My Krio Vocabulary

It seems like just yesterday I got off the airplane and stepped into hot & humid Sierra Leone. How can it be that I have already been here over eight months and in just a short time, my floating home will pull up anchor and sail away? All the Krio I have been learning will need to be put aside and I will have to give French my best shot again as the ship is heading to Togo!



Nonetheless- for the remainder of my time in Sierra Leone I will continue to work on my Krio. Below are a few of the words & phrases I have added to my Krio vocabulary over the past few months. The words and letters are all pronounced just as they sound and look. Try the phrases out for yourself or imagine me running around the ward and the streets of Freetown repeating the phrases.


Mohnin-o- Morning!


Aw di bodi? How are you? Literally how is the body


Di bodi fine, how usef? Not bad, and you?


Ah tel God tehnki- I cannot complain- I tell God thank-you


Di bodi de na klos- Fine- the body is in the clothes


We yu nem- What’s your name?


Ah nem- My name...


Ah gladi foh mit yu- It’s nice to meet you


We go si bak- See you later


Tenki ya- Thank- you


Ah tell yu bohku bohku tenki- I thank you very much


Ah taya- I’m tired


Ah noh get natin- I don’t have anything


Ohmohs ah foh pe? How much do I need to pay?


Aw mus for dis tin ya?- How much does this item cost?


Ah go want mehk yu bi mi gal friend- Will you be my girlfriend?


Nar dis merecine ah for take?- It this the medicine I should take?


Ah get pain na me an, bak, bele, ed, nek, trot- I have been in my hand, back, stomach, head, neck, and throat.


Udat- Who is?


Os- House


Paddy- Friend


Pikin- Children


Yestade- Yesterday


Tide-today


Tumara- tomorrow


Nehxt tumara- Day after tomorrow


How yu slip? How did you sleep?


Mishef, ah noh lek pehpeh plehnti- I don’t like hot pepper too much


Aw di chop? How’s the food.


Ee Gud- It’s good


Yu lehk go wet? Do you need to urinate?


Well, that’s it for now. We go si bak!