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Dagbani is the main language of the people of the Dagbon kingdom called Dagombas or Dagbamba in Ghana. The language is usually called Dagbanli by the indigenous people and it is part of the 16 Mabia or Gur languages that is spoken in Northern Ghana, Togo and Burkina Faso. It is mutually intelligible with Mamprusi, and Nanunli in Ghana. The speakers of the language are more than 3.5 million of the Ghanaian population. There are four variations of some words depending upon the speakers origin: Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern Dagbon but they do not serve as barriers to communication.

It is studied from primary school to the university level in Ghana.

Pronunciation guide

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Vowels

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a, e, i, o, u, ɔ, ɛ

Consonants

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Common diphthongs

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Phrase list

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Basics

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Common signs


OPEN
CLOSED
ENTRANCE
EXIT
PUSH
PULL
TOILET
MEN
WOMEN
FORBIDDEN
Hello.
. ( )
Hello. (informal)
. ( )
How are you?
Ka di be wula? ( ka wula)
Fine, thank you.
M mali alaafei, m paɣiya. ( alaafei, m paɣiya)
What is your name?
A yuli? ( ?)
My name is ______ .
N yuli booni _____ . ( N yuli _____ .)
Nice to meet you.
Di niŋ ma suhupiɛli pam ni n ni nyaa ŋɔ. (Di niŋ ma suhupiɛli pam ni n ni nyaa maa )
Please.
Dimi suɣulo. ( )
Thank you.
M puhiya ka paɣi. ( N paɣiya)
You're welcome.
Naawuni deemi suhugu. (Abaa )
Yes.
iin. (mm )
No.
aayi. ( ai)
Excuse me. (getting attention)
Gaafara. ( )
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
Gaafara, n tum taali. ( )
I'm sorry.
N tumi taali. (Gaafara)
Goodbye
Naawuni ni sɔŋ. (bai bai )
Goodbye (informal)
Bai bai. ( )
I can't speak name of language [well].
N ku tooi yɛli Dagbanli [viɛnyɛla]. ( [ ])
Do you speak English?
N ni tooi yɛli silimiinsilii? ( A toɣasiri silimiinsilii?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
So be kpe ka yari silimiinsilii? ( ?)
Help!
Sɔŋmi ya ma ! ( !)
Look out!
Lihi ma! ( !)
Good morning.
Dasiba. ( )
Good evening.
Antire. ( )
Good night.
Aninwula. ( )
Good night (to sleep) Naawuni ni ti biɛɣu
. ( )
I don't understand.
N bi gbaai. ( )
Where is the toilet?
Ya polo ka baanjira be? ( ?)

Problems

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Leave me alone.
Zaŋ ma bahi. ( Zɔm ka chama.)
Don't touch me!
Di shihi ma! ( !)
I'll call the police.
N yɛn bol'la prinsi. ( .)
Police!
Polinga! ( !)
Stop! Thief!
Zani ma! Tayiɣa! ( ! !)
I need your help.
M bori la a sɔŋsim. ( .)
It's an emergency.
Nimmohi m bala. ( .)
I'm lost.
N tumla n soli. ( M barigi mi.)
I lost my bag.
N labi la m baagi. ( .)
I lost my wallet.
N labi la m poochibila. ( .)
I'm sick.
M bɛri mi. ( .)
I've been injured.
N nyɛla daŋa. ( .)
I need a doctor.
N bori la dɔɣite. ( .)
Can I use your phone?
n ni tooi zaŋ a phone ŋɔ n niŋ m bini ŋɔ? ( ?)

Numbers

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1
Ndam ( )
2
Ayi ( )
3
Ata ( )
4
Anahi ( )
5
Anu ( )
6
Ayobu ( )
7
Apɔin ( )
8
Anii ( )
9
Awɔi ( )
10
Pia ( )
11
piniyini ( )
12
pinaayi ( )
13
pinaata ( )
14
pinaanahi ( )
15
pinaanu ( )
16
pinaayobu ( )
17
pinaapɔin ( )
18
pishiayika ( )
19
pisiyinika ( )
20
pishi ( )
21
pishi ni yini ( )
22
pishi ni ayi ( )
23
pishi ni ata ( )
30
pihita ( )
40
pihinahi ( )
50
pihinu ( )
60
pihiyobu ( )
70
pisopɔin ( )
80
pihinii ( )
90
pihiwɔi ( )
100
kɔbiga ( )
200
kɔbishiyi ( )
300
kɔbisita ( )
1,000
tuhili ( )
2,000
tusaayi ( )
1,000,000
tuhi tuhaayi (miliyɔŋ)
1,000,000,000
tuhi tuhaata ( )
1,000,000,000,000
tuhi tuhi anahi ( )
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
( )
half
pirigili( )
less
bɛla( )
more
pam( )

Time

[edit]
now
punpɔŋɔ ( )
later
di yi too bɛla ( )
before
pɔi( )
morning
asiba ( )
afternoon
wuntaŋni ( )
evening
zaawuni ( )
night
yuŋ ( )

Clock time

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one o'clock AM
yuŋ tisuɣu kurigi yini ( )
two o'clock AM
yuŋ tisuɣu kurigi ayi ( )
noon
wuntaŋ zuɣusaa ( )
one o'clock PM
wuntaŋni kurigi yini ( )
two o'clock PM
wuntaŋni kurigi ayi ( )
midnight
yuŋ tisuɣu ( )

Duration

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_____ minute(s)
minti _____ (the number should be pronounced with its number word...for example, intead 2, you will say or write 'ayi' etc )
_____ hour(s)
hawa _____ ( )
_____ day(s)
( )
_____ week(s)
bakɔi _____ ( )
1 month
goli
2 month
chiraayi
_____ month(s)
( )
_____ year(s)
( )

Days

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today
zuŋɔ (zunzuŋɔ )
yesterday
Sɔhila (Sɔhala)
tomorrow
biɛɣuni( )
this week
bakɔi ŋɔ(dakulo ŋɔ )
last week
bakɔi din gari la(dakulo din gari la )
next week
bakɔi din kani na(dakulo din kani na )
Sunday
Alahari( )
Monday
Atani( )
Tuesday
Atalaata( )
Wednesday
Alaaba( )
Thursday
Alaamish( )
Friday
Alizumah( )
Saturday
Asibiri( )

Months

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January
( )
February
( )
March
( )
April
( )
May
( )
June
( )
July
( )
August
( )
September
( )
October
( )
November
( )
December
( )

Writing time and date

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Colors

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black
sabinli ( )
white
piɛlli ( )
grey/gray
tampilim ( )
red
ʒɛɛ ( )
blue
nuɣiso ( )
yellow
dozim ( )
green
vagahili ( )
orange
saliŋkom ( )
purple
( )
brown
taŋkpaɣu ( )

Transportation

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Bus and train

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How much is a ticket to _____?
Ala n nyɛ tiɣiti zaŋ chaŋ _____? ( )
One ticket to _____, please.
Tiɣiti zaɣa yini zaŋ chaŋ _____, dimisuɣulo. ( )
Where does this train/bus go?
Ya polo ka loori ŋɔ chana? ( )
Where is the train/bus to _____?
Ya polo ka loori ŋɔ chana? ( )
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
loori ŋɔ ni zan' _____ ( )
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
( )
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
( )

Directions

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How do I get to _____ ?
( )
...the train station?
( )
...the bus station?
( )
...the airport?
( )
...downtown?
( )
...the youth hostel?
( )
...the _____ hotel?
( )
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
( )
Where are there a lot of...
( )
...hotels?
( )
...restaurants?
( )
...bars?
( )
...sites to see?
( )
Can you show me on the map?
( )
street
( )
Turn left.
( )
Turn right.
( )
left
( )
right
( )
straight ahead
( )
towards the _____
( )
past the _____
( )
before the _____
( )
Watch for the _____.
( )
intersection
( )
north
( )
south
( )
east
( )
west
( )
uphill
( )
downhill
( )

Taxi

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Taxi!
( )
Take me to _____, please.
( )
How much does it cost to get to _____?
( )
Take me there, please.
( )

Lodging

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Do you have any rooms available?
( )
How much is a room for one person/two people?
( )
Does the room come with...
( )
...bedsheets?
( )
...a bathroom?
( )
...a telephone?
( )
...a TV?
( )
May I see the room first?
( )
Do you have anything quieter?
( )
...bigger?
( )
...cleaner?
( )
...cheaper?
( )
OK, I'll take it.
( )
I will stay for _____ night(s).
( )
Can you suggest another hotel?
( )
Do you have a safe?
( )
...lockers?
( )
Is breakfast/supper included?
( )
What time is breakfast/supper?
( )
Please clean my room.
( )
Can you wake me at _____?
( )
I want to check out.
( )

Money

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Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
( )
Do you accept British pounds?
( )
Do you accept euros?
( )
Do you accept credit cards?
( )
Can you change money for me?
( )
Where can I get money changed?
( )
Can you change a traveler's check for me?
( )
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
( )
What is the exchange rate?
( )
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
( )

Eating

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A table for one person/two people, please.
( )
Can I look at the menu, please?
( )
Can I look in the kitchen?
( )
Is there a house specialty?
( )
Is there a local specialty?
( )
I'm a vegetarian.
( )
I don't eat pork.
( )
I don't eat beef.
( )
I only eat kosher food.
( )
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
( )
fixed-price meal
( )
a la carte
( )
breakfast
( )
lunch
( )
tea (meal)
( )
supper
( )
I want _____.
( )
I want a dish containing _____.
( )
chicken
( )
beef
( )
fish
( )
ham
( )
sausage
( )
cheese
( )
eggs
( )
salad
( )
(fresh) vegetables
( )
(fresh) fruit
( )
bread
( )
toast
( )
noodles
( )
rice
( )
beans
( )
May I have a glass of _____?
( )
May I have a cup of _____?
( )
May I have a bottle of _____?
( )
coffee
( )
tea (drink)
( )
juice
( )
(bubbly) water
( )
(still) water
( )
beer
( )
red/white wine
( )
May I have some _____?
( )
salt
( )
black pepper
( )
butter
( )
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
( )
I'm finished.
( )
It was delicious.
( )
Please clear the plates.
( )
The check, please.
( )

Bars

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Do you serve alcohol?
( )
Is there table service?
( )
A beer/two beers, please.
( )
A glass of red/white wine, please.
( )
A pint, please.
( )
A bottle, please.
( )
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
( )
whiskey
( )
vodka
( )
rum
( )
water
( )
club soda
( )
tonic water
( )
orange juice
( )
Coke (soda)
( )
Do you have any bar snacks?
( )
One more, please.
( )
Another round, please.
( )
When is closing time?
( )
Cheers!
( )

Shopping

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Do you have this in my size?
( )
How much is this?
( )
That's too expensive.
( )
Would you take _____?
( )
expensive
( )
cheap
( )
I can't afford it.
( )
I don't want it.
( )
You're cheating me.
( )
I'm not interested.
(..)
OK, I'll take it.
( )
Can I have a bag?
( )
Do you ship (overseas)?
( )
I need...
( )
...toothpaste.
( )
...a toothbrush.
( )
...tampons.
. ( )
...soap.
( )
...shampoo.
( )
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
( )
...cold medicine.
( )
...stomach medicine.
... ( )
...a razor.
( )
...an umbrella.
( )
...sunblock lotion.
( )
...a postcard.
( )
...postage stamps.
( )
...batteries.
( )
...writing paper.
( )
...a pen.
( )
...English-language books.
( )
...English-language magazines.
( )
...an English-language newspaper.
( )
...an English-English dictionary.
( )

Driving

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I want to rent a car.
( )
Can I get insurance?
( )
stop (on a street sign)
( )
one way
( )
yield
( )
no parking
( )
speed limit
( )
gas (petrol) station
petiro shɛl( )
petrol
petiro( )
diesel
diesel( )

Authority

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I haven't done anything wrong.
N bi tum taali shɛli.( )
It was a misunderstanding.
Nangbankpeen n di nyɛli.( )
Where are you taking me?
Ya ka a mali ma n chana?( )
Am I under arrest?
A gbaai ma mi maa?( )
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
N nyɛla Amarika/Australia/Britin/Canada bilichina. ( )
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
M bori mi ni n di Amarika/Australia/Britin/Canada embassy kpamba alizama. ( )
I want to talk to a lawyer.
M bori looya ni n di o fiila.( )
Can I just pay a fine now?
Ni tooi yo n samli puŋpɔŋɔ?( )


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