- African, in general, are not precise as far as distances are concerned. They may use certain landmarks (xure sEtima, pani banxi xanbira, mango bili fEma) and phrases such as (yare, fEma, pon) instead.
- An African might say : “A mu makuya”, A na be birin” even though the place is either very far or has difficult access.
- If not busy, many Africans prefer to accompany the person who asks for directions.
- Generally, people think it impolite to refuse to give directions to someone. Thus rather than refuse, they sometimes gives incorrect directions.
Therefore, it is advisable to verify the information you receive with several people.
minden?
|
Where?
|
kira na minden?
|
Where is the road to?
|
kira na minden birin?
|
Which way is the road?
|
kira masen n bE
|
Show me the way
|
N kira na fenfe
|
I am looking for the way to
|
A makuya?
|
Is it far?
|
A makuya be ra?
|
Is it far from here?
|
A makçrE ?
|
Is it close /nearby?
|
A makçrE be ra?
|
It near here?
|
yi kira giri
|
Cross the road
|
yi kira tongo
|
Take / go on road
|
so yifanyima
|
Turn right
|
siga tinxinyima
|
Go straight ahead
|
bira yi kira fçxira
|
follow this road
|
siga han kiraxunyi
|
go to the cross roads/ intersection
|
so kçlama
|
turn left
|
¯ErE yi kira kçnma
|
walk on this road
|
hakEto
|
Pardon /Excuse me
|
di?
|
What?
|
munse?
|
What?
|
I naxa munse ?
|
What did you say?
|
I nu wali
|
Thank you
|
Awa
|
Ok
|
banki
|
The bank
|
pçsta
|
the post office
|
yami = misidi
|
the mosque
|
eglisi
|
the church
|
makiti
|
the market
|
xarandebanxi
|
the school
|
labitani
|
the hospital
|
otEl
|
the hotel
|
pçn
|
the bridge
|
bar
|
the bar
|
kiraxunyi
|
the cross roads /intersection
|
sinema banxi
|
the move
|
sççpi
|
the shop
|
gari watiri
|
the station
|
xure
|
river
|
furu
|
baker ‘s shop
|
xanbi ra
|
behind
|
yare
|
in front of
|
fEma
|
near
|
sEtima
|
next to
|
dEra
|
next to
|
tagi
|
between
|
kui
|
in
|
be birin
|
near here
|
mabirin
|
toward
|
pon
|
far
|
be
|
here
|
mEnni
|
there, over there
|
kçlama
|
a left
|
yifanyima
|
a right
|
labe birin
|
toward the bottom
|
fuge birin
|
toward the top
|
ra
|
|
ma
|
at, on
|