Sängö
Sango
Atlantic-Congo (Ubangian, creolized)
Sango (yângâ tî sängö) is the national language of the Central African Republic and one of Africa's most established national creole languages, with ~5M users (mostly L2), though its classification as a creole (versus a pidgin or koine) is debated. It originated in the late 19th century along the Ubangi River as a trade pidgin based on Northern Ngbandi (an Ubangian language), with French colonial-era expansion. Co-official with French since CAR's 1963 constitution and used in radio, TV, primary education, and Catholic and Protestant liturgy. Three lexical tones (low, mid, high) marked by diacritics; subject-verb-object word order, simplified noun morphology vs. its Ubangian source.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Sango
Sources
- Ethnologue: sag
- Pasch (1997) Sango: An African Lingua Franca
- Samarin (1967) A Grammar of Sango
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Ubangian, creolized)
| Meaning | Sango | Kikongo | Zande | Meru | Rwa | Lingala | Luvale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ngu /ŋɡu/ | maza /maza/ | ime /ime/ | rũũjĩ /ɾoːdʒe/ | mura /muɾa/ | máí /máí/ | meya /meja/ |
| Fire | wa /wa/ | tiya /tija/ | we /we/ | mwanki /mwaŋki/ | muro /muɾo/ | mɔ́tɔ /mɔ́tɔ/ | kakahya /kakahja/ |
| Sun | lâ /la/ | ntangu /ntaŋɡu/ | uru /uɾu/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | saa /saː/ | mói /mói/ | likumbi /likumbi/ |
| Moon | nzë /nzɛ/ | ngonda /ŋɡonda/ | diwi /diwi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | sánzá /sánzá/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ |
| Star | tongoro /toŋɡoro/ | mbwetete /mbwetete/ | kerekuru /kɛɾɛkuɾu/ | njota /ndʒɔta/ | nyinyiri /ɲiɲiɾi/ | monzoto /monzɔtɔ/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ |
| Night | bï /bi/ | builu /builu/ | yuru /juru/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | kio /kio/ | butu /butu/ | ufuku /ufuku/ |
| Rain | ngunzapa /ŋɡunzapa/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mai /mai/ | ngai /ŋɡai/ | fua /fua/ | mbula /ˈᵐbula/ | vula /vula/ |
| Snow | neze /neze/ | mvula ya mpembe /mvula ja mpembe/ | — | nkamia /ŋkamia/ | mboṛongo /mboɾoŋɡo/ | neje /neʒe/ | mbundu /mbundu/ |
| Wind | pupu /pupu/ | mupepe /mupepe/ | yuge /juɡe/ | ruuo /ɾuːɔ/ | mburaato /mbuɾaːto/ | mopepe /mopepe/ | peho /peho/ |
| Earth | sêse /sɛsɛ/ | ntoto /ntoto/ | sende /sɛndɛ/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | uteri /uteɾi/ | mabele /mabele/ | mavu /mavu/ |
| Stone | tênë /tɛnɛ/ | tadi /ˈtadi/ | mbia /mbia/ | iiga /iːɡa/ | iwe /iwe/ | libanga /liˈɓaŋɡa/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ |
| Mountain | hoto /hoto/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ | gangara /ɡaŋɡara/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | uro /uɾo/ | ngómbá /ŋɡómbá/ | pili /pili/ |
| Sea | ngû-îngö /ŋɡu iŋɡɔ/ | mbu /mbu/ | baime /baime/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | nruva /nɾuva/ | mbu /ᵐbu/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | na /na/ | mami /mami/ | mama /mama/ | mamá /mamá/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | babâ /baba/ | tata /tata/ | ba /ba/ | baaba /baːba/ | baba /baba/ | tatá /tatá/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | môlengê-wâlï /molenɡe wali/ | mwana ya nkento /mwana ja nkento/ | — | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwana wa kika /mwana wa kika/ | mwana mwasi /mwana mwasi/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ |
| I | mbi /mbi/ | mono /mono/ | mi /mi/ | ni /ni/ | inyi /iɲi/ | ngai /ⁿɡai/ | ami /ami/ |
| You | mo /mo/ | ngeye /ŋɡeje/ | mo /mo/ | gwe /ɡwɛ/ | iwe /iwe/ | yo /jo/ | ove /ove/ |
| We | e /e/ | beto /beto/ | ani /ani/ | tuĩ /tue/ | ise /ise/ | biso /biso/ | etu /etu/ |
| Name | iri /iri/ | nkumbu /nkumbu/ | rimo /ɾimo/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | irina /irina/ | nkombo /ⁿkombo/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ |
| Person | zo /zo/ | muntu /muntu/ | boro /boro/ | muntũ /munto/ | nndu /ndu/ | moto /moto/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | li /li/ | ntu /ntu/ | — | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | nrwe /nɾwe/ | motó /motó/ | mutwe /mutwe/ |
| Eye | lê /lɛ/ | disu /disu/ | bangiri /baŋɡiɾi/ | riitho /ɾiːðɔ/ | iriso /iɾiso/ | líso /líso/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | mê /mɛ̂/ | kutu /kutu/ | tu /tu/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | kuri /kuɾi/ | litoyi /litoji/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ |
| Nose | hôn /hõ/ | nzunu /nzunu/ | ho /ho/ | nyiũrũ /ɲioɾo/ | — | zolo /zóló/ | lizulu /lizulu/ |
| Mouth | yângâ /jaŋɡa/ | nnwa /nnwa/ | ngba /ŋɡba/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kana /kana/ | monɔkɔ /monɔkɔ/ | kanwa /kanwa/ |
| Tooth | pembe /pɛmbɛ/ | dinu /dinu/ | rinde /rinde/ | ĩĩgo /eːɡɔ/ | iyoo /ijoː/ | lino /lino/ | lizo /lizo/ |
| Tongue | mêngâ /mɛŋɡa/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | mira /mira/ | rũũme /ɾoːmɛ/ | ulumi /ulumi/ | lolemo /lolemo/ | limi /limi/ |
| Hand | maboko /maboko/ | koko /koko/ | be /be/ | njara /ndʒaɾa/ | uko /uko/ | lobɔ́kɔ /lobɔ́kɔ/ | livoko /livoko/ |
| Foot | gerê /ɡɛrɛ/ | kulu /kulu/ | kpendu /kpendu/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoɾo/ | urende /uɾende/ | lokolo /lokolo/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ |
| Heart | bê /bɛ/ | ntima /ntima/ | ngbaduse /ŋɡbaduse/ | nkoro /ŋkɔɾɔ/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | motéma /motéma/ | mutima /mutima/ |
| Bone | biö /bio/ | visi /visi/ | meme /meme/ | mwĩndĩndĩ /mwendende/ | ifua /ifua/ | mokuwa /mokuwa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ |
| Blood | mênë /mɛnɛ/ | menga /meŋɡa/ | kure /kure/ | tharike /ðaɾikɛ/ | usao /usao/ | makila /makila/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ |
| Poop | puru /puru/ | tufi /tufi/ | — | — | — | nyeí /ɲeí/ | tuji /tudʒi/ |
| Love | ndoyê /ndojɛ/ | zola /zola/ | kpinyemu /kpiɲemu/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | lumbo /lumbo/ | bolíngo /bolíŋɡo/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ |
| Tree | kêkê /kɛkɛ/ | nti /nti/ | ngua /ŋɡua/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | nri /nɾi/ | nzété /nzété/ | mutondo /mutondo/ |
| Dog | mbo /mbo/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | ango /aŋɡo/ | kurũ /kuɾo/ | mboha /mboha/ | mbwá /mbwá/ | kawa /kawa/ |
| Cat | nyao /ɲao/ | nyau /ɲau/ | gbabo /ɡbabo/ | nyau /ɲau/ | paka /paka/ | nyáu /ɲáu/ | katako /katako/ |
| Fish | susu /susu/ | mbisi /mbisi/ | tio /tio/ | gĩkũyũ /ɡekojo/ | ikunga /ikuŋɡa/ | mbisi /mbisi/ | shi /ʃi/ |
| Bird | ndeke /ndeke/ | nuni /ˈnuni/ | zire /zire/ | nyoni /ɲɔni/ | ndee /ndeː/ | ndeke /ndɛkɛ/ | kajila /kadʒila/ |
| Butterfly | püpülenge /pupulenɡe/ | lumbembambemba /lumbembambemba/ | fufurafu /fufuɾafu/ | — | — | lipekápeka /lipekápeka/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ |
| Egg | para /para/ | diaki /diaki/ | para /paɾa/ | nkara /ŋkaɾa/ | ngosho /ŋɡoʃo/ | likei /likei/ | liulu /liulu/ |
| Bear | urse /urse/ | beli /beli/ | urisi /uɾisi/ | — | — | — | ulusu /ulusu/ |
| Horse | mbärätä /mbarata/ | mpunda /mpunda/ | farasi /faɾasi/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | farasi /faɾasi/ | farása /farása/ | kavalu /kavalu/ |
| House | dâ /da/ | nzo /nzo/ | bambu /bambu/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | numba /numba/ | ndáko /ndáko/ | zuvo /zuvo/ |
| Milk | ngû tî mê /ŋɡu ti mɛ/ | midiki /midiki/ | momunya /momuɲa/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | maruva /maɾuva/ | míliki /míliki/ | mavele /mavele/ |
| Honey | ngûlavu /ŋɡulavu/ | bwiki /bwiki/ | anyege /aɲeɡe/ | nainchũ /naintʃo/ | uki /uki/ | mafuta ya nzoi /mafuta ja nzoi/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | îngö /iŋɡɔ/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | tikpo /tikpo/ | chumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mongwa /moŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ |
| Wine | vin /vin/ | vinu /vinu/ | imekakue /imekakue/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | mfinyo /mfiɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ |
| Rice | lôso /loso/ | loso /loso/ | mapunga /mapuŋɡa/ | — | — | lɔ́sɔ /lɔ́sɔ/ | loso /loso/ |
| Iron | wê /wɛ/ | kibende /kiˈbende/ | mara /mara/ | chuma /tʃuːma/ | minya /miɲa/ | ebendé /eˈɓende/ | fwelu /fwelu/ |
| Wheel | ruu /ruː/ | dikulu /dikulu/ | ngbagida /ŋɡbaɡida/ | — | — | pine /pine/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ |
| Book | bûku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | yuku /juku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | búku /búku/ | mukanda /mukanda/ |
| Eat | te /te/ | kudia /kudja/ | ri /ɾi/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kuria /kuria/ | kolía /kolía/ | kulya /kuʎa/ |
| Drink | nyon /ɲon/ | kunua /kunwa/ | mbira /mbiɾa/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kunyua /kuɲua/ | komɛ́la /komɛ́la/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | lango /laŋɡo/ | kuleka /kuˈleka/ | ra /ɾa/ | kũmama /komama/ | — | kolala /kolala/ | kusavala /kusavala/ |
| One | oko /oko/ | mosi /mosi/ | sa /sa/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ | mɔ̌kɔ́ /mɔ̌kɔ́/ | mwe /mwe/ |
| Two | ûse /use/ | zole /zole/ | ue /uwe/ | ijĩĩrĩ /idʒeːɾe/ | fivili /fivili/ | mibale /mibale/ | vali /vali/ |
| Three | ota /ota/ | tatu /tatu/ | biata /biata/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | firaru /fiɾaɾu/ | misato /misatu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | osiö /osiø/ | iya /ija/ | biama /biama/ | inya /iɲa/ | fiini /fiːni/ | mínei /mínei/ | wana /wana/ |
| Five | okü /oky/ | tanu /tanu/ | bisue /bisue/ | ithaano /iðaːnɔ/ | firaanu /fiɾaːnu/ | mítáno /mítáno/ | tanu /tanu/ |
| Hundred | ngbangbo oko /ŋɡbaŋɡbɔ oko/ | nkama /nkama/ | ngbangbu /ŋɡbaŋɡbu/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | iyana /ijana/ | nkama /nkama/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ |
| Hello | bara mo /bara mo/ | mbote /mbote/ | mo ima ya /mo ima ja/ | muuga /muːɡa/ | kira /kiɾa/ | mbóte /mbóte/ | mwane /mwane/ |
| Thank you | singila /siŋɡila/ | matondo /matondo/ | oni-tambua /oni-tambua/ | nĩ bwega /ne bwɛɡa/ | asante /asante/ | matɔ́ndɔ /matɔ́ndɔ/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ |
| Good | nzöni /nzəni/ | mbote /mbote/ | wene /wene/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | kya /kja/ | malámu /malámu/ | mwaza /mwaza/ |
| New | fini /fini/ | mpa /mpa/ | vovo /vovo/ | kĩerũ /keɛɾo/ | shiiya /ʃiːja/ | sika /sika/ | chihya /tʃihja/ |
| Red | bengba /beŋɡba/ | mbwaki /mbwaki/ | zamba /zamba/ | ntuune /ntuːnɛ/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | motane /motane/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ |
| White | vurü /vurɨ/ | mpembe /mpembe/ | pisi /pisi/ | njerũ /ndʒɛɾo/ | sheelwa /ʃeːlwa/ | pɛmbɛ /pɛmbɛ/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ |
| Black | vukö /vukɔ/ | ndombe /ndombe/ | bibiri /bibiɾi/ | njirũ /ndʒiɾo/ | shuu /ʃuː/ | moindo /moindo/ | chilava /tʃilava/ |
| Green | ngûngunzä /ŋɡuŋɡunza/ | langi ya matiti /laŋɡi ja matiti/ | nvutanvuta /nvutanvuta/ | — | — | lángi la mpɔndú /láŋɡi la mpɔndú/ | — |
| Tea | dutëe /duteː/ | ti /ti/ | — | — | — | ti /ti/ | tiyi /tiji/ |
| Coffee | kâwa /kawa/ | kafe /kafe/ | buni /buni/ | — | — | kafé /kafé/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | sûkere /sukɛrɛ/ | sukadi /sukadi/ | sukari /sukaɾi/ | — | — | sukáli /sukáli/ | shuka /ʃuka/ |
| Orange | orânze /orãzɛ/ | dilala /dilala/ | oronzi /oɾonzi/ | — | — | lilala /lilala/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | balegumbaya na gumbaya /baleɡumbaja na ɡumbaja/ | makumi ivwa na ivwa /makumi ivwa na ivwa/ | — | mĩrongo kenda na kenda /meɾɔŋɡɔ kɛnda na kɛnda/ | makumi kyeenda na kyeenda /makumi kjeːnda na kjeːnda/ | tuku libwa na libwa /tuku libwa na libwa/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ |
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