Yacouba
Dan
Niger-Congo (Mande, Eastern, Southern)
Dan (also called Yacouba in Côte d'Ivoire and Gio in Liberia) is an Eastern Mande language of the western Côte d'Ivoire-Liberia border region around the city of Man. Notable for an exceptionally complex tone system: 5 contrastive level tones plus contour tones, totalling 12-14 tonal categories — among the richest tone inventories documented for any African language. The Dan people are also famous for the iconic Dan masks of Man (gle masks), which became important reference works in early-20th-century European art history.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Dan
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Mande, Eastern, Southern)
| Meaning | Dan | Mano | Guernésiais | Bassa | Picard | Aghem | Kurdish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | yi̋ /ji̋/ | yi /ji/ | ieau /jo/ | ní /ní/ | iau /jo/ | mùghù /mùɣù/ | av /ɑːv/ |
| Fire | pɛ̄ŋ /pɛ̄ŋ/ | tíé /ti˥e˥/ | fû /fy/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | fu /fy/ | wə̀n /wə̀n/ | agir /ɑɡɪɾ/ |
| Sun | yʌ́nŋ̏ /jʌ̃́ŋ̏/ | ɲɛ́nɛ́ /ɲɛ˥nɛ˥/ | solé /sɔˈle/ | plɔ /plɔ/ | solèl /sɔlɛl/ | zuuw /zuːw/ | roj /ɾoːʒ/ |
| Moon | sű /sű/ | lɔ /lɔ/ | leune /løːn/ | hwɔɖɔ /hʷɔɖɔ/ | lune /lyn/ | dzɔ̄ŋ /dzɔ̄ŋ/ | heyv /hejv/ |
| Star | sűsʌ̄nŋ́ /sűsʌ̃̄ŋ́/ | sĩ̄ã́ŋēlè /sĩ̄ã́ŋēlè/ | ételle /etɛl/ | kùɖù /kùɖù/ | étole /etɔl/ | sə̀ghàbəlà /sə̀ɣàbəlà/ | stêrk /stɛːɾk/ |
| Night | gbēŋ /ɡbēŋ/ | gbeŋ /ɡbeŋ/ | niet /njɛ/ | ma /mã/ | nuit /nɥi/ | achoʼ /atʃoʔ/ | şev /ʃɛv/ |
| Rain | dhā /ɗā/ | dɛ /dɛ/ | pllie /pʎi/ | — | pleuve /plœv/ | ghuuw /ɣuːw/ | baran /bɑːɾɑn/ |
| Wind | tɛ̋ɛ /tɛ̋ː/ | fã̀ã̀ /fã̀ː/ | vent /vɛ̃/ | dìì /dìː/ | vint /vɛ̃/ | kwɛ̌ɛ /kwɛ̌ː/ | ba /ba/ |
| Earth | sɛ̋ /sɛ̋/ | sɛ́lɛ́ /sɛ́lɛ́/ | terre /tɛr/ | ɓóɖó /ɓóɖó/ | tère /tɛːʁ/ | — | ax /ax/ |
| Stone | gwʌ̏ /ɡwʌ̏/ | gɛ̀lɛ̀ /ɡɛ̀lɛ̀/ | pièrre /pjɛr/ | sɔ́ɔ́-kpò /sɔ́ːkpò/ | pière /pjɛʁ/ | tia /tia/ | kevir /kɛˈvɪɾ/ |
| Mountain | tɔ̏n /tɔ̃̏/ | tɔ̃̀ũ̀ /tɔ̃̀ũ̀/ | — | toɖo /toɖo/ | montanne /mɔ̃tan/ | kwàʼ /kwàʔ/ | çiya /tʃɪˈja/ |
| Sea | wèeyȉ /wèːjȉ/ | mɛ̀ĩ́ /mɛ̀ĩ́/ | maïr /majr/ | dyóó /dʒóː/ | mèr /mɛʁ/ | dzùghùntsòʼ /dzùɣùntsòʔ/ | derya /dɛrˈja/ |
| Mother | dhē /ɗē/ | ɲɛ /ɲɛ/ | mère /mɛːr/ | mãɖe /mãɖe/ | mère /mɛʁ/ | zə̂ /zə̂/ | dê /dɛː/ |
| Father | dʌ̄ /dʌ̄/ | de /de/ | pére /peːr/ | ɓa /ɓa/ | père /pɛʁ/ | tsele /tsele/ | bav /bɑːv/ |
| Daughter | dhú /ɗú/ | lú /lú/ | fille /fiʎ/ | dyú-màà /dʒú màː/ | fille /fij/ | — | keç /kɛtʃ/ |
| I | n̄ /ŋ̄/ | mā /ma˧/ | jé /ʒe/ | M̀ /m̩/ | ej /əʒ/ | à /à/ | ez /ɛz/ |
| You | ī /ī/ | ī /ī/ | tu /ty/ | Ɓe /ɓe/ | te /tə/ | ò /ò/ | tu /tu/ |
| We | kwā / yī /kwā / jī/ | kō /ko˧/ | nous /nu/ | À /à/ | nous /nu/ | — /—/ | em /ɛm/ |
| Name | tɔ́ /tɔ́/ | tɔ́ /tɔ́/ | naom /nɔ̃/ | nyɛ́nɛ́ /ɲɛ́nɛ́/ | nom /nɔ̃/ | zən /zən/ | nav /nav/ |
| Person | bhɛ̄n /mɛ̃̄/ | mī /mi˧/ | — | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ | personne /pɛʁsɔn/ | ghùw /ɣùw/ | mirov /mɨˈrov/ |
| Head | gɔ̏ /ɡɔ̏/ | wũ-kèlè /wũkèlè/ | — | dú /dú/ | tiête /tjɛt/ | kətuw /kətuw/ | ser /sɛɾ/ |
| Eye | ya̋n /jã̋/ | mi /mi/ | yeu /jø/ | di /di/ | oeul /œl/ | sə /sə/ | çav /tʃɑːv/ |
| Ear | tő /tő/ | to /to/ | oreille /oʁɛj/ | ɖùǔ /ɖùǔ/ | eureille /œʁɛj/ | tùŋlo /tùŋlo/ | guh /ɡuh/ |
| Nose | yūn /jũ̄/ | nyu /ɲu/ | naïz /naj/ | máná /máná/ | nez /ne/ | — | poz /poz/ |
| Mouth | dhi̋ /ɗi̋/ | lé /lé/ | — | wɔ̃ /wɔ̃/ | bouque /buk/ | dzughu /dzuɣu/ | dev /dɛv/ |
| Tooth | sɔ̋n /sɔ̃̋/ | sɔ /sɔ/ | dent /dɑ̃/ | nyɛ́nɛ́-ɓò /ɲɛ́nɛ́ɓò/ | dint /dɛ̃/ | sɔŋ /sɔŋ/ | diran /dɪˈɾaːn/ |
| Tongue | dhɛ́ɛ̏n /nɛ̃́ɛ̃̏/ | nana /nana/ | langue /lɑ̃ɡ/ | mio /mĩo/ | langue /lɑ̃ɡ/ | nom /nom/ | ziman /zɪˈmaːn/ |
| Hand | kɔ̏ /kɔ̏/ | kɔ̀ /kɔ˩/ | main /mɛ̃/ | kɔ /kɔ/ | main /mɛ̃/ | kwe /kwe/ | dest /dɛst/ |
| Heart | zūʌ̋ /zūʌ̋/ | zò /zo˩/ | tchoeur /tʃœr/ | kẽ /kẽ/ | cœur /kœʁ/ | fə̂ŋ /fə̂ŋ/ | dil /dɪl/ |
| Bone | gā /ɡā/ | wɛlɛ /wɛlɛ/ | os /o/ | kpa /kpa/ | os /ɔs/ | xo /xo/ | hestî /hesˈtiː/ |
| Blood | yɔ̀ɔn /jɔ̃̀ː/ | bai /baí/ | sang /sɑ̃/ | nyɔmɔ /ɲɔmɔ/ | sang /sɑ̃/ | tikaŋ /tikaŋ/ | xwîn /xwiːn/ |
| Poop | gbō /ɡbō/ | gbō /ɡbo˧/ | — | — | brin /bʁɛ̃/ | — | gû /ɡuː/ |
| Love | dhɔ̏ /ɗɔ̏/ | ŋalo /ŋalo/ | amour /aˈmuːr/ | wɛ̃ɖaa /wɛ̃ɖaː/ | amour /amuʁ/ | ləgha /ləɣa/ | evîn /ɛviːn/ |
| Tree | dhɯ̋ /ɗɯ̋/ | yílí /ji˥li˥/ | arbre /arbr/ | tu /tu/ | abre /abʁ/ | kâʼ /kâʔ/ | dar /dɑːɾ/ |
| Dog | gbɛ̂n /ɡbɛ̃̂/ | gbá̰ /ɡbã˥/ | tchian /tʃjɑ̃/ | gbe /ɡbe/ | kien /kjɛ̃/ | bvʉ /bvʉ/ | kûçik /kuːtʃɪk/ |
| Cat | gwa̋n /ɡwã̋/ | poso /poso/ | cat /kat/ | blete /blete/ | cat /ka/ | gò /ɡò/ | pisîk /pɪsiːk/ |
| Fish | yúɤ̏ɤ /júɤ̏ː/ | gba /ɡba/ | paîsson /pɛˈsɔ̃/ | zemi /zemi/ | pichon /piʃɔ̃/ | tsəgha /tsəɣa/ | masî /maˈsiː/ |
| Bird | bhȁan /mã̏ː/ | mɔ̀ɔ̀ /mɔ̀ː/ | mouissaon /muiˈsɔ̃/ | naà /naà/ | oizo /wazo/ | nwə̀n /nwə̀n/ | balinde /balinde/ |
| Butterfly | dhe̋ŋdhe̋ŋkpȁadhȅ /ɗe̋ŋɗe̋ŋkpȁːɗȅ/ | lólógbɛ̀ìgbɛ̀ì /lo˥lo˥ɡbɛ˩i˩ɡbɛ˩i˩/ | — | — | paviole /pavjɔl/ | — | perperîk /pɛrpɛˈriːk/ |
| Egg | yȁan /jã̏ː/ | nyàà /ɲàː/ | — | gɛ̃ /ɡɛ̃/ | uë /y/ | eghum /eɣum/ | hêk /heːk/ |
| Horse | sòȍ /sòȍ/ | sòo /sòː/ | ch'fa /ʃfa/ | sǒ /sǒ/ | kvau /kvo/ | kə̀anyòm /kə̀aɲòm/ | hesp /hɛsp/ |
| House | kɔ́ /kɔ́/ | kpɛ /kpɛ/ | maisaon /mɛˈzɔ̃/ | kõ /kõ/ | mason /masɔ̃/ | ndughu /nduɣu/ | mal /mɑːl/ |
| Milk | dhɔ̋ndhɔ̋n /nɔ̃̋nɔ̃̋/ | nyɔ́-yíí /ɲɔ́jíː/ | — | nɛɛ̀-nì /nɛɛ̀nì/ | lait /lɛ/ | kəmēlē /kəmēlē/ | şîr /ʃiːr/ |
| Honey | zɔ̋yɔ̋n /zɔ̋jɔ̃̋/ | zɔ́ɔ́ nyɔ́nɔ́ /zɔ́ː ɲɔ́nɔ́/ | miel /mjɛl/ | ɖo /ɖo/ | miel /mjɛl/ | fə̀dɔ̂ŋ /fə̀dɔ̂ŋ/ | hingiv /hɪnˈɡiv/ |
| Salt | wèe /wèː/ | wèĩ /wèĩ/ | saïl /sajl/ | tɔ̃ /tɔ̃/ | sé /se/ | ntsôʼ /ntsôʔ/ | xwê /xweː/ |
| Rice | bhlɯ̏n /ɓlɯ̃̏/ | ɓū /ɓu˧/ | riz /ʁi/ | — | riz /ʁi/ | — | birinc /bɪˈrindʒ/ |
| Iron | pȉɤ /pȉɤ/ | pɛkulu /pɛkulu/ | — | nɛɛ̀-kpà /nɛɛ̀kpà/ | fer /fɛʁ/ | ubvūʼ /ubvūʔ/ | hesin /hɛˈsɪn/ |
| Wheel | gɛ̏n /ɡɛ̃̏/ | — | — | hwii /hwiː/ | roue /ʁu/ | — | teker /tɛˈkɛɾ/ |
| Book | sʌ́ʌdhɛ̋bȅ /sʌ́ːɗɛ̋bȅ/ | kii /kiː/ | — | céè-ɖɛ̀ /tʃéèɖɛ̀/ | live /liv/ | mwàʼsò /mwàʔsò/ | pirtûk /pɪɾˈtuːk/ |
| Eat | bhɤ̏ /ɓɤ̏/ | mɛ /mɛ/ | mangier /mɑ̃ˈʒje/ | gbɔ̃a /ɡbɔ̃a/ | minger /mɛ̃ʒe/ | pfʉa /pfʉa/ | xwarin /xwɑːɾɪn/ |
| Drink | bhɯ̄n /mɯ̃̄/ | mi /mi/ | baire /bɛːr/ | ná /ná/ | boère /bwɛʁ/ | mʉ̌a /mʉ̌a/ | vexwarin /vɛxwɑːɾɪn/ |
| Sleep | yī zʌ̄ /jī zʌ̄/ | yī zɛ̄ /ji˧ zɛ˧/ | dormi /dɔrˈmi/ | mɔ́ /mɔ́/ | dormir /dɔʁˈmi/ | bwii /bwiː/ | razan /raˈzan/ |
| One | dō /dō/ | do /do/ | iun /jœ̃/ | ɖaa /ɖaː/ | un /œ̃/ | mɔ̀ʼ /mɔ̀ʔ/ | yek /jɛk/ |
| Two | plɛ̀ /plɛ̀/ | plɛ̀ɛ̀ /plɛː˩/ | daeux /dø/ | sɔ̃ /sɔ̃/ | deus /dø/ | bə̀ghà /bə̀ɣà/ | du /du/ |
| Three | yȁagā /jȁːɡā/ | yaaka /jaːka/ | treis /tʁɛ/ | taa /taː/ | troé /tʁwɛ/ | tɨ́gá /tɨ́ɣá/ | sê /seː/ |
| Four | yȉisīɤ /jȉːsīɤ/ | yiisɛ /jiːsɛ/ | quatre /kat/ | hĩinyɛ /hĩːɲɛ/ | quate /kat/ | cìakɔ̀ /tʃìakɔ̀/ | çar /tʃaːr/ |
| Five | sɔ̋ɔdhű /sɔ̋ːɗű/ | sɔ́ɔ́li /sɔ́ːli/ | — | hm̀m̌ /hm̩̀m̩̌/ | chinq /ʃɛ̃k/ | tɛ̀ /tɛ̀/ | pênc /pɛːndʒ/ |
| Hundred | kʌ̄ŋ /kʌ̄ŋ/ | wũ /wũ/ | chent /ʃɑ̃/ | hɔ̃dɛɖɛ /hɔ̃dɛɖɛ/ | chint /ʃɛ̃/ | — | sed /sɛd/ |
| Hello | dhæ̀ækpœ̀œ /ɗæ̀ːkpɒ̀ː/ | ye /je/ | banjour /bɑ̃ˈʒuːr/ | nyɔɔnpe /ɲɔːnpe/ | bojour /bɔʒuʁ/ | kâaʼ /kaːʔ/ | silav /sɪlɑːv/ |
| Thank you | dhūnwɛ̋ɛ /nũ̄wɛ̋ː/ | nyɛŋ /ɲɛŋ/ | mercie bian /mɛrˈsi bjɑ̃/ | mɔãĩ /mɔãĩ/ | merci /mɛʁsi/ | ŋyaaʼ /ŋjaːʔ/ | spas /spɑːs/ |
| Good | sʌ̏ /sʌ̏/ | kɛlɛ /kɛlɛ/ | bouan /bwɑ̃/ | nõ /nõ/ | bon /bɔ̃/ | dzûŋ /dzûŋ/ | baş /bɑːʃ/ |
| New | dȅe /dȅː/ | dɛɛ /dɛː/ | — | ɖìè /ɖìè/ | nouvieu /nuvjø/ | fughu /fuɣu/ | nû /nuː/ |
| Red | tɛ̋ɛn /tɛ̃̋ː/ | gbɛlɛ /ɡbɛlɛ/ | rouoge /ʁwɔdʒ/ | ziza /ziza/ | rouche /ʁuʃ/ | bàŋ /bàŋ/ | sor /soɾ/ |
| White | pűu /pűː/ | púlú /púlú/ | bllànc /bʎɑ̃/ | pu /pu/ | blanc /blɑ̃/ | fə̀m /fə̀m/ | spî /spiː/ |
| Green | gblȅeyi̋dhē /ɡblȅːji̋ɗē/ | béìzɛ̀ /be˥i˩zɛ˩/ | — | — | vert /vɛʁ/ | — | kesk /kɛsk/ |
| Blue | tīi /tīː/ | ɓūléèzɛ̀ /ɓu˧le˥e˩zɛ˩/ | bllu /bʎy/ | — | bleu /blø/ | — | şîn /ʃiːn/ |
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