Nawdm phrasebook

Alphabet

There are thirty one (31) Nawdm letters of alphabet.

A a Bb Dd Ee Ɛɛ Ff GgGw (gw) Gb (gb) Hh Ĥɦ Ii Jj Kk Kw (kw) Kp (kp) Ll Mm Nn Ny (ny) Ŋŋ Ŋm (ŋm) Oo Ɔɔ Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Yy

Vowels There are short and long vowels in Nawdm.

Short vowels We have seven (7) vowels: A, E, Ԑ, I, O, Ͻ, U (a, e, ε, i, o, ͻ, u)

Long vowels We get the long vowels whenever we stretch a short vowel a little. Thus, we double the letter when writing it. AA, EE, ԐԐ, II, OO, ϽϽ, UU (aa, ee, εε, ii, oo, ͻͻ, uu)

Consonants There are 24 consonants in Nawdm language: B, D, F, G, Gw, Gb, H, ɦ, J, K, Kw, Kp, L, M, N, Ny, Ŋ, Ŋm, R, S, T, V, W, Y. Common diphthongs Gw, Gb, Kp, Ny, Ŋm,

Phrase list Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase. Basics Greetings.......Seenŋb Welcome. .........Bdanmii/ ndanmii Ok (response to welcome) yoo How is it? ........................L ked lan? Response to hello ...............L keda hom How are you?.......................L' ba laa?/ L' ba Yes am fine..............................Mba hom What is your name?.........................Ba ɦolb na wenii?/ ba ɦolb na bee? My name is ________ Ba ɦolma naa ______ / Ma ɦidr nnii ___________ Please ..............Di kɛwr Excuse me ! ............... Agoo Thank you .............ɦera ŋmɛɛgb You're welcome/It's a pleasure ............Ben ɦεra wεgb Excuse me. (begging pardon)..........Ma jowb I'm sorry.................. yen Goodbye ( I am going).................Ma nyabn We will meet again.............T’ ba t’ taη I can't speak Nwadm...............Ma kpaa gwɛɛla Nawdm I'm learning Nawdm.................Ma kpεlηa Nawdm Do you speak English?..................Ma gwɛɛla ηglism Does anyone here speak English?......................ɦii gwɛɛla ηglism Nnaɦ? Help me!.........................tͻrg man! Look out!........................Gwedg nnaɦ! Good morning............B' rorbii, v robii Good afternoon...................B'muunu, v Muunun Good evening................

Numbers (Jugu, calb)

In the Nawdm language, the cardinal numerals for one to nine are: myen (one), mreɦ (two), mnaa (four), and mwɛɦ (nine).

Time

In Nawdm, "time" or "clock time" is expressed as "Waasu gama Today..............jana Tomorrow...............Su After tomorrow............subɛtr, suvɛtr Yesterday......................dindiin Before yesterday.................Togdaa Clock time.......................Waasu gama Game......................Gbuut, saɦla Football..........................Bool gbuut I play football...................Mà gbul yarmga. He plays guitar.......................Ĥa gbul janjalu

Days

In the Nawdm language, the days of the week are arranged according to the table below These names are given according to the market days.

Months

Like any other languages, there are twelve (12) months in Nawdm. Those name are given according to the popular activities done the Nawdba people during each month.

Lodging

How to name up some places where you would like pass the night even your own house?

Money

Money.....................lig̈biir How much?......................daɦt, alaaɦ? Eating................... jub Food......................... diit Cooking ....................digm, diit digm

Breakfast......................ɦateekwɛɛn diit, ɦateekwaan diit Lunch.............................muunun diit, muungbowr diit Dinner..............................jabr diit, jabhoolm diit

Water...........................Nyaalm Milk...................................beɦeem Tea............................Tii Plantain......................ɦamadaaŋu Banana.................... ɦayabr Bread.........................kpoonu Pineapple...................saama laŋkpadga Mango.......................tamb Coconut ........................baŋkpurb Papaya..........................ɦadibgu, ɦadimbgu Tomato.....................jimadgu Maize......................jimadgu Meat.........................Naanamgu Rice..............................miiri Fish............................. ɦɔlga Chicken........................kɔdahiir, kadahiir Egg..............................kɔɔleer Beans........................Tiira Stew............................salambii Jit Soup............................Jit Bread.................................kpoonu Onion...............................gaabu, jaabu Bars.............................baɦr Shopping/ Market ..............yaaku I want (a) _______ ...................Mabagl ______ I have (a) _______..................Ma ba n Sell ...........................yaarm Buy..................................daɦ To buy................................daɦb To sell................................gweedmb Book......................wadga Driving................loor joɦb Road..........................saama hurbermu Car .....................................loor

Authority

Government ............................ɔrgu Gouverneur...........................kɔrgu huura Animals and Insects Bird............................ŋmɛnga Lizard....................................baŋa Mouse..................................ɦɔŋr Goat......................................burgu Cow...................................naag̈b Cat..............................muusŋa Dog...............................gwɛɛgu Monkey..........................waama Elephant..........................ŋmɛŋmɛɛr Crocodile.........................kaseegu Bee.................................heb, hib Mosquito..........................dumga Housefly..........................joŋa Butterfly.............................kpaŋkpaanga Tse Tse Fly.........................koljond, koljuŋu Ant..........................gwɛɛm Termite........................jamru, ligr sheep......................fɛɛgu

Learning more To phone........................tangarfu medicine..........................ragr soap.............................fɔfɔɔ Hospital.......................dɔgdŋu Christmas.......................binkpeemr Merry Christmas to you..................B’ binkpeemrii, V’ binkpeemr Happy new year to you.........................B’binkwɛɛlii