Useful phrases in Bassa

A collection of useful phrases in Bassa (Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀), a Western Kru language spoken in Liberia and Sierra Leone.

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	Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀ (Bassa)
Welcome	Ḿ kpɔ̃ m̀ hwìǐ (sg) À kpɔ̃ m̀ hwìǐ (pl)
Hello (General greeting)	M̀ mɔ́ínǹ (sg) Ɓě mɔ́ínǹ (pl)
Hello (on phone)	M̀ mɔ́ínǹ ɖéé
How are you?	À wɔ̃́ ɖé m̀ gboe?
Reply to 'How are you?'	Ɖé pɛɛ̀ nío
Long time no see	À ɓɔ́ó dyéɛ̀n nyɛ
What's your name?	Xwɛ̌ nì nyɛ́nɛ́ jǔɛ́? Xwɛ̌ nì nyɛ́nɛ́ jǔ kɛ́?
My name is ...	Ní nyɛ́nɛ́ mɔ̀…
Where are you from?	Dɛ̌ m̀ sɔ̀ kɛ́?
I'm from ...	Ḿ sɔ̀ ɖé …
Pleased to meet you	Ḿ kpá múàǔn ɓɛ́ ḿ ké m̀ dyɛ́ɛ
Good morning (Morning greeting)	M̀ mɔ́ínǹ
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting)	M̀ hwèɖèǐnǹ
Good evening (Evening greeting)	M̀ hwèɖèǐnǹ
Good night	Nì hwuɖu ɖǎ hwɔo
Goodbye (Parting phrases)	M̀ hwuɖuáo (sg) Ɓě hwuɖuáo (pl)
Good luck!	Mana nì m̀ kɔ̃o! (sg) Mana nì ɓě kɔ̃o! (pl)
Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking)	À kɔìn gáɖásì dyí! Nì dyɔɔ̀ mɛ wóɖó mú!
Have a nice day	Nì wéɔ̀ mɛ nɔ̀mɔ̀ dyíino
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal	Nì zùo! Mu dyúa!
Bon voyage / Have a good journey	M̀ hwuɖuáo Nì hwìèɔ̀ mɛ pɛ́ɛ̀ dyío
Yes	Ǹdye Èè
No	Gbào
Maybe	Kɛbì
I don't know	Ḿ se dyuò Ḿ seɛ dyí dyuò
Do you understand?	M̀ wɔ̃́ɔ múinǹ?
I understand	Ḿ wɔ̃́ɔ múin
I don't understand	Ḿ seɛ múin wɔ̃́
Please speak more slowly	Ma mú ɓɛ́ m̀ ké wùɖù
Please say that again	Kpa nì wuɖuɔ̀ kɔ̃in ɖe
Please write it down	Céèɛ̀ ɓíɖíi
Do you speak English?	Nì po xwí-wùɖùù?
Do you speak Bassa?	Nì po Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖùù?
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?')	Ǹdye, ḿ po ɖò wè
Do you speak a language other than Bassa?	Nì po wuɖu kà kò ɖò ɓó Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù wáúnǹ?
Speak to me in Bassa	Po ḿ Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù gbo
How do you say ... in Bassa?	Xwɛ̌ m̀ nyu … ɖáa ɖé Ɓǎsɔ́ɔ̀-wùɖù múɛ́?
Excuse me	M̀ kã̀fĩ́áo
How much is this?	Jĩ̀ xwɛ̌ m̀ pèɖèìn ɖɛ nìà kɛɛ́?
Sorry	M̀ kpa gɔ̃̌ Ḿ kpá wìǐn
Please	M̀ zùo Nì zùo
Thank you	M̀ zùo Nì zùo
Reply to thank you	Èè
Where's the toilet / bathroom?	Dɛ̌ ɓě mùìn hwìè xwíníín nyɛ́? Dɛ̌ dèɖèìn-gbòɔ̀ ɖé?
This gentleman will pay for everything	Gàa nìà kɛ mu ɖɛ séín ɓěɔ̀ jè pɛ́ɛ̀ìn
This lady will pay for everything	Màa nìà kɛ mu ɖɛ séín ɓěɔ̀ jè pɛ́ɛ̀ìn
Would you like to dance with me?	M̀ mɔ́ ɓɛ́ ḿ kè mɔ̀ ké dyeè?
Do you come here often?	Nì dyi dà kpɛ́-kpɛ́ɛ̀?
I miss you	Nì tó nyu ḿ ní
I love you	Ḿ ɖɛ̀ɓɛ̀ m̀ mú
Get well soon	M̀ mɛ fṹà dyi kánáuńo
Go away!	Sɔ̀ ḿ bũ!
Leave me alone!	Táà ḿ dyi
Help!	Kpá ḿ gboe!
Fire!	Ɔ mɔ̀ nyɛo!
Stop!	Ɓɔ́ ná nyuɛ!
Call the police!	Ɖá pòɖésì!
Christmas greetings	Nì Mɔ̀sìo
New Year greetings	Nì Zɔ̃ Ɖìèo
Easter greetings	Nì Ísɔ̀ɖɔ̀o
Birthday greetings	Nì wóɖó-wèɔ̀o
Congratulations!	Nì zùo mìɔo!
One language is never enough	Wuɖu dyúáɖò po-po se dyíin nɔ̀mɔ̀
My hovercraft is full of eels

Hear a recording of all of these phrases

Download all the audio files

Phrases and recordings povided by Charles Riley and Don Slager

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

Information about Bassa | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Phrases in Kru languages

Bassa, Bete (Daloa)

Phrases in other languages

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