ti

tî (canonical masculine)
tîn (possessed-form)


gato

gā̀tô (canonical masculine)
gā̀tôn (possessed-form)


nama

ha-noun

nāmā̀ m (plural nāmū or nāmōmī, possessed form nāmàn)

nāmā̀ (canonical masculine)
nāmū (plural)
nāmōmī (plural)
nāmàn (possessed-form)

An old Chadic borrowing (also attested as Gwandara nama, Ngas nam) from Benue-Congo, cognate to Tyap nam, Lela nəmə, Proto-Bantu *nɲàmà.


minti

mintī̀ f (plural mintōcī, possessed form mintìn)

mintī̀ (canonical feminine)
mintōcī (plural)
mintìn (possessed-form)


minti

mintī̀ (canonical feminine)
mintìn (possessed-form)


banda

bàndā (canonical feminine)
bàndar̃ (possessed-form)


koko

kōko (canonical masculine)
kōkon (possessed-form)


Ibrahim

[ʔɪ̀b.ráː.hɪ̀ŋ]

Borrowed from Arabic إِبْرَاهِيم (ʔibrāhīm).

bor

Arabic إِبْرَاهِيم (ʔibrāhīm)


koma

ha-noun

kōmā m (plural kōmā̀yē, possessed form kōman)

kōmā (canonical masculine)
kōmā̀yē (plural)
kōman (possessed-form)


fari

farī m (plural farfarū, possessed form farin)

farī (canonical masculine)
farfarū (plural)
farin (possessed-form)


tela

tēlà m (plural tēlōlī, possessed form tēlàn)

tēlà (canonical masculine)
tēlōlī (plural)
tēlàn (possessed-form)


Musa

a male given name, Musa, from Arabic, equivalent to English Moses


buta

būtā̀ f (plural būtōcī, possessed form būtàr̃)

būtā̀ (canonical feminine)
būtōcī (plural)
būtàr̃ (possessed-form)


fura

furā (canonical feminine)
furar̃ (possessed-form)

Balls of cooked millet in cultured milk.

Gruel made by mixing the aforementioned balls with sour milk or, less often, with water and tamarind.


kori

kōr̃ī̀ (canonical masculine)
kōr̃ìn (possessed-form)


nas

nâs (canonical feminine masculine)
nâs-nâs (plural)


saja

sājā̀ (canonical masculine)
sājàn (possessed-form)


canko

cànkō (canonical masculine)
cànkon (possessed-form)

[t͡ʃàŋ.kʷóː]


zi

zî (canonical masculine)
zîn (possessed-form)


sista

sistā̀ f (plural sistōcī, possessed form sistàr̃)

sistā̀ (canonical feminine)
sistōcī (plural)
sistàr̃ (possessed-form)

From English sister; compare Nigerian Pidgin sista.


kati

kātī̀ m (plural kātunā̀, possessed form kātìn)

kātī̀ (canonical masculine)
kātunā̀ (plural)
kātìn (possessed-form)


alabo

àlàbō (canonical masculine)
àlàbon (possessed-form)

[ʔà.lə̀.bóː]


zafaran

[zàː.ɸə̀.râŋ]

Borrowed from Arabic زَعْفَرَان (zaʕfarān).


suya

sūyā̀ (canonical feminine)
sūyàr̃ (possessed-form)


curi

cūrī̀ (canonical masculine)
cūrìn (possessed-form)


tuwo

tuwō (canonical masculine)
tuwon (possessed-form)

→ Akan: tuo

→ Yoruba: túwó

→ English: tuwo

swallow or porridge, a category solid meals made from rice, corn or millet flour taken with a range of soups, akin to ugali or nshima


taru

tārū m (plural tārunā̀, possessed form tārun)

tārū (canonical masculine)
tārunā̀ (plural)
tārun (possessed-form)


sanata

sanatā̀ m (plural sanatōcī, possessed form sanatàn)

sanatā̀ (canonical masculine)
sanatōcī (plural)
sanatàn (possessed-form)


romo

rōmō (canonical masculine)
rōmon (possessed-form)
رُومُو (alternative)


mesin

mēsìn (canonical masculine)
mēsinōnī (plural)


wuski

wuskī m (plural wusā̀kē, possessed form wuskin)

wuskī (canonical masculine)
wusā̀kē (plural)
wuskin (possessed-form)


holo

hōlṑ (canonical masculine)
hōlòn (possessed-form)


sarki

sarkī m (feminine saraunìyā, plural sarākunā̀ or sàràkai, possessed form sarkin)

sarkī (canonical masculine)
saraunìyā (feminine)
sarākunā̀ (plural)
sàràkai (plural)
sarkin (possessed-form)


edita

edità m (plural editōcī, possessed form editàn)

edità (canonical masculine)
editōcī (plural)
editàn (possessed-form)

[ʔɛ́.dɪ́.tə̀]


kofi

kōfī̀ m (plural kōfunā̀, possessed form kōfìn)

kōfī̀ (canonical masculine)
kōfunā̀ (plural)
kōfìn (possessed-form)


kofi

kṑfī (canonical masculine)
kṑfin (possessed-form)
kafe (alternative)


kanar

kanàr̃ (canonical masculine)
kanàr̃-kanàr̃ (plural)


waziri

wàzīr̃ì, wàzīr̃ī̀

wàzīr̃ì (canonical)
wàzīr̃ī̀ (canonical masculine)
wàzī̀r̃ai (plural)


sukari

sukàr̃ī (canonical masculine)
sukàr̃in (possessed-form)


diwani

dīwānī̀ m (plural dī̀wā̀nai, possessed form dīwānìn)

dīwānī̀ (canonical masculine)
dī̀wā̀nai (plural)
dīwānìn (possessed-form)


lemo

lḕmō m (plural lēmunā̀, possessed form lḕmon)

lḕmō (canonical masculine)
lēmunā̀ (plural)
lḕmon (possessed-form)

→ Nupe: lèmú

Apparently from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn), although Blench notes that the fruit itself may well have been introduced from the south.


soye

sṑyē (canonical masculine)
sṑyen (possessed-form)


giya

giyā̀ (canonical feminine)
giyàr̃ (possessed-form)


ƙamus

ƙāmùs m (plural ƙāmusōshī, possessed form ƙāmùsun)

ƙāmùs (canonical masculine)
ƙāmusōshī (plural)
ƙāmùsun (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Arabic قَامُوس (qāmūs), from Ancient Greek ὠκεανός (ōkeanós).


lalo

lālṑ (canonical masculine)
lālòn (possessed-form)


cuku

cukū (canonical masculine)
cukun (possessed-form)
cukwī (alternative)

[t͡ʃɪ́.kʷúː]

Unclear; if indeed shortened from earlier cukumā̀r̃ā̀, then plausibly a borrowing from Tuareg, e.g. Tawellemmet šikomaren, plural form of tăkommart (“cheese”).


minista

ministà m (plural ministōcī, possessed form ministàn)

ministà (canonical masculine)
ministōcī (plural)
ministàn (possessed-form)


manjo

manjò m (plural manjōjī, possessed form manjòn)

manjò (canonical masculine)
manjōjī (plural)
manjòn (possessed-form)
manjà (alternative)


miya

miyā̀ (canonical feminine)
miyàr̃ (possessed-form)

a kind of sauce or stew made with various meats and vegetables, eaten alongside tuwo


Adamu

[ʔàː.də̀.mʊ́]


murzani

mùr̃zānī̀ (canonical masculine)
mùr̃zānìn (possessed-form)
murjani (alternative)


mujalla

mùjallā̀ f (plural mujallōlī, possessed form mùjallàr̃)

mùjallā̀ (canonical feminine)
mujallōlī (plural)
mùjallàr̃ (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Arabic مَجَلَّة (majalla).


ƙuli-ƙuli

ƙulī-ƙulī (canonical masculine)
ƙulī-ƙulin (possessed-form)

[kʷʼʊ́.líː.kʷʼʊ́.líː]

deep-fried peanut balls or sticks (a traditional West African snack)


fasfo

fàsfô m (plural fasfunā̀, possessed form fàsfôn)

fàsfô (canonical masculine)
fasfunā̀ (plural)
fàsfôn (possessed-form)


bajau

(card games) A cloth which card players play on.


baiti

baitī̀ m (plural baitōcī, possessed form baitìn)

baitī̀ (canonical masculine)
baitōcī (plural)
baitìn (possessed-form)


mashi

māshī̀ m (plural māsū, possessed form māshìn)

māshī̀ (canonical masculine)
māsū (plural)
māshìn (possessed-form)


akara

àkàrà (canonical masculine)
àkàràn (possessed-form)

[ʔà.kə̀.ɽə̀]


likita

likità m or f (plural likitōcī, possessed form likitàn)

likità (canonical feminine masculine)
likitōcī (plural)
likitàn (possessed-form)

An old borrowing from English doctor. Doublet of dokta.


ɗigo

ɗigṑ m (plural ɗìge-ɗìge, possessed form ɗigòn)

ɗigṑ (canonical masculine)
ɗìge-ɗìge (plural)
ɗigòn (possessed-form)


ɓurma

ɓurmā f (plural ɓurā̀mē, possessed form ɓurmar̃)

ɓurmā (canonical feminine)
ɓurā̀mē (plural)
ɓurmar̃ (possessed-form)


alawa

àlāwā̀ (canonical feminine)
àlāwàr̃ (possessed-form)

/ʔà.láː.wàː/

[ʔà.láː.wàː]


kandu

kandū m (plural kandā̀yē, possessed form kandun)

kandū (canonical masculine)
kandā̀yē (plural)
kandun (possessed-form)

A certain white stone used in necklaces.


biya

biyà (canonical feminine)
biyàr̃ (possessed-form)


ƙosai

ƙōsai (canonical masculine)
ƙōsan (possessed-form)


Yusufu

[júː.sɪ́.ɸʊ̀]

From Arabic يُوسُف (yūsuf), from Biblical Hebrew יוֹסֵף (yôsēp̄).


mamaye

mā̀màyē (canonical masculine)
mā̀màyen (possessed-form)


ƙwai

ƙwai m (plural ƙwayā̀yē, possessed form ƙwan)

Cognate with Duwai gwai (“egg”), Ngizim àgwai (“egg”), Beja kwahi (“egg”).


Haruna

From Arabic هَارُون (hārūn), from Biblical Hebrew אַהֲרֹן (ʾahărôn).


daftari

daftar̃ī m (plural dàftàr̃ai, possessed form daftar̃in)

daftar̃ī (canonical masculine)
dàftàr̃ai (plural)
daftar̃in (possessed-form)


kilishi

kilìshī (canonical masculine)
kilìshin (possessed-form)

[cɪ́.lɪ̀.ʃíː]


Alƙur'ani

head

Àlƙùr̃'ānī̀ m

ha-proper noun

Àlƙùr̃'ānī̀ m

/ʔàl.kʼùr.ʔáː.nìː/

[ʔàl.kʷʼʊ̀r.ʔáː.nìː]

Borrowed from Arabic الْقُرْآن (al-qurʔān).


barkono

bàr̃kṑnō (canonical masculine)
bàr̃kṑnon (possessed-form)


alƙalami

ha-noun

àlƙalàmī m (plural alƙalumā̀, possessed form àlƙalàmin)

àlƙalàmī (canonical masculine)
alƙalumā̀ (plural)
àlƙalàmin (possessed-form)

[ʔàl.kʼə́.lə̀.míː]


bindiga

bindigā̀ f (plural bindigōgī, possessed form bindigàr̃)

bindigā̀ (canonical feminine)
bindigōgī (plural)
bindigàr̃ (possessed-form)

→ Nupe: bin̄diga

[bɪ́n.dɪ́.ɡàː]

Borrowed from Arabic بُنْدُقِيَّة (bunduqiyya), perhaps via Kanuri bəndəgə.

bor

بُنْدُقِيَّة


kwaɗo

ha-noun

kwā̀ɗō m (plural kwā̀ɗī, possessed form kwā̀ɗon)

kwā̀ɗō (canonical masculine)
kwā̀ɗī (plural)
kwā̀ɗon (possessed-form)

An areal word, found in both Niger-Congo (e.g. Ga kɔ̃́dɔ̃́ (“frog”)) and Nilo-Saharan (e.g. Temein kwúɗóʔ (“frog, toad”)). The ultimate origin may be ideophonic.

embroidery design in the shape of a half moon


kwaɗo

kwaɗò (canonical masculine)
kwaɗòn (possessed-form)

a kind of sauce, usually made with peanuts


daddawa

dàddawā (canonical feminine)
dàddawar̃ (possessed-form)

Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa#Translingual

sumbala, a condiment made from the seeds of Parkia biglobosa (African locust bean)


funkaso

fùnkā̀sō (canonical masculine)
fùnkā̀son (possessed-form)

[ɸʊ̀ŋ.kàː.sóː]

a dish composed of wheat flour that is soaked and then fried


kubbi

kubbì (canonical masculine)
kubbìn (possessed-form)


lazza

lazzā̀ (canonical feminine)
lazzàr̃ (possessed-form)


makaɗi

makàɗī (canonical masculine)
makàɗin (possessed-form)

[mə́.kə̀.ɗíː]


makaɗi

makaɗī (canonical masculine)
makaɗin (possessed-form)

[mə́.kə́.ɗíː]


kibiya

kibiyā̀ f (plural kibiyōyī or kìbau, possessed form kibiyàr̃)

kibiyā̀ (canonical feminine)
kibiyōyī (plural)
kìbau (plural)
kibiyàr̃ (possessed-form)

Probably borrowed from a Saharan language. Cognate with Mangas kip.


albasa

àlbasā̀ f (plural àlbasā̀, possessed form àlbasàr̃)

àlbasā̀ (canonical feminine)
àlbasā̀ (plural)
àlbasàr̃ (possessed-form)

→ Yoruba: àlùbọ́sà


shayi

shā̀yī (canonical masculine)
shā̀yin (possessed-form)


Isiyaku

[ʔɪ́.sɪ́.jáː.kʷʊ̀]

bor

Arabic إِسْحَاق (ʔisḥāq)


Isma'ilu

/ʔìs.máː.ʔíː.lù/

[ʔɪ̀s.máː.ʔíː.lɪ̀]

Borrowed from Arabic إِسْمَاعِيل (ʔismāʕīl).

Arabic إِسْمَاعِيل (ʔismāʕīl)


Jibirilu

[d͡ʒɪ̀.bɪ̀.ríː.lɪ̀]


Sulemanu

Borrowed from Arabic سُلَيْمَان (sulaymān).


Yaƙubu

Yā̀ƙubù (canonical masculine)
Yakubu (alternative)

[jàː.kʷʼʊ́.bʊ̀]


Rahila

/ɽà.híː.láː/

[ɽə̀.híː.láː]

Arabic رَاحِيل (rāḥīl)


lauya

ha-noun

lauyā̀ m or f (plural lauyōyī, possessed form lauyàn)

lauyā̀ (canonical feminine masculine)
lauyōyī (plural)
lauyàn (possessed-form)


jandarma

jandar̃mà (canonical masculine)
jandar̃màn (possessed-form)


igwa

ìgwā f (plural igōgī, possessed form ìgwar̃)

ìgwā (canonical feminine)
igōgī (plural)
ìgwar̃ (possessed-form)


ungozoma

ùngōzṑmà (canonical feminine)
ùngōzṑmàr̃ (possessed-form)

/ʔùn.ɡóː.zòː.mà/

[ʔʊ̀ŋ.ɡʷóː.zòː.mə̀]


fensir

fensìr̃ (canonical masculine)
fensir̃ōr̃ī (plural)


abjadi

abjàdī (canonical masculine)
abjàdin (possessed-form)

[ʔáb.d͡ʒə̀.díː]

alphabet, abjad (particularly of Arabic script)


abacada

ā̀bā̀cā̀dâ m (possessed form ā̀bā̀cā̀dân)

ā̀bā̀cā̀dâ (canonical masculine)
ā̀bā̀cā̀dân (possessed-form)

/ʔàː.bàː.t͡ʃàː.dâː/

[ʔàː.bàː.t͡ʃàː.dâː]

From the names of the first four letters as pronounced aloud.


wanzami

wànzāmī̀ m (plural wànzā̀mai, possessed form wànzāmìn)

wànzāmī̀ (canonical masculine)
wànzā̀mai (plural)
wànzāmìn (possessed-form)
wànzâm (alternative)


basasa

bāsāsā̀ (canonical feminine)
bāsāsàr̃ (possessed-form)

Originally the name given to the civil war fought in the 1890s in Kano, likely from Arabic بَسُوس (basūs), in reference to the Basus War.

a civil war; (more generally) any destructive war


aboka

àbṑkâ (canonical masculine)
àbṑkân (possessed-form)

/ʔà.bòː.kâː/


makiyayi

makìyā̀yī m (feminine makiyāyìyā, plural makìyā̀yā, possessed form makìyā̀yin)

makìyā̀yī (canonical masculine)
makiyāyìyā (feminine)
makìyā̀yā (plural)
makìyā̀yin (possessed-form)


magini

magī̀nī m (feminine magīnìyā, plural magī̀nā, possessed form magī̀nin)

magī̀nī (canonical masculine)
magīnìyā (feminine)
magī̀nā (plural)
magī̀nin (possessed-form)

/má.ɡìː.níː/

[mə́.ɟìː.níː]


birgediya

bìr̃gēdiyā̀ m (possessed form bìr̃gēdiyàn)

bìr̃gēdiyā̀ (canonical masculine)
bìr̃gēdiyàn (possessed-form)

[bɪ̀r.ɟéː.dɪ́.jàː]


samanja

sā̀manjà (canonical masculine)
sā̀manjàn (possessed-form)


gahawa

gahawā̀ (canonical feminine)
gahawàr̃ (possessed-form)

[ɡə́.há.wàː]

From a Bedouin Arabic variety, like Chadian Arabic قهوة (gahwa).


fanke

fànkē (canonical masculine)
fànken (possessed-form)


dambu

dambū (canonical masculine)
dambun (possessed-form)

A food made from flour (from various grains) or granulated meat, usually prepared with onion.


gurasa

gùr̃āsā̀ (canonical feminine)
gùr̃āsàr̃ (possessed-form)

/ɡù.ráː.sàː/

[ɡʷʊ̀.ráː.sàː]


ruwan inabi

[ɽʊ́.wáŋ ʔɪ́.nə̀.bíː]


akawu

àkā̀wu m (plural àkā̀wu-àkā̀wu or akāwunā̀, possessed form àkā̀wun)

àkā̀wu (canonical masculine)
àkā̀wu-àkā̀wu (plural)
akāwunā̀ (plural)
àkā̀wun (possessed-form)

[ʔà.kàː.wʊ́]


agushi

àgushī (canonical masculine)
àgushin (possessed-form)

[ʔà.ɡʷʊ́.ʃíː]


baƙi

baƙī m (plural babbaƙū, possessed form baƙin)

baƙī (canonical masculine)
babbaƙū (plural)
baƙin (possessed-form)

a full letter (consonant) in Arabic script


albarushi

àlbàr̃ūshī̀ m (possessed form àlbàr̃ūshìn)

àlbàr̃ūshī̀ (canonical masculine)
àlbàr̃ūshìn (possessed-form)

/ʔàl.bà.rúː.ʃìː/

[ʔàl.bə̀.rúː.ʃìː]


ba'askare

bà'askar̃ḕ m (plural askar̃āwā, possessed form bà'askar̃èn)

bà'askar̃ḕ (canonical masculine)
askar̃āwā (plural)
bà'askar̃èn (possessed-form)

A native formation, from Arabic عَسْكَر (ʕaskar, “army”).


harafi

har̃àfī m (plural har̃ufā̀ or hàr̃àfai, possessed form har̃àfin)

har̃àfī (canonical masculine)
har̃ufā̀ (plural)
hàr̃àfai (plural)
har̃àfin (possessed-form)

→ Nupe: harànfi

→ Yoruba: háràfí

[há.rə̀.ɸíː]


harsashi

hàr̃sāshī̀ m (possessed form hàr̃sāshìn)

hàr̃sāshī̀ (canonical masculine)
hàr̃sāshìn (possessed-form)


kanumfari

kànumfàr̃ī m (possessed form kànumfàr̃in)

kànumfàr̃ī (canonical masculine)
kànumfàr̃in (possessed-form)

[kə̀.nɪ́m.ɸə̀.ríː]

Ultimately from Arabic قَرَنْفُل (qaranful), via another language on the trans-Saharan trade routes.


katibi

kātìbī m (feminine kātìbā, plural kā̀tìbai, possessed form kātìbin)

kātìbī (canonical masculine)
kātìbā (feminine)
kā̀tìbai (plural)
kātìbin (possessed-form)


ƙasida

ƙàsīdā̀ f (plural ƙàsī̀dū, possessed form ƙàsīdàr̃)

ƙàsīdā̀ (canonical feminine)
ƙàsī̀dū (plural)
ƙàsīdàr̃ (possessed-form)

[kʼə̀.síː.dàː]


takarda

takàr̃dā f (plural tàkàr̃dū, possessed form takàr̃dar̃)

takàr̃dā (canonical feminine)
tàkàr̃dū (plural)
takàr̃dar̃ (possessed-form)

→ Nupe: tákàda

→ Zarma: takàrdà

→ Yoruba: tákàdá

→ Koyraboro Senni: takadda

→ Lela: k'tákà̱llá (“book”)

desc

→ Hun: taku̱rda (“book, paper”), tadarka (“book, paper”), takarada (“book, paper”)

→ Fungwa: tákàdá (“book”)

→ Ron: kaada (“book”)

From a Berber language; compare Tamahaq tăkarḍe, Ghadames takərḍa. From Arabic قِرْطَاس (qirṭās), from Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא / ܩܪܛܝܣܐ (qarṭīsā), from Ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs).

der

Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא


takobi

ha-noun

takṑbī m or f (plural takubbā̀, possessed form takṑbin)

takṑbī (canonical feminine masculine)
takubbā̀ (plural)
takṑbin (possessed-form)

[tə́.kʷòː.bíː]

From Tuareg, e.g. Tamasheq tăkoba; a Songhay intermediate is possible, however.


auduga

audùgā (canonical feminine)
audùgar̃ (possessed-form)

/ʔáu.dù.ɡáː/

[ʔáu.dɪ̀.ɡáː]


ƙafa

ƙafā̀ f (plural ƙafā̀fū or ƙafāfuwā̀, possessed form ƙafàr̃)

ƙafā̀ (canonical feminine)
ƙafā̀fū (plural)
ƙafāfuwā̀ (plural)
ƙafàr̃ (possessed-form)