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

References

Further reading

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


Category:Languages by family