ele

e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + le (“to lay down”)


mange

Yinzàgi è lá màǹgè kpetí u bo.

The woman is putting a clay pitcher on her head.

pitcher; pot (in particular) a clay water pot with a long neck


mato

* Borrowed from Hausa mota, ultimately from English motor, motorcar'
* Compare with Yoruba mọ́tò

Mátò na wáncí na à nì kíǹ.


sala

From Hausa sallā̀, from Arabic صَلَاة (ṣalāh).

Kókóta jin sála, eshìgi bà àdúwa.


fula

hat (in particular) traditional hat worn by Nupe men.


elo

Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa#Translingual


edzo

From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dzò (“to plant”).


edzo

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + dzó (“to play”).


esa

stool (in particular) a traditional Nupe stool.


yaba

→ Hausa: àyàbà

→ Bura: àyàbà

→ Dendi: àyàbà

→ Boko: ayaba


cincin

/t͡ʃĩ̄.t͡ʃĩ̄/

Cincin gan ewó.


eya

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Nupoid *e-ja. Cognate with Gbari eya.

Eya gbà eyapáci à.

A canoe is never to small for the canoeist.


emi

vernacular architecture
vernacular architecture

compound (in particular) a complex of houses and courtyards in Nupe vernacular architecture, typically walled and multigenerational.


lemu

From Hausa lḕmō, ultimately from Arabic لَيْمُون (laymūn).


ebe

Erythrocebus patas
Erythrocebus patas#Translingual


efe

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Nupoid *efè. Cognates include Gbari esè, Kakanda ife, Asu efè and Dibo efè.


latici

From latí (“field”) + -ci (inhabitant of, demonymic suffix).


malami

From Hausa mālàmī, from Kanuri málə̀m (“scholar”), from Arabic مُعَلِم (muʕalim, “teacher”).


kafiri

From Hausa kāfìr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic كَافِر (kāfir, “unbeliever”).

(Islam, sometimes derogatory) kafir, disbeliever, non-Muslim


eci

From Proto-Nupoid *iti. Cognates include Asu eci, Dibo eci, Gupa-Abawa itsi, Kakanda iti, Kupa ici.

yam (general term) (Dioscorea)
yellow Guinea yam (Dioscorea rotundata)


imani

From Hausa īmānī̀, from Arabic إِيمَان (ʔīmān).

der

Arabic إِيمَان (ʔīmān)


egi

From same root as -gi (“diminutive suffix”). Cognate with Gbari eɓi.

Egi è tígí.

A kpáátá a yì egi mizhì.


coci

From English church, possibly via Hausa cōcì.


shibi

From Hausa cibī, compare with Baatonum sibi and Yoruba ṣíbí.


soro

From Hausa sōrō, compare Yoruba sóró (“minaret”).

A rectangular or cylindrical building of clay construction, reinforced and roofed with split gbàci beams.


aduwa

From Hausa àddu'ā̀, from Arabic اَلدُّعَاء (ad-duʕāʔ).
*Compare Yoruba àdúra

Arabic اَلدُّعَاء (ad-duʕāʔ)


fitila

From Hausa fìtíla, from Songhay, ultimately from Arabic فَتِيلَة (fatīla).


efo

Kú bè efo gúbà in!

Long time no see! (literally, “Greetings for two days”)


teba

eba (a swallow made with cassava flour (gàri))


bindiga

bin̄diga (canonical)
bin̄digazhì (plural)

From Hausa bindigā̀, from Kanuri bəndəgə ultimately from Arabic بُنْدُقِيَّة (bunduqiyya).

بُنْدُقِيَّة


kakaki

trumpet (in particular) those played in royal ensembles for an etsu.


shayi

From Hausa shāyì, from Arabic شَاي (šāy)


duku

From Hausa kūdaku, kūdàkū (“sweet potato”).
* Compare with Yoruba kúkúǹdùkú, ọ̀dùnkún

cog

kúkúǹdùkú, ọ̀dùnkún


nna

term of respect for an older woman or female relative


Filani

Gòóyì

culturally assimilated Fulani people; Nupe people of Fulani descent


Nupe

→ Gbari: Nyipe

→ Yoruba: Ànùpe

→ English: Nupe


kannafuru

Ultimately from Arabic قَرَنْفُل (qaranful), perhaps via Hausa kànumfàr̃ī. Compare Yoruba kànáfùrù.


Yagba

A Yoruba sub-group in Kogi State, Nigeria.


alubasa

From Hausa albasa, from Arabic بَصَل (baṣal). Compare Yoruba àlùbọ́sà, àlùbásà, and Gun àlùbásà.

àlùbọ́sà, àlùbásà


bishe

Musa à gí bishe gí

Mi le bishe yé tsúwó.


esako

From èsá (“stool”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”), literally “big stool”.

af

Lítáfi ta èsákó o.


yabako

From yàbà (“banana”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”), literally “big banana”.


bente

From Hausa bante (“loincloth, apron”), cognate with Yoruba bàǹtẹ́.


dzuko

Ezàzhì dókun dzukó o.

Yèbosòkó dazàn lo dzukó


tukpa

Tukpa è wogàn gúbà à.

The ear doesn't hear two words [at once].


Bagandozhi

/bā.ɡã̄.dò.ʒì/

From bagi (“man”) + gan (“to surpass”) + dòzhì (“others”).

com

A term of address for Etsus, equivalent to the term His Majesty.


matopaci

mátòpáci (canonical)
mátòpácizhì (plural)

From mátòpá (“driving”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


Eyagi

From èyàgi (“type of facial scarification”).

Ezhìmi Èyàgi


kpalaba

→ Hausa: kwalabā

→ Baatonum: kparuba

→ Yoruba: ọ̀pálábá


tswafagi

tswàfàgi (canonical)
tswàfàgizhì (plural)


Nupeci

From Nupe (“Nupe”) + -ci (“demonymic suffix”).

suf

Nupeci mi yì o.


guzhiya

Arachis hypogaea
Arachis hypogaea#Translingual


lyalya

moinmoin; a Nigerian food made of cowpeas.


Patigici

Pátígici (canonical)
Pátígicizhì (plural)

From Pátígi (“Patigi”) + -ci (“inhabitant of, demonymic suffix”).


Nda Lile

From ǹdá (“father”) + lílé (“a rank among leaders”).

com

The title for the ruler of Makwa (Mokwa).


ewodeci

From ewó (“money”) + de (“to have”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


ndako

From ǹdá (“father”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”).


bindigatswaci

bin̄digatswaci (canonical)
bin̄digatswacizhì (plural)

/bī.ŋ̄.dī.ɡā.t͡sʷā.t͡ʃī/

From bin̄diga (“firearm”) + tswa (“to forge”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


jingban

/d͡ʒĩ̀.ɡ͡bã́/


doko yankpa

From dòkò (“horse”) + yankpa (“iron”), literally “iron horse”.


ebasanci

From ebasan (“divination”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

af

diviner (equivalent of a babalawo in Nupe divination (eba))


emi dzuru

/ē.mĩ́ d͡zú.ɾú/

From emí (“oil”) + dzúrú (“red”), literally “red oil”.


Bidaci

From Bida (“Bida”) + -ci (“inhabitant of, demonymic suffix”).


Makwaci

/mã̄.kʷā.t͡ʃī/

From Makwa (“Makwa”) + -ci (“inhabitant of, demonymic suffix”).


Nupenci

Nupen̄ci (canonical)
Nupen̄cizhì (plural)

/nũ̄.pē.ŋ̄.t͡ʃī/

Nupn̄eci mi yì o.


yangici

/jã̄.ɡí.t͡ʃī/


eyangici

eyangíci (canonical)
eyangícizhì (plural)

/ē.jã̄.ɡí.t͡ʃī/

From eyan (“thing”) + gigí (“eating”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

af

Eyangíci gúnkín wo è má jin o?


erwagi

person with a disability who cannot walk


etunloci

From etunlo (“working”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


enikoci

From eníkó (“singing”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


nuwangbinci

/nũ̄.wã̄.ɡ͡bĩ̄.t͡ʃī/

From nuwangbin (“swimming”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


esun

Gàná à shi lèmú èsun.


dokoci

From dòkò (“horse”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


enunuci

/ē.nũ̄.nũ̀.t͡ʃī/

From enunù (“hoeing”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

Enunùci dókun latí o


ebogaci

/ē.bó.ɡá.t͡ʃī/

From ebógá (“judging”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


ganmanazunci

gànmánázúnci (canonical)
gànmánázúncizhì (plural)

/ɡã̀.mã́.nã́.zṹ.t͡ʃī/

From gànmánázún (“lie telling”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


zhempa

veranda; lawn; the front of a compound or house


cenji

/t͡ʃé.ŋ́.d͡ʒì/

Mi yà ǹná céńjì yà

change (balance of money returned from the sum paid after deducting the price of a purchase)


bureedi

Borrowed from English bread, possibly via Hausa burodi.


nnako

From ǹná (“mother”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”).


danngi

Possibly from Hausa ɗan + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).

Hausa <i class="Latn mention" lang="ha">ɗan</i>


ekungunci

ekungùnci (canonical)
ekungùncizhì (plural)

/ē.kũ̄.ɡũ̀.t͡ʃī/

From ekungùn (“warring”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

The Nupe were warriors, fishers and farmers.

2020-5-22, EDUKO-nupe-TV, Facebook :https://www.facebook.com/2102873116624222/photos/when-chinou-achebe-was-accused-that-he-cant-speak-igo-he-came-back-from-london-p/2602087563369439/?paipv=0&eav=AfY9dm5oxoatNinxIRa0SvNELBTZFsZ9y9-oDXm5sWxbZ8CVVYRiQB8ssE7Ej53uTY8&_rdr Nupencizhi yi, Ekunguncizhi, Yikanwancizhi, be Enunucizhi. (Nupen̄cizhì yì ekungùncizhì, yikanwancizhì, be enunùcizhì.)


Kenci

/kē.ŋ́.t͡ʃī/

From Kení (“Hausaland”) + -ci (“demonymic suffix”).

suf

Keńcizhì è yì Nupen̄cizhì gàn-án "Nupawa".


yegi bagi

/jé.ɡī bā.ɡī/


yegi yinzagi

/jé.ɡī jĩ̄.zà.ɡī/

From yégi (“sibling”) + yinzàgi (“woman”).


etswa

Cognate with Gupa-Abawa ecwa. Blench suggest this is a back-formation from tswan̄gi (“star”).


ndagi

From ǹdá (“father”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


nnagi

From ǹná (“mother”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


makanta

Mi sá jin dàngàn mákáńtá o.


ewogici

/ē.wó.ɡí.t͡ʃī/

bitter cola (Garcinia kola), used for cough medicine


dzankan

child (a person who has not yet reached adulthood)


tswangi

tswan̄gi (canonical)
tswangizhì (plural)

/t͡sʷā.ŋ̄.ɡī/

From etswa (“moon”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


ebagogi

/ē.bá.ɡò.ɡī/

From ebágò (“husband taking”) + -gi + [Term?] (“diminutive suffix”), literally “husband snatcher”.


Najeriyaci

Nàjéríyàci (canonical)
Nàjéríyàcizhì (plural)

/nà.d͡ʒé.ɾí.jà.t͡ʃī/

/nã̀.d͡ʒé.ɾí.jà.t͡ʃī/

From Nàjéríyà (“Nigeria”) + -ci (“demonymic suffix”).


lubasa

Clipping of àlùbása. See there for more.


egi tukpa

From egi (“child; offspring”) + tukpa (“ear”).


kpantoro

kpan̄toro (canonical)
kpan̄torozhì (plural)

ladle; scoop (made from metal or a calabash)


tishegi

From etí (“head”) + shishe (“combing”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


jebanci

jèban̄ci (canonical)
jèban̄cizhì (plural)

/d͡ʒè.bā.ŋ̄.t͡ʃī/

From ejè (“stirred foods, such as porridge”) + ba (“to stir”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

wooden turning stick for preparing foods like pounded yam, eba and amala.


epin

egusi (seeds of the pàràgi melon used to make soup)


gbata

U gí mi gbàtà.

Mi wò gbàtà à.


yinna

Mi wá n gí tèbà tò eni epín yínna, àmáà ezàmì mizhì wá cèǹkafa u gí

I want to eat eba and egusi soup today, but my family wants to eat rice.


etankpinci

ètànkpìnci (canonical)
ètànkpìncizhì (plural)

/è.tã̀.k͡pĩ̀.t͡ʃī/

From ètàn (“story; history”) + kpìn (“to relate”) + -ci.


dzufan

U dan dzufan mi bo.


egiyeko

Egiyèkó ta èsá o.


tsotaci

From tsúwó (“yesterday”) + táci (“third”).

the day before yesterday
the day before yesterday


tsotaci

Tsótáci mi bé o.


yikanwanci

From yikanwan (“fishing”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


madangunci

madangùnci (canonical)
madangùncizhì (plural)

/mã̄.dã̄.ɡũ̀.t͡ʃī/

From madangùn (“feeling hungry”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

Madangùnci u kpe ejè ásámù ye à.

A hungry person does not know poisoned food.

Etsu yà madangùncizhì yangíci.


cigbejinci

cigbèjinci (canonical)
cigbèjincizhì (plural)

/t͡ʃī.ɡ͡bè.d͡ʒĩ̄.t͡ʃī/

From cigbèjin (“medicine making”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

traditional medicine
traditional medicine

doctor (in particular) traditional medicine doctor