mama

mā̀ma (canonical feminine)
mā̀mar̃ (possessed-form)


mama

mā̀ma (canonical masculine)
mā̀man (possessed-form)


po

pô (canonical masculine)
pôn (possessed-form)


ti

tî (canonical masculine)
tîn (possessed-form)


baba

bābā (canonical masculine)
bāban (possessed-form)


ido

idṑ (canonical masculine)
idòn (possessed-form)

From Proto-Chadic *ydn.
Cognate with Polci yiir, Tal yit, Miship jɪt, Mwaghavul yit, Ngizim dà, Goemai jīt, Diri ádō, Siri ítá, Pa'a átā, Kushi ʔàɗò, Beele iddo, Bole ídō, Kirfi íɾōː, Ngamo ìdò, Karekare ìdo, Gera īdi, Deno ídá, Duwai ī̀dà, Mbuko īɗé, Baka eli, Muyang ērī, Moloko alɛ́, Uldeme ārāy, Lagwan sɨ, Kirya-Konzel ncí, Podoko de, Zulgo-Gemzek aré, Daba hə̀rā, Dangaléat òdò.


nono

nōnṑ (canonical masculine)
nōnòn (possessed-form)

An areal word, perhaps from a Chadic root *nVnV- ("mother"), but also perhaps from Niger-Congo or Cushitic. Compare Sidamo unuuna (“breast”), Afar angu (“breast”), Saho angu (“breast”), Jiiddu eenge (“breast”), and Iraqw isaangw (“nipple, breast”).


farce

ha-noun

farcḕ m (plural farā̀tā, possessed form farcèn)

farcḕ (canonical masculine)
farā̀tā (plural)
farcèn (possessed-form)


bindi

bindī̀ (canonical masculine)
bindìn (possessed-form)


baki

bā̀kī m (plural bākunā̀, possessed form bā̀kin)

bā̀kī (canonical masculine)
bākunā̀ (plural)
bā̀kin (possessed-form)

Cognate with Mangas pyik, Miship pu̯o, Beele ɓoɡo, Bole bō, Kirfi bù, Galambu bù, Gera bōːwì, Deno būɡí, Sha haagi, Gerka pák.


gagai

gagài (canonical masculine)
gagàn (possessed-form)


taska

taskā̀ f (plural taskōkī, possessed form taskàr̃)

taskā̀ (canonical feminine)
taskōkī (plural)
taskàr̃ (possessed-form)

From a Berber language; compare Northern Saharan Berber tazeqqa. A Tuareg origin is geographically more plausible, but no phonologically matching term is attested, and it would be unusual for a settled people to borrow a term related to settled life from nomads.


kuni

kùnî (canonical masculine)
kùnîn (possessed-form)


naira

nair̃ā̀ f (plural nair̃ōr̃ī, possessed form nair̃àr̃)

nair̃ā̀ (canonical feminine)
nair̃ōr̃ī (plural)
nair̃àr̃ (possessed-form)


kunne

kûnnē m (plural kunnuwā̀, possessed form kûnnen)

kûnnē (canonical masculine)
kunnuwā̀ (plural)
kûnnen (possessed-form)

From Proto-Chadic *km/*ɬm. Cognate with Beele kumo, Bole kūmī, Kirfi kúmā, Diri húmà, Siri kūūtá, Kariya kúméi, Goemai kwām, Polci kəəm, Mangas kɨmsi, Miya kúmáy, Saya kə̀:m, Muyang ɬìmì, Uldeme sləmāy, Bana slə́mə́, Matal sləm, Lagwan slɨmi, Moloko ɬəmáy, Mbuko ɬə́máy, Podoko sləma, Kirya-Konzel tlə́m, Daba zlìmī and Mpade shimu.


buta

būtā̀ f (plural būtōcī, possessed form būtàr̃)

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


taga

tāgā̀ f (plural tāgōgī, possessed form tāgàr̃)

tāgā̀ (canonical feminine)
tāgōgī (plural)
tāgàr̃ (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Kanuri tágà, from Arabic طَاقَة (ṭāqa).


bura

būrā (canonical feminine)
būrar̃ (possessed-form)


sito

sìtô m (plural sìtô-sìtô, possessed form sìtôn)

sìtô (canonical masculine)
sìtô-sìtô (plural)
sìtôn (possessed-form)


kunci

kuncī̀ m (plural kumā̀tū, possessed form kuncìn)

kuncī̀ (canonical masculine)
kumā̀tū (plural)
kuncìn (possessed-form)

[kʷʊ́n.t͡ʃìː]


laba

lābā̀ f (plural lābōbī, possessed form lābàr̃)

lābā̀ (canonical feminine)
lābōbī (plural)
lābàr̃ (possessed-form)


huhu

hūhū̀ m (plural hūhunā̀, possessed form hūhùn)

hūhū̀ (canonical masculine)
hūhunā̀ (plural)
hūhùn (possessed-form)


eka

ēkā̀ f (plural ēkōkī, possessed form ēkàr̃)

ēkā̀ (canonical feminine)
ēkōkī (plural)
ēkàr̃ (possessed-form)


kunya

kunyā f (plural kunyōyī, possessed form kunyar̃)

kunyā (canonical feminine)
kunyōyī (plural)
kunyar̃ (possessed-form)


cibi

cībī̀ (canonical masculine)
cībìn (possessed-form)

(pathology) swollen protruding navel; umbilical hernia


haɓa

haɓā̀ f (plural haɓoɓi, possessed form haɓàr̃)

haɓā̀ (canonical feminine)
haɓoɓi (plural)
haɓàr̃ (possessed-form)


fam

fâm (canonical masculine)
fàmā̀fàmai (plural)
fàmfàmai (plural)

pound (currency used in the UK, obsolete in Nigeria)


lardi

lar̃dī̀ m (plural lar̃dunā̀, possessed form lar̃dìn)

lar̃dī̀ (canonical masculine)
lar̃dunā̀ (plural)
lar̃dìn (possessed-form)

From Kanuri [Term?], from Arabic اَلْأَرْض (al-ʔarḍ, “the earth”).


gona

gōnā f (plural gṑnàkī, possessed form gōnar̃)

gōnā (canonical feminine)
gṑnàkī (plural)
gōnar̃ (possessed-form)


tilo

tī̀lō (canonical masculine)
tī̀lon (possessed-form)


tana

tānā (canonical feminine)
tānar̃ (possessed-form)

(dialectal, chiefly anatomy) membrane covering a body part


jaka

jàkā f (plural jakunkunā̀, possessed form jàkar̃)

jàkā (canonical feminine)
jakunkunā̀ (plural)
jàkar̃ (possessed-form)

(obsolete in Nigeria) 100 pounds (in the old currency).


laka

lakā (canonical feminine)
lakar̃ (possessed-form)


hanta

hantā̀ f (plural hantōcī or hantunā̀, possessed form hantàr̃)

hantā̀ (canonical feminine)
hantōcī (plural)
hantunā̀ (plural)
hantàr̃ (possessed-form)


wuski

wuskī m (plural wusā̀kē, possessed form wuskin)

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


dinari

dīnār̃ī̀ m (plural dī̀nā̀r̃ai, possessed form dīnār̃ìn)

dīnār̃ī̀ (canonical masculine)
dī̀nā̀r̃ai (plural)
dīnār̃ìn (possessed-form)

From Arabic دِينَار (dīnār). Doublet of zinari.


kofi

kōfī̀ m (plural kōfunā̀, possessed form kōfìn)

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


kofi

kṑfī (canonical masculine)
kṑfin (possessed-form)


dala

dalā̀ f (plural dalōlī, possessed form dalàr̃)

dalā̀ (canonical feminine)
dalōlī (plural)
dalàr̃ (possessed-form)

Any of various currencies known as dollars or thalers.


jinsi

jinsī̀ (canonical masculine)
jinsìn (possessed-form)

[d͡ʒɪ́n.sìː]


jini

jinī (canonical masculine)
jinin (possessed-form)


ciki

cikī̀ m (plural cikkunā̀, possessed form cikìn)

cikī̀ (canonical masculine)
cikkunā̀ (plural)
cikìn (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.


darma

dar̃mā̀ (canonical feminine)
dar̃màr̃ (possessed-form)


coci

cōcì m (plural cōcì-cōcì, possessed form cōcìn)

cōcì (canonical masculine)
cōcì-cōcì (plural)
cōcìn (possessed-form)

→ Yoruba: ṣọọṣi

/t͡ʃóː.t͡ʃì/

[t͡ʃóː.t͡ʃɪ̀]


magani

māgànī m (plural māgungunā̀, possessed form māgànin)

māgànī (canonical masculine)
māgungunā̀ (plural)
māgànin (possessed-form)


gemu

gēmū̀ (canonical masculine)
gēmùn (possessed-form)


bukka

bukkā̀ f (plural bukkōkī, possessed form bukkàr̃)

bukkā̀ (canonical feminine)
bukkōkī (plural)
bukkàr̃ (possessed-form)

→ Zarma: búkkà

→ Yoruba: búkà

→ English: buka

From a Songhay language (e.g. Dendi bùgù), from Mandingo bùgú.


haila

hailā̀ (canonical feminine)
hailàr̃ (possessed-form)


giya

giyā̀ (canonical feminine)
giyàr̃ (possessed-form)


gulbi

gulbī m (plural gulā̀bē, possessed form gulbin)

gulbī (canonical masculine)
gulā̀bē (plural)
gulbin (possessed-form)


husufi

hùsūfī̀ (canonical masculine)
hùsūfìn (possessed-form)

[hʊ̀.súː.ɸìː]


awaza

àwazā̀ f (plural àwàzū, possessed form àwazàr̃)

àwazā̀ (canonical feminine)
àwàzū (plural)
àwazàr̃ (possessed-form)

[ʔà.wə́.zàː]


nahawu

nahawū̀ (canonical masculine)
nahawùn (possessed-form)


warƙa

war̃ƙā̀ f (plural war̃ƙōƙī, possessed form war̃ƙàr̃)

war̃ƙā̀ (canonical feminine)
war̃ƙōƙī (plural)
war̃ƙàr̃ (possessed-form)


nahiya

nāhiyā̀ f (plural nāhiyōyī, possessed form nāhiyàr̃)

nāhiyā̀ (canonical feminine)
nāhiyōyī (plural)
nāhiyàr̃ (possessed-form)


wuya

wùyā (canonical feminine)
wùyar̃ (possessed-form)


lambu

làmbū m (plural lambunā̀, possessed form làmbun)

làmbū (canonical masculine)
lambunā̀ (plural)
làmbun (possessed-form)


kufai

kufai m (plural kufaifai, possessed form kufan)

kufaifai (plural)
kufan (possessed-form)


maiso

maisō m (plural maisā̀yē, possessed form maison)

maisō (canonical masculine)
maisā̀yē (plural)
maison (possessed-form)


tautau

tautàu (canonical masculine)
tautàn (possessed-form)

A skin rash thought to be caused by drinking water in which a spider has died.


ajuza

àjūzā̀ f (plural àjū̀zai, possessed form àjūzàr̃)

àjūzā̀ (canonical feminine)
àjū̀zai (plural)
àjūzàr̃ (possessed-form)

[ʔà.d͡ʒúː.zàː]

(derogatory) a shameless woman, a (female) liar


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)


kogi

kṑgī m (plural kōgunā̀, possessed form kṑgin)

kṑgī (canonical masculine)
kōgunā̀ (plural)
kṑgin (possessed-form)

→ English: Kogi

→ Yoruba: Kogí


anini

ànīnī m (plural ànī̀nai, possessed form ànīnin)

ànīnī (canonical masculine)
ànī̀nai (plural)
ànīnin (possessed-form)

/ʔà.níː.níː/

[ʔà.níː.níː]

Borrowed from Yoruba ọnini (“tenth of a penny”).


harshe

harshè m (plural harsunā̀ or harā̀sā, possessed form harshèn)

harshè (canonical masculine)
harsunā̀ (plural)
harā̀sā (plural)
harshèn (possessed-form)

From Proto-Chadic *ls-, from Proto-Afroasiatic *lis- (“tongue”). Cognate with Egyptian ns, Proto-Semitic *lišān-, and Proto-Berber *iləs. Compare Lagwan nsli, Tal liis, Ron lîs, Gerka lís, Mundat àliʃi, Fyer lés, Tambas les, Sha alə́s, Dangaléat leese, Bole lishìm, Karekare lūsìn, Zulgo-Gemzek àràh, Muyang ārə̄ɗ, Podoko rəɗəɗá, Miya shínákə.


tsoka

tsōkā̀ f (plural tsōkōkī, possessed form tsōkàr̃)

tsōkā̀ (canonical feminine)
tsōkōkī (plural)
tsōkàr̃ (possessed-form)


safara

safar̃ā̀ (canonical feminine)
safar̃àr̃ (possessed-form)

[sə́.ɸə́.ràː]


kwabo

kwabṑ m (plural kwàbbai or kwabbunā̀, possessed form kwabòn)

kwabṑ (canonical masculine)
kwàbbai (plural)
kwabbunā̀ (plural)
kwabòn (possessed-form)


kafaɗa

kā̀faɗā̀ f (plural kā̀fàɗū, possessed form kā̀faɗàr̃)

kā̀faɗā̀ (canonical feminine)
kā̀fàɗū (plural)
kā̀faɗàr̃ (possessed-form)

/kàː.fá.ɗàː/

[kàː.ɸə́.ɗàː]

From Arabic كِتْف (kitf) with metathesis.


azurfa

azùr̃fā (canonical feminine)
azùr̃far̃ (possessed-form)

[ʔá.zɪ̀r.ɸáː]

From Tuareg, e.g. Tamasheq aẓrəf, from Proto-Berber *a-ẓrəf.


zinari

zīnār̃ī̀ (canonical masculine)
zīnār̃ìn (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Kanuri dínàr, from Arabic دِينَار (dīnār, “gold coin”). Doublet of dinari.


gandu

gandū m (plural gandā̀yē, possessed form gandun)

gandū (canonical masculine)
gandā̀yē (plural)
gandun (possessed-form)

large farm, usually worked by a single family


kaltibeta

kaltìbētā̀ f (plural kaltibētōcī, possessed form kaltìbētàr̃)

kaltìbētā̀ (canonical feminine)
kaltibētōcī (plural)
kaltìbētàr̃ (possessed-form)


tauraro

tàurārṑ m (feminine tàurārùwā, plural tàurā̀rī, possessed form tàurāròn)

tàurārṑ (canonical masculine)
tàurārùwā (feminine)
tàurā̀rī (plural)
tàurāròn (possessed-form)

/tàu.ɽáː.ɽòː/

[tàu.ɽáː.ɽòː]

Likely from Proto-Chadic *təra, whence also Mwaghavul zar, Saya câ:r. See Proto-Semitic *ʕaṯtar- and Central Atlas Tamazight ⵉⵜⵔⵉ (itri) for more.


hanci

hancī̀ m (plural hantunā̀, possessed form hancìn)

hancī̀ (canonical masculine)
hantunā̀ (plural)
hancìn (possessed-form)

Cognate with Warji cinna, Duwai əstán, Tal gɨzɨng, Bura kùcə̀r.


ƙumba

ƙùmbā (canonical feminine)
ƙùmbar̃ (possessed-form)

[kʷʼʊ̀m.báː]


wasali

wasàlī m (plural wasulā̀, possessed form wasàlin)

wasàlī (canonical masculine)
wasulā̀ (plural)
wasàlin (possessed-form)

→ Nupe: wósànli


ganye

ganyē m (plural ganyā̀yē, possessed form ganyen)

ganyē (canonical masculine)
ganyā̀yē (plural)
ganyen (possessed-form)


ɗari

ɗārī (canonical masculine)
ɗārin (possessed-form)


gwiwa

gwīwā̀ f (plural gwīwōyī, possessed form gwīwàr̃)

gwīwā̀ (canonical feminine)
gwīwōyī (plural)
gwīwàr̃ (possessed-form)


hakiya

hakiyā̀ (canonical feminine)
hakiyàr̃ (possessed-form)


ƙoda

ƙōdā̀ f (plural ƙōdōjī, possessed form ƙōdàr̃)

ƙōdā̀ (canonical feminine)
ƙōdōjī (plural)
ƙōdàr̃ (possessed-form)

Probably cognate with Mangas kooda, Lagwan xuɗɨsɨ, Saya kwâ:da.


shayi

shā̀yī (canonical masculine)
shā̀yin (possessed-form)


yatsa

yātsā̀ f (plural yātsū, possessed form yātsàr̃)

yātsā̀ (canonical feminine)
yātsū (plural)
yātsàr̃ (possessed-form)


masallaci

masallācī m (plural màsàllā̀tai, possessed form masallācin)

masallācī (canonical masculine)
màsàllā̀tai (plural)
masallācin (possessed-form)

→ Yoruba: mọ́ṣáláṣí, mọ́sálásí

Ultimately from Arabic مَسْجِد (masjid).


ƙashi

ƙàshī m (plural ƙasūsuwā̀ or ƙassā̀, possessed form ƙàshin)

ƙàshī (canonical masculine)
ƙasūsuwā̀ (plural)
ƙassā̀ (plural)
ƙàshin (possessed-form)

From Proto-Chadic *ḳas-, from Proto-Afroasiatic *ḳas-. Cognate with Blin ŋac, Qimant naš, Kariya kāāsū, Dangaléat kaaso, Ron kyâs, Sha gíʃ, Mundat àgəʃ, Duhwa gəʃ, Miya kúsíy. Compare Egyptian qs.


labarin ƙasa

lā̀bār̃ìn ƙasā

lā̀bār̃ìn ƙasā m

[làː.báː.rɪ̀ŋ kʼə́.sáː]


jirgin sama

[d͡ʒɪ́ɽ.ɟɪ́n sə́.mə̀]


abiyo

àbìyô (canonical masculine)
àbìyôn (possessed-form)


ƙirji

ƙìrjī m (plural ƙirā̀zā, possessed form ƙìrjin)

ƙìrjī (canonical masculine)
ƙirā̀zā (plural)
ƙìrjin (possessed-form)

[cʼɪ̀ɽ.d͡ʒíː]


gahawa

gahawā̀ (canonical feminine)
gahawàr̃ (possessed-form)

[ɡə́.há.wàː]

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


ruwan inabi

[ɽʊ́.wáŋ ʔɪ́.nə̀.bíː]


haɓɓoje

haɓɓōjè (canonical masculine)
haɓɓōjèn (possessed-form)

[háɓ.ɓóː.d͡ʒè]


adadi

adàdī m (plural àdàdai, possessed form adàdin)

adàdī (canonical masculine)
àdàdai (plural)
adàdin (possessed-form)

[ʔá.də̀.díː]


aljabara

àljabar̃ā̀ f (possessed form àljabar̃àr̃)

àljabar̃ā̀ (canonical feminine)
àljabar̃àr̃ (possessed-form)

[ʔàl.d͡ʒə́.bə́.ràː]


azzakari

àzzakàr̃ī (canonical masculine)
àzzakàr̃in (possessed-form)


da'ira

dā'ìr̃ā f (plural dā'ir̃ōr̃ī, possessed form dā'ìr̃ar̃)

dā'ìr̃ā (canonical feminine)
dā'ir̃ōr̃ī (plural)
dā'ìr̃ar̃ (possessed-form)

/dáː.ʔì.ráː/

[dáː.ʔɪ̀.ráː]


fi'ili

fi'ìlī m (plural fì'ìlai, possessed form fi'ìlin)

fi'ìlī (canonical masculine)
fì'ìlai (plural)
fi'ìlin (possessed-form)

[ɸɪ́.ʔɪ̀.líː]


jadawali

jadawàlī (canonical masculine)
jadawàlin (possessed-form)

[d͡ʒə́.də́.wə̀.líː]

multiplication table
multiplication table


jam'i

jam'ī̀ (canonical masculine)
jam'ìn (possessed-form)


majami'a

màjāmi'ā̀ f (plural màjā̀mì'ū, possessed form màjāmi'àr̃)

màjāmi'ā̀ (canonical feminine)
màjā̀mì'ū (plural)
màjāmi'àr̃ (possessed-form)

[mə̀.d͡ʒáː.mɪ́.ʔàː]

Borrowed from Arabic مَجَامِع (majāmiʕ), plural of مَجْمَع (majmaʕ).


lamiri

làmīr̃ī̀ (canonical masculine)
làmīr̃ìn (possessed-form)


zaiba

zaibā̀ (canonical feminine)
zaibàr̃ (possessed-form)


annoba

ànnṑbā (canonical feminine)
ànnṑbar̃ (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Arabic اَلنَّوْبَة (an-nawba).


zabarjadi

zabàr̃jadī̀ m (possessed form zabàr̃jadìn)

zabàr̃jadī̀ (canonical masculine)
zabàr̃jadìn (possessed-form)

Borrowed from Arabic زَبَرْجَد (zabarjad).


fangali

fangalī m (plural fangulā̀, possessed form fangalin)

fangalī (canonical masculine)
fangulā̀ (plural)
fangalin (possessed-form)

[ɸáŋ.ɡə́.líː]

Likely from a Songhay language; compare Zarma fangal (“bed in a garden”).


tozali

tōzàlī (canonical masculine)
tōzàlin (possessed-form)


daƙashi

daƙàshī (canonical masculine)
daƙàshin (possessed-form)

/dá.kʼà.ʃíː/

[də́.kʼə̀.ʃíː]

An early loan from Tuareg, e.g. Tawellemmet adăɣăs.


zira'i

zìr̃ā'ī̀ (canonical masculine)
zìr̃ā'ìn (possessed-form)

/zì.ráː.ʔìː/

[zɪ̀.ráː.ʔìː]


ƙafa

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

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


makari

makarī m (plural makàrai, possessed form makarin)

makarī (canonical masculine)
makàrai (plural)
makarin (possessed-form)

[mə́.kə́.ɽíː]


hodar-ibilis

From hōdā̀ (“powder”) + ìbìlîs (“Satan”), literally “Satan's powder”.


haƙori

ha-noun

haƙōrī m (plural haƙṑrā, possessed form haƙōrin)

haƙōrī (canonical masculine)
haƙṑrā (plural)
haƙōrin (possessed-form)

/há.kʼóː.ɽíː/

[há.kʷʼóː.ɽíː]

Related to haurḕ (“tusk of elephant or hippopotamus ivory”), from earlier *haƙrḕ. Probably cognate with Ron aŋgúr, Duhwa agûr, Mundat àgúrì, Fyer háŋgṑr, Tambas hàŋwì, Muyang àɬə́r, Moloko áɬar, Podoko slira, Zulgo-Gemzek zlír, Bura hyìr.


zumurrudu

zumùr̃r̃udù m (possessed form zumùr̃r̃udùn)

zumùr̃r̃udù (canonical masculine)
zumùr̃r̃udùn (possessed-form)


hannu

hannū m (plural hannaye or hannuwā̀, possessed form hannun)

hannū (canonical masculine)
hannaye (plural)
hannuwā̀ (plural)
hannun (possessed-form)


maƙoshi

maƙōshī m (plural makṑshai, possessed form maƙōshin)

maƙōshī (canonical masculine)
makṑshai (plural)
maƙōshin (possessed-form)

/má.kʼóː.ʃíː/

[mə́.kʷʼóː.ʃíː]