Tiv–English dictionary

Tiv Dictionary: B

55 entries

Every Tiv word in the archive's dictionary that begins with “B” — 55 entries, in alphabetical order. Each entry gives the English meaning and part of speech, and, where the archive records them, the pronunciation, an example sentence in Tiv with its English translation, and notes on usage. Select a word to open its own page with related words and sources.

Baa

salt

Noun

Baa

cave

Noun

Example
Anema nga ken baa. — “There are”

baba

father

Noun

Also means
respectful title

Baba

grandfather

Noun

Also means
grandpa

bagu

monkey

Noun

Example
Bagu tema sha avande. Za sha banki za dugh inyaregh. — “The monkey sits on the rocks. bam, banki (bank), noun: a place where people and organizations keep money and valuables. Go to the bank to withdraw money.”

bam

bank

Noun

bamber

split wood

Adjective

Example
Ar kon; dugh bamber. — “Split the log; get the split piece.”

ban

lack

Verb

Example
Ikondo ban un ga. — “He/she does not lack clothing.”

bar

salt

Noun

Example
Wa bar sha iue. — “Add salt to the soup.”

bar

cave

Noun

Batur

white man

Noun

Example
Batur tema sha agugu. — “The white man sat on a motor bike.”

bazaa

Bazar

Noun

Example
M yam gbande hen bazaa. — “I bought the dish at the bazar.”

beba

broken

Adjective

bebanan

large

Adjective

Example
Orya tôô vegher u bebanan. — “The head of the house got the large portion.”

bee

done, finished, like

Verb

Example
M bee u kwaghyan (u yan kwaghyan) — “I am done eating”

beer

pretense, hoax, acting

Noun

Example
1. De beer. Stop

begha

lion; lioness

Noun

Also means
a large male or female cat with a mane, sharp teeth, and claws
Example
Begha una faityo u yan kwantera — “A lion can devour a deer. Lioness (ngôbegha), noun”

bek

bake

Verb

bem

peace

Noun

Example
Bem gba. — “Peace has reigned.”

bema

thoughtless

Adverb

Example
A bema ôronkwagh. Compare, bemabebema (thoughtlessly), — “He/she said something without thinking.”

ber

lake

Noun

Example
Ber Awuna ngu a ishu shimi. — “Awuna Lake has fish in it.”

bika

beaker

Noun

Example
Haa mngerem shin bika. — “Pour water in the beaker.”

biriki

brake

Noun

Example
Kor biriki. — “Apply the brake.”

bôdobôdo

mooshy

Adjective

Also means
soft and mushy

bokoti

bucket

Noun

Example
Haa amine shin bokoti. — “Place the millet inside the bucket.”

bol

ball

Noun

Example
Gbidye bol. — “Kick the ball.”

Bolabola

Ebola

Noun

Example
Angev mbu Bolabola wua ior shin Tombasa. — “The Ebola virus has killed people in Tombasa.”

bologo

blanket

Noun

Example
Cir bologo iyol. — “Use a woolen blanket to cover yourself (body).”

bom

bomb

Noun

Example
Amerika ta bom u wuan ior . — “America dropped a bomb to kill people.”

bongo

container

Noun

Example
Wa ikav shin bongo. — “Put the load in the straw container.”

bou

bad

Adjective

Bu

spoon

Noun

bua

cattle

Noun

Example
Wua nombua u zegenan. Compare: ngôbua (cow); wanbua (calf). — “Kill the fattest bull.”

bugela

trumpet

Noun

Example
Tungwa bugela ior ve nder. — “Blow the trumpet to wake up people.”

bugh

open

Verb

Example
Bugh hunda. Verb. — “Open the door.”

bum

swear, take oath

Verb

bume

act foolishly

Verb

Example
A bume karen kwar. — “He distributed stupidly.”

bunde

pospond, absent

Verb

Example
Wasem bunde makeranta kwa har.

Bur

Carve, Butcher

Noun

buter

whiteman, European

Noun

butu

mat to sleep on

Noun

Example
Tar butu; yav sha min. — “Spread the mat; sleep on it.”

bwagi

a pick—for digging

Noun

Example
Tôô bwagi time ihungwa. — “Take the pick to dig a hole.”

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