Kriol
Guinea-Bissau Kriol
Romance (creole)
Guinea-Bissau Kriol (Kriyol, also called Guineense) is a Portuguese-lexified creole spoken throughout Guinea-Bissau and in neighboring Casamance, Senegal. It serves as Guinea-Bissau's principal lingua franca and is increasingly acquired as a first language, especially in Bissau, while Portuguese remains the country's only official language. Most vocabulary derives from Portuguese, but the grammar reflects both creole development and contact with Atlantic and Mande languages. Kriol typically has SVO order and uses particles such as na, ta, and ba to mark tense, mood, and aspect rather than Portuguese-style verb inflection. Regional and social varieties coexist, and Latin-based spelling is used in literature and education although no single orthographic standard is universally established.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Guinea-Bissau Kriol
Sources
- Biblia – traduson antigu in Krioulo (Portuguese Creole Bible, Guinea-Bissau; bible.com version 3461); en.wiktionary Guinea-Bissau Creole (pov) lemmas; Intumbo, Inverno & Holm 2013, "Guinea-Bissau Kriyol", APiCS Online survey 33 (phonology/orthography)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Romance (creole)
| Meaning | Guinea-Bissau Kriol | Cape Verdean Creole | Brazilian Portuguese | Angolan Portuguese | Fala | Mozambican Portuguese | Cape Verdean Portuguese |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | yagu /ˈjaɡu/ | agu /aɡu/ | água /ˈaɡwɐ/ | água /ˈaɡwɐ/ | augua /ˈaɡwa/ | água /ˈaɡwɐ/ | água /ˈaɣwɐ/ |
| Fire | fugu /ˈfuɡu/ | fogu /foɡu/ | fogo /ˈfoɡu/ | fogo /ˈfoɡu/ | fogu /ˈfoɡu/ | fogo /ˈfoɡu/ | fogo /ˈfoɣu/ |
| Sun | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sɔw/ | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sɔɫ/ |
| Moon | lua /ˈlua/ | lua /lua/ | lua /ˈluɐ/ | lua /ˈluɐ/ | lúa /ˈlua/ | lua /ˈluɐ/ | lua /ˈluɐ/ |
| Star | strela /ˈstrɛla/ | strela /ˈstɾelɐ/ | estrela /isˈtɾelɐ/ | estrela /ɨʃˈtɾelɐ/ | estrela /esˈtɾela/ | estrela /ɨʃˈtɾelɐ/ | estrela /ʃˈtɾelɐ/ |
| Night | noti /ˈnoti/ | noti /ˈnoti/ | noite /ˈnojtʃi/ | noite /ˈnojte/ | noiti /ˈnojti/ | noite /ˈnojte/ | noite /ˈnojte/ |
| Rain | cuba /ˈtʃuba/ | txuba /ˈtʃubɐ/ | chuva /ˈʃuvɐ/ | chuva /ˈʃuvɐ/ | chuiva /tʃuiva/ | chuva /ˈʃuvɐ/ | chuva /ˈʃuvɐ/ |
| Snow | nevi /ˈnɛvi/ | nevi /ˈnevi/ | neve /ˈnɛvi/ | neve /ˈnɛvɨ/ | nevi /ˈnebi/ | neve /ˈnɛvɨ/ | neve /ˈnɛvɨ/ |
| Wind | bentu /ˈbẽtu/ | bentu /ˈbentu/ | vento /ˈvẽtu/ | vento /ˈvẽtu/ | ventu /ˈbentu/ | vento /ˈvẽtu/ | vento /ˈvẽtu/ |
| Earth | tera /ˈtɛra/ | téra /tera/ | terra /ˈtɛʁɐ/ | terra /ˈtɛʁɐ/ | terra /tɛra/ | terra /ˈtɛʁɐ/ | terra /ˈtɛʁɐ/ |
| Stone | pedra /ˈpɛdɾa/ | pedra /ˈpɛdɾɐ/ | pedra /ˈpɛdɾɐ/ | pedra /ˈpɛðɾɐ/ | pedra /ˈpeðɾa/ | pedra /ˈpɛðɾɐ/ | pedra /ˈpɛdɾɐ/ |
| Mountain | monti /ˈmonti/ | monti /ˈmõti/ | montanha /mõˈtaɲɐ/ | montanha /mõˈtaɲɐ/ | montaña /monˈtaɲa/ | montanha /mõˈtaɲɐ/ | montanha /mõˈtɐɲɐ/ |
| Sea | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ |
| Mother | mai /maj/ | mai /maj/ | mãe /mãj/ | mãe /mɐ̃j/ | mai /mai/ | mãe /mɐ̃j/ | mãe /mɐ̃j̃/ |
| Father | pai /paj/ | pai /paj/ | pai /paj/ | pai /paj/ | pai /pai/ | pai /paj/ | pai /paj/ |
| I | ami /ami/ | mi /mi/ | eu /ew/ | eu /ew/ | eu /ew/ | eu /ew/ | eu /ew/ |
| You | bu /bu/ | bu /bu/ | você /voˈse/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ |
| We | anos /aˈnɔs/ | nos /nɔs/ | nós /nɔs/ | nós /nɔʃ/ | nós /nɔʃ/ | nós /nɔʃ/ | nós /nɔʃ/ |
| Name | nomi /ˈnomi/ | nómi /ˈnɔmi/ | nome /ˈnomi/ | nome /ˈnomɨ/ | nomi /ˈnomi/ | nome /ˈnomɨ/ | nome /ˈnomɨ/ |
| Person | jinti /ˈdʒinti/ | algen /alˈɡen/ | pessoa /peˈsoɐ/ | pessoa /pɨˈsoɐ/ | pesoa /peˈsoa/ | pessoa /pɨˈsoɐ/ | pessoa /pɨˈsoɐ/ |
| Head | kabesa /kaˈbesa/ | kabésa /kaˈbɛsɐ/ | cabeça /kaˈbesɐ/ | cabeça /kaˈbesɐ/ | cabeza /kaˈbeθa/ | cabeça /kɐˈbesɐ/ | cabeça /kɐˈbesɐ/ |
| Eye | uju /ˈudʒu/ | odju /odʒu/ | olho /ˈoʎu/ | olho /ˈoʎu/ | ollu /ˈoʎu/ | olho /ˈoʎu/ | olho /ˈoʎu/ |
| Ear | orelha /oˈɾeʎɐ/ | oredja /oˈɾedʒɐ/ | orelha /oˈɾeʎɐ/ | orelha /oˈɾeʎɐ/ | orella /oˈreʎa/ | orelha /oˈɾeʎɐ/ | orelha /oˈɾeʎɐ/ |
| Nose | naris /naˈɾis/ | naris /naˈɾis/ | nariz /naˈɾis/ | nariz /naˈɾiʃ/ | nariz /naˈɾis/ | nariz /naˈɾiʃ/ | nariz /naˈɾiʃ/ |
| Mouth | boka /ˈboka/ | boka /ˈbɔka/ | boca /ˈbokɐ/ | boca /ˈbokɐ/ | boca /ˈboka/ | boca /ˈbokɐ/ | boca /ˈbokɐ/ |
| Tooth | dinti /ˈdinti/ | denti /ˈdenti/ | dente /ˈdẽtʃi/ | dente /ˈdẽte/ | diente /ˈðjente/ | dente /ˈdẽte/ | dente /ˈdẽte/ |
| Tongue | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | língua /ˈlĩɡwɐ/ | língua /ˈlĩɡwa/ | léngua /ˈleŋwa/ | língua /ˈlĩɡwa/ | língua /ˈlĩɡwa/ |
| Hand | mon /mõ/ | mon /mɔ̃/ | mão /mãw/ | mão /mɐ̃w/ | mau /mau/ | mão /mɐ̃w/ | mão /mɐ̃w̃/ |
| Foot | pe /pɛ/ | pé /pɛ/ | pé /pɛ/ | pé /pɛ/ | pe /pɛ/ | pé /pɛ/ | pé /pɛ/ |
| Heart | korasãu /koraˈsãu/ | korason /korasɔ̃/ | coração /koɾaˈsãw/ | coração /kuɾɐˈsɐ̃w/ | curaçón /kuɾaˈsɔn/ | coração /kuɾɐˈsɐ̃w/ | coração /kuɾɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ |
| Bone | os /os/ | ósu /ˈɔsu/ | osso /ˈosu/ | osso /ˈosu/ | osu /ˈosu/ | osso /ˈosu/ | osso /ˈosu/ |
| Blood | sangi /ˈsãɡi/ | sangi /ˈsɐ̃ɡi/ | sangue /ˈsɐ̃ɡi/ | sangue /ˈsɐ̃ɡe/ | sangri /ˈsaŋɡɾi/ | sangue /ˈsɐ̃ɡe/ | sangue /ˈsɐ̃ɡe/ |
| Poop | — /—/ | kaka /ˈkakɐ/ | cocô /koˈko/ | cocó /koˈkɔ/ | merda /ˈmeɾda/ | cocó /koˈkɔ/ | cocó /kuˈkɔ/ |
| Love | amur /amur/ | amor /amor/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ | amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ | amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ | amor /ɐˈmoɾ/ |
| Tree | arvuri /arˈvuri/ | arvi /arvi/ | árvore /ˈaɾvoɾi/ | árvore /ˈaɾvuɾɨ/ | arbol /ˈaɾβol/ | árvore /ˈaɾvuɾɨ/ | árvore /ˈaɾvuɾɨ/ |
| Dog | kacur /kaˈtʃur/ | katxor /katʃɔr/ | cachorro /kaˈʃoʁu/ | cão /kɐ̃w̃/ | can /kan/ | cão /kɐ̃w/ | cão /kɐ̃w̃/ |
| Cat | gatu /ɡatu/ | gatu /ɡatu/ | gato /ˈɡatu/ | gato /ˈɡatu/ | gatu /ˈɣatu/ | gato /ˈɡatu/ | gato /ɡatu/ |
| Fish | pis /pis/ | pexi /ˈpeʃi/ | peixe /ˈpejʃi/ | peixe /ˈpejʃe/ | peixi /ˈpejʃi/ | peixe /ˈpejʃe/ | peixe /ˈpejʃe/ |
| Bird | kacu /ˈkatʃu/ | pásaru /pasaɾu/ | pássaro /ˈpasaɾu/ | pássaro /ˈpasaɾu/ | páxaru /ˈpaʃaɾu/ | pássaro /ˈpasaɾu/ | pássaro /ˈpasɐɾu/ |
| Egg | ovu /ˈovu/ | ovu /ˈovu/ | ovo /ˈovu/ | ovo /ˈovu/ | ovu /ˈobu/ | ovo /ˈovu/ | ovo /ˈovu/ |
| Bear | ursu /ˈursu/ | ursu /ˈuɾsu/ | urso /ˈuɾsu/ | urso /ˈuɾsu/ | — | urso /ˈuɾsu/ | urso /ˈuɾsu/ |
| Horse | kabalu /kaˈbalu/ | kabalu /kaˈbalu/ | cavalo /kaˈvalu/ | cavalo /kaˈvalu/ | cabalu /kaˈbalu/ | cavalo /kɐˈvalu/ | cavalo /kɐˈvalu/ |
| House | kasa /ˈkasa/ | kaza /kaza/ | casa /ˈkazɐ/ | casa /ˈkazɐ/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkazɐ/ | casa /ˈkazɐ/ |
| Milk | liti /ˈliti/ | leti /ˈleti/ | leite /ˈlejtʃi/ | leite /ˈlejte/ | leiti /ˈlejti/ | leite /ˈlejte/ | leite /ˈlejte/ |
| Honey | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛw/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ | mel /mɛl/ |
| Salt | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ | sal /saw/ | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ | sal /saɫ/ |
| Wine | biñu /ˈbiɲu/ | vinhu /ˈviɲu/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | viñu /ˈbiɲu/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ |
| Rice | arus /aˈɾus/ | arôs /ɐˈɾos/ | arroz /aˈʁos/ | arroz /ɐˈʁoʃ/ | arró /aˈɾo/ | arroz /ɐˈʁoʃ/ | arroz /ɐˈʁoʃ/ |
| Iron | feru /ˈfɛru/ | féru /ˈfɛɾu/ | ferro /ˈfɛʁu/ | ferro /ˈfɛʁu/ | ferru /ˈferu/ | ferro /ˈfɛʁu/ | ferro /ˈfɛʁu/ |
| Wheel | roda /ˈrɔda/ | roda /ˈrɔdɐ/ | roda /ˈʁɔdɐ/ | roda /ˈʁɔdɐ/ | roa /ˈroa/ | roda /ˈʁɔdɐ/ | roda /ˈʁɔdɐ/ |
| Book | libru /ˈlibɾu/ | livru /ˈlivɾu/ | livro /ˈlivɾu/ | livro /ˈlivɾu/ | libru /ˈlibɾu/ | livro /ˈlivɾu/ | livro /ˈlivɾu/ |
| Eat | kume /kume/ | kume /kume/ | comer /koˈmeɾ/ | comer /kuˈmeɾ/ | cumel /kuˈmel/ | comer /kuˈmeɾ/ | comer /kuˈmeɾ/ |
| Drink | bibi /bibi/ | bebe /bebe/ | beber /beˈbeɾ/ | beber /bɨˈbeɾ/ | bebel /beˈβel/ | beber /bɨˈbeɾ/ | beber /bɨˈβeɾ/ |
| Sleep | durmi /duɾˈmi/ | durmi /ˈduɾmi/ | dormir /doʁˈmiʁ/ | dormir /duɾˈmiɾ/ | durmir /durˈmir/ | dormir /duɾˈmiɾ/ | dormir /duɾˈmiɾ/ |
| One | un /ũ/ | un /un/ | um /ũ/ | um /ũ/ | un /un/ | um /ũ/ | um /ũ/ |
| Two | dus /dus/ | dos /dos/ | dois /dojs/ | dois /dojʃ/ | dous /dows/ | dois /dojʃ/ | dois /dojʃ/ |
| Three | tris /tris/ | tres /tɾes/ | três /tɾes/ | três /tɾeʃ/ | tres /tɾes/ | três /tɾeʃ/ | três /tɾeʃ/ |
| Four | kuatru /ˈkwatru/ | kuatru /ˈkwatru/ | quatro /ˈkwatɾu/ | quatro /ˈkwatɾu/ | cuatru /ˈkwatɾu/ | quatro /ˈkwatɾu/ | quatro /ˈkwatɾu/ |
| Five | sinku /ˈsiŋku/ | sinku /ˈsiŋku/ | cinco /ˈsĩku/ | cinco /ˈsĩku/ | cinco /ˈθiŋko/ | cinco /ˈsĩku/ | cinco /ˈsĩku/ |
| Hundred | sen /sẽ/ | sen /sen/ | cem /sẽj̃/ | cem /sẽj̃/ | cen /θeŋ/ | cem /sẽj̃/ | cem /sẽj̃/ |
| Hello | oi /oj/ | ola /ɔla/ | oi /oj/ | olá /ɔˈla/ | salú /saˈlu/ | olá /ɔˈla/ | olá /ɔˈla/ |
| Thank you | obrigadu /obriɡadu/ | obrigadu /obriɡadu/ | obrigado /obɾiˈɡadu/ | obrigado /obɾiˈɡadu/ | gracias /ˈɣɾasjas/ | obrigado /obɾiˈɡadu/ | obrigado /ɔβɾiˈɣaðu/ |
| Good | bon /bɔ̃/ | bon /bɔ̃/ | bom /bõ/ | bom /bõ/ | bõ /bõ/ | bom /bõ/ | bom /bõ/ |
| New | nobu /ˈnobu/ | novu /ˈnovu/ | novo /ˈnovu/ | novo /ˈnovu/ | novu /ˈnobu/ | novo /ˈnovu/ | novo /ˈnovu/ |
| Red | burmeju /buɾˈmɛdʒu/ | burmedju /buɾˈmɛdʒu/ | vermelho /veʁˈmeʎu/ | vermelho /veɾˈmeʎu/ | vermellu /beɾˈmeʎu/ | vermelho /veɾˈmeʎu/ | vermelho /veɾˈmeʎu/ |
| White | branku /ˈbɾãŋku/ | branku /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ | branco /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ | branco /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ | branco /bɾaŋko/ | branco /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ | branco /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ |
| Black | pretu /ˈpɾetu/ | pretu /ˈpɾetu/ | preto /ˈpɾetu/ | preto /ˈpɾetu/ | negru /ˈneɡɾu/ | preto /ˈpɾetu/ | preto /ˈpɾetu/ |
| Green | verdi /ˈveɾdi/ | verdi /ˈveɾdi/ | verde /ˈveʁdʒi/ | verde /ˈveɾde/ | verdi /ˈbeɾdi/ | verde /ˈveɾde/ | verde /ˈveɾdɨ/ |
| Blue | azul /aˈzul/ | azul /aˈzul/ | azul /aˈzuw/ | azul /aˈzul/ | — | azul /ɐˈzul/ | azul /ɐˈzuɫ/ |
| Sugar | asukar /asukar/ | sukra /ˈsukɾɐ/ | açúcar /aˈsukaɾ/ | açúcar /aˈsukaɾ/ | — | açúcar /ɐˈsukaɾ/ | açúcar /ɐˈsukaɾ/ |
| Orange | laranja /laˈranʒa/ | laranja /laˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ | laranja /laˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ | laranja /laˈɾɐ̃ʒa/ | laranxa /laˈɾaŋʃa/ | laranja /lɐˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ | laranja /lɐˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ |
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