Sierra Leone Krio Dictionary: Vocabulary, Phrases & Origins

hello (general greeting)

Note:

Also written kushɛ-o.

welcome

Note:

One source also lists kabɔ as hello.

good morning

good afternoon

good evening

good night

how are you?

Note:

Omniglot also gives aw di bɔdi? as a variant.

I am fine (a reply to aw yu du?)

Note:

Omniglot gives the fuller reply a wɛl, aw yusɛf?

I am fine

Note:

Omniglot glosses it as I'm fine fine.

thank you

Note:

Omniglot gives o as a reply to thank you.

please (when asking for a favour)

I am sorry; I beg your pardon

Note:

Omniglot spells it a bayg padin.

sorry

Note:

Wikipedia also lists ɔsh for sorry.

I am happy to meet you

Misɛf gladi fɔ mit yu.
I myself am happy to meet you.

what is your name?

Note:

One list drops na and gives wetin yu nem?

yes

I don't know

I don't understand

Note:

Without nɔ, a ɔndastand means I understand.

do you speak English?

I am going; also used as goodbye

see you again (a farewell)

Note:

Omniglot glosses it as we'll see again.

bye

excuse me

I

A sabi.
I know.

me, my

Note:

Also the subject in Mi na ticha and Mi nem na Jems.

Mi nem na Jems.
My name is James.

you, your (singular)

he, she, it; him, her; his, her, its

Note:

Wikipedia lists the forms i, in, am and im.

we, us, our

you, your (plural)

Note:

Also written unu and ina.

they, them, theirs

Note:

Also written dɛm.

a linking word, like is, am or are

Mi na ticha.
I am a teacher.

marks an ongoing action (imperfective)

Note:

Wikipedia compares it with Yoruba dé and dà.

OK, a de go naw.
OK, I am going now.

not; marks negation

A nɔ no.
I don't know.

marks the past

bin go
go, past simple

marks the future; also the verb go

Ɔrayt, wi go tok bak.
Alright, we will talk again.

marks a completed action (perfective); also finish

Origin:

from English done

dɔn go
go, perfect

marks the infinitive

Origin:

from English for

fɔ go
go, infinitive

marks a tendency

Note:

Nɔba or naba is the negative form.

used like English let

added after a noun to make it plural

how much, how many

Ɔmɔs fɔ am?
How much does it cost?

what

Wetin yu de du?
What are you doing?

where

Note:

Also written usay.

Usai yu kɔmɔt?
Where do you come from?

when

why

Literally:

what make

how

Note:

Seen in aw yu du? (how are you?) and aw fɔ? (how do I?).

to come from

A kɔmɔt Estins.
I come from Hastings.

to walk

to talk

Note:

Omniglot writes it both tɔk and tok.

A tɔk smɔl smɔl.
I speak a little.

to know

Note:

Wikipedia notes that the word also appears in Nigerian Pidgin.

Yu sabi tɔk inglish?
Do you speak English?

to stop; to leave alone

Lɛf mi.
Leave me alone.

sit down

stand up

be careful

child

Origin:

indirectly from Portuguese pequeno, meaning small

friend

Padi! Gi mi yu pehn bo.
Friend! Give me your pen please.

girl

boy

Note:

Wikipedia lists bɔbɔ for boy.

woman

neighbour

mother

father

grandmother

grandfather

people

thief

Note:

Also listed as ayampi.

female trader

house

market

shop, store

street

car

bus

water

money

food

Sierra Leone

Note:

Also written Salon.

today

tomorrow

happy

angry, upset

Note:

Wikipedia spells it vɛx.

ugly

many, plenty; too much

poor

rich; wealth

Origin:

from Old French gentry

expensive

Origin:

from English dear

maybe

alright