🇧🇫Burkina Faso
Moore vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Moore 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
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Laafi | Hello / Peace (greeting) | Culture: "Laafi" signifie la paix et la santé. C'est la base des salutations mossi. |
| Laafi bala? | How are you? (lit. only peace?) | |
| Laafi bala | I'm fine (response) | |
| Y'eoogo | Good morning | |
| Zaabr | Good afternoon | |
| Yibeogo | Good evening | |
| Yaa soore | Goodbye | |
| Bark yaa | Thank you | |
| Yaa | OK / Yes | |
| Tɩ yã neere | Welcome |
Food & drinks
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Di | Eat / Food | |
| Ko | Water | |
| Nɩnga | Meat | |
| Zĩiga | Fish | |
| Sãabga | Millet porridge | Culture: Le sãabga est le plat de base mossi, préparé avec du mil ou du sorgho. |
| Raabga | Sauce | |
| Dawa-dawa | Fermented locust bean | |
| Zakʋm | Millet beer | |
| Mɩllãogo | Curdled milk | |
| Bʋɩɩga | Porridge |
Family
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ba | Father | |
| Ma | Mother | |
| Biiga | Child | |
| Rãamba | Elder brother | |
| Rãambo | Elder sister | |
| Sɩdga | Husband | |
| Paga | Wife / Woman | |
| Yabga | Grandfather | |
| Yabgo | Grandmother | |
| Zoa | Friend / Companion |
Human body
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Zugã | Head | |
| Nɩnga | Eye | |
| Zɩɩga | Nose | |
| Nɩfga | Mouth | |
| Tɩɩga | Ear | |
| Nus-weogo | Hand | |
| Nɩŋa | Foot | |
| Sɩɩga | Heart | |
| Kɩɩga | Stomach | |
| Koɛɛga | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yʋng | One | |
| yibu | Two | |
| tãabo | Three | |
| naase | Four | |
| nũu | Five | |
| liu | Six | |
| yopoe | Seven | |
| niise | Eight | |
| n-yɩɩ | Nine | |
| piiga | Ten | |
| piig la yʋng | Eleven | |
| piig la yibu | Twelve | |
| piig la tãabo | Thirteen | |
| piig la naase | Fourteen | |
| piig la nũu | Fifteen | |
| piig la liu | Sixteen | |
| piig la yopoe | Seventeen | |
| piig la niise | Eighteen | |
| piig la n-yɩɩ | Nineteen | |
| piis yibu | Twenty |
Colors
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| wɩɩgo | White | |
| sãoore | Black | |
| miuugu | Red | |
| buluu | Blue | |
| riuugu | Green | |
| wɩɩgo-miuugu | Yellow | |
| tũuli | Grey | |
| roam | Brown |
Animals
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nɩŋga | Lion | |
| Wɛɛla | Elephant | |
| Bɩɩga | Dog | |
| Kugri | Chicken | |
| Nãnga | Cow | |
| Bɩɩgre | Goat | |
| Basg | Sheep | |
| Zĩiga | Fish | |
| Pɩɩse | Bird | |
| Wɩɩgre | Horse |
Home & daily life
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Zakã | House / Compound | |
| Doore | Door | |
| Yɩɩga | Room | |
| Rɩɩm | Market | |
| Lisaale | School | |
| Ligdi | Money | |
| Fugu | Clothes | Culture: Le fugu (smock) est l'habit traditionnel mossi, souvent portés lors des cérémonies. |
| Kɩɩm | Fire | |
| Laado | Work | |
| Tũma | Activity / Task |
Time & weather
| Mooré | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kɩɩnga | Today | |
| Zabre | Yesterday | |
| Yɩɩbo | Tomorrow | |
| Wɩɩgre | Sun | |
| Yʋʋm | Night | |
| Saobga | Rain | |
| Toɛɛga | Cold | |
| Bʋdga | Heat | |
| Tɩɩmdga | Wind | |
| Sãolga | Rainy season |
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