Wayuunaiki
Wayuu
Arawakan (Northern)
Wayuu (Wayuunaiki) is the largest indigenous language of northern Colombia and Venezuela, native to the Guajira Peninsula on the Caribbean coast, with ~400K speakers. Part of the northern Maipuran branch of the Arawakan family. The Wayuu are matrilineal pastoralists (sheep, goats, cattle) with strong cultural and linguistic continuity despite straddling the Colombia-Venezuela border. Recognized as an official indigenous language of Venezuela (1999 constitution) and protected in Colombia's Guajira department. Verb-initial syntax with rich pronominal morphology. Significant body of literature including traditional storytelling and contemporary works.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Wayuu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Arawakan (Northern)
| Meaning | Wayuu | Garifuna | Chol | Mam | Yucatec Maya | Oromo | Jaqaru |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | wuin /wuin/ | huya /huja/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | aʼ /aʔ/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | bishaan /biʃaːn/ | uma /uma/ |
| Fire | siki /siki/ | watu /watu/ | kʼajk /kʼahk/ | qʼaqʼ /qʼaqʼ/ | kʼáakʼ /kʼaːkʼ/ | ibidda /ibidːa/ | nina /nina/ |
| Sun | kaʼi /kaʔi/ | weyu /weju/ | kʼiñ /kʼiɲ/ | qʼij /qʼih/ | kʼiin /kʼiːn/ | aduu /aduː/ | inti /inti/ |
| Moon | kashi /kaʃi/ | hati /hati/ | uw /uw/ | xjaw /ʃaw/ | uj /uh/ | jiʼa /dʒiʔa/ | paxshi /paχʃi/ |
| Star | jolotsü /holotsɨ/ | waruguma /waɾuɡuma/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | cheʼw /tʃeʔw/ | eekʼ /eːkʼ/ | urjii /urdʒiː/ | waraxa /waɾaχa/ |
| Night | aiʼpaʼa /aiʔpaʔa/ | gañau /ɡaɲau/ | akʼälel /akʼɨlel/ | qonikʼen /qonikʼən/ | áakʼabʼ /aːkʼaɓ/ | halkan /halkan/ | aruma /aruma/ |
| Rain | huya /huja/ | gunubu /ɡunubu/ | jaʼal /haʔal/ | jbʼal /ʃɓal/ | cháak /tʃáːk/ | bokkaa /ˈbokːaː/ | jallu /haʎu/ |
| Wind | houtai /houtai/ | garabali /ɡarabali/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | kyqʼiqʼ /kʲqʼiqʼ/ | iikʼ /iːkʼ/ | bubbee /ˈbubːeː/ | wawya /wawja/ |
| Earth | mmoo-ľuʼu /mmoo-ľuʔu/ | múa /mua/ | lum /lum/ | txʼotxʼ /tʃʼotʃʼ/ | luʼum /luʔum/ | lafa /lafa/ | — |
| Stone | ipa /ipa/ | dübü /dɨbɨ/ | xajlel /ʃahlel/ | abʼaj /aɓax/ | tuunich /tuːˈnitʃ/ | dhagaa /ɖaˈɡaː/ | qala /qala/ |
| Mountain | uuchi /uːtʃi/ | wǘbü /ˈwɨbɨ/ | wits /wits/ | wutz /wuts/ | wiits /wiːts/ | tulluu /tulːuː/ | qaaqa /qaːqa/ |
| Sea | palaa /palaː/ | barana /ˈbarana/ | ñajb /ɲahɓ/ | plow /plow/ | kʼáaʼnáab /kʼaːʔnaːb/ | galaana /ɡalaːna/ | — |
| Mother | ei /ei/ | úguchu /uɡutʃu/ | ñaʼ /ɲaʔ/ | nan /nan/ | naʼ /naʔ/ | haadha /haːɗa/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | ashi /aʃi/ | úguchili /uɡutʃili/ | tat /tat/ | mam /mam/ | taata /taːta/ | abbaa /abːaː/ | awki /awki/ |
| Daughter | achon /atʃon/ | isani würi /isani wɨɾi/ | ixikʼal /iʃikʼal/ | meʼal /meʔal/ | x aal /ʃaːl/ | intala /intala/ | — |
| I | taya /taja/ | au /au/ | joñoñ /hoɲoɲ/ | aqiin /aˈqiːn/ | teen /teːn/ | ani /ani/ | na /na/ |
| You | pia /pia/ | amürü /amɨɾɨ/ | jatyet /hatʲet/ | aya /aˈja/ | teech /teːtʃ/ | ati /ati/ | juma /huma/ |
| We | waya /waja/ | wagía /waɡia/ | joñonla / joñon lojon /hoɲonla / hoɲon lohon/ | aqoʼ /aˈqoʔ/ | toʼon /toʔon/ | nuti /nuti/ | jiwsa /hiwsa/ |
| Name | anülia /anɨlia/ | iri /iɾi/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | biʼ /ɓiʔ/ | kʼaabaʼ /kʼaːɓaʔ/ | maqaa /makʼaː/ | shutyi /ʃuci/ |
| Person | wayuu /wajuː/ | mútu /ˈmutu/ | kixtyañu /kiʃtʲaɲu/ | xjaal /ʃxaːl/ | máak /maːk/ | nama /nama/ | jaqi /haqi/ |
| Head | ekii /ekiː/ | ichǘgü /iˈtʃɨɡɨ/ | jol /hol/ | wiʼ /wiʔ/ | pool /poːl/ | mataa /mataː/ | nampʼa /nampʼa/ |
| Eye | oʼu /oʔu/ | úgubu /uɡubu/ | wut /wut/ | witz /wits/ | ich /itʃ/ | ija /idʒa/ | nayra /najɾa/ |
| Ear | ta-čeʼe /ta-tʃeʔe/ | arigei /ariɡei/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | xkyin /ʃkʲin/ | xikin /ʃikin/ | gurra /ɡurra/ | jinchu /hintʃu/ |
| Nose | eʼichi /eʔitʃi/ | igiri /iɡiɾi/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | txaʼn /tʃaʔn/ | niʼ /niʔ/ | funyaan /fuɲaːn/ | nasa /nasa/ |
| Mouth | aaniikii /aːniːkiː/ | iumaü /iumaɨ/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | tziʼ /tsiʔ/ | chiʼ /tʃiʔ/ | afaan /afaːn/ | — |
| Tooth | ai /ai/ | ari /ari/ | ej /eh/ | eʼ /eʔ/ | koh /koh/ | ilkaan /ilkaːn/ | shimi /ʃimi/ |
| Tongue | ayee /ajeː/ | iñeñei /iɲeɲei/ | akʼ /aʔkʼ/ | aqʼ /aqʼ/ | aakʼ /aːkʼ/ | arraba /arːaba/ | naxra /naχra/ |
| Hand | ajapü /axapɨ/ | úhabu /uhabu/ | kʼäb /kʼɨɓ/ | qʼobʼ /qʼoɓ/ | kʼabʼ /kʼaɓ/ | harka /haɾka/ | ampara /ampaɾa/ |
| Foot | ooʼui /oːʔui/ | ugúdi /uɡudi/ | ok /ok/ | qan /qan/ | ook /oːk/ | miilla /miːlːa/ | kayu /kaju/ |
| Heart | aaʼin /aːʔin/ | anigi /aniɡi/ | pusʼikʼal /pusʼikʼal/ | anma /anma/ | puksiʼikʼal /puksiʔikʼal/ | onnee /onːeː/ | kurasunha /kuɾasunha/ |
| Bone | ipü /ipɨ/ | ábu /abu/ | bäk /ɓɨk/ | bʼaq /ɓaq/ | bʼaak /ɓaːk/ | lafee /lafeː/ | tsʼaaka /tsʼaːka/ |
| Blood | isha /iʃaː/ | hitaü /hitaɨ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | chikʼ /tʃikʼ/ | kʼiʼikʼ /kʼiʔikʼ/ | dhiiga /ɖiːɡa/ | wila /wila/ |
| Poop | achaʼa /atʃaʔa/ | — | taʼ /taʔ/ | txaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | taʼ /taʔ/ | udaan /udaːn/ | — |
| Love | alasüin /alasɨin/ | hínsiñe /hinsiɲe/ | kʼuxbiñ /kʼuʃbiɲ/ | oqxan /oqʃan/ | yaakuntej /jaːkunteh/ | jaalala /dʒaːlala/ | munasiña /munasiɲa/ |
| Tree | wunuʼu /wunuʔu/ | wewe /wewe/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | tzeʼ /tseʔ/ | cheʼ /tʃeʔ/ | muka /muka/ | arbuli /aɾbuli/ |
| Dog | erü /eɾɨː/ | aulamu /aulamu/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | txʼyan /tʃʼjan/ | peekʼ /peːkʼ/ | saree /saɾeː/ | hallqʼu /haʎqʼu/ |
| Cat | misho /miʃo/ | meu /meu/ | mis /mis/ | wiix /wiːʃ/ | miis /miːs/ | adurree /adurːeː/ | phishi /pʰiʃi/ |
| Fish | jime /hime/ | üduraü /ɨduɾaɨ/ | chäy /tʃɨj/ | kyiẍ /kjiʃ/ | kay /kaj/ | qurxummii /qurxummiː/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ |
| Bird | wuchii /wutʃiː/ | dúnuru /ˈdunuɾu/ | mut /mut/ | chʼit /tʃʼit/ | chʼíichʼ /tʃʼiːtʃʼ/ | simbirroo /simbirroː/ | chʼipi /tʃʼipi/ |
| Butterfly | julirü /huliɾɨ/ | wurigabagaba /wuɾiɡabaɡaba/ | pejpem /pehpem/ | pakaʼl /pakaʔl/ | péepen /peːpen/ | billaacha /bilːaːtʃa/ | — |
| Egg | ashuku /aʃuku/ | gañe /ɡaɲe/ | tumut /tumut/ | jos /xos/ | jeʼ /heʔ/ | hanqaaquu /hanqaːquː/ | nuru /nuɾu/ |
| Bear | jeesü /heːsɨ/ | osu /osu/ | oso /oso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | oso /oso/ | — | — |
| Horse | ama /ama/ | gabáyu /ɡaˈbaju/ | cawayuʼ /kawajuʔ/ | chej /tʃex/ | tsíimin /tsiːmin/ | farda /farda/ | — |
| House | miichi /miːtʃi/ | muna /muna/ | otyot /otjot/ | jaa /haː/ | naj /nah/ | mana /mana/ | uta /uta/ |
| Milk | leechi /leːtʃi/ | miligi /miliɡi/ | chuʼ /tʃuʔ/ | taʼl imaj /taʔl imax/ | leche /letʃe/ | aannan /aːnːan/ | — |
| Honey | mapa /mapa/ | maba /maba/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | taʼl xiiʼ /taʔl ʃiːʔ/ | kaab /kaːb/ | damma /damːa/ | — |
| Salt | ichii /itʃiː/ | sálu /ˈsalu/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | atzʼan /atsʼan/ | taʼab /taʔaɓ/ | soogidda /soːɡidːa/ | katyi /kaci/ |
| Wine | wiino /ˈwiːno/ | diweín /diweˈin/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /bino/ | daadhii wayinii /daːɗiː wajiniː/ | — |
| Rice | roo /roː/ | ri /ri/ | arus /aɾus/ | arros /aros/ | arroz /aros/ | ruuzii /ruːziː/ | — |
| Iron | kachueera /katʃueːra/ | gürábu /ɡɨˈɾabu/ | — | kxbʼil /kʃɓil/ | máaskab /maːskab/ | sibiila /sibiːla/ | — |
| Wheel | — /—/ | tubalabala /tubalabala/ | — | — | rueda /rweda/ | geengoo /ɡeːnɡoː/ | — |
| Silk | seera /seːra/ | séda /ˈseda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | arrii /arːiː/ | — |
| Book | karaloukta /karaloukta/ | líburu /ˈlibuɾu/ | juñ /huɲ/ | uʼjbʼil /uʔxɓil/ | juʼun /huʔun/ | kitaaba /kitaːba/ | — |
| Eat | ekaa /ekaː/ | éiga /eiɡa/ | kʼux /kʼuʃ/ | waan /waːn/ | jaant /haːnt/ | nyaachuu /ɲaːtʃuː/ | paluña /paluɲa/ |
| Drink | asaa /asaː/ | ata /ata/ | ucʼ /utsʼ/ | kʼaan /kʼaːn/ | ukʼul /ukʼul/ | dhuguu /ɗuɡuː/ | umaña /umaɲa/ |
| Sleep | atunkaa /atuŋkaː/ | arúmuga /aˈɾumuɡa/ | wäyel /wɨjel/ | ktan /ktan/ | wenel /wenel/ | rafuu /rafuː/ | ikiña /iˈkiɲa/ |
| One | wanee /waneː/ | aban /aban/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | jun /hun/ | tokko /tokːo/ | maya /maja/ |
| Two | piama /piama/ | biama /biama/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | kabʼe /ˈkaɓeʔ/ | kaʼ /kaʔ/ | lama /lama/ | paxa /paχa/ |
| Three | apünüin /apɨnɨin/ | ürüwa /ɨɾɨwa/ | uxpʼejl /uʃpʼehl/ | oxe /oʃe/ | óox /ʔoːʃ/ | sadii /sadiː/ | kimsa /kimsa/ |
| Four | pienchi /pieɲtʃi/ | gádürü /ˈɡadɨɾɨ/ | chämpʼejl /tʃɨmpʼehl/ | kyaje /kjaxe/ | kan /kan/ | afur /afur/ | pushi /puʃi/ |
| Five | jaʼrai /haʔrai/ | seingü /seiŋɡy/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | jweʼ /xweʔ/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | shan /ʃan/ | pichqa /pitʃqa/ |
| Hundred | poloo shikii /poloː ʃikiː/ | san /saŋ/ | joʼkʼal /hoʔkʼal/ | jokʼal /xokʼal/ | joʼokʼáal /hoʔokʼaːl/ | dhibba /ɗibba/ | pachak /patʃak/ |
| Hello | jamaya /xamaja/ | mabuiga /mabuiɡa/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | chjonte tey /tʃhonte tej/ | baʼax ka waʼalik /baʔaʃ ka waʔalik/ | akkam /akːam/ | kamishti /kamiʃti/ |
| Thank you | talé /tale/ | seremein /seremein/ | wokox /wokoʃ/ | chjonte /tʃhonte/ | dios boʼotik /dios boʔotik/ | galatoomi /ɡalatoːmi/ | yuspaa /juspaː/ |
| Good | anasü /anasɨ/ | buidu /bwidu/ | utsat /utsat/ | banix /baniʃ/ | maʼalob /maʔalob/ | gaarii /ɡaːriː/ | shuma /ʃuma/ |
| New | jeketü /heketɨ/ | iséri /iˈseɾi/ | tsijiʼ /tsihiʔ/ | akʼaj /akʼax/ | túumben /tuːmben/ | haaraa /haːraː/ | machaqa /matʃaqa/ |
| Red | ishoʼusü /iʃoˈʔusɨ/ | fúnati /ˈfunati/ | chächäk /tʃɨtʃɨk/ | kyaq /kjaq/ | chak /tʃak/ | diimaa /diːmaː/ | chukapa /tʃukapa/ |
| White | kasuusü /kasuːsɨ/ | harúti /haˈɾuti/ | säsäk /sɨsɨk/ | saq /saq/ | sak /sak/ | adii /adiː/ | janqʼu /hanqʼu/ |
| Black | mütsiiasü /mɨtsiːasɨ/ | wuriti /wuɾiti/ | iʼikʼ /iʔikʼ/ | qʼeq /qʼeq/ | box /boʃ/ | gurraacha /ɡurːaːtʃaː/ | tsʼirara /tsʼiɾaɾa/ |
| Green | wüitüsü /wɨitɨsɨ/ | — | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | txaʼx /tʃaʔʃ/ | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | magariisa /maɡariːsa/ | — |
| Blue | wüitüsü /wɨitɨsɨ/ | dínguti /ˈdiŋɡuti/ | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | — | yaʼax /jaʔaʃ/ | cuquliisa /tʃukʼuliːsa/ | — |
| Computer | komputatoora /komputatoːra/ | konputadora /konputadoɾa/ | computadora /komputadoɾa/ | computadora /komputadora/ | computadora /komputadora/ | koompitara /koːmpitara/ | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wai-Pai /waipai/ | — | — | — | — | waayifaayii /waːjifaːjiː/ | — |
| Tea | té /te/ | ti /ti/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | té /te/ | shaayii /ʃaːjiː/ | — |
| Coffee | kepein /kepein/ | gafe /ɡafe/ | kajpe /kahpe/ | kape /kape/ | café /kafe/ | buna /buna/ | — |
| Sugar | suukala /suːkala/ | súgara /ˈsuɡaɾa/ | asukal /asukal/ | azúcar /aˈsukar/ | asukaar /asukaːr/ | sukkaara /sukːaːra/ | — |
| At sign | aroowa /aroːwa/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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