Yipunu, also known as Yisira, is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Congo by several thousand people, mainly of the Punu and Ghisir ethnic groups, the largest of the four major ethnic groups in Gabon. Yipunu has about 120 thousand native speakers, mainly from the southern Region, including 8 thousand speakers in southern French Congo. It is classified as B.43 in the Guthrie classification.
Phonology
Consonants LabialAlveolarPalatalVelarPlosivevoicelessvoiced()prenasal vl.prenasal vd.AffricateFricativevoicelessvoicedprenasalNasalRhoticLateralApproximant
/ɣ/ can also be heard as [ɡ] in free variation. /ᶬf, ⁿz/ can also be heard as voiceless [ᶬv, ⁿs] in free variation.
Vowels FrontCentralBackClose Mid Open
Vowels /a, e, o, eː, oː/ may also range to [ə, ɛ, ɔ, ɛː, ɔː]. /i/ before sounds /u, w/ may be heard as an approximant [ɥ].
Lexicon
Below is a lexicon from the "Parlons Yipunu", collected by Mabik-ma-Kombil.Yipunu Dictionary
A = he/she
Agunyi = where?
Agunenyi = who is it?
Agon = over there
Agunu = here (to here)
Amumu = in there
Amune = over there
Ani = who, which one?
Anàne = it's like that, that's it
Avene = there
Avave = here
Avenyi/Avè = where
Ba = they
Babàke = cut quickly
Babàse = fill quickly
Babile = to burn
Babule = flambé (an animal)
Bagule = find
Bagunu = to resemble
Bagusunu = find a resemblance
Bale = to ventilate, to clear away
Bali = day
Balile = shine
Bambige = to tighten
Bande = start
Bande = bottom
Bandebulongu = South
Bandekubu = lower abdomen
Bandige = to bend
Bandimine = to cover
Banganga = rootworkers
Banyigebibogu = May to June
Banze = turn on
Bare = to mount, to climb
Base = fill
Batile = to engulf, to swallow
Bé = forked tongue
Bebeli = very close to
Bèfule = to chip
Bège = carry, bring
Bèkule = initiate
Bele = to be sick
Beli = near, close to
Beluse = to heal
Bembe = touch
Bémbige = to rock, to console
Bèngusunu = going to meet a third party
Beruse = to bring down
Bète = to overthrow
Bètse = watching over a sick person
Biale = to be promoted
Bibeji = 2
Bige = to predict misfortune
Bike = miss, absent
Bikumbu = despicable behavior
Bikumbu = news
Bileli = a cry to implore
Bilongu = remedies, medicine
Bindige = lock
Bine = 4
Binge = pursue
Bingulu = bad habits
Birambi = suspicion
Biranu = 5
Birieri/Bitatu = 3
Bisiamunu = 6
Bisiemu = potions
Biswasu = speed
Bituti = dirty water
Bitoli = problems
Bivatile = stubbornness
Boke = kill
Bokise = losing a parent
Bole = pick up
Bonge = to take
Boti = good
Botse = to wet, soak
Bubitu = gums
Budige = to block, to obstruct a path
Budilu = iron
Budungu = to divine
Buji = honey
Buge = heal
Bukanyi = wickedness
Bukéti = skill
Bukongu = power
Bukulu = tradition
Bule = to break
Bulagu = madness
Bumbe = to shape
Bumbe = to kiss
Bundesti = babysitting
Bundumbe = authority, power, wealth
Bure = to give birth
Burele = hunting
Buse = refuse
Busine = wealth
Butambe = Earth
Buvèdi = teasing
Buvuandi = beauty
Bwage = throw
Bwagene = to lament in a group
Bwali = evil, disease
Bwange = to weave
Bwatu = canoe
Bwèjise = to make beautiful or good
Bwèle = to add
Bwile = to bathe
Dabule = withdraw
Dage = steal, theft
Dedi = similarly
Dédile = to obey
Dèkise = to pour drop by drop
Devise = nod of the head
Dibabe = mute
Dibage = knife
Dibaku = misstep
Dibale = man, male
Dibàle = umbrella
Dibàndu = beginning
Dibandu = game trap
Dibange = play
Dibagu = fever
Dibanzi = temple, place of initiatory worship
Dibéji = annoyance, mockery
Dibèri = drop (of water, blood, rain)
Dibi = bad deed
Dibufu = ash
Dibule = to open
Dibume = projectile
Dibundu = assembly
Difube = bulb
Difubu = hem
Difutu = old plantation
Difuitse = moss
Dige = kaolin, a clay mineral
Digale = coal
Digeru = actions of a baby
Digebu = wink
Digengi = abundance
Digobe = respect
Digogu = clay
Digosu = beverage mixed with breast milk
Diguki = heap
Digumbi = ship
Dijodigeyi = November to December
Dijodineni = January to February
Dikabu = part
Dikibise = teasing, annoyance
Dikimbe = initiatory badge
Dikongu = spear
Dikube = forge, blacksmith
Dikuku = bark
Dikule = to measure
Dikumbi = plane, rocket
Dikunde = dove
Dikundu = sorcery
Dikutu = pole
Dilàbuge = stopper
Dilambe = dance
Dilangi = drunkenness
Dilènze = insolence
Dilàgu = crazy
Dile = win, succeed
Dilongi = advice
Dilute = hole
Dimanyi = stone, pebble, rock
Dimbe = to hit
Dimbu = village
Dimengidiwisi = twilight
Dimi = pregnancy
Dimungi/Dungembi = fog
Dingènde = shriveled thing or person
Dingènze = truth, true thing
Dingibe = palm wine
Dingundu = hip
Dingungu = distinctive noise
Dinyiki = fly
Dingongu = metal box
Dinonge = friendship
Dinu = tooth
Dipaku = branch fork
Dipalulu = exit
Dipapi = bird's wing
Dirambe = swamp, marsh
Dirangi = booty cheek
Dironde = concubine
Dirugeme = sweat
Disabu = landing stage
Disale = dew
Disambeke = shoulder
Disambi = razor
Disàngu = lung
Disite = knot of a rope
Dissiere = epilepsy
Disonge = adultery
Disu = eye
Ditage = tadpole
Ditase = thought
Ditebugulu'diwisi = dawn
Ditéji = saliva
Ditèngu = returning
Ditodi = stain
Ditsange = tear
Ditsatselangi = audacity
Ditsutse = crest of a bird
Ditu = leech
Dituji = ear
Ditumbe = fight
Divare = good harvest
Divase = twin
Divembili = gust of wind with rain
Divènde = baldness
Divesi = flank, beside, on one side
Divilu = shaved head
Divesu = hate
Divite = war, fight
Divule = city
Divumbu = boil
Divuvu = throat
Diwavi = jealousy
Diwanzi = high forest of branches
Diwèle = marriage
Diweme = disobedience
Diwèru = hour
Dobule = to remove
Dodise = to comment
Dodimine = to examine
Doke = to pick
Dokimine = observe from afar
Dokule = to pick
Donze = deepen
Dore = to dream
Dubabele = stuttering
Dubambe = rattan, a plant used to make furniture
Dubile = pit
Dubongu = raffia fabric
Dufu = death
Dufunu = price
Dugaji = leaf
Dugane = scabies pustule, type of disease or infestation
Dugange = trap barrier
Dugélu = gossip
Dugongi = eyelash
Dugoru = toad
Dugugeme = stuttering
Dugunge = flat rock slab
Dugungu = imprecatory insult
Duguve = animal tick
Duke = follow
Dukabonu = pangolin
Dukande = insomnia
Dukonduku/Dilobe = hook
Dukuji = flying squirrel
Dulombili = village square, courtyard
Dumbulu = green
Dumise = glorify, boast
Dumuge = jump, leap
Dumwènu = mirror
Dunangu = pride
Dunangu = talk in a loud, aggressive manner with little effect
Dungwène = chameleon
Dure = drink
Duru = spoon
Durundu = red fruit
Dusale = feather
Dusambu = prayer
Dusavu = tale, fable
Dusongu = point
Dusosu = splinter
Dusugi = hawk
Dusièndi = thorn
Dute = to shoot
Dutsi = sneeze
Dutsole = scissors
Duvèsi = cockroach
Dwale = nail, claw
Dwèngu = pot
Fife = to suck
Fike = drink by filtering the liquid between the teeth
Fube = mix
Fuge = cut hair
Fumu'Nzambi/Fumunzambi = God, supreme being
Funde = accuse, denounce
Funde = digging
Fundu = confabulation
Fure = to lie
Fute = pay, spit
Fwale = France
Fwate = go through the small bush
Fwèngilile = to slander, to accuse unjustly
Fwère = to draw, to pick up
Fwimbe = share unequally
Fwinyi = tighten by pulling
Fwiri = boredom, annoyance
Gabe = to share
Gabuge = to return
Gabuse = to give back
Gake = to bite
Galene = to dispute an object
Game = squeeze, wring
Gamuge = to shout
Gandise = to prohibit
Gànge = to catch, seize
Gange = fry, roast
Gari = in the middle of
Gariwisi = midnight
Gebule = to wink, to step
Getubulongu = West
Gobise = respect
Gobule = to spit out
Golile = to wash, to rub oil
Golule = to shell, to tear
Gome = fear, dread
Gombe = to scrape, scrape
Gonge = bypass
Gore = to warm up
Gorule = to scratch
Gubene = to hit
Gubule = dust, brush
Gudige = return
Gufise = to shorten
Gukulile = to imitate, to reproduce
Gulu = ancient, old
Gulu = to hear, to listen
Gumbe = moan, roar, growl
Gumbe = to cover, surround
Gumbesne = to kiss, to embrace
Gumuse = to dry
Ibalu = tree bark
Ibambe = white man
Ibadu = clan
Ibedu = sick
Ibinde = bad luck
Ibindi = corpse, remains
Ibonge = turtle
Ibotsi = rot
Iburu = parent
Ibusi = sister
Idibutsu = lid
Idube = net
Idume = danger
Idumbitsi = shadow
Idumi = thunderclap
Idumuimfule = tornado
Idune = hole, cavity, cavern
Idwaru = garment
Ifu = 9
Ifufu = crumb, poor
Ifulu = steam bath
Ifwale = French language
Ifwinzi = poultry crop
Igabe = punch
Igare = crate, trunk, suitcase
Igume = speech, word
Igumi/Digumi = 10
Igungule'tubi = flooding of a river
Ikadi = bridge
Ikaji = corpse
Ikambi = performer
Ikari = fall
Ikémbi = dwarf
Ikènzi = cricket
Ikibe = shortness of breath
Ikoku = bump
Ikoku = dance of rejoicing
Ikotige = penknife
Ikoyi = disabled, paraplegic
Ikuku = cooking
Ikumbu = fine
Ilange = elephant trunk
Ilèke = source, origin
Ileme = time, moment
Ilengi = child
Ilibe = oblivion, nothingness
Ilime = year
Ilimbe = mark
Ilindi = raft
Ilinge = cassock, robe
Ilingilingi = the center of the world
Ilombi = short story
Ilumbi = message
Ilumbu = day
Ilunge = earring
Image = supernatural event
Imomonyi = firefly
Imosi = 1
Inane = 8
Inde = will-o'-the-wisp
Ingange = church
Ingidi = small xylophone
Ingume = sterile
Inombu = troop, herd
Inyunyi = soul, spirit
Inunu = elder, old man
Ipèle = plate
Ipunge = bat
Ipupu = peeling
Irèle = size
Irèndi = piece of cloth
Irure = vial
Isage = cluster of fruits
Isalu = work, profession, task
Isambwali = 7
Isange = jug, jar
Isangomu = letter
Isindu = pollarded tree trunk
Isinge = grass
Isinzi = pointed stump
Isièmu = remedies
Isièngu = insult
Isièyi = sand
Isombule = way of wearing the loincloth
Isonyi = shame
Isupu = sheath
Isusube = bladder
Iswasu = cold
Iswisu = staring
Itale = smokehouse
Itande = market
Itengi = mask, shard, shell
Itsatse = caterpillar
Itsibe = deep water
Itsige = seat, bed
Itsubi = rainy season
Itumbe = image, engraving, statue
Itunzi = stupid
Itutu = bulrush torch
Ivaru = plant
Ivele = fast
Iviovi = hat, cap
Jabe = to know
Ji = to eat
Jibe = gluttony
Julunzambi/Julu'nzambi = sky
Kabu = anger
Kafi = paddle
Kage = grandfather, grandmother
Kaki = lightning
Kale = crab
Kambe = missing something
Kange = guinea fowl
Kangi = fire
Katsi = maternal uncle
Kédi = morning
Kégèngi = fresh
Kekigangi/Igangi = short dry season
Kekitsubi = short rainy season
Kèle = to wait
Kèlise = to keep
Kibe = to cover
Kibise = to annoy, to tease
Kile = to iron
Kingu = neck
Kobi = bag
Kobige = to hang
Kokolu = sorry
Kondini = in vain, uselessly
Kôngu = jar, clay jug
Kongu = river antelope
Kosi = effigy or statue of a deity
Kote = to enter
Kotise = to bring in
Kugumfu = dust
Kuke = to sow
Kumbu = motto, mantra
Kunge = copper
Kuñi = deprivation of meat
Kuru = armpit
Kute = to surround
Kuteme = to kneel
Kwalele = crosses
Kwé/Kwényi = how much?
Labe = see Lage = to sow
Lambe = to cook
Lambi = lamp
Lege = to spy
Lèle = rocking, caressing, raising a child
Lelévi = full, brim
Lélige = to take, to suspend
Lémbige = to console, to soothe
Lèmbule = apply oil on an abscess, caress
Lènde = to beg
Lènze = to despise
Lengule = examine contemplate
Leve = make an oath
Lile = to cry
Linge = traveling
Lobe = fish
Lobuge = to step over, to cross
Loge = bewitch, curse
Lubuge = to be clever, cunning, shrewd
Lúge = vomit
Luge = name
Lukule = to complete
Longe = teach, promise
Mabale = right
Mabufu = ashes
Madibe = deafness
Madudumbi = clouds
Madungu = hernia
Mafinyi = pus
Magetu = left
Magunde = century, millennium
Make = sap
Makengi = slime
Makibu = pledge
Makiele = dawn
Malamu = palm wine
Malémbi = hug
Malu = confluent, coming together of rivers
Malumbi = praise to the ancestors
Malungu = blood
Mambe = water
Mambi = shit
Mane = finish
Mange = snack