🇬🇳Sahel · 20+ pays
Fula vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
The 98 essential Fula words and phrases, sorted by theme, with their translation.
- 98 words & phrases
- 9 themes
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Greetings & politeness
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| No mbadda? | How are you? (greeting) | Culture: En peul, les salutations sont longues et détaillées. Il est impoli de ne pas demander des nouvelles de la famille. |
| Jam tan | Fine, just fine (response) | |
| Djam weeti | Good morning (peace of morning) | |
| Djam hiri | Good evening (peace of night) | |
| Aw njehen e jam | Go in peace / Goodbye | |
| A jaaraama | Thank you | |
| Baawɗo | No problem | |
| Yoo Alla | God willing | |
| Tedduɗo | Respected one | |
| Mi yiɗi ɗum | I want this |
Food & drinks
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ñaama | Food | |
| Ndiyam | Water | |
| Teewu | Meat | |
| Liingu | Fish | |
| Kosam | Milk | Culture: Le lait de vache est central dans la culture peule. Les Peuls sont traditionnellement éleveurs. |
| Gerte | Peanut | |
| Njaari | Rice | |
| Gaari | Millet | |
| Kaafi | Coffee | |
| Ladde | Salt |
Family
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| Baaba | Father |
| Yummaa | Mother |
| Biɗɗo | Child |
| Mawɗo | Elder |
| Sukaaɓe | Children |
| Gorko | Man / Husband |
| Debbo | Woman / Wife |
| Maamiraaɓe | Grandparents |
| Banndiraɓe | Siblings |
| Teddungal | Close friend |
Human body
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| Hoore | Head |
| Yitere | Eye |
| Hinere | Nose |
| hunorde | Mouth |
| Nowru | Ear |
| Juuɗe | Hand |
| Koyngal | Foot |
| Daɓɓunde | Heart |
| Reedu | Stomach |
| Yontii | Back |
Numbers (1-20)
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| go'o | One |
| ɗiɗi | Two |
| tati | Three |
| nayi | Four |
| jowi | Five |
| jeegom | Six |
| jeeɗiɗi | Seven |
| jeetati | Eight |
| jeenayi | Nine |
| sappo | Ten |
| sappo e go'o | Eleven |
| sappo e ɗiɗi | Twelve |
| sappo e tati | Thirteen |
| sappo e nayi | Fourteen |
| sappo e jowi | Fifteen |
| sappo e jeegom | Sixteen |
| sappo e jeeɗiɗi | Seventeen |
| sappo e jeetati | Eighteen |
| sappo e jeenayi | Nineteen |
| noogaas | Twenty |
Colors
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| raneewo | White |
| baleeri | Black |
| woɗeewo | Red |
| buluu | Blue |
| hordeewo | Green |
| jelngu | Yellow |
| goorari | Grey |
| kecceewo | Orange |
Animals
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nai | Cow | Culture: La vache est sacrée dans la culture peule. Elle est au cœur de l'identité et de l'économie des Fulani. |
| Njawdi | Cattle / Herd | |
| Deggal | Goat | |
| Mbabba | Donkey | |
| Puccu | Horse | |
| Liingu | Fish | |
| Gawri | Sheep | |
| Ñiiri | Bird | |
| Waraango | Lion | |
| Sunguru | Rabbit |
Home & daily life
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| Suudu | House / Room |
| Dingiral | Door |
| Wuro | Village / Camp |
| Luumo | Market |
| Jaɓirde | School |
| Ceede | Money |
| Comci | Clothes |
| Laana | Boat |
| Ladde | Bush / Forest |
| Ɓalndu | Fire |
Time & weather
| Fulfulde / Pulaar | English |
|---|---|
| Hannde | Today |
| Haŋki | Yesterday |
| Jaango | Tomorrow |
| Naange | Sun |
| Jamma | Night |
| Toɓo | Rain |
| Danɗal | Cold |
| Keɓɗam | Heat |
| Ɓargu | Wind |
| Kawle | Rainy season |
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A family language
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The language of your parents, your grandparents or your partner. The one you want to pass on to your children.
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Learn essential Fula vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
To go further, Targumi offers live Fula classes with a teacher, in small groups: see the Fula classes.
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