The following list of Proto-Ijaw (Ịjọ) reconstructions is from Blench & Williamson (2007).
| Gloss | Proto-Ịjọ | Tone class |
|---|---|---|
| able to, be | *inḛḭ | 2 |
| above = top | *ɔgɔnɔ̰ | 4 |
| absent, be = finish vi | *faa | 1 |
| aerial yam | *ɔtʊmʊ̰ | 2 |
| Aframomum melegueta | *sanɪ̰ | 1 |
| agree = believe | *ɓeɓer̰ḭ (?) | 1 |
| air | *ɛwʊ | 2 |
| all | *sɛ | 2 |
| “alligator pepper” | *sanɪ̰ | 1 |
| “alligator” | *isiɓiri | 2 |
| angle (for fish) | *ɗaa/*ɗaɪ | 2 |
| animal cf. meat | *na̰ma̰ | 2 |
| another | *jɪnɪ̰ | 2 |
| answer = reply v. | *pakaraɪ (?) | 3 |
| ant | *ɪsɔ̰dɔʊ (?) | 2 |
| “antelope” = sitatunga | *ʊtʊɓara (?) | 4 |
| arm = hand | *ɓara | 3 |
| armpit | *ɜtoŋo̰lḭ ̰(*ɓiyo/*ɓileɓu) | 2 (3/2) |
| ascend = climb | *iwou | 3 |
| ashes | *fɛ̰ʊ̰ | 3 |
| ask | *ɓii | 1 |
| ask (question) | EI *gbelɜ 3 (question) | 1 |
| ask (request) | *ɓii | 1 |
| axe | *akpa | 4 |
| axe | *kṵbu | 1 |
| back | *ɔbʊ | 1 |
| back of | *to̰gu | 1 |
| back of head | *(tɪɓɪ) to̰gu | (2) 1 |
| bad, become | *sei | 1 |
| bag | *akpa | 1 |
| bale out | *ow̰ḛḭ | 2 |
| “bamboo” | *ɓʊ̰ɓɔʊ ? | 1 |
| bargain, “price” | *tuɓo | 2 |
| bark | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ ɔpa̰r̰a̰(ʊ̰) ? | 22 |
| barracuda | *ɗɔrɔʊ | 2 |
| basket | *kana̰ | 1 |
| basketwork fishing trap | *ɛkɛrɛ | 1 |
| bat, fruit- | *peekṵ | 1 |
| bathe | *(ɓḛdi) ɓiri | (1) 2 |
| bead | *ɪla | 2 |
| bear (child) | *jii | 1 |
| beard | *ɪpɔrɪ | 2 |
| beat (drum) | *farɪ | 2 |
| beat, flog = hit | *fɜmṵ | 1 |
| bedroom, inner room | *ojuguru | 1 |
| bee | *akama̰ | 4 |
| beg, pray | *tɛkɛ | 3 |
| begin | *koro | 2 |
| believe = agree | *ɓeɓer̰ḭ (?) | 1 |
| bell | *igbema̰ | 2 |
| belly | *(ɓiri) Izon | 2 |
| belly = stomach | *furou | 3 |
| beside = side | *a̰ga̰ | 2 |
| big | *opu | 1 |
| big = fat, become | *ɗɛɓa | 1 |
| bile = gall | *ɪlakɔlɔ (?); akɪyɔʊ (?) | 4 |
| bind = tie (bundle) | *fɪna̰ | 3 |
| bird | *ofonḭ | 2 |
| bite | *ow̰o̰ḭ | 2 |
| bitter, become | *akʊ̰ʊ̰ | 3 |
| black, become | *kurukuru | 2 |
| blend = mix vt | *koɓu | 2 |
| blend = mix vi | *koɓu-i | 5 |
| blind | *ɓa̰ga | 2 |
| blood | *asɪ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| blow (nose) | *ɔfɪ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| blow (with mouth) | *ofuro | 3/2 |
| board (boat) | *ɓɪkɔlʊ (?) | 3 |
| boat = canoe | *arʊ | 2 |
| body | *ɓʊ | 2 |
| body | *ojṵ | 3 |
| boil (of water) | *ɗarɪ | 2 |
| bone | *ṵgbəu | 2 |
| bottle | *ololo | 2 |
| bottom | *tuku | 2 |
| bow (shooting) | (Ịzọn opomṵ, apobu, etc.) | 2 |
| bows (of boat) | *ʊkʊlɔʊ | 4 |
| box vt | *gbɔlɪ | 2 |
| branch | *ɪkpa̰gɪ | 1 |
| branch | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ ɓara | 23 |
| break (pot, calabash) = kill | *ɓaa | 2 |
| break (stick) | *yayʊ-ma̰ (?) | 3 |
| breakable plate | *ɛfɛrɛ | 2 |
| breast | *ḭdo̰ṵ | 2 |
| breast milk | *ḭdo̰ṵ ɓed̰ i | 21 |
| breathe | *ɪy̰ɔ̰/*ɪ̰ba sara | 2/1+? |
| bring | *akɪ ɓo | 22 |
| bring up = look after (child) | *gbalɪ | 1 |
| bring up = look after (child) | *kokou | 3 |
| broom | *ɪlɪa | 2 |
| brother | *ɓɪ̰na̰ owei/*ɓɔ | 1 2/- |
| bundle | *poku | 2/1 |
| burn (as fire) vi | *kɔrɪ/*kʊarɪ | 1 |
| burn (as house) vi | *ɪjɔkɪ̰ | 3 |
| bury | *ɗipi | 1 |
| bush = forest | *ɓeu | 1 |
| bush-pig = Red River Hog | *ʊ̰bɪ | ? |
| buy | *fɛɛ/*fɛɪ | 2 |
| calabash cup | *pa̰ga | 1 |
| call vt | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| canoe = boat | *arʊ | 2 |
| cap = hat | *toṵ ̰ | 2 |
| carry (child at side) | *ɗɛkɪ̰ | 3 |
| carry (load) | *pɛra | 3 |
| carve | *kara | 2 |
| case = dispute | *ɓɛrɛ | 2 |
| catch = hold | *kɔrɪ | 1 |
| causative suffix | *-ma̰ | toneless |
| Centropus senegalensis = coucal, Senegal | *otiti | 2 |
| chair, seat | *ɪkasɪ | 4? |
| change | *iɗoi/*iɗo̰ḭ ? | 1 |
| charcoal | *a̰gɪ̰ ? | 2 |
| charm, book = “medicine” | *ɗiri | 2 |
| cheek | *a̰gba̰a̰ | 1 |
| chest, width (of chest) | *kuɓu | 3 |
| chew | *tokori | 1 |
| chewing stick | *ɗʊkɔ̰ʊ̰ ? | 2 |
| child | *tɔɓɔkʊ | 1 |
| children | *ɔgɔʊ ? | 1 |
| choose | *sɛlɛ | 1 |
| clean | *fɪa-fɪa | 2 |
| clean, become | *paka | 2 |
| climb | *ta̰dɪ (EI) | 1 |
| climb = ascend | *iwou | 3 |
| climbing rope | *ɪ̰ga̰a̰ | 2 |
| close vt =cover vt | *gba̰ɪ̰ | 3 |
| cloth | *ɓɪtɛ | 1 |
| cloth, raffia | *okuru (KOIN) | 2 |
| cloud | ||
| club = society | *ogbo | 1 |
| cold | *oɓoku (KOIN); ɗɔɔ-ɗɔɔ (Ịzọn); ḭgbe (II) | 3 2 2 |
| collect, gather, pick up (small objects) | *ta̰a̰ | 2 |
| comb vt | *jala/*sala ? | 3/1? |
| come | *ɓo | 2 |
| compound = quarter (of town) | *pele | 2 |
| conceive | *ufurɜ | 3 |
| congeal | *ḭde | 2 |
| conquer | *ɗḛgɪ-ma̰ | 1 |
| contribute | *otuwo/*otuɓo | 2 |
| cook vt | *tʊwɔ | 1 |
| cooking pot | *ɓɛlɛ | 2 |
| corpse | *ɗʊ̰w̰ɛ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| cotton tree, kapok | *asɪkaka ? | 4 |
| coucal, Senegal | *otiti | 2 |
| cough | *ɔlɔɣʊ ? | 2 |
| count | *kɪ̰ɛ̰ | 1 |
| covenant | *ɔvʊɔ | 4? |
| cover vt =close vt | *gba̰ɪ̰ | 3 |
| cow | *ɜvḭ | 2 |
| co-wife | *fa̰r̰a̰ | 3? |
| crack vt | *ɓakɪ̰ ? | 2 |
| crawl | *ikuri | 2 |
| create = mould | *tɛmɛ̰ | 2 |
| crocodile, Dwarf = “alligator” | *isiɓiri | 2 |
| crocodile, Nile | *sɜki/*sɜku | 1 |
| cross vt | *ɓɛ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| cross vt = step across | *asaɓa | 2 |
| cry vi | *yowu | 2 |
| cure = save | *jʊwɔ | 3 |
| curse vt | *weri/*wori | 1 |
| curse, invoke a conditional curse on | *karɪ | 1 |
| cut | *pɛlɛ | 2 |
| dance v & n | *sɛkɪ | 2 |
| daughter | *ɓaʊ | 1 |
| day | *erḛḭ | 2 |
| deaf | *inḛki | 3 |
| death cf. die | *fɪɪ | 1 |
| debt | *saa/*saɪ | 2 |
| defecate = excrete | *ɓɪ̰ɛ̰ | 2 |
| definite article, feminine singular | *ma̰ | enclitic |
| definite article, masculine singular | *ɓei | enclitic |
| definite article, neuter singular | *mɪ̰ | enclitic |
| definite article, plural | *ma̰ | enclitic |
| deity = fetish | *eru | 2 |
| descend = go down | *ijeri | 3 |
| die cf. death | *fɪɪ | 1 |
| different | *kɪrɪ | 4 |
| dig | *soku | 2 |
| digit (finger/*toe) | *ɪ̰tʊ̰gbalɪ ? | 2 |
| dirty, be | *ɪlɔlɪ | 3 |
| dispute = case | *ɓɛrɛ | 2 |
| dive = sink vi | *ɓile | 1 |
| divide | *ɗiyɜ | 1 |
| do | *EI: iye | 2 |
| do = make | *mɪ̰y̰ɛ̰ | 1 |
| doctor (traditional) | *ɓɪrɪ-ɓɔ | 2 enc. |
| dog | *obiri | 1 |
| door | *ɓɔpɔkɔ ? | 2 |
| drag | *fɔ̰gɔ/*fɔ̰gɪ/*fɔ̰nɔ | 3 |
| draw (water) | *ɗuu | 3 |
| dream vi | *ɗaɓaɪ | 2 |
| dress (up) | *ɓiri | 5 |
| drift = flow | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 3 |
| drink | *ɓo̰ṵ ? | 2 |
| dry | *sa̰ɓɪla (EI, II) | 2 |
| dry (fish/*meat) | *jaa | 1/4 |
| dry season | *ɓɛkʊraɪ ? | 1 |
| dry up | *iri | 3 |
| duiker, Maxwell’s | *ɔw̰a̰ | 2 |
| ear | *ɓeri | 1 |
| earthworm = worm | *ɪsɔ̰ʊ̰ | 1 |
| eat | *fɪɪ | 2 |
| ebb (as tide) | *ɔmɔ̰ʊ̰ | 1 |
| edge | *aka | 2 ? |
| egg | *a̰gɪ̰a̰ ? | 1 |
| eight | *nḭŋḭnḭ | 4 |
| elephant | *ɓɪla | 1 |
| end n. | *kunḛṵ ? | 2 |
| end vt | *kunḛ-ma̰ | ? |
| endure | *inḛḭ-ma ?̰ | 5? |
| enter | *sʊwɔ | 2 |
| entertain | *ka̰ma̰ʊ̰ ? | 1 |
| escape | *tɛɪ | 2 |
| evening | *ɓopori | 1 |
| excrement = faeces | *afɪ̰y̰a̰ | 1 |
| excrete = defecate | *ɓɪ̰ɛ̰ | 2 |
| extinguish vt | *obo̰ḭ-ma̰ | 1 |
| extinguished, become | *obo̰ḭ-ḭ | 5 |
| eye | *tɔrɪ | 3 |
| faeces = excrement | *afɪ̰ya̰ ̰ | 1 |
| faint vi | *fʊmʊ̰ | 2 |
| fall | *ɓɪkɪ/*ɓeke | 2 |
| fall = go down | *koro | 2 |
| far, be | *ala | 3 |
| farm n. | *ɗʊwɛ | 1 |
| fat = big, become | *ɗɛɓa | 1 |
| fat n. | *ɪ̰ɓɛ̰kɛlɪ | 2 |
| father | *ɗaa | 1 |
| father | *ɗaa | 1 |
| father/*son-in-law | *fuɜ | 3 |
| fear v | *ɓa̰la faa | 21 |
| feather | *ɪpɪ̰kɔ̰ʊ̰ | 2 |
| female | *ɪyɔrɔ | 2 |
| fetish = deity | *eru | 2 |
| fifteen | *jiyei | 1 |
| fight vt and n. | *yowu | 1 |
| fill | *ɓḛḭ-ma̰ | 2 - |
| finger | *ɓara ɪ̰tʊ̰gbalɪ ? | 32 |
| finish vi = be absent | *faa | 1 |
| fire | *fɪnɪ̰ | 1 |
| firewood | *fɪnɪ̰ | 1 |
| first | *tarɪ | 2 |
| fish | *id̰ ḭḭ | 1 |
| five | *sɔŋɔ̰r̰ɔ̰ | 2 |
| fix, pin | *pike | 3 |
| flay = skin vt | *ɔnɪ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| flesh | *ḭɓeli ? | 1 |
| float | *ofṵw̰ḛḭ | 2 |
| flow (as river) = drift | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 3 |
| flow (as tide) | *isori | 2 |
| fly vi | *ifo̰ḭ | 5? |
| fog | *oɓutou | 1 |
| follow | *ɗukɜ | 1, 3? |
| food | *fɪ-ye, fɪ-yaɪ 'eat-thing/things' | 2 |
| foot = leg | *ɓɪwɔ | 2 |
| forehead | *okoti/*okoto | 1 |
| forget | *ɓara | 2? |
| four | *inoḭ ̰ | 2 |
| four hundred | *ɔ̰dɛ | 2 |
| friend | *ikiɜ- | 1 |
| frog | *akpalaɪ ? | 4 |
| front | *ɓɛlɛʊ | 2 |
| fruit | *(tɛ̰ɪ̰) bḛḭ-ye/*yaɪ | 2 2 2 |
| fry | *gbag̰ arɪ/*kpa̰garɪ ? | 2 |
| full, become | *ɓḛḭ | 2 |
| gall = bile | *ɪlakɔlɔ (?); akɪyɔʊ (?) | 4 |
| gather vt | *EI: *koɓiri | 3 |
| gills | *ɪsa̰golo | 1 |
| give | *pɪrɪ | 1 |
| give (formally) | *sɛ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| go | *mṵ | 2 |
| go down = fall | *koro | 2 |
| go up | *igou | 3 |
| go/*come out | *paka | 2 |
| goat | *oɓori | 2 |
| God, Creatrix | *tɛmɛ̰-araʊ | 2 |
| good, become | *eɓi | 1 |
| grass | *otṵkɜ ? | 2 |
| grave n. | *iɗupu | 2 |
| grey hair | *iɓṵlu | 4 |
| grind | *sa̰a̰ | 2 |
| ground | *kiri | 3 |
| guest, stranger | *igonḭ | 1 |
| hair (of head) | *iɗḭmɜ̰ṵ | 2 |
| half | *ikiɓɜ | 2 |
| hand = arm | *ɓara | 3 |
| hard = strong | *kʊrɔ | 1 |
| harmattan | *ikir̰ik̰ a/*o- ? | 4 |
| hat = cap | *to̰ṵ | 2 |
| hatch vt | *kɛ̰kɛ/*kɛ̰gɛ | 3 |
| have = possess | *ỹa̰na̰ | 1 |
| hawk | *odoko | 1 |
| head | *tɪɓɪ | 2 |
| hear | *na̰a̰ | 1 |
| heart | *(kuku) ɓio mgbɔlʊ (EI); *ɓio-wei (NA); *ɔdʊdʊ (Ịzọn) | 2 3 2 3 enc. 4 |
| heavy, become | *iku | 3 |
| help v | *ɓara tʊa | 32 |
| hide vi | *sɔgɔɪ-ɪ | 5 |
| hide vt | *sɔgɔɪ | 2 |
| hill = mountain | *tud̰ u/*tʊ̰dʊ | 2 |
| hippopotamus | *otoɓɜ̰ḭ ? | 1 |
| hit, flog = beat | *fɜmṵ | 1 |
| hold, catch | *kɔrɪ | 1 |
| hole | *opokolo | 2 |
| honey | *ɓɛmʊ̰ | 1 |
| horn | *ɪfalɪ (KOIN); *ɪkpalʊ (NA); *ɔkʊra̰ɪ̰ (WI) | 3/2 2 2 |
| hot, become | *ɔfɪrɪ | 3 |
| house | *warɪ | 3 |
| house-fly | *ɔmɔ̰mɔ̰/*ɔmʊ̰mʊ̰ | 4 |
| how many? | *ɪ̰dɛ a ? | 5 |
| how? | *te ɓara | 13 |
| hump | *ɪ̰gbʊ | 1 |
| hunger | *ɔmɔ̰ʊ̰/*ʊ-/*ɪ- ? | 1/4/5? |
| husband | *jei | 1 |
| I | *ai/*ɛ | 1 |
| imitate | *ɗaa | 2/3? |
| inheritance | *ɗuu | 2 |
| inside | *EI: *ɓiyo WI: *ɓileɓu | 3 2 |
| inside of elbow | *ɓara y̰a̰ɪ̰-mɔ̰ | 3 ? |
| intestines | *ɪla EI | 2 |
| Irvingia gabonensis = mango, wild | *ogbo̰ḭ | 1 |
| island | *ɔtʊwɔ | 2 |
| jaw | *a̰gba̰a̰ | 1 |
| jelly-fish | *alapa | 4? |
| jump | *ɗosi | 1 |
| keep = store | *kokou | 2 |
| keep wake | *ɗó̰ḭ́ kori | 22 |
| keep watch | *kori | 2 |
| kill = break (pot, calabash) | *ɓaa | 2 |
| king | *ama̰ y̰a̰na̰ ɓɔ/*owei | 2 1 -/2 |
| kite (bird) | *ekulḛḭ ? | 4 |
| knee | *ɓɪwɔ ɪkpʊkʊ (EI); *ig̰ bele (Ịzọn) | 22 |
| kneel | *ikoi | 5 |
| know | *nḛmḭ̰ | 2 |
| know how to | *ɗɪ | 2 |
| kola(nut) | *iɗɜpiyo ? | 2 |
| lake (EI), swamp (WI) | *ɗapa | 2 |
| lame, become | *ikulɜ ? | 2 |
| laugh vi | *ɗɛrɪ | 1 |
| law | *oloko | 2 |
| lay (eggs) | *koro-ma | 2/3? |
| leaf | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ ɓeri | 21 |
| leak vi | *ifiri | 1 |
| learn | *ɗaɓaɪ | 5 |
| left (hand) | *kɔ̰dɔ | 2 |
| left, be = remain | *kɔɔ | 1 |
| leg = foot | *ɓɪwɔ | 2 |
| lick | *taɓa | 3 |
| lie down vi | *ɓɔlɔlɔ (KKB); *koro sʊ̰ʊ̰ (NA); *koro ɓʊnʊ̰ (Ịzọn) | 5 2 2 2 3 |
| light vt | *tɔ̰dɪ/*tad̰ ɪ | 1 |
| listen | *poki | 3 |
| little | *kala | 3 |
| live = stay | *timḭ | 3/2? |
| liver | *pa̰ɓala | 1 |
| load (canoe) | *saɪ | 1 |
| lock n. | *igodo | 1 |
| long, tall, become | *ɗa̰galɪ | 3 |
| look after = bring up (child) | *gbalɪ | 1 |
| look after = bring up (child) | *kokou | 3 |
| look at | *ɗiki | 2 |
| look for = want | *ɗɔkɪ | 1 |
| louse | *iku ? | 2? |
| love | *tarɪ | 1 |
| mad, become = madness | *nɛ̰mʊ̰ | 1 |
| madness = mad, become | *nɛ̰mʊ̰ | 1 |
| make = do | *mɪ̰y̰ɛ̰ | 1 |
| male | *owei | 2 |
| man | *owei-ɓɔ owei kɪmɪ | 2 enc 2 2 |
| manatee | *imḛḭ ? | 4 |
| mango, wild | *ogbo̰ḭ | 1 |
| mangrove = charcoal | *a̰gala | 2 |
| many | *ɓṵḭ | 1 |
| market | *fɛ-yɔ | 2-2 |
| mash = trample | *ɗa̰ga | 1 |
| masquerade | *owu | 2 |
| massage vt | *lɔlɪ | 1 |
| mat, sleeping | *ɜɓilɜ̰ ? | 2 |
| matchet | *ɜgidi | 1 |
| measure vt | *tɔ̰ɔ̰ | 2 |
| meat cf. animal | *na̰ma̰ | 2 |
| “medicine” | *ɗiri | 2 |
| melt vi | *sanɪ̰-ɪ̰ | 5 |
| melt vt | *sanɪ̰ | 1 |
| Milvus migrans | *ekulḛḭ ? | 4 |
| mix (dry particles) vi | *gʊa-ɪ | 5 |
| mix (dry particles) vt | *gʊa | 3 |
| mix = blend vi | *koɓu-i | 5 |
| mix = blend vt | *koɓu | 2 |
| monkey (generic) | *ɔɓɔkɔ | 1 |
| monkey, White- throated Guenon | *aka̰a̰ | 1 |
| moon | *akalʊ | 1 |
| mosquito | *ɜtɜ̰gbolo | 2 |
| mother | *y̰eg̰ i | 1 |
| mould (food with fingers) | *kpoo | 3 |
| mountain = hill | *tṵdu/*tʊ̰dʊ | 2 |
| mourn | *kururu | 5? |
| mouth | *ɓɪpɪ | 2 |
| move against current/*tide | *tʊɓʊrʊ | 2 |
| nail (finger-/*toe-) | *inḭmḛḭ/*imḭmeḭ ̰ | 2 |
| nail = claw | *inḭmḛḭ/*imemḛḭ | 2 |
| name | *ɪrɛ | 2 |
| navel | *ḭbu | 2 |
| neck | *kɔ̰gɔʊ | 1 |
| needle | *ɪlaka | 2 |
| negative | *ka | enclitic |
| negative imperative | *ma̰ | 2? or enclitic |
| net, cast- | *ɪgbɔ | 3? 4? |
| new, become | *aja | 2 |
| night | *ɗo̰ḭ | 2 |
| Nile monitor | *abedi | 1 |
| nine | *isionḭ ? | 2 |
| no = negative | *ka | enclitic |
| nose | *nḭnḭ | 3 |
| obstruct = prevent | *kiki | 1 |
| ocean | *abadɪ | 1 |
| oil-palm | *ɗɛgʊ | 3 |
| one | *kaŋa̰nɪ̰ ? | 5 |
| open space, playground | *tiri | 1 |
| order vt | *ɓɛɛ | 1 |
| Osteolaemus tetraspis | *isiɓiri | 2 |
| paddle (canoe) | *jɔgʊ | 1 |
| paddle n. | *jɔgʊ-ye/*yḛ | 1-2 |
| palm kernel | *ḭbḭ ? | 2 |
| palm of hand | *ɓara kuɓu | 32 |
| palm oil | *pulou | 1 |
| palm, wine | *kɔrɔ | 2 |
| parrot | *ɔkɔlɔbɪ | 1 |
| penis | *tɔ̰gɔ | 3 |
| pepper | *ɪsanɪ̰ | 1 |
| person | *ɓɔ | enclitic |
| person | *kɪmɪ̰ | 2 |
| piece = fraction | *pakaraɪ | 2 |
| pierce (ear) | *tolu | 2 |
| pierce = stab | *temḭ | 2 |
| place | *ɪyɔʊ ? | 2 |
| plait (hair) cf. weave | *ko̰ṵ | 2 |
| plant | *ɗipi (=bury) | 1 |
| plant | *gboro | 1 |
| plate, breakable | *ɛfɛrɛ | 2 |
| platform | *ata̰da | 1 |
| play | *toi | 3 |
| poor, become | *ig̰ uwo̰ḭ ? | 2 |
| possess = have | *ỹa̰na̰ | 1 |
| Potamochoerus porcus | *ʊ̰bɪ | ? |
| pound vt | *temḭ | 1 |
| poverty | *ḭguwo̰ḭ ? | 2 |
| pray | *tɛkɛ | 3 |
| precious, become | *iye laa | 22 |
| present, be | *emḭ/*omḭ | 2 |
| present, was | *timḭ/*timḛ | 2 |
| prevent = obstruct | *kiki | 1 |
| profit | *sʊɔ-ye | 22 |
| proverb | *kaɓʊ/*kɜɓo | 1 |
| pull | *ɗʊ̰nʊ̰ | 2 |
| put down | *koro-ma | 2-enc |
| put on (to) | *gbana̰ | 1/3 |
| python | *ɔɗʊmʊ̰ | 2 |
| quarter (of town) = compound | *pele | 2 |
| rain n. | *erḛḭ | 3 |
| rain n. | *osuwo | 1 |
| reach | *laa | 3 |
| read | *goo | 3 |
| red | *awʊ-awʊ (EI, II); woo-woo (NA, Ịzọn) | 2 2 |
| Red River Hog | *ʊ̰bɪ | ? |
| remain = be left | *kɔɔ | 1 |
| remember | *ukiyo ? | 3? |
| remove = undress | *sḭḭ | 1 |
| rich, become | *pɛrɛ | 1 |
| riches | *ɪ̰gɔ | 2 |
| right(-hand) | *ama̰ | 1 |
| ripe, become | *pɛna̰ | 3 |
| river | *tɔrʊ | 2 |
| road | *ɜteli ? (EI); *ɪgɔʊ (WI) | 42 |
| roast | *fɔ̰ɪ̰/*fɔɪ | 1 |
| roof | *itu | 1 |
| root | *ikemḭ | 1 |
| rope | *ɗiki | 2 |
| rotten, become | *ɓʊrʊ | 1 |
| round | *ikele-kele (KKB); *tekereke (Ịzọn) | 11 |
| rub (on body) | *ɔ̰bɪ̰ | 1 |
| run | *ɓa̰gɪ | 1 |
| rust | *EI: ajarɪ | 2 |
| saliva = spittle | *fɛla | 3 |
| salt | *fʊ̰ʊ̰ | 2 |
| sand | *iy̰o̰w̰ṵ | 3 |
| sandbank | *ɓʊma̰(ʊ̰) | 2 |
| save = cure | *jʊwɔ | 3 |
| sawfish | *oki | 1 |
| say | *fiye | 2 |
| see | *ɔrɪ/*arɪ | 2 |
| seed | *ɪ̰gbɔlɪ | 2 |
| seeds of Irvingia gabonensis | *ɪkpʊkpa ? | 4 |
| sell | *jɛrɪ | 1 |
| send (someone) | *fɪrɪ-ma̰ | 1 - |
| set (trap) | *pɪta | 1 |
| seven | *sɔnɔ̰-ma̰ | 2-1 |
| sew | *gbɛ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| shadow = spirit | *tɛmɛ̰ | 2 |
| shake vt | *jike | 3 |
| shark | *ɔfɪrɪma̰ | 2 |
| sharp | *o̰ɓu/*ḭɓu | 3 |
| sharpen (knife) | *farɪ | 2 |
| shave | *sɛ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| sheep | *ɔna̰na̰ | 2 |
| shoe | *agbaka | 1 |
| shoot | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| shoulder | *ɔpa̰da ? | 1 |
| shout | *oloku | 3 |
| show | *ɗiyɜ ? | 1 |
| shrimp | *opuru/*opuro | 2 |
| sibling | *ɓɪ̰na̰ | 1 |
| side = beside | *a̰ga̰ | 2 |
| sing | *to̰ṵ | 2 |
| sink vi = dive | *ɓile | 1 |
| sister | *ɓɪ̰na̰ araʊ/*ɓɔ | 1 -/- |
| sit | *titimḛ pɛkɛrɛɪ (Ịzọn) | 11 |
| sitatunga = “antelope” | *ʊtʊɓara (?) | 4 |
| six | *sɔnɔ̰-ye?; sɔnɔ̰-diye? | 2 2 |
| skin n. | *ɔpar̰a̰ʊ̰ ? | 2 |
| skin vt = flay | *ɔnɪ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| skull | *tɪɓɪ okpolokpo | 22 |
| sky | *suo | 1 |
| slash | *kṵḭ | 2 |
| slave | *omo̰nḭ | 2 |
| sleep vi | *ɓʊnʊ̰ ? (vowels irregular) | 3 |
| slice vt | *sɛ̰gɪ | |
| smell (usually bad) vi | *fʊrʊ | 3 |
| smell vt | *inḭ | 1 |
| smoke | *ogo̰ḭ ? | 1 |
| snail (large edible) | *osi | 1 |
| snake (general) | ||
| sneeze | *ɗɪsa̰ɪ̰ | 5 |
| snore | *ɔ̰gɔrɪ | 1 |
| soap | *ɔsɛ̰ɛ̰ | 1 |
| society = club | *ogbo | 1 |
| soft = weak | *ɓɔʊ | 1 |
| soft = weak | *lɔkɔ | 3 |
| sole of foot | *ɓɪwɔ kuɓu | 22 |
| some | *jʊa | 1 |
| song | *ɗumɜ̰ṵ ? | 2 |
| sore n. | *ɪnɔ̰ʊ̰ | 3 |
| sound vi | *(o)fiyo/*fiye | 2 |
| soup | *fɔlɔʊ | 2 |
| sour, become | *kɜ̰bi | 1 |
| speak (language) | *fiye | 2 |
| spear (fishing) | *ɗomo̰ṵ/*ɗumo̰ṵ | 1 |
| spear (war) | *ɛɓɛkɛrɛ/*ɛɓɛkʊra | 4 |
| spill vi | *ɗɔsɪ-ɪ | 5 |
| spill vt | *ɗɔsɪ | 2 |
| spirit = shadow | *tɛmɛ̰ | 2 |
| spittle = saliva | *fɛla | 3 |
| split vi | *puu-i | 5 |
| split vt | *puu | 2 |
| squeeze | *emḭ | 3 |
| squirrel | *gbekuru ? vowels? | 2 |
| stab = pierce | *temḭ | 2 |
| stand | *tɪyɛ | 2 |
| star | *lolia (EI); ɪkakaɪ (Ịzọn); kʊwɛɪ (Ịzọn); emiɓala (II) | 1 2 ? 1 |
| starch | *osḭ | 2 |
| stay = live | *timḭ | 3/2? |
| steal | *furu | 2 |
| step across | *asaɓa | 3? |
| step across = cross vt | *asaɓa | 2 |
| stick cf. tree | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| stink | *fʊrʊ | 3 |
| stir = turn | *wakɪ | 1 |
| stomach = belly | *furou | 3 |
| stone | *ikputu | 2 |
| store = keep | *kokou | 2 |
| story | *egberi | 1 |
| strain = filter | *kɪya | 3 |
| stretch | *sʊ̰ʊ̰ | 2? |
| string (fish on bamboo) | *tɪna̰ | 2 |
| strong = hard | *kʊrɔ | 1 |
| suck (breast) = breast | *ḭdo̰ṵ | 2 |
| sugary = sweet, become | *mɛ̰lɪmɛ̰lɪ | 1 |
| suit = fit | *ɛgbɛ | 2 |
| sun | *ɪrʊwaʊ | 3 |
| surpass | *ɗɛ̰gɪ | 1 |
| swallow v. | *(ɪ̰)ɓɛ̰lɪ ? | 1 |
| swamp (WI) = lake (EI) | *ɗapa | 2 |
| sweat n. | *imoṵ ̰ | 3 |
| sweep vt | *ɔfɪ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| sweet, become = sugary | *mɛ̰lɪmɛ̰lɪ | 1 |
| sweet, become = tasty | *ɪ̰ɓɛlɛ | 4 |
| swell vi | *fṵkɜ̰ | 3 |
| swell vi | *w̰oy̰ ̰ḭ | 2 |
| swim | *okḭ | 2 |
| tail | *otumɜ̰ḭ ? | 1 |
| take | *ɔkɪ | 2 |
| tale | *ɪɗʊkʊ | 2 |
| tall, long, become | *ɗag̰ alɪ | 3 |
| taste vt | *ɗaa (ɗiki) | 2 (1) |
| tasty, become = sweet | *ɪ̰ɓɛlɛ | 4 |
| teach | *toli-ma | 3 |
| tear vt | *ka̰a̰/*ka̰ʊ̰ ? | 2 |
| tell | *gbaa | 3 |
| ten | *atoi | 5? |
| ten | *woyi | 2 |
| that | *anɪ | 1 |
| thatch (palm- leaf) | *ɔka̰y̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| there | *anɪ̰ yɔ | 12 |
| thickness (of cloth) | *ogbogbɜ | 2 |
| thief | *furu ɓɔ/*kɪmɪ | 2 -/2 |
| thigh | *atɛ̰dɛ̰ ? | 1 |
| thin (of cloth) | *pɛ̰r̰ɛ̰pɛ̰r̰ɛ̰ | 2 |
| thing | *iye/*iyḛ | 2 |
| think | *ikiyo | 3 |
| thirteen | *oyi taarʊ fḛni | 2 2 1 |
| thirty | *si oyi | 22 |
| this | *mɪ̰ | 4 ? |
| this way = thus | *mɪ̰ ɓara | 43 |
| three | *taarʊ | 2 |
| throat = voice | *pɔkɔ̰ ? | 1 |
| throw | *gbḛḭ | 2 |
| thus = this way | *mɪ̰ ɓara | 43 |
| tie (bundle) = bind | *fɪna̰ | 3 |
| tie (cloth) | *ʊw̰a̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| tie (rope) | *kakaɪ | 2 |
| time | *ifiye | 3/4 |
| tired, become | *ɗɛ̰gɪ | 1 |
| toad | *ɪ̰gʊ | 1 |
| today | *ɪgbaɪ ? | ? |
| toe | *ɓɪwɔ ɪ̰tʊ̰gbalɪ ? | 22 |
| tongue | *ɪ̰ɓɛ̰lɛʊ | 2 |
| tooth | *aka | 2 |
| top = above | *ɔgɔnɔ̰ | 4 |
| tortoise | *ɪkakɪ | 2 |
| touch | *gbele | 3 |
| town | *ama̰ | 2 |
| Tragelaphus spekei (male) | *ʊtʊɓara (?) | 4 |
| trample = mash | *ɗa̰ga | 1 |
| treat with “medicine” | *gʊwɔ | 2 |
| tree | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ | 2 |
| Trichechus senegalensis | *imeḭ ̰ ? | 4 |
| trick | *opɜlɜ | 1 |
| trunk (of tree) | *tɛ̰ɪ̰ ɓiri | 22 |
| truth | *kesi-ye | 22 |
| try | *ɓʊ kʊrɔ-mɔ | 2 1-0 |
| turn | *akana̰ go round, encircle | 1 |
| turn = stir | *wakɪ | 1 |
| turtle, river | *ɔ̰ɓɔ̰ | 1 |
| twenty | *sii | 2 |
| twist vi | *fa̰gala-ɪ | 5 |
| twist vt | *fa̰gala | 3 |
| two | *ma̰a̰-mɪ̰ | 1? |
| untie | *kpɔkpɔ | 3 |
| urinate | *sa̰a̰ | 2 |
| urine | *saa̰ ̰ ɗɪna̰ | 21 |
| vagina | *teɓi | 1 |
| Varanus niloticus | *abedi | 1 |
| vein | *ɪsɪy̰a̰ | 2 |
| verandah | *ɪɓara | 1 |
| viper (horned) | *ofo | 2 |
| voice = throat | *pɔkɔ̰ ? | 1 |
| waist | *ko̰du | 1 |
| walk | *w̰a̰dɪ | 2 |
| want = look for | *ɗɔkɪ | 1 |
| war | *ɔmʊ̰gʊ | 2 |
| war | *yowu EI | 1 |
| wash (things) | *sɔkɔrɪ | 3 |
| wasp | *oto̰goi | 4 |
| water | *ɓed̰ i | 1 |
| water-pot | *kukṵ | 2 |
| musical pot | *ṵgu/*ḭgu | 2 |
| waterside | *pɔkʊ | 2 |
| waves | *ɔɗʊ̰gɔ(ʊ)/*ɔɗɔ̰gɔ(ʊ) | 1 |
| we | *wɜ | 2 |
| weak = soft | *ɓɔʊ | 1 |
| weak = soft | *lɔkɔ | 3 |
| weave (net/*cloth); cf. plait | *ɗori | 3 |
| well (for water) | *tiɓe | 2 |
| wet, become | *pesu ? | 1 |
| what? | *teɣe/*tee | 1 |
| where? | *teɣe yɔ | 12 |
| white, become | *pɛna̰ | 3 |
| who? | *teɣe ɓɔ | 1 - |
| wide, become | *finḭḭ́ | 5 |
| width | *finḭḭ́ | 5 |
| wife | *taa | 1 |
| wind n. | *ɛfɛrʊ | 2 |
| wine | *iwuru ? | 1 |
| wing | *pa̰ba | 1 |
| wipe | *kʊwɔ | 1 |
| witch | *arɪ-ɓɔ/*kɪmɪ | 1 -/2 |
| woman | *ere | 2 |
| work n. | *fɪrɪ | 1 |
| worm = earthworm | *ɪsɔ̰ʊ̰ | 1 |
| wring (cloth) | *imḭ (EI, Inland) | 3 |
| wrist | *ɓara kɔ̰gɔ | 31 |
| write | *kɛ̰ɪ̰/*gɛ̰ɪ̰ | 1 |
| yam | *ɓuru | 1 |
| yawn v. | *aw̰ṵa̰ | 1 |
| year | *kʊraɪ | 2 |
| yesterday | *aɓɪɓaɪ ? | 4 |
| you (pl.) | *ɔ/*o | 2 |
| you (sg.) | *ɪ/*i | 2 |