Wikijunior:Languages/Dagbani

Dagbani (Dagomba)

Dagbani is member of the Gur branch of Niger-Congo languages. It is spoken mainly in northern Ghana by 800,000 Dagomba people. It is closely related to, and mutually intelligible with, Mossi, which is spoken mainly in Burkina-Faso. Dagbani is also known as Dagbamba, Dagbane and Dagomba.

Dagbani is taught in primary and secondary schools, and there are radio programmes in the language.

Dagbani Words

Here are some words for family members I found. Hope it is useful

Grandfather - Yɛb’doo

Grandmother - Yɛb’paɣa

Father - M’ba

Mom - M’ma

Brother - Tizodoo

Sister - Tizopaɣa

Father’s elder brother(uncle) - Bakpema

Father’s junior brother(uncle) - Bapira

Father’s sister (aunt) - Piriba

Mother’s elder sister(aunt) - Mapkema

Mother’s junior sister(aunt) - Mapira

Mother’s brother(uncle) - ŋahiba

Son - Dapala

Daughter - Bipuhinga

Cousins - Dachiya

Grandchild - Yaanga

Great grandchild - Yaantib’che

Inlaws - Deenima

Nephew /Niece-ŋahiŋga

Ancestor - Siɣli lana

Bachelor - Dakↄli

Children - Bihi

Descendant - Zuliya

Ex husband - Yidan kuro

Ex wife - Pa kuro

Family - Daŋa

Fiancée - Mam

Heir - Zuu

Heiress - Pakpang

Husband - Yidana

Infancy - Bilimni

Inheritance - Fali

Marriage - Paɣ’ kpuɤbo

Orphan - Kpibga

Parent - Laamba

Stepfather - Mba

Stepmother - Mma yintah

Spinster - Paɤ’ zinli

Twin - Jabila

Dagbani alphabet and pronunciation

Sample text

Sal' la sala. Bɛhig' be sokam sanimi, din pa la amii. Suhizɔbo be sokam sani; ka nambɔxu beni. Suhubɔhibo mi bi lan kɔŋ yigunaadam kam sani. Dinzuxu dimbɔŋɔ zaa wuhiya ka dama di tu kamaata ka ti zaa yu tab' hali ni ti puuni.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Past Perfect: Pun, Daa, Daa Pun:

N daa bi tum tumaa maa > I had not done the work.

A daa na bi tum tumaa maa > you had not yet done the work.

O daa na bi tum tumaa maa > he had not yet done the work.

Ti daa na bi tum tumaa maa > we had not yet done the work.

Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa . You have not yet done the work.

Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa > they had not yet done the work.

Poems (Yetogatalmalsi):

Jilma (Respect):

bia timi a ba naa ama jilma, > child, respect your father and mother.

naawuni ni bori sheli m-bala, > that is what God wants.

yumi a ba naa ama. > love your father and mother.

dama be nyela a laamba. > Because they are your parents.

Fara (Poverty):

fara deei zaa. > Poverty is now rampant.

bihi kuhirila fara. > Children are crying out of poverty.

ninkura kuhirila fara. > Elders are crying out of poverty.

ban tumdi kuhirila fara. > Those working are crying.

ban bi tumdi kuhirila fara. > Those who don’t work are even waste off.

ligiri mi zo n-nye fara. > Riches is the friend of poverty.

ligiri yi bi chag fara ku chag. > If money doesn’t go, poverty will surely not go.

din zugu, bagmi ligiri dibu. > Therefore let’s spend money wisely.

Assignment:

Dimi di zaa

Dimi sagam maa zaa

Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa

Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa

N daa bi tum tumaa maa

A daa na bi tum tumaa maa

O daa na bi tum tumaa maa

Lam; wuhi Farouk.

Di lar maa.

Lam’ ka sokam wum

ANSWERS PROVIDERED BY ISABELLA: Part 3:

Dimi di zaa- Eat it all.

Dimi sagam maa zaa – Eat all the TZ (?)

Yi daa na bi tum tumaa maa – You have not yet done the work.

Be daa na bi tum tumaa maa – They have not yet done the work.

N daa bi tum tumaa maa -I have not yet done the work.

A daa na bi tum tumaa maa -You have not yet done the work.

O daa na bi tum tumaa maa -He/she has not yet done the work.

Lam; wuhi Farouk – Laugh; for Farouk to see.

Di lar maa. – Don’t laugh at me

Lam’ ka sokam wum -Laugh so loud that everyone can hear!