Kikaonde
Kaonde
Niger-Congo
Kaonde (Kikaonde) is a Bantu language (Glottolog L41) spoken by approximately 400,000 people in North-Western Province of Zambia, with small populations across the DRC border in Katanga. Kaonde is one of Zambia's seven officially-recognized regional languages and is used in primary education and ZNBC broadcasting alongside Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi, Lunda, and Luvale. Within the L40 Lunda-Kaonde subgroup, Kaonde shares many lexical items with sister languages Lunda (lun) and Luvale (lue), reflecting the Lunda-Luba mfecane migrations from the central Congolese savanna in the 18th century. Linguistically, Kaonde has typical Bantu features (16+ noun classes, complex verbal morphology with multiple tenses and aspect-mood markers, two-tone register system). Wright (1985) Kaonde-English Dictionary is the standard reference.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kaonde
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Kaonde | Bemba | Luvale | Lunda | Zambian Tonga | Luba-Kasai | Kimbundu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mema /mema/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ | meya /meja/ | meji /medʒi/ | meenda /meːnda/ | mâyi /maːji/ | menha /meɲa/ |
| Fire | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | umulilo /umulilo/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | kesi /kesi/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | kapia /kapia/ | tubia /tubja/ |
| Sun | juba /dʒuba/ | akasuba /akasuba/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | itaŋwa /itaŋwa/ | zuba /zuba/ | dîba /diːba/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ |
| Moon | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ngondo /ŋɡondo/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ |
| Star | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | intanda /intanda/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | katumbwa /katumbwa/ | nyenyezi /ɲeˈɲezi/ | mutoto /mutoto/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ |
| Night | bufuku /bufuku/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | wufuku /wufuku/ | busiku /busiku/ | butuku /butuku/ | usuku /usuku/ |
| Rain | mvula /mvula/ | imfula /imˈfula/ | vula /vula/ | nvula /nvula/ | imvula /imvula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mvula /mvula/ |
| Snow | sino /sino/ | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | — /—/ | caanda /tʃaːnda/ | neje /neʒe/ | neve /neve/ |
| Wind | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | umwela /umwela/ | peho /peho/ | mpepela /mpepela/ | muwo /muwo/ | tshipepele /tʃipepele/ | kitembu /kitembu/ |
| Earth | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | umushili /umuʃili/ | mavu /mavu/ | iseki /iseki/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | buloba /buloba/ | mavu /mavu/ |
| Stone | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | ilola /ilola/ | ibbwe /iˈbwe/ | dibue /diˈbwe/ | ditadi /ditadi/ |
| Mountain | mutumba /mutumba/ | ulupili /ulupili/ | pili /pili/ | mpidi /mpidi/ | cilundu /tʃilundu/ | mukuna /mukuna/ | mulundu /mulundu/ |
| Sea | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | bemba /bemba/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | kaluŋalwiji /kaluŋalwidʒi/ | lwaanje /lwaːndʒe/ | mbuwu /mbuwu/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ |
| Mother | bamama /bamama/ | bamayo /bamajo/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | bama /bama/ | mâmu /maːmu/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | bataata /bataːta/ | tâtu /taːtu/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | mwana wamumbanda /mwana wamumbanda/ | mwana musimbi /mwana musimbi/ | muana wa bakaji /muana wa bakaʒi/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ |
| I | amiwa /amiwa/ | ine /ine/ | ami /ami/ | ami /ami/ | ime /ime/ | meme /meme/ | eme /eme/ |
| You | obewa /obewa/ | iwe /iwe/ | ove /ove/ | eyi /eji/ | iwe /iwe/ | wewe /wewe/ | eie /eje/ |
| We | atweba /atweba/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | etu /etu/ | etu /etu/ | iswe /iswe/ | tuetu /tuetu/ | etu /etu/ |
| Name | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | ishina /iʃina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | ijina /idʒina/ | izina /iˈziːna/ | dîna /diːna/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ |
| Person | muntu /muntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | mutwe /mutwe/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutu /mutu/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutu /mutu/ | mutue /mutue/ |
| Eye | jiso /dʒiso/ | ilinso /ilinso/ | liso /liso/ | disu /disu/ | liso /liso/ | dîsu /diːsu/ | disu /disu/ |
| Ear | kutwi /kutwi/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | itu /itu/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | ditshu /ditʃu/ | ditui /ditui/ |
| Nose | moona /moːna/ | umona /umona/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | izulu /izulu/ | impemo /impemo/ | diulu /diulu/ | dizulu /dizulu/ |
| Mouth | kanwa /kanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mukana /mukana/ | dikanu /dikanu/ |
| Tooth | jiino /dʒiːno/ | ilino /ilino/ | lizo /lizo/ | iji /idʒi/ | linyo /liɲo/ | dinu /dinu/ | dizu /dizu/ |
| Tongue | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | ululimi /ululimi/ | limi /limi/ | idimi /idimi/ | mulaka /mulaka/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | dimi /dimi/ |
| Hand | kuboko /kuboko/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | livoko /livoko/ | chikasa /tʃikasa/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | tshianza /tʃianza/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ |
| Foot | kuulu /kuːlu/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | mwendu /mwendu/ | cituta /tʃituta/ | dikasa /dikasa/ | kinama /kinama/ |
| Heart | muchima /mutʃima/ | umutima /umutima/ | mutima /mutima/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | moyo /mojo/ | mutshima /mutʃima/ | muxima /muʃima/ |
| Bone | kupa /kupa/ | ifupa /ifupa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | ifwaha /ifwaha/ | ifuwa /ifuwa/ | mufuba /mufuba/ | kifuba /kifuba/ |
| Blood | mashi /maʃi/ | umulopa /umulopa/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | bulowa /bulowa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ |
| Love | butemwe /butemwe/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | kukeŋa /kukeŋa/ | luyando /lujando/ | dinanga /dinaŋɡa/ | henda /henda/ |
| Tree | kichi /kitʃi/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | mutondu /mutondu/ | cisamu /tʃisamu/ | mutshi /mutʃi/ | muxi /muʃi/ |
| Dog | kabwa /kabwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | kawa /kawa/ | muvwa /muvwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | kapuso /kapuso/ | pushi /puʃi/ | katako /katako/ | — /—/ | kaaze /kaːze/ | nyao /ɲao/ | kasalu /kasalu/ |
| Fish | sabi /sabi/ | isabi /isabi/ | shi /ʃi/ | inshi /inʃi/ | inswi /inswi/ | mushipa /muʃipa/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ |
| Bird | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | icuni /itʃuni/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | kada /kada/ | kayuni /kajuni/ | nyunyu /ɲuɲu/ | njila /ndʒila/ |
| Butterfly | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | ipupwila /ipupwila/ | inkoonkolekwa /iŋkoːŋkolekwa/ | tshibiyibiyi /tʃibijibiji/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ |
| Egg | jike /dʒike/ | ilini /ilini/ | liulu /liulu/ | iteta /iteta/ | iji /idʒi/ | diyi /diji/ | diiaki /dijaki/ |
| Bear | mbeyala /mbejala/ | bea /bea/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | bera /bera/ | bbeya /ˈbeja/ | — | ulusu /ulusu/ |
| Horse | mbili /mbili/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | kawalu /kawalu/ | ibbiza /iˈbiza/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | kabalu /kabalu/ |
| House | nzubo /nzubo/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | itala /itala/ | ngʼanda /ŋanda/ | nzubu /nzubu/ | inzo /inzo/ |
| Milk | mukaka /mukaka/ | umukaka /umukaka/ | mavele /mavele/ | mayeli /majeli/ | mukupa /mukupa/ | mabele /mabele/ | lete /lete/ |
| Honey | buki /buki/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | wuchi /wutʃi/ | buci /butʃi/ | buitshi /buitʃi/ | uiki /wiki/ |
| Salt | mukele /mukele/ | umucele /umutʃele/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | muŋwa /muŋwa/ | munyo /muɲo/ | luepu /luepu/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ |
| Wine | binyu /biɲu/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | waini /waini/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | vinyu /viɲu/ |
| Rice | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ | loso /loso/ | losu /losu/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | losa /losa/ | loso /loso/ |
| Iron | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | chikuŋu /tʃikuŋu/ | butale /butale/ | tshiamu /tʃiamu/ | felu /felu/ |
| Wheel | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | umupeto /umupeto/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | kafumbu /kafumbu/ | ivwili /iˈvwili/ | lukata /lukata/ | dilola /dilola/ |
| Silk | shilika /ʃilika/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | — | — | swa /swa/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | buku /buku/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | ibbuku /iˈbuku/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | divulu /divulu/ |
| Eat | kuja /kudʒa/ | ukulya /ukulja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kudia /kudia/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | kutoma /kutoma/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunua /kunua/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | kulaala /kulaːla/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kukama /kukama/ | koona /koːna/ | kulala /kulala/ | kuzeka /kuzeka/ |
| One | umo /umo/ | cimo /tʃimo/ | mwe /mwe/ | wumu /wumu/ | mwi /mwi/ | umue /umue/ | moxi /moʃi/ |
| Two | babiji /babidʒi/ | fibili /fibili/ | vali /vali/ | ayedi /ajedi/ | bili /bili/ | ibidi /ibidi/ | iadi /jaːdi/ |
| Three | satu /satu/ | fitatu /fitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | satu /satu/ | totatwe /totatwe/ | isatu /isatu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | bana /bana/ | fine /fine/ | wana /wana/ | wana /wana/ | ne /ne/ | inai /inai/ | uana /wana/ |
| Five | tanu /tanu/ | fisano /fisano/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | musanu /musanu/ | itanu /itanu/ | tanu /tanu/ |
| Hundred | kitota /kitota/ | umwanda /umwanda/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | nkulakaji /nkulakadʒi/ | mwaanda /mwaːnda/ | lukama /lukama/ | hama /hama/ |
| Hello | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | mwane /mwane/ | — /—/ | mwabuka buti /mwabuka buti/ | moyo /mojo/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ |
| Thank you | nasanta /nasanta/ | natotela /natotela/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | nasakilili /nasakilili/ | twalumba /twalumba/ | tuasakidila /tuasakidila/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ |
| Good | kyawama /kjawama/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | chachiwahi /tʃatʃiwahi/ | kabotu /kabotu/ | impe /impe/ | kiambote /kiambote/ |
| New | kipya /kipja/ | cipya /tʃipja/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | chachiha /tʃatʃiha/ | pya /pja/ | mupia /mupia/ | kiobe /kjobe/ |
| Red | chila /tʃila/ | kashika /kaʃika/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | chinana /tʃinana/ | subila /subila/ | kunze /kunze/ | kusuka /kusuka/ |
| White | toka /toka/ | buuta /buːta/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | chitooka /tʃitoːka/ | salala /salala/ | toke /toke/ | kuzela /kuzela/ |
| Black | fiita /fiːta/ | fiita /fiːta/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | — | siya /sija/ | fike /fike/ | kuxikela /kuʃikela/ |
| Computer | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kkompyuta /ˈkompjuta/ | ordinatere /ordinatere/ | komputadolo /komputadolo/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kkofi /ˈkofi/ | kafe /kafe/ | kafé /kaˈfe/ |
| Sugar | shuka /ʃuka/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | syuga /sjuɡa/ | nsukadi /nsukadi/ | sukidi /suˈkidi/ |
| Ninety-nine | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi atanu nawana natanu nawana /makumi atanu nawana natanu nawana/ | makumi aali fuka afuka /makumi aːli fuka afuka/ | makumi tshitema ne tshitema /makumi tʃitema ne tʃitema/ | makuinhi ivua ni ivua /makwiɲi ivwa ni ivwa/ |
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