Useful phrases in Kabiye

A collection of useful phrases in Kabiye (Kabɩyɛ), a Southern Gur language spoken in Togo, Benin and Ghana

See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).

Phrase	Kabɩyɛ (Kabiye)
Welcome	Tálì ɖéw Ɩtalὶ ɖéw (frm/pl) Kábìtɛ (sg) Kábìtɛ wá (pl)
Hello (General greeting)
Hello (on phone)	Allo
How are you?	Ŋwὲ alafɩa? Alafɩa wὲ?
Reply to 'How are you?'	Alafɩa Yáá, alafɩa
Long time no see
What's your name?	Páyaŋ súwe?
My name is ...	Páyam ... Páyam se ...
Where are you from?	Lé ŋlὶna? Ŋgɛ lé dύ?
I'm from ...	Mὲlὶna ...
Pleased to meet you
Good morning (Morning greeting)	Ŋlὶwá lέ? (sg) Ɩlὶwá lέ? (pl) Dadja ŋlìwá lέ (>m) Daɖo ŋlìwá lέ (>f) Ŋguyá cámìyɛ na? Mɔnguya alafɩa (reply)
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	Ñánà wίsὶ
Good evening (Evening greeting)	Ñánà ɖánaɣ
Good night	Ñánà ɖánaɣ Ñánà ɖóó Ɛsɔ kύsὶ (Have a good night) Ŋɖó cámὶyὲ na? (Sleep well)
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	Pὶlákὶ tásὶ (See you soon) Pὶlábá tásὶ (See you soon) Pὶlábá céé (See you tomorrow) Pὶlábá wídí (See you someday)
Good luck!
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)
Have a nice day
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal
Bon voyage / Have a good journey	Wele wele Ŋɖɔ cámὶyὲ Ŋwolo camɩyɛ
Yes	Ɛὲ Ɛɛ
No	Aɩɩ
Maybe
I don't know
Do you understand?
I understand
I don't understand	Maanɩwυ
Please speak more slowly	Yɔdɩ hɛɛ
Please say that again	Tasɩ yɔdυ
Please write it down
Do you speak English?
Do you speak Kabiye?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
Do you speak a language other than Kabiye?
Speak to me in Kabiye
How do you say ... in Kabiye?
Excuse me	Kafaɖa
How much is this?	Ŋna?
Sorry	Kaka
Please	Kafaɖa
Thank you	Ŋlaba lέ Ŋlaba lέ kpém
Reply to thank you
Where's the toilet / bathroom?
This gentleman will pay for everything
This lady will pay for everything
Would you like to dance with me?
Do you come here often?
I miss you
I love you
Get well soon
Go away!
Leave me alone!
Help!	Ɩsɩnam!
Fire!	Hayɩ miŋ nééé!
Stop!
Call the police!
Christmas greetings
New Year greetings
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings
Congratulations!	Ñánà ñυw leleŋ (you're lucky) Mɩnà ñυw leleŋ (pl) Ɛnà ñυw leleŋ (sg) Ñánà pὶda lɩyυυ
One language is never enough
My hovercraft is full of eels

Some videos for learning Kabiye

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Kabiye | Phrases | Numbers

Links

Other collections of Kabiye phrases
https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/Kabiye/Vocabulary/How-to-Say-Hello-and-Greetings
https://www.livelingua.com/project/peace-corps/Kabiye

Phrases in Gur languages

Kabiye, Mossi, Tem

Phrases in other languages

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