THE 5 CIVIL EXPRESSIONS
Please = sisi
Thank you (sing) = I miete (plr) = O miete
I'm sorry = inganima
Sorry (what a shame!) = sindo
Excuse me = sisi
BASIC DISCUSSIONS IN KALABARI
1.MARKET PLACE
"Daba, go and buy me some fish =
Daba, mu inji fe bo I piri.
"Where is the market?" = Ogumabiri me to anga emi?
"Boma, escort me to the market" =
Boma, bo I buroma ogumabiri mu.
"Where do they sell fish here in this market?" =
Mi ogumabiri bu In to anga inji deriari.
"Hawking call ( e.g Buy fish) = Inji ma e, Inji ma e
"Customer, come and buy fish" = Tubonibo, bo inji fee.
"Bring the fish let me see " = Inji me ke bo A diki
"How much is this fish?" = Inji me ndai ndai
"It is N40; bid your price" = Nara mesi, Inye tubo.
"It is too expensive; how about N20?" =
Ani ye la bakam, si nara laa
"O.K pay the money" = Ibim, igbigi me gbee
2. COOKING / EATING
"Go and wash this pot" = Mu mi bele me sikiri
"Adaba, please light the fire" = Adaba, sisi fini me tono.
"Wash some rice and put on the fire" =
Arusu sikirite ke opo ongono sama.
"Have you put some salt?" = I fun ke swate
"Is the rice cooked?" = Arusu me biate
"It is not yet cooked; it is still boiling" =
Ma biyaa, ani pa dariari
"The rice is cooked" = Arusu me biate
"Dish some for the children" = kele du awome ma piri
"Dish some for the boy" = kele du tubo be piri
"Dish some for the girl" = kele du tubo ma piri
"Come and eat your food" = Bo I fiye fi
"There is too much salt in the food" =
Arusu me bio fun bakam
"Are you full?" = I furo binte
"I am not full" = I furo ma binyaa.
more on Hygiene, Sannitation, Fashion,Church, School, etc...
TELLING TIME IN KALABARI
Clock [ Time piece ] = so kien ye
Hour = so
Half Past = pakiri ( ke ... burote )
Mid Day [ 12 Noon ] = (ene ) ogbo late
Mid Night [ 00.00 ] = (din ) ogbo late
Minute = bala
Quarter Past = J'ia bala ke ... burote
Quarter To = J'ia bala kom ...
Second = kala bala
THE FOLLOWING CARDINAL NUMBERS (AS DETERMINERS)ARE IMPORTANT:
one, 1 = gboru two, 2 = ma three,3 = tra four, 4 = inia
five, 5 = sonoa six, 6 = sonia seven,7 = sonoma eight, 8 = nin'a
nine, 9 = esenia ten, 10 = oyia eleven, 11 = oyi gboru twelve, 12 = oyi ma
thirteen,13 = oyi tra fourteen,14 = oyi inia fifteen, 15 = oyi sonoa
sixteen, 16 = ini fa sia seventeen, 17 = trei fa sia eighteen, 18 = mai fa sia
nineteen, 19 = gberiye fa sia twenty, 20 = sia twenty one, 21 = si gboru
twenty two, 22 = si ma twenty three, 23 = si tra twenty four, 24 = si inia
tewnty five, 25 = si sonoa twenty six, 26 = ini fa sueia twenty seven, 27 = trei fa sueia
twenty eight, 28 = mai fa sueia twenty nine, 29 = gberiye fa suieia
ASKING AND TELLING TIME
To ask time in Kalabari say:
saki tiye late i.e what time is it? or
so kien ye tiye late i.e what is the time ( piece) reading?
Let us use some examples -
it is ten after nine = oyia bala ke eseni so burote
it is twenty to seven = sia bala kom sonoma so
it is mid day = ene ogbo late
it is a quarter to four = ji'a bala kom inia so
it is seventeen past three = tra bala fa si kom tra so
it is twenty one to eleven O'clock = si gboru bala kom oyi gboru so
it is half past six = pakiri ke sonia so burote
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