Foreword

A dictionary – a work that collects words of a language in alphabetical order and provides them with a meaning, definition and translation into a language of wider communication – is essential for the development of any language.

This bilingual Mbelime-French dictionary aims to provide Mbelime speakers with a reference document by presenting words in a written and standardised form. We hope that the dictionary facilitates the transition from Mbelime to French and promotes its use by researchers and linguists, for example for comparative lexical studies. We further hope that the Mbelime-French dictionary will be useful to teachers, literacy teachers, students, researchers and to all who are interested in the language and wish to use it in writing.

Users of the dictionary are warmly encouraged to contribute towards its improvement by suggesting their comments, questions and correction to the SIL team in Cobly, Benin.