Waama language

Waama
Yoabu
Native toBenin
Native speakers
(50,000 cited 2000)
Niger–Congo?
Official status
Recognised minority
language in
Language codes
ISO 639-3wwa
Glottologwaam1244

Waama, or Yoabu, is a Gur language of Benin.

Phonology

Waama consonants
BilabialLabiodentalAlveolarPalatalVelarLabiovelar
Plosive p bt dck
Nasal mn
Fricative fs
Approximant jw
Waama vowels
FrontBack
Close iu
Close-mid eo
Open-mid ɛɔ
Open a

Waama distinguishes between short and long versions of all vowels. /i/, /ɛ/, and /ɔ/ also distinguish nasality.

There are two tones: low and high.

References

  1. ↑ Waama at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. 1 2 3 Chanard, Charles (2006). "Systèmes Alphabétiques Des Langues Africaines". Archived from the original on 2018-11-07. Retrieved 2024-12-12.