directions_bus Travel to Benin

Public transportation in Fon

Intercity buses, shared taxis, bus stations: getting around Benin by public transportation takes a bit of Fon vocabulary so you don’t end up at the wrong destination.

schedule 5 min
signal_cellular_alt Intermediate
1
Modes

Types of transportation

BɔsòBus
TaxiTaxi
Bush taxiShared taxi (between towns)
GareBus station
Tro-troShared minibus (term borrowed from Ghana)
2
Order

At the bus station

Bɔsò ɔ́ yì Porto-Novo à ?
Does the bus go to Porto-Novo?
Hwetɛ́nu wɛ é nà yì ?What time does it leave?
Nabí wɛ ?How much?
Place ɖò à ?Is there a seat?
Bagages é ?What about the bags?

These words spoken by a native speaker: Parlons Fongbe Academy — 79 video lessons with a native speaker.Discover

3
On the road

During the trip

Mǐ ɖò ali wɛ̀We are on our way
Hwetɛ́nu mǐ nà yì ?When do we arrive?
Ðó gan-làStop here
Pause kpɛ́ɖé ?A short break?
tips_and_updates

Practical tip

The bɔsò leave when they are full, not at a fixed time. Ask Nabí gbɛ̀ ɖò ? (how many people are still missing?) to estimate the wait.

Traveling by bus, in Fon

With these 15 words, you can handle any bus or bush-taxi trip in Benin. Bonus: drivers often give a discount to foreigners who speak Fon.

à ≠ ǎ
One tone, and everything changes
Parlons Fongbe Academy
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Reading these words isn’t enough. You have to hear them.

In Fon, the pitch of your voice changes the meaning: à asks a question, ǎ says no. The Academy explains 818 forms, one by one, carried by a native voice — never a word without its meaning.

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