Ndiyan
Water
Usage
Ask for drinking water; saying "ndiyan yareteeɗan" (drinkable water) makes it explicit
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ndiyan (plural di'e, variant ndiyam) = "eau; pluie; liquide". Example "Addanan ndiyan mi yara.". The compound ndiyan yareteeɗan = "eau potable". Fuuta Jaloo's main headword ends in -n.
Ñaametee
Food
Usage
The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ñaametee (plural ñaameteeji) = "nourriture; vivres; aliment; repas". Synonyms: ñamri, nguure.
Kaalisi
Money
Usage
The base word for paying and changing money. Guinea's currency is the Guinean franc (GNF)
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary kaalisi (variant kaalise) = 1 "argent (métal)" 2 "argent (moyen de paiement)". Example "Mi maraa kaalisi." (I have no money).
Hurgo
Toilet
Usage
Combine it with the "where" question (Ko honto hurgo ngon woni?)
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary hurgo = "toilette; wc; douche". Compound yahugol hurgo = "aller aux toilettes". The Peace Corps guide has "Miɗo faalaa yahude ka hurgo." (I need to go to the bathroom).
Lekki
Medicine
Usage
At a pharmacy or clinic; add gestures for your symptom. lekki also means "tree"
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary lekki 2 = "médicament" (plural lekkeele). lekki 1 is "arbre" (plural leɗɗe), a separate sense.
Bagaasi
Luggage
Usage
For loading bags onto transport or reporting lost luggage
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary bagaasi = Fr. "bagage; affaires, objets personnels". The guide's taxi-park vocabulary also lists bagaasi. Class O, article on.
Saabiwal
Key
Usage
At hotel reception when collecting or returning it
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary saabiwal (plural saabiije) = "clé".
Biyee
Ticket
Usage
Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary biyee = Fr. "billet; ticket" (class O).
Paaspoor
Passport
Usage
Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary paaspoor = Fr. "passeport"; the French word spelled in Pular letters.
Talifon
Phone
Usage
When you need to borrow one or ask for a number
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary talifon (plural talifonji, variant telefon) = "téléphone". Example "Mi noddete e talifon." (I will phone you). Synonym: noddirkun.
Gaaru
Station
Usage
A landmark word when asking for directions
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary gaaru = Fr. "gare". The guide calls the bush-taxi park gaar watiir.
Labutaane
Hospital
Usage
The first word you need if you fall ill
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary labutaane (variant labutaani) = Fr. "hôpital". Other dialects say safrorde or lopitaan; those are not Fuuta Jaloo words.
Farmasii
Pharmacy
Usage
When buying medicine; add gestures for the symptom
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary farmasii = Fr. "pharmacie" (class O).
Poliisi
Police
Usage
For theft or accidents; combine it with "where?"
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary poliisi = Fr. "police". Example "Poliisi on waɗi ankeeti." (the police made an inquiry). A gendarme is sanndarmaajo.
Bitiki
Shop
Usage
When looking for somewhere to buy something; it means a small shop
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary bitiki = Fr. "boutique; magasin". Example "Moodi Kaari no udditi bitiki ka marse Madiina." (so-and-so has opened a shop in Madina market). Synonyms: magasan, yeeyirdu.
Saambur
Room
Usage
Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary saambur = Fr. "chambre" (synonym waalordu). suudu (house, hut) can also mean a room but basically means "house".
Laawol
Road
Usage
The base word when asking the way
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary laawol (plural laabi, laawi) = "chemin; route; voie; méthode". Example "Yo Alla welnu laawol ngol!" (Bon voyage!). Synonym: ɗatal.
Ɓeynguure
Family
Usage
A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ɓeynguure = "famille (toutes les personnes vivant sous le même toit et sous l'autorité d'un même chef de famille)". Related: aali (clan), musidal (kin). Greetings customarily ask after the family.
Innde
Name
Usage
For introductions and for giving your name at a counter
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary innde (plural inɗe) = "nom; prénom". Example "Binta ko innde debbo." (Binta is a woman's name).
Hoore
Head
Usage
Show it while pointing at where it hurts (Hoore no muusammi., my head hurts)
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary hoore (plural ko'e) = "tête; sommet d'une montagne". Example "Hoore no muusammi." (my head hurts).
Yitere
Eye
Usage
For pointing out an eye problem
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary yitere (plural gite, variant yiitere) = "œil". The initial consonant mutates to g in the plural.
Ñiire
Tooth
Usage
For finding a dentist or pointing at an aching tooth
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ñiire (plural ñiiƴe) = "dent". The plural uses the hooked ƴ.
Daande
Neck / Throat
Usage
For a sore throat (Daande nden hino muusa lan.). It also means "voice"
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary daande (plural daaɗe) = "cou; voix; gorge". Example "Daande nden hino muusa lan." (my throat hurts).
Reedu
Stomach / Belly
Usage
For stomach ache (Reedu no muusammi.); hold your stomach as you say it
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary reedu (plural deedi) = "ventre; estomac". Example "Reedu no muusammi." (my stomach hurts). reedu also has a pregnancy sense, so point at your stomach when you use it.
Ɓaawo
Back
Usage
For back pain (Ɓaawo an ngon no muusa.). It also means "behind" and "after", so point at your back
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ɓaawo (plural ɓaawe) 1 = "dos" 2 "derrière" 3 "après". Example "Ɓaawo an ngon no muusa." (my back hurts). caggal also means "dos".
Koyngal
Leg / Foot
Usage
For pointing out a leg or foot problem
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary koyngal = "jambe; pied" (leg and foot are not distinguished).
Junngo
Hand / Arm
Usage
For pointing out an injury to the hand or arm
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary junngo (plural juuɗe) = "main; bras" (hand and arm are not distinguished).
Ɓernde
Chest
Usage
For chest pain. It also means "heart" and "courage"
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ɓernde (plural ɓerɗe) = "cœur; poitrine; abdomen; courage".
Nowru
Ear
Usage
For pointing out an ear problem
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary nowru (plural noppi) = "oreille".
Kinal
Nose
Usage
For pointing out a nose problem
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary kinal (plural kine) = "nez".
Honndu
Finger
Usage
For a finger injury; the same word covers toes
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary honndu (plural kolli) = "doigt; orteil".
Gurii
Skin
Usage
For skin complaints such as rashes or sunburn
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary gurii = anat. "peau; cuir" (class NGII). ɓanndu (body) can also mean skin. foron is the peel of a fruit.
Jipporde
Lodging (hotel)
Usage
When looking for a place to stay. A broad word that also covers a stop or a camp
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary jipporde (plural jipporɗe) = "logis; station; arrêt; campement; hôtel". A spelling of French hôtel in Pular letters could not be verified.
Ayeropoor
Airport
Usage
When asking how to get to the airport
Grammar Note
Bah dictionary ayeropoor = Fr. "aéroport" (class O, synonym jipporde laaɗe-wiirooje).
More Fula (Pular) phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
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