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

Vowels

a, e, i, o, u, ɔ, ɛ

Phrase list

Basics

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

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

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

now

punpɔŋɔ ( )

later

di yi too bɛla ( )

before

pɔi( )

morning

asiba ( )

afternoon

wuntaŋni ( )

evening

zaawuni ( )

night

yuŋ ( )

Clock time

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

_____ 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

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

January

( )

February

( )

March

( )

April

( )

May

( )

June

( )

July

( )

August

( )

September

( )

October

( )

November

( )

December

( )

Colors

black

sabinli ( )

white

piɛlli ( )

grey/gray

tampilim ( )

red

ʒɛɛ ( )

blue

nuɣiso ( )

yellow

dozim ( )

green

vagahili ( )

orange

saliŋkom ( )

purple

( )

brown

taŋkpaɣu ( )

Transportation

Bus and train

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

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

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?( )