mi yiɗi ma
The English phrase "i love you" is translated into Fulani as mi yiɗi ma.
mi yiɗi ma is used to express an affirmation of romantic feeling. The verb within the phrase is versatile, covering both the concept of loving someone and the concept of wanting someone depending on the context.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of mi (I), yiɗi (want/love) and ma (you).
Did you know?
- Because 'wanting' and 'loving' share the same root, a Fulani speaker might use the same word to describe a craving for food as they do for a person.
- If you wish to express a more profound, soul-deep love, some speakers use the verb enam instead of the more common yiɗi.
- Fulani is spoken across a vast area from Senegal to Sudan, so a person in Guinea might use a slightly different verb than someone in Cameroon to express the same feeling.
Examples in context
- Mi yiɗi ma.I love you.
Example conversation
A couple is sitting together in a quiet garden at sunset.
- OumarHawa, mi yiɗi ma.Hawa, I love you.
- HawaMi yiɗi ma kadi, Oumar.I love you too, Oumar.
- OumarMi yiɗi ma sanne.I love you very much.
- HawaMi yiɗi ma kadi.I love you too.
