Luganda
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
Luganda is the most widely spoken Bantu language of Uganda, native to the Buganda kingdom around Kampala. It has 10 noun classes, vowel length contrasts, and a tonal system distinguishing lexical and grammatical meanings.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Luganda
Sources
- en.wiktionary Luganda lemmas (ennyonyi, ekitabo, omuwala, embwa, eggi, omuliro, ekyennyanja, ekigere, omutwe, ekyuma, olusozi, ekiro, omunnyo, ennyanja, omuzira, emmunyeenye, ssukaali, caayi, erinnyo, omuti, amazzi); Luganda Bible 2003 (LB03, bible.com 2808); lexibank tls dataset, Luganda list (kkapa, nnyindo, embwa); Snoxall 1967 Luganda-English Dictionary (general reference, not consulted this round)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
| Meaning | Luganda | Soga | Runyankole | Nyoro | Tooro | Chiga | Kinyarwanda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amazzi /amaːzːi/ | amaadhi /amaːd̪i/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amazi /amaːzi/ |
| Fire | omuliro /omuliɾo/ | omuliro /omuliɾo/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omurro /omurro/ | omurro /omurro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | umuriro /umuɾiɾo/ |
| Sun | enjuba /eɲɟuba/ | endhuba /end̪uba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | izooba /izoːba/ | izooba /izoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | izuba /izuba/ |
| Moon | omwezi /omwezi/ | omwezi /omwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | ukwezi /ukwezi/ |
| Star | emmunyeenye /emːuɲeːɲe/ | emuunienie /emuːɲeɲe/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyunyuunzi /eɲuɲuːnzi/ | enyunyunzi /eɲuɲuːnzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | inyenyeri /iɲeɲeri/ |
| Night | ekiro /etʃiro/ | obwire /obwire/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ | ijoro /iʒoro/ |
| Rain | enkuba /eŋˈkuba/ | enkuba /eŋkuba/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | imvura /imˈvura/ |
| Snow | omuzira /omuzira/ | — | — | ebirika /eβirika/ | ebirika /eβirika/ | — | shelegi /ʃeleɡi/ |
| Wind | empewo /empeːwo/ | empewo /empewo/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | umuyaga /umujaɣa/ |
| Earth | ettaka /ettaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | itaka /itaka/ | itaaka /itaːka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | ubutaka /uɓutaka/ |
| Stone | ejjinja /edʒːiˈndʒa/ | eibaale /eibaːle/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | ibaale /iβaːle/ | ibaale /iβaːle/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | ibuye /iˈɓuje/ |
| Mountain | olusozi /olusozi/ | olusozzi /olusozzi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | orusozi /orusozi/ | orusozi /orusozi/ | omusozi /omusozi/ | umusozi /umusozi/ |
| Sea | ennyanja /eɲːaɲdʒa/ | enhandha /eɲand̪a/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲɟa/ | enyanja /eɲaːndʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | inyanja /iɲandʒa/ |
| Mother | maama /maːma/ | maama /maːma/ | maawe /maːwe/ | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | nyina /ɲina/ | mama /maːma/ |
| Father | taata /taːta/ | lata /lata/ | tata /tata/ | isho /iʃo/ | isho /iʃo/ | ishe /iʃe/ | papa /paːpa/ |
| Daughter | omuwala /omuwala/ | omughala /omuɣala/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | umukobwa /umukobwa/ |
| I | nze /nze/ | nze /nze/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | njye /ɲɟe/ |
| You | ggwe /ɡːwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | wowe /wowe/ |
| We | ffe /fːe/ | iffe /ifːe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | twebwe /twebwe/ |
| Name | erinnya /eriɲːa/ | eriina /eriːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | ibara /iβara/ | ibara /iβara/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | izina /izina/ |
| Person | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ |
| Head | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | umutwe /umutwe/ |
| Eye | eriiso /eɾiːso/ | eriiso /eɾiːso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriiso /eriːso/ | eriiso /eriːso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | ijisho /iʒiʃo/ |
| Ear | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | ugutwi /uɣutwi/ |
| Nose | ennyindo /eɲːindo/ | ennhindo /eɲːindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | izuru /iˈzuɾu/ |
| Mouth | akamwa /akamwa/ | omunwa /omunwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ |
| Tooth | erinnyo /eriɲːo/ | erino /erino/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | iino /iːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | iryinyo /irjiɲo/ |
| Tongue | olulimi /olulimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orulimi /orulimi/ | orulimi /orulimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | ururimi /ururimi/ |
| Hand | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | ikiganza /ikiɡanza/ |
| Foot | ekigere /etʃiɡere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ikirenge /ikirenɡe/ |
| Heart | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | umutima /umutima/ |
| Bone | eggumba /eɡːumba/ | eigumba /eiɡumba/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | igufwa /iɡufwa/ |
| Blood | omusaayi /omusaːji/ | omusaayi /omusaːji/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | esagama /esaɡama/ | esagama /esaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | amaraso /amaraso/ |
| Poop | empitambi /empitambi/ | amazzi /amazːi/ | amazi /amazi/ | amazi /amazi/ | amaazi /amaːzi/ | amazi /amazi/ | amase /amase/ |
| Love | okwagala /okwaːɡala/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | urukundo /uɾukundo/ |
| Tree | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | igiti /iɡiti/ |
| Dog | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | kkapa /kːapa/ | pusi /pusi/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | paaka /paːka/ | paaka /paːka/ | kapa /kapa/ | injangwe /indʒaŋɡwe/ |
| Fish | ekyennyanja /etʃeɲːaɲdʒa/ | ekyenhandha /etʃeɲand̪a/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | encu /eɲtʃu/ | echu /etʃu/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | ifi /ifi/ |
| Bird | ennyonyi /eɲːoˈɲi/ | enhonhi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ |
| Butterfly | ekiwojjolo /etʃiwodʒːolo/ | ekiwoiwolo /ekiwoiwolo/ | ekihuguuhugu /ekihuɡuːhuɡu/ | — | ekihoiholya /ekihoiholja/ | ekinyugunyugu /etʃiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ | ikinyugunyugu /ikiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ |
| Egg | eggi /ˈeɡːi/ | eggi /eɡːi/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | ihuli /ihuli/ | ihuli /ihuli/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | igi /iɡi/ |
| Bear | eddubu /edːubu/ | — | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | idubu /iduβu/ |
| Horse | embalaasi /embalaːsi/ | embalaasi /embalaːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embarasi /embarasi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | ifarashi /ifaˈraʃi/ |
| House | ennyumba /eɲːumba/ | endhu /end̪u/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | inzu /inzu/ |
| Milk | amata /amata/ | amata /amata/ | amate /amate/ | amata /amata/ | amata /amata/ | amate /amate/ | amata /amata/ |
| Honey | omubisi gwʼenjuki /omubisi ɡweɲdʒuki/ | omudheenene /omud̪eːnene/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwuuki /obwuːtʃi/ | ubuki /ubuki/ |
| Salt | omunnyo /omuɲːo/ | omuunhu /omuːɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | umunyu /umuɲu/ |
| Wine | wayini /wajini/ | omwenge gw'emizabbibu /omweŋɡe ɡwemizabːibu/ | viino /viːno/ | eviini /eviːni/ | eviini /eviːni/ | viino /viːno/ | divayi /divaji/ |
| Rice | omuceere /omutʃeːre/ | omutyele /omutjele/ | omukyeeri /omukjeːri/ | — | — | omukyeeri /omutʃeːri/ | umuceri /umuˈtʃeri/ |
| Iron | ekyuma /eˈtʃuːma/ | ekyuma /ekjuma/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | ekyoma /ekjoma/ | ekyoma /ekjoma/ | obutare /obutare/ | icyuma /iˈtʃuma/ |
| Wheel | nnamuziga /nːamuˈziɡa/ | enkede /eŋkede/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | uruziga /uɾuziɡa/ |
| Silk | liiri /liːri/ | liiri /liːri/ | riiri /riːri/ | liiri /liːri/ | liiri /liːri/ | riiri /riːri/ | hariri /hariri/ |
| Book | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabu /ekitaβu/ | ekitabu /ekitaβu/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ | igitabo /iɡitabo/ |
| Eat | okulya /okulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kurya /kuɾja/ |
| Drink | okunywa /okuɲʷa/ | kunhwa /kuɲʷa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | okwebaka /okweβaka/ | kutenduka /kutenduka/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | gusinzira /ɡusinzira/ |
| One | emu /emu/ | ndala /ndala/ | emwe /emwe/ | emu /emu/ | emoi /emoi/ | rumwe /rumwe/ | rimwe /ɾimwe/ |
| Two | bbiri /bːiri/ | ibiri /ibiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | kabiri /kabiri/ |
| Three | ssatu /sːatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | isatu /iːsatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | gatatu /ɡatatu/ |
| Four | nnya /ɲːa/ | ina /ina/ | eina /eina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /iːna/ | ina /ina/ | kane /kane/ |
| Five | ttaano /tːaːno/ | itaanu /iˈtaːnu/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /iˈtaːno/ | itaano /iˈtaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ | gatanu /ɡataːnu/ |
| Hundred | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | kikumi /kikumi/ | igana /iɡana/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | igana /iɡana/ | ijana /iʒana/ |
| Hello | oli otya /oli otja/ | mwaakire /mwaːkiɾe/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | oraire ota /oraire ota/ | oraire ota /oraire ota/ | oraire /oraire/ | muraho /muɾaːho/ |
| Thank you | webale /weːbale/ | weebale /weːbale/ | webare /webare/ | webale /webale/ | webale /webale/ | webare /webare/ | murakoze /muɾakoze/ |
| Good | kirungi /tʃiruŋɡi/ | bulungi /buluŋɡi/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | byiza /bjiza/ |
| New | mpya /mpja/ | iyaka /ijaka/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | ekihyaka /ekihjaka/ | ekihyaka /ekihjaka/ | ekisya /etʃisja/ | gishya /ɡiʃja/ |
| Red | myufu /mjufu/ | myufu /mjufu/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | utukura /utukura/ |
| White | eru /eːru/ | ndheru /nd̪eɾu/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | umweru /umweru/ |
| Black | ddugavu /dduɡavu/ | ndhirugavu /nd̪iɾuɡavu/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | umukara /umukara/ |
| Green | kiragala /tʃiraɡala/ | — | kibabi /kibabi/ | — | — | kinyaasi /tʃiɲaːsi/ | icyatsi /iˈtʃaːtsi/ |
| Blue | bululu /bululu/ | bululu /bululu/ | bururu /bururu/ | — | bururu /bururu/ | — | ubururu /ubururu/ |
| Computer | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompiyuta /kompijuta/ | mudasobwa /mudasobwa/ |
| Tea | caayi /tʃaːji/ | — | chai /tʃai/ | — | — | cayi /tʃaji/ | icyayi /itʃaːji/ |
| Coffee | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — | ikawa /ikawa/ |
| Sugar | ssukaali /sːukaːli/ | — | shukaari /ʃukaːri/ | — | — | sukari /sukari/ | isukari /isukari/ |
| Orange | omucungwa /omutʃuŋɡwa/ | — | omucungwa /omutʃuŋɡwa/ | — | — | — | icunga /itʃuŋɡa/ |
| Ninety-nine | kyenda mu mwenda /tʃenda mu mwenda/ | kyenda na mwenda /kjenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | kyenda na mwenda /tʃenda na mwenda/ | — | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | mirongo cyenda nʼicyenda /miɾoŋɡo tʃenda nitʃenda/ |
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