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Zarma phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

You can check the original Wikivoyage article Here

    Zarma is the local language of southwestern Niger, including areas along the Niger River and in the Nigerien capital Niamey, and with 2 million speakers is the second-most spoken language in Niger after Hausa. Zarma is one of the dialects of the Songhay language and is mutually intelligible with Songhay dialects spoken in Eastern Mali.

    Alphabet

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    Zarma uses the following letters of the Latin (Roman) alphabet: a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, ɲ or ny, ŋ, o, p, r, s, t, u, w, y, z.

    Pronunciation guide

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    Vowels

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    There are ten vowels: /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, /u/ and their nasalized counterparts which are denoted by either a tilde or a following 'n' or 'ŋ'.

    Consonants

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    Common diphthongs

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    Phrase list

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    Basics

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    Keep in mind that greetings are very important in this region, and greeting someone often involves a plethora of questions (how are you/your family/your health/your work/etc.?). For most of these you can just respond "Baani Samay", or "Taali si no."

    Hello.
    Fo/Fofo. ( )
    Welcome.
    Fo'ndakayan/Kubayni
    Hello, how are you?. (morning)
    Aran kani baani?/Wor kani baani?. ( )
    Hello, how are you? (afternoon)
    Aran foy baani?/Wor hoy Baani?? ( ?)
    How is your family?
    Mate fu?
    How is your health?
    Mate ga ham?
    How is your work?
    Mate goyo?
    How is the heat?
    Mate doon'gay?
    Fine, thank you. (Response to all above questions)
    Sameyno/Baani Samey ( )
    No problems. ("Response to all above questions")
    Taali si no
    I'm thankful (to God). ("Occasional response to above questions")
    Ay g'Irkoy saabu
    What is your name?
    Mateno ni ma/Mate ga ti ni ma/Mate ga ti ni mayo?? ( ?)
    My name is ______ .
    Ay ma ga ti ____. ( _____ .)
    Nice to meet you.
    . ( )
    Please.
    Alhanan. ( )
    I want cold water/Give me cold water.
    Ay ga ba haari yeno/Ay no hari yeno (" ")
    Thank you.
    Fofo. ( )
    You're welcome.
    A sinda hay fo. ( )
    Yes.
    Ah'hoh. ( )
    No.
    Ha'a. ( )
    Excuse me. (getting attention)
    Alhanan. ( )
    Excuse me. (begging pardon)
    . ( )
    I'm sorry.
    Alhanan. ( )
    Goodbye
    Kala tonton. ( )
    Goodbye (until the following day)
    kala han fo. ( )
    Until tomorrow.
    kala souba.
    I can't speak Zarma (lit. I do not understand Zarma).
    Ay sii ma Zarma. ( [ ])
    Do you speak French?
    Ni ga ma faransi ciine?/Ni ga ma faransi saani? ( ?)
    Is there someone here who speaks French?
    Boro go no kan ga ma faransi saani? ( ?)
    Help!
    Ay gaakasinay! ( !)
    Look out!
    Haggoy fa! ( !)
    Good morning.
    Aran kani baani?/kanibaani. ( )
    Good afternoon.
    Aran foy baani ?/Hoybaani. ( )
    Good evening.
    Matey aran wichira ?. ( )

    ' Good night. : Cino ma boori

    Good night (lit. Sleep well.)
    Iri ma kani baani. ( )
    I don't understand.
    ay sii ga faham. ( )
    Where is the toilet?
    Man no koso(ndo) go/Man no salan'ga/Man no dusero go? ( ?)
    I'm going to go out.
    ay go koy
    I'm going to return.
    ay ga ye ga ka
    Quitely, a little.
    Moso moso/kayna kayna/A fofo
    Stranger. (European)
    Annasara
    Guest.
    Yaw
    Small.
    Kayna
    Large/big.
    Ber/Beri/Iberi
    Bambbata
    OK.
    Toh.

    Problems

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    Go away!
    Wa koy!!
    Don't touch me!
    Wa si lambay ga!
    I'll call the police! : Ay ga polisay ce!
    Police!
    Polici!
    Stop!
    Wa di Zay!
    Help me, please. : Wa'y faba!
    It's an emergency!
    Cahakomey wonno!
    I'm lost.
    Ay darey no.
    I've lost my [purse/wallet].
    Ay [fola/zaalifonta] no darey.
    I'm sick.
    Ay go ga ma Doori.
    I'm hurt.
    Ay marey no.
    I need a doctor.
    Logotoro no ay ga ba.
    May I use your telephone?
    Ay ga hini ga goy da ni talfono?
    Go!
    Ir ma koy!
    Quickly!
    Waasi!

    Numbers

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    1
    Ifo/Afo
    2
    Ihinka
    3
    Ihinza
    4
    Itaci
    5
    Igu
    6
    Iddu
    7
    Iyye
    8
    Ihaku/Ahaku
    9
    Iyagga/Egga
    10
    Iway
    11, 12, 13, etc.
    Iway cind'[1-9] (example: 11 is Iway cind'ifo)
    20
    Waranka
    21
    Waranka cind'ifo
    30
    waranza
    40
    waytaci
    50
    waygu
    60
    waydu
    70
    wayadu
    80
    wahakku
    90
    wayagga
    100
    zangu
    200
    Zangu hinka
    300
    Zangu hinza
    1000
    Zanbar fo
    2000
    Zanbar hinka
    1,000,000
    Milyo fo
    Number ___ (train, bus)
    lamba ___ (Zirjo, Karo)
    Half.
    Jare

    Time

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    Now.
    Sohon
    Late.
    Da tonton
    Before.
    Halaga
    Morning. (after sunrise)
    Susubey
    In the morning.
    Susuba ra
    Afternoon.
    Zaari/Alula
    Evening. (before sunset)
    Alasar
    Evening. (after sunset)
    Almari
    In the evening.
    Almaro ra
    Night.
    cinci

    Clock time

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    The 12-hour clock is used.

    1 o'clock
    Guru fo
    2 o'clock
    Guru hinka
    9 o'clock (lit. morning hour nine)
    Susubey guru yegga
    noon
    midi (French loan word)
    13.00 (lit. afternoon hour one)
    Zaaro guru fo
    18.00 (lit. evening hour six)
    Wicirkanbu guru iddu
    Midnight
    minuit (French loan word)
    7.30
    Guru egga nda jere

    Duration

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    ___ minutes
    ___ Minti
    ___ hours
    ___ guru
    ___ days
    ___ zaari
    ___ weeks
    ___ habu
    ___ months
    ___ handu
    ___ years
    ___ jiiri
    weekly
    habou ga ka habu
    monthly
    habou ga ka handu
    yearly
    Jiiri ga ka Jiiri

    Days

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    today
    Honzaari/Honkuna
    yesterday
    Bi
    tomorrow
    Suba
    this week
    habo wo
    last week
    habo kan bisa
    next week
    habo kan go ka
    Sunday
    Alhadi
    Monday
    Atinni
    Tuesday
    Atalata
    Wednesday
    Alarba
    Thursday
    Alkamisa
    Friday
    Alzuma
    Saturday
    Asibti

    Months

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    Many do not understand the Gregorian calendar and/or may use the Islamic calendar. The Gregorian calendar is thought of as "French" and, among those who do, the names of French months (in parentheses) are more readily understood.

    January
    X (Janvier)
    February
    X (Fevrier)
    March
    X (Mars)
    April
    X (Avril)
    May
    X (Mai)
    June
    X (Juin)
    July
    X (Juillet)
    August
    X (Aout)
    September
    X (Septembre)
    October
    X (Octobre)
    November
    X (Novembre)
    December
    X (Decembre)

    Writing time and date

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    Colors

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    Black
    Biiri (black person: Borobi)
    blanc
    Ikwaray (white person: Gakwaray)
    grey
    X
    red
    Cirey
    blue
    Boogu
    yellow
    Sey
    green
    Yargey
    orange
    X
    purple
    X
    brown
    X

    Transportation

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    Bus and Train

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    How much is a ticket to ____ ?
    X ____ ?
    A ticket to ____, please.
    X ____ X.
    Where does this bus go?
    Man no zirjo ga koy ?
    How do I get to ____ ?
    Man no ____ go?
    The bus arrives here at ____ ?
    Man no ____ ga koy ?
    When does the bus for ___ leave?
    waatifo no zirjo/kaaro kan ga koy _____ ga tun?
    When will the bus arrive at _____ ?
    Waatifo no zirjo/kaaro ga to _____ ?

    Directions

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    Where is _____ ? ?
    Man no _____ go ?
    ...la gare routière ?
    X
    ...the airport ?
    Bene hiyey zumbuyoNo do
    ...downtown?
    X
    ...the neighborhood ?
    X
    ...the youth hostel ?
    X
    ...the hotel _____ ?
    X
    ...the American/British/Canadian/Australian embassy?
    ?
    Can you show me on the map the ?
    X
    road
    X
    Turn left
    X.
    Turn right.
    X.
    left
    KanbaNari
    right
    Kanbouwo
    straight ahead
    X
    In the direction of _____
    X _____
    After the _____
    Banba _____
    Before the _____
    Djiné_____
    North
    AZawaKanbé
    South
    Dandikanbé
    East
    Weynofounay
    West
    WeynokaNay
    Above
    bene
    Below
    ganda

    Taxi

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    Taxi!
    X !
    Take me to ___, please.
    X _____ X
    How much does it cost to travel to _____?
    X _____ ?
    Take me there, please
    X

    Lodging

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    Money

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    Eating

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    Bars

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    Shopping

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    Do you have this in my size ?
    X
    How much does this cost ?
    Marje no wone?
    That's very expensive !
    A tada gumo!
    Do you accept _____?
    Ni yadda _____?
    expensive
    Cada
    cheap
    Habo ma boori
    I cannot pay for that.
    Ay si hini ga a bana
    Je n'en veux pas
    Ay si bara.
    You've mistaken me.
    X
    I'm not interested.
    A mana ay bejandi
    Good, I will buy that.
    A boori, ay ga sambu
    I would like to have a bag ?
    Ay ga du saaku fo?
    I need...
    Ay ga ba
    ...toothpaste.
    hinge safun
    ...a toothbrush.
    hinge borosu fo
    ...tampons.
    tampon
    ...soap.
    Safun
    ...shampoo.
    Sampo
    ...a pain reliever (aspirin, ibuprofen)
    X.
    ...a cold medicine.
    Hungum safari.
    ...stomach medicine.
    X
    ...a razer.
    Laamu fo (biledu)
    ...batteries.
    Piili
    ...a raincoat
    Layma.
    ...an umbrella
    Layma
    ...sunscreen.
    X
    ...a postcard.
    Karte postal
    ...postage stamps.
    Tambre
    ...letter paper.
    wasikahatuniyan takarda
    ...a pen.
    Bikki fo
    ...French-language books.
    Fransiciine tiraya
    ...a French-language newspaper.
    Fransiciine labaari tira fo
    ...a French-___ dictionary.
    Fransiciine-da-___ciine kamusu fo


    Driving

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    I would like to rent a car
    Ay ga ba ay ma lue moto fo.
    I can be assured) ?
    X
    stop (on a sign)
    stop
    yield
    X
    parking prohibited
    X
    speed limit
    X
    gas/petrol station
    staso
    gasoline/petrol
    Esensi
    diesel
    gazual

    Authority

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    I didn't do anything wrong..
    Ay mana taali kulu te
    It's a mistake.
    Darayyan no te.
    Where are you taking me ?
    Man no aran go ga konda ay?
    Am I under arrest ?
    X
    I am a (French) citizen.
    Ay wo fanransi laabize no.
    I want to go to the (French) embassy.
    ay ga hagu ay ma salan france ambassado se
    I would like to speak to a lawyer.
    Ay ga ba ay ma salan ay avoka se
    Can I simply pay a fine?
    ay ga hini ga bana jukkeyan nooru hine?

    Learning more

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       This article is significantly based on work which can be found at The French Wikivoyage. A list of authors can be found here.



    This Zarma phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.


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