Pemon
Pemón
Cariban
Pemón (ISO 639-3: aoc) is a vulnerable Cariban language spoken chiefly by the Pemón people in southeastern Venezuela, especially the Gran Sabana and Canaima National Park in Bolívar State, with related communities across the borders in Guyana and Brazil. The name Pemón means “person” or “people” and is used across several regional communities. Three major mutually intelligible varieties are commonly recognized: Arekuna, Kamarakoto, and Taurepan, whose distribution spans the Venezuela–Guyana–Brazil borderlands. Pemón is written in practical Latin-based orthographies used in education, religious texts, and linguistic documentation; pressure from Spanish and Portuguese varies by country, but the language remains an important marker of identity and intergenerational transmission continues in many communities.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Pemón
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Cariban
| Meaning | Pemón | Akawaio | Makuxi | Galibi Carib | Maquiritari | Bororo | Asháninka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | pobo /pobo/ | nija /niha/ |
| Fire | apok /apok/ | apok /apok/ | apóó /apóó/ | wàto /wahto/ | waʼto /waʔto/ | joru /dʒoɾu/ | paamari /paːmaɾi/ |
| Sun | wei /wei/ | wïi /wɨi/ | wéi /wéi/ | weju /weju/ | shii /ʃiː/ | meri /meɾi/ | oorya /oːɾja/ |
| Moon | kapüi /kapɨi/ | kapïi /kapɨi/ | kapói /kapói/ | nuno /nuno/ | nuunö /nuːnə/ | ari /aɾi/ | kashiri /kaʃiɾi/ |
| Star | chirikö /tʃiɾikə/ | sirikö /siɾikɔ/ | sírikɨ́ /sírikɨ́/ | siriko /siɾiko/ | shidiichö /ʃiɾ̠iːtʃə/ | kuieje /kuiedʒe/ | impoquiro /impokiɾo/ |
| Night | ewaron /ewaɾon/ | ewaron /ewaɾon/ | ewaron /ewaron/ | koko /koko/ | chomomüdü /tʃomomɨɾ̠ɨ/ | boecho /bɔetʃo/ | tsiteni /tsiteni/ |
| Rain | konok /konok/ | — | konoʔ /konoʔ/ | konopo /konopo/ | konoojo /konoːho/ | bubutu /bubutu/ | inkani /iŋkani/ |
| Wind | aʼchitun /aʔtʃitun/ | aʼsetun /aʔsetun/ | aʔsitun /aʔsitun/ | pepeito /pepeito/ | jejeenchö /heheːntʃə/ | bakuru /bakuɾu/ | tampea /tampea/ |
| Earth | non /non/ | non /non/ | non /non/ | nono /nono/ | nono /nono/ | moto /moto/ | kipatsi /kipatsi/ |
| Stone | ötök /ətək/ | tök /tɔk/ | tɨʔ /tɨʔ/ | topu /topu/ | töʼju /təʔhu/ | tori /toɾi/ | mapi /mapi/ |
| Mountain | wük /wɨk/ | — | wɨʔ /wɨʔ/ | wypy /wɨpɨ/ | jüü /hʷɨː/ | tori kurireu /toɾi kuɾiɾew/ | otishi /otiʃi/ |
| Mother | mamã /mamɑ̃/ | saŋ /saŋ/ | maʔmá /maʔmá/ | sano /sano/ | denü /denɨ/ | muga /mɨɡa/ | ina /ina/ |
| Father | papai /papai/ | papai /papai/ | paʔpá /paʔpá/ | papa /papa/ | jaja /haha/ | iogwa /ioɡwa/ | apa /apa/ |
| Daughter | ensi /ensi/ | ensi /ensi/ | yensi /jensi/ | emyiry /emɨiɾɨ/ | — | onaregody aredy /onaɾeɡodɨ aɾedɨ/ | noshinto /noʃinto/ |
| I | yuurö /juːɾø/ | urɨ /uɾɨ/ | urɨ /urɨ/ | au /au/ | üwü /ɨwɨ/ | imi /imi/ | naaka /naːka/ |
| You | amörö /amøɾø/ | amürü /amɯɾɯ/ | ámɨrɨ́ /ámɨrɨ́/ | amoro /amoɾo/ | amöödö /aməːɾ̠ə/ | aki /aki/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ |
| We | urönokon / ina /uɾønokon / ina/ | urüʼnokon / ina /uɾɯʔnokon / ina/ | uurɨʔnɨkon / anna /uurɨʔnɨkon / anna/ | kʉʼkaron / naʼna /kəʔkaɾon / naʔna/ | künwanno /kɨnwanːo/ | pagi / cegi /paɡi / tʃeɡi/ | arori / narori /aɾoɾi / naɾoɾi/ |
| Name | eseʼ /eseʔ/ | eseʼ /eseʔ/ | yeseʔ /jeseʔ/ | eeti /eːti/ | eesedi /eːseɾ̠i/ | ie /ie/ | ivairo /iβaiɾo/ |
| Person | pemon /pemon/ | kaʼpon /kaʔpon/ | pemonkon /pemoŋkoŋ/ | kariʼna /kaɾiʔna/ | soto /soto/ | — | atiri /atiɾi/ |
| Head | pupai /pupai/ | puʼpai /puʔpai/ | puʔpai /puʔpai/ | upuʼpo /upuʔpo/ | juʼhö /huʔhə/ | ao /ao/ | noito /noito/ |
| Eye | enu /enu/ | enu /enu/ | énu /énu/ | enu /enu/ | enu /enu/ | joku /dʒoku/ | noki /noki/ |
| Ear | pana /pana/ | pana /pana/ | pana /pana/ | panari /panari/ | jaana /haːna/ | bija /bidʒa/ | noyempita /nojempita/ |
| Nose | yeuna /jeuna/ | enna /enna/ | yeuna /jeuna/ | anàta /anahta/ | önna /ənna/ | eno /eno/ | noirina /noiɾina/ |
| Mouth | müta /mɨta/ | mïta /mɨta/ | mutá /mutá/ | pota /pota/ | önta /ənta/ | — | novante /noβante/ |
| Tooth | ye /je/ | ɨ /ɨ/ | yé /jé/ | yerï /jelə/ | dedü /deɾ̠ɨ/ | o /o/ | nayi /naji/ |
| Tongue | unu /unu/ | unu /unu/ | nu /nu/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | ñudu /ɲuɾ̠u/ | eru /eɾu/ | nene /nene/ |
| Hand | yenna /jenːa/ | emiyaʼ /emijaʔ/ | míá /míá/ | aina /aina/ | amoodü /amoːɾ̠ɨ/ | kera /keɾa/ | nako /nako/ |
| Foot | pʉta /pɨta/ | pïta /pɨta/ | puu /puu/ | pupu /pupu/ | uju /uhu/ | ewure /ewɨɾe/ | noiti /noiti/ |
| Heart | sïköpoka /sikøpoka/ | ewan /ewan/ | yewan /jewan/ | emanga /emaŋɡa/ | yeewanü /jeːwanɨ/ | bapo /bapo/ | nosanto /nosanto/ |
| Bone | epʉ /epɨ/ | eʼpï /eʔpɨ/ | yeʔpɨ /jeʔpɨ/ | yepo /jepo/ | yeʼhö /jeʔhə/ | ra /ɾa/ | tonki /tonki/ |
| Blood | mün /mɨn/ | mïn /mɨn/ | mɨ́ŋ /mɨ́ŋ/ | mʉnʉ /mənə/ | munu /munu/ | ku /ku/ | iraja /iɾaha/ |
| Poop | watö /watə/ | — | — /—/ | — | weetü /weːtɨ/ | pe /pe/ | notia /notia/ |
| Love | kemenü /kemeny/ | — /—/ | saʔnama /saʔnama/ | kataneko /kataneko/ | hyummadü /hjumːadɨ/ | — /—/ | nonintsi /nonintsi/ |
| Tree | yöi /jəi/ | yïi /jɨi/ | yéi /jéi/ | wewe /wewe/ | dee /deː/ | i /i/ | inchato /intʃato/ |
| Dog | arimaraka /aɾimaɾaka/ | pero /peɾo/ | areimaraaká /areimaraaká/ | pero /peɾo/ | süʼna /sɨʔna/ | arigao /aɾiɡao/ | otsiti /otsiti/ |
| Cat | pichana /pitʃana/ | — /—/ | pisana /pisana/ | meu /meu/ | meeshi /meːʃi/ | gato /ɡato/ | mishito /miʃito/ |
| Fish | morok /moɾok/ | moro /moɾo/ | moróʔ /moróʔ/ | woto /woto/ | nakukwano /nakukwano/ | karo /kaɾo/ | shima /ʃima/ |
| Bird | toron /toɾon/ | toron /toɾon/ | toron /toron/ | tonoro /tonoɾo/ | jawi /hawi/ | kiogo /kioɡo/ | tsimeri /tsimeɾi/ |
| Butterfly | wakau /wakau/ | wagau /waɡau/ | peppeʔ /pepːeʔ/ | palanpalan /palanpalan/ | matutu /matutu/ | baragadu /baɾaɡadu/ | tsampi /tsampi/ |
| Egg | pumoi /pumoi/ | pïmoi /pɨmoi/ | pomói /pomói/ | iʼmo /iʔmo/ | iʼmoi /iʔmoi/ | ba /ba/ | iitsoki /iːtsoki/ |
| Horse | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kaware /kaware/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kawaayu /kawaːju/ | kuwaru /kuwaɾu/ | kavayo /kaβajo/ |
| House | tapüi /tapɨi/ | — /—/ | wɨttɨ /wɨttɨ/ | paty /pati/ | mmaa /mːaː/ | bai /bai/ | pankotsi /paŋkotsi/ |
| Honey | wan /wan/ | teusan /teusan/ | wan /wan/ | wano /wano/ | wanö /wanə/ | meiawe eweguru /meiawe eweɡuɾu/ | ija pitsi /iha pitsi/ |
| Salt | inönek /inənek/ | waiyo /waijo/ | pan /pan/ | wajo /wajo/ | sayu /saju/ | sal /sal/ | tivi /tiβi/ |
| Wine | vino /bino/ | waain /waːin/ | wuku /wuku/ | winu /winu/ | chööjedüüdü ekkudu /tʃəːheɾ̠ɨːɾ̠ɨ ekːuɾ̠u/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | ovaja /oβaha/ |
| Iron | ipotü /ipotɨ/ | waʼka pun /waʔka pun/ | — | siparari /sipaɾaɾi/ | sejaadadi /sehaːɾ̠aɾ̠i/ | meriri /meɾiɾi/ | ashiro /aʃiɾo/ |
| Eat | manepotaro /manepoɾaɾɯ/ | — /—/ | entamoʔka /entamoʔka/ | onökö /onøkø/ | äsuukai /ɨsuːkai/ | ko /ko/ | noyaki /nojaki/ |
| Drink | atü /atu/ | ensi /ensi/ | enɨrɨ /enɨrɨ/ | ëne /ɘne/ | enku /enku/ | kudu /kudɨ/ | noiri /noiɾi/ |
| One | taukin /taukin/ | teginnö /teɡinnɔ/ | tiwíŋ /tiwíŋ/ | o:wi /oːwi/ | tooni /toːni/ | mito /mito/ | aparoni /apaɾoni/ |
| Two | saköne /sakøne/ | asaʼrö /asaʔɾɔ/ | sáákɨné /sáákɨné/ | oko /oko/ | aaʼkö /aːʔkə/ | pobe /pobe/ | apite /apite/ |
| Three | eseurau /eseuɾau/ | eseurau /eseuɾau/ | séúruné /séúruné/ | oruwa /oɾuwa/ | aduwawö /aɾ̠uwawə/ | pobe metia bokware /pobe metia bokwaɾe/ | maava /maːβa/ |
| Four | saköröroʼne /sakøɾøɾoʔne/ | — | saakɨrɨrɨ /saakɨrɨrɨ/ | okupaen /okupaen/ | aaʼköiʼchea /aːʔkəiʔtʃea/ | pobe puibiji /pobe puibidʒi/ | otsipasati /otsipasati/ |
| Hello | apî /api/ | kapon /kapon/ | — /—/ | mary /maɾi/ | etämä /etɨmɨ/ | are /aɾe/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ |
| Thank you | waküpe man /wakɨpe man/ | tabe /tabe/ | — /—/ | irombo /iɾombo/ | enaña /enaɲa/ | iya /ija/ | naranki /naɾaŋki/ |
| Good | mïratö /miɾatø/ | wagï /waɡɨ/ | morɨ /morɨ/ | epoja /epoja/ | aashicha /aːʃitʃa/ | pemegareu /pemeɡaɾew/ | kameetsa /kameːtsa/ |
| New | amennak /amenːak/ | emennaʼ /emennaʔ/ | amenan /amenan/ | asery /aseɾɨ/ | eduuwaato /eɾ̠uːwaːto/ | maiwu /maiwu/ | iroakera /iɾoakeɾa/ |
| Red | suweyu /suweju/ | suweyu /suweju/ | suyú /sujú/ | tapyre /tapɨɾe/ | seweichato /seweitʃato/ | kujagureu /kuʒaɡuɾew/ | kitioncari /kitionkaɾi/ |
| White | aimutun /aimutun/ | aimutun /aimutun/ | áímutun /áímutun/ | tamuʼne /tamuʔne/ | töʼkeʼne /təʔkeʔne/ | kigadureu /kiɡaduɾew/ | kitamaari /kitamaːɾi/ |
| Black | rikutun /ɾikutun/ | — | arikkɨtun /arikːɨtun/ | tykaraije /tɨkaɾaije/ | judumato /huɾ̠umato/ | — | potsitari /potsitaɾi/ |
| Green | rorape /ɾoɾape/ | — | rora /rora/ | — | sheene /ʃeːne/ | kaworureu /kawoɾuɾew/ | kenashi /kenaʃi/ |
| Cuckoo | pika /ˈpika/ | pika /piˈka/ | — /—/ | pika /piˈka/ | — | — | tsiya /ˈtsija/ |
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