Krio
English-based creole
Krio (Sierra Leone Krio) is the English-lexified creole of Sierra Leone, the L1 of the Krio people (descendants of freed slaves resettled in Freetown 1787-1855: London Black Poor, Nova Scotian Settlers, Maroons, and Liberated Africans recaptured from slave ships) and the lingua franca of ~7.5M Sierra Leoneans. Genetically related to Jamaican Patois, Gullah and Saramaccan via the Atlantic English-creole network, but with significant Yoruba and Akan substrate from Liberated Africans. Krio's prestige made it influential across West Africa, contributing to Cameroonian Pidgin and Nigerian Pidgin development. Standardized orthography by Lorenzo Turner (1949) and Jones (1971).
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Krio
Sources
- Ethnologue: kri
- Jones (1971) An English-Krio Dictionary
- Hancock (1986) The Domestic Hypothesis on the Origin of Atlantic Creoles
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: English-based creole
| Meaning | Krio | Nigerian Pidgin | Torres Strait Creole | Bislama | Pijin | Jamaican Patois | Singapore English |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | wata /ˈwata/ | wọtá /wɔta/ | woda /woda/ | wota /wota/ | wata /wata/ | waata /waːta/ | water /ˈwɔːtə/ |
| Fire | faya /ˈfaja/ | faya /faja/ | paya /paja/ | faea /faea/ | faea /faja/ | faiya /faja/ | fire /fajə/ |
| Sun | san /san/ | sọn /sɔn/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | son /sɔn/ | sun /san/ |
| Moon | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | muun /muːn/ | moon /muːn/ |
| Star | sta /sta/ | star /staː/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | staar /staː/ | star /staː/ |
| Night | nɛt /nɛt/ | nait /nait/ | nait /nait/ | naet /naet/ | naet /naet/ | nait /nait/ | night /naɪt/ |
| Rain | ren /rɛn/ | rain /reːn/ | ren /ren/ | ren /rɛn/ | ren /ren/ | rien /rien/ | rain /reːn/ |
| Snow | sno /sno/ | snow /sno/ | — | sno /sno/ | snou /snou/ | sunuo /sunuo/ | snow /snoʊ/ |
| Wind | briz /briz/ | win /win/ | win /win/ | win /win/ | win /win/ | briiz /briːz/ | wind /wɪnd/ |
| Earth | gron /ɡrɔn/ | graun /ɡraʊn/ | graun /ɡraun/ | graon /ɡraon/ | graon /ɡraon/ | grung /ɡrʌŋ/ | earth /ɜːt/ |
| Stone | ston /stɔn/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ | stuon /stuon/ | stone /stoːn/ |
| Mountain | mawnten /ˈmawnten/ | mountin /maʊntin/ | maunten /maunten/ | maunten /maunten/ | maonden /maonden/ | mountn /mountn/ | mountain /ˈmaʊntɪn/ |
| Sea | si /si/ | sea /si/ | solwata /solwata/ | solwora /solwora/ | solwata /solwata/ | sii /siː/ | sea /siː/ |
| Mother | mama /ˈmama/ | mama /mama/ | ama /ama/ | mama /mama/ | mami /mami/ | mada /mɑdə/ | mother /ˈmadə/ |
| Father | papa /ˈpapa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | dadi /dadi/ | faada /faːda/ | father /ˈfadə/ |
| Daughter | gyal pikin /ɡjal pikin/ | girl pikin /ɡɛl pikin/ | gel /ɡel/ | gel /ɡel/ | dota /dota/ | daata /dɑːtə/ | daughter /ˈdɔːtə/ |
| I | mi /mi/ | A /a/ | ai /ai/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | I /aɪ/ |
| You | yu /ju/ | you /ju/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | iu /iu/ | yu /ju/ | you /ju/ |
| We | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | yumpla / mipla /jumpla / mipla/ | yumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | iumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | wi /wi/ | we /wi/ |
| Name | nem /nɛm/ | nem /nɛm/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nem/ | niem /niem/ | name /nem/ |
| Person | pɔsin /pɔsin/ | pesin /pɛsin/ | — | man /man/ | man /man/ | sumadi /sumadi/ | person /ˈpɜːsən/ |
| Head | ed /ed/ | head /hɛd/ | ed /ed/ | hed /hed/ | hed /hed/ | ed /ɛd/ | head /hɛd/ |
| Eye | ay /aj/ | ai /aɪ/ | ai /aj/ | ae /ae/ | ae /ae/ | yai /jaɪ/ | eye /aɪ/ |
| Ear | yes /jes/ | ear /ia/ | talinga /taliŋa/ | ia /ia/ | ia /ia/ | iez /iez/ | ear /iə/ |
| Nose | nos /nɔs/ | nose /noːs/ | nus /nus/ | nus /nus/ | nos /nos/ | nuoz /nuoz/ | nose /noʊs/ |
| Mouth | mɔt /mɔt/ | mout /maʊt/ | maut /maut/ | maot /maot/ | maot /maot/ | mout /mout/ | mouth /maʊt/ |
| Tooth | tit /tit/ | tit /tit/ | tit /tit/ | tut /tut/ | titi /titi/ | tiit /tiːt/ | tooth /tuːt/ |
| Tongue | tɔŋ /tɔŋ/ | tong /tɔŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tong /tɔŋ/ | tongue /tʌŋ/ |
| Hand | an /an/ | hand /hand/ | an /an/ | han /han/ | han /han/ | an /an/ | hand /hɛn/ |
| Foot | fut /fut/ | leg /lɛɡ/ | put /put/ | leg /leɡ/ | leg /leɡ/ | fut /fʊt/ | foot /fʊt/ |
| Heart | at /at/ | hat /hat/ | at /at/ | bel /bel/ | hat /hat/ | aat /aːt/ | heart /hat/ |
| Bone | bon /bɔn/ | bón /bɔn/ | bon /bon/ | bun /bun/ | bon /bon/ | buon /bʊɔn/ | bone /boːn/ |
| Blood | blɔd /blɔd/ | blod /blɔd/ | blad /blad/ | blad /blad/ | blad /blad/ | blod /blʌd/ | blood /blʌd/ |
| Poop | kaka /kaˈka/ | shit /ʃit/ | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ | poop /puːp/ |
| Love | lɛk /lɛk/ | lọv /lɔv/ | lavem /lavem/ | laekem /laekem/ | lavem /lavem/ | lov /lɔv/ | love /laf/ |
| Tree | tik /tik/ | tri /tɾi/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | chrii /tʃɹiː/ | tree /tɹiː/ |
| Dog | dɔg /dɔɡ/ | dọg /dɔɡ/ | dog /doɡ/ | dog /doɡ/ | dogi /doɡi/ | daag /daːɡ/ | dog /dɔk/ |
| Cat | pus /pus/ | pus /pus/ | pusiket /pusiket/ | pusi /pusi/ | puskat /puskat/ | puss /pʊs/ | cat /kɛt/ |
| Fish | fis /fis/ | fish /fiʃ/ | pis /pis/ | fis /fis/ | fis /fis/ | fish /fɪʃ/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | bɔd /bɔd/ | bird /bɛd/ | pizin /pizin/ | pijin /pidʒin/ | bed /bed/ | bod /bɔd/ | bird /bɜːd/ |
| Butterfly | bɔtaflay /bɔtaflaj/ | — | bataplai /bataplai/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | botaflai /bɔtaflai/ | butterfly /ˈbatəflaɪ/ |
| Egg | eg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ | eg /eɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | eg /eɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | bia /ˈbia/ | bear /bɛ/ | bea /bea/ | bea /bea/ | bea /bea/ | bier /biɛr/ | bear /bɛə/ |
| Horse | ɔs /ɔs/ | horse /hɔs/ | os /os/ | hos /hos/ | hos /hos/ | aas /aːs/ | horse /hɔs/ |
| House | os /os/ | haus /haʊs/ | haus /haus/ | haos /haos/ | haos /haos/ | ous /ɔus/ | house /haʊs/ |
| Milk | milk /milk/ | milk /milk/ | susu /susu/ | melek /melek/ | susu /susu/ | milk /mɪlk/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | ɔni /ˈɔni/ | honey /hɔni/ | ani /ani/ | hani /hani/ | hani /hani/ | oni /ɔni/ | honey /ˈhʌni/ |
| Salt | sɔl /sɔl/ | salt /sɔlt/ | solt /solt/ | sol /sol/ | sol /sol/ | saalt /saːlt/ | salt /sɔlt/ |
| Wine | wayn /wain/ | wine /waɪn/ | wain /wain/ | waen /waen/ | waen /waen/ | wain /wain/ | wine /waɪn/ |
| Rice | rɛs /rɛs/ | rais /rais/ | rais /rais/ | raes /raes/ | raes /raes/ | rais /rais/ | rice /ɹaɪs/ |
| Iron | ayɛn /ˈajɛn/ | iron /aiɔn/ | aian /aian/ | aean /aean/ | aean /aean/ | aiyan /aijan/ | iron /ˈajən/ |
| Wheel | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wiil /wiːl/ | wheel /wiːl/ |
| Silk | silk /silk/ | silk /silk/ | silk /silk/ | silik /silik/ | silk /silk/ | silk /sɪlk/ | silk /sɪlk/ |
| Book | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /bʊk/ | book /bʊk/ |
| Eat | it /it/ | chọp /tʃɔp/ | kaikai /kajkaj/ | kakae /kakae/ | kaikai /kajkaj/ | nyam /ɲam/ | eat /iːt/ |
| Drink | drink /driŋk/ | drink /dɾiŋk/ | dringk /driŋk/ | dring /driŋ/ | drinkim /driŋkim/ | jringk /dʒrɪŋk/ | drink /dɹɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | sliip /sliːp/ | sleep /sliːp/ |
| One | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wanfala /wanfala/ | wan /wan/ | one /wan/ |
| Two | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tufala /tufala/ | tuu /tuː/ | two /tu/ |
| Three | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | trifala /trifala/ | chrii /tʃɹiː/ | three /tɹiː/ |
| Four | fo /fo/ | fo /fɔ/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fofala /fofala/ | fuo /fuo/ | four /fɔː/ |
| Five | fayv /faiv/ | faiv /faiv/ | faiv /faiv/ | faev /faev/ | faefala /faefala/ | faiv /faiv/ | five /faɪv/ |
| Hundred | ɔndrɛd /ˈɔndrɛd/ | hundred /hɔndrɛd/ | andred /andred/ | handred /handred/ | handred /handred/ | onjrid /ɔndʒrɪd/ | hundred /ˈhʌndɹəd/ |
| Hello | kushɛ /kuˈʃɛ/ | how far /haʊ faː/ | wis wei /wis wej/ | halo /halo/ | halo /halo/ | wah gwaan /wɑ ɡwɑːn/ | hello lah /hɛlo lɑː/ |
| Thank you | tɛnki /ˈtɛŋki/ | tenki /tɛnki/ | eso /eso/ | tangkyu /taŋkju/ | tagio /taɡio/ | tanks /taŋks/ | thanks /tɛŋks/ |
| Good | gud /ɡud/ | fain /faɪn/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡʊd/ | good /ɡʊt/ |
| New | nyu /nju/ | new /nju/ | niu /niu/ | niufala /niufala/ | niu /niu/ | nyuu /ɲuː/ | new /nju/ |
| Red | rɛd /rɛd/ | red /rɛd/ | red /red/ | red /red/ | red /red/ | red /ɹɛd/ | red /ɹɛd/ |
| White | wayt /wajt/ | white /waɪt/ | wait /wait/ | waet /waet/ | waet /waet/ | wait /wait/ | white /waɪt/ |
| Black | blak /blak/ | black /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | black /blɛk/ |
| Green | grin /ɡrin/ | green /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | griin /ɡɹiːn/ | green /ɡɹiːn/ |
| Blue | blu /blu/ | blue /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blue /blu/ |
| Computer | kɔmpyuta /kɔmpjuta/ | kọmputa /kɔmpútà/ | — | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompyuuta /komˈpjuːta/ | computer /kɔmˈpjutə/ |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | tea /ti/ | — | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | tii /tiː/ | tea /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kɔfi /ˈkɔfi/ | coffee /kɔfi/ | — | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kaafi /kaːfi/ | coffee /ˈkɔfi/ |
| Sugar | shuga /ˈʃuɡa/ | — | — | suga /suɡa/ | suga /suɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | sugar /ˈʃʊɡə/ |
| Orange | oranj /ɔˈrandʒ/ | orenj /ɔˈrɛndʒ/ | — | orenj /orendʒ/ | orens /orens/ | arinj /ˈarɪndʒ/ | orange /ˈɔrɪndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | naynti-nayn /nainti nain/ | ninty-nine /nainti nain/ | nainti nain /nainti nain/ | naenti naen /naenti naen/ | naenti-naen /naenti naen/ | nainti-nain /nainti nain/ | ninety-nine /ˈnaɪnti ˈnaɪn/ |
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