🇨🇮Côte d'Ivoire · Burkina Faso
Dioula vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Dioula vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I ni ce | Hello (to one person) | Culture: Quasi-identique au bambara, le dioula partage les mêmes structures de salutation. |
| Aw ni ce | Hello (to several people) | |
| I ni sogoma | Good morning | |
| I ni tile | Good afternoon | |
| I ni wula | Good evening | |
| Aní kɛnɛ | Goodbye | |
| Abaraka | Thank you | |
| Ntɛ | No problem | |
| Aw ni baara | Good work | |
| Kɛnɛ wa? | Are you well? |
Food & drinks
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dùmuni | Food / Meal | |
| Ji | Water | |
| Sogo | Meat | |
| Jège | Fish | |
| Tô | Millet porridge | |
| Mafè | Peanut sauce | |
| Aloko | Fried plantain | Culture: L'aloko est omniprésent dans les maquis ivoiriens, souvent servi avec du riz ou de l'attiéké. |
| Attiéké | Cassava couscous | Culture: L'attiéké est le plat national ivoirien, préparé à partir de manioc fermenté râpé. |
| Kɔɔfe | Coffee | |
| Dolo | Millet beer |
Family
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Fa | Father | |
| Ba | Mother | |
| Den | Child | |
| Kɔrɔ | Elder sibling | |
| Dɔgɔ | Younger sibling | |
| Cɛ | Husband / Man | |
| Muso | Wife / Woman | |
| Mama | Grandmother | |
| Kɔkɔ | Grandfather | |
| Tɔgɔmabaga | Friend |
Human body
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kun | Head | |
| Nyɛ | Eye | |
| Buru | Nose | |
| Da | Mouth | |
| Tulo | Ear | |
| Bolo | Hand / Arm | |
| Sɛ | Foot / Leg | |
| Sɔn | Heart | |
| Kɔnɔ | Stomach | |
| Joli | Blood |
Numbers (1-20)
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kelen | One | |
| fila | Two | |
| saba | Three | |
| naani | Four | |
| duuru | Five | |
| wɔɔrɔ | Six | |
| wolonfila | Seven | |
| segin | Eight | |
| kɔnɔntɔn | Nine | |
| tan | Ten | |
| tan ni kelen | Eleven | |
| tan ni fila | Twelve | |
| tan ni saba | Thirteen | |
| tan ni naani | Fourteen | |
| tan ni duuru | Fifteen | |
| tan ni wɔɔrɔ | Sixteen | |
| tan ni wolonfila | Seventeen | |
| tan ni segin | Eighteen | |
| tan ni kɔnɔntɔn | Nineteen | |
| mugan | Twenty |
Colors
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| jɛ | White | |
| fin | Black | |
| fulari | Red | |
| bulubulu | Blue | |
| gwɛ | Green | |
| sanan | Yellow | |
| wulen | Orange | |
| sɛnɛ | Grey |
Animals
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Waraba | Lion | |
| Sèn | Elephant | |
| Wulu | Dog | |
| Jakuma | Cat | |
| Nɔgɔn | Chicken | |
| Baa | Goat | |
| Jège | Fish | |
| Kono | Bird | |
| Nantugu | Cow | |
| Saga | Sheep |
Home & daily life
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| So | House | |
| Daa | Door | |
| Bon | Room | |
| Marɛ | Market | |
| Kalanso | School | |
| Wari | Money | |
| Fani | Cloth | |
| Kɛlɛ | War / Fight | |
| Tɔgɔ | Name | |
| Baarakɛlaw | Workers |
Time & weather
| Julakan / Jula | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bi | Today | |
| Kunu | Yesterday | |
| Sini | Tomorrow | |
| Tèle | Sun | |
| Su | Night | |
| Sanji | Rain | |
| Flankan | Cold | |
| Gbèlèn | Heat | |
| Fɔn | Wind | |
| Sùman | Dry season |
Learn Dioula with a native teacher
Vocabulary is the foundation. But to speak fluently, nothing beats live classes with a native teacher. Targumi offers Dioula classes in small groups, 2 sessions per week, with passionate teachers.
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Cultural immersion in Dioula
Films, TV shows, music and podcasts to practise Dioula every day.