A collection of useful phrases in Buli, a Gur language spoken in the Upper East Region in northern 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.
| Phrase | Buli |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Tia |
| Hello (General greeting) | Ngaanga |
| Hello (on phone) | |
| How are you? | Ka se-aa? Fi nying ká po? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Nalim nyini Ku baasa Ku nala |
| Long time no see | Ka bena taa an ngman nya chaaba |
| What's your name? | Fi yue le boa? Fi yue ale boa? |
| My name is ... | Mi yue le ... |
| Where are you from? | Fi nyini ka be? |
| I'm from ... | N nyini ka ... |
| Pleased to meet you | N popo pienti ya mi le nya fu la |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Salü-ya? Salui-wa? |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Kantueng-aa? |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Jünoi-ya? |
| Good night | Wen te ti va nalung (God give you a good morning) |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Mi a kuli ká yeri-a N kuli be n jam Ti nya chum (in the evening) Ku nye maga (see you soon) |
| 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 |
|
| Yes | Mmm Ain |
| No | Awo |
| Maybe | |
| I don't know | |
| Do you understand? | Faa wom yaa? |
| I understand | |
| I don't understand | Mi kan wom ku nalim nyiini Mi an ming chag nalim nyiini |
| Please speak more slowly | Yueni mag-maga |
| Please say that again | Ngman yueni Ngman weeni |
| Please write it down | Ngmarisi dueni |
| Do you speak English? | Faa biisi felini? Faa biisi felini ya? |
| Do you speak Buli? | Faa biisi Buli yaa? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
N bag kama, maa biisi Buli maga-maga |
| I'm learning Buli | |
| Do you speak a language other than Buli? |
|
| Speak to me in Buli | |
| How do you say ... in Buli? | ... yue ale Buli? Buli a wi ... ka boa? |
| Excuse me | Man kpesi ya. Te mu siuk |
| I would like ... | |
| How much is this? | |
| Sorry | N kaasi N kaasi spoil |
| Please | Ma saalim |
| Thank you | Be chogsa N bu chogsa |
| Reply to thank you | Á vuusi. Jiam karo. Kan namu Daa jiam wari ya |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Banjiranga bo ka be? Ti cheng ka be ga zaan binta? Soka doku bo ka be? |
| 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! | Fi bag a mari mu? Ma tuesi fu? |
| Fire! | |
| Stop! | |
| Call the police! | |
| Christmas greetings | |
| New Year greetings | Ti ben paali!/ Bian dai jianta! |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Fi bia-dai masim! Fi bia-dai nalim! Biam dai supeentuk! Niam nalung dai yaa! |
| Congratulations! | Fin ninaung jiam |
| One language is never enough | |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Buli | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Source: Buli Language Guide, by Franz Kröger. 2020.
Buli, Kabiye, Mossi, Nawdm, Tem
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