Kikongo
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
Kikongo is the language of the historic Kingdom of Kongo and remains widely spoken across the lower Congo basin. The simplified form Kituba is used as a lingua franca and is one of the national languages of the DRC and ROC.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kikongo
chocolat
wifi
Sources
- en.wiktionary Kongo lemmas (Category:Kongo lemmas; 2026 dump); Laman 1936 Dictionnaire kikongo-français (archive.org dictionnairekikongofrancais); Bentley 1895 Dictionary and grammar of the Kongo language, Appendix (archive.org dictionarygramma00bentuoft)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
| Meaning | Kikongo | Kimbundu | Luba-Kasai | Lingala | Sena | Luvale | Kaonde |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | maza /maza/ | menha /meɲa/ | mâyi /maːji/ | máí /máí/ | madzi /madzi/ | meya /meja/ | mema /mema/ |
| Fire | tiya /tija/ | tubia /tubja/ | kapia /kapia/ | mɔ́tɔ /mɔ́tɔ/ | moto /moto/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ |
| Sun | ntangu /ntaŋɡu/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ | dîba /diːba/ | mói /mói/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | juba /dʒuba/ |
| Moon | ngonda /ŋɡonda/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ | ngondo /ŋɡondo/ | sánzá /sánzá/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ |
| Star | mbwetete /mbwetete/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ | mutoto /mutoto/ | monzoto /monzɔtɔ/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ |
| Night | builu /builu/ | usuku /usuku/ | butuku /butuku/ | butu /butu/ | usiku /usiku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ |
| Rain | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mbula /ˈᵐbula/ | mvura /mvura/ | vula /vula/ | mvula /mvula/ |
| Snow | mvula ya mpembe /mvula ja mpembe/ | neve /neve/ | neje /neʒe/ | neje /neʒe/ | neve /neve/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | sino /sino/ |
| Wind | mupepe /mupepe/ | kitembu /kitembu/ | tshipepele /tʃipepele/ | mopepe /mopepe/ | mphepo /mpʰepo/ | peho /peho/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ |
| Earth | ntoto /ntoto/ | mavu /mavu/ | buloba /buloba/ | mabele /mabele/ | mataka /mataka/ | mavu /mavu/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ |
| Stone | tadi /ˈtadi/ | ditadi /ditadi/ | dibue /diˈbwe/ | libanga /liˈɓaŋɡa/ | mwala /mwala/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ |
| Mountain | mongo /moŋɡo/ | mulundu /mulundu/ | mukuna /mukuna/ | ngómbá /ŋɡómbá/ | phiri /pʰiri/ | pili /pili/ | mutumba /mutumba/ |
| Sea | mbu /mbu/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | mbuwu /mbuwu/ | mbu /ᵐbu/ | bara /bara/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mâmu /maːmu/ | mamá /mamá/ | mai /mai/ | mama /mama/ | bamama /bamama/ |
| Father | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | tâtu /taːtu/ | tatá /tatá/ | baba /baba/ | tata /tata/ | bataata /bataːta/ |
| Daughter | mwana ya nkento /mwana ja nkento/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ | muana wa bakaji /muana wa bakaʒi/ | mwana mwasi /mwana mwasi/ | mwana wankazi /mwana wankazi/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ |
| I | mono /mono/ | eme /eme/ | meme /meme/ | ngai /ⁿɡai/ | ine /ine/ | ami /ami/ | amiwa /amiwa/ |
| You | ngeye /ŋɡeje/ | eie /eje/ | wewe /wewe/ | yo /jo/ | iwe /iwe/ | ove /ove/ | obewa /obewa/ |
| We | beto /beto/ | etu /etu/ | tuetu /tuetu/ | biso /biso/ | ife /ife/ | etu /etu/ | atweba /atweba/ |
| Name | nkumbu /nkumbu/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ | dîna /diːna/ | nkombo /ⁿkombo/ | dzina /dzina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ |
| Person | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | muntu /muntu/ | moto /moto/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | mutu /mutu/ | muntu /muntu/ |
| Head | ntu /ntu/ | mutue /mutue/ | mutu /mutu/ | motó /motó/ | nsolo /nsolo/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ |
| Eye | disu /disu/ | disu /disu/ | dîsu /diːsu/ | líso /líso/ | diso /diso/ | liso /liso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ |
| Ear | kutu /kutu/ | ditui /ditui/ | ditshu /ditʃu/ | litoyi /litoji/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ |
| Nose | nzunu /nzunu/ | dizulu /dizulu/ | diulu /diulu/ | zolo /zóló/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | moona /moːna/ |
| Mouth | nnwa /nnwa/ | dikanu /dikanu/ | mukana /mukana/ | monɔkɔ /monɔkɔ/ | nkanwa /nkanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ |
| Tooth | dinu /dinu/ | dizu /dizu/ | dinu /dinu/ | lino /lino/ | dzino /dzino/ | lizo /lizo/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ |
| Tongue | ludimi /ludimi/ | dimi /dimi/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | lolemo /lolemo/ | lirimi /lirimi/ | limi /limi/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ |
| Hand | koko /koko/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ | tshianza /tʃianza/ | lobɔ́kɔ /lobɔ́kɔ/ | nkono /nkono/ | livoko /livoko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ |
| Foot | kulu /kulu/ | kinama /kinama/ | dikasa /dikasa/ | lokolo /lokolo/ | mwendo /mwendo/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ |
| Heart | ntima /ntima/ | muxima /muʃima/ | mutshima /mutʃima/ | motéma /motéma/ | ntima /ntima/ | mutima /mutima/ | muchima /mutʃima/ |
| Bone | visi /visi/ | kifuba /kifuba/ | mufuba /mufuba/ | mokuwa /mokuwa/ | gogodo /ɡoɡodo/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | kupa /kupa/ |
| Blood | menga /meŋɡa/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | makila /makila/ | malopa /malopa/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | mashi /maʃi/ |
| Poop | tufi /tufi/ | tuji /tuʒi/ | tumvi /tumvi/ | nyeí /ɲeí/ | matubzwi /matubzwi/ | tuji /tudʒi/ | — |
| Love | zola /zola/ | henda /henda/ | dinanga /dinaŋɡa/ | bolíngo /bolíŋɡo/ | kufuna /kufuna/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | butemwe /butemwe/ |
| Tree | nti /nti/ | muxi /muʃi/ | mutshi /mutʃi/ | nzété /nzété/ | muti /muti/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | kichi /kitʃi/ |
| Dog | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | mbwá /mbwá/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ |
| Cat | nyau /ɲau/ | kasalu /kasalu/ | nyao /ɲao/ | nyáu /ɲáu/ | paka /paka/ | katako /katako/ | kapuso /kapuso/ |
| Fish | mbisi /mbisi/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ | mushipa /muʃipa/ | mbisi /mbisi/ | omba /omba/ | shi /ʃi/ | sabi /sabi/ |
| Bird | nuni /ˈnuni/ | njila /ndʒila/ | nyunyu /ɲuɲu/ | ndeke /ndɛkɛ/ | mbalame /mbalame/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ |
| Butterfly | lumbembambemba /lumbembambemba/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ | tshibiyibiyi /tʃibijibiji/ | lipekápeka /lipekápeka/ | bemberuwa /bemberuwa/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ |
| Egg | diaki /diaki/ | diiaki /dijaki/ | diyi /diji/ | likei /likei/ | dzai /dzai/ | liulu /liulu/ | jike /dʒike/ |
| Bear | beli /beli/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | — | — | urusu /urusu/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | mbeyala /mbejala/ |
| Horse | mpunda /mpunda/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | farása /farása/ | kavalo /kavalo/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | mbili /mbili/ |
| House | nzo /nzo/ | inzo /inzo/ | nzubu /nzubu/ | ndáko /ndáko/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | nzubo /nzubo/ |
| Milk | midiki /midiki/ | lete /lete/ | mabele /mabele/ | míliki /míliki/ | nkaka /nkaka/ | mavele /mavele/ | mukaka /mukaka/ |
| Honey | bwiki /bwiki/ | uiki /wiki/ | buitshi /buitʃi/ | mafuta ya nzoi /mafuta ja nzoi/ | uci /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | buki /buki/ |
| Salt | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ | luepu /luepu/ | mongwa /moŋɡwa/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | mukele /mukele/ |
| Wine | vinu /vinu/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | binyu /biɲu/ |
| Rice | loso /loso/ | loso /loso/ | losa /losa/ | lɔ́sɔ /lɔ́sɔ/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | loso /loso/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ |
| Chocolate | chocolat | — | — | sokolá /sokolá/ | xokolati /ʃokolati/ | — | — |
| Iron | kibende /kiˈbende/ | felu /felu/ | tshiamu /tʃiamu/ | ebendé /eˈɓende/ | utale /utale/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ |
| Wheel | dikulu /dikulu/ | dilola /dilola/ | lukata /lukata/ | pine /pine/ | roda /roda/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | swa /swa/ | swa /swa/ | seda /seda/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | shilika /ʃilika/ |
| Book | buku /buku/ | divulu /divulu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | búku /búku/ | bukhu /bukʰu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | buku /buku/ |
| Eat | kudia /kudja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kudia /kudia/ | kolía /kolía/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuja /kudʒa/ |
| Drink | kunua /kunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunua /kunua/ | komɛ́la /komɛ́la/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kutoma /kutoma/ |
| Sleep | kuleka /kuˈleka/ | kuzeka /kuzeka/ | kulala /kulala/ | kolala /kolala/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kulaala /kulaːla/ |
| One | mosi /mosi/ | moxi /moʃi/ | umue /umue/ | mɔ̌kɔ́ /mɔ̌kɔ́/ | posi /posi/ | mwe /mwe/ | umo /umo/ |
| Two | zole /zole/ | iadi /jaːdi/ | ibidi /ibidi/ | mibale /mibale/ | piŵiri /piwiri/ | vali /vali/ | babiji /babidʒi/ |
| Three | tatu /tatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | misato /misatu/ | pitatu /pitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | satu /satu/ |
| Four | iya /ija/ | uana /wana/ | inai /inai/ | mínei /mínei/ | pinai /pinai/ | wana /wana/ | bana /bana/ |
| Five | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | itanu /itanu/ | mítáno /mítáno/ | xanu /ʃanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ |
| Hundred | nkama /nkama/ | hama /hama/ | lukama /lukama/ | nkama /nkama/ | dzana /dzana/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | kitota /kitota/ |
| Hello | mbote /mbote/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ | moyo /mojo/ | mbóte /mbóte/ | mwadzukabwanji /mwadzukabwandʒi/ | mwane /mwane/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ |
| Thank you | matondo /matondo/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ | tuasakidila /tuasakidila/ | matɔ́ndɔ /matɔ́ndɔ/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | nasanta /nasanta/ |
| Good | mbote /mbote/ | kiambote /kiambote/ | impe /impe/ | malámu /malámu/ | nadidi /nadidi/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | kyawama /kjawama/ |
| New | mpa /mpa/ | kiobe /kjobe/ | mupia /mupia/ | sika /sika/ | ipsa /ipsa/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | kipya /kipja/ |
| Red | mbwaki /mbwaki/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | kunze /kunze/ | motane /motane/ | funga /funɡa/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | chila /tʃila/ |
| White | mpembe /mpembe/ | kuzela /kuzela/ | toke /toke/ | pɛmbɛ /pɛmbɛ/ | cena /tʃena/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | toka /toka/ |
| Black | ndombe /ndombe/ | kuxikela /kuʃikela/ | fike /fike/ | moindo /moindo/ | psipa /psipa/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | fiita /fiːta/ |
| Green | langi ya matiti /laŋɡi ja matiti/ | — | — | lángi la mpɔndú /láŋɡi la mpɔndú/ | — | — | — |
| Blue | bule /bule/ | mulombe /mulombe/ | fikuluke /fikuluke/ | bule /bule/ | — | — | — |
| Computer | ludinatelo /ludinatelo/ | komputadolo /komputadolo/ | ordinatere /ordinatere/ | odinatɛ́lɛ /odinatɛ́lɛ/ | — | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Wi-Fi | wifi | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | ti /ti/ | xá /ʃa/ | tshiayi /tʃiaji/ | ti /ti/ | xaya /ʃaja/ | tiyi /tiji/ | — |
| Coffee | kafe /kafe/ | kafé /kaˈfe/ | kafe /kafe/ | kafé /kafé/ | kafe /kafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | sukadi /sukadi/ | sukidi /suˈkidi/ | nsukadi /nsukadi/ | sukáli /sukáli/ | xuka /ʃuka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ |
| Orange | dilala /dilala/ | dilalanza /dilalanza/ | — | lilala /lilala/ | laranja /larandʒa/ | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | makumi ivwa na ivwa /makumi ivwa na ivwa/ | makuinhi ivua ni ivua /makwiɲi ivwa ni ivwa/ | makumi tshitema ne tshitema /makumi tʃitema ne tʃitema/ | tuku libwa na libwa /tuku libwa na libwa/ | makumapfemba na mapfemba /makumapfemba na mapfemba/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ |
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