Conversation about Liberian idioms: The way we did back then

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor

 

 

Sometime ago, a young man who I will identify as Wreemongar and I engaged in a healthy conversation; one of those conversations where the person wants to know about the country his parents came from. Wreemongar was born in the United States to Liberian parents. He loves his name because of the meaning – “Money is man.” Two other things he loves about the Liberian culture are the food, and referring to older people as ‘uncles, aunts’, and “when they see you doing something wrong they will not hesitate to tell you to stop; and then will tell you the reason why, and you cannot pass by them without speaking.”

 

” These older folks know you by your name and who your parents are, says Wreemongar.”

 

By the way, Wreemongar is 14 years of age, and an “A” student in middle school. His only regret is he cannot speak his parents’ Bassa Language.

 

On the day of our conversation, Wreemongar approached me to find out what I meant by the statement, “God can’t sleep”. He read my article with the same title. It was published in frontpageafrica and The Liberian Dialogue. His question to me was, “Elder Siah, what do you mean by “God can’t sleep?” He continued, “Are you saying God does not sleep?” My response to him was – “He is God! He can do anything, including not sleeping.” He looked at me with a surprised expression on his face. I said to him “God can’t sleep” is a Liberian idiom. He then asked me, “Please break it down small!” I said to him you just used one Liberian idiom. “Break it down small” is a Liberian idiom! “What then is an idiom?” He asked. Then I said, ‘let’s look it up!’ In no time he found it on his Smart Phone. Here are the results:

 

IDIOMS

Idioms are words, phrases, or expressions that cannot be taken literally. In other words, when used in everyday language, they have a meaning other than the basic one you would find in the dictionary. Every language has its own idioms. Learning them makes understanding and using a language a lot easier and more fun!

 

For example, “break a leg” is a common idiom.

 

Literal meaning: I command you to break a bone in your leg and you should probably go to the doctor afterwards to get it fixed.

 

Idiomatic meaning: Do your best and do well. Often, actors tell each other to “break a leg” before they go out on stage to perform.

http://www.heathermeloche.com/What%20is%20an%20Idiom.htm

 

Examples of idioms and idiomatic usage: English and American

Idioms are, literally ideas as expressions. They develop from older usage, where the words mean something other than their literal meaning. In some cases the meaning of the original expression has been lost, or is an archaism.

Moreover, Idiomatic expression is the extension of the idea of an idiom, using it as the basis of the statement. In many cases this is a more effective use of the language, because it maintains the same subject, and extrapolates its meaning.

There are strong elements of metaphor, and in some cases literary references which shorten language usage because the meaning of the phrase is well known.

A blessing in disguise

Something which seems like a problem has an unexpected beneficial effect or becomes an asset to you.

That sprained foot turns out to be a blessing in disguise; you weren’t in the bus crash because of that.

A chip on your shoulder

This is a grudge for a previous experience. It can apply to people or subjects.

He has real chip on his shoulder about the industry retirement schemes.

Actions speak louder than words

Not passive, active expression of deeds based on opinion or situation. Often relates to a response to debate or indecision. Actions do speak louder than words. He just went and did that.

A doubting Thomas

Derived from the New Testament, refers to the Apostle Thomas, famous for asking questions and needing explanations to be convinced. A true doubting Thomas he insisted on seeing some proof of the whole idea.

A drop in the ocean

A very small part of something! The statement is used to put things into a perspective, generally as a proportionate statement. Their revenue is a drop in the ocean compared to the debts.

A fair-weather friend

One who is a friend during good times and not during hard times! Talk about fair-weather friend, I mentioned my problems with my phone bill and he disappeared for six months.

A fool and his money are soon parted

This idiom is basically a truism. It means stupidity costs money. Like many idioms, the subject of the idiom is sometimes contracted; if you use the phrase.

A dumb investment, it did part him from his money.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

A friend who’s around when you need them is a real friend. In some cases idioms are reshaped into the sentence structure: That was a friend indeed, and was around when he was needed. http://www.examplesof.com/idioms/

 

‘Free-kick’ and ‘Bufeh’

During the late 50’s into the 60’s, boys in Liberia – between the ages of 9 to 13 were engaged in all sorts of playful games, either at school or in the community; two of such games were ‘free-kick’ and ‘bufeh’. Why children played such foolish games, only God knows. It reminds me of what Bill Cosby used to say; “Children do the dawnest thing.” To us, ‘free-kick’ and ’bufeh’ were fun, and we did it for the heck of it.

 

Free-Kick

To enter into ‘free-kick’ you and the other person will have to enter a contract. The contract involves two persons joining their two pinky (the smaller) fingers together and have another person serves as witness. The witness’ duty is to separate the pinky fingers. This very act solidifies the contract; which indicates that the two of you have entered into a ‘free-kick’ contract. This procedure must be repeated to get out of the contract. When ‘free-kick’ is on, the parties involved must keep their one hand on their behind/backside at all times, except when there is truce/time-out; if not, they are likely to get kick in the behind. Any one of the parties can call for a truce/time-out to avoid from being kicked. Also, this same process is used to joining ‘bufeh.’

Bufeh

Bufeh involves knocking food from your opponent’s hand and when it falls on the ground, you say “bufeh, ground hold it!” To prevent your opponent from knocking food from your hand, you must cross your index and middle fingers on the opposite hand when there is food in your other hand. When the food drops to the ground, and you say “bufeh, ground hold it” and the food lands on a dry ground, you who bufehed it, wipes the dirt off and say, “No germ in Africa” and proceed to eat what you bufehed with a smile.

 

In some cases bufeh leads to arguments and fist fights because the person who bufehed the food from your hand did not notice your fingers crossed; he does it from the back of you. Like the song says, “a hungry man is an angry man.” Usually, the person who you bufehed the food from will not be pleased.

 

There is truce/time-out like in ‘free-kick’ but the difference is your opponent will have to agree to the truce/time-out. For example, if you are in the habit of calling for truce/time-out during recess, your opponent may not agree because recess is the favorable time for bufeh. Some of the foods involved in bufeh are: kala, biscuit, chewing gum, doughnut, etc. Here is where “God can’t sleep” comes into play. Let say, your opponent bufehed your kala from you and it falls in pile of dirt or dirty water; your opponent cannot eat it, you then say to him, “Hen, hen, it goody for you; God can’t sleep;” which means I can’t eat it and you can’t too!

 

Find below are Liberian idiomatic expressions and translations:

 

CRAKY Deranged

KATAKATA Not to be trusted

KPANA Not hip

NOKO Soldier

GBALA Police

CROOKED Dishonest

FECE Unskilled

SMALL PEKIN Small boy/girl from Spanish word pequeño meaning

KWII Civilized

CORFRADOMA God damn it

MY MAN My friend

JACK Fool / Name unknown

JOE BLOW A tough person

CIVILISE Educated

PROPOR PROPPING Layered clothing

HUMBUG Troublesome

GBETU Tall

PLOTER Porter

SINGLET Undershirt

SCOBIE Tennis shoes

HUMBLE SHACK One room dwelling

DUAZET Old / Used

COASTER People from down the West Coast, example

Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, etc.

FACE LIKE

DEAD PERSON Face resembles that of a corpse

CHAKLA Scatter or destroy

VARQUE Put a spell on someone

KPANKPA Put a spell on someone

DIDIBY Trickery / Rascal

KROKROGEE Corruption or manipulation by force

COLD WATER Bribe

WARD Someone who lives with another person

THAT THING An issue of little significance

REAL, REAL Something authentic

COUNTRY MOUTH Indigenous language

STATESIDE United States of America

CHICK A girl or female

CORLOR Black American

JUNKLE JUSTICE Kangaroo justice/unfair justice

P.R.O. Public Relations Officer

or (People Reporting Others)

SEESAW Up and Down

HEART/HIDE MAN Killer

TAMNANH Unskilled

BONOHN Unskilled

HELLOVA Huge

ZUTA To be fashionable

ZUTE Fashionable

GIKER TOE Infected toe

C. J. Cane Juice

BLUFF Show off

YANKAN Bluff

YARNAH Vendor

GOAT SOUP Bribe

BURN WIRE Make a connection

STUDENT COMPAION Reference book

FLORIDA WATER Scented water

LETTER WRITER Book of templates

BEND ELBOW To get drunk

BAD MOUTH Rude

BUGGAR Idiot

JUKE Mislead

HOME House or Country

NYNOH ZAAH Woman palaver

GOOD FRIEND My friend

PEOPLE’S THING Political issues

SIDEWALK PREACHER Street evangelist

FIRST, FIRST TIME Initial experience

I NA I did not

W. C. Toilet (latrine) from British expression Water Closet

PINE WINE Wine produced from the pine tree

NYAMANYAMA Grouping of different things

MORLEY Medicine man

GRONA Undisciplined person

FOOT TO FOOT Follow closely

JUJU MAN Medicine man

JEJE WA What is this?

EFE YOU If it were you…

DAT ONE That character

POOR BOY Ordinary guy

POOR GIRL Ordinary female

AFRICAN SCIENCE Put a spell on someone

WORWOR Ugly

DUNGERINE Blue jeans from the American word dungarees

I DEH FOR I stay at

BE DEH Stay put

KUBA Street smart

KETEHKPOT short person

 

Typical Liberian Idiomatic Expressions:
WHO KNOW YOU? You are unknown

YOU KNOW WHO I AM? Don’t you know me

JUKE FINGER IN MY EYE To fool someone

DON’T PLAY WITH ME! Don’t mess with me

I NA PLAYING I am serious

YOU ACTING LIKE CAT

NA LICK YOUR FACE! You are not shy

SOFTLY, SOFTLY CATCH MONKEY Easy does it

YOU CHOP, I CHOP Let’s go fifth, fifth

HE BE BIG MAN Very important person

I COMING I am coming

I GOING I am on my way

DON’T FOOL WITH ME! Don’t mess with me

I LIKE YOU! I love you

YOU THINK I BE FOOL? I am not stupid

DON’T ACT THE FOOL

HERE! Don’t misbehave

MY BELLEH FOR YOU-O My pregnancy is yours

HURRY, HURRY BUSS

TROUZY Too much haste causes accidents

MY STOMACH FULL I have had enough

YOU PUT YOU FOOT IN IT You put your stamp on /You made your name

YOU ACTING LIKE YOU

DON’T KNOW ME! You avoiding me

I WILL MAKE THIS PLACE

SMALL FOR YOU! I will embarrass you

YOU ACTING LIKE YOU

SOMEBODY You’re pretending to be important

THE GIRL TOO FINE! She is pretty

HE RUDE-O He is too rude

SHE TOO FUSSY! She argues a lot

DON’T TROUBLE ME! Don’t bother me/disturb me

HIS STOMACH BIG LIKE

HE NINE MONTHS

PREGNANT He is overweight

TOO MUCH GENTILITY

LEAD TO BRUTALITY! Too much kindness causes problems

MY HEART WORRY! I am disturb

I CAN’T SLEEP

BECAUSE OF YOU! I can’t stop thinking about you

YOU IN MY MIND! I am thinking about you

MY FRIEND DRESS-SMALL! Please move over

YOU SHOWING OFF! You’re bluffing

LAPPALONIA Native woman

AYE HELL TO TELL THE

CAPTAIN! It is difficult situation

I SICK LIKE HELL! I am very ill

YOU THROW ROCK AND

HIDE YOUR HAND! You pretend to be innocent

YOU PULL ROPE, ROPE

PULL BUSH One thing leads to another

GOOD PLAYERS DON’T

FIGHT OVER JERSEY One who is good at doing something doesn’t have to boast or advertise

DET RAW POWER That brute force

COME SEE ME LATER To finalize the deal

THROUGH CRAB,

CRAWFISH DRINK WATER Through the assistance of others goals are achieved

IF YOU PINEAPPLE,

SHOW YOUR JUICE Prove yourself

WHAT IS GOOD IN BILLY

GOAT’S MOUTH WILL RUN

HIS BELLEH Too much of anything is not good

SHIFTING BLAME Finding faults in others

SO, SO, ENGLISH Too much English

I SOR BASSAU I am Bassa

MABAHN COUNTREN Mamba Country

THE BOY NA TRAVEL The boy has travelled

SMELL NO TASTE The smell of the aroma

I DE FOR WAY INSIDE I live all the way inside

MY BELLY DE TALK I am hungry

YOU BETTER MAKE HASTE

QUICK Hurry up

SO PLENTY PEOPLE SAY That’s what many people say

YOU GET BUTT LIKE

WOMAN Your behind is like a woman

PINEWINE CLUB The drinking spot

WALK AROUND ON TEN

TOES Walking barefoot

SO, I SEE I do understand

IT NA BE REAL BUTT It is not a natural behind

IT RELLY BE SOMETHING

- OH! It is real

I CAN’T WAIT TIL DEY FOR

CHICKEN CROW I can’t wait until morning

SOON MORNING PLAWA Early morning fuss or confusion

LAY CURVE To disappear or run off

RAIN OR SHINE Either rain or sunshine or no matter the weather

EAT MY MONEY IN

BREEZE! Use my money for no reason

DOGGONE FOOL A fool or jackass

YOU GET LUCK LIKE A

LOUSY CAT To have bad luck

MAKE DEED Strike a deal

MY RIGHT HAND MAN Someone I depend on

GOOD FOR NOTHING Not of any use

PUT OR JUKE FINGER IN

SOMEBODY’S EYES To cheat someone

LAUGH BEHIND MY BACK Gossip about me in my absence

BROAD OPEN DAY In daylight

YOU BETTEH TRY HARD You are not making sense

THE SAME SIX AND SEVEN Same old thing

YANKAN BOY SHIRT Bluff shirt

Ps AND Qs Be on your best behavior

SO SAY ONE, SO SAY ALL Agrees with everybody

LIBERIAN STANDARD

TIME (LST) Not in a hurry; will get there when I can

THEY SAY That’s what everybody says

GREENBACKS American paper dollars

KINGER Load

KU KA TONOR In Kpelle: “We are one”

STATE SIDE America

THAT YOR KPORMENI In Kpelle: “That is your business”

MY MAIN SQUEEZE My steady boyfriend or girlfriend

MOSQUITO POLICE Not professional police

CHAY, CHAY POLY

or CHI, CHI POLY To gossip

OH MY MAN, WHA YOU ON What are you up to

IT LEE WAY YOU-O It is up to you

MOU FROM HERE, MAN! Excuse me

YOU SAY WHA? What did you say

YOU MOR NA BRING IT

TO ME! Do not provoke me

DAT DIFFREN THING

YOU ON NOW! You are up to some else

DON’T BRING IT TO ME-OH! Don’t mess with me

YOU WANT PIK FUSS? Are you looking palaver

OH, DAT ME YOU WAN TO

BRING IT TO? Do you want to start something with me

YOUN LOOK AT YOURSELF

GOOD, ENH? You did not think it over

LOOK AT THIS ZAM! Look at this fool

IT GOODEY FOR YOU! You deserve it

PLAY, PLAY KILL BIRD! When you play the fool, there are consequences

WHA YOU ON, MY MAN? What are you up to

YOU KNOW PLENTY BOOK You are too bookish

YOU TAKE ME TO PLAY

WITH, ENH You don’t take me seriously

BRING IT TO ME, YOU

WAY SEE! You mess with me and you will see what will happen

YOU BOY, YOUN SCARE

LAW NOTHING, ENH! You are not afraid of anything

KNO YORSEF,

KNO TO CUSS Beware of Skelton in your closet

THERE MORE BEHIND 6

THAN 7! There is more than meet the eye

DEH FOOD TOO SWEET! The food is very delicious

YOU RELLY SATISFY

MY HEART! You please me

DIG HER-O! Like her very much

DIG HIM-O! Like him very much

YOR HEY NOT STRAIGHT,

ENH? You are not acting normal

MY MAN, WHO YOU TAKE

ME FOR? Who do you think I am

DAT THING YOU ON, I NOT

I NA INSIDE-O! What you are doing I am not a part of

DAT JOHN PALM OIL WIS

ON JOHN RICE! Destroying something his family owns

I FEAR YOU-O, YOU

NA EASY! I am afraid of you because you are daring

YOU MON SIT DOWN

THERE! Just wait and see

YOU NA INSIDE-O,

YOU NA KNO! If you’re not part of it, you won’t know

DAT IT NOW, I TYRE! This is enough, I am tired

EIN GOT NO HAY, EIN GOT

NO TAY It makes no sense

WHAT FISH YOU GOT TO

FRY IN IT? It is not your business

WHO YOU KNOW? Who knows you

WHO WANT WORK? I want work

YOU NA KNOW ME! You do not know me

MY WOMAN CALL YOUR

NAME My woman confessed your name

THE FOOD NA SWEET SELF The food is not delicious

MY STOMACH RUNNING I am having diarrhea

BEFORE GOODFOOD WIS,

LET BELLY BUSS Eat all you can eat before throwing away leftovers.

 

Conclusion

According to Mark Twin, “When in doubt, tell the truth…..It is okay to say ‘I don’t know’”. Don’t go about making up lies. Lies have the way of catching up with you. Truth is what last forever! Therefore, take the time to learn about your culture; ‘Better late than never!’ Jesus said, “…You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:32 – NKJV).

 

Wreemongar, the young man in the story got the benefit of my knowledge about his Liberian culture. Someday, he too will tell it to his children or when someone ask him what is meant by ‘“God can’t sleep’ in Liberian Idiom?’” He will remember what to say. I na do my par!

 

NOTE: Liberian Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions were developed with the assistance of Ms. Rinnelle Hilton van Ee. They are found in my new book of poetry: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut.

 

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is Chair of ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut is on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: [email protected].

 

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