Chimakonde
Makonde
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Yao-Makonde)
Makonde (Chimakonde, also Shimakonde) is a Bantu language straddling the Tanzania-Mozambique border on the Makonde Plateau. The Makonde people are world-famous for their ebony sculpture tradition (mapiko masks, lipico ceremonial objects) — UNESCO recognised the Makonde Mapiko masquerade as Intangible Heritage in 2008. The Mozambican Makonde led the FRELIMO armed struggle for independence (1964-74), giving the language strong political identity south of the border. Northern (Tanzania) and southern (Mozambique) varieties differ noticeably; the boundary is partly the Ruvuma River.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Makonde
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Yao-Makonde)
| Meaning | Makonde | Yao | Sangu | Sukuma | Nyamwezi | Shambala | Tumbuka |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | medi /medi/ | mesi /mesi/ | amalenga /amalenɡa/ | minzi /minzi/ | minzi /minzi/ | mazi /mazi/ | maji /madʒi/ |
| Fire | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | umooto /umoːto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | liduva /liduva/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | ilijuva /ilijuva/ | ilyuva /iʎuβa/ | lyuba /ljuβa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ | zuŵa /zuβa/ |
| Moon | mwedi /mwedi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | umwesi /umwesi/ | ng'weji /ŋweːdʒi/ | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ |
| Star | inondwa /inondwa/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | inondwe /inondwe/ | nyenyeezi /ɲeˈɲeːzi/ | nsonda /nsonda/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ |
| Night | chilo /tʃilo/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | paashilo /paːʃilo/ | bujiku /budʒiku/ | buziku /buziku/ | kilo /kilo/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | imbula /imbula/ | ula /ula/ | inoonya /inoːɲa/ | mbula /mbula/ | mvula /mvula/ | fula /fula/ | vula /ˈvula/ |
| Wind | lipungo /lipuŋɡo/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | ilipepo /ilipepo/ | nyaga /ɲaɡa/ | myaga /mjaɡa/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ |
| Earth | ulongo /uloŋɡo/ | litaka /litaka/ | ililongo /ililoŋɡo/ | malongo /maloŋɡo/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ | dongo /doŋɡo/ |
| Stone | liyanga /lijaŋɡa/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | ilingʼanga /iliŋaŋɡa/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | libwe /liˈɓwe/ |
| Mountain | lichinga /litʃiŋɡa/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | ishidunda /iʃidunda/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ | muima /muima/ | phiri /pʰiɾi/ |
| Sea | bahali /bahali/ | bahali /bahali/ | bahali /bahali/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ | bahali /bahali/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | amao /amao/ | umaayi /umaːji/ | mayu /maju/ | mayu /maju/ | mama /mama/ | amama /amama/ |
| Father | baba /baba/ | atati /atati/ | udaada /udaːda/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | adada /adada/ |
| Daughter | nahaku /nahaku/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | mwali /mwali/ | nshike /nʃike/ | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ | mwana msungwana /mwana msuŋɡwana/ |
| I | une /une/ | une /une/ | one /one/ | nene /ˈnene/ | nene /ˈnene/ | niye /nije/ | ine /ine/ |
| You | uve /uve/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | owe /owe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | weye /weje/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | hwetu /hwetu/ | uwe /uwe/ | ose /ose/ | yise /jise/ | iswe /iswe/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ | ise /ise/ |
| Name | lina /lina/ | lina /lina/ | ilitaawa /ilitaːwa/ | lina /ˈlina/ | lina /ˈlina/ | zina /zina/ | zina /zina/ |
| Person | munu /munu/ | mundu /mundu/ | umuunu /umuːnu/ | munhu /munhu/ | munhu /munhu/ | mntu /mntu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ |
| Head | muti /muti/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | ntwe /ntwe/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Eye | liso /liso/ | liso /liso/ | iliiho /iliːho/ | liso /liso/ | liso /liso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ | jiso /dʒiso/ |
| Ear | likutu /likutu/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | ilikutu /ilikutu/ | gutu /ɡutu/ | itwi /itwi/ | shikio /ʃikio/ | khutu /kʰutu/ |
| Nose | imula /imula/ | lupula /lupula/ | imula /imula/ | lyulu /ljulu/ | nindo /nindo/ | mpua /mpua/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ |
| Mouth | kanya /kaɲa/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | umulomo /umulomo/ | nomo /nomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mlomo /m̩lomo/ |
| Tooth | lino /lino/ | liino /liːno/ | iliino /iliːno/ | lino /lino/ | lino /lino/ | zino /zino/ | jino /dʒino/ |
| Tongue | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ulumili /ulumili/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | nkono /nkono/ | nkono /nkono/ | iliwokho /iliwoxo/ | nkhono /ŋkono/ | kukono /kukono/ | mkono /mkono/ | woko /woko/ |
| Foot | likambatu /likambatu/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | iligulu /iliɡulu/ | lupambala /lupambala/ | kugulu /kuɡulu/ | mulundi /mulundi/ | lundi /lundi/ |
| Heart | ntima /ntima/ | mtima /mtima/ | inumbula /inumbula/ | ngholo /ŋɡoːlo/ | moyo /mojo/ | moyo /mojo/ | mtima /m̩tima/ |
| Bone | ligwangwa /liɡwaŋɡwa/ | liupa /liupa/ | ilifupa /ilifupa/ | iguha /iɡuha/ | iguha /iɡuha/ | vuha /vuha/ | chiwangwa /tʃiwaŋɡwa/ |
| Blood | myadi /mjadi/ | miasi /miasi/ | idanda /idanda/ | mininga /miniŋɡa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ | phome /pʰome/ | ndopa /ndopa/ |
| Poop | mavi /mavi/ | manyi /maɲi/ | mafi /mafi/ | maashi /maːʃi/ | maafi /maːfi/ | mavi /mavi/ | mavi /mavi/ |
| Love | kupenda /kupenda/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | ulugano /uluɡano/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | kutemwa /kutemwa/ |
| Tree | nnandi /nːandi/ | mtela /mtela/ | umupishi /umupiʃi/ | nti /nti/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ | khuni /kʰuni/ |
| Dog | nshenye /nʃeɲe/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mva /mva/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ | ncheŵe /ntʃeβe/ |
| Cat | imaaka /imaːka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | kalulu /kalulu/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ | chona /tʃona/ |
| Fish | homba /homba/ | somba /soːmba/ | inswi /inswi/ | nshi /nʃi/ | somba /soːmba/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /somba/ |
| Bird | chuni /tʃuni/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | indege /indeɡe/ | noni /noni/ | noni /noni/ | deghe /deɣe/ | chiyuni /tʃijuni/ |
| Butterfly | lipuluputu /lipuluputu/ | chipuluputwa /tʃipuluputwa/ | — | ibalabapu /ibalabapu/ | — | hoho /hoho/ | bulawura /bulawuɾa/ |
| Egg | liye /lije/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | ilikhankha /ilixanxa/ | igi /iɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ | tagi /taɡi/ | sumbi /sumbi/ |
| Bear | dubu /dubu/ | — | dubu /dubu/ | nduba /nduba/ | — | — | — |
| Horse | falasi /falasi/ | falasi /falasi/ | ifalaasi /ifalaːsi/ | falasa /falasa/ | falasi /falasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ | hachi /hatʃi/ |
| House | ing'ande /iŋande/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | ilitembe /ilitembe/ | numba /numba/ | numba /numba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | mavele /mavele/ | maŵele /maβele/ | utupyo /utupjo/ | mabeele /mabeːle/ | mabeele /maβeːle/ | mele /mele/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ |
| Honey | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uwuushi /uwuːʃi/ | buuki /buːki/ | buuki /buːki/ | woki /woki/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | munyu /muɲu/ | njete /ndʒete/ | umuunyo /umuːɲo/ | — | munu /munu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mchere /m̩tʃere/ |
| Wine | divayi /divaji/ | divai /divai/ | idivaayi /idivaːji/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ |
| Rice | nnyele /nɲele/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | — | — | — | muhunga /muhuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ |
| Iron | chitale /tʃitale/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | ishuuma /iʃuːma/ | jisinza /dʒisinza/ | kisinza /kisinza/ | kiama /kiama/ | chisulo /tʃiˈsulo/ |
| Silk | halili /halili/ | halili /halili/ | haliili /haliːli/ | halili /halili/ | — | halili /halili/ | siliki /siliki/ |
| Book | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | ilitaafili /ilitaːfili/ | shitabo /ʃitabo/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | buku /buku/ |
| Eat | kulya /kuʎa/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kiilya /kiːlja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuya /kuja/ | kurya /kuɾja/ |
| Drink | kukumbila /kukumbila/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kiingʼwa /kiːŋwa/ | kung'wa /kuŋwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | kugona /kuɡona/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kigona /kiɡona/ | kulala /kulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ |
| One | nimo /nimo/ | mo /mo/ | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | chimoza /tʃimoza/ |
| Two | vavili /vaʋili/ | iŵili /iβili/ | sivili /sivili/ | ibhili /iˈβili/ | ibili /iβili/ | mbili /mbili/ | viŵiri /viβiɾi/ |
| Three | nnaatu /nːaːtu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | idatu /idatʊ/ | idatu /idatu/ | katatu /katatu/ | vitatu /vitatu/ |
| Four | ncheche /ntʃetʃe/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | sina /sina/ | ine /ine/ | inne /inːe/ | kane /kaːne/ | vinayi /vinaji/ |
| Five | mwaanu /mwaːnu/ | nsano /nsano/ | sisaanu /sisaːnu/ | itano /itano/ | itaano /itaːno/ | kashano /kaʃano/ | vinkhonde /viŋkʰonde/ |
| Hundred | miya /miːja/ | mia /mia/ | ligana /liɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | gana /ɡana/ | zana /zana/ |
| Hello | nakushukuru /nakuʃukuɾu/ | salama /salama/ | mbasala /mbasala/ | mwangaluka /mwaŋɡaluka/ | mwadita /mwadita/ | — /—/ | monire /moniɾe/ |
| Thank you | nashukuru /naʃukuɾu/ | — /—/ | nashukulu /naʃukulu/ | nakulumba /nakulumba/ | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ | asante /asante/ | yewo /jewo/ |
| Good | mbone /mbone/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | inofu /inofu/ | shihi /ʃihi/ | soga /soɡa/ | mtana /mtana/ | chiweme /tʃiweme/ |
| New | chahambi /tʃahambi/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | ishipya /iʃipja/ | pya /pja/ | pya /pja/ | mpya /mpja/ | chiphya /tʃipʰja/ |
| Red | nahuvi /nahuvi/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | induuhu /induːhu/ | ndulu /ndulu/ | laluku /laluku/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | swesi /swesi/ |
| White | naswe /naswe/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | imbalafu /imbalafu/ | ape /ape/ | pe /pe/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ | tuŵa /tuβa/ |
| Black | napi /napi/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | niitu /niːtu/ | api /api/ | pi /pi/ | size /size/ | fipa /fipa/ |
| Ninety-nine | tisini na tisa /tisini na tisa/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ | mashumi gonja ni gonja /maʃumi ɡonja ni ɡonja/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makʊmi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ | makhumi ghankhonde na ghanayi na vinkhonde na vinayi /makʰumi ɣaŋkʰonde na ɣanaji na viŋkʰonde na vinaji/ |
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