Jju (diryem Jju) is a Plateau language of Nigeria, closely related to Tyap. It is often seen as a form of Tyap language as it is closely related to its seven dialects. Jju is spoken by over 500,000 people in an area where the Nok culture (c. BC 1,500 – 500 AD) flourished in the Middle Belt (i.e., the geopolitical Northcentral and southern parts of Northwest and Northeast) of Nigeria.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Vowels[edit]

a, a̱, e, i, o, u

Short monophthongs[edit]

Long monophthongs[edit]

Common diphthongs[edit]

ai, a̱u, ei/a̱i, oi

Consonants[edit]

b, bv, c, cc, d, g, gb, h, j, jj, k, kh, kp, l, m, n, ng, ny, pf, r, s, ss, sh, t, ts, tss, w, ww, y, yy, z

Monoghraphs[edit]

b

/b/; like 'b' in "bean"

c

/t͡ʃ/; like 'ch' in "chair"

d

/d/; like 'd' in "do"

g

/ɡ/; like 'g' in "greet"

h

/h/; like 'h' in "how"

j

/d͡ʒ/; like 'j' in "job"

k

/k/; like 'k' in "clan"

l

/l/; like 'l' in "low"

m

/m/; like 'm' in "mine"

n

/n/; like 'n' in "new"

p

/p/; like 'p' in "pair"

r

/r/; like 'r' in "real"

s

/s/; like 's' in "say"

t

/t/; like 't' in "tree"

v

/v/; like 'v' in "view"

w

/w/; like 'w' in "win"

y

/j/; like 'y' in "you"

z (pronounced: "dz")

/d͡z/; no English equivalent

Digraphs[edit]

bv

/b͡v/; no English equivalent

gb

/ɡ͡b/; no English equivalent

kh

/x/; no English equivalent

kp

/k͡p/; no English equivalent

ng

/ŋ/; like 'ng' in "king"

ny

/ɲ/; like Spanish 'ñ' in "niña"

pf

/p͡f/; like German 'pf' in "Pfeffer"

sh

/ʃ/; like 'sh' in "shy"

ts

/t͡s/; like 'ts' in "tsunami"

Labial consonants[edit]

Short[edit]

bw

/bʷ/; no English equivalent

cw

/t͡ʃʷ/; no English equivalent

fw

/fʷ/; no English equivalent

gw

/ɡʷ/; no English equivalent

ghw

/ɣʷ/; no English equivalent

hw

/hʷ/; no English equivalent

jw

/d͡ʒʷ/; no English equivalent

kw

/kʷ/; like 'qu' in "quick"

khw

/xʷ/; no English equivalent

mw

/mʷ/; like 'mw' in "Cromwell"

nw (ngw)

/ŋʷ/; no English equivalent

pw

/pʷ/; no English equivalent

sw

/sʷ/; like 'sw' in "swing"

shw

/ʃʷ/; like 'schw' in "schwa"

tsw

/t͡sʷ/; no English equivalent

yw

/jʷ/; no English equivalent

zw

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Hello.

N na byyek. (N nah byyehg)

How are you?

A shyi ke? (AH SHYEE KAY?)

Fine, thank you.

Ansham ba̱t, n gwai. ()

What is your name?

Ba̱ na̱ yei a̱nyan? ()

My name is ______ .

Ba̱ n yei ______. ()

Nice to meet you.

N shya bu a̱sainhwa da̱ni n na myim i. ()

Please.

Ba̱sa̱kut. ()

Thank you.

N gwai. ()

You're welcome.

Ryok nhok kyang ba. ()

Yes.

Ii. (masculine: "ee") ()

No.

Kaai. ()

Excuse me. (getting attention/begging pardon)

Hok ra! (cat a̱huhwa a̱yin/naai a̱yin) ()

I'm sorry.

()

Goodbye.

Ka̱ra̱m ka̱yaan. ()

Goodbye. (informal)

Ba-bai. ()

I can't speak Jju [well].

N dyen ryat Jju ji [ansham] ba. ()

Do you speak English?

A ryat Shong a? ()

Is there someone here who speaks English?

()

Help!

Brang! ()

Look out!

Ta̱rwam! ()

Good morning. (before around 9 AM)

A (plural: "yi") shyek ansham o? ()

Good afternoon.

A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? ()

Good evening.

A (plural: "yi") kpanom ansham o? ()

Good night.

Sei ka̱ntson. ()

I don't understand.

N hik ba. ()

Where is the toilet?

()

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone.

Ryok nzuk. ( .)

Don't touch me!

! ( !)

I'll call the police.

N ni yei na̱wonshan a. ( .)

Police!

Na̱wonshan! ( !)

Stop! Thief!

Ryong! A̱tang! ( ! !)

I need your help.

. ( .)

It's an emergency.

. ( .)

I'm lost.

N bvuk. ( .)

I lost my bag.

. ( .)

I lost my wallet.

. ( .)

I'm sick.

. ( .)

I've been injured.

. ( .)

I need a doctor.

. ( .)

Can I use your phone?

? ( ?)

Numbers[edit]

1

a̱yring ( ), yring ( ), jring ( )

2

a̱hwa ( ), hwa ( ), swa ( )

3

a̱tat ( ), tat ( ), tsat ( )

4

a̱naai ( ), naai ( ), nyaai ( )

5

a̱pfon ( ), pfon ( ), tsson ( )

6

a̱kitat ( )

7

a̱tiyring ( )

8

a̱ninai ( )

9

a̱kumbuyring ( )

10

swak ( )

11

swak ba̱ yring ( )

12

swak ba̱ hwa ( )

13

swak ba̱ tat ( )

14

swak ba̱ naai ( )

15

swak ba̱ a̱pfon ( )

16

swak ba̱ a̱kitat ( )

17

swak ba̱ a̱tiyring ( )

18

swak ba̱ a̱ninai ( )

19

swak ba̱ a̱kumbuyring ( )

20

nswak nhwa ( )

21

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱yring ( )

22

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱hwa ( )

23

nswak nhwa ba̱ a̱tat ( )

30

nswak ntat ( )

40

nswak nnaai ( )

50

nswak npfon ( )

60

nswak a̱kitat ( )

70

nswak a̱tiyring ( )

80

nswak a̱ninai ( )

90

nswak a̱kumbuyring ( )

100

cyi jring ( )

200

cyi swa ( )

300

cyi tsat ( )

1,000

cyikop jring ( )

2,000

cyikop swa ( )

100,000

cyikop cyi jring ( )

1,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000

( )

1,000,000,000,000

( )

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)

( )

half

a̱kum ( )

less

( )

more

( )

Time[edit]

now

naanini ( )

later

( )

before

( )

morning

a̱ta̱ntson ( )

afternoon

a̱ta̱nom ( )

evening

ka̱jenshring ( )

night

ka̱ta̱tuk ( )

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock AM

tswam jring ( )

two o'clock AM

tswam swa ( )

noon

tswam swak ba̱ swa A̱TA̱NOM ( )

one o'clock PM

tswam jring A̱TA̱NOM ( )

two o'clock PM

tswam swa A̱TA̱NOM ( )

midnight

( )

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s)

minti _____ ( )

_____ hour(s)

awa _____ ( )

_____ day(s)

nom _____ ( )

_____ week(s)

sati _____ ( )

_____ month(s)

hywan _____ ( )

_____ year(s)

a̱rya _____ ( )

Days[edit]

today

ka̱pfun ( )

yesterday

ryu ( )

tomorrow

ka̱ntson ( )

this week

sati ani ( )

last week

( )

next week

sati cong bai ( )

Sunday

Ka̱tuk Ladi ( )

Monday

Ka̱tuk A̱ta̱nii ( )

Tuesday

( )

Wednesday

( )

Thursday

( )

Friday

Ka̱tuk Juma ( )

Saturday

Ka̱tuk A̱sa̱ba̱t ( )

Months[edit]

January

Hywan Yring ( )

February

Hywan Hwa ( )

March

Hywan Tat ( )

April

Hywan Naai ( )

May

Hywan Pfon ( )

June

Hywan A̱kitat ( )

July

Hywan A̱tiyring ( )

August

Hywan A̱ninai ( )

September

Hywan A̱kumbuyring ( )

October

Hywan Swak ( )

November

Hywan Swak ba̱ Yring ( )

December

Hywan Swak ba̱ Hwa ( )

Writing time and date[edit]

Colors[edit]

black

a̱dindying ( )

white

a̱sai ( )

grey/gray

( )

red

a̱shong ( )

blue

( )

yellow

( )

green

( )

orange

( )

purple

( )

brown

( )

Transportation[edit]

Bus and train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____?

( )

One ticket to _____, please.

( )

Where does this train/bus go?

( )

Where is the train/bus to _____?

( )

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

( )

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

( )

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

( )

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ?

( )

...the train station?

( )

...the bus station?

( )

...the airport?

( )

...downtown?

( )

...the youth hostel?

( )

...the _____ hotel?

( )

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?

( )

Where are there a lot of...

( )

...hotels?

( )

...restaurants?

( )

...bars?

( )

...sites to see?

( )

Can you show me on the map?

( )

street

( )

Turn left.

( )

Turn right.

( )

left

( )

right

( )

straight ahead

( )

towards the _____

( )

past the _____

( )

before the _____

( )

Watch for the _____.

( )

intersection

( )

north

ka̱za ( )

south

ka̱tak ( )

east

( )

west

ka̱jenshring ( )

uphill

ka̱zantsok ( )

downhill

ka̱takntsok ( )

Taxi[edit]

Taxi!

( )

Take me to _____, please.

( )

How much does it cost to get to _____?

( )

Take me there, please.

( )

Lodging[edit]

Do you have any rooms available?

( )

How much is a room for one person/two people?

( )

Does the room come with...

( )

...bedsheets?

( )

...a bathroom?

( )

...a telephone?

( )

...a TV?

( )

May I see the room first?

( )

Do you have anything quieter?

( )

...bigger?

( )

...cleaner?

( )

...cheaper?

( )

OK, I'll take it.

( )

I will stay for _____ night(s).

( )

Can you suggest another hotel?

( )

Do you have a safe?

( )

...lockers?

( )

Is breakfast/supper included?

( )

What time is breakfast/supper?

( )

Please clean my room.

( )

Can you wake me at _____?

( )

I want to check out.

( )

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

( )

Do you accept British pounds?

( )

Do you accept euros?

( )

Do you accept credit cards?

( )

Can you change money for me?

( )

Where can I get money changed?

( )

Can you change a traveler's check for me?

( )

Where can I get a traveler's check changed?

( )

What is the exchange rate?

( )

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?

( )

Eating[edit]

A table for one person/two people, please.

( )

Can I look at the menu, please?

( )

Can I look in the kitchen?

( )

Is there a house specialty?

( )

Is there a local specialty?

( )

I'm a vegetarian.

( )

I don't eat pork.

( )

I don't eat beef.

( )

I only eat kosher food.

( )

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)

( )

fixed-price meal

( )

a la carte

( )

breakfast

( )

lunch

( )

tea (meal)

( )

supper

( )

I want _____.

( )

I want a dish containing _____.

( )

chicken

( )

beef

( )

fish

( )

ham

( )

sausage

( )

cheese

( )

eggs

( )

salad

( )

(fresh) vegetables

( )

(fresh) fruit

( )

bread

( )

toast

( )

noodles

( )

rice

( )

beans

( )

May I have a glass of _____?

( )

May I have a cup of _____?

( )

May I have a bottle of _____?

( )

coffee

( )

tea (drink)

( )

juice

( )

(bubbly) water

( )

(still) water

( )

beer

( )

red/white wine

( )

May I have some _____?

( )

salt

( )

black pepper

( )

butter

( )

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

( )

I'm finished.

( )

It was delicious.

( )

Please clear the plates.

( )

The check, please.

( )

Bars[edit]

Do you serve alcohol?

( )

Is there table service?

( )

A beer/two beers, please.

( )

A glass of red/white wine, please.

( )

A pint, please.

( )

A bottle, please.

( )

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.

( )

whiskey

( )

vodka

( )

rum

( )

water

( )

club soda

( )

tonic water

( )

orange juice

( )

Coke (soda)

( )

Do you have any bar snacks?

( )

One more, please.

( )

Another round, please.

( )

When is closing time?

( )

Cheers!

( )

Shopping[edit]

Do you have this in my size?

( )

How much is this?

( )

That's too expensive.

( )

Would you take _____?

( )

expensive

( )

cheap

( )

I can't afford it.

( )

I don't want it.

( )

You're cheating me.

( )

I'm not interested.

(..)

OK, I'll take it.

( )

Can I have a bag?

( )

Do you ship (overseas)?

( )

I need...

( )

...toothpaste.

( )

...a toothbrush.

( )

...tampons.

. ( )

...soap.

( )

...shampoo.

( )

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)

( )

...cold medicine.

( )

...stomach medicine.

... ( )

...a razor.

( )

...an umbrella.

( )

...sunblock lotion.

( )

...a postcard.

( )

...postage stamps.

( )

...batteries.

( )

...writing paper.

( )

...a pen.

( )

...English-language books.

( )

...English-language magazines.

( )

...an English-language newspaper.

( )

...an English-English dictionary.

( )

Driving[edit]

I want to rent a car.

( )

Can I get insurance?

( )

stop (on a street sign)

( )

one way

( )

yield

( )

no parking

( )

speed limit

( )

gas (petrol) station

( )

petrol

( )

diesel

( )

Authority[edit]

I haven't done anything wrong.

( )

It was a misunderstanding.

( )

Where are you taking me?

( )

Am I under arrest?

( )

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.

( )

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.

( )

I want to talk to a lawyer.

( )

Can I just pay a fine now?

( )