The Gonja language, properly called Ngbanya or Ngbanyito,Mary E. Kropp Dakubu (ed.), The Languages of Ghana, page 77 is a North Guang language spoken by an estimated 230,000 people, almost all of whom are of the Gonja ethnic group of northern Ghana. Related to Guang languages in the south of Ghana, it is spoken by about a third of the population in the northern region. The Brong-Ahafo and Volta regions lie to the south of the Gonja-speaking area, while Dagombas, Mamprussis and Walas are to the north.Language Guide (Gonja Version). Bureau of Ghana Languages, Accra, 1977-1988.Kropp Dakubu, M.E. (editor), The Languages of Ghana. Kegan Paul International, London, for the International African Institute. 1988. Its dialects are Gonja and Choruba.
Alphabet
Vowels used are: a, e, i, o,ɔ, u,ɛ. Consonants include: ch , ŋm, ny, gb, kp, sh .
Pronouns Personal pronouns as subject of the sentence:
singular plural 1st person ma anye 2nd person fo fo, minye 3rd person e, mu bumu, baa
Names Common Usage Full name Meaning Achaŋso Achaŋso ni ba bi dari It's because of something that one is being respected Atchulo Atchulo The mighty one Afiso Bomine ewo afiso Man proposes and God disposes Allela Allelamato Good deeds do not go wasted Amabaŋye Amabaŋye You can't open one's heart to say what's inside Amankwa Amankwa — Amate Ebore b'agbembi matie God's paths don't close Amo elema Amo elema They make me OR that's who I am Amoma OR Allela Allela e-moma Its goodness or kindness that killed me Aso wura Aso wura Property owner Ataawa Ataawa Female twins Awale Awale Its good Awaare Awaare — Awalekiye Awalekiye Praise when its good Awo n'nchɛ Awo nchɛ ni ba nyɛnye — Awo n'nka nne Awo n'nka nne Everything is everywhere –both good and bad Awo omoto OR Brakumu Awo omoto OR Brakumu Everyone has (or brings) their luck Awoshe Awoshe Everything has a fault, good or bad Awoshie Awoshie it's (become) cool, peaceful, under control, etc. Badow Badow — Bakoaso Bakoaso — Banemu ɛyɛ Banemu eye ne mbia nu Elders have said and children have heard Bangben Bangben They will be tired OR they'll try (but fail) Benyepo ɛyɛ Benyepo ɛyɛ It is those who know you who have said (only your friend knows your secret) Bi awur'bi Bi awur'bi Be careful with what u do Bin'ka Bi mon ka Don't trust completely Bonyaŋso Bonyaŋso Respectful Booma Boomaso nnana — Borɛ Borɛ Rain Borɛ chie Borɛ chie — Borɛ ena sa Borɛ ena sa Its God who gives Borɛ enye Borɛ enye — Borɛ enyi-enchi Borɛ enyi-enchi — Borɛ esa Borɛ esa God's gift Borɛ masa alowe Ebore masa alowe God doesn't give completely (no one is created perfect) Borɛ walae Borɛ walae God is Good Borɛ wɔ Borɛ wɔ God's own Borɛ wu Borɛ wu God has seen B'sha anye B'sha anye They like us Chepura Chepura — Daa mato Daa mato Character cannot be changed / thrown away Dambatu K ful dey se na ne anye ba to We came to meet the moon Dari Dari Twins (unisex, i.e. can be used by females or males) Dariche Dariche — Dokilebi Dokilebi Literally you've sown a bad seed; Figurative - you reap what you sow Ebanyepo Ebanyepo — Ebo ɛyɛ Ebo ɛyɛ It's the room that has said Edonbonɛ Edonbonɛ What has the enemy done? (The enemy might think they are punishing you but God has blessed u already) Edonkufo Edonkufo Your enemy is not far Ekomato E ko ma to No one is useless Ekone oto Eko ne oto piye nba to fo It's happened to someone before you Ekoso Eko-so ni ba nyeti e-ko Because of someone that we have patience for another Ekumpo Ekumpo The Protector Ekunfo Ebore ekunfo God the Protector Elempo Elempo God the Mighty / the Strong One Esapɔ Esapɔ God the Giver Esa ewɔ lanto / Esa ewoeboto Esa ewɔ lanto / Esa ewoeboto — Etimpo Ebore e-na eten awura keshekama God is able to do everything / God is able / The Able One Ewanyɛ Esa nɛ nyɛ, mo e na wora He who is blessed, much is expected Ewale Ebore wale God is Good Ewonyɛ Ewo nye ma wo — Ewunio Ewura mo nio Chief's mother / Queen Mother Ewuntomah Ewura mo to mah Chief's name sake Ewura Ewura Chief Eyri modon Eyri modon ela kulɔ The body's enemy is sickness; Man has no enemy except disease Foto Foto Blessed Gbeadese Kashinteng desay ne efe la ekilti The truth is always quite Gyem che Gyem che — Gyɛma alela Gye maashen a le la Talk well of me Jinapor Ji ne apor bomu so Win, and overcome them Gyeowo Gyeowo God's cobra aims far Kakore Ebore ben nkore, ban lan n'gben God's drums; they'll drum until they get tired Kanagboŋ Kanagboŋ Big family Kanamo Kanamo Which family / clan? Kananmaluwe Kananmaluwe The family doesn't end Kasha Kasha Love Keche e-basa Keche e-basa It pains to be a lady Kenyiti Kenyiti Patience Keshie eko Men ki shie eko I don't hate anyone K'fantaŋ Ebore be k'fantaŋ God's Leaf Kginginfra K'gin gyan fra boɔ ebo fuloŋ A wretched house is better than none Koji Bakra ko ne k'naŋ e sha fo Be wealthy and family would like you Kowuribi Ko wuuri bi small chief Kramoase Kramoase — Kurabaso Kurabaso — Kurayerito Kurayerito Be energetic Lempoche Lempoche Abled woman Lomashie Lowu ma shen ne ba sa be gye bo mo komo Death doesn't allow us to enjoy ourselves Longefiye Longefiye Make yours well / Mind your own business Longesai Longe nsa a-nye Make it well for us Maaman Maaman — Mankpa Mankpa Twins (females) Mankre Mankre When a woman gets pregnant before her menses (either before the first menses, or in between pregnancies) Mantenso Mantenso I'll not forget Mapoche Mapoche I don't boost Masa-agben Ebore masa agben God doesn't tire giving Masape Ebore masa n k pe God doesn't give completely (no one is created perfectly) Matuamo Matuamo I wouldn't be bothered Nefa Nefa Blessing Njo amonchɛ Njo amonchɛ I'm waiting for that day Nkpamafo Nkpa ma fo ne an gye a mo Life is not sufficient Nndefeso Ebore de feso God is watching (protecting) you Ntoba Nn tutu ba My father has come (reincarnation) Obosu Obosu — Okonfo Ebore/enemu be kum fo God protects you Owoshie Owoshie Its cool, calm, peaceful, over etc. Pumaya Edon pu fa ya to Your enemy is not far, they are right "under your legs" Safo Ebore sa fo God has given you (God has blessed you) Samafon Samafon Don't worry Shuŋ nkpa Shuŋ nkpa Cry (pray) for long life Techira Techira — Titi aka Fo bi titi e-ka — Yɔmba Yɔmba Go and come (reincarnation)
References
Colin Painter, Gonja: a phonological and grammatical study, Indiana University, 1970
External links ComparaLex, database with Gonja word list