Basic Nouns

1. Ji

   Water

   Usage

   A single word is enough when you ask for water

   Grammar Note

   The same spelling is also the verb "drink" and "rain"; tone separates them but is not written, so context decides

2. Dumuni

   Food

   Usage

   Refers to food and meals in general

   Grammar Note

   "dumuni kɛ" means to have a meal; the noun "dumuni" means eating and food

3. Wari

   Money

   Usage

   Means money; it also means metal such as silver

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary also gives "price" for "wari"; "wari bɔ" means to pay

4. Ɲɛgɛn

   Toilet

   Usage

   Means toilet and washing place; use it when asking in public

   Grammar Note

   A different word spelled the same way means drawing or to draw. The letter ɲ is U+0272

5. Nuncɛlan

   Handkerchief / tissue

   Usage

   Means a cloth or paper for the nose; the dictionary gloss is handkerchief

   Grammar Note

   It contains "nun" (nose) and has the synonym "nunfiyɛlan". A word only for paper tissue was not found in the dictionaries

6. Fura

   Medicine

   Usage

   For asking for medicine at a pharmacy or clinic

   Grammar Note

   The same spelling also means leaf. Factory-made medicine is also called "dɔgɔtɔrɔfura"

7. Doni

   Luggage

   Usage

   Means a load or luggage to carry

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses it as load, burden and luggage; hand luggage is also called "bolofɛn"

8. Kile

   Key

   Usage

   Means a key for a room or a vehicle

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary lists the synonyms "konnɛgɛ" and "dayɛlɛlan"

9. Biye

   Ticket

   Usage

   Means a transport ticket; also a banknote

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses it as ticket and banknote; banknotes are named with an amount, e.g. "kɛmɛbiye" (500-franc note). Spell it with a final plain e: the look-alike "biyɛ" (with ɛ) is a crude word for female genitals, so do not mix them up

10. Pasipɔri

    Passport

    Usage

    A loan from French passeport

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary also lists "taamasɛbɛn" (travel document). The letter ɔ is U+0254

11. Tilefɔni

    Phone

    Usage

    A loan word for a telephone

    Grammar Note

    A variant is "telefɔni". Borrowed from French téléphone

12. Sariziyɛri

    Charger

    Usage

    Means a charger for a phone or device

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French chargeur, attested with an example in the dictionary

13. Mɔbiligarɛ

    Bus station

    Usage

    The place where road vehicles for long distances depart

    Grammar Note

    A compound of "mɔbili" (vehicle) and "garɛ" (station); the dictionary gloss is gare routière

14. Dɔgɔtɔrɔso

    Hospital

    Usage

    Means hospital or health centre

    Grammar Note

    A compound of "dɔgɔtɔrɔ" (doctor) and "so" (house)

15. Polisiso

    Police station

    Usage

    Means police station or post

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gloss is poste de police; "so" means house

16. Bitiki

    Shop

    Usage

    Means a small shop

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French boutique; the form "butiki" also occurs

17. Bon

    Room

    Usage

    Means a room in a house

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary gives hut, house, building and room for "bon"; an unrelated word of the same spelling is a disease name

18. Sira

    Road

    Usage

    Means road, street or path

    Grammar Note

    A different word "sira" means tobacco; tone separates them but is not written

19. Somɔgɔ

    Family member

    Usage

    Means a person of one's household; used when asking after the family in greetings

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary has "sómɔgɔ dón ?" (and the family?). The plural is "somɔgɔw"

20. Tɔgɔ

    Name

    Usage

    Means the name of a person or thing

    Grammar Note

    Another word of the same spelling means hip; tone separates them but is not written

21. Lotɛli

    Hotel

    Usage

    Means a place to stay

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary spells it "lòtɛli", "lòtoli" and more, so the spelling varies. A native synonym is "dunanjiginso" (house where guests alight)

22. Kun

    Head

    Usage

    Body part; useful for saying your head hurts

    Grammar Note

    As a postposition "kun" means on; it is a different word from the noun

23. Ɲɛ

    Eye

    Usage

    Body part; for describing eye problems

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling also means front and time (occasion)

24. Ɲin

    Tooth

    Usage

    Body part; for describing toothache

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "ɲinw". The letter ɲ is U+0272

25. Kan

    Neck / Throat

    Usage

    Covers both the neck and the throat

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling also means voice and language, as in "angilɛkan" (English)

26. Kɔnɔ

    Stomach / Belly

    Usage

    For stomach trouble; the dictionary has "N kɔnɔ bɛ n dimi" (my stomach hurts)

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling also means inside, wait and bird; tone and context separate them

27. Kɔ

    Back

    Usage

    Body part; for describing back pain

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling also means behind and after

28. Sen

    Leg / Foot

    Usage

    Means foot and leg

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling also means bridge

29. Bolo

    Hand / Arm

    Usage

    Covers both hand and arm

    Grammar Note

    "bɛ n bolo" also means I have it (it is at my hand)

30. Disi

    Chest

    Usage

    Body part; for describing chest pain

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary has "à dísi b'á dími" (his chest hurts)

31. Tulo

    Ear

    Usage

    Body part; for describing ear problems

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "tulow"

32. Bolonkɔni

    Finger

    Usage

    Means a finger of the hand

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary also lists the variants "bolokɔnɔnin" and "nkɔni"

33. Wolo

    Skin

    Usage

    Means skin and animal hide

    Grammar Note

    The same spelling is also the verb to be born

34. Nun

    Nose

    Usage

    Body part; for describing nose problems

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists "nubara" as a synonym

Browse all TravelPhrases languages