A collection of useful phrases in Bassa (Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀), a Western Kru language spoken in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀ (Bassa) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Ḿ kpɔ̃ m̀ hwìǐ (sg) À kpɔ̃ m̀ hwìǐ (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | M̀ mɔ́ínǹ (sg) Ɓě mɔ́ínǹ (pl) |
| Hello (on phone) | M̀ mɔ́ínǹ ɖéé |
| How are you? | À wɔ̃́ ɖé m̀ gboe? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Ɖé pɛɛ̀ nío |
| Long time no see | À ɓɔ́ó dyéɛ̀n nyɛ |
| What's your name? | Xwɛ̌ nì nyɛ́nɛ́ jǔɛ́? Xwɛ̌ nì nyɛ́nɛ́ jǔ kɛ́? |
| My name is ... | Ní nyɛ́nɛ́ mɔ̀… |
| Where are you from? | Dɛ̌ m̀ sɔ̀ kɛ́? |
| I'm from ... | Ḿ sɔ̀ ɖé … |
| Pleased to meet you | Ḿ kpá múàǔn ɓɛ́ ḿ ké m̀ dyɛ́ɛ |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
M̀ mɔ́ínǹ |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
M̀ hwèɖèǐnǹ |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
M̀ hwèɖèǐnǹ |
| Good night | Nì hwuɖu ɖǎ hwɔo |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
M̀ hwuɖuáo (sg) Ɓě hwuɖuáo (pl) |
| Good luck! | Mana nì m̀ kɔ̃o! (sg) Mana nì ɓě kɔ̃o! (pl) |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
À kɔìn gáɖásì dyí! Nì dyɔɔ̀ mɛ wóɖó mú! |
| Have a nice day | Nì wéɔ̀ mɛ nɔ̀mɔ̀ dyíino |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
Nì zùo Mu dyúa |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
M̀ hwuɖuáo Nì hwìèɔ̀ mɛ pɛ́ɛ̀ dyío |
| Yes | Ǹdye Èè |
| No | Gbào |
| Maybe | Kɛbì |
| I don't know | Ḿ se dyuò Ḿ seɛ dyí dyuò |
| Do you understand? | M̀ wɔ̃́ɔ múinǹ? |
| I understand | Ḿ wɔ̃́ɔ múin |
| I don't understand | Ḿ seɛ múin wɔ̃́ |
| Please speak more slowly | Ma mú ɓɛ́ m̀ ké wùɖù |
| Please say that again | Kpa nì wuɖuɔ̀ kɔ̃in ɖe |
| Please write it down | Céèɛ̀ ɓíɖíi |
| Do you speak English? | Nì po xwí-wùɖùù? |
| Do you speak Bassa? | Nì po Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖùù? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Ǹdye, ḿ po ɖò wè |
| Do you speak a language other than Bassa? |
Nì po wuɖu kà kò ɖò ɓó Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù wáúnǹ? |
| Speak to me in Bassa | Po ḿ Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù gbo |
| How do you say ... in Bassa? | Xwɛ̌ m̀ nyu … ɖáa ɖé Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù múɛ́? |
| Excuse me | M̀ kã̀fĩ́áo |
| How much is this? | Jĩ̀ xwɛ̌ m̀ pèɖèìn ɖɛ nìà kɛɛ́? |
| Sorry | M̀ kpa gɔ̃̌ Ḿ kpá wìǐn |
| Please | M̀ zùo Nì zùo |
| Thank you | M̀ zùo Nì zùo |
| Reply to thank you | Èè |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Dɛ̌ ɓě mùìn hwìè xwíníín nyɛ́? Dɛ̌ dèɖèìn-gbòɔ̀ ɖé? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Gàa nìà kɛ mu ɖɛ séín ɓěɔ̀ jè pɛ́ɛ̀ìn |
| This lady will pay for everything | Màa nìà kɛ mu ɖɛ séín ɓěɔ̀ jè pɛ́ɛ̀ìn |
| Would you like to dance with me? | M̀ mɔ́ ɓɛ́ ḿ kè mɔ̀ ké dyeè? |
| Do you come here often? | Nì dyi dà kpɛ́-kpɛ́ɛ̀? |
| I miss you | Nì tó nyu ḿ ní |
| I love you | Ḿ ɖɛ̀ɓɛ̀ m̀ mú |
| Get well soon | M̀ mɛ fṹà dyi kánáuńo |
| Go away! | Sɔ̀ ḿ bũ! |
| Leave me alone! | Táà ḿ dyi |
| Help! | Kpá ḿ gboe! |
| Fire! | Ɔ mɔ̀ nyɛo! |
| Stop! | Ɓɔ́ ná nyuɛ! |
| Call the police! | Ɖá pòɖésì! |
| Christmas greetings | Nì Mɔ̀sìo |
| New Year greetings | Nì Zɔ̃ Ɖìèo |
| Easter greetings | Nì Ísɔ̀ɖɔ̀o |
| Birthday greetings | Nì wóɖó-wèɔ̀o |
| Congratulations! | Nì zùo mìɔo! |
| One language is never enough | Wuɖu dyúáɖò po-po se dyíin nɔ̀mɔ̀ |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Phrases provided by Charles Riley and Don Slager
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Bassa | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
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