menu_book Vocabulary
Fon vocabulary: 102 essential words with their translation
Here are the 102 Fon words that are truly useful in everyday life, sorted by theme and translated. They all come from our course, recorded with a native speaker from Cotonou.
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menu_book 102 words
1
12 words
Greeting and thanking
The greeting changes with the time of day: morning until around 11 a.m., then midday, then evening from 6 p.m. Kwabɔ is not a thank-you: it’s the word a host uses to welcome someone who arrives.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| A fɔn ganji à ? | Did you wake up well? (the morning greeting) |
| Kú dó hwemɛ. | Midday greeting (literally « good midday ») |
| Kú dó hwelɛkɔ. | Good afternoon |
| Kú dó gbada. | Good evening |
| Kwabɔ. | Welcome, glad you arrived (said by the host) |
| Ooh. | Thank you |
| Kú dó akwɛ. | Thanks for the money |
| Kɛnklɛn. | Please |
| E ɖabɔ. | Goodbye |
| E yi sɔ. | See you tomorrow |
| Ɛɛn | Yes |
| Eo, awanu. | No, thank you |
2
6 words
Pronouns
Watch out for the pair mǐ (we) and mi (you, plural): only the tone tells them apart. A good example of why writing alone isn’t enough to learn.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| un | I |
| a | you (singular) |
| e | he, she, one |
| mǐ | we |
| mi | you (plural) |
| ye | they |
3
15 words
Family
Fon is precise where English stays vague: fofo is the older brother, dada the older sister. Age matters in how you name your relatives.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| tɔ | father |
| nɔ | mother |
| vi | child |
| nɔvi sunnu | brother |
| nɔvi nyɔnu | sister |
| fofo | older brother |
| dada | older sister |
| asu | husband |
| nyɔnu | woman, wife |
| nana | grandmother |
| dagbo | grandfather |
| faminyikɔ | last name |
| nyikɔ | first name |
| nyɔlɔn | maternal uncle |
| tanti | paternal aunt |
4
9 words
The body
These words are mainly used to say where it hurts, which makes them useful vocabulary from your very first trip.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| ta | head |
| nu | mouth |
| awɔntin | nose |
| alɔ | hand |
| adɔ | arm |
| afɔ | foot |
| dɔgo | belly |
| to | ear |
| nukun | eye |
5
14 words
Counting
Fon counts in groups of five: ko atɔɔn, twenty-five, is built on twenty and five. A logic of its own, which becomes simple once you get it.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| ɖokpo | un |
| we | two |
| atɔn | three |
| ɛnɛ | four |
| atɔɔn | five |
| ayizɛn | six |
| tɛnwe | seven |
| tantɔn | eight |
| tɛnnɛ | nine |
| wo | ten |
| wo ɖokpo | eleven |
| afɔtɔn | fifteen |
| ko | twenty |
| ko atɔɔn | twenty-five |
6
14 words
Time
The times of day are also the times of the greetings. Learn them together.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| zǎnzǎn | morning |
| hwemɛ | late morning and midday |
| gbadanu | evening |
| zǎnmɛ | night |
| égbé | today |
| sɔ é ja | tomorrow |
| sɔ é wá yi | yesterday |
| tɛnigbe | Monday |
| talatagbe | Tuesday |
| axɔsuzángbe | Friday |
| xwe | year |
| ji | rain |
| sinmɛ | rainy season |
| xwejime | long rainy season |
7
12 words
Places
With ɖisixwe, amyɔxwe and trele, you already understand most directions.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| xwegbe | house, home |
| axi | market |
| dotoxwe | hospital |
| yɛhwexɔ | church |
| wemaxɔmɛ | school, middle school |
| toxomɛ | in town |
| ali | road |
| ɖisixwe | to the right |
| amyɔxwe | to the left |
| trele | straight ahead |
| nukɔn | in front |
| gudo | behind |
8
7 words
The market and money
Nabi is probably the most rewarding word for a visitor: it’s used to ask a price and many other quantities.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| nabi | how much, how many |
| akwɛ | money |
| cɛnji | change (coins) |
| xɔ | to buy |
| sà | to sell |
| ba | to look for |
| xa akwɛ | to count money |
9
13 words
Eating and daily life
Each meal is named after its time of day: zanzan, morning, hwemɛ, midday, gbada, evening.
| In Fon | In English |
|---|---|
| nuɖuɖu | food, meal |
| zanzan nuɖuɖu | breakfast |
| hwemɛ nuɖuɖu | lunch |
| gbada nuɖuɖu | dinner |
| azɔ | work |
| wa azɔ | to work |
| yi | to go, to leave |
| wa | to come |
| gosin | to come from |
| jló ná | to want |
| azizɔnnɔ | sick person |
| hunkuntɔ | driver |
| ajotɔ | thief |
10
Next steps
What now?
Measure where you stand with the free level test, take the survival kit PDF if you’re heading to Benin, and follow the 4-step method for what comes next. To check a word, use our translator.
11
Frequently asked questions
Your questions about Fon vocabulary
How many words do you need to speak Fon? There’s no magic number, but about a hundred well-chosen words are enough to greet people, introduce yourself, count, and find your way. That’s the goal of this list.
Why do some words have no tone mark? As in the course, tones are marked here only when they distinguish two words. Pronunciation, on the other hand, is learned by ear.
Where does this vocabulary come from? From our Fon course, recorded with a native speaker from Cotonou and based on the Guide du stagiaire en Fon. No word is generated automatically.
How do you remember these words? Ten words a day, no more, reviewed the next day, three days later, then a week later. And always out loud.
About a hundred words, and already a conversation
Start with the greetings: those are the words you’ll use starting today. As in the course, tones are marked here only when they distinguish two words.
à ≠ ǎ
One tone, and everything changes
Parlons Fongbe Academy
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