Question Words

1. Ko honɗun?

   What?

   Usage

   Works on its own; point at the thing as you say it

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary honɗun = pro. "quoi?; qu'est-ce qui?" (often preceded by the copula ko). Pular normally focuses the question word with ko.

2. Ko honto?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a place; put a thing's name in front to form a sentence

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary honto = pro. "où?" (preceded by ko). Example: "Ko honto ɗum waɗata?" (where will it take place?).

3. Honnde saa'i?

   When?

   Usage

   For departure times and opening hours

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary lists the compound "honnde saa'i?" (quand?) under honnde and "saa'i hommbo?" (quand?) under saa'i. "honnde tuma?" is a further variant.

4. Ko hommbo?

   Who?

   Usage

   To ask who is in charge or whose something is

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary hommbo = pro. "qui?". Example: "Ko hommbo ari?" (who came?).

5. Ko fii honɗun?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason; it can sound blunt, so smile

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary fii honɗum (variant fii honɗun) = adv. "pourquoi" (preceded by ko). Example: "Neene ko fii honɗum ɗaynantaa men?" (Mother, why are you deceiving us?).

6. Ko honno?

   How?

   Usage

   For how to get somewhere or how to use something

   Grammar Note

   Bah dictionary lists the compound "ko honno" (comment) under honno. Example: "Ko honno wi'ete-ɗaa?" (what are you called?).

7. Ko yimɓe njelo?

   How many people?

   Usage

   Asks for a headcount. njelo is for people only; for things the word is jelu

   Grammar Note

   Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under njelo: "Ko yimɓe njelo?" (How many people are there?). njelo agrees with the human class O.

8. Ko jelu ɗun jarata?

   How much does it cost?

   Usage

   The core shopping question; ask them to show the figure on a calculator

   Grammar Note

   Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under jarugol 1 vt: "Ko jelu ɗun jarata?" (Combien cela coûte-t-il?). Guinea's currency is the Guinean franc (GNF); prices are said in thousands.

9. Ko honɗun ɗun ɗoo?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Point at an unfamiliar item in a market or eatery

   Grammar Note

   Taken from the Bah dictionary example under firugol, "Ko honɗun ɗun ɗoo firi e pular?" (what does this mean in Pular?), without the verb. Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

10. Ko honto hurgo ngon woni?

    Where is the toilet?

    Usage

    One of the most-used travel questions; memorise it whole

    Grammar Note

    Same pattern as the Bah/guide frame "Ko honto deftere nden woni?" (where is the book?). Bah dictionary hurgo = "toilette; wc; douche" (class NGO). The article ngon is inferred from the same class in the Bah example "hoɗo mo'on ngon". Composed from dictionary-verified words following regular grammar (not yet checked by a native speaker).

11. Ko saa'i hommbo fewndii?

    What time is it?

    Usage

    Asks the time. The answer is often given in French numerals, so ask to see a clock face

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under saa'i: "Ko saa'i hommbo fewndii?" (Il fait quelle heure?). The fewndagol entry gives "Ko waqutu hommbo fewndii?" as well.

12. Ko honno wi'ete-ɗaa?

    What's your name?

    Usage

    A good opener. With an elder use the plural form (composed): Ko honno wi'ete-ɗon?

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under honno: "Ko honno wi'ete-ɗaa?" (Comment t'appelles-tu?). -ɗaa is the 2sg ending in focus sentences (Bah writes it after a hyphen).

13. Ko honɗun faala-ɗaa?

    What do you want?

    Usage

    Used by shop staff and guides. You answer with "Miɗo faalaa …"

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under honɗun: "Ko honɗun faala-ɗaa?" (Que veux-tu?).

14. Ko honto feew-ɗaa?

    Where are you going?

    Usage

    Often asked by drivers and passers-by; answer with your destination to start a conversation

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under feewugol 2: "Ko honto feew-ɗaa?" (Où vas-tu?).

15. Onon ko honto jeya-ɗon?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    Asks a stranger's origin in the respectful plural; a staple of introductions while travelling

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under jeyegol: "Onon ko honto jeya-ɗon?" (Vous d'où venez-vous?). -ɗon is the 2pl focus ending.

16. Ko duuɓi jelu jogi-ɗaa?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks age; it can be impolite to ask an adult stranger, so wait until you know each other

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under duuɓi: "Ko duuɓi jelu jogi-ɗaa?" (Quel âge as-tu?). Literally "how many years do you have?".

17. A faamii honno?

    Do you understand?

    Usage

    Checks that the other person followed your explanation

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under honno: "A faamii honno?" (Tu comprends n'est-ce pas?). In colloquial speech (lang) honno also works as a tag "right?".

18. Ko honɗun fewndii?

    What's the news? / What's happening?

    Usage

    A casual way to ask a friend what is new

    Grammar Note

    Taken verbatim from the Bah dictionary example under fewndagol: "Ko honɗun fewndii?" (Quelles sont les nouvelles?).

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