waz-otu n-uwa rherheɽu‿ɛe
[ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ ˩ ˥ \ ] “divide yourselves
in gangs that you may do it in
time!” z-owɛ [ ˥ ˩ ] to step. z-ɔkã
[ ˩ ˥ ] to shout (at somebody); to
speak harshly; ɔz-ɔkã da ʋ̃ɛ (da
[ / ]) [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ ] he is (always) shout-
ing at me (but “to shout to
somebody” is da [ ˥ ] tie [ / ]).
z-ɔrhɔ̃ [ ˥ ˩ ] to purify oneself from
being a widow. z-ɔxi-aɽo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ]
lit. “to have a strong eye (?)”:
to make a pretence of strength
or power, in order to obtain
something. z-unu [ ˩ ˥ ] “to choose
mouth”: to be squeamish about
one’s food, cf. izunu [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ]. z-uwu
[ ˩ ˥ ] “to choose death”: to com-
mit suicide, v. z-ɛgbɛle [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ]. (3)
to send; iz-ɔʋ̃a bu‿ɛɽe [ ˩ ˥ (4-1) ˩ ˥ ˩ ]
I sent a man to meet him.
zɛ 2 [ ˥ ] to be proud (in a good sense).
z-aɽo [ ˥ ˩ ] to be severe; iz-aɽo mu‿
ɛ̃, ɔkeɣaxiã [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˥ \ ˩ ˥ ˦ ˦ ] I was se-
vere with him, and then he went.
zɛ 3 [ ˥ ] an auxiliary verb in-
dicating that the main action
is performed or has been per-
formed for some time. zɛ [ ˥ ]
kpɛe [ / ] (to be) soon; iɣas-odɔ
ʋ-azɛkpɛe [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ / ˩ / ] I shall
arrive there soon; lit. “when it
has lasted some time”.
zɛ 4 [ ˥ ] to speak a certain
language; ɔz-ɛdo [ ˩ ˩ ˥ ] he speaks
Bini (or [ ˩ ˥ ˦ ] e.g. when hearing
a foreigner suddenly speaking
Bini); ɔz-uhobo [ ˩ ˥ ˩ ˩ ] he speaks
Sobo. z-edu [ ˩ ˥ ] to interpret;
edu n-ɔzɛ ma gbe [ ˩ ˩ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ] the
interpretation (which he per-
forms) is very good.
zɛ ʋe [ ˥ ˦ ] as; according to;
ma ɽu‿ɛe zɛ ʋ-en-uxaɽe [ ˩ ˥ / ˦ ˧ ˨ / ˩ ]
we did it as you said; cf. zɛɛ [ ˦ ].
