Karifuna
Garifuna
Arawakan (Caribbean)
Garifuna (Garífuna) is an Arawakan language of the Garifuna people of Central America's Caribbean coast (Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua), with ~200K speakers. It is a unique survival: descendants of African Maroons and Carib-Arawak Native Caribbeans on Saint Vincent who, after British deportation in 1797, kept the indigenous Arawakan language of Saint Vincent rather than adopting an African or European tongue. The language famously preserves a pronounced gender-based register difference: many words have separate male-speech and female-speech forms reflecting the historical Carib-Arawak gender split. UNESCO inscribed Garifuna culture as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage in 2001.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Garifuna
Sources
- Ethnologue: cab
- Suazo (1994) Conversemos en Garífuna
- UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Heritage
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Arawakan (Caribbean)
| Meaning | Garifuna | Galibi Carib | Sicilian | Extremaduran | Purépecha | Guatemalan Spanish | Cape Verdean Creole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | huya /huja/ | tuna /tuna/ | acqua /ˈakkwa/ | augua /ˈawɣwa/ | itsï /iˈtsɨ/ | agua /ˈaɣwa/ | agu /aɡu/ |
| Fire | watu /watu/ | wàto /wahto/ | focu /ˈfɔku/ | huegu /ˈhweɣu/ | chpíri /ˈtʃpʰiɾi/ | fuego /ˈfweɣo/ | fogu /foɡu/ |
| Sun | weyu /weju/ | weju /weju/ | suli /ˈsuli/ | sol /sɔl/ | jurhiata /xuɽˈjata/ | sol /sol/ | sol /sɔl/ |
| Moon | hati /hati/ | nuno /nuno/ | luna /ˈluna/ | luna /ˈluna/ | kutsi /ˈkutsi/ | luna /ˈluna/ | lua /lua/ |
| Star | waruguma /waɾuɡuma/ | siriko /siɾiko/ | stidda /ˈstɪɖːa/ | estrella /ehˈtɾeʎa/ | jóskua /ˈxoskʷa/ | estrella /esˈtɾea/ | strela /ˈstɾelɐ/ |
| Night | gañau /ɡaɲau/ | koko /koko/ | notti /ˈnɔtti/ | nochi /ˈnotʃi/ | churikua /tʃuɾikʷa/ | noche /ˈnotʃe/ | noti /ˈnoti/ |
| Rain | gunubu /ɡunubu/ | konopo /konopo/ | chiuvuta /kjuˈvuta/ | lluvia /ˈʎuβja/ | janikua /xanikʷa/ | lluvia /ˈʝuβja/ | txuba /ˈtʃubɐ/ |
| Snow | niewe /niewe/ | — | nivi /ˈniːvi/ | ñevi /ˈɲeβi/ | iéjta /ˈjexta/ | nieve /ˈnjeβe/ | nevi /ˈnevi/ |
| Wind | garabali /ɡarabali/ | pepeito /pepeito/ | ventu /ˈvɛntu/ | ventu /ˈbentu/ | tarhiata /taˈɽiata/ | viento /ˈbjento/ | bentu /ˈbentu/ |
| Earth | múa /mua/ | nono /nono/ | terra /ˈtɛrra/ | tierra /ˈtjera/ | echeri /etʃeɾi/ | tierra /ˈtjera/ | téra /tera/ |
| Stone | dübü /dɨbɨ/ | topu /topu/ | petra /ˈpɛːtra/ | piedra /ˈpjeðɾa/ | tsakapu /tsaˈkapu/ | piedra /ˈpjeðɾa/ | pedra /ˈpɛdɾɐ/ |
| Mountain | wǘbü /ˈwɨbɨ/ | wypy /wɨpɨ/ | muntagna /munˈtaɲɲa/ | montaña /monˈtaɲa/ | uata /wata/ | montaña /monˈtaɲa/ | monti /ˈmõti/ |
| Sea | barana /ˈbarana/ | parana /paɾana/ | mari /ˈmari/ | mar /maɾ/ | kʼéri japunta /ˈkʰeɾi xapunta/ | mar /maɾ/ | mar /maɾ/ |
| Mother | úguchu /uɡutʃu/ | sano /sano/ | matri /ˈmatri/ | mai /mai/ | nana /ˈnana/ | madre /ˈmaðɾe/ | mai /maj/ |
| Father | úguchili /uɡutʃili/ | papa /papa/ | patri /ˈpatri/ | pairi /ˈpajɾi/ | tata /ˈtata/ | padre /ˈpaðɾe/ | pai /paj/ |
| Daughter | isani würi /isani wɨɾi/ | emyiry /emɨiɾɨ/ | figghia /ˈfiɟɟa/ | ija /ˈiha/ | — | hija /ˈiha/ | fidja /ˈfidʒɐ/ |
| I | au /au/ | au /au/ | iu /ju/ | yo /ʝo/ | ji /xi/ | yo /ʝo/ | mi /mi/ |
| You | amürü /amɨɾɨ/ | amoro /amoɾo/ | tu /tu/ | tú /tu/ | tʼu /tʰu/ | vos /bos/ | bu /bu/ |
| We | wagía /waɡia/ | kʉʼkaron / naʼna /kəʔkaɾon / naʔna/ | nuàutri /nuˈawtri/ | nusotrus /nusoˈtɾus/ | juchá /xuˈtʃa/ | nosotros /noˈsotɾos/ | nos /nɔs/ |
| Name | iri /iɾi/ | eeti /eːti/ | nomu /ˈnɔmu/ | nombri /ˈnombɾi/ | arhikua /aɽiˈkʷa/ | nombre /ˈnombɾe/ | nómi /ˈnɔmi/ |
| Person | mútu /ˈmutu/ | kariʼna /kaɾiʔna/ | pirsuna /pirˈsuna/ | presona /pɾeˈsona/ | kʼuiripu /kʰʷiˈɾipu/ | persona /peɾˈsona/ | algen /alˈɡen/ |
| Head | ichǘgü /iˈtʃɨɡɨ/ | upuʼpo /upuʔpo/ | testa /ˈtɛsta/ | cabeça /kaˈβesa/ | ejpu /expu/ | cabeza /kaˈβesa/ | kabésa /kaˈbɛsɐ/ |
| Eye | úgubu /uɡubu/ | enu /enu/ | occhiu /ˈɔkkju/ | oju /ˈohu/ | éskua /ˈeskʷa/ | ojo /ˈoho/ | odju /odʒu/ |
| Ear | arigei /ariɡei/ | panari /panari/ | aricchia /aˈrikkja/ | oreja /oˈɾexa/ | kutsïkua /kuˈtsɨkʷa/ | oreja /oˈɾeha/ | oredja /oˈɾedʒɐ/ |
| Nose | igiri /iɡiɾi/ | anàta /anahta/ | nasu /ˈnaːsu/ | narís /naˈɾis/ | úrhi /ˈuɽi/ | nariz /naˈɾis/ | naris /naˈɾis/ |
| Mouth | iumaü /iumaɨ/ | pota /pota/ | vucca /ˈvukka/ | boca /ˈboka/ | penchumikua /pentʃumikʷa/ | boca /ˈboka/ | boka /ˈbɔka/ |
| Tooth | ari /ari/ | yerï /jelə/ | denti /ˈdɛnti/ | dienti /ˈdjenti/ | sïni /sɨni/ | diente /ˈdjente/ | denti /ˈdenti/ |
| Tongue | iñeñei /iɲeɲei/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | lingua /ˈlinɡwa/ | luenga /ˈlweŋɡa/ | katamba /katamba/ | lengua /ˈleŋɡwa/ | lingua /ˈliŋɡwa/ |
| Hand | úhabu /uhabu/ | aina /aina/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | jájki /ˈhaxki/ | mano /ˈmano/ | mon /mɔ̃/ |
| Foot | ugúdi /uɡudi/ | pupu /pupu/ | pedi /ˈpɛdi/ | pie /pje/ | jantsíri /xanˈtsiɾi/ | pie /pje/ | pé /pɛ/ |
| Heart | anigi /aniɡi/ | emanga /emaŋɡa/ | cori /ˈkɔri/ | curaçón /kuɾaˈsɔn/ | mintsita /minˈtsita/ | corazón /koɾaˈson/ | korason /korasɔ̃/ |
| Bone | ábu /abu/ | yepo /jepo/ | ossu /ˈɔssu/ | güesu /ˈɡwesu/ | úni /ˈuni/ | hueso /ˈweso/ | ósu /ˈɔsu/ |
| Blood | hitaü /hitaɨ/ | mʉnʉ /mənə/ | sangu /ˈsaŋɡu/ | sangri /ˈsaŋɡɾi/ | iurhiri /juɽiɽi/ | sangre /ˈsaŋɡɾe/ | sangi /ˈsɐ̃ɡi/ |
| Love | hínsiñe /hinsiɲe/ | kataneko /kataneko/ | amuri /aˈmuri/ | amol /aˈmol/ | uekpini /wekpini/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ | amor /amor/ |
| Tree | wewe /wewe/ | wewe /wewe/ | àrbulu /ˈarbulu/ | arbol /ˈaɾβol/ | anhatapu /aŋaˈtapu/ | árbol /ˈaɾβol/ | arvi /arvi/ |
| Dog | aulamu /aulamu/ | pero /peɾo/ | cani /ˈkani/ | perru /ˈperu/ | uíchu /ˈwitʃu/ | perro /ˈpero/ | katxor /katʃɔr/ |
| Cat | meu /meu/ | meu /meu/ | jattu /ˈjattu/ | gatu /ˈɡatu/ | misitu /miˈsitu/ | gato /ˈɡato/ | gatu /ɡatu/ |
| Fish | üduraü /ɨduɾaɨ/ | woto /woto/ | pisci /ˈpiʃi/ | pexi /ˈpeʃi/ | kurucha /kuɾutʃa/ | pez /pes/ | pexi /ˈpeʃi/ |
| Bird | dúnuru /ˈdunuɾu/ | tonoro /tonoɾo/ | aceddu /aˈtʃɛɖːu/ | páxaru /ˈpaxaɾu/ | kuini /kʷini/ | pájaro /ˈpahaɾo/ | pásaru /pasaɾu/ |
| Butterfly | wurigabagaba /wuɾiɡabaɡaba/ | palanpalan /palanpalan/ | parpagghiuni /parpaɟˈɟuni/ | — | parakata /paˈɾakata/ | mariposa /maɾiˈposa/ | borboléta /boɾboˈlɛtɐ/ |
| Egg | gañe /ɡaɲe/ | iʼmo /iʔmo/ | ovu /ˈɔvu/ | güevu /ˈɡweβu/ | kuaxanda /kʷaʃanda/ | huevo /ˈweβo/ | ovu /ˈovu/ |
| Bear | osu /osu/ | — | ursu /ˈursu/ | ossu /ˈosu/ | osu /osu/ | oso /ˈoso/ | ursu /ˈuɾsu/ |
| Horse | gabáyu /ɡaˈbaju/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | cavaddu /kaˈvaɖːu/ | caballu /kaˈβaʎu/ | kabaiu /kaˈbaju/ | caballo /kaˈβajo/ | kabalu /kaˈbalu/ |
| House | muna /muna/ | paty /pati/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | taa /ta/ | casa /ˈkasa/ | kaza /kaza/ |
| Milk | miligi /miliɡi/ | manaty aikuru /manatɨ aikuɾu/ | latti /ˈlatti/ | lechi /ˈletʃi/ | lechi /letʃi/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | leti /ˈleti/ |
| Honey | maba /maba/ | wano /wano/ | meli /ˈmɛli/ | miel /mjel/ | tékua /ˈtekʷa/ | miel /mjel/ | mel /mɛl/ |
| Salt | sálu /ˈsalu/ | wajo /wajo/ | sali /ˈsali/ | sal /sal/ | itúkua /iˈtukʷa/ | sal /sal/ | sal /sal/ |
| Wine | diweín /diweˈin/ | winu /winu/ | vinu /ˈvinu/ | vinu /ˈbinu/ | binu /ˈbinu/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vinhu /ˈviɲu/ |
| Rice | ri /ri/ | — | risu /ˈrizu/ | arrós /aˈros/ | — | arroz /aˈros/ | arôs /ɐˈɾos/ |
| Chocolate | chuguladi /tʃuɡuladi/ | — | cicculatti /tʃikkuˈlatti/ | chocolati /tʃokoˈlati/ | — | chocolate /tʃokoˈlate/ | xokulati |
| Iron | gürábu /ɡɨˈɾabu/ | siparari /sipaɾaɾi/ | ferru /ˈfɛrru/ | hierru /ˈhjeru/ | tiámu /ˈtjamu/ | hierro /ˈʝero/ | féru /ˈfɛɾu/ |
| Wheel | tubalabala /tubalabala/ | tarara /tarara/ | rota /ˈrɔːta/ | ruea /ˈrwea/ | — | rueda /ˈrweða/ | roda /ˈrɔdɐ/ |
| Silk | séda /ˈseda/ | — | sita /ˈsita/ | seda /ˈseða/ | — | seda /ˈseða/ | seda /ˈsedɐ/ |
| Book | líburu /ˈlibuɾu/ | kareta /kaɾeta/ | libbru /ˈlibbru/ | libru /ˈliβɾu/ | karakata /kaɾakata/ | libro /ˈliβɾo/ | livru /ˈlivɾu/ |
| Eat | éiga /eiɡa/ | onökö /onøkø/ | manciari /manˈtʃari/ | comel /koˈmel/ | tʼireni /tʰiˈɾeni/ | comer /koˈmeɾ/ | kume /kume/ |
| Drink | ata /ata/ | ëne /ɘne/ | vìviri /ˈviviri/ | bebel /beˈβel/ | itsïmani /itsɨmani/ | beber /beˈβeɾ/ | bebe /bebe/ |
| Sleep | arúmuga /aˈɾumuɡa/ | ònyky /ohnɨkɨ/ | dòrmiri /ˈdɔrmɪrɪ/ | durmil /duɾˈmil/ | kʼuíni /ˈkʰʷini/ | dormir /doɾˈmiɾ/ | durmi /ˈduɾmi/ |
| One | aban /aban/ | o:wi /oːwi/ | unu /ˈunu/ | un /un/ | ma /ma/ | uno /ˈuno/ | un /un/ |
| Two | biama /biama/ | oko /oko/ | dui /ˈduɪ/ | dos /dos/ | tsimani /tsiˈmani/ | dos /dos/ | dos /dos/ |
| Three | ürüwa /ɨɾɨwa/ | oruwa /oɾuwa/ | tri /tri/ | tres /tɾes/ | tanimu /tanimu/ | tres /tɾes/ | tres /tɾes/ |
| Four | gádürü /ˈɡadɨɾɨ/ | okupaen /okupaen/ | quattru /ˈkwattru/ | cuatru /ˈkwatɾu/ | tʼamu /tʰamu/ | cuatro /ˈkwatɾo/ | kuatru /ˈkwatru/ |
| Five | seingü /seiŋɡy/ | ainatone /ainatone/ | cincu /ˈtʃiŋku/ | cincu /ˈθiŋku/ | yumu /jumu/ | cinco /ˈsinko/ | sinku /ˈsiŋku/ |
| Hundred | san /saŋ/ | ainatone-kariʼna /ainatone kaɾiʔna/ | centu /ˈtʃɛntu/ | cien /θjen/ | yumu ekuatsi /jumu ekʷatsi/ | cien /sjen/ | sen /sen/ |
| Hello | mabuiga /mabuiɡa/ | mary /maɾi/ | salutamu /salutamu/ | salú /saˈlu/ | — /—/ | hola /ˈola/ | ola /ɔla/ |
| Thank you | seremein /seremein/ | irombo /iɾombo/ | grazii /ˈɡrattsii/ | gracias /ˈɣɾasjas/ | diosï meyamu /diosɨ meˈjamu/ | gracias /ˈɡɾasjas/ | obrigadu /obriɡadu/ |
| Good | buidu /bwidu/ | epoja /epoja/ | bonu /ˈbɔnu/ | güenu /ˈɡwenu/ | sesi /ˈsesi/ | bueno /ˈbweno/ | bon /bɔ̃/ |
| New | iséri /iˈseɾi/ | asery /aseɾɨ/ | novu /ˈnɔvu/ | nuevu /ˈnweβu/ | jimbanhi /ximbaŋi/ | nuevo /ˈnweβo/ | novu /ˈnovu/ |
| Red | fúnati /ˈfunati/ | tapyre /tapɨɾe/ | russu /ˈrussu/ | coloráu /koloˈɾaw/ | charhápiti /tʃaˈɽapiti/ | rojo /ˈroho/ | burmedju /buɾˈmɛdʒu/ |
| White | harúti /haˈɾuti/ | tamuʼne /tamuʔne/ | biancu /ˈbjaŋku/ | blancu /ˈblaŋku/ | urapiti /uɾapiti/ | blanco /ˈblaŋko/ | branku /ˈbɾɐ̃ku/ |
| Black | wuriti /wuɾiti/ | tykaraije /tɨkaɾaije/ | nìuru /ˈniuru/ | negru /ˈneɣɾu/ | turhipiti /tuɽipiti/ | negro /ˈneɣɾo/ | pretu /ˈpɾetu/ |
| Blue | dínguti /ˈdiŋɡuti/ | tupulu /tupulu/ | azzolu /adˈdzɔlu/ | azul /aˈθul/ | — | azul /aˈsul/ | azul /aˈzul/ |
| Computer | konputadora /konputadoɾa/ | — | computer /komˈpjuter/ | ordenaol /oɾðenaˈol/ | komputadora /komputadoɾa/ | computadora /komputaˈðoɾa/ | konputador /kõputaˈdoɾ/ |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | — | tè /tɛ/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | xa /ʃa/ |
| Coffee | gafe /ɡafe/ | kafé /kafe/ | cafè /kaˈfɛ/ | café /kaˈfe/ | kafe /kafe/ | café /kaˈfe/ | kafé /kaˈfɛ/ |
| Sugar | súgara /ˈsuɡaɾa/ | sukulu /sukulu/ | zuccuru /ˈtsukkuru/ | açuca /aˈsuka/ | — | azúcar /aˈsukaɾ/ | sukra /ˈsukɾɐ/ |
| Orange | aransu /aɾansu/ | apyrysina /apɨɾɨsina/ | aranciu /aˈrantʃu/ | naranja /naˈɾaŋha/ | — | naranja /naˈɾaŋha/ | laranja /laˈɾɐ̃ʒɐ/ |
| Ninety-nine | gádürü-wein-díisi-néfu /ɡadɨɾɨ wein diːsi nefu/ | — | novantanovi /nɔvantaˈnɔvi/ | noventa i nuevi /noˈβenta i ˈnweβi/ | — | noventa y nueve /noˈβenta i ˈnweβe/ | — |
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