Jju phrasebook

Jju is a Plateau language of Nigeria, closely related to Tyap. It is often seen as a form of Tyap language as it is closely related to its seven dialects. Jju is spoken by over 500,000 people in an area where the Nok culture (c. BC 1,500 – 500 AD) flourished in the Middle Belt (i.e., the geopolitical Northcentral and southern parts of Northwest and Northeast) of Nigeria.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

a, a̱, e, i, o, u

Short monophthongs

vowel	English equivalent	Sound
a	like 'a' in "f__a__ther"
a̱	like 'a' in "__a__bout"
e	like 'ae' in "__ae__sthetic"
i	like 'y' in "famil__y__"
o	like 'o' in "p__o__t"
u	like 'u' in "bantu"

Long monophthongs

vowel	English equivalent	Sound
aa	like 'a' in "f__a__r"
ii	like 'ee' in "sh__ee__p"

Common diphthongs

ai, a̱u, ei/a̱i, oi

Consonants

b, bv, c, cc, d, g, gb, h, j, jj, k, kh, kp, l, m, n, ng, ny, pf, r, s, ss, sh, t, ts, tss, w, ww, y, yy, z

Monoghraphs

; b

/b/; like 'b' in "bean" ; c /t͡ʃ/; like 'ch' in "chair" ; d /d/; like 'd' in "do" ; g /ɡ/; like 'g' in "greet" ; h /h/; like 'h' in "how" ; j /d͡ʒ/; like 'j' in "job" ; k /k/; like 'k' in "clan" ; l /l/; like 'l' in "low" ; m /m/; like 'm' in "mine" ; n /n/; like 'n' in "new" ; p /p/; like 'p' in "pair" ; r /r/; like 'r' in "real" ; s /s/; like 's' in "say" ; t /t/; like 't' in "tree" ; v /v/; like 'v' in "view" ; w /w/; like 'w' in "win" ; y /j/; like 'y' in "you" ; z (pronounced: "dz") /d͡z/; no English equivalent

Digraphs

; bv

/b͡v/; no English equivalent ; gb /ɡ͡b/; no English equivalent ; kh /x/; no English equivalent ; kp /k͡p/; no English equivalent ; ng /ŋ/; like 'ng' in "king" ; ny /ɲ/; like Spanish 'ñ' in "niña" ; pf /p͡f/; like German 'pf' in "Pfeffer" ; sh /ʃ/; like 'sh' in "shy" ; ts /t͡s/; like 'ts' in "tsunami"

Labial consonants

Short

; bw

/bʷ/; no English equivalent ; cw /t͡ʃʷ/; no English equivalent ; fw /fʷ/; no English equivalent ; gw /ɡʷ/; no English equivalent ; ghw /ɣʷ/; no English equivalent ; hw /hʷ/; no English equivalent ; jw /d͡ʒʷ/; no English equivalent ; kw /kʷ/; like 'qu' in "quick" ; khw /xʷ/; no English equivalent ; mw /mʷ/; like 'mw' in "Cromwell" ; nw (ngw) /ŋʷ/; no English equivalent ; pw /pʷ/; no English equivalent ; sw /sʷ/; like 'sw' in "swing" ; shw /ʃʷ/; like 'schw' in "schwa" ; tsw /t͡sʷ/; no English equivalent ; yw /jʷ/; no English equivalent ; zw

Phrase list

Basics

Common signs

; OPEN

A̱ yrang ; CLOSED A̱ yyik ; ENTRANCE Ka̱bvwanwa ; EXIT Ka̱bvwawruk ; PUSH Yrik ; PULL Kwwat ; TOILET Ka̱bvwasaai-diccu ; MEN Ba̱ntyok ; WOMEN Ba̱nyiring ; FORBIDDEN

; Hello.

N na byyek. (N nah byyehg) ; How are you? A shyi ke? (AH SHYEE KAY?) ; Fine, thank you. Ansham ba̱t, n gwai. () ; What is your name? Ba̱ na̱ yei a̱nyan? () ; My name is ______ . Ba̱ n yei ______. () ; Nice to meet you. N shya bu a̱sainhwa da̱ni n na myim i. () ; Please. Ba̱sa̱kut. () ; Thank you. N gwai. () ; You're welcome. Ryok nhok kyang ba. () ; Yes. Ii. (masculine: "ee") () ; No. Kaai. () ; Excuse me. (getting attention/begging pardon) Hok ra! (cat a̱huhwa a̱yin/naai a̱yin) () ; I'm sorry. () ; Goodbye. Ka̱ra̱m ka̱yaan. () ; Goodbye. (informal) Ba-bai. () ; I can't speak Jju [well]. N dyen ryat Jju ji [ansham] ba. () ; Do you speak English? A ryat Shong a? () ; Is there someone here who speaks English? () ; Help! Brang! () ; Look out! Ta̱rwam! () ; Good morning. (before around 9 AM) A (plural: "yi") shyek ansham o? () ; Good afternoon. A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? () ; Good evening. A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? () ; Good night. Sei ka̱ntson. () ; I don't understand. N hik ba. () ; Where is the toilet? ()

Problems

; Leave me alone. : Ryok nzuk. (.) ; Don't touch me! : ! (!) ; I'll call the police.

N ni yei na̱wonshan a. (.) ; Police! : Na̱wonshan! (!) ; Stop! Thief! : Ryong! A̱tang! (! !) ; I need your help. : . (.) ; It's an emergency. : . (.) ; I'm lost. : N bvuk. (.) ; I lost my bag. : . (.) ; I lost my wallet. : . (.) ; I'm sick. : . (.) ; I've been injured. : . (.) ; I need a doctor. : . (.) ; Can I use your phone? : ? (?)

Numbers

; 1

a̱yring (), yring (), jring () ; 2 a̱hwa (), hwa (), swa () ; 3 a̱tat (), tat (), tsat () ; 4 a̱naai (), naai (), nyaai () ; 5 a̱pfon (), pfon (), tsson () ; 6 a̱kitat () ; 7 a̱tiyring () ; 8 a̱ninai () ; 9 a̱kumbuyring () ; 10 swak () ; 11 swak ba̱ yring () ; 12 swak ba̱ hwa () ; 13 swak ba̱ tat () ; 14 swak ba̱ naai () ; 15 swak ba̱ a̱pfon () ; 16 swak ba̱ a̱kitat () ; 17 swak ba̱ a̱tiyring () ; 18 swak ba̱ a̱ninai () ; 19 swak ba̱ a̱kumbuyring () ; 20 nswak nhwa () ; 21 nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱yring () ; 22 nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱hwa () ; 23 nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱tat () ; 30 nswak ntat () ; 40 nswak nnaai () ; 50 nswak npfon () ; 60 nswak a̱kitat () ; 70 nswak a̱tiyring () ; 80 nswak a̱ninai () ; 90 nswak a̱kumbuyring () ; 100 cyi jring () ; 200 cyi swa () ; 300 cyi tsat () ; 1,000 cyikop jring () ; 2,000 cyikop swa () ; 100,000 cyikop cyi jring () ; 1,000,000 () ; 1,000,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000,000 : () ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : () ; half a̱kum () ; less : () ; more : (__)

Time

; now

naanini () ; later () ; before () ; morning a̱ta̱ntson () ; afternoon a̱ta̱nom () ; evening ka̱jenshring () ; night ka̱ta̱tuk (__)

Clock time

; one o'clock AM

tswam jring () ; two o'clock AM tswam swa () ; noon tswam swak ba̱ swa A̱TA̱NOM () ; one o'clock PM tswam jring A̱TA̱NOM () ; two o'clock PM tswam swa A̱TA̱NOM () ; midnight ()

Duration

; _____ minute(s)

minti _____ () ; _____ hour(s) awa _____ () ; _____ day(s) nom _____ () ; _____ week(s) sati _____ () ; _____ month(s) hywan _____ () ; _____ year(s) a̱rya _____ ()

Days

; today

ka̱pfun () ; yesterday ryu () ; tomorrow ka̱ntson () ; this week sati ani () ; last week () ; next week sati cong bai ()

; Sunday

Ka̱tuk Ladi () ; Monday Ka̱tuk A̱ta̱nii () ; Tuesday () ; Wednesday () ; Thursday () ; Friday Ka̱tuk Juma () ; Saturday Ka̱tuk A̱sa̱ba̱t (__)

Months

; January

Hywan Yring () ; February Hywan Hwa () ; March Hywan Tat () ; April Hywan Naai () ; May Hywan Pfon () ; June Hywan A̱kitat () ; July Hywan A̱tiyring () ; August Hywan A̱ninai () ; September Hywan A̱kumbuyring () ; October Hywan Swak () ; November Hywan Swak ba̱ Yring () ; December Hywan Swak ba̱ Hwa ()

Writing time and date

Colors

; black

a̱dindying () ; white a̱sai () ; grey/gray : () ; red a̱shong () ; blue () ; yellow () ; green () ; orange () ; purple () ; brown ()

Transportation

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to ___? : () ; One ticket to _, please. : () ; Where does this train/bus go? : () ; Where is the train/bus to ___? : () ; Does this train/bus stop in _? : () ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : () ; When will this train/bus arrive in ___? : ()

Directions

; How do I get to _____ ? : () ; ...the train station? : () ; ...the bus station? : () ; ...the airport? : () ; ...downtown? : () ; ...the youth hostel? : () ; ...the _____ hotel? : () ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : () ; Where are there a lot of... : () ; ...hotels? : () ; ...restaurants? : () ; ...bars? : () ; ...sites to see? : () ; Can you show me on the map? : () ; street : () ; Turn left. : () ; Turn right. : () ; left : () ; right : () ; straight ahead : () ; towards the _____ : () ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : (__) ; Watch for the ___. : () ; intersection

() ; north ka̱za () ; south ka̱tak () ; east () ; west ka̱jenshring () ; uphill ka̱zantsok () ; downhill ka̱takntsok (__)

Taxi

; Taxi! : (__) ; Take me to ___, please. : () ; How much does it cost to get to _? : () ; Take me there, please. : ()

Lodging

; Do you have any rooms available? : () ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : () ; Does the room come with... : () ; ...bedsheets? : () ; ...a bathroom? : () ; ...a telephone? : () ; ...a TV? : () ; May I see the room first? : () ; Do you have anything quieter? : () ; ...bigger? : () ; ...cleaner? : () ; ...cheaper? : () ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : () ; Can you suggest another hotel? : () ; Do you have a safe? : () ; ...lockers? : () ; Is breakfast/supper included? : () ; What time is breakfast/supper? : () ; Please clean my room. : () ; Can you wake me at _? : () ; I want to check out. : ()

Money

; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : () ; Do you accept British pounds? : () ; Do you accept euros? : () ; Do you accept credit cards? : () ; Can you change money for me? : () ; Where can I get money changed? : () ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : () ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : () ; What is the exchange rate? : () ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ()

Eating

; A table for one person/two people, please. : () ; Can I look at the menu, please? : () ; Can I look in the kitchen? : () ; Is there a house specialty? : () ; Is there a local specialty? : () ; I'm a vegetarian. : () ; I don't eat pork. : () ; I don't eat beef. : () ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : () ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. : () ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : () ; beef : () ; fish : () ; ham : () ; sausage : () ; cheese : () ; eggs : () ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : () ; (fresh) fruit : () ; bread : () ; toast : () ; noodles : () ; rice : () ; beans : () ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee : () ; tea (drink) : () ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water : () ; (still) water : () ; beer : () ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? : () ; salt : () ; black pepper : () ; butter : () ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. : () ; It was delicious. : () ; Please clear the plates. : () ; The check, please. : ()

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol? : () ; Is there table service? : () ; A beer/two beers, please. : () ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : () ; A pint, please. : () ; A bottle, please. : () ; _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : () ; whiskey : () ; vodka : () ; rum : () ; water : () ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : () ; Do you have any bar snacks? : () ; One more, please. : () ; Another round, please. : () ; When is closing time? : () ; Cheers! : ()

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size? : () ; How much is this? : () ; That's too expensive. : () ; Would you take _? : () ; expensive : () ; cheap : () ; I can't afford it. : () ; I don't want it. : () ; You're cheating me. : () ; I'm not interested. : (..) ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... : () ; ...toothpaste. : () ; ...a toothbrush. : () ; ...tampons. : . () ; ...soap. : () ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : () ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : () ; ...English-language books. : () ; ...English-language magazines. : () ; ...an English-language newspaper. : () ; ...an English-English dictionary. : (__)

Driving

; I want to rent a car. : () ; Can I get insurance? : () ; stop (on a street sign) : () ; one way : () ; yield : () ; no parking : () ; speed limit : () ; gas (petrol) station : () ; petrol : () ; diesel : ()

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong. : () ; It was a misunderstanding. : () ; Where are you taking me? : () ; Am I under arrest? : () ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : () ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : () ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : () ; Can I just pay a fine now? : ()