Waale 101




Hello! Welcome to Waale 101-- a class rarely offered since the language is only spoken by about 300,000 people, so pay attention and learn well.

Let's start with greetings! "A" signifies the greeter, "B" the one being greeted.

Morning:

A: Ansomaa (AHN-so-mah) / Good morning
B: Ehsie (S-E-A) / Yes, it is good
B: Edagenya (Ehd-ah-JEN-ya) / How did you sleep?
A: A bie song (Ah BEE-eh song) / Fine

Afternoon:

A: Antare (AHN-tayr-ay) / Good afternoon
B: Minate (MIN-ah-tay) / Yes, it is good
B: Kaa toma? (Kah toh-MAH) / How is work?
A: A bie song (Ah BEE-eh song) / Fine

Evening:

A: Anola (ah-NO-la) / Good evening
B: Jeamaye (Jay-UH-my-ay) / Yes, it is good
B: Kaa toma?* (Kah toh-MAH) / How is work?
A: A bie song (Ah BEE-eh song) / Fine

*Kaa toma is interchangeable with any question about how things are. Here are some common questions:
Kaa yideme: How is your family?
Kaa beehee: How are your children?
Kaa sera/poga: How is your husband/wife?
Kaa dio: How is home?
Kaa yiri: How is your community?


Okay, now that we know greetings, let's move on to market terms! Gotta buy those food items to stay alive, right?

Please: Sobela (SOH-bell-uh)
Thank you: Bareka (BAH-reh-ka)
Sorry: Gafra (GAH-FRA)
I (don't) want __: N (ba) bora (N (BA) BORE-uh)
I am okay: Asignya (Ah-SEE-gneye-uh)
How much?: Awola? (Ah-WO-la)
Do you have ___?: Eterang ___? (EH-teh-RAHNG)
Market: Daa (Dah)

Common Food items:
Water: Koang (Koo-AWNG)
Rice: Mui (Mwee)
Onion: Alabasa (Ah-la-BAH-sa)
Egg: Gyela (JEL-uh)
Bread: Paano (PAHN-oh)
Pepper: Samane (Sah-MAN-ay)
Meat: Nane (NAH-nay)
Tomato: Kombie (KOHM-bee-ay)
Pineapple: Abrobe (AH-bro-bay)
Orange: Ankaa (Ahn-KAA)
Mango: Mango (MAHN-go)
Maize: Kamaana (Kah-MAHN-uh)


Now that you can navigate market, here are some terms that will help you navigate town:

I speak Waale small small: No wo Waale fii fii (N woah Wah-lay feen feen)
I will alight here: N'asegaye kye (Nah SEE gay ung chay)
Messed up/messy: Nyama nyama (nyahma nyahma)
I go _______: N gaara ____ (n gare-AH)
I cook food: N mara sima (n mahra see-MUH)
Long time!: Bera iri (BEAR-uh ee-REE) *literally means "2 days"
What are you doing?: Bo ng era? (Baw ENG AIR-uh)
Give me ___: Kumoa ____ (KOO-mo-aw)
Help!: Soma (So-MAH)
Where is the bathroom? Yen bangyera be? (Yen BAHN-jeh-rah BAY)
I stay at ______: N kwiera ______ (N kWEE-air-uh)
Tomorrow: Bieo (Byoh)
Wait small: Chele fii (CHEL-eh feen)
I need to leave now: N bora kangaa (N BORE-ah kahn-GAH)
Friend: Kyena (Chen-UH)
It is delicious!: O no ma (OH-no-MAH)
Money: libiri (lee-BEE-ree)
Walk: kyembo (chem-BO)
Cloth: Wagye (WAH-jay)
Beautiful: Viera (VEE-air-uh)

Alright class! That's enough for today. Homework is finding a Waale speaker to practice with over this coming week. We'll have a small quiz when I get back!

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