Fut (Bɨfɨɨ̀)

Fut is a member of the Eastern Grasslands branch of the Southern Bantoid language family. It is spoken by about 100,000 people in the Northwest Region of Cameroon, particularly in the Bafut Sub-Division in the Mezam Division in the south of the Northwest Region.

Fut is also known as Bafut, Befe, Bafe or Fu, and Fut speakers call their language Bɨfɨɨ̀. There are two dialects: Bafut and Bufe (Afughe). A way to write Fut with the Latin alphabet was developed by Joseph Mfonyam, a consultant for SIL International, in 1982. Some written material has been produced in Fut, including a translation of the New Testament of the Bible. The language is taught in schools and churchs, and also used in radio programs.

Fut alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Fut (Excel)
Details of the Fut alphabet provided by Wolfram Siegel (PDF)

Sample text

Yesu a swoŋ a mbo bo mə, “Nɨ̀ kɨɨ tɨ tsàꞌàtə̀ Nwî nɨ̀ swoŋ mə: ‘Taà yìꞌì, ghɨ̀rə tâ bìꞌi ka ŋghaꞌasə Ɨkûm ghô. Tâ ànnù nɨfɔ̂ yo à zi.
Ka mfa mɨjɨ mìi mə mɨ kuꞌunə a mbo bìꞌì aa a njwi njwî;
ŋ̀kɨ ŋka nlìꞌìnə̀ nɨ̂ ɨ̀fansənnù jiꞌi, nloŋ mə bìꞌi ŋkɨɨ nliꞌinə nɨ̂ jì bə̂ bìi mə bɨ fànsə a nu bìꞌì aà; ǹtsuu kɨ bii bìꞌì ka ŋwo nɨ̂ àkwàꞌànə̀ bə̂.’ ”

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/2147/LUK.11.BFD

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.
The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4

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

Sample videos

Information about Fut | Numbers

Links

Information about Fut
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fut_language
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bafut_(langue)/
https://www.webonary.org/bafut/overview/introduction/
http://www.language-archives.org/language/bfd
https://www.sil.org/resources/search/language/bfd

Grassfields languages

Awing, Baba, Bambalang, Bamukumbit, Bamum, Bamunka, Bangolan, Feʼfeʼ, Fut, Ghomalaʼ, Kenswei Nsei, Kom, Limbum, Mmen, Nso, Oku, Vengo, Yamba, Yemba

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 28.10.25. Last modified: 28.10.25

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