(1). COMMON VERBS:
Chag: example, Amerika, Faranse, Accra etc. > To go to: America, France, Accra etc.
Kana: example, shikuru, kpe, yiga etc. > Come: example, to school, here, to the house etc.
Bori: example, bindirigu, yila, waa etc. > Likes/ wants: Foods, songs, dance etc.
Duhi: loori, ziliji, tiroko etc. > Drive: car, train, truck etc.
(2). ‘’BO?’’ (WHAT):
Bo kan’ dira? > What am I eating?
A dirila sagam. > You are eating TZ.
Bo ko’ bora? > What does he/ she wants?
O borila pensile > He/ she wants pencil.
Bo ka bi nigda? > What are they doing?
Be duhirila loori. > They are driving car.
Bo ka Isabella dira? > What is Isabella eating?
Isabella dirila sakoro. > Isabella is eating Fufu.
(3). ‘’DI’’ (TO EAT):
Bo kan’ dira? > What am I eating?
A dirila sagam. > You are eating TZ.
Bo ka ti dira? >What are we eating?
Ti dirila sagam. > We are eating TZ.
Bo ka Isabella dira? > What is Isabella eating?
Isabella dirila sakoro. > Isabella is eating Fufu.
(4). DAY, WEEKS, MONTH, and YEARS:
Singular: Plural:
Dabsili > a day Dabsa > days
Bakoi/ Dakulo > week Dakuyi > weeks
Goli/ chirili > month Gaya/ Chira > months
Yuni > year Yuma > years
COUNTING NUMDERS:
Yini > one
Ayi > two
Ata > three
Anahi > four
Anu > five
Ayobu > six
Ayopoi > seven
Anii > eight
Awei > nine
Pia > ten etc
NOTE: counting numbers are used in counting everything ranging from living to non living things. Example; counting numbers used in counting days.
Dahin’ yini > 1 day
Dabsa ayi > 2 days
Dabsa ata > 3 days
Dabsa anahi > 4 days
Dabsa anu > 5 days
Dabsa ayobu > 6 days
Dabsa ayopoi > 7 days
Dabsa anii > 8 days
Dabsa awei > 9 days
Biegwu pia > 10 days
(5). EXPRESSIONS OF TOME:
Atani dali > om Monday
Dakulo din kanna > the following coming week
Bakoi dim be puuni > this following week
Daantali > two days after tomorrow (3 days time)
Dali > the day after tomorrow (tomorrow next)
Daantali la ni > three days ago
Sohala > yesterday
Zuno > today
Biegni > tomorrow
Wuntag’ ni > afternoon
Zaawuni > evening
Zaawuni yug > night time
Yug > night
Bakoi din garila > the past week (last week)
Bakoi din yoli garila > the immediate pass week
Yuuni din yoli garila >the immediate past year
Bihi ban yoli garila > the children who just passed
(6). FUTURE TENCE:
Beigni ti san chag daa > tomorrow we will go to market.
Biegni yi san kuli. > Tomorrow you will go home.
Nni boham Dagbani > I will learn Dagbani.
O ni boham silimiinsili > he/ she will learn English.
Be ni chag amerika. > They will go to America.
Isabella san kana > Isabella will com tomorrow.
Ti dag yig’ labbu na. > We will come early.
Yini kana yig yomyom. > You will come home early (plural).
COMMANDING WORDS:
‘’Kam na’’ (come):
Kamna! > (come!).
Kamna bia! > (come child!).
Kamna kpe! > (come here!).
‘’Chela’’ (stop):
Nyema, chela! > Look, stop it!
Chela Farouk, cheli lala! >Farouk, its ok, stop that!
Cheli vuri, cheli ma! >stop the noise leave me!
Cheli yelgu/ yeltoga! > stop talking!
‘’Chama’’ (Go):
Cham’, nyu ma adam > go and be drinking your alcohol!
Cham’ tumm’ atuma. > go and do your work.
‘’Ziinima’’ (Sit Down):
Ziinima bia > sit down child!
Ziinim’ ndi sagam. > sit down and eat TZ (tuon zaafii).
Zinim’ ka chea viri! > sit down and stop making noise.
Ziinim’ yili yila. > sit down and sing a song.
‘’Bolimma’’ (Call me).
Bolimm’ john ti ma. > call john for me.
Bolii’ o! > call him/her.
Bolimm’ ba! > call them.
Bolimm’ aba! > call your father.
‘’Bomm’’ (Look for).
Bomm’ bia na! > look for the child and bring him.
Bomm’ taxi ti ma! > look for a taxi for me.
Bomm’ adam Isabella shee! > look for Isabella.
‘’Zag labi’’ (throw away).
Zagmi nimdi maa labi. > throw the meat away.
Zagmi bi ma anti o ma. > give the child to the mother.
Zagmi o bahi! > leave him or her.
‘’Foma’’ (Be quiet).
Sokam foma! > Everybody should keep quiet.
Bihi, fomiya! > Children, be quiet.
Bihi maa foma! > The children should be quiet.
‘’Lihima’’ (Look at).
Lihimi, Adam! > look at Adam.
Lihimi kpe! > look here!
Lihimi loori zeea’ la! >look at the red car.
‘’Wumma’’ (Listen).
Wumma mba year! > Listen, my father is talking to you.
Wummi venyelinga! > listen carefully/ well.
Wummi yila maa! > listen to the song.
‘’Zoma’’ (get away/ go away):
Zomi nimaani! > get away from there.
Zomi kpe! > go away from here.
Zomi ka che o! > go away and leave them.
‘’Zanima’’ (Stop):
Zanima Isabella! > stop Isabella.
Zanim’ nimaani! > stop there.
Zanimi yim! > stop at once.
Zanim’ lihi o! > stop and look at him/ here.
ASSIGNMENT:
Ø Zaawuni yug
Ø Yug
Ø Bakoi din garila
Ø Bakoi din yoli garila
Ø Yuuni din yoli garila
Ø Cham’ tumm’ atuma
Ø Wummi venyelinga!
Ø Wummi yila maa!
Ø Zanima Isabella!
Ø Zanim’ nimaani!
Ø Lihimi kpe!
Ø Sokam foma!
Ø Bihi, fomiya!
GOOD LUCK.
Here are my answers for the homework! And it was nice talking to all of you guys today, I’m sorry the conversation was stopped short because I would’ve loved to hear more about life in the north.
ANSWERS PROVIDERED BY ISABELLA:
Part 1:
Ø Zaawuni yug- Nighttime
Ø Yug- Night
Ø Bakoi din garila – Last week/past week
Ø Bakoi din yoli garila -Immediate last week
Ø Yuuni din yoli garila – Immediate last year
Ø Cham’ tumm’ atuma – Go and do your work.
Ø Wummi venyelinga!- Listen carefully!
Ø Wummi yila maa! – Listen to that song
Ø Zanima Isabella! – Stop Isabella!
Ø Zanim’ nimaani! – Stop there!
Ø Lihimi kpe! – Look here!
Ø Sokam foma! – Everybody should keep quiet!
Ø Bihi, fomiya! – Children be quiet!
Nice work my dear keep it up.