Mooré (also spelled Moré or Mòoré) is the most widely spoken language of Burkina Faso, with approximately 8 million native speakers and several million more as a second language. It's the language of the Mossi people — the majority ethnic group in Burkina — and the lingua franca of most of the country.
The Mossi people founded one of the most stable empires in West African history, the Mossi Kingdom of Ouagadougou, which resisted the expansion of the Mali Empire, the Songhai Empire, and Islamic penetration for centuries.
1. Why learn Mooré? 2. The alphabet and writing system 3. The tonal system 4. Greetings in Mooré 5. Basic grammar 6. Essential vocabulary: 50 words 7. Numbers 8. Useful everyday phrases 9. Mossi culture 10. Learn Mooré with Targumi
Why learn Mooré?
The language of a country at the heart of Africa
Burkina Faso ("Land of Upright People") is a key West African nation. Mooré is the language of its capital, Ouagadougou, and the majority of its population. It's also spoken by many Burkinabè in neighboring countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo).
A significant diaspora
The Burkinabè diaspora in France numbers over 100,000 people, concentrated in the Paris region, Lyon, and Marseille. In Côte d'Ivoire, over 4 million Burkinabè (many of whom are Mossi) form the largest diaspora community. In Italy, Portugal, and Spain, Burkinabè communities grow every year.
Virtually no online resources
Mooré is invisible on the Internet for language learning. No major platform offers it. Targumi fills this gap with a structured learning path.
A people known for their values
The Mossi are renowned for their hospitality, their sophisticated social organization, and their founding proverb: "Dignity is more precious than gold." Burkina Faso has borne this name since 1984 precisely to reflect integrity as a national value.
The alphabet and writing system
The Mooré alphabet
Mooré uses the extended Latin alphabet:
| Letter |
| Example |
| -------- |
| --------- |
| a |
| baga (dog) |
| e |
| belem (knowledge) |
| ɛ |
| nɛb (person) |
| i |
| biiga (child) |
| o |
| poko (woman) |
| ɔ |
| mɔr (man) |
| u |
| bugum (fire) |
| ĩ |
| zĩndi (sit) |
| ũ |
| kũuni (chicken) |
| Word |
| Low tone |
| ------ |
| ---------- |
| pu |
| ferment |
| ko |
| cry |
| wa |
| kill |
| Mooré |
| Reply |
| ------- |
| ------- |
| Ne y yibeogo |
| Yibeogo |
| Ne y windga |
| Windga |
| Ne y zaabri |
| Zaabri |
| Laafi bala? |
| Laafi |
| Y kibare? |
| Laafi |
| Barka |
| — |
| N saan taare |
| — |
| N pa taare |
| — |
| Singular |
| Meaning |
| ---------- |
| --------- |
| raogo |
| man → men |
| paga |
| woman → women |
| biiga |
| child → children |
| bʋʋga |
| goat → goats |
| tɩɩga |
| tree → trees |
| English |
| --------- |
| I |
| You |
| He/She |
| We |
| You (pl.) |
| They |
| English |
| Pronunciation |
| --------- |
| --------------- |
| Yes |
| ahn-ha |
| No |
| ah-yo |
| Thank you |
| bar-ka |
| Please |
| mahm-boh-sa |
| Sorry |
| soo-gree |
| Water |
| kohm |
| Food |
| ree-bo |
| House |
| zah-ka |
| Person |
| nay-da |
| Child |
| bee-ga |
| Mother |
| ma / mah-ma |
| Father |
| ba / bah-ba |
| Friend |
| zoh-a |
| Money |
| lig-dee |
| Work |
| toom-day |
| Market |
| rah-ga |
| Road |
| soh-ray |
| Day |
| dah-ray |
| Night |
| yoong-oh |
| Sun |
| weend-ga |
| Rain |
| sah-ga |
| Big |
| baydr |
| Small |
| bil-foo |
| Good |
| song-oh |
| Bad |
| weng-oh |
| Beautiful |
| nay-ray |
| Hot |
| woos-go |
| Cold |
| wah-oh-toh |
| Eat |
| ree |
| Drink |
| yoo |
| Sleep |
| goose |
| Go |
| keng |
| Come |
| wa |
| Speak |
| gohmd |
| See |
| gays |
| Hear |
| woom |
| Know |
| bahng |
| Want |
| daht |
| Can |
| toh-ay |
| Love |
| nohng |
| God |
| wen-day |
| King / Chief |
| nah-ba |
| Earth |
| teng-a |
| River |
| bahng-oh |
| Tree |
| tee-ga |
| Animal |
| boom-boo |
| Fish |
| zeem |
| Bird |
| lyoo-lee |
| Woman |
| pa-ga |
| Man |
| ra-go |
| Peace |
| lah-fee |
| Number |
| -------- |
| 1 |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4 |
| 5 |
| 6 |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 10 |
| 20 |
| 100 |
| 1000 |
| English |
| --------- |
| What is your name? |
| My name is... |
| Where are you from? |
| I'm from England |
| I don't understand |
| Speak slowly |
| How much does it cost? |
| It's too expensive |
| I'm learning Mooré |
| You speak Mooré well! |
| I'm hungry |
| I'm thirsty |
| I love you |
| Help me please |
| Peace be with you |
Mossi culture
The Mogho Naaba
The Mogho Naaba is the supreme king of the Mossi, based in Ouagadougou. Every Friday morning, he performs a public ceremony (the Nabasga) at the royal palace — an unbroken ritual spanning centuries. The Mogho Naaba remains a major moral and cultural authority in Burkina Faso.
The Nabasga ceremony
Every Friday at dawn, the Mogho Naaba exits his palace in war regalia, mounts his horse as if going to battle, then his courtiers persuade him to stay. This ceremony symbolizes the king's permanent vigilance in defending his people. It's a spectacle unique in the world, open to the public.
Masks and FESPACO
Burkina hosts FESPACO (Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou), Africa's largest film festival. Mossi masks, carved from wood and painted in black, white, and red, are globally recognized art objects.
Oral tradition
Griots (dima in Mooré) are the keepers of Mossi memory. They transmit history, genealogies, and proverbs through song and speech. Mossi proverbs are remarkably profound:Burkinabè cuisine
Mossi cuisine is simple and nourishing: tô (millet or sorghum paste with sauce), zoom-koom (sweetened millet drink), peanut stew, poulet bicyclette (grilled chicken, national specialty). Burkina is also a beer country: Brakina and Flag are the national brands.
Learn Mooré with Targumi
Targumi offers a structured path to learn Mooré:Mooré is the key to understanding Burkina Faso — a country whose very name means "Land of Upright People." Every word you learn brings you closer to this extraordinary people and their values of integrity, hospitality, and dignity.
Laafi! (Peace!)---
Article written by Ibrahim Ouédraogo, certified Mooré tutor and Targumi collaborator. At Targumi, we make learning Mooré accessible to everyone.