Mande languages

The **Mande languages** are a family of languages. They are spoken in many countries in West Africa by the Mandé peoples. Some of these languages are Maninka (Malinke), Mandinka, Soninke, Bambara, Kpelle, Jula (Dioula), Bozo, Mende, Susu, and Vai. There are around 60 to 75 of these languages. 30 to 40 million speak them. Most of the speakers of these languages live in Burkina Faso, Mali, Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) and also in southern Mauritania, northern Ghana, northwestern Nigeria and northern Benin.

The Mande languages are similar to the Atlantic–Congo language family. They make up the larger Niger–Congo language family. However, the Mande languages do not have some important features that the Atlantic–Congo languages have. Linguists have increasingly thought of the two families as different.

## Numerals

Comparison of numbers in different languages:

|Classification|Language|1|2|3|4|5|6|7|8|9|10|
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|Bissa|Bissa (Bisa)|díí|píjà|kakʊ́|sɪ̀|sɔ́ɔ̀|sòàtɪ (5 + 1)|sáápra (5 + 2)|síɲe (2 x 4) ?|nɛfʊ̀ (10 -1) ?|bʊ̀|
|Busa|Boko|do|pla|ʔààɔ̃|sííɔ̃|sɔ́o|soolo (5 + 1)|sopla (5 + 2)|swaàɔ̃ (5 + 3)|kɛ̃̀okwi [ litː tear away 1 (from) 10 ]|kwi|
|Busa|Bokobaru (Zogbẽ)|do|pláa|ʔààɡɔ̃|sííɡɔ̃|sɔ́ɔ́ro|swɛ́ɛ̀do (5 + 1)|swɛ́ɛ̀pláa (5 + 2)|sɔ́rààɡɔ̃ (5 + 3)|kɛ̃́ndo (10–1)|kurì|
|Busa|Illo Busa|do|pia|ʔààkɔ̃|ʃííkɔ̃|sɔ́o|sóodo (5 + 1)|soopia (5 + 2)|swààkɔ̃ (5 + 3)|kĩ́ṇdokwi [litː tear away 1 (from) 10]|kwi|
|Busa|Busa|do|pla|ʔààkɔ̃|sííkɔ̃|sɔ́ɔ́ro|súddo (5 + 1)|súppla (5 + 2)|sɔ́rààkɔ̃ (5 + 3)|kɛ̃́ndo (10–1)|kurì|
|Kyanga|Kyanga (Kyenga) (1)|dúú|fʸáā|ˀāàː|ʃíí|sɔ́ɔ́rū|sɔ̄ɔ̄dū (5 + 1)|sʷāhʸáā (5 + 2)|sōōwà (5 + 3)|sòòʃí (5 + 4)|kōōrì|
|Kyanga|Kyanga (Kyenga) (2)|dūː|fʲâː|ʔàː|ʃíː|sɔ̂ːwû|sɔ̂ːdū (5 + 1)|sɔ̂ːfʲá (5 + 2)|sōːuwà (5 + 3)|sōwēʃíː (5 + 4)|kōːlì|
|Kyanga|Kyenga (3)|do|hia / fia|ʔà|ʃí|sɔɔlu|sɔɔdu (5 + 1)|sɔɔhia (5 + 2)|soowà (5 + 3)|sooʃí (5 + 4)|korì|
|Kyanga|Shanga|do|ʍa|ʔà|ʃí|sɔ́ɔ|sɔbodo (5 + 1)|sɔhia (5 + 2)|sɔboʔà (5 + 3)|sɔdoʃí (5 + 4)|wókòì|
|Samo|Matya Samo|ɡɔ̀rɔ́|prá|tjɔwɔ|sí|sɔ́rɔ́|sɛ̀rɛ́ (5 + 1)|tjʊ́sʊ́ (5 + 2)|tjisí (2 x 4)|ménaŋɡɔrɔ (10–1)|flè / fʊ̀|
|Samo|Maya Samo|dɛ́nɛ́|fúrá|kàakú|síirí|sɔ́ɔrɔ́|sɔ̀rɔ̀ (5 + 1)|sɔ̀frá (5 + 2)|cíɡísí (2 x 4 ) ?|sóosí (5 + 4) ?|bù|
|Guro-Tura|Guro|dʊ|fíé|yaá|zĩ̀ɛ̃́|sólú|sʊɛdʊ / sʊɛlʊ (5 + 1)|sʊlàyíé (5 + 2)|sʊlaá (5 + 3)|sʊlàzĩ̀ɛ̃́ (5 + 4)|vu|
|Guro-Tura|Yaouré|tʊ̀|fli̋|yaaɡa|sĩjɛ̃ = sĩɟɛ̃ or sĩd͡ʒɛ̃|sóolu|ʃɛ́dʊ (5 + 1)|sɔ́ravli (5 + 2)|sɔ́ra (5 + 3)|sɔ́rasiɛ̃ (5 + 4)|fù|
|Guro-Tura|Mann (Mano)|doó|pèèlɛ|yààka|yììsɛ|sɔ́ɔ́li|sáláádo (5 + 1)|sálápèèlɛ (5 + 2)|sálàka (5 + 3)|sɛ́lɛ̀ìsɛ (5 + 4)|vũ̀|
|Nwa-Ben|Beng|do|plaŋ|ŋaŋ|siéŋ|sɔ́ŋ|sɔ́do (5 + 1)|sɔ́pla (5 + 2)|sɔ́wa (5 + 3)|sisi (5 + 4)|ebu|
|Nwa-Ben|Gagu|dò|fɪ́n|yía|zié|súu|sɛ́dò (5 + 1)|sɛ́fɪ́n (5 + 2)|sɛà (5 + 3)|tízie (5 + 4)|vù|
|Nwa-Ben|Mwan (Muan)|do|plɛ|yaɡa|yiziɛ|sóó|srɔádo (5 + 1)|srɔáplɛ (5 + 2)|srɔ́a (5 + 3)|srɔáyiziɛ (5 + 4)|vu|
|Nwa-Ben|Wan|do|pilɔŋ|ʔã́|sijá|sɔ̀lú|wáŋ́|séaʔã́ (5 + 2)|séjãŋ́ (5 + 3)|sɔlásijá (5 + 4)|sɔ́jɔlú|
|Jogo-Jeri|Jalkunan|dúlì|fìlɑ̀|siɡ͡bù|nɑ̄ːnī|sōːlō|mìːlù|mɑ̀ɑ́lɑ̀|mɑ̀sīɡ͡bū (5 + 3)|mɑ́nɑ̄nì (5 + 4)|tɑ̄|
|Jogo-Jeri|Ligbi|díén / díyé|fàlà / fàlá|sèɡ͡bá / siɡ͡bá|náánè / náani|sóólò / sóolo|mɔ̀ɔ̀dó / mooró (5 + 1)|màúlà / mafála (5 + 2)|másèɡ͡bá / masiɡ͡bá (5 + 3)|màdááné / maráni (5 + 4)|táàn / táa|
|Manding|Marka (Dafing)|kyen / kyeren|fila / fila|saba / saba|nɛi / naani|luu / luuru|wɔɔ / wɔɔrɔ|wəna / wonla|sii / siɡi|konon / kondon|tan / tan|
|Manding|Bambara|kélen [kélẽ́]|fìla [fìlá]|sàba [sàbá]|náani [náːní]|dúuru [dúːrú]|wɔ́ɔrɔ [wɔ́ːrɔ́]|wólonwula [wólṍwulá]|sèɡin [sèɡĩ́]|kɔ̀nɔntɔn [kɔ̀nɔ̃̀tɔ̃́]|tán [tã́]|
|Manding|Jula (1)|kelen [ké.lẽ́]|filà [fì.là] ~ [flà]|sàbà [sà.bà]|nàànìn [nàːnĩ̀]|dùùrù [dù.ɾù]|wɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ̀ [wɔ̀ːɾɔ́]|wolon fìlà [wò.lṍ.fi.̀là]|sieɡi [sí.é.ɡí]|kɔ̀nɔ̀ndon [kɔ.̀nɔ̃.ⁿdṍ]|tan [tã́]|
|Manding|Jula (2)|kelen [kélẽ́]|fila [fìlá] / fla [flá]|saba [sàbá]|naani [náːní]|looru [lóːrú]|wɔɔrɔ [wɔ́ːrɔ́]|wolonfila [wólṍfìlá] / wolonfla|seɡin [sèɡĩ́] / seeɡi [sèːɡí]|kɔnɔntɔn [kɔ̀nɔ̃̀tɔ̃́]|tan [tã́]|
|Manding|Sankaran Maninka|kɛlɛn|fila|sawa|naani|loolu / looli|wɔɔrɔn|wɔɔrɔn (fi)la|sen|konondo|tan|
|Manding|Mahou|kéléŋ|fyàà|sàwà|náání|lóó|wɔ́ɔ́lɔ́|wóóŋvyàà|sɛ́ɲíŋ|kɔ̀ɔ̀nŋdɔ́ŋ|táŋ|
|Manding|Mandinka|kíliŋ|fula|saba|náani|lúulu|wóoro|wórówula|sáyi|konónto|táŋ|
|Manding|Xaasonga|kilin|fula|saba|naani|luulu|wooro|woorowula|saɡi|xononto|tan|
|Mokole|Kakabe|kélen|fìla|sàba|náani|lɔ́ɔlu|wɔ́ɔrɔ|wɔ́rɔwila (6 + 1)|sáɡin|kɔ̀nɔntɔ|tán|
|Mokole|Kuranko|kelen|fila|sawa / saba|nani|loli|wɔrɔ|wɔrɔnfila (6 + 1) ?|seɡin|kɔnɔnt|tan|
|Mokole|Lele|kelɛŋ|fela|sawa|nani|luuli|wɔɔrɔ|wɔrɔŋ kela (6 + 1)|seŋ|kɔnɔndɔ|taŋ|
|Vai-Kono|Kono|ncélen / ncéle, dɔ́ndo|fèa|sàwa|náani|dúʔu|wɔ́ɔlɔ|wɔ́nfèa / ɔ́ɱfèa|séi / séin|kɔ̀nɔ́ntɔn|tán|
|Vai-Kono|Vai|lɔ̀ndɔ́|fɛ̀(ʔ)á|sàk͡pá|náánì|sóó(ʔ)ú|sɔ̂ŋ lɔ̀ndɔ́ (5 + 1)|sɔ̂ŋ fɛ̀(ʔ)á (5 + 2)|sɔ̂ŋ sàk͡pá (5 + 3)|sɔ̂ŋ náánì (5 + 4)|tâŋ|
|Susu-Yalunka|Susu|kérén [kɛ́rɛ̃́]|fìrín [fìrĩ́]|sàxán [sàxã́]|náání|súlí|sénní [sẽní] (5 + 1)|sólófèré (5 + 2)|sólómásàxán (5 + 3)|sólómánáání (5 + 4)|fuú|
|Susu-Yalunka|Yalunka (1)|kèdé|fìríŋ|sàkáŋ|nànì|sùlù|sènì (5 + 1)|fòlófɛ̀rɛ́ (5 + 2)|fòlòmàsàkáŋ (5 + 3)|fòlòmànànì (5 + 4)|fù|
|Susu-Yalunka|Yalunka (Jalonke) (2)|keden|fidin|saxan|naani|suuli|sɛnni (5 + 1)|solofɛdɛ (5 + 2)|solomasɛɡɛ (5 + 3)|solomanaani (5 + 4)|fuu|
|Kpelle|Guinea Kpelle|tááŋ|hvèèlɛ̌ / hvèèlɛ́|hààbǎ / hààbá|nááŋ́|lɔ́ɔ́lí|mɛ̀í dà (5 + 1)|mɛ̀ì hvéélɛ̀ (5 + 2)|mɛ̀ì háábà (5 + 3)|mɛ̀ì nááŋ́ (5 + 4)|pòǔ|
|Kpelle|Liberia Kpelle|taaŋ / tɔnɔ / dɔnɔ|feerɛ|saaɓa|náaŋ|nɔ́ɔlu / lɔ́ɔlu|mɛi da (5 + 1)|mɛi feerɛ (5 + 2)|mɛi saaɓa (5 + 3)|mɛi náaŋ (5 + 4)|puu|
|Mende-Loma|Looma (Toma) (1)|ɡílàɡ|félé(ɡɔ̀)|sáwà(ɡɔ̀)|náánĩ̀(ɡɔ̀)|dɔ́ɔ́lù̀(ɡɔ̀)|dòzìtà (5 + 1)|dɔ́fèlà (5 + 2)|dɔ́sáwà (5 + 3)|tàwù̀(ɡɔ̀) (10–1) ?|pù̀(ɡɔ̀)|
|Mende-Loma|Loma (2)|ɡila|feleɡɔ|saaɡɔ|naaɡɔ|dooluo|dɔzita (5 + 1)|dɔfela (5 + 2)|dɔsava (5 + 3)|taawu (10–1) ?|puu|
|Mende-Loma|Bandi (1)|ìtá(ŋ), hítà(ŋ)|fèlé(ŋ)|sàwá(ŋ), sàá(ŋ)|náánì(ŋ)|ndɔ̀ɔ́lú(ŋ)|nɡɔ̀hítá(ŋ) (5 + 1)|ŋɡɔ̀félà(ŋ) (5 + 2)|ŋɡɔ̀hák͡pá(ŋ), ŋɡwahák͡pá(ŋ) (5+ 4)|tààwú(ŋ), tààvú(ŋ) (10–1) ?|pû(ŋ), púù(ŋ)|
|Mende-Loma|Bandi (2)|iitá|feelé|saawá|naáni|ndɔɔ́lu|nɡɔhíta (5 + 1)|nɡɔféla (5 + 2)|nɡwahák͡pa (5 + 3)|taávu (10–1) ?|púu|
|Mende-Loma|Loko (1)|íla(ŋ)|félé(ŋ), féé(ŋ)|sáwá(ŋ), cáwá(ŋ)|nááí(ŋ)|ńdɔu(ŋ)|ŋɡɔhita (5 + 1)|ŋɡɔfɛla (5 + 2)|ŋɡɔsaak͡pa|karaabu, raabu|puu(ŋ), kapuu(ŋ)|
|Mende-Loma|Loko (2)|ila|fele|itʃawa|naiŋ|ndɔu|nɡɔita (5 + 1)|nɡɔfla (5 + 2)|nɡɔsaɡ͡ba (5 + 3)|karabu (10–1) ?|kapu|
|Mende-Loma|Mende|yilá / itáá|felé|sawá|nááni|lɔ́ɔ́lu|wɔ́íta (5 + 1)|wɔ́fíla (5 + 2)|wáyák͡pá (5 + 3)|táálú (10–1) ?|puú|
|Samogo|Duungooma|sɔʔi|fíʔi|ʒiʔi|naai|nũ|tũmɛ̃|ɲɛ̃ːnũ|ŋaai|kleːlo|ceũ|
|Samogo|Dzùùngoo|sōː ́ / sōːrē|fíː / fíːkí|ʒìːɡī ́|nàːlẽ́|nũ̀|tsũ̀mɛ̃̄ ́|ɲɛ̃̀ːnṹ|ŋáːlõ̀|kjèːrṍ|tsjéù|
|Samogo|Jowulu (Jo)|tẽẽna|fuuli|bʒei|pʃɪrɛᶦ|tãã|tãmãnɪ (5 + 1)|dʒɔ̃mpʊn (3 + 4)|fulpʊn (2 x 4)|tẽmpʊn (5 + 4)|bʒĩĩ|
|Samogo|Seeku|swɛ̃̄|fĩ́|ʃwɛ̀|nàà|nɔ̄|tsìì|ɲɛ̀ɛ̀|kàà|kùòmɛ̀|tó|
|Soninke-Bobo|Konabéré|tálɪ̄|pálà|sǎ|nìã̄|kʊ̄|kʊ̀tã́nɪ̀ (5 + 1)|kʊ̀rʊ̀párá (5 + 2)|kʊ̀rʊ̀sɔ̄ʊ̀ (5 + 3)|kʊ̀rʊ̀nɔ̂ŋ (5 + 4)|m̥ḿ̩|
|Soninke-Bobo|Southern Bobo Madare|tèlé|plá|sáà|náà|kóò|kònálá (5 + 1)|kòk͡pùrá (5 + 2)|kórósɔ̃̌ (5 + 3)|kórónɔ̃̌ (5 + 4)|fʊ̃̀|
|Soninke-Bobo|Hainyaxo Bozo (Kelenga)|sâ:nà|fíenù|sí:yù|ná:nà|kɔ́lɔ́hɔ̀|tú:mì|dʒíenì|sɛ́kì|káfì|tã̄|
|Soninke-Bobo|Tièmà-Cièwè Bozo|sàn:á|pẽ̀ːndé|sì:yé|nà:rá|kɔ̀lɔ́|tù:mì|dʒiènĩ́|tʃèkí|kìáwí|tá|
|Soninke-Bobo|Tiéyaxo Bozo (Tigemaxo) (1)|sáná|fẽ́:ndè|sí:yò|kɔ́lɔ̀|kɔ́lɔ̀|tú:mĩ̀|dʒê:nì|sɛ̄kī|kìáwì|tã́|
|Soninke-Bobo|Tiéyaxo Bozo (2)|sanna / kuɔn|fendeen / pendeen|siiyon|naaran|kɔlɔn|tuumi|jeeni|sekiin|kiawi|tan|
|Soninke-Bobo|Jenaama Bozo (1)|sànːá|pẽ̀ndéː|síkɛ̃̀ũ|nàtã́|kɔ̀ːɡṍ|tǔːmí|yíèní|sèkːí|kàpːí|tʃɛ́mí|
|Soninke-Bobo|Jenaama Bozo (2)|sanna|pende|sikɛũ / siɡɛũ|nataũ|kɔɡõ|tuumi|yeeni|seki|kapi|tʃɛmi / tʃami|
|Soninke-Bobo|Soninke|bàanè|fíllò / filːi|síkkò / sikːi|náɣátò / naɣati|káráɡò / karaɡi|tṹmù / tũmi|ɲérù / ɲeri|séɡù / seɡi|kábù / kabi|tã́mú / tãmi|

## Related pages

- Mandé

## Other websites

- LANGUES MANDE
- Mande page of the Journal of West African Languages
- Journal Mandenkan  (introduction)

## Infobox (language family)

- **name**: Mande
- **region**: West Africa
- **ethnicity**: Mandé peoples
- **familycolor**: Niger-Congo
- **fam1**: Niger–Congo languages, Niger–Congo?
- **protoname**: Proto-Mande
- **child1**: Western Mande
- **child2**: Eastern Mande
- **iso5**: dmn
- **glotto**: mand1469
- **glottorefname**: Mande
- **lingua**: 00- (phylozone)
- **map**: Mande languages.png