Berber phrasebook

This phrasebook deals with Standard Amazight. See the Tashelhit phrasebook for Amazigh language relating to southern Morocco.

Amazigh languages (Tamaziɣt / Tamazight / ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ / ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵜ / ⵝⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵝ) are spoken in Northern Africa, mainly in Morocco , Tunisia and Algeria. These are not one language, but rather several closely related ones. Berber languages use their own alphabet called Tifinagh, but can also be written in Arabic or Latin script like the other two languages spoken in this region (Arabic and French).

Pronunciation guide

Vowels:

ⴰ (a)

like ⴰⵏⵣⴰⵔ (Anzar)

ⴻ (e)

like Yey

ⵉ (i)

like ⵉⵎⴰⵣⵉⴳⵏ (Imaziɣen)

ⵓ (u)

like ⵍⵎⵓⴷⵏ (Lmoden)

Consonants:

ⴱ (b)

like

ⴳ (g)

like

ⴳⵯ (gʷ)

like

ⴷ (d)

like

ⴹ (ḍ)

like

ⴼ (f)

like

ⴽ (k)

like

ⴽⵯ (kʷ)

like

ⵀ (h)

like

ⵃ (ḥ)

like

ⵄ (ɛ)

like

ⵅ (x)

like

ⵇ (q)

like

ⵊ (j)

like

ⵍ (l)

like

ⵎ (m)

like

ⵏ (n)

like

ⵔ (r)

like

ⵕ (ṛ)

like

ⵖ (ɣ)

like

ⵙ (s)

like

ⵚ (ṣ)

like

ⵛ (c)

like

ⵜ (t)

like ⵜⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔⵜ (Taɣadirt)

ⵟ (ṭ)

like

ⵡ (w)

like

ⵢ (y)

like

ⵣ (z)

like ⴰⵣⴰⵢⵣ (Azayz)

ⵥ (ẓ)

like

Phrase list

Basics:

Good Morning

ⵜⵉⴼⴰⵡⵉⵏ (sbah algir)

Hello. (informal)

ⴰⵣⵓⵍ (Azul)

How are you?

ⴰⵎⴽ ⵜⵍⵍⵉⴹ? (memesh tegid?)

Fine, thank you.

ⵉⴳⵔⵔⵣ, ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵎⵉⵔⵜ (saffi, shoukrane)

What is your name?

ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵏⵏⴽ? (m), ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵏⵏⵎ? (f) (Isem-nnek? (m), Isem-nnem? (f))

My name is ______ .

ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵉⵏⵓ ______ . (Isem-inu ______ .)

Nice to meet you.

ⵜⴰⵎⵓⵙⵙⵏⵉ ⵏ ⵍⵅⵉⵔ. (Tamussni n lxir)

Please.

(hafaq)

Thank you

Tenmirt. / ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵎⵉⵔⵜ. (shoukrane)

You're welcome.

ⵓⵍⴰⵛ ⴰⵖⵉⵍⵉⴼ (hafe u wane)

Yes.

ⵉⵀ (wah/ay)

No.

ⵓⵀⵓ (oho)

Excuse me. (getting attention)

ⵙⵙⵓⵔⴼ-ⵉⵢⵉ (semhai)

Goodbye

ⴰⵔ ⵜⵓⴼⴰⵜ (besalma/beslama)

I don't speak tamazight [well].

ⵓⵔ ⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⴳ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ (weh sewrig sha tmazight mleh)

Do you speak English?

ⵜⴻⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⴹ ⵜⴰⵏⴳⵍⵉⵣⵉⵜ? (sewred tinglist?)

Is there someone here who speaks English?

ⵢⵍⵍⴰ ⵡⵉⵏ ⵢⴻⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⵏ ⵜⴰⵏⴳⵍⵉⵣⵉⵜ ⴷⴰ? (hed theh sewren tinglist?)

Help!

ⴰⴱⴱⵓⵀ! (haunay!)

Look out!

ⵖⵓⵔⴽ! (hower!)

Good morning.

ⵜⵉⴼⴰⵡⵉⵏ (Tifawin)

Good evening.

ⵜⵉⵎⵏⵙⵉⵡⵉⵏ (Timensiwin)

Good night

ⵉⴹ ⴰⵎⴳⴳⴰⵣ (Iḍ ameggaz)

I don't understand.

ⵓⵔ ⴳⵣⵉⵖ (weh fahmeg sha?)

Where is the toilet?

ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵜ ⵡⴱⴷⵓⵣ? (meni tega twaleet?)

Problems:

Leave me alone.

( adji iwatonw)

Don't touch me!

( weh hathey sha!)

I'll call the police.

atsounag bolis!)

Police!

( lbolis)

Stop! Thief!

( bed amkhar)

I need your help.

(hthesheg shek(f)/ shem(m)

It's an emergency.

( )

I'm lost.

( woedag)

I lost my bag.

(woedag shakoesh ino)

I lost my wallet.

(Ijla albaztamino)

I'm sick.

( hersheg)

I've been injured.

( )

I need a doctor.

( ikhsayi outbib)

Can I use your phone?

( mchak dyoussa aditchet telephonch adiss sawlegh):

Numbers:

0

ⴰⵎⵢⴰ (Amya)

1

ⵢⴰⵏ (Yan)

2

ⵙⵉⵏ (Sin)

3

ⴽⵕⴰⴹ (Kṛaḍ)

4

ⴽⴽⵓⵥ (Kkuẓ)

5

ⵙⵎⵎⵓⵙ (Semmus)

6

ⵙⴹⵉⵚ (Sḍiṣ)

7

ⵙⴰ (Sa)

8

ⵜⴰⵎ (Tam)

9

ⵜⵥⴰ (Tẓa)

10

ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Mraw)

11

ⵢⴰⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Yan d mraw)

12

ⵙⵉⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sin d mraw)

13

ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kṛaḍ d mraw)

14

ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kkuẓ d mraw)

15

ⵙⵎⵎⵓⵙ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Semmus d mraw)

16

ⵙⴹⵉⵚ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sḍiṣ d mraw)

17

ⵙⴰ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sa d mraw)

18

ⵜⴰⵎ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Tam d mraw)

19

ⵜⵥⴰ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Tẓa d mraw)

20

ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ (Agnar)

21

ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵢⴰⵏ (Agnar d yan)

22

ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵙⵉⵏ (Agnar d sin)

23

ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⴽⵕⴰⴹ (Agnar d kṛaḍ)

30

ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Agnar d mraw)

40

ⵙⵉⵏ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Sin wagrawen)

50

ⵙⵉⵏ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sin wagrawen d mraw)

60

ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Kṛaḍ wagrawen)

70

ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kṛaḍ wagrawen d mraw)

80

ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Kkuẓ wagrawen)

90

ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kkuẓ wagrawen d mraw)

100

ⵜⵉⵎⵉⴹⵉ (Timiḍi)

200

( )

300

( )

1000

(agim)(ifed)

2000

(sin igiman)(sin ifden)

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

half

( amnasf )

less

( idrous/ )

more

( ogar / ieda/ imkkor/ ikhatr/ youyr/yougr )

Time:

now

ⵖⵉⵍⴰⴷ (ɣelad / dghi)

later

(nokana / asra)

before

(.ligh)

morning

(ifaw)

afternoon

(talgat)

evening

(tin yits)

night

(giit)

Clock time:

one o'clock AM

(yan nwass)

two o'clock AM

(sin nwass)

noon

(...)

one o'clock PM

(yan n giit)

two o'clock PM

(sin n giit)

midnight

(amas ngiit)

midday

("amas nwass ")

Duration:

_____ minute(s)

_____ (tasdidt/tedqiqin)

_____ hour(s)

_____ ()

_____ day(s)

_____ (ass/ussan)

_____ week(s)

_____ (ayyur/ayyuren)

_____ year(s)

_____ (aseggas/isaggasen)

Days:

Today

Assa

Yesterday

Assirt

Tomorrow

Assca

Sunday

ⴰⵙⴰⵎⴰⵙ (Asamas)

Monday

ⴰⵢⵏⴰⵙ (Aynas)

Tuesday

ⴰⵙⵉⵏⴰⵙ (Asinas)

Wednesday

ⴰⴽⵕⴰⵙ (Akṛas)

Thursday

ⴰⴽⵡⴰⵙ (Akwas)

Friday

ⴰⵙⵉⵎⵡⴰⵙ (Asimwas)

Saturday

ⴰⵙⵉⴹⵢⴰⵙ (Asiḍyas)

Months:

January

ⵉⵏⵏⴰⵢⵔ (Innayr), ⵢⵏⵢⵓⵔ (Yenyur)

February

ⴱⵕⴰⵢⵕ (Bṛayṛ), ⵙⵉⵏⵢⵓⵔ (Sinyur)

March

ⵎⴰⵕⵚ (Maṛṣ), ⴽⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Krayur)

April

ⵉⴱⵔⵉⵔ (Ibrir), ⴽⵓⵥⵢⵓⵔ (Kuẓyur)

May

ⵎⴰⵢⵢⵓ (Mayyu), ⵙⵎⵢⵓⵔ (Semyur)

June

ⵢⵓⵏⵢⵓ (Yunyu), ⵙⴹⵢⵓⵔ (Seḍyur)

July

ⵢⵓⵍⵢⵓⵣ (Yulyuz), ⵙⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Sayur)

August

ⵖⵓⵛⵜ (Ɣuct), ⵜⴰⵎⵢⵓⵔ (Tamyur)

September

ⵛⵓⵜⴰⵏⴱⵉⵔ (Cutanbir), ⵜⵥⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Tẓayur)

October

ⴽⵟⵓⴱⵕ (Kṭubṛ), ⵎⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Mrayur)

November

ⵏⵓⵡⴰⵏⴱⵉⵔ (Nuwanbir), ⵢⴰⵎⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Yamrayur)

December

ⴷⵓⵊⵏⴰⴱⵉⵔ (Dujnabir), ⵎⴳⴳⵢⵓⵔ (Meggyur)

Seasons

Summer

anbdu

Autunm

amwan

Winter

tagrest

Spring

tafsut

Colors:

black

ⴰⴱⵔⴽⴰⵏ (Aberkan ,Oghmi)

white

ⵓⵎⵍⵉⵍ (Omlil)

gray

(...)

red

ⴰⵣⴳⴰⵖ (Aẓgaɣ')

blue

ⴰⵥⵔⵡⴰⵍ (Aẓerwal)

yellow

ⴰⵡⵔⴰⵖ (Awraɣ)

green

ⴰⵣⴳⵣⴰⵡ (Azegzaw)

orange

(...)

purple

(amdadi)

brown

(a9ahwi)