Languages Spoken In Cameroon With Common Phrases In Duala Language

SEASON 5 EPISODE 4

Cameroon is a linguistically diverse country as the country has a distinctive cultural density. There are two major languages spoken by Cameroonians which serve as the official languages.

They are French and English with French being widely spoken by a majority. Furthermore, there are numerous indigenous languages across the country including:

• Bamileke
• Fulfulde
• Duala
• Ewondo
• Basaa
• Hausa
• Bafia
• Bafut
• Cameroonian Pidgin Engish

On today’s episode of Learn Africa, we’ll be looking at some common phrases and their meanings in the Duala language.

Below are some common phrases you can learn and be familiar with in Duala language.

Welcome: Bekasedi 

First name?: Díná lá mukala?

My name is: Díná lâm na 

Age: Mbu 

Hello, Hi: Mônè

Bad: Bobe 

Good, well: Bwâm 

Good morning: Idibà á bwâm e 

Thanks, Thank you: Na sôm. Na masóma 

Goodbye, Bye: Na má àlà  

See you soon, See you later: Buna bópépe 

How are you?: É ma ala nê?

I am fine: É ma ala

I: na 

You [sing.]: o 

You [plur.] : lo

He, she : a 

We : di 

They: Bá 

Yes: Ee 

No: Kèm 

Zero: Tô lambo 

One: Ewô 

Two: Béba 

Three: Bélalo 

Four: Béneí 

Five: Bétánu 

Six: Mutóbá 

Seven: Samba 

Eight: Lômbi 

Nine: Dibuá 

Ten: Dôm 

January: Dimôdi 

February: ngôndè 

March: Sônè 

April: Dibábá 

May: Emiasèlè 

June : Esôpêsôpè 

July : Madíbêdibè 

August : Dingíndí 

September : ñètèki 

October : Mayèsè 

November : Tiníní 

December : Elánê 

Monday : Môsú 

Tuesday : Kwasú 

Wednesday : mukôsú 

Thursday : Ngisú 

Friday: Ndôsú 

Saturday: Esabasú, esaba 

Sunday: Etíñá 

Who?: Njá ? 

Which?: Njíka ? 

What?: Njé ? 

How?: Néni ? 

How many?: Íníngá ? 

How much does it cost? How much is it?: Mwaníngá ? 

Where? : Wéni ? 

When? At what date? : Súníngá ? 

When? At what time? : Njíka póndá ? 

Why? : Óñólá njé ? 

Because: óñólá ná 

None: Tô pô, tô ewô, tô mô, tô diwô 

Each: Tèngè 

A little bit: Ngusu 

Several, (some): jita, njoasoa, eyeka 

A lot, much, many: jita, njoasoa, eyeka 

Too much / too many: jita wèè, pasmak 

Colour: Musônô 

Black: Mundo  

White: Sanga  

Yellow: Musônô mwa njabi  

Orange color: Epuma  

Red: Jola  

Blue: Blu, marina, ndutu  

Green: Musônô mw’eyadi

Written and edited by Ebby