Dɔlɔso | Beer House

A table with a beer on it in an open-air buvette in West Africa

Prep Vocab

Dialog

CONTEXT: Abi and her uncle Adama have gone to an open air spot where they can grab drinks and enjoy street food. They have already eaten when the vendor Aminata checks in on them.

AMINATA: Aw tilara? [1]
ADAMA: À banna! Taa ni à ye! [2]
AMINATA: Aw tɛna fɛn dɔ min? [3]
ADAMA: Minfɛnw sumana? [4]
AMINATA: Ɔwɔ! U sumana kosɛbɛ yɛrɛ!
ADAMA: O ɲɛna. N bɛna dɔlɔ min. Na ni biyɛri kelen ye!
AMINATA: N y'à mɛn.
ADAMA: [Talking to Abi] I ka ɲi ten?
ABI: N bɛna Fanta ta!
AMINATA: N bɛ na n'olu ye sisan-sisan.

AMINATA: Are you done? [1]
ADAMA: It's done! Take it away! [2]
AMINATA: Will you not drink something? [3]
ADAMA: Are the drinks cold? [4]
AMINATA: Yes! They have cooled seriously even!
ADAMA: That's good. I am going to drink alcohol. Bring one beer!
AMINATA: I got (lit. "hear") it.
ADAMA: [Talking to Abi] You good "like that"?
ABI: I will take a Fanta!
AMINATA: I'll bring them out right away.

Grammar Points

  • 1) Expressing "done" with ka tila and ka ban
  • 2) Expressing "to bring" and "to take away" with ni...ye
  • 3) Expressing the future with bɛna/tɛna
  • 4) Using verbs to express the state of something

Lesson

[Video coming soon!]

Vocab

ka tila fɛn na
to finish with something
ka ban
to end
ka taa
to go
ka na
to come
... ni X ye
... with X
bɛna/tɛna
future markers
ka suma
to cool (down)
ka ɲɛ/ɲa
to be good [< _ka ɲi-ya_ < _ɲi_ 'good']
dɔlɔ/dɔrɔ
alcohol; alcoholic beverage(s); traditional millet beer
biyɛri
beer [< Fr. _bière_]
ten
"like that"
tan
"like this"
Fanta
the soft drink called "Fanta"
ka ban [high tone]
to finish; to end; to pass away
ka ban [low tone]
to refuse
À banna
It's finished
N tilara
I'm finished
N banna
I have passed away / I have refused
Taa n'à ye
Take it (away)
Na n'à ye
Bring it (here)
N bɛ ji min
I drink water
N tɛ dɔlɔ min
I don't drink alcohol
N bɛna ji min
I will drink water
N tɛna foyi min
I will not drink anything
Dɔlɔ sumana
The alcohol is cold
Dɔlɔ ma suma
The alcohol isn't cold
ka sogo ɲimi
to "chew" meat
brochette
Fr. _brochette_ (meat on a skewer)
k'à san
to buy sth
k'à feere
to sell sth
ka sogo jeni
to grill meat [Lit. "to burn meat"]
k'à wele/weele
to call sb
baarakɛla
worker
gakɛla/gwakɛla
cook [lit. "hearth-do-er"]
tobilikɛla
cook
k'à tobi
to cook sth
k'à balabala
to boil sth; to cook sth in boiling water
ka wari di
to give money
k'à sara
to pay (for) sth
sɔngɔ
price
worosɔngɔ
tip [lit. "price of kola"]
ka mɔ
to ripen; to become ready [food]
ka dɔlɔ min
to drink alcohol
ka fa
to fill (up)
ka fa dɔlɔ la
to fill up on alcohol and get drunk
duvɛn
wine [< Fr. _du vin_ 'some wine']
N fara
I'm full
Cɛ fara (dɔlɔ la)
The man is drunk [Lit. "The man has filled up with alcohol"]
Cɛ ma fa (dɔlɔ la)
The man isn't drunk [Lit. "The man hasn't filled"]
ka gan/gwan
to heat (up)
ka kalaya
to warm (up)
Dumuni ganna
The food is hot

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