The following list of Proto-Gbe reconstructions is from Capo (1991).
| Gloss | Proto-Gbe | Page |
|---|---|---|
| abandon | *gbéɖé | 211 |
| abuse, insult (v.) | *dzũ | 211 |
| accept, agree, like | *lɔ̃ | 211 |
| accompany | *kplã, *kplɔ̃ | 211 |
| adore, worship | *sẽ, *sɛ̃; *sṹbɔ̃́ | 211 |
| advertise, sell | *dlá, *dyálá | 211 |
| agree, accept, like | *lɔ̃ | 211 |
| alliance, covenant, fire | *-dzo | 211 |
| anniversary, festival | *azã́; *-χʷe | 211 |
| annul | *klṍ; *kṍlṍ ? | 211 |
| arm (body part) | *-bá; *-bɔ́ | 211 |
| ask | *byá; *byɔ́ ?; *bíyá ?; *bíyɔ́ ? | 211 |
| astonish | *fíyã́ | 211 |
| bake, fry | *tʰɔ | 211 |
| (baobab/kapok) tree | *Hʷũtĩ́ | 211 |
| bank (of river), riverbank | *-tó, *-tói | 211 |
| bathe, take a shower | *lɛ | 211 |
| be (copula) | *yẽ́ | 211 |
| beak | *adɔ̃́ | 211 |
| beans | *ayi, *ayu | 211 |
| bear, carry | *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 211 |
| bear (child), give birth | *gi | 211 |
| bear fruit | *tsẽ́, *tsɛ̃́ | 211 |
| beat | *χʷo | 212 |
| belly, intestine | *-dɔ-, *-dɔví | 212 |
| bend | *χã́; *glɔ̃́ | 212 |
| benediction | *ɖɛ (gbe) | 212 |
| beverage, drink | *aʁã | 212 |
| billy goat, he-goat | *agbo | 212 |
| bird | *-χɛ | 212 |
| be bitter, painful | *vɛ́ | 212 |
| (very) black | *kíɖíkíɖí | 212 |
| blessings | *aflá | 212 |
| blood | *-ʁʷũ | 212 |
| boil | *fyɛ; *fyɔ | 212 |
| boiled beans (a dish) | *abɔbɔ | 212 |
| bone | *-χʷú | 212 |
| borrow, lend | *Hʷé | 212 |
| boss, chief | *-gã́ | 212 |
| bottom | *-do, *-doi | 212 |
| bottle | *-go | 212 |
| break | *wẽ́, *wɛ̃́ | 212 |
| breast | *-ɖṍ | 212 |
| breathe, inhale | *gbɔ̃ | 212 |
| breed, raise, feed | *yĩ; *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 212 |
| burn, consummate | *bi (dzo) | 212 |
| burst | *lã́ | 212 |
| bury | *ɖi | 212 |
| buy | *χʷle | 212 |
| calabash | *-tlê, *-téle ? | 212 |
| call | *ylɔ́, *yɔ́lɔ́ ? | 212 |
| carry, hold | *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 212 |
| carry (at the back) | *kpã | 212 |
| cat | *atséi ? | 212 |
| cease, stop | *dzɔ; *dzudzɔ ? | 213 |
| chair | *-zĩkpo, *-zĩkpoi | 213 |
| charcoal | *akã́ | 213 |
| charm, magic | *-bó | 213 |
| chicken | *koklôm; *kokólo ? | 213 |
| chief, boss | *-gã́ | 213 |
| child | *-ví | 213 |
| choose | *tyã́ | 213 |
| chop up, hash (v.) | *dyá, *gyá | 213 |
| (white) clay | *-Hʷé | 213 |
| be clean, be white | *wé | 213 |
| climb | *lyá | 213 |
| cloth, dress, shirt | *awu | 213 |
| cold (n.) | *-vivɔ, *-vuvɔ ? | 213 |
| come | *bá, *vá, *wá; *ɓá ? | 213 |
| come back, return | *gbɔ; *gbugbɔ ? | 213 |
| come out, go out, germinate | *tṍ | 213 |
| compound, fence | *-kpá, *-kpɔ́ | 213 |
| consent, accept, like | *lɔ̃ | 213 |
| consummate, bum | *bi (-dzo) | 213 |
| cook | *ɖa | 213 |
| be cooked | *bí | 213 |
| cool down, be cool | *fá | 213 |
| corpse, obsequies | *tyɔ́, *kyɔ́ | 213 |
| cough, n. | *-kpɛ̃́, *kpẽ́ | 213 |
| country | *duto ? | 213 |
| covenant, alliance | *-dzo | 213 |
| cover, v. | *tyɔ̃́, *kyɔ̃́ | 213 |
| cover, roof (v.) | *gbã́ | 213 |
| cow | *-yĩ | 213 |
| crab (fish?) | *aglã̂ ?; *agã́lã ? | 214 |
| create, make | *ɖó | 214 |
| crocodile | *-ló | 214 |
| cry, outcry, weeping (n.) | *aví | 214 |
| customs | *-dẽ | 214 |
| cut down (tree), fall down | *bũ | 214 |
| cutlass | *gyakpa; *gãyãkpa ? | 214 |
| dance (n.) | *-we | 214 |
| dance (v.) | *ɖú (-we) | 214 |
| date, festival | *azã́ | 214 |
| day | *-gbe | 214 |
| (feast) day, festival | *azã́ | 214 |
| death | *-kú | 214 |
| (sense of) decency | *wĩyã́ | 214 |
| (definite article) | *-lá | 214 |
| deity | *vodṹ | 214 |
| deny, refuse | *gbɛ́ | 214 |
| deprive | *te | 214 |
| detect | *wɔ̃́ | 214 |
| (determiner 'the') | *-lá | 214 |
| die | *kú | 214 |
| divide, share, split | *bã́ | 214 |
| do | *wa, *wɔ; *wasí ? | 214 |
| dog | *avṹ | 214 |
| door | *-ʁʷɔ̃ | 214 |
| dream (n.) | *dlɔ̃́, *dlɔ̃́l | 214 |
| dress, cloth, shirt | *awu | 214 |
| drink, beverage (n.) | *aʁã | 214 |
| drink (v.) | *ɖõ | 214 |
| drive | *kũ | 214 |
| be drunk | *bṹ | 214 |
| become dry, be dry | *χʷú | 215 |
| cause to become dry | *fyá, *χyá | 215 |
| ear | *-tó | 215 |
| earth | *ayĩ́ | 215 |
| eat | *ɖu | 215 |
| make an effort | *ʁlɔ̃́ | 215 |
| egg | *azĩ | 215 |
| eleven | *wólɖekái ? | 215 |
| embrace, kiss (v.) | *gbɔ̃́; *gbṹgbɔ̃́ | 215 |
| be enough | *sũ | 215 |
| Europe | *Yevúdei, *Yovódéi ? | 215 |
| excrement | *-bĩ́ | 215 |
| be expensive | *vɛ́ | 215 |
| fall down (tree), cut down | *bũ | 215 |
| family (extended) | *χʷobẽ | 215 |
| father, owner | *-tɔ́ | 215 |
| be far | *dĩdĩ | 215 |
| farm (v.), go to farm | *de ? | 215 |
| feast, day | *azã́ | 215 |
| feast, year | *-χʷe | 215 |
| be fed up | *tĩ | 215 |
| feed, breed, raise | *yĩ; *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 215 |
| fence, compound | *-kpá; *-kpɔ́ | 215 |
| ferment | *ʁʷã́ | 215 |
| festival, year | *-χʷe | 215 |
| fetch (water) | *dũ | 215 |
| fingernail | *-fẽ, *-fɛ̃ | 215 |
| finish, be finished | *vɔ | 215 |
| fire, covenant, alliance | *-dzo | 215 |
| (a type of) fish | *akpa | 215 |
| five | *atɔ̃́ | 215 |
| fix, nail (v.) | *kã́ | 216 |
| flat (adj.) | *gbadya, *gbagya | 216 |
| flat (adj.) | *gbádyáo, *gbágyái | 216 |
| flute, trumpet, whistle | *-kpɛ̃, *-kpẽ | 216 |
| foot, leg | *-fɔ | 216 |
| be free | *vo | 216 |
| friend | *χɔ̃́tɔ̃ ? | 216 |
| front | *ɖũkɔ̃ | 216 |
| fructify, bear fruit | *tsẽ́, *tsɛ̃́ | 216 |
| fry | *tʰɔ | 216 |
| germinate, come out, go out | *tṍ | 216 |
| germinate, grow | *byã, *byɔ̃ | 216 |
| get lost, lose | *bú | 216 |
| give | *ɖã́ | 216 |
| give birth, bear (child) | *gi | 216 |
| glorify, praise | *blã́; *bã́lã́ | 216 |
| glue (n.) | *awɔ̃ | 216 |
| go | *yi | 216 |
| go out, come out, germinate | *tṍ | 216 |
| go to farm, farm (v.) | *de ? | 216 |
| goat | *-gbɔ̃́ | 216 |
| he-goat, billy goat | *agbo | 216 |
| be good | *yṍ | 216 |
| gourd | *-go, *-goi | 216 |
| grandfather | *tɔ́gbói | 216 |
| grease, oil | *abĩ | 216 |
| grey hair | *-Hʷa | 216 |
| grind, smash | *tu | 216 |
| grindstone | *-tʰé | 216 |
| groan, moan (v.) | *wẽ, *wɛ̃ | 217 |
| groundnut, peanut | *azĩ́ | 217 |
| grow, germinate | *byã, *byɔ̃ | 217 |
| grow up | *tsĩ | 217 |
| gun (iron-made) | *-tú | 217 |
| gun (traditional type) | *-so | 217 |
| (habitual aspect) | *ɖã | 217 |
| hair | *-ɖa | 217 |
| (grey) hair | *-Hʷa | 217 |
| hand | *-lɔ | 217 |
| (left) hand | *-byã | 217 |
| happen | *dyɔ, *gyɔ | 217 |
| hash, chop up (v.) | *dyá, *gyá | 217 |
| have, possess, own | *ɖó | 217 |
| head | *-ta; *takṹ ? | 217 |
| hear | *se | 217 |
| be heavy | *kpɛ̃, *kpẽ | 217 |
| he-goat, billy goat | *agbo | 217 |
| heritage, legacy | *kíɖɔ̃́ | 217 |
| hide (v.) | *Hʷlá | 217 |
| hide oneself | *bɛ | 217 |
| history, sacred word | *-χó | 217 |
| history, story | *-tã | 217 |
| hold, carry | *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 217 |
| home town, home country | *-χʷé | 217 |
| horse | *-sɔ́ | 217 |
| husband, male | *atsú | 217 |
| hut | *-χɔ | 217 |
| illness, sickness | *-dʰɔ̃ | 217 |
| imitate, learn | *slɔ̃́; *sɔ̃́lɔ̃́ ? | 218 |
| inhale, breathe | *gbɔ̃; *gbũgbɔ̃ | 218 |
| inheritance, legacy | *kíɖɔ̃́ | 218 |
| insult, abuse (v.) | *dzũ | 218 |
| iron, metal | *-gã | 218 |
| intestine, belly | *-dɔ-, *-dɔví | 218 |
| join, unite | *tyá, *kyá | 218 |
| (kapok/baobab) tree | *Hʷũtĩ́ | 218 |
| kill | *Hʷu | 218 |
| kiss, embrace (v.) | *gbɔ̃́ | 218 |
| knife | *-ʁá, *-ʁái; *ʁí ?; *Hʷí ? | 218 |
| know | *yã́, *yɔ̃́ | 218 |
| lake | *-tɔ | 218 |
| lament (v.) | *χa (-ɖṹ) | 218 |
| language, speech-form | *-gbe | 218 |
| laugh (v.) | *ko | 218 |
| lay (eggs) | *ɖó (azĩ) | 218 |
| layman | *aʁe | 218 |
| learn, imitate | *slɔ̃́; *sɔ̃́lɔ̃́ | 218 |
| left hand | *byã, *byɔ̃ | 218 |
| leg, foot | *-fɔ | 218 |
| leg, thigh | *atʰá | 218 |
| legacy, inheritance | *kíɖɔ̃́ | 218 |
| lend, borrow | *Hʷé | 218 |
| lie down | *blɔ̃́, *bɔ̃́lɔ̃́ | 218 |
| life | *-gbɛ | 218 |
| like, love, agree | *lɔ̃ | 218 |
| lock (v.) | *tʰú | 218 |
| look at | *kpɔ̃́ | 218 |
| look for | *dĩ́ | 218 |
| lose, get lost | *bú | 218 |
| love, like, agree | *lɔ̃ | 219 |
| luggage | *agbã | 219 |
| magic, charm | *-bó | 219 |
| make an effort | *ʁlɔ̃́ | 219 |
| make, create | *ɖó | 219 |
| male, husband | *atsú | 219 |
| market | *aχi, *afi | 219 |
| meat | *-lã | 219 |
| measure (v.) | *dlɛ́, *dyɛ́lɛ́ | 219 |
| meet | *kpé | 219 |
| metal, iron | *-gã | 219 |
| moan (v.), groan (v.) | *wẽ, *wɛ̃ | 219 |
| mosquito | *-bṹ | 219 |
| mother | *-ɖɔ̃ | 219 |
| mound | *-kpó, *-kpói | 219 |
| mountain | *-tʰó | 219 |
| mouth | *-ɖũ; *-ɖũkpá | 219 |
| move | *ʁʷã | 219 |
| mud | *babá | 219 |
| mystical mystery | *-ʁũ | 219 |
| nail (v.), fix | *kã́ | 219 |
| (finger-) nail | *fẽ, *fɛ̃ | 219 |
| name | *yĩ́kɔ́ | 219 |
| neck | *-kɔ | 219 |
| need (v.) | *ʁyã́ | 219 |
| (fishing) net | *-ɖɔ | 219 |
| night | *-zã́ | 219 |
| (palm) nut | *-ɖẽ́, *ɖɛ̃́ | 219 |
| obsequies, corpse | *tyɔ́, *kyɔ́ | 219 |
| ocean, sea | *-χʷu | 219 |
| offer (as a sacrifice) | *χʷlé; *χʷlélé | 220 |
| oil, grease | *abĩ | 220 |
| old | *χoχó | 220 |
| one | *ɖokpó, *lokpó ?; *ɖé, *ɖeka | 220 |
| open (mouth) | *kɛ | 220 |
| open (door) | *ʁʷũ | 220 |
| orange tree | *-wũtĩ́ ? | 220 |
| outcry, shout | *aχʷá | 220 |
| outcry, cry, weeping (n.) | *aví | 220 |
| own, have, possess | *ɖó | 220 |
| owner, father | *-tɔ́ | 220 |
| be painful (to), bitter | *vɛ́ | 220 |
| palm (of hand) | *así | 220 |
| palm branch | *azã | 220 |
| palm nut | *-ɖẽ́, *-ɖɛ̃́ | 220 |
| palm tree | *-dé (tĩ́) | 220 |
| pay back | *χé ?; *tʰú ? | 220 |
| peanut, groundnut | *azĩ́ | 220 |
| peel, plane, smoothen | *χʷlɛ́; *χʷlɔ́, *χʷɛ́lɛ́ ?, *χʷɔ́lɔ́ ? | 220 |
| peel, unsheathe | *klɛ̃́; *kɛ̃́lɛ̃́ ? | 220 |
| perch (v.) | *dyɛ, *gyɛ | 220 |
| person | *-bẽ, *-bɛ̃ | 220 |
| pipe | *tabázẽ́i | 220 |
| place | *-fí | 220 |
| plane, smoothen, peel | *χʷlɛ́; *χʷlɔ́, *χʷɛ́lɛ́ ?; *χʷɔ́lɔ́ ? | 220 |
| plant, sow | *dó | 220 |
| pluck | *gbɛ̃ | 220 |
| possess, have, own | *ɖó | 220 |
| pot | *-zẽ́ | 221 |
| pound (v.) | *tʰó | 221 |
| praise, glorify | *blã́; *bã́lã́ | 221 |
| press, twist, squeeze | *fyɔ̃́; *fíyɔ̃́ | 221 |
| proverb | *-ló | 221 |
| pubis, vagina | *ayɔ́ | 221 |
| purge (n.) | *asla; *asala ? | 221 |
| purge (v.) | *sla; *sala ? | 221 |
| push | *zĩ́ | 221 |
| put to bed, give birth | *gi; *-ví | 221 |
| put to dry | *fyá, *χyá | 221 |
| python | *-dãgbói | 221 |
| quench | *kí | 221 |
| raise, breed, feed | *yĩ; *ʁẽ, *ʁɛ̃ | 221 |
| be ready | *sɔ gbe | 221 |
| get ready, repair | *dla ɖó, *dyala ɖó | 221 |
| refuse, reject | *gbɛ́ | 221 |
| relax (v.) | *dlẽ, *dlɛ̃ | 221 |
| remove, tear out, unpaste | *sṹ | 221 |
| remove from stove | *lṍ | 221 |
| remove, subtract | *ɖe | 221 |
| repair, get ready | *dla ɖó, *dyala ɖó | 221 |
| be resistant | *dɛ̃ | 221 |
| resemble | *ɖi | 221 |
| respect, be respectful | *sí | 221 |
| return, come back | *gbɔ; *gbugbɔ ? | 221 |
| return, turn back | *tlɔ́; *tɔ́lɔ́ ? | 221 |
| reversed, upside down | *agɔ | 221 |
| ripen | *byã; *biyã ? | 222 |
| riverbank | *-tó, *-tói | 222 |
| roast (v.) | *bẽ, *bɛ̃ | 222 |
| roof, cover (v.) | *gbã́ | 222 |
| running | *-dʰũ | 222 |
| salt | *dyɛ, *gyɛ | 222 |
| save | *ʁʷlẽ, *ʁʷlɛ̃ | 222 |
| be saved, survive | *gã́ | 222 |
| say | *ɖɔ, *lɔ | 222 |
| be scarce | *dẽ́, *dɛ̃́ | 222 |
| sea, ocean | *-χʷu | 222 |
| sell, advertise | *dlá, *dyálá | 222 |
| send | *dʰɔ̃́ | 222 |
| separate | *klã́; *kã́lã́ ? | 222 |
| sew | *tɔ̃ | 222 |
| share, divide, split | *bã́ | 222 |
| shirt, cloth, dress (n.) | *awu | 222 |
| shout, outcry | *aχʷá | 222 |
| show, teach | *fyá; *fyɔ́ | 222 |
| sickness, illness | *-dʰɔ̃ | 222 |
| sit down | *χĩɖɔ̃ | 222 |
| slip (v.) | *ɖíɖí | 222 |
| small | *ví; *vú | 222 |
| be small | *ʁʷe | 222 |
| smash, grind | *tu | 222 |
| smell (v.) | *ʁʷɛ̃́ ? | 222 |
| smoke (n.) | *-dzɔ, *-dzudzɔ | 222 |
| smoke (v.) (e.g. fish) | *ʁi | 222 |
| smoothen, peel, plane | *χʷlɛ́ | 222 |
| snake | *-dã | 222 |
| sniffling | *-χʷã | 222 |
| sow, plant | *dó | 223 |
| speech-form, language | *-gbe | 223 |
| split | *fɛ̃́ | 223 |
| split, divide, share | *bã́ | 223 |
| spoil | *gblẽ́; *gbẽ́lẽ́ ? | 223 |
| squeeze, press, twist | *fyɔ̃́, *fíyɔ̃́ | 223 |
| stay | *kí | 223 |
| steal | *fi ? | 223 |
| stone | *-kpɛ̃́, *kpẽ́ | 223 |
| (grinding) stone | *-tʰé | 223 |
| stomach | *-χʷo | 223 |
| stop, cease | *dzɔ | 223 |
| story, history | *-tã | 223 |
| subtract, remove, unpaste | *ɖe | 223 |
| suck | *gbɔ̃́; *gbũgbɔ̃́ ? | 223 |
| suffering | *-ya | 223 |
| sun | *-Hʷe | 223 |
| surpass | *Hʷú | 223 |
| survive, be saved | *gã́ | 223 |
| swallow (v.) | *bĩ | 223 |
| table | *-kplɔ̃ | 223 |
| take | *tsɔ́ | 223 |
| take a shower, bathe | *lɛ | 223 |
| be tall | *dĩ, *dĩdĩ | 223 |
| tear, be torn (cloth) | *vṹ | 223 |
| tear out, remove, unpaste | *sṹ | 223 |
| ten | *-wó | 223 |
| thank (v.) | *dó; *-kpɛ́ | 223 |
| thanks | *-kpɛ́ | 223 |
| the (determiner) | *-lá | 223 |
| thing | *-ɖṹ | 223 |
| thigh, leg | *atʰá | 224 |
| thorn | *-wũ | 224 |
| tie (v.) | *blá; *bálá ? | 224 |
| be tired of, fed up with | *tĩ | 224 |
| tongue (organ) | *-ɖɛ́ | 224 |
| tongue, language, voice | *-gbe | 224 |
| tooth | *aɖú | 224 |
| top | *-gí | 224 |
| trade (n.) | *adyɔ́, *agyɔ́ | 224 |
| tree, wood | *-tĩ́ | 224 |
| (baobab/kapok) tree | *Hʷũtĩ́ | 224 |
| trumpet, flute, whistle | *-kpɛ̃, *-kpẽ | 224 |
| turn back, return | *tlɔ́, *tɔ́lɔ́ ? | 224 |
| twist | *tʰló; *tʰóló ? | 224 |
| twist, squeeze, press | *fyɔ̃́, *fíyɔ̃́ | 224 |
| two | *-ve, *-we; *-ɓe ? | 224 |
| be ugly, be wicked | *ylã; *yãlã ? | 224 |
| unite, join | *tyá, *kyá | 224 |
| unpaste, tear out, remove | *sṹ | 224 |
| unsheathe, peel (v.) | *klɛ̃́; *kɛ̃́lɛ̃́ | 224 |
| uproot | *ʁõ | 224 |
| upside-down, reversed | *agɔ | 224 |
| urine | *-ɖɔ́, *-ɖuɖɔ́ | 224 |
| use, utilise | *zã́ | 224 |
| vagina, pubis | *ayɔ́ | 224 |
| vehicle | *-ʁʷṹ | 224 |
| voice, tongue, language | *-gbe | 224 |
| vomit (v.) | *tʰlú; *tʰúlú ? | 224 |
| wake up | *fɔ̃́ | 224 |
| walk (n.) | *-tsa | 225 |
| walk (v.) | *zɔ̃ | 225 |
| wander about | *dã́ | 225 |
| wash (cloth) | *yã | 225 |
| wash (plate) | *klɔ́; *kɔ́lɔ́ | 225 |
| watch (over) | *ɖyá | 225 |
| water (n.) | *-tsĩ | 225 |
| water (v.) | *Hʷú | 225 |
| weave | *lɔ̃ | 225 |
| weeping, cry, outcry | *aví | 225 |
| whistle, flute, trumpet | *-kpɛ̃, *kpẽ | 225 |
| be white, be clean | *wé | 225 |
| white clay | *-Hʷé | 225 |
| be wicked, be ugly | *ylã; *yãlã ? | 225 |
| wish (v.) | *dló, *dyóló | 225 |
| witch | *adzé | 225 |
| woman | *yɔ̃́ɖũ, *yɔ̃́lũ, *yɔ̃́ɖũsi | 225 |
| wood, tree | *-tĩ́ | 225 |
| word | *-yã, *-yɔ̃ | 225 |
| work (n.) | *-dʰɔ̃́ | 225 |
| worship, adore | *se, *sɛ̃; *sṹbɔ̃́ | 225 |
| write | *wlã; *wlɛ̃, *wãlã ?, *wɛ̃lɛ̃ ? | 225 |
| (infected) wound | *-lã́ | 225 |
| yam | *-te | 225 |
| year, festival | *-χʷe | 225 |