Image
Prep Vocab
Dialog
Audio file
SITUATION: Abi hails a taxi so that she can run an errand.
ABI: Takisi! Jɔ! Jɔ!
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: [The taxi stops] I bɛ tagala min? [1]
ABI: N b'à fɛ ka taa suguba la. [2]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Don.
ABI: Joli don?
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Bi naani.
ABI: An ka taa. [She gets in the taxi and then head towards the market]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Ka fara min? [3]
ABI: Fara i kinibolo fɛ sisan.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: I bɛ jigin min?
ABI: Taa ɲɛfɛ. An mana se sugu fan fɛ, n bɛn'à fɔ i ye. [4]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: N y'à mɛn.
ABI: An sera. Wari filɛ. Ala ka sira diya.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Amiiina!
ABI: Taxi! Stop! Stop!
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: [The taxi stops] Where are you going? [1]
ABI: I want to go to the central market. [2]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Get in.
ABI: How much is it?
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: 200 CFA.
ABI: Let's go. [She gets in the taxi and then head towards the market]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: (You want me) to turn where? [3]
ABI: Turn right now.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Where are you getting "down"?
ABI: Go straight. When we arrive near the market, I will tell (it to) you. [4]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: I got (lit. "heard") it.
ABI: We have arrived. Here's the money. May God make the road pleasing.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Amen!
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: [The taxi stops] Where are you going? [1]
ABI: I want to go to the central market. [2]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Get in.
ABI: How much is it?
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: 200 CFA.
ABI: Let's go. [She gets in the taxi and then head towards the market]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: (You want me) to turn where? [3]
ABI: Turn right now.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Where are you getting "down"?
ABI: Go straight. When we arrive near the market, I will tell (it to) you. [4]
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: I got (lit. "heard") it.
ABI: We have arrived. Here's the money. May God make the road pleasing.
CHAFFEUR-KƐ: Amen!
Grammar Points
- 1) Progressives with
-la/na - 2) Modal verb constructions
- 3) Naked infinitives as a potential order
- 4) Conditionals with
mana
Lesson
[Video coming soon!]
Vocab
- sofɛri
- driver (< Fr. chaffeur)
- ka jɔ/lɔ
- to stop; to stand
- sugu
- market
- suguba
- the central market [< Fr. grand marché]
- ka don
- to enter; to get in (of a vehicle)
- ka fara
- here, 'to turn' [Lit. 'to split']
- ka jigin
- to descend; to go down; to get out (of a vehicle)
- X fan fɛ
- in the direction of X [Lit. "by the side of X"]
- k'à fɔ mɔgɔ ye
- to say sth to sb
- -ra/la/na
- progressive suffix which attaches to verb
- I bɛ taara/taala min?
- Where are you going?
- Takisi tɛ nana
- A taxi isn't coming
- ka
- infinitive marker
- N bɛ se ka don?
- Can I get in? [Lit. "Can I enter?"]
- I tɛ se ka nɛgɛso boli?
- Can't you ride a bike?
- N ka kan ka jigin yan
- I need to get out here [Lit. "I need to descend here"]
- Ka fara yan wa?
- (Shall I) turn here?
- Ka wari di i ma?
- (Shall I) give the money to you?
- An mana se sugu la, n bɛ jigin
- When we arrive at the market, I (will) get out
- Takisi mana na, n b'o ta
- When the taxi comes, I (will) take it
- kinibolo fɛ
- right [Lit. "to the rice hand"]
- numabolo fɛ
- left [Lit. "to nose hand"]
- bolojugu fɛ
- left [Lit. "to mean hand"]
- ɲɛfɛ/ɲafɛ
- front; straight ahead
- kɔfɛ
- behind; backwards
- moto
- scooter; motorcycle
- bolifɛn
- vehicle
- mɔbili
- car; vehicle
- nɛgɛso
- bike
- k'à boli
- to drive sth
- ka gɛrɛ/gwɛrɛ ɲɔgɔn na
- to approach one another [as in, "to squeeze to fit in a vehicle"]
- SOTRAMA
- shared mini-bus [common in Mali]
- gwaka/gbaka
- shared mini-bus [common in Côte d'Ivoire]
- takisi
- taxi