Kanuri
Nilo-Saharan (Saharan)
Kanuri is the language of the Kanuri people of the Lake Chad basin, descended from the medieval Kanem-Bornu empire (c. 700–1900 CE) — one of the largest and longest-lived African polities. Spoken by ~9.6M people across Nigeria (Borno State), Niger, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, and Libya. One of the largest Nilo-Saharan languages, Kanuri is part of the Saharan branch (with Tubu and Zaghawa). Has a 6-tone system and implosive consonants ɓ, ɗ, ʄ — typical Nilo-Saharan features. Historically written in Ajami (Arabic-derived script) for Islamic religious contexts; today also Latin script. The Kanembu liturgical Kanuri preserves classical religious vocabulary.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kanuri
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Nilo-Saharan (Saharan)
| Meaning | Kanuri | Comorian | Hiri Motu | Xaasongaxango | Motu | Maranao | Luo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nji /ndʒi/ | madji /madʒi/ | ranu /ɾanu/ | ji /dʒi/ | ranu /ɾanu/ | ig /iɡ/ | pi /pi/ |
| Fire | kannu /kanːu/ | mro /mro/ | lahi /lahi/ | ta /ta/ | lahi /lahi/ | apoy /apoj/ | mach /matʃ/ |
| Sun | kiŋal /kiŋal/ | jua /dʒua/ | dina /dina/ | tili /tili/ | dina /dina/ | alongan /aloŋan/ | chiengʼ /tʃiɛŋ/ |
| Moon | kəmbal /kəmbal/ | mwezi /ᵐwezi/ | hua /hua/ | kalo /kalo/ | hua /hua/ | bolan /bolan/ | dwe /dwe/ |
| Star | shílówù /ʃílówù/ | nyora /ɲora/ | hisiu /hisiu/ | lolo /lolo/ | hisiu /hisiu/ | bito-on /bitoʔon/ | sulwe /sulwɛ/ |
| Night | bune /bune/ | masihu /masihu/ | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | su /su/ | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | gagawiʼi /ɡaɡawiʔi/ | otieno /otiɛno/ |
| Rain | dəlagə /dəˈlaɡə/ | nvua /ⁿvua/ | medu /medu/ | — | medu /medu/ | oran /ʔoran/ | koth /kɔθ/ |
| Wind | karwa /karwa/ | upepo /uˈpepo/ | lai /lai/ | — | lai /lai/ | angin /aŋin/ | yamo /jamo/ |
| Earth | cidi /tʃidi/ | — | tano /tano/ | — | tano /tano/ | lopaʼ /lopaʔ/ | lowo /loːwo/ |
| Stone | kau /kau/ | — | nadi /ˈnadi/ | — | nadi /nadi/ | wato /wato/ | kidi /ˈkidi/ |
| Mountain | kəri /kəri/ | mlima /mlima/ | ororo /ororo/ | — | ororo /oɾoɾo/ | palaw /paˈlaw/ | got /ɡɔt/ |
| Sea | bahar /bahar/ | bahari /bahari/ | davara /davara/ | — | davara /davara/ | ragat /raɡat/ | nam /nam/ |
| Mother | ya /ja/ | mama /mama/ | sina /sina/ | ba /ba/ | sinana /sinana/ | ina /ina/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | aba /aba/ | baba /ɓaba/ | tama /tama/ | fa /fa/ | tamana /tamana/ | ama /ama/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | fero /fero/ | mwana-mshe /mwana mʃe/ | natuna kekeni /natuna kekeni/ | — | natuna kekenina /natuna kekenina/ | wataʼ a bebay /wataʔ a bəbaj/ | nyar /ɲar/ |
| I | wu /wu/ | wami /wami/ | lau /lau/ | ne /ne/ | lau /lau/ | ako /ako/ | an /an/ |
| You | nyi /ɲi/ | wawe /wawe/ | oi /oi/ | i /i/ | oi /oi/ | seka /sɵka/ | in /in/ |
| We | andi /andi/ | wasi /wasi/ | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | an /án/ | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | wan /wan/ |
| Name | cû /tʃu/ | dzina /dzina/ | ladana /laˈdana/ | toxo /toxo/ | ladana /ladana/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ |
| Person | kam /kam/ | mndru /mndʳu/ | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | — | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | taw /taw/ | dhano /ðano/ |
| Head | kəla /kəla/ | hitswa /hitswa/ | kwarana /kʷarana/ | — | kwara /kʷaɾa/ | olo /olo/ | wich /witʃ/ |
| Eye | shim /ʃim/ | dzitso /dzitso/ | matana /matana/ | ɲa /ɲa/ | matana /matana/ | mata /mata/ | wangʼ /waŋ/ |
| Ear | səmo /səmo/ | shishio /ʃiʃo/ | taiana /taiana/ | tulu /tulu/ | taiana /taiana/ | tangila /taŋila/ | it /it/ |
| Nose | kənza /kənza/ | — | udubaubauna /udubaubauna/ | nun /nũ/ | udu-baubau /udubaubau/ | ngirong /ŋiroŋ/ | um /um/ |
| Mouth | ci /tʃi/ | hanywa /haɲwa/ | uduna /uduna/ | da /da/ | udu /udu/ | ngariʼ /ŋariʔ/ | dhok /ðok/ |
| Tooth | timi /timi/ | dzinyo /dziɲo/ | isena /isena/ | ɲin /ɲĩ/ | ise /ise/ | ngipen /ŋipən/ | lak /lak/ |
| Tongue | təlam /təlam/ | ulime /ulime/ | mala /mala/ | nɛn /nɛn/ | mala /mala/ | dilaʼ /dilaʔ/ | lep /lɛp/ |
| Hand | musko /musko/ | mhono /mhono/ | ima /ima/ | bulu /bulu/ | ima /ima/ | lima /lima/ | lwedo /lwɛdo/ |
| Foot | shi /ʃi/ | mndu /ᵐndu/ | ae /ae/ | sin /sin/ | ae /ae/ | aʼi /aʔi/ | tielo /tiɛlo/ |
| Heart | karkə /karkə/ | moyo /mojo/ | kudouna /kudouna/ | dusu /dusu/ | kudouna /kudouna/ | pusoʼ /pusoʔ/ | chuny /tʃuɲ/ |
| Bone | shila /ʃila/ | shiɓa /ʃiɓa/ | turia /turia/ | xulu /xulu/ | turia /turia/ | tolan /toˈlan/ | chogo /tʃoɡo/ |
| Blood | bu /bu/ | damu /damu/ | rara /rara/ | jelu /dʒelu/ | rara /rara/ | rogoʼ /roɡoʔ/ | remo /rɛmo/ |
| Love | nem-shanu /nem ʃanu/ | upendo /uːpendo/ | lalokau /lalokau/ | kanu /kanu/ | lalokau /lalokau/ | kalimo /kalimo/ | hera /hera/ |
| Tree | kasua /kasua/ | mri /ᵐri/ | au /au/ | yiri /jiɾi/ | au /au/ | kayo /kajo/ | yath /jaθ/ |
| Dog | keri /keri/ | mbwa /ᵐbwa/ | sisia /sisia/ | wulu /wulu/ | sisia /sisia/ | aso /aso/ | guok /ɡuok/ |
| Cat | yaba /jaba/ | paha /paha/ | pusi /pusi/ | jakuma /dʒakuma/ | gosi /ɡosi/ | pusa /pusa/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | bunyi /buɲi/ | nfi /ⁿfi/ | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | ɲege /ɲeɡe/ | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | seda /səˈdaʔ/ | rech /rɛtʃ/ |
| Bird | ngudo /ŋɡudo/ | nuni /nuni/ | manu /manu/ | — | manu /ˈmanu/ | papanok /papanok/ | winyo /wiɲo/ |
| Butterfly | fatafatama /fátáfátámà/ | — | kaubebe /kaubebe/ | — | kaubebe /kaubebe/ | — | oguyo /oɡujo/ |
| Egg | ngəwəl /ŋɡəwəl/ | djwai /dʒwai/ | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | — | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | orak /orak/ | tongʼ /toŋ/ |
| Horse | dər /dər/ | farasi /farasi/ | hosi /hosi/ | — | hosi /hosi/ | kodaʼ /kodaʔ/ | faras /faras/ |
| House | fato /fato/ | nyumba /ɲũba/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | so /so/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | walay /walaj/ | ot /ot/ |
| Milk | câm /tʃam/ | dziwa /dziwa/ | rata /rata/ | nɔnɔ /nɔnɔ/ | rata /rata/ | gatas /ɡatas/ | chak /tʃak/ |
| Honey | kəmagən /kəmaɡən/ | ndjizi ya nyoshi /ndʒizi ja ɲoʃi/ | — | — | bada ranuna /bada ɾanuna/ | teneb /tənəb/ | mor kich /mor kitʃ/ |
| Salt | manda /manda/ | shingo /ʃiŋɡo/ | damena /damena/ | kɔgɔ /kɔɡɔ/ | damena /damena/ | asin /asin/ | chumbi /tʃumbi/ |
| Rice | shankawa /ʃankawa/ | maele /maele/ | raisi /raisi/ | — | raisi /raisi/ | begas /bəɡas/ | ochele /otʃele/ |
| Iron | su /su/ | shuma /ʃuma/ | auri /ˈauɾi/ | nege /neɡe/ | auri /ˈauɾi/ | potaw /potaw/ | nyinyo /ˈɲiɲo/ |
| Wheel | taya /taja/ | ɗiwara /ɗiwara/ | uili /uili/ | — | ava-keikei /avakeikei/ | tirikan /tirikan/ | nyange /ɲaŋe/ |
| Silk | səleki /səleki/ | — | siliki /siliki/ | — | — | sotraʼ /ˈsotraʔ/ | las /las/ |
| Book | kitawu /kitawu/ | shio /ʃio/ | buka /ˈbuka/ | — | buka /buka/ | ribro /ribro/ | buk /buk/ |
| Eat | bayem /bajem/ | hula /hula/ | ania /ania/ | domu /domu/ | aniani /aniani/ | mangan /maŋan/ | chiemo /tʃiemo/ |
| Drink | simem /simem/ | hunwa /hunwa/ | inua /inua/ | min /min/ | inuinu /inuinu/ | minom /minom/ | madho /maðo/ |
| Sleep | lettə /letːə/ | kulala /kulala/ | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | — | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | matorog /matoˈroɡ/ | nindo /nindo/ |
| One | tilo /tilo/ | montsi /montsi/ | ta /ta/ | kilin /kilin/ | ta /ta/ | isa /isa/ | achiel /atʃiɛl/ |
| Two | ndi /ndi/ | mbili /ᵐbili/ | rua /rua/ | fula /fula/ | rua /rua/ | dowa /dowa/ | ariyo /arijo/ |
| Three | yasge /jasɡe/ | ntraru /ᶯʈaru/ | toi /toi/ | saba /saba/ | toi /toi/ | telu /təlu/ | adek /adek/ |
| Four | degə /deɡə/ | nne /nːe/ | hani /hani/ | naani /naːni/ | hani /hani/ | pat /pat/ | angʼwen /aŋwɛn/ |
| Five | ugu /uɡu/ | ntsanu /ⁿtsanu/ | ima /ima/ | luulu /luːlu/ | ima /ima/ | lima /lima/ | abich /abitʃ/ |
| Hundred | miya /mija/ | djana /dʒana/ | handred /handred/ | keme /keme/ | sinahu /sinahu/ | magatos /maɡatos/ | mia /mia/ |
| Hello | lafiya /lafija/ | Jeje / Bariza /dʒedʒe / baːriza/ | namona /namona/ | i ni sogoma /i ni soɡoma/ | namo gida /namo ɡida/ | kapian /kapijan/ | misawa /misawa/ |
| Thank you | gushibe /ɡuʃibe/ | Marahaba /marahaːba/ | tanikiu /tanikiu/ | i ni baara /i ni baːɾa/ | oi namo /oi namo/ | salamat /salamat/ | erokamano /erokamano/ |
| Good | ngewu /ŋɡewu/ | ndjema /ⁿdʒema/ | namo /namo/ | nyi /ɲi/ | namo /namo/ | mapia /mapija/ | maber /maber/ |
| New | bəlin /bəlin/ | — | matamata /matamata/ | — | matamata /matamata/ | bego /bəɡo/ | manyien /maɲien/ |
| Red | kime /kime/ | nyekundu /ɲekundu/ | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | wuleŋ /wuleŋ/ | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | marigaʼ /maˈriɡaʔ/ | makwar /makwar/ |
| White | bul /bul/ | — | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | — | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | mapoti /maˈpotiʔ/ | rachar /ratʃar/ |
| Black | sələm /sələm/ | — | korema /korema/ | — | koremakorema /koɾemakoɾema/ | maitem /maˈʔitəm/ | ratengʼ /ratɛŋ/ |
| Green | kəli /kəli/ | — | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | — | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | gadong /ˈɡadoŋ/ | — |
| Blue | liwulla /liwulla/ | — | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | — | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | biro /ˈbiro/ | rambulu /rambulu/ |
| Tea | shayi /ʃaji/ | tshai /tʃai/ | ti /ti/ | — | ti /ti/ | sa /sa/ | chai /tʃai/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kafe /kafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | kofi /kofi/ | kahawa /kahawa/ | kahawa /kahawa/ |
| Sugar | suwur /suwur/ | sukari /sukari/ | suga /suɡa/ | — | suga /suɡa/ | golaʼ /ɡolaʔ/ | sukari /sukari/ |
| Ninety-nine | filəgar ləgar /filəɡar ləɡar/ | — | — | — | — | — | piero ochiko gochiko /piero otʃiko ɡotʃiko/ |
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