Sranan Tongo
English-based creole
Sranan Tongo (lit. 'Suriname tongue', also Sranantongo, Sranan, Surinaams) is the English-lexified creole of Suriname and the country's main inter-ethnic lingua franca, with ~600K speakers. Although English is its primary lexifier (reflecting 17th-century English colonization 1651-1667 before Dutch took over), substantial substrate from West African Gbe (Fon, Ewe), Akan and Kongo languages distinguishes it from Caribbean English creoles, plus heavy Dutch and Portuguese loans from later layers. Sranan, formerly stigmatized as 'Negerengels' under colonial rule, is now widely used in music, poetry (Trefossa, Dobru), parliament and informally throughout Suriname, despite Dutch retaining sole official status.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Sranan Tongo
Sources
- Ethnologue: srn
- Smith (1987) The Genesis of the Creole Languages of Suriname
- Adamson & Smith (2003) Sranan
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: English-based creole
| Meaning | Sranan Tongo | Aukan | Torres Strait Creole | Krio | Bislama | Pijin | Nigerian Pidgin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | watra /watra/ | wataa /wataː/ | woda /woda/ | wata /ˈwata/ | wota /wota/ | wata /wata/ | wọtá /wɔta/ |
| Fire | faya /faja/ | faya /faja/ | paya /paja/ | faya /ˈfaja/ | faea /faea/ | faea /faja/ | faya /faja/ |
| Sun | son /son/ | san /saŋ/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | san /san/ | sọn /sɔn/ |
| Moon | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ | mun /mun/ |
| Star | stari /ˈstari/ | sitari /siˈtari/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | sta /sta/ | star /staː/ |
| Night | neti /neti/ | neti /neti/ | nait /nait/ | nɛt /nɛt/ | naet /naet/ | naet /naet/ | nait /nait/ |
| Rain | alen /ˈaːlɛn/ | alen /ˈaːlɛn/ | ren /ren/ | ren /rɛn/ | ren /rɛn/ | ren /ren/ | rain /reːn/ |
| Snow | snew /sneu/ | — | — | sno /sno/ | sno /sno/ | snou /snou/ | snow /sno/ |
| Wind | winti /ˈwinti/ | winta /winta/ | win /win/ | briz /briz/ | win /win/ | win /win/ | win /win/ |
| Earth | gron /ɡron/ | doti /doti/ | graun /ɡraun/ | gron /ɡrɔn/ | graon /ɡraon/ | graon /ɡraon/ | graun /ɡraʊn/ |
| Stone | ston /ston/ | siton /siton/ | ston /ston/ | ston /stɔn/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ | ston /ston/ |
| Mountain | bergi /ˈbɛrɡi/ | mongo /moŋo/ | maunten /maunten/ | mawnten /ˈmawnten/ | maunten /maunten/ | maonden /maonden/ | mountin /maʊntin/ |
| Sea | se /se/ | ze /ze/ | solwata /solwata/ | si /si/ | solwora /solwora/ | solwata /solwata/ | sea /si/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | mma /mːa/ | ama /ama/ | mama /ˈmama/ | mama /mama/ | mami /mami/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | tata /tata/ | papa /papa/ | papa /ˈpapa/ | papa /papa/ | dadi /dadi/ | papa /papa/ |
| Daughter | umapikin /umapikin/ | umanpikin /umanpikin/ | gel /ɡel/ | gyal pikin /ɡjal pikin/ | gel /ɡel/ | dota /dota/ | girl pikin /ɡɛl pikin/ |
| I | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | ai /ai/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | A /a/ |
| You | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | yu /ju/ | iu /iu/ | you /ju/ |
| We | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | yumpla / mipla /jumpla / mipla/ | wi /wi/ | yumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | iumi / mifala /jumi / mifala/ | wi /wi/ |
| Name | nen /nɛn/ | nen /nɛn/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nɛm/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nem/ | nem /nɛm/ |
| Person | libisma /libisma/ | sama /sama/ | — | pɔsin /pɔsin/ | man /man/ | man /man/ | pesin /pɛsin/ |
| Head | ede /ede/ | ede /ede/ | ed /ed/ | ed /ed/ | hed /hed/ | hed /hed/ | head /hɛd/ |
| Eye | ai /ai/ | ain /ain/ | ai /aj/ | ay /aj/ | ae /ae/ | ae /ae/ | ai /aɪ/ |
| Ear | yesi /jesi/ | yesi /jesi/ | talinga /taliŋa/ | yes /jes/ | ia /ia/ | ia /ia/ | ear /ia/ |
| Nose | noso /noso/ | noso /noso/ | nus /nus/ | nos /nɔs/ | nus /nus/ | nos /nos/ | nose /noːs/ |
| Mouth | mofo /mofo/ | mofu /mofu/ | maut /maut/ | mɔt /mɔt/ | maot /maot/ | maot /maot/ | mout /maʊt/ |
| Tooth | tifi /tifi/ | tifi /tifi/ | tit /tit/ | tit /tit/ | tut /tut/ | titi /titi/ | tit /tit/ |
| Tongue | tongo /toŋo/ | tongo /toŋo/ | tang /taŋ/ | tɔŋ /tɔŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tang /taŋ/ | tong /tɔŋ/ |
| Hand | anu /anu/ | ana /ana/ | an /an/ | an /an/ | han /han/ | han /han/ | hand /hand/ |
| Foot | futu /futu/ | futu /futu/ | put /put/ | fut /fut/ | leg /leɡ/ | leg /leɡ/ | leg /lɛɡ/ |
| Heart | ati /ati/ | ati /ati/ | at /at/ | at /at/ | bel /bel/ | hat /hat/ | hat /hat/ |
| Bone | bonyo /boɲo/ | bon /bon/ | bon /bon/ | bon /bɔn/ | bun /bun/ | bon /bon/ | bón /bɔn/ |
| Blood | brudu /bruːdu/ | buulu /buːlu/ | blad /blad/ | blɔd /blɔd/ | blad /blad/ | blad /blad/ | blod /blɔd/ |
| Poop | kaka /kaka/ | — | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaˈka/ | kaka /kaka/ | kaka /kaka/ | shit /ʃit/ |
| Love | lobi /lobi/ | lobi /lobi/ | lavem /lavem/ | lɛk /lɛk/ | laekem /laekem/ | lavem /lavem/ | lọv /lɔv/ |
| Tree | bon /boŋ/ | bon /boŋ/ | tri /tri/ | tik /tik/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tɾi/ |
| Dog | dagu /daɡu/ | dagu /daɡu/ | dog /doɡ/ | dɔg /dɔɡ/ | dog /doɡ/ | dogi /doɡi/ | dọg /dɔɡ/ |
| Cat | poesi /pusi/ | poesi /pusi/ | pusiket /pusiket/ | pus /pus/ | pusi /pusi/ | puskat /puskat/ | pus /pus/ |
| Fish | fisi /fisi/ | fisi /fisi/ | pis /pis/ | fis /fis/ | fis /fis/ | fis /fis/ | fish /fiʃ/ |
| Bird | fowru /ˈfoːru/ | foo /foː/ | pizin /pizin/ | bɔd /bɔd/ | pijin /pidʒin/ | bed /bed/ | bird /bɛd/ |
| Butterfly | kapelka /kapelka/ | — | bataplai /bataplai/ | bɔtaflay /bɔtaflaj/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | bataflae /bataflae/ | — |
| Egg | eksi /eksi/ | igi /iɡi/ | eg /eɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | eg /ɛɡ/ | eg /eɡ/ | egg /ɛɡ/ |
| Bear | beer /beːr/ | beer /beːr/ | bea /bea/ | bia /ˈbia/ | bea /bea/ | bea /bea/ | bear /bɛ/ |
| Horse | asi /asi/ | asi /asi/ | os /os/ | ɔs /ɔs/ | hos /hos/ | hos /hos/ | horse /hɔs/ |
| House | oso /oso/ | osu /osu/ | haus /haus/ | os /os/ | haos /haos/ | haos /haos/ | haus /haʊs/ |
| Milk | merki /ˈmɛrki/ | meliki /meliki/ | susu /susu/ | milk /milk/ | melek /melek/ | susu /susu/ | milk /milk/ |
| Honey | oni /oni/ | oniki /oniki/ | ani /ani/ | ɔni /ˈɔni/ | hani /hani/ | hani /hani/ | honey /hɔni/ |
| Salt | sowtu /sowtu/ | sawtu /sawtu/ | solt /solt/ | sɔl /sɔl/ | sol /sol/ | sol /sol/ | salt /sɔlt/ |
| Wine | win /win/ | win /win/ | wain /wain/ | wayn /wain/ | waen /waen/ | waen /waen/ | wine /waɪn/ |
| Rice | aleisi /aleisi/ | alisi /aˈlisi/ | rais /rais/ | rɛs /rɛs/ | raes /raes/ | raes /raes/ | rais /rais/ |
| Chocolate | syokola /ʃokola/ | — | — | — | joklet /dʒoklet/ | — | — |
| Iron | isri /ˈisri/ | insii /insiː/ | aian /aian/ | ayɛn /ˈajɛn/ | aean /aean/ | aean /aean/ | iron /aiɔn/ |
| Wheel | wiel /wil/ | — | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ | wil /wil/ |
| Book | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ |
| Eat | nyan /ɲan/ | nyan /ɲaŋ/ | kaikai /kajkaj/ | it /it/ | kakae /kakae/ | kaikai /kajkaj/ | chọp /tʃɔp/ |
| Drink | dringi /driŋi/ | diingi /diːŋi/ | dringk /driŋk/ | drink /driŋk/ | dring /driŋ/ | drinkim /driŋkim/ | drink /dɾiŋk/ |
| Sleep | sribi /ˈsribi/ | siibi /siːbi/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ | slip /slip/ |
| One | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wanfala /wanfala/ | wan /wan/ |
| Two | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tu /tu/ | tufala /tufala/ | tu /tu/ |
| Three | dri /dri/ | dii /diː/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | tri /tri/ | trifala /trifala/ | tri /tri/ |
| Four | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fo /fo/ | fofala /fofala/ | fo /fɔ/ |
| Five | feifi /ˈfeifi/ | feifi /fɛifi/ | faiv /faiv/ | fayv /faiv/ | faev /faev/ | faefala /faefala/ | faiv /faiv/ |
| Hundred | hondro /hondro/ | ondoo /ondoː/ | andred /andred/ | ɔndrɛd /ˈɔndrɛd/ | handred /handred/ | handred /handred/ | hundred /hɔndrɛd/ |
| Hello | odi /odi/ | fa yu de /fa ju de/ | wis wei /wis wej/ | kushɛ /kuˈʃɛ/ | halo /halo/ | halo /halo/ | how far /haʊ faː/ |
| Thank you | grantangi /ɡrantaŋi/ | gaantangi /ɡaːntaŋi/ | eso /eso/ | tɛnki /ˈtɛŋki/ | tangkyu /taŋkju/ | tagio /taɡio/ | tenki /tɛnki/ |
| Good | bun /bun/ | boon /boːŋ/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | gud /ɡud/ | fain /faɪn/ |
| New | nyun /ɲun/ | nyun /ɲun/ | niu /niu/ | nyu /nju/ | niufala /niufala/ | niu /niu/ | new /nju/ |
| Red | redi /redi/ | lebi /lebi/ | red /red/ | rɛd /rɛd/ | red /red/ | red /red/ | red /rɛd/ |
| White | weti /weti/ | weti /weti/ | wait /wait/ | wayt /wajt/ | waet /waet/ | waet /waet/ | white /waɪt/ |
| Black | blaka /blaka/ | baaka /baːka/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | blak /blak/ | black /blak/ |
| Green | grun /ɡrun/ | guun /ɡuːn/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | grin /ɡrin/ | green /ɡrin/ |
| Blue | blaw /blaw/ | baaw /baːw/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blu /blu/ | blue /blu/ |
| Computer | kompyuter /komˈpjutər/ | — | — | kɔmpyuta /kɔmpjuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kọmputa /kɔmpútà/ |
| Tea | te /te/ | te /te/ | — | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | ti /ti/ | tea /ti/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | kɔfi /ˈkɔfi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | coffee /kɔfi/ |
| Sugar | sukru /sukru/ | sukuu /sukuː/ | — | shuga /ˈʃuɡa/ | suga /suɡa/ | suga /suɡa/ | — |
| Orange | apresina /apresina/ | apeesina /apeːsina/ | — | oranj /ɔˈrandʒ/ | orenj /orendʒ/ | orens /orens/ | orenj /ɔˈrɛndʒ/ |
| Ninety-nine | neigitenti-na-neigi /neiɡitenti na neiɡi/ | neigintenti a neigin /nɛiɡintenti a nɛiɡin/ | nainti nain /nainti nain/ | naynti-nayn /nainti nain/ | naenti naen /naenti naen/ | naenti-naen /naenti naen/ | ninty-nine /nainti nain/ |
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