Sranan

English

Proper noun

Sranan

1. Sranan Tongo, the English-based creole of Suriname.

Translations

English-based creole of Suriname — see Sranan Tongo

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Sranan Tongo terms
• Appendix:Sranan Swadesh list for a Swadesh list of basic vocabulary words in Sranan

Further reading

• Ethnologue entry for Sranan, srn ⁠

Sranan Tongo

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈsɾa.nan/, /ˌsɾaˈnan/, /ˌsɾaˈnaŋ/, /ˌsɾaˈnãŋ/

Adjective

Sranan

1. Surinamese
2. Sranan, pertaining to Sranan Tongo

Proper noun

Sranan

1. Suriname (a country in South America)

   Synonyms: Sranankondre, Sranangron

   • 1855, Hendrik Charles Focke, Neger-Engelsch woordenboek [Negro English Dictionary]‎^[1], Leiden: P.H. van den Heuvell:

     Sranám-kondre da hási-tére: tide a wai so, tamara a wai so.

     Suriname is like a horsetail: today it's blown this way, tomorrow it's blown that way.

   • c. 1955, Eddy Vervuurt (lyrics and music), “Lied [Parbo-Mambo]”‎^[2]performed by Orkest Eddy Vervuurt and Big Jones:

     Now di Sranan e meki en biri / ala tra biri kan tan tiri

     Now that Suriname is making its own beer / all other beers can keep quiet

   • 1970 March 11, P. Marlee, “Lees: Sranan, moks'alesi”, in Vrije Stem: onafhankelijk weekblad voor Suriname‎^[3], page 1:

     gwe foe Afobaka, go na hé / dan te na sibiboesi krin joe kra / fas joe roetoe tap tafra-bergi lek wan boa / opo wan makti kankantri-sten / gi na njoen Sranan brokodé

     away from Afobaka, go upwards / until a cloudburst cleanses your soul / fasten your roots on the table mount like a boa / raise a mighty cotton tree voice / for the dawn of the new Suriname

   • 1975, Sonora Paramarera (lyrics and music), “Kondre Nomroe Wan”, in Lobi Dee:

     Mi luku a grontapu nanga en gudu / Nowan kondre mi feni pe mi sa tan / Mi kan teigi yu fu tru, mi gudu / Nowan kondre mi lobi leki mi Sranan

     I look at the world and its riches / I find no country where I'll live / I can truly tell you, my darling / I love no country like my Suriname

   • 1975, Mighty Botai (lyrics and music), “Sranang Kong Fri”, in Onafhankelijkheid (Srefidensi) Suriname:

     Atleba ten no sa de moro ini Sranan / Den bakra, den ben hori wi na baka / Den de bow den kondre kon na fesi / Meki wi e pina

     The period of toiling will be no more in Suriname / The Dutch, they held us back / They built up their country successfully / Made us suffer

   • 1981, Thea Doelwijt, Prisiri stari. De pretster. Wan komedi-pré gi pikin. Een theaterspel voor kinderen [The star of joy. A theatre play for children]‎^[4], Paramaribo: Eldoradoboek, →ISBN, page 60:

     Opo mi pikin, opo. J'o tron wan Stari. Wan Stari d'e brenki ini a Firmamenti. En m'o gi joe wan kondre. Wan heri kondre nanga foeroe libisma. En a kondre disi sa nen A njoen Republiek Sranan!

     Rise, my child, rise. You will become a star. A star that shines in the firmament. And I will give you a country. A whole country, with many people. And this country will be called: the new Republic of Suriname!

2. Sranan Tongo, Sranan

   Synonym: Sranantongo