Language/Bambara/Vocabulary/Express-Surprise
Hi Bambara learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to express surprise in Bambara. Surprise is a universal feeling that can be expressed in many ways depending on the context and culture. At the end of this lesson, you will be able to use Bambara words and expressions to express surprise and enrich your vocabulary. So, let's get started!
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Animals & Days of the Week.
Expressions of Surprise[edit | edit source]
Surprise can be expressed in several ways in Bambara. Let's have a look at some of the most common expressions:
| Bambara | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| tènèna | tènèna | Really? |
| ah | ah | Oh! |
| tògbènè | tògbènè | Amazing! |
| ye minw ye | ye minw ye | Unbelievable! |
| ni mògòw kè | ni mogo ke | No way! |
| ala ka sira | ala ka sira | Very surprising! |
Examples:
- Person 1: San baara kè o? (Are you well?)
- Person 2: Tènèna. (Really?)
- Person 1: Wari ka fini? (Did you finish your work?)
- Person 2: Ah! (Oh!)
- Person 1: Nin fè tògbènè bò sugu? (Did you see the amazing thing yesterday?)
- Person 2: Tògbènè! (Amazing!)
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Let's now learn some Bambara words related to surprise:
| Bambara | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| jibini | jibini | Shock |
| fini | fini | Finish |
| kono | kono | Startle |
| fènè | fènè | Bewildered |
Examples:
- Person 1: Ka jògò jibini denw? (Did you experience shock yesterday?)
- Person 2: A ka jògò jibini. (Yes, I experienced shock.)
- Person 1: Kono denw ka dugu kalan wari? (Did you startle when you saw the big snake?)
- Person 2: I ka kono mògò. (Yes, I was startled.)
Culture and Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
In Bambara culture, expressing surprise is not always appropriate. It is often considered a sign of weakness or lack of knowledge. Therefore, some people may try to avoid expressing surprise in public. Instead, they may express surprise through less explicit means such as facial expression, tone of voice or non-verbal cues.
To improve your Bambara Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Education
- Days of the Week
- How to say Good Bye?
- Drink
- Eat
- Colors
- Feelings and Emotions
- Drinks
- Animals
- Count to 10