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Most Common Zarma Words
Zarma
Essential Zarma vocabulary with pronunciation guides. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
Nouns
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| boro | person | BO-ro |
| suudu | house | SOO-du |
| ji | water | ji |
| haw | food | haw |
| zaama | work | ZA-ma |
| tarey | tree | TA-rey |
| koyne | mountain | KOY-ne |
| hinkaar | sun | hin-KAR |
| yengu | name | YEN-gu |
| maa | mother | ma |
| baaba | father | BA-ba |
| cere | child | SE-re |
| ganda | village / land | GAN-da |
| beeri | river | BEE-ri |
| zaŋ | animal | zang |
| biiyni | sky | BEEY-ni |
| mano | heart / mind | MA-no |
| windi | road / path | WIN-di |
| kwaaro | friend | KWA-ro |
| alwati | book | al-WA-ti |
Verbs
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| goy | to work | goy |
| caw | to eat | caw |
| may | to drink | may |
| noo | to sleep | no |
| haw | to go | haw |
| na | to come | na |
| naf | to know | naf |
| ganji | to see | GAN-ji |
| goo | to sit | go |
| kar | to write | kar |
| haŋ | to hear | hang |
| bay | to know / understand | bay |
| foo | to give | fo |
| duu | to want | du |
| kaa | to stay / live | ka |
| war | to run | war |
| taŋ | to take | tang |
| hin | to be able to | hin |
| gan | to find | gan |
| fondo | to ask | FON-do |
Adjectives
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| beeri | big | BEE-ri |
| fitari | small | fi-TA-ri |
| kaŋ | good | kang |
| koyo | bad | KO-yo |
| windo | new | WIN-do |
| kwaŋ | old | kwang |
| hiiyo | white | HEE-yo |
| bongo | black | BON-go |
| zabari | red | za-BA-ri |
| laafa | soft / gentle | LA-fa |
| bita | hard | BI-ta |
| yaadi | sweet | YA-di |
| haŋkuri | patient | hang-KU-ri |
| ganji | clear / visible | GAN-ji |
| kooru | cold | KO-ru |
| hiino | hot | HEE-no |
| feeri | light (weight) | FEE-ri |
| daabu | heavy | DA-bu |
| hinni | strong | HIN-ni |
| dillari | weak | dil-LA-ri |
Adverbs
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hõo | today / now | ho |
| suba | tomorrow | SOO-ba |
| cimi | yesterday | SI-mi |
| kala | before / already | KA-la |
| fooyan | again | fo-YAN |
| koyne | above / up | KOY-ne |
| daŋ | really / very | dang |
| boŋ | yes | bong |
| gaani | how | GA-ni |
| me | what | me |
| wikan | where | WI-kan |
| waati | when | WA-ti |
| woo | there | wo |
| hõo | here | ho |
| kaŋ-kaŋ | well | kang-kang |
| cimi-fooyan | always | si-mi fo-YAN |
| gaa | only | ga |
| kani | because | KA-ni |
| hinni-hinni | quickly | HIN-ni HIN-ni |
| laafa-laafa | slowly | LA-fa LA-fa |