Kinyamwezi
Nyamwezi
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sukuma-Nyamwezi)
Nyamwezi (Kinyamwezi, "people of the moon") is a Bantu language of west-central Tanzania, sister to Sukuma (suk) within the Sukuma-Nyamwezi dialect continuum. The Nyamwezi were prominent caravan-trade leaders in the 19th century, with Tabora as their commercial centre. Like Sukuma, it has tone and full Bantu noun-class agreement.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Nyamwezi
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sukuma-Nyamwezi)
| Meaning | Nyamwezi | Sukuma | Nyaturu | Asu | Shambala | Yao | Runyankole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | minzi /minzi/ | minzi /minzi/ | maji /madʒi/ | mende /mende/ | mazi /mazi/ | mesi /mesi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ |
| Fire | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | mshika /mʃika/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | omuriro /omuriro/ |
| Sun | lyuba /ljuβa/ | ilyuva /iʎuβa/ | yura /juɾa/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ |
| Moon | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ | ng'weji /ŋweːdʒi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ |
| Star | nsonda /nsonda/ | nyenyeezi /ɲeˈɲeːzi/ | njota /ndʒota/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ |
| Night | buziku /buziku/ | bujiku /budʒiku/ | utiku /utiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | kilo /kilo/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | ekiro /ekiro/ |
| Rain | mvula /mvula/ | mbula /mbula/ | mbura /mbura/ | mvua /mvua/ | fula /fula/ | ula /ula/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ |
| Snow | theluji /θeluʒi/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | — | — | — |
| Wind | myaga /mjaɡa/ | nyaga /ɲaɡa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ |
| Earth | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | malongo /maloŋɡo/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ | litaka /litaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ |
| Stone | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ |
| Mountain | lugulu /luɡulu/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | muima /muima/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ |
| Sea | nyanza /ɲanza/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | bahari /bahari/ | bahali /bahali/ | bahali /bahali/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Mother | mayu /maju/ | mayu /maju/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | amao /amao/ | maawe /maːwe/ |
| Father | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | atati /atati/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ | nshike /nʃike/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | omuhara /omuhara/ |
| I | nene /ˈnene/ | nene /ˈnene/ | une /une/ | mine /mine/ | niye /nije/ | une /une/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ |
| You | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | weye /weje/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | iswe /iswe/ | yise /jise/ | sese /sese/ | uswi /uswi/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ | uwe /uwe/ | itwe /itwe/ |
| Name | lina /ˈlina/ | lina /ˈlina/ | rina /ɾina/ | izina /izina/ | zina /zina/ | lina /lina/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ |
| Person | munhu /munhu/ | munhu /munhu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mntu /mntu/ | mntu /mntu/ | mundu /mundu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ |
| Head | mtwe /mtwe/ | ntwe /ntwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ |
| Eye | liso /liso/ | liso /liso/ | riho /riho/ | iiso /iːso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ | liso /liso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ |
| Ear | itwi /itwi/ | gutu /ɡutu/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | isikio /isikio/ | shikio /ʃikio/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | okutu /okutu/ |
| Nose | nindo /nindo/ | lyulu /ljulu/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | fua /fua/ | mpua /mpua/ | lupula /lupula/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ |
| Mouth | mulomo /mulomo/ | nomo /nomo/ | momo /momo/ | momo /momo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ |
| Tooth | lino /lino/ | lino /lino/ | ino /ino/ | jino /dʒino/ | zino /zino/ | liino /liːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ |
| Tongue | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ |
| Hand | kukono /kukono/ | nkhono /ŋkono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | mkono /mkono/ | mkono /mkono/ | nkono /nkono/ | omukono /omukono/ |
| Foot | kugulu /kuɡulu/ | lupambala /lupambala/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | mulundi /mulundi/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ |
| Heart | moyo /mojo/ | ngholo /ŋɡoːlo/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | moyo /mojo/ | mtima /mtima/ | omutima /omutima/ |
| Bone | iguha /iɡuha/ | iguha /iɡuha/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | vuha /vuha/ | liupa /liupa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ |
| Blood | magazi /maɡazi/ | mininga /miniŋɡa/ | sakami /sakami/ | sakame /sakame/ | phome /pʰome/ | miasi /miasi/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ |
| Poop | maafi /maːfi/ | maashi /maːʃi/ | — | — | mavi /mavi/ | manyi /maɲi/ | amazi /amazi/ |
| Love | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | lumba /lumba/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | rukundo /rukundo/ |
| Tree | mti /mti/ | nti /nti/ | umuti /umuti/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ | mtela /mtela/ | omuti /omuti/ |
| Dog | mbwa /mbwa/ | mva /mva/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | embwa /embwa/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | kalulu /kalulu/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ | paka /paka/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ |
| Fish | somba /soːmba/ | nshi /nʃi/ | somba /somba/ | samaki /samaki/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /soːmba/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ |
| Bird | noni /noni/ | noni /noni/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | deghe /deɣe/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ |
| Egg | igi /iɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | igi /iɡi/ | tagi /taɡi/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | eihuri /eihuri/ |
| Horse | falasi /falasi/ | falasa /falasa/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | farasi /farasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ | falasi /falasi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ |
| House | numba /numba/ | numba /numba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | enju /endʒu/ |
| Milk | mabeele /maβeːle/ | mabeele /mabeːle/ | maya /maja/ | mavee /maveː/ | mele /mele/ | maŵele /maβele/ | amate /amate/ |
| Honey | buuki /buːki/ | buuki /buːki/ | ruke /ruke/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | woki /woki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | obwoki /obwoki/ |
| Salt | munu /munu/ | — | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | njete /ndʒete/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ |
| Wine | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | viino /viːno/ |
| Iron | kisinza /kisinza/ | jisinza /dʒisinza/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | kiama /kiama/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ |
| Book | kitabu /kitabu/ | shitabo /ʃitabo/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ |
| Eat | kulya /kuʎa/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kurya /kurja/ | kuya /kuja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kurya /kurja/ |
| Drink | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kung'wa /kuŋwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | kulala /kulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kubyama /kubjama/ |
| One | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | umwe /umwe/ | imwe /imwe/ | imo /imo/ | mo /mo/ | emwe /emwe/ |
| Two | ibili /iβili/ | ibhili /iˈβili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | avili /aβili/ | mbili /mbili/ | iŵili /iβili/ | ibiri /iβiri/ |
| Three | idatu /idatu/ | idatu /idatʊ/ | itatu /itatu/ | adatu /adatu/ | katatu /katatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ |
| Four | inne /inːe/ | ine /ine/ | inne /inːe/ | — | kane /kaːne/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | eina /eina/ |
| Five | itaano /itaːno/ | itano /itano/ | itano /itano/ | — | kashano /kaʃano/ | nsano /nsano/ | itaano /itaːno/ |
| Hundred | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | gana /ɡana/ | mia /mia/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | mwadita /mwadita/ | mwangaluka /mwaŋɡaluka/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | — /—/ | salama /salama/ | agandi /aɡandi/ |
| Thank you | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ | nakulumba /nakulumba/ | asante /aˈsante/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | asante /asante/ | — /—/ | webare /webare/ |
| Good | soga /soɡa/ | shihi /ʃihi/ | kihi /kihi/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | mtana /mtana/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ |
| New | pya /pja/ | pya /pja/ | mpya /mpja/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | mpya /mpja/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | ekisya /ekisja/ |
| Red | laluku /laluku/ | ndulu /ndulu/ | ntune /ntune/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | kutukura /kutukura/ |
| White | pe /pe/ | ape /ape/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | kwera /kwera/ |
| Black | pi /pi/ | api /api/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | size /size/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ |
| Blue | bululu /bululu/ | — | — | — | — | buluwu /buluwu/ | bururu /bururu/ |
| Ninety-nine | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makʊmi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ |
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