Kirwa
Rwa
Atlantic-Congo
Rwa (Kirwa, also called Meru or Rwo) is a Bantu language spoken on the slopes of Mount Meru in the Arusha Region of northeastern Tanzania, with roughly 198,000 speakers. It belongs to the West Kilimanjaro (West Chaga) group within Guthrie zone E.60 and is closely related to the Chaga languages of Mount Kilimanjaro to the east (a cluster including Machame jmc, Old Moshi old, Vunjo). Rwa preserves typical Bantu tone-and-noun-class features alongside ~10 noun classes and an active morphological aspect system. Bible translation work since the 1990s has yielded standardized literacy materials, with the Rwa New Testament published in the 2010s.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Rwa
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo
| Meaning | Rwa | Machame | Asu | Shambala | Nyamwezi | Nyaturu | Sukuma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mura /muɾa/ | mura /muɾa/ | mende /mende/ | mazi /mazi/ | minzi /minzi/ | maji /madʒi/ | minzi /minzi/ |
| Fire | muro /muɾo/ | muro /muɾo/ | mshika /mʃika/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | saa /saː/ | mwi /mwi/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ | lyuba /ljuβa/ | yura /juɾa/ | ilyuva /iʎuβa/ |
| Moon | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | mwiiri /mwiːɾi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | ng'weji /ŋweːdʒi/ |
| Star | nyinyiri /ɲiɲiɾi/ | nyinyiri /ɲiɲiɾi/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ | nsonda /nsonda/ | njota /ndʒota/ | nyenyeezi /ɲeˈɲeːzi/ |
| Night | kio /kio/ | kio /kio/ | usiku /usiku/ | kilo /kilo/ | buziku /buziku/ | utiku /utiku/ | bujiku /budʒiku/ |
| Rain | fua /fua/ | mbuo /mbuo/ | mvua /mvua/ | fula /fula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mbura /mbura/ | mbula /mbula/ |
| Snow | mboṛongo /mboɾoŋɡo/ | kyaamwi /kjaːmwi/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | — | theluji /θeluʒi/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | seluji /seludʒi/ |
| Wind | mburaato /mbuɾaːto/ | uraato /uɾaːto/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | myaga /mjaɡa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | nyaga /ɲaɡa/ |
| Earth | uteri /uteɾi/ | uteri /uteɾi/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | malongo /maloŋɡo/ |
| Stone | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | uro /uɾo/ | ifumbu /ifumbu/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | muima /muima/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ |
| Sea | nruva /nɾuva/ | yeeve /jeːve/ | bahari /bahari/ | bahali /bahali/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mayu /maju/ | mama /mama/ | mayu /maju/ |
| Father | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwana wa kika /mwana wa kika/ | mwana wa kyika /mwana wa kjika/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | nshike /nʃike/ |
| I | inyi /iɲi/ | yeny /jeɲ/ | mine /mine/ | niye /nije/ | nene /ˈnene/ | une /une/ | nene /ˈnene/ |
| You | iwe /iwe/ | yewe /jewe/ | uwe /uwe/ | weye /weje/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ |
| We | ise /ise/ | yese /jese/ | uswi /uswi/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ | iswe /iswe/ | sese /sese/ | yise /jise/ |
| Name | irina /irina/ | irina /irina/ | izina /izina/ | zina /zina/ | lina /ˈlina/ | rina /ɾina/ | lina /ˈlina/ |
| Person | nndu /ndu/ | nndu /ndu/ | mntu /mntu/ | mntu /mntu/ | munhu /munhu/ | muntu /muntu/ | munhu /munhu/ |
| Head | nrwe /nɾwe/ | nrwe /nɾwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | ntwe /ntwe/ |
| Eye | iriso /iɾiso/ | iriso /iɾiso/ | iiso /iːso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ | liso /liso/ | riho /riho/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | kuri /kuɾi/ | kuri /kuɾi/ | isikio /isikio/ | shikio /ʃikio/ | itwi /itwi/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | gutu /ɡutu/ |
| Mouth | kana /kana/ | kana /kana/ | momo /momo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | momo /momo/ | nomo /nomo/ |
| Tooth | iyoo /ijoː/ | iyoo /ijoː/ | jino /dʒino/ | zino /zino/ | lino /lino/ | ino /ino/ | lino /lino/ |
| Tongue | ulumi /ulumi/ | ulumi /ulumi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | uko /uko/ | woko /woko/ | mkono /mkono/ | mkono /mkono/ | kukono /kukono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | nkhono /ŋkono/ |
| Foot | urende /uɾende/ | urende /uɾende/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | mulundi /mulundi/ | kugulu /kuɡulu/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | lupambala /lupambala/ |
| Heart | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | moyo /mojo/ | moyo /mojo/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngholo /ŋɡoːlo/ |
| Bone | ifua /ifua/ | ifua /ifua/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | vuha /vuha/ | iguha /iɡuha/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | iguha /iɡuha/ |
| Blood | usao /usao/ | samu /samu/ | sakame /sakame/ | phome /pʰome/ | magazi /maɡazi/ | sakami /sakami/ | mininga /miniŋɡa/ |
| Love | lumbo /lumbo/ | ìkwenda /ikwenda/ | lumba /lumba/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ |
| Tree | nri /nɾi/ | nri /nɾi/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ | umuti /umuti/ | nti /nti/ |
| Dog | mboha /mboha/ | ikite /ikite/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mva /mva/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | kalulu /kalulu/ |
| Fish | ikunga /ikuŋɡa/ | kunga /kuŋɡa/ | samaki /samaki/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /soːmba/ | somba /somba/ | nshi /nʃi/ |
| Bird | ndee /ndeː/ | ndeye /ndeje/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | deghe /deɣe/ | noni /noni/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | noni /noni/ |
| Egg | ngosho /ŋɡoʃo/ | ipore /ipoɾe/ | igi /iɡi/ | tagi /taɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | igi /iɡi/ |
| Horse | farasi /faɾasi/ | frasi /fɾasi/ | farasi /farasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ | falasi /falasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | falasa /falasa/ |
| House | numba /numba/ | mmba /mːba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ |
| Milk | maruva /maɾuva/ | malela /malela/ | mavee /maveː/ | mele /mele/ | mabeele /maβeːle/ | maya /maja/ | mabeele /mabeːle/ |
| Honey | uki /uki/ | ukyi /ukji/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | woki /woki/ | buuki /buːki/ | ruke /ruke/ | buuki /buːki/ |
| Salt | munyu /muɲu/ | shumbi /ʃumbi/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munu /munu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | — |
| Wine | mfinyo /mfiɲo/ | mfinyo /mfiɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | divai /divai/ |
| Iron | minya /miɲa/ | minya /miɲa/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | kiama /kiama/ | kisinza /kisinza/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | jisinza /dʒisinza/ |
| Silk | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | — | hariri /hariri/ | halili /halili/ | — | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | halili /halili/ |
| Book | kitabu /kitabu/ | kyitabu /kjitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | shitabo /ʃitabo/ |
| Eat | kuria /kuria/ | ìlya /iʎa/ | kurya /kurja/ | kuya /kuja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kulya /kuʎa/ |
| Drink | kunyua /kuɲua/ | ìnyo /iɲo/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kung'wa /kuŋwa/ |
| One | mongo /moŋɡo/ | ìmwí /imwi/ | imwe /imwe/ | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | umwe /umwe/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | fivili /fivili/ | fiwii /fiwiː/ | avili /aβili/ | mbili /mbili/ | ibili /iβili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | ibhili /iˈβili/ |
| Three | firaru /fiɾaɾu/ | fihahu /fihahu/ | adatu /adatu/ | katatu /katatu/ | idatu /idatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | idatu /idatʊ/ |
| Four | fiini /fiːni/ | fiina /fiina/ | — | kane /kaːne/ | inne /inːe/ | inne /inːe/ | ine /ine/ |
| Five | firaanu /fiɾaːnu/ | fihanu /fihanu/ | — | kashano /kaʃano/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itano /itano/ | itano /itano/ |
| Hundred | iyana /ijana/ | iyana /ijana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | gana /ɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | kira /kiɾa/ | máshàlòmà /maʃaloma/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | — /—/ | mwadita /mwadita/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | mwangaluka /mwaŋɡaluka/ |
| Thank you | asante /asante/ | ahsànte /ahsante/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | asante /asante/ | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ | asante /aˈsante/ | nakulumba /nakulumba/ |
| Good | kya /kja/ | ìchá /itʃa/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | mtana /mtana/ | soga /soɡa/ | kihi /kihi/ | shihi /ʃihi/ |
| New | shiiya /ʃiːja/ | shiiya /ʃiːja/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | mpya /mpja/ | pya /pja/ | mpya /mpja/ | pya /pja/ |
| Red | nkundu /nkundu/ | idodorye /idodoɾje/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | laluku /laluku/ | ntune /ntune/ | ndulu /ndulu/ |
| White | sheelwa /ʃeːlwa/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ | pe /pe/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | ape /ape/ |
| Black | shuu /ʃuː/ | shuu /ʃuː/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | size /size/ | pi /pi/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | api /api/ |
| Ninety-nine | makumi kyeenda na kyeenda /makumi kjeːnda na kjeːnda/ | makumi kyeenda na kyeenda /makumi kjeːnda na kjeːnda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makʊmi kenda na kenda/ |
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