Buli phrasebook

Buli (Kanjaga) is the indigenous language of Builsa people which is located in the Upper East region of Ghana.

Pronunciation guide
a [a] Buli ga (to go)
 * Vowels

e [e, e] metik (thin)

i [i, W] poli (to think)

o [o, B] pok (wife)

u [u, _] zuk (head)

b
 * Cosonants

d

f

g

k

l

m

n

ɲ

ŋ

ŋ͡m p t tʃ

k͡p

dʒ ɡ͡b

r

s

t v

w

z

z

Basics

 * How are you? : Ka se-aa?
 * I am fine: Nalim nyini.
 * What is your name? : Fi yue le boa?
 * My name is Awen. : Mi yue le Awen.
 * How old are you? : Fi ta ka benanga dina?
 * Thank you. : Kan namu.
 * Hurry up. : Nye nwuli.
 * I am looking for my pen. : N gisi ka n penwa.
 * What is this? : Ka boa ale nna?
 * What is this building? : Ka boan yeri le nna?
 * Where are you? : Fi bo ka be?
 * Are you angry? : Fi su ya puuri?
 * Please forgive me. : Maa saalim, vongti mu.

Problem/Emergency

 * Go away! : Cheng du!
 * Come here! : Jam de!
 * Who sent you to me? : Ka wana ale tom fu?
 * Can I help you? : N baga a maa(ri) fu?
 * What do you want? : Faa yaali ká boa?
 * Can you help me? : Fi bag a mari mu?

Numbers

 * One : bunyi
 * Two : buye
 * Three : buta
 * Four : banaansi
 * Five : bunu
 * Six : buyuebi
 * Seven : buyuepoi
 * Eight : naaning
 * Nine : neuk
 * Ten : pi
 * Eleven : pi ale bunyi
 * Twenty : pisiye
 * Thirty : pisita
 * Hundred : kobik
 * Thousand : tusidi

Days

 * Monday : Atani
 * Tuesday : Atalata
 * Wednesday : Alariba
 * Thursday : Alamisi
 * Friday : Azuma
 * Saturday : Asibi
 * Sunday : Alaadi

Months

 * January : ngoota chiik
 * February : gunggona chiik
 * March : vaala chiik
 * April : sambula chiik
 * May : borik chiik
 * June : kpari chiik
 * July : naara chiik
 * August : za paala bogluta chiik
 * September : chaaung chiik
 * October : sungkpaata chiik
 * November : za cheka chiik
 * December : fanoai chiik

Transportation

 * Luggage : koalima
 * Bicycle : kuta-wusum
 * Car/Vehicle : loori
 * Left : gala
 * Right : juga
 * Road : siuk
 * Street : sititee
 * Path : siok vovok
 * Road junction : sui toming
 * Sign post : saka
 * Straight ahead : yomsi ka a cheng
 * To turn (branch) left (right): ngmieringi gala (juga) nying; chiem gala nying
 * To miss the way : be siuku
 * It is far : ku yalima
 * Here : dowa
 * Curved road : su-goalung
 * To come back : ngmain jam
 * To park : zaani
 * To go straight ahead : yoarisi

Part of the body (Nying)

 * Head : zuk
 * Back : ngaang
 * Shoulder : ngmanpaluk
 * Arm : nsiri
 * Finger : nandub
 * Leg : nang
 * Knee : dunung
 * Waist : chiak
 * Belly: logi,
 * Stomach : puuk
 * Forehead : diri
 * Mouth : noai
 * Tongue : ginggelung
 * Tooth : nyin
 * Nose : nyueri
 * Hair : zuik
 * Ear : turi
 * Lip : nangbaiviok
 * Cheek : chikperi
 * Eye : num

Family (dok dema)

 * Ancestors : koba
 * Father : ko
 * Mother : ma
 * Grandfather : ko-kpieng
 * Grandmother : ma-kpieng
 * Daughter : lieba
 * Son : biik
 * Twins : yibik
 * Brother : suok
 * Elder brother/sister : moa
 * Younger brother/sister) : yoa
 * Junior sister/brother : toa baang
 * Father's younger brother : ko baang
 * Orphan : bí-kpíng
 * First wife : po-kpagi

Food (ngandiinta)

 * Millet-flour : zom
 * Millet : zari
 * Sorghum : za-monta
 * Bread : boruk-boruk
 * Rice : muma
 * Yams : nyue
 * Cassava: maniok
 * Cocoyam : mangkain
 * Sweet potatoes : naabanyuiri
 * Groundnuts : sungkpaam
 * Vegetables : jen-vaata
 * Garden-eggs : booruk
 * Mango : manggook
 * Orange : liemu
 * Tomato : kamantos
 * Soup : jenta
 * Egg : kpa-jein
 * Milk : naa-biisim
 * Pepper : ngmaribazung
 * Salt : yesiri
 * Sugar : sigiri