Otjiherero
Herero
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Herero)
Herero (Otjiherero) is the Bantu language of the Herero people of central and northern Namibia and adjoining Angola and Botswana. The 1904-1908 Herero genocide perpetrated by German colonial forces under General von Trotha — the killing or starving of an estimated 65,000 Herero, roughly 80% of the population — is now widely recognized as the first genocide of the 20th century. The language preserves an extensive cattle-naming and praise-poetry vocabulary central to Herero pastoralist identity.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Herero
Sources
- Herero Bible "Ombeipera" (bible.com version 3390); en.wiktionary Herero lemmas (116)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Herero)
| Meaning | Herero | Kuanyama | Ndonga | Umbundu | Luvale | Chiga | Runyankole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | omeva /omeva/ | omeva /omeva/ | omeya /omeja/ | ovava /ovava/ | meya /meja/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ |
| Fire | omuriro /omuriro/ | omundilo /omundilo/ | omulilo /omulilo/ | ondalu /ondalu/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ |
| Sun | eyuva /ejuva/ | etango /etaŋɡo/ | etango /etaŋɡo/ | ekumbi /ekumbi/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ |
| Moon | omueze /omueze/ | omwedi /omwedi/ | omwedhi /omweði/ | osãi /osãi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ |
| Star | onyose /oˈɲose/ | onyofi /oɲofi/ | onyothi /oɲoθi/ | onyeleñgele /oɲeleŋɡele/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ |
| Night | ouṱuku /outuku/ | oufiku /oufiku/ | uusiku /uːsiku/ | uteke /uteke/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ |
| Rain | ombura /ombura/ | odula /odula/ | omvula /omvula/ | ombela /ombela/ | vula /vula/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ |
| Snow | ovitutukende /ovitutukende/ | olumi /olumi/ | olumi /olumi/ | oneve /oneve/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | — | — |
| Wind | ombepo /ombepo/ | omhepo /om̥epo/ | ombepo /ombepo/ | ofela /ofela/ | peho /peho/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ |
| Earth | ehi /ehi/ | edu /edu/ | evi /evi/ | eve /eve/ | mavu /mavu/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ |
| Stone | ewe /ewe/ | emanya /emaɲa/ | emanya /emaɲa/ | ewe /ewe/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ |
| Mountain | ondundu /ondundu/ | omhunda /om̥unda/ | ondundu /ondundu/ | omunda /omunda/ | pili /pili/ | omusozi /omusozi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ |
| Sea | okuvare /okuvare/ | efuta /efuta/ | efuta /efuta/ | okalunga /okaluŋɡa/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | meme /meme/ | meme /meme/ | inã /inã/ | mama /mama/ | nyina /ɲina/ | maawe /maːwe/ |
| Father | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tata /tata/ | ishe /iʃe/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | omukazona /omukazona/ | omona okakadona /omona okakadona/ | omwana omukadhona /omwana omukaðona/ | omõla ukãi /omõla ukãi/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ |
| I | ami /ami/ | ame /ame/ | ngame /ŋame/ | ame /ame/ | ami /ami/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ |
| You | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | ngoye /ŋoje/ | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | eṱe /ete/ | fye /fje/ | tse /tse/ | etu /etu/ | etu /etu/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ |
| Name | ena /ena/ | edina /edina/ | edhina /eðina/ | onduko /onduko/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ |
| Person | omundu /omundu/ | omunhu /omun̥u/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omunu /omunu/ | mutu /mutu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ |
| Head | otjiuru /otʃiuru/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutse /omutse/ | utwe /utwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ |
| Eye | eho /eho/ | eisho /eiʃo/ | eho /eho/ | iso /iso/ | liso /liso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ |
| Ear | okutwi /okutwi/ | omutwi /omutwi/ | okutsi /okutsi/ | okutwi /okutwi/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ |
| Nose | eyuru /ejuru/ | edyulu /edjulu/ | eyulu /ejulu/ | enyulu /eɲulu/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ |
| Mouth | otjinyo /otʃiɲo/ | okanya /okaɲa/ | okana /okana/ | omẽla /omẽla/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ |
| Tooth | eyo /ejo/ | eyo /ejo/ | eyego /ejeɡo/ | eyo /ejo/ | lizo /lizo/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ |
| Tongue | eraka /eraka/ | elaka /elaka/ | elaka /elaka/ | elimi /elimi/ | limi /limi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ |
| Hand | eke /eke/ | eke /eke/ | oshikaha /oʃikaha/ | eka /eka/ | livoko /livoko/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ |
| Foot | ombaze /ombaze/ | omhadi /om̥adi/ | ompadhi /om̥aði/ | omai /omai/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ |
| Heart | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | utima /utima/ | mutima /mutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ |
| Bone | eṱupa /etupa/ | ekipa /ekipa/ | esipa /esipa/ | ekepa /ekepa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ |
| Blood | ombinḓu /ombinɗu/ | ohonde /ohonde/ | ombinzi /ombinzi/ | osonde /osonde/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ |
| Love | orusuvero /orusuvero/ | ohole /ohole/ | ohole /ohole/ | ocisola /otʃisola/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | rukundo /rukundo/ |
| Tree | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ |
| Dog | ombwa /ombwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ |
| Cat | okatjiru /okatʃiru/ | okatufi /okatufi/ | okashima /okaʃima/ | ocikangu /otʃikaŋɡu/ | katako /katako/ | kapa /kapa/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ |
| Fish | ohi /ohi/ | oshi /oʃi/ | ohi /ohi/ | ombisi /ombisi/ | shi /ʃi/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Bird | onḓera /oɳɗera/ | odila /odila/ | ondhila /onðila/ | onjila /oˈɲila/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ |
| Butterfly | otjikaiva /otʃikaiva/ | onghanga /oŋɡaŋɡa/ | okambilimbili /okambilimbili/ | ocimbiambiulu /otʃimbiambiulu/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | ekinyugunyugu /etʃiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ | ekihuguuhugu /ekihuɡuːhuɡu/ |
| Egg | ei /ei/ | ei /ei/ | eyi /eji/ | esaila /esaila/ | liulu /liulu/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | eihuri /eihuri/ |
| Horse | okakambe /okakambe/ | onghambe /oŋɡambe/ | okakambe /okakambe/ | okavalu /okavalu/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ |
| House | ondjuwo /ondʒuwo/ | eumbo /eumbo/ | egumbo /eɡumbo/ | onjo /ondʒo/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ |
| Milk | omaihi /omaihi/ | omashini /omaʃini/ | omahini /omahini/ | asenjele /asendʒele/ | mavele /mavele/ | amate /amate/ | amate /amate/ |
| Honey | ouitji /ouitʃi/ | omaadi eenyiki /omaːdi eːɲiki/ | omagadhi goonyushi /omaɡaði ɡoːɲuʃi/ | owiki /owiki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | obwuuki /obwuːtʃi/ | obwoki /obwoki/ |
| Salt | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ |
| Wine | omavinu /omavinu/ | omaviinyu /omaviːɲu/ | omaviinu /omaviːnu/ | ovinyu /oviɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | viino /viːno/ | viino /viːno/ |
| Iron | otjitenda /otʃitenda/ | oshivela /oʃivela/ | oshiyela /oʃijela/ | utale /utale/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | obutare /obutare/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ |
| Wheel | otjiryo /otʃirjo/ | okuulu /okuːlu/ | okugulutemba /okuɡulutemba/ | elola /elola/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ |
| Book | embo /ˈembo/ | embo /ˈembo/ | embo /embo/ | elivulu /elivulu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ |
| Eat | okurya /okurja/ | okulya /okuʎa/ | okulya /okuʎa/ | okulya /okulja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kurya /kurja/ | kurya /kurja/ |
| Drink | kunwa /kunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | kurara /kurara/ | okukofa /okukofa/ | okukotha /okukoθa/ | okupekela /okupekela/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ |
| One | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | mosi /mosi/ | mwe /mwe/ | rumwe /rumwe/ | emwe /emwe/ |
| Two | vari /vari/ | vali /vali/ | mbali /mbali/ | vali /vali/ | vali /vali/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ |
| Three | ndatu /ndatu/ | nhatu /n̥atu/ | ndatu /ndatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ |
| Four | ine /ine/ | nhee /n̥eː/ | ne /ne/ | kwãla /kwãla/ | wana /wana/ | ina /ina/ | eina /eina/ |
| Five | ndano /ndano/ | nhano /n̥ano/ | ntano /n̥tano/ | tãlo /tãlo/ | tanu /tanu/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ |
| Hundred | esere /esere/ | efele /efele/ | ethele /eθele/ | ocita /otʃita/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | wa penduka /wa penduka/ | wa hala po /wa hala po/ | wa lalapo /wa lalapo/ | wakolapo /wakolapo/ | mwane /mwane/ | oraire /oraire/ | agandi /aɡandi/ |
| Thank you | okuhepa /okuhepa/ | pandula /pandula/ | tangi /taŋɡi/ | ndapandula /ndapandula/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | webare /webare/ | webare /webare/ |
| Good | wa /wa/ | wa /wa/ | nawa /nawa/ | uwa /uwa/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ |
| New | pe /pe/ | pe /pe/ | pe /pe/ | okaliye /okalije/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | ekisya /etʃisja/ | ekisya /ekisja/ |
| Red | serandu /serandu/ | tilyana /tiʎana/ | tiligane /tiliɡane/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ |
| White | vapa /vapa/ | toka /toka/ | tokele /tokele/ | kuyela /kujela/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ |
| Black | zorondu /zorondu/ | laula /laula/ | luudhe /luːðe/ | kutekava /kutekava/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ |
| Green | tarazu /tarazu/ | — | — | — | — | kinyaasi /tʃiɲaːsi/ | kibabi /kibabi/ |
| Blue | rovazu /rovazu/ | — | — | — | — | — | bururu /bururu/ |
| Computer | okombiuta /okombiuta/ | okombiyuta /okombijuta/ | okompiuta /okompiuta/ | — | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kompiyuta /kompijuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Tea | otee /otee/ | otee /oteː/ | otee /oteː/ | osia /osia/ | tiyi /tiji/ | cayi /tʃaji/ | chai /tʃai/ |
| Coffee | okosiva /okosiva/ | okoofi /okoːfi/ | okoothiwa /okoːθiwa/ | okafe /okafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | kaawa /kaːwa/ |
| Sugar | osukuri /osukuri/ | osuuka /osuːka/ | osuuka /osuːka/ | osuka /osuka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | sukari /sukari/ | shukaari /ʃukaːri/ |
| Ninety-nine | omirongo muvyu na muvyu /omiroŋɡo muvju na muvju/ | omilongo omugoi nomugoi /omiloŋɡo oŋŋɡoi noŋŋɡoi/ | omilongo omugoyi nomugoyi /omiloŋɡo omuɡoji nomuɡoji/ | akwi ecea lecea /akwi etʃea letʃea/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ |
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