Language/Fon/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions
Hi Fon learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the vocabulary related to feelings and emotions in Fon. It is essential to know how to express your emotions in the language you are learning. Therefore, you will find a list of feelings and emotions in Fon, with pronunciation and English translations. Also, we will give you cultural and interesting facts about how emotions are expressed in Fon-speaking communities. So, let’s start!
Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Fruits & Health.
Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Here is a table of feelings and emotions in Fon:
| Fon | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Alékpédo | a.ɽɛkpɛ́dó | angry |
| Adakun | àdákún | afraid |
| Agbado | ágbádó | annoyed |
| Aiyaba | áiyábá | bored |
| Alafiatan | àláfiátan | calm |
| Erekpon | ɛ̀ɽèkpón | confused |
| Aguton | ágútón | curious |
| Abagbon | àbagbón | delighted |
| Adomoloran | àdómòlórán | depressed |
| Augán | áugán | disappointed |
| Alafia | aláfíà | fine |
| Atilonun | átílónùn | happy |
| Abami | àbámì | impressed |
| Ayoluwa | ̃áyọ,̃lwà | in love |
| Alaluse | álàlǔ̀sè | irritated |
| Assan | assáñ | jealous |
| Adiyin | adìyin | lonely |
| Akutu | ákútù | proud |
| Akunlele | ákùnlẹ̀lẹ̀ | sad |
| Adegben | àdégbèn | scared |
| Ledunun | lédõ,nùn | nervous |
| Ode | ødé | sick |
| Adurahun | àdúràhùn | worried |
To use emotions and feelings properly in a Fon-speaking community, it is essential to understand that expressing emotions is usually not direct. It is tradition to use proverbs, idioms, or indirect speech to convey feelings. For example, instead of saying directly "I am happy," the Fon-speaking community can use the proverb "Àkíkojojojo bi tán n a bí, a n wínyín." It means "when the roasted corn meets the oil, the taste is sweet." It implies that the speaker is happy, satisfied, or pleased. So, it is essential to understand the context and learn the proverbs and idioms to use feelings and emotions adequately in Fon conversations.
Now, let’s create a dialogue to see how we can use some of the expressions in context:
- Person 1: Alafia nǔ orunmila. (I am calm like the spirit Orunmila.)
- Person 2: Àhán, ń ńsẹmen. (Wow, you are such a peaceful person.)
- Person 1: Àtìlónùn mí. (I am happy.)
- Person 2: Èmi n kára ìbùkún sin Oluwa. (I give thanks to God.)
- Person 1: Adákún mí. (I am afraid.)
- Person 2: Kí lo dé? (What happened?)
As you can see, the use of indirect speech is prevalent in Fon. In the dialogue above, both speakers are not using direct expressions to talk about their emotions.
Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
- In Fon-speaking communities, it is common to express emotions using dance, music, and drumming. For example, the famous Gelede dance is used to express joy, happiness, and honor for women.
- Some stories and myths in Fon culture are used to teach emotional intelligence, such as the story of Tê Zegbo. Tê Zegbo was a woman who made a vow to never be angry in her life. In the story, she faced several trials that would usually anger a person, but she kept her vow and remained calm. The story teaches the importance of emotional self-control.
- In Fon-speaking communities, crying is not always associated with sadness or grief. For example, crying can be used as an expression of joy or happiness in some situations.
Practice[edit | edit source]
To practice your feelings and emotions vocabulary in Fon, you can use Polyglot Club and find native speakers to have conversations with. You can ask them any questions you may have as well.
You can also improve your Fon Vocabulary by watching Fon films, listening to Fon music, and reading Fon books.