Elomwe
Lomwe
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Makua-Lomwe)
Lomwe (Elomwe in Mozambique, Cilomwe in Malawi) is a Bantu language of the Makua-Lomwe (P30) cluster, closely related to Makhuwa (vmw). The Lomwe of southern Malawi descend from Mozambican migrants who fled forced labour on Portuguese plantations in the late 19th-early 20th centuries. Despite its large speaker base, Lomwe lacks formal recognition in either country; the NELIMO orthography (Núcleo de Estudo de Línguas Moçambicanas, 1989) is the Mozambican standard.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Lomwe
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Makua-Lomwe)
| Meaning | Lomwe | Makhuwa | Sena | Chewa | Yao | Shambala | Rwa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mahi /mahi/ | maasi /maːsi/ | madzi /madzi/ | madzi /madzi/ | mesi /mesi/ | mazi /mazi/ | mura /muɾa/ |
| Fire | moro /moɾo/ | moro /moɾo/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | muro /muɾo/ |
| Sun | nsuwa /nsuwa/ | nsuwa /nsuwa/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ | saa /saː/ |
| Moon | mweri /mweɾi/ | mweeri /mweːɾi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ | mwiri /mwiɾi/ |
| Star | etheneri /etʰeneɾi/ | enettha /enetʰːa/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ | nyinyiri /ɲiɲiɾi/ |
| Night | ohiyu /ohiju/ | ohiyu /ohiju/ | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | kilo /kilo/ | kio /kio/ |
| Rain | epula /epula/ | epula /epula/ | mvura /mvura/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | ula /ula/ | fula /fula/ | fua /fua/ |
| Snow | mucharapo /mutʃʰaɾapo/ | nxotte /nʃotːe/ | neve /neve/ | chipale chofewa /tʃipale tʃofewa/ | — | — | mboṛongo /mboɾoŋɡo/ |
| Wind | echeku /etʃʰeku/ | epheyo /epʰejo/ | mphepo /mpʰepo/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mburaato /mbuɾaːto/ |
| Earth | echaya /etʃʰaja/ | etthaya /etʰːaja/ | mataka /mataka/ | dothi /ˈdotʰi/ | litaka /litaka/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ | uteri /uteɾi/ |
| Stone | nluku /nluku/ | nluku /nluku/ | mwala /mwala/ | mwala /ˈmwala/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | mwaako /mwaːko/ | mwaako /mwaːko/ | phiri /pʰiri/ | phiri /ˈpʰiɾi/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | muima /muima/ | uro /uɾo/ |
| Sea | ephareya /epʰaɾeja/ | ephareya /epʰaɾeja/ | bara /bara/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | bahali /bahali/ | bahali /bahali/ | nruva /nɾuva/ |
| Mother | ammai /amːai/ | maama /maːma/ | mai /mai/ | amayi /amaji/ | amao /amao/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | atithi /atitʰi/ | paapa /paːpa/ | baba /baba/ | abambo /abambo/ | atati /atati/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwana mwa muthiana /mwana mwa mutʰiana/ | mwaana mwa muthiyana /mwaːna mwa mutʰijana/ | mwana wankazi /mwana wankazi/ | mwana wamkazi /mwana wamkazi/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ | mwana wa kika /mwana wa kika/ |
| I | miyo /mijo/ | miyo /mijo/ | ine /ine/ | ine /ine/ | une /une/ | niye /nije/ | inyi /iɲi/ |
| You | weyo /wejo/ | weyo /wejo/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | weye /weje/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | hiyo /hijo/ | hiyo /hijo/ | ife /ife/ | ife /ife/ | uwe /uwe/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ | ise /ise/ |
| Name | nsina /nsina/ | nsina /nsina/ | dzina /dzina/ | dzina /dzina/ | lina /lina/ | zina /zina/ | irina /irina/ |
| Person | muchu /mutʃʰu/ | mutthu /mutʰːu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | mundu /mundu/ | mntu /mntu/ | nndu /ndu/ |
| Head | muru /muɾu/ | muru /muɾu/ | nsolo /nsolo/ | mutu /mutu/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | nrwe /nɾwe/ |
| Eye | nitho /nitʰo/ | niitho /niːtʰo/ | diso /diso/ | diso /diso/ | liso /liso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ | iriso /iɾiso/ |
| Ear | naaru /naːɾu/ | niyaru /nijaɾu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | shikio /ʃikio/ | kuri /kuɾi/ |
| Nose | ephula /epʰula/ | ephula /epʰula/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | mphuno /mˈpʰuno/ | lupula /lupula/ | mpua /mpua/ | — |
| Mouth | mwaano /mwaːno/ | eyano /ejano/ | nkanwa /nkanwa/ | kamwa /ˈkamʷa/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kana /kana/ |
| Tooth | nino /nino/ | nino /nino/ | dzino /dzino/ | dzino /dzino/ | liino /liːno/ | zino /zino/ | iyoo /ijoː/ |
| Tongue | nlumi /nlumi/ | nlumi /nlumi/ | lirimi /lirimi/ | lilime /lilime/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulumi /ulumi/ |
| Hand | nthata /ntʰata/ | ntata /ntata/ | nkono /nkono/ | dzanja /dzandʒa/ | nkono /nkono/ | mkono /mkono/ | uko /uko/ |
| Foot | nnani /nnani/ | mwetto /mwetːo/ | mwendo /mwendo/ | phazi /ˈpʰazí/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | mulundi /mulundi/ | urende /uɾende/ |
| Heart | murima /muɾima/ | murima /muɾima/ | ntima /ntima/ | mtima /mtima/ | mtima /mtima/ | moyo /mojo/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ |
| Bone | nikhuwa /nikʰuwa/ | nikhuva /nikʰuva/ | gogodo /ɡoɡodo/ | fupa /fupa/ | liupa /liupa/ | vuha /vuha/ | ifua /ifua/ |
| Blood | ephome /epʰome/ | ephome /epʰome/ | malopa /malopa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ | miasi /miasi/ | phome /pʰome/ | usao /usao/ |
| Poop | mari /maɾi/ | mavi /mavi/ | matubzwi /matubzwi/ | matuvi /matuvi/ | manyi /maɲi/ | mavi /mavi/ | — |
| Love | osivela /osivela/ | ophenta /opʰenta/ | kufuna /kufuna/ | chikondi /tʃikondi/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | lumbo /lumbo/ |
| Tree | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | muti /muti/ | mtengo /mteŋɡo/ | mtela /mtela/ | mti /mti/ | nri /nɾi/ |
| Dog | nampwe /nampwe/ | mwalapwa /mwalapwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | galu /ɡalu/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ | mboha /mboha/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | paaka /paːka/ | paka /paka/ | mphaka /mpʰaka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | ehopa /ehopa/ | ehopa /ehopa/ | omba /omba/ | nsomba /nsomba/ | somba /soːmba/ | samaki /samaki/ | ikunga /ikuŋɡa/ |
| Bird | epalame /epalame/ | mwaanuni /mwaːnuni/ | mbalame /mbalame/ | mbalame /mɓaˈlame/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | deghe /deɣe/ | ndee /ndeː/ |
| Butterfly | nikurunthu /nikuɾuntʰu/ | nikuruthu /nikuɾutʰu/ | bemberuwa /bemberuwa/ | gulugufe /ɡuluˈɡufe/ | chipuluputwa /tʃipuluputwa/ | hoho /hoho/ | — |
| Egg | nooce /noːtʃe/ | nooce /noːtʃe/ | dzai /dzai/ | dzira /dzira/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | tagi /taɡi/ | ngosho /ŋɡoʃo/ |
| Bear | ursu /uɾsu/ | ursu /uɾsu/ | urusu /urusu/ | — | — | — | — |
| Horse | kavalo /kavalo/ | ekhavalo /ekʰavalo/ | kavalo /kavalo/ | hatchi /hatʃʰi/ | falasi /falasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ | farasi /faɾasi/ |
| House | nupa /nupa/ | empa /empa/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ |
| Milk | eleiti /eleiti/ | eleeti /eleːti/ | nkaka /nkaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | maŵele /maβele/ | mele /mele/ | maruva /maɾuva/ |
| Honey | enuwi /enuwi/ | oravo /oɾavo/ | uci /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | woki /woki/ | uki /uki/ |
| Salt | mwapa /mwapa/ | maakha /maːkʰa/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mchere /mtʃere/ | njete /ndʒete/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | eviinyu /eviːɲu/ | eviinyu /eviːɲu/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mfinyo /mfiɲo/ |
| Rice | musoro /musoɾo/ | nzoro /nzoɾo/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | muhunga /muhuŋɡa/ | — |
| Iron | muthipo /mutʰipo/ | eyuuma /ejuːma/ | utale /utale/ | chitsulo /tʃiˈtsulo/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | kiama /kiama/ | minya /miɲa/ |
| Book | liivuru /liːvuɾu/ | eliivuru /eliːvuɾu/ | bukhu /bukʰu/ | buku /ˈbuku/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | olya /oʎa/ | olya /olja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuya /kuja/ | kuria /kuria/ |
| Drink | owurya /owuɾja/ | owurya /owuɾja/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunyua /kuɲua/ |
| Sleep | orupa /oɾupa/ | orupa /oˈɾupa/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ | — |
| One | mosaa /mosaː/ | mosa /mosa/ | posi /posi/ | chimodzi /tʃimodzi/ | mo /mo/ | imo /imo/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ |
| Two | pili /pili/ | piili /piːli/ | piŵiri /piwiri/ | awiri /awiri/ | iŵili /iβili/ | mbili /mbili/ | fivili /fivili/ |
| Three | tharu /tʰaru/ | tharu /tʰaru/ | pitatu /pitatu/ | zitatu /zitatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | katatu /katatu/ | firaru /fiɾaɾu/ |
| Four | xexe /ʃeʃe/ | xexe /ʃeʃe/ | pinai /pinai/ | zinayi /zinaji/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | kane /kaːne/ | fiini /fiːni/ |
| Five | thanu /tʰanu/ | thanu /tʰanu/ | xanu /ʃanu/ | sanu /sanu/ | nsano /nsano/ | kashano /kaʃano/ | firaanu /fiɾaːnu/ |
| Hundred | nsana /nsana/ | emiya /emija/ | dzana /dzana/ | zana /zana/ | mia /mia/ | gana /ɡana/ | iyana /ijana/ |
| Hello | salama /salama/ | salaama /salaːma/ | mwadzukabwanji /mwadzukabwandʒi/ | moni /moni/ | salama /salama/ | — /—/ | kira /kiɾa/ |
| Thank you | ekoshelele /ekoʃelele/ | kosheni /koʃeni/ | ndatenda /ndatenda/ | zikomo /zikomo/ | — /—/ | asante /asante/ | asante /asante/ |
| Good | orera /oɾeɾa/ | ratteene /ɾatːeːne/ | nadidi /nadidi/ | chabwino /tʃabwino/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | mtana /mtana/ | kya /kja/ |
| New | evyaani /evjaːni/ | esya /esja/ | ipsa /ipsa/ | chatsopano /tʃatsopano/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | mpya /mpja/ | shiiya /ʃiːja/ |
| Red | fila /fila/ | thiru /tʰiru/ | funga /funɡa/ | chofiira /tʃofiːra/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ |
| White | weela /weːla/ | otteela /otːeːla/ | cena /tʃena/ | yoyera /joˈjeɾa/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ | sheelwa /ʃeːlwa/ |
| Black | ooripa /oːɾipa/ | oriipa /oɾiːpa/ | psipa /psipa/ | chakuda /tʃakuda/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | size /size/ | shuu /ʃuː/ |
| Green | ntikwa /ntikwa/ | ekori ya mathapa /ekoɾi ja matʰapa/ | — | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ | — | manimani /manimani/ | — |
| Blue | kirim /kiɾim/ | — | — | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ | buluwu /buluwu/ | — | — |
| Computer | komputatore /komputatoɾe/ | komputatore /komputatoɾe/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | — |
| Tea | chaaya /tʃʰaːja/ | exa /eʃa/ | xaya /ʃaja/ | tiyi /ˈtiji/ | tiyi /tiji/ | — | — |
| Coffee | cafee /tʃafeː/ | ekafe /ekafe/ | kafe /kafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | — |
| Orange | nrarance /nɾaɾantʃe/ | erarance /eɾaɾantʃe/ | laranja /larandʒa/ | lalanje /lalandʒe/ | mlalanje /mlalandʒe/ | — | — |
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