Words to eat, drink and shop in Bambara: food, drinks, and what you need at the market. 35 words checked against reference sources (Bambara of Mali, official spelling (tones not written)).
1
Eating and drinking
jiwater
dumunifood, meal
malorice
sogomeat
jɛgɛfish
kɔgɔalso: Kɔkɔ, kwasalt
nɔnɔmilk
fanegg
burualso: nburu, nbuuru, buurubread
kuyam
namasabanana
tigaalso: tigɛgroundnut, peanut
kabamaize, corn
tuluoil
sukarosugar
forontochili pepper
jabaonion
tamatitomato
ɲɔmillet
shɛalso: syɛ, shyɛ, sɛchicken, hen
nasauce
2
At the market
sugumarket
sohouse; village
duguvillage, town; land
warialso: wɔrimoney
sɔngɔprice
Warimisɛnchange, coins
sirapath, road
bajiriver
lakɔlialso: lekɔlischool
kɔlɔnalso: kɔlɔwell
forofield
butikialso: butigishop
Dɔgɔtɔrɔsoalso: dɔkɔtɔrɔsohospital
Misirimosque
Test yourself
1. What does “dumuni” mean?
2. What does “ku” mean?
3. What does “tamati” mean?
4. What does “sɔngɔ” mean?
Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Mali Bambara courses, Bamadaba dictionary (Corpus Bambara de Référence). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.
The words in this article come from: Peace Corps Mali Bambara courses, Bamadaba dictionary (Corpus Bambara de Référence). They are copied with their exact spelling; when two sources disagree, the variant is shown. Do you speak this language and spot a mistake? Write to us.