Difference between revisions of "Fulfulde phrasebook"

Revision as of 20:20, 27 October 2011

Fulfulde (Adamawa) is a major language in Northern Cameroon. Fulfulde is the language of the Fulbe people (also known as Peul or Fulani), who are found throughout West Africa. The Adamawa dialect is widely spoken in the Adamawa Province, North Province and Extreme North Province of Cameroon.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Hello. 

Salaamma Alaikum (This is an Arabic phrase, used when entering houses).

Hello. (informal) 

Sannu, Sannuko.

How are you? 

Jam na?,

How is your health?

Jam bandu na?

Fine, thank you. 

Jam ko dume.

Fine for the moment. 

Jam ni towne

What is your name? 

Noy inde ma?

My name is ______ . 

Inde am ______ .

Please. 

Useni.

Thank you. 

Useko.

You're welcome. 

Koi dum (it's easy

Yes. 

Ohoo.

No. 

Kai.

See you later 

Sey yeeso.

See you tomorrow

Sey jango.

I can't speak name of language [well]. 

Mi nonata Fulfulde.

Do you speak English? 

A don wolwa Anglais na?

Look out! 

Hakilo! (Careful!)

Did you sleep well? (good morning)

A waali jam?

Good night (to sleep) 

Jam wallah.

I don't understand. 

Mi famay.

Where is the toilet? 

Toy bao saare?

I want water. 

Mi yiddi Ndiyam.

White person. 

Nassara

Problems

Leave me alone. 

Achu (fairly rude...)

Thief! 

Guujo!

I'm sick. 

Bandu am don nawa. (my body hurts.)

I need a doctor. 

Mi yiddi dofta.

Numbers

1 

Go'o (if used for a single object, use "gotel")

2 

Didi

3 

Tati

4 

Nye

5 

Joywe

6 

Joywego

7 

Joywe didi

8 

Joywe tati

9 

Joywe nye

10 

Sappo

11 

Sappo e go'o

12 

Sappo e didi

13 

Sappo e tati

14 

Sappo e nye

15 

Sappo e jowye

16 

Sappo e jowyego

17 

Sappo e jowye didi

18 

Sappo e jowye tati

19 

Sappo e jowye nye

20 

Nogas

21 

Nogas e go'o

22 

Nogas e didi

23 

Nogas e nye

30 

Ceppan tati

40 

Ceppan nye

50 

Ceppan jowye

60 

Ceppan jowyego

70 

Ceppan jowye didi

80 

Ceppan jowye tati

90 

Ceppan jowye nye

100 

Temeri

200 

Temeri didi

300 

Temeri tati

half 

Raita

less 

Looti

Time

now 

Jonta

morning 

Fajira

evening 

Kikide

Clock time

one o'clock 

Jamndi go'o

two o'clock 

Jamndi didi

noon 

jura

Days

today 

Handi

yesterday 

Hanki

tomorrow 

Jango

Colors

black 

Balajum

white 

Danajum

gray 

Purum purum

yellow 

Ndiyam Goro

green 

Haako Haako

Taxi

I'm going to _____.

Mi dilli ________ .

How much does it cost? 

Dala noy?

Let's go. 

On dillan.

Money

Money up to 250 Francs CFA is counted by five.

25 Francs CFA

Dala jowye

50 Francs CFA

Dala sappo

75 Francs CFA

Dala sappo e jowye

100 Francs CFA

Dala Nogas

1000 Francs CFA

Booro

2000 Francs CFA

Booro didi

3000 Francs CFA

Booro tati

3000 Francs CFA; Boori tati be raita

Eating

I'd like to eat. 

Mi yiddi nyamugo

What do you have to eat? 

A be dume jey nyamugo?

I'd like to look at the menu 

Mi yiddi laarugo carte.

I'd like to look at the kitchen 

Mi yoddi laarugo kissin.

I don't eat meat, fish or chicken. 

Mi nyamata kussel, liddi e gertegol.

I don't eat beef. 

Mi nyamata kussel.

I don't want a lot of oil. 

Mi yidda n

I want _____. 

Mi yiddi ______

chicken 

Gertogol

beef 

Kussel

fish 

Liddi

eggs, omelette 

Geroode

bread 

Barret

rice 

Maroori

beans 

Nyebbe

cous-cous 

Nyiri

sauce 

Haako

sweet potato 

Dankali

peanuts 

Biriji

roasted peanuts 

Mandawa

beignets 

Makala

milk: Kossam

yogurt 

Kindrimou

Butter 

Lebbam

dates

Debbinoje

guava 

Goyave

mango

Mongoro

hot sauce, hot peppers 

Chita

tea, coffee 

Sihye

juice, soda 

Jus

water 

Ndiyam

water 

water (...)

beer, wine, alcohol 

mbal

millet beer 

bili bili

I'm full. 

Mi haari

I'm finished. 

Mi timini.

good tasting 

Welli

I want the check 

Mi yiddi facteur.

Shopping

How much is this? 

Noi ah sorata ?

That's too expensive. 

Kai, naawi.

Would you take _____? 

A hoosi _____?

What is the real price? 

Noy gonga man?

What is the last price? 

Noy gaskiya man?

Not possible 

Watataako

I don't accept that 

Albarka

I won't accept that 

Mi jabbata

expensive 

Naawi

cheap 

cheap Naawye

I don't have the money.  

Mi walla dala

I don't want it. 

Mi yidda

OK, I'll take it. 

To, mi hoosi.

I want a bag. 

Mi yiddi leyda

I need... 

Mi yiddi

...medicine.

lekki

...cold medicine. 

...lekki damba

...a pen. 

...biro

...English-language books. 

...deftere Anglais.