In this section, we are going to study everyday nouns. We are studying names of some things around us. We shall first look at things we find in our homes. After that we will look at things we find in our schools. We shall again look at some common nouns as well.

Items Around The House

Singular	Plural	Noun In English
Yili	Yiya	House
Duu	Duri	Room
Dundoli	Dundoya	Door
Mopil'li	Mopila	Roof
Gooni	Goma	Wall
zɔŋ	zɔndi	Hall/Living space
Gbal'li	Gbaya	Grave
Duduhigu	Duduhusi	Kitchen

 

Items In A Room

Singular    Plural         In English

kuɣa             kuɣisi          seat

garo              gariti           bed

sɔŋ                sɔna             mat

kpahiga       kpahisi        zana mat

piɛm             piɛma          arrow

lɔɣu              lɔɣiri             quiver

tɔbu             tɔbiri             bow

adaka         adakanima  box

dufiɛli         dufiɛya        pillow

takɔbi         takɔbri         sword

jaambɔŋ     jaambɔna    cudgel

zaani          zaaninima    cudgel (iron)

sutitali        sutitaŋa       cutlass

firila           firilanima    lantern

 

Items In The Kitchen

Singular	Plural	English Translation
bindirigu	bindira	food
duɣu	duɣuri	pot
ʒiɛri	ʒiɛri	soup
ʒekuri	ʒekura	ingredients of soup / vegetables
daaŋa	daansi	cooking place/area
dirigu	diriti	spoon
chɛriga	chɛriti	ladle
tahili	taha	basin; sink
ŋmani	ŋmana	bowl
kuriga	kuriganima	bowl
yalim		salt
naanzua		pepper
kpaligu	kpaliti	dawadawa
kantɔŋ	kantɔna	ingredient prepared from kapok seeds
kom	koma	water
alibarisa	alibarisanima	onion
sua	suhi	knife
maani	mana	okro
buɣim	buɣima	fire
zahim	zahim	fish
kamantooŋa	kamantoonsi	tomato
gabo	gabo	pounded onion leaves used as spice
kpam	kpama	oil

 

 Items In The Bathroom

Singular              Plural                       In English

bɔɣati                      buɣatinima                bucket

chibo                       chibiti                         soap

bodua                     boduanima                towel

ŋmani                     ŋmana                        calabash

kpaʒiɛrim               kpaʒiɛrima                 pomade

zabisahirigu          zabisahirisi                comb

kom                        koma                         water

chibitariga            chibitarisi                  soap dish

sɔɣiso                     sɔɣisonima                sponge

 

 

Lesson by: Osman
Reference: Adam, P. P. (2013). Dagbani an Introductory Course for Beginners. Koforidua: Pedaddo Ventures.