Parts of the body in Bambara, from head to toe: 28 words checked against reference sources (Bambara of Mali, official spelling (tones not written)). Useful at the doctor’s, and to understand many expressions.
1
Body parts
kunhead
ɲɛalso: ɲaeye
tuloalso: tloear
nunalso: nunose
damouth
ɲinalso: ɲitooth
boloarm; hand
senleg, foot
kɔnɔbelly, stomach
dusukunheart
kunsigialso: kunsihair
nɛnalso: nɛtongue
kanneck
kɔalso: kwɔback
bolokɔnialso: bolo.nkɔnifinger
joliblood
farikolobody
kunbereknee
disichest
Kamankunshoulder
worothigh
senkuruankle
nɔnkɔnalso: nɔngɔnelbow
tɛgɛhand (palm)
sentɛgɛfoot (sole)
senkalaleg
ɲɛdaface
kolobone
Test yourself
1. What does “ɲɛ” mean?
2. What does “kɔnɔ” mean?
3. What does “joli” mean?
4. What does “nɔnkɔn” mean?
Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: Bamadaba dictionary (Corpus Bambara de Référence), Peace Corps Mali Bambara courses. 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: Bamadaba dictionary (Corpus Bambara de Référence), Peace Corps Mali Bambara courses. 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.