Ngäbere
Chibchan
Ngäbere (also Guaymí, Movere) is the largest Chibchan language by speakers, spoken by ~170,000 Ngäbe people across Panama and Costa Rica. The Chibchan family (~14 living languages, ~300K total speakers) once dominated the Costa Rica-Panama isthmus and northern Colombia/Venezuela before Spanish conquest; while Ngäbere has the most speakers, it is not the only Chibchan language still vigorous today — Guna (Kuna), with over 60,000 speakers and co-official status in Guna Yala, is also actively transmitted. The Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca (1997, expanded 2008) is one of the largest indigenous-administered regions in Latin America. Linguistically, Ngäbere has classical Chibchan features: nasal-prenasalized stops, a complex vowel system, and SOV constituent order. Active language preservation continues through bilingual education and Comarca radio broadcasts.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Ngäbere
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Chibchan
| Meaning | Ngäbere | Mapudungun | Chol | Shipibo-Conibo | Central Huasteca Nahuatl | Guerrero Nahuatl | Valencian |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ñö /ɲɤ/ | ko /ko/ | jaʼ /haʔ/ | jene /hɨnɨ/ | atl /atɬ/ | atl /atɬ/ | aigua /ˈajɣwa/ |
| Fire | ñukwä /ɲukwɔ/ | kütral /kɨʈʂal/ | kʼajk /kʼahk/ | chii /tʃiː/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | tlitl /tɬitɬ/ | foc /fɔk/ |
| Sun | ñänä /ɲɔnɔ/ | antü /antɨ/ | kʼiñ /kʼiɲ/ | bari /bari/ | tonati /tonati/ | tonajli /tonahli/ | sol /sɔl/ |
| Moon | só /só/ | küyen /kɨjen/ | uw /uw/ | oxe /oʂɨ/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | metztli /metstɬi/ | lluna /ˈʎuna/ |
| Star | muke /muke/ | wangülen /waŋɨlen/ | ekʼ /ʔekʼ/ | wishti /wiʃtĩ/ | sitlalij /siˈtɬalih/ | sitlalin /siˈtɬalin/ | estrella /esˈtɾeʎa/ |
| Night | deo /ðeo/ | pun /pun/ | akʼälel /akʼɨlel/ | yame /jamɨ/ | youali /jowali/ | yowalli /jowalːi/ | nit /nit/ |
| Rain | ñü /ɲɨ/ | mawün /mawɨn̪/ | jaʼal /haʔal/ | oi /oi/ | kiyawit /kiˈjawit/ | quiyahuitl /kijawitɬ/ | pluja /ˈpluʒa/ |
| Wind | müre /mɨɾe/ | kürüf /kɨɾɨf/ | ikʼ /ikʼ/ | niwe /niwɨ/ | ajakatl /ahakatɬ/ | ajacatl /ahakatɬ/ | vent /vent/ |
| Earth | dobo /dobo/ | mapu /mapu/ | lum /lum/ | mai /mai/ | tlali /tɬali/ | tlajli /tɬahli/ | terra /ˈtɛra/ |
| Stone | jä /hɔ/ | kura /kuɾa/ | xajlel /ʃahlel/ | makan /makan/ | tetl /tetɬ/ | tetl /teːtɬ/ | pedra /ˈpeðɾa/ |
| Mountain | ngitio /ŋitio/ | mawiza /mawiða/ | wits /wits/ | manan /manan/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | tepetl /ˈtepeːtɬ/ | muntanya /munˈtaɲa/ |
| Mother | meye /meje/ | ñuke /ɲuke/ | ñaʼ /ɲaʔ/ | tita /tita/ | nana /nana/ | nanan /nanan/ | mare /ˈmaɾe/ |
| Father | rün /rɨn/ | chaw /tʃaw/ | tat /tat/ | papa /papa/ | tata /tata/ | tatah /tatah/ | pare /ˈpaɾe/ |
| Daughter | ngänkän /ŋæŋkæn/ | ñawe /ɲawe/ | ixikʼal /iʃikʼal/ | bake ainbo /bake ãĩbo/ | noichpoca /noitʃˈpoka/ | nochpoch /ˈnotʃpotʃ/ | filla /ˈfiʎa/ |
| I | ti /ti/ | iñche /iɲtʃe/ | joñoñ /hoɲoɲ/ | ea /ea/ | na /na/ | nejua /neˈwa/ | jo /jɔ/ |
| You | mä /mɔ/ | eymi /ejmi/ | jatyet /hatʲet/ | mia /mia/ | ta /ta/ | tejua /teˈwa/ | tu /tu/ |
| We | nun /nun/ | iñchiñ /iɲtʃiɲ/ | joñonla / joñon lojon /hoɲonla / hoɲon lohon/ | noa /noa/ | tohuanti /toˈwanti/ | tejuamej /teˈwameh/ | nosaltres /noˈzaltɾes/ |
| Name | kä /kɔ/ | üy /ɨj/ | kʼabaʼ /kʼaɓaʔ/ | jane /hanɨ/ | tocaxtli /toˈkaʃtɬi/ | tocaitl /toˈkaitɬ/ | nom /nɔm/ |
| Person | ni /ni/ | che /tʃe/ | kixtyañu /kiʃtʲaɲu/ | joni /honi/ | masehuali /maseˈwali/ | tlacatl /ˈtɬakatɬ/ | persona /peɾˈsona/ |
| Head | dokwä /dokwɔ/ | longko /loŋko/ | jol /hol/ | mapo /mapo/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | tzontecomitl /tsonteˈkomitɬ/ | cap /kap/ |
| Eye | okwä /okwɔ/ | nge /ŋe/ | wut /wut/ | bero /bɨɾo/ | ixtioli /iʃtioli/ | ixtololo /iʃtololo/ | ull /uʎ/ |
| Ear | olo /olo/ | pilun /pilun/ | chikin /tʃikin/ | pabíki /pabiki/ | nacastli /nakastɬi/ | nacas /nakas/ | orella /oˈɾeʎa/ |
| Mouth | kada /kada/ | wün /wɨn/ | tiʼ /tiʔ/ | kexa /kɨʂa/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | camactli /kaˈmaktɬi/ | boca /ˈboka/ |
| Tooth | tu /tu/ | foro /foɾo/ | ej /eh/ | xeta /ʂɨta/ | tlankoch /tɬankotʃ/ | tlan /tɬan/ | dent /dent/ |
| Tongue | tidrö /tiðɾø/ | kewün /kewɨn/ | akʼ /aʔkʼ/ | jana /hana/ | nenepili /nenepili/ | nenepil /nenepil/ | llengua /ˈʎeŋɡwa/ |
| Hand | kise /kise/ | kuwü /kuwɨ/ | kʼäb /kʼɨɓ/ | meken /mɨkɨn/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | maitl /maitɬ/ | mà /ma/ |
| Foot | ngoto /ŋoto/ | ṉamuṉ /n̪amun̪/ | ok /ok/ | tae /taɨ/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | icxitl /ikʃitɬ/ | peu /pɛw/ |
| Heart | brukwä /bɾukwɔ/ | piwke /piwke/ | pusʼikʼal /pusʼikʼal/ | joínti /hoˈinti/ | yolotl /jolotɬ/ | yojlotl /johlotɬ/ | cor /kɔɾ/ |
| Bone | krö /kɾø/ | foro /foɾo/ | bäk /ɓɨk/ | xao /ʂao/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | omitl /omitɬ/ | os /ɔs/ |
| Blood | därie /ðɐɾie/ | mollfüñ /moʎfɨɲ/ | chʼichʼ /tʃʼitʃʼ/ | jimi /himi/ | estli /estɬi/ | yestli /jestɬi/ | sang /saŋk/ |
| Love | tare /taɾe/ | poyen /pojen/ | kʼuxbiñ /kʼuʃbiɲ/ | noi /noi/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | tlazohtla /tɬasoʔtɬa/ | amor /aˈmoɾ/ |
| Tree | krätä /kɾɨtɨ/ | aliwen /aliwen/ | teʼ /teʔ/ | jiwi /hiwi/ | cuahuitl /kʷawitɬ/ | kojtli /kohtɬi/ | arbre /ˈaɾbɾe/ |
| Dog | nukro /nukɾo/ | trewa /ʈʂewa/ | tsʼiʼ /tsʼiʔ/ | ochiti /otʃiti/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ | itzcuintli /itskʷintɬi/ | gos /ɡos/ |
| Cat | mishi /miʃi/ | narki /naɾki/ | mis /mis/ | mishito /miʃito/ | misto /misto/ | miston /miston/ | gat /ɡat/ |
| Fish | gwa /ɡwa/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ | chäy /tʃɨj/ | yapa /japa/ | michi /mitʃi/ | michin /mitʃin/ | peix /pejʃ/ |
| Bird | nukwä /nukwɔ/ | üñüm /ɨɲɨm/ | mut /mut/ | isa /isa/ | tototl /tototɬ/ | tototl /ˈtototɬ/ | ocell /oˈseʎ/ |
| Butterfly | malan /malan/ | llampüzkeñ /ʎampɨðkeɲ/ | pejpem /pehpem/ | pëpë /pɨ̃pɨ̃/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | papalotl /paˈpalotɬ/ | papallona /papaˈʎona/ |
| Egg | kwi mrüke /kwi mɾɨke/ | kuram /kuɾam/ | tumut /tumut/ | bachi /batʃi/ | tejsistli /tehsistɬi/ | totoltetl /totolˈtetɬ/ | ou /ɔw/ |
| Bear | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | oso /ˈoso/ | ós /os/ |
| Horse | mdä /mdæ/ | kawellu /kaweʎu/ | cawayuʼ /kawajuʔ/ | kabayo /kabajo/ | kauayoj /kaˈwajoh/ | caballo /kaˈbajo/ | cavall /kaˈvaʎ/ |
| House | ju /hu/ | ruka /ɾuka/ | otyot /otjot/ | xobo /ʂobo/ | kali /kali/ | kajli /kahli/ | casa /ˈkaza/ |
| Milk | kian /kian/ | lichi /litʃi/ | chuʼ /tʃuʔ/ | xoma /ʂoma/ | lechi /letʃi/ | leche /ˈletʃe/ | llet /ʎet/ |
| Honey | munkö /munkø/ | müski /mɨski/ | chab /tʃaɓ/ | bona jene /bona hɨnɨ/ | necti /nekti/ | necutli /neˈkutɬi/ | mel /mɛl/ |
| Salt | mren /mɾen/ | chazi /tʃaði/ | atsʼam /atsʼam/ | tashi /taʃi/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | istatl /istatɬ/ | sal /sal/ |
| Wine | uba döi /uba døi/ | pulku /pulku/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | xocomeca at /ʃokomeka at/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vi /vi/ |
| Rice | aro /aɾo/ | aro /aɾo/ | arus /aɾus/ | aros /aɾos/ | arroz /aˈros/ | arroz /aˈros/ | arròs /aˈrɔs/ |
| Iron | jiero /hieɾo/ | pañilwe /paɲilwe/ | — | yami /jami/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | tepostli /tepostɬi/ | ferro /ˈfɛro/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | seza /seða/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /ˈseða/ |
| Book | tärä /tæɾæ/ | chillka /tʃiʎka/ | juñ /huɲ/ | kirika /kiɾika/ | amochtli /aˈmotʃtɬi/ | libro /ˈlibro/ | llibre /ˈʎibɾe/ |
| Eat | mrö /mrø/ | in /in/ | kʼux /kʼuʃ/ | piti /piti/ | tlacua /tɬakʷa/ | tlakua /tɬakʷa/ | menjar /meɲˈdʒaɾ/ |
| Drink | ñögö /ɲøɡø/ | pütun /pɨtun/ | ucʼ /utsʼ/ | xeati /ʂɨati/ | atli /atɬi/ | koni /koni/ | beure /ˈbewɾe/ |
| Sleep | kibien /kibien/ | umawtun /umawtun/ | wäyel /wɨjel/ | oxa /oʂa/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | cochi /ˈkotʃi/ | dormir /doɾˈmiɾ/ |
| One | krati /kɾati/ | kiñe /kiɲe/ | jun /hun/ | westíora /wɨstioɾa/ | ce /se/ | ce /se/ | un /un/ |
| Two | krobu /kɾobu/ | epu /epu/ | chaʼ /tʃaʔ/ | rabé /ɾabɨ/ | ome /ˈome/ | ome /ˈome/ | dos /dos/ |
| Three | komä /komæ/ | küla /kɨla/ | uxpʼejl /uʃpʼehl/ | kimisha /kimiʃa/ | eyi /ejiː/ | yeyi /jeji/ | tres /tɾes/ |
| Four | kobogä /koboɡæ/ | meli /meli/ | chämpʼejl /tʃɨmpʼehl/ | chosko /tʃosko/ | nahui /naːwi/ | nahui /nawi/ | quatre /ˈkwatɾe/ |
| Five | korige /koɾiɡe/ | kechu /ketʃu/ | joʼ /hoʔ/ | pichika /pitʃika/ | makuili /maˈkʷili/ | makuijli /makʷihli/ | cinc /siŋk/ |
| Hundred | gre ketarike /ɡɾe ketaɾike/ | pataka /pataka/ | joʼkʼal /hoʔkʼal/ | pacha /patʃa/ | cien /sjen/ | ciento /ˈsjento/ | cent /sent/ |
| Hello | käre /kɨɾe/ | mari mari /maɾi maɾi/ | kabʼ /kaɓ/ | jakon raoma /xakon raoma/ | niltze /niltse/ | panolti /panolti/ | hola /ˈola/ |
| Thank you | kuin /kuin/ | chaltu /tʃaltu/ | wokox /wokoʃ/ | irake /iɾake/ | tlaskamati /tɬaskamati/ | tlazohcamati /tɬasoʔkamati/ | gràcies /ˈɡɾasies/ |
| Good | kuin /kuin/ | küme /kɨme/ | utsat /utsat/ | jakon /hakon/ | kuali /kʷali/ | kuajli /kʷahli/ | bo /bɔ/ |
| New | btin /btin/ | we /we/ | tsijiʼ /tsihiʔ/ | bena /bɨna/ | yancuic /ˈjankʷik/ | yencuic /ˈjenkʷik/ | nou /nɔw/ |
| Red | tain /tain/ | kelü /kelɨ/ | chächäk /tʃɨtʃɨk/ | joshin /hoʃin/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | chichiltik /tʃitʃiltik/ | roig /rɔtʃ/ |
| White | ngwen /ŋʷen/ | liq /lɨɣ/ | säsäk /sɨsɨk/ | joxo /hoʂo/ | istak /istak/ | istak /istak/ | blanc /blaŋk/ |
| Black | drüne /dɾɨne/ | kurü /kuɾɨ/ | iʼikʼ /iʔikʼ/ | wiso /wiso/ | yayahuic /jaˈjawik/ | capotztic /kaˈpotstik/ | negre /ˈneɣɾe/ |
| Green | rerebare /ɾeɾebaɾe/ | karü /kaɾɨ/ | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | xoxohuic /ʃoˈʃowik/ | xoxojki /ʃoˈʃohki/ | verd /vɛɾt/ |
| Blue | blure /bluɾe/ | kallfü /kaʎfɨ/ | yäjyäx /jɨhjɨʃ/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | azultic /aˈsultik/ | azul /aˈsul/ | blau /blaw/ |
| Computer | computadora /komputadoɾa/ | komputadora /komputaðoɾa/ | computadora /komputadoɾa/ | — | computadora /komputaˈdora/ | computadora /komputaˈdora/ | ordinador /oɾðinaˈðoɾ/ |
| Tea | té /te/ | te /te/ | té /te/ | — | té /te/ | té /te/ | te /te/ |
| Coffee | café /kafe/ | kafe /kafe/ | kajpe /kahpe/ | — | kafej /kafeh/ | café /kaˈfe/ | café /kaˈfe/ |
| Sugar | azúcar /asukaɾ/ | asukura /asukuɾa/ | asukal /asukal/ | asokaro /asokaɾo/ | chanchaka /tʃantʃaka/ | azúcar /aˈsukar/ | sucre /ˈsukɾe/ |
| Orange | naran /naɾan/ | — | alaxax /alaʃaʃ/ | — | lalax /ˈlalaːʃ/ | naranja /naˈranxa/ | taronja /taˈɾɔɲdʒa/ |
| Ninety-nine | gre ketabkä bti krä jätäbti krä ökän /ɡɾe ketabkæ bti kɾæ hætæbti kɾæ ɤkæn/ | aylla mari aylla /ajʎa maɾi ajʎa/ | — | iskon chonka iskon /iskon tʃonka iskon/ | — | napoajli huan majtlactli huan chicnahui /napoahli wan mahtɬaktɬi wan tʃiknawi/ | noranta-nou /noˈɾanta ˈnɔw/ |
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