Language Primer

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Being able to communicate with the people is a very important part of your travels. Whether it is to find transport, a hotel or a toilet when you need one or to converse and exchange with the local population, communication enriches your experience. Almost all actors in the tourist sector will be able to communicate to some degree in French, the official language of the country. In cities where tourists are common there are usually at least a few of the guides who can speak one of the other principle European languages: English, most commonly but also German, Italian, Spanish, etc. However you will find it useful to be able to ask for your basic needs yourself if such a guide is not to be found or if you haven’t the budget to hire him.

If your adventures take your outside the realm of standard tourist activities you will encounter fewer people who speak even French much less other non-African languages. In this case you may find it helpful to have a few expressions in local language. This could be purchasing spices from the women in the market or trying to connect with the people of the household who invited you to tea. The attempt to at least exchange greetings in local language will please your hosts and create a degree of mutual respect.

However it is impractical for a person planning to spend only a short time in the area to attempt to learn the entire local language. All communications needs that you will have in negotiating, hotels, restaurants, and transport can be done in French. Therefore I offer a more exhaustive set of phrases for French. Songai also known as koyray chinay, “the language of the city”, is the language of the black sedentary population and has thus become the language of communication in the city; it is also the simplest to learn. Tamacheq and Berabish, also known as Hassanyia, are less universal and more difficult.

A word on pronunciation: Most of the consonants in any of the languages below have the same sound as we give then in English. Exceptions are explained for each language:
French: The French is written according to French spelling.

Songai: There are no sounds in Songai which do not exist in English. All consonants are pronounced as in English except c which indicates the ch sound of cheese. The h is always asperated. vowels have less varriation. If written with a single letter a= hay, e=bet, i= beet o=cold, u=food if there two of the same vowels written together it means you should draw out the sound a little longer.

Tamacheq: I am personally not very skilled in this language so I have tried to write it so it will sound right if pronounced using English spelling rules.

Hassaniya: b, d, f, g, h, k, l, m, n, p, s, sh, t, v, w, y, z, are all pronounced as in English. th is pronounced as in thanks; dh is as the th in these; j is as the gi in regime; q is difficult say k while touching the back of your tounge to the top of your mouth, but as a beginner try using a k sound not a qwa sound; kh is as with the ch in the scottish loch or german Bach; gh is the sound you make when gargling or try doing a really strong r the way the french do; always roll your r. Use of capital letters indicates that the letter is similar to that sown but somehow more, pronounce with emphasis. an apostrophe ‘ indicates a glottal stop meaning a catch in your throat as before both syllables when one says uh-oh. vowels: when written with just a single letter a= bat, u=put, i=bin. e=bel, when written double aa=fair, uu=food, ii=breeze, aw= dow, ay=die. (m) indicates masculine; (f) feminine; (s) singular; (pl) plural.

English
Francais
Songai (Koyra Cheeny)
Tamcheq
Hassaniya
Some common expressions
Expressions Courant



Yes/No
Oui/Non
Nga/ A na
eeya /abo
ahay/ abo
Please
S’il vous plaît
Hinjay na

Min vadl-ak / -il/-kum
Thank you
Merci
Al barka / Neen da goy

Shukran
Excuse me
Pardon
Hinjay na

saamiH-ni
Pronouns
Prônons



I /me/my
Je or moi / me/ma
ay
kamou
Aana
You (s)/your
Tu or toi / te/ta
ni
kayou
nti (f) nta (m)
he,it /him/she/her/his, its
Il/lui/elle/sa or son
a
wein
hiya (f) houa(m)
You/your (pl.)
Vous/ votre
wo
Nak
Ntume (m/mixed) Ntumaati (f)
Us, we/our
Nous/notre
Yer
kamteyat (f) konerd (m)
Nahna (m/mixed) Nahnaati (f)
They/their
ils or eux, or elles (f)/leur
Iy
kamou mous
Hume (m/mixed) Humaati (f)
Presentations
Presentations



Hello
Bonjour
Salam Aleykum
Takalasa(s)/taghlassam(pl)
Salam Aleykum
Good Morning
Bon Matin
won da suba(pl) /nin da suba (s)
Mahat ina seynou
Ish Haal is-sbaah?
Good Evening
Bon Soir
won da hoy / nin da hoy
Mahat kelout nou
Ish Haal li mqill?
Good Night
Bon Nuit
Chijay ma boori
Mayham dar nou
Layle Sa’iide
Good bye
Au revoir

Tis dam alkhari
Ila il-liqaa’
My name is __
Je m’appelle __
ay machi __
Kis minan __
Aana esma __.
Pleased to meet you.
Enchanté.

Bismillah
Marehebe
What is your name?
Comment vous appelez-vous?
ni machu ma?
Nde I seminan?
nti (enta) esma?
How are you?
Comment t-allez vous?
misa fo chini?
Takalasa? matou lahat? ma idjane
yiak labass
Fine, thanks.
Très bien; merci.
Yera ko sabu.
Tabarkala.
labass alhumdulai
And you?
Et vous?
ni, binde mi safo chiney?
Takalasa?
Iyaak labass?
Where do you come from?
d’où venez-vous
man nan hun
Ndke id falat m. Kam wid falat f.
nta (nti) min mnayn
I come from __.
Je vienne de__.
ay hun__.
Nk falat __.
Aana min __.
I am with__
Je suis avec
Ay go __ banda


my husband
mon mari
ay koni
halise inam
Zawi-ye
my wife
ma femm
ay wonda
ta maktinak
Zawia-ye
my children (my child/son/daughter)
mes enfants (mon enfant/mon fils/ma fille)
ay wonda ije mayra di o
ishakati wanam f./wanak m,
ishiir-ye (m) ishashra-ye(m.pl) tishiirit (f) tishiraat (f.pl) / wuld-ye (my son)/mint-ye (my daughter)
my parents
mes parents
ay hu borodiyu

bu-ye (father) um-ye (mother)
my family
ma famille


ushra-ye () ‘ehl (extended)
my friend
mon amie(e)
ay cheri (haar/ wooy)

SaHaabi(m) SaaHabti (f)
I am by myself.
Je suis seul.
ay goy fo.

Aana wahid
I am on vacation.
Je suis en vacances.
ay katay kow ay ferra

andi raaHa
I am on business.
Je suis en voyage d’affaires.
ay katay gooy ne.

aana isaaver raaHa
I am married.
Je suis marié(e).
ay mey konie f./ya mey wonde m.

Aana mitkhaayem (m)/ mithaayeme (f)
I am single
Je suis celebatair(e)
ay say hiinja

ana hejala (f) heja (m)
Questions
Questions



Who is /are
Qui est /sont
man a go / man iy go

Min houan
How
Comment
misa fo

Shingoulou / Kifash
Why
Pourquoi
ma say

alash
When
Quand
sa fo

aynta
What is that?
C’est quoi ça
machay wo?

hatha shinhou?
Who is that?
C’est qui ça
meychi wo?

hatha minhou
Which
Lequel (laquelle, lesquelles)
iy kun a fo?

ay houn?
where can I find __?
Où puis-je trouver __?
man ay hinka du __?

mnayn ngid najbar __?
How far?
A quelle distance?
A go hara man?

kem kilmoetre
How long?
Combien de temps?
al wati mer jay?/ air maer jay

kem waktu
How many/much?
Combien?
marjay?

kem?
How much does that cost?
Ça coûte combien?
wo chay marjay?

kem?
Can you help me?
Pouvez vous, m’aider?
no hinka fabay?

gud aou-ni
What does that mean?
Qu’est-ce que ça veut dire?
wa chey ma/ mana no ba ka har?

shinhoun mana hatha?
I understand/ I don’t understand
Je comprends/je ne comprends pas
ay faam/ay say faam

ana faam/ana maa faam
Speak slowly
Parlez lentement
chi mossa mossa

kelem la alkhary
Can you translate this
Pouvez-vous me traduire ceci?
?

tgut fassar le hal
May I have __
Puis-je avoir __
ya hinka du wall __br />

Do you speak __?
Parlez-vous anglais?
no chi fransay chinay?/ no bay fransaychinay

nti (enta) arf __?
I don’t speak __
Je ne parle pas français.
ay se chi koyray chinay.

ana man arf__
Repeat that, please.
Répétez s’il vous plaît.
fil a ga.


Adjectives
Adjectifs



better/worse
mieux/pire
/


big/small
grand/petit
a ber/a china

kabir/skrayr
a lot/a little
un peu/beaucoup
a bow/a kayna

yaasir/ shwoy
cheap/expensive
bon marché/cher
a guma/a shendu

saawi/waa’ir
good/bad
bon/mauvais
a bori/a se bori

zeyn/shayn (or maw zeyn)
hot/cold
chaud/froid
a koron/a yehi

haamiy/biyrd
near/far
proche/loin
a man/a mor

grayib/b’iid
correct/false
juste/faux
a sowa/ a na chachimi


free/occupied
libre/occupé
a do/a se do

Saayib/waaHil
early/late
tôt/tard
a __ tamba/a na __ tamba


first/next/last
premier/deuxième/dernier
lowel/afo/ko koro

lowol/
old/young/new
vieux/jeune/neuf
a jen/a kaso hundia/ atawo

shebani/skrayr/
here/there
ici/là-bas
ne/hentu

hown/howk
open/closed
ouvert/fermé
a fer/a dabu


pretty/ugly
beau/laid
a bori/ a mer

zweina/
Numbers
Numéros



1
un
afo
diyen
wahid
2
deux
ahinka
dissin
ethnane
3
trois
ahinja
karad
ethlatha
4
quatre
tatchi
akoze
arba
5
cinq
ago
samossr
hums
6
six
idu
sadisse
sit
7
sept
iyeh
as-sa
sebt
8
huit
yaha
at-tam
ethmaaniye
9
neuf
yega
taza
tis’a
10
dix
awii
taraw
ashara
11
onze
awii chindu fo

ethda’sh
12
douze
awii chindi hinka

ethna’sh
13
treize
awii chindi hinja

ethlaTa’sh
14
quatorze
awii chindi tatchi

erba’ta’sh
15
quinze
awii chindi go

hamsTa’sh
16
seize
awii chindi du

siTa’sh
17
dix-sept
awii chindi yeh

esba’Tash>
19
dix-neuf
awii chindi yega

ethmenta’sh
20
vingt
warenka

etsa’Ta’sh
21
vingt-et-un
warenka chindi fo

ishriyn
30
trente
worenja

ethlalathiyn
40
quarante
woytatchi

erab’iyn
50
cinquante
woygo

humsiyn
60
soixante
woydu

sitiyn
70
soixante-dix
woyeh

seb’iyn
80
quatre-vingt
woyaha

ethmaaniyn
90
quatre-vingt-dix
woyega

tis’iyn
100
cent
jangu
temeden
miya
200
deux cent
jangu hinka

mitane
1000
mille
jamberay
ifad
elv
2000
deux mille
jamberay hinka

alfane





first
premier
lowel

lawel
second
deuxième
ahinkantay

ithaani
third
troisième
ahinjantay

ithaalith
once
une fois
chay fo


twice
deux fois
chay hinka


a half
un demi
jerray

nuS

*Note when talking about money in any of the local languages all numbers are divided by five thus 100 f CFA is said warenka literally 20; five hundred f CFA is said jangu, literally 100. I have been told this dates back to the devaluation of the currency, which was apparently devalued by a factor of five, however it seems more to be an inflation where one, the smallest unit, now refers to the smallest piece of money which is a five franc piece so that “100” is not 100 f but 100 five franc pieces or 500 f cfa.

Hotels and Lodging
Hôtels et Logement

Here is the confirmation
Voici la confirmation
yero mey reservation
Do you have rooms available?
Avez-vous des chambres libre?
wooro mey chambre ka bora sira?
I would like a room …
Je voudrais une chambre...
ya ba chambre fo...
for two
pour une personne
a boro hinka
for one
pour deux personnes
a boro fo
with two beds
avec deux lits

with one large bed
avec un grand lits

with a bathroom
avec sale de bains

with a shower
avec douche

We will stay …
Nous resterons ...
...
just this night.
juste cette nuit
jirbi fo
a few days.
quelques jours

a week/month.
une semaine/ un mois
/
Is there camping?
Est-ce qu’il y a du camping
wo may camping
Okay, I will take it.
D’accords je la prends
A bori. Ay diin ga
Non, I don’t like it.
Non, elle ne me plaît pas
Ay se ba ga/ A se ya ja wooy
It is too …
Elle est trop ...
A hinda ka...
dark/small/noisy
sombre/petit/bruyant
/chinay/
Do you have anything...
Avait vous quelque chose ...
Hy se ni ka ...
better/bigger
mieux/ plus grand
/ ber
cheaper
moins cher
ya ru su /a guma
quieter
plus tranquille

May I have the bill, please?
Puis-je avoir ma note?
?
My stay was pleasant.
Le séjour était très agréable

Breakfast
Petit Déjeuner
Chir karay
May I have …
Peux-je avoir ...
nay ...



bread
du pain
takola/mburu
butter/jam
du beurre/du confiture
ji/konfitur
café/lipton(black tea)/tea(green tea)/milk
du café/du Lipton/du thé/ du lait
kafay/Lipton/atay/ kosam
sugar/honey
du sucre/du miel
sukar/yu
fruit juice
du jus de fruit
butta
porridge
du bouille
bitta
meat
la viande
haam
beef
du bœuf
haam how
chicken
du poulet
haam goorongo
goat
du chèvre
haam harchi
sheep
du mouton
haam feeyji
camel
du chameau
haam yo
fish
du poisson
haam haari
tripe/heart/liver
des tripes/le coeur/le fois
lottura/biney/tesa
kabobs
brochettes
bundiya
mechoui (roast meat)
mechoui (viande grillé)
haam kukura
tajine (stewed meat)
tajine (viande)
haam haganta
Vegetables
Des légumes

green beans
des haricots verts
dunguri
peas
des petits pois
petit pois
cabbage
le chou
shu
potatoes
les pommes de terre
pomme de terre
sweet potatoes
les patates douce
mosuku
squash
le courge
jay
tomatoes
les tomates
tomat
carrots
les carottes
karrot
onions
les oignons
albasal
egg plant
l’aubergine
auberjeen
rice
du riz
mo
millet
du mil
hayeen
Fruits
Fruits

mango/papaya
mangue/papaye
mangoro/papaye
melon/watermelon
melon/pastèque
melon/kenkinay
orange/lemon
orange/citron
lemun ba/lemun kumo
guava/banana
goyave/banane
goyav/banan
jujube/wild date
jujube/date sauvage
daaray/gooroboy hona
Meals
Répas
Répas
rice and meat with hibiscus leaves
riz au gras
jissuma gounday
rice and tomato based sauce
riz au sauce tomate
maffay
rice with peanut sauce
riz au sauce arachides
maffay tigidigi
rice with fokahoy leaf sauce
riz au sauce vert (sauce fokahoy)
fokahoy
steamed bread in tomato sauce

tukasu

Renting a car
Louer un voiture
I would like to rent a vehicle (4x4)
Je voudrais louer un véhicule (quatre-quatre)
where is the nearest gas station
Où est la station d’essence la plus proche?
give me __ litres of gasoline/diesel
Donnez-moi __ litres d’essence/gasoil
how do I get to ___?
Comment pois-je aller à ...
my car has broken down.
Ma voiture est en pane
Can you repair my car?
Pouvez-vous repérer ma voiture?
directions
directions
You are not on the right road/
Vous êtes pas sur la bonne route.
Go strait ahead.
Allez toute droite
It is to your right/left
C’est à votre droite/gauche
on the right/left side
sur la côté droite/ gauche
north/south/east/west
nord/sud/est/ouest
Shops and services
boutiques et services
Where is the closest __?
Où est __ la plus proche?
bank
la banque
baker
le boulangerie
butcher
le boucher
shop
la boutique
post office
le poste
toilet
la toilette
internet café
le cyber-café
pharmacy
le pharmacie
I want to buy
Je veux acheter...
anti malarial tablets
des comprimés anti-paludisme
aspirin/paracetamol
l’aspirine/paracetamol
batteries
les pilles
soap/detergent
du savon/du lessive
a half kilo of __
un demi kilo de
Souvenirs
Souvenirs
a knife
un couteau
necklace/bracelet
un collier/un bracelet
ring/earrings
une bague/des boucles d’oreilles
beads/gold/
des perles/de l’or
silver/Tuareg silver
l’argent/argent Touareg
horn/bone/leather/wood
corne/os/cuire/bois
At the bank
A la banque
where can I change money?
Où puis-je changer de l’argent?
what is the exchange rate?
Quelle est le taux de change?
I want to change some euro
Je veux changer des Euros
Telephone
Téléphone
Where is a public telephone?
Où est un télé-centre?
May I make a call?
Puis-je faire une appelle?
Hello, this is __ speaking
Bonjour, c’est __ à l’appareille.
I would like to speak with__.
Je veux parler à __.
He is not here.
Il n’est pas là.
When will he return
Quand est-ce qu’il reviens?
Tell him I called.
Dit lui que j’ai appelé(e)
Colours
Couleurs
black/blue
bleu/noir
brown/green
brun/vert
orange/red
orange/rouge
yellow/white
jaune/blanc
Date and time
Date et heure
it is...
Il est..
one o five
Une heure cinq
three p.m.
quinze heures
quarter to ten
dix heures moins le quart
noon/midnight
midi/minuit
morning/evening/night
matin/soir/nuit
yesterday/today/tomorrow
heir/aujourd’hui/demain
this year/last year/next year
l’année dernier/cette année/l’année prochaine
Sunday/Monday
dimanche/lundi
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday
mardi/mercredi/jeudi
Friday/Saturday
vendredi/samedi
Emergency
Urgence
Call the police!
Appel les Police!
Call a doctor!
Appel le Médecin!
Go away!
Vas-t-en (sing.) Allez-vous-en (pl.)
Help!
Au Secours!
I am ill.
Je suis malade.
I am lost.
Je suis perdu.
Thief!
Voleur!
I have lost__
J’ai perdu __
my hang bag
ma sac à main
my passport
mon passeport
my luggage
mes bagages
my wallet
mon portefeuille
my camera
mon appareille photo