The following list of Proto-Fali reconstructions is from Sweetman (1981).
There are Southern Fali and Northern Fali dialects according to Sweetman (1981).
| English gloss | Proto-Fali |
|---|---|
| accept | *ŋgo |
| accepted | *ŋgori |
| accuse | *ndʒeŋg- |
| admire | *tʃoo |
| after 1 | *a dat mʌm |
| after 2 | *gbɛɛda |
| again | *bak |
| all | *pĩ |
| alligator | *bvʌmngu |
| another time | *ngbʌrman |
| antelope, small | *gaprukV |
| arm, hand | *kʌnɨ |
| armpit | *kalŋgum |
| arrow | *ndopfɨ |
| ask | *gun- |
| attach 1 | *tsĩĩ |
| attach 2 | *gap- |
| attach 3 | *m’em- |
| authority | *mbvinum |
| avoid | *yãã- |
| axe | *loombø |
| baboon | *waandu |
| back | *ngbʌrngɨ |
| back, lower | *kpʌʌngu |
| bad | *maada |
| bark (n.) | *pfoongu |
| basket 1 | *pfagrak |
| basket 2 | *gʌŋgndʌg |
| basket, flat, wide | *pfagVrVk |
| bean | *wʌʌda |
| beard | *eskɨ |
| beat | *tʃup- |
| because | *ɗo |
| bee | *wãsɨ̃ |
| before | *ɗoko |
| begin | *ɗaa- |
| behind | *ɗaadi |
| belly | *himndi |
| big | *ɓeleŋg |
| bird | *dʒooyu |
| bite | *num- |
| blind, be | *rãã- |
| block (v.) | *wup |
| blood | *ndʒĩĩmV |
| blow | *yee- |
| body | *isi |
| bone | *kopfti |
| border | *ɓlẽẽku |
| bow | *sʌ̃ʌ̃ŋgu |
| break | *am- |
| breast | *nĩwdĩ |
| breathe | *yeŋg-; *yiŋg- |
| brother, my | *kor mʌm |
| buffalo | *taayø |
| build | *dʒʌ̃ʌ̃- |
| burn | *ak- |
| bury | *gbik- |
| bush | *nũrɨ̃ |
| caiman | *kpʌktʌk |
| calabash | *seCu |
| call | *ɗlaa- |
| chameleon | *nʌrŋgɨnat |
| carry 1 | *ngbak- |
| carry 2 | *tuu |
| carry away | *nduu- |
| cat | *kpɔgli |
| catch, stop | *mɔɔ- |
| change 1 | *bvɨn- |
| change 2 | *id- |
| cheek | *dmŋgu; *dʌmŋgɨ; *dʌmŋgi |
| chest | *gbɛtku; *gbetkɨ |
| child | *hʌm |
| chin | *ngbolŋgɨ |
| civilised, be | *tʃõõy- |
| climb | *naa- |
| cloth | *ndʒʌʌlV |
| cloud | *turum |
| cold | *ŋgisɨm |
| cook, prepare food | *dɔɔ- |
| cow | *naayu |
| create | *ŋgbaŋg- |
| crocodile | *tiim |
| crunch ground nut | *tupf- |
| crush 1 | *mbvɔɔ- |
| crush 2 | *nʌm- |
| cry 1 | *bvim- |
| cry 2 | *um- |
| cucumber | *hʌltʃi |
| cucumber, large | *tʌʌyu |
| cultivate | *bva |
| cut | *ndʒaa- |
| cut the throat | *gũũ- |
| dance | *sii- |
| dark | *kulgu |
| death | *wuda |
| deceive | *rũpf- |
| demolish | *kpok- |
| descend | *tsii- |
| died | *wut |
| diminish | *ʌn- |
| divide | *mee- |
| do | *mbvi- |
| dog | *dũnũ |
| door | *fanndʒa |
| draw water | *ɗuk- |
| drink | *ndʒoo- |
| drum | *ndʌʌmV |
| drummer | *mããdʒi |
| dry season | *waklɨ |
| eagle | *ndʒɛɛmbø |
| ear | *tuuyV; *tuuCV |
| earth, ground | *deesi |
| eat | *rii- |
| egg | *bvʌʌdʒi |
| elephant | *wʌŋga; *wʌŋgo |
| enclosure | *soori |
| be ended, finished | *pfɛt- |
| enforce | *gbɛp- |
| engrave, carve | *rek- |
| enter | *lek- |
| entrance, house | *ninu |
| expensive | *ʌydi |
| explain | *kʌl- |
| extinguish, put out | *kʌ̃y- |
| eye, my | *nis mum |
| eyes | *nisu |
| face, before, in front | *kpeesi |
| fail | *lɔ- |
| fall | *yaa- |
| far | *kpããri |
| father | *tooyV |
| feast | *ol- |
| feed | *ɗi- |
| fig-tree | *dʒããt |
| fill | *mũũ- |
| fingernail | *bveŋgnda |
| fingers | *mbvɛɛdi kʌnu; *mbvɛdi kʌnu |
| finish | *lɔɔ- |
| fire | *ebɨ |
| fire, my | *ep mʌm |
| fireplace | *ø?Vndʒi |
| first, at | *ngban |
| fish | *tʃĩĩdʒi |
| follow | *fun- |
| food | *nʌʌm |
| foot, my | *nak mum |
| forehead | *tiigu |
| forget | *hɛn-; *ŋgɛn- |
| forest | *luŋgndzɨ |
| four | *naan |
| friend, my | *bvør mum |
| frog | *faalɨ |
| front, in | *ɗʌ |
| fruit (thing of harvesting) | *dʒek rip- |
| fruit sp. | *’naadi |
| full | *mũya |
| gazelle | *sʌ̃ rɨ̃ |
| giraffe (see 'neck') | *ndeŋg gunɨ |
| girl | *sʌpri |
| give | *hĩĩ- |
| give birth | *rɔɔ- |
| go ahead! | *digin |
| go for a walk | *gĩ- |
| goat | *bviw |
| god | *faCu |
| be good | *del- |
| grow | *m’i- |
| gourd, type of | *bvamndi |
| grain, type of | *ndʒota |
| granary | *dooyu |
| grass, type of grass, type of | *doodʒi |
| fine | *sɛɛmberV |
| grasshopper | *hɔɔyu |
| grit teeth | *vak- |
| guineafowl | *dʒʌʌbVlV; *dʒʌʌbulɨ |
| hair | *gemsi |
| handle | *kʌmbvø; *kʌmbvɨ |
| hard | *ndɛkta |
| harvest (v.) | *rip- |
| have fun together | *gbʌk |
| hawk | *mbveleŋgV |
| head | *haw; *haCu |
| head, my | *hʌk mum |
| heal | *ndɔɔ- |
| heat (v.) | *wus- |
| heel | *nduundʒi |
| help | *mgbVV- |
| hen | *ɗɨɨŋgV |
| here | *ʌygi |
| heron | *ngboori |
| hide oneself | *fũũ- |
| him | *go |
| hippopotamus | *emam |
| hit | *tʃup- |
| home | *ʌʌyu |
| horn | *dẽwa |
| horse | *kpɨ̃sɨ̃ |
| hunt 1 | *pii- |
| hunt 2 | *mʌn- |
| hunt 3 | *ɓawV |
| hurt | *ʌy- |
| ibou | *gbulu |
| if 1 | *ko |
| if 2 | *seyto |
| inside | *mĩĩs |
| invite | *mbvaa- |
| iron | *tepfki |
| jump | *ɓu- |
| keep | *faa- |
| knead | *bɔp- |
| knee | *gbeskɨ |
| knife | *ɓeldu |
| knock out of hand | *gbos- |
| lame | *ɛs |
| laugh | *wãã- |
| lead, bring | *m’aa- |
| leave | *woo- |
| left | *aŋga |
| left side | *ngbaali; *ngbaal |
| leg, foot | *naw; *naCu |
| leper | *ʌ̃ʌ̃yu |
| light, thin | *laplap |
| light (v.) | *goy- |
| listen | *rak-s-um |
| listen! | *ragin |
| little, a | *tʃʌdum |
| lower (v.) | *tʃin- |
| lying down flat | *kpu- |
| made, done | *tɛɛ |
| make cross | *mvin- |
| make noise | *gbãã- |
| make a loud noise | *dũũ- |
| man | *nidu |
| marriage | *wʌʌrɨ |
| mat, type of | *dʒinngɨ |
| material | *ndʒʌʌlV |
| measure (v.) | *gen- |
| meat | *dʒoodʒi |
| middle, in the | *tĩĩm |
| millet | *tidu |
| mist, fog | *kudʒi |
| mix | *dʒʌm- |
| monkey | *gbenɨŋg |
| moon, month | *tʃodɨ |
| mosquito | *wãyndʒi |
| mother | *noø |
| move | *yũũ- |
| mountain | *gopri |
| mouse | *wʌra |
| mud | *bvʌ̃ʌ̃ndzi |
| name (v.) | *ĩn- |
| near | *gããdʒa |
| neck | *guɨ |
| night | *tuma |
| nose | *unɨ |
| nothing 1 | *tʃɛnV; *tʃɛn |
| nothing 2 | *ko dʒinã |
| now | *kɔsɔŋgV |
| oil | *num |
| on | *ndʒɛt |
| only | *gbɛ |
| ostrich | *ndaw |
| our | *wodo |
| over there | *bʌyʌgo |
| pardon | *ndɔgɔn |
| pass (v.) | *hɔm- |
| path (see 'road') | *ot mbvɛɛdi |
| peanut | *gumndʒi |
| people | *o nit ʌ̃y |
| perfume | *mbĩĩr |
| pierce 1 | *bvaa- |
| pierce 2 | *kpepf- |
| pierced | *kpʌpf |
| plant (v.) | *gbak- |
| play | *wã- |
| point (v.) | *n’ipf- |
| poison | *ladɨ |
| poor | *ɛdʒa |
| pot, jug | *dʒɔɔŋgu |
| pour | *sɔ̃ɔ̃-n-um |
| pour out 1 | *tʃaw- |
| pour out 2 | *gbɔɔ- |
| proud | *ɓuuru |
| pull out of ground | *upf- |
| pus | *tʃomndi |
| push | *paa- |
| put down | *ii- |
| quiver | *yelø |
| rabbit | *ŋgɔ̃ɔ̃dĩ |
| rain | *buunɨ |
| red | *tʃale |
| rejoin | *ɓlɛm- |
| release | *lak- |
| remain | *ŋges- |
| reply | *goo- |
| resemblance | *rɛ̃ɛ̃ndʒum |
| resemble | *rɛɛ- |
| rest | *wii- |
| return home | *koy- |
| richness | *bvɛɛbu |
| richness, my | *bvɛp mum |
| ripen | *nĩĩ- |
| road | *odu |
| roast | *ndʒum |
| rock | *kpata |
| roll | *vil- |
| root | *sisi |
| rope, cord | *lʌski; *lʌksi |
| rot | *raa- |
| rub | *fɔɔ- |
| run | *n’ɔɔ- |
| sack | *kuda |
| said | *yɛ̃ɛ̃ |
| savanna | *ɓutʃki |
| scab | *nugɨ |
| scorpion | *ndʌ̃ʌ̃ŋgu |
| see | *kpʌʌ- |
| seeds (things to sow) | *dʒek tʃok |
| sell | *hʌʌ- |
| separate 1 | *lip- |
| separate 2 | *ɓaa- |
| seven | *dʒɔ̃rɔ̃s |
| shade | *kuskɨ |
| shake 1 | *tak- |
| shake 2 | *vik- |
| sharp | *rige |
| sheep | *ngbʌ̃ʌ̃yu |
| shellfish | *kpaaŋgu |
| shirt | *ludø |
| sickness | *ʌyndʒɨ |
| six | *yidø |
| skin | *kũ |
| slap | *vam- |
| slave | *sʌʌyɨ |
| sleep | *kũũ- |
| slip | *dʒãk- |
| slippery | *sũrũt |
| smoke | *tupfkɨ |
| smooth, level (v.) | *ngbʌŋg- |
| snake | *dʒɔ̃ɔ̃yu, dʒooyu |
| soak | *bvũũ- |
| sour, bitter | *ngbewdi |
| sour, be | *ɗal- |
| sow grain | *yaw- |
| speak | *yɛ̃ɛ̃- |
| squash, type of | *tupti |
| squirrel | *kɛrmbvVCV; *kɛrmbi |
| star | *biskum |
| steal | *o- |
| stone | *gɔɔgu |
| stone, a red | *kɔɔdʒi |
| straw | *kperi |
| suck | *sũũ- |
| suckle | *ãw-; *ø̃w- |
| sugar cane | *sɛdum |
| sun | *unndʒɨ |
| swallow | *mir- |
| sweep | *ɓɛ- |
| swell, inflate | *mut- |
| sword (see 'knife') | *ɓlɛt ɓɛl |
| stretched out | *pfatV |
| tail | *sʌ̃ |
| take | *ʌ- |
| take off | *hap- |
| taken | *ade |
| teach | *ɛŋgV; *ɛŋg- |
| tear 1 (v.) | *ŋga- |
| tear 2 (v.) | *ɗlun- |
| tell (a story) | *sak- |
| tell off, scold | *lɛ- |
| ten | *ra |
| tender | *luplup |
| termite | *dʒʌ̃ʌ̃mV |
| they | *øwa |
| thigh | *kuri |
| thigh, his | *kur weya |
| thing | *dʒeyV |
| three | *taanV; *taan |
| throat | *mirŋgʌm |
| throw 1 | *dɛp- |
| throw 2 | *ɓlak- |
| throw out (= tip out 67) | *tuu- |
| tighten | *ngbɛw-; *ɛw- |
| tired, be | *loo- |
| tomb | *gebu |
| tomorrow | *ndamndʒu |
| tongue | *rɛɛŋgu |
| turn over | *it- |
| understand | *rak- |
| us | *odan |
| village | *rii; *riiyu |
| viper | *mbvẽẽCVC |
| wait, ask | *waa- |
| wake up | *mũy- |
| walk | *dik- |
| war | *bvʌpri |
| warm oneself | *øSV |
| wash | *kɔl- |
| water | *sɔɔ- |
| well, fine | *mbvãrã |
| wind | *hĩskɨ |
| window opening | *kpoŋgndøm; *kpoŋgndaŋg |
| wing | *kaptʃi |
| wipe | *ŋga- |
| woman | *kinu |
| wood | *kpiiri |
| word | *yɛku |
| work (n.) | *tɛɛmV |
| work very hard | *yɛɛ- |
| yam | *møyrø |
| yawn | *hʌʌ- |
| yes | *hɨ̃ɨ̃ta |
| you sg | *mu |
| you pl | *unø |
| your sg | *wiyV |
| young man | *lorɨ |