Bɔrɔ
Bororo
Macro-Jê (Bororoan)
Bororo (Boe Wadáru) is the sole surviving language of the Bororoan family, often proposed as part of the broader Macro-Jê grouping. It is spoken by roughly 1,000–1,500 Bororo people in several Indigenous territories and villages in Mato Grosso, Brazil. Bororo has rich person marking, stem-initial consonant alternations, and predominantly subject–object–verb order; it is written with a Latin-based orthography. Most members of the ethnic group still speak the language and many children learn it, but Portuguese use is increasing, especially among younger people and in some settlements. Glottolog therefore classifies Bororo as threatened and shifting rather than extinct.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bororo
Sources
- Ferraz Gerardi, Fabrício & Tiago Tresoldi. 2023. Lexical Database of Bororoan, v0.9.5 (CLDF; Bororo forms from Crowell 1979 and Nonato 2008)
- Pao Kurireu Bataru Kurireu (Bororo Bible), bible.com version 2518
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Macro-Jê (Bororoan)
| Meaning | Bororo | Akawaio | Galibi Carib | Pemón | Cape Verdean Creole | Ladino | Asháninka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | pobo /pobo/ | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | tuna /tuna/ | agu /aɡu/ | agua /aɣwa/ | nija /niha/ |
| Fire | joru /dʒoɾu/ | apok /apok/ | wàto /wahto/ | apok /apok/ | fogu /foɡu/ | fuego /fweɣo/ | paamari /paːmaɾi/ |
| Sun | meri /meɾi/ | wïi /wɨi/ | weju /weju/ | wei /wei/ | sol /sɔl/ | sol /sol/ | oorya /oːɾja/ |
| Moon | ari /aɾi/ | kapïi /kapɨi/ | nuno /nuno/ | kapüi /kapɨi/ | lua /lua/ | luna /luna/ | kashiri /kaʃiɾi/ |
| Star | kuieje /kuiedʒe/ | sirikö /siɾikɔ/ | siriko /siɾiko/ | chirikö /tʃiɾikə/ | strela /ˈstɾelɐ/ | estreya /esˈtɾeja/ | impoquiro /impokiɾo/ |
| Night | boecho /bɔetʃo/ | ewaron /ewaɾon/ | koko /koko/ | ewaron /ewaɾon/ | noti /ˈnoti/ | noche /ˈnotʃe/ | tsiteni /tsiteni/ |
| Rain | bubutu /bubutu/ | — | konopo /konopo/ | konok /konok/ | txuba /ˈtʃubɐ/ | luvia /luvja/ | inkani /iŋkani/ |
| Wind | bakuru /bakuɾu/ | aʼsetun /aʔsetun/ | pepeito /pepeito/ | aʼchitun /aʔtʃitun/ | bentu /ˈbentu/ | viento /ˈvjento/ | tampea /tampea/ |
| Earth | moto /moto/ | non /non/ | nono /nono/ | non /non/ | téra /tera/ | tierra /tjera/ | kipatsi /kipatsi/ |
| Stone | tori /toɾi/ | tök /tɔk/ | topu /topu/ | ötök /ətək/ | pedra /ˈpɛdɾɐ/ | piedra /ˈpjeðɾa/ | mapi /mapi/ |
| Mountain | tori kurireu /toɾi kuɾiɾew/ | — | wypy /wɨpɨ/ | wük /wɨk/ | monti /ˈmõti/ | montanya /monˈtaɲa/ | otishi /otiʃi/ |
| Sea | pobo maereu /pobo maeɾew/ | parau /paɾau/ | parana /paɾana/ | — | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ | inkajare /iŋkahaɾe/ |
| Mother | muga /mɨɡa/ | saŋ /saŋ/ | sano /sano/ | mamã /mamɑ̃/ | mai /maj/ | madre /madɾe/ | ina /ina/ |
| Father | iogwa /ioɡwa/ | papai /papai/ | papa /papa/ | papai /papai/ | pai /paj/ | padre /padɾe/ | apa /apa/ |
| Daughter | onaregody aredy /onaɾeɡodɨ aɾedɨ/ | ensi /ensi/ | emyiry /emɨiɾɨ/ | ensi /ensi/ | fidja /ˈfidʒɐ/ | ija /iʒa/ | noshinto /noʃinto/ |
| I | imi /imi/ | urɨ /uɾɨ/ | au /au/ | yuurö /juːɾø/ | mi /mi/ | yo /jo/ | naaka /naːka/ |
| You | aki /aki/ | amürü /amɯɾɯ/ | amoro /amoɾo/ | amörö /amøɾø/ | bu /bu/ | tu /tu/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ |
| We | pagi / cegi /paɡi / tʃeɡi/ | urüʼnokon / ina /uɾɯʔnokon / ina/ | kʉʼkaron / naʼna /kəʔkaɾon / naʔna/ | urönokon / ina /uɾønokon / ina/ | nos /nɔs/ | mozotros /moˈzotros/ | arori / narori /aɾoɾi / naɾoɾi/ |
| Name | ie /ie/ | eseʼ /eseʔ/ | eeti /eːti/ | eseʼ /eseʔ/ | nómi /ˈnɔmi/ | nombre /ˈnombɾe/ | ivairo /iβaiɾo/ |
| Head | ao /ao/ | puʼpai /puʔpai/ | upuʼpo /upuʔpo/ | pupai /pupai/ | kabésa /kaˈbɛsɐ/ | kavesa /kaˈvesa/ | noito /noito/ |
| Eye | joku /dʒoku/ | enu /enu/ | enu /enu/ | enu /enu/ | odju /odʒu/ | ojo /oʒo/ | noki /noki/ |
| Ear | bija /bidʒa/ | pana /pana/ | panari /panari/ | pana /pana/ | oredja /oˈɾedʒɐ/ | oreja /oˈɾeʒa/ | noyempita /nojempita/ |
| Nose | eno /eno/ | enna /enna/ | anàta /anahta/ | yeuna /jeuna/ | naris /naˈɾis/ | nariz /naˈɾiz/ | noirina /noiɾina/ |
| Tooth | o /o/ | ɨ /ɨ/ | yerï /jelə/ | ye /je/ | denti /ˈdenti/ | diente /ˈdjente/ | nayi /naji/ |
| Tongue | eru /eɾu/ | unu /unu/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | unu /unu/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ | nene /nene/ |
| Hand | kera /keɾa/ | emiyaʼ /emijaʔ/ | aina /aina/ | yenna /jenːa/ | mon /mɔ̃/ | mano /mano/ | nako /nako/ |
| Foot | ewure /ewɨɾe/ | pïta /pɨta/ | pupu /pupu/ | pʉta /pɨta/ | pé /pɛ/ | pie /pje/ | noiti /noiti/ |
| Heart | bapo /bapo/ | ewan /ewan/ | emanga /emaŋɡa/ | sïköpoka /sikøpoka/ | korason /korasɔ̃/ | korasón /koɾason/ | nosanto /nosanto/ |
| Bone | ra /ɾa/ | eʼpï /eʔpɨ/ | yepo /jepo/ | epʉ /epɨ/ | ósu /ˈɔsu/ | gueso /ˈɡweso/ | tonki /tonki/ |
| Blood | ku /ku/ | mïn /mɨn/ | mʉnʉ /mənə/ | mün /mɨn/ | sangi /ˈsɐ̃ɡi/ | sangre /ˈsaŋɡɾe/ | iraja /iɾaha/ |
| Poop | pe /pe/ | — | — | watö /watə/ | kaka /ˈkakɐ/ | kaka /ˈkaka/ | notia /notia/ |
| Love | — /—/ | — /—/ | kataneko /kataneko/ | kemenü /kemeny/ | amor /amor/ | amor /amoɾ/ | nonintsi /nonintsi/ |
| Tree | i /i/ | yïi /jɨi/ | wewe /wewe/ | yöi /jəi/ | arvi /arvi/ | árvol /aɾvol/ | inchato /intʃato/ |
| Dog | arigao /aɾiɡao/ | pero /peɾo/ | pero /peɾo/ | arimaraka /aɾimaɾaka/ | katxor /katʃɔr/ | perro /pero/ | otsiti /otsiti/ |
| Cat | gato /ɡato/ | — /—/ | meu /meu/ | pichana /pitʃana/ | gatu /ɡatu/ | gato /ɡato/ | mishito /miʃito/ |
| Fish | karo /kaɾo/ | moro /moɾo/ | woto /woto/ | morok /moɾok/ | pexi /ˈpeʃi/ | peshe /ˈpeʃe/ | shima /ʃima/ |
| Bird | kiogo /kioɡo/ | toron /toɾon/ | tonoro /tonoɾo/ | toron /toɾon/ | pásaru /pasaɾu/ | pásharo /paʃaɾo/ | tsimeri /tsimeɾi/ |
| Butterfly | baragadu /baɾaɡadu/ | wagau /waɡau/ | palanpalan /palanpalan/ | wakau /wakau/ | borboléta /boɾboˈlɛtɐ/ | papiyon /papiˈjon/ | tsampi /tsampi/ |
| Egg | ba /ba/ | pïmoi /pɨmoi/ | iʼmo /iʔmo/ | pumoi /pumoi/ | ovu /ˈovu/ | guevo /ˈɡwevo/ | iitsoki /iːtsoki/ |
| Horse | kuwaru /kuwaɾu/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kabalu /kaˈbalu/ | kavayo /kaˈvajo/ | kavayo /kaβajo/ |
| House | bai /bai/ | — /—/ | paty /pati/ | tapüi /tapɨi/ | kaza /kaza/ | kaza /kaza/ | pankotsi /paŋkotsi/ |
| Milk | mokuru kuru /mokuɾu kuɾu/ | — | manaty aikuru /manatɨ aikuɾu/ | — | leti /ˈleti/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | tsomitsi /tsomitsi/ |
| Honey | meiawe eweguru /meiawe eweɡuɾu/ | teusan /teusan/ | wano /wano/ | wan /wan/ | mel /mɛl/ | miel /mjel/ | ija pitsi /iha pitsi/ |
| Salt | sal /sal/ | waiyo /waijo/ | wajo /wajo/ | inönek /inənek/ | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ | tivi /tiβi/ |
| Wine | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | waain /waːin/ | winu /winu/ | vino /bino/ | vinhu /ˈviɲu/ | vino /ˈvino/ | ovaja /oβaha/ |
| Iron | meriri /meɾiɾi/ | waʼka pun /waʔka pun/ | siparari /sipaɾaɾi/ | ipotü /ipotɨ/ | féru /ˈfɛɾu/ | fierro /ˈfjero/ | ashiro /aʃiɾo/ |
| Book | bapera /bapeɾa/ | kareta /kaɾeta/ | kareta /kaɾeta/ | — | livru /ˈlivɾu/ | livro /ˈlivɾo/ | sankenarentsi /saŋkenaɾentsi/ |
| Eat | ko /ko/ | — /—/ | onökö /onøkø/ | manepotaro /manepoɾaɾɯ/ | kume /kume/ | komer /komeɾ/ | noyaki /nojaki/ |
| Drink | kudu /kudɨ/ | ensi /ensi/ | ëne /ɘne/ | atü /atu/ | bebe /bebe/ | bever /beveɾ/ | noiri /noiɾi/ |
| Sleep | nudu /nudu/ | — | ònyky /ohnɨkɨ/ | — | durmi /ˈduɾmi/ | durmir /durˈmir/ | nomai /nomai/ |
| One | mito /mito/ | teginnö /teɡinnɔ/ | o:wi /oːwi/ | taukin /taukin/ | un /un/ | uno /uno/ | aparoni /apaɾoni/ |
| Two | pobe /pobe/ | asaʼrö /asaʔɾɔ/ | oko /oko/ | saköne /sakøne/ | dos /dos/ | dos /dos/ | apite /apite/ |
| Three | pobe metia bokware /pobe metia bokwaɾe/ | eseurau /eseuɾau/ | oruwa /oɾuwa/ | eseurau /eseuɾau/ | tres /tɾes/ | tres /tɾes/ | maava /maːβa/ |
| Four | pobe puibiji /pobe puibidʒi/ | — | okupaen /okupaen/ | saköröroʼne /sakøɾøɾoʔne/ | kuatru /ˈkwatru/ | kuatro /ˈkwatɾo/ | otsipasati /otsipasati/ |
| Five | ikera aboudure /ikeɾa abowduɾe/ | — | ainatone /ainatone/ | — | sinku /ˈsiŋku/ | sinko /ˈsiŋko/ | apapacoroni /apapakoɾoni/ |
| Hundred | cem /sẽj̃/ | — | ainatone-kariʼna /ainatone kaɾiʔna/ | — | sen /sen/ | sien /sjen/ | — |
| Hello | are /aɾe/ | kapon /kapon/ | mary /maɾi/ | apî /api/ | ola /ɔla/ | shalom /ʃalom/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ |
| Thank you | iya /ija/ | tabe /tabe/ | irombo /iɾombo/ | waküpe man /wakɨpe man/ | obrigadu /obriɡadu/ | grasias /ɡɾasjas/ | naranki /naɾaŋki/ |
| Good | pemegareu /pemeɡaɾew/ | wagï /waɡɨ/ | epoja /epoja/ | mïratö /miɾatø/ | bon /bɔ̃/ | bueno /bweno/ | kameetsa /kameːtsa/ |
| New | maiwu /maiwu/ | emennaʼ /emennaʔ/ | asery /aseɾɨ/ | amennak /amenːak/ | novu /ˈnovu/ | muevo /ˈmwevo/ | iroakera /iɾoakeɾa/ |
| Red | kujagureu /kuʒaɡuɾew/ | suweyu /suweju/ | tapyre /tapɨɾe/ | suweyu /suweju/ | burmedju /buɾˈmɛdʒu/ | kolorado /koloˈɾado/ | kitioncari /kitionkaɾi/ |
| White | kigadureu /kiɡaduɾew/ | aimutun /aimutun/ | tamuʼne /tamuʔne/ | aimutun /aimutun/ | branku /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ | blanko /ˈblaŋko/ | kitamaari /kitamaːɾi/ |
| Green | kaworureu /kawoɾuɾew/ | — | — | rorape /ɾoɾape/ | verdi /ˈveɾdi/ | vedre /ˈveðɾe/ | kenashi /kenaʃi/ |
| Blue | kaworu /kawoɾu/ | — | tupulu /tupulu/ | — | azul /aˈzul/ | mavi /maˈvi/ | — |
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