Thuɔŋjäŋ
Dinka
Nilo-Saharan (Western Nilotic)
Dinka (Thuɔŋjäŋ) is one of the largest Nilo-Saharan languages and the largest in South Sudan, with ~4M speakers, spoken by the Dinka people, the country's largest ethnic group. Closely related to Nuer (the two together forming the Dinka-Nuer cluster), but with substantial linguistic differences. Dinka has an unusually complex vowel system with breathy and creaky voice qualities marking morphological distinctions (e.g. between singular and plural), three vowel-length contrasts (short, long, overlong), and three tones. Major dialect groups include Padang (Northeastern), Rek (Central), Agar (Bahr el-Ghazal). Standard orthography uses Latin with diacritics (ä ë ï ö ɛ ɔ ɣ).
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Dinka
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Nilo-Saharan (Western Nilotic)
| Meaning | Dinka | Nuer | Acholi | Anuak | Lango | Luo | Bari |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | piu /piu/ | pi /pi/ | pii /piː/ | pii /piː/ | pii /piː/ | pi /pi/ | piong /piɔŋ/ |
| Fire | mac /matʃ/ | mäc /mɛtʃ/ | mac /matʃ/ | mac /matʃ/ | mac /matʃ/ | mach /matʃ/ | kima /kima/ |
| Sun | akɔ̈l /akɔl/ | caŋ /tʃaŋ/ | ceng /tʃɛŋ/ | ceeŋ /tʃeːŋ/ | ceŋ /tʃɛŋ/ | chiengʼ /tʃiɛŋ/ | kolong /koloŋ/ |
| Moon | pɛɛi /pɛːi/ | pay /paj/ | dwe /dwe/ | dwee /dweː/ | dwe /dwe/ | dwe /dwe/ | yapa /japa/ |
| Star | kuel /kwɛl/ | räl /ral/ | lakalatwe /lakalatwɛ/ | cero /tʃero/ | lakalatwe /lakalatwɛ/ | sulwe /sulwɛ/ | kaserokoti /kaserokoti/ |
| Night | wakɔu /wakɔu/ | wɛr /wɛr/ | dyewor /dʲɛwor/ | wɛr /wɛr/ | owuor /owuor/ | otieno /otiɛno/ | tukwaje /tukʷaje/ |
| Rain | deng /deŋ/ | nhiaal /n̪iaːl/ | kot /kot/ | — | kot /kot/ | koth /kɔθ/ | kudu /kudu/ |
| Wind | yom /jom/ | jiom /dʒiom/ | yamo /jamo/ | yamo /jamo/ | yamo /jamo/ | yamo /jamo/ | köbuŋöt /kɔbuŋɔt/ |
| Earth | piny /pinʲ/ | piny /piɲ/ | ngom /ŋɔm/ | — | ngom /ŋom/ | lowo /loːwo/ | kak /kak/ |
| Stone | kuur /kuːr/ | päm /pam/ | kidi /kidi/ | kidi /kidi/ | gweŋ /ɡweŋ/ | kidi /ˈkidi/ | ŋurupit /ŋurupit/ |
| Mountain | gɔ̈ɔ̈t /ɡɔːt/ | — | got /ɡot/ | — | kidi /kidi/ | got /ɡɔt/ | mere /mere/ |
| Mother | man /man/ | maar /maːr/ | mego /meɡo/ | min /min/ | mego /meɡo/ | mama /mama/ | ŋote /ŋote/ |
| Father | wun /wun/ | gwaar /ɡwaːr/ | baba /baba/ | waad /waːd/ | papo /papo/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | nyan /ɲan/ | nya /ɲa/ | nya /ɲa/ | — | nya /ɲa/ | nyar /ɲar/ | ŋuro nakwan /ŋuro nakʷan/ |
| I | ɣɛn /ɣɛn/ | ɣän /ɣan/ | an /an/ | än /an/ | an /an/ | an /an/ | nan /nan/ |
| You | yïn /jin/ | jin /jin/ | in /in/ | in /in/ | yin /jin/ | in /in/ | do /do/ |
| We | ɣok /ɣɔk/ | kɔn /kɔn/ | wan /wan/ | wän /wan/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | yi /ji/ |
| Name | rin /rin/ | ciot /tɕɔːt/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | nyiŋ /ɲiŋ/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | karin /karin/ |
| Person | raan /raːn/ | raan /raːn/ | dano /dano/ | — | dano /dano/ | dhano /ðano/ | ŋutu /ŋutu/ |
| Head | nhom /n̪om/ | wic /witʃ/ | wic /witʃ/ | wic /witʃ/ | wic /witʃ/ | wich /witʃ/ | kwe /kʷe/ |
| Eye | nyin /ɲin/ | waŋ /waŋ/ | wang /waŋ/ | waang /waːŋ/ | waŋ /waŋ/ | wangʼ /waŋ/ | kongi /koŋɡi/ |
| Ear | yith /jic/ | jith /dʒiθ/ | it /it/ | yith /jiθ/ | it /it/ | it /it/ | swot /swot/ |
| Nose | wum /wum/ | wum /wum/ | um /um/ | wum /wum/ | um /um/ | um /um/ | kume /kume/ |
| Mouth | thok /t̪ɔk/ | thok /t̪ɔk/ | dog /doɡ/ | — | dog /doɡ/ | dhok /ðok/ | kutuk /kutuk/ |
| Tooth | lec /letʃ/ | lei /lei/ | lak /lak/ | leo /leo/ | lak /lak/ | lak /lak/ | kele /kele/ |
| Tongue | liep /liep/ | lɛp /lɛpʰ/ | leb /lɛb/ | lɛph /lɛpʰ/ | leb /lɛb/ | lep /lɛp/ | ŋadap /ŋadap/ |
| Hand | cin /tʃin/ | tet /tet/ | cing /tʃiŋ/ | cing /tʃiŋ/ | cing /tʃiŋ/ | lwedo /lwɛdo/ | könin /kɔnin/ |
| Foot | cök /tʃɔk/ | cio̱o̱k /tɕɔːk/ | tyen /tʲɛn/ | tielo /tielo/ | tyen /tjɛn/ | tielo /tiɛlo/ | moköt /mokɔt/ |
| Heart | piöu /piɔu/ | lëŋ /lɛŋ/ | cwiny /tʃwiɲ/ | cuny /tʃuɲ/ | cwiny /tʃwiɲ/ | chuny /tʃuɲ/ | töili /tɔili/ |
| Bone | yuɔɔm /juɔːm/ | cɔɣ /tʃɔɣ/ | cogo /tʃoɡo/ | cou /tʃou/ | cogo /tʃoɡo/ | chogo /tʃoɡo/ | kuyutio /kujutio/ |
| Blood | riɛm /riɛm/ | riɛm /riɛm/ | remo /rɛmo/ | remoʼ /rɛmoʔ/ | rem /rɛm/ | remo /rɛmo/ | rima /rima/ |
| Poop | ciɛ̈th /tʃiɛt̪/ | — | cet /tʃɛt/ | — | cet /tʃɛt/ | chieth /tʃiɛθ/ | kin /kin/ |
| Love | nhiär /n̪iar/ | nhok /nok/ | mar /mar/ | mar /mar/ | amara /amara/ | hera /hera/ | nyar /ɲar/ |
| Tree | tim /tim/ | jïath /dʒiat̪/ | yat /jat/ | yat /jat/ | yat /jat/ | yath /jaθ/ | ködini /kɔdini/ |
| Dog | jɔ̈ŋ /dʒɔŋ/ | jiek /dʒiek/ | gwok /ɡʷok/ | guok /ɡuok/ | gwok /ɡwok/ | guok /ɡuok/ | ’dioŋ /ɗioŋ/ |
| Cat | gec /ɡetʃ/ | gec /ɡetʃ/ | ngabu /ŋabu/ | nyamur /ɲamur/ | mbweko /mbweko/ | paka /paka/ | lupa /lupa/ |
| Fish | rec /rɛtʃ/ | rec /rɛtʃ/ | rec /rɛtʃ/ | reo /reoʔ/ | rec /rɛtʃ/ | rech /rɛtʃ/ | sumuti /sumuti/ |
| Bird | diɛt /diɛt/ | dit /dit/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | — | winyo /wiɲo/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | kwenti /kʷenti/ |
| Butterfly | dap /dap/ | del kwoth /dɛl kwɔt̪/ | lapwopwo /lapwopwo/ | — | kapwopwo /kapwopwo/ | oguyo /oɡujo/ | — |
| Egg | tuɔŋ /tuɔŋ/ | tuoŋ /tuɔŋ/ | tong /toŋ/ | tøŋ gwienø /tøŋ ɡwienø/ | toŋ /toŋ/ | tongʼ /toŋ/ | katulukuti /katulukuti/ |
| Horse | mathiaŋ /mat̪iaŋ/ | jio̱k tuɔ̱ruɔ̱k /dʒiɔk tuɔruɔk/ | aguragura /aɡuraɡura/ | okweeny /okweːɲ/ | aguragura /aɡuraɡura/ | faras /faras/ | kusan /kusan/ |
| House | ɣöt /ɣɔt/ | dööl /dɔːl/ | ot /ot/ | ot /ot/ | ot /ot/ | ot /ot/ | kadi /kadi/ |
| Milk | ca /tʃa/ | cak /tʃak/ | cak /tʃak/ | caak /tʃaːk/ | cak /tʃak/ | chak /tʃak/ | le /le/ |
| Honey | kiɛ̈c /kiɛtʃ/ | tuaar /tuaːr/ | kic /kitʃ/ | maar kïc /maːr kitʃ/ | moo kic /moː kitʃ/ | mor kich /mor kitʃ/ | siwatat /siwatat/ |
| Salt | awai /awai/ | milɛ /milɛ/ | kado /kado/ | — | kado /kado/ | chumbi /tʃumbi/ | alang /alaŋ/ |
| Wine | mɔ̈u /mɔu/ | kɔaŋ /kɔaŋ/ | bwino /bwino/ | køøŋ nyïïomøki /køːŋ ɲiːomøki/ | koŋo /koŋo/ | divai /divai/ | binyo /biɲo/ |
| Iron | weeth /weːt̪/ | yiëëth /jiɛːt̪/ | nyonyo /ɲoɲo/ | — | nyonyo /ɲoɲo/ | nyinyo /ˈɲiɲo/ | witi /witi/ |
| Wheel | köl /kɔl/ | wil /wil/ | lawala /lawala/ | — | okot /okot/ | nyange /ɲaŋe/ | — /—/ |
| Book | athör /at̪ɔr/ | bok /bɔk/ | buk /buk/ | — | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ |
| Eat | cam /tʃam/ | cam /tʃam/ | cam /tʃam/ | cam /tʃam/ | camo /tʃamo/ | chiemo /tʃiemo/ | nyo /ɲo/ |
| Drink | dek /dek/ | math /mat̪/ | mat /mat/ | maath /maːt̪/ | matho /matʰo/ | madho /maðo/ | mwoi /mwoi/ |
| Sleep | nin /niːn/ | nin /nin/ | nino /nino/ | nin /nin/ | nino /nino/ | nindo /nindo/ | doto /doto/ |
| One | tök /tɔk/ | kɛl /kɛl/ | acel /atʃɛl/ | acel /atʃel/ | acel /atʃɛl/ | achiel /atʃiɛl/ | geleŋ /ɡeleŋ/ |
| Two | rou /rou/ | rew /rɛw/ | aryo /arjo/ | aryew /arjɛw/ | aryo /arjo/ | ariyo /arijo/ | murek /murek/ |
| Three | diak /diak/ | diɔ̱k /dijɔk/ | adek /adek/ | adak /adʌk/ | adek /adek/ | adek /adek/ | musala /mʊsala/ |
| Four | ŋuan /ŋuan/ | ŋuan /ŋwan/ | angwen /aŋwɛn/ | angween /aŋweːn/ | angwen /aŋwɛn/ | angʼwen /aŋwɛn/ | ŋwan /ŋwan/ |
| Five | dhiëc /ɟiɛc/ | dhieec /ɟiec/ | abic /abitʃ/ | abic /abitʃ/ | abic /aˈbitʃ/ | abich /abitʃ/ | mukanat /mʊkanat/ |
| Hundred | buɔt /buɔt/ | kuɔ̱r /kuɔr/ | miya /mija/ | dipa /dipa/ | mia /miə/ | mia /mia/ | mia /mia/ |
| Hello | ke yïn /ke jin/ | malɛ /malɛ/ | itye nining /itʲɛ niniŋ/ | mali /mali/ | itye nining /itje niniŋ/ | misawa /misawa/ | gwon /ɡwon/ |
| Thank you | alanyiek /alaɲiek/ | lɛrnyä /lɛrɲa/ | apwoyo /apwojo/ | apwoyo /apwojo/ | apwoyo /apwojo/ | erokamano /erokamano/ | tinate /tinate/ |
| Good | piath /piat̪/ | gɔaa /ɡɔaː/ | ber /ber/ | ber /ber/ | ber /ber/ | maber /maber/ | ’but /ɓut/ |
| New | yam /jam/ | — | manyen /maɲɛn/ | nyään /ɲaːn/ | anyen /aɲen/ | manyien /maɲien/ | ludukotyo /ludukotjo/ |
| Red | thith /tʰitʰ/ | lual /lual/ | makwar /makwar/ | kwaar /kwaːr/ | makwar /makwar/ | makwar /makwar/ | lotor /lotor/ |
| White | ɣer /ɣer/ | bor /bor/ | tar /tar/ | tar /tar/ | tar /tar/ | rachar /ratʃar/ | lokwe /lokwe/ |
| Black | col /tʃol/ | car /tʃar/ | macol /matʃol/ | cøl /tʃøl/ | acol /atʃol/ | ratengʼ /ratɛŋ/ | lurwö /lurwɔ/ |
| Green | tɔ̈c /tɔtʃ/ | tɔc /tɔtʃ/ | atworo /atworo/ | — | — | — | loŋem /loŋem/ |
| Computer | makuɛ̈n /makuɛn/ | — | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | — | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — |
| Tea | cai /tʃai/ | — | cai /tʃai/ | — | — | chai /tʃai/ | — |
| Orange | bertukan /bertukan/ | — | mucungwa /mutʃuŋwa/ | — | — | machunga /matʃuŋɡa/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | thiärdhoŋuan ku dhoŋuan /t̪iard̪oŋuan ku d̪oŋuan/ | jiɛn bäŋuan wi̱cdɛ bäŋuan /ɟiɛn bʌŋwan wicdɛ bʌŋwan/ | pyere abongwen wiye abongwen /pjere aboŋwɛn wije aboŋwɛn/ | — | pyeraboŋwen wie aboŋwen /pjeraboŋwɛn wie aboŋwɛn/ | piero ochiko gochiko /piero otʃiko ɡotʃiko/ | merya buŋwan wot buŋwan /mɛrja bʊŋwan wɔt bʊŋwan/ |
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