Ajagbe
Aja
Niger-Congo
Aja (autonymously Ajagbe) is a Gbe language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken by around 600,000 people in southwestern Benin and adjacent eastern Togo. The Aja are historically the "ancestral" Gbe people from whom the Fon (Dahomey) and Ewe (Ghana/Togo) migrated southward in the 17th century — Aja is therefore considered closer to the original Proto-Gbe homeland than the more southerly Fon and Ewe varieties. The Aja Kingdom of Tado was a major precolonial state in the Gulf of Benin region. Linguistically, Aja is part of the Gbe dialect continuum with Ewe (ee) and Fon (fon), with significant mutual intelligibility for closely related dialects but a distinct identity. The 17th-century Allada and Dahomey kingdoms have Aja roots even though their dynastic language eventually shifted to Fon.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Aja
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Aja | Gen | Ewe | Fon | Adangme | Ga | Edo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | esi /esi/ | esi /esi/ | tsi /tsi/ | sin /sĩ/ | nyu /ɲu/ | nu /nu/ | amẹ /amɛ̃/ |
| Fire | ezo /ezo/ | ezo /ezo/ | dzo /dzo/ | zo /zo/ | la /la/ | la /la/ | erhẹn /eɾɛ̃/ |
| Sun | ewe /ewe/ | ewe /ewe/ | ɣe /ɣe/ | hwe /ɦʷe/ | hyɛ /çɛ/ | hulu /hulu/ | ovẹn /oʋɛ̃/ |
| Moon | esun /esun/ | wetri /wetri/ | ɣleti /ɣleti/ | sun /sũ/ | nyɔnyɔɛ /ɲɔɲɔɛ/ | ŋɔɔŋmɔ /ŋɔɔŋmɔ/ | uki /uki/ |
| Star | wlecivi /wletʃivi/ | wetrivi /wetrivi/ | ɣletivi /ɣletivi/ | sunví /sṹví/ | ŋulami /ŋulami/ | ŋulami /ŋùlámi/ | orhọnmwẹ /oɾɔ̃mwɛ̃/ |
| Night | zan /zã/ | zã /zã/ | zã /zã/ | zàn /zã̀/ | nyɔmi /ɲɔmi/ | nyɔŋ /ɲɔŋ/ | asọn /asɔ̃/ |
| Rain | eshi /eʃi/ | èji /èdʒi/ | tsidzadza /tsidzadza/ | jì /dʒì/ | hiɔmi /hiɔmi/ | nugbɔ /nuˈɡbɔ/ | — |
| Wind | jihɔn /dʒihɔ̃/ | aya /aja/ | aya /aja/ | jɔhɔn /dʒɔhɔ̃/ | kɔɔhiɔ /kɔːhiɔ/ | kɔɔyɔɔ /kɔːjɔː/ | ẹhoho /ɛhoho/ |
| Earth | nyigban /ɲiɡbã/ | anyigbã /aɲiɡbã/ | anyigba /aɲiɡba/ | ayǐkúngban /ajǐkṹɡbã/ | zugba /zuɡba/ | shikpɔŋ /ʃikpɔŋ/ | otọ /otɔ/ |
| Stone | kpe /kpe/ | kpe /kpe/ | kpe /kpe/ | awǐnnya /awĩ̌ɲa/ | tɛ /tɛ/ | tɛ /tɛ/ | okuta /okuta/ |
| Sea | axu /axu/ | apu /apu/ | atsiaƒu /atsiaɸu/ | xù /xù/ | wo /wo/ | ŋshɔ /ŋʃɔ/ | okun /okũ/ |
| Mother | nɔ /nɔ/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | dada /dada/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | iye /ije/ |
| Father | eda /eda/ | tɔ /tɔ/ | fofo /fofo/ | tɔ /tɔ/ | tsɛ /tsɛ/ | tsɛ /tsɛ/ | érhá /eɾa/ |
| Daughter | vi nyɔnuvi /vi ɲɔnuvi/ | nyɔ̃nùvi /ɲɔ̃nùvi/ | vinyɔnu /viɲɔnu/ | vǐ nyɔ̌nu /vǐ ɲɔ̌nu/ | biyo /bijo/ | biyoo /bijoː/ | ọmọ okhuo /ɔmɔ oxuo/ |
| I | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nye /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ̀ /ɲɛ̀/ | i /i/ | mi /mì/ | mẹ /mɛ̃/ |
| You | wo /wo/ | wò /wò/ | wò /wò/ | hwɛ̀ /hwɛ̀/ | mo /mo/ | bo /bo/ | wẹ /wɛ/ |
| We | mí /mí/ | mí /mí/ | mí /mí/ | mǐ /mǐ/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | wɔ /wɔ̀/ | ma /ma/ |
| Name | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ | nyikɔ /ɲikɔ/ | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ | nyǐkɔ /ɲĩ̌kɔ/ | biɛ /biɛ/ | gbɛi /ɡbɛ́i/ | eni /ẽ̀nĩ̀/ |
| Person | amɛ /amɛ/ | agbetɔ /aɡbetɔ/ | ame /ame/ | mɛ̀ /mɛ̀/ | nɔmlɔ /nɔmlɔ/ | gbɔmɔ /ɡbɔmɔ/ | ọmwa /ɔmwã/ |
| Head | ta /ta/ | eta /eta/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ | yi /ji/ | yitso /jitso/ | uhunmwu /uhũmwũ/ |
| Eye | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ | ŋku /ŋku/ | nukún /nukṹ/ | hiŋmɛ /hiŋmɛ/ | hiŋmɛi /hiŋmɛi/ | aro /aro/ |
| Ear | eto /eto/ | to /to/ | to /to/ | tó /tó/ | toi /toi/ | toi /toi/ | ehọ /ehɔ/ |
| Mouth | enu /enu/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | nya /ɲa/ | naa /naː/ | unu /unu/ |
| Tooth | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | luŋu /luŋu/ | nyɛnyoŋ /ɲɛɲoŋ/ | akọn /akɔ̃/ |
| Tongue | aɖe /aɖe/ | aɖe /aɖe/ | aɖe /aɖe/ | ɖɛ̀ /ɖɛ̀/ | lilɛ /lilɛ/ | lilɛi /lilɛi/ | aranmwẹ /aranmwɛ̃/ |
| Hand | alɔ /alɔ/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | asi /asi/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | nine /nine/ | nine /nine/ | obọ /obɔ/ |
| Foot | afɔ /afɔ/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | afɔ /àfɔ̀/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | nane /nane/ | nane /nane/ | owẹ /owɛ/ |
| Heart | eji /edʒi/ | eji /edʒi/ | dzi /dzi/ | ayi /aji/ | tsui /tsui/ | tsui /tsui/ | ekhọe /exɔe/ |
| Bone | xu /xu/ | epu /epu/ | ƒu /ɸu/ | xú /xú/ | wu /wu/ | wu /wu/ | ùgbòlòkò /ùɡbòlòkò/ |
| Blood | hun /hũ/ | ehũ /ehũ/ | ʋu /ʋu/ | hun /hũ/ | muɔ /muɔ/ | lá /lá/ | esagiẹn /esaɡiɛ̃/ |
| Love | lɔ̃ /lɔ̃/ | lɔ̃lɔ̃ /lɔ̃lɔ̃/ | lɔ̃lɔ̃ /lɔ̃lɔ̃/ | yiwanu /jiwanu/ | suɔmi /suɔmi/ | suɔmɔ /suɔmɔ/ | arhuẹmwonmwan /aɾuɛ̃mwɛ̃/ |
| Tree | aci /atʃi/ | ati /ati/ | ati /ati/ | atin /atĩ/ | tso /tso/ | tso /tso/ | erhan /eɾã/ |
| Dog | avu /avu/ | avũ /avũ/ | avu /avu/ | avun /avũ/ | gbe /ɡbe/ | gbei /ɡbei/ | awa /awa/ |
| Cat | ami /ami/ | agbo /aɡbo/ | dadi /dadi/ | asé /asé/ | adi /adi/ | adi /adi/ | apusi /apusi/ |
| Fish | kpavi /kpavi/ | elãvi /elãvi/ | tɔmelã /tɔmelã/ | hweví /ʍeví/ | lo /lo/ | loo /loː/ | ehẹn /ehɛ̃/ |
| Bird | xevi /xevi/ | xevi /xevi/ | xevi /xeʋi/ | xɛ /xɛ/ | lohwe pɛlitsɛ /lohwe pɛlitsɛ/ | loofɔlɔ /loːfɔlɔ/ | ahianmwẹ /ahjãmwɛ̃/ |
| Horse | esɔ /esɔ/ | esɔ /esɔ/ | sɔ /sɔ/ | sɔ́ /sɔ́/ | okpɔŋɔ /okpɔŋɔ/ | okpɔŋɔ /okpɔŋɔ/ | ẹ́sín /ɛsĩ/ |
| House | avia /avia/ | exɔ /exɔ/ | aƒe /aɸe/ | xwé /xʷé/ | we /we/ | shia /ʃia/ | owa /owa/ |
| Milk | anɔshu /anɔʃu/ | nyinɔsi /ɲinɔsi/ | notsi /notsi/ | anɔ̌sin /anɔ̌sĩ/ | nyɔ nyu /ɲɔ ɲu/ | fufɔ /fufɔ/ | ewẹn /ewɛ̃/ |
| Honey | enyishi /eɲiʃi/ | anyisi /aɲisi/ | anyitsi /aɲitsi/ | wǐin /wǐĩ/ | hwo /hwo/ | wo /wo/ | owọn /owɔ̃/ |
| Salt | eje /edʒe/ | eje /edʒe/ | dze /dze/ | jɛ̀ /dʒɛ̀/ | ŋo /ŋo/ | ŋo /ŋo/ | umwẹ /umwɛ̃/ |
| Wine | vɛn /vɛ̃/ | vɛ̃ /vɛ̃/ | wain /wain/ | vɛ̌ɛn /vɛ̌ɛ̃/ | wai /wai/ | wain /wain/ | ayọn /ajɔ̃/ |
| Rice | mɔlu /mɔlu/ | — | mɔlu /mɔlu/ | mɔ̌likún /mɔ̌likṹ/ | omɔ /omɔ/ | omɔ /omɔ/ | izẹ /izɛ/ |
| Iron | ega /eɡa/ | gayibɔ /ɡajibɔ/ | ga /ɡa/ | gan /ɡã/ | dade /dade/ | dade /dade/ | ematọn /ematɔ̃/ |
| Book | wema /wema/ | wémà /wémà/ | agbalẽ /aɡbalẽ/ | wémà /wémà/ | womi /womi/ | wolo /wolo/ | ebe /ebe/ |
| Eat | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ye /je/ | yɛ /jɛ/ | re /re/ |
| Drink | nu /nu/ | nù /nù/ | no /no/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | da /da/ |
| Sleep | dɔ alɔn /dɔ alɔ̃/ | dɔ̃ alɔ̃ /dɔ̃ alɔ̃/ | dɔ alɔ̃ /dɔ alɔ̃/ | dɔ́ amlɔ /dɔ́ amlɔ/ | hwɔ mahe /hwɔ mahe/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | vbiẹ /ʋiɛ/ |
| One | eɖe /eɖe/ | ɖeka /ɖeka/ | ɖeka /ɖeka/ | ɖokpó /ɖokpó/ | kake /kake/ | ekome /ekome/ | ọkpa /ɔkpa/ |
| Two | eve /eve/ | eve /eve/ | eve /ève/ | wè /wè/ | enyɔ /eɲɔ/ | enyɔ /eɲɔ/ | eva /èʋà/ |
| Three | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | atɔn /atɔ̃/ | etɛ /etɛ/ | etɛ /etɛ/ | eha /eha/ |
| Four | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | enɛ /enɛ/ | ene /ene/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | eywɛ /ejwɛ/ | ejwɛ /edʒwɛ/ | enẹ /ènɛ̀/ |
| Five | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ́ɔn /atɔ́ɔ̃/ | enuɔ /enuɔ/ | enumɔ /enumɔ/ | isẹn /isɛ̃/ |
| Hello | nɛnɛ /nɛnɛ/ | ado /ado/ | ŋdi /ŋdi/ | a fɔn ganji /a fɔ̃ ɡãdʒi/ | daa /daː/ | ɔ jɔ /ɔ jɔ/ | kóyo /kojo/ |
| Thank you | amɛ akpe /amɛ akpe/ | akpe /akpe/ | akpe /akpe/ | àwǎnú /àwǎnú/ | ojakuɛ /odʒakwɛ/ | oyiwala /ojiwala/ | ù rú èsé /ù rú èsé/ |
| Good | nwi /nwi/ | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ | nyo /ɲo/ | ɖagbe /ɖaɡbe/ | hɛŋmi /hɛŋmi/ | ekpakpa /ekpakpa/ | ma /ma/ |
| New | yoyu /joju/ | yeye /jeje/ | yeye /jeje/ | yɔ̌yɔ́ /jɔ̌jɔ́/ | he /he/ | hee /heː/ | ọgbọn /ɔɡbɔ̃/ |
| Red | ejun /edʒũ/ | jɛ̃ /dʒɛ̃/ | dzĩ /dziː̃/ | vɔvɔ /vɔvɔ/ | tsu /tsu/ | tsuru /tsuru/ | baa /baː/ |
| White | eyi /eji/ | ɣe /ɣe/ | ɣi /ɣi/ | wéwé /wéwé/ | hiɔ /hiɔ/ | yɛŋ /jɛŋ/ | fua /fua/ |
| Black | eyu /eju/ | yibɔ /jibɔ/ | yibɔ /jibɔ/ | wiwi /wiwi/ | yumu /jumu/ | diŋ /diŋ/ | nekhui /nexui/ |
| Computer | ɔdinatɛɛ /ɔdinatɛː/ | — | kɔmputa /kɔmputa/ | ɔdinatɛ́ɛ /ɔdinatɛ́ɛ/ | kɔmpiuta /kɔmpiuta/ | kɔmpiuta /kɔmpiuta/ | ekọmputa /ekɔmputa/ |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | — | tii /tii/ | tíi /tíi/ | — | tii /tiː/ | eti /eti/ |
| Coffee | kafe /kafe/ | — | kafe /kafe/ | kafée /kafée/ | kɔfi /kɔfi/ | kɔfi /kɔfi/ | — |
| Sugar | sukle /sukle/ | — | sukli /sukli/ | suklè /suklè/ | sikli /sikli/ | sikli /sikli/ | — |
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