Gengbe
Gen
Niger-Congo
Gen (Gengbe, also called Mina) is a Gbe language of the Niger-Congo Kwa branch, spoken by approximately 400,000 to 500,000 people primarily in the Maritime Region of southern Togo around Aného (the historic Mina/Gen capital and former Danish/German colonial trading post), with significant populations across the border in southwestern Benin (Mono Department). Gen is a sister language to Ewe (ee) and Fon (fon) within the Gbe dialect continuum and is partially mutually intelligible with both. Historically, the Gen people are descended from Akan immigrants from Elmina (Ghana) — the autonym "Gen" derives from "Mina" (the Portuguese trading post). Linguistically, Gen exhibits the typical Gbe features: ATR vowel harmony, three-tone system, isolating-agglutinative morphology, and SVO word order. The Gbe orthography developed in the 1980s by INFEC and SIL is shared across Ewe, Fon, and Gen.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Gen
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Gen | Aja | Ewe | Fon | Adangme | Isoko | Urhobo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | esi /esi/ | esi /esi/ | tsi /tsi/ | sin /sĩ/ | nyu /ɲu/ | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ |
| Fire | ezo /ezo/ | ezo /ezo/ | dzo /dzo/ | zo /zo/ | la /la/ | erae /eɾae/ | erhanre /eɾanɾe/ |
| Sun | ewe /ewe/ | ewe /ewe/ | ɣe /ɣe/ | hwe /ɦʷe/ | hyɛ /çɛ/ | ọvẹ /ɔvɛ/ | uvo /uvo/ |
| Moon | wetri /wetri/ | esun /esun/ | ɣleti /ɣleti/ | sun /sũ/ | nyɔnyɔɛ /ɲɔɲɔɛ/ | ọwa /ɔwa/ | emeranvwe /emeɾanβwe/ |
| Star | wetrivi /wetrivi/ | wlecivi /wletʃivi/ | ɣletivi /ɣletivi/ | sunví /sṹví/ | ŋulami /ŋulami/ | esi /esi/ | isio /isio/ |
| Night | zã /zã/ | zan /zã/ | zã /zã/ | zàn /zã̀/ | nyɔmi /ɲɔmi/ | aso /aso/ | aso /aso/ |
| Rain | èji /èdʒi/ | eshi /eʃi/ | tsidzadza /tsidzadza/ | jì /dʒì/ | hiɔmi /hiɔmi/ | oso /oso/ | osio /osio/ |
| Wind | aya /aja/ | jihɔn /dʒihɔ̃/ | aya /aja/ | jɔhɔn /dʒɔhɔ̃/ | kɔɔhiɔ /kɔːhiɔ/ | ofou /ofou/ | aphopho /aɸoɸo/ |
| Earth | anyigbã /aɲiɡbã/ | nyigban /ɲiɡbã/ | anyigba /aɲiɡba/ | ayǐkúngban /ajǐkṹɡbã/ | zugba /zuɡba/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ | otọ /ɔtɔ/ |
| Stone | kpe /kpe/ | kpe /kpe/ | kpe /kpe/ | awǐnnya /awĩ̌ɲa/ | tɛ /tɛ/ | — | oraga /oɾaɡa/ |
| Mountain | eto /eto/ | — | to /to/ | só /só/ | yoku /joku/ | ugbehru /uɡbehɾu/ | ugbenu /uɡbenu/ |
| Sea | apu /apu/ | axu /axu/ | atsiaƒu /atsiaɸu/ | xù /xù/ | wo /wo/ | abade /abade/ | abadi /abadi/ |
| Mother | nɔ /nɔ/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | dada /dada/ | nɔ /nɔ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | oni /oni/ | oni /oni/ |
| Father | tɔ /tɔ/ | eda /eda/ | fofo /fofo/ | tɔ /tɔ/ | tsɛ /tsɛ/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ | ọsẹ /ɔsɛ/ |
| Daughter | nyɔ̃nùvi /ɲɔ̃nùvi/ | vi nyɔnuvi /vi ɲɔnuvi/ | vinyɔnu /viɲɔnu/ | vǐ nyɔ̌nu /vǐ ɲɔ̌nu/ | biyo /bijo/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ | ọmọtẹ /ɔmɔtɛ/ |
| I | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ /ɲɛ/ | nye /ɲɛ/ | nyɛ̀ /ɲɛ̀/ | i /i/ | mẹ /mɛ/ | mẹ /mɛ/ |
| You | wò /wò/ | wo /wo/ | wò /wò/ | hwɛ̀ /hwɛ̀/ | mo /mo/ | whẹ /ʍɛ/ | wẹ /wɛ/ |
| We | mí /mí/ | mí /mí/ | mí /mí/ | mǐ /mǐ/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | ma /ma/ | avwanre /aβwanɾe/ |
| Name | nyikɔ /ɲikɔ/ | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ | ŋkɔ /ŋkɔ/ | nyǐkɔ /ɲĩ̌kɔ/ | biɛ /biɛ/ | odẹ /odɛ/ | odẹ /odɛ/ |
| Person | agbetɔ /aɡbetɔ/ | amɛ /amɛ/ | ame /ame/ | mɛ̀ /mɛ̀/ | nɔmlɔ /nɔmlɔ/ | ohwo /ohwo/ | ohwo /ohwo/ |
| Head | eta /eta/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ | yi /ji/ | uzou /uzou/ | uyovwi /ujoβwi/ |
| Eye | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ | ŋkuvi /ŋkuvi/ | ŋku /ŋku/ | nukún /nukṹ/ | hiŋmɛ /hiŋmɛ/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ | ẹro /ɛɾo/ |
| Ear | to /to/ | eto /eto/ | to /to/ | tó /tó/ | toi /toi/ | ozọ /ozɔ/ | erhọn /eɾɔ̃/ |
| Nose | ŋɔti /ŋɔti/ | — | ŋɔti /ŋɔti/ | awɔntín /awɔ̃tĩ́/ | gugwɔ /ɡuɡwɔ/ | unwe /unwe/ | uwen /uwẽ/ |
| Mouth | nu /nu/ | enu /enu/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | nya /ɲa/ | unu /unu/ | unu /unu/ |
| Tooth | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | aɖu /aɖu/ | luŋu /luŋu/ | akọ /akɔ/ | ako /ako/ |
| Tongue | aɖe /aɖe/ | aɖe /aɖe/ | aɖe /aɖe/ | ɖɛ̀ /ɖɛ̀/ | lilɛ /lilɛ/ | erou /eɾou/ | erebe /erebe/ |
| Hand | alɔ /alɔ/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | asi /asi/ | alɔ /alɔ/ | nine /nine/ | obọ /obɔ/ | obọ /obɔ/ |
| Foot | afɔ /afɔ/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | afɔ /àfɔ̀/ | afɔ /afɔ/ | nane /nane/ | owọ /owɔ/ | owọ /owɔ/ |
| Heart | eji /edʒi/ | eji /edʒi/ | dzi /dzi/ | ayi /aji/ | tsui /tsui/ | udu /udu/ | udu /udu/ |
| Bone | epu /epu/ | xu /xu/ | ƒu /ɸu/ | xú /xú/ | wu /wu/ | ubeku /ubeku/ | ubeku /ubeku/ |
| Blood | ehũ /ehũ/ | hun /hũ/ | ʋu /ʋu/ | hun /hũ/ | muɔ /muɔ/ | azẹ /azɛ/ | ọbara /ɔbaɾa/ |
| Love | lɔ̃lɔ̃ /lɔ̃lɔ̃/ | lɔ̃ /lɔ̃/ | lɔ̃lɔ̃ /lɔ̃lɔ̃/ | yiwanu /jiwanu/ | suɔmi /suɔmi/ | ọsuọ /ɔswɔ/ | ẹguọnọ /ɛɡwɔnɔ/ |
| Tree | ati /ati/ | aci /atʃi/ | ati /ati/ | atin /atĩ/ | tso /tso/ | orhan /oɾan/ | urhe /uɾe/ |
| Dog | avũ /avũ/ | avu /avu/ | avu /avu/ | avun /avũ/ | gbe /ɡbe/ | ebọ /ebɔ/ | eranko /eɾanko/ |
| Cat | agbo /aɡbo/ | ami /ami/ | dadi /dadi/ | asé /asé/ | adi /adi/ | ọtọmha /ɔtɔmha/ | ọtọma /ɔtɔma/ |
| Fish | elãvi /elãvi/ | kpavi /kpavi/ | tɔmelã /tɔmelã/ | hweví /ʍeví/ | lo /lo/ | yei /jei/ | eri /eɾi/ |
| Bird | xevi /xevi/ | xevi /xevi/ | xevi /xeʋi/ | xɛ /xɛ/ | lohwe pɛlitsɛ /lohwe pɛlitsɛ/ | evra /evɾa/ | ọphran /ɔɸɾan/ |
| Butterfly | abèbe /abèbe/ | — | kpakpaluʋui /kpakpaluʋui/ | awɛwɛ /awɛwɛ/ | kutu /kutu/ | ẹvbovbo /ɛʋoʋo/ | erhi /eɾi/ |
| Egg | azi /azi/ | — | koklozi /koklozi/ | azin /azĩ/ | hlui /hlui/ | ike /ike/ | ukẹn /ukɛ̃/ |
| Horse | esɔ /esɔ/ | esɔ /esɔ/ | sɔ /sɔ/ | sɔ́ /sɔ́/ | okpɔŋɔ /okpɔŋɔ/ | anyenya /aɲeɲa/ | esi /esi/ |
| House | exɔ /exɔ/ | avia /avia/ | aƒe /aɸe/ | xwé /xʷé/ | we /we/ | uwowhe /uwowhe/ | uwevwi /uweβwi/ |
| Milk | nyinɔsi /ɲinɔsi/ | anɔshu /anɔʃu/ | notsi /notsi/ | anɔ̌sin /anɔ̌sĩ/ | nyɔ nyu /ɲɔ ɲu/ | imiliki /imiliki/ | ameivie /ameivie/ |
| Honey | anyisi /aɲisi/ | enyishi /eɲiʃi/ | anyitsi /aɲitsi/ | wǐin /wǐĩ/ | hwo /hwo/ | ọnyọ /ɔɲɔ/ | ọnyọn /ɔɲɔ̃/ |
| Salt | eje /edʒe/ | eje /edʒe/ | dze /dze/ | jɛ̀ /dʒɛ̀/ | ŋo /ŋo/ | uwhei /uʍei/ | ughweraka /uɣʷeɾaka/ |
| Wine | vɛ̃ /vɛ̃/ | vɛn /vɛ̃/ | wain /wain/ | vɛ̌ɛn /vɛ̌ɛ̃/ | wai /wai/ | enwaene /enwaene/ | iwaini /iwaini/ |
| Iron | gayibɔ /ɡajibɔ/ | ega /eɡa/ | ga /ɡa/ | gan /ɡã/ | dade /dade/ | ayọno /ajɔno/ | utehru /utehɾu/ |
| Wheel | afɔku /afɔku/ | — | afɔti /afɔti/ | kɛkɛ́fɔ /kɛkɛ́fɔ/ | tlɔɔke nane /tlɔːke nane/ | ẹtẹ /ɛtɛ/ | adjugẹn /adʒuɡɛn/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | — | seda /seda/ | sɛ́da /sɛ́da/ | seda /seda/ | silki /silki/ | esada /esada/ |
| Book | wémà /wémà/ | wema /wema/ | agbalẽ /aɡbalẽ/ | wémà /wémà/ | womi /womi/ | ụbị /ʊbɪ/ | ọbe /ɔbe/ |
| Eat | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ɖu /ɖu/ | ye /je/ | re /ɾe/ | re /ɾe/ |
| Drink | nù /nù/ | nu /nu/ | no /no/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | da /da/ | da /da/ |
| Sleep | dɔ̃ alɔ̃ /dɔ̃ alɔ̃/ | dɔ alɔn /dɔ alɔ̃/ | dɔ alɔ̃ /dɔ alɔ̃/ | dɔ́ amlɔ /dɔ́ amlɔ/ | hwɔ mahe /hwɔ mahe/ | wezẹ /wɛzɛ/ | vwerhẹ /βweɾɛ/ |
| One | ɖeka /ɖeka/ | eɖe /eɖe/ | ɖeka /ɖeka/ | ɖokpó /ɖokpó/ | kake /kake/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ | ọvo /ɔvo/ |
| Two | eve /eve/ | eve /eve/ | eve /ève/ | wè /wè/ | enyɔ /eɲɔ/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ | ivẹ /ivɛ/ |
| Three | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | etɔ̃ /etɔ̃/ | atɔn /atɔ̃/ | etɛ /etɛ/ | isa /isa/ | erha /eɾa/ |
| Four | enɛ /enɛ/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | ene /ene/ | ɛnɛ /ɛnɛ/ | eywɛ /ejwɛ/ | ịnị /ɪnɪ/ | ẹne /ɛne/ |
| Five | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ̃ /atɔ̃/ | atɔ́ɔn /atɔ́ɔ̃/ | enuɔ /enuɔ/ | isoi /isɔi/ | iyori /ijoɾi/ |
| Hundred | eka eve takpo /eka eve takpo/ | — | alafa /alafa/ | kanwe ko /kãwe ko/ | lafa /lafa/ | ẹgba /ɛɡba/ | ujori /udʒoɾi/ |
| Hello | ado /ado/ | nɛnɛ /nɛnɛ/ | ŋdi /ŋdi/ | a fɔn ganji /a fɔ̃ ɡãdʒi/ | daa /daː/ | mavọ /mavɔ/ | migwo /miɡwo/ |
| Thank you | akpe /akpe/ | amɛ akpe /amɛ akpe/ | akpe /akpe/ | àwǎnú /àwǎnú/ | ojakuɛ /odʒakwɛ/ | migwo /miɡwo/ | miguo /miɡuo/ |
| Good | nyɔ /ɲɔ/ | nwi /nwi/ | nyo /ɲo/ | ɖagbe /ɖaɡbe/ | hɛŋmi /hɛŋmi/ | ọwhọ /ɔwhɔ/ | emamọ /emamɔ/ |
| New | yeye /jeje/ | yoyu /joju/ | yeye /jeje/ | yɔ̌yɔ́ /jɔ̌jɔ́/ | he /he/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ | ọkpokpọ /ɔkpokpɔ/ |
| Red | jɛ̃ /dʒɛ̃/ | ejun /edʒũ/ | dzĩ /dziː̃/ | vɔvɔ /vɔvɔ/ | tsu /tsu/ | wowe /wowe/ | wowe /wowe/ |
| White | ɣe /ɣe/ | eyi /eji/ | ɣi /ɣi/ | wéwé /wéwé/ | hiɔ /hiɔ/ | ọfuafụ /ɔfuafʊ/ | fafa /fafa/ |
| Black | yibɔ /jibɔ/ | eyu /eju/ | yibɔ /jibɔ/ | wiwi /wiwi/ | yumu /jumu/ | obiebi /obiebi/ | biebi /biebi/ |
| Green | amamu /amamu/ | — | gbemumu /ɡbemumu/ | amamǔ /amamǔ/ | — | — | ọgiọgiọ /ɔɡiɔɡiɔ/ |
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