Lumasaaba
Masaaba
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Masaba-Luhya)
Masaaba (Lumasaaba; ISO 639-3: myx), also known as Gisu or Lugisu, is a Bantu language spoken by Bamasaaba or Bagisu communities around the western and southern slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda and neighboring Kenya. It is closely related to Bukusu and languages grouped as Luhya, but Masaaba is separately identified and should not simply be relabeled with the Luhya macrolanguage code. Like other Bantu languages, it has a noun-class system whose agreement appears on modifiers and grammatical elements. It is tonal and agglutinative, generally uses subject–verb–object order, and builds complex verb forms that mark participants, tense, aspect, and related categories. Masaaba is written in a Latin-based orthography and is used in broadcasting, churches, local literature, and some education; it has no nationwide official status, while multilingual speakers also use English, Swahili, Luganda, or neighboring languages according to setting.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Masaaba
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Masaba-Luhya)
| Meaning | Masaaba | Bukusu | Luhya | Soga | Nyoro | Runyankole | Chiga |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kamaatsi /kamaːtsi/ | kameechi /kameːtʃi/ | amatsi /amatsi/ | amaadhi /amaːd̪i/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ |
| Fire | kamulilo /kamulilo/ | kumulilo /kumulilo/ | omuliro /omuliro/ | omuliro /omuliɾo/ | omurro /omurro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ |
| Sun | suuba /suːba/ | enyanga /eɲaŋɡa/ | liuba /liuba/ | endhuba /end̪uba/ | izooba /izoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ |
| Moon | umweesi /umweːsi/ | kumwesi /kumwesi/ | omwesi /omwesi/ | omwezi /omwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ |
| Star | kumunyeenye /kumuɲeːɲe/ | eng'enieesi /eŋeɲeːsi/ | engʼiningʼini /eŋiniŋini/ | emuunienie /emuːɲeɲe/ | enyunyuunzi /eɲuɲuːnzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ |
| Night | busilo /busilo/ | siilo /siːlo/ | eshilo /eʃilo/ | obwire /obwire/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ |
| Rain | ifula /ifula/ | efula /efula/ | efula /eˈfula/ | enkuba /eŋkuba/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ |
| Wind | imbewo /imbewo/ | embeo /embeo/ | omuyeka /omujeka/ | empewo /empewo/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ |
| Earth | liloba /liloba/ | liloba /liloba/ | liloba /liloba/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | itaka /itaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ |
| Stone | libaale /libaːle/ | libaale /libaːle/ | lichina /litʃina/ | eibaale /eibaːle/ | ibaale /iβaːle/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ |
| Mountain | lukiingi /lukiːŋɡi/ | sikulu /sikulu/ | eshikulu /eʃikulu/ | olusozzi /olusozzi/ | orusozi /orusozi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | omusozi /omusozi/ |
| Sea | inyaantsa /iɲaːntsa/ | enyanja /eɲandʒa/ | inyanza /iɲanza/ | enhandha /eɲand̪a/ | enyanja /eɲaɲɟa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Mother | mayi /maji/ | maayi /maːji/ | mayi /maji/ | maama /maːma/ | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | maawe /maːwe/ | nyina /ɲina/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | lata /lata/ | isho /iʃo/ | tata /tata/ | ishe /iʃe/ |
| Daughter | umukhaana /umuxaːna/ | omukhaana /omuxaːna/ | omukhaana /omuxaːna/ | omughala /omuɣala/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ |
| I | ise /ise/ | ese /ese/ | ese /ese/ | nze /nze/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ |
| You | iwe /iwe/ | ewe /ewe/ | ewe /ewe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | ifwe /ifwe/ | efwe /efwe/ | efwe /efwe/ | iffe /ifːe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ |
| Name | lisiina /lisiːna/ | lisina /lisiːna/ | elira /elira/ | eriina /eriːna/ | ibara /iβara/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ |
| Person | umundu /umundu/ | omundu /omundu/ | omundu /omundu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ |
| Head | kumurwe /kumurwe/ | kumurwe /kumurwe/ | omurwe /omurwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ |
| Eye | liiso /liːso/ | emoni /emoni/ | liiso /liːso/ | eriiso /eɾiːso/ | eriiso /eriːso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ |
| Ear | khukhuru /kʰukʰuru/ | liiru /liːru/ | eshirwi /eʃirwi/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ |
| Nose | lilyoolu /liʎoːlu/ | lyolu /ljolu/ | amolu /amolu/ | ennhindo /eɲːindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ |
| Mouth | kumunwa /kumunwa/ | kumunwa /kumunwa/ | omunwa /omunwa/ | omunwa /omunwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ |
| Tooth | liino /liːno/ | liino /liːno/ | lino /lino/ | erino /erino/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ |
| Tongue | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ | orulimi /orulimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ |
| Hand | kumukhono /kumukʰono/ | kumukhono /kumukʰono/ | omukhono /omukʰono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ |
| Foot | shikyele /ʃikjele/ | sikele /sikele/ | eshilenje /eʃilendʒe/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ |
| Heart | umwoyo /umwojo/ | kumwoyo /kumwojo/ | omwoyo /omwojo/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ |
| Bone | kumba /kumba/ | sikuumba /sikuːmba/ | eshikumba /eʃikumba/ | eigumba /eiɡumba/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ |
| Blood | kamafuki /kamafuki/ | kamafuki /kamafuki/ | amasayi /amasaji/ | omusaayi /omusaːji/ | esagama /esaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ |
| Love | khusima /kʰusima/ | khusiima /kʰusiːma/ | obuyanzi /obujanzi/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ |
| Tree | kumusaala /kumusaːla/ | kumusaala /kumusaːla/ | omusala /omusala/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ |
| Dog | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | enyawu /eɲawu/ | lipusi /lipusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | paaka /paːka/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | kapa /kapa/ |
| Fish | enyeni /eɲeni/ | eng'eeni /eŋeːni/ | inyeni /iɲeni/ | ekyenhandha /etʃeɲand̪a/ | encu /eɲtʃu/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Bird | khanywinywi /kʰaɲwiɲwi/ | enyuni /eɲuni/ | linyonyi /liɲoɲi/ | enhonhi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ |
| Egg | liiki /liːki/ | liiki /liːki/ | liki /liki/ | eggi /eɡːi/ | ihuli /ihuli/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | eihuri /eihuri/ |
| Horse | ifarasi /ifarasi/ | efarasi /efarasi/ | ifarasi /ifarasi/ | embalaasi /embalaːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ |
| House | nzu /nzu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enzu /enzu/ | endhu /end̪u/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ |
| Milk | kamabeele /kamabeːle/ | kamabeele /kamaβeːle/ | amabeere /amabeːre/ | amata /amata/ | amata /amata/ | amate /amate/ | amate /amate/ |
| Honey | bubuukhi /bubuːkʰi/ | buukhi /buːkʰi/ | obushi /obuʃi/ | omudheenene /omud̪eːnene/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwuuki /obwuːtʃi/ |
| Salt | kyumbi /kjumbi/ | kumuunyu /kumuːɲu/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omuunhu /omuːɲu/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ |
| Wine | iviini /iviːni/ | endali /endali/ | idivai /idivai/ | omwenge gw'emizabbibu /omweŋɡe ɡwemizabːibu/ | eviini /eviːni/ | viino /viːno/ | viino /viːno/ |
| Iron | sikyuma /sikjuma/ | sichuuma /sitʃuːma/ | eshibia /eʃibia/ | ekyuma /ekjuma/ | ekyoma /ekjoma/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | obutare /obutare/ |
| Wheel | kumukuwu /kumukuwu/ | engara /eŋɡara/ | omukurutumu /omukurutumu/ | enkede /eŋkede/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ |
| Book | shitabo /ʃitabo/ | sitabu /sitabu/ | eshitabu /eʃitabu/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabu /ekitaβu/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ |
| Eat | khulya /kʰuʎa/ | khulya /kʰuʎa/ | khulia /kʰulia/ | kulya /kulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kurya /kurja/ |
| Drink | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | kunhwa /kuɲʷa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | khukona /kʰukona/ | khukona /kʰukona/ | khukona /kʰukona/ | kutenduka /kutenduka/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ |
| One | mulala /mulala/ | ndala /ndala/ | ndala /ndala/ | ndala /ndala/ | emu /emu/ | emwe /emwe/ | rumwe /rumwe/ |
| Two | babili /βaβili/ | babili /βaβili/ | tsibili /tsibili/ | ibiri /ibiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ |
| Three | bisatu /bisatu/ | bataru /bataru/ | tsitaru /tsitaru/ | isatu /isatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ |
| Four | tsine /tsine/ | bane /bane/ | tsine /tsine/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | eina /eina/ | ina /ina/ |
| Five | tsirano /tsirano/ | baraano /baraːno/ | tsirano /tsirano/ | itaanu /iˈtaːnu/ | itaano /iˈtaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ |
| Hundred | sitondo /sitondo/ | miya /mija/ | emia /emia/ | kikumi /kikumi/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | mulembe /mulembe/ | mulembe /mulembe/ | mulembe /mulembe/ | mwaakire /mwaːkiɾe/ | oraire ota /oraire ota/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | oraire /oraire/ |
| Thank you | ole nise /ole nise/ | orio /orio/ | orio /orio/ | weebale /weːbale/ | webale /webale/ | webare /webare/ | webare /webare/ |
| Good | kalayi /kalaji/ | kalayi /kalaji/ | malayi /malaji/ | bulungi /buluŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ |
| New | imbya /imbja/ | embia /embia/ | eshiyia /eʃijia/ | iyaka /ijaka/ | ekihyaka /ekihjaka/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | ekisya /etʃisja/ |
| Red | kumafu /kumafu/ | besemu /βesemu/ | kumafu /kumafu/ | myufu /mjufu/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ |
| White | iwanga /iwaŋɡa/ | waanga /waːŋɡa/ | eshilafu /eʃilafu/ | ndheru /nd̪eɾu/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ |
| Black | imali /imali/ | mali /mali/ | eshimali /eʃimali/ | ndhirugavu /nd̪iɾuɡavu/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ |
| Ninety-nine | kamakhumi syeenda na syeenda /kamakʰumi sjeːnda na sjeːnda/ | kamakhumi tisa na tisa /kamaxumi tisa na tisa/ | amakhumi tisa na tisa /amaxumi tisa na tisa/ | kyenda na mwenda /kjenda na mwenda/ | kyenda na mwenda /tʃenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ |
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