Awajún chichám
Aguaruna
Jivaroan
Aguaruna (Awajún chichám, "Awajún speech") is the largest Jivaroan language, spoken by ~50,000-55,000 Awajún people in the Peruvian Amazon — Andes ecotone region. The Jivaroan family is a small isolated South American family of 4-5 closely related languages (Shuar jiv, Achuar acu, Huambisa, Shiwiar, Awajún agr) whose homeland straddles the Peru-Ecuador border in the Marañón River basin. Awajún speakers are ethnically related to but linguistically distinct from Ecuadorian Shuar; mutual intelligibility is partial. Awajún has retained Jivaroan family features: nasal vowels, focus markers, classifier-noun constructions, and an exhaustive ethnobiological lexicon for the rainforest. The 2009 Bagua massacre brought international attention to Awajún land rights.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Aguaruna
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Jivaroan
| Meaning | Aguaruna | Achuar | Shuar | Shipibo-Conibo | Coyutla Totonac | Aymara | Sena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | yumi /jumi/ | yumi /jumi/ | yumi /jumi/ | jene /hɨnɨ/ | chúchut /tʃútʃut/ | uma /uma/ | madzi /madzi/ |
| Fire | jii /hiː/ | ji /hi/ | ji /hi/ | chii /tʃiː/ | lhkúyat /ɬkújat/ | nina /nina/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | etsá /ɨtsá/ | etsa /etsa/ | etsa /etsa/ | bari /bari/ | chichiní /tʃitʃiní/ | inti /inti/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ |
| Moon | nántu /nántu/ | nantu /nantu/ | nantu /nantu/ | oxe /oʂɨ/ | papá /papá/ | phaxsi /pʰaχsi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ |
| Star | yaya /jaja/ | yaa /jaː/ | yaa /jaː/ | wishti /wiʃtĩ/ | staku /staku/ | warawara /waɾawaɾa/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ |
| Night | kashi /kaʃi/ | kashi /kaʃi/ | kashi /kaʃi/ | yame /jamɨ/ | tsisni /tsisni/ | aruma /aruma/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | yumi /jumi/ | — | yumi /jumi/ | oi /oi/ | sin /sin/ | jallu /ˈxaʎu/ | mvura /mvura/ |
| Snow | nieve /ˈnjebe/ | — | — | — | — | khunu /kʰunu/ | neve /neve/ |
| Wind | dase /dasɨ/ | nase /nase/ | nase /nase/ | niwe /niwɨ/ | un /ʔun/ | thaya /ˈtʰaja/ | mphepo /mpʰepo/ |
| Earth | nugka /nuɡka/ | nungka /nuŋka/ | nunka /nuŋka/ | mai /mai/ | tiyat /tijat/ | uraqi /uɾaqi/ | mataka /mataka/ |
| Stone | kaya /kaja/ | kaya /kaja/ | kaya /kaja/ | makan /makan/ | chiwix /tʃiwiʃ/ | qala /ˈqala/ | mwala /mwala/ |
| Mountain | nain /nain/ | mura /muɾa/ | náint /naint/ | manan /manan/ | kestín /kestín/ | qullu /quʎu/ | phiri /pʰiri/ |
| Sea | nayants /najants/ | juun entsa /huːn entsa/ | nayaants /najaants/ | aniparo /anipaɾo/ | pupunú /pupunú/ | lamara /lamara/ | bara /bara/ |
| Mother | dukú /dukú/ | nukur /nukuɾ/ | nukur /nukuɾ/ | tita /tita/ | tzí /tsí/ | mama /mama/ | mai /mai/ |
| Father | apá /apá/ | apar /apaɾ/ | apar /apaɾ/ | papa /papa/ | tlat /tɬat/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | nawan /nawan/ | nawantur /nawantuɾ/ | nawantur /nawantuɾ/ | bake ainbo /bake ãĩbo/ | tsumát /tsuˈmat/ | phucha /pʰutʃa/ | mwana wankazi /mwana wankazi/ |
| I | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | ea /ea/ | akit /akit/ | naya /naja/ | ine /ine/ |
| You | amé /amé/ | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ | mia /mia/ | wix /wiʃ/ | juma /xuma/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | ii /iː/ | ii /iː/ | ii /iː/ | noa /noa/ | akinín /akinín/ | jiwasa / nanaka /xiwasa / nanaka/ | ife /ife/ |
| Name | daaji /daːhi/ | naari /naːɾi/ | naari /naːɾi/ | jane /hanɨ/ | takuwiní /takuwiní/ | suti /suti/ | dzina /dzina/ |
| Person | aents /aɨnts/ | aints /aints/ | aents /aents/ | joni /honi/ | — | jaqi /xaqi/ | munthu /muntʰu/ |
| Head | buuk /buːk/ | muuk /muːk/ | muuk /muːk/ | mapo /mapo/ | akgxakga /aqʃaqa/ | pʼiqi /pʼiqi/ | nsolo /nsolo/ |
| Eye | jíi /híː/ | jii /hiː/ | jii /hiː/ | bero /bɨɾo/ | lakgastapu /laqastapu/ | nayra /najɾa/ | diso /diso/ |
| Ear | kuwish /kuwiʃ/ | kuwish /kuwiʃ/ | kuish /kwiʃ/ | pabíki /pabiki/ | takgén /taqén/ | jinchu /xintʃu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ |
| Nose | nuji /nuhi/ | nuji /nuhi/ | nuji /nuhi/ | rekin /ɾɨkin/ | — | nasa /ˈnasa/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ |
| Mouth | wenu /wɨnu/ | wene /wene/ | wene /wene/ | kexa /kɨʂa/ | kilhni /kiɬni/ | laka /ˈlaka/ | nkanwa /nkanwa/ |
| Tooth | dai /dai/ | nai /nai/ | nai /nai/ | xeta /ʂɨta/ | tatsan /tatsan/ | lakʼa /lakʼa/ | dzino /dzino/ |
| Tongue | inai /inai/ | inai /inai/ | inai /inai/ | jana /hana/ | simakgat /simaqat/ | laxra /laχra/ | lirimi /lirimi/ |
| Hand | uwéj /uwéh/ | uwej /uweh/ | uwej /uweh/ | meken /mɨkɨn/ | makán /makán/ | ampara /ampaɾa/ | nkono /nkono/ |
| Foot | dawe /dawɨ/ | nawe /nawe/ | nawe /nawe/ | tae /taɨ/ | tantún /tantún/ | kayu /kaju/ | mwendo /mwendo/ |
| Heart | anéntai /anɨ́ntai/ | enentai /enentai/ | enentai /enentai/ | joínti /hoˈinti/ | naku /naku/ | chuyma /tʃujma/ | ntima /ntima/ |
| Bone | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | xao /ʂao/ | lukut /lukut/ | chʼakha /tʃʼakʰa/ | gogodo /ɡoɡodo/ |
| Blood | numpa /numpa/ | numpa /numpã/ | numpa /numpã/ | jimi /himi/ | kgalhni /qaɬni/ | wila /wila/ | malopa /malopa/ |
| Poop | ija /iha/ | ija /iha/ | íjia /ˈihia/ | poi /poi/ | — | jama /xama/ | matubzwi /matubzwi/ |
| Love | wakejut /wakɨhut/ | anentin /anentin/ | anentaiti /anentaiti/ | noi /noi/ | — /—/ | munasiña /munasiɲa/ | kufuna /kufuna/ |
| Tree | númi /númi/ | numi /numi/ | numi /numi/ | jiwi /hiwi/ | kiwi /kiwi/ | quqa /quqa/ | muti /muti/ |
| Dog | yawá /jawá/ | yawa /jawa/ | yawá /jaˈwa/ | ochiti /otʃiti/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | anu /anu/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | bishu /biʃu/ | micha /mitʃa/ | míchik /ˈmitʃik/ | mishito /miʃito/ | mishtu /miʃtu/ | phisi /pʰisi/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | namak /namak/ | namak /namak/ | namak /namak/ | yapa /japa/ | skiti /skiti/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ | omba /omba/ |
| Bird | pishak /piʃak/ | chingki /tʃiŋki/ | chinki /tʃiŋki/ | isa /isa/ | spun /spun/ | jamachʼi /xamatʃʼi/ | mbalame /mbalame/ |
| Butterfly | wámpishuk /wámpiʃuk/ | shimpiampu /ʃimpiampu/ | wámpishuk /ˈwampiʃuk/ | pëpë /pɨ̃pɨ̃/ | — | pilpintu /pilpintu/ | bemberuwa /bemberuwa/ |
| Egg | nujín /nuˈhin/ | nujin /nuhin/ | nujint /nuhint/ | bachi /batʃi/ | kálhwat /káɬwat/ | kʼawna /kʼawna/ | dzai /dzai/ |
| Bear | chayú /tʃajú/ | chayu /tʃaju/ | chai /tʃai/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | jukumari /xukumaɾi/ | urusu /urusu/ |
| Horse | kawayu /kawaju/ | kawai /kawai/ | kawai /kawai/ | kabayo /kabajo/ | kawayu /kawaju/ | kawallu /kawaʎu/ | kavalo /kavalo/ |
| House | jega /hɨɡa/ | jea /hea/ | jea /hea/ | xobo /ʂobo/ | chiki /tʃiki/ | uta /uta/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | muntsu /muntsu/ | muntsu /muntsu/ | muntsu /muntsu/ | xoma /ʂoma/ | leche /letʃe/ | millkʼi /miʎkʼi/ | nkaka /nkaka/ |
| Honey | dapa yumiji /dapa jumihi/ | wapasa yumiri /wapasa jumiɾi/ | chinij /tʃinih/ | bona jene /bona hɨnɨ/ | táxkat /táʃkat/ | miskʼi /miskʼi/ | uci /utʃi/ |
| Salt | wee /wɨː/ | wee /weː/ | wee /weː/ | tashi /taʃi/ | mátzat /mátsat/ | jayu /ˈxaju/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | winiu /winiu/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /bino/ | vino /vino/ | vinyu /viɲu/ |
| Rice | ajus /ahus/ | arrus /aɾus/ | arús /aˈɾus/ | aros /aɾos/ | — | arusa /aɾusa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ |
| Iron | jiju /hihu/ | jiru /hiɾu/ | jiru /hiru/ | yami /jami/ | likán /likán/ | qillaya /qiʎaja/ | utale /utale/ |
| Wheel | rueda /rueda/ | — | tuntunk /tuntuŋk/ | karotae /kaɾotae/ | — | rueda /ɾweda/ | roda /roda/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | séta /ˈseta/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | papi /papi/ | papi /papi/ | papí /paˈpi/ | kirika /kiɾika/ | libro /libro/ | panka /panka/ | bukhu /bukʰu/ |
| Eat | yuwámu /juwámu/ | yuata /juata/ | yuata /juata/ | piti /piti/ | wayán /waján/ | manqʼaña /manqʼaɲa/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | umut /umut/ | umarta /umaɾta/ | umarta /umaɾta/ | xeati /ʂɨati/ | kgotnún /qotnún/ | umaña /umaɲa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | kanut /kanut/ | kanarta /kanaɾta/ | kanarta /kanaɾta/ | oxa /oʂa/ | lhtata /ɬtata/ | ikiña /iˈkiɲa/ | kugona /kuɡona/ |
| One | makichik /makitʃik/ | kichik /kitʃik/ | chikichik /tʃikitʃik/ | westíora /wɨstioɾa/ | aktum /aktum/ | maya /maja/ | posi /posi/ |
| Two | jimag /himaɡ/ | jimiar /himiaɾ/ | jimiará /himiaɾa/ | rabé /ɾabɨ/ | aktuy /aktuj/ | paya /paja/ | piŵiri /piwiri/ |
| Three | kampatum /kampatum/ | kampatam /kampatam/ | menaintiu /menaintʲu/ | kimisha /kimiʃa/ | aktutu /aktutu/ | kimsa /kimsa/ | pitatu /pitatu/ |
| Four | ipaksumat /ipaksumat/ | aintiuk /aintʲuk/ | aintiuk /aintʲuk/ | chosko /tʃosko/ | aktati /aktati/ | pusi /pusi/ | pinai /pinai/ |
| Five | uweja amua /uwɨha amua/ | ewej /eweh/ | ewej /eweh/ | pichika /pitʃika/ | kitsis /kitsis/ | phisqa /ˈpʰisqa/ | xanu /ʃanu/ |
| Hundred | cien /sjen/ | pachak /patʃak/ | sian /sian/ | pacha /patʃa/ | ciento /sjento/ | pataka /pataka/ | dzana /dzana/ |
| Hello | pujámek /puhámɨk/ | pujamek /puhamek/ | pujamek /puhamek/ | jakon raoma /xakon raoma/ | tlen lhítat /tɬen ɬítat/ | kamisaki /kamisaki/ | mwadzukabwanji /mwadzukabwandʒi/ |
| Thank you | see /sɨː/ | mai-tikut /majtikut/ | yuminsajme /juminsahme/ | irake /iɾake/ | paʼxkatkatsiniyán /paʔʃkatkatsiniján/ | yuspagara /juspaɣaɾa/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ |
| Good | pegkeg /pɨɡkɨɡ/ | pengker /peŋkeɾ/ | penker /peŋkeɾ/ | jakon /hakon/ | tlan /tɬan/ | suma /suma/ | nadidi /nadidi/ |
| New | yamajam /jamaham/ | yamaram /jamaɾam/ | yamaram /jamaram/ | bena /bɨna/ | xasasti /ʃasasti/ | machaqa /matʃaqa/ | ipsa /ipsa/ |
| Red | kapantu /kapantu/ | kapantin /kapantin/ | kapaku /kapaku/ | joshin /hoʃin/ | tsutsokgo /tsutsoqo/ | wila /wila/ | funga /funɡa/ |
| White | puju /puhu/ | puju /puhu/ | pujú /puˈhu/ | joxo /hoʂo/ | snapapa /snapapa/ | janqʼu /ˈxaɴqʼu/ | cena /tʃena/ |
| Black | bukusea /bukusɨa/ | shuwin /ʃuwin/ | mukusa /mukusa/ | wiso /wiso/ | tsitsekge /tsitseqe/ | chʼiyara /tʃʼijara/ | psipa /psipa/ |
| Green | samekbau /samɨkbau/ | samek /samek/ | sámek /ˈsamek/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | — | chʼuxña /tʃʼuxɲa/ | — |
| Blue | wigka /wiɡka/ | — | sámek /ˈsamek/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | — | larama /laɾama/ | — |
| Cuckoo | ikáncham /iˈkantʃam/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Page 1/10
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home