A
little dictionary of Eton.
version July 2005
copyright by Andreas Richter and Patricia Lecuyer
new entries marked with #
Homepage: www.geocities.com/gaulle99/
Note to users: This dictionary is not scientific. It is a result of interrogation of
Eton native speakers and subsequent transcription, carried out by the authors.
Feel free to submit any corrections or contributions to the following email
address: richter_a@hotmail.com
For more information on Eton: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beti
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Greetings |
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MBE MBE
KIRI |
Good morning. / Hello. |
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O NEM BORGUI [BORÉ *] |
How are you? |
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OWÉH, ME NEM BORGUI [BORÉ *] |
Yes, I'm fine. |
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ME NE DONA ANDREAS |
My name is Andreas. |
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BE TE MA LLONG NA ANDI |
But I am only called Andi. |
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ME SEM
BORGUI [BORÉ *] |
I don't feel well. (as well
morally) |
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ME TE WA
KONe... |
Hello... |
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MBE MBE N'GORÉ |
Good evening. (early
evening) |
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MBE MBE ALOU |
Good evening. (late
evening) |
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ME TE KE (A CAMEROUN) |
Bye bye. ("I am
leaving to Cameroon.") |
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O BÓM BEM'BORÉ |
You sleep good! |
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O BÓM BEM'BANG |
Good night. |
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[*] ... local pronounciation differencies |
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Origins |
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MONJANG [WUOME] |
[My] sister, [my] brother,
[my] sisters and brothers |
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ME NE MOT ANDSCHÁMEN |
I come from Germany. |
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ME TE KWAL-ETON |
I speak Eton. |
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ME TE KWAL-N'KWAL ... ... MINTANGENE |
I speak French. ("I
speak the language of the white French.") |
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NAM MINTANGENE |
France ("White peoples
land") |
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MINTANGENE |
white person |
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MORIVINNA (from MOT EEVINNA) |
black person |
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EEVINNA |
black |
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Feelings |
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MA DING
WA |
I like you. (I love you.) |
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ME TI WA DING... |
I love you... |
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ME NE MINTAK |
I am happy. |
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ME TU OUOK MINTAK |
I am happy. ("I have
happiness.") |
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MME MINGA: |
Beautyful woman! |
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ISSINGE WUOME |
My cat! |
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Description of time |
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KIRI |
tomorrow |
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O KIRI |
See you tomorrow! |
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AMBUSe KIRI |
the day after tomorrow |
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ANG-GORÉ |
yesterday (that what
happened before the night) |
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KIRI MI TI KE YEN DOCTEUR |
Tomorrow I am going to see
the doctor. |
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KIRI MI TI KE ASUKULa |
Tomorrow I am going to
school. |
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In the Kitchen |
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ME TU OUOK ZA |
I am hungry. |
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ME TI I BI:DI |
I want to eat. |
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BI:DI |
food |
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ME TI I N'NOUNG DAMe |
I want something to drink. |
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ME TI I N'NOUNG BIAH |
I want to drink a beer. |
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I TI I N'NOUNG CAFÉ |
We are drinking coffee. |
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VEMA BERRE |
Give me the bread. |
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ME TI DING MOTORO |
I like boiled potatos. |
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I TI NYEB (ABUI) |
It's (very) good. |
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KASSINN |
kitchen |
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MBE |
cooking pot |
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PLAPAN |
pan |
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[B]ISSO: |
plate[s] |
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NÓMÓN |
bottle |
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[B]ILÁ |
drinking glass[es] |
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OCKENG |
knife |
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ILOUM |
fork |
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TOCK |
spoon |
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TEBeLE |
table |
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[B]ITÓ |
chair[s] |
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BORB-ASSI: |
Have a seat! |
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BORB-ITO: |
Please keep your seat. |
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Food |
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MENDIM |
Water |
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MILIK |
Milk |
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MEDSCHOK |
Alcoholic beverages |
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BERRE |
Bread |
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ODJO: |
Fruit Banana |
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ICOUAN |
Vegetable Banana (Sing.) |
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BICOUAN |
Vegetable Banana (Pl.) |
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NDOLÉ |
green leafs, usually
smashed and cooked |
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KPEMM |
green leafs, like above,
but sweet |
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MAKABO: |
sort of potatoe |
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INIAM |
another sort of potatoe |
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OWONO |
Peanuts |
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[B]OPOUMA |
Orange[s] |
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BI-OLO |
Bisquits |
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Daily life |
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ABUMGANG |
Thank you. |
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TE E DAM |
You are welcome. |
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ME TU OUOK... |
I can hear /understand
(you)... |
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...N'DAM OT' KWALE |
...what you are saying. |
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ME WUORNA: O KOUSMA: ... ... NJOM-KOU |
I heard that you paid me... ...the „coq de village“
(„the rooster“) |
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ME TOUA WE ABUMGANG |
I thank you very much. |
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ME BELLÉ... |
I have... |
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ME-NE |
I am |
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A-NE |
he / she is |
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O-NE |
you are |
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BE-NE |
we / you / they are |
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LERMA APOUP |
show me the field |
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NNONG |
to take |
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ME TU BENN |
I refuse. [= No] |
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BOB |
to beat (somebody) |
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O: DJIP |
You stole! |
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A: DJIP |
He / she stole |
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ISSA |
to work |
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ME T'ISSA APOUP |
I am working on the field. |
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ME TE
KOMe... |
I am doing... |