Dioula is a language widely spoken in Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, and Mali, often used as a trade and communication language across the region. In this article, we explore common Dioula phrases you can use in everyday conversations to connect with the language and its speakers.
Greetings in Dioula
| English |
Dioula |
| Greetings |
Foliw |
| Good evening |
I ni wula |
| Good morning |
I ni sɔgɔma |
| Good afternoon |
Ala ka wula hɛɛrɛ |
| How are you? |
Aw be di? |
| How are you today? |
Aw be du bi? |
| I am fine |
N ka kɛnɛ |
| Have a good day |
Ala ka tilen hɛɛrɛ |
| I am doing great |
N ka kɛnɛ kosɔbɛ |
| Hi/Hello |
Foli b, a ye |
| Nice to meet you |
Nne nisɔndiyanin lo |
| See you soon |
K, an dɔɔnin |
| See you later |
K'an bɛn kɔfɛ! |
Love words in Dioula
| English |
Dioula |
| Love Language |
Kanu kuma |
| I love you |
I ka di n y |
| I miss you |
I k'a kanu nigɛ bi n na |
| I love you so much |
N bi kanu kosɔbɛ |
| I want to see you |
N bi fɛ ka i ye |
| I love you with all my heart |
N bi fɛ nin dusubɛ ye |
| I love you too |
I ko la di nne ye fana |
| I like you |
I ko la di nne ye kojugu |
| You are beautiful |
I cɛ ka ɲi |
| You look beautiful |
I ye sunguru sarani ye |
| My beautiful wife |
N ka furumuso cɛɲumanin |
| My love |
N ka jarabi |
| I miss you so much, my darling |
I haminanko bi n na kojugu |
| I need you |
N bi i fɛ |
| You miss me |
N bi na miri i ko |
| Goodbye, my love |
An bi kɛ dɔɔnin |
| See you tomorrow |
An bi kɛ sini |
| I will marry you |
N bi na i ka furu siri |
| I want some space |
N makoya bi kɛnɛ na |
| I need your love |
N bi ka kanu fɛ |
| You are mine |
I ye nne ta lo ye |
Directions in Dioula
| English |
Dioula |
| Directions |
Siraw |
| Where are you? |
I bi min? |
| Where did you go? |
I tun tangara min? |
| Where do you live? |
I bi sii min? |
| Where are you going? |
I bi tagara min? |
| Where were you? |
I tun bi yoro juma? |
Common Questions in Conversation in Dioula
| English |
Dioula |
| Common Questions in Conversation |
Kumaw minw an bi baarokɛ ni u ye |
| How much? |
Joli lo? |
| How are you been? |
I bi cogo juman |
| How are you feeling? |
Hɛɛra sira wa |
| What is your name? |
I jamu ko di |
| What are you doing? |
I bi mu lo kɛra |
| What are you cooking/eating? |
I bi mu lo tibi la |
| Are you ok, dear? |
A ka fisa jarabi |
| When are you coming? |
I bi na tuma juman |
| How was your day/your night? |
I ka su tun bi di, I ka tile tun bi di |
| How is your family? |
Somɔgɔ bi di? |
| What is wrong? |
Mun lo ti ɲana bora? |
| What do you mean? |
I bi fɛ ka mun lo fo |
| How is the weather over there? |
Wagati juma lo be yi? |
| Have you gone to church? |
I tun bi egilizi la wa? |
| What is this? |
Nin ye mun ye? |
| What is going on? |
Mun le kɛra? |
| Are you listening? |
I bi n lamɛna wa? |
| Have you heard? |
I ba tulolamɛ na wa? |
| Can I go home? |
Ni bi seka don wa? |
| Can I ask something? |
N bi se ka ɲinikɛli? |
| How is everything? |
A bi cogo di? |
| What is your phone number? |
I ka nɛgɛjuru ye juma lo ye? |
Everyday Conversations in Dioula
| English |
Dioula |
| Conversations |
lonbɛ barow |
| Happy birthday |
I ni kunbɛnseli |
| Thank you |
I ni ce |
| I am sorry |
N kamana gwannin lo |
| You are welcome |
Basi tara |
| Me too |
Nne fana be yi |
| God bless you |
Ala ka dɛmɛ kɛ |
| May God protect you |
Ala ka i latanga |
| She is happy |
A dusu ka di |
| Please help me |
Nne bi i ka dɛmɛ fɛ |
| I don't know |
N ta lon |
| I will come tomorrow |
N bi nana siini |
| Come here |
Na yan |
| Feel at home |
A kɛ i na fo i yɛrɛ fɛ |
| Be blessed |
Ala ka kɛ dugadenw ye |
| I am coming soon |
N bi nana sisan |
| Excuse me |
Yafa nne ma |
| Leave me alone |
Nne too hɛɛrɛ la |
| It is okay |
A ka fisa |
| I am going home |
N bi doona nne ka so |
| I don't want |
Nne t'a fɛ |
| Love is a beautiful thing |
Kanu ye fɛnɲuman lo ye |
| Let me try |
Nne too n ba kɛ ka filɛ |
| Welcome home |
I dansɛ |
| I reached home safely |
N ɲuman sera |
| God is good |
Ala kaɲi |
| I don't understand |
N ta famuɲa la |
| We are happy to see you |
Anw dusu dia le lo ka ele ye |
| I have it |
A bi n fɛ |
| Rest in peace |
Ala ka hinɛ i la |
| I don't have money |
N ti ni wari ye |
| I have done |
N tila ra |
| I am going to the shop |
N bi tagara magazin ra |
| Happy new year |
Sanbɛ sanbɛ |
| Bad manners |
Kɛwali juguw |
| Stop using your phone |
I ka telefoni labi la |
| I need a favour, please |
N makoya bi la ka nne dɛmɛ |
| Haven't seen you for ages |
A kɛra kɛmɛsi ye, n ma i ye |
| Great to see you again |
N dusu ka di k'a i ye |
| I really appreciate it |
N ba waliɲumalon |
| You made my day |
I ye n ka tilen dia |
| No problem |
Basi tara |
| We are hiring |
Anw bi mɔgɔw sugandi |
This is just the beginning. You have to practice constantly to learn a new language, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The best trick is to master at least five Dioula words daily from the Dioula dictionary.
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