The words of African languages, kept and shared.
Native Tongue APIs is a growing dictionary of African languages: words, their meanings, how they sound, and recordings by native speakers. It keeps them in one place, so apps, websites and learning tools can carry them further.
What’s in the dictionary
Each word is more than a translation. It comes with what you need to understand it, say it and use it.
Words and meanings
Every entry with its definitions in English and its part of speech.
Pronunciation
Phonetic spellings (IPA) that show how each word is said.
Native speakers’ voices
Audio recordings, so you can hear a word the way its speakers say it.
Words in use
Example sentences with translations, showing each word in context.
Connected words
Topics such as family, food and nature, and related words like synonyms and opposites.
Languages
We’re starting in Ghana, and adding languages as speakers help us build them.
Why a talking drum
Ghana’s talking drum follows the rise and fall of speech so closely that it can carry words from one village to the next.
Native Tongue APIs does the same for languages today: it carries their words, sounds and meanings to wherever people are learning, building and speaking.
Built with Native Tongue APIs
NativeWords
A free dictionary and learning app for African languages: look up words, hear them spoken, play word games and save your favourites. Speakers can suggest new words, and every one is reviewed before it’s added.
Visit NativeWords