Hñähñu
Otomi
Oto-Manguean (Otomian)
Otomi (Hñähñu) is an Oto-Manguean language indigenous to central Mexico, spoken in mountainous communities of Hidalgo, Querétaro, México State, Puebla, and Veracruz. The Otomi were one of the major pre-Hispanic peoples of the central highlands and pre-date Nahuatl speakers in the region; they remained ritually significant after the Aztec ascendancy. Otomi is renowned for its complex tonal phonology, nasalization contrasts, and rich ceremonial vocabulary preserved in Hñähñu oral poetry.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Otomi
chocolate
computadora
wifi
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Oto-Manguean (Otomian)
| Meaning | Otomi | Querétaro Otomi | Mazahua | San Blas Kuna | Shipibo-Conibo | Aymara | Bribri |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | dehe /dehe/ | dehe /tehe/ | ndeje /ndehe/ | di /di/ | jene /hɨnɨ/ | uma /uma/ | díʼ /díʔ/ |
| Fire | tsibi /tsibi/ | tsibi /tsibi/ | sibi /sibi/ | so /so/ | chii /tʃiː/ | nina /nina/ | böʼ /bøʔ/ |
| Sun | hyadi /hjadi/ | hyadi /hjadi/ | jyarü /hjaɾɨ/ | dad /tad/ | bari /bari/ | inti /inti/ | diwö /diwø/ |
| Moon | zänä /zãnã/ | zänä /zãnã/ | zana /zana/ | nii /niː/ | oxe /oʂɨ/ | phaxsi /pʰaχsi/ | siʼwö /siʔwø/ |
| Star | tsøhø /tsøhø/ | tsꞌe /tsʼe/ | seje /seʔe/ | niisgwa /niːskwa/ | wishti /wiʃtĩ/ | warawara /waɾawaɾa/ | bëkwö /bəkwø/ |
| Night | xui /ʃui/ | nxui /nʃui/ | xomü /ʃomɨ/ | mutik /mutik/ | yame /jamɨ/ | aruma /aruma/ | nañewe /naɲewe/ |
| Snow | xija /ʃiha/ | tꞌaxtse̱ /tʼaʃtsɛ/ | xitsji /ʃitsʰi/ | — | — | khunu /kʰunu/ | — |
| Wind | ndähi /ndãhi/ | ndähi /ndæhi/ | ndajma /ndahma/ | burwa /burwa/ | niwe /niwɨ/ | thaya /ˈtʰaja/ | siwa̱ʼ /siwãʔ/ |
| Earth | hai /hai/ | hai /hai/ | jõmü /hõmɨ/ | napa /napa/ | mai /mai/ | uraqi /uɾaqi/ | íyök /íjøk/ |
| Stone | do /do/ | do /do/ | ndojo /ndoho/ | akwa /akwa/ | makan /makan/ | qala /ˈqala/ | ák /ák/ |
| Mountain | tʼøhø /tʼøhø/ | tꞌoho /tʼoho/ | tʼeje /tʼehe/ | yar /jaɾ/ | manan /manan/ | qullu /quʎu/ | ka̱bata /kãbata/ |
| Sea | däzabi /dãzabi/ | ñhonthe /ɲ̥ontʰe/ | mar /maɾ/ | demar /temaɾ/ | aniparo /anipaɾo/ | lamara /lamara/ | — |
| Mother | nänä /nãnã/ | mu /mu/ | nana /nana/ | nan /nan/ | tita /tita/ | mama /mama/ | amiʼ /amiʔ/ |
| Father | tada /tada/ | dada /dada/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ | papa /papa/ | tata /tata/ | yë́ /jə́/ |
| Daughter | tixu /tiʃu/ | tꞌinxu /tʼinʃu/ | xuntʼi /ʃuntʼi/ | sisgwa /sisɡwa/ | bake ainbo /bake ãĩbo/ | phucha /pʰutʃa/ | alà busi /ala busi/ |
| I | nugä /nuɡã/ | nugä /nuɡæ/ | nutsʼko /nutsʔko/ | an /an/ | ea /ea/ | naya /naja/ | yeʼ /jeʔ/ |
| You | nuʼi /nuʔi/ | nuꞌi /nuʔi/ | nutskʼe /nutskʔe/ | be /pe/ | mia /mia/ | juma /xuma/ | beʼ /beʔ/ |
| We | nugähʉ / nugähe /nuɡãhɨ / nuɡãhe/ | nugähu / nugähe /nuɡæhu / nuɡæhe/ | nuzgöji / nuzgöjme /nuzɣøhi / nuzɣøhme/ | anmar /anmar/ | noa /noa/ | jiwasa / nanaka /xiwasa / nanaka/ | seʼ / saʼ /seʔ / saʔ/ |
| Name | thuhu /tʰũhũ/ | thuuhu /tʰũːhũ/ | chjuʼu /tʃũʔũ/ | nug /nuk/ | jane /hanɨ/ | suti /suti/ | kie /kie/ |
| Person | jäʼi /hãʔi/ | jäꞌi /hãʔi/ | nte /nte/ | dule /tule/ | joni /honi/ | jaqi /xaqi/ | pëʼ /pəʔ/ |
| Head | ñä /ɲã/ | ñä /ɲã/ | ñi /ɲi/ | nono /nono/ | mapo /mapo/ | pʼiqi /pʼiqi/ | wö́kir /wǿkiɾ/ |
| Eye | da /da/ | da /da/ | chö /tʃø/ | ibya /ibja/ | bero /bɨɾo/ | nayra /najɾa/ | wöbla /wøbla/ |
| Ear | gu /ɡu/ | gu /ɡu/ | ngõʼõ /ŋɡõʔõ/ | uaduk /uaduk/ | pabíki /pabiki/ | jinchu /xintʃu/ | kukuö̀ /kukuø/ |
| Nose | xiñu /ʃiɲu/ | — | — | asu /asu/ | rekin /ɾɨkin/ | nasa /ˈnasa/ | — |
| Mouth | ne /ne/ | ne /ne/ | neʼe /neʔe/ | kaya /kaja/ | kexa /kɨʂa/ | laka /ˈlaka/ | ajkö̀ /ahkø/ |
| Tooth | tsʼi /tsʼi/ | tsꞌi /tsʼi/ | sʼibi /sʼibi/ | nugar /nuɡar/ | xeta /ʂɨta/ | lakʼa /lakʼa/ | akà /aka/ |
| Tongue | jäne /hãne/ | xäne /ʃɐne/ | cʼijñi /kʼihɲi/ | kuabin /kuabin/ | jana /hana/ | laxra /laχra/ | kuʼ /kuʔ/ |
| Hand | ʼye /ʔje/ | ꞌye /ʔje/ | ye /je/ | arigan /aɾiɡan/ | meken /mɨkɨn/ | ampara /ampaɾa/ | ulà /ula/ |
| Foot | wa /wa/ | wa /wa/ | ngua /ŋɡwa/ | nag /nak/ | tae /taɨ/ | kayu /kaju/ | klö̀ /klø/ |
| Heart | mui /mui/ | mui /mui/ | müʼbü /mɨʔbɨ/ | kurgin /kuɾɡin/ | joínti /hoˈinti/ | chuyma /tʃujma/ | sûʼ /suʔ/ |
| Bone | ndoʼyo /ndoʔjo/ | ndoꞌyo /ndoʔjo/ | ndotyʼe /ndotjʔe/ | kar /kaɾ/ | xao /ʂao/ | chʼakha /tʃʼakʰa/ | diché /ditʃé/ |
| Blood | ji /hi/ | khi /kʰi/ | kjii /kʰiʔi/ | abe /abe/ | jimi /himi/ | wila /wila/ | pë́ /pə́/ |
| Love | mädi /mãdi/ | mädi /mãdi/ | sʼiya /sʼija/ | sabbi /sabːi/ | noi /noi/ | munasiña /munasiɲa/ | shkö /ʃkø/ |
| Tree | za /za/ | za /za/ | za /za/ | sappi /sapːi/ | jiwi /hiwi/ | quqa /quqa/ | kál /kál/ |
| Dog | ʼyo /ʔjo/ | ꞌyo /ʔjo/ | dyoʼo /djoʔo/ | achu /atʃu/ | ochiti /otʃiti/ | anu /anu/ | chichi /tʃitʃi/ |
| Cat | mixi /miʃi/ | mishi /miʃi/ | mishi /miʃi/ | miji /midʒi/ | mishito /miʃito/ | phisi /pʰisi/ | mishi /miʃi/ |
| Fish | hua /hwa/ | xwa /ʃwa/ | jmõʼõ /xmõʔõ/ | ua /ua/ | yapa /japa/ | challwa /tʃaʎwa/ | nima /nima/ |
| Bird | tsʼintsʼu̲ /tsʼintsʼu/ | tsꞌintsꞌu /tsʼintsʼu/ | sʼü /sʼɨ/ | sikwi /sikwi/ | isa /isa/ | jamachʼi /xamatʃʼi/ | dù /du/ |
| Butterfly | tu̲xu̲mu /tuʃumu/ | — | — | — | pëpë /pɨ̃pɨ̃/ | pilpintu /pilpintu/ | kuaʼkua /kuaʔkua/ |
| Egg | mädo /mãdo/ | tꞌaxi /tʼaʃi/ | blanquillo /blaŋˈkijo/ | — | bachi /batʃi/ | kʼawna /kʼawna/ | sia̱ʼ /siãʔ/ |
| Bear | ʼmuhu /ʔmuhu/ | oso /oso/ | oso /oso/ | wiob /wiob/ | oso /oso/ | jukumari /xukumaɾi/ | — |
| Horse | fani /fani/ | fani /fani/ | pjadü /pʰadɨ/ | moli /moli/ | kabayo /kabajo/ | kawallu /kawaʎu/ | kabaio /kabaio/ |
| House | ngu /ŋɡu/ | ngu /ŋɡu/ | ngumü /ŋɡumɨ/ | nega /neɡa/ | xobo /ʂobo/ | uta /uta/ | u /u/ |
| Milk | ʼba /ʔba/ | ꞌba /ʔba/ | bʼaa /bʼaː/ | nunis /nunis/ | xoma /ʂoma/ | millkʼi /miʎkʼi/ | tsuʼdiö /tsuʔdiø/ |
| Honey | tʼafi /tʼafi/ | tꞌafi /tʔafi/ | õtʼapjü ngüjnü /õtʼapʰɨ ŋɡɨhnɨ/ | achanis /atʃanis/ | bona jene /bona hɨnɨ/ | miskʼi /miskʼi/ | bulali /bulali/ |
| Salt | u /u/ | u /u/ | õʼõ /õʔõ/ | balu /palu/ | tashi /taʃi/ | jayu /ˈxaju/ | dayë /dajə/ |
| Wine | vinu /ˈbinu/ | ixkatꞌafi /iʃkatʼafi/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /ˈbino/ | vino /vino/ | vino /ˈbino/ |
| Rice | arros /aros/ | — | — | oros /oɾos/ | aros /aɾos/ | arusa /aɾusa/ | àrros /aros/ |
| Chocolate | chocolate | — | — | — | — | chukulati /tʃukuˈlati/ | — |
| Iron | bo̲jä /bohã/ | bojä /bohã/ | — | esgoro /esɡoɾo/ | yami /jami/ | qillaya /qiʎaja/ | — |
| Wheel | rweda /ɾweda/ | — | — | yanda /janda/ | karotae /kaɾotae/ | rueda /ɾweda/ | — |
| Silk | seda /seda/ | — | seda /ˈseda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | he̲ʼmi /heʔmi/ | heꞌmi /heʔmi/ | libro /ˈlibɾo/ | garda /ɡaɾda/ | kirika /kiɾika/ | panka /panka/ | ayë́jkuö /ajə́hkuø/ |
| Eat | ñuni /ɲuni/ | shi /ʃi/ | ñe /ɲe/ | gunne /ɡune/ | piti /piti/ | manqʼaña /manqʼaɲa/ | chkök /tʃkøk/ |
| Drink | tsi /tsi/ | tsi /tsi/ | sii /siː/ | gobe /ɡobe/ | xeati /ʂɨati/ | umaña /umaɲa/ | yök /jøk/ |
| Sleep | ähä /ãhã/ | ähä /ãhã/ | ĩjĩ /ĩhĩ/ | gabe /ɡabe/ | oxa /oʂa/ | ikiña /iˈkiɲa/ | kapö̀k /kapøk/ |
| One | ʼna /ʔna/ | ꞌna /ʔna/ | ʼnaja /ʔnaha/ | kuenki /kweŋki/ | westíora /wɨstioɾa/ | maya /maja/ | ètöm /etøm/ |
| Two | yoho /joho/ | yoho /joho/ | yeje /jeʔe/ | bo /po/ | rabé /ɾabɨ/ | paya /paja/ | bö́l /bǿl/ |
| Three | hñu /hɲu/ | hñu /ɲ̥u/ | nʼii /ɲ̥iʔi/ | baa /baː/ | kimisha /kimiʃa/ | kimsa /kimsa/ | mañál /maɲál/ |
| Four | goho /ɡoho/ | goho /ɡoho/ | nziyo /nzijo/ | bake /pake/ | chosko /tʃosko/ | pusi /pusi/ | tkë́l /tkə́l/ |
| Five | kʉtʼa /kɨtʼa/ | kʉtꞌa /kɨtʔa/ | tsiʼchʼa /tsiʔtʃʼa/ | atar /ataɾ/ | pichika /pitʃika/ | phisqa /ˈpʰisqa/ | ske̱l /skẽl/ |
| Hundred | nthebe /ntʰebe/ | nthebe /ntʰebe/ | ciento /ˈsjento/ | dulatar /dulataɾ/ | pacha /patʃa/ | pataka /pataka/ | cien /sjen/ |
| Hello | hatsi /hatsi/ | hä /hã/ | kjamadhi /kjamaði/ | nuedi /nweðiː/ | jakon raoma /xakon raoma/ | kamisaki /kamisaki/ | iriʼ /iɾiʔ/ |
| Thank you | jamädi /hamãdi/ | jamädi /hamãdi/ | ndios /ndios/ | nuedi malo /nweðiː malo/ | irake /iɾake/ | yuspagara /juspaɣaɾa/ | wëstela /wəstela/ |
| Good | hño /hɲo/ | hño /hɲo/ | nzhomu /nʒomu/ | nuegan /nweɡan/ | jakon /hakon/ | suma /suma/ | buaʼ /buaʔ/ |
| New | ʼraʼyo /ʔɾaʔjo/ | ꞌraꞌyo /ʔraʔjo/ | dadyo /dadjo/ | binid /binid/ | bena /bɨna/ | machaqa /matʃaqa/ | pa̱ʼa̱li̱ /pãʔãlĩ/ |
| Red | theni /tʰeni/ | theni /tʰeni/ | mbaja /mbaha/ | kinnid /kinːid/ | joshin /hoʃin/ | wila /wila/ | dölöí /døløí/ |
| White | tʼaxi /tʼaʃi/ | tꞌaxi /tʼaʃi/ | tʼöxü /tʼøʃɨ/ | sipu /sipu/ | joxo /hoʂo/ | janqʼu /ˈxaɴqʼu/ | saruru /saɾuɾu/ |
| Black | ʼbo /ʔbo/ | — | potjü /potʰɨ/ | sichid /sitʃid/ | wiso /wiso/ | chʼiyara /tʃʼijara/ | dalòlò /dalolo/ |
| Green | kʼantsʼi /kʼantsʼi/ | kꞌangi /kʼaŋi/ | cʼanga /kʼaŋɡa/ | arrad /arːad/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | chʼuxña /tʃʼuxɲa/ | tsipátsipà /tsipátsipa/ |
| Blue | kʼangi /kʼaŋɡi/ | kꞌangi /kʼaŋi/ | cʼanga /kʼaŋɡa/ | arrad /arːad/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | larama /laɾama/ | siè̱ /siẽ̀/ |
| Computer | computadora | — | — | — | — | atamiri /atamiɾi/ | — |
| Wi-Fi | wifi | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coffee | café /kaˈfe/ | — | — | — | — | café /kafe/ | — |
| Sugar | tʼaxu̲tʼafi /tʼaʃutʼafi/ | — | — | — | asokaro /asokaɾo/ | azúcar /asukar/ | — |
| Orange | nanxa /nanʃa/ | — | — | — | — | — | àsh balòbalo /aʃ balobalo/ |
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