ci

From Proto-Chadic, ultimately from Proto-Afroasiatic *taʔ- (“to eat, especially something soft, to close lips, especially loosely”). Compare Akkadian 𒋫𒀪𒌑 (ta-ʔu-u₂ /ta'u/, “to eat”), Mehri tewō (“eat”), Arabic تَأْتَأَ (taʔtaʔa, “to stammer, to stutter, to reduplicate sounds, to mumble or move lips”), and with varying Berber forms Tamahaq ⵜⵜ (tǝtt), Tarifit ⵜⵜ (tǝtt), Central Atlas Tamazight ⵜⵛ (tc), and Kabyle teṭṭ (pharyngeal-coloring found as well in the Arabic variant تَعْتَعَ (taʕtaʕa), and in that sense possible further connections to طَعِمَ (ṭaʕima, “to taste”) and عَضَّ (ʕaḍḍa, “to bite”)).


duma

To put one's mouth deeply into something

(with an indirect object) To strike a person with something


sau

clipping of sàkā (“release”) (used before an object)


kimsa

to stuff or cram something untidily into a container

(with an indirect object) to stab or punch someone


mutu

From Proto-Chadic *mawut, from Proto-Afroasiatic *mawVt- (“to die, to kill”). Cognate with Proto-Semitic *mawut-, Egyptian mwt and Central Atlas Tamazight ⵎⵎⵜ (mmt).


sunna

(with an indirect object) To give something secretly to someone.


sha

From Proto-Chadic *s₂w-. Compare with Tarifit su (“to drink”).


cuna

(with an indirect object) to set a person or animal to catch or attack someone


sani

Cognate with Egyptian swn and Proto-Berber *sin-


fusata

[ɸʊ́.sàː.táː]

[ɸʊ̀.sáː.tə̀]


fusata

[ɸʊ́.sàː.táː]

[ɸʊ̀.sáː.tə̀]


latsa

to pressure someone regarding a difficult matter


murza

to roll strands of cotton between the palms to make thread


zare

(using an indirect object) to snatch from


zare

to withdraw from, to be unconcerned with


rubuta

From Kanuri ruwo (“write”), likely via the verbal noun ruwotǝ́. The ultimate origin is disputed; a Berber language seems likely (cf. Ghadames orəḇ), but a Saharan origin has also been suggested (cf. Dazaga urudí).


karanta

From Kanuri kǝra (“read”), likely via the verbal noun kǝratǝ́. The ultimate origin is likely a Berber language (cf. Tamahaq ăɣăr), but Arabic قَرَأَ (qaraʔa) has also been suggested.


dogara

[dòː.ɡə́.ɽə̀]

/dòː.ɡá.ɽàː/

[dòː.ɡə́.ɽàː]


cigaba

cîgàba (canonical masculine)
cîgàban (possessed-form)

/t͡ʃîː.ɡà.bá/

[t͡ʃîː.ɡə̀.bə́]


tallafa

to support, carry (in the palm of the hand)


tallafa

to provide for, give relief to, take care of


buƙata

[bʊ̀.kʼáː.tàː]


inganta

[ʔɪ́ŋ.ɡàn.táː]

[ʔɪ̀ŋ.ɡán.tə̀]


inganta

[ʔɪ́ŋ.ɡàn.táː]

[ʔɪ̀ŋ.ɡán.tə̀]


shata

to mark the outline of a plan or pattern


zauna

to settle (down), live, remain (in a place)


ajiye

[ʔá.d͡ʒɪ̀.jéː]

Ajiye littafin a kan tebur.

Ajiye wannan sirrin.

Suna ajiye abinci don lokacin rani.

They are storing food for the dry season.


ƙanƙara

/kʼán.kʼà.ɽáː/

[kʼáŋ.kʼə̀.ɽáː]


tebur

ha-noun

tēbùr̃ m (plural tēbur̃ā̀ or tēbur̃ōr̃ī)

tēbùr̃ (canonical masculine)
tēbur̃ā̀ (plural)
tēbur̃ōr̃ī (plural)

Ajiye littafin a kan tebur.