Buli phrasebook

Buli (Kanjaga) is the indigenous language of Builsa people which is located in the Upper East region of Ghana.

Pronunciation guide

• Vowels

a [a] Buli ga (to go)

e [e, e] metik (thin)

i [i, W] poli (to think)

o [o, B] pok (wife)

u [u, _] zuk (head)

• Cosonants

b

d

f

g

k

l

m

n

ɲ

ŋ

ŋ͡m

p

t

tʃ

k͡p

dʒ

ɡ͡b

r

s

t

v

w

z

z

Phrase list

Basics

How are you?

Ka se-aa?

I am fine

Nalim nyini.

What is your name?

Fi yue le boa?

My name is Awen.

Mi yue le Awen.

How old are you?

Fi ta ka benanga dina?

Thank you.

Kan namu.

Hurry up.

Nye nwuli.

I am looking for my pen.

N gisi ka n penwa.

What is this?

Ka boa ale nna?

What is this building?

Ka boan yeri le nna?

Where are you?

Fi bo ka be?

Are you angry?

Fi su ya puuri?

Please forgive me.

Maa saalim, vongti mu.

Problem/Emergency

Go away!

Cheng du!

Come here!

Jam de!

Who sent you to me?

Ka wana ale tom fu?

Can I help you?

N baga a maa(ri) fu?

What do you want?

Faa yaali ká boa?

Can you help me?

Fi bag a mari mu?

Numbers

One

bunyi

Two

buye

Three

buta

Four

banaansi

Five

bunu

Six

buyuebi

Seven

buyuepoi

Eight

naaning

Nine

neuk

Ten

pi

Eleven

pi ale bunyi

Twenty

pisiye

Thirty

pisita

Hundred

kobik

Thousand

tusidi

Days

Monday

Atani

Tuesday

Atalata

Wednesday

Alariba

Thursday

Alamisi

Friday

Azuma

Saturday

Asibi

Sunday

Alaadi

Months

January

ngoota chiik

February

gunggona chiik

March

vaala chiik

April

sambula chiik

May

borik chiik

June

kpari chiik

July

naara chiik

August

za paala bogluta chiik

September

chaaung chiik

October

sungkpaata chiik

November

za cheka chiik

December

fanoai chiik

Transportation

Luggage

koalima

Bicycle

kuta-wusum

Car/Vehicle

loori

Left

gala

Right

juga

Road

siuk

Street

sititee

Path

siok vovok

Road junction

sui toming

Sign post

saka

Straight ahead

yomsi ka a cheng

To turn (branch) left (right)

ngmieringi gala (juga) nying; chiem gala nying

To miss the way

be siuku

It is far

ku yalima

Here

dowa

Curved road

su-goalung

To come back

ngmain jam

To park

zaani

To go straight ahead

yoarisi

Part of the body (Nying)

Head

zuk

Back

ngaang

Shoulder

ngmanpaluk

Arm

nsiri

Finger

nandub

Leg

nang

Knee

dunung

Waist

chiak

Belly

logi,

Stomach

puuk

Forehead

diri

Mouth

noai

Tongue

ginggelung

Tooth

nyin

Nose

nyueri

Hair

zuik

Ear

turi

Lip

nangbaiviok

Cheek

chikperi

Eye

num

Family (dok dema)

Ancestors

koba

Father

ko

Mother

ma

Grandfather

ko-kpieng

Grandmother

ma-kpieng

Daughter

lieba

Son

biik

Twins

yibik

Brother

suok

Elder brother/sister

moa

Younger brother/sister)

yoa

Junior sister/brother

toa baang

Father's younger brother

ko baang

Orphan

bí-kpíng

First wife

po-kpagi

Food (ngandiinta)

Millet-flour

zom

Millet

zari

Sorghum

za-monta

Bread

boruk-boruk

Rice

muma

Yams

nyue

Cassava

maniok

Cocoyam

mangkain

Sweet potatoes

naabanyuiri

Groundnuts

sungkpaam

Vegetables

jen-vaata

Garden-eggs

booruk

Mango

manggook

Orange

liemu

Tomato

kamantos

Soup

jenta

Egg

kpa-jein

Milk

naa-biisim

Pepper

ngmaribazung

Salt

yesiri

Sugar

sigiri