Yipunu also known as Yisira is a

Bantu language The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a large family of languages spoken by the Bantu people of Central, Southern, Eastern africa and Southeast Africa. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages. The t ...

spoken in the

Republic of Gabon Gabon (; ; snq, Ngabu), officially the Gabonese Republic (french: République gabonaise), is a country on the west coast of Central Africa. Located on the equator, it is bordered by Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, ...

and the

Republic of Congo The Republic of the Congo (french: République du Congo, ln, Republíki ya Kongó), also known as Congo-Brazzaville, the Congo Republic or simply either Congo or the Congo, is a country located in the western coast of Central Africa to the w ...

by several thousand people, mainly of the Punu and Ghisir ethnic groups, the largest of the four major ethnic groups in Gabon. Yipunu has about 120 thousand native speakers, mainly from the southern Region, including 8 thousand speakers in southern French Congo. It is classified as B.43 in the Guthrie classification.

Lexicon

Below is a lexicon from the "Parlons Yipunu", collected by Michel Malherbe.Yipunu Dictionary
/ref> A = he/she Agunyi = where? Agunenyi = who is it? Agon = over there Agunu = here (to here) Amumu = in there Amune = over there Ani = who, which one? Anàne = it's like that, that's it Avene = there Avave = here Avenyi/Avè = where Ba = they Babàke = cut quickly Babàse = fill quickly Babile = to burn Babule = flambé (an animal) Bagule = find Bagunu = to resemble Bagusunu = find a resemblance Bale = to ventilate, to clear away Bali = day Balile = shine Bambige = to tighten Bande = start Bande = bottom Bandebulongu = South Bandekubu = lower abdomen Bandige = to bend Bandimine = to cover Banganga = rootworkers Banyigebibogu = May to June Banze = turn on Bare = to mount, to climb Base = fill Batile = to engulf, to swallow Bé = forked tongue Bebeli = very close to Bèfule = to chip Bège = carry, bring Bèkule = initiate Bele = to be sick Beli = near, close to Beluse = to heal Bembe = touch Bémbige = to rock, to console Bèngusunu = going to meet a third party Beruse = to bring down Bète = to overthrow Bètse = watching over a sick person Biale = to be promoted Bibeji = 2 Bige = to predict misfortune Bike = miss, absent Bikumbu = despicable behavior Bikumbu = news Bileli = a cry to implore Bilongu = remedies, medicine Bindige = lock Bine = 4 Binge = pursue Bingulu = bad habits Birambi = suspicion Biranu = 5 Birieri/Bitatu = 3 Bisiamunu = 6 Bisiemu = potions Biswasu = speed Bituti = dirty water Bitoli = problems Bivatile = stubbornness Boke = kill Bokise = losing a parent Bole = pick up Bonge = to take Boti = good Botse = to wet, soak Bubitu = gums Budige = to block, to obstruct a path Budilu = iron Budungu = to divine Buji = honey Buge = heal Bukanyi = wickedness Bukéti = skill Bukongu = power Bukulu = tradition Bule = to break Bulagu = madness Bumbe = to shape Bumbe = to kiss Bundesti = babysitting Bundumbe = authority, power, wealth Bure = to give birth Burele = hunting Buse = refuse Busine = wealth Butambe = Earth Buvèdi = teasing Buvuandi = beauty Bwage = throw Bwagene = to lament in a group Bwali = evil, disease Bwange = to weave Bwatu = canoe Bwèjise = to make beautiful or good Bwèle = to add Bwile = to bathe Dabule = withdraw Dage = steal, theft Dedi = similarly Dédile = to obey Dèkise = to pour drop by drop Devise = nod of the head Dibabe = mute Dibage = knife Dibaku = misstep Dibale = man, male Dibàle = umbrella Dibàndu = beginning Dibandu = game trap Dibange = play Dibagu = fever Dibanzi = temple, place of initiatory worship Dibéji = annoyance, mockery Dibèri = drop (of water, blood, rain) Dibi = bad deed Dibufu = ash Dibule = to open Dibume = projectile Dibundu = assembly Difube = bulb Difubu = hem Difutu = old plantation Difuitse = moss Dige = kaolin, a clay mineral Digale = coal Digeru = actions of a baby Digebu = wink Digengi = abundance Digobe = respect Digogu = clay Digosu = beverage mixed with breast milk Diguki = heap Digumbi = ship Dijodigeyi = November to December Dijodineni = January to February Dikabu = part Dikibise = teasing, annoyance Dikimbe = initiatory badge Dikongu = spear Dikube = forge, blacksmith Dikuku = bark Dikule = to measure Dikumbi = plane, rocket Dikunde = dove Dikundu = sorcery Dikutu = pole Dilàbuge = stopper Dilambe = dance Dilangi = drunkenness Dilènze = insolence Dilàgu = crazy Dile = win, succeed Dilongi = advice Dilute = hole Dimanyi = stone, pebble, rock Dimbe = to hit Dimbu = village Dimengidiwisi = twilight Dimi = pregnancy Dimungi/Dungembi = fog Dingènde = shriveled thing or person Dingènze = truth, true thing Dingibe = palm wine Dingundu = hip Dingungu = distinctive noise Dinyiki = fly Dingongu = metal box Dinonge = friendship Dinu = tooth Dipaku = branch fork Dipalulu = exit Dipapi = bird's wing Dirambe = swamp, marsh Dirangi = booty cheek Dironde = concubine Dirugeme = sweat Disabu = landing stage Disale = dew Disambeke = shoulder Disambi = razor Disàngu = lung Disite = knot of a rope Disiere = epilepsy Disonge = adultery Disu = eye Ditage = tadpole Ditase = thought Ditebugulu'diwisi = dawn Ditéji = saliva Ditèngu = returning Ditodi = stain Ditsange = tear Ditsatselangi = audacity Ditsutse = crest of a bird Ditu = leech Dituji = ear Ditumbe = fight Divare = good harvest Divase = twin Divembili = gust of wind with rain Divènde = baldness Divesi = flank, beside, on one side Divilu = shaved head Divesu = hate Divite = war, fight Divule = city Divumbu = boil Divuvu = throat Diwavi = jealousy Diwanzi = high forest of branches Diwèle = marriage Diweme = disobedience Diwèru = hour Dobule = to remove Dodise = to comment Dodimine = to examine Doke = to pick Dokimine = observe from afar Dokule = to pick Donze = deepen Dore = to dream Dubabele = stuttering Dubambe = rattan, a plant used to make furniture Dubile = pit Dubongu = raffia fabric Dufu = death Dufunu = price Dugaji = leaf Dugane = scabies pustule, type of disease or infestation Dugange = trap barrier Dugélu = gossip Dugongi = eyelash Dugoru = toad Dugugeme = stuttering Dugunge = flat rock slab Dugungu = imprecatory insult Duguve = animal tick Duke = follow Dukabonu = pangolin Dukande = insomnia Dukonduku/Dilobe = hook Dukuji = flying squirrel Dulombili = village square, courtyard Dumbulu = green Dumise = glorify, boast Dumuge = jump, leap Dumwènu = mirror Dunangu = pride Dunangu = talk in a loud, aggressive manner with little effect Dungwène = chameleon Dure = drink Duru = spoon Durundu = red fruit Dusale = feather Dusambu = prayer Dusavu = tale, fable Dusongu = point Dusosu = splinter Dusugi = hawk Dusièndi = thorn Dute = to shoot Dutsi = sneeze Dutsole = scissors Duvèsi = cockroach Dwale = nail, claw Dwèngu = pot Fife = to suck Fike = drink by filtering the liquid between the teeth Fube = mix Fuge = cut hair Fumu'Nzambi/Fumunzambi = God, supreme being Funde = accuse, denounce Funde = digging Fundu = confabulation Fure = to lie Fute = pay, spit Fwale = France Fwate = go through the small bush Fwèngilile = to slander, to accuse unjustly Fwère = to draw, to pick up Fwimbe = share unequally Fwinyi = tighten by pulling Fwiri = boredom, annoyance Gabe = to share Gabuge = to return Gabuse = to give back Gake = to bite Galene = to dispute an object Game = squeeze, wring Gamuge = to shout Gandise = to prohibit Gànge = to catch, seize Gange = fry, roast Gari = in the middle of Gariwisi = midnight Gebule = to wink, to step Getubulongu = West Gobise = respect Gobule = to spit out Golile = to wash, to rub oil Golule = to shell, to tear Gome = fear, dread Gombe = to scrape, scrape Gonge = bypass Gore = to warm up Gorule = to scratch Gubene = to hit Gubule = dust, brush Gudige = return Gufise = to shorten Gukulile = to imitate, to reproduce Gulu = ancient, old Gulu = to hear, to listen Gumbe = moan, roar, growl Gumbe = to cover, surround Gumbesne = to kiss, to embrace Gumuse = to dry Ibalu = tree bark Ibambe = white man Ibadu = clan Ibedu = sick Ibinde = bad luck Ibindi = corpse, remains Ibonge = turtle Ibotsi = rot Iburu = parent Ibusi = sister Idibutsu = lid Idube = net Idume = danger Idumbitsi = shadow Idumi = thunderclap Idumuimfule = tornado Idune = hole, cavity, cavern Idwaru = garment Ifu = 9 Ifufu = crumb, poor Ifulu = steam bath Ifwale = French language Ifwinzi = poultry crop Igabe = punch Igare = crate, trunk, suitcase Igume = speech, word Igumi/Digumi = 10 Igungule'tubi = flooding of a river Ikadi = bridge Ikaji = corpse Ikambi = performer Ikari = fall Ikémbi = dwarf Ikènzi = cricket Ikibe = shortness of breath Ikoku = bump Ikoku = dance of rejoicing Ikotige = penknife Ikoyi = disabled, paraplegic Ikuku = cooking Ikumbu = fine Ilange = elephant trunk Ilèke = source, origin Ileme = time, moment Ilengi = child Ilibe = oblivion, nothingness Ilime = year Ilimbe = mark Ilindi = raft Ilinge = cassock, robe Ilingilingi = the center of the world Ilombi = short story Ilumbi = message Ilumbu = day Ilunge = earring Image = supernatural event Imomonyi = firefly Imosi = 1 Inane = 8 Inde = will-o'-the-wisp Ingange = church Ingidi = small xylophone Ingume = sterile Inombu = troop, herd Inyunyi = soul, spirit Inunu = elder, old man Ipèle = plate Ipunge = bat Ipupu = peeling Irèle = size Irèndi = piece of cloth Irure = vial Isage = cluster of fruits Isalu = work, profession, task Isambwali = 7 Isange = jug, jar Isangomu = letter Isindu = pollarded tree trunk Isinge = grass Isinzi = pointed stump Isièmu = remedies Isièngu = insult Isièyi = sand Isombule = way of wearing the loincloth Isonyi = shame Isupu = sheath Isusube = bladder Iswasu = cold Iswisu = staring Itale = smokehouse Itande = market Itengi = mask, shard, shell Itsatse = caterpillar Itsibe = deep water Itsige = seat, bed Itsubi = rainy season Itumbe = image, engraving, statue Itunzi = stupid Itutu = bulrush torch Ivaru = plant Ivele = fast Iviovi = hat, cap Jabe = to know Ji = to eat Jibe = gluttony Julunzambi/Julu'nzambi = sky Kabu = anger Kafi = paddle Kage = grandfather, grandmother Kaki = lightning Kale = crab Kambe = missing something Kange = guinea fowl Kangi = fire Katsi = maternal uncle Kédi = morning Kégèngi = fresh Kekigangi/Igangi = short dry season Kekitsubi = short rainy season Kèle = to wait Kèlise = to keep Kibe = to cover Kibise = to annoy, to tease Kile = to iron Kingu = neck Kobi = bag Kobige = to hang Kokolu = sorry Kondini = in vain, uselessly Kôngu = jar, clay jug Kongu = river antelope Kosi = effigy or statue of a deity Kote = to enter Kotise = to bring in Kugumfu = dust Kuke = to sow Kumbu = motto, mantra Kunge = copper Kuñi = deprivation of meat Kuru = armpit Kute = to surround Kuteme = to kneel Kwalele = crosses Kwé/Kwényi = how much? Labe = see Lage = to sow Lambe = to cook Lambi = lamp Lege = to spy Lèle = rocking, caressing, raising a child Lelévi = full, brim Lélige = to take, to suspend Lémbige = to console, to soothe Lèmbule = apply oil on an abscess, caress Lènde = to beg Lènze = to despise Lengule = examine contemplate Leve = make an oath Lile = to cry Linge = traveling Lobe = fish Lobuge = to step over, to cross Loge = bewitch, curse Lubuge = to be clever, cunning, shrewd Lúge = vomit Luge = name Lukule = to complete Longe = teach, promise Mabale = right Mabufu = ashes Madibe = deafness Madudumbi = clouds Madungu = hernia Mafinyi = pus Magetu = left Magunde = century, millennium Make = sap Makengi = slime Makibu = pledge Makiele = dawn Malamu = palm wine Malémbi = hug Malu = confluent, coming together of rivers Malumbi = praise to the ancestors Malungu = blood Mambe = water Mambi = shit Mane = finish Mange = snack Mangele = dry season Mapémi = threats Marangi/Dirangi = booty Masige = yesterday Masuku = claps Mate = to rise, to climb Matsi = oil Mbàlebulongu = East Mbari = palm tree Mbatsi = friend, comrade Mbèle = wrong Mbémbu = voice Mbèngi = ravine, precipice Mbingu = food Mbugu = mouthful Mbùnge = crab shell Mbunge = smell Mbwélili = star Mengu = sharp Mfubu = hippopotamus Mfule = rain Mfumbi = deceased Mfunge = to wrap oneself in a loincloth Mfwange = news of death Milolu = cries of joy Minzi = wolf-dog Mobutsi = savior Monyu = life Moru = ring Mubeji = 2nd Mubiji = wave Mubu = sea, ocean Mudodu = balance Mufu = 9th Mufune = load Mufundu = complaint Mugamu = cry, howl Mugumi = 10th Mukate = skin Mukolu = night Mukongu = hill, mountain Mukube = blacksmith Mukùbe = beak Mukubi = malevolence Mukwati = machete Mukwili = widower, widow Mule = blessing Mulingu = journey Mulumi = husband Mulutso = flame Mumbèngu = small canoe Mumbinge = stilt Munaji = strophanthus poison Munane = 8th Munangasunge = praying mantis Mundumbe = notable, renown Mungongu = musical bow Mungudi = tornado, whirlwind Munombi = black man Mupande = braid Mupume = year Muranu = 5th Murèle = hunter Murieru = 3rd Murondu = eel Musabu = insolence Musambwali = 7th Musamu = short story Musande = umbrella Musiamunu = 6th Musini = eyebrow Musiru = forest Musoli = fallow field Musolu = job, work Musongu = disease Musoñi = flesh, meat Musuge = permission Musulu = boiled Musungu = sugar cane Musièngi = large village Mutu = person, human Muvedi = scar is Muvèmbe = albino Muvige = slave Muvumu = breathing Muweli = month Muyame = rainbow Muyombu = perfume Mwaji = brother-in-law Mwane = child Mwényi = visitor, stranger Mwètse = moonlight Mwine = 4th Mwinzi = filth, dirt Na = with Nane = massage Nangule = to lift Ndami = comrade, friend Ndagu = hut, house Ndétsi = child's rocker Ndige = bait Ndike = small fish basket Ndilu = limit, border Nimbe = colour Ndele = a song which signifies an exchange between the living and the ancestors Ndunge = reason Nemise = to hurt Nènge = to learn Nèngile = to call Nesi = no Ngande = courtyard, village square Ngangakosi = rootworker who traps sorcerers Ngange/Nganga = traditional healer Ngènge = centipede Ngo = panther, leopard Ngomfi = harp Ngombu = raffia Ngondi = flower Ngunge = bell Ngusu = jealousy Ngwangu = stick Nongu = proverb, parable Nwane = to borrow Nyangu = Sun Nza = then Nzale = hunger Nzile = path Nzime = back Nzobu = civet Nzontsi = judge Nzoruru = filth Nzumbili = smoke Nzwingiri = dragonfly Page = resin Pake = to square Pale = exit Pambuge = to wander Pari = pristine forest Pase = split Patula = to tear off Pembi = kaolin mineral Penge = chin Pèni = nudity Pinde = black Pinze = alone, loneliness Pitse = to weigh Pube = mat Pugu = be patient Punge = wind Puni = murderer, thief who robs & kills in forests & mountains Pupe = spray, sprinkle Pupe = move Puve = echo Pwanyi = width, breadth Pwasese = interval Pwele = many Pwiti = hole, crevice Rabile = to burn and leave a wound, to bite Rakule = to snatch Range = read Rangemine = to remember Rarige = to sew Régeme: tremble, shiver Rine = flee, run away Riri = red Rombe = to search Ronde = love Riabe = to cut (dead wood) Sabi = key Sakulebibogu = March to April Sale = to work Sàle = choose Sambile = to pray Sàmbule = to present Sanze = to drive out, to expel Save = desire Sàve = to tell, talk about, denounce Sibe = to sharpen Sige = to play an instrument Sike = to stall Simbe = to greet Sindige = to send Sindile = to push Singisile = to congratulate Sobene = to mix Sole = clear Sopene = exchange Sube = to urinate Sumbe = buy, pay Sumbise = to sell Sumune = to defy a prohibition Sundile = suddenly Sunduge = go down Sungesene = to oppose, parallel Suse = wash Swèkige = to strangle Sweme = to hide Tabule = break, cut Takule = start walking Tale = count Tali = block of stone Tandige = to align Tandubulongu = North Tapele = insolence Tase = to think Tate = dad, father Tate = to express pain Tege = 1st Time = dig Timbuge = bend, be erect Tinde = to send Tsakule = to insult Tsande = loincloth Tsige = to bury Tsimbu = to make a mistake Tsindule = erase, wipe, dust Tsingule = to say, to confess Tsisige = evening, afternoon Tsoke = to prick Tsoli = bird Tsone = week Tsongi = needle Tsugu = prison Tsumbi = September to October Tsune = to watch Tsunde = to discuss Tsungi/Ngonde = Moon Tsungule = to hurt Tsuve = calabash Tuge = surety, pledge Tumbe = flying fast Tumune = attack, provoke Tute = to accumulate, to amass Va = there is Vage = to do Vale = far Vale = to cut Vande = spiritual artifacts Vànde = to make mats, to braid Vàne = to pay, to reimburse Vare = to plant Vate = to be stubborn Vatsi = on the ground Vagusu = in front Vege = give Veme = white, whiteness Vend = lick Vèngutse = except Vère = to shoot a gun Veve = split Viluge = to bloom Vine = to hate Viri = very, intensity Vive = wait Vole = smoking Vombulu = open Vonde = ask Vondinivondini = nonchalantly Vonu = very thin Vose = speak, say Vove = to chat Vule = to undress, become nude Vume = to breathe Vunge = zero, nothing Vuse = to spread, to exhale Wabe = to fish Wabule = take food out of a pot Wake = to receive Wale = to extend Walule = tell a dream Wamuse = to help Wanzemwanzu = village chief Wèle = to marry Wélige = try, compare Wème = to disobey Wimbile = to sing Wisi = time Wivule = to ask Yabutsu = door Yangele = thirst Yanzule = filter, sieve Yari = side Yasi = slice Yélu = measure Yévi = basket Yèse = luck Yisasaku = July to August Yotsi = cold Yusile = heat

References

Languages of Gabon Sira languages Languages of the Republic of the Congo {{Gabon-stub

Lexicon

See also

References