Jju phrasebook

Jju (diryem 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 "father"
like 'a' in "about"
e like 'ae' in "aesthetic"
i like 'y' in "family"
o like 'o' in "pot"
u like 'u' in "bantu"

Long monophthongs

vowel English equivalent Sound
aa like 'a' in "far"
ii like 'ee' in "sheep"

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"
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 ( )

Colors

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

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?
( )


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