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July 19, 2004

Fulfulde blessings

Blessings are common in everyday conversation in Fulfulde, and to use them you need to use the desiderative mood. Which usually means, stick a u on the end of the verb root.

Here are some Fulfulde blessings and their possible contexts:

Allah yoбu – May God reward (said by a beggar when you give to him)
Allah ne’u – May God provide (said to turn away a beggar from the door)
Allah moyyin’ laawol – May God prepare your way (said to someone embarking on a journey)
Allah hoynu – May God make it easy (said when someone has toothache)
Allah moobu – May God protect (said when a cow is lost)
Allah wallu – May God help (said if you fall into a deep well)
Allah бeydu jam – May God increase your peace (said to fill an awkward silence)
Allah holle yarde ndiyam aljanna – May God grant you to drink the water of paradise (said in gratitude when someone gives you a cup of water)
Allah hokku biббe lobbuбe – May God give you beautiful children (said at festivals)
Allah yaafo o – May God forgive him (said when someone dies)
Allah hollu en nji’iden e jam – May God grant we see each other again in peace (Goodbye)

As always, be careful with pronunciation. Allah hoynu is a blessing (May God make it easy), but Allah hoyne is a curse (May God slight you). Alla hiin'en e sarriiji Seyδaani means ‘God save us from Satan’s wiles’, but Alla hiin'en e sarraaji Seyδaani means ‘God save us from Satan’s trousers’.

If done sincerely, blessing is a Good Thing. Print this page and then go and bless the Fulani.

(I invite any Fulfulde-philes out there to fill up the Comments section below with other blessings you have come across in your wanderings.)

Posted by sahelsteve at July 19, 2004 05:04 PM