Food & Drinks

1. Addanan ndiyan mi yara.

   Bring me water to drink

   Usage

   A request to a friend or family member (singular imperative). With elders or strangers switch to a plural/respectful form. Taken verbatim from a dictionary example

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary example under ndiyan (variant ndiyam): "Addanan ndiyan mi yara." (Apporte moi de l'eau à boire). Structure: verb + object + "I drink" clause.

2. Okkoran weeru ndiyan.

   Give me a glass of water

   Usage

   For asking for water at an eatery or lodging. It is a singular imperative, so use a respectful form with elders

   Grammar Note

   Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under weeru: "Okkoran weeru ndiyan." (Donne moi un verre d'eau). weeru = Fr. "verre".

3. Miɗo weelaa.

   I'm hungry

   Usage

   The basic way to say you are hungry. It states a condition; it is not a set reply to an offer of food

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary: weelegol = "avoir faim", miɗo = "je" (progressive). The 3rd-person example "himo weelaa" (under ŋuurugol) shows the stative of -egol verbs ends in -aa. The Peace Corps guide OCR loses the hook and reads "Mido".

4. Mi ñaamataa teewu.

   I don't eat meat

   Usage

   States a dietary restriction; no long explanation is needed

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary ñaamugol = "manger", teewu = "viande". The negative imperfective -ataa occurs in the example "Mi yahataa gaa e ɓiɗɗo an on." (I won't leave without my child). Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

5. Mi waawataa ñaamude ñamakuure.

   I can't eat chili pepper

   Usage

   Say it when ordering if you cannot take spicy food

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary ñamakuure (Mand.) = "piment" (example "Ñamakuuje haaɗuɗe.", very hot peppers). waawataa occurs in "Ɗum waawataa wonde.". Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

6. Miɗo faalaa yoɓude.

   I would like to pay

   Usage

   At the end of a meal, to ask to pay

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary yoɓugol = "payer; retribuer". Follows the pattern of the Bah example "Miɗo faalaa soodude defte pular.". Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

7. Ko honto baaru on woni?

   Where is the restaurant?

   Usage

   When looking for somewhere to eat; baaru also covers small eateries

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary baaru (Fr.) = "restaurant; gargotte" (example "Ñaamugol e baaru.", to eat at a restaurant); class O takes the article on. Word order follows "Ko honto deftere nden woni?". Synonym: neeminorde. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

8. Ñiiri e maafe e teewu no weli.

   Rice with meat sauce is delicious

   Usage

   Describes the classic Guinean meal (rice, sauce and meat); also works as a compliment at the table

   Grammar Note

   Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under ñiiri: "Ñiiri e maafe e teewu no weli." (Le repas de riz avec de la sauce à la viande est délicieux). maafe (Mand.) = sauce.

9. Ñaamir doy.

   Eat slowly

   Usage

   A casual, caring word to a companion at the table; a singular imperative

   Grammar Note

   Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under doy: "Ñaamir doy." (Mange doucement).

10. Ñiiri ndin bonii.

    This meal has gone bad

    Usage

    When food has spoiled. ñiiri is the cooked-grain staple (today mostly rice)

    Grammar Note

    First half of the Bah dictionary example under bonugol: "Ñiiri ndin bonii, ñaamotaako." (the meal has gone bad, it can no longer be eaten). ndin is the class article of ñiiri.

11. Maaro

    Rice

    Usage

    A basic word for ordering. The staple meal itself is called ñiiri

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary maaro = bot. "riz". Example "Maaro lellirii lan." (my quantity of rice is not enough).

12. Bireedi

    Bread

    Usage

    For breakfast or a light meal

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary bireedi = "pain; du pain" (example "Huntere bireedi.", a piece of bread). Synonym: mburu.

13. Teewu

    Meat

    Usage

    To order or decline meat. Specify the kind: teewu baalii (mutton), teewu nagge (beef)

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary teewu (plural tebbeeli) = "viande; chair". Compounds teewu baalii (mutton), teewu nagge (beef). A word for pork exists but is deliberately not used in this travel set.

14. Linngii

    Fish

    Usage

    For ordering fish

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary linngii (plural liƴƴi) = zool. "poisson". The plural uses the hooked ƴ.

15. Dute

    Tea

    Usage

    For ordering tea; ataaya is the Senegalese-style strong sweet tea

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary dute (Fr.) = "thé". ataaya (Ar.) = "thé sénégalais".

16. Kafe

    Coffee

    Usage

    For ordering coffee

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary kafe = n. "café".

17. Kosan

    Soured milk

    Usage

    Cow's milk that has been left to curdle. Fresh milk is keddam or ɓiraaɗan

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary kosan (plural kocce, variant kosam) = "lait de vache (surtout caillé, non frais)". Example "Miɗo yiɗi kosam kono mi waawataa ɓirugol." (I like milk but cannot milk). It also appears in the guide's "Ko kosan mi faalaa yarugol.".

18. Lanɗan

    Salt

    Usage

    For saying a dish needs salt or is too salty

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary lanɗan (variants lamɗam, lanɗam) = "sel". Compound ndiyan lanɗan = "eau salée".

19. Ñamakuure

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    Use it when asking for a dish without chili

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary ñamakuure (Mand.) = bot. "piment". Example "Ñamakuuje haaɗuɗe." (very hot peppers).

20. Sukkar

    Sugar

    Usage

    For asking how much sugar goes into tea or coffee

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary sukkar = n. "sucre".

21. Tiga

    Peanut

    Usage

    Used in sauces and snacks; tiga sa'aaɗe are roasted peanuts

    Grammar Note

    Bah dictionary tiga = bot. "arachide". Compounds tiga sa'aaɗe (roasted peanuts), tiga kecce (fresh peanuts).

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