Waama language

Waama, or Yoabu, is a Gur language of Benin.

Waama
Yoabu
Native to	Benin
Native speakers	(50,000 cited 2000)[1]
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Gur Northern Oti–Volta Eastern (Somba) Waama
Official status
Recognised minority language in	Benin
Language codes
ISO 639-3	wwa
Glottolog	waam1244

Phonology

Waama consonants^[2]

	Bilabial	Labiodental	Alveolar	Palatal	Velar	Labiovelar
Plosive	p b		t d	c	k
Nasal	m		n
Fricative		f	s
Approximant				j		w

Waama vowels^[2]

	Front	Back
Close	i	u
Close-mid	e	o
Open-mid	ɛ	ɔ
Open	a

Waama distinguishes between short and long versions of all vowels. /i/, /ɛ/, and /ɔ/ also distinguish nasality.

There are two tones: low and high.^[2]