I-ñe' yiwö
Bribri
Chibchan
Bribri (autonymously I-ñe' yiwö, "my own people's tongue") is a Chibchan language of the Talamanca sub-branch, spoken by around 7,000 indigenous Bribri people in the Talamanca highlands of southeastern Costa Rica and small parts of Panama. Linguistically, Bribri is most closely related to Cabécar (cjp) — its sister Talamanca language — and more distantly to other Chibchan languages of the Isthmo-Colombian region. Bribri exhibits typical Chibchan features: tonal contrasts (low/falling/high), an unusual sound inventory with retroflex and labialized consonants, ergative-absolutive case alignment, and noun classes by animacy. The Bribri have maintained a strong cultural identity through their matrilineal clan structure and traditional shamanism (the awá tradition), with significant revitalization efforts since the 1977 Costa Rica Indigenous Law established Bribri territorial protection.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bribri
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Chibchan
| Meaning | Bribri | Otomi | Coyutla Totonac | Tlacolula Zapotec | Tabasco Chontal | Ixil | Tzeltal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | díʼ /díʔ/ | dehe /dehe/ | chúchut /tʃútʃut/ | nis /nis/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | aʼ /aʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ |
| Fire | böʼ /bøʔ/ | tsibi /tsibi/ | lhkúyat /ɬkújat/ | gui /ɡi/ | kʼakʼ /kʼakʼ/ | tzaʼ /tsaʔ/ | kʼajkʼ /kʼahkʼ/ |
| Sun | diwö /diwø/ | hyadi /hjadi/ | chichiní /tʃitʃiní/ | gubidx /ɡubidʒ/ | kʼin /kʼin/ | qʼii /qʼiː/ | kʼajkʼal /kʼahkʼal/ |
| Moon | siʼwö /siʔwø/ | zänä /zãnã/ | papá /papá/ | beuu /beːu/ | ä /æ/ | ichʼ /itʃʼ/ | u /u/ |
| Star | bëkwö /bəkwø/ | tsøhø /tsøhø/ | staku /staku/ | balgui /balɡi/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | chumiil /tʃumiːl/ | ekʼ /ekʼ/ |
| Night | nañewe /naɲewe/ | xui /ʃui/ | tsisni /tsisni/ | gel /ɡel/ | akʼäb /akʼɨb/ | aqʼbʼal /aqʼɓal/ | ajkʼabal /ahkʼaɓal/ |
| Rain | ka̱li̱ /kãlĩ/ | — | sin /sin/ | nyisgyia /ɲisɡʲia/ | — | jabʼal /haɓal/ | jaʼal /haʔal/ |
| Wind | siwa̱ʼ /siwãʔ/ | ndähi /ndãhi/ | un /ʔun/ | bi /bi/ | — | kajiqʼ /kahiqʼ/ | ikʼ /ʔikʼ/ |
| Earth | íyök /íjøk/ | hai /hai/ | tiyat /tijat/ | yiu /jiu/ | lum /lum/ | txʼavaʼ /tʃʼaʋaʔ/ | lum /lum/ |
| Stone | ák /ák/ | do /do/ | chiwix /tʃiwiʃ/ | gyia /ɡʲia/ | jiʼtun /hiʔtun/ | kʼubʼ /kʼuɓ/ | ton /ton/ |
| Mountain | ka̱bata /kãbata/ | tʼøhø /tʼøhø/ | kestín /kestín/ | dany /daɲ/ | tzʼik /tsʼik/ | vitz /vits/ | wits /wits/ |
| Mother | amiʼ /amiʔ/ | nänä /nãnã/ | tzí /tsí/ | xnan /ʃnan/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | meʼ /meʔ/ |
| Father | yë́ /jə́/ | tada /tada/ | tlat /tɬat/ | xtad /ʃtad/ | tat /tat/ | baʼ /baʔ/ | tat /tat/ |
| Daughter | alà busi /ala busi/ | tixu /tiʃu/ | tsumát /tsuˈmat/ | zhinyzhyap /ʒiɲʒjap/ | jixik chʼok /hiʃik tʃʼok/ | meʼal /meʔal/ | antsil nichʼan /antsil nitʃʼan/ |
| I | yeʼ /jeʔ/ | nugä /nuɡã/ | akit /akit/ | naa /naː/ | noʼon /noʔon/ | in /in/ | joʼon /hoʔon/ |
| You | beʼ /beʔ/ | nuʼi /nuʔi/ | wix /wiʃ/ | liʼ /liʔ/ | neʼet /neʔet/ | axh /aʃ/ | jaʼat /haʔat/ |
| We | seʼ / saʼ /seʔ / saʔ/ | nugähʉ / nugähe /nuɡãhɨ / nuɡãhe/ | akinín /akinín/ | nuʼ /nuʔ/ | noʼonla /noʔonla/ | oʼ /oʔ/ | joʼotik / joʼotikon /hoʔotik / hoʔotikon/ |
| Name | kie /kie/ | thuhu /tʰũhũ/ | takuwiní /takuwiní/ | laʼ /laʔ/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | bʼii /ɓiː/ | biil /ɓiːl/ |
| Person | pëʼ /pəʔ/ | jäʼi /hãʔi/ | — | buny /buɲ/ | winik /winik/ | uxhchil /uʃtʃil/ | ants winik /ants winik/ |
| Head | wö́kir /wǿkiɾ/ | ñä /ɲã/ | akgxakga /aqʃaqa/ | guëcy /ɡəkʲ/ | pam /pam/ | viʼ /viʔ/ | jol /hol/ |
| Eye | wöbla /wøbla/ | da /da/ | lakgastapu /laqastapu/ | bsloo /bsloː/ | wich /witʃ/ | vusal /vusal/ | sit /sit/ |
| Ear | kukuö̀ /kukuø/ | gu /ɡu/ | takgén /taqén/ | diaga /diaɡa/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | chikin /tʃikin/ |
| Mouth | ajkö̀ /ahkø/ | ne /ne/ | kilhni /kiɬni/ | ru /ɾu/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tziʼ /tsiʔ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ |
| Tooth | akà /aka/ | tsʼi /tsʼi/ | tatsan /tatsan/ | yalay /jalaj/ | ej /eh/ | eh /eh/ | ehal /ehal/ |
| Tongue | kuʼ /kuʔ/ | jäne /hãne/ | simakgat /simaqat/ | ludxy /ludʒj/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | akʼ /akʼ/ |
| Hand | ulà /ula/ | ʼye /ʔje/ | makán /makán/ | na /na/ | kʼäb /kʼɨb/ | qʼabʼ /qʼaɓ/ | kʼab /kʼab/ |
| Foot | klö̀ /klø/ | wa /wa/ | tantún /tantún/ | nii /niː/ | ok /ok/ | oj /oχ/ | ok /ok/ |
| Heart | sûʼ /suʔ/ | mui /mui/ | naku /naku/ | ladxdoo /ladʒdoː/ | pixan /piʃan/ | vatzʼ /vatsʼ/ | oʼtan /oʔtan/ |
| Bone | diché /ditʃé/ | ndoʼyo /ndoʔjo/ | lukut /lukut/ | dxit /dʒit/ | bak /ɓak/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bak /ɓak/ |
| Blood | pë́ /pə́/ | ji /hi/ | kgalhni /qaɬni/ | rén /ɾen/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | kaq /kaq/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ |
| Love | shkö /ʃkø/ | mädi /mãdi/ | — /—/ | rcaaz /ɾkaːz/ | kʼuxbe /kʼuʃbe/ | kuxhewchʼa /kuʃewtʃʼa/ | kʼanbey /kʼanbej/ |
| Tree | kál /kál/ | za /za/ | kiwi /kiwi/ | yag /jaɡ/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | tze /tse/ | teʼ /teʔ/ |
| Dog | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | ʼyo /ʔjo/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | beecu /beːku/ | wichuʼ /witʃuʔ/ | txʼiʼ /tʃʼiʔ/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ |
| Cat | mishi /miʃi/ | mixi /miʃi/ | mishtu /miʃtu/ | mishu /miʃu/ | ajmis /ahmis/ | mees /meːs/ | mis /mis/ |
| Fish | nima /nima/ | hua /hwa/ | skiti /skiti/ | beld /beld/ | buchʼ /butʃʼ/ | chay /tʃaj/ | chay /tʃaj/ |
| Bird | dù /du/ | tsʼintsʼu̲ /tsʼintsʼu/ | spun /spun/ | — | mut /mut/ | tzʼikin /tsʼikin/ | mut /mut/ |
| Butterfly | kuaʼkua /kuaʔkua/ | tu̲xu̲mu /tuʃumu/ | — | bëguidy /bəɡidj/ | ajpempem /ahpempem/ | naaviʼ /naːviʔ/ | pejpen /pehpen/ |
| Egg | sia̱ʼ /siãʔ/ | mädo /mãdo/ | kálhwat /káɬwat/ | — | säktokʼ /sɨktokʼ/ | kʼolobʼ /kʼoloɓ/ | tomut /tomut/ |
| Horse | kabaio /kabaio/ | fani /fani/ | kawayu /kawaju/ | cabay /kabaj/ | tzimim /tsimim/ | kaay /kaːj/ | kawu /kawu/ |
| House | u /u/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | chiki /tʃiki/ | yu /ju/ | otot /otot/ | kabʼal /kaɓal/ | na /na/ |
| Milk | tsuʼdiö /tsuʔdiø/ | ʼba /ʔba/ | leche /letʃe/ | lech /letʃ/ | leche /letʃe/ | chʼuʼ /tʃʼuʔ/ | lech /letʃ/ |
| Honey | bulali /bulali/ | tʼafi /tʼafi/ | táxkat /táʃkat/ | — | chab /tʃaɓ/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | chab /tʃab/ |
| Salt | dayë /dajə/ | u /u/ | mátzat /mátsat/ | zeidy /zeidj/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼam /atsʼam/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ |
| Wine | vino /ˈbino/ | vinu /ˈbinu/ | vino /bino/ | vin /vin/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /bino/ |
| Rice | àrros /aros/ | arros /aros/ | — | rros /ros/ | arroz /aros/ | arus /arus/ | — |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | sed /sed/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | ayë́jkuö /ajə́hkuø/ | he̲ʼmi /heʔmi/ | libro /libro/ | liebr /liebɾ/ | jun /hun/ | uʼuj /uʔuχ/ | jun /hun/ |
| Eat | chkök /tʃkøk/ | ñuni /ɲuni/ | wayán /waján/ | rau /ɾau/ | weʼ /weʔ/ | tzaʼbʼi /tsaʔɓi/ | weʼel /weʔel/ |
| Drink | yök /jøk/ | tsi /tsi/ | kgotnún /qotnún/ | re /ɾe/ | ukʼe /ukʼe/ | ucha /utʃa/ | uchʼel /utʃʼel/ |
| Sleep | kapö̀k /kapøk/ | ähä /ãhã/ | lhtata /ɬtata/ | rasi /ɾasi/ | wäye /wɨje/ | wat /wat/ | way /waj/ |
| One | ètöm /etøm/ | ʼna /ʔna/ | aktum /aktum/ | tuby /tubj/ | un /un/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ |
| Two | bö́l /bǿl/ | yoho /joho/ | aktuy /aktuj/ | tyop /tjop/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | kaʼvaʼl /kaʔʋaʔl/ | cheb /tʃeb/ |
| Three | mañál /maɲál/ | hñu /hɲu/ | aktutu /aktutu/ | chon /tʃon/ | ux /uʃ/ | oxvaʼl /oʃʋaʔl/ | oxeb /oʃeb/ |
| Four | tkë́l /tkə́l/ | goho /ɡoho/ | aktati /aktati/ | tap /tap/ | chan /tʃan/ | kajvaʼl /kahʋaʔl/ | chaneb /tʃaneb/ |
| Five | ske̱l /skẽl/ | kʉtʼa /kɨtʼa/ | kitsis /kitsis/ | gai /ɡai/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | oʼvaʼl /oʔʋaʔl/ | joʼeb /hoʔeɓ/ |
| Hundred | cien /sjen/ | nthebe /ntʰebe/ | ciento /sjento/ | gayuaa /ɡajuaː/ | cien /sjen/ | oʼkʼalal /oʔkʼalal/ | joʼ winik /hoʔ winik/ |
| Hello | iriʼ /iɾiʔ/ | hatsi /hatsi/ | tlen lhítat /tɬen ɬítat/ | padiux /padiuʃ/ | bin a bel /bin a bel/ | nimaʼla kuxhewchʼa /nimaʔla kuʃewtʃʼa/ | banti winik /banti winik/ |
| Thank you | wëstela /wəstela/ | jamädi /hamãdi/ | paʼxkatkatsiniyán /paʔʃkatkatsiniján/ | xclen loʼ /ʃklen loʔ/ | dios boʼtik /dios boʔtik/ | tantixh /tantiʃ/ | wokol awal /wokol awal/ |
| Good | buaʼ /buaʔ/ | hño /hɲo/ | tlan /tɬan/ | nazac /nazak/ | tsʼak /tsʼak/ | utzʼ /utsʼ/ | lek /lek/ |
| New | pa̱ʼa̱li̱ /pãʔãlĩ/ | ʼraʼyo /ʔɾaʔjo/ | xasasti /ʃasasti/ | ncweby /nkwebj/ | tzijib /tsihib/ | akʼ /akʼ/ | achʼ /atʃʼ/ |
| Red | dölöí /døløí/ | theni /tʰeni/ | tsutsokgo /tsutsoqo/ | xnia /ʃnia/ | chäk /tʃɨk/ | kaq /kaq/ | tsajal /tsahal/ |
| White | saruru /saɾuɾu/ | tʼaxi /tʼaʃi/ | snapapa /snapapa/ | nguits /ŋɡits/ | säk /sæk/ | saj /saχ/ | sak /sak/ |
| Black | dalòlò /dalolo/ | ʼbo /ʔbo/ | tsitsekge /tsitseqe/ | ngas /ŋas/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | ijkʼal /ihkʼal/ |
| Green | tsipátsipà /tsipátsipa/ | kʼantsʼi /kʼantsʼi/ | — | nga /ŋa/ | yäx /jɨʃ/ | chaʼx /tʃaʔʃ/ | yax /jaʃ/ |
| Blue | siè̱ /siẽ̀/ | kʼangi /kʼaŋɡi/ | — | — | yäx /jɨʃ/ | — | yax /jaʃ/ |
| Orange | àsh balòbalo /aʃ balobalo/ | nanxa /nanʃa/ | — | — | aranxax /aranʃaʃ/ | — | alaxax /alaʃaʃ/ |
| Ninety-nine | dabom su̱li̱yök ki̱ su̱li̱tu /dabom sũlĩjøk kĩ sũlĩtu/ | — | — | — | — | bʼelelaval toʼkʼal /ɓelelaʋal toʔkʼal/ | — |
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