Kpelle is a widely spoken language in Liberia and parts of Guinea, rich in culture, storytelling, and everyday expression. Learning a few common Kpelle phrases is a great way to connect with its speakers and appreciate the traditions behind the language.
Greetings in Kpelle
| English | Kpelle |
|---|---|
| Good evening | E tuwa |
| Good morning | Ya ŋwuŋ |
| Good afternoon | E yi kpɛli |
| How are you? | Gaa lei? |
| How are you today? | Gaalei haakele? |
| I am fine | ɲɔŋwɔɔ ho zu |
| Have a good day | Gu tuwo a nɛlɛ |
| I am doing great | ɲɔŋwɔɔ ho zu |
| Hi/Hello | Gaa lei? |
| Nice to meet you | E kaa luwu |
| See you soon | Gu naada e ge |
| See you later | Gu pulu ɓa |
Love Language in Kpelle
| English | Kpelle |
|---|---|
| I love you | E wɛli kaa mi |
| I miss you | E wɛli ka zoŋzi |
| Love you so much | E wɛli kaa mi kpɔ kɛnɛ |
| I want to see you | Gaa bɔ ŋe e kaa |
| I love you with all my heart | E wɛli kaa mi kpɔ ɲetɔnɔ mɛi |
| I love you too | ɲaagbɛli e wɛli kaa mi |
| I want to see you | Gaa bɔ ŋe e kaa |
| I like you | E wɛli kaa mi |
| You are beautiful | E lɛlɛɛi |
| My love | Ŋwɛli |
| You look beautiful | E lɛlɛɛi |
| My beautiful wife | Nia lɛlɛɛ |
| I miss you so much, darling | Ŋwɛli, e wɛli kaa zonzi kpɔ kɛnɛ |
| I need you | Maakpaaŋ gaa yɛ |
| You will miss me | Ŋwɛli kaapai e honzii |
| Goodbye, my love | Ŋwɛli, gupulu ɓa |
| See you tomorrow | Gu tina |
| I will marry you | Gaa pai e heɣei a nia |
| I want some space | Kɛnaa ta maakpaŋ gaa mi |
| I need your love | E wɔ wɛlikɛma maakpaŋ gaa mi |
| You are mine | Bɔɔ ɓa a yɛ |
Direction in Kpelle
| English | Kpelle |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | E kaa minɛ? |
| Where did you go? | Eli minɛ? |
| Where do you live? | E yee bɛlɛlaalɛi kaa minɛ? |
| Where are you going? | E kaa lii minɛ? |
| Where were you? | E kɛ minɛ? |
Common Questions in Conversation in Kpelle
| English | Kpelle |
|---|---|
| How much? | Yɛli? |
| How are you feeling? | E kɔlɔi kaa lei? |
| How have you been? | E kaa hiye lei? |
| What is your name? | E laa ɓaa a gbɛɛ? |
| What are you doing? | Leɓe e kaa gɛi? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Leɓe e kaa ɲilii / Leɓe e kaa mii? |
| Are you okay, dear? | E kɔlɔi pɔnɔɔi, ŋwɛli? |
| When are you coming? | Leyele ɓe a kaa pai la? |
| How was your night/day? | E yii a nɛlɛ? / E tuwo a nɛlɛ? |
| How are you doing? | Gaalei? |
| How is your family? | E wɔ pɛlɛi mu nua kaala kpɛli? |
| How was your day? | E tuwo a nɛlɛ? |
| What is wrong? | Leɓe kɛ? |
| What do you mean? | Leɓe e kaa bɔ e mo? |
| How's the weather over there? | Naabele ka |
| Have you gone to church? | Yaa li Galaŋ bɛlɛŋ mu? |
| What is this? | Leɓe ɲɛi? |
| What's going on? | Leɓe tɛɣɛi ɓɛ? |
| Are you listening? | E kaa maŋzii? |
| Have you heard? | Yaa maŋ? |
| Can I go home? | Ŋa pɛli ŋe li bɛlɛ laalɛi? |
| Can I ask something? | Ŋa pɛli ŋe e maani kɛ mɛni ta ɓa? |
| How is everything? | Mɛni kele pɛlia zu? |
| What’s your phone number? | E wɔ telephone ŋwɔ numero kaa yɛli? |
Everyday Conversation in Kpelle
| English | Kpelle |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | E kaa holo nuwu ɓe |
| Thank you | E mama |
| I am sorry | Maahwalɛɛ |
| You are welcome | E pa luwu |
| Me too! | ɲa gbɛlimaŋ |
| God bless you | Yala e luwo too yɛ |
| May God protect you | Yala e niniŋ bɛlɛ e mɛi |
| She is happy | Gwei nɛɛi |
| Please help me | Nɛɛyɛ, kpɔma tɛɣɛ bɔ |
| I don't know | Ve gbaɣala kɔlɔŋ |
| I will come tomorrow | Gaa pai pai tina |
| Come here! | Pa ɓɛ |
| Feel at home | E pɔɔli ka |
| Be blessed | Luwo e kɛ yɛ |
| I am coming soon | Gaa pai kpɔlɔ ɲɛi |
| Excuse me | Maahwaalɛɛ |
| Leave me alone | Lɛɛlaa |
| It is okay | Yaali |
| I am going home | Gaali bɛlɛ laa lɛi |
| I don't want | Ve Bɔ |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Wɛlikɛma kaa a hɛŋ nɛlɛɛ |
| Let me try | Nɛɛ ŋe zu kɔɔŋ |
| Welcome home | E pa luwu |
| I reached home safely | Ŋe heli bɛlɛlaalɛi a nɛlɛɛ |
| God is good | Yala ŋwɔ mɛni lɛlɛɛi |
| I don't understand | Ve ɲaa kaai |
| We are happy to see you | Ku kwei nɛɛ ɓe e kaa mɛni ɓa |
| I have it | Gaa ɲɛi |
| Rest in peace | Yala e zee ŋwɔ kpeliŋ nɛlɛɛ mɛi |
| I don't have money | Wali hwe ɲei |
| I am done | Ŋa kpɛɛ |
| I am going to the shop | Gaa lii nɔwɔ kele mu |
| Happy New Year | Gwɛlaŋ ninɛi ɲɛi, nuwu ɓe |
| Bad manners | Tuwo pele ɲɔɔŋ |
| Stop using your phone | Kpila e wɔ telephone heɣe, yɛ mɛniŋaa kɛla |
| I need a favour, please | Gaa bɔ e mɛni ta kɛ mii |
| Haven’t seen you for ages | ɲɛi a heɣe yɛ zu a kwiya |
| Great to see you again | Gweinɛɛ ɓe a kaa mɛni ɓa ŋwɔnɔ |
| I really appreciate it | Yili a nɛɛma kpɔ kɛnɛ |
| You made my day | Ya kele gweinɛ kpɔ kɛnɛ |
| No problem | Mɛni ta hweli |
| We are hiring | Ku kaa kolokɛnua heɣei |
Learning a language requires constant practice, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The best trick is to master at least five Kpelle words daily from the Kpelle dictionary.
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