de

A ma i wele. A ye ne de wele

He didn't call you. It was me that called

emphatic particle (placed directly after the word it modifies)


sun

From Arabic صَوْم (ṣawm, “fasting; abstaining from food, drink, and sex”), from Classical Syriac ܨܘܡܐ (ṣawmāʾ).


ci

Diheteropogon grandiflorus
Diheteropogon grandiflorus

thatch, especially of the species Diheteropogon grandiflorus


ci

ò cí bɛ́ í kàn

cí kɛ́

cí tɛ́ nìn ná


ci

sɛ́bɛn cí mɔ̀gɔ mà


ci

fíyɛn bɛ́ cì

fàli cì

à y'á kùn cì

dɔ́gɔ cì

màrifa cì

bála cì

tùgu cì


ye

N ye nin kɛ Madu ye

N bɛ n ko ni safunɛ ye


ye

Ne ye moto san

(verbal auxiliary for transitive verbs) marks an action which is accomplished


ye

Ne m'a ye fɔlɔ


base

a bush taxi, a common type of public transit


ni

Ni taara sugu la, i bɛ ne ba ye.

If you go to the market, you will see my mother


sini, i bɛ na taa sugu jɔ


don

(transitive) to put (something into something)


da

Hibiscus cannabinus
Hibiscus cannabinus#Translingual

plant that is source of kenaf fiber (Hibiscus cannabinus)

Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus sabdariffa#Translingual


bana

Ceiba pentandra
Ceiba pentandra#Translingual


ma

A ma na fɔlɔ

Sirajɛ ma taa dɔgɔ la

(verbal auxiliary) marks an action which is not accomplished


Bambara

Alternative form of Bámánánkán (“Bambara”)


ka

an ka jamana


ka

A ka ɲi

Kidali ka jan

particle linking subject and predicative adjective


bɔgɔlanfini

bɔgɔ (mud) + lan (verbal suffix of instrumentation) + fini (cloth)


mago

N mago bɛ X la

ní à màgo jɔ̀ra fɛ́n mín ná...

if he has a pressing need for something...

ka kɛɲɛ ni u magow ye

An mago bɛ i ka dɛmɛni na


wa

final interrogative particle on a yes/no question


jala

Khaya senegalensis
Khaya senegalensis#Translingual


mara

(transitive) to guard, keep, take care of


fana

A ye bamanankan kalan. A ye fulakan fana kalan
He studied Bambara. He also studied Fulfuldé.


tùn

Kunun ne tùn man kɛnɛ.

An tun ma ɲɔgɔn faamu


cogo

ò cógo lá

à yé cógo sɔ̀rɔ

à cógo mán ɲì

à bɛ́ cógo dí ?


-ba

dugu + -ba → duguba


-ya

teri (“friend”) + -ya → teriya (“friendship”)

jan (“long”) + -ya → janya (“length”)

forms abstract nouns from adjectives or nouns


-ma

particle indicating a link between two people


-ma

particle creating adjectives from common nouns


i bɛ angilekan men wa

do you speak English
do you speak English


hakili

a hakili ka di

a hakili bɔ́ra

a hakili ma yɛlɛma


diya

O bɛ diya n ye kosɛbɛ !


diya

Ala ka sugu diya !


fanga

Fanga b'a la.

Amadu Tumani Ture sigira fanga la tuguni.
Amadu Tumani Ture is in power again.


tufin

Acacia ataxacantha (now Senegalia ataxacantha, flame thorn)

Acacia pennata (now Senegalia pennata subsp. pennata)


balansan

Faidherbia albida
Faidherbia albida#Translingual


nɛrɛ

→ French: néré

Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa#Translingual


Segu

A city in south-central Mali, lying 235 kilometres (146 mi) northeast of Bamako on the River Niger


jenbe

(music) drum made with hollow wood and animal skin, djembe


tɛ

nbuuru tɛ.


tɛ

a tɛ baara kɛ bi.


adamaden

baba, adamaden bɛɛ ka kan


jankaro

Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan jànkaro.


sán

sán bɛ́ nà


bagan

From Arabic بَغْل (baḡl). Possibly cognate with Eastern Maninkakan bíyan.


bɔ

to remove, take off, take away, subtract


nkɔli

(anatomy) The hind leg of a grasshopper.


ncɔgɔn

[nʃɔ˨ɡɔ̃ꜜɔ̃˨]


bɛ

Madu bɛ misri kɔnɔ.

(Predicate of existence) there is, it is


bɛ

N bɛ baara kɛ.

Forms the present tense, positive of verbs


dɛn

Specifically tsetse fly (Glossina palpalis).


habada

kan'o kɛ abada !

o ye i tɛnɛ ye abada !


jeli

A member of the hereditary caste of griots among the Mandé peoples, whose social roles include transmitting their people's oral traditions and playing traditional music (jeliya).


abarika

baba, abarika !

abarika Ala ye !

abarika !

lower the price! (during a bargain, when the sum seems too high)


abarka

baba, abarka !

abarka Ala ye !

abarka !


hadamaden

baba, hadamaden bɛɛ ka kan


kálo

From Proto-Western Mande *gáròᴺ. Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan káro.


kɛ

I bɛ mùn kɛ?

N bɛ ji kɛ fiɲɛn na

Mun kɛra?

A bɛ kalan ka kɛ karamɔgɔ ye


dafiɲɛ

da + fiɲɛ. Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan dáfɔɲɔ.


denkɛ

From den + kɛ. Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan dénkɛ.


duguba

From dugu (“village”) + -ba (“augmentative suffix”).


nsiranɛgɛ

From nsìra (“yellow copper”) + nɛgɛ (“iron”).


npogotigi

From npògo (“female underwear”) + -tigi (“owner”).


nkɔyɔ

bitter tomato, african eggplant, Solanum aethiopicum


ngɔni

ngoni, a traditional lute played by griots


ntomi

Tamarindus indica
Tamarindus indica#Translingual


wɛrɛ

san wɛrɛ

mùn wɛrɛ

mɔgɔ wɛrɛ


jumɛn

I ye ɲɔ sugu jumɛn dan?


fɔ́

à y'á fɔ́ né yé

bɛ́ bɔ́n fɔ́

à bɛ́ bámanakan fɔ́


kɔra

kora, traditional 21 stringed harp played by griots


kɔɔri

Gossypium hirsutum
Gossypium hirsutum#Translingual


tɛmɛ

ntɛmɛ


tɛmɛ

an oversight, omission, something forgotten


furunafolo

From furu (“marriage”) + nafolo (“riches, wealth”).


nakɔ

garden, plot of land for growing vegetables


nɛgɛdaga

From nɛgɛ (“iron, metal”) + daga (“jar, pot”).


bawɔlɔ

Alopochen aegyptiaca
Alopochen aegyptiaca#Translingual


nɛgɛso

From nɛgɛ (“iron, metal”) + so (“horse”).


baganmara

From bagan (“animal”) + mara (“to keep, guard”).


bakurubasanni

From bakuruba (“group”) + sanni (“purchcasing, shopping”).


bajalan

Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan bájaran.


banakisɛ

head

banakisɛ (tone bà.na.ki.sɛ, plural banakisɛw)

From bana (“sickness”) + -kisɛ (“grain”).


marali

marali waati


kunnafoni

(Transitive) to inform, give information to


kɛnɛ

Ala ko: «Kɛnɛ ka bɔ.» Kɛnɛ bɔra

"And God said, "let light appear". Light appeared"


ɲaami

Ne sugora, o sugo ye ne hakili ɲaami.


yɛrɛ

i yɛrɛ

i yɛrɛ ka kan

Ne ye Sidiki yɛrɛ ɲininka


fɛ

Ne bɛ kuma Salifu fɛ

Diɲɛ dara Ala fɛ.

I bɛ mun fɛ?


karamɔgɔ

From Arabic قَرأَ (“to read”) + mɔgɔ (“person”).


kuluba

From kulu (“hill”) + -ba (“augmentative suffix”).


alijɛnɛ

From Arabic الْجَنَّة (al-janna). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan àrijana.


keninge

Sorghum bicolor
Sorghum bicolor#Translingual

a type of sorghum Sorghum bicolor (syn. Sorghum gambicum)


kɛɲɛ

X kɛɲɛ ni Y ye

Banabaatɔ kɛɲɛna taama na.


gɛlɛn

Angilɛkan ka gɛlɛn n ma


kɔnɔ

a donna so kɔnɔ


dabɔlɔ

Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan dágbala.


dafɛn

From da + fɛn. Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan dánfen.


-tɔ

Jeneba yɛlɛtɔ tun te se ka jaabili kɛ

Ali baarakɛtɔ tɛ baro kɛ.


mɛn

N y'a mɛn ko Segu ka di

Ne tɛ bamanankan mɛn kosɛbɛ


saɲɔ

French: sanio

Cenchrus americanus
Cenchrus americanus#Translingual

Pennisetum glaucum
Pennisetum glaucum#Translingual

Cenchrus americanus (syn. Pennisetum glaucum; pearl millet)


jikankurun

From ji (“water”) + kan (“on”) + kurun (“stool, canoe”).


ɲɔgɔn

ù bɛ́ ɲɔ́gɔn dɛ̀mɛ


ɲɔgɔn

ò ɲɔ̀gɔn tɛ́!

sàn tán ɲɔ̀gɔn

kàlankɛɲɔgɔn

sìɲɔgɔn
rootmate


cibɔ

From cí (“task, job”) + bɔ (“to go out”).


ciden

From ci (“to be sent, commissioned”) + den (“child”).


jɔ̀nya

From jɔ̀n (“slave”) + -ya (“abstract noun”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan jɔ̀nya (“slavery”).


kùntigi

Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan kùntii. From kùn (“head”) + tigi (“leader”).


jàbere

Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan jáabɛrɛ.


háwusakala

From háwusa (“Hausa”) + kala (“stem”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan háwusakala (“sugarcane”).


jùrumu

From Arabic جُرْم (jurm, “crime, sin, wrongdoing”).


táalan

From táa (“to go”) + -lan (“instrumental suffix”).

suffix

that which makes (something) go, that which comes with


táala

From táa (“to go”) + -la (“agent suffix”).

Trípoli táala


táabaa

From táa (“to go”) + -baa (“occasional agent suffix”).

nàbaa yé táabaa yé


tàfo

a type of charm, amulet, talisman, gri-gri


nàsira

From nà (“to come”) + sira (“path”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan násuru.


náamu

Perhaps related to Eastern Maninkakan náwun.


sánfiɲɛ

From sán (“sky”) + fiɲɛ (“wind”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan sánfɔɲɔ.


sìgida

From sìgi (“to sit”) + da (“mouth”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan sìida.


sìgidolo

From sìgi (“to sit down”) + dolo (“star”).


tɔ̀gɔ̀tɔ̀gɔ̀nin

head

tɔ̀gɔ̀tɔ̀gɔ̀nin


kàtilaka

Eupodotis senegalensis
Eupodotis senegalensis#Translingual


lábi

to replace, substitute, relieve, take over for


lábìla

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + bìla (“to put”).

prefix

to let go, give leave, send on paid leave


lábilali

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + bila (“to put”) + -li (“action-noun suffix”).


lábìn

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + bìn (“to fall”).


lábònya

From lá- (“prefix”) + bònya (“to get fat”).


lábɔ

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + bɔ (“to go out”).

to suite, agree, be convenient for, suffice


lácɛ̀ɲɛ

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + cɛ̀ɲɛ (“to be beautiful”).


ládège

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + dège (“to teach”).


ládumuni

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + dumuni (“to nourish”).

(transitive, causative) to feed, give food


fàgali

From fàga (“to kill”) + -li (“action-noun suffix”).


dáyɛlɛlan

From dáyɛlɛ (“to open”) + -lan (“instrumental suffix”).


lájɛ

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + jɛ (“to bleach”).


lásà

From lá- (“causative prefix”) + sà (“to die”).


kɔ̀gɔji

From kɔ̀gɔ (“salt”) + ji (“water”). Cognate with Eastern Maninkakan kɔ̀ɔji.


kɔ̀gɔjida

From kɔ̀gɔji (“sea, ocean”) + da (“mouth”).


sùmangosi

From sùman (“harvest”) + gosi (“beating”).


sòku

a bowed string instrument, similar to a violin


sɔ̀mɔ

Anacardium occidentale
Anacardium occidentale#Translingual


jɛ́

ò yɔ́rɔ jɛ́len

kálo jɛ́ra


wólo

(transitive) to bring to the world (a child)


yànfan

From yàn (“here, this place”) + fan (“side”).


npògo

female underwear, a garment which covers the pudendum muliebre


kósɔ̀n

Nìn kɛ́ Ála kósɔ̀n.

Áw bɛ́ yàn àlê kósɔ̀n.


náani

From Proto-Mande [Term?]. Cognate with Sankaran Maninka naani, Mahou náání, Mandinka náani, Kassonke naani, Marka nɛi, Mende nááni, Soninke náɣátò, Kpelle nááŋ́.


nsáajɛ

Vachellia seyal (gum arabic tree, shittim wood, thirty thorn, whistling tree)


bàanan

Vachellia nilotica
Vachellia nilotica#Translingual


mɔgɔkɔrɔba

suffix

mɔgɔ + kɔ̀rɔ


jeliya

(literally) The state or quality of being a jeli.

The essential traditions, practices and art of the jeliw.


ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬

head

ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬ (Bàmakɔ̌)


ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲

ߓߡߊߣߊ߲ߞߊ߲ (Bámánánkán)


bakɔnɔnin

From ba (“river”) + kɔnɔ (“bird”) + nin (“small”).

compound

Pluvianus aegyptius
Pluvianus aegyptius#Translingual


bubunin

Erythrocebus patas
Erythrocebus patas#Translingual


foɲɛ

Gyps rueppellii
Gyps rueppellii#Translingual