Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
A DICTIONARY OF MADA,
A PLATEAU LANGUAGE OF
CENTRAL NIGERIA
2015 version
BASED ON THE RIJA DIALECT
Mada-English
with an
English-Mada finderlist [not at present]
Barau Kato (†)
Roger Blench
McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
University of Cambridge
Correspondence to:
8, Guest Road
Cambridge CB1 2AL
United Kingdom
Voice/ Ans (00-44)-(0)1223-560687
Mobile worldwide (00-44)-(0)7847-495590
E-mail [email protected]
http://www.rogerblench.info/RBOP.htm
(Jos, 30 August 2015)
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Preface
This dictionary is a preliminary attempt to record the richness of the Mada language. It is intended to help
standardise the spelling of Mada words and to define words which are no longer in current use, especially
cultural terms. The primary goal is to assist Mada speakers to use and spell words correctly. We hope also
that the dictionary will be useful to students of the languages of Nigeria and of African languages in general.
An introduction has been provided to facilitate the effective use of the dictionary. It covers Mada
phonology; current orthography; sketch of Mada grammar; Mada language use; abbreviations; and the
structure of individual entries. The appendices provide information of both cultural interest, such as Mada
personal names, towns and villages; and words developed for Mada Bible Translation.
The original source of the present document was a dictionary file prepared by Norman and Barbara Price in
relation to the translation of the New Testament, a project finally finished and launched in 2000. However,
the entries have been rechecked and in some cases retranscribed , many new items entered and it should be
thus considered an essentially new document.
We are aware that there are still many Mada words which have eluded us and that some words here defined
may have secondary meanings that are not included. This is a draft circulated to interested individuals and
therefore we would be grateful if any suggestions for amendment, correction and addition could be
forwarded to the authors at the addresses given below.
Roger Blench
Barau Kato (†)
Jos 30 August 2015
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
TABLE OF C O N T E N T S
PREFACE.........................................................................................................................................................I
ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ II
1. THE MADA PEOPLE: LOCATION, ORIGIN AND CLASSIFICATION .......................................... 1
1.1 Location and Name ..................................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Classification ...........................................................................................................................................................1
1.3 Scholarly publication ...............................................................................................................................................2
1.4 Dialects ....................................................................................................................................................................2
2. THE SOUND SYSTEM OF MADA AND ITS ORTHOGRAPHY ........................................................ 2
2.1 Sound system ...........................................................................................................................................................2
2.2 Letters of the Mada alphabet....................................................................................................................................3
3. GUIDE TO USING THE DICTIONARY................................................................................................. 3
3.1 Structure of individual entries..................................................................................................................................3
3.2 Scientific Names ......................................................................................................................................................4
3.3 Nigerian English Usage ...........................................................................................................................................4
3.4 Etymology and Loan-words.....................................................................................................................................4
3.5 Parts of Speech.........................................................................................................................................................4
BIBLIOGRAPHY ........................................................................................................................................... 5
MADA-ENGLISH DICTIONARY................................................................................................................ 1
TABLES
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Abbreviations
Amer.
arch.
dial.
et.
euph.
fig.
hum.
id.
id.
ins.
lit.
NE
Ng.
Sh.
American (for Americanisms)
archaic
dialect
etymology
euphemism
figurative
humorous
idiom
id.phone
insulting
literally
Nigerian English
Ningo dialect
Shugbu dialect
Apart from the abbreviations, symbols are used to indicate particular features;

see Appendix for further detail
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
INTRODUCTION
1. The Mada people: Location, Origin and Classification
1.1 Location and Name
The Mada people live primarily in the region between Anjida and Akwanga on and around the road leading
from Fadan Karshi to Akwanga in Nasarawa State, Central Nigeria. Their numbers are hard to estimate but
probably now exceeds 100,000. Earlier literature refers to the Mada as ‘Yidda’ (e.g. Temple 1922:260) but
no such term is used today. In colonial times a distinction was made between ‘Hill Mada’ and ‘Plains Mada’.
The ‘hill Mada’ were however, part of Eggon and as such unrelated to the Mada proper. These terms have
now been dropped and today’s Mada now refers to the ‘Plains Mada’ of earlier sources.
The Mada have tribal marks on their faces – 3 straight lines on the upper jaw on both sides, one on the
forehead and one on the upper cheek close to the left eye. Women have tiny marks of straight lines drawn
close to the mouth (lower cheek) on both sides. These days the marks are not seen on young ones any longer
because it is considered cruel to have the marks especially due to the instruments used to draw the marks.
These days also, most Mada women have all kinds of marks that are alien to the Mada culture due to
influences of other cultures. In the olden days, women used to pierce one nostril and their ears for earrings.
During the Nigerian civil war which broke out in 1967, almost all the children born at the time were given
marks so as not to mistake them to be Igbos, especially someone who was light skin. Also, those young
adults who were not previously given the marks, were given during the war.
1.2 Classification
Mada was classified as part of the Plateau language group by Greenberg (1963) and Williamson (1971),
Hansford et al. (1976), Gerhardt (1989) and Crozier and Blench (1992) have all followed this view. Mada
was put together with Ninzam, Ayu, Che, Ninkyop and some other languages as part of Plateau IV. More
recently, this group has been christened ‘Ninzic’ in the light of the numerous languages with a –nin- element
in their ethnonym (Blench 2000).
Greenberg’s (1963:9) original list was Rukuba (Kuche), Ninzo (Ninzam), Ayu, Mada, Kaninkwom. The
current list of Ninzic languages is as follows;
Ninzo
Ce [=Rukuba]
Mada
Bu-Niŋkada
Numana-Nunku-Gwantu-Numbu
Ningye
Kanufi
Ninkyop-Nindem
Doubtfully
Vaghat-Ya-Bijim-Legeri
Ayu?
Data on many of these languages is too weak to be confident of their place within the group. However, on
Ninzo and Ce relatively extensive data means that we can be sure these are the closest relatives of Mada.
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
1.3 Scholarly publication
The principal modern work on the Mada language is Price (1989)1. This work covers the phonology and
orthography of Mada spoken in Rija, a village central to Mada country and the dialect chosen for New
Testament translation.
1.4 Dialects
Mada has an extensive dialect network and there is quite high level of variation from village to village. Price
(1989) gives a valuable comparative wordlist in different dialects, which shows that at least some of them
have markedly different phonology from Rija Mada. The following dialects are listed;
Rija, Gbugyar, Anjagwa, Ancho, Buhar, Akwanga, Ungwar Zaria
of these, Akwanga and Ungwar Zaria are markedly different from the others. Nonetheless all dialects are
easily mutually intelligible and Mada speakers are used to adjusting to different lects.
2. The Sound System of Mada and its Orthography
2.1 Sound system
Mada has twenty-one consonant phonemes:
Labial
Plosives
Fricatives
Affricates
Nasals
Laterals
Vibrants
Approximants
Labiodental
p b
f v
Alveolar
Velar
t d
s z
ts dz
k g
n
l
r
y
ŋ
m
Labiovelar
kp gb
ʍ w
The voiceless approximant, /„ / is written ‘hy’ in the orthography but always sounds labialised. It is often
written hyw in other Plateau languages, but there is no contrast with /hy/ so it is redundant.
There are eight vowel phonemes:
Front
Close
Close-Mid
Open-Mid
Open
Central
Back
i
u
e
o
ə
ε
ɔ
a
but five corresponding nasalised vowels;
Front
Close
Open-Mid
Back
ĩ
ũ
ɛ̃
ɔ̃
ã
Open
1
Central
Gerhardt (1983:112 ff.) includes some notes on the phonology and noun-class systems of two Mada dialects, but
these have been comprehensively superseded by Price (1989).
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
It is striking that this is identical to the vowel system of Ninkyop, the other language in the Ninzic group to
have lost its nominal affix system.
In the original orthography of 1985, the symbol ñ was adopted to mark nasalisation following a vowel, but
this has been simplified to n. Thus ã is written ‘an’. The reason for this, is that the free ‘n’ is very rare and
usually would not take word final following special vowels.
Mada has three level tones and a rising and falling tone. Tones are marked as follows:
high tone is unmarked
/¯/ mid tone is shown by a macron
/`/ for a low tone
/ˆ/ for a falling tone
/ß/ for a rising tone.
The rising tone is uncommon compared with the other tones. Mada is highly tonal and many lexical and
grammatical distinctions are made only by tone. The orthography therefore marks tone on all syllables.
2.2 Letters of the Mada alphabet
The alphabet is phonemic and is made up of 34 letters. These are arranged as follows:
a, b, c, e, ε, ə, d, f, g, gb, h, hw, i, j, k, kp, l, m, n, ng, ny, o, ɔ, p, r, s, sh, t, u, v, w, y, z, zh.
These correspond to the IPA symbols used in the phonology via the following conventions;
ng ŋ
c tsy
j dzy
sh sy
ny ŋy
h ʍ before o ɔ u
hw ʍ elsewhere
3. Guide to using the dictionary
3.1 Structure of individual entries
Each entry has the following order;
Mada word
Singular
part of speech
Class
Meaning
Hausa
other
information
Plural
n.
v.
Plural verbs are rarer than nouns, but they are listed in the second column where they occur. Mada also has
plural adjectives. Parts of speech are given in §4.5. Class is a semantic classification used to identify
different fields of meaning. It will be deleted in the printed version. Hausa is included in some cases, but will
probably also be eliminated from the printed version. The final column gives examples of the words in use,
but also scientific names and other types of information. Mada words are always in boldface.
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
3.2 Scientific Names
In this dictionary, many scientific names are given for plants and animals. Scientific names are in Latin, and
they are written in italics to show they are not English. Scientific names are intended to be an international
language so that researchers in all countries will have a single name for a living creature, although the name
in their own language will vary. For example, when the definition of a word is baobab, Adansonia digitata
this means that baobab is the common English name corresponding to the Latin or scientific name following.
These may not be familiar to Mada speakers, but it is important to try and identify correctly those plants and
animals that people experience in their everyday life.
3.3 Nigerian English Usage
Certain usages in Nigerian English have now diverged from international English, and this is a potential
source of confusion in definitions. For example, 'follow' in Nigeria generally means 'to go along with',
whereas in International English it means to 'go after' or 'go behind'. Similarly ‘use to' has the sense of
'customarily' in Nigeria, so 'he use to go to market' implies a practice. In International English the sense is
rather 'formerly', implying that the action referred to no longer takes place. In this dictionary, International
English is used for the primary definition throughout. Where Nigerian usage is given, it is always in
apostrophes, thus; ‘use to' or 'fox'.
Other meanings of a word are listed below the first meaning. Where a word is used in an idiom it is marked
‘id.’ and the literal translation of the idiom is given. Examples of the word in use are given first in Mada and
then in a natural English translation.
3.4 Etymology and Loan-words
Not every word in the language is native to Mada; like English, Mada has borrowed words from other
languages. The sources of many words have not been identified; however, obvious loanwords from other
languages are marked in the text. The following abbreviations are used;
E.
F.
H.
Sh.
Y.
= English
= Fulfulde
= Hausa
= Shugbu
= Yoruba
Occasionally a word can be identified as a loan-word but the precise source language is unknown. In this
case the word is marked (<?). Etymologies are sometimes given, showing the parts that make up a word.
3.5 Parts of Speech
Like all languages, Mada words can be classified according to the function they have in the sentence. These
are known as 'parts of speech' -the most well-known types are nouns and verbs. The following table gives
the abbreviations used in the dictionary with short explanations;
Abbrev
iation
a.
adv.
aux.
cond.
conj.
dem.
excl.
int.
loc.
n.
n.p.
num.
Full form
Explanation
Adjective
Adverb
Auxiliary
Conditional
Conjunction
Demonstrative
Exclamation
Interrogative
Locative
Noun
Noun phrase
Numeral
Describes a noun
Qualifies a verb
Added to a verb to modify it, like a tense-marker
Expresses the relation between two events
A word used to join two or more nouns, verbs or clauses
Words used to point out something. 'this', 'that' etc.
Greetings or expressions that do not form part of an ordinary sentence
Question words
Words describing where a thing is
Refers to things, objects etc.
A phrase where a head-noun is joined to other words to form an expression
Number
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
part.
Particle
Short words added to complete the sentence
p.n.
Proper Name
A name of a person or object; always capitalised
prep.
Preposition
A word positioning nouns or verbs in time or space
pron.
Pronoun
A word that stands for a noun
v.
Verb
Expresses action
v.i.
Intransitive
A verb with no object
Verb
v.n.
Verbal Noun
A noun formed directly from a verb to express a state of being
v.p.
Verb phrase
A phrase where a head-noun is joined to other words to form an expression
v.t.
Transitive verb
A verb with an object
Needless to say, these categories were developed to describe English grammar and not all Mada words fit
neatly into them. For example, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish verbs from adjectives. Only a clear
grammatical description will help the reader understand the function of a word in a sentence. At that point,
the assignment to a particular part of speech is somewhat arbitrary; what counts is consistency throughout.
Bibliography
1. Publications in Mada
a. Mada Phonology
b. Yɛso sē bə̄ nggɔn nggɔn yə̄ gu kpə̄ tə̄ cūngwɔn (Jesus has power to save us)
c. Alphabet chart
d. The Jesus Film
e Tə Blā Mada (a booklet for non-literate)
f. Tə Blā m̀ ada Gìgyə̀r (a booklet introducing the Mada alphabets for literate)
2. Language, Ethnography and Linguistics
Blench, R. M. 2000a. Revising Plateau. In: Proceedings of 2nd WOCAL, Ekkehard Wolff & O. Gensler eds.
159-174. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.
Blench, R. M. 2000b. Transitions in Izere nominal morphology and implications for the analysis of Plateau
languages. In: Nominal classification in African languages. A. Meißner & A. Storch (eds.) 7-26.
Frankfurter Afrikanistische Blätter, 12. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.
Crozier, D.H. and Blench, R.M. 1992. An Index of Nigerian Languages. Summer Institute of Linguistics Inc.
Dallas.
De Wolf, P. 1971. The noun class system of Proto-Benue-Congo. The Hague: Mouton.
Gerhardt Ludwig, 1989. Kainji and Platoid. In: Niger-Congo. Bendor-Samuel, J. 359-76. Lanham:
University Press of America Inc.
Gerhardt, L. 1972/3a. Das Nominalsystem der Plateau-4 Sprachen: Versuch einer Rekonstruktion. Afrika
und Übersee, 56:72-89.
Gerhardt, L. 1983. Beiträge zur Kenntnis der Sprachen des Nigerianischen Plateaus. Glückstadt: Verlag J.J.
Augustin.
Gerhardt, Ludwig & Heinz Jockers. 1981. Lexikostatistische Klassifikationen von Plateausprachen. In:
Berliner Afrikanistische Vorträge, H. Jungraithmayr and G. Miehe eds., 25-54. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.
Greenberg, J. H. 1963. The Languages of Africa. Bloomington: Indiana University.
Hansford, K. et. al. 1976. An Index of Nigerian Languages. Studies in Nigerian Languages, No. 5. SIL,
Accra.
Kadima, H. & K. Jerzyk n.d. The phonology of Ninkyob. ms. Jos.
Kingdon, Jonathan ,1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals. San Diego: Academic Press.
Maydell, H. J. von, 1986. Trees and shrubs of the Sahel. Eschborn: GTZ.
Okezie, Akobundu, I. & C.W. Agyakwa 1998. A handbook of West African weeds. 2nd. ed. Ibadan:
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.
Price, N. 1989. Notes on Mada phonology. Language Data, Africa Series, 23. Dallas: SIL.
Serle, W., Morel, G.J. & W. Hartwig 1977. A field guide to the birds of West Africa. London: William
Collins.
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Shimizu, K., 1975. A Lexicostatistical Study of Plateau Languages and Jukun. Anthropological Linguistics
17, : 413-418.
Temple, Olive, 1922. Notes on the Tribes, Provinces, Emirates and States of the Northern Provinces of
Nigeria. Argus Printing and Publishing Co. Capetown.
Williamson, Kay, 1989. Benue-Congo Overview. In: John Bendor-Samuel (ed.), The Niger-Congo
Languages. Lanham: University Press of America, pp. 247-276.
Williamson, Kay, 1984. Practical Orthography in Nigeria. Heinemann Educational Books (Nigeria)
Limited, Ibadan.
Williamson, Kay & Roger M. Blench, 2000. Niger-Congo. In: Bernd Heine & Derek Nurse (eds.), African
Languages: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 11-42.
Wolff, H., 1954. Nigerian Orthography. North Regional Adult Education Office, Kaduna.
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
CAVEAT LECTOR
The following version of the Mada dictionary still has problems you should be aware of. These are;
1. Verbs. The Mada verbal system is far from fully understood, but since all tense/aspect marking makes use
of tone and a basic CVC verb can bear up to four different tones in context, the tone of the head entry
becomes a matter of some importance. I now believe that the most useful form of the verb is the 2s
present tense, since from this all other forms can be predicted. At the moment, the head entries consist
of the tone in the present tense, and the past in the second column, except where a suppletive plural
verb has been identified, but these have not been checked. It is also clear that irregular verbs exist, but
these have still to be clarified. The tones may thus change in the final version of the dictionary.
2. Nouns. Whether a noun has a plural in Mada is hard to predict, and I have inserted a long dash in Column
2 where I have clear assertions that a word has no plural. However, many words seem to have two or
three plurals, a sign that the nominal system is in flux. Also some words may have plurals but they were
unknown at the time of elicitation. In this case, the cell is left blank.
3. Scientific identifications. Almost all the scientific names come from a single day spent in Rija, going
through books of images with a circle of elderly men. In the case of trees, we were sometimes able to
see the tree in question, but in most cases we have had to depend on the books. Scientific names should
therefore be regarded with appropriate scepticism.
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
MADA-ENGLISH DICTIONARY
Singular
A.
a
ai
an
architecture
agricultural implement
ant
body part
basket
crop
dr
e
f
fa
fo
fr
g
ga
go
gr
h
hu
i
item of dress
emotions
fish
farming
food
fruit
grass
game
gourd
grasshopper
herb
hunting equipment
insect
ap
animal part
b
bf
bm
bird
bodily fluid
body mark, sore etc.
bp
bs
c
co
cr
d
da
dc
dk
colour
crustacean
disease, sickness
domestic animal
dance
drink
k
la
ma
me
mi
mo
kinship
landscape
mammal
medicine
musical instrument
money
Plural
mt
P
pd
mat
person
personal decoration
pl
po
r
s
sh
plant
pot
reptile, amphibian
snake
shrub
so
t
ti
tm
to
tp
tr
tx
v
w
w
song
tree
title
temporal (adverbs)
tool
tree part
traditional religion
textile
vine
weaving
weather
PoS
C
English
Examples, other information
aku
an
n.
conj.
b
grey parrot
and, then
an àn
excl.
no
anrɛ̀n
conj.
because
anrīn
conj.
before
atìshâû
id.
describes sneezing
Āyiririii
excl.
ululation
Psittacus erithacus
tə̄ dan gu an gu kan bàn nkɔ̀n
də̀ ywe we told him and then
took road and went
response to a question – sē wə̄
wān nan kì mē? is-it you who
did thing this?
nggə̄ nan ənə̀mē anrɛ̀n dər là
ngǎr nggə̀ I do like-this because
heart cont. break (pain) me. I am
behaving like this because of
heartbreak
wə̄ də̀ nàn ndu mē anrīn wə̄ sə
rē lā you if do work this before
you will eat food
nggə̄ te gbə̀shǔ de atìshâû I
sneeze atìshâû!
Āyiriririiii! Là gbo mbə̄ ca
Ncān (they) are bringing a wife
to Ncān
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Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
B.
????
motorcycle
to accompany, to
go with, to
‘follow’
bà
bàbər
bān
Bābər
n.
v.
bān
vu
v.
to take
dem.
those
n.
law
ban mgbə̀
v.p.
to sniff
bàr
v.
to touch
n.
n.
lion
lip
c
i
pd
forever
diminutive
seed
outside
millet
flying ants
ring
bān
bān
bǎrga
bǎrnyū
mə̀bān
barga
barnyū,
mə̀bǎrnyū
be
běbě
bē
bedə̀rō
begywī
běkan
bekan
adv.
pref.
n.
loc.
n.
n.
n.
běkyɛ̀n
běkì
běkìtɔ̄n
běkpū
bekyɛ̀n
bekī
bekītɔ̄n
bekpu
n.
n.
n.
n.
c
pp
pd
c
belə̄belà
nywɛ̂n belə̄belà
n.
b
Lima beans
seed
ear-ring
kernel of guinea
corn
cattle egret
běmè
—
n.
e
wickedness
Bemè
běmkpàn
běncī
běncwē
běntə
běntsu
běnzɛ̄
běsə̄n
bětsə̀kā
bemkpàn
benci
bencwē
bentə
béntsú
benzε
bésə̄n
bétsə̀kā
p.n
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
c
c
c
c
c
v
c
c
personal name
maize kernel
acca cultivar
groundnut
beniseed, sesame
acca, fonio
jumblebeads
cowpea
rice
2
be, bəbe
—
Examples, other information
< Hausa
gu lə dān mə̄nē tswē yə̄ bə lə
ban
3s FUT tell people place 3pi 3p
FUT accompany. He will tell
people where they are to go
Ban yə̄ nə̄ nggə̀. Take it give
me. Vǔ zəkpə cà nggə̄ mān.
Bring me those shoes [vu
governs a plural object]
Nywεn bān wə̄ sē sen? Children
those (of) you are how?
Bān tə̄ dan de tə̄ ka sə̄ mə̀ yo.
Our law says that we should not
drink wine.
nggə̄ là ban mgbə̀ I cont. take
sniffing
bàr nggə̄ də̀ man kyɛn touch
me and see
bǎrnyū gu sē nggɔ̀n lips his are
big
tə̄ lə sɔ̀n be we will stay forever
applied to crops with small seeds
gu sē ə bē he is at outside
< Hausa dauro
nggə̄ gyɔ běkan ngwɔ̀n I put
ring hand
yə̀mē sē běkìtɔ̄n this is ear-ring
cf. kə̀kənggyān. < Hausa
Ardeola ibis
wə̄ là te běmè mē mūn? you
cont. make wickedness this
why?
wickedness
cf. also njìnjà
Abrus precatorius
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
wp
bullet
bězǔ
bezu
n.
m
large male patas
bɛ̄
bε
monkey
v.
to praise s.o. for
bɛ̀
good work
pron.
they, them
bə
s.v.
to be decayed, to
bə
be rotten
loc.
with
bə̄
bə̀
bə̄bə̀
n.
bə̀bàrì
bə̀bè
bə̄bàri
n.
adv.
i
bə̀bɛ̀
bə̀bèbè
bə̄bɛ̀
n.
adv.
ap
bəbə̄
a.
bə̄bə̄
Bə̀brɛ̂
bə̀brɛ̀gyùn
bə̀brɛ̀ywì
bə̂rbə̀r
n.
p.n
n.
n.
id.
bə̄brɛ̀gyún
bə̄brɛ̀ywi
bə̂rbə̀rbə̀r
place, hole
(natural), position
butterfly
foolishly
tail
foolishly
decayed, rotten
t
h
i
tree sp.
personal name
mushroom
cockroach
describing how a
lantern burns
bər
v.
to add water to a
solid
bər
bər
int.
v.
how many?
to appeal, beg,
plead
bə̄r
bə̄bə̀r
n.
a
farm shelter
bə̀r
bə̀r
bə̀r
Bə̀tərē
bì
bə̄bə̀r
bər
bər
n.
n.
n.
p.n
s.v.
dr
s
m
bì
bi
n.
hat
royal python
genet cat
personal name
to be adapted,
accustomed to the
weather
cobra
3
Examples, other information
Erythrocebus patas. Also
kpɔ̀mgbukpɔ̀n
gu là bɛ̀ zə̄ywə̄ he cont. praise
child his
3rd person plural pronoun.
Krī nggə̄ bə. My yams are
rotten. cf. bəbə̄
Nggə̄ lə sɔ̀n rɛ̄nde bə̄ gyə̄. I will
stay long with you (pl). Nggə̄ sē
bə̄ nywεn tûn. I am with five
children (I have 5 children)
yə̀mē sē bə̀ kpə̄r this is hole of
giant mouse, yə̀mē sē bə̀
mə̀nggə̄ this is position my
və̄lɔn mūn ku bə̀bè man that fall
foolish. That man is a foolish
person
kàdə nàn kī bə̀bèbè ənə̀mē yo
don’t do things foolishly like
this
krī bəbə̄ mē this rotten yam. cf.
bə ‘to be rotten’
lit. ‘graves’
large brown, edible
Periplaneta americana
plural describes the continuous
burning of the lantern, not
necessarily many lanterns. tə̀təlà
là rɛn bə̂rbə̀r (the) lantern is
burning
tə̄ là bər nzan we cont. add
water to boiled guinea-corn
(local food drink)
Yə sē bər? it is how many?
Nggə̄ là bər wə̄, kàdə tè gyār
yo. I am begging you, should not
make angry not. [I beg you,
don’t be angry with me.]
tə̄ sɔn ə bə̀r we sit at farm
shelter
nggə̄ sɔn bə̀r I wear hat
Python regius
Genetta genetta
white man. < Hausa bature
kpə nggə̄ ban bì mbɛ̀ my body
is already adapted [to the
weather]
[Shugbu dial.] cf. Rija jwì
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
bp
eye,
face, presence
bǐshī
bishi
bīshizə̀
blā
bishizə̀
n.
v.
bp
ankle
to teach
blā
v.
to read
blā
v.
to count
Blā
Blāmə̀kə̀
Blāntān
Blārɛn
blə
—
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
v.
bɔ̌
bɔ̀n
brè
bɔ́
bɔn
brěbrè
n.
n.
adv.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
to be flat, deflated,
punctured
grass sp.
hawk
describes things of
the same height
bri
—
v.
to ache
brî
brîbrì
v.
to appear and
disappear
brîbrì
—
n.
brîbrî
—
adv.
twilight, half-light,
before sunrise,
dusk, dawn
restlessly
brε
brɛ̄brε,$
brɛ̂brɛ̀
brɛ̌krì
brêbrè
mə̀brε
n.
a.
grave
weak
brεkrī
n.
adv.
y
bri
mə̀bri
n.
bp
brì
brī
n.
tr
brì
g
b
yam heap
correctly
lower part of
abdomen, belly,
stomach
ghost
v.
to shuck (maize)
brì
—
s.v.
to be quick
bu
bu bishi
—
—
v.
v.p.
to open
to be wise, be
educated
4
Examples, other information
Kə ngwur nggə̄ ə bīshi wə̀. He
slapped me in your presence.
Nggə̄ là ywe tswē blā nywεn I
am going to teach the children
nywεn blá krε the children have
finished reading
tə̄ là blá krī we cont. counting
yams
reading
count houses
count animal skin
count matters
tayā matò wə̄ blə tyre car your
is flat
tə tan brê kəywə̀ we tall same
with ourselves [we are as tall as
each other]
nɛ̄n là bri nggə̀ stomach cont.
aching me
gu sə kàn brî meme də̀ kan
nànsɛn? he just appear and
disappear now to where? (the
plural describes the frequency of
the action)
gu gərù mà tswē kasə̄sē brîbrī
menrīn he went out while it was
still twilight
wə là te brîbrî mwɔn you cont.
make restlessly too much
tə̄ là gya brɛ we cont dig grave
gu sē brɛ̂brɛ̄ he is weak
kān tə̄ gə̄ yə̄ brêbrè let us share
it correctly
sɔn wə̀ndō ywān bri wear
trouser cover lower abdomen
sē nggwɔ̌ wān ngrɛn brì
gbàgyə̀r? it-is who see ghost
ever? Who has ever seen a
ghost?
Nggə̄ là brì kpəmkpàn. I'm
shucking maize.
wə̄ la sē wān brì kpə yo you
neg. be person of quick not
bǔ nggə̄ nkɔ̀n open me door
lit. ‘open eyes’. nggə̄ bla
mgbāmvū də̀ bu bishi. I read
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
bǔ
—
s.v.
bū
bū mə̀sər
bu
n.
n.
bū
—
n.
night, darkness
bù
bu
v.
to grind
n.
exact spot, place
bubu
—
n.
n.
būbū
—
n.
bùbwɔ̀
—
n.
bǔbù
bùbù
bubù
to be open
m
f
bs
aardvark
fish sp.
basket type
taste for
something,
appetite
darkness, early
morning
petition, pleading
Bùbwɔ̀
bùkan
bwā
bwa
p.n
n.
v.
bwà
bwā
v.
to pour out
bwɛ̂
v.
to fetch s.t. small
bwɛ̂
v.
bwɛ̂bwɛ̀
adv.
to watch a person
so as to catch him
at a later time
slow and steady
b
bwə̀
bwər
mə̀tərbwə
—
n.
v.
t
dc
bwi
—
n.
tr
bwɔ̂bwɔ̄
bwɔkì, bwɔ̌
a.
bə̄bwɔkī
n.
personal name
giant kingfisher
to fly
fig tree
to dance a dance
of rejoicing
witchcraft
parboiled
dr
pocket
5
Examples, other information
book and open eyes (become
wise). (idiom)
rɛn yə kur bǔ menān the matter
it lie be open only
Orycteropus afer
lit. ‘aardvark of water’.
Gymnarchus niloticus
bū te night make (it is night),
rɛn yə te nggə bū bishi matter it
make me dark (night) eyes
ywē bù tə̄ nzan ə kə̀. go grind
for us boiled guinea-corn at
house
yə̀mē sē bubu tswēywə̄ this is
exact place of it
large basket with lid
gu là te bùbù tan nan he cont
has an-appetite to-eat meat
tə doglo būbū də ywe tswē hwā
kpu we got up early morning
and went to the place of
trampling guinea-corn
sē bùbwɔ̀ nggə̄ là te nə gyə̄. It-is
pleading (that) I cont make give
you (pl). Nggə̄ te wə̄ bùbwɔ̀ ka
tè gyār yo. I make you apleading (you) should-not get
angry not.
petition
Ceryle maxima
vəncɛ là bwā (a) bird cont.
flying
kan mə̀sər bwà. take water pour
[pour out the water]
cǔ bemkpàn mǎ bwɛ̂ cà nggə̄
mān fetch corn reach fetch-small
bring me
bwɛ̂ me nggə̄ lə vūn gu kpaki
watch only I will catch him must
bwɛ̂bwɛ̀ me nggə̄ lə kəsū slow
and steady only I will reach
used to make arrowheads
tə̄ là bwər we cont. dance of
rejoicing
Nē là te bwi. people cont. make
witchcraft.
Mbə̄do là te nan bwɔ̂bwɔ̄
Mbə̄do cont. make meat parboil
? < English ‘pocket’
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Examples, other information
C.
v.
cā
—
n.
cā
—
v.
to splash either
water or mud on
s.o.
unfermented wine,
sweet wine
to learn, to mock
cà
—
v.
to bring to
conj.
together with
v.
ca
câ
càn nyū
v.p.
to pound, crush
(yams or palm
nuts), mash with
foot, trample
to be about to cry
Cànkyū
Cāngrɛ̄n
car
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
personal name
to write
v.
to spoil, wreck,
destroy
to be mature, grow
up
leopard
colourful
càn
can, cān
—
cā…zu
cε
—
v.
cə̄
cə̄car
cə
n.
a.
cər
cə̄r
mə̀cə̀r
cə̄r
m
s.v.
to be alone
n.
stranger, guest,
visitor
to despise s.o., to
refuse to accept
s.t. because it is
too little, belittle,
scorn
patas monkey
vein(s)
front, forehead
to move, to
squeeze together
(people) on a
bench, move, shift,
squeeze up, give
way
rat, general
to avoid
v.
cə̀r
ci
ci
cī
cər
—
—
cì
cì
ci
cī
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
v.
m
6
Gu ca ncan bwà nggə̀ he
splashed mud on me
nggə̄ là sə cā I cont. drink
unfermented sweet wine
nggə̄ là ca blā I cont. learn to
write
te mə̀sər cà nggə̄ mān fetch
water bring to me
tə̄ sə̄ sē câ kəywə̀… we were
together with….
Və̄nggə̄rin là càn krī Vənggərin
cont. pound yam
Mgbǔn là càn nyū yə̄ gu gì
menān Mgbǔn is about to cry
et. ‘press down death’
see for the first time
Swɛ̌nyū là car Swɛ̌nyū cont.
write
rɛn cazu matter spoil, gu ca
nggə mkpān zù he spoil my
time spoil
wə̄ cɛ tè vənzɛ̀ you have grown
up into a young man
dim. vəcə̄
kì mē sē cə̄car thing this is
colourful
wə̄ là krè cər me mūn? you
cont. stand alone only why?
cə̄r nyə bə̄ nggə̀ stranger come
with me
wə̄ là cə̄r mənē kənàn mwɔ̄n
you CONT despising people so
much, vɛ̄n mē là cə̄r lā child this
scorning food this
Erythrocebus patas. dim. vəcə̀r
already plural
cī nə̄ nggə̄ te sɔ̄n move (shift) let
me sit down, cī ywè move away
bə dan de nə̄ nggə̄ cī mə̀nyɛ̀sər
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Cìkyū
Cìmbə̄
Cìncān
cincì
—
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
cīncī
Cìnē
cìnjǐ
—
cinji
n.
p.n
n.
cīnji
cinji
a.
n.
cìta
fo
i
mi
personal name
personal name
personal name
fried sweet dough,
snack
fly
personal name
hourglass drum
black
c
African pepper
v.
to sew
Cōntān
cɔ̀
p.n
v.
personal name
to get wet, soak, to
become soggy
cɔ̀
cɔ̀
v.
v.
cu
v.
to poke
to cause people to
fight
to appoint
cǔ rɛn
v.p.
to crack a joke
co
—
cū
cǔ
v.
Cudè
cū
—
p.n
v.
to fetch (grass
etc.)
personal name
to choose
cū
cū
—
—
v.
v.
to stir
to plant
v.p.
to swear
cū tānrìn
7
Examples, other information
they said that let me avoid palm
oil
avoid death
et. ‘avoid women’
avoid mud
< Hausa
avoid people
played for funeral dances
bàbər nggə̄ sē cīnji motorcycle
my is black. Agrees in number
with the noun it qualifies.
Xylopia aethiopica. < Hausa
citta
gu là cō kī he cont sewing
clothes
sew leather
gu kan kəywə̄ cɔ̀ ə mə̀sər he
make himself soak in water. cf.
zu
gu là cɔ̀ bə̀ he cont. poking hole
wə̄ là cɔ̀ bə mūn? you cont.
causing them to fight why?
bə cu gu nə̄ gu lwè bə they
appoint him let him lead them
lit. ‘to fetch talk’. sē nggə̄ là cu
rɛn bə̄ wə̄ me it-is I cont. only
crack a joke with you
cu jā lə̀lwè cà nggə̄ mān fetch
used grass bring me
fetch and leave some behind
tə̄ là cu bān nggɔn nggɔn tə̀ we
cont. choosing leaders our
Yā là cū lā Yā cont. stir food
tə̄ là cu kpu we cont. plant
guinea corn
cū tānrìn wə̄ lə la mwə̀n yo (I)
swear you will not be given.
This is mostly an old man
swearing by the masquerade
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
wind, breeze
cucu
—
adv.
always
cùcùn(mu)
cùmbwɛ̌
cúmbwɛ́
n.
cumgbə̀
—
n.
aroma, sweet scent
cun
cūn
cǔn
mə̀cùn,
mə̀cūcùn
n.
n.
forest
chief
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
personal name
personal name
Personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
stream
Cūnbə
Cūncɔ̀
Cūnmbə
Cūnmwɔ̀cu
Cūnmgbɔ̀
Cūnndə̄ywān
Cūnjà
Cūnjə̀ma
Cūnrīnzɛ̄
cūn
cun
cūn
v.
cuncwən
n.
cundɛ̀
adv.
cūn
v.
cūn…ngwɔn
cùn
—
v.
v.
cūntān
cūyò
cwàr
cwārcwàrcwàr
v.
n.
s.v.
cwe
—
adv.
t
la
large edible fruit
to not to do any
work
droplets, globules
t
Examples, other information
nggə̄ là nyə kə̄ wə̄ cùcùnmu I
cont. coming house you always
from a tree that grows by
streams. The seeds are extracted
and cooked like beans with
guinea-corn
mə̀nyɛ̀n mē cumgbə̀ pomade
this sweet scent
wə̄ là te cūn bə̄ nggwɔ̌? you
cont. make chief with who?
their chief
chief of Ancho
Chief of women
chief of Mwɔ̀cu
chief of Kəmgbɔ̀
chief of Ndəywān
Chief of Jà
chief of people <Hausa
chief of Rīnzɛ̄
nggə̄ là ywe cun I cont. go
stream
???
glō là te cuncwən rain cont.
make droplets
5 days hence
tə lə ywe do ə cundɛ̀ we will go
market at five days hence
to sigh
gu kùr də̀ là kpə̄ cūn he lies and
CONT receive sigh
to release, let go of cūn yə̄ ngwɔn leave it
to shake
ngǔn shū də̀ man cùn
mənggə̀rō sū nggə̀ climb up and
shake mangoes put me
to skin animal
tree sp.
Vitex diversifolia
to be cool
lit. ‘cool’. This is mostly in
answer to a greeting asking how
you are feeling nggə̄ shāmān
susù cwàr I exist cool
cwārcwàrcwàr is not
necessarily pl. but for emphasis
full
te mə̀sər sū shɛ̄ tsə cwe fetch
water put fill pot full
8
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
D.
dǎ
da
n.
c
guinea-corn head
dǎ
dān
da
mə̀tərdān
n.
n.
ai
t
dàn
dan, dān
v.
cutlass
copaiba balsam
tree
to say, tell
danca
dancɔ
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
Danbə
Danrɛn
Dantsù
dàncà
dàncɔ̀
dankū
dankyū
dar
dârdār
—
t
n.
n.
n.
id.
t
c
mn
b
personal name
personal name
personal name
tree sp.
hard ground
(gravelly)
tree sp.
sweet potato
lead
describes how s.o
walks quickly
dàtso
de
dē
—
n.
pron.
n.
dè
—
v.
dèbə̀
dètswē
debə̀
detswē
v.
v.
to give way, get
away from
to give way
to give way
dɛ̄n
dɛ̄n
dɛ̄n … ngan
dɛ̀n
dɛ̌
də
də̄
—
—
v.
v.
v.p.
n.
n.
v.
conj.
to cure
to press
to press down
large mammal
dwarf chicken
to be lost
when, if
datso
dεn
nywɛ̂n dɛ
—
conj.
də̀
də̄dār
də̄dārglō
də̀dè
də̀dǔn lə̄
də̀gba
m
da
green fruit-pigeon
that
tiredness
and, if, when, but
mə̀tər də̄dār
—
n.
n.
t
fan-palm
rainbow
də̄dun lə
n.
n.
g
tp
grass sp.
flower of locust
tree
if not
conj.
9
Examples, other information
nə̄ yə man nan da tē
nggɔnggɔn let them then make
heads become big
< Hausa ?
Daniellia oliveri
dan gu de nggə̄ kre ə sə̄kànmē
tell him that I am standing here
tell them
tell talk
head of maggot
Entada abyssinica
tswē te dàncɔ̀ place make hard
ground
< Hausa. Also kyūnkyū
< Hausa
gu là zər dârdār mwɔn he is
walking faster more than, i.e he
is always walking faster
Treron australis
gu dan de he said that
tə̄ lə te sɔ̄n mà dē də̄ te tswe zər
we will sit down when tiredness
if make them place walking i.e.
we’ll sit down when we’re tired
doglò dè sə̄kànmē get up, get
away from here
gyə cī dèbə̀ you move give way
dan bə nə̄ bə dētswē tell them to
give way
bə lə dɛ̄n gu they will cure him
dɛ̄n nggə̄ tər press my waist
dɛ̄n gu ngàn press him down
gu də he's lost
bə də̄ nyə nzɛn they if come
then
wān də̀ kpənyɛ̀n nə̄ gu zǒ
ngwɔn who if agrees let him
raise (his) hand
Borassus aethiopium
kyɛn də̄dārglō mū see rainbow
that
Parkia biglobosa
yə də̄gba sē ənə̀mē yo it if-not
be like this
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
n.
tp
palm midrib
də̀mgbà rě
dəmgbà re
n.
ap beehive
də̀mgbà shɔ́
də̄mgbà shɔ́
n.
da calf of cow
də̄mū
—
n.
boundary
də̄n
—
də̀n
də̀də̀n
də̀nggàn
də̀nggàn
dən
dənggə
mədənggə
də̀ntswe
də̌r
də̌r cīnji
dər
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
g
m
mi
tree sp.
grass sp.
reedbuck
side-blown
reedbuck horn
n.
rivals, enmity
n.
middle, between,
centre
heart
unhappy
n.
n.p.
bp
də̌r kə̄kla
n.p.
happy, joyful
də̌r ngàr
n.p.
angry
Dərsùbə
də̀r
p.n
v.
personal name
to swim
—
də̀rè
dərsù
də̀sē
dərsu
də̀tswē
n.
d
whitlow
n.
cond.
b
red-eyed dove
if
conj.
so that
do
mə̀dō
n.
market
dō
do
v.
to sing
doglō
doglo
v.
dòrù
—
v.
to stand up, to
arise
to come out
-dɔ
—
n.
dɔ̀
Dɔ̀hwan
dɔ̀n
—
n.
p.n
v.
Dɔ̀nbə
—
p.n
t
farmer (in
compounds)
tree sp.
personal name
to announce
personal name
10
Examples, other information
tə̄ te də̄n bə̄ kəywə̀ we make
boundary with each other
Piliostigma reticulatum
Redunca redunca
cf. mplɔ̄n. played together with
the panpipes for festive
occasions
Gu sē dənggə nggə̀ he/she is my
rival, bə sē mədənggə they are
rivals
nggə̄ kre ə də̀ntswe mə̄nē I
stand in the midst of people
lit. heart black’. nggə̄ sē bə̄ dər
cīnji I be with heart black
lit. ‘heart white’. nggə̄ sē bə̄ dər
kə̄kla I be with heart white
lit. ‘heart break’. də̌r là ngar
nggə̀ heart cont. break me
The heart cools them
tə̄ là dər mə̀sər we cont. swim
water
(this appears only on the leg)
də̀rè là nan Sātī whitlow cont.
do Sati
Streptopelia semitorquata
də̀sē wə̄ lə la nyə̄ yo if you will
neg. come not
gu dōglò dɛ̄n mān də̀tswē gu
mān nyə sū tswetswe He got up
early so.that he then come reach
quickly
mbrε sē do Ndəywan tomorrow
is market day Andaha do ywə̄ sē
sen? market cost is how.much?
nggə̄ là do sεn I am singing a
song
doglō krè ndè get up stand
upright
dorù nyə̀ sə̄kànmē come out
here
cf. wāndɔ̀
farmer farm
dɔ̀n rɛn sū mənē announce
matter put people
shout it to them
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
p.n
personal name
Dɔ̀nkyū
p.n
personal name
Dɔ̀nkɔ̄n
v.
to shout
dɔ̀nrεn
—
Examples, other information
shout of death
shout of war
Titi là dɔ̀nrεn bə̄ Tani Titi cont
shouting with Tani
Tiyà là dan tə dū yə̄ bān Ncɔ̀
Father cont. tell us history of
Ncɔ people
nggə̄ là nan kì mē dùdu wə̀ I
cont. do thing this on account of
you
dū
n.
history
dùdu
conj.
on account of
dùdù
dùr
n.
v.
local box
to doze
excl.
yes, in response to
a question
wə̄ re lā mbɛ̄? you ate food
already? ɛ̄n.
ə
loc.
at
ə rə
adv.
three days hence
ənə̀mē
(ə)nywī
dem.
loc.
like this
inside
ənywīnywī
loc.
right inside
ətù
loc.
atop, about,
concerning
ə̀ Sh. Introduces many adverbial
expressions. gu sē ə bē he is at
outside
Nggə̄ lə nyə̄ sə̄kànmē ə rə. I
will come here three days from
now.
nan ənə̀mē do like this
nggə̄ sē ənywī tàr I be inside
room
gu ban yə̄ nyə̄r ənywīnywī he
took it hide right inside
lit. ‘at head’. yə̄ sa ətù tsə̄ it put
on top of the pot
a.
useless (person)
dur
gu là dùr nə̀nə̄ he cont. doze
sleep
S.
ɛ̄n
L.
F.
fa
fā
fà
—
v.
int.
to itch
question marker
fà
—
v.
to be cheap
fà
—
adv.
given freely, for
free
v.
to cut more than
one thing, as grass,
fà
11
gu sē wān fa he is a useless
person
zə là fa nggə̄ leg is itching me
in sentence final position. Now
sounds archaic. ? < Nigerian
English
bə kan kì mē rɛ̄ wə̄ fà they take
thing this sale (for) you free
Mgbāmvū kan kìkyɛn mē nə̄
nggə̄ fà Mgbāmvū take bicycle
this give me free
tə̄ là fa lə̀lwè we cont. cut grass
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
harvest, cut
a.
light, not heavy,
fafa
light
v.
to bless
far
far
v.
far
v.
to cut, to wrench
out
to mark out
Fàvɛ̄n
fè
p.n
v.
personal name
to lick one’s finger
v.
to expose, to
destroy
fε bishi
v.p.
to stare at s.o. as a
warning
fε bishi
v.p.
fɛ̀ mvre
v.p
to concentrate on
doing s.t.
to make trouble
with people
fə-
pref.
small
p.n
v.
personal name
to fetch
fəgbɔ̀n
a.
short
fəgyə̄r
a.
only one
n.
comrade
p.n
p.n
a.
personal name
personal name
small
fε
Fəjə̀
fə̀r
fəgyə̀ywə̄
—
fər
nywεngyə̀r
Fəmbə̄
Fəntàn
fənyεn
Fənyεn
fənzə
fə̌r
nywεnzə
p.n
n.
v.
hi
personal name
cup
to mistreat s.o.
because you are
12
Examples, other information
mgbāmvū mē sē fafa leaf this is
light
gu nan kì zəzè də̀tswe bə mān
far nyu zəze gyɔ̄ gu. He did a
good thing so that people would
bless him.
fǎr gəga mū cut that grass
bān gbù yə far mpə mgbəji
gyə̄r gyɔ̄ ... those village it mark
out piece bush one put. The
village people marked out an
area of bush
foolish child
gu tsə tswē fè ngwɔn nggān he
knows how to lick his finger
very well
wə là fɛ bə̀mə̄ zù nggwɔ̌? you
cont. expose buttocks point
who? Who are you exposing
your buttocks to?
bɛ̄ nyə fε kpəmkpàn kyεn
monkeys come destroy maize
look
lit. to open eyes wə̄ là fɛ bishi
zù nggwɔ̌? you cont. open eyes
point (at) who?
fɛ bishi də̀ krɛ̀ ndu concentrate
and finish the work
Mbwarnɛ̀n là fɛ̀ mvre kənàn
mwɔn Mbwarnɛ̀n always makes
trouble
kì mē sē fənyɛn thing this is
small
small poverty
(of solid objects, such as cooked
yam) fə̀r nə̄ nggə̀ fetch give me
nzār nggə̄ sē fəgbɔ̀n hoe my is
short
gu sē fəgyə̄r me he is only one
only
gu sē fəgyər nggə̀ he is comrade
mine
dim. small woman
dim. small skin
fəvɛ̀n mū sē fənyεn boy that is
small
small (sometimes in stature)
Mbə̄rɛn là fə̌r Ncaka Mbə̄rɛn
cont. mistreat Ncaka
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
stronger than
them, bully
v.
to come out of a
fə̌r
hole
fərɔ̀n
fətse
fətsɛ̀
fəvɛ̀n
flɔ̀
fə̀rɔ̌n
nywεntse
nywεn
n.
n.
a.
n.
v.
hi
p
calabash cup/ladle
village
few, little, small
child
to tread on
flɔ̀fi
a.
useless
fɔ̀
v.
to search
Fɔ̀kyɛn
Fɔ̀ngrɛ̄n
fɔ̀rεn
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
personal name
to fight
Fɔ̀rεn
Fɔ̀tswē
frē
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
personal name
to peel
frēfrè
a.
loose
fū
—
n.
fû
—
n.
indigestion
fù
—
v.
to blow up a fire,
to smoke
fùkān
fukan
fùkpə
fù mgbo
bp
lung
n.
b
bird sp.
n.
v.p
s
puff adder
to blow one’s
cheeks as a sign of
anger
n.
v.p.
bp
shoulder
walking with arms
spread out
Examples, other information
(mostly of animals that live in
holes) cì to ru fə̌r rat poke come
out of hole i.e it came out in a
rush
dim.
lā nggə̄ sē fətsɛ̀ food my is small
dim.
tə̄ là zər flɔ tswe we cont. walk
tread place
gu sē flɔ̀fi, fà he is useless, isn’t
he?
nggə̄ là fɔ wə̀ I cont. searching
for you
search look
search see
Mbə̄rā bə̄ Dānrɛn là fɔnrɛn
Mbə̄rā with Dānrɛn cont. fight
fight
search place
frē nggə̄ lèmu peel me orange,
frē tè nkan peel it make
different
kì mē sē frēfrè me thing this is
loosely only
yə̀mē sē fū kə̀kə̄ this is the lungs
of a chicken
nɛ̄n nggə̄ kre fû stomach my
stand indigestion
fù nggə̄ glo nə̄ yə rɛn blow me
fire let it talk (flames), i.e fan the
fire into flames; Tīyà là fù lə̀ta
Grandfather cont. blow smoke
pipe
medium-sized red bird with big
beak seen around streams
Bitis arietans
Bə̀ryo là fù mgbo bə nggwɔ̌?
who is Bə̀ryo angry with?
G.
gā
gà mgbān
mə̀gā
gà ngwɔn
v.p.
gan …kre
v.p.
walking with arms
spread out
to halt, to stop, to
13
This is a sign of pride gu là zə̌r
gà mgbān he cont walk with
pride
matò gan kan krē (the) car
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
cease
n.
feast, party
gān
—
gàn
n.
be too tight
gàn…mkpān
v.p.
to arrive on time
gǎncɛ̌
gan ngwɔn
n.
v.p.
Gànkɔ̀n
gantàn
gànyǎn
gar
gàr
gàryǎn
gantan
mə̀gar
gar
p.n
n.
n
n.
n.
a.
g
i
to
i
grass sp.
plenty and readily
available
personal name
brown spider
dry food
adze
army ant
very hairy
Gàsūba
p.n.
personal name
gba
a.
all, only
gbā
conj.
if
gbǎ
gbà
n.
adv.
gba
gbà
v.
gbà
v.
gbàdò
—
n.
da
cock
not even
to rub in, as an
ointment
to crawl, drag
yourself along
d
arthritis
gbâgba
—
a.
last
gban
—
v.
to miss out on
gban
mə̀gbǎn
n.
bp
pubic area
gbān
gbàngyə̀r
mə̀gbān
n.
adv.
r
frog
never, ever
gbàr
gbàr
gbārkī
n.
n.
h
bp
—
flower (general)
Adam’s apple
14
Examples, other information
came a halt
nggə̄ lə nan gān ə sε yə̄mù I
will do feast at year that (next
year)
wə̀ndō là gàn gu trouser cont.
tight him
nggə̄ nyə gàn mkpān yə̄ bə de
tə̄ nyə I came at the right time
which they said we should come
Brachiaria deflexa
mənē gan ngwɔn people areplenty
too fat to pass through
Ridan sē gàryǎn. Ridan is very
hairy
et. ‘divide and share among
them’
(see kwār) tə̄ dɔ̄ lan yə gba
nānrɛ̄n we farm farm it all
yesterday
(in negative sentences) nggə̄ gbā
ngrɛ̄n gu yo I if didn't see him
not
see also gbā. usually found in
la..gba yo. nggə̄ lə la nan ndu
me gba yo I will not do this
work under any circumstances
nggə̄ là gba mə̀nyɛ̀n I am
rubbing in pomade
see ngǎn. Usually followed by a
body part. e.g. gbà nɛ̀nɛ̀n drag
with stomach
gbàdò là nǎn Tǒbə arthritis cont
do Tǒbə
yə̀mē sē yə̀ gbâgba this is which
of the last
gu gban lā rīmē he missed food
today
vɛ̄n mē ru mfù gban child this
sprout hair pubic
nggə̄ la re kì mē kyɛn gbàngyə̀r
yo I neg. eat this thing never
Junglō sē bə̄ gbàr Junglō is
with Adam’s apple i.e. he has a
pronounced Adam’s apple
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to confess
gbàr
v.
gbə̀
n.
v.
go
—
gbə̄gbàkī
n.
n.
i
go
soldier termite
broken calabash
—
n.
n.
i
weevil
red flying insects
found around
kapok cotton
describes s.t.
happening under
your nose
gbə̀
gbə̀cu
gbə̀dàr
gbə̀gbakì
to discuss
—
gbə̄gbār
gbə̄gbə̄kpm̀
adv.
gbə̀gbə̀zə̀
gourd vine
to curse
gbə̄gblǎ
—
n.
brilliance
gbəgbrè
—
a.
ripe
gbə̄gbrē
gbəjā
n.
—
gbəji
gbəjimkplɔn
gbə̄lantswē
gbə̄mgbɛ̄ntɔ̄n
gbə̄ntan
gbəntan
small brown
insects that seek
sweet things
ugly, wicked, bad
village of the
Mgbə̀njɛ clan
steam,
evaporation,
vapour
to covet
n.
v.
gbə̀jikì
Gbə̀jikì
gbə̀jimkplɔn
gbə̄
kpəmkpàn
gbə̀lāntswē
gbə̀lantswē
a.
p.n
Gbə̀jə̀
gbəjī
i
p.n
n.
n.
i
personal name
millipede
corn forest
n.
n.
g
i
grass sp.
cricket
n.
i
false termite
n.
da
sheep
15
Examples, other information
bə gbō Mbərɛn ywe cun nə gu
gbàr də̀tswe gbǎ man dōglò dè
gu tu They took Mbərɛn to the
stream to confess so that the
cock (would) leave her head.
This refers to a traditional
ceremony to force a woman to
confess adultery. The cock stays
on her head till she has
confessed everything.
bə là te gbə̀ bə̄ kəywə̀ they cont.
discussing together
te gbə̀cu sū wə̀ make curse put
you. i.e. you are cursed
dim. vəgbə̀gbakì,
nywɛ̂ngbə̄gbakī
kì mē te gbə̀gbə̀zə̀ nggə̄ də̀ nggə̄
la tsə yo this thing happened
under my nose but I did not
know
tswē là la gbə̄gblâ place cont.
shine brilliance
mənggə̀rō mū sē gbəgbrè
mango that is ripe
nggə̄ sē gbəjā, nggə̄ sē nē gbəjā
I am ugly, I’m a wicked person
mə̀sər là te gbəjī water is
making steam
gu là te gbə̀jikì kənànmē he
cont. covet too much
covetousness
dim. vəgbə̀lantswē,
nywɛ̂ngbə̄lantswē
that flies during the heat of the
day
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
v.
to drag
gbər
n.
gbə̀rǐn
n.
n.
levirate marriage
bp
knee
sneezing
gbəryūn
gbə̀sho
gbəryun
gbì
—
v.
gbī
Gbìn
gbla
mə̀gbī
n.
p.n.
n.
gbla
gblà
—
v.
v.
to weed
to disappear
gblǎ
—
n.
weeding
gblancā
gbm̄
mə̀gbm̄
n.
n.
termite species
canoe
gbm̌
gbm
n.
sound
gbò
v.
to remove
gbō te nkɔ̀n
v.p.
gbō ywe ngə̄
v.p.
to see somebody
off
to marry
gbōjūn
gbō rɔ̄
v.
v.
mə̀gblā
gbōtsū
gbotsu
v.
gbɔ̄n
gbə̄gbɔ̀n
n.
gbɔ̄nkì
gbɔ̀n
gbə̄gbɔ̀nkī
gbə̄gbɔ̀n
n.
n.
to pull
hi
bm
arrow
Rija town
tribal mark
to escape
to play with s.o as
playmate
to break suddenly
k
short piece of
wood
log
family
gbɔ̀ngbɔ̀ngbɔ̀
n
id.
sound of a big
drum
gbɔ̌ngbɔ̌ngbɔ̌
id.
sound of water
being poured out
of a gourd or
similar container
tilapia spp.
ngbɔ̌n
gblàkə̀ntsà
gblākə̄ntsà
n.
f
16
Examples, other information
gbə̄r bwɔ lə̀lwè mē lwè nyə̀ drag
this bundle of grass and bring it
Mgbɔn cu gbə̀rǐn Mbəgì Mgbɔn
has fetch levirate marriage
Mbəgì
gbə̀sho là te gu sneezing cont.
make him
gbì nggūnggwūr mē dèbə̀ pull
this vine away
gu sē bə̄ gbla ə ngà he is with
tribal marks on the face
tə̄ là gbla we cont. weed
respectful way of announcing
death gu kan gblà he then
‘disappear’ (death), i.e. he is
dead
tə̄ gbla lan yə krɛ nānrɛ̄n we
weed farm it finished yesterday
mə̀sər ban gbm̄ water took
canoe i.e. the canoe sank
màtò là gbm car cont. make
sound
nggə̄ là ywe tswē gbo tər gəga
mù I am going place remove tree
grass that
tə̄ là gbo gu te nkɔ̀n we cont.
see him off
lit. ‘to carry into marriage’ bə là
gbo mbə ywe ngə̄ they cont.
carrying woman to be married
gu klwe gbojun he ran escape
wə̄ là gbō rɔ̄ you cont. play
mgbənrīn gbotsu rope (is)
broken suddenly
tə̄ sē bān gbɔ̀n gyə̄r we are of
the same family
kə̀nggān là gì de
gbɔ̀ngbɔ̀ngbɔ̀n drum big cont.
cry that gbɔ̀ngbɔ̀ngbɔ̀n
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to shiver
gbrě
—
v.
to ripen
gbre
—
gbre
—
gbrē
gbrε
mə̀gbrε
v.
to be cooked
n.
shivering
n.
gbrɛ̌
v.
gbrɛ̄n
v.
gbrīn
gbrīn
gbrīn
gbrīn
gbrǔ
gbù
gbù
Gbùkpm
Gbùmkpàn
Gbùncū
gbùr
gbyɛ̌
mə̀gbrīn,
gbə̄gbrìn
mə̀gbrīn,
gbə̄gbrìn
mə̀gbrīn,
gbə̄gbrìn
mə̀gbrīn,
gbə̄gbrìn
gbru
gbūgbu
gbūgbu
gbur
gbyε
r
agama lizard
(female)
to be flaunting, i.e
s.o showing off
n.
to cut into two
snappily
spirit
n.
photo
n.
shadow
n.
soul
n.
n.
n.
p.n
p.n.
p.n.
n.
n.
b
c
vulture
town
mountain, hill
village name
village name
village name
banana, plantain
straight razor
gbyɛ̄n
gbyɛ̄n
excl.
v.
gè
gē
adv.
conj.
be careful!
to watch out for,
look out for, be
careful of
now
or, whether
dry season
gə̄
—
n.
gə̄
mə̀gə̄
n.
hu
throwing stick
used by hunters
to split, to divide,
to share out
to snore
n.
v.
g
grass (generic)
to go to
a.
co
gə̀
v.
gə̀
v.
gəga
gəgə̄
gə̄grεn
—
red
17
Examples, other information
nggə̄ là gbrě I am shivering
mənggə̀rō mē gbre these
mangoes are ripe
krī nggə̄ gbre ə glo mbε? yam
my be-cooked at fire yet
kpə nggə̄ ban gbrē te body
mine take shivering make
cf. kpə̄
və̄nggə̄ mē là gbrɛ̌ tə̄ bə̄
nggwɔ̌? who is this girl showing
herself off with?
gu sar kə̀kə̄ tə̄ gbrɛ̄n he cut
chicken neck snappily
yə̀mē sē gbrīn this is spirit
yə̀mē sē gbrīn nggə̀ this is photo
my
gbrīn nggə̄ ywar wə̀ shadow my
block you
gbrīn nggə̄ la kpə̄nyɛn bə̄ gu yo
soul my neg. agree with you not
also kpɔ̄gbru, kpɔ̄mkpan
Name of a village along Wamba
road. ‘town of kapok trees’
‘town of hardness’
‘town of ncu tree’ Vitex doniana
yə̀mē sē gbyɛ̌ this is straight
razor
Gbyɛn! be careful
gbyɛ̄n bə̄ nggagyū mē take-care
with these dogs
nan yə̄ gè do it now
cf. kē - nə̄ nggə̄ ban yə̀mē gē
yə̀mù? let me take this-one or
that-one?
yə̀mē sē mkpān gə̄ this is dry
season
nggə̄ sē bə̄ mə̀gə̄ ywā I be with
throwing sticks two
gə̀ lā share the food, gə̀ yə tè
ywā divide it into two
gu là kùr nə̀nə̄ də̀ gə̀ he
continued to lie there and snore
nggə̄ gəgə̄ Kə̄gbə̀ I went
Akwanga
bə̀r nggə̄ sē gə̄grεn cap my is
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
gə̀lǐmgbə̀
gə̄mē
gəlimgbə̀
n.
adv.
gə̀mvə̀r
gəmvər
n.
aeroplane
gə̀mvī
gəmvi
n.
gə̀ncə tù
gə̀nggān
gə̄nggān
n.
n.
d
mi
smut on guineahead that is
collected and
eaten, either raw
or roasted
migraine
barrel-drum beaten
with hooked stick
gə̀ntē
gə̀ntē
gənte
gənte
n.
n.
t
mi
gə̀ntsù
gər
gə̀r
gəntsu
mə̀gər
—
n.
n.
v.
h
p
gə̀rī
gəri, mə̄gəri
n.
k
h
gə̀rīncwē
gərù
gi
gi
—
n.
v.
loc.
n.
gi
məgi
n.
gì
gì
—
—
v.
v.
an
sugar ant
this time
false locust tree
raft-zither made of
grass-stems
grass sp.
slave
to become
engaged, to be
betrothed
co-wife
gìga
gigi
v.a
adv.
plant sp.
to go out
next to
stealing, theft,
robbery
maternal uncle,
grand child
to cry, to weep
to settle out (from
water)
to get up hastily
secretly
gigyə̀r
gìgyə̀r
num.
a.
one hundred
together, equal
v.
to blame
gə̄ru
gìgyə̄r
gì gyɔ̄
gigyun
gigyūn
Gìkyū
—
n.
adv.
p.n
h
mushroom sp.
quietly
personal name
18
Examples, other information
red
gə̄mē nggə̄ lə la kà wə̄ dɔn yo
this time I will not leave you
the sound, mvər, divides gə your
attention
gyə̄ nyə tə̄ ywe kə fɔ̀ gə̀mvī you
come we go search smut guineahead
cf. tu ngār
(see kə̀nggān). Played for
festive occasions, and the
initiation cycle
Prosopis africana
wə̄ tsə ngwùr gə̀nte? (do) you
know (how to) play gə̀nte?
Pennisetum pedicellatum
gu sē gər nggə̀ he is slave my
gu là gə̀r mbə̄ he cont.
betrothing a lady
bə sē mə̄gəri they are co-wives,
Mbə̄cūn sē gə̀ri Làmā Mbə̄cūn
is co-wife with Làmā
kān tə̄ gə̄ru let us go out
nggə̄ kre gi wə̀ I am next to you
bə te nggə̄ gi they make me theft
[they robbed me]
gu sē gi nggə̀ he is uncle my
vɛ̄n là gì (the) child is crying
kà mə̀sər dɔ̀n nə̄ yə̄ gì leave the
water let it settle
gu giga doglò he got up hastily
gyə̄ ka nàn kī gigi yo (you)
don’t do things secretly
nə̄ tə̄ blā Mada gìgyə̀r let us
read Mada together
lit. ‘cry put’ wə̄ lə la gì gyɔ̄ nənè
yo mà wə̄ də̀ kpan tu də̀ nàn kì
mē you will neg. cry put
anybody not when you if you
insist and do thing this
small, white, edible
tswē kur gigyun kə̄de kyū te
(the) place is quiet as if there is
death
cry death
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
p.n
personal name
Gìmwɔn
p.n
personal name
Gǐndə̄n
n.
to
axe
glà
gla
v.
to chase, to drive
glā
gla
off
p.n
personal name
Glābə
v.
to pass through, to
glə̀
glə
‘follow’
n.
r
water monitor
glə̀
glə
n.
fire
glo
—
v.
dc to dance
glo
—
glō
glǒkyū
—
goglo
n.
n.
wt
dc
rain
funeral dance
a.
hot
back, behind,
around
gɔ̄n
mə̀gɔ̄n
n.
gɔ̌n
gɔ̀n
gɔn
gɔn
n.
n.
t
tree sp.
bag
grě
grɛ̌n
grɛ̀n
mə̄gre
grεn
grεn
n.
v.
v.
k
aunt
to be red
to leer
grɛ̌nyū
grǐ
grεnyū
n.
v.
b
bird sp.
to gossip
grì
gri
v.
to bring
grì
gri
v.
to rebuke
grǐgbō
gu
n.
pron.
fried ground maize
him, her
gū
gū
gūgu
gūgū
—
mə̀gūgū
v.
v.
n.
n.
—
n.
v.
to leak
to flow
goat
mother-in-law
(daughter-in-law)
termite sp.
to be crooked
gǔn
gur
19
Examples, other information
cry too much
cry okra
glā nggǎgyū mē dèbə̀ drive
away this dog
chase them
nggə̄ là glə sə̄kànmē I cont. pass
through here
Varanus exanthematicus
kān tə̄ ywe tswē glǒ let us go
place dance
bə là glokyū they cont. do
funeral dance
te mə̀sər goglo cà nggə̄ mān
fetch water hot bring me
gɔ̄n là fa nggə̀ back cont. itch
me. gu sə̄ sē ə nggà gɔ̄n he is
still at behind
Hexalobus monopetalus
Tīyà klə gɔ̀n ə mgbàn
Grandfather hang bag at armpit
gu sē grě nggə̀ she is aunt my
bə̀r nggə̄ grɛ̌n hat my is red
gu là grɛ̀n nggə̀ he cont. leer at
me
medium size with a red beak
mbə̀mbə̄ mū là grǐ gə̀ri bə
women those cont. gossiping
their co-wife
te mə̀sər grì nggə̀ fetch water
bring me
gyə̌r gu gri gu nə̄ gu nàn kyūn
her mother rebuked her let her
do well
nə̄ bə te nə̄ gu. let 3p fetch give
3s Gə̄mē bə kan dan gu de nə̄
gu ngǎ nyū this.time 3s then tell
3s that let 3s open mouth nə̄ bə
man kan yə̄ sū gu ə nyū. let
them then take 3p put 3s at
mouth
mə̀sər là gū water cont. flowing
gu sē gūgū nggə̄ she is my
mother-in-law
nkɔ̀n mē gur road this is
crooked
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
interior of
gūr
—
traditional grave
num.
ten
gùr
n.
adv.
granary
humbly,
submissively
gùgwǎ
v.
to tickle
gwa
n.
gùr
gurgur
gur
gwǎ
gwǎ rìcī
gwa
gwa rìcī
n.
n.
gwàr
—
v.
grey hair, fungus,
mould
snake (generic)
West African
house snake
to be noisy
gwɔ
—
v.
to hear
gwɔ̀
gwɔ
n.
gwɔ̀nywεnggə̄
nywεngwɔ̀nywε
nggə̄
n.
gwūr
gyà
gyàn
Gyancə̀
Gyànkɔ̀n
—
n.
v.
v.
p.n
p.n
s
s
s
m
African beauty
snake (plain form)
African beauty
snake (striped
form)
dassie, rock hyrax
to dig
to shake
personal name
personal name
Gyanzo
gyār
p.n
v.c.
personal name
see: te gyār
Gyàr
gyàr
Gyārku
gyε
p.n
n.
p.n
n.
personal name
buffalo, bushcow
personal name
faeces, excrement,
manure, dung,
stool, shit
cutting grass
instead
gyar
mə̀gyε
gyɛ̀n
gyɛ̂n
gyεn
n.
adv.
gyεkū
gyεn ncār
—
—
v.
v.p.
gyεzē
n.
m
to fall
to jump up
g
grass sp.
20
Examples, other information
count form. But when referring
to time the tone changes. e.g.
mkpān dan de gur vunga bə̄
nkyɛn time says that ten past
with half. [It’s half-past ten]
mbə̄ mē là te gurgur nə̄ lɔnywə̄
this woman is submissive to her
husband
wə̄ là te nggə̄ gùgwǎ ə zə̀ you
cont. make tickle me at leg
nggə̄ ru gwa I sprout grey hair,
nzan tur gwa food push fungi
Boaedon lineatus
nə̄nggyε nan də̀ tswē sē gwàr
mē nàn? what happen the place
is noisy
gu là gwɔ̌ wə̄ tswē rɛn he cont.
hear you as you talk
Psammophis sibilans
Psammophis sibilans
Procavia sp.
gu là gyà he's digging
gyàn vəmbǔ mē shake this jar
et. ‘shake witchweed’
dig road (s.o. born during the
laying of rails)
et. ‘shake + ?’
wə̄ sē gyār me kə̄de wə̄ sē shɔ̀
you are just angry as if you are a
bee
et. anger
Syncerus kaffer
et. ‘anger + ?’
Thryonomys swinderianus
nggə̄ gyε̂n dɔ̄ ban nggà nə̄mān
I instead farm/till take some
other way
gu gyɛkū he (has) fallen
tə̄ là gyɛn-ncār we cont.
jumping up
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
pron.
you (pl subject)
gyə
pron.
you (pl object)
gyə̀
v.
to mock
-gyə̄r
adv.
times
gyə̌r
gyə̀r
gyə̌r
gyə̌r
n.
n.
n.
n.
one (count form)
one (time etc )
mother
longest pipe in the
four-note panpipe
one by one
gyə̌
—
gigyər
mi
gyərgyər
adv.
gyəgyərtsò
n.
i
gyərndu
gyərtsò
p.n.
n.
h
gyə̀ywə̄
gyɔ
gyɔ̄
Gyɔ̌bə
Gyɔ̄gɔ̄n
Gyɔ̌jə̄
Gyɔ̌kɔ̄n
gyɔ̀n
gyɔ̀n
—
—
mə̀gyɔ̄n
n.
v.
v.
wasp that lives on
trees
Monday
Sodom apple,
swallow-wort
his/her mother
to call
to put down
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
hare
starvation
m
gyɔ̄ zə
v.a
to start a journey
gyūn
n.
dizziness
n.
shade
Gyǔnggɔ̀n
gyùn ngwɔn
p.n
v.p
Gyunka
Gyǔnkə̀
gyùr
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
to swing one’s
hand ready to hit
s/b
personal name
personal name
to decieve
gyǔn
gyǔr
Gyùrbə
Gyǔnrɛ̄
Gyǔnrē
gywār
gyun
—
gyur
—
n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
v.
i
bedbug
personal name
personal name
personal name
to rush into, enter
suddenly
21
Examples, other information
gyə̄ là dō sɛn you cont. sing
sē nə̄nggyɛ yə̀ bə là nan gyə̀? it
is what they cont. do you?
gu là gyə̌ nggə̀ he cont. mocking
me
different prefixes indicate how
many times s.t. happened
gyə̄ sū ndə nyə̀ gyərgyər you
should make line come one by
one
Calotropis procera
gyɔ̌ nggə̄ Fəntàn call me Fəntàn
kan njī mē gyɔ̄ take knife this
put down
call them
lit. put back
call poverty
call to war
dim. vəgyɔ̀n
gyɔ̀n là te mə̄nē mē starvation
cont. make people these
nggə̄ là sə gyɔ zə ji wə̀ I cont.
fut. start journey wait you
gyūn là te nggə̀ dizziness cont.
make me
tə̄ sɔn ə gyǔn we sit at (under)
shade
big shade
gu là gyùn ngwɔn yə̄ gu lə
ngwur nggə̀ he cont. swing hand
which he will hit me
shade of fig tree
shade of house
Shɛ̀tan là gyùr mə̀nē Satan
cont. deceive people
deceive them
shade of mahogany tree
shade of palm tree
cì klwe nyər bə̀ gywār rat run
enter hole in a rush
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Examples, other information
H.
hǎ
excl.
hân?
excl.
expressing shock
at the way s.o.
expresses himself
negatively
Hah!
hen
excl.
expressing disgust
hm̀
excl.
expressing relief
hɔ̄
v.
to be frightened by
s.o.
wide
hū
hūhū
a.
hùhwàr
hwā
huhwar
hwa
n.
v.
hwà
mə̀hwà
n.
hwān
hwàr
hwə
hwə
hwə̌
mə̀hwān
hwar
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
mə̀hwə
—
b
b
f
v.
crowned crane
to press down, to
massage a
dislocated part of
the body
bunch
bush, farm
stork sp.
fish sp.
moon, month
intoxication
hwɔn
—
v.
to roast maize item
with its back
to hatch
hyar
hyε
hyεhyε
v.
a.
to chat
narrow
Hyɛnyū
hyɛ̄n
—
p.n
v.
personal name
to pluck fruit
hyɛ̄n
hyεn
n.
t
camwood
hyī
hyuhyur
hyi
n.
a.
f
fish (generic)
close (objects)
hwə̀n
hyūn
v.
to make haste
22
hǎ, kàdə rɛ̀n ənə̀mē yo hǎ, do
not speak like that
hân, sē ənə̀mē gyə̄ nan rɛn yə?
is that how you settle the issue?
hen, sē nə̄nggyɛ yə̀ wə̄ là nan
sə̄sānmenàn? what is it that you
are doing like this?
hm̀ , dər sù nggə̄ nān hm̀ , I am
now comfortable
nggə̄ kan kū hɔ̄ I then became
frightened
nkɔ̀n sē hū the gate is wide.
kə̄nkɔ̀n sē hūhū the gates are
wide
Balearica pavonina
nywɛn là hwa kpu children
cont. pressing down guinea-corn,
Wuzà là hwā Bùbwɔ̀ zə Wuzà
cont. massaging Bùbwɔ̀’s leg
yə̀mē sē hwà kpəmkpàn this is
bunch (of) maize
hwə̌ là te gu intoxication cont.
make him Ləyà là hwə̌ Ləyà is
drunk
Būkí là hwə̀n kpəmkpàn Būkī
is roasting maize
kə̀kə̄ nggə̄ hwɔn nywɛn gur my
chicken has hatched ten chicks
tə̄ là hyar rɛn we cont. chatting
nkɔ̀n mē sē hyɛ me this door is
very narrow
narrow mouth
tə̄ là hyɛn lə̄ we cont. plucking
locust bean fruits. high tone
marks continuous
rubbed on the body during
dances.
kī mē sē hyuhyur bə̄ kəywə̀
things these are close to each
other
tə̄ kan te hyūn ywe mān we
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
hyur
a.
close (people)
hyur
v.
hyūr
v.
hyūr tɔ̄n
v.p.
to approach a lady
for love on behalf
of s.o. else
to block, support,
stop s.t. falling,
wedge
to listen
attentively
Examples, other information
then make haste go there
tə̄ sē# hyur bə̄ kəywə̀ we are
close to one another
nggə̄ là te hyur gu zwe vɛ̄n
nggə̀ I cont. approach her for my
son
kǎn ngwɔn hyūr bring up your
hand to wedge it
hyūr tɔ̄n də̀ man gwɔ̌ kì yə̀
nggə̄ lə dan wə̀ listen attentively
and hear what I will tell you
I.
Ishìì
excl.
expressing
disappointment at
s.o’s sluggishness
itsàr
excl.
expressing disgust
at s.o. doing s.t.
dirty
n.
v.
tree sp.
to rebuke s.o.
junior
s.t. not completely
ripe e.g. mango
ishìì, sē nə̄nggyɛ yə̀ wə̄ là nan
kə̄de wə̄ la tè mə̀gì yo nàn?
what is it that you are doing as if
you don’t have blood?
itsàr, kà kì gbəjā mē dɔ̀n leave
this bad thing that you are doing
J.
jàn
jan
mə̀jan
jan
adv.
Jànbə
jàjà
p.n
adv.
Jākī
jɛ̀
jə̄
—
p.n
n.
n.
jə̀
—
v.
to urinate, to fan
liquid, waterfalls
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
personal name
to lower down
n.
mortar
23
Jə̄krɛ
Jə̄nē
jən
ji
jǐ
personal name
at first
m
personal name
civet cat
suffering, poverty
nggə̄ jan gu ətù kì yə̀ gu nan I
quarreled him on what he did
mənggə̀rō mē te jan mango
these make ripe (not completely)
– the sense is understood
rebuke them
jàjà, nggə̄ la sə̄ tsə rɛn yo at
first I did not know
bad things
Civettictis civetta
jə̄ là te nggə̄ poverty cont. has
me
gu là jə̀ mgbə̀nrǐn he cont.
urinate, nggə̄ là jə cā I cont. fan
sweet local brewed beer, mə̀sər
là jə̀ ə ywār water is falling
(waterfalls)
poverty is finished
poor person
jən nggūnggū lwè nyə̀ sər lower
dish bring come down
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to be weak, feeble
ji
ji
—
v.
jì
—
v.
jijà
Jìme
jìmə̀
nywεn jijà
n.
p.n
v.
Jìngrɛ̄n
jəgule
jū
jūjū
—
jǔ
mə̀jūjū
p.n
n.
n.
n.
to flow down,
climb down,
slump
to wait
b
t
c
v.pl.
long-tailed shrike
personal name
to make local beer
personal name
horseradish tree
water yam
hole in ground
jūn
—
v.
jùn
jǔnglō
—
n.
n.
to fall (plural),
fall, shed (of
leaves)
to remove, to pick
out
crowd
thunder
nywεn jwɛ̀
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
personal name
personal name
black cobra
fat mouse
jun
Jǔnglō
Jùnnē
jwè
jwɛ̀
s
m
Examples, other information
kpə là ji nggə̀ body mine cont.
weak me
ji nyə̀ climb down, nggə̄ là ji
ban sər fətsɛ̀ I cont. going down
small
jì nggə̄ ə sə̄kànmē wait for me
here
Corvinella corvina
wait only
te nggə̄ là jìmə̀ yə̀ tō mgbīr
father my cont. make local beer
for burning bush
see unexpectedly
Moringa oleifera. The leaves are
eaten as soup. < Hausa
Dioscorea alata
(dug by man) cf. wɔnki tə̄ là gya
jūjū we cont. dig hole
mənggə̀rō jun kəkərɛ̄ mangoes
fall pour-down
jūn gəga mē dètswē remove
grass this give way
nggə̄ gwɔ jǔnglō I heard sound
thunder
thunder
crowd of people
Naja melanoleuca
Steatomys caurinus
K.
v.
to separate
n.
v.
crab
to refuse
kà…dɔ̀n
v.
to leave, not to do
Kàbə
kàbǔ
kāca
Kancānkī
kàdɛ̀n
p.n
n.
n.
p.n
n.
personal name
sand
hedgehog
personal name
biggest size of
winnowing basket
don't
ka
kà
kà
kādə…[yo]
ka
ka
kaca
adv.
m
24
(as two people fighting) gu ka
bə fɔ̀nrɛn he separate them from
fighting
gu là kà rɛn nan ndu yə he
cont. refuse to do the work
kà yə̄ dɔ̀n leave it kà rεn
Tə̄rmvū dɔ̀n leave talk (of)
Hyena leave nggə̄ ka gu dɔn ə
nkɔ̀n I left him on the road
reject them
Erinaceus albiventris
mixture of dirty things
yə̀mē sē kàdɛ̀n this is big
w/basket
kàdə tè nggə̄ dər ngàr yo don’t
spoil my heart
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
p.n
personal name
Kadɔn
n.
r
tortoise
kagbɔ̄n
kagbɔn
v.
to go home
kāgbm
n.
tp
palm nut
kàkū
kaku
v.
to lie down
kakùr
kakūr
Kàlā
kāləbā
kambàn
Kàmə̀
kan
kan ngwɔn sà
tu
kaləba
kamban
p.n
n.
n.
p.n
v.
v.p.
an
personal name
bottle
ant sp.
personal name
to take, put
to die
kan…gyɔ̄
v.
to put down
kan kə̄
v.
to fence
Kànkə̄
kan…ngàn
p.n
v.p.
personal name
to put together
kan
v.
to burp
kan
v.
to twist
kān
n.
parts of an animal
kān
kàn
kàn
n.
conj.
n.
kan
v
forest vine sp.
then
rim, steering
wheel
to not to recognise
s.o. easily
kàn…bishi
v.
kǎn
kancɔn
kànggǔ
n.
n.
n.
mi
burp
sweet thing
musical bow
n.
cr
crab
p.n
n.
tr
kanggu
kǎnggù
Kànē
kǎnjàr
kanjùn
kànkàrɛ̄
kanjar
n.
adv.
fr
personal name
deluded spirit that
is friendly. It
comes to play with
humans whenever
a special music is
played for it.
cashew
describes liquid
25
Examples, other information
to die leave as orphan
also vəkagbɔ̄n pl. nywεnkagbɔn
nggə̄ là kagbm I am going home
kakùr ə sə̄kànmē lie down at
here
refuse food (tuwon)
< Hausa
reject local beer
lit. ‘take hand put head’. This
means the person is dead. [this is
usually the polite way of saying
it] Cūnjə̀mǎ kan ngwɔn sà tu
Cūnjə̀mǎ take hand put head
kan krì gyɔ̄ ə mə̀mē take yam
put at ground
bə là kan kə̄ they cont fencing
house
fence
kan wə̀ndō ngàn bə̄ lə̀gā put
trousers together with shirt
nggə̄ là ywe tswē kan I cont. go
place burp
gu kan nggə̄ ngwɔn he twisted
my hand
assigned to the first person who
spotted it, after it is killed. nggə̄
re kān yə I eat part it
used in making roofs
gu kàn dàn de he then said that
kàn matò can gu ə dər steering
vehicle fall at (his) heart
wə̄ kan nggə̄ bishi I can’t
recognise your high tone for
present
kǎn là te nggə̄ burp is doing me
played solo by men to express
sadness, at funerals, for example
very big, bigger than the usual
crab
reject people
Kadɔn là ngwur kǎnjàr gə̀ntē
Kadɔnn cont. play deluded spirit
zither
< English?
cf. karε. gu kan mə̀sər kànkàrɛ̄
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
thrown out
v.
to stop
kankrè
Kànzan
kaprɛ̄
kar
kàrà
kàrε
kaprε
mə̀kǎr
kārà
p.n
n.
n.
n.
v.
b
p
fo
personal name
nightjar
prostitute
bean-cake
to pour away, to
spill
Kàrɛn
kàsə
p.n
aux.
personal name
don't
kasə̄sē
v.
to continue doing
Kasē
Kàwu
kē
p.n
p.n
conj.
personal name
personal name
or, whether
kə-
pref.
indicates the
number of times
s.t. is done
thought
kə
—
pron.
kə
kə
—
kə̄
kə̄
kə̄
kəbū
kə̀bǔ
Kə̀bunyān
kə-mù
n.
him, her, it
(archaic)
to borrow, lend
v.
aux.
mə̀kə̀
kə
kəbu
marks infinitive
(archaic)
house
to scratch
one kobo
pathway
peersonal name
next time
n.
v.
n.
n.
p.n
adv.
kə̀cɛ̀
kə̄de
n.
adv.
kə̄dè
n.
remains
kədè
v.
to remain
Kə̄gbə̀
kə̄gbù
p.n.
n.
m
Akwanga town
baboon
n.
bs
kə̄gbu
kəji
kə̄jī
kə̀jì
—
—
n.
n.
s
boomslang
like, about
box, covered
basket
money
love potion
26
Examples, other information
he threw water away
gu kankrè jì nggə̀ he stopped
wait (for) me
refuse local appetising drink
Caprimulgus sp.
cf. kilakī
< Yoruba
cf. kankərɛ̄. wə̄ kan mə̀sər kàrε
mūn you make water pour away
why?
reject matter
kàsə nàn sə̄sānme nàn yo don’t
do like that
bān kə̀ tə̄ kasə̄sē nǎn cā that
house our continue doing sweet
wine
still to come
refuse medicine
also gē, gu nan yə̄ kē gu la nàn
yo he did it or he did not do it
wə̄ nan kì mē tè kə ywā mbɛ̄
you did thing this two times
already
kə tsɔ kū nggə̄ nɛ̀n thought drop
fall me stomach
modern form gu
kə nggə̄ mgbāmvū tar loan me
Naira three
kə̄ nggə̄ gɔ̄n scratch my back
horse pathway
kə mù wə̄ lə ywē nān next time
you will go
Dispholidus typus
Sonia sē kə̄de tə̀ywə̄ Sonia is
like father her
yə̀mē sē yə̀ kədè this is what
remains
bān kədè mān those who
remained (left behind)
Tsɛ̄ncun ngun kə̄gbù Tsɛ̄cun
has killed a baboon
bə ban kə̀jì te və̄nggə̄ mē they
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
kə̀kə̄
kə̀kə̄ gbù
kə̄kə̄
kə̄kə̄ gbu
n.
n.
da
b
kə̄kla
a.
co
fowl, hen
black birds that
move in fives
found around the
hills
white
kələ
kə̀lànzər
kə̀mbə̄
kəmù
kə̀mvrè
ngwɔ̀n
kə̀mvrè
ngwɔ̀n nggɔ̀n
kə̄nfə̀
kə̀ndà
n.
n.
n.
pron.
n.
bp
age mate
kerosine
calabash
myself
finger
n.
bp
thumb
n.
adv.
bp
claw, finger nails
maybe
n.
v.
mi
barrel-drum
to make a mistake
kənvər
n.
dis
kəgyə̄r
adv.
disease that cuts
the nose (caused
by man)
once
kə̀nggān
kə̄nkā
—
kə̄mbə̄
kə̄mvrè ngwɔn
—
kə̄nggān
kəkə̀rɛ̄
kə́kə̀rɛ̄
n.
pouring out
kəkan…də̄
kəklà
kəklàmfu
kəkrɛ̄
kə̀mbə̀ mə̀sər
kəmē
—
—
v.p.
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
to forget
small fish
fish sp.
fireplace
water-lettuce
this time
—
kəmbə mə̀sər
f
f
h
kəmfār
kəmù
n.
pron.
hidden dark place
I, myself
kənàn
a.
many, much
kənànme
kə̀ndàrǐ
kə̀nkabān
kə̀nkabān
kə̄ndàri
nywεnkabān
nywεnkabān
adv.
n.
n.
n.
b
b
b
plentifully
bird sp.
Abyssinian roller
swift
27
Examples, other information
take love potion make girl this
lit. ‘chicken of hills’
cf. tsa. kə̀kə̄ nggə̄ sē kə̄kla hen
my is white
< English
kə̀ndà gu lə nyə̄ ə mbrɛ maybe
he would come tomorrow. cf.
tə̀tɔ̀.
cf.
nggə̄ can wə̄ zə kə̄nkā I march
your feet by mistake
Likita nyə sə̄kànmē kəgyə̄r
Likita was here once. N.B.
different prefixes indicate the
number of times s.t. happened.
cf. -gyə̄r.
kyɛn pre là kəkərɛ look kunu
cont. pouring out
kəkan nggə̄ də̄ I have forgotten
Heterotis niloticus
Pistia stratiotes
also kəyə̄mē. sē nggə̄ wān lə
nan kəmē nān it-is I who will
do-it this time around
1st singular reflexive pronoun.
nggə̄ n kəmù me nggə̄ lə ywē
hwan sε mē, I myself only, I
will go-to farm this year
kə̄kə̄ nggə̄ sē kənàn chickens
my are many
glō ku kənànme rain fall plenty
Coracias abyssinica
Apodidae
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
hwan
hwan
adv.
5 days hence
kənka
n.
way
kənkɔ̀n
kə̄nkɔ̄n
n.
h
herb sp.
k#ənkulwe
—
kə̄ntə
kəntsə̄r
kə̀nyūjε
kəsàn
n.
n.
n.
n.
—
—
kə̀tà
kətar
kəta
kətɔ̄n
—
n.
a.
kəyə̄mē
kəywā
kə̌ywǎ
kəywē
kəywa
n.
n.
this time
n.
n.
n.
twice
cave
yourself
nkəywə̄
n.
pron.
kəywə̀
kəywə̄
pron.
kìkɔ̀n
Kìkyε
kilakī
—
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
—
n.
n.
n.
kəzəlaba
kī
kīkɔ̄n
kīkyε
kīnɛ̀n
kìnkyɛ̀n
kīnzɛ̀
—
s
dr
beniseed
wall
snake sp.
side
hat
s.t. that divides
into two e.g. a
crossroad
edge
kəywε
kəywə̄
kə̀zēnyān
kə̀zəlaba
kì
kì yə̀ sǎ
kìkì
cr
g
g
b
n.
n.
n.
kìrē
kìyə̀wɔ̀
kīrē
kīyə̄wɔ̀
n.
n.
klǎ
klā
kla
kla
n.
v.
m
Bahama grass
him, her, itself
(reflexive)
themselves
(reflexive)
itchgrass
wild duck
thing
vehicle
suffocation,
shortness of breath
weapon
bicycle
prostitute,
prostitution
guts
skewer
clothes for
masquerade
food
domestic animals,
livestock
monkey
to fry
klà…bàn
klà…doglò
v.
v.
to grab
to get up hastily
klàmkpā
adv.
young person tries
28
Examples, other information
plant with a single stem that
grows in the bush and has small,
black, edible fruits
nggə̄ ta brεkrī ə kəsàn nē I
make heaps at side of river
yə̀mē sē kətar nkɔ̀n this is a
crossroad
nggə̄ kre ə kətɔ̄n nkɔ̀n I stand at
edge road
also kəmē. nggə̄ lə tsē wə̄
kəyə̄mē I will beat you this time
kǎn yə̄ lwè kəywē take it carry
yourself
Cynodon dactylon
sē gu wān nan kəywə̄ it-is he
who do for himself
sē bə bān nan kəywə̀ it-is they
those do for themselves
Rottboelia cochinchinensis
lit. ‘thing to climb on’
kìkì là te nggə̀ suffocation is
catching me
< Hausa
cf. kar, te cucu. < Hausa
Tìti là klā krī Titi is frying
yams
nggə̄ kla yə̄ ban I grabbed it
gu kàn klà…doglò he got-up
hastily
vɛ̄n mē là klàmkpā kənànme
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
to do what older
people do
n.
fruit
klə̄
klə
v.
to hang
klə̄
klò
klwe
nywεn klo
n.
v.
kɔ̀mitì
kɔn
kɔ̄n
—
n.
n.
n.
kɔ̄n vɛ̄n
kpǎ
kpā
mə̀kɔn
kɔ̄n nywεn
kpa
n.p.
n.
n.
a.
n.
m
bushbuck
to run
committee
corpse
war
bp
umbilical cord
roof
shout of joy
Examples, other information
this boy is always trying to do
things as elders
gu lwe kəywə kə̄ klə̄ ə shū he
carry himself hang on tree
Tragelaphus scriptus
gyə̄ vu klwe nyə̀ you (people)
should run come here
< English
bə là ta kɔ̄n ə Lebano there is a
war in Lebanon
tə̄ là ta krī də̀ te kpā we cont.
make yam heaps and make shout
kpàgə̄
kpāgə̄
n.
Kpakə̀
kpaki
—
p.n
n.
dot
a kind of sickness
like small pox
long hooked stick
for getting down
fruits such as
mangoes
personal name
necessity
n.
v.aux
stick
you must
id.
describes laughter
n.
n.
n.
n.
tree bark
round thing
tree pangolin
Phataginus tricuspsis
the surface of local
beer
personal name
the surface of local beer
friend
to pound
Mbə̀mbə̄ là kpàn tswē women
cont pound place
to tie, ripen
kpān yə̄ tie it
personal name
tie them
to be courageous
lit. to tie heart. gu kpan də̌r də̀
ywe he took heart and went
small lizard
wishing for a bad
kpǎncǔn, tɔ̀nzɛ ənə̀mē gba me
thing to happen
it is good for you like that
again
tiger-nut
Cyperus esculentus
tree sp.
largest type of
Cucurbita maxima
gourd
29
kpà
kpàcɔ̀
kpàkì
kpakiki
kpākì
kpǎkpǎ
kpakpm̄ kì
kpàkrīn
kpàlo
kpǎ mə̀
Kpamə̀
kpān
kpàn
kpàn
Kpānbə
kpàn də̌r
kpakpm̄ kī
—
kpalo
kpə̄kpàn
—
dis
m
p.n
n.
v.
v.
p.n
v.
kpáncá
kpǎncun
n.
excl.
r
kpandɛ̄
kpānε
kpǎnjūn
n.
n.
n.
c
t
go
kpanjūn
also known in NE as ‘go to hell’
roof of house
sē kpaki nggə̄ re lā? is it a
necessity I fut. eat food?
kpakiki wə̄ lə rē lā it is
necessary you fut. eat food
gu là mlǎ kpǎkpǎ he cont.
laugh….
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
kpànjǔn
n.
t
snuffbox tree
kpànjùn
kpanjun
n.
t
tree sp.
v.
to be sour (more
kpàn mgbo
of an unripe fruit)
n.
open space
kpàr
kpǎr
kpār
kpar
—
n.
adv.
snail
openly
kpar
mə̀kpǎr
n.
bottom part of
yam
abusive word
box
shoe
body
thick
kpar
kpàtì
kpə
kpə
kpə
kpə̄
kpə̀
kpə̀cawù
kpə̄kà
a.
n.
n.
n.
a.
kpātì
kpə̌
mə̀kpə̄
bp
n.
v.
n.
v.
r
kpəkpà
n.
b
kpə̌kpǎkpǎkp
ǎ
kpə̀kpalaywī
id.
kpə̄ka
kpəkpalaywī
kpəkpalə̄gà
kpəkpə
kpə̀kplǎ
kpə̀kplə̌
—
—
r
small agama lizard
to receive
brown lizard
to disagree
n.
i
bird sp. having a
big beak
describes chirping
of kpəkpà bird
red centipede
n.
v
sword-bean
n.
n.
a.
b
cloud
bulbul
lazy
kpə̄kplɔkplɔ̄
id.
kpəkpɔ
a.
kpəkpɔ̀
kpə̄kpɔ̀
kpəkprɛ̄
—
kpəkprε
n.
n.
n.
kpə̀kprɛ̀
—
n.
describing too
much noise
making which
prevents others
from talking
old
b
b
finch
shrine
blue-breasted
kingfisher
catarrh, phlegm,
smallpox
30
Examples, other information
Oncoba spinosa
has edible fruit
kǎnjùn mē kpàn mgbo cashew
this is sour
tswē yə̄ tə̄ kre sē kpàr me theplace which we stand is open
space only
frē rɛn yə gyɔ̄ bē kpār peel the
matter put outside openly
kpar mə̄ bottom buttocks
< Hausa
cf. zəkpə
wə̀ndō mē te kpə trouser this
make thick
cf. gbrε
kpə̄ yə̄ receive it
seen during the rains
lit. ‘receive refuse’ nggə̄ kpə rɛn
yəmē kā I disagreed with him
kpəkpà là gì de kpə̌kpǎkpǎkpǎ
(the) bird kpəkpà chirps that….
seen only in the rainy season.
When children come home with
skin broken between the toes, it
is attributed to this centipede
planted for the large pods which
are used by women as rattles.
Canavalia ensiformis.
Pycnonotus barbatus
kpə̀kplə̌ là te nggə̀ lazy cont
make me, gu là te kpə̀kplə̌ he
cont make lazy
wə̄ là rɛn kpə̄kplɔkplɔ̄ nggān
mwɔ̄n you cont. talk too much
noise
və̄lɔn mē cɛ tè kpəkpɔ man this
grow make old
Estrildae
yə̀mē sē kpə̄kpɔ̀ this is a shrine
Halcyon malimbicus
kpə̀kprɛ̀ là te nggə̀ catarrh is
doing me
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̌
n.
d
tuberculosis
kpə̀kprɛ̀ sɔn
—
a.
complete, whole,
kpə̄kpri
kpəkpri
round
n.
exact position
kpəmkpan
kpəmkpàn
kpəmkpi
n.
n.
kpəmkpūn
a.
kpə ngār
kpəntàn
kpə̄ntɛ̀n
kpə̌ntān
—
n.
n.
a.
kpə̄nyɛ̀n
kpənyεn
v.
kpə̄nyìn
kpə̀r
n.
n.
kpə̄rɛ̀-kpə̄rɛ̀
id.
kpə̀tàn
kpətεglā
kpətεnyān
n.
n.
n.
nywεn kpətεglā
nywεn
kpətεnyān
c
d
maize
epilepsy
short
dis
arthritis
skin
thick
to agree, accept,
trust
g
b
m
ai
grass sp.
fool
describes a thick
liquid that has
been diluted
barbet
bushbaby, galago
small weeding hoe
kpə̀tùrkpə̀tùr
adv.
very thick liquid
kpə̄wu
v.
to burn
kpî
a.
pitch dark
kpǐr
kpla
kpir
—
n.
n.
duiker
batchelor
kplā
—
n.
haste
kplā
kpla
v.
to prepare, as a
masquerade, set up
to beat the floor
v.
kplà
kplabē
kplà mgbo
kplà nyū
kplɔ
—
n.
v.p
v.p
adv.
Examples, other information
cf. ywùywǔ
krì mū sē kpə̄kpri yam that is
complete
yə̀mē sē kpəmkpan tswē yə̄ kì
yə̄ te this is the position place
which thing it happen
kpəmkpi là nan gu epilepsy
cont. do him
və̄lɔn mū sē kpəmkpūn man
that is short
(caused by man)
(see kpə) nzār mē sē kpə̄ntɛ̀n
hoe this is thick
nggə̄ kpənyεn bə̄ gu I (have)
trust with him kpənyεn,
kpənyɛ̀n, kpə̄nyεn
wə̄ ku kpə̀r? you fall fool (are
you a fool)
gu te prē kpə̄rɛ̀-kpə̄rɛ̀ he make
gruel dilute
Lybius spp.
Galago senegalensis
< H.
Njumā la kàmù mē kpə̀tùrkpə̀tùr Njumā make pap this
very thick
kə̄ Bàkūntān kpəwu
Bakuntan’s house is burnt down
tswē te bū kpî place make dark
pitch
(it runs & blows its horn)
və̄lɔn mū sɔ̀n kpla man that
stays batchelor
nə̄ gu man tè kplā let him then
make haste
bə kpla njwe zwē they prepare
masquerades keep
mbə̀mbə̄ là kpla tār tə̀ women
cont. beat the floor room our
courtyard
s/t that one eats
that is not much in
the mouth, or
eating s/t that is
sweet
entering in a high
31
wə̄ là kplà nyū kənàn mwɔ̄n
you cont. eat mouth too much
gu kulwe nyə̌r kə kplɔ he ran
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
speed
v.
make noise not
kplɔ glə
comprehensively,
angrily
adv.
hastily
kplǒ
kpm
v.
to wear
kpm̄
v.
kpm̄
v.
to thresh with
sticks
to fold cloth, fold
kpm̀
kpm̀
kpm
kpm
n.
v.
kpɔ̄
kpɔ̀cūn
kpɔ
kpɔcun
n.
n.
kpɔ̄gbru
Kpɔ̄kə̀
kpɔ̀mgbukpɔ̀
n
kpɔ̄mkpan
kpɔ̌n
kpɔgbru
n.
p.n
n.
kpɔ̄mgbukpɔ̀n
t
b
m
kpɔmkpan
b
v.
b
kprɛ̄
kpǔ
kpə̄kprɛ̀
kpu
n.
n.
bp
c
kpukpà
kpùkpə
kpūmkpār
kpūr
krè
kpukpə
—
kpur
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
b
t
m
m
krè gɔ̄n
v.p
krè nɛ̄n
n.p.
kapok tree
to fold back earth
in the process of
making ridges,
ridge
bag
grove, cluster of
trees
vulture
personal name
large male patas
monkey
vulture
to be stylish
lower leg, calf
guinea-corn,
sorghum
grey plantain-eater
tree sp.
fruit-bat
giant rat
to stand, stay, stop
to support
d
swollen stomach
krɛ̌
mə̄krε
n.
uncle
krɛ̀
krε
v.
to finish
v.
to be short of
krε…nyər
kri
krì
kə̄krì
v.
n.
c
to be clean
yam
32
Examples, other information
enter house hastily
wə là kplɔ glə mwɔn you make
noise too much
(as swallowing) gu kan lā mrè
de kplǒ he swallowed food and
it made the sound…
gu kpm lə̀gà cīnji he (is)
wearing shirt black
nggə̄ là kpm kpu I cont.
threshing g.corn
vu kī mē kpm̌ nggə̄ yə carry
clothes this fold me them
Ceiba pentandra
gu là ngār ryə də̀ bān kə̀ gu là
kpm zwe gu mān he cont. make
ridges and those of his house are
covering following him
also gbrǔ, kpɔ̄mkpan
big house
Erythrocebus patas. also bɛ̄
archaic
gu là kpɔ̌n kəywə he cont
stylish himself
Cinifer piscator
cf. təkpə̄
Epomophorus gambianus
Cricetomys gambianus
krè jì nggə̄ mān stay wait for
me, kan krè stop
nggə̄ là kre gu gɔ̄n I cont. stand
him back
gu là lə lələ krè nɛ̄n he is sick
the sickness of swollen stomach
wān mē sē krɛ̌ nggə̄ he (onethis) is my uncle bān mē sē
mə̄krε nggə̄ they (those-this) are
my uncles
tə̄ nan ndu krɛ we do work
finish
ngwɔn gu krɛ nyər his hands
are short
nggə̄ kri I am clean
Dioscorea rotundata
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
one’s body shines
krǐ
kri
as a result of
rubbing lotion
n.
p
barren woman
kru
—
v.
to gather s.t. that is
krǔ
in pieces
n.
s
night-adder
krushə̄
krushə
v.
to become dry
ku
v.
to fall
kū
ku
v.
to follow
kū
ku
kū
ku
v.
to include
kū
ku
v.
to be menstruating
kùcī
—
n.
beginning
kūci
—
v.
to be first
kūcici
—
v.
to lead, to go
ahead
kùcūn
kucun
n.
kūjì
—
v.
kukā
kuku
kukù
kūkū
mə̀kukā
—
—
—
n.
n.
a.
a.
kùkù
—
n.
mi
ocarina
to get down
t
baobab
bone
dry
old
kùku
v.
kuku
adv
reed grass, arrow
shaft
to forget to deliver
a message because
of a distraction on
the way
guiltily
n.
n.
stick
transverse clarinet
kukukì
kùkùkpur
kukukùrǔkùkù
kū-kukurukû
kùkukī
kukukpur
id.
id.
mi
chirping of bush
pigeon
crowing of a cock
33
Examples, other information
nggə̄ gba mə̀nyɛ̀n də̀ kri I rub
pomade and (am) shining
tə̄ là kru sə̄sān ə lan we cont.
gather cornstalks on the farm
Causus rhombeatus
mpā nggə̄ ku sore my is dried
glō là kū rain is falling
gyə̄ lə kū də̀ mān ywē kə̄. you
will fall (follow way) and there
go home
tə̄ gə kīyə̄rē kū bə nə̀nàn we
divided (the) food included them
also (shared with them)
mbə̄ là kū the woman is having
her period
yə̀mē sē kùcī ndu yə̄ tə̄ nan this
is the beginning work which we
did
nggə̄ kuci wə̀ I first you (I came
before you)
gu kucici nyə̀ he lead come
(came first), gu kucici an tə̄ sə
zwē mān he took the lead and
we followed
made from a dried fruit-shell of
Oncoba spinosa and played only
by masquerades or men only
during the Rínnzē festival.
kūjì dè tər mənggərō get down
from that mango tree
< Hausa
tərkì mē sē kukù tree this is dry
lə̀gā nggə̄ sē kūkū shirt my is
old
bə te nggə̄ ndu də̀ nggə̄ kpə yə
re kùku they make me message
and I receive it eat forget
wə là kǎn kuku me mūn? You
cont. walk guilty this why?
made from guinea-corn stem.
Played by young men at harvesttime.
ywudə̀ là gì kuku-kùrǔkùkù
bush pigeon is chirping….
gbǎ là to de kū-kukurukû cock
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
kukushār
nywεn
kukushār
n.
r
jumping frog sp.
kǔkukuku
id.
kūkwɔ̌
a.
chirping of cicì
insect
small, young
kūkwār
adv.
completely
kùlwè
v.
to imitate
kumfə
kùngga
kunkur
kùr
kurkpə
v.
n.
n.
v.
v.
kūsar
v.
to feel hungry
tree sp.
firewood
to lay down, lay
to catch when s.t.
is thrown
to cross path
kùtsɔ
—
kūwà
kwakwà
kwàr
kwàr
—
kwar
kwār
kwār
kwār rεn
kwār
kwɔ
mə̀kwàr
mə̀nyū rεn
mə̀kwɔ
t
n.
d
n.
dn
n.
n.
v.
fr
hepatitis, jaundice,
‘yellow fever’
game played by
girls
coconut
hook
to pet
a.
all
n.
n.
n.
n.
voice
language
wizardry, sorcery
place of former
domicile
to turn
v.
kwɔ
kya
conj.
to grind
bushfowl,
partridge
only, rather than
kyame
a.
only
kyǎn
v.
to push
v.
to look at
kwɔ̀
kwɔ̌
kyɛ̄n
kwɔ
kyεn
v.
n.
b
Examples, other information
is crowing that…
34
cicì là gì de kǔkukuku cicì
cont. cry (chirp) that….
yə̀mē sē kūkwɔ̌ this is small.
kukwɔ can also agree directly
with a noun; thus mbú kúkwɔ́
small mat. In this case it takes its
tone from the noun.
tə̄ swε kpəmkpàn kūkwār we
shuck maize completely
gu là kpə̄ kùlwè tə̀ywə he is
imitating his father
nggə̄ kumfə I am feeling hungry
Burkea africana
gu kùr ə tàr he lies in the room
gu nan kurkpə he well catch (it)
tə̄ kūsar vəkə̀bǔ nkɔ̀n we cross
pathway
kùtsɔ là nan gu hepatitis cont.
do him
mə̄nggə̄ là kuwà girls cont.
make game
<Hausa
gu là kwàr vɛ̄n she is petting the
child
(see gba, kūkwār) tə̄ kūkwār
nan ndu yə we all do work it
kwɔ̌ nyə̀ ə səkànmē turn and
come here
Yā là kwɔ̀ Mother is grinding
also dim. vəkwɔ
nggə̄ kpənyεn bə̄ yə̀mē kya I
agree with this rather (than that)
nə̄ wānmē kya nyə̄ let this-one
rather-than-that-one come
sē yə̀mē kyame yə̀ wə̄ lə nan it
is this one only that you will do
nggə̄ kyan gu zwē lə̀gə̀r I
pushed him kept aside
sē nə̄nggyɛ yə̀ gyə̄ là kyɛn?
what are you looking at?
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
excl.
calling attention
kyɛn nggə
expressing
ma!
disapproval
kyə̀nkɛ̀n
kyə̄r
kyər
n.
v.
h
int.
kyîîn?
plant sp.
to pound
question
expressing
surprise
to gather
kyō
kyo
v.
Kyōnē
kyōntàn
kyōte
mə̀kyōntàn
p.n
n.
v.
kyu
tsu
v.
to die
kyù
kyū
n.
death
kyù
kyūn
kyu
kyun
n.
v.
Kyūnē
kyūngwɔn
kyūnkyū
kyūnrɛ̀
kyūntu
kyūnkyūntɛ̀
kyūte
p.n
n.
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
t
r
f
c
personal name
karaya gum tree
to gather in a
group (people)
land monitor
to gather, prepare
personal name
fish sp.
sweet potato
to gather and sell
cooperation
rizga
death
35
Examples, other information
kyɛn nggə̄ man, nggə̄ la
kpə̄nyɛn bə̄ kì yə̀ wə̄ là nan mē
yo look at me, I do not accept
what you are doing
Mbə̄rɛn là kyər bentsu Mbərɛn
cont. pounding acca
sē sə̄sānmenàn gyə̄ nan yə̄
kyîîn? was that how you did (the
thing?)
gyə̄ kyō kī sɔ̀n zwè ə tswē gyə̄r
gather the seats in one place
gather people
Sterculia setigera
mə̄nē kyote mgbɔ̀ tswē kyɛn
Gbrīn yə̄ Yɛsò people gather in
group to watch the ‘Jesus Film’
kyū də̄ te ə kə̄ nə̄mān nzεn
death if occur at house someone
now
də̄ gwɔ kyū yə when (they) hear
(of) death the
Varanus niloticus
kyūn kī mē nàn zwè gather
these things keep properly, kyūn
anrɛ̀n ə mbrɛ tə̄ lə ywē Jos
prepare because tomorrow we
will be going to Jos
person’s death
Auchenoglanis occidentalis
< Hausa. also dankyū
Plectranthus esculentus
kyūte bə̄ tə̄ death has occurred
with us
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
L.
la…[yo]
part.
n.
part.
part of the
negative marker
to give or take
credit, loan,
borrow
to separate bad
seeds from good,
to sort
to harm, be
harmed
food
definitely not
la
v.
la
v.
la
v.
lǎ
lǎ
v.
n.
to be mad
madness
lǎ
là
v.
v.
aux.
to be bright
continuous marker
là
v.
to help
Ladi
p.n.
Sunday
lāhyε
Lākpu
Lākrɛ
làmgbà
làmǔ
lamukā
lan
lan
n.
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
lā
lā…gba yo
lān
làndār
lan kyɛn
mə̀lā
lāmgbà
mə̀lǎn
landar
n.
n.
adv.
s
r
fr
d
s
snake sp.
personal name
personal name
male agama lizard
orange
typhoid
farmland
to shine
red-lined snake
cow
look unsettled,
confused
lan ngglan
adv.
shiny
laru
adv.
transparently
Làtswē
Lāywi
laywī
p.n
p.n
n.
personal name
personal name
place where
harvested acca is
36
Examples, other information
nggə̄ lə la ywē yo I will neg. go
not
nggə̄ kpə mgbāmvū tar bə̄ wə̄
la I received Naira three with
you credit
gu là la bekī he is sorting seeds
gu la nggə̀ he has harmed me
nggə̄ lə la nan ndu mē gba yo I
will my neg. do work this even
not. [I definitely won’t do my
work]
fəvɛ̀n mū là lǎ boy that is mad
lǎ là te nggə̄ madness is having
me
tswē là la (the) place is bright
bān nə̄mān là ryun lā də̀ la prē
those others HAB cook la and
prepare pre Sh.
tekə, yə̀ gu sē bə̄ yə̄, lə sē yə̀ la
mān fətsɛ̀ ... thinking, which he
is with it, will be of helping then
small ...
rīmē sē rì Ladi today is day (of)
Sunday < Hausa
to add sand to guinea corn
food is finished
< Hausa
? < Hausa
hwə là lan nggān me moon
cont. shine plenty only
Bothopthalmus lineatus
nggyān (Ancho), ndō (Rija)
kyɛn gu tswē lan kyɛn məgyə̀r
see the way he is looking
(confused, unsettled etc)
zə̄ mū là lan ngglan iron that is
bright shinily
lə̀gā nggə̄ là laru shirt my is
bright transparently
help place
food squeezed
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
threshed
v.aux
will, shall
lə̄
lə
.
n.
t
locust bean tree
lə̄
lə
lə̄
v.
to spread (for
drying), spread
to ache, be ill, to
be sick, to pain
onion
pig
bushpig
shirt
aside
lə̄
lə
v.
lə̀basā
lə̌dē
lə̌dē hwan
lə̀gā
lə̀gə̀r
—
lədē
lədē hwan
lə̄gā
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
c
da
m
ləgū
lə̌gū
n.
c
lə̄kə
ləkə
n.
age-mate
v.
to reciprocate, pay
back
ləla
lə̀lān
lə̀lān kəkə
lə̄lān
lə̄lān kəkə
n.
n.
i
i
iron clapper-bell
upper palate or
roof of mouth
scorpion
centipede
lələ
—
n.
d
sickness, disease
lə̀lə̄
lələ
a.
lə̀lɔ̀
—
n.
c
cocoyam, taro
lə̄lɔn
lə̀lwè
mə̄lə̄lɔn
—
n.
n.
p
g
man
thatching grass
lə̀mgbɔ̀
lə̀ndūr
Lə̀ndūr
ləmgbɔ̀
ləndur
Ləndur
n.
n.
n.
i
b
tr
dung-beetle
bird sp.
masquerade
lə̀ngā
lənggə
lənga
mə̄lənggə
n.
n.
b
crowned crane
enemy
lə̀lǎ
ləlà
lənggə̀
—
n.
n.
mi
cassava
id.
cracked, broken
describes groaning
37
Examples, other information
nggə̄ lə ywē do mbrɛ I will go
to market tomorrow
lə̄ mē sē yə̀ te nggə̄ locust bean
tree this is father my. Parkia
biglobosa
kan bemkpàn lə̄ nə̄ yə man ku
take maize spread let it – dry
gbəryūn là lə nggə̄ my knee is
paining me.
< Hausa
< Hausa
Potamochoerus larvatus
< Hausa
vu kī mē zwè lə̀gə̀r pack these
things keep aside
< Hausa roogoo. ywē jūn ləgū
cà nggə̄ go remove cassava
bring me
tə̄ sē bān ləkə gyə̄r bə̄ Susan we
are agemates one with Susan
nggə nan ywan ləla kì yə̀ gu
nan nggə̀ I did pay back what he
did to me i.e I revenge
played during the panpipe dance.
it curls up when touched. Does
not sting
lələ là nan Tsɛ̄ncun sickness is
doing Tsɛ̄ncun (T. is sick)
tār mē ngar lə̀lə̄ room this is
broken cracked
cu lə̀lɔ̀ sùr nggə̄ yə̄ fetch
cocoyam boil
Hyperthelia dissoluta but
probably applies to other
thatching grasses. də̀ shun bwɔ
lə̀lwè gyər gyər ... and bring out
thatch one by one ...
Heliocopris spp.
appears only once every five
years. Drives away the Rínnzē.
Balearica pavonina
gu sē lənggə nggə̀ he is enemy
my. tə̄ sē mə̄lənggə bə̄
Nkɔ̀nryān we are enemies with
Nkɔ̀nryān
gu là gə̀ lənggə̀ he is groaning in
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
(in pain)
n.
senior person
lə̄nkū
bān lə̄nkū
lə̌sō
lə̄sur
ləsō
n.
v.
da
lə̀ywǎ
lō
ləywa
n.
v.
i
lo ngàn
lo ngan
v.p.
to stick to
lɔ^lɔ̀
lɔn
lùmù
lùmvù
—
mə̄lə̄lɔn
lumu
lumvu
n.
n.
n.
n.
lunkpùr
lwe
lwè
lunkpur
n.
n.
v.
warm water
husband
mud-wasp
beetle that flies at
night
hartebeest
load
to carry
lwe
lwe nɛ̄n
lwē
k
i
i
m
v.p.
pig (Sh.)
to refuse to help
s.o. with your
possessions
stink-ant
to plait, weave
to be pregnant
—
n.
c
garden egg
—
v.
to meet
v.p.
to meet on the
road
to reach, be okay
Examples, other information
pain
gu sē lə̄nkū nggə̄ he is senior
my
cf. lə̌dē
lə̄ ‘to be sick + sur ‘kidney’.
Mbə̄ncān ləsur kī kənànme
Mbəncān always refuses to help
cf. mər. bə là lo mbə̄ nggə̄ tu
they are plaiting my wife’s head
lə̀gā lo ngàn gu kpə̀ shirt stuck
to his body
gu sē lɔn nggə̄ he is husband my
Belenogaster spp.
Alcelaphus busephalus
gu là lwě lwe he cont. carry load
nggə̄ lwe nzār ə ngwɔ̀n I carry
hoe at hand
mbə̄ nggə̄ lwe nɛ̄n wife my ispregnant (carries belly)
Solanum sp.
M.
ma
ma…nkɔn
ma
—
v.
mā
mā
—
n.
v.
mà
—
v.
màdār
Màdo
màgbyɛ̌n
—
n.
p.n
n.
Magwa
màjǎn
p.n
n.
mākī
n.
p
sorcerer, magician
to wrestle
to measure
i
t
b
wasp
personal name
blood-plum
personal name
fire-crowned
bishop bird
one who is
believed to use
magical powers to
steal other
people’s crops
38
tə̄ ma bə̄ kəywə̀ we met with
each other
ywe kə mâ bə̄ gu ə nkɔ̀n go
meet with him on the way, i.e. to
welcome
tə̄ dɔ ma mān nān we farm
reach now
cf. wānkwār
Kpàtù bə̄ Ntānmə̄ là ma Kpàtù
with Ntānmə̄ cont. wrestle
Njumā là mà bekī Njuma cont.
measure seeds
‘measure market’
Haematostaphis barteri. Fruits
edible
meet or wrestle snakes
Euplectes hordeacea
və̄lɔn mē sē wān mākī man this
is one-who takes away people’s
crops
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
p.n
personal name
Mākpu
p.n
personal name
Mālā
p.n
personal name
Mamān
̄
n.
crocodile tears
màmfɛ
adv
màmgbān
màmgbyɛ̀n
Màmgbyɛ̀n
màmpùr
māmgbyɛ̀n
n.
p.n
a.
màmvē
man
mamve
n.
conj.
immature yam
then, so as to
adv.
there
v.
v.p.
to nurse
to lick the mouth
after eating s.t.
sweet
until
mān
màn
màn mgbo
man
adv.
màndē
māndɛ̄
Mankɔ̀n
Mǎshi
matò
mbàn
mbǎnrìn
i
insisting on one
doing s.t
mason wasp
personal name
fresh, immature
groundnut etc.
—
mban
n.
p.n.
p.n
n.
n.
adv.
tp
b
immature palmfruit
personal name
personal name
vehicle
black kite
questioning
expression with
hands palm up,
bafflement
to dive inside
water
false shea, meni
oil tree
leaves for
ceremonial head
dress made from
mbàr
mbǎnrìn
v.
mbàr
n.
t
mbàr
n.
tr
mbe fà
adv.
mbɛ̄
adv.
reference to a past
event
already
n.
sprout, shoot
mbɛ̄
mbə̀mbɛ̄
39
Examples, other information
measure corn
measure food
it is okay
wə̄ là te màmfɛ̄ fà me you cont.
make crocodile tears for nothing
only
gu te nggə màmgbān he made
me insist
mason wasp
bencwē mē sē màmpùr me
groundnuts these are just
immature only
kan tə̄ nan man dètswē ə sə̄kàn
mē let us do then leave this place
gu sə sē mān ə tswēywə̄ he was
there also
vɛ̄n là màn child cont. suck
lit. ‘suck cheek’. gu là màn
mgbo he cont. lick his mouth
sɔ̀n màndē gu də̀ mə̀rtu ngā sit
until he returns
edible
lit. to meet on the way
< Hausa
Danrɛn kan nànsɛn mbǎnrìn?
Danrɛn take do where (where
has Danrɛn been all this while)?
nggə̄ ku mbǎnrìn I dived deep
into the water
Lophira lanceolata
Used in a peace-making
ceremony in families where
accusations of witchcraft may be
made and to make a charm to put
on farms to stop the land from
yielding. Also placed on mango
trees to prevent people from
stealing the fruit.
mbe fà anrīn gu sə nyə̀ time
later before he came
Nggə̄ gbla wə̄ kpəmkpàn mbɛ̄.
I weeded (for) you maize already
Yə̀mē sē mbɛ̄ kpu. This is a
guinea-corn sprout.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
p.n
personal name
Mbɛkī
p.n
personal name
Mbɛ̄kpu
adv.
in the
mbɛ̄nō
indeterminate
future, sometime,
someday
int.
when?
mbɛ̄tan
mbə̄
mbə̄ ngǎn
kwɔ̀
mbə̄ suswɛ
mbə̀mbə̄
mbə̀mbə̄ ngǎn
kwɔ̀
mbə̀mbə̄ suswɛ̀
n.
n.
p
woman, wife
widow
n.
i
blue insect
Mbə̄bàr
Mbə̄bū
Mbə̄cā
Mbə̄cūn
Mbə̄dān
Mbə̄do
Mbə̄gəga
Mbə̄gì
Mbə̄glā
Mbə̄glə̄
Mbə̄glō
Mbəgribə
p.n.
p.n.
p.n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
peersonal name
Mbəgyaga
Mbə̄gyār
Mbə̄gyànkɔ̀n
Mbə̄gyə̄r
Mbəgyɔ̀n
Mbə̄gyūn
Mbə̄hwan
Mbə̄jə̄
Mbə̄jìmə̀
Mbə̄kàbu
Mbə̄kə̀
Mbə̄kə̄jī
Mbə̄kə̀jì
Mbə̄kɔ̄n
Mbəkpu
Mbəkū
Mbəkyūbe
Mbə̄lā
Mbə̄kru
mbə̄kwɔ̀
Mbə̄kyū
mbəlanzān
p.n
p.n
p.n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
p.n.
n.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
daughter-in-law
personal name
small lizard which
makes holes in
farm ridges
mbə̀mbə̄ kwɔ̀
r
40
Examples, other information
sprout of crops
sprout of guinea-corn
Mbɛ̄nō nggə̄ lə ywē ə America.
Someday I will go to America.
Mbɛ̄tan wə̄ lə nyə̄? When will
you come? wə lə ngā mbɛ̄tan
when will you return?
lit ‘new wife’. It appears in
Oct/Nov. after the rains
woman of touch
woman of night
woman of sweet wine
woman of chief
woman of copaiba balsam
woman of market
woman of grass
woman of cry
woman of chase
woman of noise
woman of rain
woman who gossips them or
brought to them
woman of courting
woman of anger
woman of digging road
one woman
woman of famine
woman of dizziness
woman of farm
woman of poverty
woman of sand
woman of the house
woman of money
woman of love potion
woman of war
Woman of guinea corn
Woman of menses
Woman who die forever
woman of food
woman of barren
Gwanje dial.
woman of death
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
p.n
personal name
Mbələlə
n.
f
elephant-snout fish
mbə̄lò
mbəlò
spp.
p.n
personal name
Mbəmbàr
n.
i
termites that
mbə̀mbɔ̀
surround the
queen
n.
early morning
mbə̀mbrɛ̀cə̄
mbə̀mbrɛ̀mbr
ɛ̀
Mbə̄mbrī
mbə̀mblə̄kì
Mbə̄mə̀shi
Mbə̄mkpàn
Mbə̄mkpūn
Mbə̄ncān
Mbəngǎn
Mbə̄nggɔn
Mbənkɔ̀n
Mbə̄nyān
Mbə̄rā
Mbərāgɔn
Mbə̄rāntān
Mbə̄rɛ̀do
Mbə̄rɛ̀
mbə̄r
mbə̄r
Mbə̄rmə̀
mbə̄r mpà
mbə̌r
Mbə̄rɛn
Mbə̄rì
Mbəryān
Mbəsanga
Mbə̄səlè
Mbə̄sər
Mbə̄swē
Mbə̄tɔ̀
Mbə̄wànggwe
Mbə̄wu
Mbə̄wushi
Mbə̄ywan
Mbə̄zə̄
Mbə̄zə̄r
Mbə̄zəze
mbə̄zē
Mbə̄zè
Mbə̄zō
adv.
mbə̄mblə̀kī
mbə̀mbə̄r
mbə̀mbə̌r mpà
mbər
mbə̀mbə̄zē
p.n
n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
a
n.
v.
p.n
n.
n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
p.n
p.n
g
p
throughout the
morning
personal name
gutter
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
Personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
Personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
remains, dregs
to turn around
suddenly
personal name
scar, scar
lovegrass
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
daughter-in-law
personal name
personal name
41
Examples, other information
Woman of sickness
Mormyrus spp.
woman of false shea
mbrɛ̀, mbrɛ̀cə̄, mbə̀mbrɛ̀mbrɛ̀
cf. būbu
also mbrɛ̀, mbə̀mbrɛ̀cə̄, mbrɛ̀cə̄
woman of shield
woman of tears
woman of maize (corn)
short woman
woman of mud
woman of crawling
big woman
woman of the road
woman of horse
woman of dream
woman dream back
woman of dream skin
woman of buying market
woman of selling (i.e. she was
born during slavery)
nggə̄ kan gyɔ̄gɔ̄n mbə̄r I then
made a u-turn at once
man of dregs of wine
lit. remains-sore
Eragrostis tremula
woman of talk
woman of God
woman of hunt
woman put on cheek
woman of 10 kobo
woman of exchange
woman of bath
woman of sacrifice
Hausa woman
woman of medicine
woman of joy
woman of flat stone
woman of iron
woman of walk/tree specie
woman of good
woman of keep
woman of fresh wine
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
̄
n.
la
stream
mblə
mbə̀mblə
n.
r
skink
mblɔ̀n
mblɔn
n.
s.t. rotten
mbɔ̄
mbɔ̄ kə̄jī
Mbɔ̄kī
Mbɔ̄nē
mbrε
mbrɛ̄
mbrɛ̀
vē
mbrɛ̀cə̄
mbrī
mbrī
mbrī
mbrì
mbū
mbù
mbù nyə̄r
mbu
mbǔ
—
mbri
mbrī
mbūmbù
mbū nyər
mbǔ
mbu
n.p.
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
n.
too much money
personal name
personal name
tomorrow
day
morning
n.
morning
n.
charcoal, afterbush burnt
fibrous
shield
fruit tree
gum (of mouth)
gap teeth
tooth gap
mat
narrow-necked pot
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
dis
wp
fr
bp
bp
mt
po
mbùmbɔ̀
n.
Mbumburɛn
mbumburɛn
p.n
n.
small termites that
destroy wood
personal name
small
p.n
n.
adv.
n.
p.n
p.n
n.
adv.
personal name
ritual food
food that is watery
foot
personal name
personal name
raft-zither
only, just like that
Mbwā
mbwār
mbwàr
mbwà zə̀
Mbwancə̀
Mbwanzǒ
mbwɛ̌ wùyà
me
mbumbu
mə̀rɛ̌n
mbùmbwàr
mbūmbwà zə
fo
fo
bp
mi
mē
adv.
now
mē
mēmē
dem.
adv.
this
at once
menrīn
adv.
still
mε
n.
season
v.
to build
mɛ̄
mə
mε
?????
42
Examples, other information
Mabuya spp.
yə̄ bə tè mbɔ̄ ywə̄ it rot make
rotten of-it
rotten things
rotten person
cf. mbrɛ̀cə̄, mbə̀mbrɛ̀cə̄,
mbə̀mbrɛ̀mbrɛ̀
mbrɛ̀, mbə̀mbrɛ̀cə̄,
mbə̀mbrɛ̀mbrɛ̀ also būbu
large tree with small golden fruit
lit. ‘gum teeth’
women hoist it on their
shoulders to carry water
small talk
(particles of) talk
palm (hand or leg)
lā ku mbwàr food fall watery
wə̄ cu fətsɛ̀ me? you fetch small
only?
lwě njī cà nggə̄ mān me yə
bring me the knife now
mbə̄ mē woman this
cf. mē. gu de nə̄ wə̄ nyə̀ mēmē
he said should you come nownow
nggə̄ kasə̄sē nan yə̄ menrīn I
am doing it still
yə̀mē sē mɛ̄ yə̄ glō this is season
of rain
Gyɔ̄gɔ̄n là mɛ̄ vərà Gyɔ̄gɔ̄n
cont. build small granary
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
n.
buttocks
mə
—
n.
secret
mə̄
—
mə̀
mə̀
n.
a.
beer
wonderful
Mə̀bàn
mə̄bə
mə̀cī
mə̀cī
Mə̀cùn
Mə̀da
mə̀gàn
p.n
pron.
n.
n.
p.n
p.n.
n.
personal name
theirs
father-in-law
ancestors
personal name
Mada people
sap
mə̄cici
mə̄cici
Məda
p
adv.
məgē, məkē
maybe, possibly,
perhaps
blood
plant sp.
—
mə̄gìmbə‹
n.
n.
mə̄gu
p.n
p.a.
personal name
his
mə̀gyə̄
p.a.
yours (pl.)
məgyə̀r
mə̀kəbwə
adv.
n.
Mə̀kì
mə̀krì
p.n
n.
??
sieved leftover
liquid of palm-oil
personal name
sweat
mə̀kpǎ
n.
Mə̀kwɔnē
Mə̀kyū
mə̀lεka
mə̀mān
mə̀mān
kancɔn
məme
mə̀mē
mə̀lεkū
—
—
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
n.
—
—
a.
n.
mə̀gì
mə̀gìmbə‹
Mə̀gìnē
mə̀gu
Mə̀mērebe
mə̀mɛ̄
Mə̀mɛ̄
mə̀mə̀
mə̀mgbān
mə̄mi shɔ
mə̀nǎn
mə̀ncà
mənca-mənca
mə̄mə̀
nywεnywεn shɔ
—
—
h
top part of a
settled liquid
personal name
personal name
angel
salt
sugar
bad
earth, ground, soil,
land
personal name
dew
personal name
liquid
persistence
p.n
n.
p.n
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
id.
i
pp
bee larva
bean cake
yam root
sound of s.o.
43
Examples, other information
kpān wān tsə mə̄ gu friend who
knows secret his
yə̀mē sē kì yə̀ mə̀ this is
wonderful
take the last
for a woman
chiefs
tərkì mē te mə̀gàn tree this
make sap
gu lə nan yə̄ məgē he will do it
maybe
about 1 m. high, the leaves are
very smooth
blood of people
kì mē sē mə̀gu thing this is his
kə̄ yə̄ mə̄gu house of his
kì mē sē yə̀ mə̀gyə̄ thing this is
of yours
beer of thing
nggə̄ là ku mə̀krì I cont. fall
sweat i.e. I am sweating
e.g nzan, pre etc.
deserted settlement
liquid of death
< Hausa
lit. ‘sweet salt’
kì mē sē məme thing this is bad
ground eat good
dew
wə te mə̀mgbān rɛn mwɔn you
make persistence talk too-much
kàdə tàn kī mənca-mənca yo
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
chewing
Mə̀ncakì
Mə̀ncàkpu
mə̀ncεrɛ̀
p.n
p.n
v.
personal name
personal name
to tickle
mə̀ndɛ̀rɛ̀
a.
tender, soft
Mə̀nggànē
mə̄nggə̀
p.n
p.a.
personal name
mine
mənggə̀rō
mə‹nggla
—
mənggla
n.
n.
Mə̀nggɔ̀n
mə̀ntɛ̀
mə̀nyɛ̀n
mə̄nzε
—
̄
mənyɛ̀n kī
mənzɛ
p.n
n.
n.
n.
t
mə̀nzɛ̀gbù
n.
t
mər
v.
red-flowering silkcotton
to become broken
mə̄r
v.
to chase
v.
v.
to be sweet
to plait, as a rope,
to weave, to look
at
to go deep inside
water
to look at s.t. nonstop
personal name
cat
white person,
european
water
personal name
tears
personal name
personal name
to return
mə̌r
mə̀r
mər
mə̀rǐn
v.
mə̀r kyɛn
v.a
Mə̀rkyɛn
məsà
mə̀sārā
p.n
n.
p.n.
mə̀sər
Məsər-nglazə
mə̀shi
Mə̀shi
Mə̀shikarɛ
mə̀rtu
məsa
mə̄sārā
—
—
mərtu
n.
p.n
n.
p.n
p.n
v.
fr
mi
bp
da
mango
iron clapper
personal name
beard
oil
jumblebeads
mə̌rzə
v.
to be tired and
hungry after a
journey
mə̄tə̀
p.a.
ours
44
Examples, other information
do not chew food making sound
…..
beard of things
beard of guinea-corn
wə̄ là te nggə̄ mə̀ncɛrɛ̀ you cont.
tickling me
vəgbə̄ntan mē sē mə̀ndɛ̀rɛ̀ me
this calf is so tender
branches of people
kì mē sē yə̀ mə̀nggə̄ thing this is
mine
<Hausa
An iron ring that goes around the
wrist is struck with another iron
clapper. Played for the festive
dance nzɔ̄n
big wine
Abrus precatorius. The red seeds
are used to decorate
masquerades
Bombax buonopozense
gu vu kə̀ntsà yə mə̄r he/she
carry broom it broke
bə mər gbǎ vūn they chase cock
and caught it
prē mē mə̌r this is sweet
Tiyà là mə̀r mgbənrīn
grandfather is weaving rope
nggə ku mə̀rǐn I fall deep inside
water
wə là mə̀r kī kyɛn mwɔ̄n you
cont. look at things see pass
to look non-stop
< Hausa
water to wash legs
tears
tears falling down
gu kan mə̀rtu ngā he then
returned back
lit. ‘to break leg’. tə̄ nga tswē
glā kwɔ də̀ mərzə we returned
from hunting expedition and are
tired
kì mē sē yə̀ mə̀tə̄ thing this is of
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
mə̀tɔ̀
—
n.
potash
mə̀tù
—
n.
pity
Mə̀wu
mə̀ywè
mə̀ywɛ̀
—
mə̄ywɛ̀
p.n
n.
n.
n.
mfè
mfə
—
n.
mfə̄
mfə̀r
mfɛ̀n
—
n.
n.
v.p.
mfù
mfùbrì
mfucì
mfùgban
Mfùnan
mfùrukpm̀
mfùrūrū
mfùtù
mgbà
mgbà
mgbādār
mgbākī
mgbākī
nggwār
mgbākī ngə̀
ap
sh
mfə̄r
one-eyed blind
person
hunger
bp
—
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
bp
t
hi
c
c
—
n.p.
c
—
n.p.
c
mfuci
—
—
—
—
mgbā
mgbā
personal name
grease, fat
shrub
bp
g
b
bp
tp
foam
vagina
to put out a leg to
cause s.o. to
stumble
hair
grass sp.
Senegal coucal
pubic hair
personal name
kapok cotton
cotton wool
hair
fig tree
sling
edible leaf
green leaves for
making soup
sesame leaves
mgbāmgbān
adv.
food made from
sesame and leaves
firmly
mgblamgbla
a.
looking tough
leaf, paper money,
letter, book
book for reading
paper, book
sharp leaf for
wrapping food
Bible
armpit
very cool
mgbāmvū
mgbāmvū kī
n.
mgbāmvū blā
mgbāmvū car
mgbāmvū
gywi
mgbāmvū Rì
mgban
mgbân
—
—
n.
n.
n.
—
mə̀mgbǎn
n.
n.
a.
mgbə̄mgbàn
mgbantə
n.
n.
mgbān
mgbǎntə̄
bp
ap
wing
stone
45
Examples, other information
ours
te mə̀tɔ̀ gyɔ̄ lā ə glo fetch potash
put food at fire
gu te mə̀tù nggə̄ he have pity on
me
liquid of medicine
Sodom apple, swallow-wort.
Calotropis procera. The stems
are used to make rafters.
mfə là te nggə̄ hunger is doing
me
Always goes with tsɛ̌n. gu tsɛn
nggə̄ mfɛ̀n he cut me leg to fall
me
Digitaria gayana
Centropus senegalensis
hair of animal
Ficus platyphylla
vūn gu nàn lwè mgbāmgbān
catch him carry firmly
gu là kyɛn mgblamgbla me he
cont. looking tough only
mə̀sər sù mgbân water cool
very much
dim. və̄mgbantə̄,
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
mgbāntur
mgbārəhū
mgbàsàn
mgbāshε
mgbě
—
n.
n.
n.
n.
adv.
mgbě hyô
v.p.
mgbāngə̄n
mgbə̄
n.
n.
mgbə̀
—
mgbə̀mgbə̀
mgbədē
mgbəga
Mgbəga
mgbəgɔ̀n
mgbə̀glò
mgbə̀hwà
—
mgbəjə̀
mgbə̀jī
mgbə̀jə̄
mgbəji
mgbəlà
mgbəglo
—
mgbə̀là
mgbəlan
mgbə̀lantù
mgbə̄là
mgbəlɔkì
mgbə̀mgbàn
mgbə̀mgbàn
mgbə̄mgbār
mgbəmgbə̀r
mgbə̀mgbə̀r
mgbə̀lɔkī
mgbə̀mgbànkī
mgbə́mgbə̀r
h
c
c
bitterleaf
waterleaf
side of a hill or sea
roselle, sorrel
wide open
to on/off (light)
g
mi
grass sp.
panpipe
n.
aroma, scent,
smell, odour
n.
thanks
n.
p.n
n.
n.
a.
grass (generic)
personal name
local handbag
toad
wide and big, an
abusive word
describing mouth
cane stick
bush, wilderness,
uninhabited place
tree sp.
r
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
t
i
tp
d
g
t
bp
wooden headboard
tree sp.
termite with large
head
log
sour thing
sickness
grass sp.
fig tree
navel
46
Examples, other information
nywɛ̂nmgbantə
Vernonia amygdalensis
Amaranthus caudatus
Hibiscus sabdariffa.
wə̄ bu nkɔ̀n gyɔ̄ hū mgbě you
opened door put wide
tə̄r là te glo mgbě hyô evil light
make fire on/off
used to makw local curry
Has four/five pipes. Used for
festive occasions. Played in large
sets of up to twenty instruments
gu gba mə̀nyɛ̀n də̀ cu mgbə̀. He
rubbed on some cream and it
smelt nice
nggə̄ te mgbədē bə̄ gyə̀ I am
thankful to all of you
lit. ‘grass’
made of fan-palm leaves
kyɛn sē yə̄ nyū gu sē mgbə̀hwà
see how his mouth is wide
Gardenia aqualla. Used to
symbolise a compound that is
deserted. People say ban
mgbəlà gyɔ̄ nkɔ̀n take a
Gardenia and put it over the
entrance
caused by man
Loudetia arundinacea
Ficus polita
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
t
tree sp.
mgbəmgblan
n.
fo
pepper
mgbə̄mgblān —
n.
world
mgbəmgbrè
—
n.
s.t. small and
mgbəmgbrɛn __
round
n.
chair
mgbə̄ncī
mgbə̀ncī
n.
pp silk or beard of
mgbənjan
mgbə̀njǎn
maize, corn silk
p.n
personal name
Mgbənjan
n.
i
fly that buzzes
mgbə̀nwɔ̄n
mgbə̄nwɔ̄n
around the ears
p.n
personal name
Mgbə̀nyūglo
n.
bp intestine
mgbərɛ
a.p.
innocent
mgbərɛ kəkla
n.
n.
p.n
n.
p.n
id.
mgbərīn
mgbə̀rīn
Mgbərìngan
mgbə̄rìnkī
Mgbə̄rìnkī
mgbərìnrìn
mgbə̀rǐn
mgbə̀rǐn
mgbə̄rɔ̄n
mgbərshi
mgbərɔ̄n
mgbəmgbərshi
n.
n.
c
mgbəryàn
mgbə̀ryɔ̀
mgbə̌shi
mgbə̌shò
—
mgbə̄ryɔ̀
mgbəshò
n.
n.
n.
n.
fi
bp
c
g
mgbətsā
mgbə̌tsā
n.
hi
mgbī
mgbīmgbī
mgbi
n.
v.
mgbyīr
mgbə̄mgbyìr
mgbə̀rīnkī
bf
tp
n.
tr
mgblàn
n.
b
mgblarì
n.
mgblè
mgbəmgble
n.
la
mgbə̀lo
mgbəlo
n.
t
rope
urine
personal name
root
personal name
roots completely
removed
stool
Bambara
groundnut
fish (generic)
throat
egusi melon
speargrass
spoon (metal or
wood), spoon
needle, injection
to greet someone
properly
bush patch
crag chestnutwinged starling
noon, mid-day, hot
sun
upward slope,
embankment
tree sp.
47
Examples, other information
e.g. lumps, small gravel, small
balls of pap. cf. mkplǔn
(modern type)
beard of masquerade
attracted to sweat
fire log
lit. ‘intestine white’. nggə̄ sē
mgbərɛ kəkla I be intestine
white ( I am not guilty of the
offence)
roots have stuck
root things
gbǒ tərkì mē mgbərìnrìn
remove tree this with its roots
< Hausa?
Imperata cylindrica. yə̀mē sē
mgbəshò this is spear grass
nan nggə̄ tə̀ywē zɛ̀ mgbīmgbī
greet your father properly for me
When an old man dies, a piece of
bush is reserved for the end of
the dry season. It is then burnt
and the hunters of the
community go out, catch as
many animals as possible and
give them to the household of
the dead man.
Onychognathus morio
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
bp
inner
cheek
mgbo
mə̀mgbō
n.
yc bush yam
mgbò
mgbo
adv.
never at all, never
mgbomgboyo
n.
mgbōn
mgborεn
mgbɔ̄
mgbòmgbǒrεn
mgbə̄mgbɔ̀
n.
n.
mgbɔ̀
mgbɔ̀
mgbɔ̀
mgbə̄mgbɔ̀
—
n.
n.
v.
Mgbɔ̀kəji
mgbɔ̌n
Mgbɔ̀nē
Mgbɔ̀njɛ
mgbɔ̄npər
mgbrɛn
mgbrêmgbrē
mgbrǐn
mgbǔ
mgbù
mgbǔnmgbǔn
mgbǔn
mgbɔn
—
mgbu
—
mkpān fa
mkpān mvri
mkpān
nə̄mān
mkpān sɔ̄n
mkpànē
mpar nyū
Mkparū
mkparyə̀
mkpəlà
mkpəlàshū
mkpən
kyə̀gbò
fo
la
bp
b
n.
adv.
n.
n.
id.
mkpânē
mkpəla
—
n.
n.
African golden
oriole
word
rice and beans
cooked together
swamp, fadama
ball, group
to gather at a place
personal name
stomach
personal name
clan name
tooth-billed barbet
one
strength
tight, tightly
go
loc.
id.
mīn
miyāū-miyāū
mkpān
mkpàn
p.n
n.
p.n
n.
n.
num.
b
to suffer
palm-wine gourd
sound of liquid
being poured from
a vessel
inside
cry of a cat
n.
n.
adv.p
.
time
buttocks of
monkeys
harvesting season
harmattan
sometime (near
future)
n.
n.
planting season
elderly person
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
ap
f
i
b
t
Examples, other information
nggə̄ la nan kì mē
mgbomgboyo neg. did thing this
never not
Oriolus auratus
lit. ‘piece of talk’
bə kyote mgbɔ̀ ə tswē gyə̄r they
gather group at place one
heap of money
group of people
Libius bidentatus
Adjectival form as opposed to
count form cf. gyə̀r. nggə̄ sē bə̄
mbrɛn kì gyə̀r me. I have only
one thing.
nggə̄ vun gu lwe mgbrǐn I
caught him carry hold tightly
kan mə̀re jūn sū
mgbǔnmgbǔnmgbǔn take
palmwine remove put …….
Ancho/Shugbu dialect
məsà là gì de miyāū-miyāū cat
cont. cry that
lit. ‘time of coldness’
mkpān nə̄mān ə nggà bishi
nggə̄ lə nyə̄ sometime in front I
will come
nggə̄ sē mkpànē I am an-elderly
person
elephant-snout fish Mormyrus spp.
sky, God
pond-skater
black kite
Milvus migrans
sky
horseradish tree
Moringa oleifera
48
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
t
tree sp.
mkpə̀nǎ
v.
to become weak,
mkpə̀ryò
paralysed
Mkpə̄ryòkī
mkpə̀ywɛ̀
mkpi
mkpǐr
mkpìr
mkpīr
mkpītɔ̄n,
mkpɔntɔ̄n
mkplǔn
mkpəywɛ̀
mkpə̄mkpìr
mə̀kpīr
p.n
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
r
g
bp
ap
p
mkplun
n.
mkpūlɔ̄tù
mkpm
mkpɔn
mkpɔ̌n
mkpulɔtu
n.
n.
n.
n.
bp
mkprìshì
mkpumù
mkprishì
n.
pron.
m
mkpun
bp
personal name
frog sp.
bundle
grass sp.
hip
gizzard
deaf person
small spherical
object
skull
bundle/bunch
body
fatness
shaggy rat
oneself (arch.)
adv.
finally, at an end
mkpūn
Mkpūnmbə̄
mkpyɛ̀n
mə̀mkpūn
n.
p.n
n.
bridge
personal name
knock on the head
mla
mla
mlā
mlā
mə̄mla
mlǎ
n.
v.
a.
v.
relation
to laugh
left
to press forcefully
mlà
mlə̀
mə̀mlǎ
n.
v.
first born
to grope, feel your
way
mə̀mə‹mlə̀
v.
to grope, feel your
way
mò
n.
lie
n.
n.
sore, wound
cover, as for the
access hole to a
granary, lid, piece
calabash
sheet
door
describing a
49
mpā
mpə
mpə̄mpà
mpə̄
mpəmprε
mpənkɔ̀n
mpəryō
mpə̀mpə̄
mpə̄mprɛ̌
mpə̌nkɔ̄n
n.
n.
n.
id.
go
Examples, other information
due to a sudden fright. nggə̄ kan
kū mkpə̀ryò I then became
weak (paralysed)
weak things
small, sits on leaves, not edible
mostly of guinea-corn
e.g. palm-nut, eyeball, ball. cf.
mgbəmgbrɛn
və̄lɔn mū te mkpɔ̌n man that
has fatness
Dasymys incomptus
nggə̄ ryun lā mkpumù I cooked
food myself
tə̄ nan du yə krε mkpun we did
work it finish end
short woman
nggə cu gu mkpyɛ̀n I fetch him
knock (that is, I gave him a
knock)
nggə̄ là mla I cont. laugh
mlā lə̀ywa mū ngǔn press black
ant that kill
cf. mə̀mə̄mlə̀. wə̄ là mlə̀ kū
tswē you can grope and follow
the place
cf. mlə̀. nggə̄ lə mə̀mə̄mlə̀ ban
kətɔ̄n nē I will feel my way
along the side of the river
mò la ma wə̄ yo lie neg. fit you
not i.e. lying is not for you wə̄ là
te mò you cont. make lies
cf. mpə̌nkɔ̄n
Usually a frightening design. gu
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
colourful design
mpəryò
on somebody’s
body.
mplǒ
id.
mplomplompl
o
id.
mplɔ̄n
mplɔ̄n
mplɔn
mplɔn
n.
n.
ap
mi
mpù
mpǔr
mpǔr (mə̀)
mpūmpù
mpur
n.
n.
a.
bp
bm
Mpǔrmə̀
mpūr
mpwǎrkədān
mre
mren
mpūmpùr
p.n
n.
n.
v.
v.
—
e
h
describes the
sound of a stone
dropped inside
water
sound of water in
one’s stomach as
they run
horn
side-blown horn
thigh
blister
tasteless (local
beer)
personal name
fear
plant sp.
to swallow
to drown
mren
mū
n.
dem.
bush yam
that, those
mū(n)
mūcā
—
dem.
n.
—
n.
n.
n.
n.
there
stirring stick for
gruel
flour
maggot found in
cow-dung
winnowing basket
shame, shyness
mūn
mūn
int.
dem.
why?
that
munyàn
adv.
probably, perhaps,
maybe
mùmū
mūmūn
—
mūmùn
mùmwɔ̀n
—
—
i
50
Examples, other information
ngrɛn nənè gu krè də̀ car kpə
mpəryō mpə̄ryò he saw
somebody stand and has
designed his body colourfully
mə̀sər là tar cū ə nɛ̀n
mplomplomplo water cont.
move at stomach …….
cf. də̀nggàn. Made from a cow's
horn and played together with
the panpipes for festive
occasions.
mə̀ mē ku mpǔr beer this fall
tasteless
tasteless local beer
mpūr là te nggə̄ fear cont. make
me
kan là mrè take food swallow
gu kan də̄ mren he take lost
drown
splits into fingers
follows the noun it qualifies. cf.
mūn
gu sē ə mun he is at there
mùmwɔ̀n là te nggə̄ shyness is
doing me
Follows the noun it qualifies.
və̄lɔn mūn that man. cf. mū
munyàn te tə̄ lə ngā nzεn
maybe our father will come in
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
mur
adv.
completely
be disgusting,
dirty, bad
sedge (generic)
red spider-mite
general term for
beetles
wild custard-apple
nose
cold, coldness
mvān
mvānmvān
v.
mvē
mvə̄r
mvə̄rkì
mve
mvə̄rki
n.
n.
n.
g
i
i
mvlɔ̌n
mvre
mvri
mvlɔn
mə̀mvrě, mvrě
—
n.
n.
n.
t
bp
mvu
n.
greed
n.
mvūmvùmvū
n
id.
mwāmwār
mwə̀n
a.
v.
greed for many
things
describes how
vehicles or people
pass each other
naked
to get
mwə̀n
v.
to rebuke
mwēshɔ
mwetso
n.
n.
mvumvu
mwɔ̀
mwɔ̌
—
mwɔ
mwɔ
v.
n.
mwɔn
v.
Mwɔnbə
Mwɔnshīn
myô
p.n
p.n
id.
t
b
bp
tree sp.
black-crowned
tchagra
to kindle fire
enlarged testicle,
hydrocele
to be more than,
surpass
personal name
personal name
describes how lush
green s.t. is
Examples, other information
sometime. cf. kə̀ndà, tə̀tɔ̀
nggə̄ nan krɛ mur I do finish
completely
Cyperus spp.
cf. nyɛ̄n
Annona senegalensis
mvri là te nggə̄ cold cont. has
me i.e. I’m feeling cold)
gu là te mvu kənàn mwɔ̄n he
cont. make greed much
tə̄ vun kəywə̀ nga
mvūmvùmvūn we catch
ourselves passed fast fast
wə̄ lə la mwə̀n yo you will neg.
get nothing
nggə̄ mwə̄n gu nānrɛ̄n I
rebuked him yesterday
Tchagra senegala
ywē mwɔ̀ glo go make fire
Dantsu ru mwɔ̌ Dantsu has an
enlarged testicle
nggə̄ mwɔn wə̄ I surpass you
lan kpəmkpàn mē sər myô
farm maize this black greenish
N.
nà
nà
nàgyə̀r
nan
nan hwān
nān
—
mə̀nan, nǎn
mə̀nan hwān
v.
to pass the night
to copulate, to
have sex
num.
n.
n.
thousand
flesh, meat, animal
bush animal,
animal
emphasises
content of
sentence
p.u.t.
51
gu kàn nà he then pass the night
Danrɛn bə̄ Mbə̄rɛn là na kəywə̀
Danrɛn with Mbə̄rɛn cont.
having sex
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to do
nàn
nan
idm.
to refuse hence to
nan ngwɔn
die (euphemism)
Nangrɛ̄n
Nànggwe
Nankrè
Nankyɛn
nānrɛ̄n
nanrεn
nanrεn glo
nanrεn gyàr
nanrɛ̀n
Nansɔ̀n
nār
nār
nàr
Nàrcūn
ncā
ncà
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
adv.
—
—
nar
—
nar
mə̀cə̄ncà
n.
n.
n.
adv.
p.n
n.
n.
v.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
yesterday
bp
t
m
wt
p.n
n.
adv.
ncà
n.
c
ncà brī
n.
c
Ncaka
p.n
ncān
ncān
Ncān
ncancùn
—
mə̀ncancùn,
ncǎncūn
n.
n.
p.n
n.
ncar
v.
ncār
n.
ncàr
ncàwǔ
n.
v.
ncɛ̄
ncɛ̀làdān
ncɛ̄zə̄zə̄
ncə
ncə̄
ncə̀kpū
ncε
ncɛ̄ladan
ncɛ̄zəzə
mə̀ncə
ncə
b
tongue
flame
tree sp.
recently (not
yesterday)
personal name
mongoose
lightning
to watch closely,
watch out for
personal name
yam hut
once upon a time..
yellow yam grown
in gardens
yellow-fleshed
tuber found in the
bush
personal name
bird sp.
mud
personal name
story
to cry out with
pain, shriek
disapproving click
of the tongue
palm wine
to hang, to swing
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
i
ap
h
tree sp.
gecko
caterpillar
tail
witchweed
n.
p
go-between
52
Examples, other information
gu là nan ndu she cont. do work
lit. ‘do hand’. gu ka də̀ nan
ngwɔn he/she ‘refused’ and still
gave up
see properly
doing of a Hausa man
stand firm
let’s just do it and see, see well
nggə̄ ywe hwān nānrɛ̄n I went
farm yesterday
also rərεn
tə̄ rɔ̄ nanrɛ̀n we danced recently
sit properly
Ichneumia albicauda [?]
cf. nùwàr. nàr nggə̄ gūgu mū
watch me goat that
struggle for chief
used to recall former times. ncà
tə̄ sə̄ sē nywɛnzɛ̀ one time we
were young
has bitter and sweet types
inedible
sound of a trap catching an
animal
mud
fəvɛ̀n là ngār ncar child this
cont. break shriek
wə̄ ta nggə̄ ncār mūn? you
throw me click why?
tə̄ là klə ncàwǔ we cont. hang
swing
Hymenocardia acida
cf. njìlàdān, ncìlàdān
found on the shea-tree
Striga hermonthica. A parasite
on sorghum
intermediary between the boy
and girl’s house for marriage
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̌
n.
c
herb sp.
ncə̀ryɛn
nci
n.
ncīnci
—
traditional district
n.
c
n.
n.
n.
n.
m
m
r
nciryεn
ncìryɛ̄n
n.
n.
t
ncɔ̀
n.
Ncɔ̀cūn
Ncɔ̀mishɔ̀n
ncɔ̂n
p.n.
p.n.
a.
ncìgǎn
ncikla
ncikrè
ncìlàdān
ncinrin
nciladan
bean plant with
edible tubers
pygmy mouse
dormouse
gecko
small matters,
minor issues
tree sp.
grass used as fireretardant
game of hiding a
stone in one hand
and asking s.o. to
guess which one
Ancho town
Ancho mission
straight
ncū
mə̀tərncū
n.
t
black plum tree
ncùkùryɔ̄
ncuwɛ̀
—
n.
id.
fo
fufu
describes carrying
something and
carelessly letting it
fall
grass sp. for
demarcating
boundary between
portions of land
thorn
inaudibly
ncwə̄n
n.
ncwə̄r
ndān
n.
adv.
t
ndasan
ndē
n.
adv.
t
ndèndè
adv.
ndə̄
ndə̀
ndə̄ndɛ̀
ndə̀ndɛ̀n
Ndənē
adv.
n.
n.
n.
p.n
ndə̀r
ndō
ndɔ̀
ndu
—
—
—
ndə̄r
ndo
—
ndū
n.
n.
n.
n.
f
bp
c
t
tree sp.
for a long time
to stand upright,
stand
in line
fish sp.
chin
slippery area
personal name
okra
cow
tree sp.
work, message
53
Examples, other information
single stem with edible green
leaves. Corchorus sp.
tə̄ sē bān nci gyə̄r bə̄ Likita we
are those district one with Likita
tubers and beans are both eaten.
Probably the winged yam
Mus minutoides
Graphiurus sp.
Rija dial. cf. njìlàdān, ncɛ̀làdān
nggə̄ la fɔ ncinrin rɛn yo I neg
look for small matters talk not
tə̄ kan ncìryɛ̄n ywar tswē. We
took some n. to block the place.
tə̄ là rɔ ncɔ̀ we cont. play
hide……
< English
nggā mə̀nggə̄ sē ncɔ̂n pole my is
straight
Vitex doniana. edible fruit and
leaves
nggə̄ re ncùkùryɔ̄ I eat fufu
məsər kan kàrɛ ncuwɛ̀ water
take pour accidentally
nggə̄ se ncwə̄n ə də̄r lan nggə̄
bə̄ Nggyàrɛn I plant grass at
demarcation land mine with
Nggyàrɛn
gu là rɛn ndān he cont. speak
inaudibly
tə̄ kre mān te ndē. We stood
there for a long time.
doglò krè ndə̀ndè get-up stand
straight
nyān su ndə horses put in line
Mormyrus rume
(e.g. with mud)
line of people (probably refers to
people being carried away as
slaves)
Abelmoschus esculentus
cf. làndār
Tīyà te nggə̄ ndu Grandfather
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Ndwə̀r
Ndwər
p.n.
big masquerade
nē
nē
Nēgyə̄r
Nēkrɛ
nēnə̄mān
mə̄nē
n.
n.
p.n
p.n
pron.
person
river, sea
personal name
personal name
somebody else
něnjì
nε
nɛ̄n
nə̄
nə̀
nə̀ kpə
mə̄nenjì
n.
n.
n.
v.
v.
v.p.
—
nə̄mān
pron.
human being
wild date-palm
belly, stomach
to give, let
to straighten out
to stretch out the
body
another person
nə̀mē
nənè
dem.
pron.
like this
person who
mə̀nɛ̀n
nə
nə̄nə̄
nə̀nə̄
nə̀nə̌r
mə̀nə̄nə̄
—
n.
v.
adv.
nə̄nggyε
nənggyɛ̀
int.
nə̄nlyɛ̄
nə̄nlyɛ̄ cinjǐ
nə̄nlyɛ̄
səmban
nə̀r
njār
njàrkpà
njārrr
n.
n.
n.
nər
mə̀njàr
njārkpà
t
bp
hi
grinding stone
to sleep
year or so ago,
some time ago
what?
an
an
an
biting ant
biting ant sp.
biting ant sp.
to try, to attempt
nest
male cricket
sound of a door
bell
worm
v.
n.
n.
id.
njə̀r
njər
n.
i
njī
njì
njīnji
n.
adv.
hi
knife
forever
n.
g
grass sp.
54
njì
Examples, other information
make me message
that comes after to drive Rin-ze
away
one person
people are finished
nēnə̄mān nkan dan
sə̄sānmenàn A different person
said so
Phoenix reclinata
kan yə̄ nə̄ nggə̀ give it to me
nə̀ kì mē straighten out my legs
nggagyū là nə̀ kpə dog cont.
stretch out body
kì mē sē yə̀ nənè nə̄mān nkan.
This thing belongs to someone
else.
nan nə̀mē do like this
used in relative constructions. tə̄
la tsə nənè wān kan kì mē zwè
ə sə̄kànmē yo. we neg know
person who take thing this keep
at place that not. We don’t know
who put this here.
gu là kùr nə̀nə̄ he cont. lie sleep
tə̄ rɛn rɛn mē nə̀nə̌r we talk
matter this some time ago
Agrees with the number of the
subject. sē nə̄nggyɛ yə̀ wə̄ là
nan? it is what which you cont.
do? i.e. What are you doing?
yə̄mē sē nənggyɛ̀? What are
these?
gu là nə̀r he cont. try
kì yə̀ nyūlənkɔ̀n là gì njārrr
thing of door cont. cry …..
applied both to earthworms and
intestinal worms
yə̀mē sē njī this is a knife
nggə̄ lə ywē sɔ̀n ə Kə̄gbə njì I
fut. go sit at Akwanga forever
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
r
gecko
njìlàdān
njiladan
n.
wp sword
njīmgbàn
mə̀njīmgbàn
—
n.
c
beniseed, brown
njìnjà
sesame cultivar
n.
piece of cloth from
njìnja nkùlwè njīnjà nkulwe
a wrapper
n.
rag
njìnjakì
njīnjàkī
n.
going on and on
njìnjɛ̄
about s.t.,
‘dragging’ an
issue
n.
truth
njìnjì
—
n.
bp penis
njo
mə̀njǒ
n.
ap horn
njò
njūnjo
n.
whip
njɔ
—
n.
a
space beneath a
njūn
—
granary
n.
g
grass sp.
njùn
p.n
personal name
Njùwàci
n.
tr
masquerade
njwě
njwe
Njwě hwākī
Njwě shīshā
njwɛn
—
—
—
njwɛ̂n
nka
nkā
nkan,
nkânnkān
nkan
nkan
nka
nklaglo
adv.
n.
adv.
n.
n.
nkarεn
nkəgbo
t
g
four days hence
fig tree
differently,
separately, apart
gamba grass
s.t. dried
dried meat
dried skin
proudly
n.
po
n.
v
n.
a.
n.
pron.
fr
n.
masquerade
masquerade
interest
maybe, possibly?
n.
n.
id.
nkə̄
nkə̀gbò
nkə̂nkə
nkí
nkinē
tr
tr
int.
nkan nan
nkan ntàn
nkanka
nkarɛ̀n
p.n.
p.n.
n.
t
very large pot for
liquids
cow-itch
pawpaw
rough (surface)
tree sp.
something
burning charcoal
55
Examples, other information
Ancho dial.
Sesamum indicuum. See běntə
və̄lɔn mē te njìnjɛ̄ rɛn kənàn
me. lit. ‘man this make dragging
talk plenty only’. i.e. This man
goes on and on about one thing.
cf. ntswa, nyə̄nyɔ̄n
Scleria verrucosa
nggə̄ ngrεn njwě I saw a
masquerade
appears during the funeral dance
appears during the funeral dance
njwɛn là te nggə bə ndu mē
interest cont making me with
work this
gu lə sē kə̀ njwɛ̂n? he will be
home maybe or likely. i.e.
maybe he’ll come home. cf.
kə̀ndà, tə̀tɔ̀
Ficus thonningii
vu kī mē tè nkânnkān put these
things apart
Andropogon gayanus
kwɔ la kù nkan mbɛ̄ yo guineafowl is yet to be dried
gu là sa mənē rɛn nkanka me
he answers people talk proudly
only
resting in a hole in the ground
Mucuna pruriens. A vine with
hairy pods that sting badly
cf. ywēmkpə̀r. Carica papaya
nggə̄ la nan nkinē yo I neg. do
something not
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
charcoal
nklambrī
—
nklān
—
n.
nkɔn
nkɔ̀n
kə̄nkɔn
nkɔ̄n, nkɔ̄nkɔ̄n,
mə̀nkɔ̀n
kə̄nkɔ̀n
kə̄nkɔ̀n tsɔ̌
kə̄nkɔ̀n zə̄
n.
n.
nkɔ̀n
nkɔ̀n tsɔ̌
nkɔ̀n zə̄
Nkɔ̀ncɔ̀
Nkɔ̀nggwe
Nkɔ̀nkyū
Nkɔ̀nrɛ
Nkɔ̀nryān
Nkɔ̀nyān
nkɔ̄nzə̀
nkrē
nkrē
nkrētəgya
nkrǐn
nkrǐn
nkrù
nkū
nkǔ
nkulwe
nkūr
nkūr
nkùwu
nkwār
nkwɔ̄
nkyə̄r
nkyεn
n.
n.
n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
n.
bp
ap
d
nywεn
nkrētəgya
nkrin
—
n.
m
n.
a.
t
nkrū
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
da
s
nkɔ̄nzə
—
—
nkùlwè
nkur
nkur
nkuwu
—
nkwɔ
nkyə̄nkyə̀r
nkyεnnkyεn
nkyɛ̄n
Nkyɛnnē
nlyɛ̄
nlyɛ̄
nlyɛ̄ndu
nlywe
nrìnmē
ntan
bp
—
—
—
n.
p.n
n.
num.
p.n.
v.
adv.
n.
r
t
b
h
t
bp
wt
black substance
made from locust
pods used to seal
winnowing trays
elbow, ankle
door
road, way
tarred road
railway, tracks
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
heel
scales of a fish
disease which
gives the skin a
scaly appearance
sand fox
tree sp.
round
male sheep, ram
file snake
break in rainfall
cloth
crocodile
sausage tree
owl
kenaf
tree sp.
group
remaining part
fist
personal name
lightning
four
Thursday
to kill (pl.)
today
argument
56
Examples, other information
gu cu nklambrī sū ə glo yə̄ he
put charcoal in the fire
Mashi là gbà mūmù nklān
Mashi cont. rub w/basket …..
the road to Ancho
the road of the Hausa
the road to death
the road is long
the road to hunt
the road of horses
Vulpes pallida [identification
uncertain; perhaps the jackal]
tār yə̄ yā sē nkrǐn room of my
mother is round
Mahelya poensis
glō sa nkǔ rainfall put break
Kigelia africana
Hibiscus cannabinus
Terminalia spp.
nkyə̄r nē group (of) people
yə̀mē sē nkyɛn ywə̄ this is the
remaining part of it
kyɛn nkyɛ̀n yə̀ nggə̄ lə ngwùr
wə̄ mē see the fist which I will
hit you this
remainder of people
cf. ngūn. nggə̄ nlywe mə̄nē tar I
killed people three.
gyə̄ là rē ntan de nə̄nggyε? you
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
ntàn
ntān
Ntànrin
ntanntan
—
n.
n.
p.n
a.
—
n.
ntān
—
ntǎr
adv.
ntēn
ntɛ̄
ntɛ̀
ntɛ̀
bp
bm
n.
n.
n.
bf
bp
d
—
n.
a
ntə̄nāntsò
ntənntən
ntənantso
n.
a.
r
ntə̄r
ntə̀ywàn
ntɔ̄
—
nywɛ̂n ntəywan
—
n.
n.
v.
—
ntɛ̄
ntɛ̄
ntεn
ntsē
ntsɛ
ntsɛ̄
ntsɛ̄kì
ntsɛ
ntsɛ̄kī
ntsεn
ntsɛn
ntsər
ntsə̄r
ntsū
ntswa
ntswē
nùwàr
—
—
—
—
ntswe
m
n.
adv.
t
n.
n.
sk
bm
n.
n.
n.
adv.
b
n.
n.
n.
v.
i
nvər
id.
nvɛ
v.
nvɔ̄kī
n.
i
skin
wrinkles
personal name
thin
Examples, other information
cont eat argument that give what
(why?)
skin for masquerade
lə̀gā nggə̄ sē ntanntan shirt my
is thin
slap on the back
gu te nggə̄ ntǎr ə gɔ̄n he
slapped me on the back
describes watching kyɛn gu ntēn nə̄ gu man ka
intently
gbladə̄ yo look him intently let
him should neg. disappear not
saliva
testicle
hydrocele, swollen
testicle
backyard
stands also for a place where
people defecate
chameleon
smooth
gɔ̄n tsə̄ mū sē ntənntən outside
pot that is smooth
clay
ground squirrel
Euxerus erythropus
to swing on a rope gu là klə ntɔ̄ he cont. hang
swing
strawberry tree
Nauclea diderrichii
describes the smell və̄nggə̄ mē nyɔn ntsɛ girl this
of adolescents or
smell bad; nggə̄ là gwɔ ntsɛ
the bad smell of
mgbəryàn I cont. ‘hear’ bad
fish
odour of fish
star
pimples, body
ntsɛ̄kì sa wə̄ ə ngà pimple is-on
spots
you at cheek
saddlebill stork
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
wooden arrow
purity
describes spitting
gu sar nggə̄ ntɛ̄ ntsə̄r he cut me
saliva straight
saliva straight
maggot
whip
cf. nyə̄nyɔ̄n, njɔ
burrowing locust
to ambush
nggə̄ là nuwar vɛ̄n mē də̀ man
kyɛn kì yə̀ gu lə nan I cont.
ambush boy this and see thing
which he will do
describing the
sē sɛn də̀ wə sɔn nvər menàn?
look on s.o.’s face It is how you are looking tough
like that? (no smiling)
to tie or hold
gu kpan tər nvɛ̄ he tie waist
oneself
tightly vūn nɛ̄n grì nvɛ catch
stomach hold tightly
hidden place,
tə̄ klwe kə nyə̄r ə nvɔ̄kī we ran
57
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
concealed place
id.
sound of a
nvyūūng
motorcycle
speeding
n.
t
tree sp.
nwə̄nzàn
n.
m
slender mongoose
nwɔ̄n
n.
v
rubber vine
nwɔ̌n
nyàn
nyàn mkparu
nyān
nyan mkparu
n.
n.
nyàn
mə̄nyinyàn
n.
nyānmē
nyàr
nyâr
nyar
dem.
n.
adv.
i
v.
nyεn
nyεn
nyɛ̄n
—
v.
n.
nyɛ̄n
—
n.
nyɛ̀n
Nyɛ̌nme
Nyɛ̌nnē
nyɛ̂nnyɛ̄n
da
i
nyɛ̄n
n.
p.n
p.n
a.
—
nyə̀
i
horse
praying mantis
people who share
maternal uncles
here
louse
of the same height
to love, to
embrace
to roll up
small insects
trivial things
i
tick
personal name
personal name
very small
v.
to come
nyənyə̀r
—
a.
raw
nyə̄nyɔ̄n
nyə̀nyɔ̌n
n.
nyə̀nyǔn
nyər
nyər
nyə̄r
—
—
—
leather thong
made of goatskin,
grass whip
grass sp.
to enter
to thank
to hide, deceive
—
nyə̄r…rin
n.
v.
v.
v.
g
v.p.
nyə̌r
Nyərèrè
nyi
nyər
nyì
nyi
—
to circumcise
n.
p.n
v.
bp
n.
s
tooth, teeth
personal name
to roll
python
58
Examples, other information
go hide at [a] concealed place
gwɔ gì bàbər mūn məgyə̀r
nvyūūng hear (the) sound of that
motorcycle
Herpestes sanguinea
Landolphia owariensis, Saba
florida
lit. ‘horse of God’ (? calque from
Hausa)
Rìdan sē nyàn nggə̀ Rìdan
shares maternal uncle with me
nyə nyānmē come here
mə̀tərkī mē krè nyâr trees these
stand the same
gu là nyεn nggə̄ he is loving me
nyɛ̌n mbu mē roll up this mat
general term for small insects
which does not include beetles,
mvə̄rkì
gu là tān nyɛ̄n rɛn mwɔ̄n lit.
‘he cont. pick trivial things talks
much’ i.e. he goes on and on
about minor details
love still
love people
kī mē sē nyɛ̂nnyɛ̄n things these
are very small
nyə nggə̄ kyɛn come (let) me
see
krī mē sē nyənyə̀r yam this is
raw
cf. ntswa, njɔ
nyə̌r nyə̀ enter come
nggə̄ nyər Mkparu I thank God
gu klwe kə̄ nyə̄r he ran go hide,
nggə̄ là nyər wə̀ I cont. deceive
you
bə là nyər gu rin they cont.
circumcise him
come slowly
nyǐ lə̀lwè mē roll up this grass
(as roofing grass)
Python sebae
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
m
elephant
nyī
nyi
n.
fo
soup
nyìnyī
nyīnyī
—
v.
to rub, to reduce
nyɔ̄n
the pain caused by
the sting or bite of
an insect
—
v.
to scrub s.o’s back
nyɔ̄n
nyɔ̄n
—
nyɔ̄n mə̄
—
mə̀nyū
mə̀nyə̄lūnkɔ̄n
mə̀nyūrεn
v.
id.
n.
n.
n.
id.
loc.
nywī
nzan
—
n.
nzān
Nzàn
nzār
nzě
—
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
nzɛ̄
nzɛ̌
nzɛ̌
Nzɛmwɔ̀n
nzεn
to thresh acca
without sticks
describes walking
stiffly as a result
of shame
to smell, to stink
describes walking
lazily
mouth
door, doorway
language
describes leaving
in embarassment
after a request is
refused
inside
adv.
nyɔ̌n
nyɔ̂nnyɔ̀n
nyū
nyūlə̄nkɔ̀n
nyūrεn
nywār-nywār
v.
nzàr
—
—
nywɛ̂n nzε
nywɛ̂n nzε
v.
n.
n.
p.n
adv.
fo
ai
b
m
food made from
boiled guinea-corn
sunrise
village name
hoe
hiccup
to dress up, fit
plantain-eater
rat sp.
personal name
later on
nzɛ̂nmē
adv.
now, nowadays,
present
nzənze
n.
ululation
nzə̀nzɛ̀
nzə̄nzɛ̄
nzə̄nzɛ̄tə̄
—
—
—
n.
n.
n.
nzə̀nzər
—
n.
g
grass sp.
chain
necklace
partition of a room
59
Examples, other information
nyɔ̄n nggə̄ zə rub my leg
nggə̄ là nyɔn mbə̄ kə̀ nggə̄ gɔ̄n I
cont. scrub wife my back
tə̄ là nyɔn ntsu we cont. thresh
acca
kyɛn ywe yə̀ gu lə ywe nyɔ̄n mə̄
nān see go which he will go
with shame, isn’t it?
tswē nyɔn the place is smelling
kàsə zər nyɔ̄nnyɔ̀n nə̀mē yo
don’t walk lazily like that not
gu kàn kà tswēywə̄ dɔ̀n nywārnywār he then left the place in
embarrassment
Rija dialect. gu sē ə nywī tàr He
is inside the room. cf. mīn
in Kəmgbɔ̀ clan
gu là te nzě he cont. make
hiccup
gu te nzɛ̄ he make dress up
Corythaeola spp.
dress fit much
nzɛn wə̄ man nyə̀ later on you
should come
mkpān yə̄ nzɛ̂nmē lit. ‘time of
nowadays’ nywɛnzɛ̀ bān
nzɛ̂nmē la fɛ bishi te tswe blā
yo. Those young boys of today
open up their eyes, but not to
read
nzənze mū sē yə̄ nə̄nggyɛ?
ululation that is for what?
Hyparrhenia involucrata
və̄nggə̄ mū klə nzə̄nzɛ̄tə̄ lit. ‘girl
that hung necklace’. i.e. that has
put on a necklace
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̌
adv.
again
nzɔ
a.
a few
nzɔ̂
p.n
personal name
Nzɔ̌me
nzɔ̄n
—
p.n.
dc
festive dance
nzu
nzu
—
—
n.
n.
p
cripple
strong wind
nzū
—
n.
t
tree sp.
—
i
bp
Examples, other information
gu nan yə̄ nzɔ̌ he do it again
tə̄ sē nzɔ̂ me we are few only
lit. ‘again’ (emphatic). Possibly
the baby is either a boy or girl
who is following another one
involves shaking the back.
Played for weddings etc. The
mə‹nggla iron clapper is used.
If you are touched by this wind
then will become a cripple,
hence this is the same word.
Pteleopsis suberosa
NG.
ngā
ngā
ngā
mə̀ngà
nga
n.
n.
v.
ngā
ngalā
ngǎn
ngàn
—
—
—
ngan
v.
v.
v.
v.
sweat-fly
jaw
to collapse, fall
down
to return
to yawn
to crawl
to become part of
ngàn
ngan
v.
to report
p.n
p.n
personal name
personal name
v.
to break (as a
bottle), smash,
crack open
personal name
Ngànsūbə
Ngārɛn
ngàr
ngār
Ngārgbù
p.n
ngarmpwà
v.
ngə̄
ngə̄
ngə̀
—
n.
n.
v.
ngə̀
v.
ngə̀
v.
to be wiped out, to
dry up, to not
produce proper
fruits (groundnut)
t
tree sp.
marriage
to press cloth
to mix beniseed
with leaves
to rub, scrub
60
tār nggə̄ nga room my has
collapsed
gu ngā kə̄ he return home
gu là ngalā he cont. yawn
vɛ̄n là ngǎn child cont. crawl
tə̄ kan ngan bə̄ bə lit. ‘we take
become part of with them’ i.e.
we became part of the same
group
nggə̄ ngan rɛn yə sū bə I
reported the matter to them
tell them
lit. ‘tear talk’. Applied to one
who addresses issues bluntly
kə̀mbə̀ ngar the calabash is
broken
break rocks, to devastate a city
(as in war)
kpə̀kprɛ̀ nlywe bə də̀ bə
ngarmpwà Smallpox killed
them and they were wiped out
mə̀sər ngarmpwà water is
drying up [as a well] bencwe
ngarmpwà groundnut is not
producing fruits
gu là ngə̀ nggə̄ kī he cont. press
my things (clothes)
eaten raw as a food Yā là ngə̀
mgbākī mother cont. mix leaves
gu là ngə̀ zə he cont. rub legs
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
b
hammerkop
ngəganmə
n.
hotness, heat
ngə̀ngǎn
Ngə̀ngǎn
Ngwɔn Ri
nggā
ngga
p.n
n.
n.
nggā
—
n.
nggà
nggà bishi
ngga
n.
loc.
personal name
personal name
ladder, forked
pole, river fork
fornication
nggà gɔ̄n
loc.
nggà nzān
nggà rùglò
nggà sə̀r
nggà shū
Nggabē
Nggarē
nggǎgyū
nggǎgyū
hwān
nggǎgyū
mə̀sər
nggākì
Nggampwar
nggān
nggagyū
nggagyū hwan
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
da
m
side
front, in front of,
before
behind, at the back
of
east
west
south
north
personal name
personal name
dog
jackal
nggagyū mə̀sər
n.
m
otter
mə̄nggàkī
n.
p.n
adv.
tp
branch of tree
personal name
greatly, intensely
nggaswε
nggɛ̌
—
mə̀nggɛ̌
nggə̄
nggə̀
nggə̀bān
nggə̀r
ngglan
ngglàn
nggəbān
nggər
ngglan
nggɔnnggɔn
dc
pron.
pron.
n.
n.
adv.
n.
id.
nggɛrɛnggɛrɛ
ng
nggɔ̀n
nggɔn
n.
n.
a.
n.
Nggɔnggɔn Ri
nggre
p.n.
n.
nggrεn
v.
twins
ornamental axe
I
me
thatch rooftop
axe, hatchet
brilliantly
b
purple glossy
starling
sound of bicycle
bell
big
big, leader,
authority
personal name
local hanger for
drying meat by
fireplace (basketlike)
to make fun of,
61
Examples, other information
Scopus umbretta
ngə̀ngǎn là te nggə̄ lit. ‘hotness
is doing me’ i.e. I am hot
lit. hotness, heat
lit. ‘hand of God’
və̄lɔn mē là te nggā man this
cont. make fornication
wə kre ə nggà bishi nggə̀. You
stood in front of me.
gu krè ə nggà gɔ̄n wə̀. He is
standing behind you.
outside of the village
the side of palm trees
nggə̄ tse nggǎgyū I beat the dog
Canis adustus. lit. ‘dog of bush’
lit. ‘dog of water’
lit. side that is desolate
lə̀lān là tǎr ràn nggān scorpion
cont. sting pain greatly
held up during the panpipe dance
and for bwər rejoicing.
first singular object pronoun
tswē lan ngglan place shine
brilliantly
Lamprotornis purpureus
kìkyɛ là te kə̀rārāwā de …..
bicycle cont. make sound
that…..
gu sē nggɔn he is leader
goodness of God
Tīyà kan nan sū ə nggre də̀
kan klə̄ ə kəkrɛ̄ Grandfather
take meat put inside hanger and
take hang at fireplace
gu là te nggrɛn tswē nan ndu
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
refuse to do s.t
when asked
nggrū
n.
wrinkles
nggu
n.
confidence
n.
n
n.
n.
int.
p.n.
v.
int.
feather
metal dish
emerald snake
vine (general)
who?
Hausa man
to look without
blinking eyes, to
look straight ahead
what?
v.p.
proverb
v.
to wash
ngrě
v.
to separate
different items
ngre
ngrě
v.
v.
nggù
nggūnggū
nggūngwūr
nggūngwūr
nggwɔ̌
Nggwě
nggyə̄r
mə̀nggù
—
mə̀nggūngwūr
mə̀nggūngwūr
—
Nggwe
nggyɛ̌
nggyɛ̀ rεn
ngla
—
—
s
v
Ngresubə
ngrɛ̄n
ngrin
ngrεn
—
p.n
v.
v.
ngrin
—
v.
to add weight
to roll over and
fall
personal name
to see
to give birth,
deliver
to roll up a mat
v.
to climb
v.
to kill
v.
to scoop out water
—
—
v.
v.
ngwɔ̌n,
mə̀ngwɔn
n.
to add to
to do s.t.
excessively
hand, arm
ngun
ngūn
nlywe
ngūn
ngǔnsū
ngǔnsū
ngwɔn
Ngwɔnrì
ngwār
ngwur
—
bp
p.n
v.
personal name
to filter, strain
v.
to hit, ring, pluck
62
Examples, other information
yə he is refusing to do the work,
Mbə̄glā là nan Vəncɛ nggrɛn
Mbə̄glā cont. do Vəncɛ fun
nggə̄ cu nggrū lit. ‘I fetch
wrinkles’ i.e. I am wrinkled
gu la sē bə̄ nggu yə̄ gu lə krè də̀
mā bə̄ gu yo. He’s not confident
enough to wrestle with him
Gastropyxis smaragdina
sē nggwɔ̌? it is who?
wə̄ là kyɛn kī nggyə̄r mwɔ̄n you
cont. look things without
blinking much
nggyɛ̌ là nan wə̄? what cont.
doing you?
gu là te nggyɛ̀ rɛn he cont.
make proverb
gu là ngla kī he cont. wash
things (clothes)
ngrě krī mē tè nkānkān
separate yams these make
different
wə̄ ngre sū you add weight put
gu ngre gyɛkū ətù kì sɔ̀n he roll
over fall from thing of-sitting
to separate put them
nggə̄ là ngrɛn wə̀ I cont. see you
mbə̄ ngrin woman give birth
ngrin mbu man bàn zwè tàr
roll up the mat and take it keep
in the room
gu là ngun shu he cont. climb
up
bə ngun və̄lɔn gyə̄r they killed
one man, tə̄ nlywe kwɔ tun we
killed five quails
tə̄ là ngun mə̀sər we cont. scoop
water
wə̄ bla ngǔnsu you cont. add to
nggə̄ kur nə̀nə̄ ngunsu I lay
sleeping too much
hand of God
Yā là ngwār mə̀sər Mother
cont. filter water
nggə̄ là ngwur gə̀ntē I cont.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
reed instrument,
pluck
v.
to skin an animal
ngwur
—
ngwur ngār
v.p.
to circulate, spread
ngwur ngār
v.p.
to break into
pieces
Examples, other information
playing the zither
tə̄ là ngwur gūgu we cont. skin
goat
rɛn kan ngwur ngār tswē
matter then break round place
gu ban kə̀mbə̄ ngwùr ngār he
take calabash break pieces
P.
v.
spear
upper arm
oar
tin can
to crush dry leaves
(usually for
making soup)
to be sour
n.
a.
cane
dark black
v.
to put excessive
pomade on the
body
pɔ̄mpɔ̄n
id.
pɔ̄mpuu
id.
sound of horn of a
train or lorry
sound of horn of a
motorcycle bell
(rubber type)
drink made of
guinea corn
tender, fresh (of
budding flower)
carelessly (talk)
pàr
pə̄
pə̀làpəle
pə̄mpān
pə̌r
par
pə
—
—
pə̀r
pə̄rkì
pîpī
pərkī
plò
plôplò
prē
—
n.
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
pûrpùr
a.
pwə̂
adv.
pwɔ̄
pwapwa
pwà
a.
eleven
describes the
sound of clapping
hands
undeveloped
pwâr
adv.
brightly
pyâr
v.
to be chilled
—
num.
id.
wp
bp
63
< Hausa
< Hausa
Mbə̄cā là pə̌r mgbākī kukù
Mbə̄cā cont. crush dry leaves
shǔn mənggə̀rō mē pə̀r mgbo
fruit mango this very sour cheek
və̄lɔn mūn sə̌r kpə pîpī man
that black body blackness
(the plural is for emphasis) kyɛn
sē yə̀ wə̄ vu mə̀nyɛ̀n plò kpə see
how you carry pomade lavish
your-body
gbm là te gì de pɔ̄mpɔ̄n train
cont. make sound that ….
gu là te kìkyɛ gì de … he cont.
make bicycle cry that …
nggə̄ là sə prē I cont. drink prē
tərkì mē tɔ mgbā pûrpùr tree
this bud leaves tender and fresh
gu ban rɛn mē dān pwə̂ me he
took matter this say carelessly
only
gyə̄ tsē gu ngwɔn pwapwa you
beat him hands …
referring to groundnuts. bencwē
ku pwà groundnuts fell
undeveloped
bishi nggə̄ tsa pwâr face mine
shine brightly
mə̀sər mē sù dər pyâr water
this cool heart chill
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Examples, other information
R.
v.
to be bald
ra
v.
ra
rā
v.
n.
to give
ceremonially,
present formally
to dream
dream
to lick
ra
—
rà
—
v.
ràn
ran
n.
ràn
v.
gelded, castrated
goat
to pain sharply
rànkpə
v.
to be difficult
re
v.
to be, is
re
re
rē
rē
rē be
s.v.
s.v.
n.
v.
v.p.
to be bitter
to be sharp
oil-palm
to eat
to enjoy
re
da
t
rē ntan
v.p.
to argue
rē
v.
to defeat, to win
rērè
rε
rε
adv.
n.
v.
slowly
thirst
to be long
front of the house
rɛ̄
mə̀rɛ̄
n.
rɛ̄
rɛ̄
rɛ̀
rε, mə̀tər rɛ̄
n.
v.
v.
rε
t
sasswood
to apply to
to buy/sell
rɛ̄kə̀
n.
rεn
v.
enclosed area
around granary
to speak
Rɛ̀nē
p.n
personal name
n.
n.
matter
talk
64
rεn
rεn
mə̀rεn
mə̀rεn
və̄lɔn mū ra tu man that is-bald
(of) head
vun kə̀kə̄ ra nggə̄ catch hen give
me
Tsɛ̄ncun ra rā yə̄ tɔ̀ yo Tsɛ̄ncun
dreamed dream of good not nggə̄
ra rīn bū I dreamed this night
gyə̄ ka vu nyìnyī rà krɛ̀ yo you
neg. carry soup lick finish not
cf. rə̌.
Kə̀mvrè ngwɔ̀ là ràn nggə̄.
finger cont. pain me
və̄lɔn mē rànkpə this man is not
very easy
sān nggə̄ re Barau my name is
Barau
mə̀sər re water is bitter
njī wə̄ re knife your is sharp
Elaeis guineensis
nyə tə̄ re lā come we eat food
lit. ‘eat forever’. wə̄ là rē be you
cont. eat forever (enjoying)
gyə̄ là rē ntan de nə̄nggyε? you
cont. eat argument that - why?
tə̄ re bə ə kɔ̄n we defeated them
in war
ywē rērè me go slowly
rε là te nggə̄ thirst cont. has me
nkɔ̀n Ndə̄ywān rε road Andaha
is long mgbərīn mē rε rope this
is long
tə̄ sɔn ə rɛ̄ we are sitting at the
front of the house
Erythrophleum guineense
nggə̄ là kə rɛ̀ wu I cont. (go)
buy medicine nggə̄ là kan wu rε
I cont. take medicine sell
nggə̄ dān rεn yə̄ Rì nānrɛ̄n I
told word of God yesterday
buy people (possibly during
slavery)
mə̀rɛn te jùn matters are plenty
rɛn mē tɔ̄nzɛ̄ talk this is good
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
stump of a worn
rɛn
hoe or anything
iron
n.
po large water-pot
rɛ̀n
rεn
Rɛnkrɛ
rɛ̂n nggyε
p.n
int.
personal name
why?
rεndē
adv.
for a long time
rɛ̌no
adv.
rεnrεn
n.
sometime in the
past
tongue
Rɛnshāmān
Rɛnsər
Rɛnshū
Rɛnmwɔ̄n
rə
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
adv.
rə̌
rə̌
rə̀cǔn
rə̀demə̀
rə̄hyε
rə̀kyε
rə̀mgbyìr
rə̌ncε
Rənyū
rərè
rə
rə
—
rəmgbyir
—
—
rīrī
rì gyə̀r
rì
Rìdan
Rìgwɔ
Rìkyɛn
Rìla
ri
hanger near
fireplace
long
a.
adv
n.
n.
v.
rərɛ̀
rərεn
rəryar
ri
rì
da
i
i
b
c
c
m
i
n.
rəre
rərɛ̄
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
n.
p.n
a.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
three days hence,
from now
castrated goat
termite sp.
termite sp.
tiger bittern
mistletoe
sugar-cane
house-bat
grasshopper
personal name
bitter
bp
i
few days ago
tongue
termite sp.
to be dirty
n.
day, sun, God
n.
one day
v.
to ask
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
65
Examples, other information
nzār nggə̄ rɛn krɛ hoe my ‘talk’
finish (i.e. only a stump remains)
rɛ̀n mū sē yə̀ nggwɔ̌? pot that is
of who?
matter is settled
Tsɛ̄ncun ngwur wə̄ rɛ̂n-nggyε
Tsɛ̄ncun hit you why? cf. mūn
nggə̄ lə sɔ̀n rεndē bə̄ gyə̄ I will
stay long time with you
rεnrεn nggə̄ te mpā tongue my
has sore
matter still exist
matter has changed
matter is up
talk too much
Nggə̄ lə nyɛ̄ rə. I will come three
days from now.
cf. ràn.
Tigriornis leucolopha
Tapinanthus or Loranthus spp.
< Hausa
live in caves and hunted for food
mə̀sər mē sē rə̄re water this is
bitter. cf. re.
mgbərīn mē sē rərɛ̄ rope this is
long
cf. also rεnrεn, nanrεn
follows ‘to be black’. gu sər ri
he is black dirty
rì yə̀ rīmē sē nggyɛ̌? day of
today is what?
dān nggə̄ rì gyə̀r yə̀ wə̄ nyə̄ tell
me day one which you (will)
come
nggə̄ là ri wə̄ rɛn I cont. ask you
question
God has said
God has heard
God is seeing
God has helped
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
p.n
personal name
Rìnanrɛn
p.n
personal name
Rinangrɛn
p.n
personal name
Rìnə
p.n.
personal name
Ringrɛn
p.n
personal name
Rīntān
p.n
personal name
Risangwɔn
p.n
personal name
Rìsēbə̄tə̄
p.n
personal name
Rìsēnggɔn
Rìsēnyɛn
Rìshāmā
Rìtɔ̀nzɛ̄
Rìtsə
rìbū
rìcī
rìglò
Rījà
rìjī
rìmū
—
rīcī
—
rījī
—
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
m
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
night
musk shrew
evening
Rija town
sickle
day before
yesterday
oath
to wipe out
rin
rīn
n.
v.
rīn
v.
Rín-zē
p.n.
Rin-zè
rintu
p.n
v.
initiation cycle
personal name
to go out of sight
riri
a.
thin, slender
ririmə̀
n.
ro
v.
Smyth’s watersnake
to cross (water)
rǒ
v.
to be heavy
rō
rôrō
n.
a.
rɔ̄
rɔn
rù
ru gbàr
—
ru, rū
tr
s
bm
v.
v.
v.
v.p.
d
to extinguish fire,
quench
masquerade
boil
soft, succulent,
tender
to play
to make ridges
to come out,
emerge, resemble
goitre
66
Examples, other information
God has done it
God sees properly
God has given
God has seen
to quench leather
God has put hand
God is with us
God is big, great (i.e more than
any problem)
God is love
God is present or exist
God is good
God knows
Crocidura spp.
< Hausa
gu shə rin he took oath
(as a soup dish) rīn nyìnyī ə
nggūnggū wipe out soup in dish
ywē rīn glo ə tàr go extinguish
fire in room
masquerade which appears every
five years.
for young boys
masquerade of keep
nggə̄ kyεn və̄lɔn mū mâ ndē gu
rintu I looked at man that until
long-time he went out of sight
? < H. mgbərīn mē sē riri rope
this is thin
Grayia smithii
tə̄ ro nē we cross river
mgbantə̄ rǒ mē stone heavy this
(this heavy stone) mgbantə̄ mē
rǒ stone this is heavy
səsə̄ və̄nggə̄ mē sē rôrō breasts
girl this are succulent. cf. ryôryō
tə̄ là ro we cont. play
nggə̄ là rɔn I am farming
gu ru wə̄ he resembles you. kwɔ
ru kwɔ, tse ru tse bush fowl
resembles bush fowl, guineafowl... (like father, like son)
lit. ‘come out of the throat’ və̄lɔn mē ru gbàr man this has
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
runcə̄
v.
rur, rər
ruru
n.
n.
rūrū
rūrū
rūrū gantàn
rūrūlə
ryan
n.
n.
n
n.
n.
rùrūlə
t
i
b
to run fast (water
after a heavy rain)
tree sp.
alarm
thread
fishing-net
spider web
pied crow
chicken droppings
ryān
v.
ryǎncū
ryǎ ngwɔn
n.
n.
ryārkī
n.
fibrous dirt inside
water
ryàr
v.
ryə̀n
v.
ryɛ̄
ryɛ̀
n.
v.
ryɛ̀
v.
ryɛ̄n
ryò
ryò
n.
n.
v.
to persuade,
convince
to go backward,
backslide
ridge
to dig s.t. out of
sand
to take s.t. by
force from s.o.
whitlow
antelope sp.
to roast (tubers)
under coal
ryǒryò
to hunt
g
d
m
grass sp.
reward
ryôryō
a.
soft
ryɔ̂
id.
describes how s.o.
has an innocent
face
eczema
pounded yam
describing how
narrow a path is
describes a loose
animal following
sheepishly
to cook, to extract
oil by cooking
ryɔ̄
ryɔ̌
ryɔryɔ
—
—
n.
n.
a.
ryɔryɔ̀
id.
ryùn
v.
d
fo
67
Examples, other information
goitre
mə̀sər runcə̄ water runs fast
ruru mū sē yə̄ nə̄nggyɛ? alarm
that it-is for what?
Corvus albus
vǔ ryan kə̄kə̄ mē dèbə̀ pack
dropping of chicken this giveway
Bān Mə̀da sē bān là ryan
kənàn me. Mada be CONT hunt
many.
nggə̄ kpə ryǎ ngwɔn nggə̀ I
have received my reward
nggə̄ kə kū ə tswē ryārkī I take
follow at place of fibres (inside
water)
nggə̄ là ryar gu I am trying to
persuade him/her
tə̄ là ryɛ krī we cont. dig yams
nggə̄ ryɛ gu də̀ kpə kə̄jī I force
hands his and receive money
gu là ryò fəkrì ə tə̀ntɔ̄n glo he is
roasting small yam in ashes of
fire
mə̀mē sē ryôryō the ground is
soft
gu là kyɛn nggə̄ ryɔ̂ he is
looking at me with an innocent
expression
nkɔ̀n mē sē ryɔryɔ me this path
is just too narrow
gu su nggǎgyū də̀ yə zwe gu
mān ryɔryɔ̀ he loosed the dog
and it followed him sheepishly
bān kə̀ tə̄ là ryun mə̀nyɛ̀n sə̄r
those house (people) ours cont.
extract palm oil. ywē ryun nggə̄
lā go cook (for) me food
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to bury
ryùn
ryùn…kyɛn
v.p.
to look at s.o. with
suspicion
id.
describes sipping a
hot liquid
Examples, other information
nggə̄ là ywe tswē ryùn kɔn
kə̀kə̄ I cont. go place bury
carcass chicken
wə̄ là ryùn nggə̄ kyɛn mūn?
you cont. look-at me
suspiciously, why?
S.
sssp-sssp
sà
sa
v.
to put on, retain,
sit on
sà
sa
v.
to answer
mə̀sān
mə̀sān
p.n
n.
n.
personal name
name
rib, side of body,
cornstalk
basket
to mix termites
with beniseed
Sàbərɛn
sān
sān
sàn
sàn
san
n.
v.
sanga
v.
to put cheek
(jokingly)
sa nkū
v.
p.n
n.
v.
to leave s.t. for s.o.
based on seniority
personal name
soap
to be slippery
sar
v.
to slaughter (pl.)
sàr tu
v.
to comb hair
sàzwē
v.
se
adv.
to follow in order
of birth
until
sē
v.
to be, is, are
sē
v.
to plant, transplant
n.
year
Sà ntān
sàpə̌r
sar
sε
sapər
—
sɛ̌
68
nggə̄ là vun mə̀sər gloglo de
ssp-ssp I cont. catch water hot
de sssp-sssp
mān klā yə sà tè vē tāmgbā də̀
mān sə̄ vū there fry 3pi retain
make days seven and there past
carry.away
sa gu rεn yə̄ gu là rεn bə̄ wə̄
answer him which he cont. talk
with you
answer them talk
Mbə̄dān là sàn begywī ə kə̀
Mbə̄dān cont. mix termites at
home
yə̀mē sē nggə là sanga me lə
this is I cont just joking only
now
nggə̄ kan sa wə̄ nkū I take it put
on you because of seniority
put skin
< Hausa
tswē là sar place cont. is
slippery
cf. ywa. sǎr kə̄kə̄ mē tə̄ cut
chickens these necks
lit. ‘cut head’ nggə̄ là sar tu I
cont. comb
Mbə̄do sazwē Mankɔ̀n Mbə̄do
followed Mankɔ̀n
se mbrε until tomorrow. cf.
Hausa sai
nywεn nggə̄ sē ywā children my
are two
nggə̄ là ywe tswē sē kpu I cont.
go place transplant guinea corn
yə̀mē sē sε yə̄ gyər nggə̄ ə Jɔ̀s
this is year of first I (am) at Jos
wə se sε sε tàr tun you years are
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
sɛ̀ bər
int.
how long? how
much?
sɛ̀ tàr
num.
thirty
sɛ̀ tāndà
num.
eighty
n.
song
sɛ̌n
sɛ̀n
int.
v.
Sɛnmgbə̄
sə
p.n
v.a.
sə̄
v.a.
how?
to filter liquids, to
strain
personal name
progressive tense
marker
completed past
tense marker
to drink
sεn
sə̄
mə̀sɛ̄n
sə
v.
sə̀
v.a.
sə̀kā
səka
n.
n.
sə̄kànmē
loc.
here
sə̄kànmū
loc.
there
sə̄mban
a.
co
red
sə̌n
sən
n.
v.
c
cowpea plant
to be smooth
sər
v.
to change
sər
sə̀r
s.v.
s.v.
sə̀sàn
sə̄sān
n.
adv.
h
to be black
to be beneath,
under
herb
as, like
n.
pp
sə̄sān
sə̄sānmenàn
—
adv.
c
progressive past
marker
rice
gravel
cornstalks
like that, so
69
Examples, other information
years three five [you are 35]
wə̄ rε kpɔ̄ mē kə̄jī sɛ̀ bər? you
buy bag this money much how?
wə̄ ban sε bər də̀ là nan ndu
mē you take years how many
and cont. do work this? [How
long have you been doing this
work?]
sε nggə̄ sē sε sɛ̀ tàr years I am
years thirty
nggə̄ sē bə̄ brɛ krī sɛ̀ tāndà I be
with yam heaps eighty
nggə̄ là ywe tswē dō sεn I cont.
go place sing song
wə̄ sē sεn you are how?
və̄nggə̄ là sɛ̀n prē girl is filtering
kunu
flute dance
gu lə sə̀ nan ndu yə he will be
doing work
gu sə̄ nàn ndu yə he did the
work
gu là sə̄ mə̀sər he cont. drink
water
gu sə̀ sē wāndɔ̀ he cont. be
farming
< Hausa
Yā de wə̄ cu səka cà gu mān
Mother (said) that you fetch
gravel bring her
kə̄ nggə̄ sē ə sə̄kànmē house my
is here
ywē bàn dǎ ə sə̄kànmū lwe nyə̀
go take cutlass at there carry
come
bə̀r wə̄ sē sə̄mban cap your is
red
mgbantə̄ mē sən kpə stone this
is smooth thick
sə̌r nggə̄ lə̀gā mē change (for)
me shirt this
və̄lɔn mū sə̌r man that is black
mə̀sər glə sə̀r mgbantə̄ water
pass under stone
laxative used to treat children
gu nan sə̄sān tə̄ kyun zwē he
did as we gather keep
nggə̄ là ywe tswē tān sə̄sān I
cont. go place collect cornstalks
tə̄ kyun sə̄sānmenàn we gather
like that (i.e we arranged like
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
səsemgbɔ̀
n.
sə̀sɛ̀
sə̀sɛ̀mu
sə̄sɛ̀n
sə̀sɛ̄n
adv.
adv.
n.
n.
—
—
səsə̄
shā
Shākwɔ
shāmān
səsə
shàn
shān
n.
v.
p.n
v.
b
bs
d
bp
v.
red-headed
lovebird
in the past
long ago
beer filter
large swelling
breast
to be present
personal name
to be present
shǎn
v.
to fetch water
from a stream
to despise
shān
Shǎnnē
shār
shàr
n.
p.n
n.
v.
acca cultivar
personal name
small frog sp.
to invite
shar
shɛ̄
shɛ̄
v.
v.
personal name
tiptoeing
locust-seed cakes
personal name
fermented cakes
made from sorrel
seeds
to fill
to fullfil
shɛ̄
v.
to patch up s.t.
Shāyo
shàzə
shε
Shɛ̄kə̄
shε kpàn
shɛ̄
shεn
Shɛ̄ngwɔn
Shɛ̌nnē
Shɛ̄rɛn
shə̄
—
mə̀shɛ̄
shə
p.n
adv.
n.
p.n
n.
r
n.
v.
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
fo
fo
ht
mi
fish-trap
to wake up
personal name
personal name
personal name
iron clapperless
bell
70
Examples, other information
that)
Agapornis pullaria
kə gyə̄r sə̀sɛ̀ one time in the past
gu kyu sə̀sɛ̀mu he died long ago
yə̀mē sē sə̄sɛ̀n this is beer filter
large swelling that can appear
under the armpits or on the
breast. Filled with pus, it is
usually drained by piercing with
a hot iron
gu shā he is present
quails are present
cf. shā. gu shāmān ə kə̀ he ispresent at home
shàn mə̀sər shɛ̄ tsə mē fetch
water fill these pots
wə̄ shan kī mwɔ̄n you despise
things too much
brown, it swells when cooked
to despise people
known for its powerful jumps
shàr nē tə̄ man ywe glā kwɔ
invite people we go chase bushfowl
does not exist
‘local maggi’
fill house
also shɛ njì
mə̀sər shε tsə̄ water filled pot
nggə̄ shɛ rɛn yə̄ nggə̄ kan zwē I
fullfil talk which I take keep
nggə̄ là shɛ zəkpə I cont. patch
up my shoes
conical valve type
nggə̄ shɛn nə̀nə̄ I wake sleep
fill hand (i.e. one who will help
the parents)
people multiply
fulfill promise
beaten during the funeral dance
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
Examples, other information
shə̄ rin
v.p.
Jalà shε rin Jalà took oath
shə̀r
v.
shə̄r tɔ̄n
v.p.
shə̄shàrε
shī
to swear, to take
oath
to grow thin, grow
lean, emaciate
to pay close
attention
shəshàrε
—
n.
v.
b
weaver bird
to peel, carve
—
n.
n.
n.
t
d
tree sp.
leprosy
coolness of room
due to excessive
rainfall
in the open
shī
shì
shì
shirì
adv.
shisha
n.
shishà
a.
shishar
—
n.
residue of acca,
groundnut, chaff
describes s.o. who
looks pale because
of intoxication
from wine or
drugs
junior
shishɛ̄n
shīshī
—
—
n.
n.
life
boil
bm
n.
shīshī
shɔ̌
shɔ̌
nywεn shɔ
n.
v.
da
shɔ̀
shɔ̀
Shɔ̀
shū
shùn
shɔ
shɔ
n.
n.
p.n
prep.
v.
i
m
shun ntεn
shun
v.p.
black beniseed,
sesame
calf of cow
to make trouble
honey, bee
porcupine
personal name
up, above
to bring out, go
out
to go out and
defecate
71
və̄nggə̄ mē shər girl this is
getting lean
lit. ‘listen ears’. shə̄r tɔ̄n bə̄
nggə̄ pay close attention with
(to) me
Ploceus cucullatus
Mbə̄cūn là shī krī Mbə̄cūn cont.
peel yams
tār mē ban shì te room this take
coolness make
Open secret rɛn mē kur be shirì
menān the matter is lie out
openly only
gu sə mə̀ də̀ sē shishà gu me he
drank wine and is pale him only
gu sē shishar nggə̄ he is junior
my
shīshī ru nggə̄ boil comes-out
(of) me (I have a boil)
Sesamum sp.
Ng. dialect
wə là shɔ̌ bə fɔ̀rɛn mūn? you
cont troubling them to fight
why?
shɔ̀ tar Bàba bee stung Father
Hystrix cristatus
porcupine, bee
kə̀kə̄ sa ə shū hen perched at up
nggə̄ là shun ntɛn I cont.
defecating outside
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
fruit
shǔnkì
shunkī
p.n
personal name
Shùnkī
v.
to wander
shǔr
aimlessly
a.
wet, green
shushù
adv.
straightly,
sɔ^
uprightly
n.
t
tree sp.
sɔ̀
v.
d
to cough
sɔn
sɔ̀n
sɔ̄n
v.
to sow
sɔ̀n
sɔ̄n
v.
to sit, stay
sɔ̀nsù
n.
holiday
su
v.
su
v.
to unroll, unfold,
untie
to be cool
v.
to put, reach
sū
su
sur
v.
d
sūr
—
n.
d
sūr
sūr
sùr
—
n.
n.
v.
bp
da
sur
v.
sùr
—
n.
i
sǔrkə̄
—
n.
h
a.
n.
n.
a.
bp
g
—
—
sūswɛ̌
kidney
hen
to boil
to judge
sùr
susù
susur
sūswē
suswɛ̀
to suffer from
diarrhoea
diarrhoea
small, destructive
termites
medicinal, scented
plant
well, cool
liver
feathergrass
new
n.
ankle rattles
swàà
id.
swǎ
swē
swε
v.
v.
v.
describes s.o. full
up and satisfied
lying down
to be sour
to bathe
to clean
—
swe
72
Examples, other information
collect from people small portion
vɛ̄n nggə̄ là shǔr ə Jɔ̀s child my
cont. wander at Jos
gəga sē shushù grass is green
tərkì mē kre sɔ^ tree that stands
straight
Newbouldia laevis
Māme là sɔ̌n kpə̀kprɛ̀ Māme
cont. cough catarrh
Mbə̄rɛn là sɔ̄n kpu Mbə̄rɛn
cont. sow guinea-corn
te sɔ̀n ə sə̄kànmē sit down at
this place
lit ‘sit-rest’. mbrε sε sɔ̀nsū
tomorrow is holiday
sǔ mgbərīn mē untie rope this
mə̀sər sù mgbân water is cool
much
shàn mə̀sər sū ə tsə̄ fetch water
put in container
nggə̄ là sur I cont. run (of
diarrhoea)
sūr là te nggə̄ diarrhoea cont.
has me
yə̀mē sē sūr kə̀kə̄ this is a hen
sùr nggə̄ mə̀sər boil (for) me
water
Tīyà là sùr Tsɛ̄ncun rεn Father
cont. judge Tsɛ̄ncun talk
used to cure headaches
nggə̄ sē susù I am well
Loudetia annua
lə̀gā nggə̄ sē suswɛ̀ shirt my is
new
made from tree seeds on strings.
Anyone can put them on to
dance for the funeral dance
glǒkyū.
kyɛn kùr yə̀ gu lə kùr swàà
nān məgyə̀r see how he is lying
satisfied and full
nyìnyī swa soup (is) sour
gu là swē he cont. bathes
swε nggə̄ gɔ̄n clean (for) me
(my) back
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̌
v.
to peel (maize)
swɛ
n.
p.n
p.n
p.n
swɛ
Swɛ̌mə̀shi
Swɛ̌nyū
Swɛ̌zə
i
termite sp.
personal name
personal name
personal name
Examples, other information
tə̄ là swɛ kpumkpàn we cont.
peel maize
clean tears
clean mouth
clean legs
T.
v.
to throw, shoot
tā gyɔ̄
v. p.
Tābə
Tākə̄
Tākpir
Tānē
Tānyān
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
to throw away,
out, down
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
tā
tàcù
takī
tāki
tākikə̀
ta
tacu
—
—
taki mə̀kə̀
n.
n.
n.
n.
t
tree sp.
fertilizer
owner
house owner,
landlord
seven, seventh
tāmgbā
num.
tāmgbā ndu
tambrishɔ
p.n.
n.
-tan
int.
tān
v.
tàn
tàn
v.
v.
Sunday
worm-like insect
which inflicts
wounds on
people’s feet
especially during
the rainy season
interrogative
formant
to collect, to pick
up
to be tall
to chew
tàn ndē
v.p.
to be tall
tan…nyər
v.p.
to bite
tǎn nyər nyər
v.p
to regret
tāncà
v.
to agonise
73
ban mgbantə̄ tā take stone
throw
kan yə̄ tā gyɔ̄ take it throw away
shoot them
shoot house
shoot antelope
shoot people
shoot horses (this was during
intertribal wars)
< Hausa
tāmgbā nggə̄ rīmē nggə̄ la re lā
yo seven I today I neg. eat food
not (this is the seventh day that I
haven’t eaten)
yə̀mē sē tambrishɔ this is
tambrishɔ
cf. wāntan, yə̀tan, mbɛ̄tan
nggə̄ là ywe tswē tān sə̄sān I
cont. go place collect cornstalks
tərkì mē tan tree this-is tall
nggə̄ là tan nan I cont. chew
meat
və̄lɔn mē tàn ndē tetswē yo.
man this be tall very not
tan yə̄ nyər chew it teeth (bite
it)
lit. ‘bite teeth’. gu là tǎn nyər
nyər fàfà me he/she is chewing
teeth for nothing, i.e his/her
regrets have no effect
Tīyà là tāncà Grandfather cont.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
tāndà
num.
eight
tāndō
tangganrang
n.
id.
tin
sound of broken
plates
Tǎnnē
tānnɛ̀n
p.n
num.
personal name
six
tàprě
tar
tapre
n.
adv.
mi
cruciform whistle
firmly
tar
num.
three
tar
v.
to shoot, be shot at
tar
v.
to mix, move
num.
n.
v.
three
room
to shoot, kick
num.
v.
third
sound of s.o.
searching for s.t.
tàr
tār
tàr
mə̀tàr
tar
tǎr
tǎrcū
tarnggə̄(n)
tārtār
mə̀tarnggə̄(n)
n.
v.
tārwu
mə̀tàrwu
n.
b
v.
tashɛ̀n
to awaken from
death, to resurrect
te
v.
amphisbaenid
snake, blind snake
to have
te
te
v.
v.
to occur
to make
te cucu
v.p.
to be a prostitute
te gyār
v.p.
to be angry
v.
to become
tātsu
te
tatsu
tē
n.
Hadada ibis
to follow closely,
chase
clinic
s
74
Examples, other information
agonising
tə̄ sē ə hwə yə̄ tāndà we are at
month of eight
nywɛ̂n nzə kəkərɛ də̀ ngar
tangganrang glass cups fell
down and broke into pieces
eat people
yə̀mē sē hwə yə̄ tānnɛ̀n this is
month of six (June)
played solo for funerals
gu nan vūn tār he do catch
firmly
yə̀mē sē krī tar these are yams
three
wə̄ tar nggə̄ mūn? you shoot at
me why
tǎr mə̀sər ə prē mix water at
(with) pre
(in compounds)
yə̀mē sē tār this is a room
gu kàn zo zə yə̄ ywā tàr gu he
took raised leg of two (2nd leg)
kicked him
sē nggwɔ̌ là tǎrcū ə tàr? it-is
who cont. moving at (in) theroom
Bostrychia hagadash
wə̄ là zwē nggə̄ tārtār mwɔ̄n
you cont. follow me too closely
lit. ‘room medicine’. te nggə̄
ywe ə tàrwu father my went at
clinic
Yεsu kyu də̀ tashɛ̀n Jesus died
and (was) resurrected. This verb
was previously applied to dying
animals but now has a Christian
connotation
Typhlops punctatus
nggə̄ te bàbər I possess
motorcycle
kyū te death occurred
bə te nggə̄ ndu they make me
message
lit. ‘to make wind’. və̄nggə̄ mē
là te cucu girl this cont. ‘make
wind’ (be a prostitute)
nggə̄ là te gyār I am making
anger
nggə̄ kan te wān rɛ̀ do I then
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
te
v.
to fetch (water)
te
v.
to pack, store
n.
v.p.
father
to be difficult, to
be tired
te…do
v.p.
te…gi
v.p.
to bargain, to be
costly
to steal
tè…kə
vp.
to think
te ngà
v.p
to be unconcerned
te…ngwɔn
v.
to wave
te nka
v.p
to be playful
te…nzɛ̄
v.
to decorate
te…sɔ̀n
v.
to sit
tekpm̄
v.
to squat
tetswē
a.
very (tall)
tè
te…dē
tɛ̀kpǔ
tə
te, tə̄te
tεkpu
tə
tə̄
tə̀
təbà
n.
v.
c
v.
pron.
pron.
n.
c
təkpā tsə̄
tə̀kpàn
təkpa tsə
təkpan
n.
n.
po
mt
tə̀kpə̌
tə̀kpǒ
tə̀là
təkpə
n.
n.
a.
t
g
cornstalk
to fetch (honey)
to be rusty
we
us
tobacco
potsherd
tubular mat
enclosing a corpse
tree sp.
grass sp.
muddy (water)
75
Examples, other information
become one-who sells
te mə̀sər nə̄ nggə̀ fetch water
give me
tə̄ lə te kpu yə̄ kə̀ tə̄ mbrε we
will pack (into the granary)
guinea corn of house ours
tomorrow
və̄lɔn mē de yə te gu dē man
this (said) that it make him
difficult
wə̄ là te do lə̀gā mē? you cont.
bargain (for) shirt this?
və̄lɔn mū te nggə̄ gi ndō man
that did me stole cow (...stole my
cow)
te kə kyεn mû, sē nggwɔ̌ wān
ban krì think see - it-is who
one-who took the-yam
wə̄ là te ngà bə̄ nggwɔ̌? why are
you so unconcerned about me
like this?
sē nggwɔ̌ wān te wə̄ ngwɔn it is
who one-who make you hand
(...who waved to you)
gu tsə tswē te nka kənàn me he
knows how to be playful very
much
wə̄ te tār wə̄ nzɛ̄? you make
room your decorated?
nyə tè sɔ̀n ə sə̄kànmē come sit
down at here
tekpm ə sə̄kànmē squat down
here
intensifies tall, thus tàn ndē
tetswē ‘be very tall’
Də̀ kəgyɔ̄ Kagbɔ̄n de nə̄ bə ywē
kə tə shɔ and put to tortoise that
let them go to fetch honey
nzār nggə̄ tə hoe my is rusted
subject position
object position
wə̄ ywe kàn təbà nə̄ gu? you
went took tobacco gave him?
used for frying
made from palm leaves and
woven in strips
cf. kpukpa
Heteropogon contortus
yə̀mē sē tə̀là mə̀sər this is
muddy water
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̌
p.n
personal name
Təndè
n.
d
sunstroke
təndur
tə̀ndǔr
tə̀ntàn
n.
n.
t
d
tree sp.
stammer, stutter
tə̄ntɔ̄
tə̀ntɔ̄n
tə̀ntùr matò
təntùr
n.
n.
n.
adv.
c
bp
aerial yam
ash
tomato
remotest past, time
immemorial
lower back, waist
to deny
tər
tər
—
—
n.
v.
tə̄r
mə̀tə̄r
n.
tə̄r
c
light indicating
presence of
witches
to break
v.
tərbwə̀
tərkì
tərkyū
tərkī, mə̀tərkī
n.
n.
v.p.
t
t
tə̄rmgbù
tə̄rmvū
tə̄rtswē
tərmgbu
tərmvu
—
n.
n.
v.
s
m
tə̄tə̄
mə̀tə̄tə
n.
fig tree
tree
to struggle with
death
snake sp.
hyena
to start out at
daybreak, get
started early
bow
tə̄tar ywə̀
tə̄tē
tə̀tɔ̀
tə̄te
num.
n.
adv.
p
three of them
father, elder
maybe
tə̀təlà
tə̀tə̌r
tə̄təlà
n.
a.
tə̀tur
—
n.
lantern
rough, careless,
untidy
whirlwind
tīyà
tīyār
—
—
n.
num.
father
nine
tǒ
v.
tō
v.
to say s.t. that
hurts s.o.
to burn
tō
to
v.
to pierce
tō
Tǒbə
tɔ
to
v.
p.n
adv.
to crow
personal name
quietly
76
Examples, other information
break leave part
təndur là nan gu sunstroke
cont. do him
gu là ngan tə̀ntàn he cont. break
stutter (he’s stuttering)
Dioscorea bulbifera
< English
təntùr sə̀sɛ̀ mu long ago time
past
gu là tər rɛn nggān me he cont.
deny talks very much
vūn kukukì tə̄r catch stick
break
Ficus sp.
gu là tərkyū he cont. struggling
with death (about to die)
Hyaena hyaena
nggə̄ lə tə̄rtswē nzεn də̀ ywe kə̄
I fut. get-up-early later and go
house
ywē bàn tə̄tə̄ ə tàr cà nggə̄ mān
go take bow at room bring me
cf. tè, tīyà
tə̀tɔ̀ Mbə̄do lə nyə̄ mbrε maybe
Mbə̄do will come tomorrow. cf.
kə̀ndà
< Hausa fitila
mfùtù wə̄ sē tə̀tər hair your is
untidy
tə̀tur là te whirlwind cont.
happen (there’s a whirlwind)
cf. tè, tə̄tē
sε nggə̄ sē tīyār years my are
nine
gu dan nggə̄ rɛn yə̄ tǒ də̌r he
said s.t. to me that hurt me
cu glo tō tswē fetch fire burn
place
gu ban njī to nggə̀ he took knife
pierce me
gbǎ là tō cock cont. crows
pierce them
kan zwè tɔ me take keep quietly
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
tɔ̄ mwɔ̄n
tɔ̀
tɔn
tɔ̄n
tɔ̀n
v.p.
tɔ̄
mə̀tɔ̄n
tɔ̄n shɔ
v.
v.
n.
v.
bp
n.
to wish strongly
for s.t. to occur
again
to be good
to drip
ear
to sieve
honey
tɔ̄ntàn
tɔ̀nzɛ̄
mə̀tɔ̄ntàn
tɔ̄nzɛ̄
n.
v.
Tɔ̀nzɛ̄
tsa
tsǎ
p.n
v.
karaya gum tree
to be good,
beautiful
personal name
to be white
tsa
adv.
high
tsànì
n.
tsàr
tsar
Tsàr kə̀dərirî
v.
malachite
kingfisher
to show, teach
excl.
used to belittle s.o.
town
tse
tsə̄tse
n.
tsè
tsē
tse
tse
n.
v.
Tsēbə
tsèkpɔ̌
tsɛ̄
tsɛ̂
tsε
t
p.n
n.
n.
a.
b
da
m
bp
guinea-fowl
to beat, clap
personal name
banded mongoose
chest
little
tsɛ̄n
v.
to cut down (tree)
Tsɛ̄nbə
Tsɛ̄ncun
Tsɛ̄nnē
Tsɛnkpə
Tsɛ̄nrɛn
tsɛ̀n
tsə̄
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
p.n
n.
n.
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
personal name
spitting cobra
pot (generic)
tsεn
tsə
s
po
77
Examples, other information
only
tɔ̄ mwɔ̄n sə̄sānmenàn me it is
good like that, i.e. there is no
problem with what has happened
kì mē tɔ̀ thing this is good
mə̀sər là tɔn water cont. drip
(using winnowing basket)
Gyùrbə là tɔ̀n mùmu ə kə̀
Gyùrbə cont. sieving corn
powder at home
nggə̄ là ywe tswē rɛ̀ tɔn shɔ I
cont. go place buy honey bee
(bee honey)
Sterculia setigera
və̄nggə̄ mē tɔ̀nzɛ̄ girl this
beautiful
it is good
zə wə̄ tsa leg your is white kə̄kə̄
nggə̄ tsa hens my are white tu
gu tsa head his white
tswē mē zo tsa place this is
raised high
Alcedo cristata
tsar nggə̄ kə̄ gyə̀ show me house
your
Tsàr kə̀dərirî! Wə̄ sē nggwɔ̌
shishɛn? Hah! Who are you? i.e
this is actually looking down on
the person as being insignificant.
tse yə̄ bə mε yə ə tù gbù lə la sē
yə̄ryə̄r yo. town which they
build it at top hill fut. neg. be
secret not
tsē gu ngwɔn beat him hands
(clap for him)
cut them
Mungos mungo
yə̀ kədè sē tsɛ̂ me which remains
is little only
gu là tsɛ̄n tərkì he cont. cut
down tree
cut them
cutting forest
cut people
to snatch from s.o by force
to snatch talk
Naja nigricollis
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
v.
to know
tsə
tsə
n.
gravel for flooring
tsəka
v.p.
em wisdom
tsə̄rεn
tsə̄kì
tsə̀ntsā
tsə̀ntsē
Tsə̀ntsē
tsər
tsəntsa
—
tsə̄r
tswətswe
tsər
v.p.
em
knowledge
n.
n.
p.n
v.
i
n.
adv.
t
army ant
smoke
personal name
to be solid, thick,
viscous
mahogany
quickly
tsò
n.
poison
tsō
tsōtsō
a.
adv.
tsɔ
num.
correct
completely,
correctly
twelve
tsɔ
tsɔ
v.
v.
to vomit
to shave the head,
to smoothe, plane
tsu
v.
to die (pl.)
tsǔ də̄r
v.p.
to become afraid
due to bad news
tsûr
n.
adv.
group of small
things
fall gently
raindrops
personal name
grasshopper sp.
to be strong
place, here
rainy season
(archaic)
so, therefore,
because
tsùtsǔ
—
tsùtsǔglō
Tsùtsǔglō
tsutswè
tswě
tswē
—
tswe
—
n.
p.n
n.
s.v.
n.
tswē
—
n.
tswēyəmē
conj.
tswɛ̂
v.
to scatter helterskelter because of
danger (people,
78
Examples, other information
gu tsə tswē he knows places
lit. ‘to know talk’. gu tsərɛn
nggān me he knows talk very
much (i.e. he has wisdom)
lit. ‘to know thing’. gu tsəkì
nggān me he has knowledge
smoke
prē tsər rεn, nggyɛ̌? guineacorn drink is solid why
Khaya senegalensis
... də̀tswē yə man nyə sū
tswətswe ... so.that it (pl) then
come reach quickly
tərkì mē te tsò tree this makes
poison
yə sē tsō it is correct
yə sē zwē tsōtsō it is complete
nə̄ nggə̄ tsə tsɔ give me pots
twelve
nggə̄ là tsɔ I cont. vomit
te nggə̄ tsɔ nggə̄ tu father my
shaved me head (my), tsɔ̌ nggə̄
kə̄tākū mē smooth (for) me
wood this
cf. kyu. kə̄kə̄ nggə̄ tsu chickens
my died
lit. ‘die heart’. nggə̄ kan tsu də̄r
ətù kì yə̀ gu dan I then die heart
over thing which he said
tiny creatures birds, heat rashes
etc
glō là te tsùtsǔ rain cont. has
gentleness
drops of rain
və̄lɔn mē tswě man this is strong
cf. man. tswē yə̄ tə̄ sē mān
place which we are now
yə̀mē sē mkpān tswē this is time
rainy season
lit. ‘this place.’ tə̄ ma bə̄ gu ə
nkɔ̀n tswēyəmē tə kan nyə kə̄
gigyə̀r we met with him at road
so we then came home together
bə kān vār tswê they then
scatter helter-skelter. N.B.
falling tone indicates plurality to
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
animals)
n.
top, head
tu
mə̀tǔ
tu ngār
tu mə̀mē
n.p.
n.p.
tukpə̀
pron.
tun
num.
body, but acts as a
first singular
reflexive pronoun
five
tūn
num.
fifth
tun ndu
Tunggɔn
tūr
p.n.
p.n
v.
v.
a.
Friday
personal name
to try and find out
who has done s.t.
through divination
to push
mouldy, rotten
tùr
n.
guinea-corn husk
tur…mə̄
v.p.
to assist s.o to
climb up
tùr
tùr
tyə̄
tyə̄
Tyir!
tur
tyə
mə̀tyə̄
d
n.
n.
excl.
m
bp
n.
bf
headache
head of the land,
governor
duiker
neck
expressing a wish
not to do s.t. bad
Examples, other information
speakers.
kə̀kə̄ sa ə tù tàr hen perched at
top room
cf. gə̀ncə tù
M.C. Ali sē tu-mə̀mē Plateau
State M. C. Ali is governor (of)
Plateau State
nggə̄ nan kì mē tukpə̀ nggə̄ I
did thing this by body myself
cu mgbantə tûn lwè nyə̀ pick
stones five carry come
nggə̄ sē wān tūn I be one-who
fifth
head big
bə vu kəywə̀ ywe tswē tur they
carry themselves go place
divination
tur yə̄ push it
kàmù mē sē tùr me akamu this
is mouldy only
yə̀mē sē tùr kpu this is husk
guinea-corn
nggə̄ là tur gu mə̄ I cont. assist
him (the context is always
understood)
Cephalophus sp.
Tyir! nggə lə lǎ nan nkinē
sə̄sānmenàn God forbid that I
do s.t like that
V.
va
—
vâ
v.
Vànē
vââ
p.n
id.
gum that forms
round the eyes
during sleep
to scatter people
vàr
vār
v.
personal name
describes talking
nonsense
to scatter
vē
vɛ̄n
vɛ̄n
vεn
—
nywεn
nywεn
n.
n.
n.
v.
days
boy
fruit
to quarrel
79
mə̄nē kan kan vâ the people
then take scatter
scatter people
gu là rɛn vââ mwɔ̄n he cont.
talk nonsense
sē nggwɔ̌ wān kan bemkpàn
vàr ə mə̀mē? it is who who took
maize scattered at (on) theground
cf. mbrɛ̄, riri
mbə̀mbə̄ là vεn women cont.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
vəcə̀kpancin
vəcùn
Vəcùn
vəgrɛ̄nnyū
Vəgyɔ̀n
vəkagbɔ̄n
və̄lɔn
vəmbàn
vəmgbūmgbu
rwɛ̄
nywɛ̂nkpancin
nywɛ̂ncun
nywɛ̂ngrεnnyū
lə̄lɔn
nywɛ̂nmban
nywɛ̂nkpanar
n.
n.
p.n
n.
p.n
n.
n.
n.
excl.
b
m
b
r
p
b
nywɛ̂nmpane
n.
n.
n.
b
b
b
vəmpərò
nywɛ̂nmpəro
n.
b
vəmvɛ̀n
vəncān
vəncε
Vəncε
vəndakpyɛ̀n
nywɛ̂nmvɛ̀n
n.
n.
n.
p.n
n.
b
b
b
vəmkpanār
vəkpotù
vəmpane
vəndεndān
və̄nggə̄
Və̄nggə̄nggwe
Və̄nggə̄rì
və̄nggə̄rin
Və̄nggə̄rin
vəgyɔ̀n
vənggù
nywɛ̂n ncε
nywɛ̂n
ndakpyεn
nywɛ̂n ndεndān
mə̄nggə̄
mə̄nggə̄rin
n.
n.
p.n
p.n
n.
nywɛ̂ngyɔn
nywɛ̂nnggu
p.n
n.
n.
vənjɛ̀njɛ̀
vənkɔ̀n
Vəntsɛ̄
vənyɛ̄n nggyε
nywɛ̂njɛ̀njɛ̀
nywɛ̂nkɔ̀n
—
n.
n.
p.n
pron.
vənyɔ̀n
nywɛ̂nnyɔn
n.
vənzē
və̄nzɛ̀
vəkpir
vərà
nywɛ̂nze
nywɛ̂nzɛ̀
nywɛ̂nkpir
nywɛ̂nra
n.
n.
n.
n.
b
m
p
p
m
b
b
m
p
m
pin-tailed whydah
striped mouse
personal name
pygmy kingfisher
personal name
tortoise
man
hawk, eagle
abusive term
describing a
person looking
like a small toad
bird sp.
hoopoe
red-billed wooddove
long-crested
helmet-shrike
sunbird
bird sp.
bird (generic)
personal name
grass warbler
wood mouse
girl
personal name
personal name
bethrothed virgin,
female
masquerade
personal name
hare, rabbit
dove
bird sp.
path
personal name
whatever
small granary for
storing grains such
as acca, beniseed
etc
gazelle
young man
antelope sp.
medium size
granary
80
Examples, other information
quarrel
Vidua macroura
Lemniscomys sp.
striped mouse
Ceyx picta
hare
dim. of kagbɔ̄n
vəmgbūmgburwɛ̄ kəywē mə
bà! yourself is like a small toad
Upopa epops
Turtur afer
Prionops plumata
Nectariniidae
It sits on ridges in the farm
small bird
Cisticola sp.
Hylomyscys spp.
Hausa girl
girl of God
və̄nggə̄ mē sē və̄nggə̄rin girl
this is virgin yə̀mē sē və̄nggə̄rin
this is female masquerade
betrothed virgin
Lepus crawshayi
vənggù hwɔn ə kə̀ tə̀ dove
hatched at house our
small star
də̀gba sē vənyɛ̄n nggyε if-not itis small-whatever (whatever it
is)
yə̀mē sē vənyɔ̀n this is small
granary
yə̀mē sē rà mə̀nggə̄ this is my
granary
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̂
n.
b
harrier hawk
vəryàn
nywɛnryan
n.
m
Gambian tree
vəsə̀r
nywɛ̂nsər
squirrel
n.
m
antelope sp.
vəsùr
n.
m
palm civet ?
vətɔ̀
nywɛ̂ntɔ
n.
b
quail
vətə̀ndār
nywɛ̂ntəndar
n.
i
green insect that
vəvà
—
sits on leaves
n.
b
domestic pigeon
vəywudə̀
nywɛ̂nywudə
v.
to warm up by
vre
n.
vrē
vrè
—
v.
n.
vrěnjō
Vrěnjō
vrûûm
—
v.
p.n
id.
vū
vu
v.
vu ngà
vū ngà
v.p.
v.
vūn
vūn
vun
v.
day after
tomorrow
to breathe
pain
to whistle
personal name
describes the
sound of a
motorcycle
to carry away,
sweep
to go past, out of
the way
to smoke fish,
meat on fire, etc
to catch, hold,
sieze, grasp
to stubbornly
refused to do s.t.
vūn nzɛ̄
v.p.
vwââp
id.
describes how s.t.
is snatched from
s.o. by force
wǎdɛ̄n
adv.
wān
pron.
arriving early for
s.t.
who, one who, one
of, one, person of
Examples, other information
Polyboroides radiatus
Helioscurus gambianus
Coturnix spp.
it emits a fluid that makes you
scratch
nggə̄ là vre glo I cont. warm-up
fire (I’m warming myself)
nggə̄ lə nyə̄ vrē I fut. come dayafter-tomorrow
vɛ̄n là vrè child cont. breathes
kə̀mvrè ngwɔ̀n là vrè nggə̀
finger mine cont. pain me
gu là vrenjō he cont. whistle
whistling as a sign of satisfaction
gyɔ̄ bàbər glo nə̄ yə̄ gì de
vrûûm put motorcycle fire let it
cry de ….. cf. English Vroom!
Jalà là vu tswē Jalà cont.
sweeps place
gu ywe vū yə̄ ngà he went
siezed it passed (...went by it)
Te tə̄ là vūn nan ə glo Father
our cont. smoke meat at fire
vūn yə̄ lwè catch it gu vun nzɛ̄ de gu lə la nan ndu
yə yo he stubbornly refused that
he will neg. do work of it not
vəmbàn kla vəkə̀kə̄ bàn vwââp
eagle snatched (a) chick at once
W.
wāndɛ̄n
wāndɔ̀
Wāndō
wānfà
wāngbɔ̀
wāngi
wānkə̀
wǎnklǎ
bāndɛ̄n
bāndɔ̀
bānfà
bāngbɔ̀
bāngi
bānkə̀
wankla
n.
n.
p.n
n.
p.n.
n.
n.
n.
modern doctor
farmer
personal name
fool
Igbo
thief
house owner
hand bangle used
81
tə̄ ywe mān wadɛ̄n we went
there early
relative pronoun, but also a
fronted singular pronoun used
with demonstratives
wə̄ sē wāndɔ̀? are you a farmer?
one of cows
wə̄ sē wānfà you are a fool
yə̀mē sē wǎnklǎ this is a hand
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
during dancing,
n.
p
soldier, policeman
wānkpānnɛ̄n
bānkpānnɛ̄n
wān(re)kwār
bān(re)kwār
n.
wānlāzə̄,
wānfùkpɔ
wānrɛ̀kī
wāntānan
bānlāzə̄,
bānfùkpɔ
bānrɛ̀kī
bāntānan
n.
n.
n.
p
trader
hunter
wāntěwu
bāntěwu
n.
p
wānwɔ̄
wānwùntān
bānwɔ̄
bānwùntān
n.
n.
p
herbalist,
traditional doctor
blind man
tanner
wānywànan
bānywànan
n.
p
war
—
n.
runniness
n.
immoral behaviour
wartə̀warwartə̀war
id.
wə̄
pron.
describes the
chirping of small
black birds
(vəkəgbù) found
around rocks
you sg. (subject)
wə̀
pron.
you sg. (object)
war
wə̀ndō
wāntan
—
wə̄ndō
n.
int.
id.
p
wizard, sorcerer,
witch
blacksmith
dr
butcher
trousers
who?
wɔ̄
—
n.
describes the
barking of a dog
blindness
wɔ̀
wɔ
v.
to rear, feed
wɔ̄nkì
wu
mə̀wɔ̄nkī
n.
v.
hole in tree
to swell up
wu
wǔ
—
n.
v.
medicine
to be hot
v.
to burn
wowowo
wǔ
82
Examples, other information
bangle e.g. nzɔ̄n
lit. ‘one who ties belly’. gu sē
wānkpānnɛ̄n he is a policeman
lit. ‘one who searches for hook’
nggwɔ̌ sē wānkwār? who is awizard
gu sē wānlāzə̄ he is a blacksmith
gu sē wānrɛ̀do he is a trader
gu sē wāntānan he is one-who
hunt
lit. ‘one who searches for
leaves’.
gu sē wānwɔ̄ he is a blind man
ndu gu sē yə̄ wùntān work his
is of tanner
gu sē wānywànan he is a
butcher
mvre wə̄ te war nose yours has
runniness
yə̀mē sē kì yə̀ war this is a-thing
of immoral behaviour
nywɛ̂n kə̄kə̄gbu là gi de
wartə̀war-wartə̀war childrenbirds cont. cry that ……
wə̄ là ywē ywə̄? you cont. go
where?
sē nggwɔ̌ wān tse wə̀? it-is who
who beat you?
< Hausa
sē wāntan ənywī mə̄nē mē wān
nggə̄ lə cu? this who among
people these who I will choose
wānmē sē wāntan? one this is
which-one
nggǎgyū là te glə̄ de wowowo
dog barks that ….
zāngyər nggə̄ ku wɔ̄ brother my
fell blind
gu là wɔ̀ nggǎgyū he cont. rear
dog
yə̀mē sē wɔ̄nkì this is a hole
mgbāntə tar nggə̄ ə bìshi an yə̄
wu stone shot me at eye and it
swelled
mə̀sər mē wu glo water this ishot fire (is hot) cf. gloglo
glo là wu mgbəga fire cont.
burns the-grass
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
v.
to be satisfied
wù
wù
wukì
wushi
wu
mə̀wukī
—
n.
n.
n.
i
t
p.n
Wùzə
mosquito
tree sp.
happiness
personal name
Examples, other information
nggə̄ sə̄ mə̀sər də̀ wu I drank
water and was-satisfied
nggə̄ là te wushi I cont. make
happy
swollen leg
Y.
yā
Yākwɔ̀
yà
—
mə̄yiyà
n.
p.n
n.
p
mother
personal name
female friend
yà ngwɔn
v.p.
yà nyū
v.p.
yàwǔ
yə
n.
pron.
yə̄
pron.
yə̄
conj.
to swing arms as
you walk
to bring out
particles of food
hidden by the
molars with the
tongue
grass sp.
they, them, it
(non-animate)
subject
they, them, it
(non-animate)
object
that
yə̀
yə̄mə̄
yə̀mē
yəmē
pron.
pron.
pron.
what
that
this
yə̀mū
yəmū
pron.
that
yə̀tan
int.
which?
yo
adv.
not
yo
yɔ^yɔ̀
n.
adv.
yɔ̄kpə
v.
g
c
millet
describing s.o.
doing s.t lazily
to be lazy
83
mother of grinding
Mbə̄cūn bə̄ Mbə̄rɛn sē mə̄yiyà
Mbə̄cūn bə̄ Mbə̄rɛn are friends,
Vəntsɛ̄ sē yà Vəncɛ Vəntsɛ̄ is a
friend of Vəncɛ
gu là yà ngwɔn he cont. swing
arms
Bə̀ryo là yà nyū anrɛ̀n nzan
sɔn gu ngà Bə̀ryo cont.
‘moving’ mouth because food
sits his cheek
has burs that stick to passers-by
both singular and plural
ban yə̄ dèbə̀ take it give way bə
tse yə̄ they beat it
associative marker. nyān
(Buhar), fē (Sh.) tə̄ nan yə̄ tə̄ lə
… we did that we will …
relative pronoun
kì yə̄mə̄ thing that
(only of objects, not people)
nggə là dan wə̄ ətù kì yəmē I
cont. tell you about things these
(only of objects, not people)
nggə là dan wə̄ ətù kì yə̀mū I
cont. tell you about thing that
se yə̀tan ənywī kī mē nə nggə
ban this what among things
these who I will choose
nggə̄ lə la nan yo I will neg. doit not
yə̀mē sē be yo this is millet
sē nə̄nggyɛ wə̄ là nan yɔ̂yɔ̀
nàn? what are you doing lazily
like this?
wə̄ là yɔ̄kpə kənànme you cont.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
v.
da
male goat
to mix
yūr
ywa
yur
ywà
sar
v.
to slaughter
ywǎ
ywa
n.
ravine, canyon
ywǎ
v.
ywā
ywamgbar
ywan
ywān
num.
n.
n.
v.
to cut but idiom
for sharp pain
two
plaintain
rock
to cover
p.n
v.
personal name
to prevent
a.
n.
sloping, uneven
crossroads inside
animal hole
tree used for fishpoison
in-law
—
—
Ywānkə̄
ywar
ywār
ywar
—
—
ywe
n.
t
ywē
mə̄ywē
n.
k
ywē
ywè
ywēmkpə̀r
ywɛ̄
ywɛ̀kə̄
ywɛ̀n
n.
v.
n.
n.
n.
n.
c
ywe, ywē
—
mə̀ywɛ̀
ywεkə̄
ywεn
fr
ap
ap
m
pumpkin
to go
pawpaw
egg
chicken egg
hippopotamus
ywə
v.
ywə̄
int.
to wither, be
withered
where?
ywə̄
pron.
of it
v.
to squeeze
adv.
describes smelling
bad (insect, human
being)
to have dysentery
ywi
ywǐ
ywì
ywǐkrǔ
—
v.
d
ywu
—
n.
jealousy
ywudə̀
ywur
ywudə
—
n.
n.
speckled pigeon
pus, lymph
n.p.
sheath
ywur nji
84
Examples, other information
lazy too much
Yā là ywa nzan Mother cont.
mix guinea corn food
cf. sar. gu là ywà gūgu he cont.
slaughter goat
tə̄ klwe kə nyə̄r ə ywǎ we ran go
hide at canyon
nɛ̄n là ywa nggə̀ stomach CONT
cut me. i.e. I am hungry
ban tu nggūnggū ywān take
head dish cover
cover house
doglò ywar gu nkɔ̀n get up
prevent his way
tswē sē ywār place is sloping
Tephrosia vogelii
wānmē sē ywē nggə̀ this man is
my in-law
yə̀mē sē ywē this is pumpkin
cf. gəgə̄. kān tə̄ ywe let us go
cf. nkə̀gbò. Carica papaya
yə̀mē sē ywɛ̀n this is a
hippopotamus
kpumkpàn ywə maize is
withered
wə̄ là ywe ywə̄? you cont. go
where?
nan ywə̄ sē nə̀mē the doing of it
is like this
ywi mə̀ làmu nə̄ zə̄ywē squeeze
juice orange give your child
mvə̄rkì mē nyɔn ywì beetle this
smell bad
gu là ywǐkrǔ he cont. have
dysentery
ywu là te gu jealousy cont.
make him
Columba guinea. dim. vəywudə̀
mpā là gu ywur wound cont.
run pus
yə̀mē sē ywur njì this is knife
sheath
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
n.
dust
ywūr
ywūr glō
n.p.
fog, haze
ywǔr
a.
fearful, afraid
ywûrywùr
a.
fearful
ywûryùrywùr
id.
fearfully
n.
stick for beating
flat the floor of a
room
tuberculosis
ywūywə̄r
ywuywər
n.
ywùywǔ
d
Examples, other information
ywūr ywan tswē dust cover theplace
tswē là te ywūr the-place cont.
make fog
gu kan kū ywǔr he then fall
afraid
də̌r nggə̄ sē ywûrywùr me heart
my is-fearful only
dər là tsǔ nggə ywûrywùrywùr
heart cont. fall me fearfully
cf. kpə̀kprɛ̀ yə̀ sɔn
Z.
zà
v.
to cross over to
zà kū
v.p.
to go in or out
zāgū
n.
namesake
zàn
zān
zān tè
v.
n.
n.
to stir, disperse
friend
sibling of the same
father
sibling of the same
mother
—
nywɛ̂n tè
zān gyə̄r
nywɛ̂n gyə̄r,
nywɛ̂n gyə̀gyər
n.
zān nzɛ̀
nywɛ̂n nzɛ̀
n.
zàr
zàr
zê
n.
n.
v.
t
zar
zē
n.
i
zε
zɛ̄
v.
n.
m
zɛ̄
zɛ̀
zɛ̀n
n.
v.
v.
zə̄
zə̀
zəkpə
zə̄r
zə̄r
zε
—
zə
mə̀zə̄r
n.
n.
n.
v.
n.
young man
bp
t
tree sp.
mirror
to put s.t. down
gently
plague locust
to greet
kusu, rufous Nile
rat
comb
to greet
to winnow
metal
leg
shoe
to walk
tree sp.
85
tə̄ za ngga we cross over to [the
other] side
lit. ‘cross fall’. gu zà kū ənywī
tàr he went into room
wānmē sē zāgūn nggə̀ this man
is my namesake
tə̄ kan zān we then dispersed
tə̄ sē zān we are friends
gu sē zān te nggə̀ he is sibling
mine
tə̄ sē nywεngyə̀r bə̄ Ambε we
are brothers with Ambε min
gyə̄r (Shugbu, Ancho)
Agyaga dial. – wānmē sé zān
nzɛ̀ this boy is a young man
yə̀mē sē zǎr this is a mirror
kan yə̄ zwè zê me take it keep
gently only
zē là re nggə̄ kpu locusts cont.
eat me guinea-corn
nggə̄ là zɛ wə̀ I cont. greet you
Arvicanthis sp.
yə̀mē sē zɛ̄ this is comb
nggə̄ là zɛ wə̀ I cont. greet you
bə là zɛn tsə̀kā they cont.
winnow rice
yə̀mē sē zə̄ this is a-metal
cf. kpə. yə̀mē sē zəkpə this is a
shoe
gu là zər he cont. walk
Berlinia grandiflora.
Roger Blench and Barau Kato Draft Mada Dictionary
Singular
Plural
PoS
C
English
̄
p.n
personal name
Zərmwɔn
zə̄zə̄
zə̄zə̄
zə̀zè
—
n.
n.
n.
zəzè
zəze
n.
goodness
Zəzerì
zinari
zǒ
—
zo
p.n
n.
v.
personal name
silver
to raise up
eggshell
shea oak
joy
dk
part-fermented
local beer
to assist, help, aid
n.
v.
k
junior in-law
to sieve
zɔ̀n
n.
tr
divination, ordeal
zu
v.
to soften, to soak
vibration, sound
zō
—
zɔ̌
zɔn
zɔ̀n
n.
ap
t
e
v.
mə̄zɔn
zǔ
—
n.
zǔ
zù
zù
zu
zu
zū
n.
n.
v.
nywε̂n zuzù
zuzùzù
zùzǔ
zwè
zwē
gun
warthog
to knot, tie
together
to point at
b
flappet lark
describes sound of
movement
v.p.
zù ngwɔn
zùzu
zuzù
wp
m
zwe, zwē
n.
id.
n.
heat rashes
v.
to catch, keep
v.
to follow
86
Examples, other information
walk too much (possibly one
who likes to travel)
Vitellaria paradoxa
zə̀zè là te nggə̀ joy cont. make
me
yə̀mē sē zəze yə̄ Rì this is the
goodness of God
goodness of God
< Hausa
là nggə̄ zo tsə̄ help me raise the
pot
yə̀mē zō mə̀ this is partfermented beer
zɔ̌ nggə̄ bə̄ ndu assist me with
work
joking partners of the speaker
Yā là zɛ̀n bekpu Mother cont
sieve guinea-corn
there are three types at least;
peering into a bowl of water,
forcing suspected parties to put
their hand in hot oil, and a collar
with a sharp point that will stab
s.o. who is guilty.
Mbə̄zəze zu kī zwè yə̄ nglǎ
Mbə̄zəze soak clothes keep for
washing
tswē là te zǔ the place cont.
make sound
yə̀mē sē zǔ this is a gun
Phacocherus africanus
nggə̄ là zu mgbərīn I cont. knot
the rope
gu là zù nggə̄ ngwɔn he cont.
point me finger
Mirafra rufocinnamonea
of many whether human beings
or vehicular movement or any
sound at all sē nənggyɛ̀ yə̄ klwe
də̀ te zuzùzù rìbū rīn nàn?
what are those things that were
running and making sound in the
night like that?
zùzǔ là nan vɛ̄n mē heat rashes
cont. do child this
ban kə̀mbə̄ zwè ə sə̄kànmù take
calabash keep there
zwē nggə̄ mān follow me then