Li Niha
Nias
Austronesian
Nias (Li Niha, "language of Niha [the people]") is the principal Austronesian language of Nias Island, an offshore island in the Indian Ocean off the western coast of North Sumatra, Indonesia. The Nias people are famous for their megalithic stone-jumping warrior culture (hombo batu — leaping over stone columns), traditional Omo Hada dome-shaped chiefly houses, and the Nias festival of Faulokho. Linguistically, Nias has Sundic Austronesian features: voice/focus alternations, classifier-like noun particles, and a rich pronoun system. Two main dialect groups exist: Northern Nias (Niha Bawöra) and Southern Nias (Niha Maenamölö), with Brown's 2001 grammar focused on Southern.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Nias
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Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian
| Meaning | Nias | Mandar | Toba Batak | Batak Angkola | Banjar | Lampung | Simalungun Batak |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | idanö /idanɤ/ | uai /uai/ | aek /aek/ | aek /aek/ | banyu /baɲu/ | way /waj/ | bah /bah/ |
| Fire | alitö /aˈlitɤ/ | api /api/ | api /api/ | api /api/ | api /api/ | apui /apui/ | apuy /apuj/ |
| Sun | luo /luo/ | mata allo /mata alːo/ | mata ni ari /mata ni ari/ | mata ni ari /mata ni ari/ | matahari /matahari/ | matarani /matarani/ | mata ni ari /mata ni ari/ |
| Moon | bawa /bawa/ | bulang /bulaŋ/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ | bulan /bulan/ |
| Star | döfi /dɤfi/ | bittoeng /bittoeŋ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ |
| Night | bongi /boŋi/ | bongi /boŋi/ | borngin /borŋin/ | borngin /borŋin/ | malam /malam/ | dibingi /dibiŋi/ | borngin /borŋin/ |
| Rain | teu /ˈtɛu/ | urang /uˈraŋ/ | udan /uˈdan/ | udan /uˈdan/ | hujan /ˈhudʒan/ | ujan /udʒan/ | udan /uˈdan/ |
| Snow | teu asio /tɛu asio/ | — | salju /saldʒu/ | salju /saldʒu/ | salju /saldʒu/ | — | salju /saldʒu/ |
| Wind | angi /aŋi/ | angin /aŋin/ | alogo /aloɡo/ | angin /aŋin/ | angin /aŋin/ | angin /aŋin/ | logou /loɡou/ |
| Earth | tanö /tanɤ/ | litaq /litaʔ/ | tano /tano/ | tano /tano/ | tanah /tanah/ | tanoh /tanoh/ | tanoh /tanoh/ |
| Stone | kara /kara/ | batu /batu/ | batu /batu/ | batu /batu/ | batu /ˈbatu/ | batu /batu/ | batu /batu/ |
| Mountain | hili /ˈhili/ | buttu /butːu/ | dolok /dolok/ | dolok /dolok/ | gunung /ɡunuŋ/ | gunung /ɡunuŋ/ | dolog /doloɡ/ |
| Sea | asi /asi/ | sasiq /sasiʔ/ | laut /laut/ | laut /laut/ | laut /laut/ | lawok /lawoʔ/ | laut /laut/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | indoq /indoʔ/ | ina /ina/ | inang /inaŋ/ | uma /uma/ | ina /ina/ | inang /inaŋ/ |
| Father | amada /amada/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | amang /amaŋ/ | abah /abah/ | bak /baʔ/ | bapa /bapa/ |
| Daughter | ono alawe /ono alawe/ | — | boru /boru/ | boru /boru/ | anak babinian /anak babinian/ | anak bebai /anak bəbai/ | boru /boru/ |
| I | yaʼo /jaʔo/ | iyau /ijau/ | ahu /ahu/ | au /au/ | aku /aku/ | nyak /ɲaʔ/ | ahu /ahu/ |
| You | yaʼugö /jaʔuɡɤ/ | io /iʔo/ | ho /ho/ | ho /ho/ | ikam /ikam/ | niku /niku/ | ho /ho/ |
| We | yaʼita / yaʼaga /jaʔita / jaʔaɡa/ | ikiq / ingkaiq /ikiʔ / iŋkaiʔ/ | hita / hami /hita / hami/ | hita / hami /hita / hami/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | ram / sikam /ʁam / sikam/ | hita / hanami /hita / hanami/ |
| Name | döi /dɤi/ | sanga /saŋa/ | goar /ɡoar/ | goar /ɡoar/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | gelagh /ɡəlaʁ/ | goran /ɡoran/ |
| Person | niha /niha/ | tau /tau/ | halak /halak/ | halak /halak/ | urang /uraŋ/ | jelema /dʒələma/ | halak /halak/ |
| Head | högö /hɤɡɤ/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ | kapala /kapala/ | hulu /hulu/ | ulu /ulu/ |
| Eye | hörö /hɤɾɤ/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | talinga /taliŋa/ | talinga /taliŋa/ | pinggol /piŋɡol/ | pinggol /piŋɡol/ | talinga /taˈliŋa/ | cuping /tʃupiŋ/ | pinggol /piŋɡol/ |
| Nose | ikhu /ixu/ | pudzung /puðuŋ/ | igung /iɡuŋ/ | igung /iɡuŋ/ | hidung /hiduŋ/ | irung /iʁuŋ/ | igung /iɡuŋ/ |
| Mouth | bawa /bawa/ | nganga /ŋaŋa/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | muntung /muntuŋ/ | banguk /baŋuk/ | babah /babah/ |
| Tooth | ifõ /ifɔ̃/ | isi /isi/ | ngingi /ŋiŋi/ | ipon /ipon/ | gigi /ɡiɡi/ | ipon /ipon/ | ipon /ipon/ |
| Tongue | lela /lela/ | lila /lila/ | dila /dila/ | dila /dila/ | ilat /ilat/ | emo /əmo/ | dilah /dilah/ |
| Hand | tanga /taŋa/ | lima /lima/ | tangan /taŋan/ | tangan /taŋan/ | tangan /taŋan/ | pungow /puŋow/ | tangan /taŋan/ |
| Foot | ahe /ahe/ | — | pat /pat/ | pat /pat/ | batis /batis/ | kukut /kukut/ | — |
| Heart | tödö /tɤdɤ/ | ate /ate/ | roha /roha/ | roha /roha/ | ati /ati/ | hati /hati/ | uhur /uhur/ |
| Bone | töla /tɤla/ | buku /buku/ | holi-holi /holiˈholi/ | holi-holi /holiˈholi/ | tulang /tulaŋ/ | tehulan /təhulon/ | holi-holi /holiˈholi/ |
| Blood | do /do/ | ceraq /tʃɛraʔ/ | mudar /mudar/ | mudar /mudar/ | darah /darah/ | rah /ʁɔh/ | daroh /daroh/ |
| Poop | tai /tai/ | tai /tai/ | te /te/ | — | tahi /tahi/ | tahi /tahi/ | tois /tois/ |
| Love | faʼomasi /faʔomasi/ | mappinawa /mapːinawa/ | holong /holoŋ/ | holong /holoŋ/ | sayang /sajaŋ/ | cinta /tʃinta/ | holong /holoŋ/ |
| Tree | eu /eu/ | kaju /kaju/ | hau /hau/ | hayu /haju/ | batang /bataŋ/ | batang kayu /bataŋ kaju/ | hayu /haju/ |
| Dog | asu /asu/ | asu /asu/ | biang /biaŋ/ | asu /asu/ | hadupan /hadupan/ | asu /asu/ | baliang /baliaŋ/ |
| Cat | mao /mao/ | mio /mio/ | huting /hutiŋ/ | huting /hutiŋ/ | pusa /pusa/ | kucing /kutʃiŋ/ | huting /hutiŋ/ |
| Fish | iʼa /iːʔa/ | bau /ˈbau/ | dekke /ˈdekːe/ | ihan /ˈihan/ | iwak /ˈiwak/ | iwa /ˈiwo/ | ihan /ˈihan/ |
| Bird | fofo /fofo/ | manu-manuq /manu manuʔ/ | pidong /pidoŋ/ | unggas /uŋɡas/ | burung /buruŋ/ | burung /buʁuŋ/ | manuk-manuk /manukˈmanuk/ |
| Butterfly | kawa-kawa /kawakawa/ | — | lampu-lampu /lampuˈlampu/ | — | kupu-kupu /kupukupu/ | halibambang /halibambaŋ/ | ampul-ampul /ampulˈampul/ |
| Egg | adulo /adulo/ | talloq /talːoʔ/ | pira /pira/ | pira /pira/ | hintalu /hintalu/ | telui /təlui/ | tinaruh /tinaruh/ |
| Bear | berua /berua/ | — | gompul /ɡompul/ | gompul /ɡompul/ | biruang /biruaŋ/ | beruang /bəʁuaŋ/ | gipul /ɡipul/ |
| Horse | kudo /kudo/ | — | hoda /hoda/ | kudo /kudo/ | kuda /kuda/ | kuda /kuda/ | huda /huda/ |
| House | omo /omo/ | boyang /bojaŋ/ | jabu /dʒabu/ | bagas /baɡas/ | rumah /rumah/ | lamban /lamban/ | rumah /rumah/ |
| Milk | susu /susu/ | — | susu /susu/ | susu /susu/ | susu /susu/ | susu /susu/ | dadih /dadih/ |
| Honey | we wani /we wani/ | — | situak ni loba /situak ni loba/ | aer ni loba /aer ni loba/ | madu /madu/ | madu /madu/ | — |
| Salt | asio /asio/ | sia /sia/ | sira /sira/ | sira /sira/ | uyah /ujah/ | uyah /ujah/ | sira /sira/ |
| Wine | agu /aɡu/ | — | anggur /aŋɡur/ | anggur /aŋɡur/ | anggur /aŋɡur/ | anggor /aŋɡor/ | anggur /aŋɡur/ |
| Rice | böra /bɤɾa/ | baras /baras/ | boras /boras/ | — | baras /baras/ | bias /bias/ | boras /boras/ |
| Chocolate | cokelat | sikolaq /sikolaʔ/ | — | — | suklat /ˈsuklat/ | — | coklat |
| Iron | siʼöli /siˈʔɤli/ | bassi /basːi/ | bosi /bosi/ | bosi /bosi/ | wasi /ˈwasi/ | besi /bəsi/ | bosi /bosi/ |
| Wheel | gaolo-gaolo /ɡaoloɡaolo/ | — | roda /roda/ | roda /roda/ | roda /roda/ | ruda /ʁuda/ | galapang /ɡalapaŋ/ |
| Silk | sotöra /sotɤɾa/ | — | surta /surta/ | surto /surto/ | sutra /sutra/ | sutra /sutʁa/ | sitora /sitora/ |
| Book | buku /buku/ | suraq /suraʔ/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ |
| Eat | manga /maŋa/ | maʼande /maʔande/ | mangan /maŋan/ | mangan /maŋan/ | makan /makan/ | nganik /ŋanik/ | mangan /maŋan/ |
| Drink | badu /badu/ | minung /minuŋ/ | minum /minum/ | minum /minum/ | nginum /ŋinum/ | nginum /ŋinum/ | minum /minum/ |
| Sleep | mörö /mɤrɤ/ | matindro /matindro/ | modom /modom/ | modom /modom/ | guring /ɡuriŋ/ | pedom /pədɔm/ | modom /modom/ |
| One | sara /saɾa/ | mesa /mesa/ | sada /sada/ | sada /sada/ | asa /asa/ | sai /sai/ | sada /sada/ |
| Two | dua /dua/ | dua /dua/ | dua /dua/ | dua /dua/ | dua /dua/ | rua /ruwa/ | dua /dua/ |
| Three | tölu /tɤlu/ | tallu /talːu/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ | talu /talu/ | telu /təlu/ | tolu /tolu/ |
| Four | öfa /ɤfa/ | appe /apːe/ | opat /opat/ | opat /opat/ | ampat /ampat/ | pat /pat/ | opat /opat/ |
| Five | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | ötu /ɤtu/ | sangatus /saŋatus/ | saratus /saratus/ | saratus /saratus/ | saratus /saratus/ | seratus /səʁatus/ | saratus /saratus/ |
| Hello | yaʼahowu /jaʔahowu/ | salamaʼ maʼondong /salamaʔ maʔondoŋ/ | horas /horas/ | horas /horas/ | salam /salam/ | tabik /tabik/ | horas /horas/ |
| Thank you | saohagölö /saohaɡɤlɤ/ | kuruʼ sumangaʼ /kuruʔ sumaŋaʔ/ | mauliate /mauliate/ | mauliate /mauliate/ | tarima kasih /tarima kasih/ | tarima kasih /tarima kasih/ | diatebei /diatebei/ |
| Good | sökhi /sɤxi/ | macoa /matʃoa/ | denggan /deŋɡan/ | denggan /deŋɡan/ | bagus /baɡus/ | hayep /hajep/ | dear /dear/ |
| New | bohou /bohou/ | baru /baru/ | imbaru /imbaru/ | imbaru /imbaru/ | hanyar /haɲar/ | ampai /ampai/ | baru /baru/ |
| Red | oyo /ojo/ | mamea /mamea/ | rara /rara/ | rara /rara/ | habang /habaŋ/ | suluh /suluh/ | gerger /ɡerɡer/ |
| White | afusi /afusi/ | mapute /mapute/ | bontar /bontar/ | bontar /bontar/ | putih /putih/ | handak /handak/ | lopak /lopak/ |
| Black | aitö /aitɤ/ | malotong /malotoŋ/ | birong /biroŋ/ | lomlom /lomlom/ | hirang /hiraŋ/ | halom /halom/ | birong /biroŋ/ |
| Green | owugeʼe /owuɡeʔe/ | mekurarraq /mekurarːaʔ/ | rata /rata/ | rata /rata/ | hijau /hidʒau/ | hujau /hudʒau/ | ratah /ratah/ |
| Blue | balau /balau/ | magavu /maɡavu/ | balau /balau/ | rata langit /rata laŋit/ | biru /biru/ | — | — |
| Computer | komputer /komputeɾ/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komputer /komˈputər/ |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | — | — | — | Wi-Fi | — | — |
| Tea | tesi /tesi/ | — | teh /teh/ | — | teh /teh/ | — | teh /teh/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | — | kopi /kopi/ | — | kupi /kupi/ | kupi /kupi/ | kopi /kopi/ |
| Sugar | gulo /ɡulo/ | golla /ɡolːa/ | gula /ɡula/ | — | gula /ɡula/ | gula /ɡula/ | gula /ɡula/ |
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