Mampruli
Niger-Congo
Mampruli is a Gur language of the Niger-Congo family, spoken by around 330,000 people in the Northern Region of Ghana, primarily by the Mamprusi people. The Mamprusi trace their ancestry to the medieval Mamprussi Kingdom (founded in the 13th century by the legendary Tohazie/Naa Gbewaa), which is considered the parent kingdom from which the Dagomba and Nanumba kingdoms split off in the 14th century — making Mampruli the historically senior Mole-Gurma language. The Mamprusi paramount chief Naa Yamoogu rules from Nalerigu, and his court is one of the most prestigious traditional kingships of northern Ghana. Linguistically, Mampruli is closely related to Mooré (mos) of Burkina Faso and Dagbani of Ghana, with shared phonological features (vowel harmony, complex tone system) but distinct lexicon and morphology.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Mampruli
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Mampruli | Dagbani | Mooré | Susu | Koyraboro Senni | Kikongo | Ngunnawal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kuom /kuom/ | kom /kom/ | koom /koːm/ | yi /ji/ | hari /hari/ | maza /maza/ | kungal /kuŋal/ |
| Fire | bugum /buɡum/ | buɣim /buɣim/ | bugum /buɡum/ | te /te/ | nuune /nuːne/ | tiya /tija/ | warba /waɻba/ |
| Sun | wuntiri /wuntiri/ | wuntaŋa /wuntaŋa/ | wĩndga /wĩndɡa/ | soge /soɡe/ | wayna /wajna/ | ntangu /ntaŋɡu/ | winyu /wiɲu/ |
| Moon | gɔoŋ /ɡɔːŋ/ | goli /ɡoli/ | kiuugu /kiuːɡu/ | kike /kike/ | handu /handu/ | ngonda /ŋɡonda/ | birrang /biɻaŋ/ |
| Star | ŋmariga /ŋmariɡa/ | saŋmariga /saŋmariɡa/ | ãdga /ãdɡa/ | tunbi /tunbi/ | handaray /handaraj/ | mbwetete /mbwetete/ | dyurra /ɟura/ |
| Night | yuŋŋu /juŋːu/ | yuŋ /juŋ/ | yʋngo /jʊŋɡo/ | kɔɛ /kɔɛ/ | cijin /tʃidʒin/ | builu /builu/ | kaku /kaku/ |
| Rain | sa /sa/ | saa /saː/ | saaga /ˈsaːɡa/ | tunɛ /tunɛ/ | ncirɲi /ntʃirɲi/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | garrit /ɡaɻit/ |
| Wind | pɛsiŋŋu /pɛsiŋːu/ | pɔhim /pɔhim/ | sobgo /sobɡo/ | foye /foje/ | hew /hew/ | mupepe /mupepe/ | — |
| Earth | tiŋŋa /tiŋŋa/ | tiŋa /tiŋa/ | tẽnga /tẽŋɡa/ | bɔxi /bɔxi/ | labu /labu/ | ntoto /ntoto/ | dhaura /d̪auɻa/ |
| Stone | kugri /kuɡri/ | kuɣili /kuɣili/ | kugri /kuɡri/ | gɛmɛ /ɡɛmɛ/ | tondi /tondi/ | tadi /ˈtadi/ | wullung /wuluŋ/ |
| Mountain | zoori /zoːri/ | zoli /zoli/ | tãnga /tãŋɡa/ | geya /ɡeja/ | tondi hondu /tondi hondu/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ | — |
| Sea | teeku /teːku/ | teeku /teːku/ | mogre /moɡre/ | baa /baː/ | teeku /teːku/ | mbu /mbu/ | — |
| Mother | ma /ma/ | ma /ma/ | ma /ma/ | nga /ŋɡa/ | ɲaa /ɲaː/ | mama /mama/ | guni /ɡuni/ |
| Father | ba /ba/ | ba /ba/ | ba /ba/ | baba /baba/ | baaba /baːba/ | tata /tata/ | pumba /pumba/ |
| Daughter | bipuŋŋa /bipuŋa/ | bipuɣiŋga /bipuɣiŋɡa/ | bi-pugla /bipuɡla/ | di ginɛ /di ɡinɛ/ | ize woy /ize woj/ | mwana ya nkento /mwana ja nkento/ | — |
| I | mani /mani/ | mani /mani/ | mam /mam/ | n /n/ | ay /aj/ | mono /mono/ | ngaya /ŋaja/ |
| You | fu /fʊ/ | nyini /ɲini/ | fo /fo/ | i /i/ | ni /ni/ | ngeye /ŋɡeje/ | ngindu /ŋindu/ |
| We | tidima /tidima/ | tinima /tinima/ | tõnd /tõnd/ | won / muxu /wɔn / muxu/ | iri /iri/ | beto /beto/ | gulanyin / gulanyilla /ɡulaɲin / ɡulaɲila/ |
| Name | yuli /juli/ | yuli /juli/ | yʋʋre /jʊːre/ | xili /xili/ | maa /maː/ | nkumbu /nkumbu/ | yini /jini/ |
| Person | nira /nira/ | ninsala /ninsala/ | neda /neda/ | mixi /mixi/ | boro /boro/ | muntu /muntu/ | wurrunbill /wuɻunbil/ |
| Head | zugu /zuɡu/ | zuɣu /zuɣu/ | zugu /zuɡu/ | xunyi /xuɲi/ | boŋ /boŋ/ | ntu /ntu/ | guddagong /ɡuddaɡoŋ/ |
| Eye | nini /nini/ | nini /nini/ | nifu /nifu/ | ya /ja/ | moo /moː/ | disu /disu/ | mil /mil/ |
| Ear | tubri /tubri/ | tibili /tibili/ | tʋbre /tʊbre/ | tuli /tuli/ | haŋa /haŋa/ | kutu /kutu/ | guri /ɡuɻi/ |
| Nose | nyoori /ɲoːri/ | nyee /ɲeː/ | yõore /jõːre/ | ɲɔɛ /ɲɔɛ/ | niine /niːne/ | nzunu /nzunu/ | nyigity /ɲiɡiɟ/ |
| Mouth | noori /noːri/ | noli /noli/ | noore /noːre/ | dɛ /dɛ/ | mee /meː/ | nnwa /nnwa/ | dhambir /d̪ambiɻ/ |
| Tooth | nyini /ɲini/ | nyini /ɲini/ | yẽnde /jẽnde/ | ɲinyi /ɲiɲi/ | hiɲe /hiɲe/ | dinu /dinu/ | weera /weːra/ |
| Tongue | zilinni /zilinːi/ | zilinli /zilinli/ | zelemde /zelemde/ | nɛnɛ /nɛnɛ/ | deene /deːne/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | dalang /dalaŋ/ |
| Hand | nuusi /nuːsi/ | nuu /nuː/ | nugu /nuɡu/ | belexɛ /belexɛ/ | kabe /kabe/ | koko /koko/ | mara /maɻa/ |
| Foot | napɔŋŋu /napɔŋːu/ | napɔŋ /napɔŋ/ | naoore /naoːre/ | sanyi /saɲi/ | cee /tʃeː/ | kulu /kulu/ | dyinang /ɟinaŋ/ |
| Heart | suuri /suːri/ | suhu /suhu/ | sũuri /sũːri/ | bɔɲɛ /bɔɲɛ/ | bine /bine/ | ntima /ntima/ | gauar /ɡauar/ |
| Bone | kɔbri /kɔbri/ | kɔbili /kɔbili/ | kõbre /kõbre/ | xɔri /xɔri/ | biri /biri/ | visi /visi/ | wiak /wiak/ |
| Blood | zim /zim/ | ʒim /ʒim/ | zɩɩm /zɪːm/ | wuli /wuli/ | kuri /kuri/ | menga /meŋɡa/ | guruba /ɡuruba/ |
| Love | paaba /paːba/ | yu /ju/ | nonglem /noŋɡlem/ | xanunteya /xanunteja/ | baa /baː/ | zola /zola/ | marmit /maɻmit/ |
| Tree | tia /tia/ | tia /tia/ | tɩɩga /tɪːɡa/ | wuri /wuɾi/ | tuuri /tuːri/ | nti /nti/ | warabi /waɻabi/ |
| Dog | baaga /baːɡa/ | baa /baː/ | baaga /baːɡa/ | barɛ /baɾɛ/ | hansi /hansi/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | mirri /miɻi/ |
| Cat | nyusi /ɲusi/ | jɛŋkuno /dʒɛŋkuno/ | yũuga /jũːɡa/ | nyɛɛsu /ɲɛːsu/ | muusi /muːsi/ | nyau /ɲau/ | poosi /puːsi/ |
| Fish | zinga /ziŋa/ | zahim /zahim/ | zĩm /zĩm/ | yɛxɛ /jɛxɛ/ | hamiisa /hamiːsa/ | mbisi /mbisi/ | kuya /kuja/ |
| Bird | niiŋŋa /niːŋːa/ | nooŋa /noːŋa/ | liuula /liuːla/ | xɔni /xɔni/ | ciraw /tʃiraw/ | nuni /ˈnuni/ | budyan /buɟan/ |
| Butterfly | pipibga /pipibɡa/ | kahimpiɛɣu /kahimpiɛɣu/ | pilimpiuku /pilimpiuku/ | — | — | lumbembambemba /lumbembambemba/ | — |
| Egg | jalli /dʒalli/ | galli /ɡalli/ | gelle /ɡelːe/ | xɛlɛ /xɛlɛ/ | guuri /ɡuːri/ | diaki /diaki/ | gubbong /ɡubboŋ/ |
| Horse | yoofu /joːfu/ | wahu /wahu/ | wed-moaaga /wedmoaːɡa/ | soo /soː/ | bari /bari/ | mpunda /mpunda/ | — |
| House | yiri /jiri/ | yili /jili/ | roogo /roːɡo/ | banxi /banxi/ | hugu /huɡu/ | nzo /nzo/ | kuni /kuni/ |
| Milk | bisim /bisim/ | bihim /bihim/ | bĩisim /bĩːsim/ | xiɲɛ /xiɲɛ/ | waa /waː/ | midiki /midiki/ | — |
| Honey | sikpaam /sikpaːm/ | shiri /ʃiri/ | sɩɩdo /sɪːdo/ | kumi /kumi/ | yuu /juː/ | bwiki /bwiki/ | kawangkal /kawaŋkal/ |
| Salt | yaarim /jaːrim/ | yalim /jalim/ | yamsem /jamsem/ | fɔxɛ /fɔxɛ/ | ciiri /tʃiːri/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | — |
| Wine | daam /daam/ | wain /wain/ | divẽ /divẽ/ | wɛni /wɛni/ | alaneb hari /alaneb hari/ | vinu /vinu/ | — |
| Rice | sinkaafa /sinkaːfa/ | shinkaafa /ʃinkaːfa/ | mui /mui/ | — | — | loso /loso/ | — |
| Iron | kurigu /kuriɡu/ | kurugu /kuruɡu/ | kutu /kutu/ | wure /wuɾe/ | guuru /ɡuːru/ | kibende /kiˈbende/ | — |
| Book | bukku /bukːu/ | buku /buku/ | sebre /sebre/ | buki /buki/ | citaabu /tʃitaːbu/ | buku /buku/ | — |
| Eat | di /di/ | di /di/ | dɩ /dɪ/ | don /don/ | ŋaa /ŋaː/ | kudia /kudja/ | daring /daɻiŋ/ |
| Drink | nyu /ɲu/ | nyu /ɲu/ | yũ /jũ/ | min /min/ | haŋ /haŋ/ | kunua /kunwa/ | nyu /ɲu/ |
| Sleep | gbisi /ɡbisi/ | gbihi /ɡbihi/ | gũsi /ɡũsi/ | xi /xi/ | jirbi /dʒirbi/ | kuleka /kuˈleka/ | ngambori /ŋamboɻi/ |
| One | yini /jini/ | yini /jini/ | yembre /jembre/ | keren /keɾen/ | affoo /afːoː/ | mosi /mosi/ | meddhung /med̪uŋ/ |
| Two | ayi /aji/ | ayi /aji/ | yiibu /jiːbu/ | firin /firin/ | ihinka /ihiŋka/ | zole /zole/ | bula /bula/ |
| Three | ata /ata/ | ata /ata/ | tãabo /tãːbo/ | sakhan /saxan/ | hinza /hinza/ | tatu /tatu/ | bula mittong /bula mitoŋ/ |
| Four | anaasi /anaːsi/ | anahi /anahi/ | naase /naːse/ | naani /naːni/ | taaci /taːtʃi/ | iya /ija/ | — |
| Five | anu /anu/ | anu /anu/ | nu /nu/ | suuli /suːli/ | guu /ɡuː/ | tanu /tanu/ | — |
| Hundred | kɔbga /kɔbɡa/ | kɔbiga /kɔbiɡa/ | koabga /koabɡa/ | kɛmɛ /kɛmɛ/ | zangu /zaŋɡu/ | nkama /nkama/ | — |
| Hello | n na ti bʋɔ /n na ti bʊɔ/ | dasiba /dasiba/ | ne y yibeoogo /ne i jibeoːɡo/ | inu uxara /inu uxaɾa/ | fofo /fofo/ | mbote /mbote/ | yumalundi /jumalundi/ |
| Thank you | barika /barika/ | mpaɣya /mpaɣja/ | barka /barka/ | inu wali /inu wali/ | barka /barka/ | matondo /matondo/ | miyamala /mijamala/ |
| Good | vɛla /vɛla/ | viɛla /viɛla/ | sõma /sõma/ | fanyi /faɲi/ | boori /boːri/ | mbote /mbote/ | walunga /waluŋa/ |
| New | paalli /paːli/ | palli /palli/ | paalga /paːlɡa/ | nɛɛnɛ /nɛːnɛ/ | taaga /taːɡa/ | mpa /mpa/ | — |
| Red | moo /moː/ | ʒee /ʒeː/ | miuugu /miuːɡu/ | gbeeli /ɡbeːli/ | ciray /tʃiraj/ | mbwaki /mbwaki/ | dhiram-dhiram /d̪iɾamd̪iɾam/ |
| White | peelli /peːli/ | piɛlli /piɛlli/ | pɛɛlga /pɛːlɡa/ | fiixɛ /fiːxɛ/ | kaaray /kaːraj/ | mpembe /mpembe/ | daguru-gurag /daɡuɾuɡuɾaɡ/ |
| Black | sabilli /sabilli/ | sabinli /sabinli/ | sablga /sablɡa/ | fɔɔrɛ /fɔːɾɛ/ | bibi /bibi/ | ndombe /ndombe/ | buru-bura /buɻubuɻa/ |
| Green | bɛŋkoom /bɛŋkoːm/ | — | kẽega /kẽːɡa/ | — | firzi /firzi/ | langi ya matiti /laŋɡi ja matiti/ | — |
| Blue | bulu /bulu/ | sabilifaa /sabilifaː/ | bʋla /bʊla/ | — | bula /bula/ | bule /bule/ | — |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | tii /tiː/ | tee /teː/ | — | — | ti /ti/ | — |
| Orange | leemu /leːmu/ | leemu /leːmu/ | orãase /oɾãːse/ | — | — | dilala /dilala/ | — |
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