Ba san hing

Yes and no

Yes and no work differently in Ba Kom than they do in English.

A is used to agree with a statement or to confirm a question. It can be translated as "that's right".

• Mu si yon ta ka dong?
  [question] [you] [go] [to] [place] [learning]
  "Are you going to school?"
  A.
  [that's right]
  "Yes, I am."

• Mu si ca so?
  [question] [you] [know] [do]
  "Do you know how to do it?"
  A.
  [that's right]
  "Yes, I do."

A is also used to agree with negative questions:

• Mu si yon na ta ka dong?
  [question] [you] [go] [not] [to] [place] [learning]
  "Are you not going to school?"
  A.
  [that's right]
  "No, I'm not."

• Mu si ca na so?
  [question] [you] [know] [not] [do]
  "Do you not know how to do it?"
  A.
  [that's right]
  "No, I don't."

Ni is used to disagree with a statement or question.

• Mu si yon ta ka dong?
  [question] [you] [go] [to] [place] [learning]
  "Are you going to school?"
  Ni.
  [no]
  "No, I'm not."

• Mu si ca so?
  [question] [you] [know] [do]
  "Do you know how to do it?"
  Ni.
  [no]
  "No, I don't."

Ni is also used to disagree with negative questions:

• Mu si yon na ta ka dong?
  [question] [you] [go] [not] [to] [place] [learning]
  "Are you not going to school?"
  Ni.
  [no]
  "No, I am."

• Mu si ca na so?
  [question] [you] [know] [not] [do]
  "Do you not know how to do it?"
  Ni.
  [no]
  "No, I do."

Greetings and farewells

Ba Kom has no greetings for specific times of day. In addition, most greetings can also be used in farewell.

• Bo.
  [good/kind]
  "Hello", "goodbye." "Good morning", "good afternoon", etc.
  This should be used with strangers, or when meeting someone for the first time. Once you know someone, you should say ben, bain, or yo.

• Ben.
  [well/healthy]
  "Hello", "goodbye."

• Bain.
  [love]
  "Hello", "goodbye."
  This phrase should only be used in casual settings.

• Yo.
  "Hey," "hi".
  Used to greet someone or get someone's attention.

• Ye mo?
  [there be] [what]
  "What's up?" "What's new?"

  • To a to.
    [all] [be] [all]
    "Same as ever."

  • Xei, mu?
    [life], [question]
    "Just life." "I'm here, you know?"

• Mu si ben?
  [question] [you] [well]
  "How are you?"

  • Mi ben, u si?
    [I] [well] [and] you]
    "I'm well, and you?"

• Hon bo, mu?
  [weather] [good], [question]
  "Fine day, isn't it?"

• Hon je, mu?
  [weather] [bad], [question]
  "Lousy weather, isn't it?"

• Ne du on.
  [have not] [long] [see]
  "Long time no see."

• Lang ye lai mo?
  [stay] [have] [like] [what]
  "How have you been?" "How are you lately?"
  Ye ci lai mo?
  [have] [now] [like] [what]
  "How are you these days?"

  • Lang ben.
    [stay] [well]
    "I've been doing well."

• Si lang so feng mo?
  [you] [stay] [do] [busy] [what]
  "What have you been up to?"

• On le.
  [see] [later]
  "See you later."

  • On xen.
    [see] [tomorrow]
    "See you tomorrow."

  • On sa nan yun.
    [see] [as] [first] [of week]
    "See you Monday."

• Ben, mi de yon.
  [well] [I] [must] [go]
  "Well, I'd better go."

• Ben, mi de kam yel.
  [well] [I] [must] [face] [road]
  "Well, I'd better hit the road." "Well, I'd best be off."

• Sun bo.
  [sleep] [good]
  "Good night."

• Tei.
  [be careful]
  "Take care." Said in farewell.

• Wal som.
  [travel] [peaceful]
  "Safe travels." "Farewell."

Introductions

• Bo, mi a […].
  [hello] [I] [be]
  "Hello, I'm […]."

• Cum bo.
  [know (a person)] [good]
  "Nice to meet you."

• Nem si a mo?
  [name] [you] [be] [what]
  "What's your name?"

• Nem mi a …
  [name] [I] [be]
  "My name is …"

• Si min ka mo?
  [you] [from] [place] [what]
  "Where are you from?"

  • Mi min …
    "I'm from …"

• Si co ta ka mo i kel?
  [you] [reside] [at] [place] [what] [of] [world]
  "What part of the world do you live in?"

  • Mi co ta …
    "I live in…"

• Ba bam si a mo?
  [language] [parent] [you] [be] [what]
  "What's your native language?"

• Si lang du mo dong ba kom?
  [you] [stay] [long] [how] [learn] [language] [share]
  "How long have you been learning Ba Kom?"

• Si xei yol mai mo?
  [you] [age] [year] [many] [how]
  "How old are you?"

  • Mi xei yol …
    "I'm … years old."

• Yo mi wo si din ji fi mi.
  [suggestion] [I] [to] [you] [give] [sign] [transmit] [I]
  "Why don't I give you my number."
  (Ji fi is an abbreviation of ji nul ba fi.)

• Mu si ting wo mi din ji fi si?
  [question] [you] [consider] [to] [I] [give] [sign] [transmit] [you]?
  "Would you be willing to give me your number?"

• Ji dai si a mo?
  [sign] [carry] [you] [be] [what]
  "What's your e-mail address?"
  (Ji dai is an abbreviation of ji co dai nain. Dai nain, "e-mail", is an abbreviation of dai fi nain, "web mail".)

• Ji nem si a mo?
  [sign] [name] [you] [be] [what]
  "What's your username?"

Politeness

• Mi xai si.
  [I] [owe] [you]
  Xai.
  [owe]
  "Thank you."
  "I'm sorry."
  The word xai expresses the concept of reciprocity and mutual good-will. It can be translated as "golden rule" or "grace" or "indebtedness". Thus, it can apply to one's desire to reciprocate a gift or favor, or one's desire to make up for wrongdoing.

  • Xai da.
    [owe] [big]
    "Thank you very much."
    "I'm very sorry."

• Ben.
  [alright]
  "You're welcome." "That's alright." "No problem."

  • Ben ol.
    [right] [completely]
    "You're very welcome."

• De na.
  [must] [not]
  "You're welcome." "Don't mention it." "No need to thank me."

• Mam.
  [glad]
  "You're welcome." "Gladly." "My pleasure." "Happy to help."

• Ne xi.
  [there isn't any] [matter]
  "No problem; don't worry about it; that's OK; no worries; it's alright." Response to thanks or an apology.

• Xe bo.
  [but] [kind]
  "Yes, please."
  Used to accept an offer.

• Cun xe …
  [bothersome] [but]
  "Excuse me, but…" "Would you mind …"

  • Cun xe yo …
    [bothersome] [but] [suggestion]
    "Would you please …"

  • Cun xe ye bo [verb]
    "Could I please …"

    • Cun xe ye bo si [verb]
      "Would you please …"

• Ye bo [noun]
  "Can I get …", "I'd like …"
  Ye bo [verb]
  [find to be] [good]
  "I would appreciate it if…", "would you please …"

  • Ye bo wo mi din [noun]
    "Can I please have …" "Can I get …"

• Wai …
  [ask]
  "Please …", "Feel free to…"

  • Wai pe.
    [please] [proceed]
    "Go ahead."

  • Wai nit.
    [please] [sit]
    "Have a seat."

  • Wai nun.
    [please] [enter]
    "Come on in."

• Pa ten xa.
  [passive] [suit] [already]
  "No thank you." "I'm quite alright."

• Jen.
  [ashamed]
  "Excuse me." "I'm sorry." "My bad."

• Mi pem si.
  [I] [forgive] [you]
  Pem.
  [forgive]
  "Don't worry about it."

• Lan ben.
  [continue] [well]
  "Have a nice day", "Have a nice weekend", etc.

• Um ai.
  [mutual] [likewise]
  "Likewise." "You too."

• Aya cei.
  [oh dear] [sad]
  "What a shame." "I'm sorry." "That's too bad."

• Yon ci kau le.
  [go] [now] [return] [later]
  "I'm going out, I'll be back later."
  This phrase can also be split into two parts. The person leaving says yon ci "I'm going now", and the person remaining says kau le "come back later".

• Lo kau.
  [aspect] [return]
  "I'm back." "I'm home."

• Kau bo.
  [return] [good]
  "Welcome back."

• He u xai.
  [greet] [and] [thank]
  This phrase is said before a meal. It is similar to saying grace. It's intended to thank all who made the meal possible: the earth and plants and animals, the farmers, the workers who transported and stocked the food, and the cooks.

• Xan ha.
  [enjoy] [eating/drinking]
  "I/we enjoyed the meal."
  Said after a meal.

• Heng xan …
  [respect] [joy]
  "Congratulations on.…", "Well done on …"
  This is said whenever anyone has good fortune or celebrates a special occasion. It is not necessarily reserved for praising someone's achievements.

• Mu si ben?
  [question] [you] [alright]
  "Are you alright?"

• Yo hin.
  [let's] [begin]
  "Let's get started."

• Yo hi.
  [let's] [rest]
  "Let's call it a day." "Let's take a break." "That's enough for now."

• Lo so bo.
  [aspect] [do] [good]
  "Good job." "Well done."

• Yo ha nan.
  [let's] [drink] [one]
  "Cheers." "Let's have a drink."

• Wai kan.
  [ask for] [pay attention]
  "Attention please."

• Yo paheng to, …
  [o] [esteemed one] [all]
  "Ladies and gentlemen…"

Discourse phrases

• e
  "uh"; "huh?" "hm?"
  "Yes?" (Said when one's name is called.)

• em
  "um"
  This may be pronounced as a syllabic m.

• Ben.
  "Okay." "Alright."

• Bo.
  "Good." "Great."

• Mu a?
  [question] [be so]
  "Is that so?" "Really?"

• Pun bo.
  [sure] [good]
  "Of course."

  • Xe pun bo.
    [but] [sure] [good]
    "But of course." "Oh of course."

• Xe mo?
  [but] [what]
  "And what then?"
  "So what now?"
  "And what about it?"

• A, pi …
  [be] [so]
  "Anyway, anyways, anyhow"
  Expresses a change of subject.

  • Ben a, pi …
    [well] [be] [so]
    Same as above.

• San mo?
  [say] [what]
  "Pardon?" "What was that?" "Come again?"

• Mi ui na.
  [I] [hear] [not]
  "I didn't catch that."

  • Mi ui na si san mo.
    [I] [hear] [not] [you] [say] [what]
    "I didn't hear what you said."

• Mi ham na.
  [I] [understand] [not]
  "I don't understand."

  • Mi ham na si san mo.
    [I] [understand] [not] [you] [say] [what]
    "I didn't understand what you said."

• Cun xe wai si san se.
  [bothersome] [but] [please] [you] [say] [again]
  "Could you please repeat that?"

• Wai cou nin.
  [please] [slow] [little]
  "A little slower, please."

• …, wa a mo sa ba kom?
  …, [this] [be] [what] [as] [language] [share]
  "How do you say […] in Ba kom?"

• …, ya man mo?
  …, [that] [mean] [what]
  "What does […] mean?"

• Mi nixin.
  [I] [forget]
  "I forgot."

• Fei na tei.
  [worth] [not] [care]
  "Nevermind."

• O a in mo?
  [he/she] [be] [person] [what]
  "Who is this?" "Who is that?"

• Wa a mo?
  [this] [be] [what]
  "What is this?"
  Ya a mo?
  [that] [be] [what]
  "What is that?"

• Xa na.
  [yet] [not]
  "Not yet."

• Po a.
  [can] [be]
  "Maybe."

• Po bo a.
  [can] [good] [be]
  "Probably."

• Sa wan im.
  [at] [time] [some]
  "Sometimes."

• Li na.
  [ever] [not]
  "Never."

• Hing.
  "Always", "usually."

• Ci cen.
  [now] [immediately]
  "Right now."

• Xe bou min.
  [but] [go around] [go away]
  "But I digress."

Other phrases

• Ten.
  [suit]
  "Cool!", "right on!"; expresses agreement

  • Ten ol.
    [suit] [completely]
    "Perfect!", "excellent!", "awesome!"

• Bo sa diu.
  [good] [as] [extreme]
  "Excellent!" "Fantastic!" "Awesome!"

• Jol.
  [rescue]
  "Help!"

• Tei ya.
  [watch out for] [that]
  "Watch out!" "Careful!"

• Mi ken nu pin.
  [I] [brief] [just] [arrive]
  "I'm almost there."
  (Ken nu means "to be about to …")

• Mi pin cen.
  [I] [arrive] [immediately]
  "I'll be right there."

• Mi kau cen.
  [I] [return] [immediately]
  "I'll be right back."

• Mi la wal yon.
  [I] [aspect] [journey] [go]
  "I'm on my way there."

  • Mu si la wal yen?
    [question] [you] [aspect] [journey] [come]
    "Are you on your way here?"

• Mo lo lum?
  [what] [aspect] [happen]
  "What happened?"

• Ba fi mi.
  [speak] [correspond with] [I]
  "Call me."

• Xol fi mi.
  [write] [correspond with] [I]
  "Text me." "Message me."
  "Write me a letter." (Archaic)

• Mu sim lo hong?
  [question] [you (plural)] [aspect] [prepare]
  "Are you ready?"

• Ken lang.
  [for a minute] [stay]
  "Wait a minute."

• So cou.
  [do] [slow]
  "Wait up."

• Sa ye ung, pi yo …
  [if] [have] [free time], [then] [suggestion]
  "If you have time, then let's …"

  • sem
    [gather]
    "get together"

  • ha sui
    [consume] [drink]
    "have a drink"

  • kun kam
    [accompany] [towards]
    "hang out"

  • nal nau
    [talk about] [recent events]
    "catch up"

• Mu si wi ye ko yan?
  [question] [you] [need to] [have] [thing] [any]
  "Do you need anything?"

• Mu si wi pa yom?
  [question] [you] [need to] [passive] [help]
  "Do you need help?"

• Mu mi po ken sung un wa?
  [question] [I] [can] [for a while] [borrow] [use] [this]
  "Can I borrow this for a second?"

• Mu si fe ci?
  [question] [you] [busy] [now]
  "Are you busy right now?"

• Nang.
  [do wrong]
  This is a general-purpose expletive. The word itself is not vulgar, and means "to wrong, to cheat".