Introduce yourself, ask the way or a price, ask someone to repeat: 39 phrases in Aja checked against reference sources (Ajagbe of Benin).
1
Travelling
Nà yì àfì mɛ̀.I will go to the market.
Ŋ yì kɔ̀ àfì mɛ̀ a xwlè màdàn.I am going to the market to buy bananas.
Ŋ jì kɔ̀ a yì Kutɔnu.I want to go to Cotonou.
Ŋ kpɔ eo le afimɛ.I saw you at the market.
Afi yi afimɛ a yi sa kutu.Afi went to the market to sell cassava.
Fìnì Kójó lè ɔ̀?Where is Kojo?
Nɛni à xwlè ɔ̀?How much will you buy?
nɛnihow many, how much
2
Everyday phrases
nyìwhat?
mìwho?
fíníalso: àfìwhere?
léhow?
hwènùwhen?
gònot
èlɛ́here
hùnnɔ́there
yíand
kóɖówith
nɔ́if
Ŋ jì kɔ̀ a yì.I want to leave.
E ɖù kpáví à?Did you eat fish?
Ŋ ɖù kɔ̀ màdàn.I am eating a banana.
ŋ̀kɔ́name
Oo, ŋ da yi o.No, I won't go.
Nyi jikɔ yí è le ɔ?What do you want?
È jikɔ besi a?Do you want some chili pepper?
Elɛ è le ke a?Is it here that you are?
Mì a vá.We will come.
Dè vá o.You didn't come.
Dé vá o.He didn't come.
Kofi de nyá o.Kofi doesn't know.
Dà nu eshi ba?Won't you drink some water?
Shive ci ɖevi lɔ.The child is hungry.
Mì a xo nuxu nii.We are going to talk to him/her.
Blɛwuu!Gently! Slowly!
Abla blé.Abla is sick.
cìwhich?
nyì tàɖòwhy?
É enyɛ yɔ.It is me.
Test yourself
1. What does “Ŋ yì kɔ̀ àfì mɛ̀ a xwlè màdàn.” mean?
2. What does “fíní” mean?
3. What does “Ŋ jì kɔ̀ a yì.” mean?
4. What does “Dè vá o.” mean?
Where do these words come from?
The words in this article come from: A Grammar of Ajagbe (M. Morley, 2011), Lire et écrire l’ajagbe guide (SIL Benin, 2007). 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: A Grammar of Ajagbe (M. Morley, 2011), Lire et écrire l’ajagbe guide (SIL Benin, 2007). 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.