Khoekhoegowab
Nama
Khoe-Kwadi (Khoisan)
Nama (Khoekhoegowab) is the largest Khoisan language and the most widely spoken click language of the Khoe (Khoisan) family — though the Bantu languages Zulu and Xhosa have far more speakers whose speech includes phonemic clicks — the official language of the Khoekhoe and Damara peoples of Namibia and the Northern Cape of South Africa. It has four phonemic click types — ǀ (dental), ǁ (lateral), ǂ (alveolar palatal), ǃ (postalveolar) — and is conventionally written using IPA-style click symbols. Nama is a recognized national language of Namibia and supports broadcast media, schooling, and a Bible translation tradition.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Nama
Sources
- Khoekhoegowab Bible 2020 (KKG20), Bible Society of Namibia, bible.com version 548; Wiktionary Khoekhoe entries (ǁaub, ǀapa, ǀgôas, ǃgam)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Khoe-Kwadi (Khoisan)
| Meaning | Nama | Korana | Taa | Hausa | Hiri Motu | Motu | Atoni |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ǁgam-i /ǁɡamːi/ | ǁammi /ǁamːi/ | ǃqhàa /ǃqʰaː/ | ruwa /ɾuwaː/ | ranu /ɾanu/ | ranu /ɾanu/ | oe /oe/ |
| Fire | ǀae-s /ǀaes/ | ǀʼaeb /ǀʔaeb/ | ǀʼàã /ǀʼãː/ | wuta /wuta/ | lahi /lahi/ | lahi /lahi/ | ai /ai/ |
| Sun | sores /sores/ | sores /sores/ | ǁʼân /ǁʼã/ | rana /ɾaːnaː/ | dina /dina/ | dina /dina/ | manas /manas/ |
| Moon | ǁkhâb /ǁkʰãːb/ | ǁxãb /ǁxãb/ | ǃqhàn /ǃqʰã/ | wata /wata/ | hua /hua/ | hua /hua/ | fun /fun/ |
| Star | ǀgamiros /ǀɡamiros/ | ǀʼamirob /ǀʔamirob/ | ǃqʰái /ǃqʰái/ | tauraro /tauraːro/ | hisiu /hisiu/ | hisiu /hisiu/ | kfu /kfuʔ/ |
| Night | tsuxub /tsuxub/ | thũxub /tʰũxub/ | ǃnoe /ǃnoe/ | dare /dare/ | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | hanuaboi /hanuaboi/ | fai /fai/ |
| Rain | ǀnanub /ǀnanub/ | tūs /tuːs/ | ǃkxʼôe /ǃkxʼoe/ | ruwan sama /ɾuwan sama/ | medu /medu/ | medu /medu/ | ulan /ˈulan/ |
| Snow | tsâmaros /tsãːmaros/ | abas /abas/ | — | dusar ƙanƙara /dusaɾ kʼankʼara/ | sinou /sinou/ | — | — |
| Wind | ǂoab /ǂoab/ | ǂʼoab /ǂʔoab/ | ǂqhùe /ǂqʰue/ | iska /ˈiska/ | lai /lai/ | lai /lai/ | anin /anin/ |
| Earth | ǃhūb /ǃʰuːp/ | ǃhūb /ǃʰuːb/ | ǂkxʼûm /ǂkxʼum/ | ƙasa /kʼasaː/ | tano /tano/ | tano /tano/ | afu /afu/ |
| Stone | ǀuib /ǀuib/ | ǀʼuis /ǀʔuis/ | — | dutse /ˈdutse/ | nadi /ˈnadi/ | nadi /nadi/ | fatu /fatu/ |
| Mountain | ǃhommi /ǃʰomːi/ | ǃareb /ǃareb/ | — | tsauni /tsauniː/ | ororo /ororo/ | ororo /oɾoɾo/ | nuʼaf /nuʔaf/ |
| Sea | hurib /hurib/ | huriǁamma /huriǁamːa/ | — | teku /teːku/ | davara /davara/ | davara /davara/ | tasi /tasi/ |
| Mother | ǁgûs /ǁɡũːs/ | ĩs /ĩs/ | qáe /qae/ | uwa /uwaː/ | sina /sina/ | sinana /sinana/ | ainaf /ainaf/ |
| Father | ǁgûb /ǁɡũːb/ | abob /abob/ | a̰a /a̰a/ | uba /ubaː/ | tama /tama/ | tamana /tamana/ | amat /amat/ |
| Daughter | ôas /õas/ | õas /õas/ | — | ʼya /ʔja/ | natuna kekeni /natuna kekeni/ | natuna kekenina /natuna kekenina/ | anfeto /anfeto/ |
| I | tita /titá/ | tita /titá/ | ń /ŋ̩/ | ni /niː/ | lau /lau/ | lau /lau/ | au /au/ |
| You | sats /sats/ | sats /sats/ | a /aː/ | kai /kai/ | oi /oi/ | oi /oi/ | ho /ho/ |
| We | sada / sida /sada / sida/ | sada / sida /sada / sida/ | īh /iː/ | mu /muː/ | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | ita / ai /ita / ai/ | hit / hai /hit / hai/ |
| Name | ǀons /ǀòns/ | ǀkxʼonna /ǀkxʼonːa/ | ǀqʼûle /ǀʛûle/ | suna /suːnaː/ | ladana /laˈdana/ | ladana /ladana/ | kanan /ˈkanan/ |
| Person | khoe-i /kʰoei/ | khoeb /kʰoeb/ | tâa /taː/ | mutum /mutum/ | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | taunimanima /taunimanima/ | atoni /atoni/ |
| Head | danas /danas/ | mũǃʼãb /mũǃʔãb/ | ǀnàn /ǀnã/ | — | kwarana /kʷarana/ | kwara /kʷaɾa/ | nakaf /nakaf/ |
| Eye | mûs /mũːs/ | mũb /mũb/ | ǃʼûĩ /ǃʼũĩ/ | ido /idoː/ | matana /matana/ | matana /matana/ | matan /matan/ |
| Ear | ǂgaes /ǂɡaes/ | ǁnãub /ǁnãub/ | — | kunne /kunːe/ | taiana /taiana/ | taiana /taiana/ | luken /luken/ |
| Nose | ǂguis /ǂɡuis/ | ǂuib /ǂuib/ | — | hanci /hantʃi/ | udubaubauna /udubaubauna/ | udu-baubau /udubaubau/ | pana /pana/ |
| Mouth | am-s /ams/ | kxʼamma /kxʼamːa/ | ǂûe /ǂue/ | baki /baːkiː/ | uduna /uduna/ | udu /udu/ | fefan /fefan/ |
| Tooth | ǁgûb /ǁɡũːb/ | ǁũb /ǁũb/ | ǃxu /ǃχu/ | haƙori /hakʼoːriː/ | isena /isena/ | ise /ise/ | nisi /nisi/ |
| Tongue | nammi /namːi/ | tamma /tamːa/ | ǃnani /ǃnani/ | harshe /harʃeː/ | mala /mala/ | mala /mala/ | maaʼ /maːʔ/ |
| Hand | ǃom-mi /ǃomːi/ | ǃʼommi /ǃʔomːi/ | ǀkxʼàa /ǀkxʼaː/ | hannu /hanːu/ | ima /ima/ | ima /ima/ | ʼniman /ʔniman/ |
| Foot | ǂaidi /ǂaidi/ | ǂaib /ǂʔaib/ | ǂnùũ /ǂnũũ/ | ƙafa /kʼáfàː/ | ae /ae/ | ae /ae/ | haef /haef/ |
| Heart | ǂgaob /ǂɡaob/ | ǂaob /ǂaob/ | ǀqʼàn /ǀqʼã/ | zuciya /zutʃija/ | kudouna /kudouna/ | kudouna /kudouna/ | nesa /nesa/ |
| Bone | ǂkhōb /ǂkʰoːb/ | ǂxōb /ǂxoːb/ | ǂàã /ǂãã/ | ƙashi /kʼaʃiː/ | turia /turia/ | turia /turia/ | nuʼi /nuʔi/ |
| Blood | ǀaob /ǀaop/ | ǀʼaob /ǀʔaob/ | ǃxãu /ǃχãũ/ | jini /dʒìníː/ | rara /rara/ | rara /rara/ | naʼ /naʔ/ |
| Love | ǀnam /ǀnam/ | ǀnam /ǀnam/ | — /—/ | ƙauna /kʼauna/ | lalokau /lalokau/ | lalokau /lalokau/ | nekat /nekat/ |
| Tree | hai-s /hais/ | hais /hais/ | ʼʘnàje /ʔʘnaje/ | bishiya /biʃija/ | au /au/ | au /au/ | hau /hau/ |
| Dog | arib /arib/ | arib /arib/ | ǂqhài /ǂqʰai/ | kare /kaɾe/ | sisia /sisia/ | sisia /sisia/ | asu /asu/ |
| Cat | ǀores /ǀores/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | kyanwa /kʲanwa/ | pusi /pusi/ | gosi /ɡosi/ | meo /meo/ |
| Fish | ǁaub /ǁaub/ | ǁʼaub /ǁʔaub/ | ǀqhaa /ǀqʰaa/ | kifi /kiːfiː/ | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | gwarume /ɡʷaɾume/ | ikaʼ /ikaʔ/ |
| Bird | anis /anis/ | kxʼanis /kxʼanis/ | — | tsuntsu /tsúntsúː/ | manu /manu/ | manu /ˈmanu/ | kolo /kolo/ |
| Egg | ǃupus /ǃupus/ | — | ᶢǂúã /ᶢǂũã/ | ƙwai /kʼʷai/ | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | gatoi /ɡatoi/ | teko /teko/ |
| Bear | bēr-i /beːri/ | — | — | beyar /bejar/ | bea /bea/ | bea /bea/ | — |
| Horse | hāb /haːb/ | hāb /haːb/ | — | doki /ˈdoːki/ | hosi /hosi/ | hosi /hosi/ | bikase /bikase/ |
| House | oms /oms/ | kxʼommi /kxʼomːi/ | — /—/ | gida /ɡida/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | ruma /ɾuma/ | ume /ume/ |
| Milk | bis /bis/ | bīb /biːb/ | gǂqhèẽ /ɡǂqʰeẽ/ | madara /madara/ | rata /rata/ | rata /rata/ | susu /susu/ |
| Honey | danis /danis/ | danis /danis/ | — | zuma /zuma/ | — | bada ranuna /bada ɾanuna/ | oni /oni/ |
| Salt | ǂōb /ǂoːp/ | ǂkxʼōb /ǂkxʼoːb/ | — | gishiri /ɡiʃiri/ | damena /damena/ | damena /damena/ | masiʼ /masiʔ/ |
| Wine | ǂauxûi-i /ǂauxũĩi/ | ǀkxʼabaǃxarib /ǀkxʼabaǃxarib/ | — | ruwan inabi /ɾuwan inabi/ | uaina /uaina/ | vine ranuna /vine ɾanuna/ | — |
| Iron | ǀurib /ǀurib/ | ǀkxʼurib /ǀkxʼurib/ | — | ƙarfe /kʼarfe/ | auri /ˈauɾi/ | auri /ˈauɾi/ | besi /besi/ |
| Wheel | ǀnūs /ǀnuːs/ | ǃnaris /ǃnaris/ | — | wili /wiːliː/ | uili /uili/ | ava-keikei /avakeikei/ | — |
| Silk | saib /saib/ | — | — | alharini /alhaˈriːni/ | siliki /siliki/ | — | sutra /sutra/ |
| Book | ǂkhanis /ǂkʰanis/ | ǂxanis /ǂxanis/ | — | littafi /ˈlitːafi/ | buka /ˈbuka/ | buka /buka/ | sulat /sulat/ |
| Eat | ǂû /ǂũː/ | ǂʼũ /ǂʼũ/ | ʼâã /ʔãː/ | ci /tʃiː/ | ania /ania/ | aniani /aniani/ | ah /ah/ |
| Drink | ā /aː/ | kxʼā /kxʼaː/ | kxʼāhã /kxʼaːhã/ | sha /ʃaː/ | inua /inua/ | inuinu /inuinu/ | ninu /ninu/ |
| Sleep | ǁom /ǁom/ | ǁūm /ǁʔuːm/ | ʘân /ʘã/ | yi barci /ji bartʃiː/ | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | mahuta /maˈhuta/ | tup /tup/ |
| One | ǀgui /ǀɡui/ | ǀui /ǀui/ | ǂʼûã /ǂʼũã/ | ɗaya /ɗaja/ | ta /ta/ | ta /ta/ | mese /mese/ |
| Two | ǀgam /ǀɡàm/ | ǀam /ǀam/ | ǂnûm /ǂûm/ | biyu /biju/ | rua /rua/ | rua /rua/ | nua /ˈnua/ |
| Three | ǃnona /ǃnoná/ | ǃnona /ǃnona/ | ǁaeˀe /ǁaeʔe/ | uku /ʔúkù/ | toi /toi/ | toi /toi/ | tenu /tenu/ |
| Four | haka /haka/ | haka /haka/ | — | huɗu /huɗu/ | hani /hani/ | hani /hani/ | ha /ha/ |
| Five | koro /koro/ | koro /koro/ | — | biyar /bijar/ | ima /ima/ | ima /ima/ | nim /nim/ |
| Hundred | kaidisi /kaidisi/ | — | — | ɗari /ɗari/ | handred /handred/ | sinahu /sinahu/ | natun /natun/ |
| Hello | matisâ /matisãː/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | sannu /sanːu/ | namona /namona/ | namo gida /namo ɡida/ | neut /neut/ |
| Thank you | aios /aios/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | na gode /na ɡode/ | tanikiu /tanikiu/ | oi namo /oi namo/ | neno biluk /neno biluk/ |
| Good | ǃgâib /ǃɡãĩb/ | ǃãĩ /ǃãĩ/ | — /—/ | nagari /naɡaɾi/ | namo /namo/ | namo /namo/ | malaek /malaek/ |
| New | ǀasa /ǀasa/ | ǀʼāsa /ǀʔaːsa/ | — | sabo /saːboː/ | matamata /matamata/ | matamata /matamata/ | feʼu /feʔu/ |
| Red | ǀapa /ǀapa/ | ǀkxʼaba /ǀkxʼaba/ | ǀàa /ǀàa/ | ja /dʒaː/ | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | kakakaka /kakakaka/ | mtasaʼ /mtasaʔ/ |
| White | ǃuri /ǃuri/ | xati /xati/ | — | fari /faːriː/ | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | kurokuro /kurokuro/ | mutiʼ /mutiʔ/ |
| Black | ǂnu /ǂnu/ | ǂnū /ǂnuː/ | — | baƙi /bakʼiː/ | korema /korema/ | koremakorema /koɾemakoɾema/ | metan /metan/ |
| Green | ǃgam /ǃɡam/ | ǃkxʼam /ǃkxʼam/ | ᶢǀa̤ʕi /ᶢǀa̤ʕi/ | kore /ˈkoːre/ | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | mateʼ /mateʔ/ |
| Blue | ǃhoa /ǃʰoa/ | ǃnoā /ǃnoaː/ | ᶢǀa̤ʕi /ᶢǀa̤ʕi/ | shuɗi /ʃuːɗiː/ | gadoka gadoka /ɡadoka ɡadoka/ | gadokagadoka /ɡadokaɡadoka/ | — |
| Computer | komputers /komputers/ | — | — | kwamfuta /kʷamfuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | kompiuta /kompiuta/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | khoesedisikhoeseǀa /kʰoesedisikʰoeseǀa/ | — | — | casaʼin da tara /tʃasaʔin da tara/ | — | — | boʼsio am sio /boʔsio am sio/ |
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