The following word list of Birri is from Santandrea (1966).
| Gloss | Birri | notes |
|---|---|---|
| animal | nvàre | |
| anthill | isi; yícì | |
| arrow | gundá; matakada | |
| artist | ámá... ; ɛ̃́mɛ̃́... | |
| ashes | kúvùtu | |
| axe | acä́kpä́; anvadi | |
| baboon | ngboru; ngbäru | |
| back | ágbámòkètí | |
| basket | vaga; thanga; wacini | |
| bat | ávìrìtì; ágìɗò | |
| bee | ámɛ̃-mà | |
| beer | ŋà | |
| belly | ʈi... ; ʈu... ; únyi | |
| bird | uɖá | |
| blacksmith | ámá-kúsi; ɛ̃mɛ̃-kúsi | |
| blood | ɔ́tɔ́ | |
| body | rɔ; aɓö (skin) | |
| bone | kpɔ | |
| bow | matagél | |
| hoy | rèndɛ-ùmá | |
| brains | nyɔkurukpɛ̀ | |
| breast | mòmágu | |
| woman's breast | nva(a) | |
| elder brother | ánɖu; kabu | |
| younger brother | ngàràgbà | |
| buffalo | ánɖr(ì) | |
| buttocks | nvwèlú | |
| calabash | kpẹri; kpelengo | |
| canoe | kurungba | |
| cat | angbärä | |
| cattle | bagara | < Arabic |
| chief | a'ú; gbaya | |
| child | rèndɛ; ŋɔ(ɔ) | |
| chin | ala | |
| cloth(es) | vɔ̀ngɔ́; bɔ̀ngɔ́ | |
| coal(s) | (i)yí | |
| cotton | rumu | |
| country | mo | home |
| crocodile | úɗù; nvàràgawú | |
| day | máɗì; gbɛ̃ | |
| daughter | rèndɛ-ifu | |
| death (corpse) | úɓà | |
| doctor | ulu-ga-manga | |
| dog | ana | |
| donkey | kìsé; kècɛ̀ | |
| door | re-tìmà | |
| doorway | tìmà | |
| dove | kurùngúdù | |
| dream | i'í | |
| drum | únɖ(r)ì | |
| tamtam drum | gúrú | |
| durrah (dura) | ùndhá | |
| ear | nvö; nvu | |
| earth (ground) | vò | |
| egg | ɓä | |
| elephant | nvòrɔ̀ | |
| evening | áyívä | |
| excrement | ani, anyi | |
| eye | më́; mʊ́ | |
| father | ɓu | |
| papa | ává | |
| fence | ndugu | |
| field | ádha; wë | |
| finger | inyi-diɖr | |
| (cf. hand) | inyi-digbà | |
| fire | úsì | |
| fish | índhí | |
| flour | ívù | |
| fly | úʈrɛ | |
| foot (leg) | úngbà | |
| forest (bush) | thúʈù | |
| fowl | úndhí | |
| frog | rɔngɔ | |
| giraffe | dikara | |
| girl | rèndɛ-ifu | |
| goat, sheep | ínyí | |
| God | Ngothù | |
| gourd | úka | |
| granary | àngbà | |
| grandparent | àvà; àwà | |
| grass | thó | |
| grave | ákú; ávä | |
| groundnuts | curugbaya | |
| guineafowl | úfɛ́ | |
| hair | mú | |
| hartebeest | ngìrá | |
| hawk | erɛ; vëndë | |
| head | ɖru | |
| hand | inyi | |
| hill | arì; àngá (stone) | |
| hippopotamus | àngɔ̀nvɔ́ | |
| hoe | v̱àràgà, nvaraga, nv̱araga | |
| hole | vu | |
| honey | ámɛ̃́ | cf. bee |
| horn | udhö́ | |
| house, home | mó, mú, mʊ́ | |
| hunger | nvì, nvẹ̀ | |
| hut | dhàrà | |
| hyena | mòyá'u | |
| illness | uɓá | |
| iron | idikpɔ, edekpɔ | |
| jackal | ɔ́gbɔ́ | |
| knee | ukú | |
| knife | kä́dyì | |
| leopard | ùgbá | |
| leprosy | gbámvì | |
| lightning | ndígbà | |
| lion | nvùrùwí; silingiri | |
| lip | tyidi-àɓú | mouth-skin |
| locust | mókòròngbɔ̀ | |
| maize | nvomú; kòndì | |
| man (genus) | ulu | |
| male | ùmá | |
| husband | ɔ́mɔ | |
| mat | ìnjá; kutukpa | |
| meat | kàká | |
| cooked meat | útyì | sauce |
| medicine | manga | |
| moon | áfí | |
| morning | ámuʈ(r)u | |
| mortar | ä́nví | |
| mosquito | nvá(a) | |
| mother | má | |
| mamma | yamá | |
| mouth | tyi(di) | |
| mud | ɔ̀gɔ̀ | |
| nail (cf. hand) | (i)nyi-(i)si; nyisi | |
| name | iri | |
| neck | ɔfɔ | |
| neighbour | unɖri | |
| net | ngbàdyí | |
| night | ätyí | |
| nose | ímɔ̀; ámɔ̀ | |
| oil | dhö | |
| owner | ama | |
| orphan | ìzɔ́; ìjɔ́ | |
| penis | ákpi | |
| pig (wild) | vùngbá | |
| red boar | denvete | |
| pipe | n'vassa | |
| place | kéthrá | |
| pool, lake | ä́vú; úvú | |
| porridge | áɓä́; ä́ɓä́ | |
| pot | ndɔ̀rɔ̀ | |
| rain | nɖr(i) | |
| rat (common) | késì | |
| field rat | ùtyí | |
| road | ava; av̱a | |
| rope | ùnɖrá | |
| sacrifice | (e)dàkpà Ngóthù | |
| saliva | èndí; èndé | |
| salt | ägä; ögö | |
| sand | áŋá | |
| dust, earth | vo | cf. earth |
| scorpion | ángùrìnvɔ́; ɛnɛ | |
| seed | ɔʈrɔ; gbaga | |
| sesame | àŋà | |
| pounded sesame | ukpé | |
| shield | gòmvò | |
| shoe | rakata | |
| shoulder | tʊndʊ; ɔfɔkpɔɔ | |
| sister | amù; ämù | |
| skin | áɓú; áɓä́ | |
| sky | nɖraa | |
| slave | kanga | |
| smoke | kaka | |
| snake | líí; léé | |
| song | kpɔ | |
| spear | ngbàrá; (e)ssi | |
| star | dangi; ínɖrù | |
| stick | kpávara; gbɔ́tɔ̀ɗɔ̀ | |
| stool | mbata | |
| stone | àngá; angbà | |
| stream | ungu | |
| sun | uɖrà | |
| sweat | àmẽrenwɛ̃ | |
| tall | tá | |
| tear | náwu | |
| flying edible termite | mɔ̀(ɔ̀) | |
| white ants | ɔ́tɔ́ | |
| testicle(s) | uŋu | |
| thing | ìdi; ẹ̀dẹ | |
| thirst | ó'ú | |
| thorn | únhè | |
| tobacco | taba | |
| tongue | ìnɖrɔ́; ìnɖrá | |
| tooth | sì | |
| tortoise | akpokpozo | |
| aquatic turtle | n'gonvo | |
| tree | kpi; kpɪ | |
| tribe | ɔʈrɔ | seed |
| clan (?) | vùndù | |
| truth | kpɔkpɔ | |
| twins | ruŋa | < Bongo |
| urine | úɖ(r)ä́ | |
| vagina | àkà | |
| varan | akpë́ | |
| vein | uɖrì | |
| war | ígà | |
| water | wu | |
| waterbuck | vöndö | |
| well | ndhùré | |
| wind | ílù | |
| woman | ìfú | |
| wife | nɖra | |
| word | aɖ(r)a | |
| work | thung(y)e | |
| yam (home) | inji; ingi | |
| yam (wild) | kongo | |
| year | utu | |
| dry season | utu; issi | |
| rain season | ɔ́kɔ́ʈù | |
| ask | ushi | |
| beat | mɛ̃ | |
| beg | ri | |
| beget | aka | |
| bite | (a)'a | |
| sting | anja | |
| blow | ɛ̃fɛ̃ | |
| break (trans.) | wi | |
| break (intr.) | ayí | |
| break | ä́kä̀ | |
| breathe | ɔ'ɔ | |
| brew (beer) | aé; ar ? | |
| bring | ána (a)r(e) | |
| build | ɔ́ɖɔ́ | |
| build | avì | |
| burn (trans.) | àthù | |
| burn (intr.) | áŋɔ́ | |
| buy | àgí | |
| sell | ùthó | |
| call | ùngbá | |
| carry | ádi | |
| catch | anvu | |
| cease | ívà | |
| chase | u'a | |
| come | ana; (a)kä | |
| cook | íɗì | |
| cough | ékpe; ikpi | |
| count | uɖrà | |
| cry | ra-mi | |
| cut | ágá | |
| dance | ara | |
| die | àyí | |
| dig (hole) | áɗi | |
| dress | ɔ̀sh(y)ɔ́ | |
| undress | áɗì | |
| drink | aya | |
| eat | ɔnyɔ | |
| fall | èɗɛ́ | |
| finish | áthì | |
| fly | ifë́ | |
| forget | agbí | |
| give | akpa | |
| go | awa | |
| hear | sha | |
| kill | àwì | |
| know | ari; ali | |
| laugh | ɛ́ngɛ́ | |
| insult, abuse | ɔɗɔ | |
| laugh at | ugba | |
| leave, depart | ìnyà | |
| lick | ínyí | |
| lie (tell lies) | alá ílí/élé | |
| lie (down) | àfú/àfë́ (gu)vo | |
| (get) lost | agbi | |
| love | lẹ | |
| make | adhi; adhe | |
| marry | (á)di | |
| meet | ɔvɔ | |
| milk | anda | |
| open | ofo; ufo | |
| pain | ádhírú | |
| pain (e.g., head) | ara(ra) | |
| pay | agi | |
| put | agu | |
| rain | aɗí; aɗɪ | |
| refuse | omo; ɔmɔ | |
| return | akë; akɪ | |
| run | (a)wí | |
| see | anda | |
| send | ɔɓɔ | |
| shoot | anja | |
| shut | àngí | |
| lock | ɔgbɔ | |
| sing | re | |
| sit | aɗi | |
| sleep | ɔɗɔ; äɗä | |
| smell | iɗi riŋo | |
| sow (durrah) | uwi | |
| sow (sesame) | ayú | |
| speak | ala | |
| spread | äɗä | |
| stab | aɗu | |
| stand up | inya | |
| steal | ɔ'ɔ | |
| stop | andhi | |
| sweep | wɛ | |
| swim | áfú | |
| tear | ira | |
| throw | ɛdɛ | |
| tie | 'ɛ; ɔrɔ | |
| wait (trans.) | udá | |
| walk | demɛ̃; anvá | |
| want | kpamà; áv̱i | |
| wash | avi; ivi | |
| write | unɖri | |
| tattoo | uɓa | |
| yawn | ä́kpä́ | |
| bad | akpa-sha | |
| big | ukama | |
| bitter | wú | |
| black | nɖr(i) | |
| cold | (u)só | |
| drunk (verb) | ɔnɔ | |
| dry | ɔ'u | |
| far | ɛgbɛ̃ | |
| fat | ungbungbu | |
| female | ama | |
| few | tèketɛ́ | |
| good | ákpá(-dá) | |
| hard | ɔ́tɔ́ʈrɔ́, ɔ́ʈɔ́ʈrɔ́ | |
| heavy | úmámá | |
| hot (verb) | ɛ̃mɛ̃-kpɔ́ | |
| left (hand) | ngálí | |
| light ("heavy not") | àma-sa | |
| little | ngʊ; ngu | |
| long | angaa... ; ɔ́lɔ́kɔ́ | |
| loud | nɖra | |
| male | 'ú | |
| many | (a)tó(tó) | |
| near | tẹ́re | |
| new | zhya | |
| old (people) | ɔgbɔrɔ | |
| old (things) | igbá | |
| poor | nda | |
| red | gbu | |
| right (hand) | dí | |
| ripe | a'u; alí | |
| sharp | ánví | |
| strong (hard) | ɔ́tɔ́ʈrɔ́ | |
| stupid | tätù | |
| sweet (adjective) | ili(li) | |
| sweet (verb) | eɓɛ | |
| thick | ivù | |
| white | fú(ú) | |
| early | (kpa) kawa | |
| fast | kawa; kärä | |
| formerly | kawada | |
| now | ɓiɓi-dò | |
| slow(ly) | yaa | |
| tight(ly) | (a)ngbangba | |
| today | íɖrà | |
| tomorrow | ámùnɖrí | |
| when? | bìré | |
| where? | ala | |
| yesterday | rínɖrɔ́ |