ɔl Maa
Maasai
Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Nilotic, Maa)
Maasai (ɔl Maa) is the language of the Maasai people of the Great Rift Valley, with ~1.5M speakers in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania. It is part of the Maa cluster of Eastern Nilotic languages (with Samburu and Camus). Has a complex tonal system (high vs. low with downstep), an inclusive/exclusive distinction in pronouns, three genders (masculine, feminine, neuter), and is famous for vocabulary and idiom reflecting the Maasai age-set system (l'arikoni "warriors", l'orpayieni "elders") and pastoralist cattle culture. The Maasai have remained largely culturally distinct despite Kenyan and Tanzanian state pressure.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Maasai
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Nilotic, Maa)
| Meaning | Maasai | Samburu | Ateso | Bari | Luo | Acholi | Kalenjin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ɛŋare /ɛŋare/ | nkare /ŋkare/ | akipi /akipi/ | piong /piɔŋ/ | pi /pi/ | pii /piː/ | beek /beːk/ |
| Fire | ɛnkima /ɛŋkima/ | nkima /ŋkima/ | akim /akim/ | kima /kima/ | mach /matʃ/ | mac /matʃ/ | maat /maːt/ |
| Sun | enkolong /eŋkoloŋ/ | lakwa /lakʷa/ | akolong /akoloŋ/ | kolong /koloŋ/ | chiengʼ /tʃiɛŋ/ | ceng /tʃɛŋ/ | asis /asis/ |
| Moon | olapa /olapa/ | lapa /lapa/ | elap /elap/ | yapa /japa/ | dwe /dwe/ | dwe /dwe/ | arawa /arawa/ |
| Star | olakira /olakira/ | lakira /lakira/ | akanyeret /akaɲeret/ | kaserokoti /kaserokoti/ | sulwe /sulwɛ/ | lakalatwe /lakalatwɛ/ | kokeel /kokeːl/ |
| Night | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | akware /akʷare/ | tukwaje /tukʷaje/ | otieno /otiɛno/ | dyewor /dʲɛwor/ | kemeut /kemeut/ |
| Rain | ɛnchan /ɛntʃan/ | nchan /ntʃan/ | akiru /akiru/ | kudu /kudu/ | koth /kɔθ/ | kot /kot/ | robta /robta/ |
| Snow | empaso /empaso/ | — | — | luru lo lilik /luru lo lilik/ | theluji /θeluʒi/ | — | teluchi /telutʃi/ |
| Wind | olkutati /olkʊtati/ | siwuo /siwuo/ | ekwam /ekʷam/ | köbuŋöt /kɔbuŋɔt/ | yamo /jamo/ | yamo /jamo/ | usoonet /usoːnet/ |
| Earth | enkop /eŋkop/ | nkop /ŋkop/ | alup /alup/ | kak /kak/ | lowo /loːwo/ | ngom /ŋɔm/ | ng'ung'unyek /ŋuŋuɲek/ |
| Stone | osoit /oˈsoit/ | soit /soit/ | amoru /amoru/ | ŋurupit /ŋurupit/ | kidi /ˈkidi/ | kidi /kidi/ | koita /koita/ |
| Mountain | oldoinyo /oldoiɲo/ | ldonyuo /ldoɲuo/ | emoru /emoru/ | mere /mere/ | got /ɡɔt/ | got /ɡot/ | tulwet /tulwet/ |
| Sea | enaiposha /enaipoʃa/ | mpaso /mpaso/ | angolol /aŋolol/ | tör na balang /tɔr na balaŋ/ | nam /nam/ | nam /nam/ | nyanjet /ɲandʒet/ |
| Mother | yieyio /jiejio/ | yieyo /jiejo/ | toto /toto/ | ŋote /ŋote/ | mama /mama/ | mego /meɡo/ | kamet /kamet/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | kwanda /kwanda/ |
| Daughter | entito /entito/ | ntito /ntito/ | akoku /akoku/ | ŋuro nakwan /ŋuro nakʷan/ | nyar /ɲar/ | nya /ɲa/ | chepto /tʃepto/ |
| I | nanʉ /nanʊ/ | nanu /nanu/ | eong /eoŋ/ | nan /nan/ | an /an/ | an /an/ | anee /aneː/ |
| You | iyie /ijie/ | iye /ije/ | ijo /iɟo/ | do /do/ | in /in/ | in /in/ | inyee /iɲeː/ |
| We | iyiook /ijioːk/ | iyioo /ijioː/ | siong /sioŋ/ | yi /ji/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ | acheek /atʃeːk/ |
| Name | enkarna /eŋkarna/ | nkarna /ŋkarna/ | ekiror /ekiror/ | karin /karin/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | kaina /kaina/ |
| Person | oltungani /oltuŋani/ | ltungani /ltuŋani/ | etunganan /etuŋanan/ | ŋutu /ŋutu/ | dhano /ðano/ | dano /dano/ | chiito /tʃiːto/ |
| Head | ɛlukunya /ɛlʊkʊɲa/ | nkue /ŋkue/ | akou /akou/ | kwe /kʷe/ | wich /witʃ/ | wic /witʃ/ | metit /metit/ |
| Eye | ɛŋɔŋu /ɛŋɔŋu/ | nkoŋu /ŋkoŋu/ | akongu /akoŋu/ | kongi /koŋɡi/ | wangʼ /waŋ/ | wang /waŋ/ | konda /konda/ |
| Ear | enkiook /ɛnkiˈoːk/ | nkiook /ŋkiˈoːk/ | akit /akit/ | swot /swot/ | it /it/ | it /it/ | itit /itit/ |
| Nose | enkume /ɛnˈkume/ | nkume /ŋkume/ | ekume /ekume/ | kume /kume/ | um /um/ | um /um/ | serut /serut/ |
| Mouth | enkutuk /ɛŋkʊtʊk/ | nkutuk /ŋkutuk/ | akituk /akituk/ | kutuk /kutuk/ | dhok /ðok/ | dog /doɡ/ | kutit /kutit/ |
| Tooth | olalai /olalai/ | lalai /lalai/ | ekialai /ekialai/ | kele /kele/ | lak /lak/ | lak /lak/ | kelet /kelet/ |
| Tongue | olngejep /ɔlŋɛɟɛp/ | lngejep /lŋɛɟɛp/ | angajep /aŋaɟep/ | ŋadap /ŋadap/ | lep /lɛp/ | leb /lɛb/ | ngelyepta /ŋeljepta/ |
| Hand | ɛŋaina /ɛŋaina/ | nkaina /ŋkaina/ | akan /akan/ | könin /kɔnin/ | lwedo /lwɛdo/ | cing /tʃiŋ/ | eut /eut/ |
| Foot | enkeju /ɛnkɛdʒʊ/ | nkeju /ŋkedʒu/ | akeju /akeɟu/ | moköt /mokɔt/ | tielo /tiɛlo/ | tyen /tʲɛn/ | keldo /keldo/ |
| Heart | oltau /oltau/ | ltau /ltau/ | etau /etau/ | töili /tɔili/ | chuny /tʃuɲ/ | cwiny /tʃwiɲ/ | muguleldo /muɡuleldo/ |
| Bone | oloito /oloito/ | loito /loito/ | akoyit /akojit/ | kuyutio /kujutio/ | chogo /tʃoɡo/ | cogo /tʃoɡo/ | kowet /kowet/ |
| Blood | osarge /osarɡe/ | lodo /loɗo/ | awokot /awokot/ | rima /rima/ | remo /rɛmo/ | remo /rɛmo/ | korotik /korotik/ |
| Poop | inkik /iŋkik/ | nkik /ŋkik/ | acin /atʃin/ | kin /kin/ | chieth /tʃiɛθ/ | cet /tʃɛt/ | ng'atatek /ŋatatek/ |
| Love | eitalu /eitalu/ | eitalu /eitalu/ | akimina /akimina/ | nyar /ɲar/ | hera /hera/ | mar /mar/ | chamyet /tʃamjet/ |
| Tree | olchani /oltʃani/ | lchani /ltʃani/ | ekitoi /ekitoi/ | ködini /kɔdini/ | yath /jaθ/ | yat /jat/ | keetit /keːtit/ |
| Dog | oldia /oldia/ | ldia /ldia/ | ekingok /ekiŋok/ | ’dioŋ /ɗioŋ/ | guok /ɡuok/ | gwok /ɡʷok/ | ses /ses/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | ekapa /ekapa/ | lupa /lupa/ | paka /paka/ | ngabu /ŋabu/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | osingirri /osiŋɡirːi/ | singirr /siŋɡirː/ | ekoleit /ekoleit/ | sumuti /sumuti/ | rech /rɛtʃ/ | rec /rɛtʃ/ | njiryot /ndʒirjot/ |
| Bird | motonyi /moˈtoɲi/ | nkueenyi /ŋkuɛːɲi/ | akweny /akʷeɲ/ | kwenti /kʷenti/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | taritiet /taritiet/ |
| Butterfly | ɔsampurimpuri /ɔsampurimpuri/ | — | apelipelet /apelipelet/ | — | oguyo /oɡujo/ | lapwopwo /lapwopwo/ | taburburiet /taburburiet/ |
| Egg | olmosori /olmosori/ | mboliboli /mboliboli/ | abeet /abeet/ | katulukuti /katulukuti/ | tongʼ /toŋ/ | tong /toŋ/ | mayaiyat /majaijat/ |
| Horse | ɛmbarta /ɛmbarta/ | mbarta /mbarta/ | ebalasit /ebalasit/ | kusan /kusan/ | faras /faras/ | aguragura /aɡuraɡura/ | mbartanyit /mbartaɲit/ |
| House | engʼaji /ɛŋadʒi/ | nkang /ŋkaŋ/ | etogo /etoɡo/ | kadi /kadi/ | ot /ot/ | ot /ot/ | gaa /ɡaː/ |
| Milk | kule /kule/ | kule /kule/ | akile /akile/ | le /le/ | chak /tʃak/ | cak /tʃak/ | chego /tʃeɡo/ |
| Honey | enaisho /enaiʃo/ | naicho ee lotoro /naitʃo eː lotoro/ | asik /asik/ | siwatat /siwatat/ | mor kich /mor kitʃ/ | kic /kitʃ/ | kumyat /kumjat/ |
| Salt | ɛmunyan /ɛmuɲan/ | nkisiicho /ŋkisiːtʃo/ | abalang /abalaŋ/ | alang /alaŋ/ | chumbi /tʃumbi/ | kado /kado/ | munyek /muɲek/ |
| Wine | enaisho oo sabibu /enaiʃo oː sabibu/ | naichuo e lmusabibu /naitʃuo e lmusabibu/ | ebino /ebino/ | binyo /biɲo/ | divai /divai/ | bwino /bwino/ | divai /divai/ |
| Rice | olmushele /olmuʃele/ | — | emuceeri /emutʃeeri/ | — | ochele /otʃele/ | ruc /rutʃ/ | — |
| Iron | olchuma /ɔltʃʊma/ | senkei /seŋkei/ | asowat /asowat/ | witi /witi/ | nyinyo /ˈɲiɲo/ | nyonyo /ɲoɲo/ | karnet /karnet/ |
| Wheel | enkeju /ɛnkɛdʒʊ/ | — | ekokoro /ekokoro/ | — /—/ | nyange /ɲaŋe/ | lawala /lawala/ | tireet /tireːt/ |
| Book | embuku /embuku/ | mbuku /mbuku/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ | bukuit /bukuit/ |
| Eat | anya /aɲa/ | anya /aɲa/ | akinyam /akiɲam/ | nyo /ɲo/ | chiemo /tʃiemo/ | cam /tʃam/ | am /am/ |
| Drink | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | akimat /akimat/ | mwoi /mwoi/ | madho /maðo/ | mat /mat/ | ee /eː/ |
| Sleep | airura /airʊra/ | airura /airura/ | ajo /aɟo/ | doto /doto/ | nindo /nindo/ | nino /nino/ | ru /ru/ |
| One | obo /obo/ | obo /obo/ | ediopet /ediopet/ | geleŋ /ɡeleŋ/ | achiel /atʃiɛl/ | acel /atʃɛl/ | agenge /aɡeŋe/ |
| Two | aare /aːre/ | aare /aːre/ | iarei /iarei/ | murek /murek/ | ariyo /arijo/ | aryo /arjo/ | aeng /aeŋ/ |
| Three | uni /uni/ | uni /uni/ | iuni /iuni/ | musala /mʊsala/ | adek /adek/ | adek /adek/ | somok /somok/ |
| Four | ongwan /oŋwan/ | ongwan /oŋwan/ | iwongon /iwoŋon/ | ŋwan /ŋwan/ | angʼwen /aŋwɛn/ | angwen /aŋwɛn/ | angwan /aŋwan/ |
| Five | imiet /imiɛt/ | imiet /imiet/ | ikany /ikaɲ/ | mukanat /mʊkanat/ | abich /abitʃ/ | abic /abitʃ/ | muut /muːt/ |
| Hundred | ip /iːp/ | ip /ip/ | akwatat /akʷatat/ | mia /mia/ | mia /mia/ | miya /mija/ | bogol /boɡol/ |
| Hello | sopa /sopa/ | sopa /sopa/ | yoga /joɡa/ | gwon /ɡwon/ | misawa /misawa/ | itye nining /itʲɛ niniŋ/ | chamege /tʃameɡe/ |
| Thank you | ashe /aʃe/ | ashe /aʃe/ | eyalama /ejalama/ | tinate /tinate/ | erokamano /erokamano/ | apwoyo /apwojo/ | kongoi /koŋoi/ |
| Good | sidai /sidai/ | supat /supat/ | ejok /eɟok/ | ’but /ɓut/ | maber /maber/ | ber /ber/ | karaaran /karaːran/ |
| New | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | lokitetet /lokitetet/ | ludukotyo /ludukotjo/ | manyien /maɲien/ | manyen /maɲɛn/ | leel /leːl/ |
| Red | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | lokarengan /lokareŋan/ | lotor /lotor/ | makwar /makwar/ | makwar /makwar/ | birirben /birirben/ |
| White | naibor /naibor/ | naibor /naiˈbor/ | akwang /akʷaŋ/ | lokwe /lokwe/ | rachar /ratʃar/ | tar /tar/ | leel /leːl/ |
| Black | narok /narok/ | narok /narok/ | lokirionon /lokirionon/ | lurwö /lurwɔ/ | ratengʼ /ratɛŋ/ | macol /matʃol/ | tuui /tuːi/ |
| Green | nanyori /naɲori/ | nanyori /naɲori/ | — | loŋem /loŋem/ | — | atworo /atworo/ | nyalil /ɲalil/ |
| Blue | pus /pus/ | kapatei /kapatei/ | lobululu /lobululu/ | lomurye /lomurje/ | rambulu /rambulu/ | mabulu /mabulu/ | arus /arus/ |
| Tea | shai /ʃai/ | chai /tʃai/ | ecai /etʃai/ | — | chai /tʃai/ | cai /tʃai/ | — |
| Coffee | kashawa /kaʃawa/ | — | ekawa /ekawa/ | — | kahawa /kahawa/ | kawa /kawa/ | — |
| Sugar | esukari /esukari/ | — | esukali /esukali/ | — | sukari /sukari/ | cukari /tʃukari/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | ntomoni naaudo o naaudo /ntomoni naːudo o naːudo/ | ntomoni saal o saal /ntomoni saːl o saːl/ | akaisakany kaungon ka ikanykawongon /akaisakaɲ kauŋon ka ikaɲkawoŋon/ | merya buŋwan wot buŋwan /mɛrja bʊŋwan wɔt bʊŋwan/ | piero ochiko gochiko /piero otʃiko ɡotʃiko/ | pyere abongwen wiye abongwen /pjere aboŋwɛn wije aboŋwɛn/ | tamanwogik sogol ak sogol /tamanwoɡik soɡol ak soɡol/ |
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