Markets & Souvenirs

1. Nin sɔngɔ ye joli ye?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Ask the price of an item; prices are sometimes quoted in units of 5 francs, so confirm the amount

   Grammar Note

   "X sɔngɔ ye joli ye?" asks what the price of X is. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

2. N bɛ se ka tɛrɛmɛ wa?

   Can I bargain?

   Usage

   Ask whether bargaining is possible at a market

   Grammar Note

   "tɛrɛmɛ" is to haggle in the dictionary (and the noun is bargaining). Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

3. I tɛ dɔ bɔ a la wa?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Ask for a lower price

   Grammar Note

   This is the second half of the dictionary example "À sɔ̀ngɔ ka gɛ̀lɛn. I tɛ dɔ bɔ à la ?"; "dɔ bɔ … la" means take some off.

4. N b'a san ka kɛ sama ye

   I'm buying this as a souvenir

   Usage

   Say that you are buying it as a gift to take home

   Grammar Note

   An ka taa glosses "sama" as a gift brought back after a trip; the same spelling also means elephant. "ka kɛ X ye" means to be X. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

5. Eresi di n ma

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Ask for a receipt after paying

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "eresi" as receipt; "X di n ma" means give X to me. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

6. N bɛ filɛ dɔrɔn

   I'm just looking

   Usage

   Tell a seller that you only want to look

   Grammar Note

   "dɔrɔn" limits the word before it. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

7. A sɔngɔ ka gɛlɛn

   This is too expensive

   Usage

   Say that the price is too high

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary example is "À sɔ̀ngɔ ka gɛ̀lɛn" (its price is high).

8. Jiriden

   Fruit

   Usage

   Name an item at the market

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "jíriden" as fruit; the Jula form "yiriden" is not used.

9. Jaba

   Onion

   Usage

   Name an item at the market

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "jàba" as onion and shallot.

10. Layi

    Garlic

    Usage

    Name an item at the market

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "láyi" as garlic; "túmɛ" is a synonym.

11. Dagannan

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    Name an item at the market

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "dágannan" as very hot pepper; small chillies are "fòronto".

12. Nɔnɔkumu

    Soured milk

    Usage

    Name an item at the market

    Grammar Note

    An ka taa glosses "nɔnɔkumu" as curdled or sour milk.

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