← Table of contents
Narrative of travels and discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, in the years 1822, 1823, and 1824

No. XVII.

Reading edition

Bornou Vocabulary.

Good for nothing, Fussel

Good, Angala

Bad, Dibbe

Bread, Gorassa

Rice, Fergami

Come here, Arai natin

Go away, Lanai daka

Come to-morrow, Bali arai belte,

Come to-morrow night, Bali booni arai

Meat, Dha

Water, Inki

Bring water, Inki coutai

I wish to drink, Shay aski

Stay in the house, Arai fatto nemine

Sit down, Nemine

Bed, Boushe

Sheep, Anglaro

Bullock, Feea

Fowls, Koukee

Wind, Karouah

Sun, Kangal

Cold, Kakou

Hot to-day, Kow zow

Woman, Kano

Girl, Faro[81]

Fine girl, Faro angala

Rich girl, Faro sukala

Ugly girl, Faro dibbe

Father, Aba

My mother, Yany

Your mother, Yaanem

My brother, Crameny

My sister, Yaiany

Wife, Neka

Siriah, Keferoua

Hand, Musko

Leg, Segulni

White teeth, Teminy bull

Tongue, Telumny

A slave with large eyes, and handsome, Keir angala shem kora

Great, Kora

Small, Gana

Old man, Keeary

Horse, Fur or Pur

Dog, Kree

Sweet milk, Kiam klee

Sour milk, Kyam

I wish to wash, Musco toliske

I will go to your house, Fanim laneskin

House, Fatto

God keep you in health, L’affia dagumba

How is your health? Are you well? Are you well? Wanumba l’affia? La lay? Ba lay?

Breeches, Yangay

A pretty young slave, Keir gana angala

I give you a little physic: if that does not cure you, come to-morrow, Kergun gana gadishe atte keteen baco, arai bali

I am sick, Ou donde

I am a little better, Kermunga neske gana

Rains coming, Delaky goushe

Good day to you, Dibdony che l’affia

Good night to you, Booni che l’affia

Bad boy, Tetowa dibbe

Good boy, Tetowa angala

White man, Bull fulk

One, Telo

Two, Inde

Three, Yasko

Four, Dago

Five, Ooogoo

Six, Araska

Seven, Toolur

Eight, Waskoo

Nine, Lekar

Ten, Meagoo

Eleven, Meagoo lageree

Twelve, Indoore

Thirteen, Meagoo yaskun

Fourteen, Meagoo daree

Fifteen, Meagoo ouree

Sixteen, Meagoo araskee

Seventeen, Meagoo toluree

Eighteen, Meagoo waskun

Nineteen, Meagoo likareen

Twenty, Finde

Thirty, Fee askar

Forty, Fee daga

Fifty, Fee oogoo

Sixty, Fee raskee

Seventy, Fee tolur

Eighty, Fee tuskoo

Ninety, Fee lekar

One hundred, Mea

Poor man, Koua telleka

Sick man, Koua laka

Gussub, Ergum

Handsome woman, Kamoo angala

Very hot to-day, Kou dzow

Very cold, Kako ngubboo

Very dirty, Teginy kadafooa

Very clean, Teginy angala

Dead, Nuee

I, Ooma

You, Nema

Mine, Kakay

Yours, Kakanem

Sandals, Sono

Cap, Geaqua

You know every thing, Summa nunumba

I know nothing, Afeema noniskeni

I know, Noniski

Bring supper, Coutai bree

I wish to eat, Maniskin buskin

I look for food, Manimin boomin

I do not wish, Naguski baco

Have you got a little? Agoga nashe

I have nothing, Afeema baco

Honey, Kom̄agun

Wood, Kuska

At night eat supper, Booni bree boyee

Morning meal, Cheny feleski

I must go home, Oola niske fatto

Will you, or will you not? Rakami, rouanimy

I will not, Waniskee

Yes, Geree

No, Wankee

Breast, Gungy

Quick, Doua

Come, make haste, Arai doua

Black, Sellem

Red, Kemmy

White, Bull

Grass, Kajum

Straw, Soogoo

Mat, Suggady

I have many bullocks, Nanin fean’ gubboo

A great warrior, Bendugoo gubboo

I must buy a shirt, Koulko manki efeski

Tell me directly, Manany doua

I have no money, Nani gourse baco

I have no friend, Sobany baco

You are my friend, Nema sobany

You are not my friend, Ne sobany gani

I wish to sleep, Manki boniske

I do not sleep in the day, Kou boniske baco

Where is good water, very good? Indaran inki, angala lintia

This water is not good, Inki ada angalăgănĭ

Not good, Angalăgăny̆

I will give you nothing, Afeema giski baco

Call him, Booboonimin

Don’t beat him, Wata edkonimy

Strong, Kibboo

Weak, Kibboo gany

Strong slave, Keir kibboo

I wish to return to my country, Bellany laniski

Lion, Kourgilly

Ichneumon, Chorma

How many children have you? Tetoua ndago nanimin

Where is your country? Ndara bellanem

You are very handsome, Angala lintia

Come with me, Yeronemin langay

Go I cannot, Lanem baco

I am tired, M’bareski

Whip, Kourfo

Turban, Aliafo

Sword, Kazager

Looking-glass, Koutrum

Face, Fiska

My face, Fiskany

Your face, Fiskanem

His face, Fiskansa

Their faces, Fiskanday

My foot, Sheeny

Your foot, Sheenum

His foot, Sheensay

Their feet, Sheenday

All their feet, Sheenday andi summa

Beard, N’chitty

Foot, Shee

Feet, Shee ndiso

Fingers, Gulandoni

Toes, Fergamij

Who is that? N’dee aty

What is that? Aty a fee

What is your name? Nin dhu

Presently, Wakay

Wait a little, Dāgā dāgō

White trowsers, Yangay bull

White shirt, Kukoo bull

Blue shirt, Kulgoo kagi

Pillow, Beeree

Where are you going? Ndara doony min

Where are you come from? Ndara kadim

From the sheikh’s house I come, Fatto shoukobe kadisco

To-day, Kow

Yesterday, Biska

The day before yesterday, Biskada

Ass, Koro

Mule, Koro la fuddera

Handkerchief, Futtha. Not used

Crocodile, Timsa, karem

Hippopotamus, Nghroot

Many mosquitoes, Kantano n’gubboo

Hyena, Dela

Elephant, Kamāgun

Calf, Kena gana

Cow, Kena

Where are your shoes? Sononem daran

Where is your cap? Geaqua n’daran

A bad man, Koati dibbe

You are bad, Nema dibbe

Do you wish that woman? Kamo ati rakami

Not that one? This I wish, Ati waniski too raguski

Man, Kam

Woman, Kamo

A strong man, Kamqua

Two men, Kuandee

Two women, Kamundee

Camel, Kelgimmo

Camel’s saddle, Kantergue

Riding camel or maherhy, Kelgimmo serdebee

Wear your cap; the sun is strong, Geaqua coutai kou n’gubboo

My house, Fany

The house of me, Fatto kakai

I will come at night, Ou boone leniske

It is now night, Kerama boone

Why did you not come yesterday? Afero biska issamy bah

I could not come, Issiskany

I am come to-day, Kou issisky

I am angry, Ou gergan iskana

Always, Zaar

I go on horseback, Kela furby linisky

Horse, Fur, or Pur

I go on foot, Sheenin linisky

Your house, Fanem

His house, Fansa

All their houses are one, Andi summa fanday telo

Give me this, Ougoaty orashe

A little, not much, Gana

Take care, Zebba

Now give me, Kormashee

Shut the door, Suganay tapah

Not now, Kormakany

By and by, Oo kanowaā

I will give you a handsome shirt, Koulko angala noroweskin

I will dress you prettily, Kasamow angala noroweskin

Hear me, I say, Fanimy

God bless you, Allah kabunsho

May you live for ever, Engoubourou dagah

God send you a happy old age, literally gray hairs, Allah kiaro

Bring water to wash my hands, Inki coutai muskowy toliske

To wash your hands, Muskonem tolei

Like a Bornowy, Kanourin kalcal

Near, Karengha

A long way off, Kiento rinta

Why are you afraid? Afero ranimin

You come directly? Kurma ma duaree

The day after to-morrow, Wagoro

Eat you, Nema booy

I can read, Rageski karaengen

Can you read? Ne karanemin bah

I cannot, Karaniskin baco

I know, Ooma nongana

You know, Nema nonema

He knows, Shema nosena

We know, Amgaso nony-enna

Ye know, Ande amgaso

They know, Nony-enna

Every body knows, Amsemma nozana

Nobody knows, Ondooma nozana baco

Gazelle, Engry

Ducks, Enguddoo

Vulture, Quogoo

Monkey, Daggel

Buffalo, Zamouse

I will not go, Laniski baco

I will come, Lazusko

Is it necessary for you? Ragumba

It is necessary, Ragiski

Now, Kurma

Not now, but in a little, Kurmagany, laga toosiny

Why is your cap off? Afero geaquanem gogo

It fell off, Oogony konusko

My horse, Furny

Your horse, Furnem

His horse, Furnsa

My hut, Engiminy

Your hut, Engiminem

His hut, Engiminsa

Onions, L’bussel

Wheat, Gomah

Gussub, Arkum

Fan of ostrich feathers, Kergeaga

Ostrich, Nham

Feathers, Riesh

I wish a man who knows the road to Waday, Ooroo kam angala sidi Waday nosena

Do you know all the road? Sidi Waday nony mabah

All I know, Angaso nony ski

In the road, river great is there? Waday den komadagoo kora beetche

There is, but not a great one, Beetche, gana laga

And a great deal of water, there is not, N’gobboo gany inki enga

Gussub is there plenty? Argum beetche engubbooba

Rain little, and gussub not much, Inki gana argum engubboo, gany

Last year rain plenty, more than at this time, Mindy inki engubboo kerma koge

This year, Kimmindy

Last year, Mindy

Fish, Boony

Standard carried before the Sultan of Bornou, Yerma

Fire bring, quick, quick, Kano coutai doua, doua

Fire bring, get supper, Kano coutai bree deniskin

Mount, we will go, Neebamin baa lanyée

Now I will come, Kurma mai issisky

I do not wish, Wanisky, wangy

Wait a little, now he will come, Garany gana kurma machin

Bring water, I will drink, Inki coutai yaskin

I will not come, Isiskin baco

Give grass to the horse to eat, Fena kajem furby zebbo

Nose bag, Engerky

The nose bag for the horse bring, Engerky furby coutai

Fill it with gussub, Fegana argum

Give it him to feed, Yeshery zebbo

Does he feed? Zebbe ra-watche

He feeds, A zebbena

Feed he will not, Zebbin baco watche

Take off the nose bag, if he will not, Zenney engerky watchea

Take him to drink, Yeati inkero

Give him well to drink, Y’eshero angeloro tsaa

Bucket none, yesterday broke, Kirfy baco biska creety

Go a bucket good buy, Lanee kerfy angala belinefay

Take care thieves don’t take it, Wata kaleny burbo gotzenu

I wish it, Oura kusku

Something I wish, Aqualaka oura kusku

What do you wish? Afferacum

Where are we going? Ainfera lanen

Near now we go? Karinga ateman lascia

Sunset before? Shall we stop? Magrubo setteny? Zubtsayu bah

We shall stop, Zubtsayu

At sunset we shall not stop, we shall go until Ashea; then we shall stop, Mugrubbo kelten zubtsay inde leesharo letzaya doo go zubtneia

Sunset before we shall return, Mugrubbo setteny doo goo lanem

To-day go, to-morrow come, Kou lanemya bali arai

You are very handsome, Neety angala engubboo

You than others I like best, Neety kamo gediro rakuskin ago angalko

Speak true speeches, Mana gereby manany

It is necessary, I see the well, Kouroo garoubi ruguski,

This is my town now, Ate bellany kurma

I wish to see, Raguski rusky

Will you buy anything? Neema eefamy bah

I wish to buy, Raguski effuskin

I do not wish to buy, Wankee effeesky baco

I will not sell, Wankee ladisky baco

I wish to sell, Ragusky ladisky

Will you sell? Ladamin bah

My feet ache, Sheeny zow

Do your feet ache? Eenim zow bah

My legs, Shegul ny

My knees, Engurum grum kakai

My thighs, Dunomy

My loins, Duefurgy-ny

My belly, Suero-ny

My breast, Ingun geny

My neck, Dubboony

Woman’s breast, Tekkum

My mouth, Cheny

My nose, Kinoa-ny

My tongue, Telam-ny

My teeth, Teneeny

My cheeks, Gegaty

The eyes, Shem

The forehead, Engum

Eyebrows, Engum eshem

Ears, Summo

Head, Kla

This woman, her face is handsome, Kamo atteta feskansa angala

Long gourd with a hole at each end, used by Tibboo and Bornou as a musical instrument, Zantoo

Wrapper or petticoat, Zeneh

Eggs, Gubbel

FOOTNOTES:

Notes in this chapter

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings