OUBI WORDS AND PHRASES
Dutch transliteration - English translation… English transliteration
Méa - literally ‘nose’, said when someone sneezes (like a ‘bless you!’)…. may’-ah
Téra - like the Sierra Leonean Krio Osh, said when someone else hurts himself or tells you about his bad fortune. Expressed commiseration/empathy…. teh’-rah
Uh mi moglè - I’m going for a pee… uh mee mow’-gleh
Uh mi modèdi - I’m going to eat.. Uh mee mow-deh-dee
Uh mi mo pèrè di - I’m going to eat biscuits…. Uh mee mow peh-rehN dee
Uh mi mo ko di - I’m going to eat rice… Uh mee mow kow dee
Do a modèdi - Come eat (with us)… Dow ah mow-deh-dee
Uh mèwo mo-o-nho - I’m going to sit down… Uh meh-woh moh-oh-no
Uh mi mo-o - I’m going to sleep… Uh mee moh-oh
Uh mi mo-o kè - I’m going to bed…. Uh mee moh-oh keh
Mbi - father
Ndi - mother
Na ndi ko-èN - My mother is dead
Na mbi woh nokro - My father is alive (lit. in life?)
Nasouwo - Thank you… Nah-soo’-woh
Aoh - You’re welcome (there’s not a real phrase
Ngo soyo - expression of surprise (I’m scared!)… Ngoh soh-yoh’
Gbèrè moh nyoro - A nice big ass, that is a woman. Gbeh-reh moh nyoh-roh (not Oubi but Glaro)
Yirou gbe
Djokouée! - Beautiful curves! (beautiful big boobs and butt)… Joe-koo-way! (draw out the last syllable for extra effect)
Nyiri fouoN - fart. Lit. empty turd/poop
Klé - burp… Klay
Havè nilè - chicken egg (Havè - chicken, nilè - egg). Hah’-veh nee-leh
Havè nili hweng - two eggs (nilè becomes nili in plural)
Badjè….? Where is….?… Bah-jeh’
Badjè gwè? Where is the chimp?
Hwong - here… HuohN
Kèmi - over there… Keh’-mee
Yèko - over here (voici). Yeh’koh
Mouyo - go ahead already (I’ll follow) … Moo’-yoh
Bèyo (momou) - go ahead, go in front of me… Beh’-yoh (moh-moo’) :you can use just ‘mou’ too.
Tjèdè - it’s cold… Cheh-day
Tjèni - I’m cold… Cheh-nee
Ngeo - hello (to 1 person).. Njay’-oh
Ngewa - hello (to multiple people)… Njay’-wah
Ndi - mother… Ndee
Mbi - father… Mbee
Dou - brother… Doo (hard d)
Dou nyoro(no) - sister… Doo nyoh-roh (literally sibling woman)
Nyoro - woman… Nyoh-roh
Nyou bèyou - man… Nyoo beh yoo
You - Offspring/child… Yoo
You nyou bèyou - son… Yoo nyoo beh yoo (literally child man)
You nyoro - daughter… Yoo nyoh-roh (literally child woman)
You parong - baby… Yoo pah-roN
You tawè - toddler… Yoo tah-way
Mbi dou - paternal uncle… Mbee doo (literally father brother)
Ndi dou - maternal uncle… Ndee doo (literally mother brother)
Mbi dou nyorono - paternal aunt… Mbee doo nyoh-roh-noh (literally father sibling woman)
Ndi dou nyorono… Maternal aunt (literally mother sibling woman)
Dou nyoro - sister in law (wife of brother) or also? brother in law (husband of sister?) .. Doo nyoh-roh
Na yirou ndi - grandmother…nah yiroo ndee (yirou=big)
Na yirou mbi - grandfather… Nah yiroo mbee
Nasè toué? - what’s your age?… Nah-say too-aye?
Nasè….- My age is…. Nah-say
Na nyèrè? What’s your name?… Nah nyeh-reh?
Na nyèrè Jenny - my name is jenny… Nah nyeh-reh Jenny
Tollo oué? - Where are you from? Toh-loh oo-ay?
Oué Pays-Bas - I’m from Holland… Oo-ay Pay-ee-bah
Hiiii - Yes… Heeee
Hooh - No… HohN
Ti méra ngaa - eight o’clock tomorrow… Tee meh-ra ngah (soft ngah, you don’t hear the g sound)
Mi koolèng ngaa? - Are you going to the forest tomorrow?…. Mee koh-lehN ngah?
Mi koolèng ka - I’m going to the forest now….Mee koh-lahN kah
Mi koolèng kra - I’m going to the forest right now… Mee koh-lahN krah
Oh mèwo nyè - I want water… Oh meh-woh nee-yeah (when pronounced quickly it sounds more like Oh mènyé)
Taro - welcome to someone coming from far or has been away for a long time.
Djiroo - welcome to someone who comes from close by.
Ngè’lèkoo - I have found you! (answer to Djiroo)
Touo - war…. Too-woh
Oh siay - I’m tired… Oh see-ahy
Oh ko to - I possess intelligence (I’m smart)… OhN koh toh
Ko to - you possess intelligence… Koh toh
Guè no kli - the chimp is strong… Goo-eh noh klee
No kli - You’re strong… Noh klee
Nyoyou no kli - the man is strong… Nyoh-yoo noh klee
Ohn no kli - I am strong… OhN noh klee
Nouwèyou oh no kli komo ha nouwèyou - A strong man is a real man… Nyoh-yoo oh noh klee koh-moh hahN nyoh-you
Nouwèyou golo nia oyè mola koè- a man with hunger has no joy…Nyoh-yoo goh-loh nee-ah oh-yeahmoh-la koo-eh
Golo ni- I am hungry…. Goh-loh nee
Nyo-person/human… Nyoh
Tooroo - yesterday… Toh-roh
Diroo-welcome… Dee-roh (or Djiroo?)
Ohn djèlèkoo - I have found you (answer to welcome)… OhN jeh-leh-koh
Koué - mlaN koué (banana)
yiropo koué (plantain. Literally banana that can be grilled)
Wouloo - Head… Wooloh
Yirogbo - Eye
Yi - Eyes
Méa - Nose
Wou - Mouth
Nowah - Ear
Nouwi - Ears
Korah - hand
Kouri - hands
Gbo - foot
Gbé - feet
Oumoh - butt cheek (ou swallowed)
Oumi - butt (both sides!)
HwoN - arm
HwèN - arms
Poh - leg
Pwèh - legs
Kou-oulé - mobile téléphone
Glaafoo - fixed téléphone (landline)