Meta'
Niger-Congo
Meta' (also Menemo or Bameta) is a Bantu Grassfields language of the Northwest Region of Cameroon, sister to Aghem (agq) within the Ring sub-branch of Western Grassfields. The Grassfields Bantu cluster (~30 languages, ~3M total speakers) occupies the Cameroonian highlands, with each language often associated with a specific village or chiefdom. Meta' is spoken in the Mbengwi and Bali areas of Momo Division. Linguistically, Meta' shares Grassfields Bantu features: tonal (3+ tones with downstep), 5-vowel system with ATR harmony, complex noun-class concord, and SVO constituent order. Cameroon's 2017 separatist crisis has affected the Northwest Region, displacing many Meta' speakers.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Meta'
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Meta' | Aghem | Ewondo | Chibcha | Degema | Efik | Bulu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mɨnib /mɨnib/ | mùghù /mùɣù/ | medzim /medzim/ | sié /sje/ | amin /amin/ | mmọñ /m̩mɔŋ/ | mendim /mendim/ |
| Fire | ɨwid /ɨwid/ | wə̀n /wə̀n/ | ndoa /ndoa/ | gata /ɡata/ | itany /itaɲ/ | ikañ /ikaŋ/ | nduan /nduan/ |
| Sun | nyùmə̀ /ɲùmə̀/ | zuuw /zuːw/ | dzōb /dʒoːb/ | súa /sua/ | uvuwo /uvuwo/ | utin /utin/ | jôp /dʒɔp/ |
| Moon | ɨmɨg /ɨmɨɡ/ | dzɔ̄ŋ /dzɔ̄ŋ/ | ngɔn /ŋɡɔn/ | chía /tʃia/ | obaam /obəəm/ | ọfiọñ /ɔfiɔŋ/ | ngon /ŋɡon/ |
| Star | fɨtəmɨ /fɨtəmɨ/ | sə̀ghàbəlà /sə̀ɣàbəlà/ | ôtɛtɛ /ótɛtɛ/ | fagua /faɣwa/ | ụsemese /ʊsɛmɛsɛ/ | ntantaọfiọn̄ /n̩tantaˈɔfiɔŋ/ | ôtɛtɛ /ɔtɛtɛ/ |
| Night | ɨzimɨ /ɨzimɨ/ | achoʼ /atʃoʔ/ | alu /alu/ | za /tsa/ | ạsu /asʊ/ | okoneyo /okonejo/ | alu /alu/ |
| Rain | mbə̀ŋ /mbə̀ŋ/ | ghuuw /ɣuːw/ | mveŋ /mvəŋ/ | siu /siu/ | ọkpar /ɔkpaɾ/ | edim /edim/ | mveŋ /mveŋ/ |
| Wind | əfim /əfim/ | kwɛ̌ɛ /kwɛ̌ː/ | evundu /evundu/ | fiba /fiba/ | — | ofim /ofim/ | évuŋulu /evuŋulu/ |
| Earth | si /si/ | — | si /si/ | hicha /hitʃa/ | — | isọñ /isɔŋ/ | si /si/ |
| Stone | ɨti /ɨti/ | tia /tia/ | akok /akok/ | hyca /hɨka/ | ohinw /ohiŋʷ/ | itiat /itiat/ | akok /akok/ |
| Mountain | ɨwum /ɨwum/ | kwàʼ /kwàʔ/ | nkol /ŋkol/ | — | igu /iɡu/ | obot /obot/ | nkôl /ŋkɔl/ |
| Sea | rɨ̀bàà /rɨ̀bàà/ | dzùghùntsòʼ /dzùɣùntsòʔ/ | maŋ /maŋ/ | — | — | inyañ /iɲaŋ/ | maŋ /maŋ/ |
| Mother | nɨ̌ŋ /nɨ̌ŋ/ | zə̂ /zə̂/ | nyia /ɲia/ | guaia /ɡwaia/ | onomo /onomo/ | eka /eka/ | nyia /ɲia/ |
| Father | mbǎʼ /mbǎʔ/ | tsele /tsele/ | tara /taɾa/ | paba /paba/ | ọsunomo /ɔsʊnɔmɔ/ | ete /ete/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | wan əyi /wan əji/ | — | ngon /ŋɡɔn/ | — | ọkpatam /ɔkpatam/ | eyen an̄wan /ejɛn aŋwan/ | ngone /ŋɡone/ |
| I | mə̀ /mə̀/ | à /à/ | ma /má/ | hycha /hɨtʃa/ | mẹẹ /mɛɛ/ | ami /aˈmi/ | ma /má/ |
| You | àwɔ̀ /àwɔ̀/ | ò /ò/ | wa /wá/ | mue /mue/ | wọọ /wɔɔ/ | afo /aˈfo/ | wô /wɔ/ |
| We | — /—/ | — /—/ | bia /bjá/ | chie /tʃie/ | eni /eni/ | nnyin /nɲin/ | bia /bja/ |
| Name | ɨkum /ɨkum/ | zən /zən/ | jôé /ʒóé/ | hyca /hɨka/ | ini /ini/ | enyiñ /eɲiŋ/ | jôé /dʒɔe/ |
| Person | wə̀d /wə̀d/ | ghùw /ɣùw/ | môt /mɔt/ | muysca /mɨska/ | oweey /oweej/ | owo /owo/ | môt /mɔt/ |
| Head | ətu /ətu/ | kətuw /kətuw/ | nlo /nlo/ | zysquy /zɨskɨ/ | utom /utom/ | ibuot /ibuot/ | nlô /nlɔ/ |
| Eye | ɨghə /ɨɣə/ | sə /sə/ | dzìs /dʒis/ | upqua /upkʷa/ | ụnwo ạḍu /ʊŋʷɔ aɗʊ/ | enyin /eɲin/ | dis /dis/ |
| Ear | ətǒŋ /ətǒŋ/ | tùŋlo /tùŋlo/ | alo /alo/ | cuhuca /kuhuka/ | ụsow /ʊsɔw/ | utọñ /utɔŋ/ | alo /alo/ |
| Mouth | ɨchû /ɨtʃû/ | dzughu /dzuɣu/ | anyu /aɲu/ | quyhyca /kɨhɨka/ | enu /enu/ | inua /inua/ | anyu /aɲu/ |
| Tooth | ɨsɔŋ /ɨsɔŋ/ | sɔŋ /sɔŋ/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | sica /sika/ | ụku /ʊkʊ/ | edet /edet/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ |
| Tongue | ɨnemɨ /ɨnemɨ/ | nom /nom/ | ôyem /ojəm/ | pqua /pkʷa/ | ụḍem /ʊɗɛm/ | edeme /edeme/ | ôyem /ɔjem/ |
| Hand | əbɔ /əbɔ/ | kwe /kwe/ | woó /woʔó/ | yta /ɨta/ | ụḅo /ʊɓɔ/ | ubọk /ubɔk/ | wo /wo/ |
| Foot | əwu /əwu/ | — | abo /abɔ/ | quihicha /kihitʃa/ | avi /avi/ | ukot /ukot/ | abo /abo/ |
| Heart | fîŋ /fîŋ/ | fə̂ŋ /fə̂ŋ/ | nlem /nlem/ | puyquy /pujkɨ/ | ụnwo ivom /ʊŋʷɔ ivom/ | esit /esit/ | nlem /nlem/ |
| Bone | əwu /əwu/ | xo /xo/ | évés /évɛ́s/ | quyne /kɨne/ | uḅuwo /uɓuwo/ | ọkpọ /ɔkpɔ/ | évés /eves/ |
| Blood | ənəm /ənəm/ | tikaŋ /tikaŋ/ | meki /meki/ | hyba /hɨba/ | ịjzalam /ɪzalam/ | iyip /ijip/ | metyi /metʃi/ |
| Poop | ɨnyɔrɨ /ɨɲɔrɨ/ | — | — | gye /ɡɨe/ | — | ifuọ /ifuɔ/ | mebi /mebi/ |
| Love | ghaʼ /ɣaʔ/ | ləgha /ləɣa/ | nyeʼe /ɲeʔe/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | ima /ima/ | nyeʼa /ɲeʔa/ |
| Tree | əzed /əzed/ | kâʼ /kâʔ/ | elé /elé/ | quye /kɨe/ | ụtany /ʊtaɲ/ | eto /eto/ | élé /ele/ |
| Dog | bu /bu/ | bvʉ /bvʉ/ | mvu /mvu/ | to /to/ | ạḅuwa /aɓʊwa/ | ebua /ebua/ | mvu /mvu/ |
| Cat | guŋ /ɡuŋ/ | gò /ɡò/ | esìŋga /esiŋɡa/ | — /—/ | pọsi /pɔsɪ/ | nyabudaha /ɲabudaha/ | esinga /esiŋɡa/ |
| Fish | ɨgwi /ɨɡwi/ | tsəgha /tsəɣa/ | kos /kos/ | gua /ɡua/ | esen /esen/ | iyak /ijak/ | kos /kos/ |
| Bird | rɨnən /rɨnən/ | nwə̀n /nwə̀n/ | anon /anɔn/ | sue /sue/ | ẹfen /ɛfɛn/ | inuen /inuen/ | anon /anɔn/ |
| Egg | ɨbom /ɨbom/ | eghum /eɣum/ | aki /aki/ | — | — | nsen /n̩sen/ | aki /aki/ |
| Horse | ngyi /ŋɡji/ | kə̀anyòm /kə̀aɲòm/ | ekabeli /ekabeli/ | hycabai /hɨkabai/ | — | enañ mbakara /enaŋ mbakara/ | ékabela /ekabela/ |
| House | nəb /nəb/ | ndughu /nduɣu/ | nda /nda/ | gué /ɡwe/ | ụvay /ʊvaj/ | ufọk /ufɔk/ | nda /nda/ |
| Milk | ɨbən /ɨbən/ | kəmēlē /kəmēlē/ | menyan /meɲan/ | chuexiu /tʃwesiu/ | — | mmọñeba /m̩mɔŋeba/ | menyaŋ /meɲaŋ/ |
| Honey | ju /dʒu/ | fə̀dɔ̂ŋ /fə̀dɔ̂ŋ/ | woe /woe/ | — | — | aranọkwọk /aranɔkwɔk/ | wôé /wɔe/ |
| Salt | fɨ̀ŋgwaŋ /fɨ̀ŋɡwaŋ/ | ntsôʼ /ntsôʔ/ | nku /ŋku/ | nygua /nɨɡua/ | uḅuwan /uɓuwən/ | inuñ /inuŋ/ | nku /ŋku/ |
| Wine | mɨnoʼ /mɨnoʔ/ | lʉ̀ /lʉ̀/ | wayn /wajn/ | — | — | wine /wain/ | woon /woːn/ |
| Iron | ɨka /ɨka/ | ubvūʼ /ubvūʔ/ | ekye /ekje/ | — | ikulele /ikulele/ | ukwak /ukwak/ | étyé /etʃe/ |
| Book | ə̀ŋwàʼnɨ̀ /ə̀ŋwàʔnɨ̀/ | mwàʼsò /mwàʔsò/ | kalara /kalara/ | quanne /kwanːe/ | — | ñwed /ŋwed/ | kalate /kalate/ |
| Eat | jɨg /dʒɨɡ/ | pfʉa /pfʉa/ | di /di/ | quychua /kɨtʃwa/ | ḍi /ɗi/ | dia /dia/ | di /di/ |
| Drink | nɔ /nɔ/ | mʉ̌a /mʉ̌a/ | nyu /ɲu/ | biohotysuca /bjohotɨsuka/ | nyọnw /ɲɔŋʷ/ | ñwọñ /ŋwɔɲ/ | nyu /ɲu/ |
| Sleep | gwen /ɡwen/ | bwii /bwiː/ | — | quybysuca /kɨβɨsuka/ | mẹse /mɛsɛ/ | de /dɛ/ | — |
| One | mɔʼ /mɔʔ/ | mɔ̀ʼ /mɔ̀ʔ/ | fok /fok/ | ata /ata/ | ọvu /ɔvʊ/ | kiet /kiet/ | fok /fok/ |
| Two | be /be/ | bə̀ghà /bə̀ɣà/ | bɛ̌ /bɛ̌/ | boza /boza/ | iva /ivə/ | iba /iˈba/ | bɛ̌ /bɛ̌/ |
| Three | tad /tad/ | tɨ́gá /tɨ́ɣá/ | lɛ́ /lɛ́/ | mica /mika/ | ịsay /ɪsaj/ | ita /ita/ | láá /laː/ |
| Four | kwè /kwè/ | cìakɔ̀ /tʃìakɔ̀/ | nyi /ɲì/ | muyhyca /mɨhɨka/ | — | inaŋ /inaŋ/ | nyin /ɲin/ |
| Five | tân /tân/ | tɛ̀ /tɛ̀/ | tán /tán/ | hyzca /hɨzka/ | isuwon /isuwon/ | ition /itiɔn/ | tan /tan/ |
| Hundred | ɨkɨ fibɨ̀ /ɨkɨ fibɨ̀/ | — | ntɛt /ntɛ̀d/ | — | itany isuwon /itaɲ isuwon/ | ikie /ikie/ | ntet /ntet/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | kâaʼ /kaːʔ/ | mbɔlɔ /mbɔlɔ/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | mọñọ /mɔɲɔ/ | mbolo /mbolo/ |
| Thank you | məben-əwe /məben əwe/ | ŋyaaʼ /ŋjaːʔ/ | akiba /akiba/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | sọsọñọ /sɔsɔɲɔ/ | akiba /akiba/ |
| Good | chɔ̀m /tʃɔ̀m/ | dzûŋ /dzûŋ/ | mbaŋ /mbaŋ/ | choin /tʃoin/ | ovi /ovi/ | eti /eti/ | mbamba /mbamba/ |
| New | fi /fi/ | fughu /fuɣu/ | mkpaman /mkpaman/ | fihiza /fihiza/ | ọfany /ɔfaɲ/ | obufa /obufa/ | mfefé /mfefe/ |
| Red | bàŋ /bàŋ/ | bàŋ /bàŋ/ | nyín /ɲín/ | hychen mague /hɨtʃen maɡwe/ | ạtuatu /atʊatʊ/ | ndandat /ndandat/ | évele /evele/ |
| White | rɨ̀fɨ /rɨ̀fɨ/ | fə̀m /fə̀m/ | mfum /mfum/ | apquyhyzyn mague /apkɨhɨzɨn maɡwe/ | ọfufu /ɔfʊfʊ/ | afia /afia/ | éfumulu /efumulu/ |
| Black | firɨ /firɨ/ | ləŋ /ləŋ/ | evindi /evindi/ | muyhyxio /mɨhɨsio/ | obibi /obibi/ | obubit /obubit/ | évindi /evindi/ |
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