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Pulaar |
English |
A |
(initial glottal alternates with g and ng) |
A |
you (singular, subject pronoun) |
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Aada (o), aadaaji (di) |
custom, cultural custom, habit |
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Aan |
you, as for you (singular, emphatic pronoun) |
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aawa |
to plant seeds, to sow a field |
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aawdi (ndi), aawle (de) |
seed(s) |
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aaye (o), aayeeje (de) |
The water with which a marabout has erased certain koranic verses. After he has written the verses on a board he erases them. The water is saved because it carries special healing or protective powers. The resulting mixture is given to the client, who generally rubs his body with it after bathing. It is similar in use to a talkuru |
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adoo |
To be first, the oldest; to precede |
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Adan |
Formerly, in the past, in the beginning |
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Ko adii ko |
In the beginning, first, the first time |
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Ada |
You, you are (singular, long form subject pronoun) |
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alaa |
No, not have, no to be |
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Mi alaa kaalis |
I dont have any money |
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Ve ngalaa zoo |
They are not here |
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So zum alaa |
If it is not like that, otherwise |
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alaa e sago |
Without desire, by necessity, by force |
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Alarba |
Wednesday |
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Albarke |
Really, truly, in fact (an exclamation) |
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Alet |
Sunday |
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aljuma |
Friday |
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Alkamiisa |
Thursday |
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Alla |
God |
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Almaamiyaagal (ngal) |
An historical period in Fuuta Tooro (from roughly 1776 to 1890) when the political power was centralized in the hands of the imans or marabouts |
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Almaami (o), almaamien (ve), almameeve (ve) |
The title of the marabout or iman who was he chief of state during the period of the almaamiyaagal |
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Almuudo (o), almuve (ve) |
A koranic student |
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Alquraan (o) |
The koran |
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Altine |
Monday |
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Am |
Me (object pronoun); my , mine (possessive pronoun) |
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ama |
To dance |
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amin |
We (exclusive, subject pronoun); we are (long form subject pronoun); our, ours (possessive pronoun) |
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annda |
To know |
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Gannduzo (o), annduve (ve) |
One who knows, a knowledgeable person |
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Ganndal (ngal) |
Knowledge, wisdom |
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Ganndaazo (o), anndaave (ve) |
One who is known, a famous person |
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ara |
To come |
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arta |
To return, come again |
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ardoo |
To guide, lead |
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Ardo (o); arduve (ve) |
Title given to the head of each fulve lineage or group living and transhuming together |
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Asakal (o) |
A tithe of one-tenth. This is one of the five religious obligations of all Muslims. It also refers to a type of tax on the yearly harvest collected for the state. Finally, it can refer to a method of obtaining farm land in the waalo. In that case the owner of the land accords the right to farm part of his land to another. In return the person who farms the land returns one-thenth of the harvest to the owner. |
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Asamaan (o) |
The sky, heavens |
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Aset |
saturday |
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askina |
To recite the genealogy of a person |
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Ataaya (o) |
Moorish tea |
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awa |
To fish |
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Awoo (o) , awoove (ve) |
Fisherman |
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Awluve (ve) |
Griots, plural of gawlo |
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ayna |
To graze animals, herd (general term) |
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aynaave (ve), Gaynaako (o) |
Herder, one who herds animals |
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E |
(Initial glottal alternates with g and ng) |
E |
And ; with, among; to; in; at |
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Eey |
Yes |
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Eve |
They, they are (long form subject pronoun) |
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Ezen |
We, we are (inclusive, long form subject pronoun) |
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egga (e) |
To migrate, transhume, to move an encampment seasonally |
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Eggudu (ndu), egguzi (zi) |
Migration, transhumance |
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En |
We (inclusive, subject pronoun); us (object pronoun) |
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Eyyo |
o.k. |
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I |
(initial glottal alternates with g and ng) |
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ila |
To flood |
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Ilam (dam), ile (de) |
Flood, inondation |
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Imin |
We, we are (exclusive, long form subject pronoun) |
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Ine |
It is; that is (the long form subject pronoun used after a a noun or nominal. Variations include ne , no, na, ana, ene.) |
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inna |
To name, give a name |
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innira |
To give a name to (someone) |
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Innde (nde), inze (ze) |
Name |
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Nyanze innze |
Naming ceremony seven days after a child is born |
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itta |
To take out; pull out; extract |
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iwa |
To come from, originate from |
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O |
(initial glottal alternates with g and ng)
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O |
He/she (subject pronoun)
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Ozon |
You, you are (plural, long form subject pronoun) |
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Omo |
He/she, he is/she is (long form subject pronoun) |
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On |
You (plural, subject pronoun); you (object pronoun) |
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oorde |
To go to pasture, to leave in the morning for pasturing |
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U |
(initial glottal alternates with g and ng) |
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Ujunere (nde) ujunaaji (ze) |
One thousand |
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ummoo |
To get up |
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usta |
To reduce |
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uura |
To smell good |
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M |
(initial consonant alternates with mb)
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Baaba, baabiraazo (o), baabiraazo (ve) |
Father, fathers brothers |
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Baal, Suleymaan |
The man who inspired and led the religious revolt against the pagan Deeniyankoove dynasty and established the government of the Almaamiyaagal |
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Bagi (o), bagiiji (zi) |
cloth |
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Bah, koli Teggala |
The pullo warrior who conquered Fuuta in roughly 1512 and established the Deeniyankoove dynasty which was to rule for the next 150 years |
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Balze (ze) |
Days |
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Balle (ze) |
Acts, deeds |
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Ballital (ngal) |
A help, aid |
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Bammbaranke (o), bammbarnkoove (ve) |
Bambara |
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Bammbaazo (o), waabaave (ve) |
Griot who specializes in playing the hoddu and reciting the exploits of various Fulve heroes. |
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Banndirazo (o), banndiraave (ve) |
Family relatives, close friends |
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Barkina |
To be blessed (by God). This expression c can be used to refer either to a person who is very pious, or to someone who is kind, generous, etc |
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Batu (o), Batuuji (zi) |
Meeting, counsel, reunion |
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Batulaa (o), Batulaave (ve) |
Counselor (to be the king) |
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Baylo (o), wayluve (ve) |
Blacksmith(s) who specialize in working with iron (njamndi) and jeweler(s) who work in gold (kange) and silver(kaalis) |
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Berber (o), Berberen (ve) |
Berber |
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Biro (o), birooji (zi) |
Office, bureau |
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Bismoo |
To welcome (someone) |
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Bitiik (o), bitiikaaji (zi) |
Shop, store, (boutique) |
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Booseya |
One of the provinces of central Fuuta or reedu Fuuta |
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Boowal |
outside |
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Bona |
To be bad, spoiled, ruined |
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Bonna |
To spoil, ruin, (make bad) |
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Bottaari (ndi), bottaaji (zi) |
lunch |
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V (for bh) |
Replaces bh;? |
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Vaawo (ngo), vaawooji (zi) |
Back, backside |
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Vaawo |
Behind (preposition of space); after (preposition of time) |
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Vaawo-jango |
Day after tomorrow |
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Vakkere (nde), vakke (ze) |
Mud, clay |
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Vama |
To take, take up, pick up |
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Vamta |
To take up again |
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Vanndu (ndu), valli (zi) |
Body, bodies |
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bange (o), bangeeji (zi) |
Side, part |
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Vattoo |
To move closer, approach |
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Ve |
They (subject pronoun); them (object pronoun) |
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Venna |
To pass by; to pass into; enter |
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So zuum vennii |
After that; besides that |
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Vennda |
To be ripe, ready for harvest; to be cooked |
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Vernze (nze), verze (ze) |
Heart |
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Veyda |
To add to, increase |
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Vii, vizo (o), vive (ve) |
Child |
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Vinngel (ngel), vikkon (kon) |
Small child, dear child |
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Vii mum debbo |
His/ her daughter |
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Vii mum gorko |
His/ her son |
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Vizo debbo |
Girl |
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Vizo gorko |
Boy |
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Vira |
To milk (a cow or sheep or goat) |
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Virazam (zam), viraaze (ze) |
Fresh milk |
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Voccoonze (ze), voccoze (ze) |
Egg |
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Volo |
Only |
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Vooya |
To be a long time since, to go a long time without |
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Vornoo |
To be dressed oneself, get dressed |
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Vortoo |
To undress oneself, get undressed |
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Vowngu (ngu) , vowzi(zi) |
Mosquitoe |
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vuunzu |
The name of a State in northeastern Senegal, dominated by Fulve and Haalpulaaren, and located in the ecological zone known as the Ferlo |
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Vuunzu (nzu), vulli (zi) |
A shallow well (contrasts with woynzu) |
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Vura |
To be better, to be more (mark of the comparative and superlative) |
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Ko vuri heewde |
Usually, most often, the majority |
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Vuuva |
To be cold, damp |
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Vuuftoo |
To wash oneself, to bathe |
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Vuuta |
To be swollen |
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MB |
Alternates with w and b
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Mbaalu (ngu), baali (zi) |
Sheep |
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Mbalka (o), mbalkaji (zi) |
Pumping station, a very deep well with a motor driven pump |
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Mbar |
A question marker which anticipates a positive response |
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Mbaraada (o), baraduuji (zi) |
Teapot |
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Mbeewa (ba), beI |
Goat |
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Mbela |
Question marker |
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Mbuundu (nzu), buuzi (zi) |
5 franc coin, 5 francs |
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Mbuuru (o), mbuuruuji (zi) |
bread |
C |
Alternates with s |
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Caggal |
Behind (preposition of space); after (preposition of time) |
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Capaato (o), salfalve (ve) |
mauretanian |
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Capanze (nze) |
The multiples of 10 from 30 to 90 |
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Ceezu (ndu), ceeze (ze) |
The hot, dry season from roughly March to July |
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Ceenal (ngal), ceene (ze) |
Sand, sandy soil |
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Ceerno (o), seernaave (ve), seeremve (ve) |
Marabout, imam |
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Comcol (ngol), comic (zi) |
Clothes, clothing |
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Cossan (o) |
History, heritage |
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Cubballo (o), subalve (ve) |
Fishermen living along the banks of the Senegal River who are rimve |
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Cuddungu (ngu), cuddule (ze) |
The consummation of a marriage, one step in the marriage ceremony |
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Cukalel (ngel), cukalon kon |
Child |
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Cuuraay (o) |
Incense |
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D |
Alternates with nd |
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Dannze (nze), daaze (ze) |
Neck; voice |
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Daanze mayo |
The bank (s) of the river |
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Daarde |
To recite an epic story (usually accompanied the hoddu) |
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Daarol (ngol), daari (zi) |
An epic story about a Pulho hero |
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Dabba |
To pass the cold season |
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Dabbunde (nde), dabbule (ze) |
The cold season running roughly from November to March |
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Damga |
One of the provinces in eastern Fuuta |
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Dammboo |
To spend the first 3 (or 7) days after a marriage during which the bride remains indoors accompanied by her unmarried age-mates |
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dammbito |
To end the period of dammbordu |
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Dammbordu (ndu), dammborzi (zi) |
The period of 3 or 7 days after the marriage when the bride remains secluded |
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Danya |
To have, get , obtain, to have children |
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Danyo (o), danyve (ve) |
One who has (a lot), one who is wealthy |
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Daroo |
To stand up; to stop |
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Dawa |
To get up and go to work in the morning |
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Dawra koorka |
To get up with koorka, to begin to fast |
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De |
Particle of emphasis or exclamation |
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Debbo (o), rewve (ve) |
Woman, wife |
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Deeniyangko (o), Deeniyangkoove (ve) |
The ruling dynasty in Fuuta descended from Koli Tengella Bah 1512-1776 |
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Defa |
To cook |
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Defta |
To finish cooking |
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Deftere (nde), defte (ze) |
Book (s) |
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Demal (ngal) |
Farming |
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Demoowo (o), remoove (ve) |
Farmer (s) |
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Denndiraagu (ngu) |
Cross-cousin relationship; joking relationship (between cousins, certain clans or lineages, and certain ethnic group) |
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Denndiraazo (o), denndiraave (ve) |
Cross-cousin; person in a relationship of denndiraagu (either a cousin or one of the joking relationships) |
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Denndiraagu kosam |
The cross-cousin relationship (including the children of the mothers brothers and the children of the fathers sisters) |
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Denndiraagu njongu |
The joking relationship between certain clans or certain ethnic groups |
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Dewgal (ngal), dewle (ze) |
Marriage (general term) |
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Difta |
To move into ones husbands compound |
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Diine (o), diineeji (zi) |
Religion |
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Diirtoo |
To move away, move over |
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Dillere (nde), dille (ze) |
Noise |
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Dimat or Dimar |
One of the provinces of western Fuuta which was detached from Fuuta by the French in around 1860 and made into a protectorate |
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Dimo (o), rimve (ve) |
A free-born person, noble born; a social class in fuuta which includes the Fulve, Toorodve, Subalve, Seve, and Jaawanve |
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Diwaan (o), diwanuuji (zi) |
Province, geographical and/ or political state or region; the state of Fuuta was made up of seven semi-independent or confederated states including Dimat, Tooro, Laawo, Yirlaave-Hebbiyaave, Booseya, Ngenaar, and Damga |
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Doga |
To run |
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Dogina |
To drive, to cause to run |
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Reedu ndu ine doga |
To have diarrhea |
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Doole (ze) |
Strength, power, force |
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Dow |
Up, on, on top of |
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Dura |
To graze (action on the part of the animals |
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Durna |
To graze (action on the part of the herder) |
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Dural (ngal) |
Grazing, pasturing |
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Duusa |
To accompany (someone) |
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Duwoo |
To pray in the sense of giving a blessing or benediction; to wish someone the best, give best wishes, congratulate |
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Duwaawu (o), duwaawuuji (zi) |
Prayer, blessing, benediction, congratulations |
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Z (for dh) |
Replaces DH; d |
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Zaa |
Right there, right over there |
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Zaanoo |
To sleep |
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Zannoo |
To travel, take a trip |
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Zawa |
To be selfish, to refuse to share food |
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Zemngal (ngal), zemze (ze) |
Tongue, language |
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Zizi |
Two |
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Zo or zoo |
Here |
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Zoon |
Here (in a place already mentioned) |
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Zoon e Zoon |
Right away, here and now, then and there |
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Zoo e |
From now until, in (plus a period of time) |
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Zofta |
To accompany |
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Zodja |
To cough |
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Zowa |
To guide, lead, direct |
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Zum |
It; that |
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Ko zum |
It is that, that is what |
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So zum alaa |
Otherwise, (if it isnt) |
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ND |
Alternates with d |
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Ndaar |
St. Louis |
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Ndaara |
To look for, to look at |
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Ndakaaru |
Dakar |
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Nde |
When; while, then |
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Ndeen |
Then |
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Nder |
In, inside of |
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Ndewnel (o) |
A small gift of money given to children or Tabaski or Korite |
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Ndiyam (zam), Didje (ze) |
Water |
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Ndungu (ngu), Duubi (zi) |
Rainy season; years |
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F |
Alternates with p |
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Faamma |
To explain, (cause to understand) |
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Faati e |
On the subject of , about, to be about |
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Faawnga |
To have a fever |
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Paawngal (ngal), paawle (ze) |
Fever; malaria |
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Faawru (ndu), paabi (zi) |
Grainery |
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Faayida |
To be important, interesting, of value |
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Vuri heewde faayida |
The most important, valuable |
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Faza |
To wait |
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Fazo (ngo), paze (ze) |
Shoe(s) |
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Famza |
To be little |
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Fawa |
To place upon, put on, put down, set down |
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Fawoo |
To depend upon, lean on |
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Faya or faa |
To head towards |
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Hoto paa-daa? |
Where are you going? Where are you heading? |
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Fara or Faara |
To head in the direction of |
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Faya |
To be fat |
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Fecca |
To split, divide, share |
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Feccere (nde), pecce (ze) |
Half |
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Rem-peccen |
A system for farming waalo land in which someone without land farms for the land owner and the harvest is divided |
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Fedde (nde), pelle (ze) |
Age-group ; association, organization |
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Feewa |
To be straight; to be in order, well arranged |
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Feewna |
To put in order, straighten up, arrange |
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No Feewi |
Very, a lot |
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Femmboo |
To shave oneself |
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Fena |
To lie, tell a lie |
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Fera |
To scatter, spread out; to migrate, move an encampment |
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Ferlo (ngo) |
The ecological zone between the Senegal and the Gambia Rivers which is largely populated by semi-nomadic fulve herders; the western ferlo was part of the polical state of jolof while the eastern half was part of Vunndu |
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Fiila |
To wrap a turban; to crown the chief of state |
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Piilotoozo (o), Fiilotoove (ve) |
Those men who had the power to chose and depose of the Almamaeeve |
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Fija |
To play, amuse oneself |
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Fina |
To wake up |
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Findina |
To wake someone up |
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Pinal (ngal), pine (ze) |
Awakening, Civilization, renaissance |
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Firta |
To mean, signify; to translate |
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Pirtoowo (o), Firtoove (ve) |
Translator |
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Fiya or Fia |
To hit; to take up a collection of money, make a contribution (especially for baptisms, weddings, etc) |
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Fozere (nde), poze (ze) |
Pill (s), medecine |
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Fof |
All, every |
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Fongo (ngo), powle (ze) |
A steep bank on the edges of the river |
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Fooftoo |
To rest, relax |
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Footere (nde), poofte (ze) |
Rest , relaxation |
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Foodja |
To be thin, loose weight |
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Fota |
To be equal; should, ought to |
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Hol no foti? |
How much? How many? |
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Fuza |
To grow, sprout; to come up |
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Naange Fuzi |
Sunrise |
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