Jju (diryem Jju) is a Plateau language of Nigeria, closely related to Tyap. It is often seen as a form of Tyap language as it is closely related to its seven dialects. Jju is spoken by over 500,000 people in an area where the Nok culture (c. BC 1,500 – 500 AD) flourished in the Middle Belt (i.e., the geopolitical Northcentral and southern parts of Northwest and Northeast) of Nigeria.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a, a̱, e, i, o, u

Short monophthongs

vowel	English equivalent	Sound
a	like 'a' in "father"
a̱	like 'a' in "about"
e	like 'ae' in "aesthetic"
i	like 'y' in "family"
o	like 'o' in "pot"
u	like 'u' in "bantu"

Long monophthongs

vowel	English equivalent	Sound
aa	like 'a' in "far"
ii	like 'ee' in "sheep"

Common diphthongs

ai, a̱u, ei/a̱i, oi

Consonants

b, bv, c, cc, d, g, gb, h, j, jj, k, kh, kp, l, m, n, ng, ny, pf, r, s, ss, sh, t, ts, tss, w, ww, y, yy, z

Monoghraphs

b

/b/; like 'b' in "bean"

c

/t͡ʃ/; like 'ch' in "chair"

d

/d/; like 'd' in "do"

g

/ɡ/; like 'g' in "greet"

h

/h/; like 'h' in "how"

j

/d͡ʒ/; like 'j' in "job"

k

/k/; like 'k' in "clan"

l

/l/; like 'l' in "low"

m

/m/; like 'm' in "mine"

n

/n/; like 'n' in "new"

p

/p/; like 'p' in "pair"

r

/r/; like 'r' in "real"

s

/s/; like 's' in "say"

t

/t/; like 't' in "tree"

v

/v/; like 'v' in "view"

w

/w/; like 'w' in "win"

y

/j/; like 'y' in "you"

z (pronounced: "dz")

/d͡z/; no English equivalent

Digraphs

bv

/b͡v/; no English equivalent

gb

/ɡ͡b/; no English equivalent

kh

/x/; no English equivalent

kp

/k͡p/; no English equivalent

ng

/ŋ/; like 'ng' in "king"

ny

/ɲ/; like Spanish 'ñ' in "niña"

pf

/p͡f/; like German 'pf' in "Pfeffer"

sh

/ʃ/; like 'sh' in "shy"

ts

/t͡s/; like 'ts' in "tsunami"

Labial consonants

Short

bw

/bʷ/; no English equivalent

cw

/t͡ʃʷ/; no English equivalent

fw

/fʷ/; no English equivalent

gw

/ɡʷ/; no English equivalent

ghw

/ɣʷ/; no English equivalent

hw

/hʷ/; no English equivalent

jw

/d͡ʒʷ/; no English equivalent

kw

/kʷ/; like 'qu' in "quick"

khw

/xʷ/; no English equivalent

mw

/mʷ/; like 'mw' in "Cromwell"

nw (ngw)

/ŋʷ/; no English equivalent

pw

/pʷ/; no English equivalent

sw

/sʷ/; like 'sw' in "swing"

shw

/ʃʷ/; like 'schw' in "schwa"

tsw

/t͡sʷ/; no English equivalent

yw

/jʷ/; no English equivalent

zw

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs OPEN A̱ yrang CLOSED A̱ yyik ENTRANCE Ka̱bvwanwa EXIT Ka̱bvwawruk PUSH Yrik PULL Kwwat TOILET Ka̱bvwasaai-diccu MEN Ba̱ntyok WOMEN Ba̱nyiring FORBIDDEN

Hello.

N na byyek. (N nah byyehg)

How are you?

A shyi ke? (AH SHYEE KAY?)

Fine, thank you.

Ansham ba̱t, n gwai. ()

What is your name?

Ba̱ na̱ yei a̱nyan? ()

My name is ______ .

Ba̱ n yei ______. ()

Nice to meet you.

N shya bu a̱sainhwa da̱ni n na myim i. ()

Please.

Ba̱sa̱kut. ()

Thank you.

N gwai. ()

You're welcome.

Ryok nhok kyang ba. ()

Yes.

Ii. (masculine: "ee") ()

No.

Kaai. ()

Excuse me. (getting attention/begging pardon)

Hok ra! (cat a̱huhwa a̱yin/naai a̱yin) ()

I'm sorry.

()

Goodbye.

Ka̱ra̱m ka̱yaan. ()

Goodbye. (informal)

Ba-bai. ()

I can't speak Jju [well].

N bvwo ryat Jju ji [ansham] ba. ()

Do you speak English?

A ryat Shong a? ()

Is there someone here who speaks English?

()

Help!

Brang! ()

Look out!

Ta̱rwam! ()

Good morning. (before around 9 AM)

A (plural: "yi") shyek ansham o? ()

Good afternoon.

A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? ()

Good evening.

A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? ()

Good night.

Sei ka̱ntson. ()

I don't understand.

N hik ba. ()

Where is the toilet?

()

Problems

Leave me alone.

Ryok nzuk. ( .)

Don't touch me!

 ! ( !)

I'll call the police.

N ni yei na̱wonshan a. ( .)

Police!

Na̱wonshan! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

Ryong! A̱tang! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

N bvuk. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

 ? ( ?)

Numbers (Zuzzwa twang nkyang)

1

a̱yring ( ), yring ( ), jring ( )

2

a̱hwa ( ), hwa ( ), swa ( )

3

a̱tat ( ), tat ( ), tsat ( )

4

a̱naai ( ), naai ( ), nyaai ( )

5

a̱pfon ( ), pfon ( ), tsson ( )

6

a̱ku̱tat ( )

7

a̱tu̱yring ( )

8

a̱ninai ( )

9

a̱kumbvuyring ( )

10

swak ( )

11

swak ba̱ yring ( )

12

swak ba̱ hwa ( )

13

swak ba̱ tat ( )

14

swak ba̱ naai ( )

15

swak ba̱ a̱pfon ( )

16

swak ba̱ a̱ku̱tat ( )

17

swak ba̱ a̱tu̱yring ( )

18

swak ba̱ a̱nu̱nai ( )

19

swak ba̱ a̱kumbvuyring ( )

20

nswak nhwa ( )

21

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱yring ( )

22

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱hwa ( )

23

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱tat ( )

30

nswak ntat ( )

40

nswak nnaai ( )

50

nswak npfon ( )

60

nswak a̱ku̱tat ( )

70

nswak a̱tu̱yring ( )

80

nswak a̱nu̱nai ( )

90

nswak a̱kumbvuyring ( )

100

cyi jring ( )

200

cyi swa ( )

300

cyi tsat ( )

1,000

cyikop jring ( )

2,000

cyikop swa ( )

100,000

cyikop cyi jring ( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

a̱kum ( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time

now

naanini ( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

a̱ta̱ntson ( )

afternoon

a̱ta̱nom ( )

evening

ka̱jenshring ( )

night

ka̱ta̱tuk ( )

Clock time

one o'clock AM

tswam jring ( )

two o'clock AM

tswam swa ( )

noon

tswam swak ba̱ swa A̱TA̱NOM ( )

one o'clock PM

tswam jring A̱TA̱NOM ( )

two o'clock PM

tswam swa A̱TA̱NOM ( )

midnight

( )

Duration

_____ minute(s)

minti _____ ( )

_____ hour(s)

awa _____ ( )

_____ day(s)

nom _____ ( )

_____ week(s)

sati _____ ( )

_____ month(s)

hywan _____ ( )

_____ year(s)

a̱rya _____ ( )

Days

today

ka̱pfun ( )

yesterday

ryu ( )

tomorrow

ka̱ntson ( )

this week

sati ani ( )

last week

( )

next week

sati cong bai ( )

Sunday

Ka̱tuk Ladi ( )

Monday

Ka̱tuk A̱ta̱nii ( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

Ka̱tuk Juma ( )

Saturday

Ka̱tuk A̱sa̱ba̱t ( )

Months

January

Hywan Yring ( )

February

Hywan Hwa ( )

March

Hywan Tat ( )

April

Hywan Naai ( )

May

Hywan Pfon ( )

June

Hywan A̱kitat ( )

July

Hywan A̱tiyring ( )

August

Hywan A̱ninai ( )

September

Hywan A̱kumbuyring ( )

October

Hywan Swak ( )

November

Hywan Swak ba̱ Yring ( )

December

Hywan Swak ba̱ Hwa ( )

Colors

black

a̱dindying ( )

white

a̱sai ( )

grey/gray

( )

red

a̱shong ( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

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

ka̱za ( )

south

ka̱tak ( )

east

( )

west

ka̱jenshring ( )

uphill

ka̱zantsok ( )

downhill

ka̱takntsok ( )

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

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )