Appendix:Momo word lists

The following comparative word list of Momo languages is from Blench (2010).

Languages

• Balo
• Alunfa
• Osatu
• Manta
• Bantakpa
• Tanka
• Menka
• Atong
• Busam
• Ambele

List

English	Balo	Alunfa	Osatu	Manta	Bantakpa	Tanka	Menka	Atong	Busam	Ambele
mouth	oɲu	ɔnu	ɔndo	ɛ́-ɲúú /á-	ɛɲu	ɛnu	adʒúm	ndzú	izúé	enu
eye	iʃi	ɛʃi	iʃi	ɛ́-ʃíí /á-	ɛʃi	ɛʃi	ɪʃí	ɪsí	ɪsə́	esi
head	efɛ	ɛfɛ	ifi	féē /fésii	fii	fee	fi	fi	fi	ʤi
hair (on head)	ɑʒuwe	ɛɲɔsɔfɛ	ogwɛ	ɲɔ̂ŋ /ɲɔ̂ŋse	ɲɔŋfii	ɲontʃifee	mwóŋ̀	ɲôŋ	ɲôŋ	ʤɔnɔ
tooth	ɛʃɔ	isɔ	isɔ	ɛ́-sɔ̌ŋ /á-	ɛsɔɔŋ	ɛsɔɔŋ	ɪsóŋ	ɪʃua	isóŋ	esáŋ
tongue	enɑme	ɛnɛmɛ	indɔ	ɛ́-nɛ́méé /á-	ɛnɛmi	ɛnɛmɛ	ɪlɛ́ḿí	enɛ́mí	ɪlɛ́ḿní	eléma
nose	eɣi	ɛyi	izwi	ɛ́-ʤíí /á-	ɛʒi	ɛʒwi	ɪzwí	ɪzwi	ɪwí	aɡí
ear	oto:	ɔtuu	ɔto	ɛ́-tɔ́ŋéé /á-	ɛtoŋi	ɛtoŋe	ɔtɔ́ŋnɔ	etɔ́ŋní	ɪtóŋní	etú
neck	ɔnme	ɔŋwɛ	ɔmi	ɛ́-méè /á-	ɛme	ɛmɛ	ɔmî	emî	amî	ɡemi
back of neck		ɔkwa’adze		ɛŋkwalme	ɛŋkwalmi	ɛkpaɾɛme	ɛkwatmi
throat		intu’tɛndɔŋə		anindoŋ	anindoŋ	anindoŋ	ajua’a
breast	ebɛ	ɛbɛ	igbǝ	ɛ́-bɔ́n /á-	ɛbɔn	ɛbɔn	ɪbɔ́ŋ̄	ebɔ́n	ɪbə́n	eben
arm / hand	ɔbo	ɔbvɔ	ogbɔ	ɛ́-bwɔ́ɔ́ /á-	ɛbwɔ	ɛbwɔ	ɔbú	ɔbúʔɔ́	ɪbu	ebó
claw	eje	aʤiɛ	idzwɑ	ɛ́-dzáá /á-	ɛdza	ʤiikwa	ɪdʒá	eʤəʔa	akápi	eɡíá
nail		aʤiɛ		ɛ́-dzáá /á-	ɛdza	eʤə	ɛdza
leg	eje	ɛbvɛ	ogu	ɛ́-bâ /á-	ɛnam	ɛnam	onám̀	ebuʔa	apfɔ́ɔ̀
foot		ɛɣenebuɛ		fiŋɛba	ɛba	ɛba	ebajɛt			ɡeʤát
buttock	eʃiɣli	ɔbvɛlɛʃili	ɑtɑ	ɛ́-kɛ́pɛɛ /á-	aka’ni	abokape	ndʒù	atʃándū	ʤem	ʃó
belly	ɑɲɑ	aɲa	ɑndɑ	ɛ́-ɲáà /á-	aɲa	aɲa, ɛkɔt	alíà	aŋɡyá	ɪdɔ́ɔ̀	ekót
navel	etu:	ɛsuu	itu	ɛ́-túm /á-	ɛtum	ɛtum	ɪtoŋ	etwáŋ	ɪtɔŋá	etúmābát
intestines / insides	mbuʃi	mvulaɲa	okyɑndɑ	mbùlàɲàà /mbùsàɲàà	ɛmbulaɲa	ɛmbulaɲa	alia	ntubaŋ̀ɡia	ilɛ̂	beɡyâ
blood	ɔŋki	ɔŋki	ɔkyɛ	ɛ́ntʃín	ŋkin	ɛŋkin	ɔŋkń	iŋkîn	iŋkîn	lekiŋ
urine	ɔdzɛsɛ	ɔndzəsə	ɑndzɛsi	ɛ́ntsɛ́ɛ̀ /ɛ́ntsɛ́ɛsi	ntsɛ’	ɛnʧɛ	ɔnʃinʃɛt	nsɛt	dìnʃɛ̀t	leʃɛt
bone	eβu	ɛɣʉu	iwu	ɛ́-wúú /á-	aɣʉ	aɣwu	avú	awúú	avɔɔ	ɡewú
skin	ɛgɔk	ɛɲɔkɔ	igovi	ɲɛ́bà	ɲabɔ	ɲibɔ	ɪdʒwɛ́p	ŋɡóp, ekwa	ŋɡɔ́p	ɡbɛ
wing	ɔfɔ	ɔkpwihɛ	opik	ɛ́-páwlə̀ /á-	apale	apabəɾi	abábli	epábli	abáblì	bebáb
feather	odzuwe	ɔkpwihɛ	opilɛ	é-vî /á-	evi	ɛʒi	ɔwi	ijali	ɪwɔ́ɔ́	etáŋ
horn	ofo	ɔfuu	ovu	ɛ́-fɔ̂ŋ /á-	efɔŋ	ɛfɔŋ	afɔ̀ŋ	efôɔ	ndɔŋ	sáŋ
tail	oke	oki	oki	é-tʃɛ̂ /á-	ekiɛ	ɛkɛ	ɔkwi	ekí	ɪkpí	ekpí
human being	owɑʔ	owɔ	ɔndu	vɛ̂/bɛ̂	bvɛ’	vɛ’	wɛt	wɛ	wɔ́ɔ̀t	enɔ̀t
man (male)	wɑnɔ	wanɔ	olwɑndǝ	ɛ̀-wânɔ́m /ø-	onom	vanom	jalɔḿ	wanɔ́m	alòḿ	bɔnɔ̀t
woman	wɑɣi	wayɛ	ɔwundu	ɛ̀-wâyɛ́ɛ́ /ø-	oyɛ	vaɣ\ɛ	jajo	waje	ajǐ	benót
husband	onɔ	onɔ	ɔndo	ɛ́-nɔ́m /mà-	ɛnom	ɛnom	ɔluḿ	nòm	alòḿ	eʤòm
child	owɑ	owa	wɑ	và/bɥá	va	vəfu	ìtsán	wafe	wá	wán
name	oko	okʉ	okɔ	ɛ́-kúm /á-	ɛkʉm	ɛkʉm	okúmú	ekúm	ɪkúm	eɡíɛ́t
sky	eyɔʔ	ɛyɔ	iʤo	ɛ́zɔ́ɔ́	ɛʒoo’	ɛʒɔ’	ɪdʒúbú	ezɔ́	ajɔblí	ebólá
night	ɲicu	nunʧu	ifu	áfúù	ɛtʉ’	ɛtʉ’	idʒúp	etú	afúùp	betúp
moon	otɔ	otɔɔ	otɑ	ɛ́-tâŋ /á-	ɛtaŋŋ	ɛtaŋŋ	otáŋ	etá	ɪŋwí	etáŋ
sun	tɛcwi	ʧwɛ	iʤɔndo	ɛ́púm zɔɔ	ɛpumtsi	əpumətʃwe	ɔŋpúm	mpúm, dintʃwi	ɪjə́bə́	ɡeʤí
wind	ofɔ	ofɔɔ	ohǝ	ɛ́fɔ́ɔ́	kəfufu	kəfufu	nɡùm	nɡùm	nɡòm	ɡéɣə́
cloud	embɑsi	mba’si	mbɑsi	ɛ̀mámɔ̀ɔ̀	ŋgu’si	əmɔmɔ	mbàrè	mba	mpa	ɡémɔk
dew	imbɑsi	amɔ’	ndwɔsi	ámáà	amɔ’	amɔ’	amɔ́	ʤìɛ̀	amê	awóp
rain	ebo	ɛbu	ivo	ɛ́bɔ́ɔ́	ɛbɔ	ɛbɔ	ebuó	ebúɦɔ́	ebú	émwa
ground	tɛtsɑ	tetsa	itwɔ	tʃwáà	ʧwaa	ʧwaa	tʃwàp	tswàp	tóɔ̀	ɡə́tap
sand	tɛnʃisi	teʃinʃe	minzɛnzɛsi	ɛ́tínsɛ́ɛ́	ɛtinʃe	ɛtinʃe	osó	sé	ɪsí	láŋí
path	egli	wagli	ɛji	ɛ́ʒyâ /á-	vagʉ	gʉ	jakuɡi	wajaɡi	ɪpɔ́ɔ	aɡia
water	ɔmwɔ	omuɔ	ɔmwɔ	mɥáà	mua	mua	mwā	ʒuɦɔ́	ɪŋɡû	émwa
stream (river)	edzwɔ	iʤwɔ	iʤwɔ	ʤɥáà	vaʤʉa	ʤua	ʒà	waʒuɦó, ʤiga	ɪlû	alaut
house	enɔʔ	ɛnɔ	ito	múnaa /músinaa	nɔɔ’	naa’	lɔp	ndɔ́p	ɪké	ɡiʉ
fire	owisi	owuʃi	owusi	ɛ́víi /á-	ɛvi’	ɛvii’	ɔvít	ewi	ɪvə́t	ewu
firewood	owɛ	owɛɛ	ɑyɛ	ɛ́-vɛ́ŋ /á-	əvɛŋ	əvɛŋ	oviŋ́	ewe	ɪjúɛ́n	awen
smoke	ɑɲɛʔ	aŋyɛ	ɔndiʔi	áɲíí	aŋi	aŋi	alí	aŋɡi	ɪzə́	aɡɨk
ash	ɔncwɔ	oncwɔ	ɑntɔ	ɛ́ntwɔsi	ntwɔsi	ntwusɛ’	ontʃúó	ntuɣɔ	itú	letɔ
knife	ɔfwɛ	ofwɛ	ɔxyɑ	wéefɛ /bɥífɛ̀	vafɛ	ɛfɛ	ɪtó	nkúlɔ	wantɨ	alitɔ́
rope	odzuwi	owii	oyi	ɛ́ɣɔ́ɔ /á-	ɛɣɔ	ɛɣɔ	oɡwɔ́	eɣó	ɪjɨ	eɣō
spear	eɣɔ	ɛɣɔɔ	iwɔ	ɛ́-ɣɔ̂ŋ /á-	ɛɣoŋ	ɛɣoŋ	iwoŋ́	ewá	ɪwǒn	ɡebam̀
war (fight)	obli	obli	wunɔ	bíí-ø /-sí	be’	bi’	bít	bít	jwɛ́ɛ́t	bít
animal		kecu		ɲâm/ɲâŋsí	ɲam	ɲam	ɲàm̀	ɲam	ɲá	ɲàm
meat	ɛɲɑ	ɛɲa	iɲɑ	ɲâm/ɲâŋsí	ɲam	ɲam	ɲàm̀
dog	ebo	ɛbu	ɛgbo	ø-mámʒa /ɛ́-	omia	mamia	bú	bu	bú	bu
elephant	ɛnsoʔ	ɛnsu	kinǝmi	ɛ̀nsɔ̀ /-sí	nso’	nsɔ’	isɔ̀	nsò	suʔ	sɔ̀k
goat	ebwi	ɛlve	ibu	bíi-ø /-sí	bi	bii	bí	wi	ʤɛ́	wì
bird	tonɔni	tunɔɔni	fiyiɲɔ	ɛ́-nɔ̂n /á-	ɛnɔn	ɛnəŋ	ɔnɛ́n	enɔn	ɪnɔnɔ́	ánòn
tortoise		ɛmbɔ	megwɛ	ɛ̀mbáá-ø /-sí	mbɔ’	mbɔ’	kwámbɔ̄	mbɔ	mbə	mbə
snake	eʤwɔ	ɛʤwɔ	ɛdzɔ	ʤwɔ́-ø /-sí	ʤwo	ʤwo	dʒúɔ́	ʤuɦɔ́	ʤú	ʤɔ
fish	ɛsu	ɛʃuu	iʃi	ʃú-ø /-sí	ʃu	ʃu	ʃú	ʃwi	sùé	sú
louse	eklɑmbɑ	akalaŋgba	egu	ʤíi-ø /-sí	gi	gbi	asá	ɡwití	ʤwɛ́t	ɡwet
egg	ekɔnɔ	ɛkɔnɔkɔ	ikǝnǝ	ɛ́kɔ̂n /á-	ɛkɔn	ɛkɔn	ekón	ekón	ɪɡʉ̂	ɛ́ɡu
tree	eti	ɛte	iti	ɛ́-títíí /á-	atiti	atiti	etí	até	ajɛ́t	ɡeɡjɛ́t
bark	egɔʔ	ɛgɔʔ	ego	gɔ́ɔ	goo’	gɔ’		nɡop	ngop	ɡɔp
leaf	ɛfuwubwe	ɛfuubwɛ	ifuwɛ	ɛ́fúbʒɛ̀n	ɛfu	efubjaŋ	efúrú	efútí	ɪfə́	éwú
root	ǝkɔ	okɔɔ	okɑ	ɛ́kâŋ	ɛkaŋ	ɛkaŋ	okaŋ́	ŋkà	ɪkanə́	ékaŋ
salt	ɔmwɑ	omwa	ɔŋmɑ	mʒáŋ	miaŋ	miaŋ	miaŋ̄	myá	ɪŋbáŋ	máŋ
fat	ɔmfɔ	mfɔsi	ohɔ	ɛ́mfwám	nfwam	nfwam	difám	mfwam	difám	lawám
hunger (general)	edzɔw	ɛʤɔɔ; ɛdzɔɔ	iʤɔ	tsɔ̂ŋ	tʃoŋ	tʃoŋ	tsón; tsoŋ ɲam	tswá	ŋɡáń	ŋɡáń
hunger (general)				afwan	afwan	afwan
iron (metal)	etɛnɛ	atɛne	itǝnǝ	átɔ́nɔ́	atɔnɔ	atɔnɔ	ańtɛn	ʒɔm, atono	antən	ɡesɛ́n
one				ébíŋ	ɛbiŋ	abiŋ	abíŋ	ebvəŋ		abú
one	yimɔʔ	yimɔ’	inimɔ					ɡemɔ	amɔ
two	bofɛ:	bufɛɛ	mihɛ	ɛ́fɛ́ɛ́	ɛfɛ	ɛfɛ	ɔfè	bejí	ɪfé	efiɡe
three	botyɑʔ	buca’	mityɑ	ɛ̀táá	ɛtaa’	eta’	ɔtát	betát	ɪtát	etíá
four	boɲi:	buŋii	miɲi	èɲìì	ɛŋi	ɛŋi	ɔɲì	beɲì	ɪɲì	enjì
five	botɑ	buta	mitɑ	ɛ́tâŋ	ɛtan	ɛtan	otsàn	betón	ɪtòn	etan
six	otɔnɔti	otɔnɔti	mititi:	ètʒètíí	ɛtiɛti	ɛtiete	datí	belendát	blendàt	etyedí
seven	osɑmbwɛ	osɔmbwɛ	mititinɛnmɔ	èsàmbáá	ɛsamba	ɛsamba	datinɔmwc	belendátɔmɔ, esamboɣa	blendàtimɔ	saubwə́
eight	oɲiɲi	oŋiŋii	minini:	èɲìníí	ɛŋini	ɛŋini	iɲí	beliɲi	bleŋí	enjiní
nine	oɲiɲiɲi:yimɔʔ	oŋiŋiinəwumɔ	minini:nɛnimɔ	èɲìníbìŋ	ɛŋininebiŋ	ɛŋinibiŋ	iɲinɔmɔ	beliɲinɔmɔ	bleŋíimɔ	njinɑ́bú
ten	ofwɑʔ	ofwa	mifɔ	ɛ̀fwáá	ɛfwaa	ɛfwa’	ifuɔ́t	bewat	ɪfót	efua
come	eyɑʔ	ya	ɔʃi	záá	ʒa’a	ʒa’a	zá	ʤɨe	jeɛ	bá
send (s.o.)	etɔ	sɛ	osɑlɑ	tɔm	tom	tɔm	tɔ́mɔ́	tom	ndù	ɡɛtɔ̄m
walk	emɑyinɛ	yɛnɛ	oci	ʤìnì	ʒini	ʒina	dʒiní	iʤíni	ɲɛ̀nɛ̀	ɡɛŋɡɨ
fall	etili	ʧili	ɔgbǝ	tili	tili	təli	iʃírí	ntírí	nʃù	ɡɛŋʃit
leave	edi	sɛ	ɔvɛkɑ	faa	dɛ’ɛ	dɛ’ɛ	zó	tsifō	ndù	éndo
fly	efwili	fulɛ	ɔfuli	fùlé	fuli	fuɾi	flí	flô	ntàlì	ɡɛwuli
pour	etili	ŋiti	ɔhɑti	daŋke	tuu	tu	dɔŋɡu	ɡiɦi	fí	ɡɛsale
strike	epɔnɔ	ɛgwala	ɔcɑti	vile	vili	uli	swóm	tʃɛ̌	swám	ɡɛnkya
bite	ɛnɔ	nɔ	ɔndo	nɔm	nom	nɔm	lɔ́mɔ́	nóm	lóm	ɡɛɡyɔm
wash (tr.)	eso	ʃu	ɔsovi	sòò	ʃuu	ʃu	sú	sǔ	sù	ɡɛsú
split (wood)	eyɑʔ	yake	ɔzɑki	zaa	ʒa’	ʒa’	netí	ʤati	nʒátí	ɡɛʤat
give	onɑʔ	naa	ɔnɑ	nàà	na’	na’	nahá	kwɔ̀, ɲa	naha	ɡenak
steal	edzi	oʤi	ɔʤi	ʤii	ɛʤi	ɛʤi	odʒí	ʤi	nzye	ɡedzī
squeeze	enmɛti	ŋaamɛ	ɔŋmɛti	ŋámé	ŋami	ŋame	tʃwɛrì	tʃwɛni, ɲame	ntɛri	ɡɛkam
cultivate	epoʔ	ɛpwɔ’	ɔkwiʔki	ʃìì	ʃi’i	ʃu’i	dʒiné	puɣɔ́, kili	nʤən	ɡɛndiŋ
bury (t.)	ɛnwi	ɲii	wɛndɛ	ɲìì	ŋii	nəŋi	luɛ́	nzwé	zə́	ɡɛ́ŋɡi
burn (t.)	eyɔʔ	yɔ	wɔʤɔ	ʤwàà	ʒwaa’	ʒwo’	dʒwahá	ʤwaɣá	nʒahi	ɡɛnʤɔk
eat	eni	ne	ɔndi	ɲii	ŋi	nəŋi	li	ndi	lɨ́	ɡɛlɨ
drink	enwɔɣ	ŋwɔ	oyɔ	ɲɔŋ	ŋoŋ	ɲoŋ	ŋwó	ŋwá	nzóŋ	ɡɛnʤaŋ
vomit				zɛ̀ŋ	ʒɛŋ	aʒɛn	dʒɔŋú	azɛɣɛ	nzən	ɡɛʤiɛn
vomit	eyɛ	yɛ	oyɛ
suck		ʃɔɔti		ʃwàtí	ʒwati	ʃwə	tʃwá	tʃwa	nʒa	ɡɛsa
suck	enwɔɣ		oyɔ						nsɔ
spit (saliva)	etu	onʧwa	otuti	tù	thu	thu	ntuʃá	fɛm, tʃu	ntʃuɛ	ɡɛtu
blow (on)	eyɛni	fete	oweti	fɔɔti	fɔ	fɔ	fuɔ	fɛ́ɛti	fʉe	ɡɛfəə
swell	emɔʔ	imɔlɔ	omwɔ	mwɔ̀	amu’	mɔ’	mí	mwɔr, fɔli	ɲiɛ	ɡɛkwi
give birth	ebe	ube	ogbɔ	be	be	be	bí	bì	mbì	ɡɛwiɛ
die	eku	kpu	oku	kù	kʉ	kʉ	ifú	efú	mfɔ̀	ɡɛnkù
kill	eyi	yi	oʤwi	ʤìì	ʒi	ʒwi	dʒwi	eʤwi	nʒɛti	ɡɛmbɔŋɡɛ
push	etini	teni	okpɛsi	bwɔ̀n	tin	tini	tilí	tíŋ	mpahi	ɡɛtiŋi
pull	egor	gʉu	oɣwɔ	gɔ̀	go	wɔ	ŋɡwó	ŋɡwo	ŋɡwíí	ɡɛwɔ
sing	ekpɑ	kpana	ogbɑ	kpàn	kpan	kpan	ʃúɔ́	kwáná	su	ɡɛkɔ́ŋ
play (game)	epokesɑ	kɛsa	oto	pùkìsà	kesa	kesa	oʃwám	atwám	nkomatu	ɡɛsàà
be afraid	epɑʔ	ofɔ	otyɛ	bùmə̀fàà	ɛfɔ	efo	bamú	búm	mvʉti	ɡɛŋɡula
want	emedoʔ	ɣɔɔ	oʤɑ	nàà	ki	kiə	ki	kye	nkìŋ	bɛŋkɔŋɔ
say	egɑ	ga	oʃili	tsɔɔ	tso	tʃɔ’	mɔ́ɔ	mɔ̀ɣɔ̀	jim	batáɣɔ́
see	egɑ	bwa	ovɔ	zaa	zɔ	zɔn	bwá	zɔ́	jɛ́n	ɡɛɓwaŋ
show	etɑʔɑli	taali	otɑʔɑ	ti	te	te	tí	te	nté	ɡɛntɛdi
hear	eyo	gu	owuti	zuu	ʒu	ʒu	ʒú	ʤú	nʤù	ɡɛnʤù
know	ekɑbe	kabe	okɔkǝ	kɔ̀wi	kai	kabe	kabí	zo, kyaβa	nkabi	ɡɛkabi
count	epi:	pii	oxɔlǝ	pɛ̀	bu	pɛ	pɛ	piɣé	mpi	ɡeḿpe

References

• Blench, Roger. 2010. The Momo and 'Western Momo' languages: branches of Grassfields.