Shuar Chicham
Shuar
Jivaroan
Shuar (Shuar Chicham) is the principal Jivaroan language, spoken by the Shuar people of Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazon. Historically infamous in Western anthropology for the tsantsa (shrunken-head) practice — a now-discontinued mortuary ritual that was extensively misrepresented in 19th-20th century travel literature. The Shuar Federation (1964) was a pioneering indigenous rights organization. Closely related to Awajún (Aguaruna) and Achuar within the Jivaroan family. Active intergenerational use; bilingual education programs in Spanish and Shuar across Ecuador.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Shuar
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Jivaroan
| Meaning | Shuar | Achuar | Aguaruna | Bemba | Jaqaru | Wixarika | Sena |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | yumi /jumi/ | yumi /jumi/ | yumi /jumi/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ | uma /uma/ | ha /ha/ | madzi /madzi/ |
| Fire | ji /hi/ | ji /hi/ | jii /hiː/ | umulilo /umulilo/ | nina /nina/ | tai /tai/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | etsa /etsa/ | etsa /etsa/ | etsá /ɨtsá/ | akasuba /akasuba/ | inti /inti/ | tau /tau/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ |
| Moon | nantu /nantu/ | nantu /nantu/ | nántu /nántu/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ | paxshi /paχʃi/ | metsa /metsa/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ |
| Star | yaa /jaː/ | yaa /jaː/ | yaya /jaja/ | intanda /intanda/ | waraxa /waɾaχa/ | xurawe /ʃuˈrawe/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ |
| Night | kashi /kaʃi/ | kashi /kaʃi/ | kashi /kaʃi/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | aruma /aruma/ | tikari /tikari/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | yumi /jumi/ | — | yumi /jumi/ | imfula /imˈfula/ | jallu /haʎu/ | wiyeri /wijeri/ | mvura /mvura/ |
| Wind | nase /nase/ | nase /nase/ | dase /dasɨ/ | umwela /umwela/ | wawya /wawja/ | ʼeeka /ʔeːka/ | mphepo /mpʰepo/ |
| Earth | nunka /nuŋka/ | nungka /nuŋka/ | nugka /nuɡka/ | umushili /umuʃili/ | — | kwie /kʷie/ | mataka /mataka/ |
| Stone | kaya /kaja/ | kaya /kaja/ | kaya /kaja/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | qala /qala/ | tete /tete/ | mwala /mwala/ |
| Mountain | náint /naint/ | mura /muɾa/ | nain /nain/ | ulupili /ulupili/ | qaaqa /qaːqa/ | yemuri /jemuri/ | phiri /pʰiri/ |
| Sea | nayaants /najaants/ | juun entsa /huːn entsa/ | nayants /najants/ | bemba /bemba/ | — | haramara /haramara/ | bara /bara/ |
| Mother | nukur /nukuɾ/ | nukur /nukuɾ/ | dukú /dukú/ | bamayo /bamajo/ | mama /mama/ | nana /nana/ | mai /mai/ |
| Father | apar /apaɾ/ | apar /apaɾ/ | apá /apá/ | bataata /bataːta/ | awki /awki/ | yawe /jawe/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | nawantur /nawantuɾ/ | nawantur /nawantuɾ/ | nawan /nawan/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | — | — | mwana wankazi /mwana wankazi/ |
| I | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | wi /wi/ | ine /ine/ | na /na/ | nee /neː/ | ine /ine/ |
| You | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ | amé /amé/ | iwe /iwe/ | juma /huma/ | eekɨ /ˈeːkɨ/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | ii /iː/ | ii /iː/ | ii /iː/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | jiwsa /hiwsa/ | tame /ˈtame/ | ife /ife/ |
| Name | naari /naːɾi/ | naari /naːɾi/ | daaji /daːhi/ | ishina /iʃina/ | shutyi /ʃuci/ | tewa /ˈtewa/ | dzina /dzina/ |
| Person | aents /aents/ | aints /aints/ | aents /aɨnts/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | jaqi /haqi/ | tewi /tewi/ | munthu /muntʰu/ |
| Head | muuk /muːk/ | muuk /muːk/ | buuk /buːk/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | nampʼa /nampʼa/ | muʼú /muˈʔu/ | nsolo /nsolo/ |
| Eye | jii /hiː/ | jii /hiː/ | jíi /híː/ | ilinso /ilinso/ | nayra /najɾa/ | tukite /tukite/ | diso /diso/ |
| Ear | kuish /kwiʃ/ | kuwish /kuwiʃ/ | kuwish /kuwiʃ/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | jinchu /hintʃu/ | naka /naka/ | khutu /kʰutu/ |
| Nose | nuji /nuhi/ | nuji /nuhi/ | nuji /nuhi/ | umona /umona/ | nasa /nasa/ | tsuri /tsuɾi/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ |
| Mouth | wene /wene/ | wene /wene/ | wenu /wɨnu/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | — | téni /teni/ | nkanwa /nkanwa/ |
| Tooth | nai /nai/ | nai /nai/ | dai /dai/ | ilino /ilino/ | shimi /ʃimi/ | tame /tame/ | dzino /dzino/ |
| Tongue | inai /inai/ | inai /inai/ | inai /inai/ | ululimi /ululimi/ | naxra /naχra/ | neni /neni/ | lirimi /lirimi/ |
| Hand | uwej /uweh/ | uwej /uweh/ | uwéj /uwéh/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | ampara /ampaɾa/ | mama /mama/ | nkono /nkono/ |
| Foot | nawe /nawe/ | nawe /nawe/ | dawe /dawɨ/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | kayu /kaju/ | keta /keta/ | mwendo /mwendo/ |
| Heart | enentai /enentai/ | enentai /enentai/ | anéntai /anɨ́ntai/ | umutima /umutima/ | kurasunha /kuɾasunha/ | iyari /ijari/ | ntima /ntima/ |
| Bone | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | ukunch /ukuntʃ/ | ifupa /ifupa/ | tsʼaaka /tsʼaːka/ | ume /ume/ | gogodo /ɡoɡodo/ |
| Blood | numpa /numpã/ | numpa /numpã/ | numpa /numpa/ | umulopa /umulopa/ | wila /wila/ | xuriya /ʃuɾija/ | malopa /malopa/ |
| Poop | íjia /ˈihia/ | ija /iha/ | ija /iha/ | amafi /amafi/ | — | kwita /kʷita/ | matubzwi /matubzwi/ |
| Love | anentaiti /anentaiti/ | anentin /anentin/ | wakejut /wakɨhut/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | munasiña /munasiɲa/ | kanenki /kanenki/ | kufuna /kufuna/ |
| Tree | numi /numi/ | numi /numi/ | númi /númi/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | arbuli /aɾbuli/ | kiyé /kije/ | muti /muti/ |
| Dog | yawá /jaˈwa/ | yawa /jawa/ | yawá /jawá/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | hallqʼu /haʎqʼu/ | tsïkï /tsɨkɨ/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | míchik /ˈmitʃik/ | micha /mitʃa/ | bishu /biʃu/ | pushi /puʃi/ | phishi /pʰiʃi/ | mitsu /mitsu/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | namak /namak/ | namak /namak/ | namak /namak/ | isabi /isabi/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ | kesi /kesi/ | omba /omba/ |
| Bird | chinki /tʃiŋki/ | chingki /tʃiŋki/ | pishak /piʃak/ | icuni /itʃuni/ | chʼipi /tʃʼipi/ | wiki /wiki/ | mbalame /mbalame/ |
| Butterfly | wámpishuk /ˈwampiʃuk/ | shimpiampu /ʃimpiampu/ | wámpishuk /wámpiʃuk/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | — | kipï /kipɨ/ | bemberuwa /bemberuwa/ |
| Egg | nujint /nuhint/ | nujin /nuhin/ | nujín /nuˈhin/ | ilini /ilini/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | tawári /taˈwaɾi/ | dzai /dzai/ |
| Bear | chai /tʃai/ | chayu /tʃaju/ | chayú /tʃajú/ | bea /bea/ | — | hutse /hutse/ | urusu /urusu/ |
| Horse | kawai /kawai/ | kawai /kawai/ | kawayu /kawaju/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | — | kawayu /kawaju/ | kavalo /kavalo/ |
| House | jea /hea/ | jea /hea/ | jega /hɨɡa/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | uta /uta/ | ki /ki/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | muntsu /muntsu/ | muntsu /muntsu/ | muntsu /muntsu/ | umukaka /umukaka/ | — | retsi /ɾetsi/ | nkaka /nkaka/ |
| Honey | chinij /tʃinih/ | wapasa yumiri /wapasa jumiɾi/ | dapa yumiji /dapa jumihi/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | — | xiete /ʃiete/ | uci /utʃi/ |
| Salt | wee /weː/ | wee /weː/ | wee /wɨː/ | umucele /umutʃele/ | katyi /kaci/ | ʼuna /ʔuna/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | winiu /winiu/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | — | winuyari /winujaɾi/ | vinyu /viɲu/ |
| Rice | arús /aˈɾus/ | arrus /aɾus/ | ajus /ahus/ | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ | — | — | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ |
| Iron | jiru /hiru/ | jiru /hiɾu/ | jiju /hihu/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ | — | tepɨa /tepɨa/ | utale /utale/ |
| Wheel | tuntunk /tuntuŋk/ | — | rueda /rueda/ | umupeto /umupeto/ | — | — | roda /roda/ |
| Silk | séta /ˈseta/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | — | tsera /tsera/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | papí /paˈpi/ | papi /papi/ | papi /papi/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | — | xapa /ʃapa/ | bukhu /bukʰu/ |
| Eat | yuata /juata/ | yuata /juata/ | yuwámu /juwámu/ | ukulya /ukulja/ | paluña /paluɲa/ | kuye /kuje/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | umarta /umaɾta/ | umarta /umaɾta/ | umut /umut/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | umaña /umaɲa/ | hiʼeka /hiʔeka/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | kanarta /kanaɾta/ | kanarta /kanaɾta/ | kanut /kanut/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | ikiña /iˈkiɲa/ | kutsu /kutsu/ | kugona /kuɡona/ |
| One | chikichik /tʃikitʃik/ | kichik /kitʃik/ | makichik /makitʃik/ | cimo /tʃimo/ | maya /maja/ | xevi /ʃevi/ | posi /posi/ |
| Two | jimiará /himiaɾa/ | jimiar /himiaɾ/ | jimag /himaɡ/ | fibili /fibili/ | paxa /paχa/ | huta /huˈta/ | piŵiri /piwiri/ |
| Three | menaintiu /menaintʲu/ | kampatam /kampatam/ | kampatum /kampatum/ | fitatu /fitatu/ | kimsa /kimsa/ | haika /haika/ | pitatu /pitatu/ |
| Four | aintiuk /aintʲuk/ | aintiuk /aintʲuk/ | ipaksumat /ipaksumat/ | fine /fine/ | pushi /puʃi/ | nauka /nauka/ | pinai /pinai/ |
| Five | ewej /eweh/ | ewej /eweh/ | uweja amua /uwɨha amua/ | fisano /fisano/ | pichqa /pitʃqa/ | auxɨwi /auʃɨwi/ | xanu /ʃanu/ |
| Hundred | sian /sian/ | pachak /patʃak/ | cien /sjen/ | umwanda /umwanda/ | pachak /patʃak/ | xeitsienituyari /ʃeitsienitujari/ | dzana /dzana/ |
| Hello | pujamek /puhamek/ | pujamek /puhamek/ | pujámek /puhámɨk/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | kamishti /kamiʃti/ | kekuanenki /kekwanenki/ | mwadzukabwanji /mwadzukabwandʒi/ |
| Thank you | yuminsajme /juminsahme/ | mai-tikut /majtikut/ | see /sɨː/ | natotela /natotela/ | yuspaa /juspaː/ | paʼiwakaitsie /paʔiwakaitsje/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ |
| Good | penker /peŋkeɾ/ | pengker /peŋkeɾ/ | pegkeg /pɨɡkɨɡ/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | shuma /ʃuma/ | waxa /waʃa/ | nadidi /nadidi/ |
| New | yamaram /jamaram/ | yamaram /jamaɾam/ | yamajam /jamaham/ | cipya /tʃipja/ | machaqa /matʃaqa/ | hekwa /hekʷa/ | ipsa /ipsa/ |
| Red | kapaku /kapaku/ | kapantin /kapantin/ | kapantu /kapantu/ | kashika /kaʃika/ | chukapa /tʃukapa/ | +aurawi /ʔaurawi/ | funga /funɡa/ |
| White | pujú /puˈhu/ | puju /puhu/ | puju /puhu/ | buuta /buːta/ | janqʼu /hanqʼu/ | tuxame /tuʃame/ | cena /tʃena/ |
| Black | mukusa /mukusa/ | shuwin /ʃuwin/ | bukusea /bukusɨa/ | fiita /fiːta/ | tsʼirara /tsʼiɾaɾa/ | yɨwime /jɨwime/ | psipa /psipa/ |
| Green | sámek /ˈsamek/ | samek /samek/ | samekbau /samɨkbau/ | katapa /katapa/ | — | siïraïyeme /siɨraɨjeme/ | — |
| Blue | sámek /ˈsamek/ | — | wigka /wiɡka/ | — | — | yuawime /juawime/ | — |
Page 1/9
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home