🇧🇯Bénin · Togo
Fon vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Fon 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
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Aló | Hello | Culture: Salutation universelle utilisée à tout moment en fon. |
| A jɛ vɛ ó? | Did you sleep well? (good morning) | |
| Ɛ sɔ gbɔn ó | Good afternoon | |
| A wá bó? | Did you come back? (welcome back) | |
| Yì wɛ gbɔn | Goodbye (go well) | |
| Àwàjɛ | Thank you | |
| Adɔwè | You're welcome | |
| Un jɛ gbɔn ó? | How are you? | |
| Un ɖò ganji | I'm fine | |
| Nɔ kú | Sorry |
Food & drinks
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nù dùn | Food / Meal | |
| Tɔ̀ | Water | |
| Wèzun | Meat | |
| Zɔ̌ | Fish | |
| Bɔ̀kɔ̀ | Corn (staple food) | |
| Akàssà | Fermented corn ball | Culture: L'akassa est le plat de base du sud Bénin, souvent accompagné de sauce de crabe ou de poisson. |
| Amiwo | Red sauce | |
| Tchoukoutou | Sorghum beer | |
| Sodabi | Palm spirit | |
| Yòvòdò | Bread (lit. white man food) |
Family
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bǒ | Father | |
| Nǎ | Mother | |
| Vǐ | Child | |
| Asì | Elder brother | |
| Vívǐ | Children | |
| Sú | Husband | |
| Nyɔnu | Wife / Woman | |
| Tɔ́gó | Grandfather | |
| Nɔ̀nù | Grandmother | |
| Ðò | Friend |
Human body
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tàví | Head | |
| Núkún | Eye | |
| Tlàn | Nose | |
| Nù | Mouth | |
| Tɔ̀ | Ear | |
| Àlɔ̀ | Hand / Arm | |
| Afɔ̀ | Foot | |
| Àyǐ | Heart | |
| Àwún | Stomach | |
| Ðò | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ɖokpo | One | |
| evɛ | Two | |
| etɔ̃ | Three | |
| enɛ | Four | |
| atɔ̃n | Five | |
| azɔ̃n | Six | |
| adɔ̃n | Seven | |
| enɛ | Eight | |
| atɔ̃nvɔ | Nine | |
| wɛ̃ | Ten | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé ɖokpo | Eleven | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé evɛ | Twelve | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé etɔ̃ | Thirteen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé enɛ | Fourteen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé atɔ̃n | Fifteen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé azɔ̃n | Sixteen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé adɔ̃n | Seventeen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé enɛ | Eighteen | |
| wɛ̃ ɖé atɔ̃nvɔ | Nineteen | |
| wɛ̃ evɛ | Twenty |
Colors
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| vɔvɔ | White | |
| wiwi | Black | |
| yìyì | Red | |
| gbígbí | Blue / Green | |
| àzà | Yellow | |
| fɔ̀fɔ̀ | Grey | |
| àbɔ̀ | Brown | |
| gbé | Orange |
Animals
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Jàgùnjàgù | Lion | |
| Àwúsùn | Elephant | |
| Kpàkpà | Dog | |
| Kɔ́kɔ́ | Chicken | |
| Nànyì | Cow | |
| Gbòvì | Goat | |
| Zɔ̌ | Fish | |
| Àzàn | Bird | |
| Yɔ̀ | Crocodile | |
| Kpà | Monkey |
Home & daily life
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Xwé | House | Culture: La maison (xwé) en culture fon est aussi le lieu du culte des ancêtres. |
| Ðò | Door | |
| Nù wlí | Room | |
| Àjà | Market | |
| Ajɔ̌ | School | |
| Kánú | Money | |
| Àwù | Clothes | |
| Zɔ̀ | Fire | |
| Baara | Work | |
| Nùkplɔ̀nkplɔ̀n | Learning |
Time & weather
| Fɔngbè | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Égbé | Today | |
| Ɛ̀gbɛ̀jí | Yesterday | |
| Gbɔgbɔ | Tomorrow | |
| Nùtín | Sun | |
| Àzǎn | Night | |
| Lívísà | Rain | |
| Àjɔ̀ | Cold | |
| Vlɔ̀ | Heat | |
| Àtìn | Wind | |
| Àzǎn jɛ̀ | Rainy season |
Learn Fon with a native teacher
Vocabulary is the foundation. But to speak fluently, nothing beats live classes with a native teacher. Targumi offers Fon classes in small groups, 2 sessions per week, with passionate teachers.
30-day money-back guarantee
Cultural immersion in Fon
Films, TV shows, music and podcasts to practise Fon every day.