dara
The Fulani verb for "stop" is dara.
dara is used to indicate the act of not continuing an action, similar to the English verbs "cease" or "desist".
Meaning: not to continue (verb)
Did you know?
- If you are using dara to tell someone to stop a behavior, you might find that the social hierarchy of the region dictates whether you use a softening particle to avoid appearing aggressive.
- Because Fulani is a tonal language, the pitch used when saying dara can distinguish between different meanings that a written English learner might miss.
- While English uses 'stop' for both a car and a conversation, Fulani speakers often choose different verbs depending on whether they are stopping a physical movement or an abstract process.
Examples in context
- Mi yiɗi dara.I want to stop.
Example conversation
Kadiatou is asking Amadou to stop making noise while she studies.
- KadiatouAmadou, dara kalla jooni!Amadou, stop shouting now!
- AmadouMbe mawnatake, mi daraa.I am sorry, I will stop.
- KadiatouMi yidi jam ngari.I want peace here.
- AmadouHaa, mi daraa kalla.Okay, I'll stop the noise.
