Search for a word in the Kasem dictionary.

Tono house 1250x940

The version of the Kasem (Ghana) dictionary that has been loaded here is still being worked on. It is hoped that it will be progressively improved during 2016. Your comments are welcome.

This version: 05 August 2015
To search for a word, type it into the box on the right.
You can search for a word or part of a word in Kasem or English.
To enter characters unavailable on the keyboard, click on one of the buttons above the search box.

You may also use the Browse tab to go through the dictionary page by page or to group words together according to their meaning (semantic domains).

[Tip: you can ignore the Languages and Parts of Speech drop-down boxes - they are for advanced searches]

Browse Kasem - English

a
á
b
ch
d
e
é
ɛ
f
g
h
i
í
j
k
l
m
n
ŋ
ny
o
ó
ɔ
p
r
s
t
u
ú
v
w
y
z

n


n (emphatic: nmo) pn you (sg.), your (domain: 9.2.3 - Pronouns.) [ der. -m , idiom denlei , idiom denleilei ]
n- (other spelling: m-) num pf prefix on numeral stems 2 - 7, used when counting { nlei, ntɔ, nna, nnu, ndo, mpɛ 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } (domain: 9.2.9 - Affixes, 8.1.1.1 - Cardinal numbers.) [ ndo , nlei , nna , nnu , ntɔ ]
na₁ [L ] A3 (past: , impf: nana₃) v 1press, iron, rub { O wora o nane gwaaro tem. He is ironing the clothes. } (domain: 7.7.4 - Press.) 2scrape, grate, grind (domain: 7.7.6 - Grind, 5.2.1.2.3 - Grind flour.)
na₂ B2 (nɛ₁; impf: nae; past: nɛa) v 1see { O ba nae lanyerane. He doesn't see well. } (domain: 2.3.1 - See.) 2find, get { O wo nɛ o boŋo kom. He didn't find his goat. } (domain: 7.6.2 - Find.) 3experience { O nɛ wopwolo dedɛ. He became very happy. } (domain: 3.4 - Emotion.) [ nɛɛre ]
na₃ [H ] BA n water { A lage na se a nyɔ. I want water to drink. | na-luŋa deep water | na-kwala shallow water | na-fara sea, ocean, lake | na-zura cold water | na-gaa plain water } (domain: 1.3 - Water.) [ na-kwala , na-nyɔm , na-ŋona , na-zoŋa , nabworo , yele-na , yi-na ]
na₄ [R ] O/BA (pl: naana) n ancestor, great great grandfather { Yi mo yeiri na, se zwɛ yei na. The eye doesn't know the ancestor but the ear knows him.; We know about things we have not seen but only heard about. } (domain: 4.1.9.1 - Related by birth.)
na₅ [L ] int question marker { Ba vei yaga na? Have they gone to market? | Ba jwoori mo na? Have they returned? | Bwei-o we, o jege baro na? Ask her whether she has a husband. }
na6 [L ] pt 1when, since (in the past) { O na yi da to, ... When he got there, ... | O na ye nɔn-ŋwem to, ... Since he is a good man, ... } (domain: 9.4.7 - Subordinating particles.) 2dependent clause marker (which, who) { nɔɔno wolo na vei da to the man who went there } (domain: 9.6.2 - Dependency relations.) cf: to₃.
na- [M ] pf prefix on certain adjectives when used as a predicate { Sara kam ye nadwoŋa. The mat is old } [ der. nadoŋa , der. nadwoŋa , der. napwoŋa , der. naseŋa , der. nasoŋo , der. nazɔŋɔ , der. nazwona , der. nazwono ]
ná [M ] pt if, when (in the future, unrealised) { Dé ná laga, dé wó wane dé kwei. If we want to, we can take (it). | Dé ná yi da, dé wó peini. When we get there, we will sleep. | O ya ná vei yaga, o ya wó yeigi mena. If she had gone to market, she would have bought millet. | ko ná dae konto if not that, otherwise }
na-baare DE/YA (from naga) n pace, step (domain: 7.2.1.1 - Walk.) [ der. na-baare yi , der. naba-laare ]
na-baare yi (der. of na-baare) n pace used as a measurement (domain: 7.2.1.1 - Walk.)
na-bala KA/SE (from naao, -bala) n bullock
na-beinnu -/TE (from naao, beinnu) n pl cow dung
na-bɔŋa (from naga 3 trail, bɔŋa) n way_of_life
na-bu dialect of na-mɔra
na-chwɛ (from naao, -chwɛ) n heifer (cow which has yet to give birth) (domain: 1.6.1.1.3 - Hoofed animals.)
na-jworo (from naa₁, jworo₂) n great-grandchild (domain: 4.1.9.1.5 - Grandson, granddaughter.)
na-kwala (from na₃, -kwale) n shallow water { Foone wo na-kwala ni ne. Fear may be found in the shallows.; Fear attaches to the unknown. }
na-kwogili DE/YA (from naga 1 leg, kwogili₂) n metal leg bracelet (domain: 5.4 - Adornment.)
na-mɔra (dialect: na-bu) (from naao, -mɔra) n calf (domain: 6.3.1.1 - Cattle, 1.6.3 - Animal life cycle.)
na-nia (from naao, -nia) n cow that has given birth (domain: 1.6.1.1.3 - Hoofed animals.)
na-nyɔm (from na₃, nyɔ₁) n thirst (domain: 5.2.2.5 - Hungry, thirsty.)
na-ŋona (from na₃, ŋona) n wave (domain: 1.3.2.4 - Wave.)
na-saana -/YA (from naga 1 leg) n pl metal noise-makers worn on legs e.g. when dancing (domain: 5.4 - Adornment, 4.2.4 - Dance.)


Publication Status

Rough draft

Self-reviewed draft

Community-reviewed draft

Consultant approved

Finished (no formal publication)

Formally published