Berom (Cèn Bèrom)

Berom is a member of the Plateau branch of the Benue-Congo group of the Atlantic-Congo languages. It is spoken by about 1 million people in the north of Plateau State in central Nigeria, particularly in and to the south and east of Jos city and in the Barkin Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas (LGAs). There are also Berom speakers in the Jema'a LGA in Kaduna State. In rural areas, Berom is widely spoken by people of all ages, however in urban areas, there is a shift to Hausa.

Berom is also known as Birom, and native speakers call it Cèn Bèrom and they call themselves Berom / Birom. Dialects include Vwang, Foron, Riyom, Bachit, Gashish and Hoss.

Ways to write Berom with the Latin script were first devised by missionaries in 1916. Since then a number of spelling systems have been used. The one shown here was published by the Berom Language Board and the Nigeria Bible Translation Trust in 1991. The language was taught in schools in the 1970s, and teaching material and other books in and about the language were published. The language is currently used on the radio and television to some extent.

Berom alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Berom (Excel)

Sample text (The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4)

Ko Yɛsu a yang ɛn, “Jeng de yin a sé ra won, yē in: “ ‘À Da, tik na be nɔ̂ng reza mō rê jɛrɛ nerey; tik na jeng de hwô re negwɔm ye vey.
Nɔng ot kahɛ tuk pyɛ̂ re de wot e simo.
Hàla a wot banɛn mot, yaga wot pyɛ mot wot e hàla a kawɛ mwat de e ra a wot banɛn. Hwo tik na wot a wɔ́ e kwɔ̂n setɔgɔs wɛt.’ ”

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1591/LUK.11.BOMBI

Translation

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Sample videos

Information about Berom | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Berom
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berom_language
http://www.rogerblench.info/Language/Niger-Congo/BC/Plateau/Beromic/Berom/Berom%20page.htmbte
https://www.academia.edu/48907901
http://olac.ldc.upenn.edu/language/bom
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/bom

Atlantic-Congo languages

Bandial, Bariba, Berom, Cebaara, Efik, Esimbi, Ibibio, Iceve-Maci, Jibu, Kambari, Kar, Kissi, Kom, Laalaa, Limba, Mbum, Mono, Mundang, Noon, Obolo, Safen, Supyire, Temne, Ubang, Yemba

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 05.03.24

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