A

The first letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


f

The seventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


y

The twenty-eighth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


de

Mi de etun à


o

The eighteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


i

The eleventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


ci

Musa à bá nakàn yínna, Gàná ci à gí eci yínna

Musa will cut meat today, and Gana will eat yam today

Used to order actions temporally: then; and


kara

wall surrounding a compound (that does not connect to the houses)

sókùn

compound wall built from one house to another


aku

Psittacus erithacus
Psittacus erithacus#Translingual

African gray parrot (Psittacus erithacus)


du

Musa dàdà á nakàn du


du

Ele è dù à

It's not raining (literally, “Rain is not falling”)


e

The sixth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


e

Marks the imperfective aspect, for actions that are not completed.


b

The second letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


c

The third letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


d

The fourth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


g

The eighth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


h

The tenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


j

The twelfth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


k

The thirteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


l

The fifteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


m

The sixteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


n

The seventeenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


p

The nineteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


r

The twentieth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


s

The twenty-first letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


t

The twenty-third letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


u

The twenty-fifth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


v

The twenty-sixth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


w

The twenty-seventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


z

The twenty-ninth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


kata

èmì

house; intergenerational compound comprised of kata


emu

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + mu (“to be tasty”).


ge

U ge à


ele

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


ele

Ele à dù.

It's going to rain. (literally, “Rain will fall.”)


fo

Ǹdá á èwò fo.


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


ani

Mi jin u aní.

A gí yangíci kpáátá aní, u á zo.

They've eaten all the food already, it's finished.

Ǹdá á bici aní.


zo

Nuwan á zo kpáátá.


za

Alternative form of ezà (“person; individual”)


-ko

èsá (“stool”) + -ko → èsákó (“table”)

yàbà (“banana”) + -ko → yàbàkó (“plantain”)

ǹdá (“father”) + -ko → ǹdákó (“grandfather”)

bànban (“river bank”) + -ko → bànbankó (“cliff”)

tákùn (“rock”) + -ko → tákùnkó (“large rock”)

augmentative suffix; used to form nouns meaning a larger form of something.

wáncí (“to be large”) + -ko → wáncíkó (“the largest”)

pàrà (“to be wide”) + -ko → pàràkó (“the widest”)

Used to form a nominalised and superlative form of verbs.


lulu

lulupínci

thread; spun cotton; one who spins cotton

luluyàci

picked cotton; one who picks seeds out of cotton


mato

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

Mátò na wáncí na à nì kíǹ.


ege

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + ge (“to be good”).

Ga lwà ège yán bagi ma, bagi dé u dewó.

Don't consider the goodness of a man, as long as he has money.


sala

From Hausa sallā̀, from Arabic صَلَاة (ṣalāh).

Kókóta jin sála, eshìgi bà àdúwa.


zh

The thirtieth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


fini

Tukpa mi á dzwa fini.

Said after one has been listening for a long time. (literally, “My ears have sprouted leaves.”)


a

The first letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


a

Mi de eshìgi à, mi ma de dàǹgi à.

I don't have a dog, and I don't have a cat.

not (placed at the end of a clause to negate it)


a

present perfect
serial verb construction
word order

Marks the perfective aspect, for actions that are completed


a

A à lá èbi be nakàn

Used to express the future tense (placed before verbs)


B

The second letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


C

The third letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


D

The fourth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


E

The sixth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


F

The seventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


G

The eighth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


H

The tenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


I

The eleventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


J

The twelfth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


K

The thirteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


L

The fifteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


M

The sixteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


N

The seventeenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


O

The eighteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


P

The nineteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


R

The twentieth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


S

The twenty-first letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


Sh

The twenty-second letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


T

The twenty-third letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


U

The twenty-fifth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


V

The twenty-sixth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


W

The twenty-seventh letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


Y

The twenty-eighth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


Z

The twenty-ninth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


fula

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


eli

Alternative form of ali (“character; disposition; behaviour”)


elo

Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa#Translingual


gan

Èmì mi li gan èmì u.

U ge gan kpáátá.

It's the best. (literally, “It is good surpassing all”)

Gànsìkiya ligwa gankò.

The truth washes the hands more than soap.


edzo

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


edzo

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


kuso

Cigbàn niní jin kúsò à.


eso

Sesamum indicum
Sesamum indicum#Translingual


esa

stool (in particular) a traditional Nupe stool.


etan

From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + tán (“to pain”).


dara

Tamarindus indica
Tamarindus indica#Translingual


ena

Compare with Gbari ena (“goat”), perhaps related to Yoruba ẹran (“animal, meat”)


rogo

Manihot esculenta
Manihot esculenta#Translingual


yaba

→ Hausa: àyàbà

→ Bura: àyàbà

→ Dendi: àyàbà

→ Boko: ayaba


Ts

The twenty-fourth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


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.


eya

Eya á cé.


eya

From è- (“nominalizing prefix”) + yá (“to yawn”).


eya

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Nupoid *ɛ̀ya. Cognates include Dibo èya, Kami èya, Gupa-Abawa èya, Kakanda èyá, Kupa èyá, Ebira ẹya.


Abuja

Keńci dókun fédùn ci Abújá o.


emita

From emi (“mouth”) + tita (“chattering”).

Mita dzukó wun à wu cigbàn à.

The noise of a market will not kill a tree.


emi

vernacular architecture
vernacular architecture

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


jin

Mi è jin yangíci.

Mi jin yèbo!

Yìzhè jin èmì à.


ewo

Cognates include Yoruba owó, Edo ígho, Urhobo ígho.


ewo

Cognates include Fon awù, Ewe awu, Gun awù, Edo ẹwu, Yoruba ẹ̀wù, èù, àwù, Ifè àwù, Urhobo ewun (shirt), Isoko ewu.

cog

ẹ̀wù, èù, àwù

Ǹdácé fo èwò li.

Wo má èwò ko à.


lemu

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


takun

From Proto-Nupoid *o-kuta. Cognates include Asu tákùn, Dibo tákùn, Gupa-Abawa táhùn, Kakanda tákùn, Gbagyi kútá, Gbari kútá, Kupa tákùn, Ebira ɪrɛtá.


Kanu

Kano Emirate (a historical emirate in Nigeria)


-ci

ebasan (“divination”) + -ci → ebasanci (“diviner”)

nuwangbin (“swimming”) + -ci → nuwangbinci (“swimmer”)

dòkò (“horse”) + -ci → dòkòci (“horse-rider”)

enunù (“hoeing”) + -ci → enunùci (“farmer”)

(added to nouns) Used to form an agent noun

Nupe (“Nupe”) + -ci → Nupeci (“Nupe person”)

Pátígi (“Patigi”) + -ci → Pátígici (“Patigi person”)

latí (“farm”) + -ci → latíci (“rural person”)

(added to a proper noun) Suffix denoting a resident or inhabitant of (the place denoted by the proper noun); used to form a demonym

ègbà (“deleb palm fruit”) + -ci → gbàci (“deleb palm tree”)

ekò (“shea nut kernel”) + -ci → kòci (“shea tree”)

yìkunnu (“palm fruit”) + -ci → yìkunnuci (“oil palm tree”)

(added to nouns) Used to form plant names from the name of the fruit


-ci

Twabàci (“Seventh”)


nampa

Cognates include Kami nabwa, Gupa-Abawa nabwa, and Kupa nàmpà.

Nàm̀pà kukù u wan ena èmì à.

A leopard is never too old to catch goats.


madan

Madan è gùn Nàná à.

Nana is not hungry. (literally, “Hunger is not disturbing Nana.”)


esan

A lá esan kún.


gigi

Gigí gábá gí evo o


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).


tolotolo

tòlótòló (canonical)
tòlótòlózhì (plural)

From Hausa tàlotàlo, possible cognates include Igala òtòótólo, Igbo toro toro, Yoruba tòlótòló, Itsekiri tolotolo, and Edo etolotolo.


ekun

Cognate with Gbari ekun, possibly related to Yoruba ogun.


gulu

→ Hausa: ùngùlu


koci

Clipping of ekòci, from ekò (“shea nut kernel”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

Vitellaria paradoxa
Vitellaria paradoxa#Translingual


yaka

Capsicum frutescens
Capsicum frutescens#Translingual


dz

The fifth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


ebi

Musa lá èbi ba nakàn.

Ekpá gbó à, wo gàn-án èbi nú à.

Bad workmen grumble at their tools. (literally, “Your arm is weak, you say the knife is blunt.”)


malami

málàmi (canonical)
málàmizhì (plural)
málàm̄ (alternative)
máǹ (alternative)

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


fitina

From Hausa fìtinā̀, from Arabic فِتْنَة (fitna).


kafiri

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

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


talaka

From Hausa talàkà, from a Berber language, e.g. Tamahaq taləqqe (“pauper”).


eci

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

Mi è pa eci.

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


eci

Eci na dòkò bi na máfi dòkòci.

The race that the horse ran pleased the horserider.


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.

Nupe (“Nupe”) → egi Nupe (“Nupe person”)

etun (“work”) → egi etun (“apprentice”)

Used to indicate a person's origin or profession.


muci

From èmu (“baobab fruit”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

af

Adansonia digitata
Adansonia digitata#Translingual


labari

From Hausa lā̀bār̃ī̀, from Arabic اَلْخَبَر (al-ḵabar).

A wo làbárì gàn-án ǹná u wu yàwó.

They heard the news that his mother killed the bride.


coci

From English church, possibly via Hausa cōcì.


-gi

pátí (“mountain”) + -gi → pátígi (“hill”)

ena (“mammal”) + -gi → nan̄gi (“domesticated mammal; goat”)

ǹdá (“father”) + -gi → ǹdági (“paternal uncle”)

ǹná (“mother”) + -gi → ǹnági (“maternal aunt”)

yaká (“chili pepper”) + -gi → yakági (“small chili pepper”)

diminutive suffix; used to form nouns meaning a smaller form of something.


shibi

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


egan

e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gàn (“to speak”)


soro

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

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


eti

Cognates include Asu etí, Dibo etí, and Kami ití.

Etí u ló etítsó à


gusa

Bambusa vulgaris
Bambusa vulgaris#Translingual


aduwa

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

der

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”)


tsutsu

From partial reduplication of tsu (“to die”).


Edu

Edu, one of Kwara State's local government areas


anfani

Borrowed from Hausa anfani (“profit, to gain advantage”), cognate with Baatonum arufãani and Yoruba àǹfààní.


eza

ezà (canonical)
ezàzhì (plural)
zà (alternative)


Zh

The thirtieth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


Gb

The ninth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


teba

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


dagba

→ Igala: àdagbá


Bida

Possibly from bé (“to come”) + yin (“infinitive particle”) + da (“to go”), literally “let's go”.

com

Bida (a Local Government Area in Nigeria)

Bida Emirate (a historical emirate in Nigeria)


lafiya

From Hausa lāfiyā̀, from Kanuri kǝ́láfíà, from Arabic عَافِيَة (ʕāfiya).

Wo de láfíyà à?

Are you not well? (literally, “Do you not have peace?”)


bindiga

bin̄diga (canonical)
bin̄digazhì (plural)

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

der

بُنْدُقِيَّة


kakaki

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


shayi

From Hausa shāyì, from Arabic شَاي (šāy)


Najeriya

Nàjéríyà (canonical)
Nàìjéríyà (alternative)

/nã̀.d͡ʒé.ɾí.jà/

Nigeria (a country in West Africa, south of the country of Niger)


duku

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

cog

kúkúǹdùkú, ọ̀dùnkún


nawu

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Nupoid *àmʷú. Cognates include Dibo arawù, Kakanda arayù, Gbari awú and Gupa-Abawa arawù.


nna

term of respect for an older woman or female relative


nangi

nan̄gi (canonical)
nan̄gizhì (plural)
enan̄gi (alternative)

From ena (“mammal”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”), literally “small mammal”.


asiri

àsiri (canonical)
àsirizhì (plural)
àshiri (alternative)

From Hausa àsīr̃ī, ultimately from Arabic سِرّ (sirr).


Eko

From Edo Eko, from Edo eko (“temporary camp”). Either via Yoruba Èkó, or Hausa Ìkko.


Filani

Gòóyì

culturally assimilated Fulani people; Nupe people of Fulani descent


Nupe

→ Gbari: Nyipe

→ Yoruba: Ànùpe

→ English: Nupe


tadawa

Borrowed from Hausa tàdawā̀, from a Berber language, ultimately from Arabic دَوَاة (dawāh, “inkwell”).


takada

From Hausa takàr̃dā, from a Berber language. From Arabic قِرْطَاس (qirṭās), from Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא / ܩܪܛܝܣܐ (qarṭīsā), from Ancient Greek χάρτης (khártēs). Compare with Yoruba tákàda and Zarma takàrda.

der

Aramaic קַרְטֵיסָא


kannafuru

kannáfùrù (canonical)
kannúfùrì (alternative)

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


Yagba

A Yoruba sub-group in Kogi State, Nigeria.


alubasa

àlùbása (canonical)
àlùbásazhì (plural)
lùbása (alternative)

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

cog

àlùbọ́sà, àlùbásà


bishe

Musa à gí bishe gí

Mi le bishe yé tsúwó.


egban

* From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + gbán (“to be wise”)
* Compare with Yoruba ọgbọ́n


cigbe

Cigbè dan bo?

cigbè ewó


yabako

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


esako

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

Lítáfi ta èsákó o.


bente

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


tukpa

Tukpa è wogàn gúbà à.

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


dzuko

Ezàzhì dókun dzukó o.

Yèbosòkó dazàn lo dzukó


tsogwa

From tso (“to be nimble”) + egwa (“hand”).


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.


-zhi

ezà → ezàzhì
person → people

eci → ecizhì
yam → yams

mátòpáci → mátòpácizhì
driver → drivers


matopaci

mátòpáci (canonical)
mátòpácizhì (plural)

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


cigban

/t͡ʃī.ɡ͡bã̀/

Proposed to have derived from Proto-Nupoid *ɔ́ʧĩ́. Cognates include Asu tugbã̀, Kakanda tsugbɔ, Dibo tsigbã̀ and Gbari cimwa.


ezhimi

From ezhì (“town; city”) + emi (“mouth”), literally “the mouth of a people”.


bishegi nuwan

/bī.ʃē.ɡī nũ̄.wã̄/

From bishegi (“small fowl”) + nuwan (“water”), literally “small waterfowl”.

Gallinula tenebrosa
Gallinula tenebrosa#Translingual


nawu yakagi

From nawú (“smoke”) + yakági (“pepper”), literally “peppery smoke”.


kpalaba

→ Hausa: kwalabā

→ Baatonum: kparuba

→ Yoruba: ọ̀pálábá


Eyagi

From èyàgi (“type of facial scarification”).

Ezhìmi Èyàgi


tswafagi

tswàfàgi (canonical)
tswàfàgizhì (plural)


Nupeci

Nupecizhì (plural)
Nupen̄ci (alternative)

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

suf

Nupeci mi yì o.


guzhiya

Arachis hypogaea
Arachis hypogaea#Translingual


dzukoloci

dzukólóci (canonical)
dzukólócizhì (plural)

From dzukó (“market”) + ló (“to trade”) + -ci.


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).


patigi

From pátí (“mountain”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


ewodeci

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


lemuko

From lèmú (“orange; lime”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”).


pimpyarya

pim̄pyáryá (canonical)
pim̄pyáryázhì (plural)

/pī.ŋ̄.pʲá.ɾʲá/


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”).


gbo

Eshì yán ǹdá è gbó


gbo

Mi lá èkó gbotí.

I used shea butter to moisturise my face.


sanle

We à sanle láfíyà?


ekpa

From e- (“nominalizing prefix”) + kpa (“to cough”).


ekpa

Cognate with Yoruba apá (“arm; wing”), Igbo aka (“arm; hand”) and Igala íká.


ekpa

Mámági à da Bida bè ekpa Mìnà e

Mamagi will go to Bida via Minna (literally, “Mamagi will go to Bida with Minna's road”)


doko yankpa

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


jingban

/d͡ʒĩ̀.ɡ͡bã́/


kpyakpya

shelf (in particular) a shelf for storing grain


kp

The fourteenth letter of the Nupe alphabet, written in the Latin script.


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”.


Patigi

Pategi (a Local Government Area in Nigeria)

Pategi Emirate (a historical emirate in Nigeria)


Makwa

Mokwa (a Local Government Area in Nigeria)

Mokwa (a historical kingdom in Nigeria), headed by the Ǹdá Lílé


gbin

Yikanwanci nanazhì má nuwan gbin.


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)
Nupeci (alternative)

/nũ̄.pē.ŋ̄.t͡ʃī/

Nupn̄eci mi yì o.


eyangici

eyangíci (canonical)
eyangícizhì (plural)
yangíci (alternative)

/ē.jã̄.ɡí.t͡ʃī/

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

af

Eyangíci gúnkín wo è má jin o?


yangici

/jã̄.ɡí.t͡ʃī/


erwagi

person with a disability who cannot walk


esun

Gàná à shi lèmú èsun.


rowoni

rówoni (canonical)
rówonizhì (plural)
ráwuni (alternative)


nuwangbinci

/nũ̄.wã̄.ɡ͡bĩ̄.t͡ʃī/

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


enikoci

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


etunloci

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


kagbodeci

kágbódeci (canonical)
kágbódecizhì (plural)

From kágbó (“strength”) + de (“to have”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


lotun

From lo (“to do [work]”) + etun (“work”).


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”).


suusuugi

sùúsùúgi (canonical)
sùúsùúgizhì (plural)

/sùú.sùú.ɡī/


amaa

From Hausa àmmā, from Arabic أَمَّا (ʔammā). Compare Yoruba àmọ́.


ganmanazunci

gànmánázúnci (canonical)
gànmánázúncizhì (plural)

/ɡã̀.mã́.nã́.zṹ.t͡ʃī/

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


ganmana

/ɡã̀.mã́.nã́/


eshigi nuwan

/ē.ʃì.ɡī nũ̄wã̄/

From eshìgi (“dog”) + nuwan (“water”), literally “water dog”.


eshi wawagi

/ē.ʃì wà.wà.ɡī/


zhempa

veranda; lawn; the front of a compound or house


kwankwa

/kʷà.ŋ̀.kʷà/


kwankwa

kwan̄kwa (canonical)
kwan̄kwazhì (plural)

/kʷā.ŋ̄.kʷā/


banrewagi

bànrewagi (canonical)
bànrewagizhì (plural)

/bã̀.ɾē.wā.ɡī/


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.


cenkafa

cèǹkafa (canonical)
jèkafa (alternative)


yikunnuci

yìkunuci (canonical)
yìkunnucizhì (plural)

From yìkunnu (“palm fruit”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

af

Elaeis guineensis
Elaeis guineensis#Translingual


makundunnu

màkundunnu (canonical)
màkundunnuzhì (plural)

Màkundunnu gá è fín nuwan, eshìgi à de?

While the hyena is drinking water will the dog get any?


dazan

From da (“to go”) + ezàn (“walk; journey”).

Mi à dazàn lo makan̄ta èsun làzhìn yin.


gbaci

Clipping of ègbàci, from ègbà (“deleb palm fruit”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).

Borassus aethiopum (African palmyra palm)


yakako

From yaká (“chili pepper”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”), literally “large chilli pepper”.

Capsicum annuum
Capsicum annuum#Translingual


yilanci

yìlàn̄ci (canonical)
yìlàn̄cizhì (plural)

From yìlà (“ackee fruit”) + -ci (“agent suffix”).


nnako

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


latswanlatswangi

latswánlatswángi (canonical)
latswánlatswángizhì (plural)

/lā.t͡sʷã́.lā.t͡sʷã́.ɡī/

From reduplication of latswán (“to hiss”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”), literally “small hisser”.

reduplication of <i class="Latn mention" lang="nup">latswán</i>


muliki

From Hausa mulkī̀, from Arabic مُلْك (mulk).


eshigi

From eshì (“dog”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


danngi

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

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


egogi

From egò (“African arowana”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”)

kpáràgògi

a textile pattern inspired by the scales of the fish


ezhegi

ezhègi (canonical)
ezhègizhì (plural)
zhèǹgi (alternative)

From ezhè (“catfish”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


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.)


enangi

enan̄gi (canonical)
enan̄gizhì (plural)
nan̄gi (alternative)

/ē.nã̄.ŋ̄.ɡī/

From ena (“mammal”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”), literally “small mammal”.

Alternative form of nan̄gi (“domesticated mammal; goat”)


nanko

nan̄kó (canonical)
nan̄kózhì (plural)
enan̄kó (alternative)

From ena (“mammal”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”), literally “large mammal”.


enanko

enan̄kó (canonical)
enan̄kózhì (plural)
nan̄kó (alternative)

Alternative form of nan̄kó (“cattle; large domesticated animal”)


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”).


Lafiyagi

→ English: Lafiagi

From láfíyà (“peace”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).

af

Lafiagi Emirate (a historical emirate in Nigeria)


ndagi

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


nnagi

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

A term of endearment or respect for a woman


Edu zhiko

From Èdù (“Niger River”) + zhìkò (“black”), literally “Black Niger”.


kyatya

Compare Yoruba kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́ and Baatonum kɛtɛku.

cog

kẹ́tẹ́kẹ́tẹ́


makanta

Mi sá jin dàngàn mákáńtá o.


kpansannako

kpàǹsánnákó (canonical)
kpàǹsánnákózhì (plural)

From kpàǹsánná (“corn stalk”) + -kó (“augmentative suffix”).


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”).


zogun

Eshìgi è lele ci zogùn o


ebagogi

/ē.bá.ɡò.ɡī/

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


tanmako

tànmako (canonical)
tìmako (alternative)
tèmako (alternative)


timako

tìmako (canonical)
tànmako (alternative)
tèmako (alternative)

Alternative form of tànmako (“kindness; altruism”)


temako

tèmako (canonical)
tànmako (alternative)
tìmako (alternative)


Najeriyaci

Nàjéríyàci (canonical)
Nàjéríyàcizhì (plural)

/nà.d͡ʒé.ɾí.jà.t͡ʃī/

/nã̀.d͡ʒé.ɾí.jà.t͡ʃī/

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


bishe yiwo

bishe yíwó (canonical)
bishe yíwózhì (plural)

From bishe (“chicken”) + yíwó (“female”).


fusan

African catfish (Heterobranchus bidorsalis)


bishe eba

bishe ebá (canonical)
bishe ebázhì (plural)
bishebá (alternative)


bishegi

From bishe (“fowl”) + -gi (“diminutive suffix”).


gbugbo

Partial reduplication of gbó (“to bark”).

Mi wo gbugbó yán eshìgi à.

Gbugbó na eshìgi gbó tsúwó na lá etí sán mi

The dog's barking yesterday gave me a headache


gbangba

→ Hausa: àgwā̀gwā

/ɡ͡bà.ŋ̀.ɡ͡bá/


lukuku

Compare with Yoruba èrukùkù, Urhobo inékuku, Edo elikhukhu, Igbo kpalakwukwu, Ebira arekuku, Ifè àlúŋ̀kùkù, and Olukumi olékùkù. Possibly related to Ibibio ebomon-kuku, a widespread Niger-Congo root, Blench (2003) proposes a reconstruction to Proto-Niger-Congo *-kuku.

cog

Ifè àlúŋ̀kùkù


jigijigi

/d͡ʒí.ɡī.d͡ʒì.ɡī/


jigijigi

/d͡ʒì.ɡì.d͡ʒì.ɡí/


emagi

Emagi gí egi u ni.


emagi

Hibiscus sabdariffa
Hibiscus sabdariffa#Translingual


emagi

Èmàgi wo làbárì gàn-án bishe yíwózhì de láfíyà à.

A fox heard that some hens were not feeling well.


lubasa

lùbása (canonical)
lùbásazhì (plural)
àlùbása (alternative)

Clipping of àlùbása. See there for more.


cigbe dede

cigbè dèdè (canonical)
cigbè dèdèzhì (plural)

/t͡ʃī.ɡ͡bè dè.dè/

From cigbè (“medicine; drug”) + dèdè (“bad”).


egi tukpa

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


kpansanna

kpàǹsánná (canonical)
kpàǹsánnázhì (plural)


Makan

From Hausa Makà, from Arabic مَكَّة (makka).

Mecca (a large city in Saudi Arabia, the holiest place in Islam)


tishegi

tíshegi (canonical)
tíshegizhì (plural)
etíshegi (alternative)

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


kpantoro

kpan̄toro (canonical)
kpan̄torozhì (plural)

ladle; scoop (made from metal or a calabash)


tsunwan

From Yoruba òṣùwọ̀n (“measurment; scale”).


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.


yikunnu kpota

From yìkunnu (“oil palm”) + kpótá (“six hundred”).


yeko

Yèkó ci na.


yeko

Nuwan yèkò mi dé fín o

Ebà fuyèkò

It's cold (literally, “The place is cold”)

Ezà yèkò ǹdá mi yì o


kpintan

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


etankpinci

ètànkpìnci (canonical)
ètànkpìncizhì (plural)

/è.tã̀.k͡pĩ̀.t͡ʃī/

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


dzufan

U dan dzufan mi bo.


gbingan

Mi wá n gbíngàn yà we.

Ǹná gbín mi gàn.

Dzukólóci è gbíngàn ewó


egiyeko

egiyèkó (canonical)
giyèkó (alternative)

Egiyèkó ta èsá o.


kpandara

kpan̄dara (canonical)
kpan̄darazhì (plural)


tsotaci

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

the day before yesterday
the day before yesterday


tsotaci

Tsótáci mi bé o.


gigun

From gí (“to eat; to consume”) + egún (“inheritance”).


yikanwanci

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


emigbo

/ē.mī̃.ɡ͡bó/

From emi (“mouth”) + gbugbó (“barking”).


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.


jinjin

/d͡ʒĩ̄.d͡ʒĩ̄/

From partial reduplication of jin (“to do; to make”).


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


matsan

Ga mátsan wo gan è fín nuwan ma.


kinkere

Compare with Yoruba àkéekèe, Eastern Xwla Gbe kekire, Fon hɔnkékélé, Ayere ikẽkè.


swakwa

Yèkpa dèdè na è ma etun swàkwà na.


cigbejin

/t͡ʃī.ɡ͡bè.d͡ʒĩ̄/

From cigbè (“medicine”) + jinjin (“making”).


dagwa

Ga dà mi gwa ma!

Dà kpàko gwa.

(splitting verb) to push (with one's hand)