s
sorcery
saliva
second piece of cotton cloth folded under the first
see 'párdɨ̀'
sometimes
spirit of ancestors
spurs
same type
supple, droopy
snake
general term
squeeze liquid from
snail
slingshot
spill [s.t.] all over [oneself]
stick to, get stuck on
share with
school
soccer stadium or field
soccer field, playing field
swarm
sauce cooked without gummy ingredients {okra or 'gum'}
shelter at riverside for people waiting for pirogue
spring {of water}
sack, bag, basket
sickly person
sick
small stool
suffering; trouble
straighten
screech, hoot, cry; roar, growl, etc.
spirit that frightens girls being initiated
see also 'kɨ́-ngà-múr-bìī'
small stool
side
not used in locative
sesame ball made with sugar
sheet of paper
stir
sipping
sipping; fanning
infinitive of 'ìw'
stop raining in middle of rainy season
scorn
sheet
shirt, blouse {or more generally, any article of clothing}
sterile person
sticking into, beating, pounding, grinding, pushing, etc.
infinitive of 'ɔ̀sɨ̀'
select, choose, pick
sick person
sick person
shaman; fortune teller who can tell the causes for illnesses and other problems
sorcerer, evil-doer
small one or thing
sadness
straw {to be used as torch}
stick firmly; firmly (sticking)
small fish, sardines
sink, go down
sheath for throwing knife (^^)
shaman, traditional healer
stomach disease that causes swelling
slowly
in expression 'tètɨ̀ kāgɨ̄-ǹ késɨ́' 'take one's time'
soul, heart
stinger of [insect]
sandy
sire
sauce without gummy texture
soaked
suck
show
smell bad to [s.o.]
scale [fish]
sickle
scabies
sibling, brother or sister
slowly and with an exaggerated strut (walk)
desc. of 'ndīyā'
stuff {into mouth}, eat gluttonously
split
senselessly in a low voice (talk)
selfishness
straighten
snatch from
start running
slowly, gradually, bit by bit (come out)
spread out
sand storm
sibling
suck, eat [juicy fruit, sauce]
see also 'sà, ò̰o̰, mūŕ, à̰ӯ'
spell and fetishes related to hunting and fishing
settle, negotiate settlement for
shrink; make thin and stretched
spread
sitting; staying, remaining; living; being
search carefully for
scars, scar
spice used in preparation of sauces
has appearance of small hard raisin
spirit, ghost
side of road
suffering
season for, time of
show, demonstrate
Sunday
small mound, slight elevation
sleep; sleepiness
slave
slave
shield
stare at, give [s.o.] dirty look
split in buttocks
signal
snare
strong alcoholic drink made from manioc
stare at, give [s.o.] dirty look
stubbornness (literally 'hard head')
small rounded mound
stomach illness attacking children
season of, period of
straw mat
small mound
still, without moving
succeed, be successful
scorpion tail
see also 'gɨ́ná' 'scorpion'
sheep
strange, funny (tasting)
Saturday {traditional day of sweeping}
normally 'ndɔ̄ɔ̄ bālē'
smoke [cigarettes, etc.]
squirrel
sea, ocean
lit: big salt river
sir, oh sir
polite vocative used by young when addressing older men
single woman
space between [s.t.]
sound of leaves crunching
stamping, tracking
suddenly (appear)
smallpox
size, bigness
slut {fig.}
shoulder blade
sadness
slowly (walk) with a limp
salt of local manufacture
shin
salt of local manufacture
Sara Kaba - Sara people living east of Sarh in Kyabe region
language quite different from Sar and Mbay
stomach interior, innards, guts
spin [web]
single one
sharp side of wing of bird of prey {used to strike prey}
sack used in bean harvest
satchel made of woven palm leaf
see also 'màr' 'palm tree'
stilts {normally for use in dances}
swing, swinging {play}
small house lizard
snack, something to eat
spirit which makes loud noise to frighten girls being initiated
sixteen
shoot out (liquid), come squirting out
small round potato
share
sneeze
'ùdɨ̀/ùr kɨ́-dìsɨ́'/^^ 'to sneeze'
star
several times; numerous times
various doubled patterns are possible (e.g. 'kɨ̀-njà-nà̰ā̰-tɨ́-nà̰ā̰-tɨ́')
six
sixty
small finger potato
successively, day after day
stare at
sixty
single, solitary
squatting, hunkering down
sale, business
'gātɨ̄ gòtóo' 'there is no business'
stick {use to throw}
stump [of tree]
shrink, become tight
scorpion
strike, begin happening to
in several expressions
squeeze, force
slick, slipperiness
in expression 'hɔ̀r-hɔ̀tɨ̀ hɔ̀ lā [dèē]' '[s.o.] to slip and fall'
sister-in-law (reciprocal relationship between a man's wife and his sisters)
sauce or other liquid which has no salt
small white shell used to tell fortunes
slowly, carefully
spit
suffering, misery
salary, pay
sauce made from beans
scooper for water in pirogue
slightly (ripe), beginning to be (ripe)
in expression 'kɨ̀rē ^MB^'
slightly (bitter)
desc. of 'àtɨ̄'
saddle
soon, in a little while
sponge, rubbery substance
Satan, the devil
stone
sprinkle [liquid]
strip bark from [tree]
support [person]
secret
shoes
string of net laced through bottom of fishing net between two poles at sides
support [s.t.] {with s.t.}
support [s.t.] {with s.t.}
spell preventing merchant from being able to sell anything
sundown
size, large size of [person]
small okra
stump of sweet potato plant
stump of sweet potato plant
stick of, piece of [wood, metal]
sound of slower drum beat
smell
stumbling, hardly able to hold body's up
desc. of 'ndɔ́r̄, là'
September
slaughter yard, place where animals are slaughtered
share with
squeeze out; massage
sand, dust
steal
suddenly (quiet)
in expression 'gà dɨ̀bà ^MB^' 'become suddenly quiet'
stuff, cram into
small tea glass
stupor
in expression '^MB^ gà [dèē]' '[s. o.] be stupified'
same string tied around waist for protection
spoon
imported from Nigeria and Cameroon
straight
shelter with straw roof and no sides, used to rest under
smallness; tiny, small
slowly (run)
suddenly (stop)
soap
laundry soap bars made in Moundou; all other soaps from Nigeria and Cameroon
scum (on river water)
sorcerer, someone learning sorcery
swing; roll
strainer {European style, used for making tea and coffee}
sticking out (hunch on back)
straight pole or stick {one with no branching}
shrivel up, shrink
straight pole or stick
seemingly easy
in expression 'tō ^MB^' 'seem easy'
seize [s.t.] {in hand}, take up
separate grain from shaft by blowing softly
sob
size {generally used in negative}
skirt worn by old women {arq.}
sergeant
spell which protects against theft
self-important person
suck
small coin {often used to indicate the smallest possible amount of money}
slipperiness; slippery
in expression 'ɔ̀r̄ ^MB^' 'be slippery'
shoulder bone
smiling
'gō ^MB^' 'to smile'
supple
section of [cloth]
sunglasses {lit: stare at your mother-in-law}
small metal bowl commonly used to measure millet
sign [one's name]
separated, apart from each other
skin bag used for drinking water
swollen testicles
snack
shake [hands] up and down {normally in anguish}
stand while sleeping; fall asleep standing
skin
sleeping sickness
simple wooden chair
supporting a heavy weight
someone to whom men bring good luck
someone to whom women bring good luck
small pirogue used in transporting fish
Suma {Central African people bordering Mbay villages in south}
stitch in [clothing]
so! well, well! {menacing}
species of sheep {foreign origin}
sickness caused by cold weather
small and round
saving; healing
infinitive of 'àjɨ̀'
skull
sticking up and dirty (hair)
slowly and wretchedly (run)
start of pregnancy
with verb 'ùn/àw̄ kɨ̀' or ^^
shove, push forcefully
shooting star
search carefully for
search carefully for
soldier who did not finish 15 years in French army
see also 'kḛ́ḛsá̰à̰'
solder, repair [s.t. metal]
small bottle
stalk of 'small millet'
steam, vapor
same type
support [plant]
steam
sleeve
splash
someone who loves [s.o.]
straight pole
sift [flour]
start up
sentinel
skewer [i.e. meat]
smoke [meat]
story, tale
stand {in line}
spread [s.t. sticky]
scatter, be scattered, dispersed
support [s.o.]
stamp, postage stamp
spread out all over
with 'ndì,tò,ɗà'
still; yet
size, bigness or hugeness
seventy
seventeen
sifter
scoop up
seven
split {in two}, cut, break, crack
scrape in many places; tear up
stack up
sell
scoop out [hot liquid]
singe, scorch; scrape
subgroup of Beju Mbay
stomach of ruminant; tripe
stupidity; inane action or actions
stir, mix
suddenly, quickly and desperately (walk)
song
'ɔ̀sɨ̀ ^MB^' 'to sing'
straw mat
spinach
saw or file [teeth]
Sar, Sara Madjingay {Sara people inhabiting area from Sarh to Koumra}
steam
sprinkle
sweet, sugary
straight
in expression 'kɨ́-^MB^' 'straight'
sandals
sacrifice
straight, direct
sack, bag, satchel
smoke
shoes
sword, saber
strength
spill
stalk of sweet potato
side, part above hip
stick, pole
side; section; fork
sprinkle [into a liquid]
stalk of peanut
settle (liquid)
spread out all over
with 'tò,ndì,ɗà'
slap, hit [s.o.'s nape] {with s.t.}
stem {of leaf}
skin ailment which attacks arms and legs
treated with traditional medicines
skinny
sometimes, at times
sauce - beans
sheath, scabbard
sleeveless Muslim robe
sip, fan, etc.
save for planting
swim under water
swallow
south
'wɔ̀gɔ̀ɔ́' 'to the south' is also the name of Woge village in Central Africa
shell for fortune telling
support {by being stuck in ground}
show
'tɔ̄jɨ̄ dèē gō' 'show s.o. how'
small mouse, shrew
space between legs
skin
spread out; splatter
spell; fetish
sound of cat, 'miaow'
sound of guinea hen
sound of sheep, 'baaa'
snare made from hair of animal tail
scissors
slowly
in expression 'ɔ̀r̄ bà̰a̰' 'really take one's time, drag one's feet'
spin [web]
syphilis
suspend, hang
shake water on [grains] {using hands}
so, and so
shake, move
shake [s.t. standing]
stack, pile
search carefully, go through
suddenly (leave, appear)
scent of, smell of
steal, rob
snail shell
short vest {worn by horsemen or by city dwellers}
soon, any moment now
subj. plural suffix attached to verbs
sunlight
spades {cards}
Saturday
normally preceded by 'ndɔ̄ɔ̄'
September
settle to bottom
snot, wet mucus {from nose}
slightly (hot)
sauce not having gummy texture
normally preceded by 'tá̰a̰' 'sauce'
section of cloth
shovel
shooting out in spurts
sweet watery part of [honey]
sound of thunder
desc. of 'ndīi ndán̄g'
slowly, with difficulty (run)
desc. of 'à̰ӯ ngɔ̄dɨ̄'
short and squat
in expression 'tíī ^MB^', used to describe a dwarf
stop [an action]
'dɨ̀bà tà ḛ [activity]' 'stop doing s.t.'
star appearing next to planet Venus
seat, chair
small ^^ fish
Sunday offering at christian services
seventy
slave
same, identical
sauce made from beans
satchel woven of young palm leaves
see 'màr' 'palm tree'
scale for weighing cotton
sky
style of doing of [s.o.],
sickly person
satchel, bag
sharpness, sharp
suddenly
followed by 'ànē/à/dá', ^^ or ^^
spill
spear which also serves as hole-digging pole on other side
small stool
soft and appetizing
small bar where local beer is sold and drunk
skirt
skin epidermis, outer layer of skin
sling for throwing rocks {arq.}
shirt - sleeveless and open at sides
'ndáa' 'stalk' (sara)
striped robe formally worn by notables
small black round nut of this tree
small painful infection in foot {which requires being dug out}
simple
spaghetti
spaghetti
sharp prong sticking out of throwing knife (^^)
search carefully for
small plastic bracelet
strainer for making beer
for many people, the same as 'sàn̄'
side of road
shin
small ^^ fish
second girl to be circumcised
sore on vagina
skin of millipede
sauce made from beans
someone with whom one underwent initiation
slim (person); skinny blink
in expression 'dèē kɨ́ ^MB^' 'slim person'
shallow well at river edge with very clean water
sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas]
sesame [Sesamum indicum]
strong alcoholic drink made of manioc
stilt dance
stupidly, nonsensically
sugar cane [Saccharum officinarum]
steal
slowly (eat)
stick out [lower lip]
obj. is 'tà [dèē]' '[s.o.'s] lip
spark plug
sticking up or out
'^MB^-^MB^' for plural subj.
sound of flapping wings {large birds}
sound made by pants when s.o. is walking
sound made by owl
subgroup of Sar (Madjingay)
shrike
small black bird of prey
sunbird
saddle-bill stork
swallow
small dove with long tail [long-tailed dove]
scops owl [Otus scops]
shivering
shivering
suddenly (start)
season for
skin ailment
say
irregular 1st and 2nd pers. s. of 'àn'
shame
suddenly, quickly (open)
shoes
slowly (eat)
slightly (lose balance; lean)
skirt made from such cloth
Sarh {city 150 kms. northeast of Moisssala, capital of Moyen-Chari prefecture}
sound of lion roaring
strong and independent
in expression 'ɔ̀r̄ ^MB^' 'become strong and independent'
so, in that case
occurs at end of clause
syphilis
shave
spear with barbs
lit: I enter the hole with a corpse
stay close [to s.o.]
shocking
lit: that which cooks the intestines
sleeve, shirtsleeve
small glass container
smaller than 'dàm-jān'
sole of foot
striped
spur
stopped up
seriously
swallowing; pounding; grind; digging, etc.
infinitive of 'ùr'
sell
strong alcoholic drink made from manioc
spirits
only in expression 'dīl-dōw-gɨ̄ kɨ̀ ^MB^' 'ancestral spirits'
season, period, time
small potatoe
sit; be
spaghetti
share; divide
sorcerer
sunbird
sister of wife
shoes
soldier; police
stop
small round mirror
Suma people {people of northern Central Africa, with villages bordering Mbay in southwest}
skunk, winning in cards so that opponent has no points
small mound (see dòr̄-lòo).
small mound (see dòr̄-lòo).
side, part above hip.
scorpion.
scale for weighing cotton.
skin epidermis, outer layer of skin.
sunbird.
street vendors (merchants of cigarettes, sugar, etc.).
search carefully for.
small commerce.
sickening odor.
strainer for making beer (for many people, the same as sàn̄).