Pichinglis

Introduction

Pichinglis is an Atlantic English-lexicon Creole language spoken on the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. It is an offshoot of the Krio language of Sierra Leone, and was brought to Bioko by Krios who immigrated to the island during the colonial era in the 19th century.

The Pichinglis Verb

Verbs are divided into stative verbs, inchoative-stative verbs, and dynamic verbs.

Stative Verbs

fit ‘can’, hebul ‘be capable’, lɛk ‘like’, min ‘mean (to)’, nid ‘need’, want ‘want’, bi ‘BE’, de ‘BE.AT’, blant ‘reside’, fiba ‘resemble, seem’, tink ‘think’.

Stative verbs do not co-occur with the imperfective marker dè IPFV’.

Inchoative-stative Verbs

The class of inchoative-stative verbs includes three semantic classes that belong to the large group of labile verbs:

• change of state verbs, locative verbs and property items.
• 2 verbs of possession: gɛt ‘get, have’, hol ‘seize, keep’
• 2 verbs of cognition: sàbí ‘(get to) know’, no ‘(get to) know’
• 1 verb of perception: si ‘see, catch sight of’
• 1 verb of existence in time and space: kɔ̀mɔ́t ‘come from; hail from’

The class of inchoative-stative verbs is therefore much larger than that of stative verbs, which only has a few members.

Dynamic Verbs

Dynamic verbs may appear freely with the imperfective marker dè ‘IPFV’ and in ingressive auxiliary constructions featuring the aspectual/phasal verb bìgín ‘begin’

Most of the verbs in the list below are dynamic verbs.

TMA Tense, Mood, Aspect

The core tense-mood-aspect (TMA) system is constituted by particles which express central notions such as imperfective aspect or potential mood. In the non-core system, auxiliary verbs express aspectual and modal notions in serial verb constructions.

• bìn: past(-before-past) tense, imperfective aspect, past conditional mood
• dè: present tense, imperfective aspect, hypothetical mood
• kan: past tense, perfective aspect, realis mood
• dɔn: past tense, perfect aspect, realis mood
• kìn: present tense, habitual/iterative aspect
• gò: future tense, potential mood
• mek: inherently future tense, subjunctive mood
• fɔ̀: obligation/past conditional mood
• mɔ̀s: obligation mood

Verblist

• aburre -- be bored. From: Spanish.
• adopta -- adopt, act as a guardian to a child.
• àdváys -- advise.
• aguanta -- bear, persevere. From: Spanish.
• aks -- ask. Variant: haks.
• alquila -- rent (a taxi, house). From: Spanish.
• ambiente -- party, live it up, have fun. Usage:
• ansa -- answer. Variant: hansa.
• ayɛn -- iron. Variant: hayɛn.
• baba -- have a hair cut, shave beard.
• bad -- (be) bad.
• bàdhát -- be mean. Morph: bàd-hat.
• baf -- bathe.
• baja -- go down, take down. See: go dɔn.
• bànfá -- spoil a child. PICHI–ENGLISH
• bàptáys -- baptise.
• bautiza -- baptise. See: bàptáys. From:
• bay -- buy.
• bɔn -- 1) give birth; be born.
• bɔs -- burst (open).
• bɔt -- hit with the head; (cause to)
• bɛg -- ask for, implore.
• bɛlch -- belch.
• bɛ̀lfúl -- be satiated, full. Variant: bɛlɛ̀fúl.
• bɛn -- bend (over); fold.
• bɛr -- bury.
• bɛt -- bite.
• bɛta -- (be) very good, excellent. Variant:
• bi -- identity copula.
• bia -- bear.
• big -- (be) big.
• bìgín -- begin.
• bil -- build.
• bìlíf -- believe.
• bis -- repeat. From: Spanish.
• bisin -- bother (about); be busy (with).
• bit -- beat.
• blak -- (be) black, of dark colour.
• blant -- reside.
• blo -- blow (air). relax, rest.
• blu -- (be) blue.
• braket -- coincide, be on par with.
• brayt -- be bright, radiant. VOCABULARY
• brek -- dawn.
• bring -- bring.
• brok -- break, be broken.
• bùtú -- stoop over.
• bwɛl -- boil.
• chak -- be drunk.
• chàkrá -- scatter, ruin, destroy; fall out with
• cham -- chew.
• chap -- chop, cut off.
• chapea -- weed. From: Spanish.
• chɔp -- eat.
• chench -- change.
• chɛk -- think; check (out).
• chɛr -- tear.
• chik -- insult; provoke.
• chikìlís -- tickle.
• chuk -- pierce, stab, sting.
• ɔndàstán -- understand.
• cobra -- charge, receive.
• ɔt -- extinguish.
• cuenta -- narrate. See: pul tòrí; tɛl.
• dak -- be dark.
• das -- give as a present, for free.
• day -- die; death.
• dɔn -- be done, finished.
• dɔ̀tí -- be dirty.
• desayuna -- have breakfast. From: Spanish.
• dia -- be expensive.
• difrɛn -- (be) different.
• dig -- dig.
• dìnáy -- deny, refuse.
• dip -- be deep.
• disfruta -- enjoy (oneself). From: Spanish.
• dray -- be dry; be haggard, thin.
• drɔ -- 1) draw, remove; be sticky (of an
• drɔngo -- be dead drunk.
• drɛb -- drive (a vehicle); chase away.
• dring -- drink.
• du -- do, make; be enough.
• eks -- bounce.
• evi -- 1) be heavy. 2) be impressive.
• ɛnta -- enter.
• ɛnti -- be empty.
• ɛ̀skyús -- excuse.
• ɛ̀splén -- explain.
• fa -- be far.
• fala -- accompany, follow.
• fat -- (be) fat. Fart
• fawe -- (be) far. See: fa.
• fɔ̀dɔ́n -- fall.
• fɔ̀gɛ́t -- forget.
• fɔk -- fuck. Usage: informal.
• fɔl -- rain.
• fɔs -- force.
• fɛn -- look for.
• fɛt -- fight.
• fia -- fear. Variant: fiɛ.
• fiba -- resemble; seem.
• fija -- notice, remark, pay attention. From:
• fiks -- fix, arrange; repair.
• fil -- feel.
• finis -- finish.
• fisin -- fish. See: fis.
• fit -- can, be able.
• fìtyáy -- cheek, offend.
• flay -- fly. 2) rush (to a place).
• fling -- fling, throw with force.
• fray -- fry.
• frɛs -- (be) fresh.
• ful -- be foolish.
• fulɔp -- fill, be full.
• fulis -- (be) foolish.
• gɛt -- get, acquire, have, be in permanent
• gi -- give. Variant: gi
• gladin -- be happy.
• go -- go, leave.
• graba -- record. From: Spanish.
• grap -- get up.
• gri -- agree, allow.
• gridi -- be greedy, stingy. Variant: gridin.
• grin -- (be) green.
• gro -- grow.
• had -- be hard.
• hala -- shout.
• hama -- hammer.
• hàmbɔ́g -- bother.
• hangri -- be hungry. Variant: hangrin.
• hayd -- hide.
• hɔnti -- hunt. Variant: hɔntin.
• hɔri -- hurry, rush. Variant: hɔrin.
• hɔt -- be hot, warm.
• hebul -- be capable, able.
• hes -- lift.
• hɛlp -- help. Variant: hɛp.
• hɛng -- hang (onto).
• hia -- hear, understand. Variant: hiɛ, yɛr.
• hib -- heave; throw.
• hol -- hold; keep, be in temporary
• huk -- hook, hook arms.
• intenta -- intend, try. From: Spanish.
• isi -- (be) easy. Variant: isin.
• jam -- make contact, be in contact.
• jɔch -- judge.
• jɛlɔs -- envy, be jealous.
• jump -- jump.
• jwɛn -- join.
• kàká -- defecate.
• kan -- 1) come. 2) narrative perfective
• kàpú -- fight over; seize.
• kɔba -- cover.
• kɔf -- cough.
• kɔl -- call.
• kɔ̀mɔ́t -- 1) go out, come out. 2) turn out,
• kɔ̀mplít -- be complete.
• kɔ̀nfyús -- confuse.
• kɔnt -- count.
• kɔ̀rɛ́t -- be correct; correct, discipline.
• kɔs -- cost. insult, offend.
• kɔstɔn -- be used to, be accustomed to.
• kɔt -- cut; have sex.
• kech -- catch.
• kechɔp -- realise.
• kɛr -- carry; take; last. Variant: kɛr(i);
• kik -- kick.
• kil -- kill.
• kip -- keep.
• klem -- climb.
• klɛva -- be clever.
• klia -- be clear.
• klin -- be clean.
• kol -- be cold.
• kras -- crash.
• kray -- cry.
• krɔb -- scrub; have sex. Usage: informal.
• krɔs -- cross.
• kres -- be crazy, mad.
• kuk -- cook.
• kwɛnch -- die (off).
• laf -- laugh.
• lan -- learn, teach.
• las -- be last; end up; endure.
• lay -- lie.
• layt -- 1) light, be lit. 2) be tipsy.
• lɔk -- close; lock.
• lɔki -- be lucky. Variant: lɔkin.
• lɔn -- (be) long, tall.
• le -- lie, lay.
• lesi -- be lazy. Variant: lesin.
• let -- be late; late (deceased).
• lɛf -- 1) remain; leave (tr.), stop;
• lif -- live; reside. See: layf.
• lilí -- (be) little, tiny.
• ling -- lean against, be reclined; lounge.
• lonson -- be lonely, miss (a person).
• luk -- look.
• manech -- manage.
• mared -- marry.
• mas -- mash; tread on.
• mayn -- mind, care for. Variant: mɛn.
• mek -- make, do; causative verb.
• mekes -- hurry.
• mɛmba -- remember, remind; think of, think
• mɛn -- 1) care for, mind. 2) cure. Variant:
• miks -- mix.
• min -- mean (to), intend.
• mit -- meet; find.
• mitɔp -- meet.
• muf -- move.
• nak -- hit; make love to; gulp down a drink.
• nays -- (be) nice.
• nekɛd -- be naked.
• netif -- (be) customary.
• nid -- need.
• no -- know.
• nyàngá -- put on airs, coquet.
• nyu -- (be) new.
• ol -- (be) old.
• opin -- be open. Variant: hopin.
• opìnyáy -- be enlightened, cultivated. Morph:
• òva-hɔt -- be overhot, overheat.
• pàchá -- party, live it up, have fun. Usage:
• pak -- pack; fill, be full.
• pas -- 1) pass (by); standard marker in
• pɔnis -- punish.
• pe -- pay.
• pen -- pain.
• pent -- paint.
• pik -- pick (up).
• pil -- peel.
• pin -- stick in(to).
• pinch -- pinch. Variant: spinch.
• pìpí -- urinate.
• plant -- 1) plant. 2) plait (hair).
• ple -- play.
• po -- (be) poor.
• prawd -- (be) boastful, proud.
• prɔmis -- promise.
• pruf -- prove; disclose.
• pul -- pull, remove.
• pus -- push.
• put -- put.
• pyɔ -- (be) pure.
• rawn -- surround.
• raya -- grate. From: Spanish.
• rayt -- write.
• rɔb -- rub.
• rɔn -- (be) wrong. run.
• rɔtin -- rot.
• rèfyús -- refuse.
• rɛd -- (be) red, orange. PICHI–ENGLISH
• rɛ̀dí -- prepare.
• rɛp -- be ripe.
• rɛs -- rest.
• rɛ̀spɛ́t -- respect, admire.
• rich -- arrive; reach; (to) equal.
• ros -- roast, burn.
• sàbí -- know; know how to.
• saf -- (be) soft.
• saful -- be careful; slow; smooth, cool.
• sàlút -- greet.
• sawa -- shower.
• sayn -- sign.
• sɔfa -- suffer.
• sɔri -- feel sorry. Variant: sɔrin.
• sɔt -- (be) short. Variant: syɔt.
• se -- say.
• seb -- share, divide. Variant: syeb.
• sek -- shake; dance. Variant: syek.
• sem -- be ashamed; put to shame. Variant:
• sɛl -- sell.
• sɛn -- send, throw with aim.
• si -- see; find.
• sìdɔ́n -- sit (down); reside. Variant: sidɔ́n.
• sifta -- sift.
• sigue -- continue, follow. From: Spanish.
• sik -- be sick.
• sing -- sing.
• siryɔs -- (be) serious.
• skia -- be scared, scare.
• skrach -- scratch. Variant: krach.
• skwis -- squeeze. Variant: kwis.
• slak -- be loose, loosen.
• slap -- slap.
• slim -- (be) slim.
• slip -- lie, lay; sleep; have sex.
• smat -- (be) fast.
• smɔl -- (be) small.
• smɔ̀lskín -- be thin, emaciated.
• smɛl -- smell.
• so -- show. sew.
• sok -- be wet.
• spɛn -- spend.
• spia -- spy on, tail somebody.
• spit -- spit.
• spot -- be stylish, dressed up; exhibit the
• spwɛl -- spoil; use up.
• stat -- start.
• stawt -- (be) corpulent.
• stɔp -- stop.
• ste -- stay; last (a long time).
• strɔn -- (be) strong; (be) hard; (be) difficult;
• stret -- (be) straight; respectable; sincere.
• sub -- shove, push.
• sube -- go up, take up. See: go ɔp. From: PICHI–ENGLISH
• sut -- shoot.
• swɛla -- swallow.
• swɛt -- sweat.
• swin -- swim. Variant: swim.
• swit -- 1) (be) tasty. 2) be sweet.
• tanap -- stand (up). See: tinap. Variant: stanap.
• tay -- tie.
• taya -- be tired.
• tayt -- be tight, tighten.
• tɔch -- touch.
• tɔk -- talk.
• tɔn -- 1) turn. 2) become.
• tɔsti -- be thirsty. Variant: tɔstin.
• tek -- take. See: kyɛr.
• tɛl -- tell, narrate.
• tich -- teach.
• tif -- steal.
• tik -- (be) thick.
• tinap -- stand (up), put into an upright
• tink -- think.
• tot -- carry.
• tranga -- (be) strong; (be) hard; (be) difficult.
• travul -- travel.
• tray -- try; make an effort.
• tren -- train; educate, bring up. See: trenin.
• trimbul -- tremble. Variant: strimbul. VOCABULARY
• tròwé -- 1) throw (away). 2) pour.
• tru -- (be) true.
• tun -- 1) tune. 2) persuade, chat up.
• vɔmit -- vomit.
• vɛks -- be angry.
• viaja -- travel. From: Spanish.
• vìsít -- visit.
• wach -- watch.
• waka -- walk. Variant: wɔk.
• wanda -- wonder. Variant: wɔnda.
• want -- want.
• was -- wash.
• wayp -- wipe.
• wayt -- (be) white, light, clear.
• wɔk -- walk. Usage: rare. See: waka.
• wɔri -- worry. Variant: wɔrin.
• wek -- wake (up).
• wekɔp -- wake (up).
• wet -- wait.
• wɛl -- be well.
• wɛr -- wear; dress up.
• wich -- bewitch.
• wikɛd -- (be) wicked.
• win -- win; defeat.
• wos -- be very bad.
• yɛr -- hear, understand. See: hia.
• yun -- (be) young. Variant: nyun.
• yus -- use. Variant: nyus.

External Links

• A Grammar of Pichi. Kofi Yakpo.
• Survey chapter: Pichi