyɛ naŋ ba bale. She by fire. (3) to erode, to make sore has roamed the whole town but is • A bie noɔre die la ka ba sage not tired yet. (3) to be full to capac- na di bonzaa. The child has a sore ity (with liquid) • Saa mie la ka a mouth and refuses to eat anything. baa dɛnne o zaa. It has rained and (4) to overcome, to win (5) to as- the stream is full to capacity. dɛn- sume a throne (6) to judge • Ba di nɛɛ, dɛnnɛ, dɛnnɛ, dɛnemɛ, dɛn- la ba zɔɔre sɛrɛɛ na baare. They naa, dɛnemɛ have finished judging that case of dɛnne [dɛnnɪ́ ]́ v. praise dɛnnɛɛ, fighting. diee, dire, dire, diribe, di- dɛnnɛ, dɛnnɛ, dɛnemɛ, dɛnnaa, - raa, diribe Var. danne di daa to haggle, to negotiate a price dɛŋe [dɛŋ]́ adj. first di danseɛ to give witness dɛŋeneŋ [dɛ̀ŋɪnɪ́ ŋ]́ adj. first instance di dapaaloŋ to show elegance dɛŋɛɛ [dɛ̀ŋɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. plentiful di dɛgere to suffer di dɛmɛ/dɛmmo to converse Dɛre [dɛrɪ́ ]́ n. name traditionally di dɔɔloŋ to show bravery given to a male child born after the di dɔgɛɛ to suffer death of an infant boy of the same di kannyiri to be patient mother pl: Dɛremine 2pl: Dɛrɛɛ di naŋ to be scarce dɛre [dɛrɪ́ ]́ n. house mouse pl: dɛrɛɛ di naaloŋ to gain wealth or author- dɛre [dɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. ladder pl: dɛɛ 2pl: ity; ascend the throne dɛrɛɛ di neɛ (of a person) to be worthless di noɔ to enjoy dɛre [dɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to boil pito at the sec- di sane to owe ond stage of brewing dɛrɛɛ, dɛrɛ, di seebo to harvest, to collect dɛrɛ, dɛrebɛ, dɛraa (honey from a hive) dɛremaakonokono [dɛrɪ́ máákónókónó]́ di sɛrɛɛ to judge n. a traditional women’s dance di suuri to forgive

104 dibogi di neɛ

di vi to be ashamed a lɔɔre ka noba perre. The tree fell di yuori to have an unworthy on the car and injured some peo- name ple. (2) to pile up • A boɔre la kôɔ naŋ di neɛv to drown dii taa do teɛ a dasɛrɛɛ. The bags dibogi [dìbògí] n. where the family are packed on top of each other up line begins and where it ends pl: di- to the ceiling. diiee, diire, dire, di- bogri 2pl: dibogree iribe/diiribee, diiraa die [dìè] n. (1) room (2) compound, dii [díí] v. to store grain in ashes • A house pl: deri 2pl: deree yidaampɔge dii la a bɛŋɛ ne tam- diebie [dìébíè] n. (1) cat (2) son of pɛloŋ ka a na ta sãã. The head the house pl: diebiiri 2pl: diebiiree of the women preserved the bean Var. yiribie seed in ash to prevent it from getting destroyed by insects. diiee, di- diebugo [dìèbùgó] n. one who ire, dire, diiribe/diiribee, diiraa, di- knows nothing outside home (un- iribe travelled) pl: diebugri 2pl: diebu- diibu [dííbú] n. food 2pl: diiree gree Var. diene di kannyiri [dì kànɲìrì] v. to be pa- dieli [dìèlì] v. to float dielee, diele, tient diele, dielibe, dielaa, dielibe dikpaare [dìkpáárɪ]́ n. back of a dieneɛ [dìènɪɛ́ ]́ n. a close relative pl: room pl: dikpaɛ 2pl: dikpaarɛɛ dienoba Var. diebugo dikpeɛraa [dìkpɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. living room di faŋa [dì fáŋá] v. wield power pl: dikpeɛre difudeɛ [dìfùdɪɛ́ ]́ n. cheap, simple dilɔɔraa [dìlɔ́ɔ́ràá] n. a room (Akan) 2pl: difudeerɛɛ thatched with wood and earth pl: diganaa [dìgánáà] n. bedroom pl: di- dilɔɔre 2pl: dilɔɔrɛ ganne 2pl: digannɛɛ di naaloŋ [dì náálʊ́ŋ] v. to ascend to digaŋene [dìgàŋɪnɪ̀ ]́ n. gluttony the throne digaŋgaŋ [dìgàŋgáŋ] n. craftiness di naŋe [dì náŋ] v. to be scarce digi [digi] v. (1) to chase, to run af- dindigili [díndíglí] n. electric fish ter (2) to drive away digee, digire, pl: dindigile 2pl: dindigilee Var. digre, digribe, digiraa, digiribe dindigiri digoo [dìgòò] n. a disease affecting dindigiri [díndígirí] n. catfish, a bean plants type of fish that gives you an digbogbo [dìgbògbò] adj. glut- electric shock when touched pl: tonous, eating too much dindige/dindigire 2pl: dindigiree dii [díì] v. (1) to press down e.g. with Var. dindigli a heavier object • A teɛ da le dii la di neɛ [dì nɪɛ́ ]́ v. to be hopeless

105 dipanaa dogelee dipanaa [dìpànáá] n. plastered room dobadaa [dòbàdáá] n. male pig pl: pl: dipanne 2pl: dipannɛɛ dobadaare 2pl: dobadaarɛɛ Var. dire [dìré] v. to be sharp diee, dire, dodaa dire, diribe, diraa, dire dobagbɛre [dòbàgbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. the mane diruŋ [dìrúŋ] n. (1) food, plenty of of a pig pl: dogbɛɛ 2pl: dogbɛɛrɛɛ food (2) feast dobanɛne [dòbànɛnɪ́ ]̀ n. pork pl: di sane [dì sánɪ]̀ v. to owe, to be in- dobanɛmɛ 2pl: dobanɛmɛɛ/doba- debted to nɛnnɛɛ di sɛrɛɛ [dì sɛ̀rɛɛ́ ]́ v. to judge dobapɔle [dòbàpɔ́lɪ]̀ n. young pig pl: dobapɔlɔ 2pl: dopɔllɛɛ Var. dopɔle disogɔ [dìsʊ́gɔ́] n. middle room pl: disogere 2pl: disogerɛɛ Var. diso- dobasugo [dòbàsúgò] n. herd of ga swine pl: dobasugri 2pl: dobasu- gree di suuri [dì súúrí] v. to forgive dodaa [dòdáá] n. wild male pig pl: diteenɛ [dìtɪɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. mediator, dodaare 2pl: dodaarɛɛ spokesman in a marriage agreement pl: diteenemɛ 2pl: diteenɛɛ dodoo [dʊ̀ dʊ́ ʊ́] adj. large and di vi [dì ví] v. to be ashamed bloated divuo [dìvùó] n. abandoned room; dodoo [dʊ̀ dʊ́ʊ́] n. an illness that room without a roof pl: divori 2pl: causes bloating of the whole body divoree pl: dodoore 2pl: doddoorɛɛ do [dò] v. to roll along the ground doge [dʊ́gɪ]̀ n. large pot pl: dogre (circular object) doe, duoro, duoro, 2pl: dogrɛɛ duori, duoraa, duoro doge [dʊ́ gɪ]́ v. (1) to boil, to cook do [dó] v. (1) to climb up, to as- (2) to brew (3) to become very hot cend (2) to soar (3) to mate, dogɛɛ, dogerɔ, dogerɔ, dogereba, to crossbreed (nonhuman) (4) to dogeraa, dogerɔ climb out of the ground into a new dogebile [dʊ́gɪbílé]́ n. small pot pl: nest (trapped termites) doe, duoro, dogebilii 2pl: dogebillee duoro, duoribo, duoraa, duoribo dogekoma [dʊ́gkʊ́má] n. a type of do saa to be high tree with medicinal properties dõo [dʊ̀̃ ʊ̀̃ ] adv. hazy, misty dogele [dʊ́glɪ]̀ v. to put over a fire doba [dʊ́bà] n. island pl: dobare 2pl: dogelɛɛ, dogerɔ, dogelɔ, dogelebɔ, dobarɛɛ dogelɔ, dogelebɔ dobaa [dòbáá] n. pig (domesticated) dogelee [dʊ́gléé] n. small pot pl: pl: dobaare 2pl: dobaarɛɛ dugili

106 dogi dondigire dogi [dògì] v. to remove an object dombɛroŋ [dʊ̀ mbɛrʊ́ ̂ ŋ] n. (1) large from the top of something • O animal (2) famous animal pl: dom- dogi la a kuuri na naŋ pare a bɛrɛ 2pl: dombɛrɛɛ/dombɛrrɛɛ dankyini zu. S/he has removed the dombɛroŋ [dʊ̀ mbɛrʊ́ ́ ŋ] n. large stone from the top of the wall. do- animal; pl: dombɛrɛ 2pl: dom- gee, dogiro, dogiro, dogribo, dogi- bɛrɛɛ/dombɛrrɛɛ raa, dogiribo domm [dòmm] adv. tall and big dogo [dʊ̀ gʊ́] n. a type of dance 2pl: dogrɛɛ domɔ [dʊ̀ mɔ́] n. totem; the sacred bird, animal, or insect of a clan pl: dogodogo [dógódògò] n. power of donne 2pl: domɛɛ Var. domɔ charm in magic pl: dogodogri 2pl: dompane [dʊmpánɪ] n. a type of dogodogree ̀ ̀ snake that is short and poisonous dole [dʊ̀ lɪ]̀ v. to be unaware dolɛɛ, pl: dompama 2pl: dompannɛɛ dollɔ, dollɔ, dolebɔ, dollaa, dolebɔ dompelaa [dʊ̀ mpɪlàá]̀ n. (1) white dole [dʊ́lɪ]́ v. to raise (one’s head) animal (2) an ordinary animal (be- to face upwards (when moving lieved not to have any spiritual through tall grass) dolɛɛ, dollɔ, powers) pl: dompeɛle 2pl: dom- dollɔ, dolebɔ, dolaa, dolebɔ peɛlɛɛ doledole [dʊ̀ lɪdʊ̀ ́lɪ]́ v. to swing one’s dompɛge [dʊ̀ mpɛgɪ́ ]́ n. shell of an an- head around doledolɛɛ, doledolɔ, imal pl: dompɛgere doledolɔ, doldolebɔ, doledolaa, dompoll [dʊ̀ mpʊ̀ ll] n. a material doledolebɔ thing believed to be owed to a child dolee [dòléé] n. small wild pig pl: do- from birth pl: dompolɔ 2pl: dom- bili polɛɛ/dompollɛɛ doli [dólí] n. a type of tree whose dompoɔ [dʊ̀ mpʊ́ɔ́] n. pregnant ani- bark is used as a disinfectant for mal pl: dompoore 2pl: dompoorɛɛ washing pito pots pl: dolo 2pl: dondaa [dʊ̀ ndáá] n. male animal pl: dolee/dollee dondaare 2pl: dondaarɛɛ doloŋ [dʊlʊŋ] n. right side pl: dolle ̀ ̀ dondigiraa [dʊ̀ ndígráá] n. some- 2pl: dollɛɛ thing that drives mosquitoes away domadoma [dʊ̀ màdʊ̀ mà] adv. pl: dondigiri 2pl: dondigiree bloated and soft dondigire [dʊ̀ ndígré] n. an insect- dombaala [dʊ̀ mbààlá] n. (1) sick an- repellent plant used in keeping imal (2) domesticated animal pl: mosquitoes at bay pl: dondigiri 2pl: dombaale 2pl: dombaalɛɛ dondigiree

107 dondoli doŋkuuree dondoli [dóndólí] n. dry land pl: doŋe [dʊ̀ ŋ] v. to bite (1) to sting dondolo 2pl: dondolee doŋɛɛ, donɔ, donɔ, donemɔ, donaa, dondolo [dòndóló] n. planks used as donemɔ seats (usually in front of a house) doŋe [dʊ́ ŋ] v. to be at close range donɛɛ [dʊnɛɛ] n. humankind Var. an- • A saa da doŋe te la ka te donɛɛ zo fãã kyɛ ka poɔ te. The rain was so close we could not escape donfaa [dʊnfaa] n. dangerous ani- and therefore were caught in the mal pl: donfaare 2pl: donfaarɛɛ downpour. doŋɛɛ, donnɔ, donnɔ, donforoŋ [dʊ̀ nfʊ̀ rʊ̀ ŋ] adv. large/big donemɔ, donnaa, donemɔ and puffed • A pɔge e la bɛroŋ doŋenokono [dʊ́ŋɪnʊ́ ́kʊ́nʊ́] n. (1) a donforoŋ lɛ. The woman is big and type of tree whose leaves are edi- puffed. ble (2) the leaves of this tree 2pl: donkyeenɛ [dùnʧɪɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. shepherd, doŋenokonɛɛ herdsman pl: donkyeenemɛ 2pl: doŋguolaa [dʊ̀ ŋgúóláà] n. an animal donkyeemɛɛ that has been raised, a domestic an- donnyaŋaa [dʊ́nɲáŋáá] n. adult fe- imal pl: doŋguoli male animal pl: donyaŋene 2pl: doŋguolo [dʊ̀ ŋgúólò] n. animals donyaŋenɛɛ that are shared between an original donnyaŋaa [dòɲáŋáá] n. wild fe- owner and a caretaker who raises male boar pl: donnyaŋene 2pl: them Var. boŋguolo donnyaŋenɛɛ doŋi [dǒŋ] n. a Muslim religious fes- donsaana [dʊ́nsáánà] n. strange ani- tival pl: donni 2pl: donnee mal pl: donsaama 2pl: donsaanɛɛ doŋkaraa [dʊ̀ ŋkáráá] n. a strong- donseɛ [dònsɪɛ́ ]́ n. the waist of an an- smelling plant used for chasing imal pl: donseere 2pl: donseerɛɛ away mosquitoes donsɔgelaa [dʊ̀ nsɔ́gláá] n. (1) black doŋkommiruu [dʊ̀ ŋkómmírúú] n. animal (2) an animal believed a type of tiny mosquito (bites to have spiritual powers pl: don- only during day) sg: doŋkommiruu sɔgelɔ pl: doŋkommie 2pl: doŋkom- donsugo [dʊ̀ nsúgò] n. large herds miree/doŋkommiiree of animals pl: donsugiri 2pl: don- doŋkɔɔseɛ [dʊ̀ ŋkɔ̀ɔ̀sɪɛ́ ]́ n. wasp; sugiree a stinging flying insect that re- doŋa [dʊ́ ŋá] n. (1) animal (2) sembles a bee but longer pl: mosquito pl: donne 2pl: donnɛɛ doŋkɔɔseere 2pl: doŋkɔɔseerɛɛ Var. doŋɔ doŋkuuree [dʊ̀ ŋkúúréé] n. a type

108 doogɔ dɔ

of short, very poisonous snake pl: doɔle [dʊ̀ ɔ́lɪ]́ n. xylophone mallet pl: doŋkuuri 2pl: doŋkurree doɔlɔ 2pl: doɔlɛɛ doogɔ [dʊ́ʊ́gɔ́] n. plenty of enjoy- doɔle [dʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to walk carefully and ment (food and drink) 2pl: doogɛɛ majestically doɔlɛɛ, doɔlɔ, doɔlɔ, Var. dooga doɔlebɔ, doɔlaa, doɔlebɔ doore [dʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to continuously doɔloŋ [dʊ̀ ɔ́lʊ́ ŋ] n. mudfish (lives heave loads or chunks of matter • in the mud during dry season) pl: Ba doore la kõɔ lɛɛ te bale ba zaa. doɔlɔ 2pl: doɔlɛɛ They heaved water until they be- doɔnyeraa [dʊ̀ ɔ̀ɲɪráá]́ n. a type of came tired. doorɛɛ, doorɔ, doorɔ, small ant pl: doɔnyere 2pl: doɔnye- doorebɔ, dooraa, doorebɔ rɛɛ doɔ [dʊ́ɔ̀] v. to raise one’s head, doɔre [dʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]́ adj. yellow 2pl: doɔrɛɛ to look up • O doɔ la o zu dayeni kyɛ leɛ gaŋ S/he raised dopɔge [dòpɔ́gɪ]́ n. female bush pig his/her head once and laid back pl: dopɔgeba 2pl: dopɔgerɛɛ down. doɔɛ, doɔrɔ, doɔrɔ, doɔrebɔ, dopɔle [dòpɔ́lɪ]̀ n. young bush pig pl: doɔraa, doɔrebɔ dopɔlɔ 2pl: dopɔlɛɛ/dopɔllɛɛ doɔ [dʊ́ ɔ̀] v. to cause to become dore [dʊ̀ rɪ]̀ n. thud; sound of an im- worse (behaviour) • A dɔɔ ŋmɛ la pact e.g. a heavy log falling a bie doɔ bare. The man wors- doreba [dʊ́rɪbà]́ n. driver pl: dore- ened the situation by beating the bare 2pl: dorebarɛɛ child. doɔɛ, doɔrɔ, doɔrɔ, doɔrebɔ, doɔraa, doɔrebɔ doree [dòrèè] adj. large and solid doɔ [dʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to ooze; to overflow • A dori [dòrì] v. remove bits of the top baa paalɛɛ la doɔrɔ. The river is doree, doro, doro, doribo, doraa, overflowing its banks. doɔɛ, doɔrɔ doribo doɔ [dʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to fetch water with a dori [dórí] n. heap pl: doe 2pl: large container doɔɛ, doɔrɔ doree/dorree doɔ [dʊ̀ ɔ́] n. (1) dawadawa tree (2) dori [dórí] n. joint (stalk of grass) pl: fruit of the dawadawa tree (edible) doe 2pl: doree/dorree pl: dɔre 2pl: dɔrɛɛ dosoraa [dòsáràà] n. young female doɔbo [dʊ́ɔ́bʊ̀ ] n. the act of weeding bush pig pl: dosarre 2pl: don- doɔkpangyogele [dʊ̀ ɔ́kpándzʊ̀ glɪ]̀ n. sarɛɛ/donsarrɛɛ a large catepillar found on the dɔ [dɔ̀] v. to spill over e.g. boil- leaves of the dawadawa tree pl: ing water from yam being cooked doɔkpangyoglɔ 2pl: doɔkpangyo- over fire dɔɛ, doɔrɔ, doɔrɔ, doɔrebɔ, glɛɛ Var. doɔkpankyogele doɔraa, doɔrebɔ

109 dɔ dɔŋe dɔ [dɔ̀] v. to pay the last bride price dɔgerɔ [dɔ́grɔ] n. relative (blood) pl: dɔɛ, doɔrɔ, doɔrɔ, doɔrebɔ, doɔraa, dɔgerebɔ 2pl: dɔgerebɛɛ doɔrebɔ dɔgerɔlenne [dɔ̀grɔ́lénné] n. ear of dɔ [dɔ́] v. to weed dɔɛ, doɔrɔ, doɔrɔ, maize with multicoloured kernels doɔreba, doɔraa, doɔrebɔ 2pl: dɔgerɔlennee dɔdɔgeroŋ [dɔ́dɔ́grʊ̂ ŋ] n. wretched- dɔgɛɛ [dɔ́gɛɛ́ ]́ n. suffering ness, bad treatment dɔkele [dɔ̀kélé] n. kernels from daw- dɔɛ [dɔ́ɛ]́ n. last bride price daw fruit 2pl: dɔkelee Var. tokele dɔge [dɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to bear (child), dɔkone [dɔ̀kʊ́nɪ]́ n. kenkey (thick to give birth (2) to flower (grass corn paste shaped into balls and pollen) (3) take something from boiled in leaves) pl: dɔkona 2pl: the top of another • A bie dɔge la dɔkonnɛɛ Var. dakone a nɛne a saabo zu. The child has dɔle [dɔ́lɪ]́ adv. pop out smoothly e.g. taken the meat which was on top from something slippery of the food. dɔgɛɛ, dɔgrɔ, dɔgrɔ, dɔ- dɔlle [dɔ́llɪ]̀ v. to stretch, to lengthen greba, dɔgraa, dɔgreba dɔllɛɛ, dɔllɔ, dɔllɔ, dɔlebɔ, dɔllaa, dɔgele [dɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to place on top dɔlebɔ of something • De a nɛne dɔgele dɔlɔ [dɔ́lɔ́] n. way of doing some- dankyini zu ka baare ta wa de o. thing pl: dɔlɔdɔlɔ Place the meat on the wall so that dɔlɔdɔlɔ [dɔ̀lɔ̀dɔ̀lɔ̀] adv. slimy and dogs do not eat it. (2) to exceed, slippery to be extra • A bie yɔɔ la a libie dɔndɔŋ-karaa [dɔ́ndɔ̀ŋ-kàràá] n. ka a dɔgele ka a seŋ ka fo leɛ de chief enemy pl: dɔndɔŋ-karre 2pl: a dɔgelɔ ko o. The child has over- dɔndɔŋ-karɛɛ paid and so the extra money should dɔndɔre [dɔ̀ndɔ̀rɪ]́ n. curd; coag- be returned to him. dɔglɛɛ, dɔglɔ, ulated milk pl: dɔndɔrre 2pl: dɔglɔ, dɔgleba, dɔglaa dɔndɔrɛɛ dɔgele [dɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to mix beans with dɔndɔre [dɔ̀ndɔ̀rɪ]́ n. shade caused flour dɔglɛɛ, dɔglɔ, dɔglɔ, dɔgleba, by clouds coming between the dɔglaa earth and the sun pl: dɔndɔrre 2pl: dɔgere [dɔ́grɪ]̀ v. to punish, to make dɔndɔrɛɛ to suffer dɔgerɛɛ, dɔgerɔ, dɔgerɔ, dɔŋe [dɔ̌ŋ] n. enmity, hatred pl: dɔgerebɔ, dɔgeraa, dɔgerebɔ dɔnne 2pl: dɔnnɛɛ dɔgeroŋ [dɔ̀grʊ̂ ŋ] n. descent dɔŋe [dɔ̀ŋ] v. to be lean, to be thin dɔgeroŋ [dɔ́grʊ̂ ŋ] n. penalty, punish- dɔŋɛɛ, dɔnnɔ, dɔnnɔ, dɔnemɔ, dɔn- ment naa, dɔnemɔ

110 dɔɔ du dɔɔ [dɔ̀ɔ̀] v. (1) to squat (2) to bow said. (3) disturbance, worry • A (as in greeting) (3) to excrete (4) to pɔge yeli ka o ba boɔrɔ dɔɔne ka perch dɔɔɛ, dɔɔrɔ, dɔɔrɔ, dɔɔrebɔ, anaŋ so ka o yi. The woman said dɔɔraa, dɔɔrebɔ she did not want trouble and that is dɔɔ [dɔ́ɔ́] n. (1) man (2) friend of the why she divorced. same sex pl: dɔbɔ/dɔba 2pl: dɔɔrɛɛ dɔɔnyaŋaa [dɔ̀ɔ̀ɲáŋáá] n. old man pl: dɔ̃ɔ [dɔ̀̃ɔ̀̃] v. (1) to disturb, to dɔɔnyaŋene 2pl: dɔɔnyaŋenɛɛ move (rustle) (2) to stir, to mix dɔɔ-ɔre [dɔ̀ɔ̀-ɔ́rɪ]́ n. infertile man 2pl: (3) to worry dɔ̃ɔɛ, dɔɔnɔ, dɔɔnɔ, dɔɔ-ɔrɛɛ Var. dɔɔ-are dɔɔnema, dɔɔnaa, dɔɔnema dɔɔta [dɔ́ɔ́tà] n. (1) doctor (2) hospi- dɔ̃ɔ [dɔ̀̃ɔ̀̃] v. to sprain e.g. a leg tal, clinic pl: dɔɔtare 2pl: dɔɔtarɛɛ dɔ̃ɔɛ, dɔɔnɔ, dɔɔnɔ, dɔɔnema, dɔɔ- dɔɔtayiri [dɔ́ɔ́táyírí] n. hospital pl: naa, dɔɔnema dɔɔtayie 2pl: dɔɔtayiree dɔɔbile [dɔ̀ɔ̀bílé] n. boy pl: dɔɔbilii dɔre [dɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to advise, to caution Dɔɔdãa [dɔ̀ɔ̀dã́ã̀] n. name of a male dɔrɛɛ, dɔrɔ, dɔrɔ, dɔrebɔ, dɔraa, born on the day local beer has been dɔrebɔ brewed in the house (see Pɔgedãã dɔre [dɔ́rɪ]́ n. fruits of doɔ 2pl: dɔrɛɛ for female name) dɔrekabakoma [dɔ̀rɪkábákʊ̀ ́ má] n. dɔɔkɔɔteɛlɔɔ [dɔ̀ɔ̀kɔ̀ɔ̀tɪɛ́ lɔ́ ́ɔ́] n. a one who incites hatred pl: dɔreka- squatting kick game bakomamine dɔɔ-la-pɔge [dɔ̀ɔ̀-lá-pɔ́gɪ]́ n. a man dɔsaŋkpare [dɔ́sáŋkparɪ]́ n. peels of with feminine features 2pl: dɔɔ-la- dawadawa fruits 2pl: dɔsaŋkparɛɛ pɔgrɛɛ Var. dɔseŋkpare dɔɔlee [dɔ̀ɔ̀léé] n. boy pl: dɔɔbilii 2pl: dɔsempeɛlɛ [dɔ̀sɪmpɪ́ ɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. imma- dɔɔbilee Var. dɔɔbile ture dawadawa fruits sg: dɔsem- peɛloo pl: dɔsempeɛle 2pl: dɔsem- dɔɔloŋ [dɔ̀ɔ̀lʊ́ŋ] n. (1) bravery, dexterity (2) penis (figurative) peɛlɛɛ dɔzɔŋe [dɔ̀zɔ̂ŋ] n. daw-daw flour; dɔɔne [dɔ̀ɔ̀nɪ]́ n. (1) noise • N woŋ pulp from daw-daw fruit pl: la dɔɔne a die poɔ, neɛkaŋa be dɔzɔnne 2pl: dɔzɔnnɛɛ Var. dɔzɔŋa la be. I have heard some noise in the room, there must be someone dɔzunni [dɔ̀zúnnì] n. daw-daw seeds in there. (2) movement • Te nyɛ sg: dɔzunnuu pl: dɔzunni 2pl: la a baala nɔgbɛmɛ dɔɔne kyɛ te dɔzunnee ba woŋi a yɛlɛ o naŋ yeli. We saw du [dú] v. (1) to rub against (2) some movement of the patient’s to iron (clothes) due, duuro, duuro, lips but we did not hear what s/he duuribo, duuraa, duuribo

111 dudugiri duor-tere dudugiri [dùdùgrí] n. a box made of dunselee [dùnséléé] n. kneecap pl: grass pl: dudugo 2pl: dudugiree dunsebilii 2pl: dunsebilee dugi [dúgí] n. swim Var. dúú duŋi [dúŋ] n. type of weevil dugi [dùgì] v. to be eaten up to pow- (found in wood ) pl: dunni 2pl: der e.g. wood infected with bugs dunee/dunnee dugee, dugiroVar. dúú duo [dùó] n. wild pig, boar pl: dori 2pl: doree/dorree dukuree [dúkúréé] n. large sores caused by scabies 2pl: dukurree duo [dùò] v. (1) to be seated all Var. dikuree over the place in great numbers (pa- tients at consulting room) (2) to duli [dúlí] v. (1) to work strenu- prepare malt for brewing local beer; ously on a difficult task (2) to eat duoe, duoro, duoro, duoribo, duo- a large amount (fig.) dulee, dulo, raa, duoribo dulo, dulibo, dulaa, dulibo duogo [dúógó] n. giant pl: duogori duluŋ [dùlûŋ] n. a type of large bird 2pl: duogoree pl: dulli 2pl: dullee Duoŋ [dúóŋ] n. town in the Upper dunduli [dùndùlí] n. (1) caterpil- West Region noted for treatment of lar (2) worm (3) maggot pl: dun- bone fractures dulo 2pl: dundulee/dundullee Var. kpaŋkyori, kpaŋkyobo duoraa [dùóráa] n. (1) open space for a gathering; (2) resting place dundulivarekpɛnyoɔre [dúndùlì- for sheherds and their animals pl: váríkpɛɲʊ́ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. small green cater- duori 2pl: duoree pillar that springs from place to duori [dúórì] v. (1) to urinate (2) to place pl: dundulivarekpɛnyɔɛ ejaculate (3) to set high up (child dundulkyoo [dùndùlʧóò] n. cocoon on shoulders) (4) to raise yam pl: dundulkyoori 2pl: dundul- mounds (5) to set a bow ready for kyooree use duoree, duoro, duoro, duoribo, dundulvarkpɛnyoɔre [dùndùl- duoraa, duoribo várkpɛ̀ɲʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. a type of small duori [dùòrì] v. to set out in green caterpillar that moves by heaps e.g. tomatoes for sale duoree, loops pl: dundulvarkpɛnyɔɛ duoro, duoro, duoribo, duoraa, dunduŋkolo [dùndǔŋkòlò] n. fried duoribo yam wedges sg: dunduŋkoluu 2pl: duoro [dùòró] n. news 2pl: duoree dunduŋkolee duor-tere [dùòr-tɪrɪ́ ]́ n. annouce- duni [dúní] n. knee pl: dumo 2pl: ment, broadcast, information pl: dunee/dunnee duor-terre 2pl: duorterrɛɛ

112 duor-terɛ eɛre duor-terɛ [dùòr-tɪrɛ́ ]́ n. one who duorunzẽẽ [dúórùnzɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. bilharzia- gives information, messenger, sis 2pl: duorunzeenɛɛ newscaster pl: duor-terebɛ 2pl: duoruŋ [dúórǔŋ] n. urine duor-terebɛɛ duorunlaa [dúórùnláá] n. chamber- duoruŋkɔnsɔgerɔ [dúórǔŋkɔ́nsɔ́grɔ́] pot pl: duorunlaare 2pl: duorun- n. the condition of having difficulty laarɛɛ passing urine pl: duoruŋkɔnsɔgre 2pl: duoruŋkɔnsɔgrɛɛ duorunwoɔ [dúórùnwʊ̀ ɔ̀] n. bladder pl: duorunwoore 2pl: duorun- duulaa [dùùláà] n. (1) row (2) line woorɛɛ (poetry) pl: duuli e e [ɪ]̀ v. (1) to act, to do • Te na e o • A bie zu pɔre la maŋgo ka a la velaa. We shall do him good. (2) daana waana ka o eɛ eŋ. The boy to let • E ka te gaa pampana. Let stole a mango and when he saw the us go now. (3) to fetch • A dɔɔ e owner coming he took to his heels. la a kyi ko a pɔge. The man has eɛ eŋɛɛ, eɛrɛ ennɛ, eɛ ennɛ, eɛ ene- fetched millet for the woman. (4) mɛ, eɛ ennaa to be • A bie e la kpeɛŋaa. The eɛne [ɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ n. hippopotamus pl: eɛmɛ child is strong. eɛɛ, erɛ, erɛ, erebɛ, 2pl: eɛnɛɛ eraa, erebɛ eɛne [ɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. claw sg: eɛnoo pl: eele [ɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. (1) horn (2) antenna pl: eɛmɛ 2pl: eɛnɛɛ eelɛ 2pl: eelɛɛ eɛne [ɪɛ̀ nɪ̌ ]́ n. a type of deer pl: eɛmɛ eɛ [ɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to pinch (2) to hint • 2pl: eɛmɛɛr Ba eɛ la a yɛlɛ fẽẽ ka N woŋ. They eɛne [ɪɛnɪ] adj. tiny, e.g. fingernail pl: have given me a hint of the situa- ̀ ́ ́ eɛmɛ 2pl: eɛmɛɛ tion. eɛɛ, eɛrɛ, eɛrɛ, eɛrebɛ, eɛraa, eɛrebɛ eɛne [ɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ v. to claw e.g. a cat climb- ẽɛ [ɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. sg: eɛnoo pl: ẽɛ 2pl: enɛɛ ing a wall Var. eɛne ẽɛo [ɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃ʊ̃́] n. type of deer pl: eɛne 2pl: ẽɛ [ɪɛ̃́ ̀̃] v. (1) to mark the foundation eɛnɛɛ of a building (2) to cut a very small eɛraa [ɪɛ́ ̀ráá] n. hook, e.g. fishhook piece eɛɛ, eɛnɛ, eɛnɛ, eɛnemɛ, eɛ- pl: eɛre 2pl: eɛrɛɛ naa, eɛnemɛ eɛre [ɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to wipe away e.g. eɛ eŋe [ɪɛ̀ ̀ ɪŋ]̀ v. to flee, to run away dirt, tears eɛrɛɛ, eɛrɛ, eɛrɛ, eɛrebɛ,

113 eɛre eŋe

eɛraa, eɛrebɛ enfuomaala [ɪnfùòmáálá]̀ n. one eɛre [ɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to claw at eɛrɛɛ, eɛrɛ, who makes pictures pl: enfuo- eɛrɛ, eɛrebɛ, eɛraa, eɛrebɛ maaleba 2pl: enfuomaalebɛɛ eɛre-miri [ɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ-mírì]̀ n. fishing line enfuomaale [ɪnfùòmàálɪ̀ ]̀ n. the act pl: eɛre-mie 2pl: eɛre-miiree of making a picture (draw) e-la [ɪ-là]̀ v. to tease e-laɛ, erɛ enfuoni [ɪnfúóní]̀ n. image, photo- laara, e-laara, e-laareba, e-laaraa, graph, picture pl: enfuomo 2pl: en- e-lareba fuonee e-laara [ɪ-láárá]̀ n. one who teases pl: enfuori [ɪnfùòrì]̀ n. the act of be- e-lareba 2pl: e-larebɛɛ witching; the act of casting a spell embaare [ɪmbáárɪ̀ ]́ n. laziness 2pl: enne [ɪnnɪ̀ ]́ n. act of respect 2pl: en- embarɛɛ Var. entuo nɛɛ Var. eŋene emii [ɪmíì]́ n. act of desperation; im- ennoɔ [ɪnnʊ̀ ̀ ɔ́] n. happiness pl: en- patience 2pl: emmiinee noore 2pl: ennoorɛɛ emmaa [ɪmáà]̀ n. the condition of be- ensɔgelaa [ɪnsɔ́ ́gláá] n. black skin pl: ing in a good state ensɔglɔ emmaaroŋ [ɪmmáárʊ̀ ́ ŋ] n. health pl: entaa [ɪntáá]̀ n. mutual respect emmaara 2pl: emmaarɛɛ entage [ɪntágɪ̌ ]́ n. muscular body pl: emmii [ɪmmìì]̀ n. a body that is in a entagre 2pl: entagrɛɛ painful condition pl: emmiime 2pl: entole [ɪntʊ́ ́lɪ]̀ n. fever, rise in body emmiinee temperature pl: entolɔ/entola 2pl: emmiiruŋ [ɪmmììrûŋ]̀ n. (1) a body entolɛɛ in pain (2) stunted body 2pl: em- entoloŋ [ɪntʊ́ ́lʊ̂ ŋ] n. fever pl: entola miiree 2pl: entollɛɛ emmiiruŋ [ɪmmììrûŋ]̀ adj. stunted entukpalaa [ɪ̂ntùkpàláà] n. extreme Emɔ [ɪmɔ́ ̀] n. (1) the name of a laziness pl: entukpalle 2pl: entu- clan in Southern Dagao (2) appel- kpalɛɛ lation of this group sg: emoɔloo pl: entuo [ɪntúó]̀ n. laziness pl: entuuri emoɔlɔ 2pl: emoɔlɛɛ 2pl: entuuree Var. embaare empoɔne [ɪmpʊ́ ́ ɔ́nɪ]́ n. ocean pl: enzeɛ [ǐnzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) light skin (2) lep- mpoɔnɛɛ Var. po rosy pl: enzeere 2pl: enzeerɛɛ endaa [ɪndàá]̀ n. frame (of a per- eŋ [ɪŋ]́ part. as • Maa eŋ koŋ gaa. son’s body) pl: endaare 2pl: en- As for me I won’t go. darɛɛ/endaarɛɛ eŋe [ɪŋ]̀ v. (1) to put in • o ɔŋ la kõɔ endaa waaloŋ [ɪndàá-wàálʊ̌ ̂ ŋ] n. eŋe a doge poɔ. S/he has put water skin colour, appearance of the body into the pot. (2) to put on (shoes,

114 eŋene ɛlemɛ

ring, spectacles) (3) to respect • A eŋkpaŋkpoli [ɪŋkpáŋkpòlì]́ n. naked seŋe ka bibile maŋ eŋe neŋkpoŋ. body Var. eŋkpoŋkpoli, eŋkpoli The young should respect the el- eŋkpoli [ɪŋkpòlɪ̀ ]́ n. naked body derly. eŋɛɛ, ennɛ, ennɛ, enemɛ, en- pl: eŋkpolo 2pl: eŋkpolee Var. naa eŋkpoŋkpoli, eŋkpaŋkpoli eŋe daa to set a date eŋkpoŋkpoli [ɪŋkpóŋkpólì]̀ n. naked eŋe daa to beat body pl: eŋkpoŋkpolo 2pl: eŋene [ɪŋɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. main hole leading to eŋkpoŋkpolee Var. eŋkpoli, eŋ- a rodent’s living room in its burrow kpaŋkpoli pl: enne 2pl: eŋenɛɛ eŋ noɔre [ɪŋ̀ nʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ v. to promise eŋene [ɪŋɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. respect, regard for, eŋ poɔ [ɪŋ̀ pʊ́ɔ́] v. to empregnate honour • A teŋɛ deme zaa taa la eŋyoɔre [ɪŋyʊ̀ ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ adj. that which eŋene kora a naa. All the people does not produce excitement Var. in town have respect for the chief. enyoɔre 2pl: ennɛɛ Var. enne eŋ zẽɛ [ɪŋ̀ zɪɛ̀̃ ̃] v. to punish severely eŋɛ [ɪŋɛ́ ]́ pron. what, who • Boŋ eŋɛ eŋɛɛ zẽɛ̃, ennɛ zẽɛ̃ ka fo wa? What have you come eroŋ [ɪrʊ̀ ̂ ŋ] n. conduct pl: erre 2pl: for? errɛɛ eŋɛ [ɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. body (surface of) pl: enne eroŋ [ɪrʊ̀ ̂ ŋ] n. verb pl: erre 2pl: errɛɛ 2pl: ennɛɛ Etore [ítʊ́rɪ]̀ n. Easter pl: itorɛɛ eŋgane [ɪŋgánɪ̀ ]̀ n. skin (human etɔ [ɪtɔ́ ̀] n. the name of a clan in body) sg: eŋganoo pl: eŋgama 2pl: Southern Dagao pl: etoɔlɔ 2pl: eŋgannɛɛ etoɔlɛɛ Eŋgelɛ [ɪŋgɪ́ lɛ̀ ̀] n. England 2pl: ewa [ɪwà]́ n. (1) a kinship group eŋgelɛɛ (2) appellation of this group sg: Eŋgilisi [ɪŋgìlìsì]́ n. English pl: ewaaloo pl: ewaala 2pl: ewaalɛɛ ɪŋlisiri 2pl: ɪŋgilisiree ewɛ [ɪwɛ́ ̀] n. the name of a clan eŋkɔbɔ [ɪŋkɔ̀ ́bɔ́] n. skeleton Var. in Southern Dagao pl: eweɛlɛ 2pl: eŋkɔba eweɛlɛɛ ɛ ɛbaa [ɛbàà]́ n. crocodile pl: ɛrre 2pl: ɛlemɛ [ɛ̀lɪmɛ̀ ]́ n. shellfish pl: ɛlemɛre ɛrrɛɛ 2pl: ɛlemɛɛ

115 ɛl-ɛloo faa

ɛl-ɛloo [ɛ̀l-ɛ̀lʊ́ʊ́] interj. it serves you ɛre [ɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to grind ɛrɛɛ, ɛrɛ, ɛrɛ, well ɛrebɛ, ɛraa, ɛrebɛ ɛnne [ɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to suckle, to nurse ɛre [ɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to fill a hole or space (2) to suck e.g. breast or finger tightly to disallow access ɛrɛɛ, ɛrɛ, ɛnnɛɛ, ɛnnɛ, ɛnnɛ, ɛnemɛ, ɛnnaa, ɛrɛ, ɛrebɛ, ɛraa, ɛre-ɛrɛ ɛnemɛ ɛre-eŋ [ɛ̀rɪ-ɪ̀ ŋ]̀ n. (1) exaggeration ɛre [ɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to crawl; to slide along (2) metaphor (lit.) on the buttocks ɛrɛɛ, ɛrɛ, ɛrɛ, ɛrebɛ, ɛregbɛrɛ [ɛ̀rɪgbɛ̀ ̀rɛ̀] adv. fleshy and ɛraa, ɛrebɛ fatty (meat) f fa [fà] v. (1) to be bad • Ka fooŋ faara, fareba, faaraa, fareba ba kyɛlle a bie ŋa na fa la, bonso faa [fáá] adj. (1) bad • Saa naŋ piili ka o ba maŋ kpɛ die wĩeu? If you miibu ŋaa, beri ayi ŋa zaa ka te are not careful, this child will go teŋɛ sori yãa na waa faa lɛ. With bad, why doesn’t s/he come early? the setting in of the rains, the road (2) to become poor • A bie baaloŋ leading to our village will soon be vɛŋɛɛ la ka o tuuli e tẽe lɛɛ deɛ te very bad. (2) ugly • A pɔge veɛlɛ fa o zaa. The child’s sickness has la kyɛ o serɛ faa. The woman is caused her to search so much for a beautiful but her husband is ugly. cure that she has nothing left. faɛ, pl: faare 2pl: faarɛɛ faara, faaraa, fareba, -, fareba faa [fáà] v. (1) to take by force, to fa [fá] v. (1) to rob, to cheat • N snatch • A bie ŋa yɛlɛ kpeɛŋaa, ka dɔɔ, fo baŋ ka ka maaŋ yɔɔ libie onaŋ sɔre o tɔ bone ka o mɔŋ o zaa poɔ a anaŋ ka fo fa ma la maŋ faa la. This boy is ruthless, eŋ? My friend, do you know that for if he begs from his colleague if I paid anything more, you would and is refused to give he takes the have robbed me? (2) pl. of ‘faa’ thing by force. (2) to save • Kɔŋ (snatch from someone) • A seŋ ka da kpɛ la a bikpeebɛ ka o kono ba pɔge a nannyige eŋ deŋɛ lɛ, N kyɛ ka pɔge-nimbaaloŋ kaŋ la ba nyɛ teŋɛ na deme o naŋ ba fa. da faa o ne bondirii. The orphan It will be good if this thief is impris- was hungry and began crying, but a oned for life, because there is no benevolent woman came to his aid town he has not robbed. faɛ, faara, with food. (3) to get free, to get out

116 fãa fale

of one’s grip or hold • N nyɔge la faare [fààrɪ]̀ v. to stroke, to massage a kpãao kyɛ ka o faa. I caught the • Kɔlaa maŋ nɔŋ ka ba faara o te- guinea fowl but it slipped free and gitegi lɛ. A cat likes to be stroked escaped. faaɛ, faara, faara, fareba, all the time. faarɛɛ, faara, faara, faaraa, faareba faareba, faaraa, faareba fãa [fã̀ã̀] adv. slowly (of a fall) • O faare [fààrɪ]̀ n. a boys’ game of kyeelɛɛ la gɛrɛ fãa na te le. S/he snatching others’ arrows 2pl: is falling slowly. faarɛɛ fãa [fã̀ã̀] v. (1) to be unable • O gaa faaregyɔ [fààrɪɲɔ́ ́] v. to not utter a la o sori na fãa. S/he has failed to word; to be quiet go on her trip. (2) to have no choice fabo [fàbʊ̀ ] adv. not responding to • A pɔmpeŋ sãaɛ la ka noba fãa anything; speechless kyɛ sigi baa te ɔŋ kõɔ. The wa- fabo [fàbʊ] adv. tasteless ter tap is spoilt, so people have no ̀ choice but to go the stream to fetch faee [fàɪɪ̀ ]̀ adv. empty-looking water. faãɛ, faana, faana, faanema, fafara [fàfàrà] adv. suddenly, with- faanaa, faãfaana out permission (of entering) fãafãa [fã́ã́fã́ã́] n. whistle used in fage [fàgɪ]̀ adv. plenty (and jum- times of war or danger pl: fãafãane bled up), e.g. of different things • 2pl: fãafãanɛɛ Naŋkoɔre boma da pale a daa faa le [fáà lè] v. to drop, to fall faa lɛ fage. There were many assorted lee, faara lere, faa lere, faa leribe, goods in the market. faa leraa, faa leribe fage [fágɪ]́ v. to peck, to eat (of Faaloŋ [fààlʊ̂ ŋ] n. the name of a vil- birds) fagɛɛ, fagera, fagra, fagreba, lage located near Lawra, a District fageraa, fagreba headquarters in the UWR of Ghana fagere [fàgrɪ]̀ adv. sharp (of a bite) faaloŋ [fààlʊ̂ ŋ] n. the condition of fagoo [fàgʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adv. full of rubbish, being bad or wicked dirty faara [fáárà] n. priest pl: faaramine falala [fàlàlà] adv. long, smooth, and 2pl: faarɛɛ straight Var. falalla faara [fáárá] n. saviour pl: faareba falanfuuri [fálánfúúrí] n. lungs pl: faara [fáárá] n. one who robs pl: falanfugo 2pl: falanfugree Var. fu- faareba lonfugiri faare [fáárɪ]̀ v. to intercede, to medi- fale [fálɪ]̀ v. to slap falɛɛ, falla, falla, ate (in a fight) faarɛɛ, faara, faara, faleba, falaa, faleba faareba, faaraa, faareba fale pareŋ to spank (a child)

117 fambataabo feelee fambataabo [fǎmbátáábʊ́] n. weak- fare [fárɪ]́ adv. completely • A bibii- ness, powerlessness ri zaa zo kulee la fare. All the chil- fananna [fánánná] adv. very clean dren have gone without any left behind. fane [fànɪ]̀ v. to become rough (skin) fanɛɛ, fana, fana, fanema, fanaa, fare bini [fárɪ́ bíní] v. (1) shit plenty fanema (2) say disgusting things fane [fànɪ]́ adj. rough (skin) pl: fama fare yɛlɛ [fárɪ́ yɛlɛ́ ]́ v. (1) to talk a great deal (2) to complain fanfane [fànfánɪ]̀ n. soap pl: fanfama 2pl: fanfanɛɛ/fanfannɛɛ fasane [fàsánɪ]̀ n. (with ̀ŋmɛ’) thought • A dɔɔ da ŋmɛ la fasane, fanne [fànnɪ]̀ v. to sell one’s wares a wa te yeli ka o ba la boɔrɔ at a low price fannɛɛ, fanna, fanna, a o pɔge. The man thought for fanema, fannaa, fanema a while and finally said he did fanne [fánnɪ]̀ v. to think fannɛɛ, not want his wife. pl: fasama 2pl: fanna, fanna, fanema, fannaa fasamɛɛ/fasannɛɛ faŋa [fàŋá] n. strength; be strong febo [fɪbʊ́ ́] adv. piercingly; the man- (physically) pl: fanne 2pl: fannɛɛ ner a sharp object enters another faŋa [fáŋá] adj. young; used for suddenly and firmly (a thorn in the calves 2pl: fanne body) Farafara [fàràfàrà] n. (1) a person fee [féé] adv. completely (of drink- of the Gurunɛ ethnicity (2) the ing) language spoken by this group sg: fẽe [fɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ adv. (1) for a short time; in a farafaroo pl: farafarɛɛ short time (2) few (3) small, little farata [fàràtà] adj. tall and straight feelaa [fɪɪ́ láà]́ adj. young and ten- fare [fárɪ]́ v. (1) to foam (yeast in der, in infancy e.g. chicken, kid alcohol; discharge from eyes) (2) • A nɔnyaŋaa neɛ la nɔbil fee- to boil (porridge) farɛɛ, fara, fara, laa kaŋa ko. The mother hen has fareba, faraa, fareba stepped on one of the very young fare [fárɪ]́ v. to build mounds around chicks and killed it. pl: feelɛ crops (farming corn) farɛɛ, fara, feele [fɪɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ v. to make tight feelɛɛ, fara, fareba, faraa, fareba feelɛ, feelɛ, feelbɛ, feelaa, feelbɛ fare [fárɪ]́ v. to pluck leaves in large feele [fɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to examine feelɛɛ, quantities farɛɛ, fara, fara, fareba, feelɛ, feelɛ, feelbɛ, feelaa, feelbɛ faraa, fareba feele [fɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. tsetse fly pl: feelɛ 2pl: fare [fárɪ]̀ v. to make bare; (to shave feelɛɛ hair off completely) farɛɛ, fara, feelee [fɪɪ́ lɪ́ ɪ́ ]́ n. chance, space to op- fara, fareba, faraa, fareba erate • Feelee kye a die poɔ, fo

118 feeloo felpɛmpɛle

koŋ nyɛ zie biŋi fo sɛŋɛ. There is ŋa biŋi, fo na yeli ka fo erɛ fe- no space in the room; you can’t find ferɛ ka noore wa la a eŋɛ. If you space for your bed. pl: feelɛ 2pl: don’t keep your millet well and you feelɛɛ make the least move away, fowls feeloo [fɪɪ́ lʊ́ ́ʊ́] adj. narrow, tight pl: will swoop on it. Var. fifire feelɛ fege [fɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to cut out a tiny open- feere [fɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to blow one’s ing • A daa kpeɛŋaa, a pɛn- nose (2) to hold, press, or tie tightly nepɛnɛ ba toɔ na fege o zie zaa. feerɛɛ, feerɛ, feerɛ, feerebɛ, feeraa The wood is so hard that the carver feerɔɔ [fɪɪ̀ rɔ̀ ̀ɔ̀] adv. suddenly disap- can hardly make any headway to pearing into an opening e.g. into carve out even a small hole. fegɛɛ, a hole or room • Bayuo to la o fegrɛ, -, fegrebɛ, fegraa, fegrebɛ beɛre kyɛ zo gaa e die feerɔɔ, o fegele [fɪgɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be tight -, feglɛVar. naŋ kpɛ. Bayuo insulted his elder fogele brother and ran into the house at fegere [fɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. sob fegrɛɛ, fegrɛ, fe- once. grɛ, fegrebɛ, fegraa, fegrebɛ feɛ [fɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to whip (2) to unshell fegɛfegɛ [fɪgɛ̀ ̀fɪgɛ̀ ̀] adv. flashing e.g. rice or corn feɛɛ, feɛrɛ, feɛrɛ, intermittently e.g. lightning Var. feɛrebɛ, feɛraa, feɛrebɛ felɛfelɛ fẽɛ [fɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ v. to be grown to some ex- fele [fɪlɪ̀ ]́ n. sore, wound pl: felɛ 2pl: tent; to not be small • A da ba seŋ felɛɛ ka o la taa poɔ pampana, a bie na felɛfelɛ [fɪlɛ̀ ̀fɪlɛ̀ ̀] adv. flash brightly o naŋ taa naŋ ba fẽɛ. She should not be pregnant now because the felɛfelɛ [fɪlɛ́ fɪ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. glittery and baby she has is still too young. fẽɛɛ, flashing with light feɛnɛ, feɛnɛ, feɛnemɛ, feɛnaa felkõɔ [fɪlkʊ̀ ̀̃ ɔ̃́] n. pus 2pl: felkoɔnɛɛ feɛle [fɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. (1) to pass closely felmaara [fɪlmáárà]̀ n. sores over the by another e.g. a blow missing the body thought to be incurable e.g. target narrowly (2) to pass gas leprosy Var. felmaaroŋ silently feɛlɛɛ, feɛlɛ, feɛlɛ, feɛlbɛ, felmaaroŋ [fɪlmáárʊ̀ ́ŋ] n. sore feɛlaa, feɛlbɛ caused by leprosy or yaws pl: fel- feɛle [fɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. to sneak out feɛlɛɛ, maara 2pl: felmaarɛɛ Var. fel- feɛlɛ, feɛlɛ, feɛlbɛ, feɛlaa, feɛlbɛ maara fefeɛ [fɪfɪ́ ɛ̀ ]́ n. crevice pl: fefeere 2pl: felɔɔ [fɪlɔ̀ ̀ɔ̀] adv. of a sparkle fefeerɛɛ felpɛmpɛle [fɪlpɛ̀ mpɛ̌ lɪ́ ]́ n. scar sg: feferɛ [fɪfɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ adj. the least move- felpɛmpɛloo pl: felpɛmpɛlɛ 2pl: ment • Ka fooŋ ba maale fo kyi felpɛmpɛlɛɛ/felpɛmpɛllɛɛ

119 felzeɛ fɛgetɛgɛ felzeɛ [fɪlzɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀] n. sore without pus pl: fereko [fɪrɪ́ kʊ́ ́] n. a type of bawaa felzeere 2pl: felzeerɛɛ dance performed by moving to and femm [fɪmm]́ adv. getting away fast fro to the sides (left and right) pl: and far e.g. bullet ferekore 2pl: ferekorɛɛ Var. feroo fenlege [fɪnlɪ́ gɪ́ ]́ adv. laboured e.g. feroo [fɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. force, compulsory • breathing A e la feroo ka fo eŋe fo bie sakuuri. It is compulsory that you fenne [fɪnnɪ̀ ]̀ v. to begin to ripen send your child to school. (first few fruits) fennɛɛ, fennɛ, fennɛ, fenemɛ, fennaa feroo [fɪrʊ́ ̀ ʊ̀ ] n. a type of dance Var. fereko fenne [fɪnnɪ́ ]́ v. to cut a very small feroo toma [fɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́ tʊ́ má] n. duty, piece obligation fentelɛ [fɪntɪ̀ lɛ́ ̀] n. lamp pl: fentelle fɛɛ [fɛɛ́ ]́ adv. (1) happening in some 2pl: fentelɛɛ/fentellɛɛ manner e.g. completely • A baala fentellaa [fɪntɪ́ lláá]́ n. local lamp pl: nyu la a tẽẽ a de goɔoŋ e fɛɛ. fentellaare 2pl: fentellaarɛɛ The patient took his medication fentere [fɪntɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. ring e.g. that is and slept soundly. (2) becoming put on the finger pl: fenteɛ 2pl: fen- airless instantly (tyre) • Pimbiri terɛɛ/fenterrɛɛ kyɔge la a kuriwiri kɔbɔ ka o e fentere [fɪntɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. the act of stand- fɛɛ, o naŋ yi. The tyre of the bi- ing at attention pl: fenteɛ 2pl: fen- cycle was pierced by a nail and de- terɛɛ/fenterrɛɛ flated at once. fere [fɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to force, to pester fɛɛ [fɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. deflating completely of (2) to be morally obliged to do quiet sound of pent up air or gas es- something • A fere ka te sonnɔ caping nembaalba. We are obliged to care fɛge [fɛ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to indent (2) to be- for the helpless. ferɛɛ, ferɛ, ferɛ, come one-eyed fɛgɛɛ, fɛgrɛ, fɛgrɛ, ferebɛ, feraa, - Var. fɛre fɛgrebɛ, fɛgraa, fɛgfɛgrɛ fere [fèrè] n. regret; bitter experi- fɛge [fɛgɪ́ ]́ n. one-eyed person pl: fɛ- ence • Ka fooŋ wa deɛnɛ ne a gre 2pl: fɛgrɛɛ badɔgrɔ bile fo na wa yeli ka fere. fɛge [fɛgɪ́ ]́ adv. fall lightly, such that If you play around that newborn you don’t hear anything e.g. dry puppy you will come to regret it. leaf 2pl: feree/ferree fɛgelɛgɛ [fɛgélɛ́ gɛ́ ]́ adv. out of en- feree [féréé] n. the fruit of the ergy Var. fɛgetɛgɛ wɔŋkampɔre plant Var. wɔŋkam- fɛgetɛgɛ [fɛgtɛ́ gɛ́ ]́ adv. completely pɔre out of air or energy

120 fɛlefɛle fogeloo fɛlefɛle [fɛlfɛ́ l]́ adj. tasteless figiraa [fígràá] n. fan pl: figiri 2pl: fɛlɛlɛ [fɛlɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. utterly, com- figiree pletely • A dɔɔ kũu maa la maa figiri [fígrí] v. (1) to fan (2) to flap eŋ noɔre fɛlɛlɛ, ŋmenaa ŋa ka one’s wings figee, figire, figire, fi- maa ne o puori taa daa poɔ The giribe, figiraa, figiribe man’s death has utterly surprised fii [fìì] adv. manner of movement e.g. me, because we greeted each other of a heavy object in the air this afternoon in the marketplace. filoo [fílóó] adv. at glance • N nyɛ fɛmm [fɛ̀mm] adv. lying flat e.g. veg- la a bie filoo kyɛ ka o kpɛ a lɔɔre. etation or hair I saw the child at a glance before he fɛraa [fɛráá]́ adj. narrow, tight pl: entered the lorry. fɛrre finni [fìnnì] v. to cheat finnee, finne, fɛre [fɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be sqeezed up in be- finne, finime, finnaa, finime Var. tween fɛrɛɛ, fɛrɛ, fɛrɛ, fɛrbɛ, fɛraa, fuuli fɛrbɛ firimeŋ [fìrìmèŋ] adv. appearing fɛre [fɛrɪ́ ]́ adv. sound of drop of neatly cut e.g. growth something small and light fo [fʊ̀ ] pron. (1) you (second-person fɛre-taa-kyɛ-moorɔ [fɛrɪ́ tááʧɛ̀ mʊ́ ́ʊ́rɔ́] singular weak form) • Fo na gaa n. one who has something but lies la bee fo koŋ gaa? Will you go to others that one does not have it or not? (2) your (second-person Var. fɛre-bin-kyɛ-moorɔ/fɛre-taa- singular possessive) • Fo yuori la kyɛ-moora boŋ? What is your name? fieli [fíélí] adj. slim and flat (nape) foge [fʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. (1) to unshell e.g. paddy rice (2) to poke, to push fieli [fíélì] v. to fail fielee, fiele, fiele, quickly (3) to foam (soap) fogɛɛ, fielbe, fielaa, fielbe fogera, fogera, fogereba, fogeraa, fieluu [fíélúú] n. the act of failing fogereba Var. feɛ fifire [fífírè] adv. scarcely outside fogele [fʊ́glɪ]́ v. to be tight e.g. pas- than something happens • A dɔɔ sengers in a crowded bus • A bi- yeli ka o erɛ fifire ka a kɔlaa de biiri fogele la taa a lɔɔre poɔ. a nɛne. No sooner had the man left The children are squeezed tightly than the cat snatched the meat. Var. in the lorry. fogelɛɛ, fogelɔ, fogelɔ, feferɛ fogelebɔ, fogelaa, fogelebɔ figi [fígí] v. to throw out one’s hand fogeloo [fʊ́glʊ́ʊ́ ] adj. narrow • A die to signal to stop figee, figire, figire, waa la fogeloo lɛ. The room is very figiribe, figiraa, figiribe small. pl: fogelɔ

121 fogi foore fogi [fógí] v. to pound e.g. clay for fonne [fʊ̀ nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to sniff (dog on modeling fogee, fogiro, fogiro, fo- a trail) (2) to snuff fonnɛɛ, fonnɔ, giribo, fogiraa, fogiribo fonnɔ, fonnemɔ, fonnaa, fonnemɔ fogi [fógì] v. to pull out from a tight fonɔfonɔ [fʊ́nɔ́fʊ́nɔ́] adj. soft, silky, hold • Dasaŋa na ba maŋ fogiri and light (cloth) Var. fonafona la nannyige nubi-eɛmɛ. In the foŋ [fʊ́ŋ] pron. then you (used in con- olden days, thieves had their finger- ditional forms) • Ka saaŋ wa mi nails pulled out. fogee, fogiro, fo- foŋ bore a kamaana. If it rains, giro, fogiribo, fogiraa, fogiribo you should sow the maize. fogili [fòglì] v. to be seedless e.g. foo [fòò] adv. looking open and end- bean pod • Ka saaŋ ba mi a bɛŋɛ less e.g. a deep hole na fogili la. If it does not rain the beans will not form seed. fogilee, fõo [fʊ̀̃ ʊ̀̃ ] adj. dry and light e.g. grass fogilo, fogilo, fogilibo, fogilaa, fõo [fʊ̃̌ʊ̃́] pron. you (second person fogilibo singular strong form) • Fõo naane fogiluu [fóglúú] adj. seedless pl: ka ba boɔrɔ. They are not looking fogilo for you. Var. fooŋ fole [fʊ̀ lɪ]́ adj. immature, unripe pl: foone [fʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. (1) to shrink e.g. a folɔ 2pl: folɛɛ/follɛɛ fruit (2) to deflate e.g. a tyre foonɛɛ, foli [fòlì] adj. not hidden pl: folo 2pl: foona, foona, foonema, foonaa, folee foonema folinfoori [fólínfòòrí] n. a type of foone [fʊ́ʊ́nɪ]́ adj. shrinked pl: broadleaf grass used as pig feed fooma 2pl: foonɛɛ/foomɛɛ pl: folinfobo 2pl: folinfooree Var. fooŋ [fʊ́ʊ́ŋ] pron. you (emphatic) • folonfoori Fo yɔɔpɔge balɛɛ la fooŋ na gaa Folo [fóló] n. Fulani (an African te ɛre a zɔŋe? Your sister is tired, ethnic group) pl: folibo 2pl: you will have to go and grind the folee/follee flour. fomeŋɛ [fʊ́ mɪŋɛ́ ]́ pron. yourself foore [fʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to hiss e.g. a snake fomfom [fómfóm] n. type of small foorɛɛ, foora, foora, fooreba, cake-like food prepared from flour fooraa, fooreba fomfom [fómfóm] adj. deepset foore [fʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to become bloated (eyes) foorɛɛ, foora, foora, fooreba, fonaano [fʊ́ náánʊ́] n. sleeveless sin- fooraa, fooreba glet pl: fonaanore 2pl: fonaano- foore [fʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to rage foorɛɛ, foora, rɛɛ/fonaanorrɛɛ Var. fenaano foora, fooreba, fooraa, fooreba

122 foori fɔŋe foori [fòòrí] adj. (1) empty (2) fori [fórì] v. to loosen, to slip off, empty-handed (typically used with to put off a dress around the waist nu) • O bɛlle ma la ne nufoori. foree, foro, foro, forbo, foraa, S/he deceived me with an empty forbo hand. fori [fórí] conj. since • Fo naŋ fori foɔ [fʊ́ɔ́] v. to fill holes in a wall yi, gaa kyɛ wa. Since you have al- with mortar foɔɛ, foɔrɔ, foɔrɔ, ready prepared, go and come. foɔreba/foɔrebɔ, foɔraa fori [fòrì] v. (1) to force out from foɔ [fʊ́ɔ́] v. to pile up a heap its cover or shell (boiled bambara of guinea corn heads foɔɛ, foɔrɔ, beans) (2) to treat hide by remov- foɔrɔ, foɔreba/foɔrebɔ, foɔraa ing the fur (bleaching of the skin) foɔ [fʊ́ ɔ́] v. to place branches or (3) to develop to an appreciable thorns around an object for pro- level; to mature • A pɔgelee ŋa tection against animals foɔɛ, foɔrɔ, naŋ ba fori kyɛ o pɔloo zuoe la. foɔrɔ, foɔreba/foɔrebɔ, foɔraa This girl is not yet worth a woman foɔ [fʊ́ɔ́] v. to whip foɔɛ, foɔrɔ, foɔrɔ, but she is quite proud. foree, foro, foɔreba/foɔrebɔ, foɔraa foro, forbo, foraa, forbo fõɔ [fʊ̃́ɔ̃́] v. to make lighter • E ka forɔforɔ [fʊ́rɔ̀fʊ́rɔ̀] adj. rough Var. a tuobu fõɔ fẽe ka lɛ naane N forafora koŋ tõɔ a tuo. Make the load a lit- forre [fʊ́rrɪ]́ v. (1) to scrape leaves tle light otherwise I cannot carry off a branch (2) to run very fast it. fõɔɛ, foɔnɔ, foɔnɔ, foɔnemɔ, foɔ- (through vegetation) forrɛɛ, forra, naa, foɔnemɔ forra, foreba, forraa, foreba foɔlaa [fʊ́ɔ́láá] n. passageway pl: foto [fótó] n. photograph pl: fotori foɔle 2pl: foɔlɛɛ 2pl: fotoree/fotorree foɔle [fʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to draw one’s ap- fɔbo [fɔ̀b] adv. very wet pendages against the body; to stand fɔgele [fɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to press to- at attention foɔlɛɛ, foɔlɔ, foɔlɔ, gether (2) to strangle fɔgelɛɛ, foɔlbɔ, foɔlaa fɔgelɔ, fɔgelɔ, fɔgelebɔ, fɔgelaa, foɔle [fʊ́ɔ́lɪ]̀ v. to sneak, to move fɔgeleba stealthily foɔlɛɛ, foɔlɔ, foɔlɔ, fɔlle [fɔ̀llɪ]̀ v. to smear with fɔllɛɛ, foɔlbɔ, foɔlaa fɔllɔ, fɔllɔ, fɔlebɔ, fɔllaa, fɔlebɔ fõɔo [fʊ̃́ɔ̃́ʊ̀̃ ] adj. light (weight) pl: fɔnne [fɔ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to grab, to hold fɔn- foɔne 2pl: foɔnɛɛ nɛɛ, fɔnnɔ, fɔnnɔ, fɔnemɔ, fɔnnaa, foɔre [fʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to smear with thick fɔnemɔ liquid foɔrɛɛ, foɔrɔ, foɔrɔ, foɔrba, fɔŋe [fɔ́ŋ] v. to become lean, foɔraa, foɔrba to shrink fɔŋɛɛ, fɔŋenɔ/fɔnnɔ,

123 fɔŋɔ furi

fɔŋenɔ/fɔnnɔ, fɔŋemɔ/fɔnemɔ, fulofulo [fúlófúló] adj. roundish e.g. fɔŋenaa/fɔnnaa, fɔŋenemɔ/fɔnemɔ of aperture like a hole fɔŋɔ [fɔ́ŋɔ̀] n. suburb, section pl: fulonfugiri [fúlónfúgrí] n. lung sg: fɔnne 2pl: fɔnnɛɛ Var. fɔŋa fulonfuuruu pl: fulonfugo 2pl: fu- fɔɔre [fɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. greed 2pl: fɔɔrɛɛ lonfugiree Var. falanfuuri fɔre [fɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to hold, to squeeze fululu [fúlúlú] adv. appearing round tightly (by the throat) fɔrɛɛ, fɔrɔ, and deep e.g. a hole fɔrɔ, fɔrbɔ, fɔraa, fɔrbɔ fumini [fúmìnì] n. needle pl: fu- fɔrɔ [fɔ̀rɔ̀] n. yaws 2pl: fɔrrɛɛ mime 2pl: fuminee/fuminnee fu [fú] n. rumour, hint • N woŋee fu fuoli [fúólì] v. (1) to whistle (2) to kyɛ N ba baŋ ka serɛ la be. I have squeak (of a wheel) fuolee, fuolo, heard a rumour but I am not sure fuolo, fuolibo, fuolaa, fuolibo whether it is true. 2pl: furee fuomii [fùòmíì] n. (1) gluttony, vora- fu [fú] v. to blow (wind) fue, fuuro, cious eating, wanting cheap things fuuro, fuuribo, fuuraa, fuuribo • A dɔɔ ŋa eŋ daŋ ba iri bonzaa, fu [fù] v. (1) to parboil, to steam fuomii yoŋ ka o nɔŋ. This man (meat) (2) to slough (3) to make has never contributed anything, he lather fue, fuuro, fuuro, fuuribo, only likes taking things for free. (2) fuuraa, fuuribo freeloading Var. fuomiŋ fugi [fùgì] v. to threaten fugee, fu- fuomiŋ [fuomiŋ] n. see fuomii Var. giro, fugiro, fugiribo, fugiraa, fu- fuomii giribo fuori [fùòrì] v. to bewitch, to take fugi [fùgì] v. to bluff fugee, fugiro, the soul from the body fuoree, fugiro, fugiribo, fugiraa, fugiribo fuoro, fuoro, fuoribo, fuoraa, fuoribo fugoŋ [fúgóŋ] adv. falling suddenly into e.g. a hole • O faa le a bogiŋ fuori [fúórì] v. to sip fuoree, fuoro, lɛ fogoŋ. S/he fell into the hole at fuoro, fuoribo, fuoraa, fuoribo once. furi [fùrì] v. to block an opening fulee [fúléé] adv. eat gulpingly e.g. with an object, to seal furee, furo, of a hungry person furo, furibo, furaa, furibo fuli [fùlì] adv. exit suddenly furi [fùrì] v. to open one’s eyes fulo [fúló] adv. entering neatly, widely e.g. when surprised furee, without friction • Naazoɔ deɛ e la furo, furo, furibo, furaa, furibo n nyɔbogiriŋ lɛ fulo. A fly shot furi [fùrì] v. to stoop furee, furo, into my nose at once. furo, furibo, furaa, furibo

124 furi gaale furi [fúrí] v. to cave in furee, furo, rows are used pl: fuuri 2pl: fuuree furo, furibo, furaa, furibo fuuli [fúúlí] v. to cheat; to make a furi [fúrí] n. Islamic marriage rite pl: fool of fuulee, fuulo, fuulo, fuuli- furri 2pl: furee/furree bo, fuulaa, fuulibo Var. finni furi kaa [fùrì kàà] v. to stare, to fuuli [fùùlì] v. to constrict, to make glare furi kaaɛ, furi kaaraa, furi rounded (opening) fuulee, fuulo, kaaraa, furi kaareba, furi kaara, fuulo, fuulibo, fuulibo, fuulfuulo furi kaareba fuuri [fúúrí] n. (1) foam, bubbles, fuu [fúù] n. the cast-off skin of a lather, froth (2) rest, cool off pl: fue snake pl: fuuri 2pl: fuuree 2pl: fuuree fuu [fùù] v. to frighten, to threaten fuuri [fùùrì] v. to cool off fuuree, fu- fuue, fuuro, fuuro, fuuribo, fuu- uro, fuuro, fuuribo, fuuraa, fuuri- raa, fuuribo bo fuu [fúù] v. to speed fuue, fuuro, fu- fuuri [fùúrí] n. treachery uro, fuuribo, fuuraa, fuuribo fuurofuuro [fúúrófúúró] n. bits and fuu [fúú] n. a game where bare ar- pieces (of information) g ga [gà] v. to eat TZ without soup • A sɔrsɔrɔ tẽɛ la o nu gãa ka gaɛ, gaara, gaara, garba, gaaraa, nembaaloŋ erɛ a noba ka ba korɔ gaareba o libie. The beggar stretched out ga [gá] v. to run wildly or in a his hand ernestly and the onlook- frenzy e.g. cow stung by tsetse ers were moved and began offering fly gagaɛ, gaara, gaara, gareba, him money. gaaraa, gareba gaabu [gáábú] n. onion pl: gaaburi 2pl: gaaburee/gaaburree Var. zam- gaa [gáà] n. ebony (tree or fruit) pl: mo gaare 2pl: garɛɛ/gaarɛɛ gaafara [gááfárà] n. excuse, sorry sg: gaa [gàà] v. to leave gaaɛ, gɛrɛ, gɛrɛ, gaafaroo pl: gaafarre 2pl: gaa- gɛrebɛ, gɛraa, gɛrebɛ farɛɛ gaa [gáà] v. to scoop pulp e.g. gaale [gáálɪ]̀ v. (1) to place flat soil gaaɛ, gaara, gaara, gaareba, on the ground, to put to bed (2) gaaraa, gaareba to attend prenatal or postnatal gãa [gã̀ã̀] adv. outstretched and long care gaalɛɛ, gaala, gaala, gaalba,

125 Gaana galle

gaalaa, gaaleba gakogili [gákóglíí] n. dried berry of Gaana [gáánà] n. Ghana pl: gaanarɪ the ebony tree sg: gakogiluu pl: 2pl: gaanɛɛ gakogilo 2pl: gakogilee gaane [gàànɪ]̀ v. (1) to stride; to galaa [gàláà] n. fool pl: galle 2pl: gal- take strides of equal length with en- lɛɛ ergy and confidence (2) to wear galbie [gálbíé] n. a great person pl: by passing a strip between the galbiiri 2pl: galbiiree buttocks (triangular underwear) • galbie [gálbíé] n. a child born after Neŋkponni mine taa la parre a more than 9 months of pregnancy maŋ de gaane yelmaale daare. pl: galbiiri 2pl: galbiiree Some elderly men have triangular underwear which they wear on gale [gálɪ]́ v. to speak in anger; to festive occasions. gaanɛɛ, gaana, reproach galɛɛ, gala, gala, galeba, gaana, gaanema, gaanema, gaan- galaa, galeba gaana gale [gàlɪ]̀ v. to miss the regular time gaanoo [gaanoo] n. the act of strid- • O daŋe ba gale toma waabo being Var. gaane biyeni gba. S/he never missed going to work even for a day. galɛɛ, gabaa [gàbàà] adv. open and exten- gala, gala, galba, galaa, galba Var. sive galle gabadayaa [gàbádáyáá] adj. galegale [gálgál] adv. of quick fast straightaway Var. gaba steps (run) gabadii [gàbàdìì] n. a type of woolen galegale [gálɪgálɪ́ ]́ n. dog cloth used to make suits galema [gálɪmá] adj. strange pl: gale- gabaŋgabaŋ [gàbàŋgàbàŋ] adv. any- ́ malema Var. galee how gadaa [gàdàà] n. (1) ebony stick (2) galeŋgaa [gàlɪŋgáà]́ n. crow pl: sign of extradition • A tendaana galeŋgaare 2pl: galeŋgaarɛɛ ba la nɔgraa gadaa. The landlord galeŋgoɔnaa [gàlɪŋgʊ̀ ́ ɔ́náá] n. heron has ordered the sojourner to leave. pl: galeŋgoɔne 2pl: galeŋgoɔnɛɛ gado [gádó] n. bed pl: gadori 2pl: Var. gɔleŋgoɔnaa gadoree/gadorree Var. godo galiŋkoori [gàlíŋkóórì] n. millipede gagaraa [gágáráà] n. (1) traitor sg: galiŋkooruu pl: galiŋkoro 2pl: (2) One who denies the truth and galiŋkoree treads on falsehood, inconsistent galle [gàllɪ]̀ v. to pass, to miss • Ka pl: gagarre 2pl: gagarɛɛ Var. mi- pɔgeŋ wa galle o pɛgebo kaapɔge naafigi poɔ la ka o taa. If a woman misses

126 galle gaŋa

her period, then she may be preg- ganaaganaa [gànààgànàà] adv. nant. gallɛɛ, galla, galla, galeba, large and stretched • A dɔbɔ ti gallaa la taa ganaaganaa, ka ba faara galle [gàllɪ]̀ v. manoeuvre with skill faana. The men hooked each other and expertise • Te karema maŋ tightly and fiercely such that peo- galle la a kɔkɔre ka noɔ kpɛ fo. ple were finding it difficult to sepa- Our teacher manipulates the lan- rate them. guage such that you enjoy his talk. gandaa [gàndáá] n. (1) hero, great gallɛɛ, galla, galla, galeba, gallaa person, protagonist (2) hero in Galyuoni [gàlyúóní] n. name tradi- literature pl: gandaare 2pl: gan- tionally given to a child born after daarɛɛ 9 months of pregnancy Var. Yuoni gandaa [gàndáá] n. placenta pl: gan- gambanna [gámbánná] n. one who daare 2pl: gandaarɛɛ is literate pl: gambanema 2pl: gam- gane [gánɪ]̀ n. (1) book (2) hide, skin bannɛɛ pl: gama 2pl: gannɛɛ/gamɛɛ gammiri [gámmírì] n. woven twine gangyinni [gàndzínní] n. the act of string worn by women around the doing things in excess e.g. eating waist sg: gammiruu pl: gammie 2pl: gangyinnee Var. gangyinnuŋ 2pl: gammiiree gangyinnuŋ [gàndzínnúŋ] n. the gammisɔgelaa [gámmísɔ́gláà] n. wo- act of doing things in excess Var. ven leather waist string pl: gam- gangyinnuu, gangyinni misɔgelɔ ganlaa [gánláá] n. a type of dance pl: gammizoolɔ [gámmízóólɔ̀] n. waist ganlaare 2pl: ganlaarɛɛ strings for adolescent girl pl: gam- ganlɔgɔ [gànlɔ̀gɔ̀] n. small leather mizoolɛɛ Var. gammizoola bag worn on the shoulder pl: gan- gampɛle [gámpɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) sheet of pa- lɔgre 2pl: ganlɔgrɛɛ per (2) page of a book pl: gampɛlɛ gansɛgerɛ [gánsɛgrɛ́ ̀] n. writer, let- gamporrizie [gámpórrìzíé] n. post ter writer pl: gansegerebɛ 2pl: office pl: gamporriziiri 2pl: gam- ganɛgerebɛɛ Var. gaŋŋmaara porriziiree gansɔraa [gánsɔ́ráá] n. a book for ganaa [gànàá] n. (1) strip of leather reading pl: gansɔrre 2pl: gansɔr- (2) twine for chief mourners of a de- rɛɛ ceased person pl: ganne 2pl: gan- gantoɔle [gántʊ́ɔ́lɪ]̀ n. mail sg: gan- nɛɛ toɔlaa 2pl: gantoɔlɛɛ ganaaganaa [gánáágánáá] adv. gaŋa [gàŋá] n. An enclosure for live- small and stretched like a string, stock e.g. cattle pl: ganne 2pl: gan- thin nɛɛ Var. gaŋe

127 gaŋe gare gaŋe [gáŋ] adj. mad or insane (dogs) gaŋgalee [gàŋgàléé] n. small drum; • Bagaŋe zaameŋ doŋe la n baa. alto drum pl: gaŋgabilii 2pl: gaŋ- A mad dog bit my dog yesterday. gabilee gaŋe [gâŋ] v. (1) to lie down (2) to gaŋganyaŋaa [gàŋgàɲáŋáá] n. drum sleep gaŋɛɛ, gana, gana, ganema, with a deep, loud sound pl: gaŋ- ganaa, ganema ganyaŋene 2pl: gaŋganyaŋenɛɛ gaŋe [gàŋɪ]̀ v. (1) to step over • A gaŋkanna [gáŋkánná] n. reader, let- baa age gaŋ la a bogi. The dog ter or book reader pl: gaŋkanema jumped over the hole. (2) to over- 2pl: gaŋkanemɛɛ take, • Ba lɔɔre zo wa gaŋ la te gaŋkoŋi [gàŋkǒŋ] n. funeral deni na bare. Their lorry over- string/strip given without any ac- took ours. (3) to be more than, companying funeral donation pl: to exceed • A kparoo waa la gaŋkonni 2pl: gaŋkonnee kpoŋ gaŋ a bie. The shirt is bigger gaŋkoŋi [gáŋkóŋ] n. dry and crum- than the child. gaŋɛɛ, gaŋena/gana, pled animal hide pl: gaŋkonni 2pl: gana, gaŋenema/ganema, gaŋe- gaŋkonnee naa/ganaa, gaŋenema/ganema gaŋkuoŋaa [gàŋkúóŋáá] n. dried gaŋene [gàŋɪnɪ̀ ]́ n. next one • N strip of leather pl: gaŋkuoni 2pl: daga maŋ biŋ la a gaŋene die na gaŋkuonee poɔ. My box is kept in the room after the first one. gaŋŋmaara [gáŋŋmáárá] n. writer pl: gaŋŋmaareba 2pl: gaŋŋmaarebɛɛ gaŋene [gàŋɪnɪ̀ ]́ n. that which is too Var. gansɛgrɛ much gaŋgaa [gàŋgàá] n. drum (general) gara [gàrá] n. tapeworm pl: garre pl: gaŋgarɪ 2pl: gaŋgarɛɛ 2pl: garɛɛ/garrɛɛ gaŋgaanaa [gǎŋgàànáà] n. (1) reed gara [gárá] n. hobble (rope for hold- (2) vine pl: gaŋgaane 2pl: gaŋ- ing two legs of an animal) pl: garre gaanɛɛ 2pl: garɛɛ/garrɛɛ Var. gbara gaŋgadaa [gàŋgàdáá] n. small drum garaa [gáráá] adj. small and pointed with a quieter sound pl: gaŋ- garaa [gàráà] n. ridge pl: garre 2pl: gadaare 2pl: gaŋgadaarɛɛ garrɛɛ gaŋgadalee [gàŋgàdàléé] n. drum- gare [gárɪ]́ v. (1) to stumble, to trip stick pl: gaŋgadabilii Var. gaŋgada- over (2) to tie or hold legs together bili garɛɛ, gara, gara, gareba, garaa, gaŋgakpoŋ [gàŋgàkpóŋ] n. bass gareba drum pl: gaŋgakponni 2pl: gaŋ- gare [gàrɪ]̀ v. to place across, to close gakponnee (road) • A dɔɔ de la daa gare a

128 gare gobaa

sori. The man has placed a plank geli [gélì] v. to burn badly (food) across the road. garɛɛ, gara, gara, gelee, gelle, gelle, gelibe, -, gelibe gareba, garaa, gareba geli [gélì] v. to be mad, to behave ab- gare [gárɪ]́ v. go bad, sour (food) normally or foolishly gelee, gelle, garɛɛ, gara gelle, gelibe, -, gelibe garegyerɛ [gárɪyɪ́ rɛ]̀ n. a shrub with gelime [gélímè] n. insanity milky sap, poisonous sg: gare- gemee [géméé] adj. mad, insane gyeroo 2pl: gargyerɛɛ Garegyerɛbaa [gàrɪdzìrɛ́ bàá]́ n. One genegene [gènègènè] adv. (1) tinted of the main district headquarters of (colour) • A boɔ e la zeɛ genegene. the Dagaare speaking area whose The goat is tinted brown. (2) not dialeɔt is often referred to as the appearing clearly • Zie naŋ da wa ‘central dialect’ Var. Gyerɛbaa nyaana genegene la ka o wa. S/he came when dawn had not clearly garepegele [gàrɪpɪ̀ glɪ̀ ]̀ v. to set in. crisscross • A teɛ le la garepegele a sori. The tree fell geŋgeŋ [géŋgéŋ] adj. firmly fixed and crossed/bocked the road. geŋi [gêŋ] v. to stretch out garepegelɛɛ, garapegelɛ, gara- to reach e.g. to look over pegelɛ, garepegelebɛ, garepegelaa, a wall geŋee, geŋine/genne, garepeglebɛ geŋine/genne, geŋinime/genime, garewaa [gárɪwáá]́ n. four-gallon tin geŋinaa/gennaa, genime pl: garewaare 2pl: garewaarɛɛ geŋi [gêŋ] v. to be mad, to garoŋ [gárʊ́ ŋ] n. sour-tasting sub- be angry geŋee, geŋine/genne, stance geŋine/genne, geŋinime/genime, garre [gárrɪ]́ v. to deny gar- geŋinaa/gennaa, genime rɛɛ, garra, garra, gareba, garaa, geregere [gèrègèrè] adv. moderately gareba hard e.g. half-cooked yam gasalaa [gàsàlàà] adj. gaping gɛbɛɛ [gɛ̀bɛɛ́ ]́ n. fool, lunatic gegili [gèglì] v. be half-closed gieri [gíérì] v. to belch gieree, giere, gegilee, gegile, gegile, gegilibe, giere, gieribe, gieraa, gieribe gegilaa, gegilibe Var. ogili go [gó] v. to stoop, to bend down geli [gélì] v. to lift over something goe, guoro, guoro, guoribo, goraa, heavy lying flat on the ground • guoribo Ba geli la a kuri gbori tiili a dankyini poɔ. They have lifted go [gò] v. watch over goe, goro, over the iron gate unto the wall. goro, goribo, goraa, - Var. gu gelee, gelle, gelle, gelibe, -, gelibe gobaa [gòbàà] n. shame, disgrace

129 gogo goɔ gogo [gógó] n. (1) clock (2) hour pl: gondoŋ [gòndóŋ] n. skirt pl: gon- gogori 2pl: gogoree donni 2pl: gondonnee gogobiri [gògòbírí] n. zebu (bull gone [gʊ́nɪ]́ n. structural flaw pl: with a humped back) pl: gogobie gonne 2pl: gonɛɛ/gonnɛɛ 2pl: gogobiiree gonnaabo [gónnáábʊ́] n. plant louse gogoo [gògóó] adj. standing out pl: gonnii 2pl: gonniinee with long appendages e.g. pointing gonni [gònní] n. cotton sg: gonnuu gogoɔ [gʊ̀ gʊ̀ ɔ́] n. sawfish pl: gogoɔre pl: 2pl: gonnee 2pl: gogoɔrɛɛ gonseɛ [gònsɪɛ̀ ]́ n. fall; season of in- golebɛlɛ [gʊlɪbɛlɛ] adj. lethargic and ̀ ̀ ̀ ̀ termitent wind unsteady (very sick person) goŋo [gòŋó] n. cotton tree pl: gonni goligoli [gòlgólí] v. to scribble 2pl: gonnee goligolee, goligolo, goligolo, golgolibo, golgolaa, golgolibo goŋmane [góŋmánɪ]́ n. one hundred gollaa [gólláà] n. a game in which kola nuts pl: goŋmama 2pl: goŋ- players hop on one leg pl: golli 2pl: mannɛɛ gollee goole [gʊ̀ ʊ̀ lɪ]̀ v. to mix, to stir golle [gʊ̀ llɪ]̀ v. to mix up any which (thick paste) goolɛɛ, goolɔ, goolɔ, way (clothes) gollɛɛ, gollɔ/golla, gooleba, goolaa, gooleba gollɔ/golla, golba, gollaa goone [gʊ̀ ʊ̀ nì] v. to walk majesti- golli [góllì] v. to hop on one leg cally with an up-and-down body gollee, gollo, gollo, golibo, gollaa, movement • A daanedann da golibo maŋe la a naa niŋŋ kyɛ goone iri. The praise singer would walk goloŋgoloŋ [gòlòŋgólóŋ] adv. long majestically with up-and-down- and twisted movement of the body in front of golɔgolɔ [gʊ́lɔ́gʊ́lɔ́] adj. soft and the King. goonɛɛ, goonɔ, goonɔ, wavy (hair) goonema, goonaa, goonema golɔnsomm [gʊ̀ lɔ̀nsʊ̀ mm] adv. goɔ [gʊ́ɔ̀] n. thorn pl: goore 2pl: roundish and big goorɛɛ golɔnsomm [gʊ́lɔ́nsʊ́mm] adv. goɔ [gʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to bend at the trunk roundish and small • Pɔgeba maŋ goɔ la kaabo gombɔle [gòmbɔ́lɪ]́ n. kapok fruit pl: kyɛ ŋma. Women usually hold gombɔlɔ 2pl: gombɔlɛɛ down guinea corn to cut the head. gomɔgomɔ [gʊ̀ mɔ̀gʊ̀ mɔ̀] adv. not goɔɛ, goɔrɔ, goɔrɔ, goɔrbɔ, goɔraa, straightforward Var. gomagoma goɔrbɔ

130 goɔ gɔgɔ goɔ [gʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to prevent from pro- gorgoraa, gorgorba gressing; to cause to return or re- gori [górí] n. dowry, bride price pl: frain from something goɔɛ, goɔrɔ, gorri 2pl: goree goɔrɔ, goɔrbɔ, goɔraa, goɔrbɔ gori [gòrì] v. to bend an object (into goɔ [gʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to bite (snake) goɔɛ, a sharp curve) goree, goro, goro, goɔrɔ, goɔrɔ, goɔrbɔ, goɔraa, gorbo, goraa, gorbo goɔrbɔ gori [górí] n. big pile of; load pl: goe gõɔ [gʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. (1) kiln (place for bak- 2pl: goree ing clay items to make them hard) gori-gori-gori [gór-gór-gór] adv. (2) arena, grouping point (ko-gõɔ) motionless pl: goɔne 2pl: goɔnɛɛ gozambuuli [gòzàmbúúlí] n. the gõɔo [gʊ́ɔ̀ʊ́] n. sleep pl: goɔnɛɛ ̃ ̃ ̃ fruit of a type of thorn tree pl: goɔraa [gʊ̀ ɔ̀ràá] n. a type of small gozambuulo 2pl: gozambuulee tree with medicinal properties pl: Var. gɔzambuuli goɔre 2pl: goɔrɛɛ gozaŋaa [gózàŋàà] n. a type of thorn goɔre [gʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ v. to walk or run tree with yellow fruit pl: gozanne half stooping goɔrɛɛ, goɔrɔ, goɔrɔ, 2pl: gozannɛɛ Var. gɔzaŋaa goɔreba, goɔraa, goɔreba gɔbaa [gɔ̀báà] n. (1) skillful per- goɔre [gʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to go round and son; one full of dexterity (2) artist round (2) to splash mashed ashes (music, visual arts) pl: gɔɔre 2pl: round the outer wall of a house (rit- gɔɔrɛɛ ual to rid the house of activities gɔbenɛ [gɔ́bɪnɛ̀ ̀] n. governor, govern- of witchraft) goɔrɛɛ, goɔrɔ, goɔrɔ, ment pl: gɔbenne 2pl: gɔbenɛɛ goɔreba, goɔraa gɔbenɛnte [gɔ́bɪnɛ́ ntɪ́ ]̀ n. govern- gora [gʊ́ rà] n. (1) hunchback (2) dis- ment pl: gɔbenɛntere 2pl: gɔbenɛn- ease of the back pl: gorre 2pl: gor- terɛɛ rɛɛ Var. gorɔ gɔfuuraa [gɔ́fúúráá] n. a type of tree goraa [gòràà] adj. curved with medicinal properties pl: gɔfuu- goraa [gòràà] adj. ashamed ri 2pl: gɔfuuree gore [gʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to be abundant gɔge [gɔ́gɪ]́ v. to nod gɔgɛɛ, (2) to be overburdened with weight gɔgerɔ, gɔgerɔ, gɔgerebɔ, gɔgraa, gorɛɛ, gora, gora, goreba, goraa gɔgerebɔ gore [gʊ́ rɪ]́ v. to pluck feathers or fur gɔgɔ [gɔ́gɔ̀] n. (1) a type of tree gorɛɛ, gora, gora, gorba, goraa whose bark is used in tanning (2) gorgore [gʊ̀ rgʊ́rɪ]́ v. to ruffle gor- to type of black bird with a long tail gorɛɛ, gorgora, gorgora, gorgorba, pl: gɔgɔre 2pl: gɔgɔrɛɛ

131 gɔgɔ gɔɔrombiri gɔgɔ [gɔ̀gɔ́] v. to bend halfway; gɔŋe [gɔ̀ŋ] v. to make crooked, to in- to stoop gɔgɔɛ, gɔgɔɔrɔ, gɔgɔɔrɔ, cline toward gɔŋɛɛ, gɔnnɔ, gɔnnɔ, gɔgɔrebɔ, gɔgɔraa, gɔgɔrebɔ gɔnema, gɔnnaa, gɔnema gɔllaa [gɔ́lláá] n. a type of small, gɔŋe [gɔ́ŋ] v. to make noise, to quar- fatty field mouse pl: gɔlle 2pl: gɔl- rel gɔŋɛɛ, gɔnnɔ, gɔnɔ, gɔnemɔ, lɛɛ Var. mɔɔtere gɔnnaa, gɔnemɔ gɔlle [gɔ̀llɪ]̀ v. (1) to go round, to gɔŋ-eŋ [gɔ̀ŋ-ɪŋ]̀ v. to redirect or state detour (2) to surround, to encircle to suit one’s purpose • A yɛlɛ ba gɔllɛɛ, gɔllɔ, gɔllɔ, gɔlebɔ, gɔllaa, waa lɛ a pɔge gɔŋ-eŋɛɛ la. That is gɔlebɔ not the true state of the matter; the gɔlɔnteebo [gɔ́lɔ́ntɪɪ̀ bʊ̀ ́] n. chameleon woman has tried to add something pl: gɔlɔnteere 2pl: gɔlɔnteerɛɛ Var. to make it look like that. gɔŋ-eŋɛɛ, gɔmɔ/gɔmɔteebo gɔnnɔ-ennɛ, gɔŋ-ennɛ, gɔŋ-ennaa, gɔmberaa [gɔ́mbíráá] n. state of gɔŋ-enemɛ sleeplessness pl: gɔmberre 2pl: gɔŋgɔlɔŋ [gɔ̀ŋgɔ̀lɔ̀ŋ] adj. long and gɔmberɛɛ winding gɔmbulo [gɔ̀mbùlò] n. unique sound gɔŋgɔŋe [gɔ̀ŋgɔ́ŋ] v. to walk wearily in poetry, sound that is pleasing to and unsteadily; to trudge gɔŋgɔŋɛɛ, the ear gɔŋgɔnɔ, gɔŋgɔnɔ, gɔŋgɔnema, gɔmɔ [gɔ́mɔ̀] n. noise, disturbance pl: gɔŋgɔnaa, gɔŋgɔnema gɔnne 2pl: gɔnnɛɛ Var. gɔnne gɔŋgbire [gɔ́ŋgbírè] n. one who is gɔnda [gɔ̌ndà] n. pawpaw, papaya asleep pl: gɔŋgbiribe 2pl: gɔŋgbiri- sg: gɔndaroo pl: gɔndare 2pl: gɔn- bee darɛɛ gɔŋɔ [gɔ́ŋɔ́] n. type of guinea corn gɔnne [gɔnnɪ] n. noise pl: gɔmɔ 2pl: ́ ̀ 2pl: gɔnnɛɛ gɔnnɛɛ gɔɔ [gɔ̀ɔ́] n. left hand, left side pl: gɔntɛre [gɔ̀ntɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to talk inces- gɔɔe 2pl: gɔɔrɛɛ santly gɔntɛrɛɛ, gɔnɔtɛrɛ, gɔnɔtɛrɛ, gɔntɛrebɛ gɔɔ [gɔ̀ɔ́] adj. left-handed pl: gɔɔe gɔntɛre [gɔ̀ntɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to burst out, 2pl: gɔɔrɛɛ especially when angry gɔntɛrɛɛ, gɔɔ [gɔ̀ɔ̀] v. to go round and round gɔnɔtɛrɛ, gɔnɔtɛrɛ, gɔntɛrebɛ gɔɔɛ, gɔɔrɔ, gɔɔrɔ, gɔɔrebɔ, gɔɔraa, gɔnzuuro [gɔ́nzúúrò] n. sleepiness • gɔɔrebɔ Var. goɔre O taa la gɔnzuuro. He/she is feel- gɔɔrombiri [gɔ́ɔ́rʊ́mbírí] n. literary ing sleepy. 2pl: gɔnzuuree device (lit.) sg: gɔɔrombiruu pl: gɔŋe [gɔ́ŋ] adj. crooked, bent gɔɔrombie 2pl: gɔɔrombiree

132 gɔpelaa guuli gɔpelaa [gɔ̀pɪlàá]̀ n. a type of guoli [gùòlì] v. to coil (rope) guolee, tree with medicinal properties pl: guolo, guolo, guolibo, guolaa, gɔpeɛle 2pl: gɔpeɛlɛɛ guolibo gɔre [gɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to bend (2) to guoli [gúólì] v. (1) to bring up (child) mould a hoe into a curved shape (2) to raise (animals) guolee, guolo, gɔrɛɛ, gɔrɔ, gɔrɔ, gɔrebɔ, gɔraa, guolo, guolibo, guolaa, guolibo gɔrebɔ guoli [gúólí] n. pot rest; pad on gɔre [gɔ́rɪ]́ n. scythe pl: gɔrre 2pl: which pots are placed pl: guolo 2pl: gɔrɛɛ guolee gɔsɔgelaa [gɔ́sɔ́glàá] n. a type guori [gúórí] n. kola nuts sg: guoruu of thorn tree pl: gɔsɔgelɔ 2pl: pl: goe 2pl: goree gɔsɔgelɛɛ guri [gùri] v. (1) to throw one’s body onto another (wrestling, catching gɔteɛ [gɔ̂tɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a tree with thorns pl: gɔteere 2pl: gɔteerɛɛ a fowl) (2) to fold up (leg) guree, guro, guro, guribo, guraa gɔzeɛ [gɔ̀zɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of tree with guri pɔge to rape medicinal properties guruŋ [gùrúŋ] n. mushroom sg: gur- gu [gù] v. (1) to watch out for (2) to ruu pl: gurri 2pl: gurree look after (3) to protect, to defend guu [gúú] v. to be unable, to fail (4) to wait for (someone), (5) to guue, guuro, guuro, guuribo, guu- waylay (someone) gue, guuro, guuraa, guuribo ro, guribo, guuraa, guribo Var. go guu [gùú] adj. blunt, not sharp pl: gu zɔɔ to ambush guuri 2pl: guuree gufu [gúfù] n. interpreter pl: gufuri guu [gùù] v. to be blunt guue, guuro, 2pl: gufuree/gufurree guuro, guurbo, guuraa, guurbo Gumo [gúmó] n. a town in the guuli [gúúlì] v. to delay someone Sisaalaland noted for soothsaying guulee, guulo, guulo, guulibo, gu- and divining 2pl: gumee ulaa, guulibo Var. gbuuli gunni [gúnní] v. to stalk (hunter guuli [gúúlì] v. to be not yet healed tracking game) gunnee, gunno, of a sprain guulee, guulo, guulo, gunno, gunimo, gunnaa guulibo, guulaa, guulibo Var. gbu- gunni [gùnnì] v. to pick tiny uli leaves from plants gunnee, gunno, guuli [gúúlì] v. to delay someone gu- gunno, gunimo, gunnaa ulee, guulo, guulo, guulibo, guu- guo [gùò] n. heavy club with laa, guulibo Var. gbuuli knobbed end pl: gori 2pl: goree guuli [gúúlí] n. knot pl: guulo 2pl: Var. daguo guulee

133 gba gbale gb gba [gbá] v. (1) to gather substantive gbage [gbàgɪ]̀ v. to face • A peroo debris (2) to beat someone com- yie la a de o niŋe gbage sapare pletely (gambling) gbaɛ, gbaara, kyɛ deɛ zoro. When the sheep left gbaara, gbarba, gbaaraa, gbarba the pen it just went running toward gba [gbà] v. to close tightly, to the east. gbagɛɛ, gbagra, gbagra, lock gbaɛ, gbaara, gbaara, gbareba, gbagreba, gbagraa, gbagreba Var. gbaaraa, gbareba gbɔge gbaa [gbáà] n. viper pl: gbaare 2pl: gbagelaŋ [gbàglàŋ] adj. large and gbaarɛɛ strong e.g. cob of corn gbaalaa [gbááláá] n. large, sturdy gbagele [gbáglɪ]́ n. bone with meat broom for sweeping pavement pl: pl: gbagla 2pl: gbaglɛɛ gbaale 2pl: gbaalɛɛ gbala [gbàlà] n. a type of women’s gbaale [gbáálɪ]́ n. large earthenware hairstyle • A pɔgepaalaa poŋi la basin pl: gbaala 2pl: gbaalɛɛ gbala. The bride has shaved gbala gbaale [gbààlɪ]̀ v. to gather exten- on her head. pl: gballe 2pl: gbalɛɛ sively • A koɔraa gbaale la o gbalaa [gbàláà] n. (1) pole for pluck- weɛ kɛkɛrɛɛ baare. The farmer ing (2) a type of tree that has has finished gathering the stalks on aerial roots, milky sap, and (usu- his farm. gbaalɛɛ, gbaala, gbaala, ally) a large amount of shade pl: gbaaleba, gbaalaa, gbaaleba gballe 2pl: gballɛɛ Var. laŋgbaraa, gbaale [gbáálɪ]̀ v. to follow in large kaŋkaŋgbalaa numbers (typically used with tu) gbale [gbàlɪ]́ adj. not for nothing • A • Polsiri nyɔge la a nannyige bie konni ba e gbale. It is not for ka bibiiri gbaale tu. The po- nothing that the child is crying. pl: lice arrested the thief and children gbala 2pl: gbalɛɛ crowded behind them. gbaalɛɛ, gbale [gbàlɪ]́ adj. not wearing any- gbaala, gbaala, gbaalba, gbaalaa, thing around the waist • Maria gbaalba taa la se-gbale. Mary does not gbaama [gbààmà] n. weak ap- have any beads around her waist. pendages 2pl: gbaamɛɛ pl: gbala 2pl: gbalɛɛ gbaane [gbàànɪ]́ adj. lean pl: gbale [gbàlɪ]́ adj. blunt, not sharp gbaama • A sɔ-gbale na koŋ tõɔ ŋmaa a gbaga [gbágá] n. animal cage pl: gba- nɛne. That blunt knife can’t cut the gre 2pl: gbagrɛɛ Var. gbɔɡɔ meat. pl: gbala 2pl: gbalɛɛ

134 gbale gbaŋkeroo gbale [gbàlɪ]̀ v. to make blunt gbalɛɛ, la saluoni gbantieloo. He has shot gballa, gballa, gbaleba, gballaa, an arrow into the sky. gbaleba gbantori [gbàntòrí] n. ulcer pl: gban- gbambelɛ [gbàmbɪlɛ̀ ̀] n. albino pl: toe 2pl: gbantoree Var. gbontori gbambelle 2pl: gbambelɛɛ gbanzeɛ [gbànzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. very light- gbambiri [gbàmbírì] n. an object skinned person pl: gbanzeere 2pl: with two distinct sides (cowrie) gbanzeerɛɛ Var. gbaŋ thrown in gambling to decide the gbaŋe [gbáŋ] n. gambling pl: gbanne winner sg: gbambiruu pl: gbambie 2pl: gbannɛɛ Var. gbaŋa 2pl: gbambiiree gbaŋe [gbǎŋ] n. albino pl: gbanne gbambiri [gbàmbìrì] n. a type of mu- 2pl: gbannɛɛ Var. gbanzeɛ sical instrument, made of metal tin, gbaŋe [gbáŋ] v. to shoot an ar- a wooden board and spokes. Spoke- row as far as one can gbaŋɛɛ, like metals are fixed on the board gbana, gbana, gbanema, gbanaa, and fixed into the tin. It is played gbanema like the guitar 2pl: gbambiree gbaŋgbaa [gbàŋgbáà] n. slave pl: gbammo [gbàmmʊ́] n. (1) comb (of gbaŋgbaare 2pl: gbaŋgbaarɛɛ a rooster) (2) a variety of maize gbaŋgbaaloŋ [gbàŋgbààlʊ́ŋ] n. slav- that usually has big cobs and pure ery white kernels pl: gbama/gbanne gbaŋgbakyeraa [gbáŋgbákyɪráà] n. 2pl: gbamɛɛ Var. gyampegre ́ stone axe pl: gbaŋgbakyerre 2pl: gbandige [gbǎndígé] n. area of juris- gbaŋgbakyerɛɛ/gbaŋgbakyerrɛɛ diction pl: gbandigri gbaŋgbalaa [gbáŋgbáláà] n. (1) a gbandiruŋ [gbǎndírúŋ] n. inheri- clearing (2) spot for threshing tance 2pl: gbandiree grain pl: gbaŋgballe 2pl: gbaŋgba- gbanfolɔ [gbànfʊ̀ là] n. a dish made lɛɛ Var. gbeŋgbelaa from mashed fresh corn 2pl: gban- gbaŋgbaŋ [gbáŋgbáŋ] n. midday pl: folɛɛ/gbanfollɛɛ Var. gbanfola gbaŋgbanne 2pl: gbaŋgbannɛɛ gbanna [gbánná] n. small farm near gbaŋgbaŋ [gbàŋgbàŋ] adv. wide, the house pl: gbanne 2pl: gbannɛɛ open, and endless Var. gbannaa gbaŋgbele [gbàŋgbɪlɪ́ ]́ adv. raw and gbannaa [gbánnáá] n. crop field pl: hard (fruit) gbanne 2pl: gbannɛɛ Var. gbanna gbaŋkeroo [gbàŋkéróó] n. a type gbantieloo [gbàntíélóó] n. the act of of wild plant with edible fruit shooting an arrow as high as one pl: gbaŋkerri 2pl: gbaŋke- can. (used with saluoni) • O gbaŋ ree/gbaŋkerree

135 gbara gbegili gbara [gbàrá] n. a deaf or mute per- Gbeɛdomɔ [gbɪɛ̀ ̀dʊmɔ́] n. land area son pl: gbarre 2pl: gbarɛɛ of the clan members (Gbeɛdomɛɛ) gbare [gbárɪ]́ v. to struggle in agony Var. Gbeɛdoma e.g. dying • Lɔɔre ŋmɛ la naabo gbeɛle [gbɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ n. a type of fetish ka o le a sori zu deɛ gbara. The manifested in a stone; a stone be- lorry hit the cow and it fell on lieved to have supernatural power the road struggling. gbarɛɛ, gbara, and treated as a god; the clan god gbara, gbarba, gabaraa, gabrba of the Gbeɛdomɛɛ pl: gbeɛlɛ 2pl: gbare [gbárɪ]́ v. to tie legs together gbeɛlɛɛ firmly • Ba naneŋ nyɔge la a gbeɛle [gbɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. to eye with sus- naaweɛmɛ na, a nyɔge gbare. picion, to look angrily or sternly When they eventually caught that at gbeɛle, gbeɛlɛ, gbeɛlɛ, gbeɛlebɛ, wild cow, they tied it down by the gbeɛlaa, gbeɛlebɛ legs. gbarɛɛ, gbara, gbara, gbarba, gbeɛle kuuri [gbɪɛ̀ lɪ́ ̀ kúúrí] n. (1) gabaraa, gabrba round, smooth stone (2) such a gbare [gbàrɪ]̀ v. to shut off from hear- stone believed to be a symbol of a ing gbarɛɛ, gbara, gbara, gbareba, fetish pl: gbeɛle kubo 2pl: gbeɛle gbaraa, gbareba kuuree Var. gbeɛle gbarema [gbàrɪmá]̀ n. small child pl: gbeɛre [gbɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be completely gbarre 2pl: gbaremɛɛ out of energy; to be spent gbeɛre, gbateele [gbàtɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. a kind of grass gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrebɛ, gbeɛraa, which is heated and smashed to ex- gbeɛrebɛ plode sg: gbateeloo pl: gbateelɛ gbeɛre [gbɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be felled by 2pl: gbateelɛɛ a rainstorm (of grass) gbeɛre, gbatɛre [gbàtɛrɪ́ ]́ n. small, shallow gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrebɛ, gbeɛraa, pond (usually in the bush) pl: gbeɛrebɛ gbatɛrre 2pl: gbatɛrɛɛ gbeɛre [gbɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to cut bits gbe [gbè] v. (1) to grind coarsely and pieces of meat gbeɛre, (2) to knaw at something hard gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrɛ, gbeɛrebɛ, gbeɛraa, (unripe fruit) gbee, gbiere, gbiere, gbeɛrebɛ gbieribe, gbieraa, gbegbiere gbeɛrɛ [gbɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. bits and pieces of gbẽɛ [gbɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ v. to cut a bit tiny gbeɛ̃ɛ, meat 2pl: gbeɛrɛɛ gbeɛnɛ, gbeɛnɛ, gbeɛnemɛ, gbeɛ- naa, gbeɛnemɛ gbegi [gbégí] v. to pile up e.g. fire- Gbeɛdomoo [gbɪɛ̀ ̀dʊ́mʊ́ʊ́] n. a mem- wood gbegee, gbegre, gbegire, gbe- ber of the Gbeɛdoma clan pl: Gbeɛ- giribe, gbegiraa, gbegire domɛɛ gbegili [gbèglì] adj. hard and rigid

136 gbegili gbɛgere gbegili [gbèglì] v. to become dry gbeŋkeroo [gbèŋkéróó] n. a shrub and hard gbegilee, gbegile, gbegile, with brown hard fruits that are ed- gbeglibe, gbegilaa, gbegilibe ible. Also the fruit of such a tree gbelaa [gbèláá] n. the bone of the pl: gbeŋkerri 2pl: gbeŋkeree Var. forehead pl: gbelaare 2pl: gbe- naakyeemɛgbeŋkeroo laarɛɛ gberi [gbèrì] adv. of a twine snap- gbelaa [gbɪlàà]̀ adv. protruding, ping sound straight and hard gberi [gbérì] adv. stopping suddenly gbele [gbɪlɪ́ ]́ n. a type of small gbɛbaŋa [gbɛbáŋ]́ n. ankle bangle fox with bushy fur pl: gbelɛ 2pl: pl: gbɛbanne 2pl: gbɛbannɛɛ Var. gbelɛɛ/gbellɛɛ gbɛbɔŋɔ/gbɛbaŋe gbele [gbɪlɪ́ ]́ v. to work very hard gbɛbi-eɛne [gbɛbì-ɪ́ ɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. (1) toenail gbelɛɛ, gbelɛ, gbelɛ, gbelbɛ, gbelaa (2) claw pl: gbɛbi-eɛmɛ 2pl: gbɛbi- gbeleŋgbeleŋ [gbèlèŋgbéléŋ] n. flat eɛnɛɛ metal musical instrument; a cym- gbɛbinyoɔre [gbɛbìɲʊ́ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. tip bal pl: gbeleŋgbelli 2pl: gbeleŋgbe- of the toe pl: gbɛbinyɔɛ 2pl: lee Var. lato/nato gbɛbinyɔrɛɛ gbelime [gbèlìmé] n. bell pl: gbelli gbɛbiri [gbɛbìrí]́ n. toe pl: gbɛbie 2pl: 2pl: gbellee gbɛbiree/gbɛbiiree gbelime [gbèlìmé] n. hour pl: gbelli gbɛbogi [gbɛbògí]́ n. (1) footprint 2pl: gbellee (2) spot pl: gbɛbogri 2pl: gbɛbo- gbelli [gbéllì] v. to turn the head gree away abruptly gbellee, gbelle, gbɛ̃ɛ [gbɛ̀̃ɛ̀̃] adv. dull, sleepy gbelle, gbelibe, gbellaa, gbelibe gbɛɛ yaga [gbɛɛ́ ́ yágá] adj. often Var. gbeŋgbegri [gbèŋgbégrí] n. (1) river buyibuyi bank (2) riverbed (dry) pl: gbeŋg- gbɛfaa [gbɛfáá]́ n. ill luck, unlucki- bege 2pl: gbeŋgbegree ness pl: gbɛfaare 2pl: gbɛfaarɛɛ gbeŋgbelaa [gbɪŋgbɪ́ láá]́ n. ground gbɛgere [gbɛ̀grɪ]̀ v. to be miserly, where millet is threshed and to economize gbɛgerɛɛ, gbɛgerɛ, winnowed out pl: gbeŋgbelle gbɛgerɛ, gbɛgerebɛ, gbɛgeraa, 2pl: gbeŋgbelɛɛ/gbeŋgbellɛɛ Var. gbɛgerebɛ gbaŋgbalaa gbɛgere [gbɛgrɪ́ ]́ v. to be loose, to gbeŋgbeŋ [gbéŋgbéŋ] adv. firmly be shaky (object in a hole) • A fixed daa bogi ba sigi yaga lɛnso ka gbeŋini [gbéŋìní] n. lion pl: gbeŋime o gbɛgrɛ. The hole for the pole is 2pl: gbennee not deep enough; that is why it

137 gbɛgbɛ gbɛtɛre

is shaky. gbɛgrɛɛ, gbɛgrɛ, gbɛgrɛ, gbɛnne [gbɛnnɪ́ ]́ v. to chip the rim gbɛgrebɛ, gbɛgraa, gbɛgrebɛ or edge of something gbɛnnɛɛ, gbɛgbɛ [gbɛ̀gbɛ]́ n. wide, shallow gbɛnnɛ, gbɛnnɛ, gbɛnemɛ, gbɛn- basket pl: gbɛgbɛre 2pl: gbɛgbɛrɛɛ naa, gbɛnemɛ gbɛkpara [gbɛkpárá]́ n. double- gbɛre [gbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) leg (2) foot pl: legged pl: gbɛkparre 2pl: gbɛkpa- gbɛɛ 2pl: gbɛɛrɛɛ rɛɛ gbɛre [gbɛrɪ́ ]́ n. person with a phys- gbɛkpeɛŋaa [gbɛkpɪ́ ɛ́ ŋáá]́ n. fleet- ical disability that prevents them footed pl: gbɛkpeɛne from walking pl: gbɛrre 2pl: gbɛrɛɛ gbɛkpoŋi [gbɛkpóŋ]́ n. thigh pl: Var. gbɛɛ (1pl) gbɛkponni 2pl: gbɛkponnee gbɛre [gbɛ̀rɪ]́ n. mane pl: gbɛrre 2pl: gbɛle [gbɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. a long, thin strip of gbɛrɛɛ material e.g. rubber pl: gbɛlɛ 2pl: gbɛre [gbɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be unable to gbɛlɛɛ/gbɛllɛɛ walk due to a physical disabil- gbɛle [gbɛlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to wriggle one’s ity gbɛrɛɛ, gbɛrɛ, gbɛrɛ, gbɛrebɛ, torso (like in dancing) (2) way of gbɛraa, gbɛrebɛ begging where one wriggles one’s gbɛregbɛre [gbɛ̀rɪgbɛ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. crawl, wrist gbɛlɛɛ, gbɛlɛ, gbɛlɛ, gbɛlbɛ, walk with serious difficulty gbɛ- gbɛlaa, gbɛlbɛ regbɛrɛɛ, gbɛregbɛrɛ, gbɛregbɛrɛ, gbɛlee [gbɛléé]́ n. foot pl: gbɛbilii gbɛregbɛrbɛ, gbɛregbɛraa, gbɛre- 2pl: gbɛbilee gbɛrbɛ gbɛlɛɛ [gbɛ̀lɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. loose and sag- gbɛrɛ [gbɛ̀rɛ̀] n. sponge sg: gbɛrrɛɛ ging e.g. a rope 2pl: gbɛrɛɛ gbɛlgbɛle [gbɛ̀lgbɛ̀l] adv. long and gbɛroo [gbɛ̀rʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] n. weak and de- flowing jected; paralysis gbɛloŋkoraa [gbɛlòŋkòràá]́ n. the re- gbɛsampane [gbɛsámpánɪ́ ]́ n. top of gion at the back of the knee joint pl: foot pl: gbɛsampama 2pl: gbɛsam- gbɛloŋkorri 2pl: gbɛloŋkoree panɛɛ/gbɛsampannɛɛ gbɛlɔlɔraa [gbɛlɔ́ ̀lɔ̀ráà] n. calf (hu- gbɛsugili [gbɛsúglí]́ n. ankle pl: gbɛ- man body) pl: gbɛlɔlɔrre 2pl: sugilo 2pl: gbɛsugilee gbɛlɔlɔrɛɛ gbɛtanlori [gbɛtánlórí]́ n. half-bent gbɛneɛraa [gbɛníɛ́ ráá]́ n. footprint leg on the other pl: gbɛtanloe 2pl: pl: gbɛneɛre 2pl: gbɛneɛrɛɛ gbɛtanloree gbɛnne [gbɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to pluck gbɛtɛre [gbɛ̀tɛrɪ́ ]́ n. small pond, usu- (leaves) gbɛnnɛɛ, gbɛnnɛ, gbɛnnɛ, ally in the bush pl: gbɛtɛrre 2pl: gbɛnemɛ, gbɛnnaa, gbɛnemɛ gbɛtɛrɛɛ/gbɛtɛrrɛɛ Var. gbatare

138 gbɛtoloŋ gbogili gbɛtoloŋ [gbɛtʊ́ ́lʊ́ŋ] n. (1) the condi- gire, gbigire, gbigiribe, gbigiraa, tion of being fast-footed; quickness gbigiribe (2) intelligence pl: gbɛtola gbili [gbìlí] adj. silent, quiet pl: gbile gbɛtooraa [gbɛtʊ́ ́ ʊ́ráá] n. sock pl: 2pl: gbilee gbɛtoore 2pl: gbɛtoorɛɛ gbini [gbíní] n. bundle pl: gbime gbɛvelaa [gbɛvɪ́ làá]́ n. good luck, gbiŋ-gbiŋ [gbîŋ-gbîŋ] adv. manner good fortune pl: gbɛveɛle of running that is uninterrupted gbɛyeni [gbɛyénì]́ n. one-legged gbiŋi [gbíŋ] v. to cause to tremble thing or shake • Bibiiri deɛnɛ la a peɛ gbi [gbí] v. to kneel gbie, gbiire, gbii- lɛnso ka o gbine. Children are re, gbiribe, gbiiraa, gbiribe playing on the roof; that is why gbi [gbí] v. to break down a mud or the roof is shaking. gbiŋee, gbine, earth-made roof gbie, gbiire, gbi- gbine, gbinime, gbinaa, gbinime ire, gbiribe, gbiiraa, gbiribe gbiŋi [gbíŋ] v. to hypnotise; to put gbi [gbí] v. to harvest yams to into utter shock such that the per- make room for seed yams to grow son or thing cannot react • A dɔɔta gbie, gbiire, gbiire, gbiribe, gbi- kyɔge o la pimbiri ka o deɛ gbiŋi. iraa, gbiribe The doctor gave him an injection gbie [gbìé] n. forehead sg: gberuu pl: and he was put out. gbiŋee, gbine, gberi 2pl: gberee gbine, gbinime, gbinaa, gbinime gbiele [gbíélé] n. hands and arms gbireŋgbireŋ [gbíréŋgbíréŋ] adv. • N ba taa gbiele derɛ biiri. My solid and firm arms are too week to curdle chil- gbiri [gbírì] v. (1) to sleep (2) to co- dren. agulate, to clot gbiree, gbire, gbire, gbieli [gbíélí] n. elbow pl: gbiele 2pl: gbiribe, gbiraa, gbiribe gbielee Var. kpaŋkpannyugbieli, gbo [gbô] n. heart sg: gboruu pl: kpaŋkpaŋgbieli gbori 2pl: gboree gbieni [gbìènì] v. to crawl in pain, gbo [gbò] adv. a loud sound, usually to crawl painfully gbienee, gbiene, made when two solid things collide, gbiene, gbienime, gbienaa, gbieni- e.g. two bulls in a fight when their me heads crash gbigiri [gbígrì] v. to ruminate, to gbogili [gbóglì] v. (1) to pack chew cud gbigiree, gbigire, gbi- many objects on top of one an- gire, gbigiribe, gbigiraa, gbigiribe other (2) to stand up against each gbigiri [gbígrì] v. to shake to test other (quarrel) gbogilee, gbogilo, firmness e.g. a stem gbigiree, gbi- gbogilo, gbogilibo, gbogilaa

139 gbogiri gbori gbogiri [gbògrì] v. (1) to gnaw flesh gbonnɔ, gbonnɔ, gbonema, gbon- from a bone (2) to lick a container naa, gbonema clean e.g. a palatable soup pot gbo- gboŋgboli [gbóŋgbólí] n. big rodent gree, gbogiro, gbogiro, gbogiribo, pl: gboŋgbolo 2pl: gboŋgbolee gbogiraa gboŋgboŋ [gbóŋgbóŋ] adj. all of, gbogbo [gbògbò] adj. gluttonous completely gbole [gbʊ̀ lɪ]̀ v. to look up towards gboŋgboŋ [gbòŋgbôŋ] n. bucket; the sky • A naŋkpaana gbole kaa metal container pl: gboŋgbonni la a nuulee naŋ dɔɔ a teɛ zu. The 2pl: gboŋgbonee hunter looked up to see the bird in the tree. gbolɛɛ, gbollɔ, gbollɔ, gboŋgbopelaa [gbòŋgbòpɪlàá]̀ n. gboleba, gbollaa, gboleba jackal pl: gboŋgbopeɛle 2pl: gboŋ- gbopeɛlɛɛ gboli [gbòlí] adj. bare-headed (carrying a load on the head without a gboŋgbori [gbòŋgbòrí] n. hyena pl: pad); without attachment pl: gbolo gboŋgboe 2pl: gboŋgboree 2pl: gbolee gboŋi [gbòŋ] v. to press against be- gboli [gbólí] n. leather string tween two things.(finger between worn around the waist sg: two objects) gboŋee, gbonno, gbolee/gbollee pl: gbolo 2pl: gbonno, gbonimo, gbonnaa, gbo- gbolli nimo gboli [gbólí] v. to search earnestly; gboŋi [gbòŋ] v. (1) to pile up; to to rummage gbolee, gbolo, gbolo, pack together (2) to block an en- gbolibo, gbolaa, gbolibo trance (of a rodent’s hole) gboŋee, gboligboli [gbólgból] adj. sound of a gbonno, gbonno, gbonimo, gbon- loud echoing and persistent call naa, gbonimo gbolli [gbòllì] v. to harass; to pur- gbore [gbʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to hold water sue something or someone eagerly in the mouth (2) to conceal a hole gbollee, gbollo, gbollo, gbolbo, (of a rodent) gborɛɛ, gborɔ, gborɔ, gbollaa, gbolibo gboreba, gboraa, gboreba gbomo [gbómò] n. lumps of matter gboregbore [gbʊ̀ rgbʊ̀ rɪ]́ v. to gar- used by a rodent to block its hole gle gborgborɛɛ, gborgborɔ, gborg- against intruders 2pl: gbonnee borɔ, gborgboreba, gboregboraa, gbontori [gbòntòrí] n. ulcer pl: gborgboreba gbontoe Var. gbantori 2pl: gbon- gbori [gbórí] v. to move suddenly toree and strongly, to struggle • Vũũ gboŋe [gbʊ́ ŋ] v. to put pressure nyege la a bie ka o gbori na on (demanding action) gboŋɛɛ, tage yi a daa a doge lɔɔ. The fire

140 gbori gbuuli

burnt the child and as he strug- patient. (2) to drink as a couple gled to move away he pushed the from one calabash at the same time pot over. gboree, gboro, gboro, (traditional kiss) gbɔɡɛɛ, gbɔɡerɔ, gboribo, gboraa, gboribo gbɔɡerɔ, gbɔɡerebɔ, gbɔɡeraa gbori [gbòrí] n. ship, boat, canoe pl: gbɔge [gbɔ̀gɪ]́ adj. not full e.g. sack gboe 2pl: gboree/gborree of grain pl: gbɔgere gbori [gbòrí] n. door flap pl: gboe gbɔgele [gbɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to hold too many 2pl: gboree/gborree things at a time gbɔgelɛɛ, gbɔgelɔ, gbori [gbòrí] n. trough pl: gboe 2pl: gbɔgelɔ, gbɔgelebɔ, gbɔgelaa gboree/gborree gbɔgele [gbɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to assemble poorly e.g. broken-down ma- gbori [gbòrí] n. board on which chine gbɔgelɛɛ, gbɔgelɔ, gbɔgelɔ, meat is dressed and cut pl: gboe 2pl: gbɔgelebɔ, gbɔgelaa gboree/gborree gbɔgɔ [gbɔ̀gɔ̀] n. a type of reptile sim- gboribiri [gbòrbírì] n. key pl: gbori- ilar to the monitor lizard pl: gbɔgre bie 2pl: gboribiree/gboribiiree 2pl: gbɔgrɛɛ gborigbori [gbòrgbórí] v. to strug- gbɔgɔ [gbɔ́gɔ́] n. strong open cage gle, especially on the ground for carrying animals pl: gbɔgre 2pl: gborgboree, gborgboro, gborgbo- gbɔgrɛɛ Var. gbaga ro, gborgborbo, gborgboraa gbugbulee [gbúgbúlèè] n. tadpole pl: gborikuŋkuni [gbòrìkúŋkúní] n. gbugbulli 2pl: gbugbullee padlock pl: gborikuŋkunni/gbori- kuŋkumo 2pl: gborikuŋkumee gbuli [gbùlí] adj. whole pl: gbulo Var. saafema 2pl: gbulo gbulo gborivuuri [gbòrvúúrì] n. paddle pl: gbulli [gbùllì] v. (1) to make into a gborivue 2pl: gborivuuree ball (2) to come together in large numbers • A pɔge mɔŋe la a fan- gborogboro [gbòrògbòrò] adj. very fane baare a nyɔge gbulli gbulli large e.g. grains sidi sidi. When the woman fin- gboroto [gbórótó] adv. the manner ished making the soap she made it of meeting face-to-face suddenly into balls of one cedi each. -, gbullo, gbotole [gbʊ̀ tʊ́lɪ]́ n. bush baby gbullo, gbulibo, gbullaa, gbulibo (animal) pl: gbotola 2pl: gbutuli [gbùtùlí] n. uninformed per- gbotolɛɛ/gbotollɛɛ son; fool pl: gbutulo 2pl: gbutulee gbɔɡe [gbɔ̀ɡɪ]̀ v. (1) to be close to, gbuuli [gbúúlí] v. see guuli (make to be next to • O zeŋ gbɔge la a knot) gbuulee, gbuulo, gbuulo, a baala. He is seated close to the gbuulibo, gbuulaa

141 gyaaŋkoli gyee gy gyaaŋkoli [dzàáŋkólí] n. the sacrum gyangyagera [dzàndzágrá] n. one and coccyx pl: gyaaŋkolo 2pl: who behaves abnormally; insane gyaaŋkolee Var. gyikoli person sg: gyangyagerebɛɛ 2pl: gyaare [dzààrɪ]̀ v. to rake, to sweep gyangyagereba roughly gyaarɛɛ, gyaara, gyaara, gyangyagera [dzàndzágrá] n. fried gyaareba, gyaaraa, gyaareba corn or bean flour mixed with veg- gyaaroo [dzáárʊ́ʊ́ ] n. a type of wild etables 2pl: gyangyagrɛɛ mouse pl: gyaara 2pl: gyaarɛɛ gyaŋgbaa [dzáŋgbàá] n. something gyãayo [dzã́ã́yò] n. thanks pl: gyãa- that is acidic; usually harmful pl: yori 2pl: gyãayoree gyaŋgbaare 2pl: gyaŋgbaarɛɛ Gyabuni [dzàbùnì] n. a type of idol gyaŋgbeɛ [dzáŋgbɪɛ́ ]́ n. small child with magical powers among the pl: gyaŋgbeere 2pl: gyaŋgbeerɛɛ Dagaaba pl: gyabunni/gyabumo gyaŋgboŋi [dzàŋgbòŋ] n. house 2pl: gyabunee mouse pl: gyaŋgbonni 2pl: gyaŋ- gyabuno [dzàbùnò] n. fetish pl: gbonnee Var. gyoŋgboŋi gyabunni/gyabumo 2pl: gyabun- nee/gyabumee Var. gyabuni gyaŋgboro [dzàŋgbòrò] n. fried dough made from the leaves of a gyaga [dzàgà] adj. useless small plant 2pl: gyaŋgboree gyage [dzàgɪ]̀ v. (1) to face a gyaŋgboro [dzáŋgbóró] n. a type of task that is difficult surmount (2) small plant with edible leaves sg: jack gyagɛɛ, gyagera, gyagera, gyaŋgboruu 2pl: gyaŋgboree gyagereba, gyageraa, gyagereba gyagele [dzàglɪ]̀ v. to hang on to, to gyaŋgbɔgɔ [dzǎŋgbɔ̀gɔ̀] n. a type of support lightly gyaglɛɛ, gyagela, monitor lizard pl: gyaŋgbɔgre 2pl: gyagela, gyageleba, gyagelaa, gyaŋgbɔgrɛɛ gyageleba gyarema [dzàrɪmá]̀ n. a type of yam gyambiri [ʣàbírì] n. clitoris Var. farm where sticks with branches zibiri are used to support the vine of the yam 2pl: gyaremɛɛ gyammo [dzàmmʊ́] n. clitoris pl: gyama 2pl: gyamɛɛ/gyannɛɛ Var. gyarima [dzárɪmá]́ n. a type of gyampegere [dzàmpɪgrɪ́ ]́ n. comb tree with medicinal properties 2pl: (of a rooster) pl: gyampegɛ 2pl: gyaremɛɛ gyampegɛɛ/gyampegerɛɛ Var. gyee [dzɪɪ̀ ]̀ v. short form of gyeere gbammo gyeeɛ, gyeerɛ, gyeerɛ, gyeerebɛ

142 gyeere gyere gyeere [dzɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. to circle around gyegiri [dzégrí] v. to counter some- from front to back of an object; to one’s speech; to challenge gye- move away from; to change envi- giree, gyegire, gyegire, gyegiribe, ronment gyeerɛɛ, gyeerɛ, gyeerɛ, gyegiraa, gyegiribe gyeerebɛ, gyeeraa, gyeerebɛ Var. gyelaa [dzɪlàá]̀ n. carnivorous ani- gyee mal pl: gyelaare 2pl: gyelaarɛɛ gyeɛne [dzɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ v. to lurk; wishing to gyell [dzɪll]̀ adj. protuding e.g. arrow do something • A noɔ gyeɛnɛ la a stuck in an animal kyi. The fowl is lurking around the gyemɛ [dzɪmɛ̀ ̀] n. convulsion, dis- millet. gyeɛnɛɛ, gyeɛnɛ, gyeɛnɛ, ease of children 2pl: gyemɛɛ gyeɛnemɛ, gyeɛnaa, gyeɛnemɛ gyemɛ [dzɪmɛ̀ ̀] n. short form of dãã- gyeɛne [dzɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. see gyɛngyeɛne gyemɛ 2pl: gyemɛɛ (protrusion) pl: gyeɛmɛ 2pl: gyeɛmɛɛ gyena [dzɪnà]́ n. fairy pl: gyenne 2pl: gyennɛɛ gyeɛraa [dzɪɛ̀ ̀ràà] n. plume, long feather (of a rooster) pl: gyeɛre 2pl: gyenne [dzɪnnɪ̀ ]̀ v. to test gyennɛɛ, gyeɛrɛɛ gyennɛ, gyennɛ, gyenemɛ, gyennaa, gyenemɛ gyefa [dzɪfà]́ n. pocket pl: gyefare 2pl: gyefarɛɛ gyenne [dzɪnnɪ̀ ]̀ v. to waylay, to plan evil against gyennɛɛ, gyennɛ, gyefa [dzɪfà]́ n. unclean thing pl: gyennɛ, gyenemɛ, gyennaa, gyen- gyefare 2pl: gyefarɛɛ emɛ gyege [dzɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be fully grown, to gyennoo [dzɪnnʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. test, examina- be strong, to be powerful gyegɛɛ, tion 2pl: gyennɛɛ gyegerɛ, gyegerɛ, gyegerebɛ, gyegeraa, gyegerebɛ gyeraa [dzɪráà]̀ n. woven grass bracelet worn on the wrist pl: gyer- gyegele [dzɪglɪ́ ]́ n. a spiritually pow- re 2pl: gyerrɛɛ erful person pl: gyegelle 2pl: gyegelɛɛ gyeraa [dzɪráá]́ adj. short (distance) gyegere [dzɪgrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to display gyere [dzɪrɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to cross between one’s supernatural power, to chal- (two objects) (2) to stumble gyerɛɛ, lenge gyegerɛɛ, gyegerɛ, gyegerɛ, gyerɛ, gyerɛ, gyerebɛ, gyeraa, gye- gyegerebɛ, gyegeraa, gyegerebɛ rebɛ gyegiri [dzégrí] v. to mix by placing gyere [dzɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. to subside (of rain) things in between others gyegiree, gyerɛɛ, gyerɛVar. yoɔ gyegire, gyegire, gyegiribe, gyegi- gyere [dzɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to set an arrow on raa, gyegiribe a bow ready to shoot (2) to carry

143 gyere gyɛnee

an axe on the neck gyerɛɛ, gyerɛ, Gyɛle [dzɛ̀lì] n. (1) a stream in Kaane gyerɛ, gyerebɛ, gyeraa, gyerebɛ (2) a native named after this stream gyere [dzɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to pierce through to pl: gyɛlɛ 2pl: gyɛlɛɛ the other side gyerɛɛ, gyerɛ, gyerɛ, gyɛle [dzɛlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to rummage; to gyerebɛ, gyeraa, gyerebɛ look through searching (2) to anal- gyere [dzɪrɪ́ ]́ n. portion unattended yse gyɛlɛɛ, gyɛlɛ, gyɛlɛ, gyɛlebɛ, to (part of farm) pl: gyerre 2pl: gy- gyɛlaa, gyɛlebɛ erɛɛ/gyerrɛɛ gyɛle [dzɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. egg sg: gyɛlee pl: gyeremɛ [dzɪrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. (1) respect, gyɛlɛ 2pl: gyɛllɛɛ honour, homage (2) fifty-fifty (gambling) 2pl: gyeremɛɛ gyɛle [dzɛ̀lɪ]́ n. (1) thought (2) (used with bare) not giving thought; ab- gyeremiri [dzɪrɪ́ mírí]́ n. rope made sent minded • A porisi bare la from a type of grass (kantɛrɛɛ) gyɛle ka a nannyige zo. The po- pl: gyeremie 2pl: gyeremi- lice did not pay attention, so the iree/gyeremiree thief escaped. gyeremuri [dzɪrìmúrí]̀ n. a type of river grass stalk pl: gyeremue 2pl: gyɛlemɛ [dzɛ̀lɪmɛ̀ ]́ n. smallpox 2pl: gyeremuree gyɛlmɛɛ Gyerɛbaa [dzɪrɛ̀ ̀bàá] n. Jirapa (the gyɛleŋmɛne [dzɛlɪ́ ŋmɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. (1) snail main town in Central Dagao) (2) shellfish pl: gyɛleŋmɛmɛ 2pl: gyerɛgyerɛ [dzɪrɛ́ dzɪ́ rɛ̀ ̀] n. a type of gyɛleŋmɛmɛɛ skin disease gyɛlpɛge [dzɛlpɛ́ gɪ́ ]̀ n. eggshell pl: gyerre [dzɪrrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to crisscross; lying gyɛlpɛgre/gyɛlpɛgɛ 2pl: gyɛlpɛ- across one another (used with taa) • grɛɛ A bibiiri le gyerre la taa. The chil- gyɛlzizeɛ [dzɛ̀lzìzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. yolk pl: dren fell crisscrossing each other. gyɛlzeere 2pl: gyɛlzeerɛɛ • A teere le gyerre la taa. The trees fell across one another. gyer- gyɛmɛgyɛmɛ [dzɛmɛ́ dzɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ adj. rɛɛ, gyerrɛ, gyerrɛ, gyerbɛ, gyer- slowly and unnoticed, jokingly • raa A kɔlaa e la gyɛmɛgyɛmɛlɛ kyɛ ɔɔ a nɛne zaa. The cat ate all the gyɛ [dzɛ]́ v. (1) to reject, to meat without anyone noticing it. refuse to accept (in protest or annoyance) (2) to abandon gyɛɛ, gyɛndaa [dzɛ̀ndàá] n. spindle pl: gyeɛrɛ, gyeɛrɛ, gyeɛrebɛ, gyeɛraa, gyɛndaare 2pl: gyɛndarɛɛ gyeɛrebɛ gyɛnee [dzɛ̀nɪɪ́ ]́ n. groundnut, Gyɛɛmaan [dzɛɛ́ máán]́ n. Germany peanut (Southern Dagaare dialect) 2pl: gyɛɛmanɛɛ 2pl: gyɛnnɛɛ

144 gyɛngyeɛne gyilnyaa gyɛngyeɛne [dzɛ̀ndzɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. pro- gyɛre [dzɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to stand firm, to trusion, part sticking out pl: not fall e.g. after a stumble gyɛrɛɛ, gyɛngyeɛmɛ 2pl: gyɛngyeɛmɛɛ gyɛrɛ, gyɛrɛ, gyɛrebɛ, gyɛraa, gyɛngyɛŋ [dzɛndzɛ́ ŋ]́ n. circle ar- gyɛrebɛ rangement for advancement. (war) gyieli [dzìèlì] v. (1) to note, to ex- gyɛngyɛre [dzɛ̀ngyɛ̀rɪ]́ n. a climb- amine (2) to count gyielee, gyiele, ing plant pl: gyɛngyɛrre 2pl: gyiele, gyielbe, gyielaa gyɛngyɛrɛɛ gyieri [dzìèrì] v. to grind into coarse gyɛnne [dzɛ̀nnɪ]́ adv. please, beg • powder gyieree, gyiere, gyiere, Gyɛnne, ɔŋe kõɔ ko ma ka N gyieribe, gyieraa nyu. Please, give me some water to gyiili [dzííĺí] n. (1) tendon (2) artery drink. (3) nerve sg: gyiiluu pl: gyiile 2pl: gyɛnterɛ [dzɛntɪ́ rɛ́ ̀] n. (1) prostitute gyiilee (2) not sticking to one thing, jump- gyikoli [dzìkólí] n. the sacrum ing from one thing to another pl: and coccyx pl: gyikolo 2pl: gyɛnterre 2pl: gyɛnterrɛɛ gyikolee/gyikollee Var. gyaaŋkoli gyɛŋe [dzɛŋ]̌ adj. extensive; deep • A gyildaa [dzìldáá] n. less loud sound- naŋkpaana kpɛ la mɔ-gyɛŋe. The ing one of the pair of xylophones hunter has gone into the deep bush. pl: gyidaare 2pl: gyildaarɛɛ pl: gyɛnne 2pl: gyɛnnɛɛ Var. gyaŋ gyildoɔle [dzìldʊɔlɪ] n. xylophone gyɛŋe [dzɛŋ]́ v. (1) to move un- ́ ́ ́ steadily (2) to move aside gyɛŋɛɛ, mallet sg: gyildoɔloo pl: gyildoɔlɔ gyɛŋenɛ/gyɛnnɛ, gyɛŋenɛ/gyɛnnɛ, 2pl: gyildoɔlɛɛ gyɛŋenaa/gyɛnnaa, gyɛŋen- gyili [dzìlí] n. xylophone pl: gyile emɛ/gyɛnemɛ 2pl: gyilee/gyillee gyɛŋe [dzɛ̀ŋ] n. thought, mind pl: gyili [dzílí] v. to surround, to go be- gyɛnne 2pl: gyɛnnɛɛ Var. gyaŋe hind • Teere are gyili la a bulee. gyɛŋgɛlɛ [dzɛŋgɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. measles 2pl: The well is surrounded by trees. gyɛŋgɛlɛɛ gyilee, gyile, gyile, gyilibe, gyilaa, gyilibe gyɛŋgyɛŋ [dzɛŋdzɛ̌ ŋ]̌ n. mind, thought gyilkoɔre [dzìlkʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. gourd used gyɛre [dzɛrɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to be mixed up in making the xylophone pl: gyil- (different types) (2) to be confused, kɔɛ 2pl: gyilkɔrɛɛ to be disturbed (mad) (3) to not be gyilnyaa [dzìlɲáà] n. the base chord in good health gyɛrɛɛ, gyɛrɛ, gyɛrɛ, area of the xylophone pl: gyil- gyɛrbɛ, gyɛraa, gyɛrbɛ nyaane 2pl: gyilnyaanɛɛ

145 gyilnyaŋaa gyɔreba gyilnyaŋaa [dzìlɲáŋáá] n. the more gyolom [dzólóm] adv. quietly Var. loud sounding between a pair of xy- gyoloŋ, gyolomm lophones pl: gyilnyanne 2pl: gyil- gyolomm [dzolomm] adv. quietly nyannɛɛ and slowly (on tiptoe) Var. gyolom gyiri [dzírí] n. cordlike talisman gyongyolingyo [dzǒngyólǐndzó] worn on the waist, believed to have adv. squat squarely, with knees supernatural power pl: gyirri 2pl: fully bent gyiree gyongyoŋ [dzòngyóŋ] v. to move gyiri [dzírí] v. to bring about a on tiptoe gyongyoŋee, gyongy- change that makes life difficult • ono, gyongyono, gyongyonimo, A zie gyiri ka donɛɛ kpeɛbo e gyongyonaa, - Var. gyɔngyɔŋ kpeɛŋaa. Society has declined and gyoŋene [dzʊŋɪnɪ] v. to make un- life has become difficult. gyiree, ̀ ̀ ̀ lively, to make dull gyoŋenɛɛ, gyo- gyire, gyire, gyirbe, gyiraa ŋena, gyoŋena, gyoŋenema, gyo- gyirimuri [dzìrìmúrí] n. sulphur pl: ŋenaa, gyoŋenema Var. gyoone gyirimue 2pl: gyirimuree gyoŋgoroŋ [dzóŋgóróŋ] adj. a little gyoboraa [dzʊ̀ bʊ̀ ràà] n. carnivore, higher or taller than e.g. a leopard pl: gyoborre. 2pl: gyoborɛɛ/gyoborrɛɛ gyoŋgboŋi [dzòŋgbǒŋ] n. house mouse pl: gyoŋgbonni 2pl: gyoŋ- gyoge [dzʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. (1) to pull mouth gbonee Var. gyaŋgboŋi or lips in front to show anger. (typically used with noɔre) (2) to gyoone [dzʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to become in- weed badly gyogrɛɛ, gyogra, gyo- active gyoonɛɛ, gyoona, gyoona, gra, gyogreba, gyograa, - Var. gyo- gyoonema, gyoonaa, - Var. gy- gere oŋene gyogere [dzʊ̀ grɪ]̀ v. to clear growth gyore [dzʊ́rɪ]́ v. to work at or make badly (barbing or hoeing) gyo- badly, to spoil e.g. haircut gyo- gerɛɛ, gyogera, gyogera, gyo- rɛɛ, gyora, gyora, gyoreba, gyogereba, gyogeraa, gyogereba Var. raa, gyoreba gyoge gyɔŋgyɔŋ [dzɔ̀ŋdzɔ́ŋ] n. to move gyogili [dzòglì] v. to hold on to haphazardly on one’s toes Var. lightly and gently gyogilee, gyo- gyongyoŋ gilo, gyogilo, gyogilibo, gyogilaa, gyɔ̃ɔ [dzɔ̀̃ɔ̀̃] adv. tall and lanky Var. gyogilibo gyɔgyɔ̃ɔ gyogo [dzógó] n. behaviour, charac- gyɔreba [dzɔ́rɪbá]́ n. long, loose ter pl: gyogiri 2pl: gyogiree dress worn by women; tunic pl: gyoll [dzʊ̀ ll] adv. appearing alone gyɔrebare 2pl: gyɔrebarɛɛ

146 gyuuni hare gyuuni [dzùùnì] n. vulture pl: gyuu- mo 2pl: gyuunee h ha [há] v. to hire haɛ, haara, haara, hale [hálɪ]̀ v. to smell strongly and hareba, haaraa unpleasantly, to reek halɛɛ, hala, haa [háà] v. to open by stretching halla, haleba, halaa, haleba out two ends e.g. lips haaɛ, haara, hale [hálɪ]̀ v. to speak in anger halɛɛ, haara, haareba, haaraa, haareba hala, halla, haleba, halaa, haleba haa [hàá] adv. all (Central Dagaare halhale [hàlhálɪ]́ v. to strive with, to dialect) Var. zaa struggle halhalɛɛ, halhala, halhala, haale [háálɪ]̀ adv. even, extremely halhaleba, halhalaa Var. haali haligba [hálìgbà] conj. even haali [háálì] adv. greatly, very much hama [hámà] n. hammer pl: hamare haali [háálì] conj. even if • Haali 2pl: hamarɛɛ ka a bieŋ wa kyɛ te koŋ o a gane. hama [hàmá] adv. plenty Even if the child comes we will not hamama [hàmàmà] adj. resounding give him/her the book. (singing) haanaa [háánáá] n. blackberry pl: hamamma [hàmàmmà] adj. loudly haane 2pl: haanɛɛ and continuously haare [háárɪ] v. to shout at; to ̀ hamm [hàmm] adv. large frighten or drive away haarɛɛ, haara, haara, haareba, haaraa, hankyere [hánʧɪrɪ́ ]́ n. handkerchief haareba pl: hankyeɛ 2pl: hankyerɛɛ hage [hágɪ]́ v. (1) hold tight • A haŋe [háŋ] v. (1) to suffer (2) to per- dɔɔ hage la o pɔge nyuu taa lɛ. spire, sweat (nd) haŋɛɛ, hana, hana, The man held tight to his wife’s hanema, hanaa, hanema neck. (2) tighten • Ka fooŋ wa hap [háp] v. to clutch tightly (North nyɔge foŋ hage taa lɛ. When you Dagaare dialect) habɛɛ, hapra, get hold of it tighten your grip. hapra, hapreba, hapraa, hapreba hagɛɛ, hagera, hagera, hagereba, harahara [háráhárá] adv. rough hageraa, hagereba hare [hàrɪ]̀ v. of the stomach (over- ha-haa [hà-háá] adv. wide open whelmed by hunger) hanrɛɛ, hara, hai [háí] interj. so? hara, hareba, haraa, hareba

147 helli huuni helli [héllí] v. sharp shout e.g. dur- hiini [hììnì] v. to cry earnestly, to ing hearty laughter; the sharp cry wail, to sob, to moan hiinee, hiine, of a dog when hit hellee, helle, hiine, hiinime, hiinaa, hiinime helle, helibe, hellaa hiri [hìrì] v. to get to the climax heŋi [héŋ] v. to draw in one’s hiree, hire stomach heŋee, heŋine/henne, hiri [hìrì] v. to become hot hiree, heŋine/henne, henime, hennaa, hire henime hiri [hìrì] v. to become serious hiree, heremm [hérèmm] adj. very tight hire hɛɛ [hɛɛ́ ̀] interj. caution, be careful hogoko [hògòkò] adv. intensely red hɛɛ [hɛɛ́ ]́ adv. overtaken completely holi [hólí] n. triangular blade pl: e.g. sleep holo 2pl: hollee hɛge [hɛ̀gɪ]̀ v. to increase e.g. fire hoo [hòò] adv. open and endless hɛgɛɛ, hɛgerɛ, hɛgerɛ, hɛgerebɛ, hoo [hóó] interj. hooting hɛgeraa, hɛgerebɛ hõo [hʊ̀̃ ʊ̀̃ ] interj. expression of de- hɛgele [hɛglɪ́ ]́ v. to cramp hɛgelɛɛ, spair, depression hɛgelɛ, hɛgelɛ, hɛgelebɛ, hɛgelaa, hɛgelebɛ hoone [hʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to growl hoonɛɛ, hoonɔ, hoonɔ, honema, hoonaa, hɛgelɛgɛ [hɛgɪ́ lɛ́ gɛ́ ]́ adv. tired and honema helpless Var. sɛgelɛgɛ hɔɔpɛmpɛlɛŋ [hɔ̀ɔ̀pɛmpɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ n. hɛgere [hɛgrɪ́ ]̀ v. to pant e.g. dog spleen pl: hɔɔpɛmpɛlle 2pl: hɛgerɛɛ, hɛgerɛ, hɛgerɛ, hɛgerebɛ, hɔɔpɛmpɛlɛɛ Var. zagepɛmpɛlɛŋ hɛgeraa, hɛgerebɛ hunihuni [hùnìhúní] v. (1) to speak hɛgɛkɛ [hɛ̀gɛ̀kɛ̀] adv. large and red in undertone (2) to gossip huni- e.g. bonfire hunee, hunihuno, hunihuno, hu- hɛmɛmmɛ [hɛ̀mɛ̀mmɛ̀] adj. very nihunimoVar. vunnii sweet hunni [húnnì] v. whisper into the hɛrɛ [hɛ̀rɛ̀] adv. manner of taking a ear, gossip hunnee, hunno, hunno, big sip of fluid hunimo, hunnaaa hieri [híérì] v. to yawn hieree, hiere, huuni [húúní] v. (1) to hum (dispir- hiere, hieribe, hieraa, hieribe ited) (2) of a dog’s expression of a hĩi [hĩĩ̀ ]̀ interj. expression of sorrow familiar person; welcome huunee, (sobbing) huuno, huuno, huunimo, huunaa

148 iini kãaburi i iini [ììnì] v. to get charged up • Ba subtract, to take away (4) to create to la a dɔɔ ka o iini gbie kyɛ sɔrɔ iree, ire, ire, iribe, iraa, iribe yɛlɛ. They insulted the man and he iribare n. subtraction got charged up and started grum- iri noɔre (5) to answer, to respond bling. (to a question) (6) to explain (7) to ingyi [índzì] n. engine pl: ingyime fulfil a promise 2pl: ingyinnee iri pɔge to elope with a woman iri suuri to annoy inni [ìnnì] v. to forget innee, inne, iri yuori to praise inne, inime, innaa, - Var. yinni iriŋ [íríŋ] n. kind, race, species 2pl: iree [ìréè] n. duiker (small antelope) irree pl: irri 2pl: irree iriŋ-iriŋ [írìŋ-írìŋ] adv. of all kinds, iri [ìrì] v. to rise, to stand up iree, ire, types Var. iruŋ-iruŋ ire, iribe, iraa, iribe irizeɛ [ìrìzìɛ̀] n. a type of small but iri [írì] v. (1) to choose, to pick (2) fast and clever antelope pl: irizeere to take out (from a container) (3) to 2pl: irizeerɛɛ k ka [ká] conj. that (introducing sub- kaa [kàà] v. (1) to look, to watch (2) ordinated clauses) • O yeli ka ba to take care of kaaɛ, kaara, kaara, gɛrɛ. S/he said s/he would not go. kaareba, kaaraa ka [kà] conj. (1) if • Ka saaŋ mi kãa [kã́ã́] n. (1) oil; butter (2) fat (3) ba na bore la. If it rains, they will nectar e.g. in honey sg: kaanoo 2pl: sow their crops. (2) and • O maale kaanɛɛ la diibu de wa ko te. S/he cooked kaabanyɛ [káábányɛ]́ n. direspect and brought it to us. kaabo [káábʊ̀ ] n. millet plant pl: kyi ka [ká] v. to bail out (water) kaɛ, 2pl: kyiree kaara, kaara, kaareba, kaaraa kãaboli [kã́ã́bòlí] n. pure liquid oil pl: kaa [káà] v. (1) to curse (2) to in- kãabolo 2pl: kãabolee voke kaaɛ, kaara, kaara, kaareba, kãaburi [kã́ã́búrí] n. burnt residue kaaraa, - Var. kaale from shea butter pl: kãaburri 2pl:

149 kãaburituo kage

kãaburee gaba) • Ba iri la kparoo ko kãaburituo [kã́ã́bùrìtúó] n. type of a bie ka o deɛ kaare gaba. A residue from the last stage of shea shirt was given to the boy and he butter preparation pl: kãaburituuri left at once. kaarɛɛ, kaara, kaara, 2pl: kãaburituuree kaareba, kaaraa, kaareba kaale [káálɪ]́ v. (1) to invoke (2) kaarebiri [kàárɪbírí]̀ n. sputum sg: to perform a libation kaalɛɛ, kaala, kaarebiruu pl: kaarebie 2pl: kaare- kaala, kaaleba, kaalaa, kaaleba biree/kaarebiiree Var. kaa kaaterɛ [káàtɪrɛ̀ ]́ n. cursed one pl: kaale [kààlɪ]̀ v. to gather e.g. kaaterre 2pl: kaaterɛɛ soil, grains kaalɛɛ, kaala, kaala, kaa tĩĩ [kàà tĩĩ́ ]́ v. look closely kaaɛ kaaleba, kaalaa, kaaleba tĩi, kaara tĩi kaalɔɔ [káálɔ̀ɔ́] adv. little thing eaten kãazẽɛ [kã́ã́zɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. debris from final instantly preparation of shea butter oil 2pl: kaama [káámá] n. lively state 2pl: kãazẽɛnɛɛ kaamɛɛ kabiri [kábírì] n. millet grain sg: kaamaako [káámáákò] n. persis- kabiruu pl: kabie 2pl: kabiiree tence kabooroo [kábʊ́ʊ́rʊ́ʊ́] n. millet seed kaapɔge [kàápɔ́gɪ]̀ adv. maybe, per- pl: kaboora 2pl: kaboorɛɛ haps • Saa koe la kaapɔge o na kabɔrɔ [kábɔ́rɔ̀] n. fresh, mature mi la. Rain clouds have gathered, guinea corn 2pl: kabɔrɛɛ it may rain. kabulo [kábúló] n. sown sprouts of kaaraa [kááráá] n. lumpy paste millet 2pl: kabulee made from bean flour pl: kaarɛɛ kadaa [kádàá] n. (1) millet stalk (2) kaare [káárɪ]̀ n. car pl: kaɛ/kɛɛ 2pl: long stick for threshing millet pl: kaarɛɛ kadaare 2pl: kadarɛɛ/kadaarɛɛ kaare [kààrɪ]̀ v. to drag e.g. feet on kadaara [kádààrà] n. millet or the ground kaarɛɛ, kaara, kaara, guinea corn that is not properly kaareba, kaaraa, kaareba matured 2pl: kadaarɛɛ kaare [káárɪ]́ v. to clear one’s throat; kadori [kádórí] n. heap of millet pl: to cough up (phlegm) kaarɛɛ, kadorri 2pl: kadoree kaara, kaara, kaareba, kaaraa, kafini [kàfìní] n. lance pl: kafime kaareba 2pl: kafinnee kaare [káárɪ]́ v. (1) to move away kage [kàgɪ]̀ v. to hold firmly on to (2) to move away immediately, kagɛɛ, kagera, kagera, kagereba, not to return (typically used with kageraa, kagereba

150 kage kalenyaa kage [kágɪ]́ adv. stay intently kakyeerɛ [káʧɪɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. second-grade kagelaŋ [kàglàŋ] adv. large and long millet 2pl: kakyeerɛɛ kagere [kágrɪ]̀ v. to beckon, to touch kakyeɛrɛ [káʧɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. one who har- to call the attention of kagerɛɛ, vests millet pl: kakyeɛrebɛ 2pl: kagera, kagera, kagereba, kageraa, kakyeɛrebɛɛ kagereba kakyo [káʧó] n. basket strainer pl: kagere [kágrɪ]̀ v. to bite or cut lightly kakyori 2pl: kakyoree kagerɛɛ, kagera, kagera, kagereba, Kala [kàlà] n. a type of fetish kageraa, kagereba kala [kàlà] n. dog pl: kalle 2pl: kagesaga [kágɪságá]́ adv. small and kalɛɛ/kallɛɛ dry kalakala [kàlàkàlà] adv. slightly bit- kagesaga [kàgɪsàgà]̀ adv. large and ter dry kalbiri [kalbiri] n. dawdaw spice kagbin [kágbín] n. ears of corn or (seed) sg: kalbiruu pl: kalbie 2pl: millet tied together pl: kagbime kalbire/kalbiiree 2pl: kagbinnee kale [kálɪ]́ n. suffering, woe as a re- kagbulo [kágbùlò] n. unbroken mil- sult of another pesrson’s action 2pl: let seeds 2pl: kagbulee kalɛɛ kaka [kàkà] n. hippopotamus pl: kale [kálɪ]̀ n. spice made from daw- kakare 2pl: kakarɛɛ daw seed sg: kaloo 2pl: kallɛɛ kakaduro [kákádúró] n. ginger sg: kale [kálɪ]̀ v. to scoop water in small kakaduruu pl: kakadurri 2pl: amounts e.g. washing hands kalɛɛ, kakaduree kalla, kalla, kaleba, kallaa, kaleba kakalaa [kákáláá] n. a type of kale [kálɪ]̀ v. to make a short com- tree; has extremely hard wood pl: ment on another person’s speech kakalle 2pl: kakalɛɛ kalɛɛ, kalla, kalla, kaleba, kallaa, Kakube [kákúbé] n. a farming fes- kaleba tival of the Nandom people 2pl: kalekale [kákál] adv. foul-smelling kakubee kalekale [kàlkàlɪ]̀ v. to move in a kakubo [kákúbò] n. millet mixed jerky manner kalekalɛɛ, kalekala, with stones 2pl: kakubee kalkala, kalekaleba, kalekalaa, kakumo [kǎkúmò] n. donkey pl: kalekaleba kakunni 2pl: kakunnee kalenyaa [kàlɲàá] n. a type of spiky kakpennɛ [kákpɪnnɛ́ ̀] n. untidy mil- grass that causes skin irritation pl: let 2pl: kakpennɛɛ kalenyaane 2pl: kalenyaanɛɛ

151 kaleŋkaa kampili kaleŋkaa [kálɪŋkáá]̀ n. gall pl: kamaabiri [kámáábírì] n. kernel (of kaleŋkaare 2pl: kalen.kaarɛɛ Var. corn, maize) sg: kamaabiruu pl: ka- yamm maabie 2pl: kamaabiiree kaleŋkaloɔraa [kálɪŋkálʊ́ ́ɔ́ráá] n. kamaadaa [kámáádàá] n. maize a round smooth stone used in stalk pl: kamaadaare 2pl: ka- grinding pl: kaleŋkaloɔre 2pl: maadaarɛɛ kaleŋkaloɔrɛɛ Var. kaleŋkoɔraa kamaadakɔɔre [kámáádàkɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. kaleŋkawerɛ [kálɪŋkàwɪ́ rɛ̀ ̀] n. a type corncob pl: kamaadakɔbɔ 2pl: ka- of wasp sg: kaleŋkaweroo 2pl: maadakɔɔrɛɛ kaleŋkawerɛɛ kamaalɔnzeere [kámáálɔ̌nzɪɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. kaleŋkoɔraa [kálɪŋkʊ́ ́ɔ̀ráá] n. corn silk pl: kamaalɔnzeerɛɛ round stone pl: kaleŋkoɔre 2pl: kamaane [kàmáánɪ]̀ n. maize sg: ka- kaleŋkoɔrɛɛ Var. kaleŋkaloɔraa maanoo pl: kamaana 2pl: ka- kaleŋmeɛ [kálŋmɪɛ́ ̀] n. a type of bird maanɛɛ pl: kaleŋmeɛne 2pl: kaleŋmeɛnɛɛ kamaapɛge [kámáápɛgɪ́ ]́ n. corn Var. kareŋmeɛ husk pl: kamaapɛgre 2pl: ka- kalere [kàlɪrɪ́ ]́ n. oath in which one maapɛgrɛɛ gives away one’s food if one fails to kamakama [kámákámá] adj. brittle twist a finger on another while eat- and light ing (used by children) pl: kalerre kamalaɛ [kámàláɪ]̀ n. carbide lamp; 2pl: kalerɛɛ headlamp used by hunters at night kalinfuoro [kálínfúóró] n. bit of the pl: kamalaare 2pl: kamalaarɛɛ sign 2pl: kalinfuoree kamasɛle [kàmàsɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. a type of kalpigiraa [kálpígráà] n. ball of daw- thorny, poisonous tree 2pl: ka- daw spice pl: kalpigiri masɛlɛɛ kalsoro [kálesóró] n. water used to kamɔnɔ [kámɔ́nɔ́] n. driver pl: wash dawdaw seed for spice 2pl: kamɔnema 2pl: kamɔnnɛɛ kalesoree kampala [kàmpàlà] n. a type of kama [kámá] adj. close eyes shortly smart hunting dog pl: kampalle • O poɔ zaã bɛ o la tensoga ka o 2pl: kampalɛɛ/kampallɛɛ daŋ gaabo kyɛ o nimri zaã ba kyɛ kampele [kámpɪl]̀ n. city, town pl: kama. Last night, s/he had an up- kampelɛ 2pl: kampelɛɛ set stomch and went to bed early, kampili [kámpílí] n. thatched hut but s/he did not get a wink of sleep. pl: kampile 2pl: kampilee Var. kama [kàmà] adj. cut sharply kampiluu

152 kampoŋi kantɛroo kampoŋi [kámpʊ́ŋ] n. camp pl: kam- kankyeemɛ [kánʧɪɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. one hired ponne 2pl: kamponɛɛ to cook for another 2pl: kankyee- kana [káná] n. thick paste mɛɛ made from flour and broth 2pl: kankyɛle [kánʧɛlɪ́ ]́ n. a type of large kanɛɛ/kannɛɛ tree with large, shiny leaves pl: kanaakanaa [kànààkànàà] adj. kankyɛlɛ 2pl: kankyɛlɛɛ stretched to the limit; tight kankyɛlpelaa [kánʧɛ̀lpɪlàá]̀ n. a kananna [kánánná] adj. not coming type of tree pl: kankyɛlpeɛle 2pl: forth • A saana wa la kyɛ deɛ e kankyɛlpeɛlɛɛ kananna. The stranger came here kankyiri [kànʧírí] n. a type of and made a permanent stay. small plant with edible leaves 2pl: kanaŋe [kánáŋ] n. a type of red in- kankyiree sect with a split tail pl: kananne kankyirikpoŋ [kánʧíríkpóŋ] n. see 2pl: kanannɛɛ Var. kanaŋa kankyiri pl: kankyirikponni 2pl: kanatɛgɛ [kánátɛgɛ́ ]́ n. reward, ad- kankyirikponnee vantage pl: kanatɛgre 2pl: kanatɛ- kanne [kànnɪ]̀ v. (1) to teach (2) grɛɛ to read kannɛɛ, kanna, kanna, kandazugidaa [kàndàzùgdáá] n. kanema, kannaa, kanema wood of the kandazugiri tree pl: kanne [kánnɪ]̀ v. to doubt kannɛɛ, kandazugdaare 2pl: kandazugda- kanna, kanna, kanema, kannaa, rɛɛ kanema kandazugiri [kàndàzùgdáá] n. (1) kannyiri [kànɲìrì] n. patience 2pl: a type of small tree with multiple kannyiree branches and yellow fruits that are kansele [kánsɪl]̀ n. council pl: edible (2) the fruits of this tree pl: kanselɛ 2pl: kanselɛɛ kandazugo 2pl: kandazugiree Var. kansɛ [kánsɛ]́ n. cakes pl: kansɛre kɔndazugiri 2pl: kansɛrɛɛ Var. sɛnsɛre, sensɛ kane [kànɪ]̀ v. to be overmature e.g. kansɔge [kánsɔ́gɪ]́ n. foreign (not lo- okro fruits kanɛɛ, kanna, kanna, cally made) hoe pl: kansɔgre 2pl: kanema, kannaa, kanema kansɔgrɛɛ kanea [kànìá] n. hurricane lamp pl: kantakye [kántáʧè] n. train pl: kan- kaneɛne 2pl: kaneɛnɛɛ takyeri 2pl: kantakyeree kaneɛbiri [kànɪɛ́ bírí]́ n. lampshade kantɛroo [kántɛrʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. a type pl: kaneɛbie 2pl: kaneɛbiree of strong grass that grows on kanfaraŋ [káfáráŋ] adv. light riverbeds pl: kantɛrɛɛ 2pl: kan- (weight) tɛroo

153 kanwaa kaŋmɛdaa kanwaa [kánwàà] adv. supposed • eats fruits of trees pl: kaŋkandori, O kanwaa libie na baarɛɛ. His kaŋkandorri, kaŋkandoree Var. supposed money is finished. kaŋkandobaa/kaŋkandoraa kanwaa [kánwáá] n. hard pebble of kaŋkankyekyeɛ [kákánʧɪʧɪ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. acid sg: kanwaarɛɛ pl: kanwaare a type of tree with milky kanwaa-ŋmen-yelmanna [kánwàá- sap pl: kaŋkankyekyeere 2pl: ŋmɪn-yèlmǎnnà]́ n. false prophet kaŋkankyekyeerɛɛ pl: kanwaa-ŋmen-yelmanema 2pl: kaŋkansaalaa [káŋkánsààláà] n. kanwaa-ŋmen-yelmanemɛɛ a type of tree with medicinal kaŋazaa [káŋázáá] adj. anyone, each properties pl: kaŋkansaale 2pl: one kaŋkansaalɛɛ kaŋemaŋ [káŋmáŋ] adv. light kaŋkansɔglaa [káŋkánɔ́gláá] n. a (weight) type of fig tree with aerial roots pl: kaŋkansɔglɔ 2pl: kaŋkansɔglɛɛ kaŋkaaraamoorɛɛ [káŋkááráámʊ́ ʊ́rɛɛ́ ]́ n. expression signifying the end of kaŋkanzeɛ [ káŋkánzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of a folktale fig tree with medicinal properties and edible fruits pl: kaŋkanzeere kaŋkalaŋ [kàŋkàlàŋ] adv. appearing 2pl: kaŋkanzeerɛɛ suddenly • Te zeŋe dire seemaa wa berɛ ka saana la kaŋkalaŋ. As kaŋkaŋ [káŋkáŋ] adv. bad-smelling we sat down eating a stranger sud- kaŋkaŋaa [kǎŋkáŋàá] n. a type of denly appeared. tree with medicinal properties pl: kaŋkalare [káŋkálàrɪ]̀ n. persistence kaŋkanne 2pl: kaŋkannɛɛ in doing something despite know- kaŋkaŋgbalaa [kàŋkàŋgbàláà] n. a ing it is beyond one’s ability 2pl: type of shady tree pl: kaŋkaŋgballe kaŋkalarɛɛ 2pl: kaŋkaŋgbalɛɛ Var. gbalaa kaŋkale [kǎŋkál] n. a type of medici- kaŋkaŋkyekyeɛ [káŋkáŋʧɪʧɪ̀ ɛ̀ ]́ n. a nal stew food made from flour and type of fig tree pl: kaŋkaŋkyeky- broth 2pl: kaŋkalɛɛ eere 2pl: kaŋkaŋkyekyeerɛɛ kaŋkambulo [kaŋkambulo] n. kaŋmeɛrɛ [káŋmɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. one en- chronic ulcer gaged in the threshing of millet pl: kaŋkandoraa [káŋkándòráá] n. a kaŋmeɛrebɛ 2pl: kaŋmeɛrebɛɛ type of bird with tan plumage and kaŋmɛ [káŋmɛ̀] n. act of threshing a thick beak pl: kaŋkandori 2pl: millet kaŋkandoree Var. kaŋkanduo kaŋmɛdaa [káŋmɛ̀dàá] n. stick for kaŋkanduo [káŋkǎndúó] n. a type of threshing millet pl: kaŋmɛdaare small bird with a thick beak that 2pl: kaŋmɛdarɛɛ/kaŋmɛdaarɛɛ

154 kapaalaa karekye kapaalaa [kápááláá] n. raised shed karansunni [kàrànsúnnì] n. for guinea corn or millet pl: ka- kerosene 2pl: karansunnee paale 2pl: kapaalɛɛ karasa [kàràsà] adj. bad-smelling kapala [kàpálà] n. mashed yam, karawaara [káráwáárá] n. green plantain or cassava sg: kapaloo grass that has not been burnt 2pl: kapalɛɛ/kapallɛɛ Var. ka- completyely sg: karawaaroo 2pl: palo/kapala (1pl) karawaarɛɛ kapenta [kápɪntà]́ n. carpenter pl: kare [kàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to drive away kapentarɪ (2) to chase, to run after (3) to kapile [kàpílè] adj. crafty sharpen or polish a weapon or tool (arrow or knife) (4) to grow tall; kapoŋi [kápòŋ] n. millet flower pl: to cause to rise tall or high (5) to kaponni 2pl: kaponnee get overgrown (okro) karɛɛ, kara, kapuro [kàpùrò] n. pillow pl: ka- kara, kareba, karaa, kareba purri 2pl: kapuree/kapurree kare [kárɪ]́ adv. completely (of peo- kara [kárà] v. to prepare, to get ple going away) • A bibiiri zaaŋ ready • O kara la a saama karoo. zo, kare. All the children have run S/he is preparing for the visitors. away, leaving none behind. karɛɛ, kara, kara, kareba, karaa, kare [kárɪ]́ v. to break (small objects) kareba karɛɛ, kara, kara, kareba, karaa, kara [kárá] n. a type of grass used kareba for thatching karekare [kàrɪkárɪ̀ ]́ v. to attempt to karaa [káráá] adj. (1) unripe (2) not make a move • Meŋ iri karekare cooked through (3) not hot enough ka te nyɛ ka o na sage la me. (of iron in fire) pl: kare 2pl: karrɛɛ Also make an effort and let’s see karaa [káráá] adj. uncompromising whether he will agree. karekarɛɛ, pl: kare 2pl: karrɛɛ karekara, karekara, karekareba, karekaraa karaa [kàráà] n. cobra pl: karre 2pl: karrɛɛ karekpe [kàrɪkpé]́ n. spitting cobra pl: karekperi 2pl: karekperee karaa [kàráà] n. clerk pl: karre 2pl: karrɛɛ karekpele [kárɪkpɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. male lizard; a small reptile of the squamata karaa [káráá] n. file pl: karre 2pl: family that is red-headed pl: karɛɛ/karrɛɛ karekpelɛ 2pl: karekpelɛɛ Var. karaa [kàràà] adj. large pl: karre bandakarekpele karambanne [kárámbánnɪ]́ n. wit karekye [kárɪʧɪ́ ]̀ n. clerk pl: 2pl: karambannɛɛ karekyere 2pl: karekyerɛɛ

155 karema kei karema [kárɪmá]́ n. teacher, one ka-uri [ká-úrí] n. dusty chaff from who deals with studies pl: kare- millet (irritates the skin) 2pl: ka- mamine 2pl: karemɛɛ uree karemogɔ [kárɪmʊ̀ ́ gá] n. fortune- kayeɛle [káyɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]̀ n. the act of win- teller, diviner pl: karemogre 2pl: nowing millet karemogrɛɛ kayeɛlɛ [káyɪɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. one engaged in karenteɛ [kàrɪntɪ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. machete, winnowing millet pl: kayeɛlbɛ 2pl: cutlass pl: karenteere 2pl: kar- kayeɛlbɛɛ enteerɛɛ kayɛre [káyɛrɪ́ ]́ n. half-wild millet pl: kareŋmeɛ [kárɪŋmɪ́ ɛ́ ̀] n. a type kayɛɛ 2pl: kayɛɛrɛɛ of bird with long, thin legs pl: kareŋmeɛne 2pl: kareŋmeɛnɛɛ kazama [kázàmá] n. poorly matured Var. kalŋmeɛ millet 2pl: kazamɛɛ karingyoŋ [káríndzóŋ] n. a type kazeɛ [kázɪɛ̀ ]́ n. guinea corn sg: kaze- of musical instrument pl: karingy- roo (plant) 2pl: kazeerɛɛ onni 2pl: karingyonnee Var. kazu [kázú] n. ear of millet pl: kazuri karangyoŋ/karengyoŋ 2pl: kazuree kasɛɛte [kàsɛɛ́ tɪ́ ]́ n. cassette tape pl: keɛre [kɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to make a cluckling kasɛɛtere 2pl: kasɛɛterɛɛ noise to call fowl or drive animals kasɛlemɛ [kásɛlɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. millet away keɛrɛɛ, keɛrɛ, keɛrɛ, keɛrebɛ, seedling Var. kasɛlle keɛraa, keɛrebɛ kasɛlle [kásɛllɪ́ ]́ n. millet seedling kegireŋ [kégréŋ] adj. small and meant for planting Var. kasɛlemɛ hanging • A bie yɛre la wo- kasogi [kásògí] n. a small cage used kegireŋ kaŋa. The child carried as a nest for young chicks pl: kaso- some small animal skin bag. gri 2pl: kasogree Var. kosogi kegireŋ [kègrèŋ] adj. large and katakye [kátáʧè] n. train pl: kataky- hanging eri 2pl: katakyeree kegisege [kégségé] adv. small but kataŋa [kátáŋà] n. a large granary compact • A noɔɛ la a e kegisegee for storage of foodstuff Var. katɛgɛ lɛ. The child has grown and is kataweɛ [kàtàwɪɛ́ ]́ n. umbrella pl: plump. kataweere 2pl: kataweerɛɛ kegisege [kègsègè] adv. large and katɛgɛ [kàtɛgɛ́ ̀] n. large granary pl: compact • Wɛnaabo maŋ waa la katɛgre 2pl: katɛgrɛɛ Var. kataŋa kegisegee lɛ. The buffalo is usually katoŋe [kàtʊ̂ ŋ] n. civet pl: katonne big and plump. 2pl: katonnɛɛ kei [kéì] interj. stop it

156 kei kieluu kei [kèí] interj. expression of disap- kerekerekeree [kérékérékèrèé] n. proval nursery rhyme pl: kerekerri kele [kélé] n. very hard seeds of kereŋkereŋ [kéréŋkéréŋ] adv. full to some fruits e.g. baobab (adansonia capacity (tyre, balloon, or stomach) digitata) gourd Var. tokele kerese [kérésé] adj. small and dis- kelewele [kéléwèlé] n. fried plantain tended • A bibaala puori waa la chips 2pl: kelewellee kerese lɛ. The sick child’s stomach kelifelli [kéféll] adj. light (weight) is distended. keloo [kélòó] adv. eat or chew in- kerese [kèrèsè] adj. big and dis- stantly tended (stomach) keloo [kèlòò] adv. glance at once keri [kèrì] v. come round • Zenɛ ka a boɔ dɔge a bile naŋ ba keri The kenekene [kɪnkɪ́ n]̀ adv. full to capac- goat just literred today the kid has ity (liquid) not come round yet. keree, kere, keŋkeleŋ [kéŋkéléŋ] adj. light and kere, keribe, keraa, keribe dangling • A dɔɔ de la ŋmampege keri [kérí] v. (1) to measure, to keŋkeleŋ kaŋa yɛre a baa. The weigh (2) to face a difficult task man has hung some light broken • O keri la toma ko ma ka N calabash on the neck of the dog. puro ne wale. She has burdened keŋkeleŋ [kèŋkèlèŋ] adj. large and me with a heavy job, and I am dangling • Ka a bieŋ yɛre a wo- sweating. keree, kere, kere, keribe, keŋkeleŋ ŋa o koŋ tõɔ kyɛŋe ne. If keraa, keribe the boy hands this large skin bag on keri [kèrì] adv. the way a type of his shoulder he cannot walk with it. sound is produced when a small ob- keŋkeŋ [kéŋkéŋ] adj. very full (stom- ject hits a bigger (stiff) object (ono- ach, balloon) matopoeia) kere [kèré] n. dog pl: kerri 2pl: kɛkɛre [kɛ̀kɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) stalk (of maize, keree millet) (2) small bundle of stalks kerekere [kérékéré] adv. lightweight used for gathering threshed millet (thickness) sg: kɛkɛroo pl: kɛkɛrɛɛ 2pl: kɛkɛr- rɛɛ kerekere [kɪrɪ́ kɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. wheel from the bucket pl: kerekerre 2pl: kerek- kɛlɛkɛlɛ [kɛlɛ́ kɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adj. lightweight erɛɛ (thickness) kerekere [kɪrɪ̀ kɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to struggle kieluu [kíélúú] adj. burnt-smelling kerekerɛe, kerekerɛ, kerekerɛ, kieluu [kíélúú] adj. high-pitched kerekerebɛ, kerekeraa and distorted (singing)

157 kieree kogiro kieree [kíéréé] n. brim of hat e.g. kodɔɔ [kòdɔ́ɔ́] n. widower pl: ko- cowboy hat, bowler hat pl: kieri dɔbɔ 2pl: ko-dɔɔrɛɛ ko [kʊ́] v. (1) to kill (2) to put out kodu [kòdú] n. banana sg: koduruu (fire) koɛ, koora, koora, kooreba, pl: koduri 2pl: koduree kooraa, kooreba kofi [kófì] n. coffee pl: kofiri 2pl: ko [kʊ́ ] v. to fold (cloth) koɛ, koora, kofiree koora, kooreba, kooraa, kooreba koganaa [kògànàá] n. strip of ko [kò] v. to dry koe, koro, koro, ko- leather, cloth, or twine for a be- ribo, koraa, koribo reaved person pl: koganne 2pl: koko [kó] v. to gather e.g. rain clouds gannɛɛ koe, koro kogi [kógí] n. (1) seat, stool, chair ko [kʊ̀ ] v. to give koɛ, kora, kora, ko- (2) throne pl: kogree reba, koraa, koreba kogi [kògí] adj. thick and hard pl: ko- kobeɛre [kòbɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. first weekday gri of post-funeral rites pl: kobeɛre kogilii [kógilíí] adj. dry and wrin- /kóbɪɛ́rɪ́ /́ 2pl: kobeɛrɛɛ kled (used for humans, animals and kobo [kóbò] n. penny pl: kogri 2pl: objects like containers) pl: kogilo kogree Var. kogiluu koboŋkoboŋ [kòbòŋkóbóŋ] adj. kogilimala [kógílímálá] adj. very rugged, uneven e.g. road lean and worn out koboɔ [kòbʊ́ɔ́] n. goat for funeral kogiloŋ [kóglóŋ] adj. small and rites pl: koboore 2pl: koboorɛɛ curved kobora [kʊ̀ bʊ̀ rà] n. leader, greatest kogiluu [kógílúú] adj. (1) dry (2) one among a group pl: koborre 2pl: lean e.g. a person, objects like koborɛɛ containers, animal and humans pl: kodaa [kòdàá] n. funeral week pl: ko- kogilo dare 2pl: kodarɛɛ Kogiri [kógrì] n. name of a village in kodãa [kòdã́ã́] n. funeral drink sg: Central Dagao 2pl: kogiree kodãao 2pl: kodaanɛɛ kogiri [kógrí] adj. near the side of • kodie [kòdìè] n. first weekend of A teɛ peɛle la mɔkogiri. The tree post-funeral rites celebration pl: is near the edge of the bush. koderi 2pl: koderee kogiri [kógrì] v. to wink kogree, ko- kodɔgerɔ [kʊ́dɔ̀grɔ̀] n. foetus (be- giro, kogiro, kogiribo, kogiraa, ko- lieved to be the cause of death giribo of the mother during labour pl: kogiro [kógró] n. basket seat pl: ko- kodɔgere 2pl: koɖgerɛɛ giri 2pl: kogiree

158 kogiroŋ kolnoɔ kogiroŋ [kògròŋ] adj. oblong in kolaŋene [kòláŋɪnɪ́ ]́ n. dirge 2pl: shape laŋenɛɛ kogo [kógò] n. mahogany pl: kogri kolboll [kʊ̀ bʊ̀ ll] adv. rising suddenly 2pl: kogree Var. kogi and in great quantity e.g. dust, kogõɔ [kógʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. funeral ground smoke (arena of dirge singers) pl: kogoɔne kolee [kóléé] n. tin; cup pl: kobilii 2pl: kogoɔnɛɛ 2pl: kobilee/kollee kokolaa [kókóláà] n. shuttle kolemɛleŋ [kʊ́lmɛlɪ́ ŋ]́ adj. match or (weaving) pl: kokolli 2pl: correspond very well e.g. rice and kokolee/kokollee beans kokolaa [kókóláà] n. a type of river kolezare [kòlɪzárɪ̀ ]́ n. funeral dona- god or fetish pl: kokolli 2pl: tion pl: kolezaɛ 2pl: kolezɛrɛɛ kokolee/kokollee kokolo [kòkòlò] n. a type of tree kolimasogilo [kòlìmásògìló] n. a leg- whose ashes are used as salt pl: endary bird believed to be as big as kokolli 2pl: kokollee the ostrich and wicked pl: kolima- sogili 2pl: kolimasoglee kokomo [kòkòmò] adj. the nature of the sound of when one takes a bite kolkol [kʊ̀ lkʊ̀ l] adv. in great num- at something hard. e.g. a bone bers kokoori [kòkòòrí] n. pan flute pl: kolkole [kʊ̀ lkʊ́l] v. to engage in af- kokoe 2pl: kokoree/kokorree fectionate play; usually between kokõɔ [kòkʊ̃́ɔ́] n. food or drink lovers kolkolɛɛ, kolkolɔ/kolkola, given to mourners at a funeral 2pl: kolkolɔ/kolkola, kolkoleba, kokoɔnɛɛ kolkollaa kokyi [kòʧí] n. millet for funeral kolkoli [kòlkól] v. to be all over rites 2pl: kokyiree another e.g. a dog welcoming an acquaintance kololee, kolkolo, kolaa [kʊ́láá] n. (1) river, source of water people must fetch (2) river kolkolo, kolkolaa, kolkolibo, god pl: kolle 2pl: kollɛɛ kolkolo kolaanoɔre [kʊ́ láánʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. south of koll [kʊ̀ ll] adv. rising into the air e.g. Ghana, Kumasi smoke, dust Var. kull kolaa nyɔge [kʊ́láá ɲɔ́gɪ]̀ v. to drown kolle [kʊ̀ llɪ]̀ v. to gather or cut veg- (intransitive) kolaa nyɔgɛɛ, kolaa etation in great quantities kollɛɛ, nyɔgrɔ kolla, kolla, koleba, kollaa, koleba kolakola [kʊ́lákʊ́lá] adv. soft e.g. kolnoɔ [kʊ́lnʊ́ɔ̀] n. moorhen pl: kol- cloth, leather Var. kolɔkolɔ noore 2pl: kolnoorɛɛ

159 kolokolo konobara kolokolo [kòlókòló] n. turkey pl: kommiruu [kómmírúú] n. (1) kolokolli 2pl: kolokollee tomato (2) eggplant sg: kommiruu kolokolo [kólókóló] adv. light Var. pl: kommie 2pl: kommiiree koloŋkoloŋ komoɔreŋ [kómʊ́ɔ́rɪŋ]́ n. a type of funeral dirge koloŋkoloŋ [kólóŋkólóŋ] adv. watery; diluted e.g. porridge Var. kona [kʊ́ná] adv. in large quan- kolokolo tity, immeasurable • A kyi ba taa kona, a koŋ kpɛ a bugo. There is kolɔ [kʊ́là] v. to be unperturbed; to a great deal of millet; the granary exhibit coolness. (used with nega- cannot contain it. tive marker) • A bie kaŋa ba kolɔ kyɛ kaŋa nyegnyege. One of the konaabo [kònáábʊ́] n. cow meant children is calm but one is the bois- for funeral rites pl: konii 2pl: koni- terous type. Var. kola inee koltaŋaa [kʊ̀ ltáŋáà] n. a type of konɛɛ konɛɛ [kʊ́ nɛɛ́ kʊ́ ́nɛɛ́ ]́ adv. on tree with medicinal properties pl: and on in the same direction • A koltaŋema 2pl: koltaŋemɛɛ pɔgelee baŋe la seɛre, o deɛ taaɛ konɛɛ, konɛɛ o naŋ erɛ. The girl kolyaaraa [kôlyááráá] n. a type of knows how to dance, she is just bird of the suborder alcedines that dancing gracefully along. feeds on fish pl: kolyaare 2pl: konkon [kʊ́nkʊ́n] adv. completely, kolyaarɛɛ Var. kɔn-yaara flat (of falling) komaale [kòmààlɪ]̀ n. funeral rites kon-kon-kon [kʊ́ n-kʊ́n-kʊ́n] adv. to komaaroŋ [kòmáárʊ́ŋ] n. a funeral fall helplessly where the corpse is not yet buried konne [kʊ́nnɪ]̀ v. to make a short au- pl: komaara 2pl: komaarɛɛ dible exhalation through the nose Komaase [kʊ̀ máásɪ]́ n. main city in in to stop inhaling bad smell kon- the Ashanti Region of Ghana pl: Ko- nɛɛ, konna, konna, konema, kon- maasere 2pl: Komaaserɛɛ naa, konema komakoma [kʊ̀ màkʊ̀ mà] adj. mild konni [kònní] n. cry 2pl: konnee e.g. drink, alcohol konni [kónnì] v. to catch a falling komboroŋ [kʊ̀ mbʊ̀ rʊ̀ ŋ] adj. wrin- object in midair (to prevent from kled falling) konnee, konno, konno, konimo, konnaa, konimo komiri [kòmírí] n. a string or strip of cloth tied round the wrist or waist konno [kónnò] n. mouse nest Var. of the bereaved during the funeral konzagera rites Var. koganaa konobara [kónóbàrá] n. lamentation

160 konono koɔlɔ konono [kʊ́nʊ́nʊ́] adv. (1) smooth koŋ-ɔɔ-moɔ [kʊ́ŋ-ɔ́ɔ́-mʊ́ ɔ́] n. dog (flour) (2) soft (body) (3) unasum- kookeree [kòòkéréé] n. one’s best at- ing (behaviour) tempt; effort konoɔ [kónʊ́ɔ́] n. final funeral of the koone [kʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to groan (in Sisala (an ethnic group in the UWR) pain) koonɛɛ, koonɔ/koona, pl: konoore 2pl: konoorɛɛ koonɔ/koona, koonema, koonaa kon-ɔɔnɛnesoba [kʊnɔɔnɛnɪsʊbá] n. ́ ́ ́ ́ ̀ ́ kooraa [kʊ́ʊ́ràà] n. umbilical hernia vegetarian pl: konɔɔnɛnedeme 2pl: pl: koore 2pl: koorɛɛ Var. kpograa konɔɔnɛnedemee Var. kon-ɔɔnɛne koore [kʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to snore konzagera [kónzàgrà] n. mouse nest koorɛɛ, koorɔ/koora, koorɔ/koora, 2pl: konzagerɛɛ Var. konno, kon- kooreba, kooraa, kooreba Var. ko- zage rŋzaa koŋ [kʊ̀ ŋ] adv. not • N koŋ gaa be koore [kʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to collect or move a zenɛ. I will not go there today. load at once koorɛɛ, koorɔ/koora, koŋi [kǒŋ] adj. mangled pl: konni koorɔ/koora, kooreba, kooraa, koŋi [kòŋ] v. (1) to cry, to lament kooreba Var. korŋzaa (2) to crow (rooster) koŋee, kono, koɔ [kʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to have an upset stom- kono, konimo, konaa, konimo ach, intestinal illness koɔɛ, koɔrɔ, koŋi [kòŋ] v. to ferment koŋee, koɔrɔ, koɔreba, koɔraa, koɔreba kono, kono, konimo, konaa, kon- kõɔ [kʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. (1) water (2) pus pl: imo kõɔnɛɛ 2pl: kõɔnoo koŋkogiri [kóŋkógrí] n. boundary kõɔ [kʊ̃́ɔ̃́] adj. water-like, liquid (of a field) pl: koŋkobo 2pl: koŋko- giree koɔbo [kʊ́ɔ́bʊ̀ ] n. the act of farming 2pl: kɔrɛɛ koŋkola [kʊ́ŋkʊ́ lá] n. farming field pl: koŋkolle 2pl: koɔle [kʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to gather; to bring koŋkolɛɛ/koŋkollɛɛ Var. koŋkolɔ together koɔlɛɛ, koɔlɔ, koɔlɔ, koŋkombiri [kǒŋkǒmbírì] n. funeral koɔleba, koɔlaa, koɔlɔ dirge text sg: koŋkombiruu pl: koɔle [kʊ́ɔ́lɪ]̀ v. to get sick koɔlɛɛ, koŋkombie 2pl: koŋkombiiree koɔlɔ, koɔlɔ, koɔleba, koɔlaa, koŋkommoola [kòŋkǒmmʊ́ʊ́ lá] n. koɔleba incessant crying and for no appar- koɔle sɔgelaa [kʊ́ɔ́lɪsɔ́ ̀gɪlàá]́ n. fertile ent reason e.g. a child Var. koŋkom- land moolɔ koɔlɔ [kʊ̀ ɔ̀lɔ̀] n. (1) farmland (2) en- koŋŋmɛbaa [kʊ́ŋŋmɛbáá]́ n. back of vironment pl: koɔle 2pl: koɔlɛɛ Var. the head of the dog koɔla

161 koɔraa koroso koɔraa [kʊ́ɔ́ràà] n. farmer pl: korekore [kʊ̀ rɪkʊ̀ ̀ rɪ]̀ adv. many, in koɔrebɔ great numbers koɔre [kʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to sell koɔrɛɛ, koɔrɔ, koremaŋ [kʊ̀ rɪmàŋ]̀ adj. unkempt koɔrɔ, koɔreba, koɔraa, koɔreba Var. koremɔŋ koɔre [kʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to scrape, to scratch korepere [kʊ́rɪpɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. a type of mon- koɔrɛɛ, koɔrɔ, koɔrɔ, koɔreba, key with thick fur pl: korepeɛ 2pl: koɔraa, koɔreba koreperɛɛ koɔre [kʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ v. to tap koɔrɛɛ, koɔrɔ, korewayiri [kʊ̀ rɪwàyírí]̀ n. one who koɔrɔ, koɔreba, koɔraa, koɔreba has has spent all their youth outside their original homeland koɔre [kʊ̀ ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. group of stars; galaxy sg: koɔroo pl: koɔrɛɛ kori [kòrì] v. to embrace, to hug koree, koro, koro, koro, koraa, koro koɔre [kʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. gourd pl: kɔɛ 2pl: kori [kórí] n. laziness 2pl: koree kɔrɛɛ kori [kórí] n. difficulty, suffering 2pl: koɔre [kʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. residue of final beer koree 2pl: koɔrɛɛ kori [kórí] adv. the manner of a kopeɛ [kòpɪɛ́ ]́ n. ground immedi- sound from hitting a hard surface ately surrounding the stage of the korimo [kòrímò] n. a type of lizard corpse pl: kopeere 2pl: kopeerɛɛ believed to be poisonous pl: korri ko-pɔge [kò-pɔ́gɪ]́ n. widow pl: ko- 2pl: korree pɔgeba 2pl: ko-pɔgrɛɛ koringyoŋ [kóríndzóŋ] n. violin; ko-puoraa [kò-pùòràá] n. belated harp pl: koringyonni 2pl: koringy- condolence (usually from someone onnee who misses a funeral) koro [kòró] n. pot for storing TZ koraa [kòràá] n. village; bush settle- (thick paste made from flour) pl: ko- ment pl: korri 2pl: korree rri 2pl: koree/korree kore [kʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to be old (not korodie [kòródìé] n. kitchen pl: ko- young) (2) to be old (not new) ko- roderi 2pl: koroderee/korodrree rɛɛ, kora, kora, koreba, koraa, ko- korombo [kórómbò] adv. to empty reba totally, to finish with completely kore [kʊ́ rɪ]́ adj. old pl: kora 2pl: ko- koroŋ [kʊ́rʊ́ŋ] adj. a long time ago rɛɛ koroso [kórósó] adv. lean and dry • korekore [kʊ̀ rɪkʊ̀ ́rɪ]́ v. to break A balee ba dire lɛnso ka o waa a into bits and pieces (grass) ko- koroso lɛ. The puppy does not eat rkorɛɛ, korekora, korekora, korko- well and that is why it is so lean and reba, korkoraa bony.

162 ko suuri kɔkɔlweɛmɛ ko suuri [kʊ́ súúrí] v. to arouse port (pillow) (3) to be lean kɔgɛɛ, someone’s anger koɛ suuri, koora kɔgrɔ, kɔgrɔ, kɔgreba, kɔgraa suuri kɔge [kɔ́gɪ]́ v. to boil ground malt at kotoloŋ [kòtʊ́lʊ́ŋ] n. the early part the the first stage in the prepara- of mourning at the funeral pl: ko- tion of pito kɔgɛɛ, kɔgera, kɔgera, tolɔ/kotola kɔgereba, kɔgeraa, kɔgereba kotontona [kòtʊ́ntʊ́ná] n. messen- kɔgele [kɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to keep com- ger who announces funeral rites pl: pany (2) to give aid kɔgelɛɛ, kotontonema 2pl: kotontomɛɛ kɔgela, kɔgela, kɔgeleba, kɔgelaa, kotuo [kòtúó] n. a funeral where kɔgeleba mourning is in a frenzy pl: kotuuri kɔgelɔ [kɔ̀glɔ̀] n. a type of fetish or 2pl: kotuuree god 2pl: kɔgelɛɛ kotuosobɔ [kòtúósʊ́bá] n. bereaved person (close relative) pl: ko- kɔgeraa [kɔ́gráá] n. raised lump on tuodeme Var. kotuosoba the floor of a room used as a seat pl: kɔgere 2pl: kɔgerɛɛ kovuoro [kòvúóró] n. condo- lences by well wishers who could kɔkɔbaŋ [kɔ̀kɔ́báŋ] n. neck bangle pl: not attend the funeral rites 2pl: kɔkɔbanne 2pl: kɔkɔbannɛɛ Var. kovuoree kɔkɔbɔŋ Kowɛre [kʊ́wɛ̀rɪ]́ n. homeland of the kɔkɔkpɔgere [kɔ̀kɔ́kpɔ́grɪ]̀ n. goitre Kowɛre clan pl: kɔkɔkpɔgɔ 2pl: kɔkɔkpɔgerɛɛ Kowaroo [kʊ́ wárʊ́ʊ́] n. a member of kɔkɔlaa [kɔ̀kɔ̀láà] n. cat pl: kɔkɔlle the Koware clan pl: Kowarɛɛ 2pl: kɔkɔllɛɛ Var. kɔlaa koyeŋi [kòyěŋ] n. wake keeping (fu- kɔkɔlɛre [kɔ̀kɔ́lɛ̀rɪ]́ n. necklace sg: neral) pl: koyenni 2pl: koyenee kɔkɔlɛroo pl: kɔkɔlɛɛ koyiri [kóyírí] n. house of a be- kɔkɔliŋe [kɔ̀kɔ́líŋé] n. velum pl: reaved family pl: koyie 2pl: kɔkɔlinni 2pl: kɔkɔlinnee koyiree kɔ [kɔ̌] v. (1) to hoe (2) to cultivate, kɔkɔllee [kɔ̀kɔ̀llée] n. kitten pl: to farm kɔɛ, koɔrɔ, koɔrɔ, koɔreba, kɔkɔlbilii 2pl: kɔkɔlbillee koɔraa, koɔreba kɔkɔlɔŋgoɔne [kɔ̀kɔ́lɔ̀ŋgʊ́ ɔ́nɪ]́ n. the Kɔbenɛ [kɔ́bɪnɛ́ ]́ n. an annual fes- trachea pl: kɔkɔlɔŋgoɔmɔ 2pl: tival celebrated by the people of kɔkɔlɔŋgoɔnɛɛ Lawra 2pl: kɔbenɛɛ kɔkɔlweɛmɛ [kɔ̀kɔ̀lwɪɛ́ ̀mɛ]́ n. wild kɔge [kɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to be near, to be cat pl: kɔkɔlweɛne 2pl: kɔkɔl- close to (2) to put by the side to sup- weɛnɛɛ Var. kɔlweɛmɛ

163 kɔkɔlwoɔ kɔmbɔnne kɔkɔlwoɔ [kɔ̀kɔ̌lwʊ́ɔ́] n. bag made kɔleŋkɔ [kɔ́lɪŋkɔ́ ́] n. a type of gourd from cat hide pl: kɔkɔlwoore 2pl: with a long neck pl: kɔleŋkɔre 2pl: kɔkɔlwoorɛɛ kɔleŋkɔrɛɛ kɔkɔmaraa [kɔ̀kɔ́máráá] n. tight- kɔl-kɔl-kɔl [kɔ̀l-kɔ̀l-kɔ̀l] adj. in a fitting necklace pl: kɔkɔmarre 2pl: long line e.g. a column of school kɔkɔmarrɛɛ children kɔkɔraa [kɔ́kɔ́ràà] n. one who does kɔlle [kɔ̀llɪ]̀ v. to cluck kɔllɛɛ, kɔllɔ, dirty things (obscene language) pl: kɔllɔ, kɔlebɔ, kɔllaa, kɔlebɔ kɔkɔrre kɔlle [kɔ̀llɪ]̀ v. to roam kɔllɛɛ, kɔllɔ, kɔkɔre [kɔ́kɔ́rɪ]̀ n. (1) throat kɔllɔ, kɔlebɔ, kɔllaa, kɔlebɔ (2) voice (3) language pl: kɔkɔrɛɛ/kɔkɔɛ 2pl: kɔkɔrrɛɛ kɔlle [kɔ́llɪ]́ v. to gallop gracefully kɔllɛɛ, kɔllɔ, kɔllɔ, kɔlbɔ, kɔllaa kɔkɔreyɛlɛ [kɔ́kɔ̀rɪyɛ̀ lɛ́ ]́ n. obscene things kɔlle [kɔ́llɪ]́ v. to smooth e.g. potter’s pot kɔllɛɛ, kɔllɔ, kɔllɔ, kɔlbɔ, kɔllaa kɔkɔroŋ [kɔ́kɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. the act of being uncouth kɔlɔkɔlɔ [kɔ̀lɔ̀kɔ̀lɔ̀] adv. to begin to kɔkɔsɔgelaa [kɔ̀kɔ́sɔ̀glàà] n. breast- brighten e.g. day breaking bone pl: kɔkɔsɔgele 2pl: kɔlɔkɔlɔ [kɔ̀lɔ̀kɔ̀lɔ̀] adv. not firm (ob- kɔkɔsɔgelɛɛ ject smaller than its fitting) kɔkɔvɔlaa [kɔ́kɔ́vɔ́làà] n. esophagus, kɔmaaroŋ [kɔ̀mààrʊ́ŋ] n. freshly gullet pl: kɔkɔvɔlle 2pl: kɔkɔvɔllɛɛ weeded or hoed-up place pl: kɔ- kɔkɔyoraa [kɔ̀kɔ́yòráá] n. larynx, maara 2pl: kɔmaarɛɛ voice box, Adam’s apple sg: kɔkɔy- kɔmbanna [kɔ̀mbánná] n. swimmer oruu pl: kɔkɔyorri 2pl: kɔkɔyoree pl: kɔmbanema 2pl: kɔmbanemɛɛ kɔlaa [kɔ̀láà] n. cat pl: kɔlle 2pl: kɔl- kɔmbiri [kɔ́mbírí] n. drop of water lɛɛ Var. kɔkɔlaa pl: kɔmbie 2pl: kɔbiiree kɔlbaa [kɔ́lbáá] n. bottle pl: kɔlbaare kɔmbɔ [kɔ̀mbɔ́] n. dialogue, conver- 2pl: kɔlbaarɛɛ sation 2pl: kɔmbɔrɛɛ kɔle [kɔ́lɪ]́ v. to be loose within some- kɔmbɔge [kɔ̀mbɔ̀gɪ]̀ n. water-way thing; to be too small for • A dɔɔ Var. kɔmbɔgeraa kuree kɔlɔ la a o bidɔɔ seɛ. The man’s pair of shorts is too large kɔmbɔgeraa [kɔ̀mbɔ́gráá] n. water- for his son. kɔlɛɛ, kɔlɔ, kɔlɔ, kɔlebɔ, way pl: kɔmbɔgre 2pl: kɔmbɔgrɛɛ kɔlaa, kɔlebɔ Var. kɔmbɔge kɔlema [kɔ̀lɪmá]̀ n. well pl: kɔlle 2pl: kɔmbɔnne [kɔ̀mbɔ̀nnɪ]́ n. Akan lan- kɔlɛɛ Var. kolaa (kʊlaa), kolli guage 2pl: kɔmbɔnnɛɛ

164 kɔmbɔŋenɔ kɔnnimiri kɔmbɔŋenɔ [kɔ́mbɔ́ŋɪnɔ́ ́] n. swim- kɔndaare [kɔ̀ndáárɪ]̀ n. waves 2pl: mer pl: kɔmbɔŋenemɔ 2pl: kɔm- kɔndaarɛɛ bɔŋenemɛɛ Var. kɔmbɔŋena kɔndaare [kɔ̀ndàárɪ]̀ n. water for kɔmbɔŋɔ [kɔ̀mbɔ̀ŋɔ́] n. Akan person sale 2pl: kɔndaarɛɛ (one who can swim) pl: kɔmbɔnne kɔndazugiri [kɔ̀ndàzùgrí] n. (1) a 2pl: kɔmbɔnnɛɛ type of wild dwarf tree, short and kɔmbuli [kɔ̀mbúlí] n. period of wa- stout with complex branches (2) ter shortage e.g. during drought 2pl: the yellow fruit of this plant (ed- kɔmbulee ible) sg: kɔndazugiruu pl: kɔn- kɔmmaaroŋ [kɔ̌mmáárʊ́ŋ] n. cold dazugo 2pl: kɔndazugiree Var. water dazugri kɔmmaaroŋ [kɔ̌mmáárʊ́ŋ] n. trouble kɔndazugovũũ [kɔ̀ndàzúgóvũ̀ṹ] n. free; peace (1) furnace (2) hell 2pl: kɔndazu- govuunee kɔmmiiruŋ [kɔ̀mmíírûŋ] n. sour water 2pl: kɔmmiiree kɔndoge [kɔ̌ndʊ́gɪ]̀ n. water pot pl: kɔndogre 2pl: kɔndogrɛɛ kɔmmiri [kɔ̀mmírì] n. current (running water) pl: kɔmmie 2pl: kɔm- kɔndugzie [kɔ̌ndúgzíé] n. swim- miiree Var. kombiri ming pool pl: kɔndugziiri 2pl: kɔn- dugziiree kɔmɔkɔmɔ [kɔ̀mɔ̀kɔ̀mɔ̀] adv. not hard Kɔnduoraa [kɔ̌ndúóràá] n. a river in the Upper West Region of Ghana pl: kɔmpaala [kɔ́mpáálá] n. new water kɔnduori 2pl: kɔnduoree e.g. bottled water for sale 2pl: kɔm- paalɛɛ kɔnkyɔkyɔgere [kɔ̀nʧɔ́ʧɔ̀grɪ]́ n. swamp 2pl: kɔnkyɔkyɔgerɛɛ kɔmpare [kɔ́mpárɪ]́ n. (1) the under part of water, residue (2) the south- kɔnkyɔrɛɛ [kɔ̌nkyɔ̀rɛɛ́ ]́ n. a type ern part of Ghana pl: kɔmparɛɛ of bath where soap and sponge are not used pl: kɔnkyɔrre 2pl: kɔmpiiri [kɔ́mpíírí] n. floodwa- kɔnkyɔrrɛɛ ters pl: kɔmpie 2pl: kɔm- piree/kɔmpiiree kɔnkyuuri [kɔ̀nʧúúrì] n. waterfall 2pl: kɔnkyuuree kɔmpɔge [kɔ̀mpɔ̀gɪ]̀ n. abundant waters, flood pl: kɔmpɔgre 2pl: kɔm- kɔnnaŋ [kɔ́nnáŋ] n. water scarcity pɔgrɛɛ Var. kɔmpũo 2pl: kɔnnannɛɛ kɔmpũo [kɔ̀mpṹṍ] adv. period of ex- kɔnne [kɔ̀nnɪ]́ n. leprosy pl: kɔnne cessive water on the land e.g. dur- 2pl: kɔnnɛɛ ing the peak of heavy rains Var. kɔnnimiri [kɔ̂nnímírì] n. (1) spring kɔmpɔge (2) water hole sg: kɔnnimiiruu pl:

165 kɔnnoŋ kɔntɔn-ire

kɔnnimie 2pl: kɔnnimiiree Var. kɔnsobɔɔdoaa [kɔ̀nsòbɔ̀ɔ̀dʊ́áá] n. bulnimiri bath towel pl: kɔnsobɔɔdoore 2pl: kɔnnoŋ [kɔ́nnʊ́ ŋ] n. the condition of kɔnsobɔɔdorɛɛ having leprosy Var. kɔnnoo kɔnsogɔ [kɔ́nsʊ́gɔ́] n. (1) the middle of water e.g. a stream (2) the kɔnnoɔre [kɔ̀nnʊ́ ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) beach, coastline (2) edge pl: kɔnnɔɛ 2pl: act of keeping afloat in water with kɔnnɔrɛɛ body upright pl: kɔnsogere 2pl: kɔnsogerɛɛ Var. kɔnsoga kɔnnyuuri [kɔ̀nɲúúrì] n. thirst sg: kɔnsolaa [kɔ̀nsòláá] n. large jar used kɔnyuuree for bathing pl: kɔnsolaare 2pl: kɔn- kɔnnyuuri [kɔ́nɲúúrí] n. potable wa- solaarɛɛ ter, water meant for drinking kɔnsoŋ [kɔ̀nsʊ́ŋ] n. holy water pl: kɔnoɔre [kɔ́nʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. a farmer’s por- kɔnsonne 2pl: kɔnsonnɛɛ tion during farming pl: kɔnɔɛ 2pl: kɔnsɔgerɔ [kɔ̀nsɔ́grɔ́] n. dirty water kɔnɔrɛɛ 2pl: kɔnsɔgerɛɛ Var. kɔnsɔgera kɔnɔŋmaara [kɔ́nɔ́ŋmáárá] n. leader kɔnsuori [kɔ̀nsúórì] n. bathwater of working farmers in the farm pl: 2pl: kɔnsuoree kɔnɔŋmaareba 2pl: kɔnɔŋmaare- kɔnsuoro [kɔ̀nsúóró] n. one who is bɛɛ bathing pl: kɔnsuoribo 2pl: kɔn- kɔnɔtɛne [kɔ́nɔ́tɛnɪ́ ]́ n. earth or soil suoribee used to mark out the boundaries kɔntere [kɔ́ntɪr]́ n. cheek pl: kɔnteɛ of portions of land for weeding 2pl: 2pl: kɔnteerɛɛ kɔnɔtɛnɛɛ kɔntɛtɛgere [kɔ̀ntɛtɛ́ ̀grɪ]́ n. puddles kɔnɔtuuro [kɔ́nɔ́túúró] n. deputy (plural noun) pl: kɔntɛtɛgerɛɛ leader of working farmers in the kɔntɔmbile [kɔ́ntɔ́mbílé] n. fairy pl: farm pl: kɔnɔtuuribo 2pl: kɔnɔtu- kɔntɔmbilii 2pl: kɔntɔmbilee Var. uribee kɔntɔmɔ, kɔntɔnzuzeɛ kɔnsãa [kɔ̀nsã̀ã̀] n. the act of pollut- kɔntɔmbɔgɔ [kɔ̀ntɔ̀mbɔ́gɔ́] n. the act ing water of divining through the power of kɔnsaaloŋ [kɔ́nsáálʊ́ŋ] n. plain fluid fairy spirits pl: kɔntɔmbɔgɔrɔ 2pl: from a swelling (may be mixed kɔntɔmbɔgrɛɛ with blood) 2pl: kɔnsaalɛɛ kɔntɔmɔ [kɔ̀ntɔ́mɔ̀] n. fairy, dwarf kɔnsaane [kɔ̌nsáánɪ]́ n. water with (spiritual being) pl: kɔtɔnne 2pl: mashed porridge 2pl: kɔnsaanɛɛ kɔtɔnnɛɛ Var. kɔntɔmbile kɔnso [kɔ̀nsò] n. the act of bathing kɔntɔn-ire [kɔ̀ntɔ̀n-íré] n. one pos- 2pl: kɔnsoree sessed by a spirit pl: kɔntɔn-iribe

166 kɔntɔnkyi kɔɔloŋ

2pl: kɔntɔn-iribee Var. kɔntɔŋ-ire kɔŋgaŋene [kɔ̀ŋgáŋɪnɪ́ ]́ n. a place be- kɔntɔnkyi [kɔ̀ntɔ̀nʧì] n. a type of yond the waters guinea corn with short thick bunch kɔŋkaare [kɔ̌ŋkáárɪ]́ n. (1) water of seed 2pl: kɔntɔnkyiree that has been bailed out (2) water that must be bailed out kɔntɔnnaa [kɔ̀ntɔ̀nnáá] n. two- shilling coin pl: kɔntɔnnanne 2pl: kɔŋkare [kɔ̂ŋkárɪ]́ n. plain drinking kɔntɔnnannɛɛ water 2pl: kɔŋkarɛɛ kɔntɔn-woɔ [kɔ̀ntɔ̀n-wʊ́ɔ́] n. sooth- kɔŋkɔŋ [kɔ́ŋkɔ́ŋ] n. palm tree pl: sayer’s bag pl: kɔntɔn-woore 2pl: kɔŋkɔnne 2pl: kɔŋkɔnnɛɛ kɔntɔn-woorɛɛ kɔŋkɔŋɔ [kɔ̀ŋkɔ̀ŋɔ́] n. leper pl: kɔŋkɔnne 2pl: kɔŋkɔnnɛɛ kɔntɔŋgbelime [kɔ̀ntɔ̀ŋgbèlìmé] n. diviner’s bell pl: kɔntɔŋgbelli 2pl: kɔŋkɔre [kɔ̀ŋkɔ̀rɪ]́ n. forest Var. kɔntɔŋgbellee tetige kɔnvɔlɔ [kɔ̀nvɔ̀lɔ́] n. liquid residue kɔŋkpaare [kɔ̀ŋkpáárí] n. back- of shea butter pl: kɔnvɔlle 2pl: kɔn- stroke (swimming) pl: kɔŋkpaɛ vɔlɛɛ/kɔnvɔllɛɛ Var. kɔvɔlɔ kɔɔ [kɔ̀ɔ̀] v. (1) to break (2) to dance (3) to become charred (4) to stam- kɔn-yaaraa [kɔ̀n-yáárá] n. a type of bird that feeds on fish pl: kɔn-yaare pede, sudden flight or dispersion 2pl: kɔn-yaarɛɛ Var. kolyaaraa kɔɔɛ, kɔɔrɔ, kɔɔrɔ, kɔreba, kɔɔraa, kɔreba kɔn-yuori [kɔn-yuori] n. pot for wa- kɔɔ [kɔ̀ɔ́] adv. one hundred ter pl: kɔn-yoe 2pl: kɔn-yoree kɔɔ [kɔ́ɔ́] adj. appear broken kɔnzuluŋ [kɔ̀nzùlúŋ] n. deep water pl: kɔnzululli 2pl: kɔnzulullee kɔɔkyaporo [kɔ̀ɔ̀ʧàpòrò] n. bone marrow sg: kɔɔkyaporuu pl: kɔnzunni [kɔ́nzúnní] n. dirt settled kɔɔkyaporri 2pl: kɔɔkyaporree under water 2pl: kɔnzunnee kɔɔle [kɔ́ɔ́lɪ]́ adj. burnt, charred • A kɔŋe [kɔ̀ŋ] v. to contract leprosy vũu toloŋ, ka fooŋ deɛnɛ kamaa- kɔŋɛɛ, kɔnnɔ, kɔnnɔ, kɔnema, kɔn- kɔɔle ka fo na sɛ. The fire is quite naa, kɔnema hot, and if you are not careful the kɔŋe [kɔ̀ŋ] v. to be unavailable • Ka maize will get burnt. pl: kɔɔlɔ saaŋ ba miire te maŋ kɔŋe la kõɔ. kɔɔlmare [kɔ̀ɔ̀lmàrɪ]̀ v. to hurt ver- If it does not rain, we run out of wa- bally e.g. insult, chastise kɔɔl- ter. kɔŋɛɛ, kɔnnɔ, kɔnnɔ, kɔnema, marɛɛ, kɔɔlɔmara, kɔɔlɔmara, kɔnnaa, kɔnema kɔɔlemareba, kɔɔlɔmaraa kɔŋe [kɔ̂ŋ] n. hunger 2pl: kɔnnɛɛ kɔɔloŋ [kɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. hair, fur pl: kɔɔlɔ Var. koŋ 2pl: kɔɔlɛɛ

167 kɔɔre kukuribone kɔɔre [kɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) bone (2) armlet kɔre [kɔ́rɪ]̀ v. to cough kɔrɛɛ, kɔrɔ, made from elephant tusk pl: kɔbɔ kɔrɔ, kɔreba, kɔraa, kɔreba 2pl: kɔɔrɛɛ kɔrema [kɔ̀rɪmá]́ n. partridge pl: kɔɔre [kɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to delay • Ta kɔrre 2pl: kɔrrɛɛ kɔɔre ma, N boɔrɛɛ wĩẽũ. Don’t kɔretɔ [kɔ́rɪtɔ́ ́] n. sickness of ani- delay me I am in a haste. (2) mals (fur falls off) pl: kɔretɔre 2pl: keep long • Zenɛ a bie kɔɔre la kɔretɔrɛɛ a sakuuri poɔ. The child has been kɔrɛɛ [kɔ́rɛɛ́ ]́ adv. moving at once kept long in school today. (3) nearer another e.g. child to mother to be late • N karembie kɔɔre kɔroŋ [kɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. cough la sakuuri gaabo ka ba ko o dɔgeroŋ. The pupil was late to kɔroŋkpoŋ [kɔ́rʊ́ ŋkpóŋ] n. my- school and they gave him some cobacterium tuberculosis pl: punishment. kɔɔrɛɛ, kɔɔrɔ, kɔɔrɔ, kɔroŋkponni 2pl: kɔroŋkponnee kɔɔreba, kɔɔraa, kɔɔreba kɔrre [kɔ́rrɪ]̀ v. to slaughter, to cut kɔɔto [kɔ́ɔ́tʊ̀ ] n. court pl: kɔɔtere 2pl: the throat of kɔrrɛɛ, kɔrrɔ, kɔrrɔ, kɔɔterɛɛ kɔreba, kɔrraa, kɔreba kɔɔyɛ [kɔ́ɔ́yɛ̀] n. forest pl: kɔɔyɛre kɔsɔrre [kɔ́sɔ́rrɪ]́ n. request for farm 2pl: kɔɔyɛrɛɛ help 2pl: kɔsɔrɛɛ kɔɔzii [kɔ̀ɔ̀zìì] n. a type of tiny bird kɔtɔ [kɔ́tɔ́] n. crab pl: kɔtɔre 2pl: that moves in large groups pl: kɔɔzi- kɔtɔrɛɛ iri 2pl: kɔɔziiree kɔvɔlɔ [kɔ̀vɔ̀lɔ́] n. water from the kɔpo [kɔ́pʊ̀ ] n. cup pl: kɔpore 2pl: washing of sheabutter processing kɔporɛɛ 2pl: kɔvɔlɛɛ Var. kɔnvɔlɔ kɔpuori [kɔ́pùòrí] n. the act of weed- kubogi [kúbògí] n. stone cave pl: ing again pl: kopoe 2pl: koporee kubogiri 2pl: kubogiree kɔraa [kɔ̀ràà] n. hook pl: kɔrre 2pl: kugbe [kùgbé] n. coconut pl: kug- kɔrɛɛ Var. takɔraa beri 2pl: kugberee kɔre [kɔ̀rɪ]́ n. (1) pocket (2) bag pl: kugbeɛ [kùgbɪɛ̀ ]́ n. worn-out hoe kɔɛ 2pl: kɔrɛɛ blade pl: kugbeere 2pl: kugbeerɛɛ kɔre [kɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to scoop out; to empty kukurbompaala [kùkúrbʊ́mpáálà] n. • A yuori kõɔ zaa ka ba kɔre. first fruits sg: kukurbompaalɛɛ Var. They have taken all the water from bompaala the pot. kɔrɛɛ, kɔrɔ, kɔrɔ, kɔreba, kukuri [kùkúrì] n. hoe handle pl: kɔraa kukue 2pl: kukuree kɔre [kɔ̀rɪ]̀ adv. how it sounds when kukuribone [kùkúrìbʊ̀ n] n. farm a stone hits an object produce pl: kukuriboma

168 kukurkpaare kuri kukurkpaare [kúkúkpáárɪ]́ n. nape kuŋkunee [kúŋkúnéè] n. hillock, of the neck of a hoe handle pl: raised ground pl: kuŋkunni 2pl: kukukpaɛ 2pl: kukukpaarɛɛ kuŋkunnee kukpoŋi [kùkpôŋ] n. large kuŋkunni [kùŋkúnnì] n. epilepsy hoe pl: kukponni 2pl: 2pl: kuŋkunnee kukpomo/kukponnee kuŋkuŋ [kúŋkúŋ] adv. dark and kuli [kúlí] v. to go home kulee, kulo, threatening e.g. black storm clouds kulo, kulbo, kulaa kuŋkuŋlere [kúŋkúnléré] n. one kulikuli [kúlkúl] adv. very bad- who has epilepsy pl: kuŋkunlerbe smelling 2pl: kuŋkunlerbee kuo [kúó] n. a type of a wild mouse kulinni [kúlínní] n. shrill noise of pl: kuuri 2pl: kuuree praise 2pl: kulinnee kuoli [kùòlì] v. to get drunk kuolee, kull [kùll] adv. rising in a cloud Var. kuolo, kuolo, kuolbo, kuolaa koll kuoli [kùòlì] v. to apply fertilizer kulli [kùllì] v. (1) to mind (2) to not to crops kuolee, kuolo, kuolo, regard, to ignore (typically used kuolbo, kuolaa with ba) • A baa da vuolo yaga lɛ kuoluŋ [kùólǔŋ] n. manure 2pl: kyɛ a nannyige deɛ da ba kullo kuoklunnee a. The dog was barking intensely, but the thief just ignored it. kullee, kuomo [kúómó] n. a type of water kullo, kullo, kulibo, kullaa, - Var. plant pl: kuomee kpulli/kpullo kuoŋaa [kúóŋáá] adj. dry pl: kuoni kultaa [kúltáá] n. marriage pl: kul- 2pl: kuonee taarɛɛ kuori [kùórí] n. funeral pl: koe 2pl: koree kultaa wɛltaa [kúltáá wɛltáá]́ n. divorce kuori [kúórì] v. to tap with an object kuoree, kuoro, kuoro, kuoribo, kunoɔre [kùnʊ́ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. edge of hoe kuoraa blade pl: kunɔɛ 2pl: kunɔrɛɛ kuree [kùrèè] n. shorts pl: kurri 2pl: kuntuŋi [kúntúŋ] n. blanket pl: kun- kurree tunni 2pl: kuntunnee kuri [kúrí] n. (1) metal (2) iron sg: kuntuŋi [kùntùŋ] n. wolf pl: kun- kuruu pl: kurri 2pl: kuree tunni 2pl: kuntunnee kuri [kùrì] v. to forge, to shape metal kunyoɔre [kùɲʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. tip of hoe, kuree, kuro, kuro, kuribo, kuraa, plough pl: kunyɔɛ 2pl: kùnyɔrɛɛ kuribo

169 kuri kutoori kuri [kùrì] v. to plant calabash seeds underwear pl: kuriyolli 2pl: kuriy- kuree, kuro, kuro, kuribo, kuraa, olee kuribo kurizeɛ [kùrìzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) brass (2) cop- kuri [kúrí] v. to scrape kuree, kuro, per pl: kurizeere 2pl: kurizeerɛɛ kuro, kuribo, kuraa, kuribo kuri zu mare [] v. to persevere kuri [kùrì] adv. thud of a heavy solid kurkumpɛge [kùrkûmpɛgɪ́ ]̀ n. shell object falling (onomatopoeia) (of turtle) pl: kurkumpɛgre 2pl: kuribini [kùrìbíní] n. slag (ore after kurkumpɛgrɛɛ iron is extracted) sg: kuribinuu 2pl: kurusu [kúrúsú] adv. small and kuribinee/kurbinnee stunted kuridaa [kùrìdàá] n. iron bar pl: kusaalaa [kúsààlàà] n. smooth stone kuridaare 2pl: kuriaarɛɛ used by a potter to smooth pots pl: kurigbɛɛgbori [kúrígbɛɛ́ gbòrí]́ n. kusaale 2pl: kusaalɛɛ train pl: kurigbɛɛgboe 2pl: kurig- kusaalaa [kúsàálàá] n. sharpening bɛɛgboree stone pl: kusaale 2pl: kusaalɛɛ kurigbɛɛsori [kúrígbɛɛ́ sórí]́ n. rail kuseɛbaa [kúsɪɛ̀ ̀bàá] n. very line pl: kurigbɛɛsoe 2pl: kurigbɛɛ- large hoe pl: kuseɛbaare 2pl: soree kuseɛbaarɛɛ kurigbɛwogri [kúrígbɛwógrì]́ n. kusibiri [kúsíbírì] n. a very small trousers 2pl: kurigbɛwogree stone pl: kusibie 2pl: kusi- kurikuni [kùrìkúní] n. (1) tortoise biree/kusibiiree (2) ball of seeds in the calabash Kusieli [kúsíélí] n. homeland of the fruit (3) padlock pl: kurikumo 2pl: Kusielee clan kurikunee Var. kuri/kuŋkuni kurikuri [kùrìkúrí] v. to search Kusieluu [kúsíélúú] n. a member of kurikuree, kurikuro, kurikuro, the Kusielee clan pl: Kusielee kurikuribo, kurikuraa kusiri [kúsírì] n. stone sg: kusiruu kurikuro [kùrìkúró] n. blacksmith pl: kusie 2pl: kusirree pl: kurikuribo 2pl: kurikuribee kusiwara [kúsíwàrà] n. gravel 2pl: Var. kurkuro, kurkuribo kusiwarɛɛ kurimoŋ [kúrímóŋ] adv. stunted e.g. kutaayi [kútááyí] n. file pl: kutaayiri malnourished child 2pl: kutaayiree kuriwiri [kúríwìrí] n. bicycle pl: kutobo [kùtòbó] n. hoe (traditional kuriwie 2pl: kurwiree Dagaaba hoe) 2pl: kutooree kuriyoluŋ [kúríyólúŋ] n. the act of kutoori [kùtóórí] n. plough breast pl: wearing shorts or trousers without kutooree

170 kũu kpaakpaabiri kũu [kṹṹ] n. (1) death (2) corpse pl: from the bottom of a container of kuuni 2pl: kuunee liquid kuuree, kuuro, kuuro, kuu- kũu [kṹũ̀] n. see bikũu pl: kuuni 2pl: ribo, kuuraa kuunee kuuri [kúúrì] v. to quickly dodge an object in the air kuuree, kuuro, ku- kũubogi [kṹṹbògí] n. grave pl: uro, kuuribo, kuuraa kũubogri 2pl: kũubogree kuuri [kúúrì] n. (1) stone (2) fetish kuunileɛiruu [kúúnílɪɛ́ -írúú]́ n. res- stone pl: kubo 2pl: kuuree Var. urrection kusiri kuuri [kùùrí] n. hoe pl: kue 2pl: kũuyee [kṹṹyéè] n. a type of small kuree owl believed to foresee evil happen- kuuri [kùùrì] v. to dredge; to remove ings pl: kũuyeeri 2pl: kũuyeeree kp kpa [kpá] v. (1) to boil (2) to dis- 2pl: kpaarɛɛ mantle (usually at the joints) (3) kpaa [kpáá] interj. express surprise to lament; to mourn kpaɛ, kpaara, kpãa [kpã̀ã̀] v. to warn kpaãɛ, kpaara, kpaareba, kpaaraa kpaana, kpaana, kpaanema, kpa [kpà] v. to lock kpaɛ, kpaara, kpaanaa, kpaanema kpaara, kpareba, kpaara kpãa [kpã́ã̀] v. cook very palat- kpaa [kpàà] v. (1) to be unsuccess- able food, fry (sauce or stew) ful • A karema goɔ la a bie kpaa. kpãaɛ, kpaana, kpaana, kpaanema, The teacher was unable to stop the kpaanaa child. (2) to leave some of • Ba di la a bondirii kyɛ ka a kpaa. They kpaagyiri [kpáádzrí] n. strong whip ate the food and some was left over. (made of tendon and leather) 2pl: kpaaɛ, kpaara, kpaara, kpaareba, kpaagyiree Var. gyiri kpaaraa kpaakpaa [kpàákpàá] n. palm kernel kpaa [kpáà] v. to remove by pl: kpaakpaare 2pl: kpaakpaarɛɛ pulling out kpaaɛ, kpaara, kpaara, kpaakpaabiri [kpàákpàábírì] n. kpaareba, kpaaraa palm kernel seed sg: kpaakpaabi- kpaa [kpàá] adj. leftover • A baa ŋa ruu pl: kpaakpaabie 2pl: kpaak- ba nɔŋ bondi-kpaa. This dog does paabiree/kpaakpaabiiree Var. not like leftover food. pl: kpaare kpaakpaa

171 kpaakyinni kpala kpaakyinni [kpááʧìnnì] v. to leap together kpaarɛɛ, kpaara, kpaara, from a height to land kpaakyin- kpaareba, kpaaraa, kpaareba nee, kpaarakyinne, kpaakyinne, kpaasere [kpáásɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to end up at kpaakyinime, kpaakyinnaa a point, not returning • Ba toŋ kpaale [kpáálɪ]̀ v. to remind kpaalɛɛ, la a bie ka o deɛ te kpaasere. kpaala, kpaala, kpaaleba, kpaalaa The child they sent has ended up kpãaloɔraa [kpã́ã́lʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. a type of not returning. kpaaserɛɛ, kpaaserɛ, small brown bird pl: kpãaloɔre 2pl: kpaaserɛ, kpaaserebɛ, kpaaseraa kpãaloɔrɛɛ kpãa toori [kpã̀ã̀ tòòrí] v. (1) to in- kpaalzeɛ [kpààlzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of sist (2) to harden one’s heart tree with medicinal properties pl: kpaba [kpàbà] adv. sweating pro- kpaalzeere 2pl: kpaalzeerɛɛ fusely kpaamoɔ [kpáámʊ́ɔ́] n. a type kpabogi [kpàbògí] n. point between of grass sg: kpaamoɔnoo 2pl: the neck and the head pl: kpabogri kpaamoɔnɛɛ 2pl: kpabogree kpaane [kpàànɪ]̀ v. (1) to be- kpaga [kpágà] adv. refuse to do any- come tight (2) to go hunt- thing ing kpaanɛɛ, kpaana, kpaana, kpage [kpàgɪ]́ adj. thick, strong kpaanema, kpaanaa kpagelaga [kpàglàgà] adv. (1) thick kpaanyo [kpàányʊ̀ ] n. nothing Var. (2) motionless kpaanyɔ kpagele [kpàglɪ]̀ v. to harden kpãao [kpã́ã́ʊ̃́] n. guinea fowl pl: kpagelɛɛ, kpagela, kpagela, kpinni 2pl: kpinnee kpageleba, kpagelaa kpaaraa [kpááràá] n. whip pl: kpageloo [kpáglʊ́ ʊ́] adj. (1) hard, kpaare 2pl: kpaarɛɛ Var. kpeeraa, firm (2) difficult pl: kpagela kpeere kpagyɛle [kpádzɛlɪ́ ]́ n. the pointed kpaare [kpáárɪ]́ n. nape of neck pl: part of the back of the head pl: kpaɛ 2pl: kpaarɛɛ kpagyɛlɛ 2pl: kpagyɛlɛɛ kpaare [kpáárɪ]̀ v. (1) to tap (on kpagyiili [kpàdzíílí] n. main vein a door) (2) to roof by knocking connecting the back of the head nails to hold roof (3) to harvest ter- and the neck pl: kpagyiile 2pl: mites (at the end of the process one kpagyiilee knocks on the pot containing ter- kpakyaga [kpáʧàgá] adj. between pl: mites) (4) to fly at top speed kpakyagre 2pl: kpakyagrɛɛ kpaare [kpààrɪ]̀ v. (1) to come to- kpala [kpálà] n. a type of powder for gether (2) to assemble, to meet the eyelashes pl: kpalɛɛ

172 kpala kpaŋkpire kpala [kpàlá] n. (1) nakedness, nu- kpane [kpànɪ]̀ n. (1) lead (2) spear, dity (2) the act of engaging in a lance pl: kpama fight (wrestling) 2pl: kpalɛɛ kpanne [kpànnɪ]̀ v. (1) to hyp- kpalaa [kpàlàá] n. sling pl: kpalle notize (2) to be overwhelmed 2pl: kpallɛɛ by cold kpannɛɛ, kpanna, kpanna, kpalaŋ [kpàlàŋ] adj. quickly, at once kpanema, kpannaa kpalaŋkpalaŋ [kpáláŋkpáláŋ] adv. kpantoli [kpántólí] n. (1) patch of in a uneventful manner • A dɔɔ en- hair as a hairstyle (2) crest (of a tuo na toŋ la a toma kpalaŋkpa- bird) pl: kpantolo 2pl: kpantolee laŋ lɛ. That lazy man did the work Var. kpontoli; kpontolo haphazardly. kpaŋaa [kpàŋàà] adj. large and hol- kpale [kpálɪ]́ v. to become bare low (bald) • N sãakoma zu zaaŋ kpaŋe [kpáŋ] v. to become rigid and kpale. My granfather is completely hard (of a surface) kpaŋɛɛ, kpana, bald. kpalɛɛ, kpala, kpala, kpaleba, kpana, kpanema, kpanaa kpalaa, kpaleba kpaŋe [kpàŋɪ]́ adj. rigid and hard kpale [kpàlɪ]̀ adj. (1) bare; empty (2) (surface, object) pl: kpama for nothing • O wa la kyɛ kpale lɛ, kpaŋenyaŋa [kpàŋɪnyàŋà]̀ adv. o ba nyɛ bonzaa. She came here large and dirty (container) for nothing; she did not get any- kpaŋkpane [kpáŋkpánɪ]́ n. arm pl: thing. pl: kpala 2pl: kpalɛɛ kpaŋkpama 2pl: kpaŋkpannɛɛ kpale [kpàlɪ]̀ v. to make firm (loose kpaŋkpannyugbieli [kpàŋkpàn- soil) kpalɛɛ, kpalla, kpalla, kpalba, nyúgbíélí] n. elbow pl: kpaŋkpan- kpallaa nyugbiele 2pl: kpaŋkpannyugbie- kpaleŋkpaa [kpàlɪŋkpàá]̀ n. louse pl: lee Var. gbieli kpaleŋkpaare 2pl: kpaleŋkpaarɛɛ kpaŋkpaŋkpẽɛ [kpǎŋkpǎŋkp̃́ɛ̃]́ n. kpalle [kpállɪ]̀ v. (1) to remind (2) to force pl: kpaŋkpaŋkpeɛne 2pl: caution (3) to remould the blade of kpaŋkpaŋkpeɛnɛɛ an overused implement (axe) kpal- kpaŋkpazegle [kpáŋkpázɪglí]́ n. lɛɛ, kpalla, kpalla, kpalba, kpallaa hard, pimple-like swelling pl: kpambeɛ [kpǎmbɪɛ́ ̀] n. spokesman kpaŋkpazeglɛ 2pl: kpaŋkpazeglɛɛ pl: kpambeere 2pl: kpambeerɛɛ Var. zaŋkpegiri kpambiri [kpàmbírí] n. wooden bell kpaŋkpele [kpáŋkpɪlɪ́ ]́ adj. ex- pl: kpambie 2pl: kpambiiree tremely hard kpammo [kpàmmó] adv. thick and kpaŋkpire [kpǎŋkpírè] n. race, hard running competition (typically

173 kpaŋkpoli kpeeraa

used with ŋmɛ) • Ba ŋmɛ la kpateɛrɛ [kpàtɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. supporter, kpaŋkpire te le dɔgele taa. They backer pl: kpateɛrebɛ 2pl: raced neck and neck and fell over kpateɛrebɛɛ each other. pl: kpaŋkpirri 2pl: kpatere [kpàtɪrɪ́ ]́ n. (1) gorilla kpaŋkpiree/kpaŋkpirree (2) chimpanzee pl: kpateɛ 2pl: kpaŋkpoli [kpáŋkpòlì] n. chicken kpateerɛɛ without feathers pl: kpaŋkpolo 2pl: kpawerɛ [kpàwɪrɛ́ ]́ n. the act of not kpaŋkpolee Var. kpoŋkpoli showing concern kparata [kpárátá] adv. lie prostrate; kpawoɔ [kpàwʊ́ɔ] n. hat (especially flat with face upwards one made from cloth) (northern Da- gaare dialect) pl: kpawoore 2pl: kpardiiraa [kpǎrdííráá] n. smock kpawoorɛɛ with multiple folds pl: kpardiiri 2pl: kpardiiree kpe [kpɪ]́ v. (1) to shell a bit of (maize seed from cob) (2) to wink (to Kpare [kpárɪ]́ n. name of a town in give someone a sign) kpeɛ, kpeerɛ, the Upper West Region kpeerɛ, kpeerebɛ, kpeeraa kpare [kpárɪ]́ v. (1) to tie together (to kpeebɛ [kpɪɪ́ bɛ́ ̀] adj. orphaned pl: make a bow) (2) to suffer, to stug- kpeere 2pl: kpeerɛɛ gle on the ground kparɛɛ, kpara, kpeebo [kpɪɪ̀ bʊ̀ ́] n. orphan pl: kpeere kpara, kpareba, kparaa 2pl: kpeerɛɛ kpare [kpàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to pair up (2) kpẽekpẽe [kpɪɪ̃́ kpɪ̃́ ɪ̃́ ]̃́ adv. not bright closed to (3) to ride one bike or (fire) animal together (two or more peo- kpeele [kpɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to bend slightly ple) kparɛɛ, kpara, kpara, kpareba, to the side kpeelɛɛ, kpeelɛ, kpeelɛ, kparaa kpeelbɛ, kpeelaa kparoo [kpàrʊ́ʊ̀ ] n. top (clothing) pl: kpeele [kpɪɪ̀ lɪ́ ]̀ adj. small, tiny, imma- kparre 2pl: kparrɛɛ ture pl: kpeelɛ kparpĩi [kpàrpĩĩ́ ]̀ n. needle pl: kpeeloŋ [kpɪɪ̀ lʊ̀ ́ŋ] n. the state of be- kparpiime 2pl: kparpiimee/kpar- ing an orphan piinee kpeeloŋ [kpɪɪ́ lʊ́ ́ŋ] n. hip joint pl: kparsirikyi [kpǎrsíríʧì] n. expensive kpeelɛ 2pl: kpeelɛɛ beautiful gown pl: kparsirikyiri kpeemɛ [kpɪɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. departed 2pl: kparsirikyiree soul, the dead pl: kpenne 2pl: kparyoluŋ [kpǎryòlǔŋ] n. top wear kpeemɛɛ/kpennɛɛ without a supporting underwear pl: kpeeraa [kpɪɪ́ ráà]́ n. whip pl: kpeere kparyolli 2pl: kparyollee 2pl: kpeerɛɛ Var. kpaaraa

174 kpẽɛ kpenne kpẽɛ [kpɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. strength, power, force kpele [kpɪlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to develop pl: kpeɛne 2pl: kpeɛnɛɛ Var. kpeɛ̃o a bad eye (black of eye look- kpẽɛ [kpɪɛ̀̃ ̀] v. to be older than kpeɛ̃ɛ, ing whitish) (2) to cause to be kpeɛnɛ, kpeɛnɛ, kpeɛnemɛ, kpeɛ- bare (growth) kpelɛɛ, kpelɛ, kpelɛ, naa kpelbɛ, kpelaa kpele [kpɪlɪ̀ ]̀ adj. hard, difficult pl: kpeɛmɛ [kpɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. older sister pl: kpelɛ 2pl: kpelɛɛ kpeɛmine 2pl: kpeɛmɛɛ Var. kpẽɛ̃ɛ kpele [kpélé] adv. break completely kpeɛŋaa [kpɪɛ́ ŋáá]́ adj. (1) hard, Var. kpelekpele strong, difficult (2) well, healthy pl: kpeɛne kpeleŋkpeleŋ [kpèlèŋkpéléŋ] adj. uncompromising state (quarel) kpẽɛo [kpɪɛ̃́ ̃ʊ́ ̀̃ ] n. strength pl: kpeɛne Var. kpẽɛ kpelɛ [kpɪlɛ́ ]́ n. nothing (typically used with negative forms ba or kpeɛre [kpɪɛrɪ] n. popular entrance ̀ ̀ ̀ koŋ) • Ka fooŋ gaa a bondaana of a rodent’s hole 2pl: kpeɛrɛɛ ŋa zie kyɛ fo koŋ nyɛ kpelɛ zaa. kpeɛrentɔ [kpɪɛ́ rɪ́ ntɔ́ ̀] n. neighbour Even if you go to this this rich you kpegeke [kpégéké] adv. direct to the will not get anything. point (usually unleashing pain) kpeli [kpélí] n. throw of dice in the kpegere [kpɪgrɪ́ ]̀ v. to be curious game bie pl: kpele 2pl: kpelee Var. (asking questions to find informa- kpoli tion) kpegerɛɛ, kpegerɛ, kpegerɛ, kpell [kpéll] adv. breaking of a hard kpegerebɛ, kpegeraa, kpegerebɛ objecct kpegileŋ [kpégléŋ] adv. small but kpell [kpɪll]́ adv. spread out openly compact and in great quantity kpegiri [kpégrí] n. gizzard pl: kpege kpelle [kpɪllɪ́ ]̀ n. grass strings worn 2pl: kpegiree on the waist 2pl: kpellɛɛ kpegiri [kpégrì] v. (1) to shiver kpeme [kpèmé] n. grass used for (from cold) (2) to move one’s torso making hat pl: kpemee 2pl: kpen- quickly and vigorously (usually in nee dancing) kpegiree, kpegire, kpe- kpeme [kpémé] adv. exerting some- gire, kpegiribe, kpegiraa thing hefty (high price) kpegiruu [kpégrúú] n. a type of kpememe [kpɪmɪ́ mɪ́ ]́ adv. very dance sweet kpekpe [kpɪkpɪ́ ]́ n. pair of scissors pl: kpenne [kpɪnnɪ́ ]̀ v. to break off bits kpekpere 2pl: kpekperɛɛ of the tip (of a fire log) kpennɛɛ,

175 kpenne kpɛgele

kpennɛ, kpennɛ, kpenemɛ, kpen- la kperemenee lɛ. The mango naa, kpenemɛ tree has borne a lot of fruit. Var. kpenne [kpɪnnɪ́ ]̀ n. ancestor pl: kpurimunu kpemɛ 2pl: kpennɛɛ kperemɛŋ [kpɪrɪ́ mɛ̀ ŋ]́ adv. stunted, kpeŋkpegiri [kpéŋkpégrí] n. high- short, and small est point (xylophone sound) pl: kperese [kpírɪsɪ́ ]́ adv. very sweet kpeŋkpege 2pl: kpeŋkpegiree kperɛ [kpɪrɛ́ ̀] adj. (1) small (2) worn kpeŋkperɛŋ [kpɪŋkpɪ́ rɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. small- out (broom) ish but strong (short person) kperɛkperɛ [kpɪrɛ́ ̀kpírɛ̀] adj. little kperaa [kpɪráà]́ n. disease of the hip bits pl: kperre kperi [kpérí] v. to chop (meat, tree kperaa [kpɪràà]̀ adv. exposed, seen branches) kperee, kpere, kpere, clearly kperibee, kperaa kpere [kpɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be stunted in kperime [kpérímé] n. type of food growth or development kperɛɛ, (full of chopped meat) 2pl: kperi- kperɛ, kperɛ, kperebɛ, kperaa mee kpere [kpɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to break off an kperiwere [kpéríwéré] adv. few, not attached bit from the main body much (2) to sneeze kperɛɛ, kperɛ, kperɛ, kpɛ [kpɛ̀] v. (1) to enter (2) to dwell kperebɛ, kperaa in, to inhabit (3) to gain fertility kpere [kpɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to litter kperɛɛ, (farmland) (4) to fit (dress) (5) to be kperɛ, kperɛ, kperebɛ, kperaa well attended (6) to feel hurt (7) to kperefene [kpɪrɪ́ fɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ adj. muscular come around (of the a season) kpɛɛ, and stocky kpeɛrɛ, kpeɛrɛ, kpeɛrebɛ, kpeɛraa kpɛ bire to struggle, to wrestle, to kperekpere [kpɪrɪ̀ kpɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to strug- contend gle kperekperɛɛ, kperekperɛ, kpɛ nyuo to seek protection from kperekperɛ, kperekperebɛ, kperekperaa kpɛde [kpɛdɪ́ ]́ n. ownership (wealth) kperekpere [kpɪrɪ̀ kpɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ adv. rough, kpɛɛ [kpɛɛ́ ̀] n. malt 2pl: kpɛɛrɛɛ forceful • O bie ŋa waa la kpɛgelaa [kpɛgláá]́ n. (1) support- kperekpere zuo, o ŋmare la a ing object (for a boiling pot on a kyaanaa. This child is too rough; hearth.) (2) attachment pl: kpɛgele he will break the mirror. 2pl: kpɛgelɛɛ kperemene [kpɪrìmɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ adj. all over kpɛgele [kpɛ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to place (fruits on a tree or scratches on by the side (provide support for a the body) • A maŋgo wɔŋe, ɛ cooking pot on the hearth) (2) to

176 kpɛgelɛŋ kpɛwẽɛ

adjoin kpɛgelɛɛ, kpɛgelɛ, kpɛgelɛ, kpɛŋkpɛlemɛ [kpɛŋkpɛ̌ lɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. bits kpɛgelebɛ, kpɛgelaa and pieces • A bɔgebogera die kpɛgelɛŋ [kpɛ̀glɛ̀ŋ] adv. loose and kpɛŋkpɛlemɛ ba di ba. There are flabby (diseased arm) very many pieces of items in the diviner’s room. 2pl: kpɛŋkpɛlemɛɛ kpɛgere [kpɛgrì]́ v. to disturb or kpɛŋkpɛlɛŋ [kpɛŋkpɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. of a worry someone kpɛgerɛɛ, kpɛgerɛ, hanging bit kpɛgerɛ, kpɛgerebɛ, kpɛgeraa kpɛŋkpɛrɛŋ [kpɛŋkpɛ́ rɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. kpɛle [kpɛlɪ] v. (1) to faint (2) to ́ ́ spilled all over crave • O nyɛ la pegebil velaa kpɛre [kpɛrɪ] v. (1) to spill (2) to kaŋa a deɛ kpɛlɛ o yɛlɛ. He is ́ ́ cook a small quantity of kpɛrɛɛ, just crazy about a beautiful girl he kpɛrɛ, kpɛrɛ, kpɛrebɛ, kpɛraa saw. kpɛlɛɛ, kpɛlɛ, kpɛlɛ, kpɛlebɛ, kpɛlaa, kpɛlebɛ kpɛrewɛrɛ [kpɛrɪ́ wɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ adv. small quantity • Zenɛ N koŋ tõɔ nɛne kpɛle [kpɛlɪ́ ]̀ v. to pluck kpɛlɛɛ, da, n libie deɛ waa la kpɛrewɛrɛɛ kpɛlɛ, kpɛlɛ, kpɛlebɛ, kpɛlaa, lɛ. Today I cannot buy meat; kpɛlebɛ my money is very small. Var. kpɛlemɛ [kpɛlɪ́ mɛ́ ̀] adj. snatch, do or kpɛrewɛrɛɛ act at once (hungry dog snatching kpɛrɛkpɛrɛ [kpɛrɛ́ kpɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ adv. bits a bone) and pieces kpɛlewɛlɛ [kpɛlɪ́ wɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. not firm kpɛrɛndɛŋ [kpɛrɛ́ ndɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. best of or strong (deed) • O maale la a bondirii de kpɛlewɛlɛ [kpɛlwɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. weak and wa biŋi kpɛndɛŋ. She cooked the loose (pair of scissors) food and served it neatly. kpɛlɛŋ [kpɛlɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. everything kpɛrɛŋkpɛrɛŋ [kpɛrɛ́ ŋkpɛ́ rɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. smeared all over, in a mess • A kpɛlɛŋkpɛlɛŋ [kpɛlɛŋkpɛlɛŋ] ́ ́ ́ ́ bie le la mɛmɛrɛɛ poɔ a e o zaa adv. finished completely Var. kpɛrɛŋkpɛrɛŋ lɛ The boy fell in the kpɛ́lɛ́ŋkpɛ̀lɛ̀ŋ mud and is soiled all over. kpɛlɛŋ kpɛlɛŋ [kpɛlɛ́ ŋkpɛ́ ̀lɛ̀ŋ] adv. kpɛsenneŋenɛ [kpɛsɪ́ nnɪ́ ŋɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. finish completely pulp from pito malt kpɛlle [kpɛllɪ́ ]́ n. loud and sharp cry kpɛtaa [kpɛtáá]́ n. (1) be suited to; fit 2pl: kpɛllɛɛ well (2) a union in which the group kpɛnezu [kpɛnɪ́ zú]́ n. a small black members work for each other in blood-sucking fly that causes turns pl: kpɛtaare 2pl: kpɛtaarɛɛ river blindness pl: kpɛnezuri 2pl: kpɛwẽɛ [kpɛwɪ́ ɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. water from pre- kpɛnezurree pared malt pl: kpɛweɛne 2pl:

177 kpɛzie kpoli

kpɛweɛnɛɛ kpogeraa [kpʊ́gráá] n. hyaena pl: kpɛzie [kpɛ̀zíé] n. abode, living place kpogere 2pl: kpogerɛɛ pl: kpɛziiri 2pl: kpɛziiree kpogi [kpògì] v. to bully kpogee, kpi [kpî] v. (1) to die, to be dead (2) kpogro, kpogro, kpogribo, to wither (plant) kpie, kpiire, kpii- kpograa re, kpiiribe, kpiiraa, kpiiribe kpogili [kpòglì] n. helmet pl: kpibifi [kpíbífí] adj. small, tiny kpogilo 2pl: kpogilee kpieni [kpíéní] adj. snatch (e.g. kpogili [kpòglì] v. to mature, hawk snatching a chicken) to grow big kpogilee, kpogilo, kpiiri [kpììrì] v. to sew the end of; to kpogilo, kpogilibo, kpogilaa hem (dress) kpiiree, kpiire, kpiire, kpogili [kpóglí] v. to wait with- kpiiribe, kpiiraa, kpiiribe out getting attention; to sit aim- kpimare [kpìmàrɪ]̀ v. to be glued to lessly kpogilee, kpogilo, kpogilo, (work) kpogilibo, kpogilaa kpi mare [kpì màrɪ]̀ v. to cling to, to kpogilo [kpóglò] n. boiled balls of persist kpi marɛɛ, kpiire mara, kpi- bean and corn flour sg: kpogiluu mara, kpimareba, kpimaraa 2pl: kpogilee kpinni [kpìnnì] v. to quench, to ex- kpogilokolo [kpòglòkòlò] adv. ap- tinguish kpinnee, kpinne, kpinne, pearance (many big items) kpinime, kpinnaa, kpinime kpogiri [kpógrí] v. to tap the in- kpinni [kpínnì] n. to remind, usu- ner side of a mortar (creating a ally as a follow up to an ear- beat) kpogiree, kpogiro, kpogiro, lier arrangement kpinnee, kpinne, kpogiribo, kpogiraa kpinne,kpinime, kpinnaa, kpin- kpogo [kpógó] adv. refusing utterly nuuVar. pinni to do something; (run an erand) kpirikpiri [kpíríkpírí] adv. very kpokpo [kpókpó] adj. permanent black Var. malmal, bɛmbɛŋ kpokpori [kpòkpórí] n. mound pl: kpiroo [kpíróó] adv. protruding in a kpokporee 2pl: kpokporuu small manner kpolaa [kpʊ̀ làà] adj. large and blunt kpo [kpó] v. (1) to break open an egg (2) to remove the bark of a tree kpolaa [kpòlàà] adv. not hidden kpoe, kpuoro, kpuoro, kpuoribo, (truth) kpuoraa kpolee [kpóléé] adj. small and round kpo [kpô] n. (1) funeral donation pl: kpolee kpolee (2) meeting place pl: kpori 2pl: kpoli [kpólí] v. (1) to get to the ex- kporee treme (red hot metal) (2) to go bad,

178 kpoli kpori

to spoil (rotten eggs) kpolee, kpolo, kpoŋi [kpôŋ] v. to knock on the head kpolo, kpolibo, kpolaa slightly kpoŋee, kponno, kponno, kpoli [kpòlì] adj. bare, naked pl: kponimo, kponnaa kpolo 2pl: kpolee/kpollee kpoŋkpogiri [kpóŋkpógrì] n. wickedness; deliberate unfriendly kpoli [kpólí] n. a player letting go a behaviour dice of the opponent in the game of bie as a sign of total control of kpoŋkpoli [kpókpòlì] n. miniature the game pl: kpoli 2pl: kpolee Var. xylophone pl: kpoŋkpolo 2pl: kpeli kpoŋkpolee Var. kpaŋkpoli kpoŋkpolimo [kpǒŋkpólímó] n. kpolikpala [kpòlìkpàlà] adv. big, coop for fowl pl: kpoŋkpolli 2pl: huge kpoŋkpolee kpoliŋkpoori [kpólíŋkpòòrí] n. a kpoŋkpolo [kpóŋkpóló] n. second- type of small ant pl: kpoliŋkpogo rate xylophone notes (usually laid 2pl: kpoliŋkpooree out on the ground) sg: kpoŋkpoluu kpolo [kpòló] n. termites (trapped 2pl: kpoŋkpolee for chicken feed.) sg: kpoluu 2pl: kpoŋkponti [kpòŋkpòntí] n. (1) kpolee dried cassava tubers (2) food made kpoloŋkpoloŋ [kpólóŋkpólóŋ] adj. from cassava flour pl: kpoŋkpontiri bare and clean (shaven head) 2pl: kpoŋkpontiree kpolore [kpʊ́lʊ́rɪ]́ n. small, gourdlike kpoŋŋo [kpǒŋŋó] n. (1) cassava flute pl: kpoloɛ 2pl: kpolorɛɛ plant (2) dried cassava tubers pl: kponnee kpolɔ [kpʊ̀ lɔ̀] n. (1) inner feeling (2) kpoo [kpóó] adj. expression of sur- anger Var. kpola prise and dismay Var. kpaa kpommu [kpòmmú] n. cassava kpore [kpʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to crack (plant) pl: kpoŋŋo 2pl: kponnee one’s knuckles (2) to seal com- kponni [kpónnì] v. (1) to hit a rigid pletely (hole) kporɛɛ, kpora, kporɔ, object to clean of dirt (dust) (2) kporeba, kporaa to empty powdery stuff completely kpore [kpʊ́rɪ]́ n. snuffbox (small con- from a container kponnee, kponno, tainer for snuff) pl: kporɛɛ kponno, kponimo, kponnaa kpore [kpʊ́ rɪ]́ n. lump (on wood) pl: kpontoli [kpóntólí] n. topknot Var. kporɛɛ 2pl: kporrɛɛ kpantoli kpori [kpórì] v. to empty • O kpoŋi [kpôŋ] adj. big, large, great pl: kpori la o woɔ libie zaa da ne kponni 2pl: kponnee yiri. He emptied his purse to buy

179 kpoteɛ la

the house. kporee, kporo, kporo, kpɔre [kpɔ́rɪ]̀ adj. weak, broken (pot, kporibo, kporaa calabash) pl: kpɔrɔ 2pl: kpɔrɛɛ kpoteɛ [kpʊ́tɪɛ́ ]́ n. lumps, protru- kpugiloŋ [kpúglóŋ] adj. small, solid, sions and round kpɔge [kpɔ́gɪ]́ v. to develop a lump; kpugiloŋ [kpùglòŋ] adj. large, solid, to swell up kpɔgɛɛ, kpɔgrɔ, kpɔgrɔ, and round kpɔgreba, kpɔgraa kpulee [kpúléé] adv. small and kpɔge [kpɔ́gɪ]̀ v. to carry, to pick rounded on top up wholly (mud) kpɔgɛɛ, kpɔgera, kpulee [kpùlèè] adv. large and kpɔgera, kpɔgereba, kpɔgeraa rounded on top kpɔge [kpɔ́gɪ]́ v. carry (pl) e.g. carry- kpuleekpulee [kpúléékpúléé] n. ing muddy stuff one by one kpɔgɛɛ groundnut cake Var. kpulikpuli kpɔgeraa [kpɔ́gràá] n. a type of kpuli [kpúlí] adj. (1) round-headed tree with hard but edible fruit (2) hornless (ram) pl: kpullo 2pl: pl: kpɔgere 2pl: kpɔgerɛɛ Var. kpulee kpɔgetere kpulikpuli [kpùlìkpúlí] v. (1) to kpɔgere [kpɔ́grɪ]́ n. lump pl: kpɔgɔ walk with difficulty (2) to stutter 2pl: kpɔgerɛɛ (leper) kpulikpulee, kpulikpulo, kpulikpulo, kpulikpulbo, kpu- kpɔgetere [kpɔ́gɪtɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. a lump pl: likpulaa,,- kpɔgeteɛ 2pl: kpɔgeterɛɛ Var. kpɔgeraa kpulli [kpùllì] v. to conclude; to bring to the end kpullee, kpullo, kpɔlɛɛ [kpɔ̀lɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. fat and plump kpullo, kpulbo, kpullaa kpɔlɛɛkpɔlɛɛ [kpɔ́lɛɛ́ kpɔ́ ́lɛɛ́ ]́ adv. ap- kpuŋkpuli [kpúŋkpúlí] n. round pearing with bulging parts headed truncheon pl: kpuŋkpulo kpɔŋkɔrɔŋ [kpɔ́ŋkɔ́rɔ́ŋ] adv. small 2pl: kpuŋkpulee and dented kpurimunu [kpùrìmùnù] adv. (1) in kpɔŋkɔrɔŋ [kpɔ̀ŋkɔ̀rɔ̀ŋ] adv. large great numbers (fruit) (2) of the fall and dented of fruits Var. kperemene l la [lá] part. focus particle • Ona la • O na gaa la. S/he will go. na gaa. S/he is the one who will go. la [là] v. to laugh laɛ, laara, laara,

180 la lage

laareba, laaraa, laareba laare [lààrɪ]̀ v. (1) to spread all over la [là] adv. again • O la gaaɛ la. S/he • Saa mie la ka kõɔ laare a bom- has gone again. bulo zaa. The rain has caused a near flooding of all the crops. (2) la [lá] v. to open or break an object to move a finger gently over • A made of lobes (kola nut, fruit) laɛ, dɔɔta de la tẽẽ kãã mine laare laara, laara, lareba, laaraa ne a bie nimie. The doctor ap- laa [láá] n. dish, bowl pl: laare 2pl: plied some creamy medicine to the laarɛɛ child’s eyes. laarɛɛ, laara, laara, laadimee [làadíméé] n. great suffer- laareba, laaraa ing 2pl: laadinnee laare [lààrɪ]̀ v. to assemble; to laafeɛ [làafɪɛ́ ]́ n. health pl: laafeere bring together laarɛɛ, laara, laara, 2pl: laafeerɛɛ laareba, laaraa laalee [lààléè] n. small eartheware laatereke [láátɪrɪ́ kɪ́ ]̀ n. electricity pl: dish for serving soup pl: laabilii laaterekere 2pl: laaterekerɛɛ 2pl: laabilee labiri [lábírì] n. axe blade pl: labie 2pl: labiree laalere [lààlɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. flute made from stalk pl: laaleɛ 2pl: ladiraa [ládìráà] n. sharp axe pl: laalerɛɛ/laalerrɛɛ ladirri 2pl: ladiree laga [lágà] n. spoon pl: lagre 2pl: la- laalɛŋ [lààlɛŋ]́ n. medium-size bowl grɛɛ laane [láánɪ]́ adj. useless pl: laama laga [làgá] n. groin pl: lagre 2pl: 2pl: laamɛɛ lagɛɛ laane [láánɪ]́ adj. ripe archie-fruit lagara [lágàrà] n. a type of creeping (showing a split) pl: laama 2pl: grass sg: lagaroo pl: lagarre 2pl: laamɛɛ lagarɛɛ laane [làànɪ]̀ v. to grope, to move lage [lágɪ]̀ v. to strip off hard mate- one’s hand over to feel laanɛɛ, rial e.g. bark lagɛɛ, lagra, lagra, la- laana, laana, laaneba, laanaa greba, lagraa, lagreba Var. geli laare [láárɪ]̀ v. (1) to wave e.g. greet- lage [lágɪ]̀ v. to remove malted grain ing (2) to move or spread out e.g. e.g. guinea corn from the place it people in a circle (3) to brush aside was left to sprout lagɛɛ, lagra, la- laarɛɛ, laara, laara, laareba, laaraa, gra, lagreba, lagraa, lagreba Var. laareba geli laare [láárɪ]̀ v. to hover above e.g. lage [làgɪ]̀ v. to surround lagɛɛ, bird laarɛɛ, laara, laara, laareba, lagra, lagra, lagreba, lagraa, la- laaraa, laareba greba

181 lagere lare lagere [lágrɪ]́ v. to meet, to move lane [lánɪ]́ n. scrotum pl: lama 2pl: across • A dataare na lagere la lannɛɛ Var. lambiri taa a naayiri poɔ. The oppos- lanleebu [lànléébú] n. (1) unison (2) ing parties will meet at the chief’s rhythm palace. lagerɛɛ, lagera, lagera, lanna [lànná] n. tree squirrel pl: lagereba, lagraa lanne 2pl: lannɛɛ Var. lɔnnɔ laguu [lágùú] n. blunt axe pl: lagu- lanne [lánnɪ]̀ v. to lean against lan- uri 2pl: laguuree nɛɛ, lanna, lanna, lanema, lannaa, lakpoŋi [lákpôŋ] n. large axe pl: lanema lakponni 2pl: lakponnee laŋa [láŋá] n. a tribe (Sisaale) pl: lalee [lálèé] n. small axe pl: labilii laŋema 2pl: laŋemɛɛ 2pl: labilee Laŋe [làŋɪ]́ n. area inhabited by the laloɔrɔ [lálʊ́ɔ́rɔ́] n. playmate pl: Sisaala laloɔreba 2pl: laloɔrɛɛ laŋe [làŋɪ]̀ v. (1) to gather, to get to- lambiri [lǎmbírì] n. testicle sg: lam- gether (2) to add (3) to be jointly biruu pl: lambie 2pl: lambiiree owned laŋɛɛ, lanna lambori [làmbórí] n. (1) side (2) laŋe [láŋɪ]́ v. to slosh laŋɛɛ, post. side (of something) pl: lam- laŋena/lanna, lanna, laŋenema/la- boe/lambobo 2pl: lamboree nema, laŋenaa lamboriŋ [làmbórîŋ] loc. beside laŋgbaraa [láŋgbáráà] n. a long pole lambosentaa-naare [làmbósɪntáá-́ with a hook for plucking things náárɪ]̀ n. square high up pl: laŋgbarre 2pl: laŋg- lammo [làmmʊ́] n. gathering barɛɛ Var. laŋgbalaa, gbalaa lampare [làmpàrɪ]̀ n. groin pl: lam- laŋkoroo [láŋkóróò] n. corner pl: pare 2pl: lamparɛɛ laŋkorri 2pl: laŋkorree lampɛ [lâmpɛ]́ n. cradle cover pl: laŋkpaa [lâŋkpáà] n. groin gland pl: lampɛre 2pl: lampɛrɛɛ laŋkpaare 2pl: laŋkpaarɛɛ Var. loŋkoroo lampɛgere [lámpɛgɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. cheek pl: lampɛgɛ 2pl: lampɛgɛɛ/lampɛge- laŋkpeɛrɛ [làŋkpɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. neighbour rɛɛ pl: laŋkpeɛrebɛ 2pl: laŋkpeɛrebɛɛ lamponderɛ [lǎmpóndɪrɛ́ ]́ n. tax col- larata [lárátá] adj. white, very clean lector pl: lamponderebɛ 2pl: lam- e.g. cloudless full moon ponderebɛɛ lare [lárì] n. axe pl: laɛ 2pl: larɛɛ lampoŋ [lǎmpóŋ] n. levy, tax pl: lam- lare [lárɪ]́ v. to become very hot ponni 2pl: lamponnee larɛɛ, lara, lara, lareba, laraa

182 lare leɛre lare [làrì] v. to lock larɛɛ, lara, lara, (2) to transfer to a different con- lareba, laraa tainer (3) to change to something lare [làrì] v. to stack one container different e.g. behaviour leɛɛ, leɛrɛ, in another larɛɛ, lara, lara, lareba, leɛrɛ, leɛrebɛ, leɛraa, leɛrebɛ laraa leɛ [lɪɛ́ ̀] v. to replace, to take the place of leɛɛ, leɛrɛ, leɛrɛ, leɛrebɛ, le [lè] v. (1) to fall (down) (2) to leɛraa be guilty (3) to settle e.g. sediment in liquid (4) to reduce in pain e.g. leɛ-eebo [lìɛ̀-ɪɪ́ bʊ́ ́] v. to redo; to go stomach ache lee, lere, lere, leribe, over leraa, leribe leɛgɔɔtɔbaa [lɪɛ́ gɔ́ ̀ɔ́tɔ̀báá] n. a local le [lé] v. to be bent on • A porisi le dish made from fried corn and veg- ka o gaa ne a doreba kɔɔto. The etable 2pl: leɛgɔɔtɔbaarɛɛ police officer is bent on prosecut- leɛne [lɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]̀ n. a type of tree with ing the driver in court. sweet and sour fruits and medicinal properties pl: leɛmɛ 2pl: leɛmɛɛ leere [lɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to manouvre, to weave through • O de la a bɔle leɛne [lɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]̀ n. large umbrella pl: leere o taaba zaa kyɛ eŋ gool. He leɛmɛ 2pl: leɛmɛɛ dribbled the ball through the other leɛre [lɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to change (ap- players and scored a goal. (2) to pointment, time, place) • Ba leɛre go through and select from many la a kpaaroŋ biŋ bieo. They have objects leaving some behind • O rescheduled the meeting for tomor- dɔ la a moɔ kyɛ leere a bombulo row. (2) to return, to give back • o bare. He removed the weeds, leav- leɛre la a o gane ko o. She has re- ing the crops. (3) to exclude • Ba turned his book to him. (3) to repu- poŋi la a bibiiri diibu kyɛ te leere diate, to turn round • A nannyige a entuo soba bare. They shared boɔrɔ ka o leɛre a yɛlɛ tuo a o tutɔ. the food among the children, ex- The thief is trying to shift the theft cluding the lazy one. (4) to feel the onto his friend. leɛ rɛɛ, leɛrɛ, leɛre end points of an opening, usually terɛ, leɛre terebɛ, leɛ teraa with the finger e.g in nose picking leɛre [lɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to exchange • O de • O naŋ ɔɔ a seŋkãa baare la ka la bɛŋɛ leɛre ne kyi. S/he substi- o leere o yagekɔbɔ. It is after she tuted beans for millet. (2) change had finished eating the groundnuts position • A dɔɔ leɛre la a boore that she brushed her cheeks using kpɛ ne maaroŋ. The man moved her tongue. leerɛɛ, leerɛ, leerebɛ, the goats from the sun into the leerebɛ, leeraa shade. (3) substitute, take the place leɛ [lɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to return, to go back of • A bɔlŋmeɛrɛ kaŋa perɛɛ la

183 leɛre lekere

ka bonyuo kpɛ leɛre o zu. As one legelege [lɪgɪ̀ lɪ̀ gɪ́ ]́ v. to struggle un- of the football players was injured der a tight grip • A dɔɔ da feere they brought in another player to la a nannyige kɔkɔre ka o te le- substitute him. gelegerɛ. The man held the thief’s leɛre [lɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to wave one’s throat and he struggled to breathe. hands or other objects in the air legelegɛɛ, legelegɛ, legelegɛ, lege- or in the face of another • A legerebɛ, legelegeraa zɔɔzɔɔreba da leɛrɛ la nuuri ennɛ legere [lɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to tickle legrɛɛ, taa. The fighters were throwing legrɛ, legrɛ, legrebɛ, legraa, their hands in each other’s face. • A legrebɛ lɔɔre naŋ da wa ire n ma da leɛre legere [lɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to stalk legrɛɛ, legrɛ, la o nu ko ma ka n poɔ zaa sãã. legrɛ, legrebɛ, legraa, legrebɛ As the lorry took off my mother legere [lɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to eat a great deal waved me but I was very sad. (2) legrɛɛ, legrɛ, legrɛ, legrebɛ, legraa, wave hand vigorously in the face legrebɛ of another, usually in anger • Dɔbɔ mine bayi da toora la taa kyɛ legere [lìgɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to move noiselessly leɛrɛ nuuri ennɛ taa. Two men to avoid being noticed legerɛɛ, le- were waving their hands angrily in gerɛ, legerɛ, legerebɛ, legeraa each other’s face. legiri [légirí] v. to fill in what is lege [lɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to apply to a spot • A missing e.g. sowing of grains • tẽe-erɛ de la tẽe lege a baala tobo Kɔrre da pere la kyi yaga, ka ne o gbɛɛ. The herbalist applied a koɔreba la te legiri. Partridges some ointment to the patient’s ears have scratched up most of the mil- and legs. legɛɛ, legerɛ, legerɛ, leg- let that was sown and the farmers erebɛ, legeraa had to resow. legiree, legire, legire, lege [lɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to fortify oneself • Ba legiribe, legiraa lege la a naŋkpaana ŋa mɔyɔ legiri [légirí] v. to argue • Da- tẽe. This hunter has been fortified gaaba ba nɔŋ bibile naŋ legire against the attack of dangerous an- neŋkponni. The Dagaaba do not imals. legɛɛ, legerɛ, legerɛ, legere- take kindly to children who argue bɛ, legeraa with elderly people. legiree, legire, lege [lɪgɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to wag (dog’s tail) legire, legiribe, legiraa • A baa da zo tuori la o daana lekere [lɪkɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. boastfulness; as- a legerɛ o zoore. The dog ran to suming (typically used with yɛlɛ) meet its master and wagged its tail. • A bikpoŋ na erɛ la lekere yɛlɛ (2) to struggle legɛɛ, legerɛ, legerɛ, yelmeŋɛ. That big boy behaves in legerɛ, legeraa a boastful manner.

184 le kõɔ lɛɛ le kõɔ [lè kʊ̀̃ ɔ́] adj. small crossed lerɛɛ, lerɛ, lerɛ, lerebɛ, le kõɔ [lè kʊ̀̃ ɔ́] adj. watery leraa lelaare [lèlààrɪ]̀ v. to take complete leree [lèrèè] adj. naked, bare bodied control; lelaarɛɛ, lerelaara, lelaara, leremɛ [lɪrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ adj. interwoven lelaareba, lelaaraa lerese [lɪrɪ́ sɪ́ ]́ adv. small but intact le lɔɔ [lè lɔ́g] adj. guilty of the law (person) le nimiri [lè nímírì] adj. pleasant le tobo [lè tòbó] adj. beautiful lenlenni [lènlènní] n. a type of skin lezaɛ anaare [lɪzáɛ̀ ̀ ánáárɪ]̀ adv. disease 2pl: lenlennee eighty lenni [lénní] v. to be spotted lennee, lezaɛ ata [lɪzáɛ̀ ̀ átà] adv. sixty lenne, lenne, lenime, lennaa lezaɛ ata ne pie [lɪzáɛ̀ ̀ átà nɪ́ píé] adv. lenni [lénní] v. to be interpersed seventy lennee, lenne, lenne, lenime, lezaɛ ayi [lɪzáɛ̀ ̀ áyì] adv. forty lennaa lezaɛ ayi ne pie [lɪzáɛ̀ ̀ áyì nɪ́ píé] adv. lenni [lénní] v. (1) to augment fifty the main drummer’s beat (of sup- lezaɛ ayi ŋmaa anuu [lɪzáɛ̀ ́ áyì ŋmàà port xylophonist) (2) play a mu- ànúú] adv. thirty-five sical instrument in support of the lead player lennee, lenne, lenne, lezare [lɪzárɪ̀ ]̀ adv. twenty lenime, lennaa lezare ne ayi [lɪzárɪ̀ ̀ nɪ́ píé nɪ́ yéní] leŋi [lèŋ] v. (1) to fasten, to bind e.g. adv. thirty-one load (2) to tether leŋee, lene, lene, lezare ne yeni [lɪzárɪ̀ ̀ nɪ́ yénì] adv. lenime, lenaa twenty-one leŋi miri to commit suicide leŋee lɛ [lɛ]̌ adv. (1) so, usually • Lɛ ka miri, lene miri, mi-lene a waa. So it is. (2) as it is, at leŋi noɔre to fast; to refrain from that point • Meŋ bare a zoma lɛ. eating leŋee noɔre, lene noɔre, nɔ- Also, stop there with the insults. (3) lene what • N na te woŋi la lɛ o naŋ leŋi woɔ to pack bags leŋee woɔ, na yeli. I will go and listen to what lene woɔ, wo-lene s/he will say. leraa [lɪráá]́ n. safety pin pl: lerre lɛbiri [lɛ̀bírì] n. bead sg: lɛbiruu pl: 2pl: lerɛɛ/lerrɛɛ lɛbie 2pl: lɛbiiree lere [lérè] n. a type of loincloth for lɛɛ [lɛ̀ɛ̂] interj. is that so? • A: A dɔɔ men pl: lerri 2pl: leree/lerree ŋmaa na gaa la dansareka kyɛ yi. lere [lɪrɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to interweave B: Lɛɛ? A: That short man is an ex- (2) crisscross e.g. sitting with legs convict. B: Is that so?

185 lɛɛ ligi lɛɛ [lɛɛ́ ]́ adv. (1) for a while (wait) lɛre [lɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to replace, to put in • o are la be lɛɛ wa te bale. S/he the place of • A bɔlŋmeɛrɛ kaŋa waited until s/he became tired. (2) perɛɛ la ka boŋyuo kpɛ lɛre o continuous and for quite sometime zu. One of the football players got • Ba yeli ka a sori e la ŋmaa kyɛ injured and another replaced him. ka te kyɛŋe o lɛɛ ka ŋmenaa te lɛrɛɛ, lɛrɛ, lɛrɛ, lɛrebɛ, lɛraa kpɛ. We were told the journey was libibinzie [lìbíbìnzíé] n. bank pl: li- not long but walked and walked un- bibinziiri 2pl: libibinziiree til dusk. Var. lɛɛŋ libibɔ [líbíbɔ́] n. quest for money lɛgerɛŋ [lɛgɪ́ rɛ̀ ŋ]́ adv. long, loose, and hanging libibugo [lìbíbùgó] n. safe for money pl: libibugiri 2pl: libibugiree lɛmɛlɛmɛ [lɛmɛ́ lɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ adv. slightly sweet libidaana [líbídááná] n. rich person pl: libidaanema 2pl: libidaanemɛɛ lɛmpɛrɛŋ [lɛmpɛ́ rɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. short and even at the top libidi [líbídì] n. the act of spending money lɛnɛɛ [lɛ̀nɛɛ́ ̂] conj. (1) what • N ba baŋe lɛnɛɛ N naŋ na e pampana. libima [líbímá] n. capital I don’t know what to do next. (2) libipelaa [lìbípɪlàá]̀ n. cowry pl: li- how • Fo baŋe la lɛnɛɛ ba naŋ bipeɛle 2pl: libipeɛlɛɛ maŋ sɛ kparoo? Do you know how libiri [lìbírì] n. money sg: libiruu pl: a shirt is sewn? libie 2pl: libiiree lɛnlɛŋko [lɛnlɛ́ ŋkò]́ interj. expres- libizɔŋe [líbízɔ́ŋ] n. (1) gold dust (2) sion to soothe a child; usual tune in plentiful money 2pl: libizɔnnɛɛ a cradle song libu [líbú] n. a funeral rite for an lɛnne [lɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to lick, to taste adult woman 2pl: libiree Var. ligi (2) to offer a sample of food for sale lɛnnɛɛ, lɛnnɛ, lɛnnɛ, lɛnemɛ, lɛn- liemu [lìèmú] n. orange (fruit) pl: naa, lɛnemɛ liemuri 2pl: liemuree lɛntɛre [lɛntɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. thinking too lige [lìgè] adj. dark 2pl: ligiree much of oneself 2pl: lɛntɛrɛɛ ligi [lígí] v. to get dark ligee, ligre, lɛŋŋɛlɛŋŋɛ [lɛŋŋɛ́ lɛ́ ŋŋɛ́ ]́ n. sickle pl: ligre, ligraa lɛŋŋɛlɛnne Var. sɔgɔraa ligi [lígí] v. to shroud ligee, ligre, li- lɛre [lɛ̀rɪ]́ n. bead pl: lɛɛ 2pl: lɛrɛɛ gre, ligraa lɛre [lɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to behave badly to get ligi [lìgì] v. to withhold information, attention e.g. of a child lɛrɛɛ, lɛrɛ, to leave someone in the dark ligee, lɛrɛ, lɛrebɛ, lɛraa, - Var. lɛroo ligire, ligire, ligiraa

186 ligi logi ligi [lìgì] v. to perform a burial rite linni [línnì] v. to cover up someone for a woman ligee, ligire, ligire, e.g. from being embarrassed • A ligiraa bie na la zu a libie kyɛ ka o ma ligi [lígí] n. a burial rite for women linni o. That boy stole the money Var. libu but his mother covered him up. linnee, linne, linne, linime, linnaa ligiki [lìgìkì] adv. deep and dark liŋe [líŋé] n. lid, cover pl: linni 2pl: ligiligi [ligiligi] adj. silent linnee ligiruŋ [lígirúŋ] n. darkness pl: liŋgbiraa [lìŋgbíráá] n. a type of tree ligire 2pl: ligiree with medicinal properties and ed- liiri [líírí] v. to patch, to mend liiree, ible fruits pl: liŋgbirri 2pl: liŋg- liire, liire, liiraa biree liiri [lììrì] v. to get out of sight • liroo [líróó] adv. small and protrud- Pampana ŋa ka ba deɛ kyɛŋ liiri ing la a taŋa puori They just went be- Lobaa [lòbàà] n. a person from the hind the hill and out of sight a short Lobi ethnic group pl: luori 2pl: lo- while ago. liiree, liire, liire, liiribe, bree liiraa loge [lʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. to penetrate soft limbo [límbò] n. (1) a transit place ground logɛɛ, logra, logra, logreba, to heaven (2) a state of confusion lograa pl: limbori 2pl: limboree logere [lʊ́gɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. to cause to move limelime [lìmèlìmè] adv. between up and down e.g. muscle under light and darkness • Zimaa lime- the skin logerɛɛ, logera, logera, lime ka noore maŋ gaŋe. Fowls logereba, logeraa sleep when darkness is setting in. logerɔŋ [lʊ̀ gɪrɔ̀ ̀ŋ] adv. round and fat limm [lìmm] adv. dark, not clear • • Nyɛ bufuli naŋ nyu zẽe pãa Ka zieŋ wa soɔrɔ vaare poɔ maŋ waa logerɔŋ lɛ. See how round and waa la limm lɛ. When it is dusk, it fat the ground maggot looks after is dark in the thick vegetation. sucking blood. limpiriŋ [lìmpìrìŋ] adj. oval shape logɛɛ [lʊ̀ gɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. powdery and dark, not discernable logi [lògí] n. (1) poison (2) venom linni [lìnnì] v. to sink, to immerse e.g. of snake pl: logiri 2pl: logiree e.g. as in water linnee, linne, linne, logi [lògí] n. quiver; sheath for ar- linime, linnaa rows pl: logiri 2pl: logiree linni [lìnnì] v. to glean linnee, linne, logi [lógì] n. rest stop, encampment linne, linime, linnaa • Moɔre da maŋ ŋmɛ logi Kaleo

187 logi loɔ

poɔ kyɛ gaa kɔmpare. The Mossi large • A dɔɔ nimie logoko. The used to camp at Kaleo on their way man’s eyes are deep set. to southern Ghana. pl: logiri 2pl: logoko [lógókó] adv. deep set and logiree small • A bie nimie logoko. The logi [lógì] n. farm for crops that pro- child’s eyes are deep set. duce nuts pl: logiri 2pl: logiree lohoo [lòhòó] n. a type of tree with logi [lògì] v. to make a small hole edible fruits pl: lohoori 2pl: lo- • A bie logi la bogi a dankyini hooree seɛ de a libiri ũũ. The child made lõilõi [lṍĩlṍĩ́ ]́ adv. bright red a hole at the base of the wall lomm [lʊ̀ mm] adv. round and big and buried the money there. logee, lomm [lòmm] adv. balloon-like logro, logro, logribo, lograa, - Var. loguu lomolomo [lómólómó] adv. jellylike; soft • Duoronwoɔ maŋ waa la lo- logi [lógí] adj. deep Var. logoko molomo lɛ. The urinary bladder is logiri [lògirì] v. to remove forcibly, soft and jellylike. to take out from a hidden or tight lomɔlomɔ [lʊ̀ mɔ̀lʊ̀ mɔ̀] adv. soft e.g. position e.g. crevice, hole • A kɔrre flesh, fruit logiri la a bɛŋɛ ba naŋ bore. The partridges have scratched to re- lonlommu [lǒnlǒmú] n. a type of move the beans that were sown. lo- fish that is not edible pl: lonlonni giree, logiro, logiro, logribo, logi- 2pl: lonlonnee raa lonni [lònnì] v. to hurry (South- logiri noɔre to pester, to bother ern Dagaare dialect) lonnee, lonno, (for information) • O logiri la o lonno, lonimo, lonaa serɛ noɔre ka o na yeli a zɔɔre loŋgoroŋ [lʊ̀ ŋgʊ̀ rʊ̀ ŋ] adj. cloudy pare ko o. She pestered her hus- loŋkoroo [lóŋkóróò] n. hidden cor- band to tell her the cause of the ner • A waabo zo kpɛ la a die fight. loŋkoroo kaŋa poɔ. The snake ran logitogo [lògìtògò] adv. deep and into one of the dark corners of the open (large) • Ba yage la a baa lɛ room. pl: loŋkorri 2pl: loŋkoree logitogo. They have dug the pond loŋŋo [lǒŋŋò] n. a type of X-shaped very big. small drum, usually held under the logitogo [lógítógó] adv. shallow and armpit and played with a stick pl: small • A kparoo zomɔ deɛ waa la lonni 2pl: lonnee lɛ logitogo. The pocket of the shirt loɔ [lʊ́ ɔ́] n. the immediate front; un- is very shallow. der of one’s self pl: loɔre 2pl: logoko [lògòkò] adv. deep set and loɔrɛɛ

188 loɔraa lɔnne loɔraa [lʊ́ɔ̀ráá] n. leopard pl: loɔre te lori o zaa. The food was palat- 2pl: loɔrɛɛ Var. wɛnyuo, nyuo able and the child ate and became loɔre [lʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ v. to move from one to very full. the other e.g. branches of a tree loroto [lórótó] adv. jellylike e.g. blis- • A lɔnnɔ lɔnne la a ulee te ter on the palm ta o manzelɛ. The squirrel moved loroto [lórótó] adv. on continuous along the branch up to the tip. • terrain (smooth-moving vehicle) A bie dɔgereba taa la ba bibaal lɔbɔ [lɔ́bɔ́] n. (1) riddle (2) A charm loɔre ne a asibitiri yaga kyɛ baŋ believed to be needle-like and has nyɛ sammo. The sick child’s par- super natural power that can in- ents took him through several hos- flict sickness on someone Var. lɔba, pitals before he was cured. loɔrɛɛ, lɔɔbiri loɔrɔ, loɔrɔ, loɔreba, loɔraa lɔɛ duoraa [lɔ́ɛ̀ dúóráá] n. parking loɔre [lʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to joke loɔrɛɛ, loɔrɔ, lot pl: lɔɛ duori 2pl: lɔɛ duoree loɔrɔ, loɔreba, loɔraa lɔge [lɔ́gì] n. law 2pl: lɔgerɛɛ loɔre [lʊ̀ ɔ̀rì] v. to bend into a half- lɔge [lɔ̀gɪ]́ n. a type of wild mouse pl: circle loɔrɛɛ, loɔrɔ, loɔrɔ, loɔreba, lɔgere 2pl: lɔgerɛɛ Var. lɔɔ loɔraa lɔgetɔgɔ [lɔ̀gɪtɔ̀ ̀gɔ̀] adv. fat, flabby, loregboro [lʊ̀ rɪgbʊ̀ ̀ rʊ̀ ] adv. crum- and heavy bled lɔgɔ [lɔ̀gɔ̀] n. a type of small bag in lori [lòrí] n. pidgeon sg: loruu pl: loe which personal documents are kept 2pl: loree and usually carried about pl: lɔgre lori [lórì] v. (1) to untie (2) to put on 2pl: lɔgrɛɛ weight • Sẽɛ̃ saŋa don-lenni maŋ lɔgɔ [lɔ́gɔ́] n. state of helplessness ŋmeene la kyɛ ka ba wa bare a • A bie bebiri zaa baaloŋ vɛŋɛɛ uoni ka lee, lori a zaa. During the ka o dɔgerebɔ lɔgɔ zaa yi. The farming season, tethered animals child’s frequent illness has made are lean, but they bounce back in his parents helpless. pl: lɔgere 2pl: weight when ranging free during lɔgerɛɛ the dry season. -, loro, loro, loribo lɔlɔraa [lɔ̀lɔ̀ráà] n. calf (part of leg) lori noɔre to break a fast pl: lɔlɔrre 2pl: lɔlɔrɛɛ lori pɛnne to tell lies lɔlɔrezeɛ [lɔ̀lɔ̀rɪzɪ̀ ɛ̀ ]́ n. tree, is medici- lori [lórí] n. meteorite pl: loe 2pl: nal pl: lɔlɔrezeere 2pl: lɔlɔrezeerɛɛ loree lɔmɛɛ [lɔ̀mɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. fat and soft lori [lòrì] adv. very full (from eating) lɔnne [lɔ́nnɪ]̀ v. to move from one • A diibu noma la ka a bie di tege point to another e.g. on a tree • A

189 lɔnnɔ lɔrehazie

ŋmaaŋa lɔnne la a teɛ ulli zaa lɔɔlage [lɔ́ɔ́làgɪ]̀ v. to surround kyɛ baŋ sigi. The monkey climbed lɔɔlagɛɛ, lɔɔrɔlagra, lɔɔlagra, lɔɔla- through all the branches of the tree greba, lɔɔlagraa before coming down. lɔŋɛɛ, lɔnnɔ, lɔɔre [lɔ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. lorry pl: lɔɛ 2pl: lɔr- lɔnnɔ, lɔnema, lɔnnaa, lɔnema Var. rɛɛ loɔre lɔɔre [lɔ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. items given to a buyer lɔnnɔ [lɔ̀nnɔ́] n. squirrel pl: lɔnne for free e.g. pepper • lɔbɔ 2pl: lɔnnɛɛ Var. lanna lɔɔ-wullo [lɔ́ɔ́-wúlló] n. scribe pl: lɔŋe [lɔ̂ŋ] v. to spread, to move lɔɔ-wulibo from one person or area to another lɔre [lɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to soak, to immerse • e.g. disease, fire lɔŋɛɛ, lɔnnɔ, lɔnnɔ, A pɔge lɔre la muri a na wuo lɔnema, lɔnnaa, lɔnema Var. lɔnne peɛ. The woman has soaked straw lɔŋe [lɔ́ŋ] v. to sag, to be slack to weave a basket. lɔrɛɛ, lɔrɔ, lɔrɔ, e.g. drying line lɔŋɛɛ, lɔnnɔ, lɔnnɔ, lɔreba, lɔraa, lɔreba lɔnemɔ, lɔnnaa lɔre [lɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be ugly • A pɔge bon- lɔŋɔ [lɔ́ŋɔ́] n. frog pl: lɔnne 2pl: lɔn- suuri la so ka o lɔre. The woman’s nɛɛ Var. lɔŋa clothing has made her ugly. lɔrɛɛ, lɔrɔ, lɔrɔ, lɔreba, lɔraa, lɔreba lɔɔ [lɔ̀ɔ́] n. mouse pl: lɔɔre 2pl: lɔɔrɛɛ Var. lɔge lɔre [lɔ̀rɪ]̀ adj. weak, useless • Ka a bieŋ ba lɔre o da na tuo la a daga lɔɔ [lɔ́ɔ́] v. (1) to drop, to fall (from ŋa eŋ. If the child had not been one’s hands) (2) to throw down weak, he could, at least, have car- (wrestling) (3) to subdue, to over- ried this box. power (argument) (4) to be greater than, to be more than • A pɔgeba lɔre [lɔ́rɪ]̀ v. to be lucky • N zaa- veɛlɛ la kyɛ a bonsɔgelaa naŋ lɔɔ meŋ ba yeli ka fo na lɔre la zenɛ, ba zaa. The women are beautiful, ana naane ka fo ba toɔle fo libie. but the black one beats them all. Didn’t I say you would be lucky (5) to put drops into (eyes) (6) to today? See, your father has sent dash a buyer for an item bought you money. lɔrɛɛ, lɔrɔ, lɔrɔ, lɔreba, (tomatoes) lɔɔɛ, lɔɔrɔ, lɔɔrɔ, lɔreba, lɔraa, lɔreba Var. nɔre lɔɔraa, lɔreba lɔre [lɔ̀rɪ]̀ adv. sounding like a hard lɔɔ baare to throw away, to get rid object hitting a soft object (ono- of, to discard matopoeia) lɔɔbiri [lɔ́ɔ́bírí] n. a charm believed lɔrehazie [lɔ́rɪházìé]́ n. car rental to be mobile and have destructive company pl: lɔrehaziiri 2pl: lɔre- powers pl: lɔɔbie 2pl: lɔɔbiiree haʊziiree

190 lugi luuri lugi [lùgì] v. to induce lugee, lugiro, with artistry. luree, luro, luro, lugiro, lugiribo, lugiraa luribo, luraa lugi [lùgì] v. to swell a little e.g. luroluro [lúrólúró] adj. in a circular armpit, groin lugee, lugiro, lugiro, shape (usually within a small enclo- lugiribo, lugiraa sure) • A nɔzage waa la luroluro lugiri [lúgirí] n. a forked beam that lɛ. The hen coop is roudish within. supports the main beam in a swish- luroluro [lùròlùrò] adv. in a circular thatched roof pl: lugo 2pl: lugiree shape (usually within a big enclo- lugiri [lúgirí] v. to loosen (a nut on a sure) • A taŋa bogi e la luroluro. bolt), to ease lugiree, lugiro, lugiro, The inner part of the cave is large lugiribo, lugiribo, lugiraa and round. luŋguri [lùŋgúrì] n. lemon sg: luŋgu- lurri [lúrrì] v. to smooth out a ruu pl: luŋgue 2pl: luŋgurree mound by covering all protruding luori [lùòrì] v. (1) to become bowed matter with soil • Ba maŋ lurri la e.g. legs • A bie baaloŋ eɛ la kao vubiri ka o naa ta ona ka waa gbɛe luori. The child’s sickness has tõõ nyɛ. A yam mound is usually caused his legs to become bowed. enlarged by adding more soil to en- (2) to extend the size of a vessel • A able the yam bear a good tuber. lur- pɔgebeɛlebɛ da luori la poore na ree, lurro, luribo, lurraa di dooga. The bridemaids had pre- luuraa [lùùráà] n. denial pl: luuri pared their stomachs to feast. luo- 2pl: luuree ree, luoro, luoro, luoribo, luoraa luuri [lùùrì] v. to duck, to bend to luou [lùòú] n. West 2pl: luoree Var. pass under a hanging object e.g. saniŋe beam -, luuro, luuro, luuribo, luu- luri [lùrì] v. to place underneath to raa, lure hide e.g. armpit luree, luro, luro, luuri [lùùrì] v. (1) to renounce luribo, luraa one’s word or promise, to deny • luri [lúrì] v. to be filled with e.g. O daare yeli ka o baŋe la a nan- smoke • A vũũ ba dire ka nyoo- nyige kyɛ ka zenɛ ka leɛ luuri re luri a korodie zaa. The fire is o noɔre. S/he said s/he knew the not burning cleanly, so the kitchen thief, but today s/he denies that is choked with smoke. luree, luro, s/he said so. (2) to return some- luro, luribo, luraa thing in exchange for something else • A dɔɔ luuri la n libie ko luri [lúrì] v. to play a gourd drum ma kyɛ de o noɔ. The man has re- vigorously • A kɔŋŋmeɛrɛ luri turned my money and taken back la a koɔre eŋ a gyile poɔ ne his fowl. -, luuro, luuro, luuribo, toori. The gourd drummer played luuraa, lure the drum alongside the xylophone

191 ma maale m ma [mǎ] n. mother, female that has stances) • O ma naŋ da kpi o reproduced pl: mamine 2pl: marɛɛ deɛ kono la nentaŋ maaa. When ma [mà] v. pl. to stick to • Goore ma her mother died, she was shedding la a kparoo. Thorns are stuck to tears uncontrolably. (2) slimy the shirt. maa gbɛre [máá gbɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to delay, ma [má] part. suppose, hope; only to be late • Ba naŋ boɔle o o ba used in question form • Ma fo na maa gbɛre kyɛ wa. When he was gaa la? I suppose/hope you will called, he did not waste time but re- go? sponded promptly. ma [má] pron. me (first person sin- maalam [máálàm] n. Islamic cleric gular accusative) • O de la a gane pl: maalammine 2pl: maalonnɛɛ ko ma. S/he has given the book to maale [mààlɪ]̀ v. (1) to make, to me. construct, to draw • A kɔnarata maa [máâ] pron. (1) I (first person maale la baraakyi ŋmaa a baa. singular strong form) • O yeli ka The contractor has built a bridge maa la sãa. S/he said it was I who across the river. (2) to cook • was wrong. (2) me (first person sin- Boŋ bondirii ka a bondimaala na gular strong form) • Maa la so a maale zenɛ? What food will the gane. The book belongs to me. cook cook today? maalɛɛ, maala, maa [máà] v. (1) to be wet • Saa maala, maaleba, maalaa mie la ka a teŋɛ zaa maa. It has maale [mààlɪ]̀ v. (1) to bless, to make rained, making the ground wet. (2) good, to clean, to make beautiful to be cold (objects) • A baala nyu • Ba maale la a die poɔ veɛlaa. la tẽẽ ka o eŋɛ leɛ maa a zaa. They have cleaned the room well. The patient has taken medicine and (2) to pacify, to offer sacrifice • his temperature has gone down. Dagaaba mine maŋ maale la (3) to make peaceful • Zenɛ a bagere. Some Dagaaba sacrifice to zɔɔzɔɔreba na ba wa lɛnso ka their gods. maalɛɛ, maala, maala, a zie maa a ŋaa. Today, those maaleba, maalaa quarrelsome men did not come and maale [máálɪ]̀ v. to cause to calm that is why the place is peaceful. down, to reduce the intensity of maaɛ, maana, maana, maanema, • A yidaandɔɔ maale la a yɛlɛ maanaa, maanema ka a zɔɔre baare. The family maa [màà] adv. (1) move stream- head calmed tempers and ended ingly (used only with liquid sub- the quarrel.

192 maalekondi mabiekontapɔgema maalekondi [mààlɪkʊ̀ ́ ndí] n. a type zaa maŋ e la maaroŋ lɛ. When of ritual food that is eaten only by it rains, the whole place becomes specific people i.e. those who are wet. members of the ritual maaroŋ [máárʊ́ŋ] n. (1) cold, cool- maaleŋ [mààlɪŋ]̀ adv. just too much • ness • Yuoni ŋa a maaroŋ zuoe la. Saa la maaleŋ miire tu. The rain This year, the cold is excessive. (2) just pours too much. shade • Tentoloŋ saŋa dendɔre maaleŋ [mààlɪŋ]̀ adv. again • Saa teɛ maaroŋ maŋ tere la zemmo. la maaleŋ miire tu. The rain just During the hot season, the shade of pours too much. trees is always inviting. maane [màànɪ]̀ adj. (1) flattened • A maaroŋ [máárʊ́ŋ] n. peace • Ka zieŋ kuree feele o la ka o pare deɛ waa na maale ferebo ka maaroŋ be maane lɛ The undersized pair of be. If development is to take place knickers has made his buttocks flat. there must be peace. (2) premature (egg) pl: maama 2pl: maaroŋ [máárʊ́ŋ] n. fever • Maaroŋ maanɛɛ kpɛ la dɔɔ ka o gaa asibiti. The maanee [máánɪɪ́ ]́ n. okra sg: maanoo man has a fever and has gone to the pl: maana 2pl: maanɛɛ Var. hospital. saalommaane maasa [máásà] n. a type of cake maa noɔre [máá nʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ v. to be sur- made from millet flour prised maa suuri [máà súúrí] v. to appease, maaŋmeɛ [máàŋmɪɛ́ ̀] n. a kind of tall, to pacify brown, lean bird pl: maaŋmeere maayee [mááyéé] adv. empty • maare [máárɪ]̀ v. to hold, to support Nannyigiri da ŋmaa la a woɔ with open palms facing upwards pare iri a libie, ka a dɔɔ da wa e.g. baby maarɛɛ, maara, maara, tuno a woɔ ka maayee. Thieves maareba, maaraa had cut the bottom of the bag and maaroŋ [máárʊ́ŋ] adj. slow • O taa removed all the man’s money, and la maaroŋ zuo lɛnso ka ba wa when he later put his hand into the pɔge kpaaroŋ. He is very slow and bag, it was empty. that is why he did not come to the mabie [mábíé] n. sibling, relative pl: meeting. mabiiri 2pl: mabiiree maaroŋ [máárʊ́ŋ] adj. (1) cold, cool • mabiekontapɔgema [mábíékʊ́ n- Firigyi kõɔ maŋ e la maaroŋ. Wa- tápɔ́gɪmá]́ n. a type of small, short ter stored in the fridge is always snake that is highly venomous 2pl: cold. (2) wet • Ka saaŋ mi a zie mabiekontapɔgemɛɛ

193 mabile male mabile [màbílé] n. maternal aunt, makoma [màkʊ́má] n. grandmother’s sister pl: mabilii, mabili- mother pl: makommine 2pl: mine 2pl: mabilee makomɛɛ/makonnɛɛ mabo [màbʊ̀ ] adv. marshy and makontulo [màkʊ́ntúló] n. great- messy grandmother maee [màɪɪ̀ ]̀ adj. red • A pɔgelee niŋ makoŋkommuulitoori [màkʊ́ŋkʊ́m- waa la maee lɛ. The girl’s face is múúlítòòrí] n. great-grandmother looking red. pl: makoŋkommuulitobo 2pl: makoŋkommuulitooree maemae [máɪmáɪ́ ]́ adj. bright red • A fele e la zeɛ maemae lɛ. The saw makpẽɛ [màkpɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. stepmother; is bright red. older wife of one’s biological father or father’s elder brother’s magaka [màgakà] adv. deep red wife pl: makpeɛmine 2pl: mage [mágɪ]́ v. (1) to write • makpeɛnɛɛ/makpeɛmɛɛ Karekyere maŋ mage la gane ve- makpoŋ [màkpóŋ] n. see makpẽɛ laa. Literate people write well. (2) Var. makpẽɛ to make beautiful patterns; usually on some clothes • A teelɛ mage la malaa [màláà] n. a type of bird with a kparoo niŋe ne puori zaa. The deep blue and red eyes pl: malle tailor has designed both the front 2pl: mallɛɛ and back of the shirt. magɛɛ, ma- malammalam [màlàmmálám] adj. gra, magra, magreba, magraa soiled e.g. mud magedalee [mágɪdàléé]́ n. writing malantamm [màlàntàmm] adj. bun- stick, pen pl: magedabilii 2pl: dled up magedabillee male [màlɪ]̀ v. to claim or pretend magelakala [màgɪlàkàlà]̀ adj. skinny to • O male ka o so la kõɔ̃ • A dɔɔ wogi na bɛɛ la a te waa S/he claims to have taken his/her magelakala lɛ. That tall man has bath. • O male ka o taa la li- been sick for a long time hence his bie kyɛ ka o bie kaŋa zaa ba being skinny. gaa sakuuri. S/he claims to be rich but none of his/her children has magelaŋ [màgɪlàŋ]̀ adj. large and flat been to school. malɛɛ, malla, malla, Var. maŋgalaŋ maleba, malaa, maleba magere [mágɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. sign, mark 2pl: male [màlɪ]̀ v. to suffer repercus- magrɛɛ sions, to punish • Fomeŋɛ ka magetaga [mágɪtàgà]̀ adv. thick and na male. You will only end up marshy Var. magtaga punishing yourself. • Ka fo saaŋ

194 male mantaroo

yeli ka fo gaa sakuuri ka fo kyi. They used a measuring bowl zagere fomeŋɛ ka male. If your to measure the millet. • Ba de la father sends you to school and kɛkɛre manne ne a dendɔre wo- you refuse you only punish your- giruŋ. They used a stalk to mea- self. malɛɛ, malla, malla, maleba, sure the height of the door. (2) malaa, maleba to compare • Sakubie koŋ tõɔ de male [màlì] adv. word expressing omeŋɛ te manne ne karema. A the sound of a cut (onomatopoeia) pupil cannot compare herself to a teacher. mannɛɛ, manna, manna, malefa [málɪfà]́ n. gun pl: malefare 2pl: malefarɛɛ manema, mannaa malefabiri [málɪfàbírì]́ n. bullet sg: manne [mánnɪ]̀ v. to narrate, to ex- malefabiruu pl: malefabie 2pl: plain • O manne la a zɔɔre pare. malefabiiree S/he explained the cause of the fight. • N naŋ da gaa n zɔmeŋɛ malefala [màlɪfàlà]̀ adv. tasteless dɔgoo bebiri tigiri N da kuli te ̀ ́ malefatẽe [málɪfàtɪ́ ɪ̃ ]̃ n. gunpowder manne la a zaa ko n dɔgereba. pl: malefateenɛɛ After attending my best friend’s malemale [málɪmálɪ́ ]́ adv. very black birthday party, I went home and Var. kpirikpiri narrated everything to my parents. malemale [màlɪmálɪ̀ ]́ v. to struggle mannɛɛ, manna, manna, manema, to do malemalɛɛ, malemala, male- mannaa mala, malemaleba, malemalaa mannoɔre [mànnʊ́ɔ́r] n. beach pl: mana [máná] n. rubber, elastic sg: mannɔɛ 2pl: mannɔrɛɛ manoo pl: manne 2pl: mannɛɛ mansugiri [mànsùgìrì] n. a type mana [mànà] part. of course • kɔlaa of wild mushroom with medicinal la kpɛ a die ona la ɔɔ a nɛne properties sg: mansugiruu pl: man- mana. A cat went into the room; sugo 2pl: mansugiree of course it is the one that has eaten mansugo [mànsùgò] n. (1) a type of the meat. stomach ailment; hernia (2) type of manamana [mànàmànà] adj. sticky medicine for hernia pl: mansugiri mane [mànɪ]́ n. large body of water 2pl: mansugiree pl: mama 2pl: mannɛɛ mantare [màntàrɪ]̀ n. (1) Southern mankyere [mánʧɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. match pl: Dagaare dialect (2) the area where mankyeɛ 2pl: mankyerɛɛ the Southern Dagaare dialect is mankyɛlɛ [mánʧɛ̀lɛ̀] n. diarrhoea spoken pl: mantarɛɛ manne [mánnɪ]̀ v. (1) to measure mantaroo [màntàrʊ́ʊ́] n. speaker of • Kookoolaa ka o manne ne a Southern Dagaare dialect pl: man-

195 manteɛ meele

tarɛɛ maraawa [màrááwà] n. a type of manteɛ [mǎntɪɛ̀ ]́ n. rubber tree pl: tree animal pl: maraaware 2pl: manteere 2pl: manteerɛɛ maraawarɛɛ manzelɛ [mànzɪlɛ́ ]́ n. tip of (branch maramara [màràmàrà] adj. marshy of tree) pl: manzelle 2pl: manzelɛɛ • Saa mie la kõɔ laare a tɛne ka a waa maramara lɛ. The soil has maŋgalaŋ [màŋgàlàŋ] adj. flattened been beaten by rain and has be- Var. magelaŋ come marshy. maŋgaŋene [màŋgáŋɪnɪ́ ]́ n. the other side of the sea; overseas regions 2pl: marata [màràtà] adv. refusing to re- maŋgaŋenɛɛ spond to anything mare [màrɪ] v. to stick to, to at- maŋgbɛre [máŋgbɛrɪ́ ]́ n. tributary ̀ (stream) pl: maŋgbɛɛ 2pl: maŋgbɛɛ- tach to • Dunduli mare la a vaa rɛɛ poɔ. There is a caterpillar hanging on the leaf. marɛɛ, mara, mara, maŋkeni [mâŋkèní] n. cocoyam sg: mareba, maraa maŋkenuu pl: maŋkeme 2pl: maŋkenee/maŋkennee mare [màrɪ]̀ v. to carry on one’s back e.g. a baby • A pɔge mare la a mapo [mápʊ̀ ] n. map pl: mapore 2pl: bie ka na gbiri. The woman has maporɛɛ carried the baby on her back in or- mara [màrà] n. courage, persistence, der to make it sleep. marɛɛ, mara, steadfastness 2pl: marɛɛ mara, mareba, maraa mara [màrà] adv. sounding like the mare [màrɪ]̀ v. to light, to build a sound coming from one stepping fire • Te maŋ mare vũũ maale into muddy matter (onomatopoeia) seemaa. We build a fire before maraa [máráá] n. necklace pl: marre we cook food. marɛɛ, mara, mara, 2pl: marrɛɛ mareba, maraa maraa [máráá] n. glue pl: marre 2pl: mare [márɪ]́ v. to detatch (a limb marrɛɛ from the body) marɛɛ, mara, mara, maraa [máráá] n. cloth used to carry mareba, maraa a baby on the back pl: marre 2pl: marekpɛ [màrɪkpɛ̀ ̀] v. to tease • marrɛɛ Koŋkombie mine maŋ marekpɛ maraa [màràà] adj. not responding la a kotuo deme. Some lyrics of fu- to anything, quiet, mute • A pɔge neral dirges tease the bereaved fam- suuri naŋ iri na fo maŋ yeli la ily. yɛlɛ ko o ka e maraa. The woman meele [mɪɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to wipe off (dirt, is annoyed so when you talk to her water) (2) to soil, to make dirty she stays mute. meelɛɛ, meelɛ, meelɛ, meelebɛ

196 meele melekala meele [mɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. to try to incrimi- meɛbo [mɪɛ́ bʊ́ ́] n. (1) structure • A nate someone; to challenge • O pɔge meɛbo wuli ka o taa la seɛ sɔgele gaa toŋ la a toma o yoŋ, yelmeŋɛ. The woman’s structure o deɛ boɔrɔ ka o meele ma. S/he shows she has a really large waist. did the work alone behind me; (2) character; a distinguishing fea- I think this is aimed tarnishing ture • A pɔlebile na meɛbo ba my image. meelɛɛ, meelɛ, meelɛ, veɛlɛ. That young man’s character meelebɛ, meelaa is not good. Var. meɛroŋ meele eŋ [mɪɪ̀ lɪ̀ ̀ ɪŋ]̀ v. (1) to turn meɛloŋ [mɪɛ̀ ̀lʊ́ŋ] n. dew; drops of something to replace something water on vegetation pl: meɛlɛ 2pl: else • Waabo doŋ la a nɔnyaŋaa meɛlɛɛ ko ka ba nyɔge nɔdaa meele eŋ a meɛroŋ [mɪɛ̀ rʊ́ ̂ ŋ] n. (1) structure, nɔbilii. The mother fowl was killed makeup (2) character, behaviour by a snake and so a cock was tamed Var. meɛbo to replace it. (2) metaphor (litera- megemege [mìgɪmɪ̀ gɪ́ ]́ v. to wrig- ture) gle e.g. fish in muddy water mege- meelɛ [mɪɪ̀ lɛ́ ̀] n. (1) a type of grass megɛɛ, megemegrɛ, megemegrɛ, that is thin but strong (2) decora- megemegrebɛ, megemegraa tive ribbons worn across the chest melaa [mɪláá]́ n. fence pl: melle 2pl: (3) string scale; a locally made scale mellɛɛ made from a string and a flat piece melaa [mɪláá]́ n. talebearer pl: of wood or container 2pl: meelɛɛ melebɛ 2pl: melebɛɛ meeloo [mɪɪ́ lʊ́ ́ʊ́] adj. thin pl: meelɛ mele [mɪlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to fence in • Ba meemee [mɪɪ̀ mɪ̀ ɪ́ ]́ v. to swing, to turn maŋ mele la dabɔgɔ ka donne na round (buttocks in a chair) • A ta sãã o poɔ bombulo. Gardens are bie meemee la pare ka o koŋ fenced to prevent animals from de- gaa. The child swung his bottom, stroying the plants. (2) to entangle indicating that he would not go. • Ba ba leŋ a boɔ lɛnso ka o mele meemeeɛ, meemeenɛ, meemeenɛ, kpi. The goat was not tethered well meemeenemɛ, meemeenaa and so it got entangled and died. (3) meɛ [mɪɛ́ ̀] v. to incriminate, to make to spread all over an object (ants) • an accomplice • A bibarewono na Zuluŋ mele la bokũũ. Soldier ants zu la o ba libie kyɛ de meɛ ne o are all over the carcas. (4) to tattle, yɔɔlee. That naughty boy stole his to gossip • Bibiiri nɔŋ la mele taa. father’s money and incriminated Children like tattling on each other. his younger brother. meɛɛ, meɛnɛ, melɛɛ, melɛ, melɛ, melbɛ, melaa meɛnɛ, meɛnemɛ, meɛnaa melekala [mɪlɪ̀ kàlà]̀ adj. large and

197 melekala mere

twisted menne [mɪnnɪ́ ]́ v. to swallow food in melekala [mɪlɪ́ kálá]́ adj. small and large gulps • Kɔŋ da kpɛ o la te twisted zuo ka o maŋ deɛ ŋmaa a saabo melele [mɪlɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ adv. thin, very slim menne bare. The man was so hungry that he swallowed the food melemele [mɪlɪ̀ mɪ̀ lɪ́ ]́ v. to move in gulps. mennɛɛ, mennɛ, mennɛ, with unsteady legs melemelɛɛ, menemɛ, mennaa melemelɛ, melemelɛ, melemelbɛ, melemelaa mennoŋ [mɪnnʊ́ ́ŋ] n. righteousness • O mennoŋ zuiŋ noba zaa nɔŋ la meletaa [mɪlɪ́ táá]́ n. the practice of o yɛlɛ. All people like him because talebearing • Ka noba laŋkpeɛboŋ of his righteousness. na noma a seŋ ka ba bare meletaa. If people want to live in har- menselɛ [mɪnsɪ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. well done mony, they must put an end to tale- (praise) • Gandaa menselɛ ka bearing. fooŋ da ba peɛle a bie kpie. Well done; if you had not been melle [mìllɪ]̀ v. to twist • Soɔ da around, the child would have died. kyebe kyɛ a dɔɔ da de la o nu pl: menselle 2pl: mensellɛɛ Var. melle ne a miri ŋmaa. There was nenselɛ no knife, but the man twisted the rope until it snapped. mellɛɛ, mellɛ, meŋ [mɪŋ]̌ adv. also, too • Fo meŋ mellɛ, melbɛ, mellaa na gaa la be? Will you go too? meloo [mélóó] adv. eating instantly meŋɛ [mɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. self • Maa meŋɛ la and hurriedly; especially with tasty na gaa a kuori. I myself will at- food • O nɔnoɔ zuoe la, a bẽẽ ka tend the funeral. pl: menne Var. o de e meloo. S/he has a taste for meŋa delicious things, so s/he licked the meŋɛ [mɪŋɛ́ ]́ adj. well behaved • O broth at once. teɛre ka o waa la meŋɛ zaa kyɛ menekana [mɪnɪ̀ kànà]̀ adj. crooked, maa ba teɛre. S/he claims to be twisted good, but I doubt it. menɛ [mɪnɛ́ ]́ n. a type of thin grass mere [mɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to shake in pain or dis- 2pl: menɛɛ tress e.g. hand in contact with fire • menne [mɪnnɪ́ ]́ v. to throw off some- Vũu nyege o la ka o mere nu. Fire thing heavy e.g. wrestling • A burned her hand and she shook it. dɔɔkpeɛŋaa na are la dendeŋ kyɛ merɛɛ, merɛ, merɛ, merebɛ, meraa, menne a o tɔ na bare ka o te merebɛ le. The strong man heaved and mere [mɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to broadcast e.g. rice threw his opponent away. mennɛɛ, seed during sowing • Ba kyɔre la mennɛ, mennɛ, menemɛ, mennaa baa mere a mui. They have har-

198 mere mɛlɛmɛlɛ

rowed the river valley and broad- fused to bother. meree, mere, mere, cast the rice. merɛɛ, merɛ, merɛ, meribe, meraa merebɛ, meraa, merebɛ meri noɔre [mérì nʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ v. (1) to mere [mɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to have a stillbirth twist one’s lips (to show indiffer- (nonhumans) • A naapoɔ na da ence) (2) to die bɛɛ la lɛnso ka o mere bare. That meruu [mèrúú] adj. very small pregnant cow was sick and that is why it had a stillbirth. merɛɛ, merɛ, mɛ [mɛ̀] v. (1) to build e.g. a house merɛ, merebɛ, meraa, merebɛ (2) to shape (pottery) mɛɛ, meɛrɛ, meɛrɛ, meɛrebɛ mere [mɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to stick the flap of an object into an opening • Pɔgeba mɛɛ [mɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. oozing (oily liquid) • maŋ mere la ba wagyɛ eŋ kyɛ zeŋ. Ba kyere la a gbɛre ka kõõ zoro Women usually push the flaps of mɛɛ. They cut the swelling on his their cloth in between their legs leg and pus was oozing. as they sit. merɛɛ, merɛ, merɛ, mɛfaa [mɛfáá]́ n. bad character pl: merebɛ, meraa, merebɛ mɛfaare 2pl: mɛfaarɛɛ mere bare [mɪrɪ́ ́ bàrɪ]̀ v. (1) to have a mɛgelɛŋ [mɛgɪ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. flat • Lɔɔre stillbirth (of animals) (2) to desert do la a bogiti ka o e ŋmɛgelɛŋ lɛ. unweaned young (of animals) • A A car ran over the bucket and made peroo dɔgɛɛ la kyɛ mere bare ka it flat. a bilii kpi. The sheep littered but mɛgeyɛgɛ [mɛgɪ́ yɛ́ gɛ́ ]́ adj. loose and deserted the lambs and they died. flabby (of a fat body) mere barɛɛ, merɛbara, merebara, merebareba, merebaraa mɛle [mɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. medal pl: mɛlɛ 2pl: mɛllɛɛ mere pare [mɪrɪ̀ ̀ párɪ]̀ v. (1) to lie helpless (2) to die merɛɛ pare, mɛlefɛlɛ [mɛ̀lɪfɛ̀ ̀lɛ̀] adj. tasteless • N merɛ pare, pare merɛ, pare merebɛ nɔŋ la zɛvaare zeɛre kyɛ ama deɛ merete [mèrètè] adj. unresponsive, waa la mɛlefɛlɛ lɛ. I like vegetable mute • Ba yeli la a bie baaloŋ ko soup but this one is tasteless. o saa ka o e merete. When they mɛlemɛle [mɛ̀lɪmɛ́ ̀lɪ]̀ adj. blowing reported the child’s mother, he re- severely with cold • Saseɛ saŋa fused to do anything. baguo ɔɔre maŋ erɛ la mɛlemɛle meri [mérì] v. to twist one’s lips lɛ, Dagao poɔ. During hamattan, (to show indifference); to refuse to early mornings are normally very care • A bie lee la ka leɛ kaa kyɛ cold in the Dagaabaland. meri o noɔre. When the child fell, mɛlɛmɛlɛ [mɛlɛ́ mɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adj. tasty; the brother looked at him but re- slightly sweet

199 mɛlɛmmɛlɛŋ miire mɛlɛmmɛlɛŋ [mɛlɛ́ mmɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ (1) adj. ka o mii. The soldier shouted at the sweet or beautiful (kind words, woman and she became fightened. deeds) (2) adv. to do something (3) to push, to shake e.g. the branch sweetly or beautifully • O yeli of a tree to knock down fruits • A la a yɛlɛ mɛlɛmmɛlɛŋ lɛ, ka fo pɔge do mii la a taŋaa ko o bibiiri na teɛre ka yelimeŋɛ la. She nar- ka ba di. The woman climbed and rated the case so beautifully that shook the shea nut tree to knock you would think it was true. down the fruits for her children. mɛlɛntɛmm [mɛlɛ́ ntɛ́ mm]́ adv. (1) miie, miine, miine, miinime, mi- exactly; precisely • A bie manne inaa, - Var. miiu la a yɛlɛ na o naŋ nyɛ mɛlɛn- mii [mìì] v. (1) to be sour (taste) • tɛmm wa gaa. The boy narrated O zãã tuŋ la nu a zeɛre poɔ lɛnso the story in a precise manner. (2) ka a mii. S/he put her hand into adj. meticulous the soup and that is why it has be- mɛmeɛrɛ [mɛ̀mɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. (1) potter come sour. (2) to be sore • A bie (2) builder pl: mɛmeɛrebɛ 2pl: zãã tɔ o nubiri, zenɛ o zaaŋ mii. mɛmeɛrebɛɛ The child bruised his finger yesterday and today it is quite sore. (3) mɛmɛrɛɛ [mɛ̀mɛrɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. (1) mud (2) to be angry, to be annoyed • Ba marsh 2pl: mɛmɛrrɛɛ to o la lɛnso ka o mii. They in- mɛre [mɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to cook (struggling sulted him and that is why he is an- with) • A baala mɛre la seemaa gry. (4) to learn from past unpleas- fẽẽ meŋ di. The patient has cooked ant experience • A tontona naŋ some small food to eat. mɛrɛɛ, zagere toma gaabo na ba ba yɔɔ o, mɛrɛ, mɛrɛ, mɛrebɛ, mɛraa azuiŋ o miie la; zenɛ o ba nagera mɛrɛɛ [mɛ̀rɛɛ́ ̀] n. pus pl: mɛrre 2pl: toma. Since the worker refused to mɛrrɛɛ go to work, he was not paid, and mi [mí] v. to rain mie, miire as a result, he did not skip work to- mi [mí] v. to spin (thread) • A zɔŋɔ day. miie, miine, miine, miinime, mi la miri ka o gbɛkpoŋ te zogere. miinaa, miinime The blind person spun rope until miii [mììì] adv. swarming all over her thigh became rough. mie, miire e.g. ants Var. miloo mii [míì] v. (1) to shake, to shiver miire [mììré] v. to desist, to not dare • Entole kpɛ la a bie lɛnso ka o • Ma fo to ma la, aŋ miire n yiri maŋ mii a lɛ. The child has a fever waabo. Since you have insulted me, and that is why he is shivering like you dare not come to my house. that. (2) to become frightened, to miire [mììré] v. to be careful; usually tremble • A sogya tanne la a pɔge to warn or caution miiree, miire,

200 miiri moge

miire, miiribe, miiraa mine [mìné] adj. (1) some, a certain miiri [mììrì] v. to not attempt miiree, number • A boore mine zoe la. miire, miire, miiribe, miiraa Some of the goats have escaped. (2) pl. morpheme (human type only) miiri [mììrì] v. to turn taste sour mi- e.g. mamine (mothers) or ymine iree, miire, miire, miiribe, miiraa (siblings) • Mamine la maŋ ko bi- miiruŋ [mììrùŋ] n. (1) sour sap (2) iri bere ka ba ɛnne. Mothers pro- type of plant with sour sap vide their breasts to babies to suck. miiruŋ [mììrùŋ] adj. sour minimini [mìnìmìnì] adv. streaming mikalaa [mǐkàláà] n. thick, strong continuously e.g. tears • A bie poɔ rope pl: mikalle 2pl: mikallɛɛ beɛrɛ la ka o kono minimini lɛ. milemmilem [mílémílém] adv. in- The child has a stomach ache and tact, untouched he is sheding tears uncontrollably. miliki [mílíkì] n. milk sg: milikiruu mipelaa [mípɪláá]́ n. a type of rope pl: milikiri 2pl: milikiree used in rituals pl: mipeɛle milikolo [mìlìkòlò] adj. twisted miri [mírì] n. rope, twine, string pl: milli [mìllì] v. (1) to get acquainted mie 2pl: miiree with; to be used to • Bie naŋ ba misiri [mìsírì] n. mosque pl: misirri milli neɛ koŋ sage ka a soba de 2pl: misirree Var. musiri o. A child that is not acquainted miti [mítì] n. meeting pl: mitiri 2pl: with someone will refuse to be cud- mitiree dled by that person. (2) be all over millee, mille, mille, milibe, millaa, mizeɛ [mízɪɛ̀ ]́ n. type of very strong - Var. milli pɔge red twine used in making bird trap pl: mizeere 2pl: mizeerɛɛ milli pɔge [mìllì-pɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to cover all over e.g. flies over a rotten carcass • mạạli [mạ́ạ́lì] v. get burnt e.g. part of Naazoore milli pɔge la a nɛmpoɔ- the body naa zaa. The rotten meat is com- mmeŋɛ [mmɪŋɛ́ ]́ pron. myself • Ka pletely covered with flies. maaŋ beɛrɛ kyɛ ba gaa asibiti miloo [mìlòò] adj. oily and dirty mmeŋɛ la ka N erɛ. If I’m sick looking and refuse to go the hospital, I have miloo [mìlòò] adj. existing in great only myself to blame. Var. mmeŋa numbers at a particular spot e.g. moge [mʊ́ gɪ]̀ v. (1) to suck ants • A nyere deɛ da te paalɛɛ e.g. sweets (2) to eat powdery a korodie zaa, miloo lɛ. The ants food (3) to eat up e.g. wood, of had invaded and covered the whole white ants mogɛɛ, mogrɔ/mogra, kitchen. mogerɔ/mogra, mogreba, mograa

201 mogere moore mogere [mʊ̀ gɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to suck at, to mone [mʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to become seri- lick e.g. fingers mogerɛɛ, mogera, ous monɛɛ, mona, mona, monema, mogera, mogereba, mogeraa, monaa mogereba Var. moore monɛɛ [mʊ̀ nɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. red mogere noɔre to kiss (on the monɛɛmonɛɛ [mʊnɛɛmʊnɛɛ] adj. mouth) ́ ́ ́ ́ ́ ́ red looking; bloodshot (eyes) mogi [mógí] v. to eat delicious food voraciously mogee, mogiro, mo- monne [mʊ́ nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to lift and giro, mogiribo, mogiraa, - Var. carry a heavy load without assis- yogi stance (2) to dip to fill (3) to gather up (smile to laugh) monnɛɛ, moimoi [móímóí] adj. very red monna, monna, monema, monnaa mokanzie [mókánzíé] n. pawpaw pl: montole [mʊ̀ ntʊ̀ lɪ]̀ n. a type of small mokanziri 2pl: mokanziree round beans pl: montola 2pl: mon- mole [mʊ̀ lɪ]̀ n. (1) become weak; tollɛɛ used for metal that has become moŋgolɔ [mʊ̀ ŋgʊ̀ lɔ̀] n. a type of fall weak e.g. iron (2) get wet in which the person rolls over • A mollaa [mʊ́lláà] n. a type of game in dãa bugro lee la willi moŋgolɔ. which a loop of string is hidden in The drunk man fell and rolled over. soil to be found by other players us- Var. moŋgola ing twigs pl: molle 2pl: mollɛɛ moŋgbɛnɛɛ [mʊ́ŋgbɛnɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. infected molle [mʊ́llɪ]̀ v. (1) to deceive, millet seeds sg: moŋgbɛnnoo to hide from (2) to play the game mollaa mollɛɛ, mollɔ/molla, moole [mʊ̀ ʊ̀ lɪ]̀ v. (1) to be stunted, mollɔ/molla, molbɔ/molba, mollaa to be weak (2) to cook in small quantity (3) to cook poorly e.g. molɔmolɔ [mʊ́lɔ́mʊ́ lɔ́] adj. not stiff; corn paste moolɛɛ, moolɔ, moolɔ, flexible • A tammo waa la molɔ- mooleba molɔ lɛ. The bow is very flexible. mooloo [mʊ́ʊ́lʊ́ʊ́] adj. weak, stunted momm [mómm] adv. wholly and completely moore [mʊ́ʊ́rɪ]̀ v. (1) to empathise; to sympathise with • Koŋkonimo momone [mʊ̀ mùnɪ]́ n. dried salted maŋ kono moorɔ korɔ la kotuo fish 2pl: momonɛɛ deme. Funeral dirge singers usu- monaŋe [mʊ̀ náŋ] n. hippopotamus ally empathise with the bereaved pl: monanne 2pl: monannɛɛ family. (2) to express regret for mone [mʊ̀ nɪ]́ n. serious condi- not being able to provide some- tion of piles pl: momɔ 2pl: thing • A dããpɔge moore la a monɛɛ/monnɛɛ dãã. The pito seller regrets that

202 moore moɔreŋ

the pito is gone. moorɛɛ, moorɔ, moɔle [mʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to stretch (hair) moorɔ, mooreba, mooraa moɔlɛɛ, moɔlɔ, moɔlɔ, moɔleba, moore tere to sympathise with moɔlaa, moɔleba moore [mʊ́ʊ́rɪ]̀ v. (1) to dissolve, to moɔle [mʊ́ɔ́lɪ]́ v. to announce • Ba diminish • A zeɛre nyɛnnoŋ ba moɔle ka neɛzaa ta wa gɛrɛ tomɔ moore. The salt in the soup is not bie. It has been announced that no dissolved. (2) to rain lightly • A one should go to work tomorrow. saa ba mi soŋ mooroo ka o moore. moɔlɛɛ, moɔlɔ, moɔlɔ, moɔleba, It did not rain hard; it just driz- moɔlaa, moɔleba zled. (3) to intercede, to suggest moɔle [mʊ́ ɔ́lɪ]́ v. to vanish, to sneak • N daare moore la o yiri kuluu away • Kɔkɔlaa wa la a yiri ka ka o nyare. When I suggested his gyaŋgbonni zaa moɔle. A cat has going home, he flared up. moorɛɛ, come to the house and all the moorɔ, moorɔ, mooreba, mooraa mice have vanished. moɔlɛɛ, moɔlɔ, moore [mʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to suck e.g. finger moɔlɔ, moɔleba, moɔlaa, moɔleba moorɛɛ, moora, moora, mooreba, moɔlɔ [mʊ́ ɔ́lɔ̀] n. established be- mooraa, - Var. mogere haviour, character • A bie de la mooreterɛ [mʊ́ʊ́rtɪrɛ́ ]́ n. consoler pl: o saa moɔlɔ. The child has taken moorterebɛ 2pl: mooreterebɛɛ after his father. 2pl: moɔlɛɛ Var. moɔla moorteroo [mʊ́ʊ́rtɪrʊ́ ́ ʊ́] n. the act of consoling moɔraa [mʊ́ɔ́ráà] adv. like, similar manner Var. moɔreŋ moɔ [mʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. (1) to make red (2) to be ripe (3) to be serious • Ka moɔre [mʊ́ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to smear with fooŋ boɔrɔ ka fo paase gyennoo thick liquid e.g. mud (2) to camou- fo maŋ moɔ nimiri ne zannoo. If flage • O kũu deɛ moɔre ma la. He you want to pass a test, you need camouflaged us before his death. to be serious about your studies. moɔrɛɛ, moɔrɔ, moɔrɔ, moɔreba, (4) to fetch fire (red coals) moɔɛ, moɔraa moɔnɔ, moɔnɔ, moɔnema, moɔnaa, moɔreŋ [mʊ́ ɔ́rɪŋ]́ adj. similar to how moɔnema the Mosi people do it Var. ko- moɔ [mʊ̀ ɔ̀] adv. really • yeŋ moɔ ka moɔreŋ a bie yi? Really, where does the moɔreŋ [mʊ́ɔ́rɪŋ]́ conj. like, accord- child come from? Var. mɔɔ ing to • ŋmaaŋa moɔreŋ, dabẽɛ moɔ [mʊ́ɔ́] n. (1) grass, weeds (2) sobaŋ taa yiri. According to the bush, wilderness sg: moɔnoo 2pl: monkey, he who runs away lives to moɔnɛɛ fight another day. Var. moɔraa

203 moɔrɔ mɔll moɔrɔ [mʊ́ɔ́rɔ́] n. illness of sexual (2) to try hard • Ka fooŋ ba mɔ fo misconduct; adultery 2pl: moɔrɛɛ koŋ tõɔ̃ a teɛ do. If you don’t try more [mʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to disappear, to van- hard, you can’t climb the tree. mɔɛ, ish morɛɛ, morɔ, morɔ, morba, moɔrɔ, moɔrɔ, moɔreba, moɔraa moraa, morba mɔ-aŋgaara [mɔ̀-áŋgáárá] n. half- more [mʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to pop out e.g. burnt grass pl: mɔ-aŋgaare 2pl: mɔ- seeds from a fruit in the mouth aŋgaarɛɛ morɛɛ, morɔ, morɔ, morba, moraa, mɔdoŋɔ [mɔ̀dʊ́ŋɔ́] n. wild animal pl: morba mɔdonne 2pl: mɔdonnɛɛ Var. mɔ- more [mʊ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to smile (2) doŋa, wɛdoŋɔ to initiate (typically used with mɔgaabo [mɔ̀gáábʊ̀ ] n. game hunt- laare) morɛɛ, morɔ, morɔ, moreba, ing expedition from a pitched tent moraa, moreba over a length of time moremore [mʊ̀ rɪmʊ̀ ́rɪ]́ v. to vanish mɔge [mɔ́gɪ]́ v. to get dirty • Ka fooŋ at once kpɛ nɔzage fo nɔɔteɛ maŋ mɔge la moromoro [mórómóró] adj. soft, nɔbini. If you go into a hen coop, not solid your shoes will get dirty with fowl droppings. mɔgɛɛ, mɔgrɔ, mɔgrɔ, moroo [mʊrʊʊ] n. local herbal ́ ́ ́ mɔgreba medicine in tablet form used in massaging only pl: morre 2pl: mɔgele [mɔ̀gɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to beseech, morɛɛ/morrɛɛ Var. morɔ to supplicate (2) to persuade (3) to console, to comfort e.g. one in morɔ [mʊrɔ] n. herb tablet for exter- ́ ́ pain or distress (4) to beg for for- nal use pl: morre 2pl: morɛɛ Var. giveness mɔgelɛɛ, mɔgelɔ, mɔgelɔ, mora mɔgeleba, mɔgelaa morɔmorɔ [mʊ́rɔ́mʊ́rɔ́] adv. (1) mɔgeraa [mɔ̀gɪráá]̀ n. a type of giant showing slightly (smile) • O nyɛ white ant pl: mɔgere 2pl: mɔgerɛɛ la wagyɛ paalaa a monne laare morɔmorɔ lɛ. She has got a new mɔkangyi [mɔ́kándzí] n. (1) a type cloth and this has made her beam of tree with medicial properties with smiles. (2) get lost mysteri- and edible fruits (2) pawpaw pl: ously • A libie deɛ bɔrɛɛ la morɔ- mɔkangyiri 2pl: mɔkangyiree morɔ lɛ. The money just got lost mɔkpeɛrɛ [mɔ̀kpɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. (1) bush mysteriously. dweller (2) one who lives in a far- mɔ [mɔ́] v. (1) to wrestle • A pɔgebɔ away country pl: mɔkpeɛrebɛ 2pl: da zɔɔ la taa, a mɔ te le. The mɔkpeɛrebɛɛ women fought, wrestled, and fell. mɔll [mɔ̀ll] adv. long and smooth

204 mɔloo muni mɔloo [mɔ̀lʊ́ʊ́ ] n. a type of large an- mɔrɔmɔrɔ [mɔ̀rɔ̀mɔ̀rɔ̀] adv. marshy, telope pl: mɔlle 2pl: mɔlɛɛ soft, and loose, so that it can’t be mɔlɔ [mɔ̀lɔ́] adj. (1) cheap (2) easy held together Var. mɔlɛɛ mɔrɔtɔ [mɔ̀rɔ̀tɔ̀] adj. long and flat mɔlɔmɔlɔ [mɔ́lɔ́mɔ́lɔ́] adj. seemingly mɔsogɔ [mɔ̀sʊ́gɔ́] n. bush, the mid- easy, like a joke dle of the wilderness pl: mɔsogre mɔmaara [mɔ̀màárà] n. fresh grass 2pl: mɔsogrɛɛ 2pl: mɔmaarɛɛ mɔsɔglaa [mɔ̀sɔ́glàá] n. a type of mɔnaabo [mɔ̀náábʊ́] n. bush cow pl: grass whose presence indicates fer- mɔnii 2pl: mɔniinee Var. wɛnaabo tile land pl: mɔsɔglɔ mɔneɛ [mɔ̀nɪɛ́ ]́ n. bushman, un- mɔtɔ [mɔ́tɔ́] adv. very full • A civilised person pl: mɔnoba boɔraa e la mɔtɔ o naŋ paale. The sack is completely full. mɔnyuu [mɔ̀ɲúú] n. a type of grass with a strong smell and has medic- mɔvɔ [mɔ̀vɔ̀] n. part of the rainy sea- inal use pl: mɔnyuuri 2pl: mɔnyu- son when there is thick growth of uree grass 2pl: mɔvɔrɛɛ mɔŋe [mɔ̀ŋ] v. (1) to stir (food) mɔwegi [mɔ̀wégí] n. wild bush pl: (2) to steer, to drive (car) (3) to mɔwegiri 2pl: mɔwegiree paddle (boat) mɔŋɛɛ, mɔnɔ, mɔnɔ, mui [mùí] n. rice 2pl: muunee mɔnemɔ, mɔnaa, mɔnemɔ muli [múlí] v. to remove hair or mɔŋe [mɔ́ŋ] v. to refuse to give • feathers from skin (usually by ap- A entuo daana sɔre la a bon- plying hot water) mulee, mulo, daana libiri ka o mɔŋ o. The mulo, mulibo, mulaa lazy man begged for money from mulli [mùllì] v. to dive, to go un- the rich man, but he refused him. derwater mullee, mullo, mullo, mɔŋɛɛ, mɔnɔ, mɔnnɔ, mɔnemɔ, mɔ- mullibo, mullaa, mullibo naa, mɔnemɔ muni [múní] n. (1) meaning • A dɔɔ mɔpelaa [mɔ̀pɪláà]́ n. a stretch of ba baŋe a yelbiri ŋa muni. the bush made mainly of dry tall grass man does not know the meaning pl: mɔpeɛle 2pl: mɔpeɛlɛɛ of this word. (2) reason • A dɔɔ mɔre [mɔ́rɪ]́ n. a type of strong grass ba wuli a o polisiri ŋmeɛbo muni used for arrow shafts pl: mɔɛ 2pl: The man does not know the reason mɔrɛɛ why he was beaten by the police. mɔre [mɔ́rɪ]́ v. to swell mɔrɛɛ, mɔrɔ, muni [múní] adv. (1) bottom • A mɔrɔ, mɔreba, mɔraa, mɔreba bie nu koŋ ta a doge muni. The

205 munii na

child’s hand cannot get to the bot- muri [mùrì] v. (1) to dodge, to es- tom of the pot. (2) under • A cape (2) to slide out e.g. rope saama zeŋe la a maŋgo teɛ muni. around one’s neck (3) to deny The strangers are sitting under the an earlier statement muree, muro, mango tree. muro, muribu, muraa, muribo munii [múníí] adj. tiny, small • A muro [mùró] n. the posture of lying bɛmmo ŋa biri maŋ waa la munii facedown • Ba mɔɛ la te le vɔgele lɛ. This variety of bean has a tiny muro. They wrestled and fell face- seed. pl: muno 2pl: munnee down. munkyara [mùnʧárá] n. a type of muu [múú] n. deaf and mute person smock with an opening at the back pl: muuni 2pl: muunee pl: munkyarre 2pl: munkyarɛɛ muu [múú] adj. deaf and mute muŋkuri [mùŋkúrí] n. skirt pl: muuli [múúlí] v. to peep into or muŋkurri 2pl: muŋkuree through muulee, muulo, muulo, muulibo, muulaa mupelaa [mùpílàá] n. a type of straw from tall grass used in lighting fires muuli [mùùlì] v. to make a short pl: mupeɛle 2pl: mupeɛlɛɛ visit (typically used with nyɛ) • N baŋ ka fo pagra la kyɛ fo naŋ mupɛge [múpɛgɪ́ ]́ n. grass husk pl: muuli a baala kyɛ gɛrɛ. I know mupɛgre 2pl: mupɛgrɛɛ you are in a hurry, but just pop muri [múrí] n. (1) straw from a type in to visit the patient and then go. of tall grass used in making mats muulee, muulo, muulo, muulibo, (2) a bundle of such straw pl: mie muulaa 2pl: miiree muuu [múúù] n. (1) the character- muri [múrí] n. snake pl: mie 2pl: mi- istic sound made by a cow (ono- iree matopoeia) (2) cow n N [ɪn]̀ pron. I (1st person singular na [ná] pron. that (3rd person weak form nominative) • N na gaa demonstrative) • A bi ŋmeene na la daa. I will go to the market. (1) beɛrɛ la. That lean child is sick. my (1st person singular possessive) • N libie baarɛɛ la. My money is na [nà] part. will, shall (future tense gone. marker) • A baala na gaa la asibiti. The patient will go to the hos-

206 Naa naaduoraa

pital. naabileŋmene [náábíléŋmɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. Naa [nàá] n. name traditionally God, supreme being pl: naa- given to a second male twin pl: bileŋmemɛ Namine naabilfaŋ [náábìlfáŋ] n. a large calf pl: naabilfanne 2pl: naabilfannɛɛ naa [nàá] n. (1) chief, king (2) grandparent (3) rich person pl: namine naabil-paaŋaa [náábìl-pááŋáá] n. 2pl: narɛɛ calf, baby cow pl: naabil-paane 2pl: naabil-paanɛɛ naa [nàá] part. (1) will/shall (emphatic na) • Te naa wa la. We shall naabini [náábíní] n. cow dung sg: come. (2) should have • Fo da naa naabinuu 2pl: naabinee taa la a bie gaa ne asibiti. You naabo [náábʊ́] n. cow pl: nii 2pl: ni- should have taken the child to the inee hospital. (3) would have • A boɔso naada [náádà] n. the act of buying ba wa wiẽu ka lɛ naane fo da cattle naa wa waana ko o gaaɛ. The bus naadaara [náádáárá] n. one who came late, otherwise by the time buys cattle pl: naadareba 2pl: you came it would have left. naadarebɛɛ naa [náá] adv. not • Onɔ naa ka N naadaaraa [náádàáráà] n. a cow that yele. I’m not referring to that one. has been bought pl: naadaare Var. naane naadalane [náádalánɪ]̀́ n. uncas- naabaa [nààbáá] n. a type of small trated bull black bird regarded a totem of naadalee [náádàléé] n. young bull, a clan (Zagɛɛ) pl: naabaare 2pl: calf pl: naadabilii 2pl: naadabilee naabaarɛɛ naadaŋaa [náádáŋáá] n. corral naabaaraa gane [náábááráá gánɪ]̀ for cattle pl: naadaŋene 2pl: n. bona fide property; status not naadaŋenɛɛ changeable; that which naturally naadavaraa [náádàváràà] n. cas- belongs to a specific set • Ka Daga- trated bull bieŋ baa o areyiriŋ kyɛ o naŋ waa la naabaaraa gane. Among naadɛre [náádɛrɪ́ ]́ n. bullock, bull pl: the Dagaaba, even if a child is naadɛɛ 2pl: naadɛrɛɛ brought up in his mother’s home, naadɔgrɔ [náádɔ̀grɔ́] n. a cow that he still remains the kin of the fa- has recently given birth ther. naaduoraa [náádúóráá] n. resting naabere [náábɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. udder pl: ground for cattle pl: naaduori 2pl: naaberɛ 2pl: naaberɛɛ naaduoree

207 naafaa naapɔle naafaa [nààfáà] n. that which is ad- naamanyeɛnɛ [náámáɲɪɛ́ nɛ́ ]́ adj. vantageous • Ka anaŋ waa lɛ ka common, unimportant lɛ naafaa la kyaare te. If that is naameɛ [nààmɪɛ̀ ]́ n. water turtle pl: what it has come to, then luck is on naameene 2pl: naameenɛɛ Var. our side. naameɛo naaga [nààgà] n. a type of guinea naameɛo [nààmɪɛ̀ ̀ʊ̀ ] n. turtle pl: corn pl: naagare 2pl: naagarɛɛ naameɛne 2pl: naameɛnɛɛ Var. naagaaraa [náágááráá] n. feral cow naameɛ pl: naagaare 2pl: naagaarɛɛ naamoɔ [náámʊ́ɔ́] n. a type of grass naagale [náágálɪ]́ n. a type of dance sg: naamoɔnoo pl: naamoore 2pl: which is meant to invite other naamoɔnɛɛ dancers to the stage pl: naagalle naamu [nàámù] n. head cloth pl: 2pl: naagalɛɛ naamuri 2pl: naamuree naagane [náágánɪ]̀ n. cowhide pl: naane [nàànɪ]̀ v. to prepare, to get naagama 2pl: naagannɛɛ ready, to gather momentum to do naagaŋa [náágàŋá] n. corral for cat- something naanɛɛ, naana, naana, tle pl: naaganne 2pl: naagannɛɛ naanema, naanaa naakoɔraa [náákʊɔráá] n. work- ́ ́ naane [náánɪ]́ adv. not • Ona ing bullock pl: naakoɔre 2pl: naane de a libie. S/he is not the naakoɔrɛɛ one who took the money. naakoɔrɔ [náákʊ́ɔ́rɔ́] n. cattle seller naanɛne [náánɛnɪ́ ]̀ n. beef pl: pl: naakoɔrebɔ 2pl: naakoɔrebɛɛ naanɛmɛ 2pl: naanɛnnɛɛ naakyeemɛgbeŋkeroo [nááʧɪɪ́ mɛ́ g-́ naanyaŋaa [nááɲáŋàá] n. cow that běŋkéróó] n. a type of wild small has had a calf pl: naanyaŋene 2pl: tree with edible fruit pl: naakyee- naanyaŋenɛɛ mɛgbeŋkerri 2pl: naakyeemɛgbeŋ- keree Var. gbeŋkeroo Naaŋmene [nààŋmɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. God • naaŋmemɛ pl: naaŋmemɛ 2pl: naakyeenɛ [nááʧɪɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. cattle herds- naaŋmenɛɛ man pl: naakyeemɛ 2pl: naakyee- mɛɛ naapɔge [nààpɔ́gɪ]́ n. daughter-in- naalee [nááléé] n. calf, heifer; a law pl: naapɔgeba/naapɔgemine young cow or bull pl: naabilii 2pl: 2pl: naapɔgrɛɛ naabillee naapɔge [náápɔ́gɪ]́ n. female cow pl: naamaaroŋ [nàámáárʊ́ ŋ] n. large naapɔgebɔ 2pl: naapɔgebɛɛ umbrella pl: naamaara 2pl: naa- naapɔle [náápɔ́lɪ]̀ n. young cow pl: maarɛɛ naapɔlɔ

208 naara naazo-sɔglaa naara [náárà] n. a variety of naasarre 2pl: naasarrɛɛ Var. sorghum sg: naaroo pl: naare 2pl: naasarelee naarɛɛ naasarelee [náásárɪléé]́ n. adult fe- naare [náárɪ]̀ adj. four pl: naare 2pl: male cow that has not littered yet naarɛɛ pl: naasarebilii 2pl: naasarebillee naare [nààrɪ]̀ v. (1) strife to snatch Var. naasaraa from the ground (2) to attack, usu- naaseere [nààsɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ n. a diseaese of ally violently naarɛɛ, naara, naara, the gums and teeth that produces naareba, naaraa sores 2pl: naaseerɛɛ naare [náárɪ]̀ v. to delay, to be late naaweɛmɛ [nàáwɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. strayed • A dɔɔta naŋ woŋ a bie baaloŋ cow pl: naaweɛne 2pl: naaweɛnɛɛ o ba naare fẽe zaa. When the doctor learnt of the child’s sickness, he naaweɛzoore [nááwɪɛ́ zʊ́ ́ʊ́rɪ]́ n. a did not delay at all. naarɛɛ, naara, type of grass pl: naaweɛzoɛ 2pl: naara, naareba, naaraa naaweɛzoorɛɛ naasaa [náásàà] n. dragonfly pl: naayiri [nààyírì] n. (1) palace, naasaare 2pl: naasaarɛɛ chief’s house (2) place of refuge pl: naasaalaa [nààsááláá] n. white per- naayie 2pl: naayiree son, European pl: nasamine 2pl: naayoɔ [nááyʊ́ɔ́] n. young one, child naasaalɛɛ pl: naayoore 2pl: naayoorɛɛ naasaal-kuuri [nààsààl-kúúrí] n. naayoɔre [nààyʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. (1) penis of plough pl: naasaal-kue 2pl: a cow (2) a type of whip made of naasaal-kuree leather pl: naayɔɛ 2pl: naayɔrɛɛ naasaalsensɛroo [nààsàálsɪnsɛrʊʊ] ́ ́ ́ ́ naazage [náázàgɪ]́ n. cattle pen pl: n. biscuits sg: naasaalsensɛroo naazagre 2pl: naazagrɛɛ pl: naasaalsensɛ 2pl: naasaalsen- sɛrɛɛ naazeɛraa [náázɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. hostile cow (usually one that has recently given naasaalsori [nààsààlsórí] n. road pl: birth) pl: naazeɛre naasaalsoe 2pl: naasaalsoree naasaal-taŋaa [nààsààl-tàŋáà] n. naazoŋmaa [náázʊ̀ ŋmáá] n. a cow mango pl: naasaal-taŋema 2pl: that has lost part or all its tail pl: naasaal-taŋemɛɛ Var. maŋgo naazoŋmaara 2pl: naazoŋmaarɛɛ naasaal-teŋɛ [nààsààl-tɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. Eu- naazoɔ [náázʊ́ɔ̀] n. fly, housefly pl: rope pl: naasaal-tenne 2pl: naazoore 2pl: naazoorrɛɛ Var. zoɔ naasaal-tennɛɛ Var. nasa-teŋɛ naazo-sɔglaa [náázʊ̀ -sɔ́gláá] n. naasaraa [náásáràà] n. adult female black fly pl: naazo-sɔglɔ 2pl: cow that has not littered yet pl: naazo-sɔglɛɛ

209 naazozuri nandaa naazozuri [náázʊ̀ zúrí] n. type of nagbare [nàgbárí] n. shin pl: nagba- beads that look like the heads of rɛɛ 2pl: nagharrɛɛ flies 2pl: naazozuree nagbime [nàgbímé] n. heavy foot- nabɛllebie [nàbɛllɪ́ bíé]́ n. camou- steps 2pl: nagbimee flage pl: nabɛllebiiri 2pl: nabɛlle- nakogi [nàkógí] n. throne pl: nako- biiree gri 2pl: nakogree nabie [nàbíé] n. royal person, prince nakpi [nàkpí] adj. mortal pl: nabiiri 2pl: nabiiree nakyige [nàʧígé] n. that which is nabiiluŋ [nàbììlúŋ] n. the condition great pl: nakyigri 2pl: nakyigree of being a prince nakyige [nàʧígé] n. four-legged ani- naboma [nàbʊ́má] n. riches, trea- mal pl: nakyigri 2pl: nakyigree sure pl: nabomɛɛ nakyige [nàʧígé] n. long, heavy nadire [nàdíré] n. one who is qual- stride pl: nakyigri 2pl: nakyigree ified to be chief, chief-elect pl: nama [nàmá] n. carnivorous animal nadiribe 2pl: nadiribee e.g. hyena 2pl: namɛɛ naferemɛ [náfɪrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. (1) heel (2) namba [námbà] n. number pl: nam- hoof (3) hind toe (of a bird) pl: na- bare 2pl: nambarɛɛ ferre 2pl: naferɛɛ/naferemɛɛ nambaŋka [nàmbàŋkà] n. state of nage [nágɪ]́ v. to beat, to hit hard (es- being probable pecially on the back) nagɛɛ, nagra, nambiyaalaa [námbìyáálàà] n. cen- nagra, nagreba, nagraa tipede pl: nambiyaale 2pl: nam- nage [nágɪ]́ v. to produce a lot of biyaalɛɛ nagɛɛ, nagra, nagra, nagreba, na- nambonna [nàmbʊ̀ nná] n. doubtful- graa ness nage [nàgɪ]̀ v. to bend backward nambɔgelɔ [nǎmbɔ́glɔ́] n. hunter pl: nagɛɛ, nagra, nagra, nagreba, na- nambɔgele 2pl: nambɔgelɛɛ graa namelemɛ [nàmɪlɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. knock- nage [nàgɪ]̀ v. to miss work • Daa knee 2pl: namelemɛɛ zaa o maŋ nage la toma dayeni. namonɔ [nàmʊ̀ nɔ̀] n. body decora- Every week she misses work once. tion e.g. tattoo pl: namonne 2pl: nagɛɛ, nagra, nagra, nagreba, na- namonɛɛ/namonnɛɛ Var. namona graa nana [nàná] adv. slowly and nage [nàgɪ]́ adj. crooked, bent back- painfully e.g. a very sick person wards pl: nagre nandaa [nàndàá] n. limb pl: nan- nagenyuu [nàgìɲúú] n. meningitis daare 2pl: nandarɛɛ

210 nandaana naraa nandaana [nándááná] n. poor naŋe [náŋɪ]̀ n. poverty; scarcity • O person, needy person pl: nan- toma lee la ka naŋ kpɛ o. His busi- daanema ness has collapsed and poverty has naneŋ [nànɪŋ]́ adj. at last • Saa overtaken him. 2pl: nannɛɛ naneŋ mie la. At last it has rained. naŋene [náŋɪnɪ̀ ]̀ n. hippopotamus pl: naŋema 2pl: naŋenɛɛ nanna-nanna [nánná-nánná] adv. seldom • O da ba nagera yiri naŋgbagele [nǎŋgbáglɪ]́ n. bony kyɛ o ma naŋ kpi o maŋ nanna- meat; bone left over after the flesh nanna la wa kuli wa. She used to has been removed pl: naŋgbagela come home regularly but since her 2pl: naŋgbagelɛɛ mother’s death she seldom comes naŋgbeɛnɛ [nǎŋgbɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. (1) bits of home. meat cut from from different parts nannyige [nànnyìgé] n. thief pl: of the animal (2) profit • Boŋ naŋ- nannyigiri 2pl: nannyigiree gbeɛrɛ ka fo nyɛ a toma ŋa poɔ? What profit have you made from nansoba [nánsʊ̀ bá] n. poor person, this work? pl: naŋgbeɛmɛ 2pl: needy person naŋgbeɛrɛɛ Var. naŋgbeɛnɛ nantɛŋ [nàntɛ̀ŋɪ]̀ n. very large gun naŋkoɔredie [nàŋkʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪdìé]̀ n. store pl: nantɛnne 2pl: nantɛnnɛɛ Var. pl: naŋkoɔrederi 2pl: nankoɔrede- nantɛŋ ree nanyuuri [nàɲúúrí] n. potato; sweet naŋkoɔrɔ [nàŋkʊ́ɔ́rɔ́] n. trader pl: potato sg: nanyuuruu pl: nanyie naŋkoɔreba 2pl: naŋkoɔrebɛɛ Var. 2pl: nanyiiree naŋkoɔreba naŋ [nǎŋ] adv. (1) since • O naŋ naŋkoɔse [nàŋkʊ̀ ɔ̀sɪ]́ n. butcher pl: gaa a kɔɔrɛɛ la. It has been a long naŋkoɔsere 2pl: naŋkoɔserɛɛ time since she went. (2) yet • O naŋkpaana [nǎŋkpááná] n. hunter naŋ ba gaa. She has not gone yet. pl: naŋkpaama/naŋkpaane 2pl: • O suuri naŋ naŋ ba sigi na te naŋkpaanɛɛ koŋ baŋ maale a zɔɔre. Since his anger has not cooled off yet, we naŋmane [nàŋmánɪ]́ n. pigeon pl: cannot arbitrate. (3) still • O naŋ naŋmama 2pl: naŋmannɛɛ zeŋ la be. She is still sitting there. napoloŋ [nàpʊ̀ lʊ́ŋ] n. calf (part of (4) kindly, please • Naŋ ko ma kõɔ the leg) pl: napolle 2pl: napollɛɛ ka N nyu. Kindly give me some wa- Napɔge [nàpɔ́gɪ]́ n. name tradition- ter to drink. ally given to a younger female twin naŋa [náŋá] n. scorpion pl: nanne pl: napɔgeba 2pl: napɔgebɛɛ 2pl: nannɛɛ naraa [nàràà] adv. large

211 nare neɛzaa nare [nárɪ]́ v. to prepare; to get ready neɛ [nɪɛ́ ̀] v. (1) to step on • N ba narɛɛ, nara, nara, nareba, naraa baŋ kyɛ neɛ o gbɛre kyɛ ka o su- nare [nàrɪ]̀ v. to increase, to get out uri iri. I stepped on her foot un- of control • A vũu narɛɛ la ka ba intentionally, but she was angry. kpinne faana. The fire has gotten (2) to grind • A tẽe-erɛ neɛ la a out of control and they are strug- tẽe eŋ kõɔ poɔ ko a baala. The gling to put it out. narɛɛ, nara, herbal doctor ground the medicine nara, nareba, naraa and mixed it with water for the patient. neɛɛ, neɛrɛ, neɛrɛ, neɛrebɛ, nasa-kuuri [nàsà-kúúrí] n. plough neɛraa, neɛrebɛ pl: nasa-kue neɛ [nɪɛ̀ ̀] n. person pl: noba 2pl: natɛbaa [nátɛbáá]́ n. large boil or ab- nerrɛɛ scess pl: natɛrre 2pl: natɛrɛɛ neɛne [nɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ v. (1) to push through nato [nàtó] n. a pair of metal high or under • Kɛkɛpele neɛne la a sounding instruments, used to call bie nubi-ẽɛ. A piece of stalk has people’s attention and as a musical lodged itself under the child’s fin- instrument pl: natori 2pl: natoree gernail. (2) to refer to indirectly, Var. lato/latori (pl.) to gossip • A pɔge ŋa maŋ neɛnɛ nawale [náwálɪ]́ n. ulcer pl: nawalle la o yontaa. This woman always 2pl: nawalɛɛ Var. nayagere gossips about her rival. (3) to tease nayagere [nàyàgɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. ulcer pl: neɛnɛɛ, neɛnɛ, neɛnɛ, neɛnemɛ, nayaga 2pl: nayagerɛɛ Var. neɛnaa nawale neɛre [nɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. grindstone pl: nɛɛ ne [nɪ̂] conj. (1) and • Kõɔ ne vũu 2pl: nɛrɛɛ koŋ tõɔ laŋ kpɛ. Water and fire neɛre [nɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to hide under cover cannot coexist. (2) with • Te maŋ • Kɔkɔlaa digi la a gyaŋgboŋo ka kyɛ la daa ne lare. We cut a tree o zo kpɛ neɛre moɔ poɔ. The cat with an axe. Var. ane chased the mouse and it ran into hiding under the grass. neere [nɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. to dodge by squeez- ing through • A nannyige neere neɛrekuuri [nɪɛ́ rɪ́ kúúrí]́ n. small tu la a lɔɔre takoroo zo. The stone used in grinding on the thief squeezed himself through the main grindstone pl: neɛrekubo 2pl: car window and escaped. neerɛɛ, neɛrekuuree Var. nɛbiri neerɛ, neerɛ, neerebɛ, neeraa neɛre-saare [nɪɛ́ rsáárɪ́ ]́ n. small, soft neɛ [nɪɛ́ ]́ v. (1) to trample, to stamp broom used to gather flour pl: neɛr- on (2) to cheat neɛɛ, neɛrɛ, neɛrɛ, saɛ 2pl: neɛrsaarɛɛ neɛrebɛ, neɛraa, neɛrebɛ neɛzaa [nɪɛ́ ̀zàá] n. each person, ev-

212 negebaga nempɔgere-die

eryone • Ba yeli ka neɛzaa gaa a person pl: nemboma 2pl: nembon- kpaaroŋ. It has been said that ev- nɛɛ ery person should attend the meet- nembon-yɛlɛ [nɪbʊ́ ́n-yɛlɛ́ ]́ n. useless ing. talk negebaga [nɪgɪ̀ bàgà]̀ adj. heavily nemboŋ [nímbóŋ] n. what sort of built; usually referring to people person, who • Nemboŋ la na tõɔ negiri [négírì] v. to bend the knees di naaloŋ Dagaaba laŋkpeɛbo slightly as a sign of respect; usually poɔ? Who qualifies to be a chief by girls while the boys salute ne- among the Dagaaba? giree, negire, negire, negiribe, ne- nemboore [nɪmbʊ́ ́ ʊ́rɪ]́ n. type of per- giraa son • Maa ba baŋ nemboore na nelebala [nɪlɪ̀ bàlà]̀ adj. large and zaa naŋ la o. I don’t know what bent backward type of person she is. pl: nemboorɔ nembaala [nɪmbààlá]́ n. destitute, nembɔnnaa [nɪmbɔ́ ̀nnáà] n. acquain- weak pl: nembaalba 2pl: nembaal- tance pl: nembɔnne 2pl: nembɔn- bɛɛ nɛɛ nembaaloŋ [nɪmbààlʊ́ ́ŋ] n. pity nembuo [nɪmbúò]́ n. which person; nembaal-zoro [nɪmbààl-zóró]́ n. who pl: nembuobo merciful person pl: nembaal- nemburee [nɪmbùréé]́ n. unintelli- zoribo 2pl: nembaal-zoribee gent person, confused person pl: nembeene [nɪmbɪ́ ɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. someone nemburri 2pl: nemburree with supernatural powers pl: nem- nemmeŋɛ [nɪmmɪ́ ŋɛ́ ]́ n. good person beemɛ 2pl: nembeemɛɛ pl: nemenne 2pl: nemmennɛɛ nembeɛ [nɪmbɪ́ ɛ̀ ]́ n. a mysterious nempaalaa [nímpááláá] n. new per- person pl: nembeere 2pl: nem- son pl: nempaalba 2pl: nempaalɛɛ beerɛɛ nempelaa [nɪmpɪ́ làá]̀ n. (1) Cau- nembẽɛo [nɪmbɪ́ ɛ̀̃ ̀̃ʊ̃́] n. crowd casian; white person (2) simple of people; many people pl: person, straightforward person pl: nebeɛne/nembeɛmɛ 2pl: nem- nempeɛle 2pl: nempeɛlɛɛ beɛnɛɛ/nembeɛmɛɛ nempɔgeraa [nɪmpɔ́ ̀gɪráà]̀ n. pris- nembeleŋ [némbéléŋ] adj. bent oner pl: nempɔgere 2pl: nem- slightly backwards pɔgerɛɛ nembieri [nɪmbíérí]́ n. malicious nempɔgere-die [nɪmpɔ́ ̀gɪrdìé]̀ n. person pl: nembebe prison pl: nempɔgere-deri 2pl: nembone [nɪmbʊ́ ́nɪ]́ n. worthless nempɔgere-deree

213 nendaare nentage nendaare [nɪndààrɪ̀ ]̀ adv. one day; in dɔgeroŋ poɔ a ŋa a bie yi a sakuu- the future • O zagere la sakuuri riŋ. But for the headmaster giving gaabo nendaare kaŋa o na koŋ la a human face to the boy’s punish- dabaŋkalɛ. S/he has refused to go ment the boy would have been out to school; one day she will regret it. of school. (3) personification (liter- nendɛgere [nɪndɛ́ grí]́ n. (1) dirty ature) person (2) unscruplous person pl: nensaal-sɔgelaa [nɪnsáál-sɔ́ ́gláá] nendɛgɛ n. the typical African person pl: nenfaa [nɪnfáà]̀ n. bad person, nensaal-sɔglɔ wicked person pl: nenfaare 2pl: nenseɛ [nɪnsɪ́ ɛ́ ̀] n. ghost, evil spirit, nenfaarɛɛ apparition pl: nenseere 2pl: nenseerɛɛ nenfole [nɪnfʊ́ ́lɪ]́ n. albino pl: nen- fola 2pl: nenfolɛɛ nenseɛbaa [nɪnsɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀báá] n. (1) a fairly grown person in age • A pɔgelee nenlaane [nínláánɪ]́ n. worthless serɛ e la nenseɛbaa. The young person pl: nenlaama 2pl: nelaanɛɛ woman’s husband is middle-aged. nenlaara [nɪnláárá]́ n. person who (2) a fairly big person (size) pl: laughs at others; scornful person pl: nenseɛbaare 2pl: nenseɛbaarɛɛ nenlaareba 2pl: nenlaarebɛɛ nenselɛ [nɪnsɪ́ lɛ́ ̀] interj. great, well nenlaaraa [nɪnlààràà]́ n. person who done Var. menselɛ is scorned, laughingstock pl: nen- nensenyɛrɛ [nɪnsɪ́ ɲɛ́ rɛ́ ̀] n. one who laare Var. neŋ-e-laaraa sees spirits pl: nensenyɛrebɛ 2pl: nen-nyɔgera [nɪn-ɲɔ́ ́gɪrà]́ n. con- nensenyɛrebɛɛ queror pl: nen-nyɔgereba 2pl: nensoŋ [nɪnsʊ́ ́ ŋ] n. good person, nen-nyɔgerebɛɛ Var. nen-nyɔgerɔ holy person, pl: nensonne 2pl: nen- nen-nyɔgeraa [nɪn-ɲɔ́ ́gɪráá]́ n. cap- sonnɛɛ tive pl: nen-nyɔgere 2pl: nen- nensɔglaa [nɪnsɔ́ ́gláá] n. black per- nyɔgerɛɛ son pl: nensɔglɔ nensaala [nɪnsààlá]̌ n. human being nentaare [nɪntáárɪ́ ]̀ n. saliva 2pl: pl: nensaaleba 2pl: nensaalebɛɛ nentaarɛɛ nensaalabie [nɪnsààlàbíé]́ n. son of nentaboli [nɪntábòlí]́ n. large glob man pl: nensaalabiiri 2pl: nensaa- of saliva pl: nentabolo 2pl: labiiree nentabolee nensaaloŋ [nɪnsààlʊ́ ́ŋ] n. (1) human- nentage [nɪntágɪ́ ]́ n. (1) a thickset ity (2) something that is given a person (2) person of substance; human face • Ka a karemazuzeɛŋ wealthy pl: nentagere 2pl: nenta- da ba de nensaaloŋ kpɛ ne a bie gerɛɛ

214 nentage nɛgetɛgɛɛ nentage [nɪntàgɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) act of tug- neŋkoorɔ [nɪŋkʊ́ ́ʊ́ rɔ̀] n. murderer pl: ging e.g. in a tussle (2) the act of neŋkoorebɔ Var. neŋkoora taking people to court neŋkore [nɪŋkʊ́ ́rɪ]́ n. old person pl: nentakyeɛrɛ [nɪntàʧɪ́ ɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. (1) dried neŋkora saliva around the mouth (2) dried neŋkɔge [nɪŋkɔ́ ́gɪ]́ n. lean person pl: tears on the cheek pl: nentakyeɛre neŋkɔgre 2pl: neŋkɔgrɛɛ 2pl: nentakyeɛrɛɛ neŋkpeɛŋaa [nɪŋkpɪ́ ɛ́ ŋáá]́ n. (1) nentaŋ [nɪntáŋ]́ n. tears pl: nen- healthy person (2) strong person tanne 2pl: nentannɛɛ Var. ŋmen- pl: neŋkpeɛne tɔŋ/ŋmentɔnnɛɛ (2pl.) neŋkpoŋi [nɪŋkpôŋ]́ n. (1) adult, el- nentegeroŋ [nɪntɪ́ grʊ́ ́ŋ] n. important der (2) leader pl: neŋkponni 2pl: person; person of worth pl: nente- neŋkponnee gerɛ neŋkpɔre [nɪŋkpɔ́ ́rɪ]́ n. weak and nenweɛ [nɪnwɪ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. (1) a person sickly person pl: neŋkpɔɛ 2pl: who is not related to another (2) neŋkpɔrɛɛ unwanted person pl: neweere 2pl: nerroŋ [nɪrrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. consanguinity, nenweerɛɛ blood ties, blood relationship • A neŋ-iraa [nɪŋ-íráà]́ n. chosen person ba seŋ ka naasaalaa toma kaara pl: neŋ-irri 2pl: neŋ-irree nerroŋ. Government employment should not be based on blood ties. neŋkaa [nɪŋkàà]́ n. (1) the act of looking at people (2) the act of car- nɛbiri [nɛbìrí]́ n. smaller stone used ing for people pl: neŋkaareba 2pl: in grinding on the main grindstone neŋkaarebɛɛ pl: nɛbie 2pl: nɛbiiree nɛbo [nɛbʊ] v. (1) to dress well (2) neŋkaara [nɪŋkáárá]́ n. (1) one ́ ́ who looks at people (2) one who to tuck in one’s shirt nɛbɛɛ, nɛbrɛ, takes care of people, caregiver pl: nɛbraa, nɛbrebɛ, nɛbraa neŋkaareba 2pl: neŋkaarebɛɛ nɛ-bɔgeraa [nɛ-bɔ́ ́gɪràá]́ n. smooth grinding stone pl: nɛ-bɔgere 2pl: neŋkaaraa [nɪŋkààráà]̌ n. one who is nɛ-bɔgerɛɛ cared for pl: neŋkaare nɛgaa [nɛgáá]́ n. a type of cedar- neŋkanoo [nɪŋkànʊʊ] n. ma- ́ ́ ̀ like tree with very hard wood pl: ture person, old person pl: nɛgere 2pl: nɛgerɛɛ neŋkana/neŋkama 2pl: neŋkanɛɛ nɛgetɛgɛɛ [nɛ̀gɪtɛ̀ gɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ adj. curved in- neŋkaraa [nɪŋkáráá]́ n. an unruly ward • A a die peɛ deɛ waa la person pl: neŋkare 2pl: neŋkarɛɛ nɛgetɛgɛɛ lɛ. The roof of the house neŋkaraa [nɪkàràà]́ n. large person is looking sunken in. Var. nɛgtɛgɛ

215 nɛgetɛgɛɛ nɛre nɛgetɛgɛɛ [nɛ̀gɪtɛ́ gɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. depression, nɛmpoɔnaa [nɛmpʊ́ ́ɔ́náá] n. rotten place that is curved inward • Saa meat pl: nɛmpoɔne 2pl: nɛm- mie la ka kõɔ are a peɛ nɛgetɛgɛɛ poɔnɛɛ poɔ. It has rained and water has col- nɛne [nɛnɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) meat (2) flesh pl: lected in a depression in the roof. pl: nɛmɛ nɛgtɛgere 2pl: nɛgtɛgerɛɛ nɛnefɛne [nɛ̀nɪfɛ̀ nɪ́ ]́ v. to try to get nɛguo [nɛgùó]́ n. raised ground on attention • O naŋ waa biyeni na which grindstones are placed pl: nɛ- ana la so ka o nɛnefɛnɛ. She is an gori 2pl: nɛgoree only child; that is why she wants so nɛ-gyieraa [nɛ-dzèráà]́ n. rough much attention. nɛnefɛnɛɛ, nɛne- grindstone pl: nɛ-gyieri fɛnɛ, nɛnefɛnɛ, nɛnefɛnemɛ, nɛne- fɛnaa nɛku-bile [nɛkú-bílé]́ n. smaller ver- nɛnɛ [nɛnɛ] adv. precisely • A sion of a neɛrekuuri (small grind- ́ ́ sokyɛnɛ manne la o sori yɛlɛ ing stone) pl: nɛku-bilii 2pl: nɛku– nɛnɛ lɛɛŋ te baare. The traveler bilee narrated precisely what she/he en- nɛku-kpoŋ [nɛ̀kú-kpôŋ] n. larger countered on the journey. version of neɛrekuuri (small grind- nɛnzeɛ [nɛnzɪ́ ɛ̀ ]́ n. lean meat sg: ing stone) pl: nɛku-kponni 2pl: nɛnzeroo pl: nɛnzeere 2pl: nɛku-kponnee nɛnzeerɛɛ nɛle [nɛlɪ́ ]́ v. to fill completely • A nɛŋɛɛ [nɛ̀ŋɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. saggy bogi da nɛle ne la ɔnne. The bur- nɛŋɛɛ [nɛŋɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ adj. saggy row was full of mice. nɛlɛɛ, nɛlɛ, nɛlaa, nɛlebɛ, nɛlaa nɛŋkãa [nɛŋkã́ ́ã̀] n. fatty meat sg: nɛŋkaao pl: nɛŋkaanɛɛ nɛll [nɛ̀ll] adv. long and unwieldy nɛŋkaraa [nɛŋkáráá]́ n. raw meat pl: nɛmbeene [nɛmbɪ́ ɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. cooked nɛŋkare 2pl: nɛŋkarɛɛ meat pl: nɛmbeemɛ 2pl: nɛm- nɛŋkoorɔ [nɛŋkʊ́ ́ʊ́rɔ̀] n. butcher pl: beenɛɛ nɛŋkooreba Var. naŋkoɔse nɛmbɛlɛŋ [nɛ̀mbɛ̀lɛ̀ŋ] adv. long and nɛŋkuoŋaa [nɛŋkúóŋáá]́ n. smoked crooked meat pl: nɛŋkuoni 2pl: nɛŋkuonee nɛmbiri [nɛmbírì]́ n. boneless meat Var. nɛŋkũoaa sg: nɛmbiruu pl: nɛmbie 2pl: nɛm- nɛŋŋmaara [nɛŋŋmáárá]́ n. butcher biiree pl: nɛŋŋmaareba Var. naŋkoɔse nɛmmaaroŋ [nɛmmáárʊ́ ́ŋ] n. fresh nɛre [nɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be buried under- meat pl: nɛmmaara 2pl: nɛm- neath e.g. in the soil nɛrɛɛ, nɛrɛ, maarɛɛ nɛrɛ, nɛrebɛ, nɛraa

216 nibiri nimiri nibiri [nìbìrì] n. emotion 2pl: nimikõɔ [nímíkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. (1) watery nibiree eyes (2) tears 2pl: nimikoɔnɛɛ nii [níì] adj. eight nimikɔɔloŋ [nímíkɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ ŋ] n. eyelash nimibaaloŋ [nímíbààlʊ̂ ŋ] n. kind- nimikuoŋaa [nímíkúóŋáá] n. ness wickedness pl: nimikuoni 2pl: nimibaare [nímíbáárɪ]́ n. bloodshot nimikuonee Var. nimitiiruŋ 2pl: nimibaarɛɛ Var. nimibeɛmɛ nimikyaane [nímíʧáánɪ]́ n. eye- nimibiri [nímíbírì] n. pupil (of eye) glasses, spectacles pl: nimikyaane sg: nimibiruu pl: nimibie 2pl: ni- 2pl: nimikyaanaa mibiiree nimilaa [nímíláá] n. eye socket pl: nimibuli [nímíbúlí] n. eye with a nimilaare 2pl: nimilaarɛɛ cataract pl: nimibulo 2pl: nimibul- nimimaaroŋ [nímímáárʊ́ŋ] n. kind- ee ness, having pity on others pl: ni- nimifaa [nímífáá] n. evil eye pl: nim- mimaara 2pl: nimimaarɛɛ ifaare 2pl: nimifaarɛɛ niminyɛrɛ [nímínyɛrɛ́ ̀] n. vision- nimifaa [nímífáá] n. wrong side (of ary, seer pl: niminyɛrebɛ 2pl: fabric) pl: nimifaare 2pl: nimi- niminyɛrebɛɛ faarɛɛ nimipẽɛ [nímípɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] n. the act of claim- nimifuri [nímífùrì] v. (1) to be wide ing to be wise eyed (2) to show wit nimipeɛnɛ [nímípɪɛ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. one who nimigane [nímígánɪ]̀ n. eyelid pl: claims to be wise pl: nimipeɛnemɛ nimigama 2pl: nimiganɛɛ 2pl: nimipeɛnemɛɛ nimigbaŋkɔɔloŋ [nímígbàŋkɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] nimipẽɛ̃ [nímípɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. the act of show- n. eyebrow ing oneself to be wiser than others nimigbɛlɛɛ [nímígbɛ̀lɛ̀ɛ̀] n. the state nimipoŋi [nímípôŋ] n. puss-like of being considerate Var. nimi- fluid on the surface of the eyeball pl: maaroŋ nimiponni 2pl: nimiponnee Var. nimigboŋkogiri [nímígbòŋkógrí] n. nimipuuri brow, the part of the face where the nimipɔge [nímípɔ̀gɪ]̀ n. the act of eyebrow is located pl: nimigboŋko- blindfolding or confusing others giro 2pl: nimigboŋkogiree Var. nimipuuri [nímípúúrí] n. puss-like nimigboŋkobo (pl.) fluid on the surface of the eyeball nimikaare [nímíkáárɪ]̀ n. eyeball pl: pl: nimipuuree Var. nimipoŋi nimikaare nimiri [nímírì] n. (1) eye (2) stingi- nimiko [nímíkò] n. act of doing ness; avarice • N ba taa la libie wicked things kyɛ nimiri koŋ sage ka o da tiivi

217 nimiri nomɔ

paalaa. My father has the money nudoloŋ. She directed that I should but his stinginess would not allow go ahead a little and turn right. him to buy a new TV. (3) covetous- nimiyuo [nímíyúò] n. an action that ness • A bie ŋa taa la nimiri, o creates the impression that one is maŋ nyɛ la o tɔ zaa bone boɔrɔ more intelligent than another • Te o. This child is covetous; he wants naŋ gaa a nɛne pommu Bayuo da anything that another child has. sg: boɔrɔ ka o wuli nimiyuo kyɛ ka nimiruu pl: nimie 2pl: nimiiree te ba sage. When we went to share nimiri [nímírì] n. success • O toma the meat Bayuo wanted to cheat taa la nimiri pampana. That but we did not give him the chance. job of his is becoming fruitful. sg: nimiyuoro [nímíyúóró] n. well- nimiruu pl: nimie 2pl: nimiiree informed person, one who nimiri-soba [nímírì-sʊ̀ bá] n. (1) is abreast of the times pl: miser (2) one who covets pl: nimiyuoribo 2pl: nimiyuoribee nimiri-deme 2pl: nimi-demee nimizeɛ [nímízɪɛ̀ ]́ n. seriousness pl: nimisogɔ [nímísʊ́gɔ́] n. face • A nimizeere 2pl: nimizeerɛɛ pɔge kaa la a o bibaala nimisogɔ niŋe [níŋè] n. face • A bi-entuo kyɛ viiri zu. The woman looked na ba maŋ boɔrɔ na pɛge o niŋe into her sick child’s face and shook baguo. That lazy child does not like her head. pl: nimisogere 2pl: washing his face in the morning. pl: nimisogerɛɛ ninni 2pl: ninnee nimisogɔ [nímísʊ́ gɔ́] adv. in front niŋe sógɔ́ –in front, before, niŋe- of, ahead of • A gane biŋ la n sogre, niŋesogrɛɛ in front, before nimisogɔ. The book is placed in niŋe [níŋé] adv. in front of, ahead of front of me. • O de la a kogi wa biŋ a saana nimisoɔ [nímísʊ́ɔ̀] n. dizziness, niŋeŋ. He placed the seat in front confusion pl: nimisoɔre 2pl: of the visitor. nimisoɔrɛɛ nirii [nìríì] n. a type of creeping nimitiiruŋ [nímítììrúŋ] n. wicked- plant with edible seeds 2pl: nirree ness Var. nimikuoŋaa no [nʊ̀ ] v. to grind a object by nimitoloŋ [nímítʊ́ lʊ́ŋ] n. haste rubbing it against a surface noɛ, nimitɔɔre [nímítɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ post. (1) ahead, noona, noona, noonema, noonaa in front of • Ka fooŋ mɔnɔ lɔɔre a nomɔ [nʊ́má] adj. (1) sweet, tasty • seŋ ka fo kaara nimitɔɔre. If you A tigiri bondirii da nomɔ la yaga. drive you must look ahead. (2) for- The food at the party was really ward (distance, direction) • O yeli tasty. (2) interesting • A senselloŋ ka N gaa nimitɔɔre fẽẽ kyɛ leɛ tu da nomɔ la ka a bibiiri la paale

218 noore nɔdo

zie zaa. The story was interesting noɔre [nʊ́ɔ́rè] n. the habit of talking and so the children laughed their a lot pl: nɔɛ 2pl: nɔrɛɛ heads off. Var. noma noɔre-emmo [nʊ́ ɔ́rɪ-ɪ́ mmʊ́ ́] n. noore [nʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to slither promise (snake) (2) to move aside; usually nore [nʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to bend inward, backwards and away from noorɛɛ, usually with force (2) to hide some- noora, noora, nooreba, nooraa, thing (3) to appear without warn- nooreba ing e.g. forcing a seed out of a fruit noore [nʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to search, to look norɛɛ, norɔ, norɔ, noreba, noraa for noorɛɛ, noora, noora, nooreba, nɔbɛraa [nɔ́bɛráá]́ n. irritableness pl: nooraa, nooreba nɔbɛrre 2pl: nɔbɛrɛɛ noɔ [nʊ̀ ɔ́] n. happiness, joy • Pɔge- nɔbinnaa [nɔ́bìnnáá] n. agreement bilii yaga maŋ teɛre ka noɔ yoŋ pl: nɔbinni la be serekuli poɔ. Most young nɔbirime [nɔ́bìrìmé] n. fowl with women think that marriage carries stunted feathers pl: nɔbirimeri 2pl: with it only joy. pl: noore 2pl: nɔbirimee noorɛɛ nɔboɔroŋ [nɔ́bʊ́ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. troubling noɔ [nʊ́ɔ̀] n. fowl pl: noore 2pl: another person; irritation noorɛɛ nɔboyi [nɔ́bʊ́ yì] n. double standards noɔ [nʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to grow fat or large nɔbɔŋɔ [nɔ́bɔ́ŋɔ́] n. bit e.g. of a horse noɔɛɛ, noɔnɔ, noɔnɔ, noɔnema, pl: nɔbɔnne 2pl: nɔbɔnnɛɛ Var. noonaa nɔbaŋa noɔ [nʊɔ] adj. sweet • N lɛnne la ̀ ́ nɔdaa [nɔ́dáá] n. rooster pl: nɔdaare a tii ka a waa noɔ lɛ. I tasted the 2pl: nɔdaarɛɛ Var. nɔraa (pl.) tea and it was very sweet. pl: noɔne nɔdaakommiruu [nɔdáákómmírúú] 2pl: noɔnɛɛ ́ n. a type of caterpillar, similar in noɔ-noɔre [nʊ́ ɔ́-nʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. the habit appearance to a maggot, with a red of always eating head; typically found in the ground noɔre [nʊ́ɔ́rè] n. (1) mouth (2) beak, pl: nɔdaakommie 2pl: nɔdaakom- bill pl: nɔɛ 2pl: nɔrɛɛ miree noɔre [nʊ́ ɔ́rè] n. edge pl: nɔɛ 2pl: nɔdakpoŋ [nɔ̀dàkpóŋ] n. capon nɔrɛɛ pl: nɔdakponni 2pl: nɔ- noɔre [nʊ́ɔ́rè] n. exact quantity pl: dakpomo/nɔdakponnee nɔɛ 2pl: nɔrɛɛ nɔdalee [nɔ̀dàléé] n. cockerel pl: noɔre [nʊ́ɔ́rè] n. statement pl: nɔɛ nɔdabilii 2pl: nɔdabillee 2pl: nɔrɛɛ nɔdo [nɔ́dó] n. food

219 nɔdɔɔne nɔmuu nɔdɔɔne [nɔ́dɔ̀ɔ̀nɪ]́ n. that which nɔkpankyoɔne [nɔ́kpánʧʊ́ɔ́nɪ]́ n. a is too little to satisfy (food) 2pl: type of fowl with ash-coloured nɔdɔɔnɛɛ feathers pl: nɔkpankyoɔmɔ 2pl: nɔ-ennaa [nɔ́-ɪnnáà]̀ n. vow, nɔkpankyoɔnɛɛ promise pl: nɔ-enne 2pl: nɔ-ennɛɛ nɔkpeɛne [nɔ́kpɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. argument nɔfaa [nɔ́fáá] n. rudeness; foul 2pl: nɔkpeɛnɛɛ mouth pl: nɔfaare 2pl: nɔfaarɛɛ nɔkpogi [nɔ́kpógí] n. gluttonism pl: nɔkpogiri 2pl: nɔkpogiree Var. nɔfolee [nɔ́fóléé] n. inability to keep a secret nɔkpage nɔlaŋ [nɔ́làŋ] n. unity; agreement nɔfõɔo [nɔ́fʊ̃́ɔ̀̃ʊ̃́] n. quick at talking pl: nɔfoɔne 2pl: nɔfoɔnɛɛ nɔlee [nɔ̀léé] n. chick pl: nɔbilii 2pl: nɔbillee nɔgeraa [nɔ́gráá] n. sojourner pl: nɔgere 2pl: nɔgerɛɛ nɔlibie [nɔ́líbíé] n. a type of fowl with spotted feathers nɔgõo [nɔ́gʊ̀̃ ʊ̃́] n. moustache pl: nɔ- nɔll [nɔ̀ll] adj. oval and large goone 2pl: nɔgoonɛɛ nɔll [nɔ́ll] adj. oval and small nɔgoolɔ [nɔ̀gʊ̀ ʊ̀ lɔ̀] n. moustache Var. nɔgoola nɔluuri [nɔ́lùùrì] n. the act of re- nouncing an oath nɔgɔɔ [nɔ́gɔ̀ɔ́] n. one-winged fowl pl: nɔmaa [nɔ́máà] n. surprise pl: nɔ- nɔgɔɔre 2pl: nɔgɔɔrɛɛ maama 2pl: nɔmaanɛɛ nɔgbɛmbebe [nɔ́gbɛmbébé]́ n. curse, nɔmelime [nɔ́mélímé] n. sweets pl: foul language nɔmelimee nɔgbɛne [nɔgbɛnɪ] n. lip sg: nɔgbɛn- ́ ́ ̀ nɔmelime [nɔ́mélímé] adj. craving noo pl: nɔgbɛmɛ 2pl: nɔgbɛnnɛɛ for sweet things nɔhaaroŋ [nɔ́háárʊ́ŋ] n. trouble- nɔmm [nɔ̀mm] adv. at rest; without someness, pestering behaviour Var. movement nɔyaaroŋ nɔmmo [nɔ́mmʊ́ ] n. love; strong af- nɔkɔnnoɔ [nɔ́kɔ̀nnʊ́ɔ́] n. sweet talk fection or likeness for pl: nɔkɔnnoore 2pl: nɔkɔnnoorɛɛ nɔmoɔnaa [nɔ́mʊ́ɔ́náá] n. lips dec- nɔkɔɔloŋ [nɔ́kɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. feathers of orated with red lipstick pl: nɔ- fowl 2pl: nɔkɔɔlɛɛ moɔne/nɔmoɔmɔ 2pl: nɔmoɔnɛɛ nɔkɔrema [nɔ́kɔ́rɪmá]́ n. a type of nɔmuri [nɔ́múrí] n. a small, smooth fowl with feathers like those of a stick fixed in a hole made in the lip partridge pl: nɔkɔrre 2pl: nɔkɔrrɛɛ pl: nɔmue 2pl: nɔmuuree nɔkpage [nɔ́kpágɪ]́ n. gluttonism nɔmuu [nɔ́mùú] n. dumbness pl: nɔ- Var. nɔkpogi muuni 2pl: nɔmuunee

220 nɔnɛne nɔre nɔnɛne [nɔ́nɛnɪ́ ]̀ n. chicken (meat) nɔɔfeele [nɔ̀ɔ̀fɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. a hard, sharp sg: nɔnɛnoo pl: nɔnɛmɛ 2pl: nail on the back of the leg of a full- nɔnɛnnɛɛ grown male fowl pl: nɔɔfeele, 2pl: nɔnne [nɔ̀nnɪ]́ n. love, affection 2pl: nɔɔfeelɛɛ nɔnnɛɛ nɔɔganaa [nɔ̀ɔ̀gànàá] n. big vein running from the heel to the calf pl: nɔnne boore [nɔ̀nnɪ́ bʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]́ n. the act nɔɔganne 2pl: nɔɔganɛɛ of taking sides nɔɔkyoone [nɔ̀ɔ̀kyʊ́ʊ́nɪ]́ n. ankle pl: nɔnoɔ [nɔ́nʊ̀ ɔ́] n. convincing talk; nɔɔkyooma 2pl: nɔɔkyoonɛɛ sweet mouth pl: nɔnoore 2pl: nɔɔpelaa [nɔ́ɔ́pɪláá]́ n. abscess on the nɔnoorɛɛ sole of the foot nɔnɔ [nɔ́nɔ́] n. lover, one who likes nɔɔsaŋkpaare [nɔ̀ɔ̀sàŋkpáàrɪ]́ n. (1) pl: nɔnema 2pl: nɔnemɛɛ Var. heel (2) hind toe of a bird pl: nɔna nɔɔsaŋkpaɛ 2pl: nɔɔsaŋkpaarɛɛ nɔnɔmaa [nɔ̀nɔ̀màà] n. a type of tree nɔɔtemiri [nɔ̀ɔ̀tɪmírì]́ n. shoelaces pl: with medicinal properties and edi- nɔɔtemie 2pl: nɔɔtemiiree ble fruits pl: nɔnɔmaɛ nɔɔtere [nɔ̀ɔ̀tɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. footwear, sandal, nɔnyaŋaa [nɔ́ɲáŋáá] n. adult female shoe sg: nɔɔteroo pl: nɔɔteɛ 2pl: hen (one that has hatched chicks) nɔɔteerɛɛ pl: nɔnyaŋene 2pl: nɔnyaŋenɛɛ nɔɔtere [nɔ́ɔ́tɪrɪ́ ]́ n. boil, abscess sg: nɔnyeɛraa [ńɔɲɪɛ́ ráà]́ n. laying fowl nɔɔteroo pl: nɔɔteɛ 2pl: nɔɔteerɛɛ pl: nɔnyeɛre 2pl: nɔnyeɛrɛɛ nɔpollaa [nɔ́pʊ́lláà] n. vow, promise nɔnyemɛ [nɔ́ɲɪmɛ́ ]́ n. disturbing pl: nɔpolle 2pl: nɔpollɛɛ sharp utterance e.g. barking puppy nɔpɔllee [nɔ́pɔ́lléé] n. young fowl 2pl: nɔnyemɛɛ pl: nɔpɔlbilii 2pl: nɔpɔlbillee Var. nɔpɔle; nɔpɔlɔ nɔŋe [nɔ́ŋ] v. (1) to massage (2) to make soft by applying substances nɔre [nɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be lucky • Zenɛ and wringing out (leather) (3) to karembiiri banaŋ naŋ ba wa knead nɔŋɛɛ, nɔnɔ, nɔnɔ, nɔnema, sakuuri wiẽu nɔrɛɛ la ne a nɔnaa karema potuo na naŋ ba wa sakuuri, o da na eŋe ba zẽɛ. To- nɔŋe [nɔ̀ŋ] v. (1) to like, to love day, those pupils who came to (2) to prefer nɔŋɛɛ, nɔnɔ, nɔnɔ, school late were lucky that wicked nɔnema, nɔnaa, nɔnema teacher did not come to school nɔɔ [nɔ́ɔ́] adv. very one, exactly • O since he would have punished ne o zu nɔɔ la da wa a kyɛ. He is them severely. nɔrɛɛ, nɔrɔ, nɔrɔ, the very one who came here. nɔreba, nɔraa

221 nɔsare nufoori nɔsare [nɔ́sárɪ]́ n. a hen trough Var. nɔzeɛ [nɔ́zɪɛ́ ]́ n. red mouth nɔsɛre nɔzoolɔ [nɔ́zʊ́ʊ́lɔ́] n. fringe pl: nɔ- nɔsɛre [nɔ́sɛrɪ́ ]́ n. drinking water zoolɛɛ Var. nɔzoola container for fowl pl: nɔsaɛ 2pl: nɔzɔbɔ [nɔ́zɔ̀bɔ́] n. the act of pester- nɔsɛrɛɛ Var. nɔsare ing someone to annoy that person nɔtɛɛtɛɛ [nɔ́tɛɛ́ tɛ́ ̀ɛ̀] n. incompatible Var. nɔzɔba statements; usually made by the nsɛ [nsɛ̀] n. (1) Mr (2) great one same person nu [nû] n. hand, arm sg: nuuruu pl: nɔtɛnzuŋi [nɔ́tɛnzúŋ]́ n. pursed lips; nuuri 2pl: nuuree protruding lips to show anger, nubaŋa [núbáŋá] n. bangle for the annoyance pl: nɔtɛnzunni 2pl: wrist pl: nubanne 2pl: nubannɛɛ. nɔtɛnzunee/nɔtɛnzunee Var. nu bɔŋɔ nɔtore [nɔ́tʊ́ rɪ]̀ n. the act of press- nubidaa [núbìdáà] n. thumb pl: nu- ing the lips together (sign of annoy- bidaare 2pl: nubidaarɛɛ ance) nubidori [núbìdórí] n. finger joint; nɔtoro [nɔ̀tòrò] n. moustache pl: nɔ- knuckle pl: nubidorri 2pl: nu- torri 2pl: nɔtoree bidoree nɔtuo [nɔ́túó] n. abusiveness; rude- nubi-eɛne [núbì-ɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. fingernail ness of language pl: nubi-eɛmɛ 2pl: nubi-eɛnɛɛ Var. nɔtuo [nɔ́túó] n. hungering nubi-ẽɛ/nubi-ẽmɛ nɔ-uunaa [nɔ́-úúnáá] n. brooding nubilee [núbìléé] n. smallest finger, fowl pl: nɔ-uuni 2pl: nɔ-uunee pinky pl: nubibilii 2pl: nubilbillee nɔvelaa [nɔ́vɪláá]́ n. encouraging nubiri [núbìrì] n. finger pl: nu- talk bie/nubiiri 2pl: nubiiree nɔwogi [nɔ́wógì] n. dog pl: nɔwogri nudɛgere [núdɛgɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. dirty hand pl: 2pl: nɔwogree nudɛgɛ 2pl: nudɛgrɛɛ nɔwɔɔ [nɔ́wɔ̀ɔ́] n. abrassiveness pl: nudoloŋ [núdʊ̀ lʊ̂ ŋ] n. (1) right nɔwɔɔre 2pl: nɔwɔɔrɛɛ Var. nɔtuo hand (2) to the right (direction) pl: nudolle 2pl: nudollɛɛ Var. doloŋ nɔyaaroŋ [nɔ́yáárʊ́ŋ] n. causing trouble, pestering nufoori [núfóórì] n. closed empty hand • A bie ũũ la libiri o nu nɔyoɔre [nɔ́yʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. pestering e.g. a kaŋa poɔ kyɛ yeli ka N iri kaŋa little child Var. nɔyaaroŋ ka N ŋmɛ a nugɔɔ, ka o yuoro ka nɔzage [nɔ́zàgɪ]́ n. pen for hens pl: nufoori la. The girl hid a coin in nɔzagere 2pl: nɔzagerɛɛ one of her closed hands and asked nɔzagere [nɔ́zàgɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. disobedience me to choose one, and when I chose

222 nufõɔo nuzɛgere

her left hand, it was empty. pl: nu- nutara [nútárá] n. wealthy person pl: foe 2pl: nuforee nutareba 2pl: nutarebɛɛ nufõɔo [núfʊ̃́ɔ̃́ʊ̃́] n. ability to act fast nutẽɛ [nútɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. the act of giving, with the hand pl: nufoɔne 2pl: nu- benevolence foɔnɛɛ nuu [núú] adj. five pl: nuuri 2pl: nugɔɔ [núgɔ̀ɔ̀] n. left hand pl: nuuree nugɔɔre 2pl: nugɔɔrɛɛ Var. gɔɔ nuulee [núúléé] n. bird pl: nuuli nugɔɔ [núgɔ̀ɔ̀] post. towards the left nuuleemakõɔ [núúléémákʊ̀ ɔ̀] n. a direction Var. gɔɔ ̃ ̃ type of small creeping plant pl: nu- nugunno [núgúnnó] n. very poor, uleemakoɔnɛɛ Var. nuuleemakõɔ- helpless 2pl: nugunnee kõɔ nukuni [núkúní] n. fist pl: nukumo nuuleemakõɔkõɔ [núúléémákʊ̃́ɔ̃́kʊ̃́ɔ̃́] 2pl: nukunee n. a type of plant with medicinal nukuoŋaa [núkúóŋáá] n. dry hand properties pl: nukuoni 2pl: nukuonee nuulikɔɔloŋ [nùúlìkɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. feather nukpara [núkpárá] n. both hands pl: nuulikɔɔlo put together pl: nukparre 2pl: nu- kparrɛɛ nuulikyoo [nùúlìʧóò] n. bird nest pl: nuulikyoori 2pl: nuulikyooree nulaama [núláámá] n. idle hands nuuliparezoore [núúlìpárɪzʊʊrɪn] n. nulaayɛlɛ [núlàáyɛlɛ]́ n. work of idle ̀ ́ ́ ́ hands pintailed bird pl: nuuliparezoɛ 2pl: nuuliparezoorɛɛ nuperaa [núpɪràà]́ n. finger snap pl: nuperre 2pl: nuperrɛɛ nuulitige [núùlitígé] n. flock (of birds) – singular or plural agree- nupoɔ [núpʊ́ɔ́] n. palm (of hand) pl: ment 2pl: nuulitigree nupoore 2pl: nupoorɛɛ nupuori [núpúórì] n. back of the nuwogi [núwógí] n. (1) light- hand pl: nupoe 2pl: nuporee fingeredness (2) thief pl: nuwogiri 2pl: nuwogiree nusampane [núsámpánɪ]́ n. palm (of hand) pl: nusampama 2pl: nusam- nuyoɔre [núyʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. something that panɛɛ causes boredom, inactivity nusugili [núsúgílí] n. wrist pl: nu-yuo [nú-yùò] n. generosity pl: nusugilo 2pl: nusugilee nu-yuori 2pl: nu-yuoree nutaa [nútàà] n. wealthiness nuzagele-pie [núzáglɪ-píé]̀ n. empty nutale [nútálɪ]̀ n. palm (of hand) pl: handedness nutala 2pl: nutalɛɛ nuzɛgere [núzɛgrɪ́ ]́ n. handshake

223 nyaa nyabipeɛ ny nyaa [ɲáà] n. chest pl: nyaɛ 2pl: nyaaloŋ [ɲààlʊ́ ŋ] n. guinea worm nyaane/nyaanɛɛ disease pl: nyiile 2pl: nyiilee nyaa [ɲàà] v. (1) to break e.g. nyaanaa [ɲàànáà] n. craft, cunning light of day (2) to recover pl: nyaane oneself; to come round (3) to nyaane [ɲààné] n. (1) wit (2) wis- awaken nyaaɛ, nyaana, nyaana, dom 2pl: nyaanɛɛ nyaanema, nyaanaa nyaanema [ɲàànɪmà]́ n. cat pl: nyaa [ɲàà] adj. wise, crafty nyaanemamine 2pl: nyaanemɛɛ nyaaba [ɲáábà] n. disgrace, shame nyaanoo [ɲáánɔ́ɔ́] adv. at once • A 2pl: nyaabɛɛ Var. nyaama wuo la a boma nyaanɔɔ ka saa na nyaalbini [ɲààlbíní] n. a disease that poɔ a. S/he collected the things at causes itchy rashes 2pl: nyaalbi- once to prevent them being soaked nee by the rain. nyaalbiri [ɲààlbírí] n. guinea worm nyaanyieli [ɲàànyíélì] v. to walk (the worm) pl: nyaalbie 2pl: nyaal- with legs apart (usually because of biiree sores on the buttocks) nyaanyielee, nyaalanyiele, nyaanyiele, nyaale [ɲáálɪ]̀ v. to move fire closely over a surface or move an object nyaanyielibe, nyaanyielaaVar. closely over fire nyaalɛɛ, nyaala, nyaalenyieli nyaala, nyaaleba, nyaalaa nyaanyoo [ɲáányʊ́ʊ́] adv. (1) dim (2) light (weight) nyaalenyieli [ɲààlɪnyíélì]̀ v. to walk with buttocks thrust back- nyaaraa [ɲááráá] n. (1) rake, fork (2) ward and legs apart (because of a type of small plant that grows on sores on the buttocks or groin) waste land (3) broom made from nyaalenyielee, nyaalenyiele, this plant (4) bean soup, soup with- nyaalenyiele, nyaalenyielibe, out okra pl: nyaare 2pl: nyaarɛɛ nyaalenyielaaVar. nyaanyieli Var. gbaalaa nyaalombiri [ɲáàlʊ̂ mbírì] n. guinea nyaare [ɲààrɪ]̀ v. to grind roughly worm (the worm) pl: nyaalombie e.g. in order to peel the husks 2pl: nyaalombiiree off seeds nyaarɛɛ, nyaara, nyaara, nyaareba, nyaaraa nyaalompoɔ [ɲáálʊ́mpʊ́ɔ́] n. unde- veloped or dormant guinea-worm nyaatafale [ɲáátáfálɪ]́ n. emptiness disease pl: nyaalompoore 2pl: nyabipeɛ [ɲábìpɪɛ́ ]́ n. ribcage pl: nyaalompoore nyabipɛre 2pl: nyabipɛrɛɛ

224 nyabiri nyambaraŋ nyabiri [ɲábìrí] n. (1) rib (2) nyagesaga [ɲágɪságá]́ adj. jumbled, a disease that causes a cramp dry, and bare e.g. metal scrap, in the chest pl: nyabie 2pl: bones • A kuridaare e la nyage- nyabiree/nyabiiree saga lɛ a davorikpoŋi poɔ. The nyage [ɲágɪ]́ v. to become very an- scrap of metal was jumbled up in gry, to become wild nyagɛɛ, nya- the yard. gra, nyagra, nyagreba, nyagraa nyakpuli [ɲákpúlí] n. sternum pl: nyagele [ɲàgɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be entangled nyakpulo 2pl: nyakpulee in spiky material (thorns) nyaglɛɛ, nyale [ɲàlɪ]́ adv. suddenly, usually nyagla, nyagla, nyagleba, nyaglaa used to describe the sudden man- nyagele [ɲàgɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to draw arms ner some animals excrete • Ba ŋmɛ in a bid to fight (typically used la a bagao ka o nyɛ bini nyale. with kpaŋkpama) nyaglɛɛ, nyagla, They hit the mad dog and it defe- nyagla, nyagleba, nyaglaa cated suddenly. nyagere [ɲágɪrɪ́ ]́ n. (1) bowel (2) nyalle [ɲàllɪ]̀ v. to eat with very lit- tree root pl: nyaga 2pl: nyagrɛɛ tle sauce nyallɛɛ, nyalla, nyalla, nyaleba, nyallaa nyagere [ɲàgɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) bite suddenly and sharply (dog bite) • A baa digi nyam [ɲàm] v. to take heart, to te nyɔge la a nannyige gbɛre e be patient nyamɛɛ, nyamena, nya- nygere o naŋ doŋ. The dog ran af- mena, nyamena, nyamenaa ter the thief and bit tore at his leg nyama [ɲàmà] adv. gripping sud- instantly. (2) get stimulated • Saa denly • A kɔkɔlaa vare guri la ba miire azuiŋ n eŋɛ ba nyagera a gyaŋgboŋ lɛ nyama. The cat ne weɛ gaabo. It does not rain and jumped on the mouse, gripping it so I am not encouraged to go to firmly. the farm. nyagrɛɛ, nyagra, nyagra, nyagreba, nyagraa nyamaa [ɲàmàà] adv. mixed up, congested nyageroŋ [ɲágrʊ́ŋ] adv. (1) quickly • Kyɛŋe nyageroŋ ka te gaa wĩeu. nyamama [ɲámámá] adv. rising in Walk fast so that we can get there intensity (pain) • Ka gyaŋgbo- quickly. (2) intelligently • A pɔge ŋiŋ wa peɛle fo kyɛ doŋ a be da e la nyãgeroŋ ne o naŋ tage a maŋ buori nyamama lɛ. When a dɔɔ yi a soriŋ, ka lɛ naane a lɔɔre mouse gnaws at your foot, the pain da na ŋmɛ o la. The woman was rises slowly. smart by pulling the man out of nyambaraŋ [ɲàmbàràŋ] adj. itchy • the way otherwise the lorry would Ka neɛŋ puri wale eŋe ka-uri poɔ, have hit him. o eŋɛ maŋ waa la nyambaraŋ lɛ.

225 nyaŋ nyelaa

If you sweat on top of millet chaff nyeɛre [ɲɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to pay for the cost your body is normally itchy. of herbs after treatment nyeɛrɛɛ, nyaŋ [ɲáŋ] v. to age, to become nyeɛrɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyeɛrebɛ, nyeɛraa old nyaŋɛɛ, nyaŋena, nyaŋena, nyegenyege [ɲɪgɪ̀ ɲɪ̀ gɪ̀ ]̀ n. restless- nyaŋenema, nyaŋenaa ness • O taa la nyegenyege zuo, o nyaŋe [ɲáŋ] adj. hasty • Kyɛŋ na ŋmare la ŋmane. His restless- gbɛnyaŋe ka te gaa, zie soɔrɔ la. ness is great; he will break the cal- Walk fast; let’s go, for the night is absh. falling on us. nyegenyege [ɲɪgɪ̀ ɲɪ̀ gɪ̀ ]̀ adj. restless, nyaŋema [ɲáŋímà] n. accident 2pl: restive • O waa la nyegenyege nyaŋemɛɛ lɛnso noba yaga zoro o la. He is very restive, so many people fear nyaŋgalaŋ [ɲàŋgàlàŋ] adv. thick and him. stiff nyegere [ɲɪgrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be scarce nyaraa-nyaraa [ɲárááɲáráá] adj. • Yuoni ŋa boŋkoɔre yaga ba with small pointed appendages e.g. maale azuiŋ bondirii na nyegere crab la. This year’s crop yield was poor nyaranyara [ɲàràɲàrà] adj. rough, and so food will be scarce. -, nyegrɛ rugged e.g. stony ground nyegere [ɲɪgrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to massage with nyarata [ɲárátá] adv. swiftly a hot, dry object • Daa daare e.g. movement of lizard Var. kyɔge la a koɔraa gbɛre ka ba voɔ nyaratatata kyɛ nyegere. A thorn pierced and nyaremaŋ [ɲàrɪmàŋ]̀ adj. hot e.g. lodged itself in the farmer’s foot, food and after removing it they used hot water to massage it. -, nyegrɛ nyarewara [ɲàrɪwàrà]̀ adj. grainy, stony e.g. unplastered floor nyegere [ɲɪgrɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to flash e.g. lightening (2) give way momentar- nyaroo [ɲárʊ́ʊ́] adj. small and lean ily (limb as a result of sharp twist) nyawele [ɲáwɪlɪ́ ]́ n. one that is the • A dɔɔ gbɛbaala na nyegerɛɛ greatest pl: nyawelɛ 2pl: nyawelɛɛ la ka o le. The man’s wounded nyeɛ [ɲɪɛ̀ ]́ n. snot 2pl: nyeɛnɛɛ leg made a snapping noise and he nyeɛne [ɲɪɛ̀ nɪ́ ]́ n. (1) bulb, tuber fell. nyegrɛɛ, nyegrɛ, nyegrɛ, nye- (2) descendant of mother’s line pl: grebɛ, nyegraa nyeɛmɛ 2pl: nyeɛnɛɛ nyegɛnyegɛ [ɲɪgɛ́ ɲɪ́ gɛ́ ]́ adj. very nyeɛre [ɲɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to test, to try out, sharp and shiny e.g. blade to pilot nyeɛrɛɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyelaa [ɲɪràà]̀ adj. not hidden, nyeɛrebɛ, nyeɛraa plainly visible • A goɔ kɔɔ eŋ la

226 nyelele nyɛ

a gbɛre poɔ kyɛ o sãa la kperaa nyeraa [ɲìráá] n. ant pl: nyere 2pl: l.ɛ The thorn has pierced the foot, nyerɛɛ but it can be seen clearly. nyeraa [ɲɪràà]̀ adj. not hidden; nyelele [ɲɪlɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ adv. slightly • A vũu clearly visible da sãaɛ nyelele lɛ gaŋe zaameŋ. nyere [ɲɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to bare one’s teeth; The light appeared slightly less to laugh (scornfully) nyerɛɛ, nyerɛ, bright than it was yesterday. nyerɛ, nyerebɛ, nyeraa nyelennyeleŋ [ɲélénɲéléŋ] adj. bare nyerebaa [ɲɪrɪ̀ bàá]̀ n. a type of ant and shiny e.g. razor shaved head • with a painful sting pl: nyerebaare A bie zu pũoe la ka ba fare ka o 2pl: nyerebaarɛɛ Var. nyeresɔge- e nyelennyeleŋ lɛ. The child has laa a cut on his head and they have nyeregaŋguu [ɲɪrɪ̀ gàŋgúú]̀ n. a type shaven it clean. of ant pl: nyeregaŋguuri 2pl: nye- nyelɔɔ [ɲɪlɔ́ ́ɔ́] adj. tiny regaŋguuree nyembini [ɲɪbɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. matter (dirt) in nyeregbere [ɲɪrɪ̀ gbɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ adj. mixed between the teeth 2pl: nyembinee nyerekɔɔloŋ [ɲɪrɪ̀ kɔ̀ ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. a type of nyembulo [ɲɪmbúló]́ n. adult pl: ant that flies pl: nyerekɔɔlɔ 2pl: ny- nyembulibo erekɔɔlɛɛ nyempara [ɲɪmpàrá]́ n. unchiselled nyerenyaga [ɲɪrɪ̀ nyàgà]̀ adv. uncov- teeth ered, exposed completely nyempɛge dalee [ɲɪmpɛ́ gɪ́ ̀ dàléé] nyeresaare [ɲɪrɪ̀ sáárɪ̀ ]́ n. a type of n. tooth stick, toothbrush pl: small slim dark brown ant; usually nyempɛge dabilii 2pl: nyempɛge in a swarm and on trees sg: nyere- dabilee saaroo pl: nyeresaare 2pl: nyere- nyene [ɲɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) tooth, fang saarɛɛ Var. nyeresalensaare (snake) (2) toothache pl: nyemɛ nyeresalensaare [ɲɪrɪ̀ sálɪ̀ nsáárɪ́ ]̀ n. a 2pl: nyennɛɛ type of tiny ant that lives together nyeŋgoŋe [ɲíŋgʊ́ŋ] n. the state in large numbers sg: nyeresalen- of grimacing (typically used with saaroo 2pl: nyeresalensaarɛɛ Var. vere) • A dɔɔ da tage la a miri nyeresaare te vere nyeŋgoŋ. The man tugged nyeresɔgelaa [ɲɪrɪ́ sɔ́ ́gláá] n. a type at the rope until he grimaced. pl: of small black ant, usually found in nyeŋgonne 2pl: nyeŋgonnɛɛ the house; it has a painful sting pl: nyeŋkaane [ɲɪŋkáánɪ́ ]́ n. molar sg: nyeresɔgelɔ Var. nyerebaa nyeŋkaanoo pl: nyeŋkaama 2pl: nyɛ [ɲɛ]́ v. (1) to see (2) to find (3) nyeŋkaanɛɛ to get, to obtain nyɛɛ, nyɛrɛ, nyɛrɛ,

227 nyɛ zɛ nyigiri

nyɛrebɛ, nyɛraa nyɛlle [ɲɛ̀llɪ]̀ v. to covet, to aim at nyɛ eebo succeed getting something • N kuriwiri nyɛ ferɛ to suffer korɛɛ la N nyɛllɛ la bopaalaa. nyɛ kparɛɛ to suffer My bicycle is old, so I’m aiming at nyɛ pare to lie down helplessly, to getting a new one. nyɛllɛɛ, nyɛllɛ, crumple nyɛllɛ, nyɛlebɛ, nyɛllaa nyɛ yuori get fame, (be) powerful nyɛlmaanyu [ɲɛlmáányú]́ n. a type nyɛ zɛ to suffer greatly of small plant with a strong smell and medicinal properties pl: nyɛl- nyɛ [ɲɛ̀] v. (1) to defecate (2) pass maanyuri/nyɛlmaanyuuri 2pl: substance through the anus (lay nyɛlmaanyuree/nyɛlmaanyuuree eggs) nyɛɛ, nyɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyeɛrebɛ, nyeɛraa nyɛlugiri [ɲɛ̀lúgrí] n. support stick for a yam plant pl: nyɛlugo 2pl: nyɛ [ɲɛ̀] v. to produce tubers or nyɛlugee/nyɛlugree Var. nyalugri nuts e.g. yam nyɛɛ, nyɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyɛnnoŋ [ɲɛ̀nnʊ́ŋ] n. salt Var. nyɛn- nyeɛrebɛ, nyeɛraa noo, yaaroŋ nyɛ [ɲɛ̀] v. (1) to drain a pond of Nyɛntɔge [ɲɛntɔ́ ́gɪ]̀ n. a meteorite its water; usually to enable people revered to be a fetish in the Sisaala- catch the fish in the pond (2) to land pl: nyɛntɔgre 2pl: nyɛntɔgrɛɛ drill or scoop matter out to make nyɛraa [ɲɛráá]́ n. seer pl: nyɛrebɛ a hole nyɛɛ, nyɛ, nyeɛrɛ, nyeɛrebɛ, 2pl: nyɛrebɛɛ nyeɛraa nyɛre [ɲɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to miss (a tar- nyɛdanaao [ɲɛ̀dànáábʊ́] n. a type of get) nyɛrɛɛ, nyɛrɛ, nyɛrɛ, nyɛrebɛ, tiny brown bird that moves in large nyɛraaVar. nyare groups that lay eggs together pl: nyɛre [ɲɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be fierce, to get nyɛdanii very angry nyɛrɛɛ, nyɛrɛ, nyɛrɛ, nyɛgɛkɛ [ɲɛgɛ́ kɛ́ ]́ adj. warmish nyɛrebɛ, nyɛraa, - Var. nyare nyɛle [ɲɛlɪ́ ]̀ v. to melt • ŋmenaa nyɛtaa [ɲɛtáá]́ v. confer ŋmɛ la a kãa ka a nyɛle. The oil nyieli [ɲíélì] v. to tempt; to show melted as a result of the sun beating something to someone but refuse down on it. nyɛllɛɛ, nyɛllɛ, nyɛllɛ, to give it to him/her nyíéliee, nyí- nyɛleba, nyɛllaa, nyɛleba éle, nyíélie, nyíélaa nyɛlle [ɲɛllɪ́ ]́ v. to shine, to sparkle • nyigiri [ɲígírì] v. to close both A pɔge du la a talaa ka o te nyɛllɛ. eyes tightly and simultaneously to- The woman scrubbed the pan un- wards someone (insulting gesture) til it shone. nyɛllɛɛ, nyɛllɛ, nyɛllɛ, nyigree, nyigre, nyigre, nyigiribe, nyɛlebɛ, nyɛllaa nyigraa, nyigiribe

228 nyigiri nyonyonne nyigiri [ɲìgìrì] v. to steal nyigiree, nyoge [ɲʊ́gɪ]́ n. concoction believed nyigire, nyigire, nyigiribe, nyigi- to be powerful raa, nyigiribe nyoge [ɲʊ́gɪ]́ n. filth nyiile [ɲììlé] n. guinea worm disease nyoge-kaa-kpɛre [ɲʊ́gɪ-káá-kpɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ pl: nyiili 2pl: nyiilee n. show off that ends badly nyiili [ɲììlì] v. to touch gently nyii- nyogele [ɲʊ̀ gɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to dress well lee, nyiile, nyiile, nyiilibe, nyiilaa, nyiile nyogele [ɲʊ̀ gɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be congested nyiili [ɲììlì] v. to incense nyiilee, nyoglɛɛ, nyoglɔ, nyoglɔ, nyoglebɔ, nyiile, nyiile, nyiilibe, nyiilaa, nyoglaa nyiile nyogere [ɲʊ́gɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. pride nyiili [ɲììlì] v. to shudder nyi- nyoll [ɲʊ̀ ll] adj. heavy ilee, nyiile, nyiile, nyiilibe, nyi- nyoll [ɲʊ́ ll] adj. small and light ilaa, nyiile nyonne [ɲʊ́nnɪ]́ v. to dry up, to evap- nyiili [ɲììlì] v. to swell (breast) nyii- orate nyonnɛɛ, nyonna, nyonna, lee, nyiile, nyiile, nyiilibe, nyiilaa, nyonnema, nyonnaa, nyonnema nyiile nyiiri [ɲììrì] v. to bare teeth (used nyonne [ɲʊ̀ nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to sniff (2) with nyemɛ) • Basɔgelaa kaŋa to search; to delve into (3) to nyiiri la nyemɛ eŋe a nannyige. test; to examine nyonnɛɛ, nyonna, A black dog bared its teeth at the nyonna, nyonnema, nyonnaa, ny- thief. nyiiree, nyiire, nyiire, -, nyii- onnema raa nyonono [ɲʊ́ nʊ́nʊ́] n. (1) sympathy, nyimenyime [ɲíményímé] adj. taste- selflessness • A dɔɔ nyonono zuee ful la lɛnso ka o ba ŋmɛ a nannyige. nyobogdaa [ɲòbògìdáá] n. bridge of The man is full of sympathy and nose pl: nyobogdaare 2pl: nyobog- that is why he did not beat the thief. daarɛɛ (2) selfishness • A bie tegɛɛ la kyɛ o nyonono zuee la, o koŋ sage ka nyoge [ɲʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. to show off nyogɛɛ, a o yɔɔ di a bondirii. The child nyogrɔ/nyogra, nyogrɔ/nyogra, is full but s/he is so full of selfish- nyogreba, nyograa ness that s/he will not allow his/her nyoge [ɲʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. to become sour brother/sister to eat some of the or bad e.g. sauce nyogɛɛ, nyo- food. grɔ/nyogra, nyogrɔ/nyogra, nyo- nyonsomm [ɲʊnsʊmm] adj. biggish greba, nyograa ̀ ̀ nyoge [ɲʊ́ gɪ]́ v. punish severely, usu- nyonyonne [ɲʊ́nyʊ́nnɪ]̀ n. nausea ally physically (used with tɔ) nyonyonne [ɲʊ́nyʊ́nnɪ]̀ n. dirt

229 nyoŋgoloŋ nyɔge nyoŋgoloŋ [ɲʊ̀ ŋgʊ̀ lʊ̀ ŋ] adj. mixed nyoɔre [ɲʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. tip of e.g. stick pl: up e.g. heap of things nyɔɛ 2pl: nyɔrɛɛ nyoŋgoloŋ [ɲʊ̀ ŋgʊ̀ lʊ̀ ŋ] adj. thick nyore [ɲʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to shrivel, to wrinkle and stiff e.g. paste (cloth) nyorɛɛ, nyora, nyora, nyo- nyoore [ɲʊ̀ ʊ́rɪ]̀ n. smoke 2pl: ny- reba, nyoraa, nyoreba oorɛɛ Var. zoore nyore [ɲʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to take courage nyo- nyoore [ɲʊ̀ ʊ́rɪ]̀ n. pride 2pl: nyoorɛɛ rɛɛ, nyora, nyora, nyoreba, nyo- Var. zoore raa, nyoreba nyoore [ɲʊ̀ ùrɪ]̀ v. (1) to make hard nyoremaŋ [ɲʊ̀ rɪmàŋ]̀ adj. bushy, un- • Zenɛ ka ba mɛ a dankyini ŋa kempt (hair) bieo ka o na nyoore. This wall was nyɔbaare [ɲɔ́báárɪ]́ n. disease of the only built today, so by tomorrow nose 2pl: nyɔbaarɛɛ it will get hard. (2) to dry up • Uoni saŋa bare yaga maŋ nyoore nyɔbogiri [ɲɔ̀bògirí] n. (1) nostril la. Many ponds get dried up during (2) nose pl: nyɔbogo 2pl: nyɔbo- the dry season. nyoorɛɛ, nyoora, giree Var. nyobogi nyoora, nyooreba, nyooraa nyɔfeerɛ [ɲɔ̀fɪɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. cold (illness) 2pl: nyoore [ɲʊ̀ ùrɪ]̀ v. to test the capa- nyɔfeerɛɛ bility of e.g. a tool or a person ny- nyɔfuli [ɲɔ̀fùlí] n. dried snot sg: nyɔ- oorɛɛ, nyoora, nyoora, nyooreba, fuluu pl: nyɔfulo 2pl: nyɔfulee nyooraa nyɔge [ɲɔ́gɪ]̀ v. (1) to hold • A bi- nyoɔ [ɲʊ́ɔ̀] v. to fire, to bake to biiri nyɔge la taa nuuri kyerre te harden (clay) nyoɛ, nyoɔnɔ, nyoɔ- gɛrɛ. The children held each others’ nɔ, nyoɔnema, nyoɔnaa, nyoɔne- hands and scampered away. (2) to ma catch, to arrest • A polisi nyɔge nyoɔle [ɲʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to begin rising la a nanyige baguo ŋa. The po- nyoɔlɛɛ, nyoɔlɔ, nyoɔlɔ, nyoɔlba, lice arrested the thief this morning. nyoɔlaa nyɔgɛɛ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgreba, nyoɔle [ɲʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to close partially nyɔgraa, nyɔgreba e.g. of eyes in strong light nyoɔlɛɛ, nyɔge kukuri to farm nyoɔlɔ, nyoɔlɔ, nyoɔlba, nyoɔlaa nyɔge noɔre to be surprised nyoɔnaa [ɲʊ́ɔ́náá] n. oven pl: nyoɔ- nyɔge [ɲɔ́gɪ]̀ v. to choke • A baa ne 2pl: nyoɔnɛɛ vɔlɔ la a nɛne yaga lɛ ka a te nyoɔre [ɲʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. nose pl: nyɔɛ 2pl: nyɔge o. The dog swallowed the nyɔrɛɛ meat so fast that the meat choked it. nyoɔre [ɲʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. life pl: nyɔɛ 2pl: nyɔgɛɛ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgreba, nyɔrɛɛ nyɔgraa, nyɔgreba

230 nyɔge nyuweɛle nyɔge [ɲɔ́gɪ]̀ v. to infect • A bie nyudɛre [ɲúdɛrɪ́ ]́ n. large kɔroŋ na nyɔge la o yɔɔ. The yam tuber pl: nyudɛɛ 2pl: child’s cold has infected his sister. nyudɛrɛɛ/nyudɛrrɛɛ Var. wadɛre nyɔgɛɛ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgrɔ, nyɔgreba, nyumoɔ [ɲúmʊ́ ɔ́] n. field prepared nyɔgraa, nyɔgreba to make yam mounds 2pl: nyu- nyɔgetaa [ɲɔ́gɪtáá]́ n. unity moɔnɛɛ Var. vutɛne nyɔgezie [ɲɔ́gɪzíé]̀ n. handle, part of nyunni [ɲùnnì] v. (1) to smell • A an object to hold pl: nyɔgeziiri 2pl: zɔŋɔ nyunni la a kparoo, a yeli nyɔgeziiree ka o deni ba e o. The blind man nyɔɔ [ɲɔ̀ɔ̀] v. to have sexual smelt the shirt and said it was not intercourse (human) nyɔɔɛ, his. (2) to sniff e.g. dog nyunnee, nyɔɔnɔ/nyɔɔrɔ, nyɔɔnɔ/nyɔɔrɔ, nyunno, nyunno, nyunimo, nyun- nyɔɔnema, nyɔɔnaa/nyɔɔraa, naa, nyunimo nyɔɔnema nyuo [ɲùó] n. (1) navel (2) short nyɔpolema [ɲɔ̀pʊ́ lɪmá]́ n. summit, form of wɛnyuo (leopard) pl: nyuu- highest point pl: nyɔpolle 2pl: ri 2pl: nyuuree nyɔpollɛɛ nyusege [ɲúsɪgɪ́ ]́ n. yam barn pl: nyɔre [ɲɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to despise, to nyusegre 2pl: nyusegrɛɛ Var. hate nyɔrɛe, nyɔrɔ, nyɔrɔ, wasege nyɔreba/nyɔrebɔ, nyɔraa, - Var. nyuu [ɲúú] n. (1) neck (2) smell, nyɔroo odour pl: nyuuri 2pl: nyuuree nyɔtage [ɲɔtàgɪ] n. sniveling ̀ ̀ nyuu [ɲùú] n. a sensation, good or nyɔvore [ɲɔ̀vʊ́rɪ]̀ n. life pl: nyɔvoɛ bad, detected by inhaling 2pl: nyɔvorɛɛ nyuu [ɲúú] adj. stinky pl: nyuuri nyu [ɲù] v. to smell (scent) • A zɛ- 2pl: nyuuree kpaane da nyu la noɔ lɛ. The sim- nyuuli [ɲúúlì] v. to empower super- mering sauce smelt nice. -, -, nyue, naturally nyuulee, nyuulo, nyuu- nyuuro, nyuuro, nyuuraa lo, nyuulibo, nyuulaa nyu [ɲú] v. (1) to drink (2) to suck (of a mosquito) nyue, nyuuro, nyu- nyu-uo [ɲú-úó] n. yam barn pl: nyuuro, nyuuribo, nyuuraa, nyuuri- uori 2pl: nyu-uoree Var. nyu-sege bo nyuuri [ɲúúrí] n. envy, jealousy pl: nyu [ɲú] v. to smoke (pipe) nyue, 2pl: nyuuree nyuuro, nyuuro, nyuuribo, nyuu- nyuuri [ɲúúrì] n. yam pl: nyie 2pl: raa, nyuuribo nyiree/nyiiree Var. waa nyubuli [ɲúbúlí] n. yam sprout pl: nyuweɛle [ɲùwɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. yam seed sg: nyubulo 2pl: nyubulee nyuweɛloo pl: nyuweɛlɛ 2pl:

231 nyuzɛle ŋmaakyeraa

nyuweɛlɛɛ Var. waweɛlɛ sg: nyuzɛloo pl: nyuzɛlɛ 2pl: nyuzɛle [ɲùzɛ̀lɪ]́ n. umbilical cord nyuzɛlɛɛ/nyuzɛllɛɛ ŋ ŋa [ŋá] pron. this (third person sin- ŋa [ŋá] adv. similar to, like • A dɔɔ gular demonstrative) • A dɔɔ ŋa waa ŋa sogya na. The man is like zaameŋ wa la kyɛ. This man came a soldier. here yesterday. ŋm ŋma [ŋmá] v. to conquer, to plunder ŋmaarɛɛ, ŋmaara ŋmaɛ, ŋmaara, ŋmaara, ŋmaareba, ŋmaa [ŋmàà] v. to prevent ŋmaarɛɛ, ŋmaaraa ŋmaara ŋmaa [ŋmàà] v. to cut • Nɛne la ka ŋmaa [ŋmáá] adj. short • O serɛ la a pɔge da ŋmaara ka a soɔ ŋmaa a dɔɔ ŋmaa na. That short man is o nubiri. The woman was cutting her husband. pl: ŋmaara meat when the knife cut her finger. ŋmaa bare [ŋmàà bàrɪ]̀ v. to exclude; ŋmaarɛɛ, ŋmaara to put aside ŋmaa barɛɛ, ŋmaara ŋmaa vooroŋ to stop breathing, to bara, ŋmaabara, ŋmaabareba die ŋmaabini [ŋmàábíní] n. a type of ŋmaa [ŋmàà] v. to write • Ayuo plant pl: ŋmaabinee ŋmaa la sɛnsɛŋe gane gaa ko o ŋmaadaa [ŋmààdáá] n. mature big sɛne. Ayuo has written a love letter male monkey pl: ŋmaadaare 2pl: to her boyfriend. ŋmaarɛɛ, ŋmaara ŋmaadarɛɛ ŋmaa [ŋmàà] v. (1) to cross (river) ŋmaadasaa [ŋmààdàsàà] n. a huge • A mane paalɛɛ la ka ba maŋ monkey pl: ŋmaadasaare 2pl: de gbori ŋmaa ne. The river is ŋmaadasaarɛɛ flooded and they are using a boat ŋmaakalaa [ŋmààkàlàá] n. small to cross it. (2) to go across to meet but smart type of monkey pl: • Polisiri ŋmaa la a sori nyɔgere ŋmaakalle 2pl: ŋmaakalɛɛ a nannyigiri. The police crossed ŋmaakyeraa [ŋmààʧɪràá]̀ n. (1) a the road and arrested the thieves. type of tree with medicinal proper-

232 ŋmaaŋa ŋmanee

ties (2) a type of small monkey pl: ŋmamberɛ [ŋmámbɪrɛ́ ]́ n. a type ŋmaakyerre 2pl: ŋmaakyerɛɛ of small weed with white flowers ŋmaaŋa [ŋmááŋà] n. monkey pl: and medicinal properties sg: ŋam- ŋmaane 2pl: ŋmaanɛɛ beroo pl: ŋmambere/ŋmamberoo 2pl: ŋamberɛɛ ŋmaapare [ŋmààpárɪ]́ n. name of a popular market in Teza, a village ŋmammo [ŋmámmʊ́] n. a type of in the Upper West region of Ghana cake made from millet flour pl: 2pl: ŋmaaparɛɛ ŋmama 2pl: ŋmamɛɛ ŋmampapaa [ŋmámpàpáà] n. a type ŋmaaraa [ŋmààráà] n. an evil spirit of pigeon with red eyes pl: ŋmam- with powers of witchcraft, usu- papaare 2pl: ŋmampapaarɛɛ ally in the form of an animal that haunts people pl: ŋmaare 2pl: ŋmampelaa [ŋmámpɪláá]̀ n. wild ŋmaarɛɛ Var. vuuluŋ grey pigeon pl: ŋmampeɛle 2pl: ŋmampeɛlɛɛ ŋmaa seɛ [ŋmàá sɪɛ́ ]́ v. to conceive, to be pregnant ŋmaaɛ seɛ, ŋmaara ŋmampelaa [ŋmàmpɪlàá]̀ n. neat cal- seɛ, se-ŋmaara, se-ŋmareba abash used for serving water or poridge pl: ŋmampeɛle 2pl: ŋmam- ŋmaasugo [ŋmààsúgó] n. band of peɛlɛɛ monkeys pl: ŋmaasugri 2pl: ŋmaa- ŋmamporezupelaa [ŋmǎm- sugree pʊ̀ rzúpɪlàá]́ n. a character in Da- ŋmaataŋaa [ŋmààtàŋáá] n. a type of gaaba folktales which has super- tree whose fruits are eaten by birds natural power and which it uses and animals pl: ŋmaataŋema 2pl: to test the ego of other characters ŋmaatannɛɛ pl: ŋmamporzupeɛle Var. ŋmam- ŋmaateɛ [ŋmààtɪɛ́ ]́ n. a type of tree porzuzeɛ pl: ŋmaateere 2pl: ŋmaateerɛɛ ŋmamporɔ [ŋmàmpʊ́rɔ́] n. a red ŋmaazeɛ [ŋmààzɪɛ̀ ̀] n. a type round insect pl: ŋmamporre 2pl: of monkey pl: ŋmaazeere 2pl: ŋmamporɛɛ Var. ŋmampora ŋmaazeerɛɛ ŋmamporzuzeɛ [ŋmàmpʊ́ rzúzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. ŋmaa zirii [ŋmàà zìríì] v. to lie • Var. ŋmamporzupelaa O ŋmaa la zirii ka o baare la a ŋmandɛre [ŋmándɛrè]́ n. spider pl: toma. He lied that he had finished ŋmandɛɛ 2pl: ŋmandɛrɛɛ the work. ŋmane [ŋmánɪ]́ n. (1) calabash, bot- ŋmalaŋmeɛ [ŋmáláŋmɪɛ́ ]́ n. a type tle gourd (2) calabash plant pl: of bird with thin long legs and a ŋmama 2pl: ŋmannɛɛ long beak pl: ŋmalaŋmeere 2pl: ŋmanee [ŋmánɪɪ́ ]̀ n. dove pl: ŋmama ŋmalaŋmeerɛɛ Var. ŋmalanweɛ 2pl: ŋmannɛɛ

233 ŋmantummu ŋmeɛle

ŋmantummu [ŋmǎntúmmú] n. un- roasting) ŋmeɛɛ, ŋmeɛnɛ, ŋmeɛnɛ, polished calabash pl: ŋmantumo ŋmeɛnemɛ, ŋmenaa, - Var. ŋmeɛ 2pl: ŋmantumee ŋmeene [ŋmɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. to become ŋmantuo [ŋmàntúó] n. bitter cal- thin or small ŋmeenɛɛ, ŋmeenɛ, abash pl: ŋmantuuri 2pl: ŋmantuu- ŋmeenɛ, ŋmeenemɛ, ŋmeenaa ree ŋmeene [ŋmɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ adj. lean pl: ŋmanzeɛ [ŋmǎnzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of dove ŋmeemɛ with pink plumage sg: ŋmanzeroo ŋmeeo [ŋmɪɪ́ ʊ́ ́] n. wicked and secret pl: ŋmanzeere 2pl: ŋmanzeerɛɛ act ŋmanzeɛ [ŋmǎnzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. calabash ŋmeɛ [ŋmɪɛ́ ̀] v. to crush ŋmeɛɛ, used in the preparation of oil pl: ŋmeɛnɛ, ŋmeɛnɛ, ŋmeɛnemɛ, ŋmanzeere 2pl: ŋmanzeerɛɛ ŋmeɛnaa, - Var. ŋmee ŋmeɛ [ŋmɪɛ́ ̀] adj. scorched, with- ŋmaŋgbɛre [ŋmàŋgbɛrɪ́ ]́ n. vine of ered e.g. green vegetation turning the calabash plant pl: ŋmaŋgbɛɛ brown 2pl: ŋmaŋgbɛɛrɛɛ ŋmeɛlaa [ŋmɪɛ́ láá]́ n. skipping rope ŋmaŋkuŋkummu [ŋmàŋkùŋkùm- pl: ŋmeɛle 2pl: ŋmeɛlɛɛ mú] n. calabash seed in a ball form pl: ŋmaŋkuŋkumo 2pl: ŋmeɛle [ŋmɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to twist; to wring ŋmaŋkuŋkunni e.g. hand ŋmeɛlɛɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmeɛlebɛ, ŋmeɛlaa, ŋmeɛlebɛ Var. ŋmaraa [ŋmáràà] n. (1) moon (2) nyɛ month pl: ŋmarre 2pl: ŋmarrɛɛ ŋmeɛle [ŋmɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to curl out, to ŋmare [ŋmárɪ]̀ v. (1) to break e.g. pot ooze (smoke) • Nyoore ŋmeɛlɛ (2) to crush ŋmarɛɛ, ŋmara, ŋmara, la a sege poɔ, ba mare la vũũ. ŋmareba, ŋmaraa, ŋmareba Smoke is oozing from the hut, an ŋmare [ŋmárɪ]́ v. to change indication that they have made money into smaller units ŋmarɛɛ, fire. ŋmeɛlɛɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmara, ŋmara, ŋmareba, ŋmaraa, ŋmeɛlebɛ, ŋmeɛlaa, ŋmeɛlebɛ Var. ŋmareba nyɛ ŋmarebiri [ŋmárɪbírì]́ n. star sg: ŋmeɛle [ŋmɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to pass gas, to ŋmarebiruu pl: ŋmarebie 2pl: break wind, to fart • A bie poɔ ŋmarebiiree pie la ka o deɛ maŋ ŋmeɛle bimporɔ bare. The child has a ŋmaroo [ŋmárʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] n. change bloated stomach and he has terri- (money) sg: ŋmarrɛɛ 2pl: ŋmarre ble gas. ŋmeɛlɛɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmeɛlɛ, ŋmee [ŋmɪɪ́ ]̀ v. to crush grains out of ŋmeɛlebɛ, ŋmeɛlaa, ŋmeɛlebɛ Var. fresh heads of millet (usually after nyɛ

234 ŋmeɛle ŋmɛ

ŋmeɛle [ŋmɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ adj. twisted • A nɔ ŋmentɔŋgɔŋ [ŋmɪntɔ́ ̀ŋgɔ́ŋ] n. early pare ŋmeɛle na koŋ la nyɛ. That afternoon (between 1 and 2 pm) pl: fowl with the twisted tail will not ŋmentɔŋgɔnne 2pl: ŋmentɔŋgɔn- lay eggs again. nɛɛ ŋmegere [ŋmɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to shrug one’s ŋmentɔŋkpeɛraa [ŋmɪntɔ́ ̀ŋkpɪɛ́ ráá]́ shoulders • Ba toŋ la a bie ka n. sunset pl: ŋmentɔŋkpeɛre 2pl: o ŋmegere o bɔgeŋmampegɛ kyɛ ŋmentɔŋkpeɛrɛɛ zagere. When they sent the child, ŋmen-yelyelli [ŋmɪn-yèlyèllì]́ v. to he shrugged his shoulders and divine, to prophesy refused to go. ŋmegrɛɛ, ŋmegrɛ, ŋmegrɛ, ŋmegrebɛ, ŋmegraa ŋmen-yɛlɛ [ŋmɪn-yɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. work for God ŋmegere [ŋmɪgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to swallow with difficulty • A bɔbɔe ŋmenzone [ŋmɪnzʊ́ ́nɪ]́ n. blasphemy ŋmegere la a pɔntere eŋ. The pl: ŋmenzomɔ Var. ŋmenzoma duck was able to swallow the ŋmeregɛ [ŋmírɪgɛ́ ]́ adv. totally • Ba toad. ŋmegrɛɛ, ŋmegrɛ, ŋmegrɛ, toŋ la a bi entuo na ka o zagere ŋmegrebɛ, ŋmegraa ŋmeregɛ. They sent the lazy boy ŋmenaa [ŋmɪnàá]́ n. (1) sun (2) and he refused totally. noon (3) daytime ŋmɛ [ŋmɛ̀] v. (1) to beat, to hit, ŋmenaa-diibu [ŋmɪnáá-dííbú]́ n. to strike (2) to clap, to applaud lunch (3) to thresh • Dagaaba maŋ ŋmɛ ŋmendaare [ŋmɪndáárɪ́ ]́ n. Sabbath kyi kyɛ baŋ yeɛle. Among the Da- pl: ŋmendɛɛ gaaba, millet is threshed before be- ŋmendie [ŋmɪndìè]̀ n. church pl: ing winnowed out. (4) to bump ŋmenderi 2pl: ŋmenderee into, to knock against • A lɔɛ ama la zãã ŋmɛ taa na. These are the ŋmene [ŋmɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. god, spirit pl: ŋmemɛ 2pl: ŋmennɛɛ two cars that collided yesterday. (5) to fire, to shoot (gun) • Ba ŋmɛ ŋmenɛŋmenɛ [ŋmɪnɛ́ ŋmɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ adj. la malefa ka a nuuli iri agere. firmly and beautifully woven When they fired the gun, the birds ŋmentantuo [ŋmɪntántúó]́ n. hot or flew away. (6) to begin to hatch bright afternoon pl: ŋmentantuuri (7) to apply by dusting (powder) 2pl: ŋmentantuuree ŋmɛɛ, ŋmeɛrɛ, ŋmeɛrɛ, ŋmeɛrebɛ, ŋmentɔmpɔle [ŋmɪntɔ́ ̀mpɔ́lɪ]̀ n. late ŋmeɛraa, ŋmeɛrebɛ morning pl: ŋmentɔmpɔlɔ ŋmɛ gbelime ring (bell) ŋmentɔŋ [ŋmɪntɔ́ ̀ŋ] n. sunshine, day- ŋmɛ kpɛlle shout; scream light pl: ŋmentɔnne 2pl: ŋmentɔn- ŋmɛ ɔge (1) to burrow to make a nɛɛ nest • Soɔŋaa maŋ ŋmɛ la ɔge kpɛ

235 ŋmɛgele ŋmolɔŋŋmooraa

gaŋ be. The rabbit digs a warren been able to squeeze some gum out where it sleeps. (2) to settle down of this tree. ŋmɛgrɛɛ, ŋmɛgrɛ, ŋmɛ- in one place • A pɔlebile nyɛ la n grɛ, ŋmɛgrebɛ, ŋmɛgraa yɔɔpuulee a deɛ ŋmɛ te yiriŋ. The ŋmɛgere [ŋmɛ̀gɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to weep in- young man saw my sister and has wardly, to suffer inwardly • Ba settled down in our house. ŋmɛ la a bie kyɛ dabẽɛ̃ ba sage ka ŋmɛ sane (1) to make a net loss o koŋ ka o fãã kyɛ ŋmɛgerɛ. The • Ka fooŋ da kommie sidi kɔɔ child was beaten and, being afraid kyɛ te koɔre sidi lezaɛ anaare fo to cry, he wept inwardly. ŋmɛgrɛɛ, ŋmɛ la sane sidi lezare. If you buy ŋmɛgrɛ, ŋmɛgrɛ, ŋmɛgrebɛ, ŋmɛ- tomatoes for one hundred cedis graa and sell them for eighty cedis, you ŋmɛleŋmɛle [ŋmɛlɪŋmɛlɪ] v. to have made a loss of twenty cedis. ̀ ̀ ́ ́ writhe in pain • O ŋmɛ la a waabo (2) to spend money on something ka o ŋmɛleŋmɛle. He hit the snake that is not of much worth to oneself and it writhed. • Ka kuoriŋ ko fo yiriŋ fo maŋ ŋmɛ la sane. When there is a fu- ŋmɛmɛɛ [ŋmɛ̀mɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. flat and neral in your house you normally twisted e.g. nose spend a lot. ŋmɛmm [ŋmɛmm]́ adv. stand ŋmɛgele [ŋmɛ̀gɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to flatten against something quietly (hide) • Kuuri ka o de tɔ ne a koŋkoŋ ŋmɛnne [ŋmɛnnɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to squeeze te ŋmɛgele o bare. She hit the tin with the fingers e.g. breastfeed- with a stone until she flattened it ing (2) to press to feel (swollen out. (2) to suffer from hunger • leg) ŋmɛnnɛɛ, ŋmɛnnɛ, ŋmɛnnɛ, Zaameŋ zaa ba ba maale diibu ŋmɛnemɛ, ŋmɛnnaa, ŋmɛnemɛ ka a bibiiri deɛ ŋmɛgelɛ. They have cooked food yesterday and ŋmɛŋgɛlɛŋ [ŋmɛŋgɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. flat- the children are suffering from tened out of shape hunger. ŋmɛglɛɛ, ŋmɛglɛ, ŋmɛglɛ, ŋmobofo [ŋmʊ̀ bʊ̀ fʊ̀ ] adj. big and ruf- ŋmɛglebɛ, ŋmɛglaa, ŋmɛglebɛ fled ŋmɛgelɛŋ [ŋmɛgɪ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. flat e.g. ŋmolle [ŋmʊ̀ llɪ]̀ v. to stuff into run-over container the mouth (food) ŋmollɛɛ, ŋmolla, ŋmɛgeloo [ŋmɛgɪ́ lʊ́ ́ ʊ́] adj. flattened ŋmolla, ŋmoleba, ŋmollaa out e.g. tin run over by a car pl: ŋmolɔŋŋmooraa [ŋmolɔŋŋmooraa] ŋmɛgelɛ n. a type of insect that feeds on ŋmɛgere [ŋmɛ̀gɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to press, to yam leaves pl: ŋmolɔŋŋmoore 2pl: squeeze out • Ba ŋmɛgere la ŋmolɔŋŋmoorɛɛ Var. ŋmolaŋŋ- sunni yi a teɛ ŋa poɔ. They have mooraa

236 ŋmonne õ-õo

ŋmonne [ŋmʊ́nnɪ]́ v. (1) to make ŋmoonema, ŋmoonaa, ŋmoonema spotted (2) to beautify ŋmon- ŋmore [ŋmʊ́rɪ]́ v. to crush • Ka nɛɛ, ŋmonnɔ, ŋmonnɔ, ŋmoneba, aloopeleeŋ le o maŋ ŋmore la o ŋmonnaa zaa. An aircraft that crashes is al- ŋmonɔŋmonɔ [ŋmʊ́náŋmʊ́ná] adj. ways crushed completely. ŋmorɛɛ, (1) spotted (2) beautiful Var. ŋmo- ŋmora, ŋmora, ŋmoreba, ŋmoraa, naŋmona ŋmoreba ŋmoo [ŋmʊ́ʊ̀ ] v. to become ŋmore [ŋmʊ́rɪ]́ v. to rush; to move scorched (green vegetation) suddenly and fast • A bie lere la ŋmooɛ, ŋmoona, -, ŋmoonema, ka o ma ŋmore te nyɔge. The child ŋmoonaa was going to fall, but the mother ŋmoone [ŋmʊ̀ ʊ̀ nè] v. (1) to mut- quickly took hold of him. ŋmorɛɛ, ter, to grumble (2) to growl e.g. ŋmora, ŋmora, ŋmoreba, ŋmoraa, dog ŋmoonɛɛ, ŋmoona, ŋmoona, ŋmoreba o o [ʊ̀ ] pron. s/he, him, her, it (3rd per- yi. S/he is the one that will go out. son singular weak form) Var. ona/one ogi [ògì] v. to bring out of the mouth oŋgoloŋ [óŋgólóŋ] adj. circular, ogee, ogro, ogro, ogribo, ograa spherical in shape and small ogi [ógì] v. (1) to segregate; to dis- oo [òó] part. yes (acceptance) criminate (2) to dislocate (joint) ooi [óóì] part. yes (response to call) ogee, ogro, ogro, ogribo, ograa õo [ʊ̃́ʊ̃́] part. yes (agreement) Var. ɛ̃ɛ ogili [ògìlì] adj. not properly fitted oone [ʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. (1) to clear one’s or seated (lid, cover) throat (2) to push (giving birth) oii [óìì] interj. expression of despair oonɛɛ, oona, oona, oonema, oonaa oli-oli [òlì-ólí] v. to be restless, to be oore [ʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to dash up against unsettled oli-olee, oli-olo, oli-olo, oorɛɛ, oora, oora, ooreba, ooraa oli-olibo, oli-olaa, oli-olibo õ-õ [ʊ̃́-ʊ̂̃ ] interj. why so? onaŋ [ʊ́náŋ] pron. that one (3rd per- õ-õ [ʊ̃́-ʊ̀̃ ] interj. oh no son demonstrative nonhuman) ṍó [ʊ̃́-ʊ̀̃ ] interj. expression of sur- onɔ [ʊ́nɔ́] pron. s/he, it (3rd person prise singular strong form) • Onɔ la na õ-õo [ʊ̃́-ʊ̃́ʊ̃́] interj. no (disagreement)

237 õɔ ɔɔ-doŋɔ

õɔ [ʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. a pot with small holes all ore [ʊ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to wash very dirty over; colander pl: oɔne 2pl: oɔnɛɛ things e.g. clothes (2) to make one oɔle [ʊ́ɔ́lɪ]́ v. to happen gradually suffer severely e.g. beat e.g. stomach ache oɔlɛɛ, oɔlɔ, oɔlɔ, ore [ʊ́ rɪ]́ adj. filled to the brim oɔlba, oɔlaa oree [óréé] adj. round and open oɔne [ʊ̀ ɔ̀nɪ]̀ v. to grip firmly with looking e.g. a hole claws oɔnɛɛ, oɔnɔ, oɔnɔ, oɔnema, orɔba [ʊ̂ rɔ́bà] n. rubber pl: orɔbare oɔnaa 2pl: orɔbarɛɛ ɔ ɔge [ɔ́gɪ]̀ n. ground den, lair, hole pl: to harvest vegetables (3) to harvest ɔgre 2pl: ɔgrɛɛ dawdaw fruits or leaves ɔŋɛɛ, ɔnnɔ, ɔgere [ɔ́gɪrɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to struggle (2) ɔnnɔ, ɔnema, ɔnnaa, ɔnnema to vomit; to retch ɔgrɛɛ, ɔgrɔ, ɔgrɔ, ɔŋe [ɔ̀ŋ] v. to smell (bad odour) ɔgreba, ɔgraa ɔŋɛɛ, ɔnnɔ, ɔnnɔ, ɔnema, ɔnnaa, ɔgere [ɔ́gɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. to get choked e.g. dur- ɔnnema ing eating when a child is unable ɔŋ-eŋ [ɔ̀ŋ-ɪŋ]̀ v. to flee ɔŋ-eŋɛɛ, to swallow a morsel of food and ɔnnɔ-ennɛ, ɔŋ-ennɛ, ɔŋ-enemɛ, ɔŋ- strains to bring the food out ennaa, ɔŋ-enemɛ ɔlaa [ɔ́làà] n. large black fish pl: ɔlle ɔŋɔ [ɔ́ŋɔ́] n. wild mouse pl: ɔnne 2pl: 2pl: ɔllɛɛ ɔnnɛɛ Var. ɔŋa ɔlɔ-ɔlɔ [ɔ̀lɔ̀-ɔ̀lɔ̀] adj. slimy and dirty ɔŋ-ɔɔbo [ɔ̀ŋ-ɔ́ɔ́bʊ́] adj. valuable, use- ɔlɔ-ɔlɔ [ɔ̀lɔ̀-ɔ̀lɔ̀] adj. purple ful ɔmm [ɔ̀mm] adv. idling ɔŋ-sɔɔre [ɔ̌ŋ-sɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. a type of wild ɔnne [ɔ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to smoke, to put under mouse that lives along river banks extreme heat (meat) ɔnnɛɛ, ɔnnɔ, and has a dark brown colour pl: ɔŋ- ɔnnɔ, ɔnema, ɔnnaa sɔbɔ 2pl: ɔŋ-sɔɔrɛɛ Var. ɔnsɔɔre ɔnsɔɔre [ɔ̀nsɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. A small brown ɔɔ [ɔ̀ɔ̀] v. (1) to chew (2) to ache; mouse that usually lives along river to throb with pain ɔɔɛ, ɔɔrɔ, ɔɔrɔ, valleys. pl: ɔnsɔbɔ Var. sɔɔre ɔɔreba, ɔɔraa, ɔɔreba ɔŋe [ɔ̀ŋ] v. (1) to draw something ɔɔ-doŋɔ [ɔ̀ɔ̀-dʊ́ŋó] n. (1) intestinal liquid e.g. water, to fetch some- worm (2) roundworm pl: ɔɔ-donne thing powdery e.g. flour, soil (2) 2pl: ɔɔ-donnɛɛ

238 ɔɔkpoŋi pãa

ɔɔkpoŋi [ɔ́ɔ́kpóŋ] n. winter pl: ɔraa [ɔ́ràà] n. portable cage (for car- ɔɔkponni 2pl: ɔɔkponnee rying chicks) pl: ɔrrɪ 2pl: ɔrrɛɛ ɔɔkyi [ɔ́ɔ́ʧí] n. goose bumps i.e. small ɔre [ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to prepare bean leaf broth bumps on skin caused by cold pl: for soup ɔrɛɛ, ɔrɔ, ɔrɔ, ɔreba, ɔraa, ɔɔkyiree ɔreba ɔ-ɔlle [ɔ́-ɔ́llɪ]̀ n. moss (usually green ɔre [ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to throw hard against e.g. matter found in unkempt wet ball against a player ɔrɛɛ, ɔrɔ, ɔrɔ, places e.g. bath house) 2pl: ɔ-ɔllɛɛ ɔreba, ɔraa, ɔreba ɔɔnyukõɔ [ɔɔnyúkʊ̀̃ ɔ̃́] n. a type of ɔre [ɔ̀rɪ]́ adj. impotent pl: ɔrɔ 2pl: small tree whose leaves are edible ɔrɛɛ and have medicinal properties 2pl: ɔre [ɔ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to begin to rot (2) to ɔɔnyukoɔnɛɛ stink (3) to be useless (person) ɔrɛɛ, ɔrɔ, ɔrɔ, ɔreba, ɔraa, ɔreba ɔɔraa [ɔ́ɔ́ráá] n. chewer pl: ɔɔreba 2pl: ɔɔrebɛɛ ɔregbɔrɔ [ɔ̀rɪgbɔ̀ ̀rɔ̀] adv. messy looking ɔɔraa-piiri [ɔ́ɔ́ráá-pìírí] n. safe abode pl: ɔɔraa-pie ɔresɔglaa [ɔ́rɪsɔ́ ́gláà] n. a type of climbing plant with edible fruit pl: ɔɔre [ɔɔrɪ] n. cold pl: ɔɔrɛɛ ́ ́ ̀ ɔresɔglɔ ɔɔtoorebare [ɔ̀ɔ̀tʊ́ ʊ́rɪbàrɪ́ ]̀ n. October ɔrɔsɔ [ɔ̀rɔ̀sɔ̀] adv. paying dearly for (month) being obstinate • O yeli ka o ba ɔraa [ɔ́ràà] n. a type of climbing wono yɛlɛ, o taraa be ɔrɔsɔ. He plant with edible fruit pl: ɔrrɪ 2pl: says he is hardheaded; he is up to ɔrrɛɛ suffer for it. p pa [pá] v. to set up the beginning of pãa [pã́ã̀] conj. then, and now • O something e.g. weaving paɛ, paara, waɛ la pãa wuli o a toma. He has paara, pareba, paaraa come, you should then show him pa [pá] interj. an expression of sur- the work. prise Var. paa pãa [pã́ã̀] adj. what else • Libie pa [pà] v. to be full paɛ, paara, paara, kyebe N pãa la e wolɔ? There is pareba, paaraa no money, what else can I do? paa [páá] interj. expression of fear pãa [pã̀ã̀] v. to warn, to caution pãaɛ, and surprise Var. pa paana, paana, paanema, paanaa

239 paalaa palampiiri paalaa [pááláá] adj. new pl: paale paare [páárɪ]̀ v. to pass (a test) 2pl: paalɛɛ paarɛɛ, paara, paara, paareba, paalaa [pááláá] n. (1) raised dais, paaraa platform (2) stage for laying a paasepɔɔto [páásɪpɔ́ ́ɔ́tʊ̀ ] n. pass- corpse in state pl: paale 2pl: paalɛɛ port pl: paasepɔɔtere 2pl: paalaa [pààláà] n. space in between paasepɔɔterɛɛ four mounds pl: paale 2pl: paalɛɛ pãatakyeraa [pã́ã́táʧɪráá]́ n. a type paale [pààlɪ]̀ v. (1) to fill (2) to add of cricket pl: pãatakyerre 2pl: paalɛɛ, paala, paala, paaleba pãatakyerɛɛ paate [páátɪ] interj. expression of paalonwuluugane [páálʊ́nwúlúú- ̀ surprise astonishment e.g. one gánɪ]̀ n. map pl: paalonwuluuga- ma found in a challenging situation paawa [pááwà] n. power, electric paaloŋ [páálʊ́ŋ] n. area of jurisdic- light pl: paaware 2pl: paawarɛɛ tion (country, district, kingdom) paawerɛ [pááwɪrɛ́ ̀] n. powder pl: paaloŋ [páálʊ́ ŋ] adj. first, fresh in- paawerre 2pl: paawerɛɛ/paawer- stance rɛɛ paanaa [pàànáá] n. ground cricket pabo [pábʊ́] adj. completely pl: paane 2pl: paanɛɛ Var. paaŋaa padaa [pàdàá] n. wood used to make paane [pàànɪ]̀ v. to blame paanɛɛ, a stage for a corpse pl: padaare 2pl: paana, paana, paanema, paanaa padaarɛɛ paantakyeraa [pààntáʧɪráá]́ n. wild page [págɪ]́ v. to hasten, to hurry flying cricket pl: paantakyerre pagɛɛ, pagera, pagereba, pageraa, paapaa [páápàà] n. pope pl: paa- pagereba, pagepagera paamine/paapaare 2pl: paapaarɛɛ pagere [págrɪ]̀ v. to compete, to pãapere [pã̀ã̀pɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. paper-like challenge pagrɛɛ, pagra, pagra, pa- spider egg sac pl: pãapẽɛ 2pl: greba, pagraa pãapeerɛɛ pakɔɔloŋ [pákɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. female pubic paare [páárɪ]̀ n. vagina, vulva pl: paɛ hair 2pl: pɛɛrɛɛ pakyoŋ [pàʧʊ́ŋ] n. a large black ant paare [pààrɪ]̀ v. to scrape e.g. roasted with a painful sting pl: pakyonne yam paarɛɛ, paara, paara, paareba, 2pl: pakyonnɛɛ paaraa palampiiri [pálámpììrí] n. (1) but- paare [pààrɪ]̀ v. to weed e.g. grass terfly (2) moth pl: palampie paarɛɛ, paara, paara, paareba, 2pl: palampiiree Var. palampi- paaraa gri/palimpiiri

240 palle parebaaraa palle [pàllɪ]̀ v. to plait, to braid pal- parapara [pàràpàrà] adv. hurried lɛɛ, palla, palla, paleba, pallaa manner • A tontonema da nyɔge pamm [pámm] adj. straight onto the la a toma paraparapara, ka ba target baare a. The worker started the work hurriedly and soon finished. pampana [pámpánà] adv. now parata [párátá] adj. white and spot- pampuntɛgɛ [pámpùntɛgɛ] n. the ̀ ́ less Var. perete act of being inward looking; concerned with only immediate rela- pare [párɪ]̀ n. buttocks, bottom pl: tion pl: pampuntɛgre parɛɛ Var. tɛgɛ panana [pànànà] adv. lit up e.g. car pare [párɪ]̀ n. meaning • A yɛlɛ ŋa headlight in the dark pare la wola? What is the meaning of this? • A yɛlɛ pare da ba panapana [pànàpànà] adj. colourful, kyaane. The meaning of what was beautiful said was not clear. pl: parɛɛ Var. pane [pánɪ]́ n. doorway cover made tɛgɛ of straw pl: pama 2pl: panɛɛ pare [párɪ]̀ v. to understand • A bie paŋe [pàŋ] v. (1) to beat down wet da ba woŋi a yɛlɛ pare. The child rough surface to make it even (lo- did not understand what was said. cal way to plaster) e.g. floor (2) pare [pàrɪ]́ n. raised tomb pl: parɛɛ fig. walk without any footwear on, barefooted paŋɛɛ, pana, pana, pare [párɪ]̀ post. under • A ton- panema, panaa tonema balɛɛ la gaa zeŋe teɛ pare ka ba pɛnne. The workers paŋe [páŋ] v. (1) to beat merciless- were tired and sat under the tree to ily (2) to gather plenty of leaves (3) rest. to sew (Akan) paŋɛɛ, pana, pana, panema, panaa pare [pàrè] v. (1) to place on top (2) to overtake, to pass parɛɛ, para, papeɛmɛ [pápɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. waist string para, pareba, paraa, pareba with cowries pl: papeɛne 2pl: pa- pare [pàrè] adj. (1) more than (2) peɛnɛɛ over papoɔ [pàpʊ́ɔ́] n. space in between pare-araa [párɪ-áráá] n. the act of mounds pl: papoore 2pl: papoorɛɛ ̀ having time • N ba taa pare-araa papoɔ [pápʊ́ɔ́] n. inner vagina na gaa be zenɛ, n toma yaga. I para [párá] n. triangular loincloth pl: have no time to go there today, be- parre 2pl: parɛɛ cause I have a lot of work. para [pàrá] v. to walk quickly parɛɛ, parebaaraa [párbàáráà] n. last one para, para, pareba, paraa pl: parbaare

241 parebiri peele parebiri [párɪbírì]̀ n. anus pl: parebie paresunsugiri [párɪsúnsúgrí]̀ n. the 2pl: parebiiree Var. parebogi knob-like appendage attached to parebogi [párbógì] n. anus pl: pare- the area above the anus of birds pl: bogiri 2pl: parebogiree Var. pare- paresunsugo 2pl: paresunsugree biri paretaa [pàrɪtáà]̀ n. game 2pl: pare- parefẽɛ [párɪfɪ́ ɛ̃́ ̃]́ adv. in vain • N vii- taarɛɛ ri la o yiri te bale kyɛ ka parefẽɛ. paretɛleŋ [párɪtɛ́ lɪ́ ŋ]́ adj. at once I have gone to his house several parɛɛ [párɛɛ́ ]́ n. species; kind pl: times but all without success. parɛɛ parɛɛ parefuri [párfùrì] n. act of dragging parikonyaŋaa [pàríkóɲáŋáá] n. sow one’s feet e.g. cowardice (pig) pl: parikonyaŋene parekolee [pàrèkòlèé] n. piglet pl: pataase [pàtáásɪ]́ n. type of lo- parekobilii Var. dobalee, dobabilii cal spirit (alcoholic drink) pl: parekonɛne [pàrɪkònɛ́ nɪ́ ]̀ n. pork pl: pataasere 2pl: pataaserɛɛ parekonɛmɛ 2pl: porkonɛnnɛɛ pazɔŋɔ [pàzɔ̌ŋ] n. blood-sucking fly parekyara [párʧárá] n. The part pl: pazɔnne 2pl: pazɔnnɛɛ Var. in between the legs e.g. when in pazɔŋa astride position pl: parekyarre 2pl: pe [pɪ]́ v. to be fed up with parekyarɛɛ Var. parekyɛrɛ peɛ, peerɛ, peerɛ, peerebɛ, peeraa, parekyɛrɛ [párʧɛrɛ́ ̀] n. pl: peerebɛ parekyɛrre 2pl: parekyɛrɛɛ Var. parekyara pedaa [pɪdáá]́ n. ram pl: padaare 2pl: pedaɛ/padaarɛɛ parema [párɪmá]́ n. extra peda-eelɛ [pɪdá-ɪ́ ɪ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. male sheep parenyɔge [párɲɔ́gɪ]́ n. courage with horns parepẽɛ [párɪpɪ̀ ɛ̀̃ ̀̃] n. act of struggling pedavaraa [pídàváràà] n. castrated it out with another • Ba yɛlɛ na e ram pl: pedavarre 2pl: pedavarɛɛ la parepẽɛ yɛlɛ. That problem of theirs is a difficult one. pee [pèè] adv. open and large parepĩi [párɪpĩ́ ĩ́ ]̀ n. the end of the pẽ [pɪ]̀̃ adv. weighty object smashing anus pl: parepiime a smaller object (onomatopoeia) parepoɔroŋ [párɪpʊ́ ́ ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. a type of pẽe [pɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ adj. unrelenting, steadfast, wild mouse that reproduces prolifi- not giving way cally pl: parepoɔrɔ 2pl: parepoɔrɛɛ peelaa [pɪɪ́ láà]́ adj. infant pl: peele parepũo [párɪpũ̀ ̀õ̀] n. fear peele [pɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to tear into shreds paresɛgere [párɪsɛ̀ grɪ́ ]̀ n. buttock pl: e.g. rag peelɛɛ, peelɛ, peelɛ, peelbɛ, paresɛgɛ 2pl: paresɛgerɛɛ peelaa, peelbɛ

242 pẽepẽe pege pẽepẽe [pɪɪ̃́ pɪ̃́ ɪ̃́ ]̃́ adv. very sharp (taste, peɛle [pɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. peɛlɛɛ, peɛlɛ, peɛlɛ, sting) peɛlebɛ, peɛlaa, peɛlebɛ peere [pɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to sweep, to dust, peɛle eelee to blow a horn to brush off (shirt) (2) to cleanse; to peɛle [pɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to be near; to be close reinstate someone’s soul believed to peɛlɛɛ, peɛlɛ, peɛlɛ, peɛlebɛ, to have deserted her/him by per- peɛlaa, peɛlebɛ forming certain rituals to cleanse peɛle-peɛle [pɪɛ́ lɪ́ -pɪ́ ɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ adj. having the person of an evil spirit, which is white spots believed to have overshadowed the person’s actual soul peerɛɛ, peerɛ, peɛloŋ [pɪɛ́ lʊ́ ́ŋ] n. (1) whiteness (2) peerebɛ, peeraa food peeteree [pɪɪ́ tɪ́ rɪ́ ɪ́ ]́ adj. everything peɛmɛ [pɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. (1) decorations (2) about something, the whole truth • beautiful clothing pl: peɛne 2pl: A polisiri da soore la noba yaga a peɛnɛɛ/peɛmɛɛ na baŋe a yɛlɛ peeteree zaa. The peɛmo [pɪɛ́ mʊ́ ́] n. (1) courtship (2) police questioned many people in a sexual intercourse bid to get to the bottom of the mat- pẽɛo [pɪɛ̃́ ̃ʊ́ ̃́] n. a type of wild cat (dark ter. 2pl: peeterɛɛ spotted) pl: peɛne 2pl: peɛnɛɛ peɛ [pɪɛ́ ]́ n. roof pl: peere 2pl: peɛre [pɪɛrɪ] v. to investigate peɛrɛɛ, peerɛɛ ̀ ̀ ̀ peɛrɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, peɛraa peɛ [pɪɛ̀ ]́ n. basket pl: pɛre 2pl: pɛrɛɛ peɛre [pɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to not be fussy peɛ [pɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to drink (taking in about choices (typically used with large gulps) (2) to take a wife or negative marker ba) peɛrɛɛ, peɛrɛ, house maid from her parents peɛɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, peɛraa peɛrɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, peɛraa peɛre [pɪɛrɪ] v. to line up; to place pẽɛ [pɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ adv. completely e.g. fin- ́ ́ ́ ished • A kõɔ zaaŋ baare pẽɛ. All side by side peɛrɛɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrɛ, the water is finished completely. peɛrebɛ, peɛraa pẽɛ [pɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] v. pull apart in a bid to open peɛre [pɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ v. to tap (to call atten- e.g. pulling the eyelid(s) apart pẽɛɛ, tion) peɛrɛɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, peɛnɛ, peɛnɛ, peɛnemɛ, peɛnaa peɛraa pẽɛ [pɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] v. (1) to decorate well peɛrɛ [pɪɛ́ rɛ́ ̀] n. a type of small, black (2) to dress gorgeously pẽɛɛ, peɛnɛ, potato sg: peɛroo pl: peɛrɛ 2pl: peɛnɛ, peɛnemɛ, peɛnaa peɛrɛɛ pẽɛ [pɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] v. to court (Southern Da- pege [pɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to decorate (dress) gaare dialect) pẽɛɛ, peɛnɛ, peɛnɛ, (2) to make tasty, delicious pegɛɛ, peɛnemɛ, peɛnaa, - Var. peɛ pegrɛ, pegrɛ, pegrebɛ, pegraa

243 pegelaa penne pegelaa [pìgláà] n. row (of farm pelempeleŋ [pélémpéléŋ] adv. bare, mounds) pl: pegle 2pl: peglɛɛ empty pegele [pɪglɪ̀ ]̀ v. cut across, in order pelewelee [pɪliɪ̀ wɪ̀ lɪ̀ ɪ̀ ]̀ adj. plenty of to meet at a point peglɛɛ, peglɛ, things found everywhere e.g. as- peglɛ, peglebɛ, peglaa sorted items • A weɛ tomɔ deɛ waa pegele [pɪglɪ̀ ]̀ adj. crooked, twisted la pelewelee lɛ. There is plenty of e.g. feet work on the farm. Var. pelewele pegerɛ [pɪgrɛ́ ̀] n. wings sg: pegroo pelɛmpelɛŋ [pɪlɛ̀ ̀mpɪlɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. all over the place, disorganised pegɛ [pɪgɛ́ ]́ adj. not whole; e.g. broken piece of calabash peli [pélì] n. spirit, heart pl: pele 2pl: pelee pegi [pègì] v. to flap one’s wings peli [pél] n. fright pegee, pegre, pegre, pegribe, pegraa pell [pɪll]́ adj. full to capacity Var. pelpel pekɔɔloŋ [pɪkɔ́ ́ɔ́lʊ́ ŋ] n. wool pell [péll] adj. rise into the air e.g. pekpoŋi [pɪkpôŋ]̀ n. large roof pl: flame pekponni 2pl: pekponnee pelɔɔ [pɪlɔ̀ ̀ɔ̀] adv. suddenly and pekyeenɛ [ṕʧɪɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. shepherd pl: quickly e.g. fish splashing in water pekyeemɛ 2pl: pekyeenɛɛ pelpel [pɪlpɪ́ l]́ adv. full to the brim pelaa [pɪlàá]́ adj. white pl: peɛle pelpele [pìlpɪl]́ v. to litter with bro- pelaaya [pɪlááyà] n. pliers pl: pelaa- ́ ken pieces e.g. of straw pelpelɛɛ, yare 2pl: pelaayarɛɛ pelpelɛ, pelpelɛ, pelpelebɛ, pele [pɪlɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to split a piece from pelpelaa a stalk (2) to leave and fail to return pempeleŋ [pémpéléŋ] adj. small e.g. pelɛɛ, pellɛ, pellɛ, pelebɛ, pelaa piece of cloth pele [pɪlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to tear, to break off pemperi [pèmpèrì] v. to bend or (splinter) (2) to discontinue (visits) place something in an oblique posi- (3) to continue without going back tion pemperee, pempere, pempere, to former place pelɛɛ, pellɛ, pellɛ, pemperibe, pemperaa, - Var. pɛm- pelbɛ, pellaa pɛre pelee [pɪléè]́ n. lamb pl: pebilii penɛne [pɪnɛ́ nɪ́ ]̀ n. mutton pl: pelee [pèléè] n. small basket pl: pe- penɛmɛ 2pl: penɛnnɛɛ bilii Var. pɛlee penne [pɪnnɪ́ ]̀ v. to make delicious peleemazẽe [pɪléèmàzɪ́ ɪ̃́ ]̀̃ n. a type of pennɛɛ, pennɛ, pennɛ, penemɛ, with pink coloured edible fruits pennaa

244 penti pɛ penti [péntì] n. paint pl: pentiri 2pl: la o gbɛɛ perekara ka tɔloo zie pentiree kyebe. The soldier stood firmly penyaŋaa [pɪɲáŋàá]́ n. ewe, adult fe- with his feet astride such that no male sheep pl: penyaŋene/penyan- one can pass by him. ne 2pl: penyaŋenɛɛ/penyannɛɛ perekatɔɔre [pɪrɪ́ kátɔ́ ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. ceme- peraa [pɪráá]́ n. (1) deliberateness tery pl: perekatɔɛ 2pl: perekatɔɔ- (2) obstinacy rɛɛ peraa [pɪráá]́ n. hyperbole (litera- perepere [pìrɪpɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to struggle e.g. ture) insect on a hot object pereperɛɛ, pereperɛ, pereperɛ, pereperebɛ, peraa [pɪràà]́ n. castanet; a pair of pereperaa metal rings worn on the fingers and clicked together rhythmically perete [pɪrɪ́ tɪ́ ]́ adv. spotlessly white pl: perre 2pl: perrɛɛ Var. parata pere [pɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. push away; usually a perɛperɛ [pɪrɛ́ pɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ adj. not stuck to- small object with the foot gether e.g. well-cooked rice pere [pɪrɪ́ ]́ n. a loop used in making periperi [pèrìpérí] v. to make an the rim of a basket pl: perɛɛ effort to overcome, to try hard • O ba taa a eebo kyɛ o meŋ pere [pɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) remove from; shell aŋ peripere la. She has not got (groundnuts), unwrap (parcel), (2) the means, but she is also still get wounded • O daare zɔ̃ɔ̃la kuri- trying hard. periperee, peripere, wiri te le ka o gbɛre pere. He rode peripere, periperibe, periperaa a bicycle, crashed and got his leg wounded. perɛɛ, perɛ, perɛ, perebɛ, peroo [pɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́ ] n. sheep pl: peere 2pl: peraa peerɛɛ Var. pere pere [pɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. push away (small ob- pesaraa [pɪsáráà]́ n. young adult fe- ject), ignore • Ka fooŋ ba boɔrɔ male sheep sg: pesarrɛɛ pl: pesarre a kuuri ŋa kyɛ ta pere o bare. petooŋmaa [pɪtòòŋmáá]́ n. one who Even if you don’t like this stone will not listen to anything pl: don’t push it away. perɛɛ, perɛ, petooŋmaara 2pl: petooŋmaarɛɛ perɛ, perebɛ, peraa pezage [pɪzàgɪ́ ]́ n. sheep pen pl: pere [pɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. sheep pl: peere Var. pezagre 2pl: pezagrɛɛ peroo pɛ [pɛ̀] v. to squeeze out e.g. milk perebare [pɪrɪ́ bàrɪ́ ]̀ n. outer toe of a from a cow -, -, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, fowl pl: perebarre 2pl: perebarɛɛ peɛraa perekara [pɪrɪ̀ kàrà]̀ adj. astride, firm pɛ [pɛ̀] v. to open one’s eyes widely and immovable • A sogya yaare -, -, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, peɛraa

245 pɛ pɛnzage pɛ [pɛ̀] v. to spiritually deprive ko te. Today s/he open up by ex- another of prowess -, -, peɛrɛ, plaining the issues to us. peɛrebɛ, peɛraa pɛle [pɛlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to peel (yam) (2) to pɛ [pɛ]́ v. to harvest nuts from the clear grass by weeding with a hoe ground pɛɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrɛ, peɛrebɛ, pɛmpɛlɛŋ [pɛmpɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ n. flat metal peɛraa (cover of a tin) pl: pɛmpɛlle 2pl: pɛ [pɛ]́ adj. same, equal Var. pɛpɛ pɛmpɛlɛɛ pɛ̃ɛ [pɛ̀̃ɛ̀̃] adv. fatty; oily pɛmpɛnɛɛ [pɛmpɛ́ nɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. wild gum; pɛɛre [pɛɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ adj. immature pl: pɛbɛ rubber pl: pɛmpɛnne 2pl: pɛmpɛn- pɛɛtɛɛre [pɛɛ́ tɛ́ ɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. small, flat fish; nɛɛ tilapia sg: pɛɛtɛroo pl: pɛɛtɛbɛ 2pl: pɛmpɛre [pɛ̀mpɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. oblique posi- pɛɛtɛbɛɛ Var. pɛɛtere tion (bending very low) pɛge [pɛgɪ́ ]̀ v. to wash e.g. clothes, pɛmpɛre [pɛ̀mpɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to bend very utensils -, pɛgrɛ, pɛgrɛ, pɛgrebɛ low and in an oblique position pɛge [pɛgɪ́ ]́ n. hard external covering pɛmpɛrɛɛ, pɛmpɛrɛ, pɛmpɛrɛ, pɛm- of seeds, nuts, animals, trees pl: pɛ- pɛrebɛ, pɛmpɛraa gre/pɛgɛ 2pl: pɛgrɛɛ pɛnaa [pɛ̀náà] n. musical instru- pɛgele [pɛ̀glɪ]̀ v. to carry on one’s ment made from seasoned straw pl: side, shoulder, in arms pɛglɛɛ, pɛnne 2pl: pɛnnɛɛ pɛglɛ, pɛglɛ, pɛglebɛ, pɛglaa pɛnne [pɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to carve pɛnnɛɛ, pɛge yi [pɛgɪ́ ̀ yí] adj. clean, bright pɛnnɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnemɛ, pɛnnaa pɛgɛkɛ [pɛ̀gɛ̀kɛ̀] adj. deep and wide pɛnne [pɛ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to rest pɛnnɛɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnemɛ, pɛnnaa pɛglɛŋ [pɛglɛ́ ŋ]́ n. small and flat pl: pɛglɛŋ pɛglɛŋ Var. pɛŋgɛlɛŋ pɛnne [pɛ̀nnɪ]́ n. lower part of abdomen pl: pɛmɛ 2pl: pɛnnɛɛ pɛkogo [pɛ̀kógó] n. sticks put under a basket as a protective base pl: pɛnne [pɛnnɪ́ ]̀ n. cloth pl: pɛmɛ 2pl: pɛkogri 2pl: pɛkogree pɛnnɛɛ pɛkpoŋ [pɛ̀kp̂oŋ] n. large basket pl: pɛnnoŋ [pɛ̀nnʊ̂ ŋ] n. see pɛnnoo pɛkponni 2pl: pɛkponnee pɛnnoo [pɛ̀nnʊ̀ ʊ́] n. air, breeze Var. pɛlaa [pɛlàà]́ n. a type of tree with pɛnnoŋ medicinal properties pl: pɛlle 2pl: pɛnnu [pɛnnù]́ n. hand measure pɛllɛɛ (about 9 inches) of woven strip of pɛle [pɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to be white cloth pl: pɛnnuuri 2pl: pɛnnuuree pɛle [pɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to open up; be happy • pɛnzage [pɛnzágɪ́ ]́ n. rag pl: pɛnza- Zenɛ o pɛle la poɔ manne a yɛlɛ gra 2pl: pɛnzagrɛɛ

246 pɛŋe pieto pɛŋe [pɛ̀ŋ] v. (1) to groan (2) raa to grunt (from effort) pɛŋɛɛ, pɛnɛ, pi [pì] v. to be in fear; to clutch self pɛnɛ, pɛnemɛ, pɛnaa, pɛnemɛ tightly in fear pie, piire, piire, pi- pɛŋe [pɛ̂ŋ] v. (1) to borrow (2) to iribe, piiraa lend pɛŋɛɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnemɛ, pibɔŋɔ [pìbɔ̀ŋɔ́] n. a type of lizard be- pɛnnaa, pɛnemɛ lieved to be poisonous pl: pibɔnne pɛŋe [pɛ̂ŋ] v. to tap on water to 2pl: pibɔnnɛɛ Var. pibaŋa clear the top of unwanted material pie [píé] adj. ten pl: piiri 2pl: piiree pɛŋɛɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnnɛ, pɛnemɛ, pɛn- pie ane anaare [píé ánɪ́ ánáárɪ]̀ adj. naa, pɛnemɛ Var. bɛŋ fourteen pl: pie ne anaare pɛŋkɔɔloŋ [pɛŋkɔ̌ ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. pubic hair pie ane anii [píé ánɪ́ áníì] adj. eigh- pɛpɛlaa [pɛpɛ́ láà]́ n. a type of small, teen pl: pie ne aniini 2pl: pie ane carnivorous bird pl: pɛpɛlle aniinee pɛre [pɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to stand abreast, to be pie ane anuu [píé áne anúú] adj. fif- equal e.g. height pɛrɛɛ, pɛrɛ, pɛrɛ, teen pl: pie ne anuuri 2pl: pie ne pɛrebɛ, pɛraa anuuree pɛre [pɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to bend in an oblique pie ane ata [píé ánɪ́ átà] adj. thirteen manner pɛrɛɛ, pɛrɛ, pɛrɛ, pɛrebɛ, pl: pie ne atare pɛrɛ pie ane ayi [píé ánɪ́ áyì] adj. twelve pɛrɛpɛrɛ [pɛ̀rɛ̀pɛrɛ́ ]́ n. food made of pl: pie ne ayiri mashed yam pie ane ayoɔbo [píé ánɪ́ àyʊ̀ ɔ̀bʊ́] adj. pɛrɛpɛrɛ [pɛrɛ́ pɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ adv. completely sixteen pl: pie ne ayoɔre • A nimibaaloŋ vɛŋɛɛ la ka a dɔɔ pie ane ayɔpõi [píé ánɪ́ àyɔ̀pṍĩ]̀ adj. zɔŋe pɛrɛpɛrɛ. The eye disease has seventeen pl: pie ne ayɔponni caused him to be blind completely. pie ane yeni [píé ánɪ́ yénì] adj. pɛteɛ [pɛ̀tɪɛ́ ]́ n. medium-sized bas- eleven pl: pie ne yeme ket pl: pɛteere 2pl: pɛteerɛɛ Var. pie ne awae [píé ánɪ́ àwáɪ]̀ adj. nine- pɛtelee teen pl: pie ane awaɛ 2pl: pie ane pɛyagelaa [pɛ̀yàgláà] n. a bas- awarɛɛ ket, usually hung, in which cal- pieri [pìèrì] v. (1) to cause the skin abashes are stored pl: pɛyagle 2pl: to peel e.g. as a result of scrapes pɛyaglɛɛ on rough surfaces (2) to cause to pi [pí] v. to become bloated, to swell be bare (bush) pieree, piere, piere, up pie, piire, piire, piiribe, piiraa pieribe, pieraa, pieribe pi [pí] v. to reserve, to claim in ad- pieto [píétó] n. loincloth pl: pietori vance pie, piire, piire, piiribe, pii- 2pl: pietoree

247 pigepige pilli pigepige [pígépígé] adj. moving spikes pl: pĩi-sabɔlɔ 2pl: pĩi- around craftily sabɔlɛɛ pigi [pìgì] v. (1) to obstruct (view) pĩi-sabɔle [pĩĩ́ -sàbɔ́ ́lɪ]́ n. finless ar- (2) to shield, to prevent (3) to trap row pl: pĩi-sabɔlɔ 2pl: pĩi-sabɔlɛɛ in an enclosure e.g. house, hole pĩiseɛbaa [pĩĩ́ sɪ́ ɛ́ báá]́ n. large, long, pigee, pigre, pigre, pigribe, pigraa, flat needle for weaving pl: pĩiseɛre pigribe Var. pĩiseɛraa pigi [pígí] v. to make a ball e.g. from pĩi-takɔraa [pĩĩ́ -tàkɔ́ ̀ràá] n. a type of mud pigee, pigre, pigre, pigribe, pi- arrow with spikes on the sides pl: graa pĩi-takɔrre 2pl: pĩi-takɔrɛɛ pigiri [pìgirì] v. to look out for, to pĩiteɛraa [pĩĩ́ tɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. an arrow that watch over pigiree, pigire, pigire, is shot out; arrow for shooting pl: pigiribe, pigiraa pĩiteɛre pĩi [pĩĩ́ ]̀ n. arrow sg: pĩiu pl: piime pĩizɛle [pĩĩ́ zɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. poisoned arrow pl: 2pl: piinee pĩizɛlɛ pĩi biri [pĩĩ́ ̀ bírì] n. arrowhead pl: pĩi pikuuri [pìkúúrì] n. large piece of bie Var. pimbiri rock pl: pikubo 2pl: pikuuree pĩikaraa [pĩĩ́ kàràà]́ n. sharpened ar- pileesekɔɔ [píléésɪkɔ́ ́ɔ́] n. a type of row pl: pĩikarre 2pl: pĩikarrɛɛ bird pl: pileesekɔɔre piili [píílì] v. to begin; to start piilee, pilempileŋ [pìlèmpíléŋ] adv. gusty piile, piile, piilibe, piilaa, piilibe pilepile [pílépílé] adv. in a fast man- pĩi-mɔre [pĩĩ́ -mɔ́ ́rɪ]́ n. arrow shaft pl: ner pĩi-mɔɛ 2pl: pĩi-mɔrɛɛ pili [pílí] n. a type of mat made of piiri [píírì] v. to massage with warm tiny straw and thread used to sleep water e.g. on bruises piiree, piire, on pl: pile 2pl: pilee piire, piiribe, piiraa pilintoɔ [pìlìntʊ́ɔ́] n. bottle pl: pilin- piiri [píírí] n. rock pl: pie 2pl: pii- toore 2pl: pilintoorɛɛ ree Var. pie (Southern Dagaare di- pilipili [pìlìpílí] v. to cover up or alect) confuse by clever actions pilipilee, piiri [pììrì] v. to recover a lost object pilipile, pilipile, pilipilibe, pilipi- by chance -, piire, piiribe, piiraa laa piirimpĩi [pììrímpĩĩ́ ]̀ n. a type of pilli [pìllì] v. to roll up (mat) pillee, lizard pl: piirimpiime pille, pille, pilibe, pillaa, pilibe pĩi-sabɔle [pĩĩ́ sàbɔ́ ́l] n. a type of pilli [pìllì] v. (1) to cover (with a square-shaped arrow without cloth) (2) cover the top of a build-

248 pilli piriyoro

ing pillee, pille, pille, pilibe, pillaa, piŋi [píŋ] v. to hide or take cover pilibe behind an object piŋee, pine, pine, pilli [pìllì] v. to roll the tip of a pinime, pinaa, pinime feather in the ear to scratch it pipiiri [pìpììrí] n. a type of tiny black pillee, pille, pille, pilibe, pillaa, flying insect that moves in groups pilibe pipiree [pìpíréé] n. (1) chaff (2) pilli pɔge [pìllì pɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to over- residue of the matter left after whelm with a swarm (bee attack) chewing and extracting the liquid pilili pɔgɛɛ, pille pɔgrɔ, pilli-pɔgrɔ from some nuts like coconut pl: pipirri 2pl: pipirree pimbiri [pímbírì] n. (1) nail (2) arrowhead (3) syringe sg: pimbiruu piraa [píráá] n. button pl: pirri pl: pimbie 2pl: pimbiiree pire [pìré] n. new land cleared for pimbitaaraa [pìmbítááráà] n. screw, farming pl: pirri 2pl: piree/pirree bolt pl: pimbitaare 2pl: pim- pirempireŋ [pírémpíréŋ] adv. full bitaarɛɛ (tyre, stomach) pimpiŋ [pímpíŋ] adj. far away pirepire [pírépíré] n. the state of complete emptiness; the state of pimpiŋ [pìmpíŋ] v. to attempt to having nothing • N da boɔrɔ ka N confuse, to cover a deed pimpiŋee, gaa sori kyɛ pirepire ba mare ma. pimpine, pimpine, pimpinime, I had wanted to go on a trip, but I pimpinaa had nothing on me. pinni [pínnì] v. (1) to tap on to piri [pírí] v. (1) to compete to win empty e.g. pocket (2) to shake e.g. e.g. vacant seat (2) to speak at to remove unwanted bodies (bugs the same time (two or more people) from a mat) (3) to perform the final piree, pire, pire, piribe, piraa threshing to remove bits of grain piri [pírì] v. to lance, to make a small pinnee, pinne, pinne, pinime, pin- cut to release pus piree, pire, pire, naa piribe, piraa pinni [pínnì] v. to remind pinnee, piri [pìrì] v. (1) to button up e.g. pinne, pinne, pinime, pinnaa shirt (2) to strap on e.g. wristwatch piŋgaraa [píŋgáráà] n. pickaxe pl: (3) to put a noose on or off e.g. neck piŋgarre 2pl: piŋgarrɛɛ or leg of an animal piree, pire, pire, piŋi [píŋ] v. (1) to shake to remove piribe, piraa e.g. dust from cloth (2) to beat piriyoro [píríyòró] adv. completely mercilessly (figurative) piŋee, pine, scattered in different directions e.g. pine, pinime, pinaa, pinime members of a search party

249 po pompoŋɔ po [pʊ̀ ] v. to pull a grass stalk pokpɔgere [pʊ̀ kpɔ́grí] n. tumor in off the base poɛ, poorɔ/poora, the stomach pl: pokpɔgɔ 2pl: poorɔ/poora, pooreba, pooraa pokpɔgrɛɛ po [pò] v. to dig for termites (to feed pokyiiri [pʊ́ʧíírí] n. confession young chicks) poe, puoro, puoro, polee [póléé] n. small farm puoribo, puoraa polee [pʊ̀ léé] n. early pregnancy po [pò] v. to ooze, to flow (water) poleɛne [pʊ́lɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. female lizard pl: poe, puoro, puoro, puoribo, puo- poleɛmɛ 2pl: poleɛmɛɛ raa polepole [pʊ́lpʊ́lɪ]́ adj. very tall and pobeɛmɛ [pʊ̀ bɪɛ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. stomachache, pointed summit (church tower) upset stomach 2pl: pobeɛmɛɛ poli [pólí] v. smear plenty of oil pro- pobieri [pʊ̀ bìèrí] n. wickedness 2pl: ducing a shining effect polee, polo, pobieree Var. powolaa polo, polibo, polaa, polibo poboɔbo [pʊ̀ bʊ́ɔ́bʊ̀ ] n. will, desire poli [pòlì] adv. flaring up abruptly pobu [pòbú] adv. filled with (tears in (fire) the eyes) polige [pʊ̀ lígè] n. the state of not be- podẽo [pʊ̀ dɪʊ̀̃ ̃́] n. preference ing open-minded podɛgere [pʊ̀ dɛgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. evil thought poll [pʊ́ll] adj. small and sharp pl: poll poll pofaa [pʊ̀ fáá] n. state of being evil- minded pl: pofaare 2pl: pofaarɛɛ polle [pʊ̌llɪ]̀ v. (1) to sharpen (a point) (2) to take an oath (3) to pogaale [pʊ̀ gáálɪ]̀ n. prenatal care pl: make a promise pollɛɛ, polla, polla, pogaalɛɛ poleba, pollaa, poleba pogitogo [pógítógó] adv. very short polle noɔre, polle teebo to vow and small Var. pogitogoo pololo [pʊ́lʊ́lʊ́ ] adj. pointed and pokuoŋaa [pʊ̀ kúóŋáá] n. sharp sharp stomachache without diarrhoea pl: pomm [pòmm] adv. bloated like a pokuoni 2pl: pokuonee balloon pokpaane [pʊ̀ kpàànɪ]̀ n. fasting 2pl: pompoluoree [pómpólúóréé] n. a pokpaanɛɛ Var. pokpegri type of wild tree with edible fruit pokpegiri [pʊ̀ kpégrí] n. closed- pl: pompoluori 2pl: pompoluoree heartedness, without an open Var. polimpoluoree mind, wickedness pl: pokpege 2pl: pompoŋɔ [pʊ́mpʊ́ ŋɔ̀] n. a type of pokpegree Var. pokpaane poisonous green-trunked tree with pokpɛlɛnkyɛ [pʊ̀ kpɛlɛ́ nʧɛ́ ]́ n. the act white nectar pl: pomponne 2pl: of being potentially dangerous pomponnɛɛ Var. pompoŋa

250 ponaŋa põɔ ponaŋa [pʊ́náŋ] n. severe stom- poore [pʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to challenge, to achache pl: ponanne 2pl: ponan- compete poorɛɛ, poora, poora, nɛɛ Var. ponaŋe pooreba, pooraa ponne [pʊ́nnɪ]́ v. (1) to drop in poore [pʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to spray e.g. wa- bits e.g. rain (2) to test tightness ter onto someone poorɛɛ, poora, e.g. string of bow, guitar ponnɛɛ, poora, pooreba, pooraa ponnɔ, ponnɔ, ponema, ponnaa poore [pʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to harvest grass ponne [pʊ̀ nnɪ]̀ v. to covet; to make stalks poorɛɛ, poora, poora, advances to mate with e.g. animals pooreba, pooraa poɔ [pʊ́ɔ́] n. stomach, abdomen pl: ponne [pʊ̀ nnɪ]̀ adj. not up to stan- poore 2pl: poorɛɛ dard poɔ [pʊ́ ɔ́] n. part (of a group) • A poŋi [pôŋ] n. pollen pl: ponni 2pl: pɔgelee ba poɔ a zɔɔreŋ. The girl is ponnee not part of the fight. pl: poore 2pl: poŋi [pòŋ] v. (1) to shave (hair) (2) poorɛɛ to remove corn from the cob poŋee, poɔ [pʊ́ɔ́] n. pregnancy pl: poore 2pl: pono, pono, ponimo, ponaa, poni- poorɛɛ mo poɔ [pʊ́ɔ́] v. to beat down on by poŋi [póŋ] v. to share, to divide rain poɔɛɛ, poɔrɔ, poɔrɔ, poɔreba, poŋee, pono, pono, ponimo, ponaa poɔraa poo [pʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adv. sound made when poɔ [pʊ́ɔ̀] v. to add to; to in- one wades into water (ono- clude poɔɛɛ, poɔrɔ, poɔrɔ, poɔreba, matopoeia) poɔraa po-o [pʊ́-ʊ́] n. ocean 2pl: poorɛɛ Var. poɔ [pʊ́ɔ́] post. (1) in, inside • Ka mpoɔne/mpoɔnɛɛ (Akan) diibuŋ be fo noɔre poɔ fo koɳ tõɔ̃ yeli yɛlɛ velaa. If there is food in poomɔ [pʊ́ʊ́mɔ̀] n. bean weevil 2pl: your mouth, you cannot talk well. poomɛɛ Var. pooma (2) among, within • O poɔ la a poone [pʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to persist e.g. talk, bibiiri na naŋ daŋe waaboŋ. S/he argue • O maŋ boɔle la ba woŋi is among the children who came yeli kyɛ meŋ aŋ poonɔ pare. early. When he calls, there comes no põɔ [pʊ̀̃ ɔ̀̃] v. (1) to interrupt • A answer, but he persists in calling bie ba tu o noɔre baare kyɛ ka a earnestly. poonɛɛ, poonɔ, poonɔ, karema põɔ kpɛ, yeli ka zirii la. poonema, poonaa The child had not finished telling poore [pʊ̌ʊ̌rɪ]́ n. challenge 2pl: his story when the teacher inter- poorɛɛ rupted and said it was a lie. • A

251 põɔ pori

pɔgebilii deɛnɛ la velaa zaa ka poɔroŋ [pʊ́ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. rot, rotten thing dɔɔbilii mine wa põɔ kpɛ ka a pl: poɔrɔ deɛne ŋmaa. The girls were hap- popaale [pʊ́páálɪ]́ n. disease that pily playing when some boys in- causes swollen feet and a distended terrupted them and the play ended. stomach (2) to perform a task earlier than popeɛloŋ [pʊpɪɛlʊŋ] n. happiness expected • A tontonema da põɔ ́ ́ ́ ́ iree la gaa o toma zie a na te de popelaa [pʊ́pɪláá]́ n. stomachache ba sanyɔɔ. The workers left before popelaa [pʊ́pɪláá]́ adv. (1) prostrate dawn to the work place in order to (2) open minded receive their salaries. põɔɛ, poɔnɔ, popɛge [pòpɛgɪ́ ]́ n. outer shell pl: poɔnɔ, poɔnema, poɔnaa popɛgere/popɛgɛ 2pl: popɛgerɛɛ ́ ́ põɔ [pʊ̃ ɔ̃] v. to rot põɔ̃ɛ̃, poɔnɔ, popɛle [pʊ̀ pɛ̀lɪ]̀ n. (1) happiness, joy poɔnɔ, poɔnema, poɔnaa (used with taa) (2) choice, wish põɔ [pʊ̃́ ɔ̃́] v. to play a game of popo [pòpò] n. motorcycle pl: hide and seek põɔ̃ɛ̃, poɔnɔ, poɔnɔ, popori 2pl: poporee poɔnema, poɔnaa pore [pʊ́rɪ]́ adj. tiny, small pl: porre poɔle [pʊ́ɔ́lɪ]́ v. (1) to cause wet- 2pl: porrɛɛ ness of e.g. floor (2) to soak herbs pore [pʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to name, to mention (preparing medicine) poɔlɛɛ, poɔlɔ, porɛɛ, porɔ, porɔ, poreba, poraa poɔlɔ, poɔlbɔ, poɔlaa pore [pʊ́rɪ]̀ v. to pour out porɛɛ, poɔle [pʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to make the end of porɔ, porɔ, poreba, poraa something pointed poɔlɛɛ, poɔlɔ, poɔlɔ, poɔlbɔ, poɔlaa pore [pʊ́rɪ]̀ v. to buy herbal medicine porɛɛ, porɔ, porɔ, poreba, poraa poɔle [pʊ́ɔ́lɪ]́ adj. pointed end • A pore [pʊrɪ] adj. small in size bugo pare waa la poɔle lɛ. The ́ ́ bottom of the granary is pointed. pore [pʊ̀ rɪ]̀ adj. abundant in quantity poɔnaa [pʊ́ɔ́náá] n. hide and seek (children’s game) pl: poɔne 2pl: poree [póréé] n. pair of pegs on poɔnɛɛ which pots and calabashes are placed pl: porri 2pl: porree poɔre [pʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to rub to clear e.g. hand over face just from sleep pori [pòrì] v. to cause to blister, to (2) to clutch with both hands and scald (of fire) poree, poro, poro, feet e.g. in climbing a tree or poribo, poraa wall poɔrɛɛ, poɔrɔ, poɔrɔ, poɔreba, pori [pòrì] adj. sound of a big falling poɔraa object from a height (a big fruit)

252 pori powolaa pori [pórí] adj. sound of a small ob- posaanaa [posaanaa] n. sorrow, un- ject falling from a height (small happiness pl: posaane/posaama fruit) 2pl: posaanɛɛ pori [pórí] v. to struggle e.g. dying posogedaa [pòsʊ̀ gdàá] n. back- fowl poree, poro, poro, poribo, po- bone pl: posogedaare 2pl: raa posogedaarɛɛ poriko [póríkó] n. pig pl: porikori posoge-kpoŋi [pósʊ́g-kpôŋ] n. 2pl: porikoree Var. pariko spinal tuberculosis porisi [pórísì] n. police pl: porisiri posogɔ [pósʊ́ gɔ́] n. mid-back pl: 2pl: porisiree posogere 2pl: posogerɛɛ Var. posoga poritiisan [pòrítɪɪ́ sa]́ n. police sta- tion pl: poritiisanne 2pl: poriti- poteɛrɛ [pʊ́tɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. thoughts, wishes isanɛɛ/poritiisannɛɛ poteɛroŋ [pʊ̀ tɪɛ́ rʊ́ ́ŋ] n. thought pl: poroso [pòròsò] adv. large and poteɛrɛ round e.g. balloon potulimo [pótúlímó] adj. backwards poroworo [pʊ̀ rɪwʊ̀ ̀ rʊ̀ ] adj. countless Var. potulo and all over the place e.g. piglets of potulo [pótúló] adj. backwards Var. a sow potulimo porɔ [pʊ́rɔ́] n. fail to respond potuo [pòtúó] n. wickedness, malice smoothly or click (archer’s arrow) pl: potuuri 2pl: potuuree • A tammo ŋmɛ la porɔ ka a tan- po-tu [pò-tù] n. the act of following teɛrɛ teɛ a soɔŋaa nyɛre. The bow potuoluŋ [pòtúólúŋ] n. wickedness failed to release the arrow and so the archer failed to hit the hare. pl: potuosobɔ [pòtúósʊ́bá] n. wicked porre 2pl: porɛɛ person pl: potuodeme Var. potu- osoba porre [pʊ́rrɪ]̀ v. to force air through closed lips (rude way of disagree- potuuro [pòtúúró] n. follower, disci- ing; lie) porrɛɛ, porra, porra, ple pl: potuuribo poreba, porraa pou [póú] adv. sound of blast e.g. bal- porre [pʊ́rrɪ]̀ v. to break into tiny loon (onomatopoeia) bits porrɛɛ, porra, porra, poreba, povelaa [pʊ̀ vɪlàá]̀ adj. sincere, pure porraa pl: poveɛle porri [pórrì] v. to report porree, powɛle [pʊ́wɛlɪ́ ]́ n. confession porro, porro, poribo, porraa powolaa [pʊ́wʊláá] n. wickedness posãa [pʊ̀ sã̀ã̀] n. sadness pl: powolle Var. pobieri

253 po-yiraa pɔgegbeɛloo po-yiraa [pʊ̀ -yíráá] n. miscarriage pɔgebeɛle [pɔ̀gɪbɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ n. the act of pl: po-yirri Var. po-yi taking a bride to the bridegroom pozagela [pʊ́zágɪlà]́ n. innocence pɔgebeɛlɛ [pɔ̀gɪbɪ̀ ɛ́ lɛ]́ n. bridesmaid pozagelaa [pʊ́zágɪláá]́ n. empty pl: pɔgebeɛlbɛ 2pl: pɔgebeɛloo stomach pl: pozagele pɔgebeɛloŋ [pɔ̀gɪbɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀lʊ̌ŋ] n. marriage pozagelaa [pʊ́zágɪláá]́ n. the state feast (taking the bride to the bride- of being free of malice toward an- groom) other pl: pozagele pɔgebeɛre [pɔ̀gɪbɪ̀ ɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. a stage in pozu [pòzú] n. gossip pl: pozuri 2pl: courtship pozuree pɔge-bɔ [pɔ̀gɪbɔ̀ ́] n. courtship pɔ [pɔ́] v. to swear; to make a vow Pɔgedãã [pɔ̀gɪdã̀ ́ã̀] n. name tradition- pɔɛ, poɔrɔ, poɔrɔ, poɔreba, poɔraa ally given to a female child born pɔ-eŋe [pɔ́-ɪŋ]̀ v. to curse; putting on day of locally brewed beer pl: a malicious spell on someone pɔ Pɔgedaamine 2pl: Pɔgedaanɛɛ eŋɛɛ, poɔrɔ ennɛ, pɔ-ennɛ, pɔ- pɔge-de [pɔ̀gɪ-dɪ́ ]́ n. marriage enemɛ, pɔ-ennaa pɔgederaa [pɔ̀gɪdɪ̀ ráá]́ n. a woman pɔge [pɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to close, to shut that is qualified to be married pl: (2) to cover (3) to imprison pɔgɛɛ, pɔgederre 2pl: pɔgederɛɛ pɔgrɔ, pɔgrɔ, pɔgreba, pɔgraa, pɔ- pɔgederɛ [pɔ̀gɪdɪ̀ rɛ́ ]́ n. (1) bride- greba groom (2) a man who is eligible to pɔge [pɔ́gɪ]́ n. (1) female (2) woman marry (3) wife pl: pɔgebɔ 2pl: pɔgebɛɛ pɔgederoŋ [pɔ̀gɪdɪ̀ rʊ́ ́ ŋ] n. marriage pɔge [pɔ́gɪ]̀ v. (1) to meet the pres- (action of groom) ence of • Daŋ iribu wa pɔge ma pɔgedɔgerɔ [pɔ̀gɪdɔ̀ ̀gɪrɔ̀ ́] n. a woman kyɛ ka N gaa. Get up early to come who has just given birth to a child and meet me before I go. (2) to hit pl: pɔgedɔgereba 2pl: pɔgedɔgere- a target • A naŋkpaana ŋmɛ la bɛɛ walaa kyɛ o ba pɔge o. The hunter shot an antelope but did not hit the pɔgefaa-ŋmenaa [pɔ́gɪfáá-ŋɪ́ náá]́ n. target. (3) to be possible • A baa early evening (4 pm) kye a dieŋ; o naa pɔge la yeŋe poɔ. pɔgegori [pɔ̀gígórí] n. bride price pl: The dog is not in the room; it may pɔgegoe 2pl: pɔgegoree be outside. pɔgɛɛ, pɔgrɔ, pɔgrɔ, pɔ- pɔgeguri [pɔ̀gɪgùrì]̀ n. rape greba, pɔgraa, pɔgreba pɔgegbeɛloo [pɔ̀gɪbɪ̀ ɛ́ lʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. one pɔgebaa [pɔ̀gɪbáá]̀ n. (1) a woman who leads the bride to the bride- who has a sharp tongue (2) prosti- groom’s house pl: pɔgegbeɛlebɛ tute pl: pɔgebaare 2pl: pɔgebaarɛɛ 2pl: pɔgegbeɛlebɛɛ

254 pɔge-iraa pɔgeseɛ pɔge-iraa [pɔ̀gɪ-íráá]́ n. a woman pɔgenyɔgeraa [pɔgeɲɔgeraa] n. a who has eloped with her fiance pl: woman who has eloped with a man pɔge-irri pl: pɔgenyɔgerre pɔgekoɔre [pɔ̀gɪkʊ̀ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) un- pɔgenyuo [pɔ̀gɪɲúó]̀ n. woman with married woman (2) widower pl: a big navel (name) pl: pɔgenyuu- pɔgekɔbɔ 2pl: pɔgekɔbɛɛ ri/pɔgenyumine pɔgekɔŋ [pɔ̀gɪkɔ̀ ̂ŋ] n. unavailability pɔgepẽɛ̃ [pɔ̀gɪpɪ̀ ɛ̀̃ ̀̃] n. courtship of mariagable women pɔge-pɛgebo [pɔ̀gɪ-pɛ̀ gɪ́ bʊ́ ́] n. men- pɔgekuree [pɔ̀gɪkúréé]̀ n. skirt pl: struation pɔgekurri 2pl: pɔgekurree pɔgepiiraa [pɔ̀gɪpííráá]̀ n. (1) fi- pɔge-kyaaraa [pɔ̀gɪ-ʧàáráá]̀ n. ancee, betrothed woman (2) en- woman offered for marriage pl: gaged woman for marriage pl: pɔge-kyaare 2pl: pɔge-kyaarɛɛ pɔgepiiri 2pl: pɔgepiiree pɔgekyeɛ [pɔ̀gɪʧɪ̀ ɛ́ ]́ n. sister-in-law pɔgepoɔ [pɔ̀gìpʊ́ɔ́] n. pregnant pl: pɔgekyeere/pɔgekyemine 2pl: woman pl: pɔgepoore 2pl: pɔge- pɔgekyeerɛɛ poorɛɛ pɔgekyɛre [pɔ̀gɪʧɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ n. payment of Pɔgesaa [pɔ̀gɪsáá]̀ n. name tradition- bride price ally given to a female child born on pɔge-la-dɔɔ [pɔ̀gɪ-lá-dɔ̀ ́ɔ́] n. woman a rainy day pl: pɔgesamine with manly features pl: pɔge-la- pɔgesaraa [pɔ̀gɪsáráà]̀ n. young dɔbɔ woman pl: pɔgesarre 2pl: pɔgesar- pɔgele [pɔ̀gɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to tame pɔgelɛɛ, rɛɛ pɔgelɔ, pɔgelɔ, pɔgeleba, pɔgelaa pɔgesarebie [pɔ̀gɪsárɪ̀ bíé]́ n. a pɔgelee [pɔ̀gɪléé]̀ n. (1) girl (2) ju- woman’s firstborn pl: pɔgesarebiiri nior wife (second of two wives) pl: 2pl: pɔgesarebiiree pɔgebilii 2pl: pɔgebillee pɔgesarelee [pɔ̀gɪsárɪ̀ léé]́ n. young pɔgeloŋ [pɔ̀gɪlʊ̀ ́ŋ] n. womanliness woman pl: pɔgesarebilii pɔge-nɔgeraa [pɔ̀gɪ-nɔ̀ ̀gɪràá]̀ n. pɔgeseɛ [pɔ̀gɪsɪ̀ ɛ́ ]́ n. woman who is woman (a derogatory term imply- menstruating pl: pɔgeseere 2pl: ing that the woman is a sojourner pɔgeseerɛɛ and therefore has no power) pl: pɔgeseɛ [pɔ̀gɪsɪ̀ ɛ́ ]́ n. a type of yam pl: pɔge-nɔgere 2pl: pɔge-nɔgerɛɛ pɔgeseere 2pl: pɔgeseerɛɛ pɔgenyaŋaa [pɔ̀gɪɲáŋáá]̀ n. old pɔgeseɛ [pɔ̀gɪsɪ̀ ɛ́ ]́ n. (1) a woman’s woman pl: pɔgnyaŋene/pɔgenyanne cloth measuring about 72 x 45 2pl: pɔgenyannɛɛ inches worn on the waist (2) any

255 pɔgeserekulo pɔloo

such size of cloth sg: seerɛɛ pl: pɔgeyiraa [pɔ̀gɪyíráá]̀ n. divorced pɔgeseere 2pl: pɔge woman pl: pɔgeyirri 2pl: pɔgeyir- pɔgeserekulo [pɔ̀gɪsɪ̀ rɪ̀ kúlò]̀ n. ree marriageable woman pl: pɔge- Pɔgezeɛ [pɔ̀gɪzɪ̀ ɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) light- serekulibo 2pl: pɔgeserekulibee skinned woman (2) female name pɔgesoga [pɔ̀gɪsʊ̀ ́gá] n. middle wife pl: pɔgezeere/pɔgezeɛmine (one in between the first and last of pɔlaa [pɔ̀làà] n. heartbeat, pulse pl: three or more wives) pl: pɔgesogre pɔlle 2pl: pɔllɛɛ 2pl: pɔgesogrɛɛ pɔlaare [pɔ́láárɪ]̀ v. to swear ve- pɔgesoɔbɔ [pɔ̀gɪsʊ̀ ́ ɔ́bɔ́] n. witch pl: hemently pɔlaarɛɛ, poɔrɔlaara, pɔgesoɔre 2pl: pɔgesoɔrɛɛ pɔlaara, pɔlaareba, pɔlaaraa Pɔgesugilo [pɔ̀gɪsúgiló]̀ n. female pɔlbile [pɔ́lbílé] n. young man pl: name traditionally given to the sec- pɔlbilii 2pl: pɔlbilee Var. pɔle, ond born after twins pɔlee pɔgesugo [pɔ̀gɪsúgó]̀ n. a large pɔle [pɔ́lɪ]̀ n. young boy pl: pɔlbilii group of women pl: pɔgesugri 2pl: Var. pɔlee, pɔlbile pɔgesugree pɔle [pɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. (1) to grow to maturity pɔge-tu [pɔ̀gɪ-tù]̀ n. taking home of (2) to be full of life (3) to become a woman who failed to divorce beautiful pɔlɛɛ, pɔllɔ, pɔllɔ, pɔleba pɔge-tu [pɔ̀gɪ-tú]̀ n. final stage in pɔlee [pɔ́lɪɪ́ ]́ n. young man Var. pɔle, courtship pɔlbile pɔgetuuro [pɔ̀gɪtúúró]̀ n. one who pɔlese [pɔ́lɪsɪ́ ]̀ v. to polish pɔleseɛ, takes a woman from her family to pɔleseerɛ, pɔleseerɛ, pɔleseerebɛ, her husband’s house pl: pɔgetuuri- pɔleseeraa bo 2pl: pɔgetuurbee pɔlkakyeerɛ [pɔ̌lkáʧɪɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. the act of Pɔgeweɛ [pɔ̀gɪwɪ̀ ɛ̀ ]́ n. name tradi- being overly proud of one’s self tionally given to a female child pɔllɔ [pɔ̀llɔ̀] n. pathway used by wild born in the farm/bush (outside of rodents pl: pɔlle 2pl: pɔllɛɛ Var. the normal living environment) pɔle pɔgeyaa [pɔ̀gɪyáá]̀ n. daughter pl: pɔloo [pɔ́lʊ́ʊ́ ] n. liveliness • Yɛ pɔgeyaare 2pl: pɔgeyaarɛɛ yieluŋ na taa la pɔloo. That song pɔgeyagede [pɔ̀gɪyágɪ̀ dɪ́ ]́ n. of yours is lively. polygamy pɔloo [pɔ́lʊ́ʊ́] n. (1) pride (2) vanity pɔgeyi-gane [pɔ̀gɪyí-gánɪ̀ ]̀ n. writ • A pɔgelee na veɛlɛ la kyɛ o erɛ of divorce pl: pɔgeyi-gama 2pl: la pɔloo. That young lady is beau- pɔgeyi-gannɛɛ tiful but she is proud.

256 pɔlteɛ pulli pɔlteɛ [pɔ̀ltìɛ̀] n. frightening pɔre [pɔ́rɪ]́ v. to carry out a test to pɔmɛɛ [pɔ̀mɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. fat and round find a wrongdoer pɔrɛɛ, pɔrɔ, pɔrɔ, pɔmpɔre [pɔ̌mpɔ̀rɪ]́ adj. very young pɔreba, pɔraa and immature e.g. puppy pɔ saa [pɔ́ sáá] v. to jump from a very pɔnne [pɔ̀nnɪ]̀ v. (1) to hold onto high point e.g. lizard from the tip of someone’s chest or belly, but not a tree branch firmly • A saa naŋ iri la ka a pu [pù] v. to flower pue, puuro, puu- bie zɛle o yɔɔlee pɔnne a zɛlzɛlɛ ro, puuribo, puuraa, - Var. puuri zoro ne. As the rain started, the pu [pù] v. to pluck very tender fruits child picked his brother and half e.g. okra pue, puuro, puuro, puuri- dragged him away. (2) to be calm bo, puuraa, - Var. puuri • Saseɛ daare erɛ la kyɛ saa mie pu [pú] v. direct to • O naŋ yeli a la ka zie pɔnne. It used to be yɛlɛ o ba pore neɛ zaa yuori kyɛ windy but with the coming of rain, te baŋe la neɛ na o naŋ pu. S/he the weather is calm. pɔnnɛɛ, pɔnnɔ, did not mention any person’s name pɔnnɔ, pɔnema, pɔnnaa in the talk but we know who it was pɔntenakaare [pɔ̀ntɪnàkáárɪ́ ]́ n. one directed to. that is here and there 2pl: pɔnte- pugi [púgí] v. (1) to disturb e.g. dust, nakaarɛɛ water (2) to knead e.g. flour or pɔntere [pɔ̀ntɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. toad pl: pɔnteɛ shea butter dough pugee, pugiro, 2pl: pɔnteerɛɛ pugiro, pugiribo, pugiraa pɔɔ [pɔ̀ɔ́] v. to be too small, to be too pugi [pùgì] v. (1) to praise (2) to young pɔɔɛ, pɔɔrɔ, pɔɔrɔ, pɔɔrebɔ, adore pugee, pugiro, pugiro, pu- pɔɔraa giribo, pugiraa pɔɔre [pɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. a short and poi- pugo [púgó] adj. gray pl: pugiri 2pl: sonous snake Var. mabiekon- pugiree tapɔgema puli [púlí] adv. under, below pɔpɔrɛɛ [pɔ́pɔ́rɛɛ́ ]́ n. Honeycomb in which bee larvae develop into adult puli [pùlí] n. an emergency exit of bees. sg: pɔpɔroo Var. sepɔpɔrɛɛ rodents that live in holes pl: pulo pɔraa [pɔ́ràà] n. (1) an ordeal to 2pl: pulee find a wrongdoer (2) the condition puli [púlí] n. hind toe of a bird pl: of hanging in the balance pl: pɔrre pulli 2pl: pulee 2pl: pɔrrɛɛ pulli [pùllì] v. to mix • Ba de la bɛŋɛ pɔre [pɔ́rɪ]̀ v. (1) to pluck (fruit) pulli ne a mui. They mixed the (2) to die (baby) pɔrɛɛ, pɔrɔ, pɔrɔ, rice with beans. pulee, pullo, pullo, pɔreba, pɔraa pulibo, pullaa, pulibo

257 pulli puri pulli [púllì] v. (1) to repeat (2) round, and hairy e.g. tail end of a to fold over pullee, pullo, pullo, squirrel pulibo, pullaa, pulibo pumpuroŋ [pùmpùròŋ] adv. large, pulluu [púllúú] n. (1) repetition (2) round, and furry refrain (poem, song) puo [púò] n. (1) small farm near the pulompuloŋ [pùlòmpúlóŋ] adj. house (2) farmland pl: poe 2pl: mixed up e.g. different items poree ̀ ̀ puloŋ [púlóŋ] n. sound of a small ob- pũo [pũõ] v. to make a hole through ject falling into water an object pũoe, puono, puono, puono, puonimo, puonaa pulopulo [púlópúló] adj. less serious puoli [púólí] v. to saturate with wa- than • Ka fooŋ la yi tensogɔ saŋa, ter puolee, puolo, puolo, puolibo, a feɛbo ŋa fo ba naŋ feɛ fo zenɛ puolaa na waa la pulopulo. If you go out in the night again, the punishment puoraa [pùòràá] n. (1) greetings (2) you have received today will be less gratitude pl: puoro serious than what you will get. puoraa karetaa [pùòràá káretàá] n. pulopulo [púlópúló] adj. incompara- postcard pl: puoraa karetaare 2pl: ble • Tentoŋ saŋa ŋmenaa maŋ puoraa karetaarɛɛ tasoga puri la ka vũũ meŋ waa puori [pùòrí] n. back (body) pl: poe pulopulo. During the hot season 2pl: poree sometimes the heat of the sun is in- puori [púórì] n. stomach; the organ comparable to fire. in humans and animals in which pulopulo [pùlópùló] adj. made of dif- food is stored pl: poe 2pl: puoree ferent varieties • A tigiri daare o puori [pùòrì] v. (1) to pray (2) to da di la bondi pulopulo te zuo greet (3) to thank puoree, puoro, lɛnso ka o poɔ da beɛrɛ. On the puoro, puoribo, puoraa, puoribo feast day s/he ate too many as- puori [pùòrí] adv. (1) behind (2) sorted dishes and that was why backward (direction) s/he had a stomachache. puoriŋ [púòríŋ] conj. after puluŋ [pùlúŋ] n. a type of grass with puoruu [púórúú] n. prayer pl: sharp tips that can pierce soft or puoro light objects e.g. feet puree [pùrèé] n. paternal aunt, fa- pumpuŋkɔrɔ [púmpúŋkɔ̀rɔ̀] n. ther’s sister pl: purri/purimine 2pl: a type of poisonous plant pl: purree pumpuŋkɔrɛɛ puri [pùrì] v. (1) to burst, to break pumpuroŋ [púmpúróŋ] adv. small, (2) to appear suddenly (3) to rise

258 puro saa-doge

(sun) puree, puro, puro, puribo, used with bi-) pl: puuli puraa, puribo puuli [púúlì] n. a funeral rhythm; a puri ŋmenaa sunrise type of musical performance at a fu- puri wale to sweat, to perspire; to neral rites session pl: puulo 2pl: pu- struggle, to be in a difficult situa- ulee tion puro [púrò] n. a type of tree that has puuri [púúrí] n. flowers sg: puuruu sour sap which is used in preparing 2pl: puuree Var. tepuuri porridge pl: purri 2pl: purree puuri [pùùrì] v. to spray from the puro [púrò] n. a type of small tree mouth (usually chewed material as squirrel pl: purri 2pl: purree medicine) puuree, puuro, puuro, puu [pùù] v. (1) to praise (2) to con- puuribo, puuraa, - Var. pu gratulate puue, puuro, puuro, puu- puuri [pùùrì] v. to harvest okra ribo, puuraa prematurely puuree, puuro, puuro, puulee [púúléé] n. lady (typically puuribo, puuraa, - Var. pu s sa [sá] v. to administer an enema saɛ, damage (2) to be guilty sãaɛ, saana, saara, saara, sareba, saaraa saana, saanema, saanaa, saanema saa [sàá] n. father pl: saamine 2pl: sãabile [sã̀ã́bìlé] n. uncle (fa- saarɛɛ Var. ba ther’s younger brother) pl: saa- saa [sáá] n. rain 2pl: saarɛɛ bilii/saabilimine 2pl: saabilee Var. saa [sáá] adv. even if; short form of saambile saareŋ • Ka fooŋ saa be gaa kyɛ saabo [sáábʊ́ ] n. flour paste (staple fo koŋ nyɛ o. Even if you go you food of the Dagaare-speaking peo- won’t see him/her. Var. saareŋ ple) 2pl: saarɛɛ Var. TZ sãa [sã́ã́] n. blacksmith’s shop Var. saabuulaa [sààbùùláà] n. porridge saaŋ set for preparing saabo pl: saabuuli sãa [sã́ã̀] v. to mash, to mix • Kɔŋe saadaare [sáádáárɪ]́ adv. rainy, wet kpɛ la a balee, sãa saabo eŋe o. day The puppy is hungry; mash some saadoge [sààdʊ́gɪ]́ n. large cooking TZ for it. pot pl: saadogere 2pl: saadogerɛɛ sãa [sã́ã̀] v. to appear, to be visible saa-doge [sààdʊ́ gɪ]̀ n. earthenware sãa [sã̀ã̀] v. (1) to spoil, to destroy, to cooking pot for soup Var. zɛdo-

259 sãadɔɔ saalieni

gelee saakõɔ [sààkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. water in mashed sãadɔɔ [sã́ã́dɔ́ɔ́] n. stranger (male) pl: poridge 2pl: saakoɔnɛɛ sãadɔbɔ saakɔntuo [sáákɔ̌ntúó] n. water saafebiri [sààfɪbírì]̀ n. key pl: from the first rain of the onset of saafebie 2pl: saafebiruu the rainy season pl: saakɔntuuri 2pl: saakɔntuuree saafee [sáàfɪɪ́ ]́ n. lock pl: saafeere 2pl: saafeerɛɛ Var. safoa, safoɔ saala [sáálá] n. charcoal sg: saaloo sa-ageraa [sà-ágɪráà]́ n. rainclouds 2pl: saalɛɛ that gather and suddenly give way saalaa [sààlàà] adj. (1) smooth (2) to clear weather pl: sa-agere 2pl: slippery pl: saale sa-agerɛɛ saalaa [sááláá] n. object used for saakaŋkaŋaa [sáákǎŋkàŋáá] n. a sharpening implements pl: saale type of tree pl: saakaŋkanne 2pl: 2pl: saaɛɛ saakaŋkannɛɛ Var. kaŋkaŋaa saalaa [sààlàà] n. a type of tree with saakaraa [sààkáráá] n. flour paste hard wood pl: saale not fully cooked, still part raw pl: saalaa [sààláá] n. bowl of T.Z. pl: saakarare 2pl: saakarɛɛ saalaare 2pl: saalaarɛɛ ̀ ̀ sãakoma [sããkʊ́má] n. grand- saale [sààlɪ]̀ v. (1) to sharpen e.g. father pl: saakommine 2pl: knife (2) to make smooth, to plas- saakomɛɛ/saakonnɛɛ Var. ter • Ayuo saale la o dipaalaa na saaŋkoma, naa o serɛ naŋ ŋmaa. Ayuo has plas- sãakonnoŋ [sã̀ã̀kʊ́nnʊ́ŋ] n. tradition, tered the new room her husband custom put up. saalɛɛ, saala, saala, saaleba, sãakontulimo [sã̀ã̀kʊ́ntúlímó] n. saalaa great-grandfather pl: sãakontuli- saale [sààlɪ]̀ v. to be sufficient • A mine Var. sãakontulo bondirii ama eŋ na saale ba la. sãakoŋkommuulitoori [sã̀ã̀kʊ̀ ŋkʊ́m- As for this food, it will be suffi- múúlítóórí] n. great-grandfather pl: cient for them. saalɛɛ, saala, saala, sãakoŋkommuulitoorimine Var. saaleba, saalaa sãakontulimo saalesɔglaa [sààlɪsɔ̀ ́gláá] n. a type of sãakoŋkorema [sã̀ã̀kʊ̌ŋkʊ́rɪmá]́ n. tree with hard wood and medici- great-great-grandfather, forefather nal properties pl: saalesɔglɔ 2pl: pl: sãakoŋkoremamine saalesɔglɛɛ sãakoŋkoroma [sã́ã́kʊ́kʊ́rʊ́ma] saalieni [sààlìèní] n. a type of small n. great-great-grandfather Var. plant with an edible, jellylike tuber sãakontulimotulimo pl: saalieme 2pl: saalienee

260 saalombugo sabogi saalombugo [sààlʊ̀ mbùgò] n. a type saapuori [sàápúórì] n. the middle of of small plant whose leaves are T.Z pl: saapoe 2pl: saaporee used in place of okra 2pl: saalom- saapurimo [sààpúrímó] n. pieces of bugiree Var. saalompelaa flour paste (T.Z.) 2pl: saapurimee saalommaane [sààlʊ̌mmáánɪɪ̀ ]̀ n. saaraa [sááráá] n. saw pl: saare 2pl: okra pl: saalommaana Var. maa- saarɛɛ nee saare [sáárɪ]̀ n. broom pl: saɛ 2pl: saalompelaa [sààlʊ̀ mpɪlàà]̀ n. a type saarɛɛ of small plant whose leaves are saaremuri [sáármúrí] n. broom used in place of okra pl: saalom- straw pl: saaremue 2pl: saamuree peɛle 2pl: saalompeɛlɛɛ Var. saareŋ [sáárɪŋ]́ adj. even if • Ka saalombugo fooŋ saareŋ gaa kyɛ fo koŋ nyɛ saaloŋ [sààlʊ̀ ŋ] adj. slippery, slimy • o. Even if you go, you will not see A mui sããɛ̃ la, a waa la saaloŋ lɛ. her. Var. saa The rice is spoilt; it is slimy. saa-toloŋ [sàá-tʊ́lʊ́ŋ] n. hot TZ pl: saaloŋ [sáálʊ́ŋ] n. okra or other saa-tolɔ/saa-tola slimy plant used in soup saazu-kogilo [sààzú-kógiló] n. dried saalɔre [sààlɔ́rɪ]́ n. ball of T.Z. (usu- top of T.Z sg: saazu-kogiluu ally formed by putting T.Z in wa- sabaabo [sàbáábʊ́ ] adj. mysterious ter) sg: saalɔroo pl: saalɔrɔ 2pl: sabeelɛ [sàbɪɪ́ lɛ́ ̀] n. civilian sg: saalɔrɛɛ sabeeloo saana [sáánà] n. stranger, visitor pl: sabɛlemɛ [sàbɛlɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. earthworm saama 2pl: saanɛɛ (short form of sabɛlmɛkyɔɔ) pl: saanaa [sáánáá] n. fault, wrong pl: sabɛlemɛre 2pl: sabɛlemɛrɛɛ Var. saane sɛbɛlemɛ sabɛlemɛkyɔɔ [sàbɛlɪ́ mɛ́ ̀ʧɔ́ɔ́] n. saanweɛleŋ [sáánwɪɛ́ lɪ́ ŋ]́ n. (1) op- earthworm pl: sabɛlemɛkyɔɔre 2pl: posite, contradiction (2) irony (lit- sabɛlemɛkyɔɔrɛɛ Var. sabɛlemɛ erature) Var. saanweɛloŋ sabiri [sàbírì] n. raindrop pl: sabie saaŋ [sááŋ] n. blacksmith’s shop pl: 2pl: sabiiree saane 2pl: saanɛɛ Var. sãa, zam- bɛre sabogi [sábógí] n. something that causes concern e.g. incessant com- saapɛle [sààpɛlɪ́ ]́ n. layer of T.Z pl: plaint • A yi a pɔge bie naŋ kpi saapɛlɛ 2pl: saapɛlɛɛ la ka o deɛ maŋ yele sabogi yɛlɛ. sãapɔge [sã́ã́pɔ́gɪ]́ n. stranger (fe- Since the woman lost her child she male) has always been complaining.

261 sabogi sakuuribie sabogi [sàbògí] n. a type of fetish be- sagoŋgoŋŋo [sàgòŋgóŋŋò] n. rain- lieved to have healing power and bow pl: sagoŋgonni 2pl: sagoŋ- protection especially for children gonnee pl: sabogri 2pl: sabogree sagbini [ságbíní] n. big bundle of sadɛŋe [sàdɛŋ]́ n. first rain (first traditional broomsticks (the local heavy rain after which the people broom is usually a bundle of slim sow their crops) pl: sadɛnne 2pl: but strong straw) pl: sagbime 2pl: sadɛnnɛɛ Var. sadɛŋɛ sagbimee safeaa [sàfɪáá]́ n. survey pl: safeere sakaliŋkuuree [sàkálíŋkúúréé] n. 2pl: safeerɛɛ whirlwind pl: sakaliŋkuuri safekyeɛrɛ [sàfɪʧɪ̀ ɛ̀ ̀rɛ̀] n. surveyor pl: sakere [sákɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. bicycle pl: sakeɛ safekyeɛrebɛ 2pl: safekyeɛrebɛɛ 2pl: sakerɛɛ Var. baasakuuri safoa [sàfʊ̀ á] n. lock pl: safoore 2pl: sakõɔ [sàkʊ̀̃ ɔ̃́] n. heavy rain 2pl: safoorɛɛ Var. safoɔ sakoɔnɛɛ safobiri [sàfʊ̀ bírì] n. key pl: safo- sakoraa [sàkóràá] n. gathered rain bie 2pl: safobiiree Var. saafobiri, clouds; the condition of preparing saafebiri to rain pl: sakorri 2pl: sakorree safoɔ [sàfʊɔ] n. lock pl: safoore 2pl: ̀ ́ sakɔre [sàkɔ́rɪ]́ n. scrap of saabo left safoorɛɛ Var. safoa, saafee in the pot 2pl: sakɔrɛɛ sagane [sàgánɪ]̀ n. sky blue pl: sakɔre [sákɔ́rɪ]́ adj. (1) useless, lazy sagama 2pl: sagannɛɛ • Ba-sakɔre ba nɔŋ mɔyɔ. A lazy sage [sàgɪ]̀ v. (1) to answer (2) to dog does not like hunting. (2) agree, to accept, to obey (3) to al- dirty, untidy • Nensaal-sakɔre low, to permit (4) to admit guilt zaa maŋ nyuuro la. Every dirty (5) to receive (6) to sing after a lead person has an odour. singer sagɛɛ, sagra, sagra, sagreba, sakubie [sákúbìé] n. student pl: sagraa, sagreba sakubiiri 2pl: sakubiiree sage [ságɪ]́ v. to be piled up sagɛɛ, sakubo [sàkúbò] n. hail pl: sakuuri sagera, sagera, sagereba, sageraa, 2pl: sakuuree sagereba sagele [sàgɪlɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be caught up; sakuuri [sàkúúrí] n. (1) hailstone, to be entangled e.g. stick thrown ice cube pl: sakue 2pl: sakuuree into a tree sagelɛɛ, sagela, sagela, sakuuri [sàkùùrì] n. school pl: sakue sageleba, sagelaa 2pl: sakuuree sagere [sàgɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. rubbish pl: saga sakuuribie [sàkúúríbíé] n. student 2pl: sagɛɛ pl: sakuuribiiri Var. sakubie

262 sakperɛ samasama sakperɛ [sákpɪrɛ́ ]́ n. disused broom salendoge [sàlɪndʊ̀ ̀ gɪ]̀ n. treasury pl: sakperre 2pl: sakperɛɛ (traditional) pl: salendogre 2pl: sal- sakyeɛre [sàʧɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ n. a type of hat endogrɛɛ Var. salendoglee with a large brim e.g. cowboy pl: salendogelee [sàlɪndʊ̀ ́ gléé] n. (1) a sakyeɛrɛ pot made of gold (2) a pot in which sakyɔre [sàʧɔ̀rɪ]̀ adv. height of the gold or treasure is kept pl: salendo- rainy season gebilii Var. salendoge salala [sàlàlà] adj. dull, passive saleŋgoɔ [sálɪŋgʊ́ ́ɔ́] n. a type of salamante [sàlàmántɪ]̀ n. cement pl: tree with long, spiky thorns pl: salmantere 2pl: salmanterɛɛ saleŋgoore 2pl: saleŋgoorɛɛ Var. salansalaŋ [sálánsáláŋ] adj. smooth sansaŋgoɔ Salaŋa [sàláŋá] n. a person who saleŋkuuri [sàlɪŋkúúrí]̀ n. (1) gold works as a cleaner and orderly nugget (2) pearl pl: saleŋkubo maintenance of the innermost part salinsoo-naadaperaa [sàlìnsòò- of a chief’s palace pl: salanne 2pl: náádàpɪráà]́ n. large grasshopper pl: salannɛɛ salinso-naadaperre 2pl: salinso- sale [sàlɪ]̀ v. (1) to be dispirited • N naadaperɛɛ woŋ la o fieluu yɛle, ka n eŋɛ zaa salinsoori [sàlìnsóórí] n. grasshop- sale. When I heard of her failure, I per pl: salinsobo 2pl: salinsooree was disturbed. (2) to cook a small amount soup • A biyaala seŋ ka o salinsuuri [sálínsúúrí] n. shadow sale zeɛre ko a bie. The babysitter Var. dasuoluŋ should be able to cook some small saluoni [sàlúóní] n. sky pl: saluomo food for the child. salɛɛ, salla, salla, 2pl: saluonee salba, sallaa samafuu [sàmàfúù] n. worth noth- sale [sàlɪ]̀ v. to make sauce slippery ing in the end sale [sálɪ]́ n. a type of plant with samane [sámánɪ]́ n. immediate sur- medicinal properties, believed to roundings of a house pl: samama provide strength and power 2pl: 2pl: samanɛɛ salɛɛ salema [sálɪmá]̀ n. gold 2pl: sal- samane [sámánɪ]́ n. toilet pl: lɛɛ/salemɛɛ samama 2pl: samanɛɛ salembogi [sàlɪmbògí]̀ n. gold mine samasama [sàmàsámà] n. sanitary pl: salembogri 2pl: salembogree inspector pl: sansammine salempelaa [sàlɪmpɪ̀ làá]́ n. diamond samasama [sámásámá] adj. occu- pl: salempeɛle 2pl: salempeɛlɛɛ pied and filled to capacity

263 sambakelee saŋe sambakelee [sámbákéléé] n. pot- saniŋe [sàníŋè] n. West Var. luou tery shard pl: sambakelli Var. se- sanlɛre [sànlɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. straw put up to- mekelee gether to form a mat on which har- sambala [sámbálá] n. a type of long, vested ears of guinea corn is kept to hairy grass sg: sambaloo pl: sam- dry pl: sanlɛrre 2pl: sanlɛrɛɛ Var. bala 2pl: sambalɛɛ sɛnlɛre sa-miiraa [sà-mííráá] n. rain that is sanna [sànnà] v. to caution, to warn possible to come pl: sa-miiri • Fo naŋ daare to a dɔɔ ŋa lɛ sampa [sámpá] n. a type of shed the na aŋ sanna o yiri gaabo. The roof of which is used to store corn way you insulted this man, you’d and under which is used as a place better be warned not to go to to relax pl: sampare 2pl: samparɛɛ his house. sannɛɛ, sanna, sanna, sampane [sámpánɪ]́ n. wooden foot- sanema, sannaa shaped mallet for beating floor to sanne [sánnɪ]̀ v. to attempt sannɛɛ, plaster it pl: sampama 2pl: sam- sanna, sanna, sanema, sannaa panɛɛ sansalaŋ [sànsàlàŋ] adv. disorderly sampire [sàmpìré] n. clusters of Var. sansaraŋ grass 2pl: sampirree Var. sempire sansaŋgoɔ [sánsáŋgʊ́ɔ̀] n. a type of sampulo [sámpúló] adv. several thorn tree pl: sansaŋgoore 2pl: times • O wa la kyɛ sampulo sansaŋgoorɛɛ Var. saleŋgoɔ bowola zaa kyɛ ba nyɛ fo. S/he sansaraŋ [sánsáráŋ] adv. mak- came here several times but did ing moves to leave all of a sud- not see you. den (without prior notice) Var. sanaŋe [sànáŋ] n. a type of large, sansalaŋ black scorpion pl: sananne 2pl: san-yɔɔ [sán-yɔ́ɔ́] n. salary pl: san- sanannɛɛ yɔɔre 2pl: san-yɔɔrɛɛ sandaana [sándááná] n. creditor, sanyegeraa [sànyɪgɪ́ ráá]́ n. lighten- one who is owed money pl: san- ing (flashes of light in a storm) pl: daama 2pl: sandaamɛɛ sanyegere 2pl: sanyegerɛɛ sandire [sándíré] n. debtor, one who saŋa [sáŋɪ]̀ n. time, season 2pl: san- owes money pl: sandiribe 2pl: nɛɛ Var. saŋe sandiribee saŋe [sáŋɪ]̀ v. to heal, to cure • Tẽẽ sane [sánɪ]̀ n. debt pl: sama 2pl: san- ama la daare soŋ saŋ a baala. nɛɛ This medicine helped in curing the sangyẽaa [sǎŋdzɪã̀̃ ́ã́] n. (1) a type of patient. saŋɛɛ, sanna/saŋena, sa- long water beetle (2) crab pl: saŋ- nena, sanema, sansaŋena, saŋe- gyeɛne 2pl: saŋgyeɛnɛɛ naa

264 saŋgara sawarema saŋgara [sàŋgàrá] n. a type of worm sare [sárɪ]̀ n. water trough (con- found in kola nuts tainer from which animals drink) saŋgorema [sàŋgʊ̀ rɪmà]̀ n. foot pl: saɛ 2pl: sarɛɛ Var. sɛre yaws sareka [sàrɪkà]́ n. a ritual in which saŋkora [sáŋkʊ́ rá] n. old indebted- one provides for the needy for ness • Ka fooŋ pɛŋe libie ba yɔɔ atonement pl: sarekare 2pl: baare kyɛ la boɔrɔ a mine see ka sakarɛɛ fo yɔɔ a fo saŋkora na sɛre. If you sarre [sárrɪ]̀ v. to develop into a borrow money and have not paid young woman sarrɛɛ, sarra, sarra, back you will not get a new loan sareba, sarraa unless you pay up your old debt. saseɛ [sàsɪɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) air, wind (2) saŋkpalema [sáŋkpálɪmà]́ n. a kind storm pl: saseere 2pl: saseerɛɛ of large antelope pl: saŋkpalle sase-ɔɔre [sásɪ-ɔ̀ ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. harmattan saŋkpana [sǎŋkpáná] n. scabies 2pl: 2pl: sase-ɔɔrɛɛ saŋkpanɛɛ sasepilimbaŋe [sàsɪpílímbɔ̀ ́ŋ] n. saŋmene [sáŋmɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. god of rain pl: whirlwind pl: sasepilimbanne 2pl: saŋmemɛ 2pl: saŋmennɛɛ sasepilimbannɛɛ Var. sasepilim- bɔŋ sapare [sàpárɪ]́ n. East pl: saparre 2pl: saparɛɛ sasere [sàsɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. grasscutter, greater cane rat (large rodent that feeds sapelaa [sàpɪlàá]̀ n. (1) rain from cu- mostly on grass) sg: saseroo pl: mulus clouds (2) a type of rain god saseɛ 2pl: saserɛɛ (white) pl: sapeɛle 2pl: sapeɛlɛɛ sasigoo [sàsígóó] n. hiccough pl: sapigi [sápígí] n. large hat pl: sapige sasigri 2pl: sasigree 2pl: sapgree sasɔgelaa [sàsɔ́gláá] n. (1) rain from sapĩi [sàpĩĩ́ ]̀ n. bolt of lightning pl: black clouds (2) a type of fetish or sapiime 2pl: sapiinee deity connected with rain (black) pl: sapooraa [sàpʊ́ʊ́ráá] n. rain shower sasɔgelɔ/sasɔgele 2pl: sasɔgelɛɛ pl: sapoore 2pl: sapoorɛɛ sasusulee [sàsúsúléé] n. a type of sapɔ [sàpɔ́] n. sponge pl: sapɔre 2pl: tree pl: sasusulli 2pl: sasusullee sapɔrɛɛ satannaa [sàtànnáà] v. to thunder saraa [sáràà] adj. young and female savaale [sàváálɪ]́ n. rainstorm (at (human and nonhuman) pl: sarre night) pl: savaala 2pl: savaalɛɛ 2pl: sarrɛɛ sawarema [sàwárɪmá]́ n. white- sare [sàrɪ]̀ v. to slip sarɛɛ, sara, sara, looking cloud sg: sawaroo 2pl: sareba, saraa sawaremɛɛ Var. sawarɛɛ

265 sawarɛɛ seɛ sawarɛɛ [sàwárɛɛ́ ]́ n. white clouds but he refused me. sebɛɛ, sebrɛ, se- (non-rain-bearing) 2pl: sawar- brɛ, sebrebɛ, sebraa rɛɛ/sawaremɛɛ Var. sawarema sebogi [sɪbògí]́ n. beehive, hole (usu- sawɛge [sáwɛgɪ́ ]́ n. long cloud ally in a tree) where bees have sprawling across the sky pl: made honey pl: sebogiri 2pl: sebo- sawɛgere 2pl: sawɛgerɛɛ giree sawɔlɔ [sáwɔ́lɔ́] n. fried dough made sedanegere [sɪdànɪ́ gɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. brown, from flour e.g. bean, corn, millet sour-tasting part of honey pl: seda- 2pl: sawɔlɛɛ negere 2pl: sedanegerɛɛ Var. sazeɛ [sázɪɛ̀ ̀] n. a type of soft broom danegɛ pl: sazeere 2pl: sazeerɛɛ sedoge [sɪdʊ́ ́gɪ]̀ n. pot/container sazɔŋɔ [sàzɔ́ŋɔ̀] n. snow 2pl: used to trap for bees pl: sedogre sazɔnne 2pl: sedogrɛɛ sazɔɔ [sàzɔ̀ɔ́] n. first rain which be- see [séé] conj. unless e.g. having no gins the farming season pl: sazɔɔre option • See ka fo daŋe iruu ka lɛ 2pl: sazɔɔrɛɛ naane fo koŋ nyɛ a baala. Unless sazu [sàzú] n. sky pl: sazuri 2pl: you leave early otherwise you will sazuree not see the patient. sazu [sàzú] adv. up seebo [sɪɪ́ bʊ́ ́] n. (1) honey (2) beehive pl: seere 2pl: seerɛɛ Var. seeo sazupĩi [sázúpĩĩ́ ]̀ n. danger lurking above seene [sɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]̀ v. to touch seenɛɛ, seenɛ, seenɛ, seenemɛ, seenaa, - se [sɪ]̀ v. to skin (slaughtered animal) seɛɛ, seerɛ, seerɛ, seerebɛ, seeraa Var. seere sebaa [sɪbáá]́ n. a type of wild animal seeraa [sɪɪ́ ráá]́ n. a type of tree with pl: sebre 2pl: sebrɛɛ medicinal properties pl: seere 2pl: seerɛɛ Var. seetere sebiri [sɪbírì]́ n. bee pl: sebie 2pl: se- biiree seere [sɪɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. honey 2pl: seerɛɛ sebitetebaa [sɪbítɪ́ tɪ́ báá]́ n. bee seetere [sɪɪ́ tɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. a type of tree with stinger pl: sebiteterre 2pl: hard word and is also medicinal sg: sebiteterrɛɛ Var. tetebaa seeterɛɛ 2pl: seeteere Var. seeraa sebo [sɪbʊ̀ ̀ ] v. (1) to affect • Ka fooŋ seɛ [sɪɛ́ ]́ n. waist pl: seere 2pl: zagere toma gaabo maa naane seerɛɛ ka fo na sebo. If you refuse to go seɛ [sɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to wear (on the waist) to work it will not affect me. (2) to (2) to dance (3) to be better than, refuse to give • N sɔre la o kuuri to surpass • A fanfane ŋaŋ seɛ a ka o sebo ma. I begged for his hoe, ŋa. This soap is better than this. •

266 seɛ segesege

Ka fooŋ mare a bie anaŋ seɛ fo seɛlee [sɪɛ́ lɪ́ ɪ́ ]́ adj. mysterious, naŋ na pɛgele. To carry the baby strange on your back is better than carry- seɛne [sɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. porcupine pl: seɛmɛ ing by your side. -, seɛrɛ 2pl: seɛnɛɛ seɛ [sɪɛ́ ̀] n. soul, spirit (of a living per- seɛne [sɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ v. (1) to grab firmly son) pl: seere with fingers around the object e.g. seɛ [sɪɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) joke, teasing • A neck (2) to cram e.g. a bag pɔge taa la poɔ ka o taaba erɛ with clothes seɛnɛɛ, seɛnɛ, seɛnɛ, o seɛ. The woman is pregnant and seɛnemɛ, seɛnaa her peers are teasing her. (2) fresh seɛnoɔre [sɪɛ̀ nʊ́ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. the beginning air, wind of the farming season seɛ [sɪɛ́ ]́ adj. by the side (wall) • A sefaa [sɪfáá]́ n. demon, evil spirit pl: boɔ gaŋ la a dakyini seɛ. The goat sefaare 2pl: sefaarɛɛ is lying at the foot of the wall. segammo [sɪgàmmʊ́ ́] n. honeycomb sẽɛ [sɪɛ̃́ ̀̃] n. rainy season pl: seɛmɛ pl: segama 2pl: segamɛɛ 2pl: seɛnɛɛ segampelaa [sɪgǎmpɪ́ làá]̀ n. white seɛbaa [sɪɛ́ báá]́ adj. considerably big honeycomb (usually contains the • De peɛ naŋ e seɛbaa, ka lɛ pure honey) pl: segampeɛle 2pl: naane a kyi koŋ kpɛ. Take a good- segampeɛlɛɛ sized basket, or else the millet will seganfuu [sɪgànfúù]́ n. honeycomb be too much for a small one. pl: without honey pl: seganfuuri 2pl: seɛbaare seganfuuree seɛbaa [sɪɛ̀ báà]́ n. twine from daw- sege [sɪgɪ́ ]́ n. farm hut; camp pl: daw fruit pl: seɛre 2pl: seɛrɛɛ segere 2pl: segerɛɛ seɛgoɔ [sɪɛ̀ gʊ́ ́ɔ́] n. a type of tree with sege [sɪgɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to resemble; (2) to medicinal properties pl: seɛgoore name a child after someone (usually an anscestor) segɛɛ, segerɛ, seɛ kpelle [sɪɛ̀ ̀ kpɪllɪ́ ]́ v. to get some- segerɛ, segerebɛ, segeraa one in trouble seɛɛ kpelle, seɛrɛ kpelle segeraa [sɪgɪ́ ráá]́ n. ancestral name given to a baby pl: segere 2pl: sẽɛkpɛpaalaa [sɪɛ̀ ̀kpɛpááláá] n. early ̃ ̃ ̀ segerɛɛ farming season pl: sẽɛkpɛpaala segesege [sɪgɪ̀ sɪ̀ gɪ́ ]́ v. to attempt to seɛlaa [sɪɛ̀ ̀làá] n. (1) clay eaten by move but being constrained by one cattle (2) pit where cattle eat this thing or the other segesegɛɛ, sege- clay pl: seɛle 2pl: seɛlɛɛ segerɛ, segesegerɛ, segesegerebɛ, seɛlee [sɪɛ́ lɪ́ ɪ́ ]́ n. mystery segesegeraa, -

267 segilekele sensogɔ segilekele [ségílékélé] adv. standing sellaa upright, tall, and solitary e.g. tower selle [sɪllɪ́ ]̀ v. to reduce in size (body) sekãa [sɪkã́ ́ã̀] n. pure honey sg: sellɛɛ, sellɛ, sellɛ, sellebɛ, sellaa sekãao pl: sekaanɛɛ Var. sekãaboli semare [sɪmàrɪ́ ]́ n. a type of fetish sekãaboli [sɪkã́ ́ã́bólí] n. pure honey for which there is a secret cult that pl: sekãabolo 2pl: sekãabolee Var. has the power to identify evil peo- sekãa ple like wizards and witches pl: se- sekalmanyuo [sɪkálmáɲùód]́ n. marɛɛ swarm of bees (usually clustering semekelee [sèmèkèlèè] n. broken on a tree branch) pl: sekalmanyu- piece from a clay molded object e.g. uri 2pl: sekalmanyuuree a pot Var. sembakelee sekpɔgere [sɪkpɔ́ ́gɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. proverb, rid- sengye [sándzé] n. mosquito net dle sg: sekpɔgeroo pl: sekpɔgɔ 2pl: pl: sengyeri 2pl: sengyeree Var. sekpɔgerɛɛ sangye selaa [sɪlàà]̀ n. hawk pl: selle 2pl: sel- senlɛre [sɪnlɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. sweet drink pl: lɛɛ Var. gbaara, gbaare, gbaarɛɛ senlerre 2pl: senlɛrɛɛ sele [sɪlɪ́ ]̀ v. to decant selɛɛ, sellɛ, senlogere [sìnlʊ̀ gɪrì]̀ n. bile pl: sen- sellɛ, selbɛ, sellaa logera selee [séléé] n. pottery shard pl: se- senselloŋ [sɪnsɪllʊŋ] n. story, tale pl: bilii Var. semekelee/sambekelee ́ ́ ́ sensellɛ seleŋkaa [sɪlɪ́ ŋkáá]́ n. a small brown wasp with a painful sting pl: se- sensɛlaa [sɪnsɛ́ ̀láá] n. earthenware leŋkaare 2pl: seleŋkaarɛɛ Var. for frying cakes pl: sensɛlaare 2pl: selɛŋkaa, seleŋkpaa sensɛlaarɛɛ selɛŋkaa [sɪlɛ́ ŋkáà]́ n. a small brown sensɛlaabogiri [sɪnsɛ́ ̀lààbògrí] n. fry- wasp with a painful sting pl: ing earthenware with hollow de- selɛŋkaare 2pl: selɛŋkaarɛɛ Var. pressions 2pl: sensɛlaabogiree selɛŋkpaa, seleŋkaa sensɛre [sɪnsɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. bean cake pl: sen- selɛŋkpaa [sɪlɛ́ ŋkpáá]́ n. a small sɛɛ 2pl: sensɛrɛɛ brown wasp with a painful sting pl: sensogelensogɔ [sɪnsʊ̀ ́ glɪnsʊ́ ̀ gɔ́] n. selɛŋkpaare 2pl: selɛŋkpaarɛɛ Var. middle pl: sensogelensogere 2pl: selɛŋkaa, seleŋkaa sensogelensogerɛɛ Var. sensoge- selgyuuni [sɪldzùùnì]̀ n. a type of ea- lensoga gle pl: selgyuumo 2pl: selgyuunee sensogɔ [sɪnsʊ̀ ́ gɔ́] adj. middle • A selle [sɪllɪ́ ]̀ v. to tell, to recount yiri be la a teŋɛ sensogɔ. The (story) sellɛɛ, sellɛ, sellɛ, sellebɛ, house is in the middle of the town.

268 sensogɔ sere

pl: sensogere 2pl: sensogerɛɛ Var. nyɛ ma na. S/he behaved like s/he sensoglensogɔ, sensoga, soga did not see me. sensogɔ [sɪnsʊ́ ́gɔ̀] n. (1) home drain seŋe [sɪ̂ŋ] v. (1) to wake up (some- e.g. one leading out of the bath- one) (2) to revive seŋɛɛ, sennɛ, room (2) a track fixed to drain rain- sennɛ, senemɛ, sennaa, senemɛ water from the top of a roof pl: sen- seŋɛ [sɪŋ]́ n. large pot used to store sogere 2pl: sensogerɛɛ Var. sen- local beer during preparation or to soga store water pl: senne 2pl: sennɛɛ sensɔge [sɪnsɔ́ ́gɪ]́ n. rattle used seŋgelɛnte [sɪŋgɪ́ lɛ́ ntɪ́ ]́ n. singlet pl: by babysitters to accompany the seŋgelɛntere 2pl: seŋgelɛnterɛɛ singing of a lullaby pl: sɔnsɔgre 2pl: seŋkãa [sɪŋkã́ã́] n. groundnut, sensɔgrɛɛ ̀ peanut sg: seŋkaanoo 2pl: sensɔɔre [sɪnsɔ̀ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. tigernut sg: seŋkaanɛɛ sensɔɔroo pl: sensɔbɔ 2pl: sen- ́ ́ sɔɔrɛɛ seŋkãafa [sɪŋkã̀ ãfá] n. rice (Hausa) pl: seŋkãafare 2pl: sɪŋkãafarɛɛ Var. sensɔraa [sɪnsɔ̀ ̀ráà] n. kitchen mui sponge pl: sensɔrre 2pl: sen- ́ ́ sɔrɛɛ/sensɔrrɛɛ seŋkãakpɔlɔ [sɪŋkã́ ãkpɔ́lɔ́] n. a variety of groundnuts with big nuts sentaa [sɪntáá]́ n. equality seŋkãawerɛ [sɪŋkã́ ́ã́wɪrɛ́ ]́ n. a vari- sentaaloŋ [sɪntààlʊ̀ ́ ŋ] n. the state of ety of groundnut with small nuts being equal Var. sentaa seŋkpegere [sɪŋkpɪ́ gɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. hip pl: senuulee [sɪnúúléé]́ n. honey bird pl: seŋkpegɛ 2pl: seŋkpegerɛɛ senuuli Sepaanase [sɪpáánásɪ́ ]̀ n. Spanish pl: senyoɔle [sɪnyʊɔlɪ] n. a person or ́ ́ ́ ́ Sepaanasedeme any creature that is fond of sweet things pl: senyoɔlɔ/senyoɔla 2pl: sepelaa [sɪpɪ́ làá]́ n. a soul that has senyoɔlɛɛ left a person but can be returned again pl: sepeɛle seŋe [sɪŋ]́ v. (1) to suffice, to be enough • A bondirii e la yaga; sepɔpɔrɛɛ [sɪpɔ́ ́pɔ́rɛɛ́ ]́ n. honeycomb a na seŋe la a saama. The food where the larvae are found sg: is plenty; it will do for the guests. sepɔpɔroo Var. pɔpɔrɛɛ (2) to be equal to • A toma ŋa sere [sɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. to dry up, to evaporate seŋe la a anaŋ fo naŋ daare toŋe. serɛɛ, serɛ, serɛ, serebɛ, seraa This work is equal to what you did. sere [sɪrɪ́ ]̀ v. to wash, to scrub seŋɛɛ, sennɛ, sennɛ, -, sennaa (bathing) serɛɛ, serɛ, serɛ, serebɛ, seŋe [sɪ̂ŋ] adv. like • O e seŋ ŋa o ba seraa

269 serekuli sɛle serekuli [sɪrɪ̀ kúlí]̀ n. the act of mar- sɛgebiri [sɛgɪ́ bírì]́ n. amulet, charm, rying (on the part of woman) fetish pl: sɛgebie 2pl: sɛgebiiree serekulo [sɪrɪ̀ kúló]̀ n. bride pl: sɛgebiri [sɛgɪ́ bírì]́ n. letter (conso- serkulbo nant or vowel) pl: sɛgebie 2pl: sɛge- seretara [sɪrɪ̀ tárá]̀ n. married woman biiree serete [sɪrɪ́ tɪ́ ]́ adv. very quiet • A sɛgelɛgɛ [sɛgɪ́ lɛ́ gɛ́ ̀] adv. unable to bibiiri gbiree la ka a zie e serete move e.g. lazy dog Var. hɛglɛgɛ ŋaa. The children are asleep and sɛgeraa [sɛ̀gɪráà]̀ n. a piece of flat ob- the place is very quiet. ject fixed alongside a hoe blade into serɛ [sɪrɛ́ ]́ n. husband pl: serebɛɛ 2pl: the handle to make the blade firm serrɛɛ/serɛɛ pl: sɛgere 2pl: sɛgerɛɛ Var. bon- serɛ [sɪrɛ̀ ̀] n. truth pl: serre 2pl: sɛgeraa serɛɛ sɛgere [sɛgɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ v. to arrange sɛgerɛɛ, sesɔgelaa [sɪsɔ́ ́gláà] n. a soul that has sɛgerɛ, sɛgrɛ, sɛgrebɛ, sɛgeraa, left a person for good pl: sesɔgelɔ sɛgerebɛ setaana [sɪtáánà]̀ n. devil pl: se- sɛgere [sɛ̀gɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to stuff, to plug taamine 2pl: setaanɛɛ Var. sitaana (holes, spaces) sɛgerɛɛ, sɛgerɛ, setampe [sɪtámpɪ̀ ]́ n. stamp (English) sɛgerɛ, sɛgerebɛ, sɛgeraa pl: setampere 2pl: setamperɛɛ sɛgesɛge [sɛgsɛ́ g]́ adv. making setetebaa [sɪtɪ́ tɪ́ báá]́ n. the stinger of moves; before one is aware • Saa a bee sg: setetebaarɛɛ 2pl: setete- koe la ka a koɔreba yeli ka ba erɛ baare sɛgesɛge ka ona la miire. Clouds had gathered and before the farm- sɛ [sɛ̀] adv. already • O gaaɛ la sɛ. ers could make any move it started S/he has gone already. raining. sɛ [sɛ]́ v. to roast sɛɛ, seɛrɛ, seɛrɛ, sɛle [sɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to transplant sɛlɛɛ, sɛllɛ, seɛreba, seɛraa, seɛre sɛllɛ, sɛlebɛ, sɛllaa sɛ [sɛ]́ v. to sue sɛɛ, seɛrɛ, seɛrɛ, seɛreba, seɛraa, seɛre sɛle [sɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to sit, perch (derogatory use) • A dɔɔ tanne la a bie,”N sɛ [sɛ̀] v. to sew -, seɛrɛ toŋe fo la ka fo zagere kyɛ wa sɛbɛlemɛkyɔɔ [sɛ̀bɛlɪ̌ mɛ́ ̀ʧɔ́ɔ̀] n. earth- sɛle n niŋeŋ boɔrɔ boŋ?” The man worm Var. sabɛlemɛkyɔɔ shouted at the boy, “I sent you sɛge [sɛgɪ́ ]́ v. to write sɛgɛɛ, sɛgrɛ, and you refused, what do you want sɛgrɛ, sɛgrebɛ, sɛgraa perched in front of me?”. sɛlɛɛ, sɛgebinyaŋaa [sɛgɪ́ bíɲáŋáá]́ n. sɛllɛ, sɛllɛ, sɛlebɛ, sɛllaa vowel pl: sɛgebinyaane sɛle [sɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. the act of winning a

270 sɛma sɛredire

game of bie outright pl: sɛlɛ 2pl: la a bie bare wɛ? So, you have ac- sɛlɛɛ tually driven the child away? sɛma [sɛmà]́ v. to sue in court sɛmaɛ, sɛŋe [sɛ̀ŋ] v. to engage in friendship seɛrɛmara, sɛmara, sɛmarebaVar. between people of opposite sexes sɛ, sɛmare sɛŋɛɛ, sɛnɛ, sɛnɛ, sɛnemɛ, sɛnaa, sɛmare [sɛmárɪ́ ]̀ v. to sue sɛmarɛɛ, sɛnemɛ seɛrɛmara, seɛremara, seɛre- sɛŋe [sɛ̂ŋ] adj. (1) one’s side • A marebaVar. sɛ, sɛma sane yɔɔbo be la fo sɛŋe. Paying sɛmpili [sɛmpílí]̌ n. a type of long the debt rests with you. (2) towards mat pl: sɛmpile 2pl: sɛmpilee Var. • A sakuuri are la a teŋɛ sapare sɛnwoɔ sɛŋe. The school is situated to the east of the town. pl: sɛnne sɛndɔɔ [sɛ̀ndɔ́ɔ́] n. the boyfriend of one’s wife pl: sɛndɔbɔ 2pl: sɛŋɛ [sɛ̂ŋɛ]́ n. mat; bed pl: sɛnne 2pl: sɛndɔɔrɛɛ sɛnnɛɛ sɛndɔɔ-dogi-za [sɛndɔ̌ ́ɔ́-dògì-zá] n. sɛŋkpɛdie [sɛ̀ŋkpɛ̀dìé] n. deep love small lumps of earth on top of a between lovers; relationship that wall for decoration involves sex pl: sɛŋkpɛderi 2pl: sɛŋkpɛderee sɛne [sɛnɪ́ ]́ n. (1) lover (of another sex) (2) fiancé pl: sɛnemɛ 2pl: sɛŋkpɔgele [sɛ̂ŋkpɔ̀glɪ]̀ n. bedbug pl: sɛnemɛɛ sɛŋkpɔgelɔ 2pl: sɛŋkpɔgelɛɛ Var. dakpalori, dakpaloree sɛnlee [sɛǹléè] n. small mat pl: sɛm- bilii sɛre [sɛrɪ́ ]́ adv. before • Sɛre ka a karembiiri la gaa sakuuri see ka sɛnlɛre [sɛ̀nlɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. a type mat made ba dɔgereba yɔɔ a sakuuri boma by putting straw together on which na zaa ba naŋ sãã. Before the harvested guinea corn is kept to students will be re-admitted to the dry pl: sɛnlɛrre 2pl: sɛnlɛrɛɛ Var. school their parents must pay for sanlɛre all the school items that were de- sɛnsɛmbie [sɛ̀nsɛ̀mbíé] n. bastard pl: stroyed. sɛnsɛmbiiri 2pl: sɛnsɛmbiiree sɛre [sɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. move, shift • Yɛ naŋ sɛnsɛŋ [sɛnsɛŋ] n. the act of love sɛre gaa ka N meŋ zeŋ a dakogi making (friendship) zu? Could you shift so that I could sɛnwoɔ [sɛnwʊ́ ́ ɔ́] n. a type of long also sit on the bench? sɛrɛɛ, sɛrɛ, mat pl: sɛnwoore 2pl: sɛnwoorɛɛ sɛrɛ, sɛrebɛ, sɛraa Var. sɛmpili sɛredire [sɛ̀rɪdíré]́ n. judge pl: sɛŋ [sɛŋ]́ adv. actually • Fo sɛŋ digi sɛredirbe 2pl: sɛredirbee

271 sɛremaalogi sisi sɛremaalogi [sɛrɪ́ máálógí]́ n. pepper sigiri [sígírì] v. (1) to lower, to farm pl: sɛremaalogiri 2pl: sɛre- reduce • Ka banaŋ ba sigiri a maalogiree nɔɔteɛ daaroŋ N koŋ tõɔ̃ a da. If sɛremaane [sɛrɪ́ máánɪ́ ]̀ n. pepper sg: they don’t lower the price of the sɛremaanoo pl: sɛremaama 2pl: shoes, I can’t buy them. (2) to hum- sɛremaanɛɛ ble • A seŋ ka karembiiri maŋ sigiri ba menne ka karemamine sɛrɛɛ [sɛ̀rɛɛ́ ̀] n. judgement pl: sɛrre tõɔ̃ kanne ba. Pupils should learn 2pl: sɛrrɛɛ to humble themselves so that teach- sieree [sìèrèè] n. benefit ers can teach them. sigiree, sigire, sigi [sígí] v. (1) to go down, to de- sigire, sigiribe, sigiraa, sigiribe scend (2) to land, to alight (3) to sikiri [síkìrí] n. sugar 2pl: sikiree decrease (intransitive) sigee, sigre, Var. sukyiri sigre, sigribe, sigraa, sigribe sile [sílè] n. shilling pl: silli 2pl: sigi kɔmpare to sink sillee sigi puli to be low simmie [símmíé] n. (1) bambara sigili [sìgilì] v. (1) to become calm, beans (2) groundnuts (Northern to become quiet • Zenɛ, saseɛ ba Dagaare dialect) sg: simmiruu 2pl: da lɛnso ka a zie sigili. Today simmiiree Var. siŋgbule there is no wind and that is why the simmiri [símmírì] n. thread sg: sim- place is calm. (2) to offer a gift or miruu pl: simmie 2pl: simmiiree praise in honour of something well done • A pɔgelee seɛ la a seɛre sinkyigiri [sínʧígirí] n. bunch, head ne toori ka a naa sigili o ne li- (of guinea corn) pl: sinkyige 2pl: bie. The young lady danced so well sinkyigree that the chief honoured her by of- sinsuoluŋ [sínsúólúŋ] n. ground fering her money. (3) to get choked bean sg: sinsuoluu 2pl: sinsuolee (on food) • A noɔ dire la a zɔŋ siŋgbule [sìŋgbúlé] n. bambara gborɔgborɔ ka a te sigili o. The beans (a type of round beans fowl was eating the feed very fast that bear nuts in the ground like and choked on it. (4) to gang up groundnuts) (Northern Dagaare di- on (two or more people attacking alect) Var. simmie one person) • Bayuo ne o yɔɔ sig- sipirii [sìpìríì] n. aspirin sg: sipiruu ili la a dɔɔ kyɛ ba tõɔ̃ o. Bayuo and 2pl: sipirree his brother fought the man simultaneously but they could not beat siremm [sírémm] adv. serene him. sigilee, sigile, sigile, sigilaa, sisi [sìsí] v. to cheat sisiee, sisiire, sigilibe, sigiluu sisiire, sisiiribe, sisiiraa

272 sitime solom sitime [sìtìmè] n. ship, steamer pl: sogi [sògì] v. to chirp (guinea fowl) sitimeri 2pl: sitimeree sogee, sogro, sogro, sogribo, so- so [sò] v. to bathe soe, suoro, suoro, graa, sogribo suoribo, suoraa, suori sogɔ [sʊ́gɔ́] adj. middle pl: sogere so [sʊ́ ] v. to own soɛ, soora, soora, 2pl: sogerɛɛ Var. soga, sensogelen- sooreba, sooraa sogɔ so [sʊ́] conj. as a result sogya [sóɲà] n. soldier pl: sogyare 2pl: sogyarɛɛ Var. sogyɛ sobile [sóbílé] n. path pl: sobilii Var. solee sokonsuo [sókónsúó] n. storey pl: sokonsori 2pl: sokonsoree sobiri [sóbírì] n. (1) road, way (2) journey pl: sobie 2pl: sobiiree Var. sokoɔraa [sókʊ́ɔ́ràá] n. large road pl: sori sokoɔre 2pl: sokoɔrɛɛ sobɔ [sʊ́bɔ́] n. (1) owner • N ba baŋe sokyara [sóʧárá] n. crossroads, in- a gane ŋa sobɔ a na de te ko o. I tersection pl: sokyarre 2pl: sokya- don’t know the owner of this book rɛɛ well enough that I could take it to sokyɛnɛ [sóʧɛnɛ́ ̀] n. traveler pl: him/her. (2) the one, the person • A sokyɛnemɛ 2pl: sokyɛnemɛɛ sobɔ na naŋ la yuo a pane, onɔ la solee [sóléé] n. path Var. sobile de a libie. The person who opened the door is the one who has taken solgbolo [sʊ̀ lgbʊ̀ lʊ̀ ] adj. inactive the money. pl: demee Var. soba soli [sólí] adv. in a neat manner • A so-eŋe [sò-ìŋ] v. (1) to initiate pɔgelee vare gaŋe la a miri lɛ soli. so-eŋɛɛ, suoro-ennɛ, so-ennɛ, so- The girl cleared the high jump bar enemɛ, so-ennaa in a neat manner. so-eŋe [sò-ìŋ] n. metaphor (litera- solli [sòllì] v. to be well polished ture) sollee, sollo, sollo, solibo, sollaa solli [sóllí] v. to narrate/repeat inces- sofoɔlaa [sófʊ̀ ɔ́láà] n. street pl: so- foɔlɪ santly sollee, sollo, sollo, solibo, sollaa sogelɔŋ [sʊ̀ glɔ̀ŋ] adv. heavy and dull solom [sólóm] adv. completely e.g. sogi [sògì] v. to catch in midair so- without being touched • A nan- gee, sogro, sogro, sogribo, sograa, nyige dɔgereba iri la ba nuuri sogribo solom kyɛ bare o ka ba gaa te sogi [sògì] v. to pant, to breathe with pɔge. The parents of the thief with- difficulty sogee, sogro, sogro, so- drew their support for him com- gribo, sograa, sogribo pletely and he was sent to jail.

273 soma sotugane soma [sʊ́ má] n. a person who is soɔ [sʊ́ɔ̀] v. to blossom e.g. vege- good to one tation soɔɛ, soɔrɔ, soɔrɔ, soɔreba, somasoma [sʊ́másʊ́má] adv. quietly soɔraa, - Var. sɔɔ somɔ [sʊ́mɔ́] adj. good beautiful, at- sõɔ [sʊ̀̃ ɔ̀̃] v. to flatter sõɔɛ, soɔnɔ, tractive nice • A pɔge na yɛlɛ somɔ soɔnɔ, soɔnema, soɔnaa la o ba baŋe yelfaare yeluu. That sõɔ [sʊ̀̃ ɔ̃́] n. witchcraft, supernatural woman is nice, she never uses unsa- power • N teɛre ka a bie ŋa taa vory language. pl: sonne 2pl: son- la sõɔ̃; wolɔ ka o e do a teɛ ŋa? nɛɛ Var. soma I think this boy has supernatural somɔ [sʊ́ mɔ́] adj. holy power; how did he manage to climb sompoɔ [sʊ́mpʊ́ ɔ́] n. three pence pl: this tree? sompoore 2pl: sompoorɛɛ sõɔ [sʊ̀̃ ɔ̀̃] v. to draw a line on the sonono [sʊ́nʊ́ nʊ́] adv. extremely ground with the foot soɔɛ, soɔnɔ, cold soɔnɔ, soɔnema, soɔnaa soŋ [sʊ̌ŋ] adj. good, fine pl: sonne soɔbɔ [sʊ́ ɔ́bɔ́] n. wizard, witch pl: 2pl: sonnɛɛ soɔre 2pl: sɔrɛɛ Var. soɔba soŋe [sʊ̀ ŋ] v. to help • Dagaaba sõɔgõɔo [sʊ̃́ɔ̃́gʊ̃́ɔ̃́ʊ̃́ ] n. pretense nɔŋe ka ba maŋ soŋe taa ba tomɔ soɔloŋ [sʊ̀ ɔ̀lʊ́ŋ] n. witchcraft poɔ. The Dagaaba like to help each other in their work. soŋɛɛ, sonna, soɔne [sʊ̀ ɔ̀nɪ]̀ v. to praise, to glo- sonna, sonema, sonnaa, sonema rify soɔnɛɛ, soɔnɔ, soɔnɔ, soɔnema, soɔnaa, - Var. soane soo [sóó] adv. pure, unmixed soɔŋaa [sʊ́ɔ́ŋàà] n. rabbit, hare pl: sõo [sʊ̃́ʊ̃́] adv. confused soɔne 2pl: soɔnɛɛ soore [sʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to question, to in- quire soorɛɛ, soorɔ, soorɔ, sooreba, soɔre [sʊ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. dye 2pl: soɔrɛɛ Var. sooraa sɔɔre soore [sʊ́ʊ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to hiss to drive soɔsobɔ [sʊ́ɔ́sʊ́bɔ́] n. chief celebrant fowls away (2) to hiss in pain e.g. (traditional worship) pl: sɔdemee after eating very spicy food Var. soɔsoba soori [sòòrí] n. locusts pl: soori 2pl: sõɔzeɛnagbare [sʊ̃́ɔ̃́zɪɛ́ nàgbárɪ́ ]́ n. sooree small but old or strong pl: sõɔzeɛ- soɔ [sʊ́ɔ́] n. knife pl: sɔre 2pl: sɔrɛɛ nagbarɛɛ Var. sɔlee, sɔbilii sori [sórì] n. way, road pl: soe 2pl: soɔ [sʊ́ɔ̀] v. to blacken, to darken soree soɔɛ, soɔrɔ, soɔrɔ, soɔreba, soɔraa, sotugane [sótùgánɪ]́ n. map pl: so- - Var. sɔɔ tugama 2pl: sotugannɛɛ

274 sotuuraa sɔre sotuuraa [sótúúráà] n. pathway pl: sɔgbale [sɔ̀gbàlɪ]́ n. blunt knife pl: sotuuri sɔgbala 2pl: sɔgbalɛɛ sɔ [sɔ́] v. to smear, to apply sɔɛ, sɔ kpaare [sɔ́ kpáárɪ]́ v. to forget soɔrɔ, soɔrɔ, soɔreba, soɔraa to deliver (a message) sɔɛ kpaare, soɔrɔ kpaareVar. kpaare soɔbo sɔ [sɔ̀] v. to add vegetables to groundnut sauce sɔɛ, soɔrɔ, soɔrɔ, sɔkpoŋi [sɔ̀kpóŋ] n. cutlass, large soɔreba, soɔraa knife pl: sɔkponni 2pl: sɔkponnee sɔbiri [sɔ̀bírì] n. knife blade pl: sɔbie sɔkyeɛraa [sɔ̀ʧɪɛ̀ ̀ráà] n. cutlass pl: 2pl: sɔbiiree sɔkyeɛrre sɔge [sɔ́gɪ]́ v. to shell nuts sɔgɛɛ, sɔlare [sɔ̀lárɪ]̀ n. cutlass pl: sɔlaɛ 2pl: sɔgerɔ, sɔgerɔ, sɔgereba, sɔgeraa, sɔlarɛɛ sɔgereba sɔlee [sɔ̀léé] n. small knife pl: sɔbilii sɔge [sɔ́gɪ]̀ v. to rinse sɔgɛɛ, sɔŋɔ [sɔ́ŋ] n. wood carrier pl: sɔnne sɔgerɔ, sɔgerɔ, sɔgereba, sɔgeraa, 2pl: sɔnnɛɛ Var. sɔŋa sɔgereba sɔɔ [sɔ̀ɔ̀] adv. in a little while • A na sɔge noɔre to eat breakfast erɛ sɔɔ ka sakuuri iree. In a little sɔge [sɔ̀gɪ]̀ adj. (1) bushy (2) lit- while schools will close. tered • A dendɔre sɔgɛɛ la, a seŋ sɔɔ [sɔ́ɔ̀] v. to blacken, to darken Var. ka ba peere o. The couryard is soɔ litered with rubbish, so it needs to sɔɔ [sɔ́ɔ̀] v. to blossom e.g. vegeta- be swept. tionVar. soɔ sɔge [sɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to respond, to re- sɔɔre [sɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. dye 2pl: sɔɔrɛɛ Var. ply (in a conversation) sɔgɛɛ, soɔre sɔgerɔ, sɔgerɔ, sɔgereba, sɔgeraa, sɔɔre [sɔ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) liver (2) a type sɔgereba of dark brown bush mouse that sɔge [sɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to be bushy sɔgɛɛ, lives along river banks pl: sɔbɔ 2pl: sɔgerɔ, sɔgerɔ, sɔgereba, sɔgeraa, sɔɔrɛɛ Var. ɔŋ-sɔɔre sɔgereba sɔre [sɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to beg (2) to sɔgelaa [sɔ́glàá] adj. (1) black (2) ask, to request (3) to plead, to dark (colour) pl: sɔgelɔ implore sɔrɛɛ, sɔrɔ, sɔrɔ, sɔrebɔ, sɔgelaa [sɔ̀glàà] n. neck of a pot pl: sɔraa, sɔrebɔ sɔgele 2pl: sɔgelɛɛ sɔre [sɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to cook soup made with sɔgele [sɔ́glɪ]̀ v. to hide sɔgelɛɛ, groundnuts and vegetables sɔrɛɛ, sɔgelɔ, sɔgelɔ, sɔgeleba, sɔgelaa, sɔrɔ, sɔrɔ, sɔrebɔ, sɔraa, sɔrebɔ sɔgeleba sɔre [sɔ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to count (2) to read

275 sɔrebiri sukyiribaaloŋ sɔrebiri [sɔ́rɪbírì]́ n. counter, pebble sugili [sùgìlì] v. (1) to come next sg: sɔrebiruu pl: sɔrebie 2pl: sɔre- to e.g. in a line • Ba naŋ tɔnɔ biiree a lae maa la sugili o zu. When sɔresɔreŋmanlee [sɔ̀rɪsɔ̀ ̀rɪŋmànléé]̀ they were queueing, I came next to n. a beggar’s calabash pl: sɔresɔreŋ- him. (2) to place one on top of the mamblii 2pl: sɔresɔreŋmambilee other e.g. pots • Ba pɛge la a laare sɔresɔrɔ [sɔ̀rsɔ́rɔ́] n. beggar pl: wuo sugili taa. They washed the sɔrsɔreba 2pl: sɔrsɔrebɛɛ bowls and placed them one on top of the other. suglee, suglo, suglo, sɔresɔrɔ [sɔ̀rsɔ́rɔ́] n. beggar pl: suglibo, suglaa sɔresɔrebɔ 2pl: sɔresɔrebɛɛ Var. sɔresɔra Sugilo [súgíló] n. name traditionally sɔteɛ [sɔ̀tɪɛ́ ]́ n. scabbard for a knife given to a child immediately after pl: sɔteere 2pl: sɔteerɛɛ twins sɔvũu [sɔ̀vũ̀ṹ] n. light associated sugo [súgò] n. herd; group of many with witchcraft sg: sɔvuunuu 2pl: e.g. troop of animals • ŋmaa-sugo sɔvuunee kpɛ la n weɛ sãa a kamaana zaa. su [sù] v. (1) to put on a top (shirt) A troop of monkeys invaded my (2) to put inside (a hole) (3) to farm and destoyed all the maize. pl: spoon feed e.g. baby, patient sue, sugiri 2pl: sugiree suuro sugo [súgò] n. a type of tiny white su bonsuuri to wear clothes ant that destroys yams • Sugo su kaayaa to wear clothes saana waare. White ants destroy subaaloŋ [sùbààlʊ́ŋ] n. tenderheart- yams. 2pl: sugee Var. wasugo edness sukaale [sùkààlɪ]̀ n. a type of large sudire [sùdíré] n. one who forgives, dress with wide sleeves that are one who pardons pl: surdiribe 2pl: thrown over the shoulder 2pl: sudiribee sukaalɛɛ sugaraate [sùgàráátɪ]́ n. cigarette pl: sukyiri [sùʧírí] n. (1) heart • N sugaraatere 2pl: sugaraaterɛɛ Var. sukyiri maŋ zaara la, a seŋ ka segarate N gaa dɔɔta. I keep experiencing sugi [sùgì] v. (1) to dislocate e.g. heart palpitations; I need to go to joint (2) to dislodge e.g. a pot from the hospital. (2) courage • Ka fooŋ the top of another sugee, sugro, ba taa sukyiri fo koŋ baŋ toŋ asi- sugro, sugribo, sugraa biti toma. If you have no courage, sugi [sùgì] v. to ladel soup from a you can’t work in the hospital. pl: pot sugee, sugro, sugro, sugribo, sukyie 2pl: sukyiree Var. sikyiri sugraa sukyiribaaloŋ [sùʧìrìbààlʊ̀ ŋ] n. (1)

276 sukyirifõɔ̃õ suuri-di-teroo

kind heart (2) heart disease suori [súórì] v. to fall off in great sukyirifõɔ̃õ [súʧírífʊ̃́ɔ̃́ʊ̃́] n. light- numbers (leaves) suoree, suoro, heartedness pl: sukyirifoɔne 2pl: suoro, suoribo, suoraa sukyirifoɔnɛɛ supaana [sùpáánà] n. spanner sg: su- sukyiriliŋe [sùʧìrìlíŋé] n. end of the paanoo pl: supaanare 2pl: supaa- ribcage pl: sukyirilinni 2pl: sukyi- narɛɛ rilinnee suree [sùréé] n. ladle pl: surri sukyiritage [súʧírítágɪ]́ n. bravery suromm [súrómm] adv. quiet pl: sukyiritagre susu [súsú] n. a cycle in which con- sulee [sùlèè] n. chimney pl: sulli 2pl: tributions of members are given to sullee others pl: susuri 2pl: susuree suli [sùlì] v. to hang one’s head, susu [sùsú] v. (1) to measure (2) to to look down sulee, sullo, sullo, be careful, to not overdo something sulbo, sullaa (3) to think about carefully susue, susuuro, susuuro, susuribo, susu- sumaaroŋ [sùmáárʊŋ] n. cool- ́ uraa headed • A pɔge taa la sumaaroŋ susu [sùsù] adj. fast and without ka lɛ naane o da na zɔɔ ne la a stopping e.g. eating dɔɔ. The woman is coolheaded otherwise she would have fought the susu [sùsù] interj. utterance to urge man. a dog on to pursue (animal, thief) sumiime [súmíímé] n. heartburn su-su-su [sù-sù-sù] interj. an utterance to urge a dog on to catch game sumosumo [sùmòsúmó] n. a type of sutoloŋ [sʊ̀ tʊ́lʊ́ŋ] n. the state of be- fried food made from the flour of ing quick tempered • Daŋ ta wa yam deɛnɛ ne a dɔɔ na, o taa la su- sundaa [súndàá] n. a stick to which toloŋ. Don’t you ever play with birdlime is applied to trap birds pl: that man; he is quick tempered. sundaare 2pl: sundarɛɛ suu [súú] v. to doze off for a short sunni [súnnì] n. (1) glue, gum, sticky time substance (2) a plant that produces suuri [súúrí] n. anger pl: sue 2pl: gum (3) birdlime sg: sunnuu pl: suuree sumo 2pl: sunnee Var. sun suuri [súúrì] v. to coax, to encour- sunni [súnní] n. blue powder used in age, to push to pursue e.g. dog for dyeing clothes during washing game suuree, suuro, suuro, suuri- sunsugiri [súnsúgrí] n. white bo, suuraa growth within a sore pl: sunsugiri suuri-di-teroo [súúr-dì-tɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. for- 2pl: sunsugiree giveness

277 ta taantunnuu t ta [tá] adj. not (negative marker) • A taa poɔ pɔge kpãa la o bie ka o ta gaa a taa toori stubborn (lit. be hard- sini. The woman cautioned her son eared) not to go to the cinema. taa yelmeŋɛ is honest ta [tá] v. (1) to reach, to arrive • taa [táá] pron. each other Ka fooŋ wa ta fo yiri foŋ yeli tãa [tã̀ã̀] v. to serve very little e.g. ko ma. When you arrive at your soup • A zeɛre ba seŋe bone lɛnso house, tell me. (2) to approach • Fo ka ba tãã a a lɛ. There is very lit- maŋ gaa ka fo ta o yiri ka baare tle soup left and that is why they vuoli paale ziezaa. As soon as you have given out so little. tãaɛ, taana, approach the house, dogs bark all taana, taanema, taanaa over. taɛ, tara, tara, tareba, taraa, tãa [tã̀ã̀] v. to tap on the head with a tareba finger tãaɛ, taana, taana, taanema, taa [tàá] v. (1) to have • A bie taanaa taa la maŋgori ayi. The child has taala [táálá] n. ingredients e.g. sauce two mangoes. (2) to keep, to hold 2pl: taalɛɛ onto • N ba de la o zupili ka N taama [táámá] n. suffering taa. My father has given his hat to me to keep. • A pɔge taa la taambaa [tàámbàá] n. young man pl: poɔ. The woman is pregnant. • o tambaare 2pl: taambaarɛɛ taa la yelmeŋɛ S/he is honest. • A taambeene [tàámbɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. ripe shea bibiiri taa la gɔnne. The children tree fruit pl: taambeemɛ 2pl: taam- are noisy. taaɛ, tara, tara, tareba, beenɛɛ taara, tareba taane [tàànɪ]̀ v. to stretch a great taa kɔnnyuuri to be thirsty deal taanɛɛ, taana, taana, taanema, taa kɔŋ to be hungry taanaa taa laare amusing, funny taannuulee [tàánnúúléé] n. canary taa nimibaaloŋ kind pl: taannuuli taa nimiri covetous taa noɔre talkative, noisy • A taantumma [táântúmmá] n. a type balee taa la noɔre te zuo, o maŋ of caterpillar in hibernation pl: vuolo la tegitegi lɛ. The puppy is taantummamine noisy; it always barks. taantunnuu [tàântúnnì] n. shea tree taa nyonono selfishness; sympa- caterpillar sg: taantunnuu pl: taan- thy tunni 2pl: taantunnee

278 taaŋkaraa takpala taaŋkaraa [tàáŋkàráá] n. unripe tagevama [tàgɪvàmà]̀ n. (1) small- shea fruit pl: taaŋkare 2pl: pox (2) chicken pox Var. teɛgara taaŋkarɛɛ tahɛlɛ [táhɛlɛ́ ]́ n. (1) extreme suffer- taaŋkpara [tááŋkpárá] n. shea fruit ing • Kɔmbuli saŋa pɔgeba maŋ with two nuts pl: taaŋkparre 2pl: nyɛrɛ la tahɛlɛ kõɔ̃ yɛlɛ. During taaŋkparɛɛ drought, women suffer severely for taare [tààrɪ]̀ v. (1) to press hard lack of water. (2) carefree speech, e.g. plaster (2) to crush e.g. an behaviour; nonchalence • A bie ŋa ant taarɛɛ, taara, taara, taareba, eŋ ba naŋ ba feɛ o o yelee tahɛlɛ. taaraa Since this boy was not caned he taare [táárɪ]̀ v. (1) to tighten (2) to speaks with airs. pl: tahɛlle 2pl: screw taarɛɛ, taara, taara, taareba, tahɛlɛɛ/tahɛllɛɛ taaraa takaare [tákáárɪ]̀ adj. vain, proud of tãatẽe [tã̀ã́tɪɪ̀̃ ]̃́ n. a type of small bird oneself pl: tãateene 2pl: tãateenɛɛ takaraa [tákáráá] n. small lizard pl: taayɛ [tááyɛ̀] n. (1) tyre (rubber) (2) takarre 2pl: takarrɛɛ catapult pl: taayɛre 2pl: taayɛrɛɛ takoŋi [tákòŋ] n. ban on perfor- tabole [tábʊ̀ l] n. table pl: tabolɔ 2pl: mance of funeral rites tabolɛɛ/tabollɛɛ takoriko [tàkòríkò] n. bridge pl: tage [tàgɪ]̀ v. (1) to pull, to draw in takorikori 2pl: takorikoree Var. or out (2) to make thick (liquid) tokoriko tagɛɛ, tagra, tagra, tagreba, tagraa, tagreba takoroo [tákóróó] n. window pl: takorri 2pl: takoree/takorree Var. tage [tágɪ] adj. thick pl: tagre ́ tokoroo tagekori [tàgɪkòrì]̀ n. a type of thorn takɔdaa [tákɔdàá] n. Sabbath pl: tree with sharp, curved thorns 2pl: ́ takɔdaare 2pl: takɔdarɛɛ Var. tagekoree takɔraa tagekyoore [tágɪʧʊ̀ ́ʊ́rɪ]́ n. measles 2pl: tagekyoorɛɛ takɔraa [tákɔ́ráá] n. Sabbath Var. takɔdaa tagetaa [tàgɪtáá]̀ n. (1) dispute (2) conflict (literature) takɔraa [tàkɔ̀ràà] n. (1) fin (fish) (2) tagetage [tàgtàg] n. ability • A a hook or spike on an object e.g. ar- baala gbɛɛ kpie la, o ba taa row pl: takɔrre 2pl: takɔrrɛɛ Var. tagetage zaa. The patient’s legs kɔraa are paralysed; s/he cannot do any- takpala [tákpálá] n. great suffering thing. 2pl: takpallɛɛ

279 takpala tammalaaraa

takpalan [tàkpálà] n. area between taltal [tàtál] v. to move with great the throat and the chin pl: takpalle pain taltalɛɛ, taltala, taltala, tal- 2pl: takpallɛɛ Var. takpaleɛne taleba, taltalaa takpaleɛne [tàkpàlɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]́ n. area be- tam [tàm] v. (1) to be numb (2) to tween the throat and chin pl: ta- be shocked; not able to react tamɛɛ, kpaleɛmɛ 2pl: takpaleɛnɛɛ/takpa- tamena, tamena, tamenema, tame- leɛmɛɛ Var. takpalan naa takpɛ [tákpɛ]́ v. to run away, to tamaa [tàmáà] n. hope flee, to take to one’s heels • A tamanyini [tàmàɲíní] n. gum pl: bie gɛrɛ la te nyɛ waabo, a leɛ tamanyime 2pl: tamanyimee Var. takpɛ. As the girl walked along, tanyini she came across a snake and took tamaraa [támáráà] n. small quiver pl: to her heels. ta kpɛɛ, tara kpeɛrɛ, tamarre 2pl: tamarrɛɛ takpeɛrɛ, takpeɛrebɛ, takpeɛraa tamaregye [támárɪdzé]́ n. small pan- takyeŋi [táʧêŋ] n. the absence of ar- taloons; short, tight trousers pl: gument pl: takyenni tamaregyeri 2pl: tamaregyeree takyeraa [táʧɪràá]́ n. gecko pl: Var. tamaragye takyɪrrɪ 2pl: takyɪrrɛɛ tambaa [tǎmbáá] n. bow bell (a hol- takyere [táʧɪrɪ̀ ]̀ n. temple pl: takyeɛ low, carved object that is tied to 2pl: takyerɛɛ the beam of the bow and makes talaa [tàláà] n. metal bowl or plate a sound when the bow is shot) pl: pl: talaare 2pl: talaarɛɛ tambaare 2pl: tambaarɛɛ tambalaaraa [támbálááráá] n. a type talane [tàlánɪ]̀ n. palate pl: talama of honey (made by the yoyogibie) 2pl: talannɛɛ pl: tambalaare 2pl: tambalaarɛɛ talantalaŋ [tàlàntáláŋ] adv. haphaz- Var. tammalaaraa ard tambiri [támbírì] n. bamboo pl: tam- tale [tálɪ]́ n. lobe (of a kola nut) pl: bie 2pl: tambiiree tala 2pl: talɛɛ/tallɛɛ tambogi [tàmbògí] n. cave pl: tambo- tale [tálɪ]́ adj. flat open e.g. palm of giri 2pl: tambogiree the hand pl: tala 2pl: talɛɛ/tallɛɛ tambɔge [tàmbɔ́gɪ]̀ n. ditch or pit cre- taleri [tálérí] n. small bush lizard pl: ated by digging earth to build (usu- talerri 2pl: taleree ally near the house) pl: tambɔgere talle [tàllɪ]̀ v. to make long, quick 2pl: tambɔgerɛɛ strides; to walk fast tallɛɛ, talla, tammalaaraa [támmáláåráá] n. Var. talla, taleba, tallaa tambalaaraa

280 tammiri taŋe tammiri [tàmmírì] n. bowstring pl: tangyugi [tándzúgí] n. in the habit tammie 2pl: tammiiree of being promiscuous e.g. male tammo [támmʊ́] n. bow pl: tama 2pl: goat pl: tangyugri 2pl: tangyugree tamɛɛ/tannɛɛ Var. tangyuu tamogilo [támógíló] adj. toothless tangyuu [tágyùú] n. in the habit of 2pl: tamogilee Var. tomogilo being promiscuous e.g. male goat Var. tangyugi tamogilo [támógíló] n. one who is tanlori [tánlórí] n. miniature bow, toothless 2pl: tamogilee children’s bow pl: tanloe 2pl: tan- tamoni [tàmónì] n. toothless gum pl: loree tamonni 2pl: tamonnee Var. ta- tanne [tànnɪ]̀ v. (1) to thunder (2) moŋi, tomoŋi to shout at, to scold tannɛɛ, tanna, tampɛle [tàmpɛlɪ́ ]́ n. a hoe blade size tanna, tannema, tannaa, tannema of a slice/slab of earth (usually cut tannetaa [tànnɪtáá]̀ n. quarrel from soft ground with a hoe) pl: tampɛlɛ 2pl: tampɛlɛɛ tannoɔ [tǎnnʊ́ɔ̀] n. a small, dark, hen-like bird that lives in highlands tampɛloŋ [tàmpɛ̀lʊ̀ ŋ] n. ashes 2pl: pl: tannoore 2pl: tannoorɛɛ tampɛllɛɛ tantammonaa [tántámmʊ́náà] n. tampoli [tàmpólí] n. top end of a red weaver bird pl: tantammonne bow pl: tampolo 2pl: tampolee 2pl: tantammonɛɛ tampuori [tàmpúórì] n. rubbish or tantaŋ [tàntàŋ] adv. immediately garbage dump pl: tampoe 2pl: tam- tanzuŋ [tànzûŋ] n. carrying pad pl: puoree tanzunni 2pl: tanzunnee Var. tandaa [tàndàá] n. bow stick pl: tan- tasere daare 2pl: tandarɛɛ tanyini [tànyíní] n. gum pl: tanyinni tandagere [tàndàgɪrɪ́ ]́ n. piece of 2pl: tanyinee Var. tamanyini hard dried mud pl: tandaga 2pl: taŋa [táŋà] n. mountain, hill pl: tandagɛɛ tanne 2pl: tannɛɛ tandɛre [tàndɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. bow stick pl: taŋaa [táŋàà] n. (1) shea tree (2) tandɛɛ 2pl: tandɛrɛɛ shea fruit pl: taŋema 2pl: taŋemɛɛ tanfaraŋ [tánfáráŋ] n. a group farm- taŋaaweɛlɛ [táŋááwɪɛ̀ ̀lɛ]́ n. mistletoe ing agreement in which the mem- of shea tree sg: taŋaaweɛloo 2pl: bers alternate farms taŋaaweɛlɛɛ tanfoɔlaa [tânfʊ́ɔ́làà] n. valley be- taŋe [tâŋ] v. to keep silent, to refuse tween hills pl: tanfoɔle 2pl: tan- to respond (to a call) taŋɛɛ, tanna, foɔlɛɛ tanna, tanema, tannaa

281 taŋgara tẽeda taŋgara [táŋgárá] n. telegraph pl: tata [tátà] n. boastfulness, the act of taŋgarre 2pl: taŋgarɛɛ/taŋgarrɛɛ attempting the impossible taŋgaremiri [táŋgàrɪmírì]̀ n. tele- tata yɛlɛ [tátà yɛlɛ́ ]́ n. boastful be- graph cable pl: taŋgaremie 2pl: taŋ- haviour or claim garemiiree tateŋɛ [tátɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. distant country pl: taŋgɔɔtuo [tàŋgɔ̀ɔ̀túó] n. a kind of tatenne 2pl: tatennɛɛ tree pl: taŋgɔɔtori 2pl: taŋgɔɔtoree tatoɔroŋ [tàtʊ́ ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. carelessness taŋgboŋi [tàŋgbôŋ] n. a type of short taworo [táwòró] n. towel pl: taworri tree with broad leaves and fibrous 2pl: taworee bark pl: taŋgbonni 2pl: taŋgbon- tayeŋine [táyéŋíné] n. the state of nee trembling e.g. from severe hunger taŋkama [tàŋkàmà] n. vanity pl: tayenni 2pl: tayennee tapolae [tápʊ́láɪ]̀ n. torch, flashlight te [tɪ]̀ pron. (1) we (1st person plural pl: tapolɛɛre 2pl: tapolɛɛrɛɛ Var. weak form) (2) us (1st person plural tapolɛɛ weak form) tapolii [tápólíí] n. tarpaulin pl: te [té] adv. really Var. to tapolli 2pl: tapollee tẽe [tɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. (1) medicine • O beɛrɛ la taporo [tàpòrò] n. brain (matter) pl: kyɛ ba sage na nyu tẽe. She is sick taporri 2pl: taporee Var. kyaporo but refuses to take medicine. (2) tapɔgefãa [tápɔ́gɪfã́ ̀ã̀] v. finish very solution • A pɔge taa la a bie ŋa quickly tẽe, o maŋ wa de o la ka o ba la taraa [tàràà] adj. flat and thick kono. The woman has some solution for this child, because any time taramaŋ [tàràmàŋ] adv. blindingly she picks him up, he stops crying. tare [tàrì] v. (1) to set sitting right on (3) poison • Ba de la gyaŋgbonni top of something e.g. pot on fire (2) tẽe ko ne a yiri gyaŋgbonni zaa. to face directly e.g. problem tarɛɛ, The used mouse poison to kill all tara, tara, tareba, taraa the mice in the house. sg: teenoo taremana [tàrɪmànà]̀ adv. com- 2pl: teenɛɛ pletely blind teebo [tɪɪ́ bʊ́ ́] n. fetish pl: tebɛ 2pl: tasere [tàsɪrɪ́ ]́ n. a pad put on the teerɛɛ head to carry load pl: taseɛ 2pl: tẽeda [tɪɪ̀̃ dà]̀̃ n. the act of buying taserɛɛ Var. tanzuŋ medicine • A dɔɔ ŋa ba nɔŋe asi- tasɔle [tásɔ́lɪ]́ n. a type of lizard with biti gaabo, tẽeda ka o dɛlle. This smooth pink skin pl: tasɔlɔ 2pl: man does not like going to the hos- tasɔlɛɛ pital; he relies on buying medicine.

282 tẽe-daare teɛre tɔ tẽe-daare [tɪɪ̃́ -dáárɪ̃́ ]́ n. bought teɛ [tɪɛ́ ̀] v. (1) to kick (2) to unset, medicine to release (snare) teɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛ, tẽe-die [tɪɪ̃́ -dìé]̃́ n. (1) clinic, hospi- teɛrebɛ, teɛraa, teɛrebɛ tal (2) pharmacy pl: tẽe-deri 2pl: teɛ [tɪɛ̀ ]́ n. tree pl: teere 2pl: teerɛɛ tẽe-deree teɛ [tɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a skin disease that causes tẽe-doge [tɪɪ̃́ -dʊ̃́ ́ gɪ]̀ n. medicine pot a rash (usually on the legs) pl: teere pl: tẽe-dogere 2pl: tẽe-dogerɛɛ 2pl: teerɛɛ tẽe-erɛ [tɪɪ̃́ -ɪ̃́ rɛ́ ]́ n. medicine man, tra- tẽɛ [tɪɛ̃́ ]́ v. (1) to stretch out e.g. legs ditional healer pl: tẽe-erebɛ 2pl: • A baala zeŋe dɛlle la a gado tẽe-erebɛɛ kyɛ tẽɛ o gbɛɛ. The patient sat lean- tẽekõɔ [tɪɪ̃́ kʊ̃́ ̃́ɔ̃́] n. syrup (medicine) ing against the bed with his legs 2pl: tẽekoɔnɛɛ stretched out. (2) to point to • A pɔgelee da tõɔ tẽɛ wuli la a nan- tẽekoɔre-die [tɪɪ̃́ kʊ̃́ ̀ ɔ́r-díé] n. phar- nyige. The girl was able to point to macy pl: tẽekoɔr-deri 2pl: tẽekoɔr- the thief. (3) to hold out to give deree • Ba de la a bondirii tẽɛ a pɔge teelɛ [tɪɪ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. sewing machine pl: ka o zagere. They held out the teelɛre 2pl: teelɛrɛɛ food to the woman, but she refused. teene [tɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. improve upon teenɛɛ, teɛ̃ɛ, teɛnɛ, teɛnɛ, teɛnemɛ, teɛnaa, teenɛ, teenɛ, teenemɛ, teenaa teɛnemɛ teene [tɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. delay, waste time tẽɛkɔɔloŋ [tɪɛ̀̃ ̃kɔ́ ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. beard pl: teenɛɛ, teenɛ, teenɛ, teenemɛ, tẽɛkɔɔlɔ 2pl: tẽɛkɔɔlɛɛ teenaa teɛne [tɪɛ̀ nɪ́ ]́ n. chin pl: teɛmɛ 2pl: teene [tɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. to be the spokesman teɛnɛɛ for a suitor in courtship teenɛɛ, teɛne [tɪɛ̀ ̀nɪ]̀ v. to stuff e.g. pillow teenɛ, teenɛ, teenemɛ, teenaa teɛnɛɛ, teɛnɛ, teɛnɛ, teɛnemɛ, teɛ- teere [tɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to rub against (2) naa to iron clothes teerɛɛ, teerɛ, teerɛ, teɛre [tɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to think (2) to teerebɛ, teeraa remind teɛrɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrebɛ, teɛ [tɪɛ̀ ̀] v. to support teɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛraa, teɛrebɛ teɛrɛ, teɛrebɛ, teɛraa, teɛrebɛ teɛre [tɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to feel for tex- teɛ [tɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to shoot with a ture (smoothness of flour, swelling) bow (2) to gamble teɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrebɛ, teɛraa, teɛrebɛ, teɛraa, teɛrebɛ teɛrebɛ teɛ [tɪɛ́ ]́ n. scabbard pl: teere 2pl: teɛre tɔ [tɪɛ́ rɪ́ ́ tɔ̀] n. hope • Ba de la teerɛɛ a baala gaa ne asibiti kyɛ teɛre

283 tege tensane

toɔbo kyebe. The patient has been teloɔraa [tɪlʊ̀ ́ ɔ́ráá] n. animal that taken to the hospital but there is no lives in trees e.g. squirrel pl: teloɔre hope. 2pl: teloɔrɛɛ tege [tɪgɪ́ ]́ v. to be satisfied tegɛɛ, tembaa [tɪmbáá]̀ n. a type of black tegrɛ, tegrɛ, tegrebɛ, tegraa ant with a painful sting pl: tem- tegele [tɪglɪ̀ ]̀ v. to shorten tegelɛɛ, baare 2pl: tembaarɛɛ tegelɛ, tegelɛ, tegelebɛ, tegelaa, tembeene [tɪ̂mbɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. late night pl: teglebɛ tembeemɛ 2pl: tembeemɛɛ tegelɛŋ [tɪglɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. (1) little, small tembie [tɪmbíé]̀ n. citizen pl: tembii- (amount of liquid) (2) short (length, ri 2pl: tembiiree time) tembimeŋɛ [tɪmbìmɪ̀ ŋɛ́ ]́ n. patriot pl: tegeroŋ [tɪgrʊ́ ́ŋ] adj. heavy (weight) tembimenne 2pl: tembimennɛɛ pl: tegerɛ temm [témm] (1) adv. without oth- tegeroŋ [tɪgrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. a heavy thing pl: ers, alone • Nembonyeni temm la tegerɛ wa. It is only one person that has tegitegi [tégtég] adv. always come. (2) adj. lonely Var. teneteŋ tegitegi lɛ [tégtéglɛ̀] adj. always like tempoɔsori [tîmpʊ́ɔ́sórì] n. street pl: that, usually like that tempoɔsoe 2pl: tempoɔsoree tegyeerɛ [tɪdzɪ̀ ɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. woodpecker tendaa [tɪndàá]̀ adv. country-wide pl: tegyeere 2pl: tegyeerɛɛ Var. tendaana [tìndááná] n. landowner tekoliŋkuoraa pl: tendaama 2pl: tendaamɛɛ tekoliŋkuoraa [tɪkólíŋkúóráá]̀ n. tenee [tɪnɪ̀ ɪ́ ]̀ pron. we (1st person woodpecker pl: tekoliŋkuori 2pl: strong form) tekoliŋkuoree Var. tegyeerɛ, tenfaa [tɪnfáá]̀ n. (1) bad country, dakyeɛrɛko bad land (2) hell pl: tenfaare 2pl: tekonee [tɪkʊ́ ́nɪɪ́ ]́ adj. tiny tenfaarɛɛ tekõɔ [tɪkʊ́ ̃́ɔ̃́] n. sap Var. tesunni tensãa [tɪnsã̀ ̀ã̀] n. disruption of com- tekpiri [tɪkpírì]̀ n. stump sg: munity, country tekpiruu 2pl: tekpiree tensaana [tɪnsáánà]̌ n. alien land, tekyɛ [tɪʧɛ́ ̀] n. teacher pl: tekyɛre strange country pl: tensaama 2pl: 2pl: tekyɛrɛɛ tensaanɛɛ tekyɛ [tɪʧɛ̀ ̀] n. the act of felling trees tensaana [tɪnsááná]̀ n. bandit pl: ten- telare [tɪlàrɪ́ ]̀ adv. too much saanema 2pl: tensaamɛɛ teli [télí] v. to be in an upright tensane [tɪnsánɪ̀ ]̀ n. state of owing position e.g. head telee, tele, tele, the gods of the land pl: tensama telibe, telaa 2pl: tensannɛɛ

284 tensɛre teretere tensɛre [tɪsɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. tradition Var. teŋgane [tǐŋgánɪ]̀ n. (1) top layer of teŋkõɔ soil (2) god of the land pl: teŋgama tensoba [tɪnsʊ̀ ̀ bá] n. landowner pl: 2pl: teŋgamɛɛ tendemee teŋganezu waloŋ zannoo [tɪŋgánzú̀ tensogezɔnne [tɪsʊ́ ́gɪzɔ́ ́nnɪ]́ n. night wààlʊ̀ ŋ zánnʊ́ʊ́] n. geography blindness teŋgbigiri [tɪŋgbígírì]̀ n. earthquake tensogɔ [tɪ̂nsʊ́gɔ́] n. night pl: ten- pl: teŋgbigiri 2pl: teŋgbigiree sogere 2pl: tensogerɛɛ Var. ten- teŋkõɔ [tɪŋkʊ́ ̃́ɔ̃́] n. tradition 2pl: soga, yensogɔ teŋkoɔnɛɛ Var. tensɛre tensunni [tɪnsúnní]́ n. (1) muddy teŋkpoŋ [tɪŋkpôŋ]̀ n. town, city pl: ground (2) fertile land pl: tensumo teŋkponni 2pl: teŋkponnee tentoloŋ [tɪ̂ntʊ́lʊ́ŋ] n. (1) hot ground teraale [tìrààlɪ]́ n. perfume pl: teraa- (2) hot seaon lere 2pl: terelerɛɛ tentɔle [tɪntɔ́ ́lɪ]́ n. underpants pl: tere [téré] adj. only • A libie na tentɔlɔ 2pl: tentɔlɛɛ baŋ da la bonyeni yoŋ tere. The money can buy just one only. tentɔlvaa [tɪntɔ́ ̀lváà] n. triangular underwear pl: tentɔlvaare 2pl: ten- tere [tɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. spoon pl: teɛ 2pl: terɛɛ tɔlvaarɛɛ tere [tɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to give, to send terɛɛ, terɛ, terɛ, terebɛ, teraa tentɔɔre [tɪntɔ̀ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. distant country, town, or village pl: tentɔɔbɔ tere noɔreto leave a message Var. bare noɔre tenvelaa [tɪnvɪ̀ làá]̀ n. (1) good country, good land (2) heaven pl: ten- tere sori allow, permit veɛle teree [téréé] n. a statement made teŋa [tɪŋá]́ n. (1) ground (2) town, for comments • A koŋkono lɔɔ la village (3) country Var. teŋɛ teree ko a kotuo deme. The dirge singer has presented a riddle to the teŋe [tɪŋ] v. to rub on teŋɛɛ, teŋenɛ, ̀ bereaved family. pl: terri 2pl: ter- teŋenɛ, teŋenemɛ, teŋenaa ree teŋɛ [tɪŋɛ́ ]́ adj. down teree-teree [térée-téréé] adj. spread teŋɛ [tíŋɛ]́ n. (1) ground (2) town, out and roundish at the end, cone- village (3) country pl: tenne 2pl: shaped tennɛɛ Var. teŋa terembelli [térémbéllí] adv. straight teŋɛsoga [tɪŋɛ́ sʊ́ ́gá] n. floor pl: teŋɛ- and upright sogre Var. teŋɛsogɔ teretere [tɪrɪ̀ tɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to crush with teŋɛzu [tɪŋɛ́ zù]́ n. world pl: teŋɛzuri feet, to trample tereterɛɛ, tereterɛ, 2pl: teŋɛzuree tereterebɛ, tereteraa

285 terri tɛnnɛ terri [térrì] v. to smooth out the end tɛge [tɛ̀gɪ]́ n. meaning 2pl: tɛgrɛɛ of e.g. pestle terree, terre, terre, Var. tɛgɛ teribe, terraa tɛgele [tɛglɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to place a tesogɔ [tɪsʊ̀ ́gɔ́] n. trunk (of tree) container with the bottom on the pl: tesogere 2pl: tesogerɛɛ Var. ground (2) to collect in a small pool tesoga e.g. water tɛgelɛɛ, tɛgelɛ, tɛgelɛ, tesunni [tèsúnnì] n. sap sg: tesun- tɛgelebɛ, tɛgelaa nuu 2pl: tesunnee Var. tekoɔ̃ tɛgere [tɛ̀grɪ]̀ v. to apply the sap of tetebaa [tɪtɪ́ báá]́ n. stinger; the tip a leaf to the body (local method of the tail of a bee usually used to of tattooing) tɛgerɛɛ, tɛgerɛ, tɛgerɛ, sting pl: teterre 2pl: teterɛɛ tɛgerebɛ, tɛgraa tetere [tɪtɪ́ rɪ̀ ]̀ adj. small in quantity tɛgɛ [tɛgɛ́ ]́ n. meaning Var. tɛge tevaa [tɪváà]̀ adj. green pl: tevaare tɛgɛtɛgɛ [tɛgɛ́ tɛ́ gɛ́ ]́ adv. little e.g. liq- 2pl: tevaarɛɛ uid tewɔne [tɪwɔ̀ ́nɪ]́ n. (1) berry (2) fruit tɛlɛntɛlɛŋ [tɛ̀lɛ̀ntɛlɛ́ ŋ]́ adv. sprawled of a tree pl: tewɔmɔ 2pl: tewɔnnɛɛ out tewɔŋkõɔ [tɪwɔ́ ́ŋkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. juice 2pl: tɛll [tɛ̀ll] adj. long, straight, and rigid tewɔŋkoɔnɛɛ tɛmbiri [tɛmbìrí]̌ n. (1) white ants tɛ [tɛ]́ v. to spread in an orderly man- (termites) (2) the habitat of these ner • Dasɛrɛɛ ka Dagaaba maŋ termites pl: tɛmbie 2pl: tɛmbiiree tɛ ne ba die kyɛ lɔɔ. The Dagaaba tɛmbogi [tɛ̀mbògí] n. ditch where arrange small sticks on planks of mortar is prepared pl: tɛmbogiri wood and on which they put local 2pl: tɛmbogiree mortar to roof a building. tɛɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrɛ, teɛrebɛ, teɛraa tɛmburo [tɛ̀mbùró] n. dry soil 2pl: tɛmburee tɛbaa [tɛbáá]́ n. snare pl: tɛrre 2pl: tɛrrɛɛ tɛmpelaa [tɛmpɪ̌ làá]̀ n. white soil (used to plaster walls) pl: tɛmpeɛle tɛɛse [tɛɛ́ sɪ́ ]́ n. test pl: tɛɛsɪrɪ 2pl: tɛɛsɪrɛɛ 2pl: tɛmpeɛlɛɛ tɛɛtɛɛ [tɛɛ́ tɛ́ ̀ɛ̀] adj. different tɛmpoɔroŋ [tɛ̀mpʊ́ɔ́rʊ́ŋ] n. fertile soil pl: tɛmpoɔrɔ tɛge [tɛ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to exchange, to barter (2) to change (action, tɛne [tɛnɪ́ ]́ n. (1) soil, earth, mud (2) form) (3) to stop doing some- the spirit of a land 2pl: tɛnɛɛ thing suddenly and for a short tɛnnɛ [tɛnnɛ̌ ̀] n. a type of grass usu- time tɛgɛɛ,tɛgerɛ,tɛgerɛ,tɛgereba, ally found in front of houses pl: tɛgerebɛɛ, tɛgoo tɛnne 2pl: tɛnnɛɛ

286 tɛŋ tiiri tɛŋ [tɛ̀ŋ] v. (1) to sweeten (2) ti [tí] v. (1) to put hand on e.g. wall to ferment tɛŋɛɛ, tɛnɛ, tɛnɛ, tɛnɛ, • A baala ti la dankyini lɛnso ka tɛnemɛ, tɛnaa o ba le. The patient held the wall tɛŋkubo [tɛŋkúbò]̌ n. gravel and that is why s/he did not fall. (2) to support by the use of a walking tɛre [tɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to strain one’s legs • stick (3) to put up sticks with their A mɔmoɔre da tɛre la gbɛɛ eŋe tops meeting (making a farm hut) taa kyɛ puri wale. The wrestlers tie, tiire, tiire, tiiribe, tiiraa strained their legs and sweated, too. tɛrɛɛ, tɛrɛ, tɛrɛ, tɛrebɛ, tɛraa, tigi [tìgì] v. to gather e.g. crowd tɛrebɛ tigee, tigre, tigre, tigribe, tigraa tɛretɛre [tɛ̀rɪtɛ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to move in tigiki [tìgìkì] adj. dark and deep set protest e.g. pampered child • A (eyes) Var. tigtig bie zagere ka kyɛŋe kyɛ maŋ tigikpoŋi [tìgìkpóŋ] n. big feast, tɛretɛre. The child has refused solemnity pl: tigikponni 2pl: to walk up and is moving un- tikponnee der protest. tɛretɛrɛɛ, tɛretɛrɛ, tigiri [tígrí] n. feast, festival pl: tige tɛretɛrɛ, tɛretɛrebɛ, tɛretɛraa 2pl: tigee tɛrewɛrɛ [tɛrɪ́ wɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ adv. standing tigiri [tígrì] v. to grow fat tigiree, ti- with legs bent backwards gire, tigire, tigiribe, tigiraa tɛrɛɛtɛrɛɛ [tɛrɛ́ ɛ́ tɛ́ rɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ adv. flat and tigiti [tígítì] n. ticket pl: tigitiri 2pl: even tigitiree tɛrɛsɛ [tɛ̀rɛ̀sɛ̀] adv. clumsily • O tigitigi [tìgìtígí] v. to shiver vio- tegɛɛ la a deɛ leɛ e tɛrɛsɛ lɛ o naŋ lently e.g. when one has a fever zeŋ. He is so full with food that he tigitigee, tigitigre, tigitigre, tigiti- can hardly move. gribe, tigitigraa tɛrre [tɛrrɪ́ ]̀ v. to level out tɛrrɛɛ, tĩi [tĩĩ́ ]́ adv. closely and carefully e.g. tɛrrɛ, tɛrrɛ, tɛrebɛ, tɛrraa look, observe tɛrre [tɛrrɪ́ ]̀ v. to push a container tiili [tíílì] v. to place against an up- away along the ground/floor usu- right object e.g. a plank against a ally in anger tɛrrɛɛ, tɛrrɛ, tɛrrɛ, tree/wall tiilee, tiile, tiile, tiilibe, ti- tɛrebɛ, tɛrraa ilaa tɛtɛgere [tɛ̀tɛ̀gɪrɪ̀ ]́ n. muddy thing pl: tiiri [tíírí] n. vomit 2pl: tiiree tɛtɛgɛ tiiri [tììrì] v. to come very close to tɛtɛrewɛrɛ [tɛ̀tɛ̀rɪwɛ́ rɛ̌ ]́ adv. daftly tiiree, tiire, tiire, tiiribe, tiiraa ti [tì] v. to vomit tie, tiire, tiire, ti- tiiri [tììrì] v. to be fed up with tiiree, iribe, tiiraa, tiiribe tiire, tiire, tiiribe, tiiraa

287 tiiruŋ toll tiiruŋ [tíírǔŋ] n. (1) a type of plant togilogo [tòglògò] adv. deep • Te with sour sap used for cooking (2) tu la tambɔge togilogoo kaŋa a a type of medicinal herbal concoc- na kuire sagere ennɛ. We dug tion a deep ditch into which we will tiiruŋ [tììrǔŋ] adj. sour (taste) dump refuse. tilento [tíléntó] n. (1) hornbill (2) togiroo [tógróó] n. raised wooded pelican pl: tilentori 2pl: tilentoree ground (Southern Dagaare dialect) tiŋi [tíŋ] v. to make firm (object fixed pl: togiri 2pl: togiree Var. tuu in the ground) tiŋee, tiŋine, tiŋine, togitogi [tógtóg] adv. never, not at tiŋinime, tiŋinaa all • N gɛrɛ ka o gaaɛ N ba nyɛ o tiŋimeŋ [tìŋìméŋ] adj. dark togitogi. When I got there, he had left; I never saw him at all. tiretire [tírétíré] adv. tasteless togoko [tògòkò] adv. refusing to lis- to [tʊ́] v. to insult toɛ, toora, toora, ten, hear; not minding tooreba, tooraa, tooreba tokele [tòkélé] n. hard dawdaw spice to [tó] adv. really • A bie ŋa zoro to. seed (not processable) pl: tokelee This child runs really fast. Var. te Var. dɔkele, kele tobaa [tóbáá] n. fox pl: tobaare 2pl: tokokyile [tòkóʧìlé] n. a bottle-like tobaarɛɛ container made by removing the tobie sawɔlɔ [tóbíè sáwɔ́lɔ́] n. fried seeds from the baobab fruit pl: food made from boabab seed tokokyilli 2pl: tokokyilee tobiri [tóbírì] n. boabab seed sg: to- tokoroo [tókóróó] n. window pl: biruu pl: tobie 2pl: tobiiree tokorri 2pl: tokoree/tokorree Var. togi [tògì] v. (1) take down e.g. from takoroo head, fire (2) to drip togee, togiro, tokparaa [tòkpáráà] n. boabab togiro, togiribo, togiraa leaves (vegetable for soup) 2pl: to- togifa [tògífá] n. sixpence pl: togi- kparɛɛ fare 2pl: togifarɛɛ tolee [tóléé] n. small mortar pl: to- togilogo [tóglógó] adv. (1) small bilii 2pl: tobilee (space) • Ba boma koŋ kpɛ a die, o tolema [tʊ́lɪmá]́ adv. avariciously deɛ waa la togilogoo lɛ. The room tolimala [tòlmálá] n. great enjoy- cannot contain their belongings; it ment, merrymaking (edibles) 2pl: is very small. (2) small and shallow tolimalɛɛ Var. tolomala (hole) • Ba tu la a bulee fãã kyɛ deɛ e boŋkaŋa togilogoo lɛ. They toliŋka [tólíŋkà] n. a car pl: toliŋkaɛ were unable to dig the well; they 2pl: toliŋkarɛɛ just etched a tiny hole. toll [tòll] adv. large (heap)

288 toll toogyɛle toll [tóll] adj. small (heap) gbori, zenɛ a zaaŋ mii tontoŋ lɛ. tolomboll [tólómbóll] adv. lonely- The man banged his head against looking the door yesterday and today it really hurts. toloŋ [tʊ́lʊ́ŋ] n. heat • Toloŋ maŋ vɛŋ la ka te puri wale. Heat in- toŋe [tʊ̀ ŋɪ]̀ v. (1) to work (2) to duces sweat. pl: tola send (someone to do something) toŋɛɛ, tona, tona, tonema, tonaa, toloŋ [tʊ́lʊ́ŋ] adj. (1) hot • A zeɛre tonema ba taa diibu, a toloŋ. The soup cannot be eaten just yet; it is very toŋkpeɛne [tʊ̂ ŋkpɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. miracles, hot. (2) fast, quick • Ka fooŋ ba powerful deeds 2pl: toŋkpeɛnɛɛ kyɛŋ gbɛ toloŋ fo koŋ pɔge o. If too [tòò] part. okay Var. tɔɔ you don’t hasten your steps, you toobini [tòòbíní] n. earwax (ear shit) won’t meet her. pl: tola 2pl: toobinee tom [tôm] v. to become sweet, to toogee [tóógéé] interj. a state in- become enjoyable tomee, tomino, dicating an incorrect utterance tomino, tominimo, tominaa which is therefore withdrawn • tomomo [tómómó] adv. very sweet Yeli ka toogee ka lɛ naane o na tone [tʊ́nɪ]́ n. work pl: toma ŋmɛ fo la. Better say it is a mistaken statement; otherwise he will tonemaa [tʊ̀ nɪmáà]̀ adv. at once, in- beat you. stantly too-gbuli [tòò-gbúlí] n. unpierced tonni [tònnì] v. to move blindly; ear pl: too-gbulo 2pl: too-gbulee groping tonnee, tonno, tonno, tonimo, tonnaa toogbulo [tòògbùló] n. (1) hardness of hearing, deafness, blocked ears • tonni [tónní] v. to drip tonnee, Maa teɛre ka toogbulo ka taa, N tonno, tonno, tonimo, tonnaa maŋ yeli la a yɛlɛ ka a deɛ kaara tontombone [tʊ̀ ntʊ̀ mbʊ́nɪ]́ n. tool pl: n niŋeŋ. I think she is hard of hear- tontombomai ing, because when I talk to her she tontonɔ [tʊ̌tʊ́ná] n. (1) worker (2) just stares into my face. (2) an an- industrious person pl: tontonema imal without a mark of identifica- Var. tontona tion on the ear • N peroo na naŋ tontoŋ [tóntóŋ] adv. (1) very sour bɔre lambori ŋmaa la pelaa kyɛ • A buuluŋ waa la tontoŋ zuo a taa toogbulo. My lost sheep has a nyuubu tuo. The porridge is very white spot on its side but unmarked sour; it is difficult to eat. (2) very ears. painful, sore e.g. overnight bruised toogyɛle [tòòdzɛlɪ́ ]́ n. earlobe pl: too- body • A dɔɔ zãa de la o zu za ne a gyɛlɛ

289 tookuriseɛ toɔre tookuriseɛ [tòòkúrísɪɛ́ ]́ n. the base of for music; their step falls on the the ear (back) pl: tookuriseere 2pl: beat. tookuriseerɛɛ toovaa [tòòváà] n. ear flap; the vis- tookpane [tòòkpànɪ]̀ n. earring pl: ible part of the ear (pinna) pl: tookpama 2pl: tookpanɛɛ/too- toovaare 2pl: toovaarɛɛ kpannɛɛ toovoɔre [tòòvʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) ear canal toole [tʊ̀ ʊ̀ lɪ]̀ adj. little e.g. food; used (2) ear piercing pl: toovɔ̃ɛ 2pl: with ‘ba’ • A bondirii ba toole a toovoɔrɛɛ bie koŋ tege. The food is little, the tõɔ [tʊ̃́ɔ̃́] v. (1) to subdue, to conquer child will not eat to his fill. • A bibiiri naŋ mɔ buo la tõɔ o tɔ? toolere [tòòléré] n. peak, climax, Which of boys overcame the other most enjoyable part (of music) pl: in the wrestling competition? (2) toolerri 2pl: tooleree/toolerree to be able, to be capable • N gaa la toolii [tòòlíí] n. joke pl: tooliiri 2pl: kyɛ N koŋ tõɔ leɛ wa. I’ll go, but tooliiree I’ll not be able to come back. tõɔɛ, toopãapere [tòòpã̀ã̀pɪrɪ́ ]̀ n. eardrum toɔnɔ, toɔnɔ, toɔnema, toɔnaa pl: toopãapeɛ 2pl: toopãapeerɛɛ toɔle [tʊ́ɔ́lɪ]̀ v. to send a message toopurimo [tòópúrímó] n. draining toɔlɛɛ, toɔlɔ, toɔlɔ, toɔlbɔ, toɔlaa ear 2pl: toopurimee toɔlɔ [tʊ́ɔ́lɔ̀] n. message pl: toɔlɛɛ toore [tʊ́ ʊ́rɪ]̀ v. to spit toorɛɛ, toorɔ, Var. toɔla toorɔ, tooreba, tooraa, tooreba toɔne [tʊ̀ ɔ̀nɪ]̀ v. to tear off in strips toore [tʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. (1) to push into e.g. (fibre from the stalk) toɔnɛɛ, toɔnɔ, foot into socks (2) to push along a toɔnɔ, toɔnema, toɔnaa surface, to drag along toorɛɛ, toorɔ, toɔraa [tʊ́ ɔ́ráá] n. (1) self • Ka fooŋ toorɔ, tooreba, tooraa beɛrɛ kyɛ zagere tẽe nyuubu fo toori [tòòrí] n. ear pl: tobo 2pl: toɔraa ka fo erɛ. If you are sick tooree but refuse medication, you will be toori [tòòrí] adj. naughty e.g. child • hurting yourself. (2) portion, share A bie na sãa la baaloŋ kyɛ o taa • Ba poŋ la nɛne ka N de n toɔraa la toori yaga. That child appears ko n ma. They shared the meat and to be the quiet type but he is very I gave my share to my mother. pl: naughty. tɔɛ Var. toɔre toori [tòòrí] adj. musically excep- toɔre [tʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. mortar, pounding pot tional • A bawaseɛrebɛ sereŋ taa 2pl: tɔɛ Var. toɔraa la toori, ba gbɛɛ lanna lere la ve- toɔre [tʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. one’s share of some- laa. The dancers have a good ear thing • A seemaa yɛ naŋ maale,

290 toɔre tɔbɔ

N toɔre bɛ? Where is my share of toriko [tòríkò] n. large metal snare the food you cooked? 2pl: tɔɛ Var. for trapping large animals pl: toɔraa torikori 2pl: torikoree toɔre [tʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be careless; to not torizeɛ [tórízɪɛ́ ]́ n. red beret pl: tori- pay enough attention • O toɔre la zeere 2pl: torizerɛɛ a ne,ne bare ka baare de. S/he left to-uri [tò-ùrí] n. tiny spikes cover- the meat carelessly and dogs ate it. ing the fruit of boabab 2pl: to-uree -, toɔrɔ tozɔŋe [tòzɔ́ŋ] n. boabab fruit pow- topɛge [tòpɛgɪ́ ]́ n. boabab fruit shell der 2pl: tozɔnnɛɛ pl: topɛgre 2pl: topɛgrɛɛ tɔ [tɔ́] n. (1) colleague, an equal • N toraza [tʊ́rázà] n. trousers pl: baŋ ka n tɔ kaŋa la toŋ a tomɔ ŋa. torazare 2pl: torazarɛɛ I guess this work is done by a neigh- tore [tʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to sprout, to break bour. (2) same type, same kind • through the seed coat torɛɛ, tora, N meŋ boɔrɔ la a fo kparoo ŋa tɔ. tora, tora, toraa I also want the same type of shirt that you have. pl: taaba tore [tʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. to close one’s mouth tightly (usually in anger) torɛɛ, tɔ [tɔ̀] v. (1) to pound (2) to touch tora, tora, tora, toraa • O de la o nu tɔ ne a gane na o naŋ boɔrɔ. She used her hand torebogi [tʊ̀ rɪbógí]̀ n. frontier, to touch the book she wanted. (3) boundary pl: torebogri 2pl: tore- to head-butt • Ka fooŋ deɛnɛ ne bogree naadɔgerɔ bile a naabo na tɔ fo tori [tórí] adv. continuously (doing la. If you joke with the freshly born one thing) • Kõɔ yoŋi ka a baala calf, its mother will head-butt you. tori nyuuro. The patient just goes (4) to get to the end of • Te kyɛŋe on drinking water only. te tɔ la a sori tɛgɛ. We walked un- tori [tórí] v. (1) to be straight (2) to til we came to the end of the road. be right, to be correct toree, toro, tɔe, toɔrɔ, toɔrɔ, toɔreba, toɔraa, toro, toribo, toraa, toribo toɔreba tori [tórí] v. to speak with anger, tɔ zɔŋɔ kyi (5) to beat about the to blame, to complain toree, toro, bush (6) to be ignorant toro, toribo, toraa tɔba [tɔ̀bà] n. tobacco Var. tɔbɔ tori-buuluŋ [tórí-búúlúŋ] n. por- tɔbaa [tɔ̀bàà] n. a type of sharp ridge made from corn and boabab axe used for carving pl: tɔbre 2pl: flour tɔbrɛɛ toriko [tòríkò] n. cart pl: torikori tɔbɔ [tɔ̀bɔ̀] n. tobacco sg: tɔɔroo 2pl: 2pl: torikoree tɔɔrɛɛ Var. tɔba

291 tɔge tɔre tɔge [tɔ́gɪ]́ n. (1) an earthenware con- tɔntɔbaa [tɔ̀ntɔ́báá] adv. at once tainer with a hole in the bottom for tɔŋe [tɔ̀ŋ] v. to respond to, to answer, sieving (2) fish trap pl: tɔgere 2pl: to reply tɔŋɛɛ, tɔŋena/tɔnnɔ, tɔnnɔ, tɔgerɛɛ tɔnema, tɔnnaa, tɔnema tɔge [tɔ́gɪ]́ v. to stop tɔgɛɛ, tɔgerɔ, tɔŋe [tɔ́ŋ] v. (1) to be in a queue (2) tɔgerɔ, tɔgereba, tɔgeraa to light a fire (3) to fetch fire tɔŋɛɛ, tɔgele [tɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to imitate • A bie tɔnɔ, tɔnɔ, tɔnema, tɔnnaa, - Var. tɔgele la a biwɔɔ kyɛnne a meŋ kyɔŋ deɛ te kyɛnɛ wɔɔreŋ. The boy imi- tɔŋe [tɔ̂ŋ] v. to light a fire from tated the way the lame boy walks another fire tɔŋɛɛ, tɔŋena/tɔnnɔ, and now he limps. tɔglɛɛ, tɔglɔ, tɔnnɔ, tɔnemɔ, tɔnnaa, tɔnema tɔglɔ, -, tɔglaa tɔŋemɔ [tɔ́ŋɪmɔ́ ̀] n. colleague pl: tɔgele [tɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to collect from above tɔŋemɔmine Var. tɔŋema e.g. rain water • Ka fooŋ tɔgele tɔɔ [tɔ̀ɔ̀] part. all right, okay Var. too saa kõɔ̃ a maŋ maaroŋ. Gathered rain water is always cold. tɔglɛɛ, tɔɔbɔle [tɔ̀ɔ̀bɔ́lɪ]́ n. cylinder-shaped tɔglɔ, tɔglɔ, -, tɔglaa pounded tobacco pl: tɔɔbɔlɔ 2pl: tɔɔbɔlɛɛ tɔgele [tɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to turn to face e.g. in a direction • O leɛ la o niŋe tɔgele tɔɔlaa [tɔ̀ɔ̀láá] n. tobacco pipe pl: sapare a na nyɛ a saa naŋ ko. tɔɔlaare 2pl: tɔɔlaarɛɛ She has turned towards the east to tɔɔlakãa [tɔ̀ɔ̀làkã́ã̀] n. nicotine 2pl: see the clouds. tɔglɛɛ, tɔglɔ, tɔglɔ, -, tɔɔlakãanɛɛ tɔglaa tɔɔre [tɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]̀ n. ball of tobacco pl: tɔbɔ tɔgele [tɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to help deliver a baby 2pl: tɔɔrɛɛ tɔglɛɛ, tɔglɔ, tɔglɔ, -, tɔglaa tɔɔre [tɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ adj. far pl: tɔbɔ tɔle [tɔ́lɪ]́ v. to pass by tɔlɛɛ, tɔlɔ, tɔlɔ, tɔɔvaa [tɔ̀ɔ̀váà] n. tobacco leaf pl: tɔlebɔ, tɔlaa tɔɔvaare tɔll [tɔ̀ll] adj. long and cylindrical tɔɔwuoraa [tɔ̀ɔ̀wúóráá] n. a shell tɔnne [tɔ́nnɪ]̀ v. to join tɔnnɛɛ, used in gathering and collect- tɔnnɔ, tɔnnɔ, tɔnema, tɔnnaa, ing powdered tobacco (snuff) pl: tɔnema tɔɔwuori tɔnne [tɔ̀nnɪ]̀ v. to sell (usually at tɔɔzɔŋe [tɔ̀ɔ̀zɔ̂ŋ] n. powdered to- a low price) tɔnnɛɛ, tɔnnɔ, tɔnnɔ, bacco; snuff 2pl: tɔɔzɔnnɛɛ tɔnema, tɔnnaa, tɔnema tɔre [tɔ̀rɪ]́ pron. self (reflexive) • N tɔnɔ [tɔ̀nɔ́] n. profit, gain, benefit 2pl: na de la a bondirii tte ko o N tɔre. tɔnɛɛ Var. tɔna I will take the food to him myself.

292 tɔre tulli tɔre [tɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to share in pieces • A tu [tù] v. to recount, to narrate tue, bondirii ba seŋe bone kyɛ te na tuuro, tuuro, tuuribo, tuuraa de tɔre la a bibiiri. We have very tu [tù] v. to bring back an attempted little food left but we shall share it (female) divorcee tue, tuuro, tuuro, in the little bits that we can. tɔrɛɛ, tuuribo, tuuraa tɔrɔ, tɔrɔ, tɔreba, tɔraa tu [tú] v. (1) to dig • A sakuuri tɔre [tɔ́rɪ]́ v. (1) to break easily e.g. tu la bulee ba dabɔge poɔ. The weak twine • A miri poɔ̃ɛ la lɛnso school has dug a well in their gar- ka O gaa ka o lene a tuobu ka o den. (2) to uproot • A koɔraa tɔre. The rope was rotten and that tu la waare paale o wasege. The was why when s/he attempted to farmer has dug up yams and filled tie up the luggage it gave way eas- the yam barn. tue, tuuro, tuuro, tu- ily. (2) to cut a small piece • N baŋ uribo, tuuraa ka a nɛne ba seŋe bone kyɛ N na tu ba [tú bà] v. to take off quickly e.g. tɔre la fẽe ko fo. I know the piece in running tu baɛ, tuuro baara, tu of meat is small but I’ll give you baara, tu baareba a little bit. (3) to die (ailing child) tɔrɛɛ, tɔrɔ, tɔrɔ, tɔreba, tɔraa tuli [tùlì] v. to make a mistake, to err, to be wrong tulee, tullo, tullo, tɔre [tɔ̀rɪ]́ adj. valuable • O yeli ka tulbo, tulaa ba zu la o libie kyɛ a ba e libi tɔre tulli [tùllì] v. (1) to change (state), zaa. She said they had stolen her disguise • A bibiiri da tulli la ba money but it was not worth any- menne a tigiri daare ka fo koŋ thing. la baŋ ba. The boys diguised them- tɔ teere [tɔ̀ tɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) without any selves during the festival, so that hope/hit the rocks • A pɔge bie you could not recognise them. (2) baaloŋ la so ka o sori na yiibu tɔ to confuse • N bare la gyɛle ka teere. The woman’s intended jour- a pɔge tulli ma kyɛ zo ne a bie. ney hit the rocks because of her I was so careless that the woman child’s sickness. (2) to worsen • tricked me and escaped with the O gaa wɛre la o nimie na a deɛ child. tullee, tullo, tullo, tulibo, tɔ teere. The eye operation has tullaa worsened his sight. tɔ teerɛɛ, toɔrɔ tulli [tùllì] v. to incriminate spiritu- teerɛ, tɔteerɛ, tɔteerɛ, tɔteeraa, tɔ- ally • O tulli la omeŋɛ lɛnso ka o teerebɛ bageboge dagoli ba la nyɛrɛ. She tu [tù] v. to follow a route, to take has wronged the spirits and that is a route tue, tuuro, tuuro, tuuribo, why she cannot see things in the tuuraa spiritual world. tullee, tullo, tullo,

293 tulundaa turi

tulibo, tullaa tuŋi [tùŋ] v. (1) to dip e.g. hand in tulundaa [túlúndàá] n. pestle pl: tu- pocket (2) to insert a finger into the lundaare 2pl: tunlundaarɛɛ Var. vagina (defile, rape) tuŋee, tuno, tulindaa, tundaa tuno, tunimo, tunaa, tunimo tumakuli [tùmákúlí] n. burri; a type tuŋi [tûŋ] v. (1) to stumble about to of small plant with thorny fruits sg: fall, to totter (2) to err, to make tumakuluu pl: tumakulli 2pl: tu- a mistake tuŋee, tuŋino, tuŋino, makulee tuŋinimo, tuŋinaa, tuŋinimo Var. tumo [tùmó] n. one born with the tummu (of -bu form) feet coming first instead of the head tuŋi [túŋ] v. to overgrow e.g. hair, 2pl: tumee grass of lawn tumo [tùmó] n. glutton 2pl: tumee tuo [tùò] v. (1) to carry e.g. on head tumpaane [túmpáánɪ]́ n. large talk- (2) to swell e.g. blister -, tuoro, ing drum; a drum that gives tuoro, tuoribo messages pl: tumpaama 2pl: tuo [tùó] n. (1) baobab tree (2) tumpaanɛɛ Var. tumpanne baobab fruit pl: tori 2pl: toree tumpaane [túmpáánɪ]́ n. slabs of tuo [túó] n. (1) suffering • Tuo yoŋ bean flour boiled in leaves pl: ka zɔɔre taa. There is only suffer- tumpaama 2pl: tumpaanɛɛ Var. ing in war. (2) difficulty • A daŋ- tumpanne maa ŋa ŋmaabo tuo la so ka o ba tu noɔre [tù nʊ́ɔrɪ]̀ v. to narrate, to wa. The difficulty involved in cut- give an account of • Ba yeli ka a ting this log has disuaded him from bibiiri na naŋ zɔɔ taa ka kaŋa coming. pl: tuuri 2pl: tuuree zaa maŋ tu o noɔre. Each of the tuo [túó] adj. (1) bitter e.g. quinine boys who fought has been asked to (2) hot e.g. pepper pl: tuuri 2pl: tuu- give an account of what led to the ree fight. tuobu [tùòbú] n. (1) load (2) burden tuntundaana [túntúndááná] n. (3) weight (4) luggage mosquito net pl: tuntundaane 2pl: tuntundaanɛɛ tuori [tùòrì] v. (1) to meet face to tunturi [túntúrì] n. a type of very face (2) to welcome tuoree, tuoro, large hog with powerful claws and tuoro, tuoribo, tuoraa, tuoribo tail for digging pl: tuntue 2pl: tu- tuosoba [túósʊ́ bá] n. person who turee does not want to make offers to any tuŋi [tùŋ] v. to thread (beads) tuŋee, other person tuno, tuno, tunimo, tunaa, tu- turi [túrì] n. thousand sg: turree 2pl: nimo turee

294 turi unni turi [tùrì] v. (1) to give from above ree or below • A pɔge wuo a kyi peɛ tuuli [tùùlì] v. (1) to trace e.g. line zu de turi o serɛ. The woman gath- (2) to use a finger to apply e.g. oint- ered the millet from the top of the ment (3) to go about, to roam roof and passed it down to her hus- around (4) to carried away by wa- band. (2) to offer one’s hand turee, ter tuulee, tuulo, tuulo, tuulbo, tu- turo, turo, turibo, turaa ulaa tu sori [tù sórí] v. to be right • Te tuuli [túúlì] v. (1) to give to drink e.g. yɔɔ la a gama kyɛ ka dɔɔ wa wuo a child (2) not deeply immersed a zaa gaa ne, a lɛ ba tu sori. We (arrow hitting game) tuulee, tuulo, paid for the books but the man tuulo, tuulbo, tuulaa came and took them away; that is not right. tuuree [túúréé] n. Europe or Amer- tutɔ [tútɔ́] n. companion pl: ica tutɔmine tuuri [tùùrì] v. to pick out, to sort tuu [túú] n. (1) thicket, forest, wood out, to separate tuuree, tuuro, tuu- (2) raised ground (usually on a ro, tuuribo, tuuraa farm) pl: tuuri 2pl: tuuree Var. TZ [tíízɛ̀t] n. see saabo, flour paste togroo (staple food of the Dagaaba); short tuu [túú] n. eagle pl: tuuri 2pl: tuu- form of a Hausa word ‘tuozaafi’ u ugi [úgì] v. to expand e.g. cooked ulimo [úlmó] adj. grey rice ugee, ugro, ugro, ugribo, unni [ùnnì] v. (1) unburying some- ugraa thing buried • Polisiri yeli ka ba ulee [ùléè] n. tree branch pl: ulli 2pl: ba baŋ a dɔɔ kũũ, pare a gaa ullee te unni a kũũ. The police said they did not know the cause of uli [úlí] n. fog, mist pl: ulli 2pl: ullee the man’s death, so they went and uli [ùlì] v. (1) to be dusty (2) exhumed the corpse. (2) to bring to become moldy e.g. food • Ka back past memories • Ka Dɛre ne boroboroŋ wa kɔɔre o maŋ uli o pɔgeŋ wa zɔɔrɔ zaa a pɔge maŋ la. When bread is kept for long unni la yelikorɔ. Each time Dɛre it becomes moldy. ulee, ullo, ullo, and his wife quarrel, the wife will ulibo, ullaa always recount past events. unnee,

295 unni uuruŋ

unno, unno, unimo, unnaa uri [úrí] v. to scrub a very dirty ob- unni [únnì] v. to remind • N deɛmɛ ject e.g. cooking pot uree, uro, uro, zãã wa unni ma la a koɔbo. My uribo, uraa in-law reminded me about the day ũu [ṹṹ] v. to close tightly (fist, eyes) of the group farming. unnee, unno, ũue, uuno, uuno, uuimo, uunaa unno, unimo, unnaa uoni [úònì] n. dry season pl: uomo ũu [ũ̀ũ̀] v. to bury ũue, uuno, uuno, 2pl: uonee uuimo, uunaa uori [úórì] v. to warm oneself (by uuni [úúnì] v. (1) to crouch, to hide fire, sun) uoree, uoro, uoro, uoribo, • Ba digi la a bie ka o zo te uuni uoraa tuu poɔ. As they chased the boy, he uori [úórì] v. to mourn uoree, uoro, ran and hid in a thicket. (2) to in- uoro, uoribo, uoraa cubate, to brood, to sit on (a fowl uori [úórì] v. to peer (shading one’s on its eggs) • Noɔ maŋ uuni la face with the hand) uoree, uoro, daare ata kyɛ wɛge. A fowl sits on uoro, uoribo, uoraa its eggs before they hatch. uunee, uuno, uuno, uunimo, uunaa uori [ùòrì] v. (1) to bellow (bull) (2) to groan; a sound uttered in pain or uuni [úúnì] v. to form pus e.g. a grief uoree, uoro, uoro, uoribo, uo- swelling • Goɔ daare kyɔge la n raa nubiri ka o mɔre eŋ kõɔ ka ba uri [ùrí] n. (1) itchy stuff (2) chaff wɛre. A thorn pierced my finger 2pl: urree and it got swollen, formed pus, and uri [ùrì] v. (1) to take unaware (2) was operated upon. uunee, uuno, to be shocked • Maa ne a baala uuno, uunimo, uunaa naŋ yeli yɛlɛ ba kɔɔre, o kũũ uri uuri [úúrí] v. to hoot, to call out ma la. I spoke with the patient not e.g. lost person uuree, uuro, uuro, long ago; I’m shocked at his sudden uuribo, uuraa death. uree, uro, uro, uribo, uraa uri [úrì] v. to make burn e.g. fire uuri [ùùrì] v. (1) to smoke out (2) to warm a place with smoke uuree, uri [ùrí] n. hair-like projections on uuro, uuro, uuribo, uuraa the straw of the grass family and other plants that cause itchiness of uuruŋ [úúrúŋ] n. dust 2pl: uuurun- the skin nee

296 va vage v va [và] v. (1) to whip (2) to thresh vaalee [váálɪɪ́ ]́ n. speck sg: vaaloo pl: (millet) vaɛ, -, vaara, vareba, vaala 2pl: vaalɛɛ Var. vaale vaaraa vaali [vààlì] adv. quickly, in a fast va [vá] v. snatch; to run directly and and sudden manner, e.g. in stand- suddenly at someone seizing him; ing up used with ‘-de’ (va-de) vaane [vàànɪ]̀ v. (1) to shrink, con- va [và] v. to graze a target; miss nar- tract (2) to wrinkle vaanɛɛ, vaana, rowly vaɛ, -, vaara, vareba, vaaraa vaana, vaaneba, vaanaa va [vá] v. to rush, to dash • A dɔbɔ vaane [váánɪ]́ adj. shrunken naŋ ŋmeɛrɛ la ka kaŋa wa va de o vãao [vã̀ã̀ʊ̀̃ ] adv. courageously tɔ gaa lɔɔ. As the men argued, one vaare [vààrɪ]̀ v. to wrap oneself, usu- suddenly rushed on the other and ally with a cloth vaarɛɛ, vaara, threw him down. vaɛ, vaara, vaara, vaara, vaareba, vaaraa vareba, vaaraa vaare [váárɪ]̀ v. to tug, to pull vaa [váà] n. leaf sg: vabo pl: vaare strongly and suddenly towards 2pl: vaarɛɛ oneself • A bie da nyɔge la a vaa [vàà] v. collect or take every- pedaa miri kyɛ ka a peroo vaare thing from a container vaaɛ, vaara, o lɔɔ. The boy held onto the vaara, vaareba, vaaraa rope around the ram’s neck, but it tugged him to the ground. vaarɛɛ, vaa [vàà] v. to draw e.g. bow- vaara, vaara, vaareba, vaaraa string vaaɛ, vaara, vaara, vaareba, vaaraa vaare [váárɪ]̀ v. to rinse • Fan- fane fuuri naŋ be la laare poɔ a vaa [vàà] v. to lift an opponent’s seŋ ka vaare. There are still soap- leg (wrestling) vaaɛ, vaara, vaara, suds in the bowls, so they need vaareba, vaaraa to be rinsed. vaarɛɛ, vaara, vaara, vaagaviige [vààgàvíígè] v. I com- vaareba, vaaraa mand you (to die) vabɔre [vábɔ́rɪ]̀ n. spring 2pl: vabɔr- vaa-iri [vàà-ìrì] v. to stand up rɛɛ quickly vaa-iree, vaara-ire, vaa- vãee [vã̀ɪɪ̃́ ]̀̃ adv. aromatically ire, vaa-iribe vage [vágɪ]́ v. sounding like a bird vaale [vààlɪ]̀ v. to gather e.g. rub- pecking at a soft object (ono- bish, garbage vaalɛɛ,vaala, vaala, matopoeia) vagɛɛ, vagra, vagra, vaaleba,vaalebɛɛ vaaloo vagreba, vagraa

297 vage varema vage [vàgɪ]̀ adv. sound of pecking vapeɛlegboro [vápíɛlgbóró]́ n. a vagere [vàgɪrɪ̀ ]̀ adv. pecking type of tree with medicinal properties vakogilo [vákóglo] n. dried leaves (that once were worn by women) vapɛge [vápɛgɪ́ ]́ n. fallen leaf pl: sg: vakogiluu vapɛgre 2pl: vapgrɛɛ vakuoŋaa [vákúóŋáá] n. dry leaf pl: vapielee [vápìèlèè] n. a type of tree vakuoni with medicinal properties pl: va- vakuoŋaa [vákúóŋáá] n. bad luck pl: pieli vakuoni vapɔrɔ [vápɔ̀rɔ̀] n. fresh green leaves valenvõɔ [válɪnvʊ́ ̃́ɔ̀̃] n. mason wasp, 2pl: vapɔrrɛɛ potter wasp sg: valenvoɔnoo pl: vare [vàrɪ]̀ v. to wrinkle valenvoɔne 2pl: valenvoɔnɛɛ Var. vare niŋe make a face; usually in valenvõa disgust or anger varɛɛ, vara, vara, valere [vàlɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to intertwine e.g. vareba, varaa, vareba weaving vare [vàrɪ]̀ v. to make laundry not valimmu [vàlímmú] n. a type of well washed e.g. clothes varɛɛ, small tree with soft large leaves vara, vara, vareba, varaa, vareba which women used to wear to vare [vàrɪ]̀ v. to make the layout of cover parts of their private parts pl: a mound varɛɛ, vara, vara, vareba, valinni 2pl: valinnee varaa, vareba valinvaa [vàlìnv́áà] n. (1) leaf of the vare [várɪ]́ v. to jump, to leap, to hop palm tree (2) the leaf of the val- varoo, vara, vara, varibo, varaa, immu tree pl: valinvaare 2pl: va- variba linvaarɛɛ vare [várɪ]́ v. to castrate varoo, vara, valinvuuluŋ [v̀àlìnvúúlúŋ] n. soot vara, varibo, varaa, variba pl: valinvuulo/valinvuuli 2pl: va- varekpara [vàrìkpàrà] adv. long and linvuulee Var. valanvuuluŋ, vuu- loose e.g. twine luŋ varekpenɛ [várɪkpɪ́ nɛ́ ]́ n. thick paste valogema [válʊ́gɪmà]́ n. green, fresh, from beans sg: varekpenoo 2pl: and tender leaves varekpennɛɛ vama [vàmà] adv. effortlessly varema [várɪmá]́ adj. (1) tough e.g. vamaaroŋ [vámáárʊ́ŋ] n. green leaf meat, rope (2) difficult • A pɔgelee pl: vamaara 2pl: vamaarɛɛ na nɔŋe la laare kyɛ o boɔbo yɛlɛ vanne [vánnɪ]̀ v. to stretch, to grow varema. That girl likes smiling but longer vannɛɛ, vanna, vanna, van- she is very difficult when it comes naa to dating her.

298 varevare vere varevare [vàrɪvárɪ̀ ]́ v. to heckle vare- veɛre [vɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to evade e.g. a ver- varɛɛ, varevara, varevara, vare- bal attack veɛrɛɛ, veɛrɛ, veɛrɛ, vareba, varevaraa veɛrebɛ, veɛraa varevare [vàrɪvárɪ̀ ]́ v. to pull along veɛrenyɔge [vɪɛ̀ ̀rɪɲɔ̀ ́gɪ]́ n. rodent varevarɛɛ, varevara, varevara, velaa [vɪlàà]̀ adj. (1) good, nice (2) varevareba, varevaraa beautiful pl: veɛle varoo [várʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adj. tough e.g. meat vell [vɪll]̀ adj. full to the brim Var. varema velle [vɪllɪ̀ ]̀ v. to hold the legs tightly ve [vɪ]́ v. to knit veɛɛ, verɛ, verɛ, in such a way as to make the person verebɛ, veraa lose balance • A pɔge velle la a dɔɔ vebo [vɪbʊ̀ ̀ ] adj. striking directly e.g. gbɛɛ ka o le. The woman held the arrow man’s legs so tightly that he lost balance and fell. vellɛɛ, vellɛ, vellɛ, vedeɛ [vɪdɪ̀ ɛ̀ ]́ n. sugarcane pl: ved- velbɛ, vellaa erre 2pl: vedeerɛɛ velɔɔ [vɪlɔ̀ ̀ɔ̀] adj. turning instantly veene [vɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ n. a type of small bird venenne [vɪnɪ̀ nnɪ̀ ]̀ adj. elastic with very lean legs (short form of daveene) pl: veemɛ 2pl: veenɛɛ venne [vɪnnɪ́ ]́ v. to throw off Var. daveene (wrestling) vennɛɛ, vennɛ, vennɛ, venemɛ, vennaa veene [vɪɪ́ nɪ́ ]́ v. to tie tightly veenɛɛ, veenɛ, veenɛ, veenemɛ, veenaa venoo [vɪnʊ́ ̀ ʊ̀ ] n. wine veɛle [vɪɛ̀ ̀lɪ]̀ v. to be beautiful veɛlɛɛ, venɔɔ [vɪnɔ̀ ̀ɔ̀] adj. thick and sticky veɛlɛ, veɛlɛ, veɛle e.g. grease venveŋ [vɪnvɪ́ ŋ]́ n. climax veɛlɛ [vɪɛ̀ ̀lɛ]́ adj. beautiful venveŋ [vɪnvɪ́ ŋ]́ adv. at the maxi- veɛlɛyeŋe [vɪɛ̀ ̀lɛyéŋé]́ n. one with mum • A daa naŋ da w ate kpɛ physical beauty only venveŋ saŋa la ka ba da moɔle a veɛloŋ [vɪɛ̀ lʊ́ ́ŋ] n. (1) beauty (2) zuyɔɔ yɛlɛ. It was at the climax of goodness (3) light the market activities that they an- veɛre [vɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to push aside growth nounced the payment of taxes. e.g. in searching for something in vere [vɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to shoot with a cata- an overgrown bush veɛrɛɛ, veɛrɛ, pult verɛɛ, verɛ, verɛ, verebɛ, ve- veɛrɛ, veɛrebɛ, veɛraa raa, verebɛ veɛre [vɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to fly low and slowly vere [vɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to sprain (2) to veɛrɛɛ, veɛrɛ, veɛrɛ, veɛrebɛ, dislocate (joint) verɛɛ, verɛ, verɛ, veɛraa verebɛ, veraa, verebɛ

299 vere vitaŋkpulee vere [vɪrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to make an effort, to vɛvɛ [vɛvɛ́ ]́ adj. glidingly e.g. a bird strain verɛɛ, verɛ, verɛ, verebɛ, ve- vɛvɛre [vɛ̀vɛ̀rɪ]́ n. mud, marsh 2pl: raa, verebɛ vɛvɛrɛɛ vere [vɪrɪ́ ]́ v. to fence e.g. garden vi [vî] n. shame, disgrace pl: viri 2pl: verɛɛ, verɛ, verɛ, verebɛ, veraa viree verevere [vɪrɪ̀ vɪ̀ rɪ́ ]́ v. to pull very vigi [vígì] n. owl pl: vigiri 2pl: vi- hard on e.g. tug of war vereverɛɛ, gree Var. vig, vib vereverɛ, vereverɛ, vereverebɛ, vereveraa vigi [vígì] v. to throw out in a whole (solid waste) vigee, vigre, vigre, vi- verɛnverɛŋ [vɪrɛ̀ ̀nvɪrɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. found gribe, vigraa everywhere verɛverɛ [vɪrɛ̀ ̀vɪrɛ̀ ̀] adj. scattered all viiri [vììrì] v. (1) to turn around, to over rotate (2) to visit a place repeatedly viiree, viire, viire, viiribe, viiraa, vɛ̃ɛ [vɛ̀̃ɛ̀̃] adv. less sunny, dusky viiribe vɛle [vɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to become clear e.g. day, mind vɛlɛɛ, vɛllɛ, vɛllɛ, vɛlebɛ, vɛl- vilenkyimm [vílénkyímm] adj. laa twisted vɛlevɛle [vɛ̀lvɛ̀l] adj. very long and vilenva [vílénvà] n. going out of and wavy sight • A karema yeli ka o erɛ vilenva ka a karembiiri yaarɛɛ. vɛmm [vɛmm]́ adv. smoothly No sooner had the teacher left than vɛnɛvɛnɛ [vɛ̀nɛ̀vɛ̀nɛ̀] adj. (1) sticky the students dispersed. e.g. honey (2) oily vilenvileŋ [vílénvíléŋ] adv. round, vɛnlɛmm [vɛnlɛ́ mm]́ adj. slim and circular beautiful vili [vílí] v. to entwine, to tie, to vɛŋe [vɛŋ]́ v. (1) to leave (2) to let wrap around vilee, vile, vile, vilbe, go (3) to stop vɛŋɛɛ, vɛnɛ, vɛnɛ, vilaqa vɛnemɛ, vɛnaa vɛre [vɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to prepare mortar vilime [vílímé] adj. circular Var. vɛrɛɛ, vɛrɛ, vɛrɛ, vɛrebɛ, vɛraa vilenvileŋ vɛre [vɛrɪ́ ]́ v. to scatter thick liq- virenvireŋ [vírénvíréŋ] adv. totally uid e.g. mortar vɛrɛɛ, vɛrɛ, vɛrɛ, e.g. refuse vɛrebɛ, vɛraa viretaŋgbelli [vìrèntáŋgbéllí] n. vɛre [vɛrɪ́ ]́ n. stony farmland pl: your limit, first and last (colloquial- vɛrɛɛ ism) vɛrɛɛ [vɛ̀rɛ̀ɛ̀] adj. lying low e.g. dew- vitaŋkpulee [vítáŋkpúléé] n. a type laden grass of small owl pl: vitaŋkpulli

300 vo voɔre vo [vò] v. to make less crowded voe, voora, voora, vooreba, vooraa, voro, voro vooreba vogɛɛ [vʊ̀ gɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. voluminous e.g. voore fõõ to take a deep breath, to pair of trousers sigh vokyɔ [vʊ̀ ʧɔ̀] n. (1) a type of tree Vooronsoŋ [vʊ́ʊ́rʊ́nsʊ́ŋ] n. Holy with long fruit (2) the fruit of this Spirit tree (used in kneading) pl: vokyɔre vooroŋ [vʊ́ʊ́rʊ́ŋ] n. (1) life (2) 2pl: vokyɔrɛɛ breathed air, breath pl: voora 2pl: volavola [vʊ̀ làvʊ̀ là] adv. slimly Var. voorɛɛ volɔvolɔ voowoɔ [vʊ́ʊ́wʊ́ɔ́] n. womb pl: volɔvolɔ [vʊ̀ lɔ̀vʊ̀ lɔ̀] adv. slimly Var. voowoore 2pl: voowoorɛɛ volavola voɔ [vʊ́ ɔ̀] v. to pull out, to uproot vonne [vʊ̀ nnɪ]̀ v. to throw far away voɔɛ, voɔrɔ, voɔrɔ, voɔreba, vɔraa vonnɛɛ, vonna, vonna, vonema, voɔbale [vʊ́ɔ́bàlɪ]̀ n. arrow with vonnaa many hooks voŋe [vʊ́ŋ] v. to stay put and voɔloŋ [vʊ̀ ɔ̀lʊ́ ŋ] n. slimy sap (from refuse to move voŋɛɛ, vonɔ, vonɔ, a type of tree) used to settle sedi- vonema, vonaa ments in liquids võo [vʊ̃́ʊ̀̃ ] v. to mix, to disturb e.g. water voõɛ, voonɔ, voonɔ, voɔloŋ [vʊ̀ ɔ̀lʊ́ŋ] adj. slimy voonema, voonaa,voonoo Var. voɔre [vʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) opening, hole voŋe (through an object) (2) a small voone [vʊ̀ ʊ̀ nɪ]̀ v. to sound, to door, usually at the back of a com- vibrate voonɛɛ, voona/voonɔ, pound house (comparable to an voona/voonɔ emergency exit) (3) small space • N daare ba nyɛ voɔre gaa a kuori. vooraa [vʊ́ʊ́ ráá] n. a type of lumpy I did not get the chance to attend paste made from bean flour pl: the funeral. pl: vɔ̃ɛ 2pl: vɔrɛɛ voore voɔre [vʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to be worn out, to be voore [vʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]̀ v. echo, resound spent, to be tired and weak voɔrɛɛ, (noise) voorɛɛ, voora, voora, voɔrɔ, voɔrɔ, voɔreba, voɔraa vooreba, vooraa voore [vʊ́ ʊ́ rɪ]́ v. (1) to breathe, to voɔre [vʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to get scorched take a breath (2) to be relieved, to e.g. plants during drought voɔrɛɛ, be free, to rest • A saama kulee voɔrɔ, voɔrɔ, voɔreba, voɔraa la ka N naa voore. The guets have voɔre [vʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. to smear voɔrɛɛ, gone and now I’m relieved. voorɛɛ, voɔrɔ, voɔrɔ, voɔreba, voɔraa

301 voraa vulotokpolo voraa [vʊ́ráá] n. a hand drill; see vɔlaa [vɔ́láà] n. great desire for kyaleere vɔle [vɔ́lɪ]̀ n. great desire for meat; vore [vʊ́rɪ]́ v. to make a hole carnivorousness pl: vɔlɛɛ 2pl: vɔl- through, to pierce e.g. ears, lips lɛɛ vorɛɛ, vorɔ, vorɔ, voreba, voraa, vɔle [vɔ́lɪ]́ v. to swallow vɔlɛɛ, vɔlɔ, voreba vɔlɔ, vɔlebɔ, vɔlaa, vɔlebɔ vore [vʊ́rɪ]́ v. to weave vorɛɛ, vorɔ, vorɔ, voreba, voraa, voreba vɔll [vɔ̀ll] adj. beautifully; usually in the state of growing up vore [vʊ́rɪ]̀ n. foetus pl: voɛ 2pl: vorɛɛ vɔrekpɔrɔ [vɔ̀rɪkpɔ̀ ̀rɔ̀] adv. (1) wet and unwieldy • Saseɛ fue la ka vore [vʊ́ rɪ]̀ adj. alive pl: voɛ 2pl: saa meŋ mi kõɔ lɔre a sagere ka a vorɛɛ zie e lɛ vɔrekpɔrɔ. The rain which vori [vórì] v. to rot, to spoil com- followed the rainstorm has soaked pletely voree, voro, voro, voribo, the garbage in the yard making it voraa wet and disorderly. (2) sound of vorikporo [vóríkpóró] adv. watery fall by a long winding thing e.g. manner snake, rope (onomatopoeia) vorovoro [vòròvòrò] adj. watery vu [vú] v. (1) to crawl e.g. child vɔ [vɔ́] v. to perform a type of ritual (2) to drag along the ground for a dead male vɔɛ, voɔrɔ, voɔrɔ, vue, vuuro, vuuro, vuribo, vuuraa, voɔreba, voɔraa vuribo vɔga [vɔ́gà] n. track, trail Var. vɔgɔ vubiri [vúbìrí] n. mound for yam vɔgaa [vɔ̀gáá] n. silk cotton tree pl: plant pl: vubie 2pl: vubiiree vɔgre 2pl: vɔgrɛɛ vuduori [vúdúórì] n. the act of mak- vɔge [vɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to take off (2) to un- ing yam mounds cover vɔgɛɛ, vɔgrɔ, vɔgrɔ, vɔgreba, vuduoro [vúdúóró] n. one who vɔgraa makes yam mounds pl: vuduoribo vɔge [vɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. (1) to scald (2) to get burnt from hot substance vɔgɛɛ, vɔ- vulaŋkaŋkpogili [vùlàŋkǎŋkpóglí] grɔ, vɔgrɔ, vɔgreba, vɔgraa n. final thing pl: vulaŋkaŋkpolo 2pl: vulaŋkaŋkpolee vɔgele [vɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. (1) to cover (2) to put on top e.g. hat (3) to overturn vuloŋkpogili [vùlòŋkpóglí] n. bee- e.g. container vɔglɛɛ, vɔglɔ, vɔglɔ, tle pl: vuloŋkpogilo 2pl: vuloŋk- vɔgleba, vɔglaa, vɔgleba pogilee Var. vulaŋkpogli vɔgɔ [vɔ́gɔ̀] n. track, trail pl: vɔgre vulotokpolo [vùlòtókpóló] n. (1) 2pl: vɔgrɛɛ Var. vɔga piece of work meant to be one’s

302 vunni vũuzele

work for the day (2) stanza (liter- vũulunsaa [vũ̀ũ̀lúnsáà] n. first rain ature) pl: vulotokpolli 2pl: vulo- after the dry season tokpolee vuuluŋ [vúúlúŋ] n. an animal be- vunni [vùnnì] v. to throw far away lieved to have supernatural power vunnee, vunno, vunno, vunimo, and usually attack people in the vunnaa night Var. valinvuuluŋ vuo [vùó] n. (1) space, passage (2) vuuluŋ [vúúlúŋ] n. short form of val- chance, time (3) occasion invuuluŋ (soot) Var. valinvuuluŋ vuo [vùó] adj. hollow pl: vori 2pl: vuunimiri [vùùnímírì] n. lightbulb voree pl: vuunimie 2pl: vuunimiiree Var. vuoli [vúólì] v. (1) to bark (dog) (2) vũugyɛle to hoot (to put to shame) vuolee, vuuri [vùùrì] v. to feign; to pretend vuolo, vuolo, vuolibo, vuolaa, - or attempt to do something (which Var. wuoli doesn’t happen) vuuree, vuuro, vuoli kaa to peer at vuuro, vuuribo, vuuraa, vuuribo vutaŋkpulee [vútàŋkpùlèè] n. gate vuuri [vúúrì] n. small oar-like stick pillar pl: vutaŋkpulli 2pl: vu- for stirring porridge pl: vue 2pl: vu- taŋkpullee uree vuu [vúù] v. to drag • Ba vuu vuuri [vúúrì] n. yam farm pl: vue la a kamaana boɔraa boŋyeni 2pl: vuuree na. They dragged that one sack vũusaalbiri [vũ̀ũ̀sáálbírí] n. burning of maize. vuue, vuuro, vuuro, vu- charcoal Var. vũusaale uribo, vuuraa vũusaale [vũ̀ũ̀sáálɪ]́ n. burning coal vũu [vũ̀ṹ] n. fire sg: vuunuu 2pl: vu- pl: vũusaala 2pl: vũusaaloo Var. unee vũusaalbiri vũudindigili [vũ̀ṹdíndíglí] n. (1) vũuvaale [vũ̀úváálɪ]́ n. a type of bird electricity (2) electric light Var. which hovers around bushes that vũudigili are being burnt to catch fleeing in- vũudiraa [vũ̀ũ̀dìráà] n. flame pl: sects pl: vũuvaala vũudirri 2pl: vũudiree vũuyɛlɛ [vũ̀ũ̀gyɛlɛ́ ]́ n. lightbulb pl: vũudirri [vũ̀ũ̀dìrrì] n. a stream of vũũgyɛlɛ 2pl: vũũgyɛlɛɛ burning vũuzeɛle [vũ̀ũ̀zɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. flying burnt vũugyɛle [vũ̀ũ̀gyɛlɪ́ ]́ n. lightbulb pl: particles from a fire e.g. grass vũugyɛlɛ 2pl: vũugyɛlɛɛ Var. sg: vũuzeɛloo pl: vũuzeɛlɛ 2pl: vũũnimiri vũuzeɛlɛɛ vuuli [vúúlí] v. to singe vuulee, vu- vũuzele [vũ̀ũ̀zɪlɪ̀ ]́ n. flame, tongue of ulo, vuulo, vuulibo, vuulaa fire pl: vũuzelɛ 2pl: vũuzelɛɛ

303 Wa wadɛrɛɛ w Wa [wǎ] n. name of the regional Waaloo [wáálʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] n. native of Wa pl: headquarters of the Upper West Re- waala gion waane [wáánɪ]̀ v. (1) to dress tightly wa [wà] v. to come waɛ, (pull trousers to navel level) (2) waana, waana, wanema, waanaa, to propel, to spin waanɛɛ, waana, wanema waana, waanema, waanaa wa [wá] part. by the time; before the waare [wààrɪ]̀ v. be touched by end of a given time • Te na wa tara (liquid, powder) • A bie ɔŋ la ka zivɛlmɛ la. By the time we ar- tɛne waare o ma. The child rive, it will be daybreak. has smeared the mother with soil. waa [wàá] n. yam pl: waare 2pl: waarɛɛ, waara, waara, waareba, waarɛɛ Var. nyuuri waaraa waa [wàá] v. (1) to be • A tomɔ waare [wáárɪ]́ v. (1) to burn the waa la yaga. The work is plenty. cover (when you attempt to burn (2) to resemble, to be like • A biiri green grass, it is only the blades waa ŋa yeere. The children are like that burn leaving the straw) • A twins. moɔ da e la mɔmaara lɛnso ka ba di kyɛ waare. The grass was waabo [wáábʊ́] n. snake pl: weere/wamine 2pl: weerɛɛ green and that is why when they attempted burning it it did not burn. waale [wáálɪ]̀ v. to whisper waalɛɛ, • A naŋkpaana nyege la a mɔ- waala, waala, waaleba, waalaa, maara kyɛ a ba di, a waarɛɛ waaleba la. The hunter tried to burn the waale [wáálɪ]̀ v. to parboil waalɛɛ, green grass, but it did not burn waala, waala, waaleba, waalaa, well; it only burnt halfway. (2) to waaleba be painful • Ba tɔ la a bie fele waale [wáálɪ]̀ v. to bruise slightly ka o eŋɛ zaa waare. They hit on waalɛɛ, waala, waala, waaleba, his sore and it was quite painful. waalaa, waaleba waarɛɛ, waara, waara, waareba waaleŋ [wààlɪ̂ŋ] n. a type of gun- waaroŋ [wààrʊ́ŋ] n. organised powder (imported) group hunting waaleŋ [wààlɪ̂ŋ] adj. like a native of wadɛre [wàdɛrɪ́ ]́ n. large yam tuber Wa pl: wadɛrɛɛ Var. nyudɛre waaloŋ [wààlʊ̂ ŋ] n. (1) nature, char- wadɛrɛɛ [wàdɛrɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. large yam tu- acter (2) resemblance ber 2pl: wadɛrrɛɛ Var. nyudɛrɛɛ

304 wae wazɪɛ wae [wáɪ]́ adj. nine he left and never returned. wan- waee [wáɪɪ́ ]́ adv. at once wɛɛ, wanaweɛrɛ, wanweɛrɛ, wan- weɛrebɛ, wanweɛraa wagere [wágrɪ]̀ n. time for some- waŋene [wáŋɪnɪ́ ]́ n. great one pl: thing, period pl: wagerɛɛ wanne 2pl: wannɛɛ wagere [wàgrɪ]̀ v. to bite on the sur- waŋmane [wàŋmánɪ]́ n. a hundred face (dog) wagerɛɛ, wagera, wa- yams pl: waŋmama 2pl: waŋ- gera, wagereba, wageraa mamɛɛ wagyɛ [wàdzɛ̀] n. blanket, cloth pl: ware [wárɪ]̀ n. coins; money pl: wagyɛre 2pl: wagyɛrɛɛ warre 2pl: warɛɛ Var. warebiri walaa [wáláà] n. antelope pl: walle ware [wárí] adv. all gone (people on 2pl: wallɛɛ a journey) • A teŋɛ dɔbɔ zaaŋ e walanse [wálánsɪ]̀ n. radio, wireless weɛ, ware. All the men in the town set pl: walansere 2pl: walanserɛɛ have gone to the farm; not even one was left behind. wale [wálɪ]́ n. sweat 2pl: walɛɛ/wallɛɛ ware [wárɪ]́ n. long draught 2pl: warɛɛ walpelaa [wàlpɪlàà]̀ n. a type of an- warebiri [wárɪbírì]́ n. coins; money telope pl: walpeɛle pl: warebie 2pl: warebiiree Var. walpieli [wàlpíélí] n. A type of big ware antelope sg: walpieluu pl: walpiele warema [wárɪmá]́ n. brick, block pl: 2pl: walpielee Var. walpieluu waremare 2pl: waremarɛɛ walpieluu [wàpíélúú] n. A type wasaaloŋ [wàsáálʊ́ ŋ] n. water yam of big antelope pl: walpiele 2pl: 2pl: wasaalɛɛ walpielee Var. walpieli wasege [wàsɪgɪ́ ]́ n. yam barn pl: walsugo [wálsúgó] n. group of deer wasegre 2pl: wasegrɛɛ Var. pl: walsugri 2pl: walsugree nyusege walsunni [wàlsúnnì] n. perspiration, wasɔŋɔ [wàsɔ́ŋ] n. a basket of yam extreme sweat 2pl: wasunnee pl: wasɔnne 2pl: wasɔnnɛɛ walwoɔ [wàlwʊ́ɔ́] n. (1) newcomer, wasugo [wàsúgó] n. see sugo (ter- novice (2) a bag made of antelope mites) pl: wasugiri 2pl: wasugiree skin pl: walwoore 2pl: walwooɛɛ waweɛlɛ [wàwɪɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ n. seed yam sg: wanwɛ [wánwɛ]́ v. to be gone for- waweɛloo 2pl: waweɛlɛɛ Var. ever; to fail to return as expected nyuweɛlɛ • Ba toŋ la a bie ka o deɛ gaa te wazɪɛ [wázɪɛ̀ ]́ n. a type of brown wanwɛ. When they sent the child, snake pl: wazeere 2pl: wazeerɛɛ

305 we welɛwelɛ we [wé] interj. expression of despair weɛle [wɪɛ̀ lɪ́ ]́ n. twins 2pl: weɛlɛɛ webe [wébé] interj. exclamation of weɛlɛ [wɪɛ̀ ̀lɛ]́ n. mistletoe (a parasitic exhaustion plant whose fruit is used to produce wẽderɛ [wɪdɪ̃́ rɛ́ ]́ n. leader, forerun- gum) 2pl: weɛlɛɛ ner pl: wẽderebɛ 2pl: wẽderebɛɛ weɛlɛ [wɪɛ́ ̀lɛ̀] adj. (1) in vain, for weene [wɪɪ̀ nɪ̀ ]̀ v. to begin to boil nothing • Fo gɛrɛ la be weɛlɛ, o weenɛɛ, weenɛ, weenɛ koŋ leɛ ka fo. You are going there weɛ [wɪɛ̀ ]́ n. (1) farm (2) wilderness for nothing; she will not mind you. pl: wɛre 2pl: wɛrɛɛ (2) free • A doroba de la a pɔge- weɛ [wɪɛ̀ ̀] v. (1) to make a fur- naŋaa gaa ne a dɔɔta weɛlɛ. The row/trench e.g. for water to pass driver took the old woman to the (2) cut open; usually part of the hospital free of charge. body in a bid to remove a foreign weɛmɛ [wɪɛ̀ ̀mɛ]́ adj. wild, untamed body or pus (3) to push growth weɛre [wɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to search through aside e.g. in a search for something e.g. brush weɛrɛɛ, weɛrɛ, weɛrɛ, in a thick growth weɛɛ, weɛrɛ, weɛrebɛ, weɛraa weɛrɛ, weɛrebɛ, weɛraa wegere [wɪgrɪ] v. to squeeze weɛ [wɪɛ́ ]́ v. to save • A kpogili la ̀ ̀ weɛ o ka lɛ naane o zu da na through e.g. through a thick ŋmare la. He would have broken crowd wegerɛɛ, wegerɛ, wegerɛ, his head but he was saved by the wegerebɛ, wegeraa crash helmet. weɛɛ, weɛrɛ, weɛrɛ, welaa [wɪláá]́ adj. harbouring evil in- weɛrebɛ, weɛraa tentions weɛ [wɪɛ́ ]́ adj. not related to wele [wɪlɪ́ ]́ v. to rummage welɛɛ, wẽɛ [wĩɛ́ ̀̃] adv. in front, ahead • welɛ, welɛ, welebɛ, welaa Dabuo la na de o sakuuri maa- wele [wɪlɪ́ ]́ v. to dismantle welɛɛ, kyeebo wẽɛ. Dabuo will lead his welɛ, welɛ, welebɛ, welaa school at the parade ground. wele [wɪlɪ́ ]́ v. to reduce in size e.g. ̀ ̀ wẽɛ [wɪɛ̃ ̃] v. to be wild, to be un- obesity welɛɛ, welɛ, welɛ, welebɛ, tamed, to be out of control wẽɛɛ, welaa weɛnɛ, weɛnɛ, weɛnemɛ, weɛnaa wele [wɪlɪ́ ]́ n. a type of ornament for weɛle [wɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. to branch out in the arm pl: welɛ 2pl: welɛɛ lobes (yam seed) weɛlɛɛ, weɛlɛ, weɛlɛ, weɛlbɛ, weɛlaa welɛnwelɛŋ [wɪlɛ̀ nwɪ́ lɛ̀ ŋ]́ adv. vigor- weɛle [wɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ v. to miss out, to ous, rolling (boiling liquid) lose weɛlɛɛ, weɛlɛ, weɛlɛ, weɛlbɛ, welɛwelɛ [wɪlɛ̀ ̀wɪlɛ̀ ̀] adv. intermit- weɛlaa tent spackle

306 weli wɛge weli [wélí] n. snail pl: wele 2pl: weri [wérí] adv. valuable, good welee quantity weliweli [wélwél] adv. clearly visi- weroo [wɪrʊ́ ́ʊ́ ] adj. small in stature ble pl: werɛ welle [wɪllɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to scrutinize, wɛ [wɛ̀] adv. (1) then (of cause) • Ba to examine closely (2) to rum- nyɛ la a bonzuuri o dieŋ, ona la mage wellɛɛ, wellɛ, wellɛ, welebɛ, zu wɛ? They found the stolen items wellaa in his room, he stole them then? (2) welli [wéllì] v. to make very clear, then • Ka fo wa pagra foŋ de wẽɛ̃ clean, or neat wellee, welle, welle, wɛ. If you are in a haste then take welibe, wellaa the lead. wenne [wɪnnɪ̀ ]̀ v. to go into the inte- wɛ [wɛ]́ v. (1) to go bad • Sugo rior e.g. of bush or a crowd wennɛɛ, kpɛ la a dɔɔ wasege, a waare wennɛ, wennɛ, wenemɛ, wennaa zaaŋ wɛ. Termites have invaded were-bare [wìrɪ-bàrì]̀ v. to ignore the man’s yam barn; all the yams were-barɛɛ, werɛ-bara, were-bara, are destroyed. (2) to be lost for- were-bareba, were-baraa ever wɛɛ, weɛrɛ, weɛrɛ, weɛrebɛ, werekao [wírɪkáʊ́ ̀ ] n. wound, mark, weɛraa defect • Lɔɔre la le ne o ka a o wɛ [wɛ]́ adj. not strong or coura- gbɛre nyɛ werekao. A car crash geous • Nyɛ dɔɔ naŋ wɛ, haali o has caused a wound on his leg. pl: koŋ tõɔ̃ zɛle a pelee. See how use- werekarre 2pl: werekarɛɛ less the man is; he cannot even lift werewere [wɪrɪ́ wɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ adv. smartly, the small basket. quickly wɛbaa [wɛ̀báá] n. fox pl: wɛbaare werɛ [wɪrɛ̀ ]́ adj. small species, not 2pl: wɛbaarɛɛ of high breed (groundnuts) 2pl: wɛdoŋɔ [wɛ̀dʊ́ŋɔ́] n. a non- werɛɛ domesticated animal pl: wɛdonne. werɛ [wɪrɛ́ ]́ n. mountain 2pl: 2pl: wɛdonnɛɛ. Var. mɔdoŋɔ, wɛ- werɛɛ/werrɛɛ doŋa, werɛ [wɪrɛ́ ]́ adj. in vain • O baloo na wɛge [wɛgɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to hatch (2) to zaa kyɛ werɛ la, o ba nyɛ a libie. multiply wɛgɛɛ, wɛgrɛ, wɛgrɛ, wɛ- All his suffering has been in vain; grebɛ, wɛgraa, wɛgrebɛ he did not get the money. wɛge [wɛ̀gɪ]̀ v. to remove with a werɛwerɛ [wɪrɛ́ wɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ adj. tiny things pointed implement e.g. corn from werɛwerɛ [wɪrɛ̀ ̀wɪrɛ̀ ̀] adj. coarse the cob wɛgɛɛ, wɛgrɛ, wɛgrɛ, wɛ- (flour) grebɛ, wɛgraa

307 wɛge wirigoɔ wɛge [wɛgɪ́ ]̀ n. beam, large plank wi [wí] v. to carve; to engrave wie, used in making mud roofing pl: wiire, wiire, wiiribe, wiiraa wɛgere 2pl: wɛgerɛɛ Var. wɛgɛ, wĩeu [wĩẽ́ ́ṹ] adj. fast, quick Var. dawɛge wieŋ wɛgere [wɛ̀grɪ]̀ v. to force out, wigiri [wígrì] v. to toss to turn over to squeeze out e.g. seed from (grain in a basket) wiigree, wigire, pod wɛgerɛɛ, wɛgerɛ, wɛgerɛ, wigire, wigiribe, wigiraa wɛgerebɛ, wɛgeraa wiiruŋ [wíírúŋ] n. design wɛgɛ [wɛgɛ́ ]́ n. beam pl: wɛgre 2pl: willi [wìllì] v. (1) to overturn to cap- wɛgɛɛ Var. wɛge size • A saseɛ da waa la kpeɛŋaa, wɛkaraa [wɛ̀káráá] n. mounds of a a da da a gboe zaa willi a mane farm made without first clearing poɔ. The wind was so strong that it the land pl: wɛkare 2pl: wɛkarɛɛ capsized all the boats on the sea. (2) wɛle [wɛlɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to split or break to heave over willee, wille, wille, into two (2) to separate, to disperse wilibe, willaa, wilibe wɛlɛɛ, wɛlɛ, wɛlɛ, wɛlebɛ, wɛlaa, wire [wíré] adv. gone far wɛlebɛ wirewire [wíréwíré] adj. far away wɛlɛmbɛll [wɛ̀lɛ̀mbɛ̀ll] adv. mas- wiri [wìrí] n. horse pl: wie 2pl: sively moving wiree/wirree wɛnaabo [wɛ̀náábʊ̀ ] n. buffalo pl: wiri [wìrì] v. to turn inside out e.g. wɛnii 2pl: wɛniinee pocket wiree, wire, wire, wiribe, wɛnoɔ [wɛnʊ́ ́ɔ́] n. dark grey hen pl: wiraa wɛnoore 2pl: wɛnoorɛɛ wiri-buuli [wìrì-búúló] n. bangles wɛnu [wɛnú]́ n. an arm of the main for a horse pl: wiri-buulo 2pl: wiri- body of hunters pl: wɛnuuri. 2pl: buulee wɛnuuree wiridaa [wìrìdáá] n. male horse pl: wɛnwɛrɛɛ [wɛnwɛ̌ rɛ́ ɛ́ ]́ n. a type of wiridaare 2pl: wiridaarɛɛ small plant with edible leaves sg: wiriduoruŋ [wìrìdúórúŋ] n. (1) jaun- wɛnwɛroo 2pl: wɛnwɛrrɛɛ dice (2) yellow fever wɛnyuo [wɛnyúó]́ n. leopard pl: wiri-eɛraa [wìrì-ɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. metal spur wɛnyuuri 2pl: wɛnyuuree worn on the heel for prodding the wɛre [wɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to cut open (2) horse pl: wiri-eɛre to operate (3) to split, to saw (4) wirigoɔ [wìrìgʊ́ɔ́] n. a type of thorny to make a furrow or gutter wɛrɛɛ, plant pl: wirigoore 2pl: wiri- wɛrɛ, wɛrɛ, wɛrebɛ, wɛraa goorɛɛ

308 wirikogi wolle wirikogi [wìrìkógí] n. horse saddle wogiri [wógrí] v. to cause to shake pl: wirikogri 2pl: wirikogree e.g. carried container of pebbles wirikuoluu [wìrìkúólúú] n. a type of wogiree, wogiro, wogiro, wo- honey-making insect pl: wirikuolo giribo, wogiraa, - Var. wɔgere 2pl: wirikuolee wogiri [wògrì] v. to steal cun- wirilee [wìrìléé] n. colt pl: wiribilii ningly wogiree, wogiro, wogiro, wogiribo, wogiraa wirinɔbɔŋ [wìrìnɔ́bɔ́ŋ] n. metal ring placed arond the muzzle of wogiroŋ [wògròŋ] adj. large, big e.g. a horse pl: wirinɔbɔnne Var. container wirinɔbɔŋenɔ wogoko [wógókó] adv. intense wirinyaŋaa [wìrìɲáŋáá] n. fe- (painful bite) male horse pl: wirinyaŋene 2pl: wokpale [wʊ̀ kpálɪ]́ n. a traditional wirinyaŋenɛɛ bag made from an animal skin wirizoore [wìrìzʊ́ʊ́rɪ]́ n. horse tail pl: whose hair has bean removed pl: wirizoɛ wokpalle 2pl: wokpallɛɛ Var. wofeɛmaa, wofuoraa wirizoore [wìrìzʊ́ʊ́ rɪ]́ n. a type of grass pl: wirizoɛ wola [wʊ́là] pron. (1) how (interrogative pronoun) • Wola ka te na e wirizoore [wìrìzʊ́ʊ́ rɪ]́ n. a type of maale a pɔgebilii bayi bama yel- sickness pl: wirizoɛ bawontaa ŋa? How are we going wirizɔɔnɔ [wìrìzɔ́ɔ́nɔ́] n. horse rider to settle the misunderstanding be- pl: wirizɔɔnema 2pl: wirizɔɔmɛɛ tween the two girls? (2) why (inter- wofẽɛ [wʊ̀ fɪɛ́ ]́ n. a bag made from an- rogative pronoun) • Wola la ka fo imal skin without hair pl: wofeɛne la zeŋe zomm lɛ? Why are you sit- 2pl: wofeɛnɛɛ Var. wofeɛmaa ting so quietly? (3) what (interrog- wofeɛmaa [wʊ́fɪɛ́ máá]́ n. a bag made ative pronoun) • O yeli ka wola? from animal skin without hair pl: What did s/he say? wofeɛne 2pl: wofeɛnɛɛ/wofeɛmɛɛ wolaa [wʊ́láá] adj. dangerous pl: Var. wofẽɛ, wofuoraa, wokpele wolle wofuoraa [wʊ̀ fúóráá] n. a bag made woli [wólí] n. leather rope worn on from animal skin without hair pl: the waist pl: wolo 2pl: wollee wofuori 2pl: wofuoree Var. wofeɛ- woliwoli [wòlwòlí] v. to be rest- maa less (of a person) wolwolee, wol- Wogi [wògí] n. a town in the Upper wolo, wolwolo, wolwolibo, wol- West Region of Ghana wolaa, wolwolibo wogi [wógì] adj. long, tall wolle [wʊ̀ llɪ]̀ v. to rattle, to speak

309 wolle wore

fluently (langauge) wollɛɛ, wolla, dog it felt so much pain that it defe- wolla, wolba, wollaa cated. woŋee, wono, wono, won- wolle [wʊ́llɪ]́ v. to be mischievous -, imo, wonaa, wonimo wolla, wolba, wollaa woŋ noɔ to enjoy, to be glad woŋ tuo to suffer wolomboll [wòlòmbòll] adj. in disar- ray or confusion e.g. mob woŋi [wòŋ] v. (of taste) to be of the correct quantity • Zenɛ, Ayuo wolonwoloŋ [wólónwólóŋ] adv. zeɛre ŋa nyɛnnoo ba woiŋ. Today, haphazard, in a troubled state there was not the right amount of woloŋ [wʊ́lʊ́ ŋ] n. (1) disease (2) salt in Ayuo’s soup. woŋee, wono, problem wono, wonimo, wonaa, wonimo wolowolo [wólówóló] adj. restive woŋo [wòŋó] n. deaf person pl: wolɔ [wʊ́lɔ̀] v. to deceive, to hoax, wonni 2pl: wonnee Var. woŋi to humbug wolɛɛ, wolɔ, wola, woo [wʊ́ʊ̀ ] n. water iguana pl: woleba, wolaa woore 2pl: woorɛɛ wonaa [wónáá] n. that which woo [wóó] interj. a cry of pity pesters woore [wʊ̀ ʊ̀ rɪ]́ n. suffering wontaa [wǒntáá] n. understanding woɔ [wʊ́ɔ́] n. bag pl: woore 2pl: between people woorɛɛ woŋi [wòŋ] v. (1) to hear • N ba woɔ [wʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. (1) to remove from teɛre ka o woŋi a yɛlɛ te naŋ the top of e.g. basket of grain • yeli. I don’t think s/he has heard A seŋkãã paale la a pelee zuo, what we said. (2) to refuse to listen yɛ woɔ ka a ta yaara. The bas- or internalize what has been said ket is too full; remove some of (idiomatic usage) woŋee, wono, the groundnuts so it does not spill. wono, wonimo, wonaa, wonimo (2) to become smaller • Dabuo woŋi [wòŋ] v. to become deaf, to suf- da ba poɔrɔ kyɛ beri ayi ŋa o fer from deafness, to be deaf • Ka woɔ la o zaa. Dabuo used to be fo toboŋ beɛrɛ ka fo ba kaa a zu plump, but recently he has got- velaa fo na woŋi la. If you have a ten smaller. woɔɛ, woɔrɔ, woɔrɔ, disease of the ears and you do not woɔreba, woɔraa take good care of them, you will woɔle [wʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to remove top mat- be deaf. woŋee, wono, wono, won- ter; to skim e.g. yeast from pito imo, wonaa, wonimo woɔlɛɛ, woɔla, woɔla, woɔleba, woŋi [wòŋ] v. to feel pain, to suf- woɔlaa fer • Ba ŋmɛ la baa ka a woŋi wore [wʊ́ rɪ]́ adv. too much; exces- ka o nyɛ, bini. When they hit the sive

310 woroto wuli woroto [wʊ̀ rʊ̀ tʊ̀ ] adv. crashingly wɔɔ [wɔ̀ɔ́] n. lame person pl: wɔɔre worɔworɔ [wʊ̀ rɔ̀wʊ̀ rɔ̀] adv. full of wɔɔ [wɔ́ɔ́] v. to provide (food for lumps the kitchen) wɔɔɛ, wɔɔrɔ, wɔɔrɔ, woyaara [wʊ̀ yáárá] n. part of an wɔɔreba, wɔɔraa, wɔɔbo animal-skin bag 2pl: woyaarɛɛ wɔɔ [wɔ́ɔ́] v. (1) to pluck all the wɔge [wɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to treat fresh skin fruits from a tree (2) to de- in preparation for making a bag stroy wɔɔɛ, wɔɔrɔ, wɔɔrɔ, wɔɔreba, wɔgɛɛ, wɔgrɔ, wɔgrɔ, wɔgreba, wɔɔraa, wɔɔbo wɔgraa wɔɔ [wɔ́ɔ́] v. to whip mercilessly wɔge [wɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to cause to suf- (figurative) wɔɔɛ, wɔɔrɔ, wɔɔrɔ, fer wɔgɛɛ, wɔgrɔ, wɔgrɔ, wɔgreba, wɔɔreba, wɔɔraa, wɔɔbo wɔgraa wɔɔ [wɔ̀ɔ̀] v. to be lame wɔɔɛ, wɔɔrɔ, wɔgele [wɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to physically suf- wɔɔrɔ, wɔɔreba, wɔɔraa fer, inwardly, intensely wɔglɛɛ, wɔɔ [wɔ́ɔ̀] n. elephant pl: wɔɔre 2pl: wɔglɔ, wɔglɔ, wɔgleba, wɔglaa wɔɔrɛɛ wɔgele [wɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to be burnt by wɔɔgbɛre [wɔ́ɔ̀gbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. elephantia- touching a hot object wɔglɛɛ, sis wɔglɔ, wɔglɔ, wɔgleba, wɔglaa wɔɔgbɛre [wɔ́ɔ̀gbɛrɪ́ ]̀ n. (1) leg of an wɔgele [wɔ̀glɪ]̀ v. to treat beans (by elephant (2) difficult task (figura- soaking and drying) wɔglɛɛ, wɔglɔ, tive) pl: wɔɔgbɛɛ 2pl: wɔɔgbɛrɛɛ wɔglɔ, wɔgleba, wɔglaa wɔɔkye [wɔ̀ɔ́ʧɪ]̀ n. watch pl: wɔgere [wɔ́grɪ]́ v. to shake e.g. ob- wɔɔkyere 2pl: wɔɔkyerɛɛ jects in a tin wɔgrɛɛ, wɔgrɔ, wɔgrɔ, wɔɔnu [wɔ́ɔ́nù] n. trunk of an ele- wɔgreba, wɔgraa, - Var. wogiri phant pl: wɔɔnuuri 2pl: wɔɔnuu- wɔne [wɔ́nɪ]́ n. (1) small swelling (2) ree pimple pl: wɔmɔ 2pl: wɔnnɛɛ wɔɔnyene [wɔ́ɔ́ɲɪnɪ́ ]̀ n. tusk of wɔne [wɔ́nɪ]́ n. fruit pl: wɔmɔ 2pl: an elephant pl: wɔɔnyemɛ 2pl: wɔnnɛɛ wɔɔnyennɛɛ/wɔɔnyemɛɛ wɔŋe [wɔ́ŋ] v. (1) to bear fruit (2) wɔɔreŋ [wɔ̀ɔ́rɪŋ]́ n. (1) lameness (2) to develop rashes, pimples wɔŋɛɛ, the act of limping Var. wɔɔleŋ wɔnɔ, wɔnɔ, wɔnema, wɔnaa wulee [wúléé] n. whistle; fife, flute wɔŋkampɔre [wɔ́ŋkámpɔ́rɪ]́ n. (1) pl: wubilii 2pl: wullee a yamlike plant that bears fruit wuli [wùlì] v. (1) to show, to point which is boiled and eaten (2) the to (2) to direct, to guide (3) fruit of this plant pl: wɔŋkampɔrɔ to teach, to advise wulee, wullo, 2pl: wɔŋkampɔrɛɛ Var. feree wullo, wulibo, wulaa, wulibo

311 wuliwuli yaa wuliwuli [wùlwúlí] v. to rub over hoot at (2) to bark wuolee, wuolo, gently but fast wuliwulee, wuli- wuolo, wuolibo, wuolaa, - Var. wulo, wuliwulo, wuliwulibo, vuoli wuliwulaa wuoraa [wúóráá] n. (1) an imple- wuliwullo [wùlwúlló] n. teacher; ment for gathering (2) a round- one who directs pl: wulwulbo 2pl: shaped piece of calabash with a wulwulbee hole in the middle used like a fun- wuluu [wúlúú] n. (1) teaching, edu- nel in putting powdered tobacco cation (2) the act of showing into small containers pl: wuori wuluu bonteɛre [wúlúú bʊ́ ntɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. wurimo [wúrímó] n. small, round teaching or learning materials sg: cakes made from beans sg: wuluu bonteɛraa wurimuu 2pl: wurimoree wuluu yelsɛgreminni [wúlúú yèl- wurowuro [wùròwùrò] adv. not well cooked; underdone (round sɛgrɪ́ bínní]́ n. lesson notes, lesson plan beans) wuu [wùù] adv. (1) continuously wuo [wùò] v. to gather, to collect -, • Yuoni ŋa saa miire la wuu wuoro, wuoro, wuoribo, wuoraa, lɛ. This year it has been raining wuori unceasingly. (2) having many in- wuo [wúò] v. to expose (a secret) stances • Zenɛ, koe deɛ waa la wuoe, wuoro, wuoro, wuoribo, wuu lɛ. Today, funerals are com- wuoraa monplace. wuo [wúò] v. to formally introduce wuuri [wúúrí] v. (1) to hoot (with dirge singing at the funeral wuoe, laughter) (2) to shout in ex- wuoro, wuoro, wuoribo, wuoraa citement wuuree, wuuro, wuuro, wuoli [wúólì] v. (1) to despise, to wuuribo, wuuraa y ya [yá] v. to be mad, to be insane yae, yaara, yaareba, yaaraa, yaareba yaara, yaara, yareba, yaaraa yaa [yàà] interj. expression indicat- yaa [yàá] n. tomb pl: yaare 2pl: ing disbelief yarɛɛ yaa [yàà] v. remove from liquid yaa [yáà] v. to take revenge, to retal- yaa [yàà] v. to remove from liq- iate (used with ‘sane’) yaaɛ, yaara, uid yaaɛ, yaara, yaara, yaareba,

312 yaa yage

yaaraa lɛnso ka a a kyi yaare a sori zu yaa [yàà] part. please • Yaa, vɛŋe ka zaa. The bag is burst and that is o meŋ tu o deme. Oh, do allow him why the millet is scattered all over to tell his part of the story, too. the road. (2) to enlarge, to widen • A pelee ŋa noɔre yaare gaŋ la yaa [yáá] adv. really? • O yeli ka n boɔbo. The mouth of this basket boŋ yaa? What did she really say? is too large for my liking. (3) to yaa [yáá] n. a strap; usually fixed to perform final rites of widowhood something for carrying e.g. a bag pl: • Ka banaŋ ba yaare kodɔɔ bee yaare 2pl: yaarɛɛ kopɔge o ba taa sori na toŋ sɛŋ- yaale [yáálɪ]̀ v. to nurse (a baby) gaŋ toma. Until the final widow- yaalɛɛ, yaala, yaala, yaaleba, hood rites are performed neither yaalaa the widow nor the widower can en- yaale [yáálɪ]̀ v. to swing a container gage in sex. (4) to pester (typically in circles yaalɛɛ, yaala, yaala, used with noɔre) • Ba yaare la n yaaleba, yaalaa noɔre ne ba pɔge na yɛlɛ ka N te bale. They pestered me about their yaale [yáálɪ]̀ v. to get to hopless- woman’s case until I became fed ness yaalɛɛ, yaala, yaala, yaaleba, up. yaarɛɛ, yaara, yaara, yaareba, yaalaa yaaraa, yaareba yaane [yáánɪ]́ n. (1) greeting(s) • yaaroŋ [yààrʊŋ] n. salt Var. nyɛn- Dagaaba ba deɛnɛ ne ba yaane ̂ noŋ puoruu. The Dagaaba do not joke with their greetings. (2) thanks, yãayiri [yã́ã́yírì] n. grandparent’s gratitude • Yɛ taa la yaane house pl: yãayie 2pl: yãayiree puoruu ne yɛ tonsonne yɛ naŋ yabapa [yàbàpà] adv. resoundingly toŋe. You deserve our gratitude for e.g. noise of a large crowd • A pɔge- your good work. 2pl: yaanɛɛ beɛlebɛ kyɛ la yieluŋ yabapa pa yaane [yáánɪ]́ n. exhaustion • N koŋ pa tu a sori gɛrɛ ne a pɔge. The la tõɔ̃ gaa yaane kpɛ ma la. I can’t bridemaids sang earnestly along go again; I’m tired. 2pl: yaanɛɛ the road as they took the bride yaantulimo [yáántúlímó] n. great- along. grandchild 2pl: yantulimee Yaga [yágá] n. name of a town in the yaara [yààrá] adv. easily • Kyaanaa Dagaaba land ba yaara ŋmaroo. A mirror breaks yaga [yágà] adj. many, much, plenty easily. pl: yagere 2pl: yagerɛɛ Var. yage yaare [yààrɪ]̀ v. (1) to spill, to scat- yage [yágɪ]̀ v. (1) to dredge to enter, to spread • A boɔraa la puri large or deepen • Uoni saŋa Da-

313 yage yeele

gaaba maŋ yage la baa, a na nyɛ yagekɔɔre [yàgɪkɔ̀ ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. cheek pl: kõɔ̃. During the dry season, the Da- yagekɔbɔ 2pl: yagekɔɔrɛɛ Var. gaaba dredge wells in order to get yagekɔɔlare water. (2) to increase in size e.g. a yagelaa [yágɪláà]́ n. (1) a rope holder sore • Ka onaŋ ba gaa asibiti o hung from the ceiling to hold ob- fele na na yage la. If she does not jects (2) a basket with calabashes go to the hospital, her sore will de- that is hung on a yagelaa pl: yagele velop into an ulcer. yagɛɛ, yagra, 2pl: yagelɛɛ yagra, yagreba, yagraa yagele [yáglɪ]̀ v. to hang (up) yage [yàgɪ]̀ v. (1) to take off e.g. a yagelɛɛ, yagela, yagela, yageleba, shirt (2) to take down from a hang- yagelaa ing position e.g. a bag from a hook yageraa [yágéráá] n. clay pl: yagere yagɛɛ, yagra, yagra, yagreba, ya- 2pl: yagerɛɛ Var. yagere graa, - yagere [yágrɪ]́ v. to separate yage bonsuuraa to undress stones from grain yagerɛɛ, yagera, yage [yàgɪ]̀ v. to show signs of butter yagera, yagereba, yageraa forming e.g. in the last stage in the yagere [yágrɪ]́ n. modelling clay 2pl: preparation of shea butter yagɛɛ, yagerɛɛ Var. yageraa yagra, yagra, yagreba, yagraa, - yagere [yàgrɪ]́ n. cheek pl: yaga 2pl: yage bonsuuraa to undress yagrɛɛ yage [yágɪ]́ v. to remove objects yakpolo [yàkpólò] n. graveyard 2pl: from a container e.g. bag, hole • yakpolee N ba boɔrɔ ka N yage a woɔ poɔ yammo [yámmʊ́] n. (1) bile (2) gall- boma, a taa la dabẽɛ. I don’t want bladder pl: yanne 2pl: yaanɛɛ to empty the contents of the bag because they are frightening. yagɛɛ, yan-yaa [yán-yáà] n. insane person yagra, yagra, yagreba, yagraa pl: yan-yaare 2pl: yan-yaarɛɛ yanyaare [yàɲáárɪ]̀ n. madness yage [yágɪ]́ v. to open one’s eyes widely (in a concentrated look) • yaŋaa [yáŋàá] n. grandchild pl: A bie nyɛ la a saana a deɛ yage yaŋene/yanne, yaamine 2pl: nimie eŋ. When the child saw the yaŋenɛɛ/yannɛɛ stranger, he gave him a fixed look. yeebaa [yɪɪ́ báá]́ n. a twin pl: yeere yagɛɛ, yagra, yagra, yagreba, ya- 2pl: yeerɛɛ graa yeelaa [yɪɪ́ láá]́ n. a type of tree with yagekɔɔlare [yágɪkɔ́ ́ɔ́lárɪ]́ n. jaw- medicinal properties pl: yeele bone pl: yagekɔɔlaɛ 2pl: yeele [yɪɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ v. (1) to make neat (2) yagekɔɔlarɛɛ Var. yagekɔɔre to use water to extract or separate

314 yeele yelboɔraa

wanted things from unwanted ones yelbaaloŋ [yèlbààlʊ́ŋ] n. an issue un- e.g. grain from stones yeelɛɛ, yeelɛ, der control yeelɛ, yeelebɛ, yeelaa yelbaboɔraa [yèlbʊ́ɔ́ráà] n. (1) yeele [yɪɪ̀ lɪ̀ ]̀ adv. extremely clean or something that is sought, desire, beautiful wish (2) theme (literature) pl: yel- yeere [yɪɪ́ rɪ́ ]́ n. twins (see yeebaa) baboɔre yeere [yɪɪ̀ rɪ̀ ]̀ v. to experience emo- yelbalaa [yèbáláá] n. a particular is- tional distress, to suffer • O pɔge sue Var. yelbalee naŋ kpi zaa, o deɛ tori la yeeroo yelbalee [yèlbàlɪɪ̀ ]̀ n. a particular is- yeerɛ. Since his wife’s death he sue • A yelbalee ŋa eŋɛ la ka o ne has been suffering emotional dis- o pɔge dare zɔɔ taa. It was because tress. yeerɛɛ, yeerɛ, yeerɛ, yeerebɛ, of this particular issue that he quar- yeeraa reled with his wife. Var. yelbalaa yeɛle [yɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to winnow, to throw yelbanna [yèbánná] n. one who grain into the air to separate it from knows Var. yelbaŋena the husk • A dɔbɔ ŋmɛ la a kyi yelbaŋ [yèlbàŋ] n. the act of know- ka a pɔgeba te yeɛle. The men ing threshed the millet and the women yelbaŋena [yèbáŋɪná]́ n. one who winnowed it. yeɛlɛɛ, yeɛlɛ, yeɛlɛ, knows pl: yelbaŋenema 2pl: yel- yeɛlaa, yeɛlebɛ, yeɛloo baŋenemɛɛ Var. yelbanna yeɛle [yɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to come down in yelbeɛ [yèlbɪɛ́ ]́ n. mysterious, mirac- tiny bits e.g. a drizzle • A saa ulous thing pl: yelbeere 2pl: yelba mi soŋe, yeɛloo ka o yeɛle. beerɛɛ It did not really rain; it just driz- zled. yeɛlɛɛ, yeɛlɛ, yeɛlɛ, yeɛlebɛ, - yelbieri [yèlbíérí] n. (1) evil thing yeɛlaa, yeɛloo (2) sin pl: yelbebe yeɛle [yɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]̀ v. to follow in signifi- yelbiri [yèlbírì] n. (1) word (2) cant numbers • Ba nyɔge la nan- something that is alluded to pl: yel- nyige ka noba deɛ yeɛle tu. A bie thief was arrested and many people yelbitɔnnaa [yélbítɔ̀nnáà] n. con- ran after the team. -, yeɛlɛ, yeɛlɛ, junction pl: yelbitɔnne 2pl: yel- yeɛlebɛ bitɔnnɛɛ yeɛre [yɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]̀ v. to want attention, to yelboɔraa [yèlbʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. something act childishly yeɛrɛɛ, yeɛrɛ, yeɛrɛ, that is wanted pl: yelboɔre yeɛrebɛ, yeɛraa yelboɔraa [yèlbʊ́ráá] n. (1) that yeɛre [yìɛrɪ́ ]́ n. underside of the jaw which one likes (2) objective pl: yɛrɛɛ (3) something negative that affects

315 yelbuli yelkabeɛ

one but caused by one’s self Var. yelfuoni [yèlfùònì] n. imagery (lit- yeldaaraa erature) pl: yelfuomo 2pl: yel- yelbuli [yèlbúlí] n. main point pl: fuomee yelbulo yelgalema [yèlgálɪmá]́ n. strange yeldaa [yèldáà] n. simple sentence thing 2pl: yelgalemɛɛ Var. yelgalee pl: yedaare yelgbɔge [yèlgbɔ́gɪ]́ n. (1) incom- yeldaaraa [yèldàárà] n. (1) that plete talk (2) grammatical clause which one likes (2) objective yeli [yélí] n. (1) something of con- (3) something negative that affects cern • Ta bɔ yeli ko o, vɛŋe o ka o one but caused by one’s self pl: yel- gɛrɛ. Don’t put him into any trou- boɔre 2pl: yeldaare Var. yelboɔraa ble; allow him to go. (2) matter • Yeli ne o yelmeŋɛ N zãa ba gaa yeldeebo [yéldɪɪ́ bʊ́ ́] n. acceptance be. As a matter of fact I did not go yeldegere [yèldɪgrɪ̀ ]́ n. idiom pl: there. pl: yɛlɛ yeldegɛ 2pl: yeldɛgɛɛ yeli [yélí] n. sentence • Fo na baŋ yeldɛgere [yèldɛgɪ́ rɪ́ ]̀ n. unpleasant de la eronwuluu yelbiri maale or dirty talk pl: yeldɛgɛ 2pl: ne yɛlɛ? Can you construct a sen- yeldɛgerɛɛ tence with an adverb? pl: yɛlɛ yel-eebo [yèl-ɪɪ́ bʊ́ ́] n. behaviour yeli [yèlì] v. (1) to speak, to talk, yel-eraa [yèl-ɪráà]́ n. something to to inform • N teɛre ka o yeli la be done pl: yel-erre a yɛlɛ ko o ma. I guess she has yelɛnyelɛŋ [yɪlɛɲɪ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. clear and has informed her mother about it. clean (water) (2) to rebuke • O daare yeli la o pɔgeyaa lɛɛ ka o te kono. He re- yelfaa [yèlfáà] n. evil pl: yelfaare buked his daughter until she wept. 2pl: yelfaarɛɛ yelee, yele, yele, yelibe, yelaa, yelfa-e [yèlfà-ì] n. wrongdoing pl: yelibe yelfa-erre waale yeli to whisper yelfa-erɛ [yèlfà-ɪrɛ́ ]́ n. evildoer pl: yelkaama [yèlkáámá] n. (1) beauti- yelfa-erebɛ 2pl: yelfa-erebɛɛ ful talk (2) literature 2pl: yelkaa- yelferaa [yèlfɪráà]̀ n. problem, some- mɛɛ thing that matters pl: yelferre 2pl: yelkãasɛgere [yèlkã́ã́sɛgrɪ́ ]́ n. writ- yelferrɛɛ ten literature yelfogilo [yèlfógló] n. useless talk sg: yelkãayelli [yèlkã́ã́yéllí] n. oral liter- yelfogiluu ature yelfoli [yèlfòlí] n. obscene talk pl: yelkabeɛ [yélkábɪɛ́ ]́ n. strange thing yelfolo pl: yelkabeere 2pl: yelkabeerɛɛ

316 yelkpeɛŋaa yelwonaa yelkpeɛŋaa [yèlkpɪɛ́ ŋàá]́ n. difficult yelsaana [yèlsáánà] n. strange or thing pl: yelkpeɛne new thing pl: yelisaama 2pl: yel-lige [yélígè] n. (1) that which is yelisaamɛɛ unclear (2) mysterious thing • Lɛ a yelsaana [yèlsááná] n. (1) destroyer pɔge naŋ e saŋe a baaloŋ e la yel- (2) one who meddles in issues pl: lige. The way the woman was able yelisaanema to cure the patient is a mystery. pl: yelsaanaa [yèlsáánáá] n. something yel-ligiri 2pl: yel-ligiree that has gone wrong pl: yelisnaane yel-lige [yèl-lígè] adj. hidden • A 2pl: yelisaanɛɛ dɔɔ na maŋ tona la yel-lige yelsoŋ [yèlsʊ̀ ŋ] n. good deed pl: toma. That man performs mysteri- yelisonne ous deeds. pl: yel-ligri yelsɔgelaa [yèlsɔ́gláà] n. mysterious yelmaalaa [yèlmààláà] n. rite, ritual thing, secret pl: yelisɔgelɔ pl: yelimaale yeltegeroŋ [yèltɪgrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. difficult yelmaalaa [yèlmààláà] n. something position pl: yelitegerɛ that needs to rectified pl: yeli- yeltoloŋ [yèltʊ́lʊ́ ŋ] n. serious matter, maale something that needs urgent atten- yelmaaroŋ [yèlmáárʊ́ŋ] n. peaceful tion pl: yelitolɔ talk yeltɔgelaa [yèltɔ̀gláà] n. that which yelmannaa [yèlmànnáà] n. (1) com- can be imitated pl: yelitɔgele parison (2) narrative, narration pl: yeltɔre [yèltɔ̀rɪ]́ n. something of yelmanne 2pl: yelmannɛɛ worth or value yelmanne [yélmánnɪ]́ n. the act of yeltulimo [yèltúlímó] n. opposite narrating Var. yelitulo yelmeŋɛ [yèlmɪŋɛ́ ]́ n. truth pl: yeli- yeltuluu [yèltúlúú] n. mistaken talk, menne 2pl: yelimennɛɛ error yelnimiri [yènímírì] n. main idea yeltuo [yèltúó] n. difficult thing pl: yelnoɔ [yèlnʊ́ɔ́] n. (1) interesting yelituuri 2pl: yelituuree thing (2) good news pl: yelinoore yeltuuraa [yèltùùráà] n. rite, tradi- 2pl: yelinoorɛɛ tion pl: yelituuri yelnɔnaa [yèlnɔ́náà] n. something yeluu [yélúú] n. saying that is liked pl: yelinɔnne yelwiiraa [yèlwííráá] n. poem pl: yelpaala [yèlpáálà] n. new thing pl: yeliwiiri yelipaale yelwiiri [yèlwíírí] n. poetry yelpɛgere [yèlpɛgrɪ́ ]́ n. sayings that yelwonaa [yèlwònáà] n. (1) that have no value pl: yelpɛgɛ which is a challenge; problem (2)

317 yelwono yɛmbaŋena

something that is heard pl: yeli- yɛ [yɛ̀] v. to become exhausted, wonni to get fed up yɛɛ, yeɛrɛ, yeɛrɛ, yelwono [yèlwónó] n. (1) listener, yeɛrebɛ, yeɛraa, yɛyeɛrɛ hearer (2) obedient person pl: yeli- yɛ [yɛ̀] v. become tired • Ka a ton- wonimo tonmaŋ wa yɛ ba iri. When the yelwontaa [yèlwòntàá] n. compro- workers are tired they can stop. Var. mise, understanding yɛɛ yelyelbaraa [yèlyèlbàráà] n. state- yɛ [yɛ̀] adj. tired • Maa eŋ yɛɛ la ne ment (grammar) pl: yelyelbarre a zeɛre ŋa. I am tired of this sauce. yelyeluu [yèlyélúú] n. issues that Var. yɛɛ cause anger yɛɛ [yɛ̀ɛ]́ adj. (1) not of substance, yelzagera [yèlzágrá] n. one who re- minor • A dɔɔ na bat aa nimizeɛ fuses or disobeys pl: yelzagereba yel-yɛɛ yoŋ ka o maŋ yele. That man is not serious he is always talk- yeme [yèmé] n. slave pl: yenni 2pl: ing of unimportant matters. (2) un- yennee Var. yieme cultivated (of crops that sprout on yempɔge [yèmpɔ́gɪ]́ n. female slave a field on which the crop was pre- pl: yelmpɔgeba 2pl: yempɔgrɛɛ viously cultivated) • Seŋkãã yɛɛ yempɔge [yèmpɔ́gɪ]́ n. name tradi- pɔge la a gbannaa zaa ka fo na tionally given to a female child teɛre ka ba kɔɛ la. Uncultivated born outside the house pl: yelm- groundnuts has covered the former pɔgeba 2pl: yempɔgrɛɛ groundnut farm and you would yendɔɔ [yèndɔ́ɔ́] n. male slave think that it is cultivated. pl: yɛre 2pl: yɛrɛɛ yendɔɔ [yèndɔ́ɔ́] n. name traditionally given to a male child born out- yɛle [yɛlɪ́ ]̀ n. cockroach pl: yɛlɛ 2pl: side the house yɛlɛɛ yeni [yénì] adj. one pl: yeme 2pl: yɛle [yɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. (1) to multiply e.g. an- yennee imals reproducing (2) to enlarge yensogɔ [yénsʊ́ gɔ́] n. night pl: yen- yɛlɛɛ, yɛllɛ, yɛllɛ, yɛlebɛ, yɛllaa sogere 2pl: yensogerɛɛ Var. yen- yɛlɛ [yɛlɛ́ ]́ n. (1) an issue (2) discus- soga, tensogɔ, tensoga sion, conversation (3) serious mat- yeŋ [yêŋ] adv. where ter yeŋe [yèŋé] adv. outside Var. yeŋi yɛloŋ [yɛlʊ́ ́ŋ] adj. wide pl: yɛlle yeŋi [yèŋí] adv. outside Var. yeŋe yɛmbaŋ [yɛmbàŋ]́ n. cleverness, wis- yɛ [yɛ̀] pron. you (second person plu- dom ral weak form) yɛmbaŋena [yɛmbáŋɪ́ ná]́ n. one who

318 yɛmbile yi

has good sense, wise person pl: capital. yɛrɛɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛreba, yɛmbaŋnema yɛraa, yɛreba yɛmbile [yɛmbílé]́ n. small intelli- yɛre [yɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to spread out e.g. to dry gence pl: yɛmbilii 2pl: yɛmbillee yɛrɛɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛreba, yɛraa, yɛnkyeerɛ [yɛnʧɪ́ ɪ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. little mind yɛreba yɛnkyeeroo [yɛnʧɪ́ ɪ́ rʊ́ ́ʊ́] n. prudence yɛre [yɛrɪ́ ]̀ v. to hunt in a group yɛnlige [yɛnlígè]́ n. unclear mind yɛrɛɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛreba, yɛraa, yɛreba yɛnnyaa [yɛnɲáà]́ n. the act of devel- oping intelligence yɛre [yɛrɪ́ ]́ adj. wild; used with crops yɛnwuli [yɛnwúlì]́ n. the act of e.g. groundnuts • A bibiiri gaa pɛ teaching sense la seŋkãa yɛɛ. The children went harvesting wild groundnuts. pl: yɛɛ yɛnwuluu [yɛnwúlúú]́ n. the act of 2pl: yɛrɛɛ teaching sense or conscience yɛreyɛrɛ [yɛ̀ryɛrɛ́ ]́ n. trader, yɛnyɛŋ [yɛɲɛ́ ŋ]́ adj. near businessperson, merchant pl: yɛŋ [yɛ̂ŋ] adv. kindly e.g. in an ap- yɛreyɛrebɛ 2pl: yɛreyɛrebɛɛ peal • Yɛŋ de a bie gaa ne sakuuri. Try and take the child to school. yɛroŋ [yɛrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. trade, business yɛŋe [yɛ̂ŋ] adj. intelligent • A yi [yí] v. (1) to go out, to exit • Te pɔgelee na taa la yɛŋe. That girl naŋ yi ka te gaa a kpaaroŋ la ka is intelligent. saa deɛ wa miire. As we went out to go to the farm, it started raining. yɛŋe [yɛ̂ŋ] n. intelligence, knowl- (2) to divorce (by a woman) • A dɔɔ edge • A bie yɛŋ ba seŋ bone. The nɔŋ la o pɔge ŋmeɛbo lɛnso ka o child has very little knowledge. pl: yi. The man likes beating his wife yɛnne 2pl: yɛnnɛɛ and that is why she has divorced yɛre [yɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to wear, to dress him. yie, yire, yire, yiribe, yiraa, • Ba zaa yɛre la tigiri bonsuuri. yiribe They all dressed their best for the yi kyeɛ to fade feast. (2) to hang around the neck and shoulders • O yɛre bɔnzɔl yi sori to travel, to go on a trip velaa kaŋa. She wore a beauti- yi [yí] v. to be clean • Fo ba pɛge a ful chain. yɛrɛɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛrɛ, yɛreba, laa ne fanfane a zuiŋ o ba yi. You yɛraa, yɛreba did not wash the bowl with soap yɛre [yɛ̀rɪ]̀ v. to trade, to do business and so it is not clean. yie, yire, yire, • Ka fooŋ na yɛre ferebo la ka fo yiribe, yiraa, yiribe taa libima. If you want to engage yi [yí] v. to resemble • A bie ŋa yi in business, you must have some la o ma yaga. This child resembles

319 yi yofaa

the mother very much. yie, yire, yieme [yìèmé] n. slave Var. yeme yire, yiribe, yiraa, yiribe yieri [yìèrì] v. to extend, to spread yi [yí] v. of land; become infertile, out • Ka dabeɛŋ wa kpɛ karaa, o to be barren e.g. land • Ba kɔ la maŋ yieri la o zu ne o kɔkɔrɛɛ. a koɔlɔ ŋa ka o te yi, ka fooŋ When a cobra is frightened, it kɔ o a ba eŋ kuoluŋ fo koŋ nyɛ spreads out its head and neck. bonezaa. Several years of farming yieree, yiere, yiere, yieribe, yieraa on this land has made it infertile yĩeu [yĩẽ́ ́ṹ] n. spectacle, wonders pl: and if you farm it without apply- yieme ing fertilizer to it you won’t get any yigileŋ [yígléŋ] adv. perched in a good yield. yie, yire, yire, yiribe, lonely manner • A bie dɔŋɛɛ la ka yiraa, yiribe o zu deɛ waa yigileŋ lɛ. The child yi [yí] v. to lose taste e.g. beer • Ba has grown so lean that his head is naŋ zaameŋ ba pɔge a dãã noɔre literally perching on his neck. na la so ka o yi. Because the beer yi kyeɛ [yí ʧɪɛ́ ]́ adj. uninteresting, was not covered, it has lost its taste. boring yie, yire, yire, yiribe, yiraa, yiribe yinni [yìnnì] v. (1) to forget • N yeli yidaampɔge [yídààmpɔ́gɪ]́ n. head la a kpaaroŋ yɛlɛ ko fo ta erɛ wa woman in a family; mistress of a yinni. I told you about the meet- compound pl: yidaampɔgeba 2pl: ing, so don’t forget. (2) collect farm yidaampɔgrɛɛ yield (e.g. grains, nuts) left behind yidaana [yídááná] n. house owner after the main harvest, glean • Ka pl: yidaama 2pl: yidaanɛɛ/yidaa- banaŋ wa pɛ seŋkãã baare bibii- mɛɛ ri maŋ gaa te yinni la a gbannaa poɔ. After the main ground- yidaandɔɔ [yídààndɔ́ɔ́] n. male head nuts harvest, children would nor- of a family; master of of compound mally go to the field to glean. yin- pl: yidaandɔbɔ 2pl: yidaandɔɔrɛɛ nee, yinne, yinne, yinime, yinnaa, yideme [yídèmé] n. family group; yinime Var. inni family members sg: yidemuu 2pl: yiri [yírì] n. (1) house, home, com- yidemee pound (2) family, family members yĩe [yĩẽ̀ ̀] v. to faint yĩee, yiene, pl: yie 2pl: yiree yiene, yienime, yienaa yivilime [yívílímé] n. round com- yieli [yíélì] v. to sing yielee, yiele, pound yiele, yielibe yobie [yóbíé] n. ill luck, bad name yieluŋ [yíélúŋ] n. song; music pl: yofaa [yófáá] n. a name that stigma- yiele tizes pl: yofaare 2pl: yofaarɛɛ

320 yofuu yopɔgeraa yofuu [yófúù] n. abstract noun pl: shall go. (2) be informed • A toma yofuuri 2pl: yofuuree ŋa fo yoŋ la so a yoo? Be informed yogi [yógí] v. to eat, especially plen- that that work is for you alone. tiful food that is tasty yogee, yogro, yoɔ [yʊ̀ ɔ̀] v. to stop raining Var. yogro, yogro, yogribo, yograa Var. gyere mogi yoɔbo [yʊ́ɔ́bʊ̀ ] n. (1) the act of roam- yogi [yògì] adj. enough, of consider- ing, wandering (2) hunting expedi- able quantity • A zɛvaare ba yogi. tion There is not enough of the veg- yoɔbo [yʊ́ ɔ́bʊ́] n. the stoppage of etable. rain yogili [yòglì] v. to pamper, to treat yoɔbo [yʊ̀ ɔ̀bʊ́ ] adj. short form of six kindly or gently yoglee, yoglo, yo- yoɔle [yʊ̀ ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to escape slowly e.g. glo, yoglibo, yoglaa from a punctured tyre yogoko [yógókó] adv. very sweet yoɔle [yʊ́ɔ́lɪ]́ v. to melt, to disinte- yo-iri [yó-írì] n. glory, praise, hon- grate slowly e.g. salt or sugar in our, sauce or tea yokyigiraa [yòkyìgìráà] n. fishing yoɔne [yʊ́ɔ́nɪ]́ n. a type of small, pot Var. yopɔgeraa spotted amphibean that looks like yololo [yólóló] adv. very cold a frog and is found in wet sand pl: yoluŋ [yólúŋ] n. cone-shaped cage yoɔmɔ/yoɔma 2pl: yoɔnɛɛ pl: yolli 2pl: yollee Yoɔraa [yʊ́ɔ́ráá] n. a traditional yoluŋ [yólúŋ] adj. emptiness e.g. name given to a child believed to wearing a blouse or shirt without be reincarnated a singlet or a vest under it pl: yolli yoɔraa [yʊ́ɔ́ráà] n. tourist, one who 2pl: yolee roams pl: yoɔrebɔ/yoɔreba yombo [yómbó] n. black hair dye pl: yoɔre [yʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. penis pl: yɔɛ 2pl: yombori 2pl: yomboree yɔrɛɛ yontaa [yòntáá] n. (1) wife in a yoɔre [yʊ̀ ɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to cause to polygamous marriage (2) relation- be exhausted or emotionless (2) ship between wives in a polyga- to bother, irritate; to pester some- mous marriage (3) enemy (figura- one yoɔrɛɛ, yoɔrɔ, yoɔrɔ, yoɔreba, tive) pl: yontaare 2pl: yontaarɛɛ yoɔraa yoŋ [yôŋ] adj. (1) alone (2) only pl: yopõi [yòpṍĩ]̀ adj. short form of ay- yonni oɔpõi (seven) yoo [yóó] interj. (1) okay • Yoo, bieo yopɔgeraa [yòpɔ̀gràà] n. fishing pot te na gaa la. Okay tomorrow we pl: yopɔgere Var. yokyigiraa

321 yopɔgeraa yɔɔ yopɔgeraa [yòpɔ́gɪráá]́ n. lid, cover yɔgere [yɔ́grɪ]́ v. to be loose, to be of a pot slack • Ba leŋ la a tuobu kyɛ ka a yoreyoree [yʊ̀ rɪyʊ̀ ́rɪ]́ v. to break into leɛ yɔgere. The load was tied but it little bits is loose again. yori [yòrì] v. to make a loop yoree, yɔgevaa [yɔ́gɪváárɪ̀ ]̀ n. pumpkin leaf yoro, yoro, yoribo, yoraa pl: yɔgevaare 2pl: yɔgevaarɛɛ yɔgevaare [yɔ̀gváárɪ]̀ n. leaves of yori [yórì] v. to dismantle a loop pumpkin (used as vegetable) sg: yoree, yoro, yoro, yoribo, yoraa yɔgevaabo pl: yɔgevaarɛɛ yorombiri [yórómbírí] n. herring pl: yɔgevaare-waabo [yɔ̀gɪváárɪ̀ -̀ yorombie 2pl: yorombireeyorom- wáábʊ̀ ] n. green mamba pl: biiree yɔgevaare-weere 2pl: yɔgevaare- yorɔyorɔ [yʊ́rɔ́yʊ́rɔ́] adv. smallish; weerɛɛ usually in size Var. yorayora yɔgoo [yɔ̀gʊ́ʊ́ ] n. (1) pumpkin (2) yosãa [yósã̀ã̀] n. slander pl: yosãa the plant which bears the fruit pl: yoyogibiri [yóyògìbírì] n. a type of yɔgɔ 2pl: yɔgerɛɛ/yɔgɛɛ small flying insect that makes tam- yɔgoo [yɔ̀gʊ́ʊ́] n. (1) a type of large, balaaraa (a type of honey) sg: yoyo- white ant (2) the home of these gibiruu pl: yoyogibie 2pl: yoyo- ants pl: yɔgɔ 2pl: yɔgerɛɛ/yɔgɛɛ gibiree/yoyogibiiree yɔkɔɔloŋ [yɔ̌kɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. pubic hair of yɔ [yɔ́] v. to wander, to roam, to a male travel yɔɛ, yoɔrɔ, yoɔrɔ, yoɔreba yɔle [yɔ́lɪ]́ v. to slip off as a result of yɔge [yɔ̀gɪ]̀ v. to loosen e.g. hard sub- being loose e.g. shorts yɔlɛɛ, yɔlɔ, stance (soil) yɔgɛɛ, yɔgrɔ, yɔgrɔ, yɔlɔ, yɔlɔ, yɔlaa yɔgrebɔ, yɔgraa yɔlpelaa [yɔ̀lpɪláà]̀ n. a type of tree yɔgele [yɔ́glɪ]̀ v. to be near, to ap- with edible fruits pl: yɔlpeɛle proach (time) • Sẽɛ̃ yɔgelɔ la ka yɔlzeɛ [yɔ̀lzɪɛ́ ]́ n. a type of tree with suŋkpulo kyoɔrɔ. The farming sea- grey bark pl: yɔlzeere son is coming round; hence, daw- yɔmɔ [yɔ́mɔ́] adj. free and plentiful daw trees are flowering. yɔgelɛɛ, pl: yɔnne yɔgelɔ, yɔglɔ, yɔgeleba, yɔgelaa yɔɔ [yɔ́ɔ̀] n. sibling (used between yɔgere [yɔ̀grɪ]́ n. farm field around individuals of the same sex) pl: the compound pl: yɔgɔ 2pl: yɔgɛɛ yɔɔmine/yɔɔre 2pl: yɔɔrɛɛ yɔgere [yɔ́grɪ]̀ v. to loosen e.g. of yɔɔ [yɔ́ɔ̀] n. strophantus (a type of a string tied to something yɔgerɛɛ, tree with highly poisonous sap) pl: yɔgerɔ, yɔgerɔ, yɔgereba, yɔgeraa yɔɔre 2pl: yɔɔrɛɛ

322 yɔɔ yuuli yɔɔ [yɔ́ɔ́] v. to pay, to redeem yuli [yúlí] v. to leak slowly yulee, yɔɔɛ, yɔɔrɔ, yɔɔrɔ, yɔɔreba, yɔɔraa, yulo, yulo, yulibo, yulaa, yulibo yɔɔre yuloo [yúlóó] n. object on which yɔɔ [yɔ̀ɔ̀] adv. freely e.g. of liquid be- bows are hung pl: yulli 2pl: yullee ing poured yuo [yùò] v. to open yuoe, yuoro, yɔɔdɔɔ [yɔ́ɔ́dɔ́ɔ́] n. brother (used by yuoro, -, yuoraa females to address male siblings) pl: yɔɔdɔɔbɔ 2pl: yɔɔdɔɔrɛɛ yuo [yúó] adj. different, of another yɔɔlee [yɔ́ɔ́léé] n. younger sibling kind • Zenɛ kpare yuo la ka (used between individuals of the a baala su. Today the patient is same sex) pl: yɔɔbilii wearing a different shirt. yɔɔpɔge [yɔ́ɔ́pɔ́gɪ]́ n. sister (used by yuonaa [yùònáá] adv. this year Var. males to address female siblings) yuoni ŋa pl: yɔɔpɔgebɔ/yɔɔpɔgeba. Var. yɔɔ- Yuoni [yúóní] n. name given to a puulee child born after nine months of yɔɔpuulee [yɔ́ɔ̀púúléé] n. female sib- pregnancy ling (usually less older) see kpɪɛ́ mɛ́ ́ yuoni [yúóní] n. year pl: yuomo 2pl: pl: yɔɔpuuli Var. yɔɔpɔge yuonee yɔɔre [yɔ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. payment 2pl: yɔɔrɛɛ yɔre [yɔ́rɪ]̀ v. to fall apart, to disin- yuoni [yúóní] n. the crop of a bird pl: tegrate yɔrɛɛ, yɔrɔ, yɔrɔ, yɔreba, yuomo 2pl: yuonee yɔraa yuoni ŋa [yúóní ŋá] adv. this year yɔre [yɔ̀rɪ]̀ v. (1) to become in- yuoni-yuoni [yúóní-yúóní] adv. an- tense e.g. rainfall (2) to be- nually come widespread (disease) (3) that which is plenty yɔrɛɛ, yɔrɔ, yɔrɔ, yuori [yúórí] n. jar pl: yoe 2pl: yɔreba, yɔraa yoree Yɔrebaa [yɔ̀rɪbáá]́ n. Yoruba (an eth- yuori [yǔórì] n. (1) name (2) rep- nic group found in Nigeria) sg: utation (3) namesake pl: yoe 2pl: yɔrebaaroo pl: yɔrebaare 2pl: yoree yɔrebaarɛɛ yuuli [yùùlì] v. to spread small yɔrebɔnɔ [yɔ̀rɪbɔ̀ ̀nɔ́] adv. loosely amount on top of e.g. dry cement yɔrɔyɔrɔ [yɔ̀rɔ̀yɔ̀rɔ̀] adj. not firm, yuulee, yuulo, yuulo, yuulo, yuu- loose e.g. mud laa

323 za zamasoba z za [zá] v. to throw zaɛ, zaara, zaara, zage [zágɪ]́ n. head cold 2pl: zagrɛɛ zareba, zaaraa, zareba zage [zágɪ]́ v. to be worn out zagɛɛ, za [zá] v. to palpitate (of heart) zagra, zagra, zagreba, zagraa zaɛ, zaara, zaara, zareba, zaaraa, zage [zàgɪ]́ n. enclosure for animals, zareba pen, corral pl: zagere 2pl: zagerɛɛ zaa [zàá] adj. all, every • A kõɔ zaa Var. zaga ka ba nyu. They have drank all the zagedie [zàgɪdìè]̀ n. main chamber water. Var. haa in a rodent’s burrow pl: zagederi zãa [zã́ã̀] adv. yesterday; short form 2pl: zagederee of zaameŋ Var. zaameŋ zagela [záglá] n. one being referred zãa [zã̀ã̀] adv. hazy to • Zagela maŋ yeli ka o puoro zaale [záálɪ]́ v. (1) to move water la kyɛ zeɛre o taaba. Some peo- around in a container by swing- ple claim to be godly but hate their ing the container around (2) to neigbours. commit suicide by hanging oneself zagelaa [zágláà] adj. empty pl: za- zaalɛɛ, zaala, zaala, zaaleba, za- gele 2pl: zagelɛɛ alaaVar. zalle, zɛlle zagepɛmpɛlɛŋ [zàgɪpɛ̀ mpɛ́ lɛ́ ŋ]́ n. zaameŋ [zààmɪ̂ŋ] adv. yesterday Var. spleen pl: zagepɛmpɛlle 2pl: za- zãa gepɛmpɛlɛɛ Var. hɔɔpɛmpɛlɛŋ zaayee [zàáyéé] adv. surprisingly • zagere [zàgrɪ]̀ v. to refuse, to reject N da teɛre ka o be la a dieŋ zaa- zagerɛɛ, zagera, zagera, zagereba, yee a bie yoŋ la. I thought she was zageraa, zagreba in the room, but to my surprise it was only the child that was there. zagezage [zàgzág] v. to harass za- gezagɛɛ, zagezagera, -, zageza- zabage [zábágɪ]́ n. foe, enemy, in- gereba, zagezageraa vader Var. zabɔge zalball [zàlbàll] adv. airborne zaboraa [zábʊ́ ráá] n. person under review pl: zaborre 2pl: zaborɛɛ zalle [zállɪ]̀ v. (1) to swing (2) to zabɔge [zábàgɪ]́ n. foe, enemy, in- commit suicide by hanging oneself vader pl: zabɔgre 2pl: zabɔgrɛɛ Var. zallɛɛ, zalla, zalla, zaleba, zallaa, zabage zaleba Var. zaale, zɛlle zaga [zágà] n. (1) animal or poultry zamaa [zàmàà] adj. confused pen (2) mortuary pl: zagere 2pl: za- zamasoba [zámásúbá] n. one that is gerɛɛ Var. zage homeless

324 zambaa zanzaŋ zambaa [zàmbáá] n. a type of small zanne [zànnɪ]́ v. to learn zannɛɛ, striped bush mouse pl: zambaare zanna, zanna, zanema, zannaa, 2pl: zambaarɛɛ Var. zambateraa zanema zambadaa [zàmbàdàá] n. stilt pl: zanne [zànnɪ]́ v. to dream zan- zambadaare 2pl: zambadaarɛɛ nɛɛ, zanna, zanna, zanema, zan- zambateraa [zàmbàtɪràà]̀ n. a type of naa, zanema striped mouse pl: zambaterre 2pl: zannoŋ [zànnʊ̌ŋ] n. dream pl: zambaterɛɛ Var. zamba zanonne 2pl: zanonnɛɛ Var. zannoo zambayɛlɛ [zámbáyɛlɛ́ ̀] adv. lying in a manner with face up Var. za- zannoo [zánnʊ́ʊ́ ] n. dream Var. zan- mayɛlɛ noŋ zambɛre [zàmbɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. (1) a black- zannoo [zànnʊ́ʊ́] n. education, the smith’s shop (2) god of the forge act of learning Var. zɛmbɛre zannzanna [zànnzánná] n. learner, Zambɔ [zàmbɔ́] n. name of a village pupil sg: zannzanemɛɛ 2pl: zann- near Lawra in the Upper West Re- zanema gion of Ghana zannyuu [zànɲúú] n. garlic pl: zan- zamm [zàmm] adv. huge but light nyuuri 2pl: zannyuuree zanzakpiri-duoruŋ [zánzákpìri- zammo [zàmmʊ́] n. onion pl: zama dúórúŋ] n. ringworm 2pl: zannɛɛ Var. gaabu (Hausa), za- madaare zanzakpirime [zánzákpìrìmé] n. small bat pl: zanzakpirri 2pl: zan- zammuli [zàmmúlí] n. tree zakpirree Var. zinzakpirime zamparemuu [zâmpárɪmùú]̀ n. wrist zanzansɔglaa [zánzánsɔ́glàá] n. a guard for archery pl: zampare- type of blackish-grey fruit bat pl: muuri 2pl: zamparemuuree zanzansoglɔ 2pl: zanzansɔglɛɛ zampoŋ [zàmpóŋ] n. hedgehog pl: zanzantokele [zánzàntókélé] n. a zamponni 2pl: zamponnee type of bat pl: zanzantokelli 2pl: zampoone [zàmpʊ́ʊ́nɪ]́ adj. young zanzantokelee and helpless e.g. chick pl: zam- zanzanzeɛ [zánzànzɪɛ́ ]́ n. a type of pooma 2pl: zampoomɛɛ reddish-brown bat pl: zanzanzeere zane [zánɪ]́ n. wrist guard for 2pl: zanzanzeerɛɛ archery pl: zama 2pl: zamɛɛ zanzaŋ [zánzáŋ] adv. intensely e.g. zanne [zánnɪ]́ v. to thresh neatly or heat • A yɛlɛ pãã ta la a zanzaŋ. completely zannɛɛ, zanna, zanna, The matter has now got to the cli- zanema max.

325 zanzaŋaa Zẽɛpɔge zanzaŋaa [zánzáŋàá] n. bat pl: zan- zeɛ [zɪɛ̀ ]́ n. late millet sg: zeroo pl: zanne 2pl: zanzannɛɛ zeere 2pl: zeerɛɛ zanzaŋaa [zánzáŋàá] n. (1) a type of zeɛ [zɪɛ̀ ̀] v. to snatch, to seize shellfish similar to a clam (2) the zeɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa, shell of this shelfish pl: zanzanne zeɛrebɛ 2pl: zanzannɛɛ zeɛ [zɪɛ̀ ]́ adj. reddish brown pl: zeere zanzaŋkpara [zànzáŋkpàrà] n. the 2pl: zerɛɛ act of jumping up and down in hys- zeɛ [zɪɛ̀ ]́ adj. serious • Yelzeɛ la ka teria pl: zanzaŋkparre 2pl: zanza- ba yele, azuiŋ ta laara. It is a se- ŋkparɛɛ rious case, so don’t laugh. pl: zeere zanzunmuli [zaǹzùmmùlì] n. a type 2pl: zerɛɛ of tree with medicinal properties zẽɛ [zɪɛ̀̃ ̃]́ n. acid 2pl: zeɛnɛɛ zaŋaa [záŋáá] n. shell pl: zanne 2pl: zẽɛ [zɪɛ̃́ ̃]́ n. fortification for one who zannɛɛ has commited murder or killed an zaŋe [záŋ] v. to itch zaŋɛɛ, zaŋena, animal believed to have supernatu- zaŋena, zaŋeneba, zaŋenaa ral powers 2pl: zeɛnɛɛ zaŋgalaŋ [záŋgáláŋ] n. veranda pl: zẽɛ [zɪɛ̀̃ ̀̃] v. to be needed, to be nec- zaŋgalle 2pl: zaŋgalɛɛ essary zẽɛɛ, zeɛnɛ, zeɛnɛ, zeɛnemɛ, zaŋgbaale [zàŋgbààlɪ]̀ n. dome- zeɛnaa shaped cage pl: zaŋgbaala 2pl: za- zẽɛdãa [zĩɛ́ ̃dã́ ́ã́] n. local beer pre- ŋgbaalɛɛ pared solely for ritual purposes 2pl: zaŋkpegiri [zàŋkpégrí] n. a type of zẽɛdaanɛɛ hard pimple pl: zaŋkpege 2pl: za- zeɛ-genegene [zɪɛ̀ -gènègènè]́ adj. ŋkpegee Var. kpaŋkpazegele brown zare [zárɪ]̀ n. large metal hammer zẽɛgoɔ [zɪɛ̃́ ̃gʊ́ ́ ɔ̀] n. a type of tree with used in the forge pl: zaɛ 2pl: zarɛɛ medicinal properties pl: zẽɛgoore zarema [zárɪmá]́ n. rags 2pl: zaremɛɛ zeɛmaa [zɪɛ́ máá]́ n. open ground Var. zɛremɛ where millet is gathered, threshed, zazaakɔɔ [zàzáákɔ́ɔ́] adj. steady Var. and winnowed out pl: zeɛne 2pl: dedeekɔɔ zeɛnɛɛ/zeɛmɛɛ Var. gbeŋgbelaa zẽe [zɪɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. blood 2pl: zeenɛɛ Zeɛmɛ [zɪɛ́ mɛ́ ̀] n. name tradition- zẽetẽe [zɪɪ̃́ tɪ̀̃ ɪ̃́ ]̃́ n. medicine that helps ally given to the firstborn of twins improve the level of blood in the (male) body 2pl: zẽeteenɛɛ Zẽɛpɔge [zɪɛ̀̃ ̃pɔ́ ́gɪ]́ n. name tradition- zẽewoɔ [zɪɪ̃́ wʊ̃́ ́ ɔ́] n. blood vessel pl: ally given to the firstborn of twins zẽewoore 2pl: zẽewoorɛɛ (female) pl: Zẽɛpɔgemine

326 zeɛraa zɛ zeɛraa [zɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. sieve pl: zeɛre 2pl: long beak that is fond of flowers pl: zeɛrɛɛ zelegannɔɛ zeɛraa [zɪɛ́ ráá]́ n. hawk pl: zeɛre 2pl: zelɛzelɛ [zɪlɛ̀ zɪ́ lɛ̀ ]́ adj. slim, at the zeɛrɛɛ point of giving way zeɛre [zɪɛ̀ ̀rɪ]́ n. (1) sauce (2) soup pl: zelgannoɔre [zɪlgǎnnʊ̌ ́ ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. a type zɛrɛɛ of small bird with a very long zeɛre [zɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to hate, to de- curved beak pl: zelgannɔɛ 2pl: zel- spise zeɛrɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrebɛ, gannɔrɛɛ zeɛraa zell [zɪll]́ adv. filled to the brim zeɛre [zɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to trot zeɛrɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zelpĩi [zɪpĩ̌ ĩ́ ]̀ n. a type of disease that zeɛrɛ, zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa affects the tongue of dogs causing zeɛre [zɪɛ́ rɪ́ ]̀ v. to be in haste, to go af- them to not eat pl: zelpiime 2pl: ter something eagerly zeɛrɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zelpiimee zeɛrɛ, zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa zemberemɛ [zɪmbɪ́ rɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. a type zege [zɪgɪ̀ ]̀ v. to grow to maturity of tree whose fruit gives red and full strength zegɛɛ, zegerɛ, juice pl: zemberre 2pl: zem- zegerɛ, zegerebɛ, zegeraa berɛɛ/zemberrɛɛ zegere [zɪgrɪ́ ]̀ v. to shrug; raise Zempɛnne [zɪmpɛ̀ nnɪ́ ]́ n. name of a one’s shoulders, indicating lack of village concern zegerɛɛ, zegerɛ, zegerɛ, zenɛ [zɪnɛ́ ̀] n. today zegerebɛ, zegeraa zenɛbie [zɪnɛ́ ̀bìé] adv. nowadays, the zegere [zɪgrɪ̀ ]̀ v. to grow to maturity present time zegerɛɛ, zegerɛ, zegerɛ, zegerebɛ, zenzie [zɪnzíé]̀ n. (1) sitting place (2) zegeraa settlement pl: zenziiri 2pl: zenzi- zegezege [zɪgzɪ̀ g]̀ v. to be impatient iree zegezegɛɛ, zegezegrɛ, zegezegerɛ, zeŋe [zɪŋ]̀ v. (1) to sit, to be seated zegezegerebɛ, zegezegeraa (2) to settle zeŋɛɛ, zenɛ, zenɛ, zen- zegɛ [zɪgɛ́ ]́ n. (1) area behind and be- emɛ, zenaa, zenemɛ tween the shoulders (2) hump (of zeŋgbiri [zɪŋgbírì]̀ n. sleeping sick- a cow) pl: zegere 2pl: zegerɛɛ ness zegitege [zègìtégé] adv. not moving zɛ [zɛ̀] v. to smear zɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrɛ, at all, standing still in the way zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa, zeɛrebɛ zele [zɪlɪ̀ ]́ n. tongue pl: zelɛ 2pl: zɛ [zɛ]́ v. to sift zeɛrɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrɛ, zelɛɛ/zellɛɛ zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa zelegannoɔre [zɪlɪ̀ gànʊ́ ́ɔ́rɪ]̀ n. a type zɛ [zɛ]́ v. to hate zeɛrɛɛ, zeɛrɛ, zeɛrɛ, small bird with blue feathers and a zeɛrebɛ, zeɛraa

327 zɛdambo zibalaa zɛdambo [zɛ̀dàmbó] n. unseasoned zɛlezɛlɛ, zɛlezɛlɛ, zɛlezɛlebɛ, soup pl: zɛdambori 2pl: zɛdam- zɛlezɛlaa boree zɛlɛŋkpɛ [zɛ̀lɛ̀ŋkpɛ̀] adj. hanging zɛdogelee [zɛ̀dʊ́ gléé] n. earthenware loosely cooking pot for soup pl: zɛdogebilii zɛlle [zɛllɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to swing (2) to Var. saa-doge commit suicide by hanging oneself zɛɛ [zɛ̀ɛ̀] adv. sticking onto all over Var. zaale, zalle e.g. fruits on a tree zɛmbɛre [zɛ̀mbɛ̀rɪ]̀ n. (1) a black- zɛge [zɛgɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to raise, to lift above smith’s shop (2) god of the forge (2) to promote zɛgɛɛ, zɛgrɛ, zɛgrɛ, pl: zɛmbɛrɛɛ Var. zambɛre zɛgrebɛ, zɛgraa zɛmɛzɛmɛ [zɛ̀mɛ̀zɛ̀mɛ̀] adv. long and zɛgelɛkɛlɛ [zɛglɛ́ kɛ́ lɛ́ ]́ adv. not miss- flexible e.g. cane ing out • A pɔgeba zaa ne ba bi- zɛmiime [zɛ̀míímé] n. sour sauce iri da la, zɛgelɛkɛlɛ. Each of the zɛmm [zɛ̀mm] adv. quietly, gently, women had a child. and slowly zɛgere [zɛgrɪ́ ]̀ v. (1) to shake (hands) zɛnzɛŋ [zɛ̀nzɛŋ]́ v. (1) to be impa- (2) to shake in the hand to weigh tient (2) to be eager, to be zeal- zɛgerɛɛ, zɛgerɛ, zɛgerɛ, zɛgerebɛ, ous zɛnzɛŋɛɛ, zɛnzɛnɛ, zɛnzɛnɛ, zɛgeraa zɛnzɛnemɛ, zɛnzɛnaa, zɛnzɛnemɛ zɛgeroŋ [zɛgrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. (1) something zɛnzɛŋ [zɛ̀nzɛŋ]̌ n. impatience pl: that has worth (2) something that zɛnzɛnne 2pl: zɛnzɛnɛɛ has scent zɛŋ [zɛ̀ŋ] v. to lift zɛŋɛɛ, zɛnnɛ, zɛkõɔ [zɛ̀kʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. soup that is not zɛnnɛ, zɛnemɛ, zɛnnaa thick; broth-like pl: zɛkoɔnɛɛ zɛŋe [zɛ̂ŋ] v. to shake e.g. tree zɛŋɛɛ, zɛle [zɛlɪ́ ]́ v. (1) to apply poison; to zɛŋenɛ zɛŋenɛ, zɛŋenemɛ zɛŋenaa, be filled with venom (2) to be furi- zɛŋemo ous (3) to be bitter (taste) zɛrekpɛrɛ [zɛ̀rɪkpɛ̀ ̀rɛ̀] adv. hanging zɛle [zɛlɪ́ ]́ n. afterbirth (nonhuman) or swelling all over e.g. fruits pl: zɛlɛ 2pl: zɛlɛɛ zɛremɛ [zɛrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. rags Var. zarema zɛle [zɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to lift, to pick up zɛlɛɛ, zɛroo [zɛ̀rʊ̀ ʊ̀ ] adv. fleshy and loose zɛllɛ, zɛllɛ, zɛlebɛ, zɛllaa, zɛlebɛ (hanging) zɛle [zɛ̀lɪ]̀ v. to beg (Northern Da- zɛvaa [zɛváà]́ n. vegetable sg: zɛ- gaare dialect) zɛlɛɛ, zɛllɛ, zɛllɛ, vaabo pl: zɛvaare 2pl: zɛvaarɛɛ zɛlebɛ, zɛllaa, zɛlebɛ zibalaa [zìbàlàà] n. odd place zɛlezɛle [zɛ̀lɪzɛ̀ lɪ́ ]́ v. to move a zibalaa [zìbáláá] n. detour, diversion heavy load with difficulty zɛlezɛlɛɛ, (road) pl: ziballe

328 ziberaa ziriŋma ziberaa [zìbèráà] n. the place where zikpeɛraa [zìkpɪɛ́ ráà]́ n. inhabitance, a person or something is pl: ziberri residence pl: zikpeɛre ziberaa [zìbɪráà]̀ n. late night pl: zikyɛnfeɛle [zìʧɛ̀nfɪɛ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. cold early ziberre morning pl: zikyɛnfeɛlɛ zibiri [zìbírì] n. clitoris pl: zibie 2pl: zimaale [zìmààlɪ]̀ n. development zibiiree Var. gyambiri zimaaliire [zìmáálììré] n. dusk, twi- zibu [zíbú] n. python pl: zigiri 2pl: zi- light (after sunset) pl: zimaaliiri giree/zigee Var. zigi 2pl: zimaaliiree zie [zìé] n. place pl: ziiri 2pl: ziiree zimaane [zìmáánɪ]́ adv. evening zimaaroŋ [zìmàárʊ́ŋ] n. cool or wet zie [zìé] n. weather pl: ziiri 2pl: zi- place pl: zimaara iree zimaavɛ̃ɛ [zìmáávɛ̀̃ɛ̀̃] n. evening; be- zie [zìé] n. time pl: ziiri 2pl: ziiree tween four-thirty and five o’clock ziezaa [zíézàá] adv. everywhere zimaavɛnɛvɛnɛ [zìmáávɛ̀nɛ̀vɛ̀nɛ̀] n. zigi [zígí] n. python pl: zigri 2pl: zi- dusk gree/zigee Var. zibu zimezime [zímézímé] adv. of consid- zigi [zígí] v. (1) to grow in size (2) to erable weight grow more leaves (yam vine) zigee, zimɛrɛmɛrɛ [zìmɛ̀rɛ̀mɛ̀rɛ̀] n. muddy zigire, zigire, zigiribe, zigiraa place zigiree [zígréé] n. gravel, laterite pl: zinziŋ [zíŋzíŋ] adv. very heavy zigiri zinyaane [zìɲàànɪ]́ n. dawn 2pl: zigizukpara [zìgìzúkpárá] n. a mon- zinyaanɛɛ Var. zivɛlemɛ ster; in the form of a two-headed ziŋi [zîŋ] v. to pound vigorously python pl: zigizukparre ziŋee, ziŋine, ziŋine, ziŋime, ziŋi- zigoo [zìgòò] adj. showing no con- naa cern for others • A bie kono tuuro zipigi [zìpìgí] n. a type of large la o ma kyɛ ka o deɛ ba taa zigoo brown antelope with white spots zaa. The child is crying while run- on its sides pl: zipigri 2pl: zipigree ning after the mother but woman ziponsentaa [zìpónsɪntáá]́ n. mid- did not show any concern. night zii [zìì] adj. thick; foliage of a tree zirii [zìríì] n. a lie or lies 2pl: zirree (used only in this situation) Var. ziriŋ zĩi [zĩĩ̀ ]̀ adj. not clear, blurry ziriŋ [zìrǐŋ] n. lies 2pl: zirree Var. zikuoŋaa [zìkúóŋáá] n. dry place pl: zirii zikuoni 2pl: zikuonee ziriŋma [zìríŋmà] n. the act of lying

329 ziriŋmaara zone ziriŋmaara [zìríŋmáárá] n. liar pl: is long pl: zogboŋgbolo 2pl: zog- ziriŋmaareba boŋgbolee zisɔgelaa [zìsɔ́gláá] n. (1) dark place zokpore [zʊ́kpʊ́rɪ]́ n. the bottom end (2) hiding place pl: zisɔgele of the spinal cord pl: zokpoɛ 2pl: zitɔɔre [zìtɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. distant place pl: zokporɛɛ zitɔbɔ zolaa [zʊ́láá] n. pot with a very small zivelaa [zìvɪlàá]̀ n. good place, nice mouth pl: zolaare 2pl: zolaarɛɛ place pl: ziveɛle 2pl: ziveɛlɛɛ zolaa [zʊ̀ làà] adj. big, large zivɛlemɛ [zìvɛlɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. dawn 2pl: zoma [zʊ̀ má] n. instinct Var. zomɔ zivɛlemɛɛ Var. zinyaane zombaa [zʊ́ mbáá] n. catfish pl: zom- ziyuo [zìyùò] n. modernization baare 2pl: zombaarɛɛ zo [zò] v. (1) to run (2) to run zomberemɛ [zʊ́mbɪrɪ́ mɛ́ ]́ n. a type of away, to escape (3) to flow (river tree with medicinal properties 2pl: water) zoe, zoro, zoro, zoribo, zo- zomberemɛɛ raa, zoribo Zombɛnte [zúmbɛntɪ́ ]́ n. a religious zoge [zʊ̀ gɪ]̀ v. to thicken, to be- festival of Southern Dagao pl: zom- come hard e.g. palm of a one bɛntere 2pl: zombɛnterɛɛ who does rough/odd jobs zogɛɛ, zombɛraa [zʊ́bɛráá]́ n. fishhook pl: zogerɔ/zogera, zogerɔ/zogera, zombɛrre zogereba, zogeraa zombiri [zʊ̀ mbírì] n. insult, abuse sg: zogele [zʊ̀ glɪ]̀ v. to develop large zombiruu pl: zombie 2pl: zombi- rashes zogelɛɛ, zogelɔ/zogela, zo- iree gelɔ/zogela, zogeleba, zogelaa zomm [zómm] adv. still, calm, un- zogelɔŋ [zʊ̀ glɔŋ] adj. thick and at- moving tached to Var. zogelaŋ zommo [zʊmmʊ] n. fish pl: zoma zogere [zʊ́grɪ]̀ v. to shake vigorously ́ ́ zogrɛɛ, zogra, zogra, zoreba, zo- 2pl: zonnɛɛ graa zomɔ [zʊ̀ mɔ́] n. instinct Var. zoma zogere [zʊ̀ grɪ]̀ v. to become thick zompɛge [zʊ́mpɛgɪ́ ]̀ n. fish scale pl: or hard zogerɛɛ, zogera, zogera, zompɛgre/zompɛgɛ 2pl: zompɛ- zogereba, zogeraa grɛɛ zogetogo [zʊ̀ gtʊ̀ gʊ̀ ] adv. thick and zompĩi [zʊ́pĩĩ́ ]̀ n. fishhook pl: zom- wool-like piime 2pl: zompiimee/zompiinee zogboŋgboli [zʊ̀ gbòŋgbòlì] n. the zone [zʊ́nɪ]́ n. insult, abuse pl: zoma thickest part of an animal’s tail that 2pl: zonnɛɛ

330 zonkyoo zɔlɔ zonkyoo [zʊ́nʧóò] n. fishing net pl: zoŋkoroŋ [zʊ̀ ŋkʊ̀ rʊ̀ ŋ] adv. zonkyoori 2pl: zonkyooree grotesque; hideous zonne [zúnnɪ]́ v. to take short, zoŋkɔɔre [zʊ́ŋkɔ́ɔ̀ré] n. fish bone pl: heavy steps zonnɛɛ, zonnɔ/zonna, zoŋkɔbɔ 2pl: zoŋkɔɔrɛɛ zonnɔ/zonna, zonemɔ/zonema, zõo [zʊ̀̃ ʊ̀̃ ] adv. dull zonnaa zoore [zʊ́ʊ́ré] n. tail pl: zoɛ 2pl: zonne [zúnnɪ]́ v. to shake (from sud- zoorɛɛ den shock) zonnɛɛ, zonnɔ/zonna, zoore [zʊ́ʊ́rɪ]̀ n. smoke Var. nyoore zonnɔ/zonna, zonemɔ/zonema, zõɔ [zʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. rust (typically used with zonnaa le) • A soɔ lɔre la kõɔ poɔ ana la zonni [zònnì] v. to hesitate zon- so ka o le zõɔ. The knife got soaked nee, zonno, zonno, zonimo, zon- in water and that is why it is rusted. naa, zonimo 2pl: zoɔnɛɛ zonnyɔge [zʊ́nɲɔ́gɪ]́ n. the practice zoɔle [zʊ́ɔ̀lɪ]̀ v. to wither zoɔlɛɛ, of fishing zoɔlɔ, zoɔlɔ, zoɔlba, zoɔlaa zonnyɔgerɔ [zʊ̌nɲɔ́grɔ̀] n. fisherman zori [zòrì] v. to hold the hand in pl: zonnyɔgerebɔ/zonnyɔgereba anticipation for food zoree, zoro, 2pl: zonnyɔgerebɛɛ zoro, zoribo, zoraa zonsaalaa [zʊ́nsààglàá] n. a type of zorre [zʊ́rrɪ]̀ v. shudder zorrɛɛ, fish with a flat head and two fins zorra, zorra, zoreba, zorraa and a very slippery body, found zo vi [zò ví] v. (1) to be shy (2) to in rivers and ponds, referred to be ashamed as mudfish pl: zonsaale 2pl: zon- zɔ [zɔ̌] n. (1) father (2) friend (be- saalɛɛ tween males) pl: zɔmine/zɔre 2pl: zonsɔgelaa [zʊ́nsɔ́gláá] n. a type of zɔrɛɛ black mudfish with a flat head pl: zɔba [zɔ̀bá] n. the act of pestering zonsɔgelɔ 2pl: zonsɔgelɛɛ Var. zɔbɔ zontalane [zʊ̀ ntàlánɪ]̀ n. gill pl: zon- zɔbɔ [zɔ̀bɔ́] n. the act of pestering talama 2pl: zontalanne Var. zɔba zonwaabo [zʊ́nwàábʊ́] n. eel pl: zon- zɔla [zɔ̀lá] n. a type of guinea corn weere 2pl: zonweerɛɛ Var. zɔlɔ zo nyonono [zò ɲʊ́nʊ́nʊ́ ] v. to have zɔle [zɔ́lɪ]̀ n. fool pl: zɔlɔ 2pl: zɔlɛɛ mercy zɔle [zɔ́lɪ]́ v. to be related to people zoŋe [zʊ́ŋ] v. to shake (person) zɔlɛɛ, zɔlɔ, zɔlɔ, zɔleba, zɔlaa zoŋɛɛ, zoŋenɔ, zoŋenɔ, zoŋenema, zɔlɔ [zɔ̀lɔ́] n. a type of guinea corn zoŋenaa 2pl: zɔllɛɛ Var. zɔla

331 zɔmpɔrɔŋ zugilaa zɔmpɔrɔŋ [zɔ́mpɔ́rɔ́ŋ] adv. of consid- zɔɔ-bɔ [zɔ̀ɔ̀-bɔ́] n. the act of irritating erable size, state others zɔnne [zɔ̀nnɪ]́ n. blindness zɔɔre [zɔ̀ɔ̀rɪ]́ n. quarrel, fight zɔnnoŋ [zɔ̀nnʊ́ŋ] n. blindness zɔɔzeele [zɔ̀ɔ̀zɪɪ́ lɪ́ ]́ n. silky flower on zɔnzɔrema [zɔ̀nzɔ́rɪmá]́ n. cobweb, a corncob sg: zɔɔzeeloo pl: zɔɔzeelɛ dirt hanging on walls and ceiling 2pl: zɔɔzeelɛɛ Var. zɔnzɔremɔ zɔzɔ [zɔ̀zɔ̀] adv. reduced to minimal zɔnzɔremɔ [zɔ̀nzɔ̀rɪmɔ́ ́] n. cobweb, (rainfall) dirt hanging on walls and ceiling zu [zû] n. head pl: zuri 2pl: zuree 2pl: zɔnzɔremɛɛ Var. zɔnzɔrema zu [zú] v. to steal zue, zuuro, -, -, zu- zɔŋa [zɔ̀ŋá] n. blind person Var. zɔŋɔ, raa zɔŋe zu [zû] adv. on top of • A gane zɔŋe [zɔ́ŋ] n. (1) flour (2) pulp 2pl: dɔgele la a tabol zu. The book is zɔnnɛɛ on the table. zɔŋe [zɔ̀ŋ] v. to be blind zɔŋɛɛ, zɔnnɔ, zubɛroŋ [zúbɛrʊ́ ́ŋ] n. (1) strong and zɔnnɔ, zɔnemɔ, zɔnnaa, zɔnemɔ dangerous animal (2) leader (often zɔŋe [zɔ̀ŋɪ]́ n. blind person Var. zɔŋɔ, political) pl: zubɛrɛ 2pl: zubɛrɛɛ zɔŋa zubie [zúbíé] n. misfortune, ill luck zɔŋkõɔ [zɔ̌ŋkʊ̃́ɔ̃́] n. (1) food for work- 2pl: zubiiree ers at work (2) water mixed with zudaa [zúdàá] n. backbone; that flour pl: zɔŋkoɔnɛɛ which one relies on pl: zudaare 2pl: zɔŋkɔŋ-ɔnnɔ [zɔ̌ŋkɔ́ŋ-ɔ́nnɔ́] n. zudaarɛɛ one who cooks workers’ food zufaa [zúfáá] n. ill fate pl: zufaare pl: zɔŋkɔŋ-ɔnemɔ 2pl: zɔŋkɔŋ- 2pl: zufaarɛɛ ɔnemɛɛ zugane [zúgánɪ]́ n. skin of the head zɔŋɔ [zɔ̀ŋɔ́] n. blind person pl: zɔnne pl: zugama 2pl: zugamɛɛ 2pl: zɔnnɛɛ Var. zɔŋa, zɔŋe zugi [zùgì] v. to turn a container zɔɔ [zɔ̀ɔ́] n. ambush pl: zɔɔre 2pl: upside down to bring out all the zɔɔrɛɛ contents zugee, zugiro, zugiro, zu- zɔɔ [zɔ̀ɔ̀] adj. long and flowing e.g. giribo, zugiraa hair zugi [zùgì] v. to press the bellows of zɔɔ [zɔ̀ɔ̀] v. to fight, to quarrel zɔɔɛ, a furnace zugee, zugiro, zugiro, zu- zɔɔrɔ, zɔɔrɔ, zɔɔrebɔ/zɔɔreba giribo, zugiraa zɔ̃ɔ [zɔ̀̃ɔ̀̃] v. to ride zɔ̃ɔɛ, zɔɔnɔ, zɔɔnɔ, zugilaa [zùgìláá] n. bellows pl: zugi- zɔɔnemɔ, zɔɔnaa laare 2pl: zugilaarɛɛ

332 zugiloŋ zunoɔ zugiloŋ [zúglóŋ] adj. unpropor- zukpala [zúkpálà] n. bald head 2pl: tioned zukpallɛɛ zugiraa [zúgráá] n. blacksmith’s bel- zukpeɛne [zúkpɪɛ́ nɪ́ ]́ n. hardheaded- lows pl: zugiri 2pl: zugiree ness, stubbornness zugiri [zúgrì] v. to shake in order to zukpeɛŋaa [zùkpɪɛ́ ŋáá]́ adj. hard- know whether there something in- headed pl: zukpeɛne side e.g. closed tin zugiree, zugiro, zukpoli [zúkpólí] n. (1) a shaven zugiro, zugiribo, zugiraa head (2) a head that is carry- zugizaga [zùgzàgà] adj. huge and ing something without a pad pl: heavy e.g. mallet zukpolo 2pl: zukpolee Var. zug- zugi zugi [zùgzùg] adv. moving boli through in numbers e.g. spectators zukyuu [zúʧùú] n. ritual hair pl: • Ba ŋmɛ la a bɔle baare ka a zukyuuri 2pl: zukyuuree noba ta zugi zugi zugi ba naŋ yire. The football match is over zulee [zùlèè] adv. large at one end and the spectators are trouping out. zuleɛrɛ [zúlɪɛ́ rɛ́ ]́ n. successor pl: zugboli [zúgbòlí] n. (1) a shaven zuleɛrebɛ 2pl: zuleɛrebɛɛ head (2) a head that is carry- zuli [zùlì] v. (1) to be unbalanced, to ing something without a pad Var. lean to one side (2) to slope zulee, zukpoli zullo, zullo, zulbo, zullaa zuiŋ [zúíŋ] conj. (1) because, as a zulibala [zùlìbàlà] adj. dispropor- result • A bie baaloŋ zuiŋ o ma tionately big ba gaa toma. As a result of the zulimo [zúlímó] adj. (1) uneven, child’s illness, the mother didn’t go sloped (2) unbalanced (weight) to work. (2) so • A saama na waa la yaga a zuiŋ maale a bondirii zuluŋ [zùlûŋ] adj. deep pl: zulli 2pl: yaga. There will be many guests, zullee so cook plenty of food. zuluŋ [zùlǔŋ] n. army ant, soldier zukoɔre [zúkʊ́ɔ́rɪ]́ n. skull pl: zukɔɛ ant 2pl: zullee 2pl: zukɔrɛɛ Var. zuŋmane zu-maala [zú-máálá] n. hairdresser zukɔgeraa [zúkɔ́gráá] n. pillow pl: pl: zu-maaleba zukɔgere 2pl: zukɔgerɛɛ zumaaroŋ [zúmáárʊ̌ŋ] n. headache zukɔɔloŋ [zúkɔ́ɔ́lʊ́ŋ] n. hair pl: (concentrated around the forehead) zukɔɔlɔ 2pl: zukɔɔlɛɛ pl: zumaara 2pl: zumaarɛɛ zukuri [zùkúrí] n. back (body) pl: zunoɔ [zúnʊ̀ ɔ́] n. fortune, favour, zukurri 2pl: zukuree luck pl: zunoore 2pl: zunoorɛɛ

333 zunzugiri [zùnzùgrí] n. large iso- zu pozu [zú pòzú] v. to gossip lated cloud sg: zunzugiruu pl: zun- zusãa [zúsã̀ã̀] n. (1) immorality (2) zugo 2pl: zunzugiree the practice of vice zuŋ [zǔŋ] adv. on top of Var. zu poɔ zusaana [zúsááná] n. one who zuŋmaara [zúŋmáárà] n. execu- preaches vice tioner pl: zuŋmaareba zusaanaa [zúsáánáá] n. the act of en- zuŋmane [zúŋmánɪ]́ n. skull pl: gaging in evil practices zuŋmama 2pl: zuŋmamɛɛ Var. zukoɔre zusoga [zúsʊ́gá] adv. above, high up zuŋmanekoɔ [zúŋmánɪkʊ́ ̀ ɔ́] n. suf- Var. zusogɔ fering zusogɔ [zúsʊ́gá] adv. above, high up zuŋmane kõɔ [zúŋmánɪ́kʊ̃́ ɔ̃́] n. great Var. zusoga suffering (typically used with nyu) zutage [zú-tàgɪ]́ n. hardheaded pl: • Deyɛŋ boŋkoɔre ba maale ka zutagere nembaaleba da nyu ba zuŋmane zutalaa [zútálàà] n. headdress pl: zu- kõɔ. Last year, there was a poor talle 2pl: zutallɛɛ crop yield and poor people suffered greatly. zutuo [zútúó] n. misfortune pl: zutu- uri 2pl: zutuuree zuo [zùò] v. (1) to be more than (2) to be too much (3) to pass someone zuu [zùù] adv. huge and heavy by zuuni [zúúní] v. to stoop zuunee, zu- zu-ɔɔ [zú-ɔ̀ɔ̀] n. the condition of hav- uno, zuuno ing a headache pl: zu-ɔɔre zuyɔɔ [zúyɔ́ɔ́] n. head tax 2pl: zupili [zúpílí] n. hat, cap sg: zupiluu zuyɔɔrɛɛ pl: zupile 2pl: zuplee zuzeɛ [zúzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. leader, forerunner pl: zupiltobo [zúpìlìtòbó] n. a hat that zuzeere 2pl: zuzeerɛɛ covers the ears 2pl: zupiltobee zuzeɛ [zúzɪɛ̀ ]́ n. red-haired person pl: zupoli [zúpólí] n. sinciput (the front zuzeere 2pl: zuzeerɛɛ of the skull) sg: zupollee pl: zupolo 2pl: zupolli zu zɔŋe [zú zɔ̂ŋ] v. to be ashamed zu-pono [zúpónó] n. barber pl: zu- zue zɔŋe ponimo zuzuu [zùzúú] adj. monstrous

334

A dictionary and grammatical sketch of Dagaare

This book presents an extensive dictionary of the Dagaare language (Niger-Congo; Gur (Mabia)), focussing on the dialect of Central Dagaare, spoken in the Upper West region of Ghana. The dictionary provides comprehensive definitions, example sentences and the English translations, phonetic forms, inflected forms, etymological notes as well as information dialectal variation. This work is intended as a resource for linguists, but also as a resource for Dagaare speakers. Also included is a grammatical sketch of Dagaare contributed by Prof. Adams Bodomo.

ISBN 978-3-96110-306-5

9 783961 103065