The following Bariba word list is from Welmers (1952).
| Gloss | Bariba |
|---|---|
| banana | àgɛ̀dɛ̀ (no pl.) |
| palm tree | bãã |
| large calabash | bàka |
| stick | bɔ̀ra |
| mosquito | bũ̀ɛ̃̀yã |
| character | dàà (no pl.) |
| tree, wood | dã̀ã̀ (pl.?) |
| fallen branch | dã̀kàmā |
| branch on a tree | dã̀kàsā |
| root of a tree | dã̀kpinā |
| habit | dēn̄dī (pl.?) |
| mirror | digí (pl.?) |
| guinea corn | dobi (pl.?) |
| gun | dɔ̃̀bɔ̀ra |
| well | dɔ̀kɔ̀ (pl.?) |
| male | dua |
| horse | duma |
| bag | fɔ̀rɔ̀tɔ̀, -bá |
| name of a month | gã̀ã̀ní (no pl.) |
| village gate | gàm̀bò, -bà |
| wall | gana |
| word, matter | gari (pl.?) |
| termite | gɛ́ma |
| driver ant | gɛ̃́ya |
| gazelle | gina |
| money | gobi (pl.?) |
| guinea fowl | gònā |
| death | gɔɔ (no pl.) |
| rain, storm | gúra |
| chicken | guwā, guwē |
| axe | gbãã |
| calabash | gbàká |
| lion | gbèsùnɔ̄, gbèsìnansu |
| grain of millet | gbɛyā |
| spirit | hùindè (pl.?) |
| papaya | kàràbósì, -bà |
| motor | kɛ̀kɛ, -bà |
| animal horn | kɔbā |
| wildcat | konā |
| bamboo stalk | kɔ̃sā |
| antelope | kpása |
| stew | kpee (no pl.) |
| star; hippopotamus | kpera |
| corn cake | másà, -bà |
| rice sprout | mɔ́ra |
| cow | naā |
| house spider | nára |
| scorpion | nía |
| female | nia |
| mouth | nɔɔ (pl.?) |
| hand | nɔbū, nɔma |
| peanut | sãã |
| offering | sàrâ |
| bridge | sàsarā |
| comb | séḿbù, -ba |
| hair | serā |
| covering | sèsèbìa |
| pestle | sobiā |
| edible seeds | sonki (pl.?) |
| road, path | súa |
| fish | sũ̀ã |
| bean | suìā |
| bracelet | sumā |
| judgment | tààrɛ (pl.?) |
| tobacco | tába |
| ant | tànā |
| mud brick | tèǹdɔ́ka |
| self | tīī |
| bee | tĩya |
| inheritance | túbí (pl.?) |
| snake | waā |
| rope | wɛ̃ya |
| straw | wĩ́ya, wĩĩ |
| law | wodà |
| small gray monkey | wonkéra |
| gold | wúra (no pl.) |
| face | wurusuā, -ɛ̄ |
| animal, meat | yaa |
| needle | yabúra |
| cloth, robe | yasa |
| spear | yàsa/yɛ̀sa |
| pepper | yɛ̃̀ɛ̃̀kú (no pl.) |
| evil spirit | zínì |
| cutlass | àdaru |
| dysentery | bàǹdúbàǹdū |
| sickness | baràrū |
| tension drum | bàraru |
| doorway | bàràrū |
| shoe | bàràrū (only pl.) |
| cloth | bekùrū |
| basket | bíréru |
| back | biru |
| salt | bɔ̀rū |
| river | daaru |
| loincloth | dɛmbɛru |
| house | dìrū |
| tooth | dondu |
| stalk | gãnã̀rū |
| arm | gã̀sèrū |
| rat | gɔnɔru |
| large wild rat | gɔ̀nɔ̀ǹguru |
| egg | goòsĩã̀rū |
| mountain | guru |
| rain cloud | gúrúwiru |
| (musical) horn | guùrū |
| crow | gbãgbã̀rū |
| field, farm | gbèrū |
| pot | gbɛ̃́ru |
| gourd | kaaru |
| bush cow | kɛ̀tɛ̀gbèèkìrū |
| male (of some animals) | kìnèrū |
| bread | kìràrū |
| love | kĩ́ru |
| stool | kìtàrū |
| box | kpàkoruru |
| stone | kpèrū |
| bed | kpenyeru |
| bone | kukuru |
| a swelling | mɔsìrū |
| odor | nubùrū |
| rabbit | satàbūr̄ū |
| pitfall | sɛ̃̀rū |
| brass, copper | sigàǹdū |
| grave | sìkìrū |
| tail | siru |
| stinkbug | sísíkènèrū |
| pounded yam | sɔ̀kùrū |
| work | sɔ̀mbùrū |
| clay for pots | sɔǹdū |
| mortar | soru |
| porridge | sòrū |
| toad | suréru |
| leg | taaru |
| garden hill | takàrū |
| bow | tendu |
| panther | túǹdū |
| nose | wɛ̃ru |
| head | wiru |
| neck | wĩ́yìrū |
| knife | wobùrū |
| pot | wókeru |
| night, darkness | wɔ̃̀kùrū |
| baboon | wompɔkɔru |
| red monkey | wónsũ̀ã̄rū |
| coldness | wóòrū |
| sheep | yã̀ã̀rū |
| market | yàburu |
| sacrifice | yãkùrū |
| place | yanyeeru |
| open space | yeeru |
| broom | yiìrū |
| name | yísìrū |
| frog | yɔ̃ɔ̃ru |
| chameleon | àgāmānàkí, -bà |
| onion | àlùmásà, -nu |
| goat | boo, bonu |
| water pot | bòo, -nu |
| dog | bɔ̃ɔ̃, bɔ̃nu |
| owl | booro, -su |
| lizard | bɔ̀su, -nu |
| infestation of lice | gã́ã́ní (pl.?) |
| louse | gã́ã́núkú, -nù |
| airplane | gogùnɔ̀, -su |
| robe | gɔ̃kɔ, -su |
| drum | gɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀, gã̀ã̀su |
| vehicle | gòo, -su |
| canoe | gòoninkū, -nu |
| bird | gùnɔ̄, -su |
| cricket | gbɔɔ̄, -nu |
| sandfly | kòtókámbu, -munu |
| spoon | kààtó, -nù |
| cat | kòkónyambu, -munu |
| doorway | kɔ́ǹdɔ, -su |
| mat | kɔ̃ɔ̄, -su |
| pig | kúrúsɔ̄, -su |
| partridge | kusu, -nu |
| leopard, cat | músúkú, -nù |
| antelope | nemū, neǹnu |
| eye | nɔnu, nɔni |
| bush hog | sàkɔ̄, -nu |
| trap | sɛ́kpɛ̀ǹkú, -nù |
| arrow | sɛ̃ũ̄, sɛ̃ɛ̃̀nu |
| pot | sirū, -su |
| fly | sɔnu, -su |
| ear | so / soa, -su |
| elephant | sùùnū, -su |
| ring | tààbu, -nu |
| small black ant | tàm̀bu, -munu |
| army ant | tàsonu, -su |
| hoe | tebo, -nu |
| shadow | tíro, -nu |
| parrot | titimokò, -nu |
| year | wɔ̃̄ɔ̃̄n, wɔ̃̄su |
| monkey | womu, wonnu |
| wind | woo, -nu |
| hole | wɔrū, -su |
| town | wuu, -su |
| rabbit | wùkū, -nu |
| leaf | wurū, -su |
| tongue | yara, -nu |
| vulture | yèbèrèkú, -nù |
| household | yɛnu, -su |
| hartebeest | yiiku, -nu |
| father | bàa |
| Bariba person or language | bàtɔ̀nù |
| older brother, friend | bɛɛrɛ̄ |
| child | bìī |
| ulcer | bòō |
| hunter | bɔso |
| fire | dɔ̃̀ɔ̃̀ |
| mother’s brother | dùàni |
| rich man | gobigi |
| person | goo |
| pregnant woman | guràgi |
| God | gúsūnɔ̄ |
| guard | kɔ̃so |
| mother | merō |
| older brother | mɔɔ̄ |
| paramount chief | sènàboko |
| sister | sesu |
| sun, day | sɔ̃ɔ̃ |
| chief | sùnɔ̄, sìnambu |
| moon, month | surú |
| person | tɔ̀nū, tɔ̀m̀bu |
| younger brother | wɔ́nɔ̄ |
| guardian spirit | yãrō |
| slave | yòō |
| enemy | yíbɛ̀rɛ̀ |
| language | bàrūm̄ |
| milk | bom |
| strength | dam |
| oil | gum |
| raised garden row | kɔ̀rɔ̄m̄ |
| water | nim |
| liquor | tam |
| ground, dirt | tem |
| medicine | tìm̄ |
| honey | tim |
| soap | werem |
| air | wom |
| space, room | yam |
| sand | yànīm̄ |
| blood | yem |
| one (yam) | tan (teèsū) |
| foot | naàsu |
| silver | sigeèsū |
| iron | sísú |
| cotton | wɛ̃su |
| grass, the bush | yàkàsu |
| one | teènū |
| greens | àfonu |
| thing | gáánu |
| necklace | goònū |
| corn | gbèrɛnu |
| cucumber | gbɛ̀zɛnu |
| okra | yàbonu |
| get sick | bārā |
| split | bɛ̄rā |
| push | bɔ̄rīā |
| dawn, whiten | būrūrā, S burīrī |
| taste | dēn̄dā |
| pass by | dōōnā |
| sell | dɔ̄ɔ̄rā |
| sleep | dūīā, S dò |
| come in | dūmā |
| pull | gāwā |
| chase | gīrā |
| beseech | kānā |
| break (rope) | kārā |
| shatter | kɔ̄ɔ̄rā |
| loosen | kūsīā |
| lie down | kpūnā, S kpī̃ |
| receive | mūā |
| burn | mūārā |
| fight | sān̄nā |
| become clean | sā̃rā |
| name, call | sīā |
| pick up | sūā |
| wash | tīā |
| become black | tī̃ī̃rā, S tĩĩrī |
| arrive | tūnūmā |
| fall | wɔ̄rūmā |
| fill | yībīā |
| meet | yīn̄nā |
| stop | yɔ̃̄rā |
| leave | dērī |
| eat | dī (Cont. di) |
| forget | dūārī |
| hurt by burning | mɛ̄nī |
| help | sōmī |
| increase | sōsī |
| tether | sɔ̄rī |
| take a long time | tɛ̄ |
| hand over | wɛ̃̄ |
| blow (air) | wūrī |
| throw away | yārī |
| lay down | yī |
| become hard | bɔbiā, S bɔ̄(bū) |
| become fat | bɔriā, S bɔ̄rū |
| become much | dabiā, S dabī |
| catch up with | deèmā |
| become long | dẽɛ̃̀nyā, S dɛ̄ū̄ |
| become deep | dukiā, S dúku |
| learn | giā |
| turn over | gɔsìā |
| turn around | gɔsìrā |
| gather | gurā |
| become high, tall | guriā, S gúru |
| open | kɛnīā |
| get down | sarā |
| become difficult | sɛ̃sīā, S sɛ̃̄ |
| sit down | sinā, S sɔ̃̀ |
| become bitter | sosiā, S sō(sū) |
| become red | sũɛ̃rā, S sũɛ̃rī |
| become tough | taàyā, S tāū |
| become wide | yasiā, S yasū |
| become cold, damp | yemiā, S yēm̄ |
| fire (a gun) | suē |
| touch | babā |
| go around | besirā |
| break in two | buā |
| cut in two | burā |
| do become sweet | dorā, S |
| catch | gabā |
| become dry | gberā |
| tear | gĩā̃ |
| scratch | gɔ̃rā |
| want | kĩã̄, S kĩ́ |
| cut up | murā |
| jump, drop | surā |
| draw up | takā |
| bring | tamā |
| become good | wɛ̃rā, S wã |
| believe | wurā |
| come back | wúràmā |
| pierce | yabā |
| remember | yayā |
| play | duē |
| become clean | dɛ́ɛ́rā |
| become big | kpɛ̃́yā, S kpã́ |
| become hot | sṹyā, S sum̄ |
| become clear | déérē |
| look for | kásū |
| show | sɔ̃́nɔ̃́sĩ̄ |
| warm oneself | wɔ̃́sū |
| cover | wukírī |
| peel | kɛ̄ɛ̄rī |
| chew, eat | tēm̄ |
| plant | dūūrē |
| separate | gɔsi |
| dig | gbe |
| wait | ma, maru |
| study | mɛɛri |
| fall (of rain) | nɛ |
| leave, walk | sĩ |
| call | soku |
| be enough, arrive | turi |
| see | wa |
| answer | wisi |
| measure | yĩre |
| hear | nɔ̂ |
| fix up | sɔmɛ̀, sɔm̀ |
| dye black | wɔ̃kù |
| dance | yâ |
| enter, hurt | dū |
| flow | kōkū |
| stand up | sē, S yɔ̃̀ |
| climb | yɔ̄ |
| shine | baàlì |
| count | garì |
| rot | kɔ̃sì |
| give birth to | mâ, marù |
| swell | mɔsì |
| rejoice | yɛ̃ɛ̃rì |
| buy | dūē |
| give | kɛ̃̄ |
| build | bānī |
| steal | gbɛ̄nī |
| prick | sɔ̄kū |
| tell | sɔ̃ |
| put on the head | sɔbe, sɔ |
| fry | sɔmɛ, sɔm |
| ? | su |
| fly | yɔ̃ |
| tie up | bɔ̄kē |
| sew | yīnɛ̄ |
| speak, say | gere |
| close | kɛnɛ̀ |
| hide | kukè |
| frighten | narè |
| cook | yikè |
| write | yɔ̃rì |
| do, make | kō, S mɔ̀ |
| kill | gô |
| throw down | kɔ̃̂ |
| finish | kpê |
| hit | sô |
| male | dɔ, dua |
| raw | goma |
| high | gbãrã |
| white | kaà |
| a little bit | pikó |
| narrow | tereré |
| difficult | sɛ̃sɔ |
| some, a few (pl. only) | binu |
| much, many | dabīrū |
| dead | gorū |
| male (of certain animals) | kìnèrū |
| old | tɔ̀kɔ̄rū |
| short, small (also g-class) | kpirìrū |
| small | yã̀kàbū |
| small | píbu |
| short, small (also t-class) | kpirìbū |
| big | baka- |
| fresh | bèku- |
| hard | bɔɔ̀bɔā- |
| fat | bɔrùbɔrū- |
| good | bùra- |
| strong | dangi- |
| long | dɛǹdɛn̄- |
| good | ge- |
| dry | gbebu- |
| new | kpaà- |
| white | kpikī- |
| female | ni- |
| thick | sìnùǹgi- |
| bitter | soòsuā- |
| red | sũ̀ã̄- |
| hot | súm- |
| tough | taàtaā- |
| black | wɔ̃kū- |
| cold | yĩ́re- |
| 1 | tiā |
| 2 | yìru |
| 3 | yìta |
| 4 | ǹnɛ |
| 5 | nɔ̄ɔ̄bù |
| 6 | nɔ̄ɔ̄bâ tiā |
| 7 | nɔ̄ɔ̄bá yìru |
| 8 | nɔ̄ɔ̄bá yìta |
| 9 | nɔ̄ɔ̄bá ǹnɛ |
| 10 | ɔkuru |
| 20 | yɛndu |
| 30 | tɛ̀nā |