Time & Dates

1. Lɛrɛ joli?

   What time is it?

   Usage

   Ask the time

   Grammar Note

   "lɛrɛ" is borrowed from French heure and means hour; "lɛrɛ saba" is three o'clock. "joli" is how many. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

2. Bi ye don jumɛn ye?

   What day of the week is it?

   Usage

   Ask which day of the week it is

   Grammar Note

   "bi" is today, "don" is day and "jumɛn" is which; answer with a weekday name such as "Juma". Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar.

3. Bi, sini, kunun

   Today, tomorrow, yesterday

   Usage

   Say or learn the three basic day words together

   Grammar Note

   The dictionaries list "bi" (today), "síni" (tomorrow) and "kúnun" (yesterday).

4. Dɔgɔkun tɛmɛnen

   Last week

   Usage

   Refer to the previous week

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary has "dɔ́gɔkun tɛ̀mɛnen" (last week); "tɛmɛn" is to pass.

5. Sɔgɔma, wula, su

   Morning, afternoon / evening, night

   Usage

   Learn the parts of the day together

   Grammar Note

   The dictionaries give "sɔ̀gɔmà" as morning, "wúla" as afternoon to dusk and "sú" as night; "wula" also means the bush.

6. Ntɛnɛn

   Monday

   Usage

   Name a day of the week

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "ntɛ̀nɛn" as Monday, with the variant "ntɛ̀nɛdon".

7. Tarata

   Tuesday

   Usage

   Name a day of the week

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "tàrata" as Tuesday.

8. Araba

   Wednesday

   Usage

   Name a day of the week

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "àraba" as Wednesday; it comes from Arabic.

9. Alamisa

   Thursday

   Usage

   Name a day of the week

   Grammar Note

   The dictionary glosses "àlamisa" as Thursday (variant "lamisa").

10. Juma

    Friday

    Usage

    Name a day of the week

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "júma" as Friday, the day of congregational prayer.

11. Sibiri

    Saturday

    Usage

    Name a day of the week

    Grammar Note

    An ka taa glosses "sibiri" as Saturday; Bamadaba gives the same spelling for a hand-span.

12. Kari

    Sunday

    Usage

    Name a day of the week

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "kári" as Sunday; "dimansi" is a synonym.

13. Bi

    Today

    Usage

    Name a day or a point in time

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "bì" as today; the same spelling covers other words such as goal.

14. Sini

    Tomorrow

    Usage

    Name a day or a point in time

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "síni" as tomorrow (it also means the future).

15. Kunun

    Yesterday

    Usage

    Name a day or a point in time

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary glosses "kúnun" as yesterday.

16. Sisan

    Now

    Usage

    Name a day or a point in time

    Grammar Note

    The dictionary lists "sísàn" as now.

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