Saamaka tongo
Saramaccan
English-based creole (mixed English/Portuguese lexicon, Akan/Gbe substrate)
Saramaccan is a maroon creole of Suriname spoken on the upper Suriname River by descendants of West African enslaved populations who escaped Dutch plantations in the 17th-18th centuries (the Saramaca treaty of 1762 secured their independence). Its mixed English/Portuguese lexicon is unusual among Atlantic creoles and reflects the Portuguese-colonized Caribbean origin of some enslaved laborers; both English and Portuguese contributions appear in basic vocabulary (e.g., "wáta" water from English, but "lúna" moon from Portuguese, "fáya" fire from Portuguese fogo). Saramaccan has gained academic prominence as a model for studying the role of substrate languages in creole genesis (Akan-Gbe substrate is highly influential, with Akan-derived tone, kinship terms, and sentence-final particles).
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Saramaccan
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: English-based creole (mixed English/Portuguese lexicon, Akan/Gbe substrate)
| Meaning | Saramaccan | Aukan | Sranan Tongo | Pijin | Krio | Bislama | Jamaican Patois |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | wáta /wáta/ | wataa /wataː/ | watra /watra/ | wata /wata/ | wata /ˈwata/ | wota /wota/ | waata /waːta/ |
| Fire | fája /fája/ | faya /faja/ | faya /faja/ | faea /faja/ | faya /ˈfaja/ | faea /faea/ | faiya /faja/ |
| Sun | sónu /sónu/ | san /saŋ/ | son /son/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | son /sɔn/ |
| Moon | líba /líba/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | muun /muːn/ |
| Star | teéja /teéja/ | sitari /siˈtari/ | stari /ˈstari/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | staar /staː/ |
| Night | ndéti /ndéti/ | neti /neti/ | neti /neti/ | naet /naet/ | nɛt /nɛt/ | naet /naet/ | nait /nait/ |
| Rain | tjúba /tʃúba/ | alen /ˈaːlɛn/ | alen /ˈaːlɛn/ | ren /ren/ | ren /rɛn/ | ren /rɛn/ | rien /rien/ |
| Wind | vë́ntu /vɛ́ntu/ | winta /winta/ | winti /ˈwinti/ | win /win/ | briz /briz/ | win /win/ | briiz /briːz/ |
| Earth | goón /ɡoón/ | doti /doti/ | gron /ɡron/ | graon /ɡraon/ | gron /ɡrɔn/ | graon /ɡraon/ | grung /ɡrʌŋ/ |
| Stone | sitónu /sitónu/ | siton /siton/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ | ston /stɔn/ | ston /ston/ | stuon /stuon/ |
| Mountain | kúnunu /kúnunu/ | mongo /moŋo/ | bergi /ˈbɛrɡi/ | maonden /maonden/ | mawnten /ˈmawnten/ | maunten /maunten/ | mountn /mountn/ |
| Sea | zé /zé/ | ze /ze/ | se /se/ | solwata /solwata/ | si /si/ | solwora /solwora/ | sii /siː/ |
| Mother | mamá /mamá/ | mma /mːa/ | mama /mama/ | mami /mami/ | mama /ˈmama/ | mama /mama/ | mada /mɑdə/ |
| Father | taatá /taːtá/ | tata /tata/ | papa /papa/ | dadi /dadi/ | papa /ˈpapa/ | papa /papa/ | faada /faːda/ |
| Daughter | mujë́ë́míí /mujɛ́ːmíː/ | umanpikin /umanpikin/ | umapikin /umapikin/ | dota /dota/ | gyal pikin /ɡjal pikin/ | gel /ɡel/ | daata /dɑːtə/ |
| I | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ |
| You | i /i/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | iu /iu/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ |
| We | u /u/ | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | iumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | wi /wi/ | yumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | wi /wi/ |
| Name | në́ /nɛ́/ | nen /nɛn/ | nen /nɛn/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nɛm/ | nem /nem/ | niem /niem/ |
| Person | sëmbë /sɛmbɛ/ | sama /sama/ | libisma /libisma/ | man /man/ | pɔsin /pɔsin/ | man /man/ | sumadi /sumadi/ |
| Head | hédi /hédi/ | ede /ede/ | ede /ede/ | hed /hed/ | ed /ed/ | hed /hed/ | ed /ɛd/ |
| Eye | wójo /wójo/ | ain /ain/ | ai /ai/ | ae /ae/ | ay /aj/ | ae /ae/ | yai /jaɪ/ |
| Ear | jési /jési/ | yesi /jesi/ | yesi /jesi/ | ia /ia/ | yes /jes/ | ia /ia/ | iez /iez/ |
| Nose | núsu /núsu/ | noso /noso/ | noso /noso/ | nos /nos/ | nos /nɔs/ | nus /nus/ | nuoz /nuoz/ |
| Mouth | búka /búka/ | mofu /mofu/ | mofo /mofo/ | maot /maot/ | mɔt /mɔt/ | maot /maot/ | mout /mout/ |
| Tooth | tánda /tánda/ | tifi /tifi/ | tifi /tifi/ | titi /titi/ | tit /tit/ | tut /tut/ | tiit /tiːt/ |
| Tongue | tö́ngö /tɔ́ŋɡɔ/ | tongo /toŋo/ | tongo /toŋo/ | tang /taŋ/ | tɔŋ /tɔŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tong /tɔŋ/ |
| Hand | máun /máun/ | ana /ana/ | anu /anu/ | han /han/ | an /an/ | han /han/ | an /an/ |
| Foot | fútu /fútu/ | futu /futu/ | futu /futu/ | leg /leɡ/ | fut /fut/ | leg /leɡ/ | fut /fʊt/ |
| Heart | háti /háti/ | ati /ati/ | ati /ati/ | hat /hat/ | at /at/ | bel /bel/ | aat /aːt/ |
| Bone | bónu /bónu/ | bon /bon/ | bonyo /boɲo/ | bon /bon/ | bon /bɔn/ | bun /bun/ | buon /bʊɔn/ |
| Blood | buúu /buúu/ | buulu /buːlu/ | brudu /bruːdu/ | blad /blad/ | blɔd /blɔd/ | blad /blad/ | blod /blʌd/ |
| Love | lóbi /lóbi/ | lobi /lobi/ | lobi /lobi/ | lavem /lavem/ | lɛk /lɛk/ | laekem /laekem/ | lov /lɔv/ |
| Tree | páu /páu/ | bon /boŋ/ | bon /boŋ/ | tri /tri/ | tik /tik/ | tri /tri/ | chrii /tʃɹiː/ |
| Dog | dágu /dáɡu/ | dagu /daɡu/ | dagu /daɡu/ | dogi /doɡi/ | dɔg /dɔɡ/ | dog /doɡ/ | daag /daːɡ/ |
| Cat | pusipúsi /pusipúsi/ | poesi /pusi/ | poesi /pusi/ | puskat /puskat/ | pus /pus/ | pusi /pusi/ | puss /pʊs/ |
| Fish | físi /físi/ | fisi /fisi/ | fisi /fisi/ | fis /fis/ | fis /fis/ | fis /fis/ | fish /fɪʃ/ |
| Bird | fóu /fóu/ | foo /foː/ | fowru /ˈfoːru/ | bed /bed/ | bɔd /bɔd/ | pijin /pidʒin/ | bod /bɔd/ |
| Butterfly | adömítö /adɔmítɔ/ | — | kapelka /kapelka/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | bɔtaflay /bɔtaflaj/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | botaflai /bɔtaflai/ |
| Egg | óbo /óbo/ | igi /iɡi/ | eksi /eksi/ | eg /eɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | beer /beːr/ | beer /beːr/ | beer /beːr/ | bea /bea/ | bia /ˈbia/ | bea /bea/ | bier /biɛr/ |
| Horse | hási /hási/ | asi /asi/ | asi /asi/ | hos /hos/ | ɔs /ɔs/ | hos /hos/ | aas /aːs/ |
| House | wósu /wósu/ | osu /osu/ | oso /oso/ | haos /haos/ | os /os/ | haos /haos/ | ous /ɔus/ |
| Milk | më́íki /mɛ́íki/ | meliki /meliki/ | merki /ˈmɛrki/ | susu /susu/ | milk /milk/ | melek /melek/ | milk /mɪlk/ |
| Honey | hö́níwáta /hɔ́níwáta/ | oniki /oniki/ | oni /oni/ | hani /hani/ | ɔni /ˈɔni/ | hani /hani/ | oni /ɔni/ |
| Salt | sátu /sátu/ | sawtu /sawtu/ | sowtu /sowtu/ | sol /sol/ | sɔl /sɔl/ | sol /sol/ | saalt /saːlt/ |
| Wine | wín /wín/ | win /win/ | win /win/ | waen /waen/ | wayn /wain/ | waen /waen/ | wain /wain/ |
| Rice | alísi /alísi/ | alisi /aˈlisi/ | aleisi /aleisi/ | raes /raes/ | rɛs /rɛs/ | raes /raes/ | rais /rais/ |
| Iron | félu /félu/ | insii /insiː/ | isri /ˈisri/ | aean /aean/ | ayɛn /ˈajɛn/ | aean /aean/ | aiyan /aijan/ |
| Wheel | wágífútu /wáɡífútu/ | — | wiel /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wiil /wiːl/ |
| Book | búku /búku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /bʊk/ |
| Eat | nján /ɲán/ | nyan /ɲaŋ/ | nyan /ɲan/ | kaikai /kajkaj/ | it /it/ | kakae /kakae/ | nyam /ɲam/ |
| Drink | bebé /bebé/ | diingi /diːŋi/ | dringi /driŋi/ | drinkim /driŋkim/ | drink /driŋk/ | dring /driŋ/ | jringk /dʒrɪŋk/ |
| Sleep | duumí /duːmí/ | siibi /siːbi/ | sribi /ˈsribi/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | sliip /sliːp/ |
| One | wán /wán/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wanfala /wanfala/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ |
| Two | tú /tú/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tufala /tufala/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tuu /tuː/ |
| Three | dií /dií/ | dii /diː/ | dri /dri/ | trifala /trifala/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | chrii /tʃɹiː/ |
| Four | fö́ /fɔ́/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fofala /fofala/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fuo /fuo/ |
| Five | féífi /féífi/ | feifi /fɛifi/ | feifi /ˈfeifi/ | faefala /faefala/ | fayv /faiv/ | faev /faev/ | faiv /faiv/ |
| Hundred | hö́ndö /hɔ́ndɔ/ | ondoo /ondoː/ | hondro /hondro/ | handred /handred/ | ɔndrɛd /ˈɔndrɛd/ | handred /handred/ | onjrid /ɔndʒrɪd/ |
| Hello | odi /odi/ | fa yu de /fa ju de/ | odi /odi/ | halo /halo/ | kushɛ /kuˈʃɛ/ | halo /halo/ | wah gwaan /wɑ ɡwɑːn/ |
| Thank you | tángi /táŋɡi/ | gaantangi /ɡaːntaŋi/ | grantangi /ɡrantaŋi/ | tagio /taɡio/ | tɛnki /ˈtɛŋki/ | tangkyu /taŋkju/ | tanks /taŋks/ |
| Good | búnu /búnu/ | boon /boːŋ/ | bun /bun/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡʊd/ |
| New | njúnjun /ɲúɲun/ | nyun /ɲun/ | nyun /ɲun/ | niu /niu/ | nyu /nju/ | niufala /niufala/ | nyuu /ɲuː/ |
| Red | bë /bɛ/ | lebi /lebi/ | redi /redi/ | red /red/ | rɛd /rɛd/ | red /red/ | red /ɹɛd/ |
| White | wéti /wéti/ | weti /weti/ | weti /weti/ | waet /waet/ | wayt /wajt/ | waet /waet/ | wait /wait/ |
| Black | baáka /baáka/ | baaka /baːka/ | blaka /blaka/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ |
| Green | guúun /ɡuúun/ | guun /ɡuːn/ | grun /ɡrun/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | griin /ɡɹiːn/ |
| Blue | baáu /baáu/ | baaw /baːw/ | blaw /blaw/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ |
| Tea | té /té/ | te /te/ | te /te/ | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kofí /kofí/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kɔfi /ˈkɔfi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kaafi /kaːfi/ |
| Sugar | súki /súki/ | sukuu /sukuː/ | sukru /sukru/ | suga /suɡa/ | shuga /ˈʃuɡa/ | suga /suɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Orange | apeesína /apeːsína/ | apeesina /apeːsina/ | apresina /apresina/ | orens /orens/ | oranj /ɔˈrandʒ/ | orenj /orendʒ/ | arinj /ˈarɪndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | nëigiteni-ku-nëigi /nɛiɡiteni ku nɛiɡi/ | neigintenti a neigin /nɛiɡintenti a nɛiɡin/ | neigitenti-na-neigi /neiɡitenti na neiɡi/ | naenti-naen /naenti naen/ | naynti-nayn /nainti nain/ | naenti naen /naenti naen/ | nainti-nain /nainti nain/ |
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