Krio Words & Phrases Archive
December 19, 2022 - Api Krismes wi nͻ day oh! Tel Gͻd tenki wi nͻ day oh! : Merry Christmas, we survived! Thank God we survived!
December 12, 2022 - Yawo: bride
December 5, 2022 - Wintatԑm: wintertime
November 28, 2022 - Kolkyap : ‘cold cap’ = cap for wearing at night or on a cold day
November 21, 2022 - Tԑl Papa Gͻd tԑnki : Give God thanks
November 14, 2022 - Blay : Hamper, small basket; round basket of cane or piassava; Such a basket as measure = ‘a basketful’
November 7, 2022 - Blankit : Covering cloth, blanket
October 31, 2022 - Nͻ frԑd : Don’t be scared
October 24, 2022 - Bͻku : 1. plenty, to be plentiful. 2. so plentiful as to be cheap. (Fr. beaucoup ‘much, a great deal, a lot,’ but cf. Y. bukun ‘increased’.)
October 17, 2022 - Blant : used to, be accustomed to, make habit of
October 10, 2022 - Ambͻgin : vexing, irritating, troublesome
October 3, 2022 - Wͻwͻ: ugly
September 26, 2022 - Trangayes: 'strong ear' = stubborn, stubbornness
September 19, 2022 - Yagba: unnecessary or unusual fuss, activity, worry, etc.
September 12, 2022 - Wetin du yu?: What's wrong with you?
September 5, 2022 - Kεkεkε: laugh, giggle, titter, cackle
September 23, 2023: Kabͻ: common Krio welcoming greeting; (also “karbͻ” or “ԑkabͻ”
September 30, 2023: Podapoda: private minibus doing passenger transport, often uncomfortable and mechanically unreliable
October 7, 2023: Magomago: over-eager, over-anxious
October 14, 2023: Grimaces: grimace, a wry face
October 21, 2023: Yaywata: tears (also “wata na yay”)
October 28, 2023: Rͻtintit: “rotten teeth” = dental cavities
November 4, 2023: Kabaslͻt: loose fitting printed dress traditionally worn by middle-aged and elderly Krio women
November 11, 2023: Yabas: onion
November 18, 2023: Tamatis: tomato
November 25, 2023: Sͻnde sup: Sunday soup
December 3, 2023: Sizins Gritins: Season’s Greetings (Christmas greetings)
December 10, 2023: Fayaples: fire place
December 17, 2023:Lilifes: “little face” = small face of a child
December 24, 2023:Kombra: a nursing mother or woman with a young baby
December 31, 2023:Api Nyuia: Happy New Year!
January 7, 2024: Nͻ miks mi de: ‘Don’t involve me in this unsavory business/affair’
January 14, 2024: A nͻ si nͻ ed nͻ tel: I cannot see the meaning/significance (of this)
January 21, 2024: Nͻ get natin fͻ du wit dat: ‘not have nothing to do with that’ = have no business in this affair, be unconcerned about it
January 28, 2024:Nͻ sabi bwԑl rԑs: ‘not understand (how to) boil rice” = be ignorant of even the first steps in cooking
February 4, 2024:Nͻ luk am bay di lukin: Don’t look at him/it by the looking = don’t underestimate this person/thing
February 11, 2024:Tide wi go laf, wi kis ԑn ͻg: Today we will laugh, we kiss and hug
February 18, 2024:Yu yai si, yu yes yeri, yu mͻt fͻ sԑt: Your eyes may see, your ears may, but your mouth should stay closed
February 25, 2024:Biyo biyo: lo and behold (used to express wonder or surprise)
March 3, 2024:Afbak: slippers
March 10, 2024:Arobo: cheating, profiteering (doing business as a middle-man)
March 17, 2024Ekeregbe: stupid or foolish person