Zeme
Zeme Naga
Sino-Tibetan
Zeme Naga (autonymously Zeme) is a Tibeto-Burman language of the Zeme group within Kuki-Chin-Naga, spoken by ~70,000 people across the borderlands of Nagaland, Manipur, and Assam in northeast India. The Zeme people are part of the broader Naga ethnopolitical complex (~3M Nagas across NE India and Myanmar) but linguistically distinct from the more famous Naga languages like Tangkhul, Sumi, and Mao. Zeme has classical Tibeto-Burman features: tonal (low/high), simple noun morphology, polypersonal verb agreement, and SOV constituent order. Naga literacy programs since the 1960s have produced Bible translations and educational materials in Zeme.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Zeme Naga
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Sino-Tibetan
| Meaning | Zeme Naga | Tangkhul Naga | Mizo | Hakha Chin | Tuvaluan | Tokelauan | Meitei |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | hedui /hedui/ | ze /ze/ | tui /tui/ | ti /ti/ | vai /vai/ | vai /vai/ | ꯏꯁꯤꯡ /isiŋ/ |
| Fire | hemi /hemi/ | mei /mei/ | mei /mei/ | mei /mei/ | afi /afi/ | afi /afi/ | ꯃꯩ /mə́i/ |
| Sun | naimik /naimik/ | nyithui /ɲitʰui/ | ni /ni/ | ni /ni/ | laa /laː/ | lā /laː/ | ꯅꯨꯃꯤꯠ /numit/ |
| Moon | hekeu /hekeu/ | lai /lai/ | thla /tʰla/ | thla /tʰla/ | masina /masina/ | māhina /maːhina/ | ꯊꯥ /tʰaː/ |
| Star | hegi /heɡi/ | sira /siraː/ | arsi /arsi/ | arfi /ʔarfi/ | fetū /fetuː/ | fetu /fetu/ | ꯊꯋꯥꯟꯃꯤꯆꯥꯛ /tʰəwanmitʃak/ |
| Night | muizeu /muizeu/ | ngayashong /ŋajaʃoŋ/ | zan /zan/ | zan /zan/ | pō /poː/ | pō /poː/ | ꯑꯍꯤꯡ /əhiŋ/ |
| Rain | tingrui /tiŋrui/ | zingrot /ziŋrot/ | ruah /ruaʔ/ | ruah /rua/ | ua /ua/ | ua /ua/ | ꯅꯣꯡ /noŋ/ |
| Snow | kebun /kebun/ | horam /horam/ | vur /vur/ | hawhra /hawhra/ | kiona /kiona/ | kiona /kiona/ | ꯎꯟ /un/ |
| Wind | tingkai /tiŋkai/ | masi /masi/ | thli /tʰli/ | thli /tʰli/ | matagi /mataŋi/ | matagi /mataŋi/ | ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯠ /nuŋsit/ |
| Earth | kedei /kedei/ | ngalei /ŋalei/ | lei /ˈlei̯/ | vawlei /vawlei/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | kelekele /kelekele/ | ꯂꯩꯕꯥꯛ /ləibak/ |
| Stone | tingchu /tiŋtʃu/ | ngalung /ŋaluŋ/ | lung /luŋ/ | lung /luŋ/ | fatu /fatu/ | fatu /fatu/ | ꯅꯨꯡ /nuŋ/ |
| Mountain | peloa /peloa/ | kaphung /kapʰuŋ/ | tlâng /tlaŋ/ | tlang /tlaŋ/ | mauga /mauŋa/ | mauga /mauŋa/ | ꯆꯤꯡ /tʃíŋ/ |
| Sea | sungkeling /suŋkeliŋ/ | ngayi /ŋaji/ | tuipui /tuipui/ | rili /rili/ | tai /tai/ | moana /moana/ | ꯏꯄꯥꯛ /ipak/ |
| Mother | mipui /mipui/ | ina /ina/ | nu /nu/ | nu /nu/ | maatua /maːtua/ | mātua /maːtua/ | ꯏꯃꯥ /ima/ |
| Father | mipeu /mipeu/ | apa /apa/ | pa /pa/ | pa /pa/ | tamana /tamana/ | tamana /tamana/ | ꯏꯄꯥ /ipa/ |
| Daughter | pena /pena/ | nawngalawu /nawŋalawu/ | fanu /fanu/ | fanu /fanu/ | tama fafine /tama fafine/ | afafine /afafine/ | ꯏꯆꯥꯅꯨꯄꯤ /itʃanupi/ |
| I | i /i/ | i /i/ | kei /kei/ | kei /kei/ | au /au/ | au /au/ | ꯑꯩ /əi/ |
| You | nang /naŋ/ | na /na/ | nang /naŋ/ | nang /naŋ/ | koe /koe/ | koe /koe/ | ꯅꯡ /nə́ŋ/ |
| We | anui /anui/ | ithum /itʰum/ | keini /keini/ | kanmah /kanmaʔ/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ | ꯑꯩꯈꯣꯏ /əikʰoi/ |
| Name | heji /hedʒi/ | amin /amin/ | hming /hmiŋ/ | min /min/ | igoa /iŋoa/ | igoa /iŋoa/ | ꯃꯤꯡ /miŋ/ |
| Person | ziemmena /ziemːena/ | — | mi /mi/ | mi /mi/ | tino /tino/ | tagata /taŋata/ | ꯃꯤ /mi/ |
| Head | mipei /mipei/ | kui /kui/ | lu /lu/ | lu /lu/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ | ꯀꯣꯛ /kok/ |
| Eye | mik /mik/ | mi /mi/ | mit /mit/ | mit /mit/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | ꯃꯤꯠ /mit/ |
| Ear | mikun /mikun/ | khana /kʰana/ | beng /beŋ/ | hna /hna/ | taliga /taliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ | ꯅꯥꯀꯣꯡ /nakoŋ/ |
| Nose | mineu /mineu/ | natang /nataŋ/ | hnar /hnar/ | hnar /hnar/ | isu /isu/ | ihu /ihu/ | ꯅꯥꯇꯣꯟ /naton/ |
| Mouth | mimui /mimui/ | khamor /kʰamor/ | kâ /ka/ | kaa /kaː/ | gutu /ŋutu/ | gutu /ŋutu/ | ꯆꯤꯟ /tʃin/ |
| Tooth | migeu /miɡeu/ | ha /ha/ | ha /ha/ | ha /ha/ | nifo /nifo/ | nifo /nifo/ | ꯌꯥ /ja/ |
| Tongue | milei /milei/ | male /male/ | lei /lei/ | lei /lei/ | alelo /alelo/ | alelo /alelo/ | ꯂꯩ /ləi/ |
| Hand | mipa /mipa/ | pang /paŋ/ | kut /kut/ | kut /kut/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | ꯈꯨꯠ /kʰut/ |
| Foot | mipidei /mipidei/ | phei /pʰei/ | ke /ke/ | ke /ke/ | vae /vae/ | vae /vae/ | ꯈꯣꯡ /kʰoŋ/ |
| Heart | milung /miluŋ/ | mokyaba /mokjaba/ | thinlung /tʰinluŋ/ | lung /luŋ/ | fatu /fatu/ | fatu /fatu/ | ꯊꯝꯃꯣꯏ /tʰəmmoi/ |
| Bone | ra /ra/ | ara /ara/ | ruh /ruh/ | ruh /ruh/ | ivi /ivi/ | ivi /ivi/ | ꯁꯔꯨ /sə́ru/ |
| Blood | hejei /hedʒei/ | ashi /aʃi/ | thisen /tʰiseːn/ | thi /tʰî/ | toto /toto/ | toto /toto/ | ꯏ /i/ |
| Love | hung /huŋ/ | cha /tʃa/ | hmangaih /hmaŋai/ | daw /daw/ | alofa /alofa/ | alofa /alofa/ | ꯅꯨꯡꯁꯤꯕ /nuŋsiba/ |
| Tree | hingbang /hiŋbaŋ/ | leiyik /leijik/ | thingkung /tʰiŋkuŋ/ | thingkung /tʰiŋkuŋ/ | laakau /laːkau/ | lākau /laːkau/ | ꯎ /u/ |
| Dog | hetei /hetei/ | ui /ui/ | ui /ui/ | ui /ui/ | kuli /kuli/ | kuli /kuli/ | ꯍꯨꯏ /hui/ |
| Cat | ngngiaune /ŋːiaune/ | mibu /mibu/ | zawhte /zɔʔte/ | minu /minu/ | pusi /pusi/ | puhi /puhi/ | ꯍꯧꯗꯣꯡ /hə́udoŋ/ |
| Fish | heka /heka/ | khai /kʰai/ | sangha /saŋha/ | nga /ŋà/ | ika /ika/ | ika /ika/ | ꯉꯥ /ŋa/ |
| Bird | nruine /nruine/ | vanao /vanao/ | sava /sava/ | vate /vaʔteʔ/ | manu /manu/ | manu /manu/ | ꯎꯆꯦꯛ /utʃek/ |
| Butterfly | timpiangbe /timpiaŋbe/ | konghang /koŋhaŋ/ | phengphehlep /pʰeŋpʰehlep/ | pelep /pelep/ | pepe /pepe/ | pepe /pepe/ | ꯀꯨꯔꯥꯛ /kurak/ |
| Egg | nruibum /nruibum/ | harra /harra/ | artui /artui/ | arti /ʔarti/ | fuamoa /fuamoa/ | fuāmoa /fuaːmoa/ | ꯌꯦꯔꯨꯝ /jerum/ |
| Bear | hegum /heɡum/ | singom /siŋom/ | savawm /savɔm/ | vom /vom/ | pea /pea/ | pea /pea/ | ꯁꯑꯣꯝ /səom/ |
| Horse | hekun /hekun/ | sigui /siɡui/ | sakawr /sakɔr/ | rang /raŋ/ | solofanua /solofanua/ | holofanua /holofanua/ | ꯁꯒꯣꯜ /səɡol/ |
| House | heki /heki/ | shim /ʃim/ | in /in/ | inn /in/ | fale /fale/ | fale /fale/ | ꯌꯨꯝ /jum/ |
| Milk | tungdui /tuŋdui/ | seina /seinə/ | hnute tui /hnute tui/ | hnuk /hnuk/ | susu /susu/ | huāhuhu /huaːhuhu/ | ꯁꯡꯒꯣꯝ /səŋɡom/ |
| Honey | ngkuidi /ŋkuidi/ | khuira /kʰuira/ | khuaizu /kʰuaizu/ | khuaihliti /kʰuaihliti/ | hani /hani/ | meli /meli/ | ꯈꯣꯏꯍꯤ /kʰoihi/ |
| Salt | nehai /nehai/ | machi /matʃi/ | chi /tʃi/ | ci /tsi/ | masima /masima/ | māhima /maːhima/ | ꯊꯨꯝ /tʰum/ |
| Wine | wain /wain/ | drakhara /drakʰaːra/ | uain /uain/ | misur hang /misur haŋ/ | uaina /uaina/ | uaina /uaina/ | — |
| Rice | hebi /hebi/ | mawon /mawon/ | buh /buh/ | facang /fatsaŋ/ | laisi /laisi/ | — | ꯆꯦꯡ /tʃeŋ/ |
| Iron | hegei /heɡei/ | mari /mari/ | thîr /tʰiːr/ | thir /tʰir/ | fiti /fiti/ | ukamea /ukamea/ | ꯌꯣꯠ /jot/ |
| Wheel | pigua /piɡua/ | kangphei /kaŋpʰei/ | tawlailîr ke /tɔlailiːr ke/ | kekual /kekual/ | teka /teka/ | uili /uili/ | ꯀꯥꯡꯈꯣꯡ /kaŋkʰoŋ/ |
| Book | leisi /leisi/ | lairik /lairik/ | lehkhabu /leʔkʰabu/ | cauk /tsauk/ | tusi /tusi/ | tuhi /tuhi/ | ꯂꯥꯏꯔꯤꯛ /lairik/ |
| Eat | teu /teu/ | ngui /ŋui/ | ei /ei/ | ei /ei/ | kai /kai/ | kai /kai/ | ꯆꯥꯕ /tʃaːba/ |
| Drink | sak /sak/ | rai /rai/ | in /in/ | din /din/ | inu /inu/ | inu /inu/ | ꯊꯛꯄ /tʰəkpə/ |
| Sleep | zei /zei/ | pi /pi/ | mut /mut/ | it /ʔit/ | moe /moe/ | moe /moe/ | ꯇꯨꯝꯕ /túmbə/ |
| One | kat /kat/ | kha /kʰa/ | pakhat /pakʰat/ | pakhat /pakʰat/ | tasi /tasi/ | tahi /tahi/ | ꯑꯃ /əmə/ |
| Two | kena /kena/ | khani /kʰani/ | pahnih /pahniʔ/ | pahnih /pahniʔ/ | lua /lua/ | lua /lua/ | ꯑꯅꯤ /əni/ |
| Three | kechum /ketʃum/ | kathum /katʰum/ | pathum /patʰum/ | pathum /patʰum/ | tolu /tolu/ | tolu /tolu/ | ꯑꯍꯨꯝ /əhum/ |
| Four | medai /mədai/ | mati /məti/ | pali /pali/ | pali /pali/ | fā /faː/ | fā /faː/ | ꯃꯔꯤ /məri/ |
| Five | mengeu /meŋeu/ | phanga /pʰəŋa/ | panga /paŋa/ | panga /paŋa/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | ꯃꯉꯥ /məŋaː/ |
| Hundred | heiket /heiket/ | shakha /ʃakʰə/ | za /za/ | za /za/ | selau /selau/ | helau /helau/ | ꯆꯥꯃ /tʃamə/ |
| Hello | hangba /haŋba/ | hayau /hajau/ | chibai /tʃibai/ | na dam maw /na dam maw/ | taalofa /taːlofa/ | malo ni /malo ni/ | ꯈꯨꯔꯨꯝꯖꯔꯤ /kʰurumdʒari/ |
| Thank you | kazi /kazi/ | ase /ase/ | ka lawm e /ka lɔːm e/ | ka lawm /ka lawm/ | fakafetai /fakafetai/ | fakafetai /fakafetai/ | ꯊꯥꯒꯠꯆꯔꯤ /tʰaːɡattʃari/ |
| Good | keibe /keibe/ | kahei /kahei/ | ṭha /tɾʰa/ | ṭha /ʈʰa/ | lei /lei/ | lelei /lelei/ | ꯑꯐꯕ /əpʰəbə/ |
| New | karchibe /kartʃibe/ | kathar /katʰar/ | thar /tʰar/ | thar /tʰar/ | fou /fou/ | fou /fou/ | ꯑꯅꯧꯕ /ənəubə/ |
| Red | kegebe /keɡebe/ | kahunga /kahuŋa/ | sen /sen/ | sen /sen/ | kula /kula/ | kukula /kukula/ | ꯑꯉꯥꯡꯕ /əŋáŋbə/ |
| White | kehabe /kehabe/ | kachar /katʃar/ | vâr /var/ | raang /raːŋ/ | kena /kena/ | paepae /paepae/ | ꯑꯉꯧꯕ /əŋəubə/ |
| Black | ketikbe /ketikbe/ | kachik /katʃik/ | dum /dum/ | dum /dum/ | uli /uli/ | uli /uli/ | ꯑꯃꯨꯕ /əmubə/ |
| Green | kanzaibe /kanzaibe/ | khamateka /kʰamateka/ | hring /hriŋ/ | hring /hriŋ/ | lanu lau niu /lanu lau niu/ | lanu meamata /lanu meamata/ | ꯑꯁꯡꯕ /əsəŋbə/ |
| Blue | kanzaibe /kanzaibe/ | khamaying /kʰamajiŋ/ | dumpâwl /dumpɔl/ | — | lanu moana /lanu moana/ | lanumoana /lanumoana/ | ꯍꯤꯒꯣꯛ /híɡok/ |
| Tea | sa /sa/ | — | thingpui /tʰiŋpui/ | lakphak /lakpʰak/ | tī /tiː/ | — | ꯆꯥ /tʃa/ |
| Ninety-nine | riaksekui ze sekui /riaksekui ze sekui/ | hangchikoda chiko /haŋtʃikoda tʃiko/ | sawmkua leh pakua /sɔmkua leʔ pakua/ | sawmkua le pakua /sɔmkua le pakua/ | iva sefulu iva /iva sefulu iva/ | iva hefuluiva /iva hefuluiva/ | ꯃꯔꯤꯐꯨꯇꯔꯥꯃꯥꯄꯟ /məripʰutəraːmaːpən/ |
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