Oshindonga

Ndonga

Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Southwest)

FamilyAtlantic-Congo (Bantu, Southwest) Speakers~600K ScriptLatin CountriesNamibia, Angola Official inNamibia (national) Vitalitysafe ISO 639-3ndo

Ndonga (Oshindonga) is one of two main standard varieties of Oshiwambo (alongside Kwanyama / Oshikwanyama), spoken in north-central Namibia and southern Angola. A Bantu R-zone language closely related to Herero and the wider Central African Bantu cluster. It is the more widely written variety and is taught in Namibian schools as a national language. The Aawambo people are the largest ethnic group in Namibia, and Oshiwambo broadcasting has a strong national profile.

Where it is spoken

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87 core words in Ndonga

Water

omeya

omeja

Fire

omulilo

omulilo

Sun

etango

etaŋɡo

Moon

omwedhi

omweði

Star

onyothi

oɲoθi

Night

uusiku

uːsiku

Rain

omvula

omvula

Snow

olumi

olumi

Wind

ombepo

ombepo

Earth

evi

evi

Stone

emanya

emaɲa

Mountain

ondundu

ondundu

Sea

efuta

efuta

Mother

meme

meme

Father

tate

tate

Daughter

omwana omukadhona

omwana omukaðona

I

ngame

ŋame

You

ngoye

ŋoje

We

tse

tse

Name

edhina

eðina

Person

omuntu

omuntu

Head

omutse

omutse

Eye

eho

eho

Ear

okutsi

okutsi

Nose

eyulu

ejulu

Mouth

okana

okana

Tooth

eyego

ejeɡo

Tongue

elaka

elaka

Hand

oshikaha

oʃikaha

Foot

ompadhi

om̥aði

Heart

omutima

omutima

Bone

esipa

esipa

Blood

ombinzi

ombinzi

Love

ohole

ohole

Tree

omuti

omuti

Dog

ombwa

ombwa

Cat

okashima

okaʃima

Fish

ohi

ohi

Bird

ondhila

onðila

Butterfly

okambilimbili

okambilimbili

Egg

eyi

eji

Horse

okakambe

okakambe

House

egumbo

eɡumbo

Milk

omahini

omahini

Honey

omagadhi goonyushi

omaɡaði ɡoːɲuʃi

Salt

omongwa

omoŋɡwa

Wine

omaviinu

omaviːnu

Rice

olwiishi

olwiːʃi

Chocolate

oshokolate

Iron

oshiyela

oʃijela

Wheel

okugulutemba

okuɡulutemba

Silk

ofeyi

ofeji

Book

embo

embo

Eat

okulya

okuʎa

Drink

okunwa

okunwa

Sleep

okukotha

okukoθa

One

mwe

mwe

Two

mbali

mbali

Three

ndatu

ndatu

Four

ne

ne

Five

ntano

n̥tano

Hundred

ethele

eθele

Hello

wa lalapo

wa lalapo

Thank you

tangi

taŋɡi

Good

nawa

nawa

New

pe

pe

Red

tiligane

tiliɡane

White

tokele

tokele

Black

luudhe

luːðe

Computer

okompiuta

okompiuta

Wi-Fi

o-wifi

Tea

otee

oteː

Coffee

okoothiwa

okoːθiwa

Sugar

osuuka

osuːka

Ninety-nine

omilongo omugoyi nomugoyi

omiloŋɡo omuɡoji nomuɡoji

Sources

Words compared

Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Southwest)

Meaning NdongaKuanyamaHereroUmbunduLuvaleRunyankoleLuganda
Water omeya /omeja/ omeva /omeva/ omeva /omeva/ ovava /ovava/ meya /meja/ amaizi /amaizi/ amazzi /amaːzːi/
Fire omulilo /omulilo/ omundilo /omundilo/ omuriro /omuriro/ ondalu /ondalu/ kakahya /kakahja/ omuriro /omuriro/ omuliro /omuliɾo/
Sun etango /etaŋɡo/ etango /etaŋɡo/ eyuva /ejuva/ ekumbi /ekumbi/ likumbi /likumbi/ eizooba /eizoːba/ enjuba /eɲɟuba/
Moon omwedhi /omweði/ omwedi /omwedi/ omueze /omueze/ osãi /osãi/ kakweji /kakwedʒi/ okwezi /okwezi/ omwezi /omwezi/
Star onyothi /oɲoθi/ onyofi /oɲofi/ onyose /oˈɲose/ onyeleñgele /oɲeleŋɡele/ tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ emmunyeenye /emːuɲeːɲe/
Night uusiku /uːsiku/ oufiku /oufiku/ ouṱuku /outuku/ uteke /uteke/ ufuku /ufuku/ ekiro /ekiro/ ekiro /etʃiro/
Rain omvula /omvula/ odula /odula/ ombura /ombura/ ombela /ombela/ vula /vula/ enjura /enˈdʒura/ enkuba /eŋˈkuba/
Snow olumi /olumi/ olumi /olumi/ ovitutukende /ovitutukende/ oneve /oneve/ mbundu /mbundu/ — omuzira /omuzira/
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