Dagbani phrasebook

a, e, i, o, u, ɔ, ɛ

Hello.

. ( )

Hello. (informal)

. ( )

How are you?

Ka di be wula? ( ka wula)

Fine, thank you.

M mali alaafei, m paɣiya. ( alaafei, m paɣiya)

What is your name?

A yuli? ( ?)

My name is ______ .

N yuli booni _____ . ( N yuli _____ .)

Nice to meet you.

Di niŋ ma suhupiɛli pam ni n ni nyaa ŋɔ. (Di niŋ ma suhupiɛli pam ni n ni nyaa maa )

Please.

Dimi suɣulo. ( )

Thank you.

M puhiya ka paɣi. ( N paɣiya)

You're welcome.

Naawuni deemi suhugu. (Abaa )

Yes.

iin. (mm )

No.

aayi. ( ai)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

Gaafara. ( )

Excuse me. (begging pardon)

Gaafara, n tum taali. ( )

I'm sorry.

N tumi taali. (Gaafara)

Goodbye

Naawuni ni sɔŋ. (bai bai )

Goodbye (informal)

Bai bai. ( )

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

N ku tooi yɛli Dagbanli [viɛnyɛla]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English?

N ni tooi yɛli silimiinsilii? ( A toɣasiri silimiinsilii?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

So be kpe ka yari silimiinsilii? ( ?)

Help!

Sɔŋmi ya ma ! ( !)

Look out!

Lihi ma! ( !)

Good morning.

Dasiba. ( )

Good evening.

Antire. ( )

Good night.

Aninwula. ( )

Good night (to sleep) Naawuni ni ti biɛɣu

. ( )

I don't understand.

N bi gbaai. ( )

Where is the toilet?

Ya polo ka baanjira be? ( ?)

Leave me alone.

Zaŋ ma bahi. ( Zɔm ka chama.)

Don't touch me!

Di shihi ma! ( !)

I'll call the police.

N yɛn bol'la prinsi. ( .)

Police!

Polinga! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

Zani ma! Tayiɣa! ( ! !)

I need your help.

M bori la a sɔŋsim. ( .)

It's an emergency.

Nimmohi m bala. ( .)

I'm lost.

N tumla n soli. ( M barigi mi.)

I lost my bag.

N labi la m baagi. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

N labi la m poochibila. ( .)

I'm sick.

M bɛri mi. ( .)

I've been injured.

N nyɛla daŋa. ( .)

I need a doctor.

N bori la dɔɣite. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

n ni tooi zaŋ a phone ŋɔ n niŋ m bini ŋɔ? ( ?)

1

Ndam ( )

2

Ayi ( )

3

Ata ( )

4

Anahi ( )

5

Anu ( )

6

Ayobu ( )

7

Apɔin ( )

8

Anii ( )

9

Awɔi ( )

10

Pia ( )

11

piniyini ( )

12

pinaayi ( )

13

pinaata ( )

14

pinaanahi ( )

15

pinaanu ( )

16

pinaayobu ( )

17

pinaapɔin ( )

18

pishiayika ( )

19

pisiyinika ( )

20

pishi ( )

21

pishi ni yini ( )

22

pishi ni ayi ( )

23

pishi ni ata ( )

30

pihita ( )

40

pihinahi ( )

50

pihinu ( )

60

pihiyobu ( )

70

pisopɔin ( )

80

pihinii ( )

90

pihiwɔi ( )

100

kɔbiga ( )

200

kɔbishiyi ( )

300

kɔbisita ( )

1,000

tuhili ( )

2,000

tusaayi ( )

1,000,000

tuhi tuhaayi (miliyɔŋ)

1,000,000,000

tuhi tuhaata ( )

1,000,000,000,000

tuhi tuhi anahi ( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

pirigili( )

less

bɛla( )

more

pam( )

now

punpɔŋɔ ( )

later

di yi too bɛla ( )

before

pɔi( )

morning

asiba ( )

afternoon

wuntaŋni ( )

evening

zaawuni ( )

night

yuŋ ( )

one o'clock AM

yuŋ tisuɣu kurigi yini ( )

two o'clock AM

yuŋ tisuɣu kurigi ayi ( )

noon

wuntaŋ zuɣusaa ( )

one o'clock PM

wuntaŋni kurigi yini ( )

two o'clock PM

wuntaŋni kurigi ayi ( )

midnight

yuŋ tisuɣu ( )

_____ minute(s)

minti _____ (the number should be pronounced with its number word...for example, intead 2, you will say or write 'ayi' etc )

_____ hour(s)

hawa _____ ( )

_____ day(s)

( )

_____ week(s)

bakɔi _____ ( )

1 month

goli

2 month

chiraayi

_____ month(s)

( )

_____ year(s)

( )

today

zuŋɔ (zunzuŋɔ )

yesterday

Sɔhila (Sɔhala)

tomorrow

biɛɣuni( )

this week

bakɔi ŋɔ(dakulo ŋɔ )

last week

bakɔi din gari la(dakulo din gari la )

next week

bakɔi din kani na(dakulo din kani na )

Sunday

Alahari( )

Monday

Atani( )

Tuesday

Atalaata( )

Wednesday

Alaaba( )

Thursday

Alaamish( )

Friday

Alizumah( )

Saturday

Asibiri( )

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

black

sabinli ( )

white

piɛlli ( )

grey/gray

tampilim ( )

red

ʒɛɛ ( )

blue

nuɣiso ( )

yellow

dozim ( )

green

vagahili ( )

orange

saliŋkom ( )

purple

( )

brown

taŋkpaɣu ( )

How much is a ticket to _____?

Ala n nyɛ tiɣiti zaŋ chaŋ _____? ( )

One ticket to _____, please.

Tiɣiti zaɣa yini zaŋ chaŋ _____, dimisuɣulo. ( )

Where does this train/bus go?

Ya polo ka loori ŋɔ chana? ( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

Ya polo ka loori ŋɔ chana? ( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

loori ŋɔ ni zan' _____ ( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

( )

south

( )

east

( )

west

( )

uphill

( )

downhill

( )

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

petiro shɛl( )

petrol

petiro( )

diesel

diesel( )

I haven't done anything wrong.

N bi tum taali shɛli.( )

It was a misunderstanding.

Nangbankpeen n di nyɛli.( )

Where are you taking me?

Ya ka a mali ma n chana?( )

Am I under arrest?

A gbaai ma mi maa?( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

N nyɛla Amarika/Australia/Britin/Canada bilichina. ( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

M bori mi ni n di Amarika/Australia/Britin/Canada embassy kpamba alizama. ( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

M bori looya ni n di o fiila.( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

Ni tooi yo n samli puŋpɔŋɔ?( )