More Basic Phrases:
.WAV Files 
Kekeno, wã - Motorcycle taxi, come here! Literally (Mother of bikes, come). This is what you'll say to hail a motorcycle taxi while waving them over. Most Beninese hiss in conjunction with this phrase. Hissing in fact is a very common way of getting someone's attention. It's funny when I hiss for a Zemidjan (motorcycle taxi), and watch how many people turn their heads to see who's hissing. Unfortunately Beninese men are infamous for hissing at white women.
Mawu, a no ba xo din!.- God, You're really being a pain. Literally- "God, you're always looking for an argument."
Mawu ni fon mi...Ami - Good night. Thanks. Literally- May you wake up with God.... Amen.
Ma sin xome ã. Don't get angry.
Nu ci ko nu mi I'm tired.
Nu ci ko nu we we a? Eeen, nu ci ko nu mi Are you tired? ... Yes, I'm tired.
Nu ci ko nu mi. Na yi mlayin I'm tired. I'm going to sleep.
Nu gbo we a? Eeen, nu gbo we Is it true? Yes, It's true.
Sobe do. Do yi so See you tomorrow. Yes, see you tomorrow. (This is from Mina. click here for more info.)
Tanti, wa sa nu mi kpede. Lady, come sell to me a little. Often people wander around towns, cities and markets with their goods on their heads to sell. If you see something you want from afar, then this is the perfect phrase.
Toche, e do xwegbe ã. Noche, e do fi.- My father is not at home. My mom is here.
Mi na du xwe din, kpo mi na duwe gangi. - We are going to dance like crazy and we are going to eat really well. There are lots of parties called "ceremonies" in French for such occasions as New Year's, the end of an apprentices' period of training, weddings, funerals (they are celebrated if the person is old), etc.
Un do kwe ã, Un do akwe ã. - I don't have any money, I don't have any money. The second sentence uses the word akwe instead of kwe. They are synonymous.
Un tuun ã. - I don't know.
Egbe, E humio. Egbe, e johon we. - Today it is hot. Today it is cold. To anyone who is not from the tropics, it will always feel hot. Freezing cold in Benin is 70 deg. F. Johon literally means wind, and that is how they perceive cold because it really doesn't get cold.
Egbe, sun e sien din. - Today the sun is really strong. (depends on the cloud cover because it is about the same temperature all year except for August when it is noticeably cooler (maybe 5 deg. F average cooler). When you're used to one temperature all year, you really notice the difference.
Eho, un gbe.- No, I refuse.
Enyo Din! - That's great!
Enyo Ganji- That's good.
Fifa na no xa mi.... Ami - May peace be with you. Amen. - A nice way to wish someone well.
Glesile ye no wazo din. Ye sien din. - Farmers work very hard. They are strong. Most Beninese men are subsistence farmers (about 80%) so if you want to flatter, this is a good way.
Un kwiji din. Na lewu mi.- I'm dirty. I'm going to wash. Believe me, you will be dirty in Benin. Because there is virtually no pavement and no grass, every ground surface is covered by sand and dirt. The reason is because pavement and concrete are very expensive, and grass harbors snakes (many of which are venomous in Benin). To avoid snakes people cut down all the grass and weeds around their houses. Cars kick up the dust on the roads in the dry season, and in the rainy season- mud mud mud! You sweat all day so the dirt will stick. You will be kwiji din! Nothing feels better than a cool bucket shower after sweating all day and washing off the layer of salt and dirt clinging to your body. A bucket shower cools your body down and helps you sleep at night.
Un na yi axime kpo na xo nu kpede. - I'm going to go to the market and I'm going to buy some things (a little). ( kpede (a little) is often added at the end of action phrases because rarely do the Beninese do a lot of something. Life is very relaxed and laid back.
Un na yi azome. Un na yi wemaxome. - I'm going to work. I'm going to school.
Un je azon. Enyon nu mi ã. - I am sick. I don't feel well. People get sick pretty often because the average Beninese person practices poor hygiene, they don't know much about nutrition, they have virtually no access to health care and medicine, and know little about how to prevent disease.
Un jayin- I fell
A na sedo nu dagbele a?- Are you going to send us the good things? -meaning presents.
Sedo wema nu mi- Send me letters.
E do hessi nu we- He or she is afraid of you. Little kids when they see a white person for the first time will be afraid of you and the mother may tell you so. Usually everyone thinks it's funny when a baby is afraid of the Yovo.
Fon Related Pages: Home About Fon Help on Listening to .WAV Files The Most Important Greetings Special Requests from Users Greetings that State the Obvious Basic Phrases Questions Grammar and Pronunciation Useful Vocabulary Fon for Peace Corps Volunteers Voodoo The Final Test
Non Fon Pages: My Pictures of Benin Benin Related Links Guest Book Maps Stories From My PC Diary Beninese Food Recipes New Content! Peace Corps Q & A Benin Books and Music