Wikijunior:Languages/Dagbani

Dagbani (Dagomba)

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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

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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

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Sample text

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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

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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!