Oshikwanyama
Kuanyama
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Oshiwambo)
Kuanyama / Oshikwanyama is the second main standard variety of Oshiwambo (with Ndonga, ng), used by the Ovakwanyama people of north-central Namibia and Cunene Province in Angola. It crosses the colonial-era Namibia-Angola border because the boundary cut through traditional Ovakwanyama lands. The two Oshiwambo varieties (Kuanyama + Ndonga) are mutually intelligible but standardised separately, with Kuanyama having a stronger southern Angola presence and Ndonga dominating in Namibia.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kuanyama
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Oshiwambo)
| Meaning | Kuanyama | Ndonga | Herero | Umbundu | Luvale | Runyankole | Luganda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | omeva /omeva/ | omeya /omeja/ | omeva /omeva/ | ovava /ovava/ | meya /meja/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amazzi /amaːzːi/ |
| Fire | omundilo /omundilo/ | omulilo /omulilo/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | ondalu /ondalu/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omuliro /omuliɾo/ |
| Sun | etango /etaŋɡo/ | etango /etaŋɡo/ | eyuva /ejuva/ | ekumbi /ekumbi/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | enjuba /eɲɟuba/ |
| Moon | omwedi /omwedi/ | omwedhi /omweði/ | omueze /omueze/ | osãi /osãi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | omwezi /omwezi/ |
| Star | onyofi /oɲofi/ | onyothi /oɲoθi/ | onyose /oˈɲose/ | onyeleñgele /oɲeleŋɡele/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | emmunyeenye /emːuɲeːɲe/ |
| Night | oufiku /oufiku/ | uusiku /uːsiku/ | ouṱuku /outuku/ | uteke /uteke/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ |
| Rain | odula /odula/ | omvula /omvula/ | ombura /ombura/ | ombela /ombela/ | vula /vula/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | enkuba /eŋˈkuba/ |
| Snow | olumi /olumi/ | olumi /olumi/ | ovitutukende /ovitutukende/ | oneve /oneve/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | — | omuzira /omuzira/ |
| Wind | omhepo /om̥epo/ | ombepo /ombepo/ | ombepo /ombepo/ | ofela /ofela/ | peho /peho/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | empewo /empeːwo/ |
| Earth | edu /edu/ | evi /evi/ | ehi /ehi/ | eve /eve/ | mavu /mavu/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | ettaka /ettaka/ |
| Stone | emanya /emaɲa/ | emanya /emaɲa/ | ewe /ewe/ | ewe /ewe/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | ejjinja /edʒːiˈndʒa/ |
| Mountain | omhunda /om̥unda/ | ondundu /ondundu/ | ondundu /ondundu/ | omunda /omunda/ | pili /pili/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | olusozi /olusozi/ |
| Sea | efuta /efuta/ | efuta /efuta/ | okuvare /okuvare/ | okalunga /okaluŋɡa/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | ennyanja /eɲːaɲdʒa/ |
| Mother | meme /meme/ | meme /meme/ | mama /mama/ | inã /inã/ | mama /mama/ | maawe /maːwe/ | maama /maːma/ |
| Father | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | taata /taːta/ |
| Daughter | omona okakadona /omona okakadona/ | omwana omukadhona /omwana omukaðona/ | omukazona /omukazona/ | omõla ukãi /omõla ukãi/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuwala /omuwala/ |
| I | ame /ame/ | ngame /ŋame/ | ami /ami/ | ame /ame/ | ami /ami/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nze /nze/ |
| You | ove /ove/ | ngoye /ŋoje/ | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | iwe /iwe/ | ggwe /ɡːwe/ |
| We | fye /fje/ | tse /tse/ | eṱe /ete/ | etu /etu/ | etu /etu/ | itwe /itwe/ | ffe /fːe/ |
| Name | edina /edina/ | edhina /eðina/ | ena /ena/ | onduko /onduko/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | erinnya /eriɲːa/ |
| Person | omunhu /omun̥u/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omundu /omundu/ | omunu /omunu/ | mutu /mutu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ |
| Head | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutse /omutse/ | otjiuru /otʃiuru/ | utwe /utwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ |
| Eye | eisho /eiʃo/ | eho /eho/ | eho /eho/ | iso /iso/ | liso /liso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriiso /eɾiːso/ |
| Ear | omutwi /omutwi/ | okutsi /okutsi/ | okutwi /okutwi/ | okutwi /okutwi/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ |
| Nose | edyulu /edjulu/ | eyulu /ejulu/ | eyuru /ejuru/ | enyulu /eɲulu/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | ennyindo /eɲːindo/ |
| Mouth | okanya /okaɲa/ | okana /okana/ | otjinyo /otʃiɲo/ | omẽla /omẽla/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akamwa /akamwa/ |
| Tooth | eyo /ejo/ | eyego /ejeɡo/ | eyo /ejo/ | eyo /ejo/ | lizo /lizo/ | eriino /eriːno/ | erinnyo /eriɲːo/ |
| Tongue | elaka /elaka/ | elaka /elaka/ | eraka /eraka/ | elimi /elimi/ | limi /limi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ |
| Hand | eke /eke/ | oshikaha /oʃikaha/ | eke /eke/ | eka /eka/ | livoko /livoko/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ |
| Foot | omhadi /om̥adi/ | ompadhi /om̥aði/ | ombaze /ombaze/ | omai /omai/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigere /etʃiɡere/ |
| Heart | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | utima /utima/ | mutima /mutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ |
| Bone | ekipa /ekipa/ | esipa /esipa/ | eṱupa /etupa/ | ekepa /ekepa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | eggumba /eɡːumba/ |
| Blood | ohonde /ohonde/ | ombinzi /ombinzi/ | ombinḓu /ombinɗu/ | osonde /osonde/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | omusaayi /omusaːji/ |
| Love | ohole /ohole/ | ohole /ohole/ | orusuvero /orusuvero/ | ocisola /otʃisola/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | okwagala /okwaːɡala/ |
| 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 | okatufi /okatufi/ | okashima /okaʃima/ | okatjiru /okatʃiru/ | ocikangu /otʃikaŋɡu/ | katako /katako/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | kkapa /kːapa/ |
| Fish | oshi /oʃi/ | ohi /ohi/ | ohi /ohi/ | ombisi /ombisi/ | shi /ʃi/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | ekyennyanja /etʃeɲːaɲdʒa/ |
| Bird | odila /odila/ | ondhila /onðila/ | onḓera /oɳɗera/ | onjila /oˈɲila/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | ennyonyi /eɲːoˈɲi/ |
| Butterfly | onghanga /oŋɡaŋɡa/ | okambilimbili /okambilimbili/ | otjikaiva /otʃikaiva/ | ocimbiambiulu /otʃimbiambiulu/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | ekihuguuhugu /ekihuɡuːhuɡu/ | ekiwojjolo /etʃiwodʒːolo/ |
| Egg | ei /ei/ | eyi /eji/ | ei /ei/ | esaila /esaila/ | liulu /liulu/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | eggi /ˈeɡːi/ |
| Horse | onghambe /oŋɡambe/ | okakambe /okakambe/ | okakambe /okakambe/ | okavalu /okavalu/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embalaasi /embalaːsi/ |
| House | eumbo /eumbo/ | egumbo /eɡumbo/ | ondjuwo /ondʒuwo/ | onjo /ondʒo/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | enju /endʒu/ | ennyumba /eɲːumba/ |
| Milk | omashini /omaʃini/ | omahini /omahini/ | omaihi /omaihi/ | asenjele /asendʒele/ | mavele /mavele/ | amate /amate/ | amata /amata/ |
| Honey | omaadi eenyiki /omaːdi eːɲiki/ | omagadhi goonyushi /omaɡaði ɡoːɲuʃi/ | ouitji /ouitʃi/ | owiki /owiki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | omubisi gwʼenjuki /omubisi ɡweɲdʒuki/ |
| Salt | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omunnyo /omuɲːo/ |
| Wine | omaviinyu /omaviːɲu/ | omaviinu /omaviːnu/ | omavinu /omavinu/ | ovinyu /oviɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | viino /viːno/ | wayini /wajini/ |
| Rice | olwishi /olwiʃi/ | olwiishi /olwiːʃi/ | — | oluoso /oluoso/ | loso /loso/ | omukyeeri /omukjeːri/ | omuceere /omutʃeːre/ |
| Iron | oshivela /oʃivela/ | oshiyela /oʃijela/ | otjitenda /otʃitenda/ | utale /utale/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | ekyuma /eˈtʃuːma/ |
| Wheel | okuulu /okuːlu/ | okugulutemba /okuɡulutemba/ | otjiryo /otʃirjo/ | elola /elola/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | nnamuziga /nːamuˈziɡa/ |
| Silk | osilki /osilki/ | ofeyi /ofeji/ | — | oseta /oseta/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | riiri /riːri/ | liiri /liːri/ |
| Book | embo /ˈembo/ | embo /embo/ | embo /ˈembo/ | elivulu /elivulu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ |
| Eat | okulya /okuʎa/ | okulya /okuʎa/ | okurya /okurja/ | okulya /okulja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kurya /kurja/ | okulya /okulja/ |
| Drink | okunwa /okunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | okunywa /okuɲʷa/ |
| Sleep | okukofa /okukofa/ | okukotha /okukoθa/ | kurara /kurara/ | okupekela /okupekela/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | okwebaka /okweβaka/ |
| One | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | mosi /mosi/ | mwe /mwe/ | emwe /emwe/ | emu /emu/ |
| Two | vali /vali/ | mbali /mbali/ | vari /vari/ | vali /vali/ | vali /vali/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | bbiri /bːiri/ |
| Three | nhatu /n̥atu/ | ndatu /ndatu/ | ndatu /ndatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | ssatu /sːatu/ |
| Four | nhee /n̥eː/ | ne /ne/ | ine /ine/ | kwãla /kwãla/ | wana /wana/ | eina /eina/ | nnya /ɲːa/ |
| Five | nhano /n̥ano/ | ntano /n̥tano/ | ndano /ndano/ | tãlo /tãlo/ | tanu /tanu/ | itaano /itaːno/ | ttaano /tːaːno/ |
| Hundred | efele /efele/ | ethele /eθele/ | esere /esere/ | ocita /otʃita/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | igana /iɡana/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ |
| Hello | wa hala po /wa hala po/ | wa lalapo /wa lalapo/ | wa penduka /wa penduka/ | wakolapo /wakolapo/ | mwane /mwane/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | oli otya /oli otja/ |
| Thank you | pandula /pandula/ | tangi /taŋɡi/ | okuhepa /okuhepa/ | ndapandula /ndapandula/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | webare /webare/ | webale /weːbale/ |
| Good | wa /wa/ | nawa /nawa/ | wa /wa/ | uwa /uwa/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kirungi /tʃiruŋɡi/ |
| New | pe /pe/ | pe /pe/ | pe /pe/ | okaliye /okalije/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | mpya /mpja/ |
| Red | tilyana /tiʎana/ | tiligane /tiliɡane/ | serandu /serandu/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | myufu /mjufu/ |
| White | toka /toka/ | tokele /tokele/ | vapa /vapa/ | kuyela /kujela/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | kwera /kwera/ | eru /eːru/ |
| Black | laula /laula/ | luudhe /luːðe/ | zorondu /zorondu/ | kutekava /kutekava/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | ddugavu /dduɡavu/ |
| Computer | okombiyuta /okombijuta/ | okompiuta /okompiuta/ | okombiuta /okombiuta/ | — | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Tea | otee /oteː/ | otee /oteː/ | otee /otee/ | osia /osia/ | tiyi /tiji/ | chai /tʃai/ | caayi /tʃaːji/ |
| Coffee | okoofi /okoːfi/ | okoothiwa /okoːθiwa/ | okosiva /okosiva/ | okafe /okafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kaawa /kaːwa/ | kaawa /kaːwa/ |
| Sugar | osuuka /osuːka/ | osuuka /osuːka/ | osukuri /osukuri/ | osuka /osuka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | shukaari /ʃukaːri/ | ssukaali /sːukaːli/ |
| Ninety-nine | omilongo omugoi nomugoi /omiloŋɡo oŋŋɡoi noŋŋɡoi/ | omilongo omugoyi nomugoyi /omiloŋɡo omuɡoji nomuɡoji/ | omirongo muvyu na muvyu /omiroŋɡo muvju na muvju/ | akwi ecea lecea /akwi etʃea letʃea/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | kyenda mu mwenda /tʃenda mu mwenda/ |
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