Bassa wuɖu
Bassa
Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa)
Bassa (Bassa wuɖu, autonymously "Bassa speech") is the largest of the Western Kru languages of Niger-Congo, the principal language of coastal Liberia's Bassa County. The Vah script — a unique indigenous syllabic-alphabetic script developed by Liberian Bassa scholar Thomas Narven Lewis around 1907 — is used as a cultural and identity marker, though Latin is dominant in everyday writing. Bassa shows classical Kru features: 7-vowel system, simple tone system (high/mid/low), and verbs marking aspect through suffix tonal changes. Bassa was the principal language of pre-colonial coastal Liberia and remains influential in Liberian English/Pidgin via lexical contributions.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bassa
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Kru, Western, Bassa)
| Meaning | Bassa | Mano | Ga | Donno So | Kiowa | Aja | Gen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ní /ní/ | yi /ji/ | nu /nu/ | di /di/ | thǫ́ /tʰṍ/ | esi /esi/ | esi /esi/ |
| Fire | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | tíé /ti˥e˥/ | la /la/ | nyaŋ /ɲaŋ/ | phí: /pʰíː/ | ezo /ezo/ | ezo /ezo/ |
| Sun | plɔ /plɔ/ | ɲɛ́nɛ́ /ɲɛ˥nɛ˥/ | hulu /hulu/ | naŋ /naŋ/ | pái /pái/ | ewe /ewe/ | ewe /ewe/ |
| Moon | hwɔɖɔ /hʷɔɖɔ/ | lɔ /lɔ/ | ŋɔɔŋmɔ /ŋɔɔŋmɔ/ | ugɔ /uɡɔ/ | pʼɔ́: /pʼɔ́ː/ | esun /esun/ | wetri /wetri/ |
| Star | kùɖù /kùɖù/ | sĩ̄ã́ŋēlè /sĩ̄ã́ŋēlè/ | ŋulami /ŋùlámi/ | tolo /tolo/ | tą́: /tã́ː/ | wlecivi /wletʃivi/ | wetrivi /wetrivi/ |
| Night | ma /mã/ | gbeŋ /ɡbeŋ/ | nyɔŋ /ɲɔŋ/ | diga /diɡa/ | gį́dè:gyà /ɡĩ́dèːɡjà/ | zan /zã/ | zã /zã/ |
| Wind | dìì /dìː/ | fã̀ã̀ /fã̀ː/ | kɔɔyɔɔ /kɔːjɔː/ | gɛɛdɛ /ɡɛːdɛ/ | gómgyá /ɡómɡjá/ | jihɔn /dʒihɔ̃/ | aya /aja/ |
| Earth | ɓóɖó /ɓóɖó/ | sɛ́lɛ́ /sɛ́lɛ́/ | shikpɔŋ /ʃikpɔŋ/ | tay /taj/ | dɔ́m /dɔ́m/ | nyigban /ɲiɡbã/ | anyigbã /aɲiɡbã/ |
| Stone | sɔ́ɔ́-kpò /sɔ́ːkpò/ | gɛ̀lɛ̀ /ɡɛ̀lɛ̀/ | tɛ /tɛ/ | tibu /tibu/ | — | kpe /kpe/ | kpe /kpe/ |
| Mountain | toɖo /toɖo/ | tɔ̃̀ũ̀ /tɔ̃̀ũ̀/ | gɔŋ /ɡɔŋ/ | pɛgɛlɛŋ /pɛɡɛlɛŋ/ | kʼóp /kʼóp/ | — | eto /eto/ |
| Sea | dyóó /dʒóː/ | mɛ̀ĩ́ /mɛ̀ĩ́/ | ŋshɔ /ŋʃɔ/ | dibe /dibe/ | — | axu /axu/ | apu /apu/ |
| Mother | mãɖe /mãɖe/ | ɲɛ /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | na /na/ | tsɔ́: /tsɔ́ː/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | nɔ /nɔ/ |
| Father | ɓa /ɓa/ | de /de/ | tsɛ /tsɛ/ | ba /ba/ | tɔ́l /tɔ́l/ | eda /eda/ | tɔ /tɔ/ |
| Daughter | dyú-màà /dʒú màː/ | lú /lú/ | biyoo /bijoː/ | yaana ii /jaːna iː/ | — | vi nyɔnuvi /vi ɲɔnuvi/ | nyɔ̃nùvi /ɲɔ̃nùvi/ |
| I | M̀ /m̩/ | mā /ma˧/ | mi /mì/ | mi /mi/ | nɔ́ /nɔ́/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ |
| You | Ɓe /ɓe/ | ī /ī/ | bo /bo/ | u /u/ | ám /ám/ | wo /wo/ | wò /wò/ |
| We | À /à/ | kō /ko˧/ | wɔ /wɔ̀/ | ɛmmɛ /ɛmːɛ/ | nɔ́ /nɔ́/ | mí /mí/ | mí /mí/ |
| Name | nyɛ́nɛ́ /ɲɛ́nɛ́/ | tɔ́ /tɔ́/ | gbɛi /ɡbɛ́i/ | boy /bɔj/ | khɔ̨́:gyà /kʰɔ̃́ːɡjà/ | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ | nyikɔ /ɲikɔ/ |
| Person | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ | mī /mi˧/ | gbɔmɔ /ɡbɔmɔ/ | inde /indɛ/ | — | amɛ /amɛ/ | agbetɔ /aɡbetɔ/ |
| Head | dú /dú/ | wũ-kèlè /wũkèlè/ | yitso /jitso/ | kuu /kuː/ | — | ta /ta/ | eta /eta/ |
| Eye | di /di/ | mi /mi/ | hiŋmɛi /hiŋmɛi/ | giru /ɡiru/ | tá:dè /táːdè/ | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ |
| Ear | ɖùǔ /ɖùǔ/ | to /to/ | toi /toi/ | sugulu /suɡulu/ | tʼɔ́:dé /tʼɔ́ːdé/ | eto /eto/ | to /to/ |
| Nose | máná /máná/ | nyu /ɲu/ | gugɔŋ /ɡuɡɔŋ/ | kinu /kinu/ | mɔ̀:kʼɔ̀n /mɔ̀ːkʼɔ̀n/ | — | ŋɔti /ŋɔti/ |
| Mouth | wɔ̃ /wɔ̃/ | lé /lé/ | naa /naː/ | kɛnnɛ /kɛnːɛ/ | — | enu /enu/ | nu /nu/ |
| Tooth | nyɛ́nɛ́-ɓò /ɲɛ́nɛ́ɓò/ | sɔ /sɔ/ | nyɛnyoŋ /ɲɛɲoŋ/ | inu /inu/ | zǫ́: /zṍː/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ |
| Tongue | mio /mĩo/ | nana /nana/ | lilɛi /lilɛi/ | nɛndɛ /nɛndɛ/ | dén /dén/ | aɖe /aɖe/ | aɖe /aɖe/ |
| Hand | kɔ /kɔ/ | kɔ̀ /kɔ˩/ | nine /nine/ | numɔ /numɔ/ | mɔ́n /mɔ́n/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | alɔ /alɔ/ |
| Foot | ɓo /ɓo/ | gà̰ /ɡã˩/ | nane /nane/ | kubɔ /kubɔ/ | ɔ̀nsôi /ɔ̀nsôi/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | afɔ /afɔ/ |
| Heart | kẽ /kẽ/ | zò /zo˩/ | tsui /tsui/ | kindɛ /kindɛ/ | thén /tʰén/ | eji /edʒi/ | eji /edʒi/ |
| Bone | kpa /kpa/ | wɛlɛ /wɛlɛ/ | wu /wu/ | kee /keː/ | thêm /tʰêm/ | xu /xu/ | epu /epu/ |
| Blood | nyɔmɔ /ɲɔmɔ/ | bai /baí/ | lá /lá/ | ni /ni/ | ôm /ôm/ | hun /hũ/ | ehũ /ehũ/ |
| Love | wɛ̃ɖaa /wɛ̃ɖaː/ | ŋalo /ŋalo/ | suɔmɔ /suɔmɔ/ | ibɛ /ibɛ/ | — /—/ | lɔ̃ /lɔ̃/ | lɔ̃lɔ̃ /lɔ̃lɔ̃/ |
| Tree | tu /tu/ | yílí /ji˥li˥/ | tso /tso/ | timmɛ /timːɛ/ | á:dɔ̀ /áːdɔ̀/ | aci /atʃi/ | ati /ati/ |
| Dog | gbe /ɡbe/ | gbá̰ /ɡbã˥/ | gbei /ɡbei/ | idu /idu/ | tségùn /tséɡùn/ | avu /avu/ | avũ /avũ/ |
| Cat | blete /blete/ | poso /poso/ | adi /adi/ | gamma /ɡamːa/ | báò: /báòː/ | ami /ami/ | agbo /aɡbo/ |
| Fish | zemi /zemi/ | gba /ɡba/ | loo /loː/ | — /—/ | ɔ́:pį́ /ɔ́ːpĩ́/ | kpavi /kpavi/ | elãvi /elãvi/ |
| Bird | naà /naà/ | mɔ̀ɔ̀ /mɔ̀ː/ | loofɔlɔ /loːfɔlɔ/ | sadaa /sadaː/ | tʼę̀:né /tʼẽ̀ːné/ | xevi /xevi/ | xevi /xevi/ |
| Egg | gɛ̃ /ɡɛ̃/ | nyàà /ɲàː/ | wuɔ /wuɔ/ | talu /talu/ | tʼą́y /tʼã́j/ | — | azi /azi/ |
| Horse | sǒ /sǒ/ | sòo /sòː/ | okpɔŋɔ /okpɔŋɔ/ | soŋ /soŋ/ | — | esɔ /esɔ/ | esɔ /esɔ/ |
| House | kõ /kõ/ | kpɛ /kpɛ/ | shia /ʃia/ | ginɛ /ɡinɛ/ | tó: /tóː/ | avia /avia/ | exɔ /exɔ/ |
| Milk | nɛɛ̀-nì /nɛɛ̀nì/ | nyɔ́-yíí /ɲɔ́jíː/ | fufɔ /fufɔ/ | iru /iru/ | — | anɔshu /anɔʃu/ | nyinɔsi /ɲinɔsi/ |
| Honey | ɖo /ɖo/ | zɔ́ɔ́ nyɔ́nɔ́ /zɔ́ː ɲɔ́nɔ́/ | wo /wo/ | igɛ /iɡɛ/ | — | enyishi /eɲiʃi/ | anyisi /aɲisi/ |
| Salt | tɔ̃ /tɔ̃/ | wèĩ /wèĩ/ | ŋo /ŋo/ | neŋ /neŋ/ | — | eje /edʒe/ | eje /edʒe/ |
| Wine | wã́ìn /wã́ìn/ | wã́ã́ĩ̀ /wã́ːĩ̀/ | wain /wain/ | — | — | vɛn /vɛ̃/ | vɛ̃ /vɛ̃/ |
| Iron | nɛɛ̀-kpà /nɛɛ̀kpà/ | pɛkulu /pɛkulu/ | dade /dade/ | inɛ /inɛ/ | — | ega /eɡa/ | gayibɔ /ɡajibɔ/ |
| Wheel | hwii /hwiː/ | — | shwiili /ʃwiːli/ | — | — | — | afɔku /afɔku/ |
| Silk | sékè /sékè/ | — | seda /seda/ | — | — | — | seda /seda/ |
| Book | céè-ɖɛ̀ /tʃéèɖɛ̀/ | kii /kiː/ | wolo /wolo/ | — | — | wema /wema/ | wémà /wémà/ |
| Eat | gbɔ̃a /ɡbɔ̃a/ | mɛ /mɛ/ | yɛ /jɛ/ | nyaa /ɲaː/ | pɔ́ttɔ̀ /pɔ́ttɔ̀/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ |
| Drink | ná /ná/ | mi /mi/ | nu /nu/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | thónmɔ̀ /tʰónmɔ̀/ | nu /nu/ | nù /nù/ |
| Sleep | mɔ́ /mɔ́/ | yī zɛ̄ /ji˧ zɛ˧/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | girii yeyyee /ɡiriː jejːeː/ | — | dɔ alɔn /dɔ alɔ̃/ | dɔ̃ alɔ̃ /dɔ̃ alɔ̃/ |
| One | ɖaa /ɖaː/ | do /do/ | ekome /ekome/ | turu /turu/ | pá: /páː/ | eɖe /eɖe/ | ɖeka /ɖeka/ |
| Two | sɔ̃ /sɔ̃/ | plɛ̀ɛ̀ /plɛː˩/ | enyɔ /eɲɔ/ | lɛy /lɛj/ | yí: /jíː/ | eve /eve/ | eve /eve/ |
| Three | taa /taː/ | yaaka /jaːka/ | etɛ /etɛ/ | taandu /taːndu/ | phą́:ò /pʰã́ːò/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ |
| Four | hĩinyɛ /hĩːɲɛ/ | yiisɛ /jiːsɛ/ | ejwɛ /edʒwɛ/ | nay /naj/ | yí:kyá /jíːkjá/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | enɛ /enɛ/ |
| Five | hm̀m̌ /hm̩̀m̩̌/ | sɔ́ɔ́li /sɔ́ːli/ | enumɔ /enumɔ/ | nnɔ /nːɔ/ | ɔ́ntʼɔ̀ /ɔ́ntʼɔ̀/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ |
| Hundred | hɔ̃dɛɖɛ /hɔ̃dɛɖɛ/ | wũ /wũ/ | oha /oha/ | tɛmdɛrɛ /tɛmdɛrɛ/ | — | — | eka eve takpo /eka eve takpo/ |
| Hello | nyɔɔnpe /ɲɔːnpe/ | ye /je/ | ɔ jɔ /ɔ jɔ/ | yaamɔ /jaːmɔ/ | wé: /wéː/ | nɛnɛ /nɛnɛ/ | ado /ado/ |
| Thank you | mɔãĩ /mɔãĩ/ | nyɛŋ /ɲɛŋ/ | oyiwala /ojiwala/ | gaanaa /ɡaːnaː/ | àhô /àhô/ | amɛ akpe /amɛ akpe/ | akpe /akpe/ |
| Good | nõ /nõ/ | kɛlɛ /kɛlɛ/ | ekpakpa /ekpakpa/ | seeƞ /sẽː/ | tʼá:gyà /tʼáːɡjà/ | nwi /nwi/ | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ |
| New | ɖìè /ɖìè/ | dɛɛ /dɛː/ | hee /heː/ | kanda /kanda/ | — | yoyu /joju/ | yeye /jeje/ |
| Red | ziza /ziza/ | gbɛlɛ /ɡbɛlɛ/ | tsuru /tsuru/ | banu /banu/ | gúl /ɡúl/ | ejun /edʒũ/ | jɛ̃ /dʒɛ̃/ |
| White | pu /pu/ | púlú /púlú/ | yɛŋ /jɛŋ/ | pilu /pilu/ | — | eyi /eji/ | ɣe /ɣe/ |
| Black | kpìǐ /kpìǐ/ | tii /tiː/ | diŋ /diŋ/ | gɛŋ /ɡɛŋ/ | — | eyu /eju/ | yibɔ /jibɔ/ |
| Ninety-nine | kpáɖá-nyɔ hĩinyɛ ɓaɖa-bùè sè mɛ̀nɛ̌ìn-hĩinyɛ /kpáɖáɲɔ hĩːɲɛ ɓaɖabùè sè mɛ̀nɛ̌ìnhĩːɲɛ/ | — | nyɔŋmai nɛɛhu kɛ nɛɛhu /ɲɔŋmai nɛːhu kɛ nɛːhu/ | — | — | — | — |
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