Thaw a tnaw
Thao
Austronesian
Thao (Sao, autonymously Thaw a tnaw "the Thao language") is one of the most critically endangered Austronesian languages, with only ~5 fluent native speakers remaining among ~600 ethnic Thao. The Thao are concentrated at Sun Moon Lake (also known as Lake Candidius) in central Taiwan, where they are the original inhabitants. Linguistically, Thao is the only surviving Western Plains Formosan language — sister to several extinct Plains Formosan languages of the Taiwanese west coast (Hoanya, Babuza, Papora, etc.) that died out during 17th-19th century Han Chinese settlement. Thao's linguistic isolation makes it especially valuable for Austronesian historical reconstruction. Recognized as Taiwan's 10th official aboriginal nation in 2001 after extensive community advocacy.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Thao
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian
| Meaning | Thao | Proto-Austronesian | Bunun | Sakizaya | Pazeh | Paiwan | Tao |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | sazum /saðum/ | *daNum /daNum/ | danum /danum/ | nanum /nanum/ | dalum /dalum/ | zaljum /zaʎum/ | ranom /ranom/ |
| Fire | apuy /apuj/ | *Sapuy /Sapuy/ | sapuz /sapuz/ | lamal /lamal/ | hapuy /hapuj/ | sapuy /sapui/ | apuy /apuj/ |
| Sun | fitulha /fituʎa/ | *waRi /waRi/ | vali /vali/ | cidal /tʃidal/ | rizax /ɾizax/ | qadaw /qadaw/ | araw /araw/ |
| Moon | furaz /fuɾað/ | *bulaN /bulaN/ | buan /buan/ | bulad /bulad/ | ilas /ilas/ | qiljas /qiʎas/ | vehan /vehan/ |
| Star | fituʼish /fituʔiʃ/ | *bituqen /bituqen/ | bintuhan /bintuhan/ | boʼis /boʔis/ | mintol /mintol/ | vituqan /vituqan/ | vituen /vituən/ |
| Night | tanlhuan /tanɬuan/ | *beRŋi /beʀŋi/ | labian /labian/ | labiʼ /labiʔ/ | xinian /xinian/ | qezemezemetj /qəzəməzəmətʲ/ | mahep /mahəp/ |
| Rain | qusaz /qusað/ | *quzaN /quzaN/ | qudan /qudan/ | ʼudad /ʔuðað/ | udan /udan/ | qudjalj /quɟaʎ/ | cimoy /tsimoi/ |
| Snow | ulhza /uɬða/ | *SuReNa /SuReNa/ | paav /paav/ | sulda /sulda/ | hahela /hahela/ | sulja /suʎa/ | — |
| Wind | fari /faɾi/ | *bali /bali/ | luvluv /luvluv/ | baliʼ /baliʔ/ | bari /baɾi/ | vali /vali/ | pagpag /paɡpaɡ/ |
| Earth | pruq /pruq/ | *taneq /taneq/ | dalah /dalah/ | lalaʼ /ɾaɾaʔ/ | daxe /daxəʔ/ | qipu /qipu/ | tana /tana/ |
| Stone | fatu /fatu/ | *batu /batu/ | batu /batu/ | baʼtu /baʔtu/ | batu /batu/ | qaciljai /qatsiʎai/ | vato /vato/ |
| Mountain | huzun /huðun/ | *bukij /bukij/ | ludun /ludun/ | buyuʼ /bujuʔ/ | — | gadu /ɡadu/ | tokon /tokon/ |
| Sea | wazakan /waðakan/ | *tenem /tenem/ | ning-av /ŋiŋʔav/ | bayu /baju/ | awas /awas/ | ljavek /ʎavək/ | wawa /wawa/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | *ina /ina/ | tina /tina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | kina /kina/ | ina /ina/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | *ama /ama/ | tama /tama/ | ama /ama/ | aba /aba/ | kama /kama/ | ama /ama/ |
| I | yaku /jaku/ | *aku /aku/ | saikin /saikin/ | zaku /ʐaku/ | yaku /jaku/ | tiaken /tiakən/ | yaken /jakən/ |
| You | ihu /ʔihu/ | *iSu /iSu/ | suu /suʔu/ | kisu /kisu/ | isiu /isiu/ | sun /sun/ | imo /ʔimo/ |
| We | ita / yamin /ʔita / jamin/ | *kita / *kami /kita / kami/ | kata / kaimin /kata / kaimin/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | ita / yami /ita / jami/ | titjen / tiamen /titʲən / tiamən/ | yaten / yamen /jatən / jamən/ |
| Name | tanan /tanan/ | *ŋajan /ŋajan/ | ngaan /ŋaan/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | ngadan /ŋadan/ | ngadan /ŋadan/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ |
| Person | caw /θaw/ | *Cau /tsau/ | bunun /bunun/ | tademaw /tadəmaw/ | saw /saw/ | caucau /tsautsau/ | tao /tao/ |
| Head | punuq /punuq/ | *quluh /quluh/ | bungu /buŋu/ | tangah /taŋah/ | punu /punu/ | qulu /qulu/ | oo /oo/ |
| Eye | maca /maθa/ | *maCa /maCa/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | daurik /dauɾik/ | maca /matsa/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | lharina /ɬarina/ | *Caliŋa /tsaliŋa/ | tainga /taiŋa/ | tangilaʼ /taŋilaʔ/ | sainga /saiŋa/ | caliŋa /tsaliŋa/ | talinga /taˈliŋa/ |
| Nose | muzin /muðin/ | *ujuŋ /ujuŋ/ | ngutus /ŋutus/ | cihek /tsihək/ | muzing /muziŋ/ | ŋudus /ŋudus/ | momodan /momodan/ |
| Mouth | ruzic /ɺuðiθ/ | — | ngulus /ŋulus/ | laway /lawaj/ | ahan /ahan/ | angal /aŋaɭ/ | ngongoy /ŋoŋoj/ |
| Tooth | nipin /nipin/ | *nipen /nipen/ | nipun /nipun/ | ngipən /ŋipən/ | lepeng /ləpəŋ/ | alis /aɭis/ | nepen /nəpən/ |
| Tongue | zama /ðama/ | *Sema /Sema/ | mamaʼ /mamaʔ/ | səmaʼ /səmaʔ/ | dahama /dahama/ | sema /səma/ | lila /lilaʔ/ |
| Hand | lima /lima/ | *lima /lima/ | ima /ima/ | kamay /kamai/ | rima /ɾima/ | lima /lima/ | kamay /kamaj/ |
| Foot | kuskus /kuskus/ | *qaqay /qaqay/ | bantas /bantas/ | — | karaw /kaɾaw/ | — | ai /ai/ |
| Heart | putul /putul/ | *pusuq /pusuq/ | is-ang /isaŋ/ | gawang /ɡawaŋ/ | baga /baɡa/ | varung /vaɾuŋ/ | paso /paso/ |
| Bone | puʼu /puʔu/ | *CuqelaN /CuqelaN/ | tuhnaz /tuhnað/ | ʼukak /ʔukak/ | bul /bul/ | cuqelalj /tsuqəlaʎ/ | toang /toaŋ/ |
| Blood | talhum /taɬum/ | *daRaq /daRaq/ | haidang /haidaŋ/ | ʼidang /ʔidaŋ/ | damu /damu/ | djamuq /ɟamuq/ | rala /ralaʔ/ |
| Poop | caqi /θaqi/ | *Caqi /tsaqi/ | taki /taki/ | taiʼ /taiʔ/ | — | caqi /tsaqi/ | obot /obot/ |
| Love | madaidaz /madaiðað/ | — /—/ | madaidaz /madaidaz/ | maolah /maolah/ | — /—/ | nasaqaqa /nasaqaqa/ | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ |
| Tree | lhalum /ʎalum/ | *kaSiw /kaSiw/ | kahu /kahu/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kahuy /kahuj/ | kasiw /kasiw/ | kayo /kajo/ |
| Dog | atu /atu/ | *asu /asu/ | asu /asu/ | waco /watʃo/ | wazu /wazu/ | vatu /vatu/ | ino /ino/ |
| Cat | posi /posi/ | — /—/ | ngingiyaw /ŋiŋijaw/ | posi /posi/ | — /—/ | ngiaw /ŋiaw/ | koving /koviŋ/ |
| Fish | rusaw /ɾusaw/ | *Sikan /Sikan/ | iskan /iskan/ | buting /butiŋ/ | alaw /alaw/ | ciqaw /tsiqaw/ | among /amoŋ/ |
| Bird | rumfaz /ɾumfað/ | *manuk /manuk/ | hazam /hazam/ | ayam /ajam/ | ayam /ajam/ | qayaqayam /qajaqajam/ | laciw /latsiw/ |
| Butterfly | kurari /kuɾaɾi/ | *baŋbaŋ /baŋbaŋ/ | balikuan /balikuan/ | adipapang /adipapaŋ/ | — | pepe /pəpə/ | pahapahad no anito /pahapahad no anito/ |
| Egg | qaricuy /qaɾiθuj/ | *qiCeluR /qicəlur/ | lububunun /lububunun/ | tiʼkuk /tiʔkuk/ | batu pataru /batu pataɾu/ | qecilu /qətsiɭu/ | icioy /itsioj/ |
| Bear | cumay /θumai/ | *Cumay /Cumay/ | tumaz /tumað/ | tumay /tumai/ | — | cumay /tsumai/ | — |
| Horse | tishmamraw /tiʃmamɾaw/ | — | tasasikis /tasasikis/ | kabayu /kabaju/ | gamay /ɡamaj/ | rigi /ɾiɡi/ | — |
| House | kayan /kajan/ | *Rumaq /Rumaq/ | lumaq /lumaq/ | luma /luma/ | xuma /xuma/ | umaq /umaq/ | vahay /vahaj/ |
| Honey | fulhia wa madahun /fuɬia wa madahun/ | — | vanu /vanu/ | waneng nu wadu /wanəŋ nu wadu/ | — | alju /aʎu/ | — |
| Salt | qtilha /qtiɬa/ | *qasiRa /qasiRa/ | hasila /hasila/ | cikah /tsikah/ | pahah /pahah/ | qatia /qatia/ | asin /asin/ |
| Iron | balis /balis/ | — | ngul-a /ŋulʔa/ | mukin /mukin/ | — | vatjuljayan /vatʲuʎajan/ | vahalang /vahalaŋ/ |
| Book | patashan /pataʃan/ | — | patasan /patasan/ | cudad /tsudad/ | babizu /babizu/ | sapitj /sapitʲ/ | vakong /vakoŋ/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | *kaen /kaen/ | maun /maun/ | hekal /hekal/ | mekan /məkan/ | keman /kəman/ | kuman /kuman/ |
| Drink | naqayan /naqajan/ | *inum /inum/ | muqun /muqun/ | mihecak /mihetʃak/ | mimaazip /mimaːzip/ | temekel /təməkəl/ | minum /minum/ |
| Sleep | malhus /maɬus/ | *tuduR /tuduR/ | masabah /masabah/ | mabiʼ /mabiʔ/ | masuaw /masuaw/ | qemreng /qəmɾəŋ/ | mitkeh /mitkəh/ |
| One | tata /tata/ | *isa /isa/ | tasa /tasa/ | cacay /tʃatʃai/ | adang /adaŋ/ | ita /ita/ | asa /asa/ |
| Two | tusha /tuʃa/ | *duSa /duSa/ | dusa /dusa/ | tusa /tusa/ | dusa /dusa/ | drusa /ɖusa/ | doa /doa/ |
| Three | turu /tuɾu/ | *telu /telu/ | tau /tau/ | tulu /tulu/ | turu /tuɾu/ | tjelu /tʲəlu/ | tilo /tilo/ |
| Four | shpat /ʃpat/ | *Sepat /səpat/ | paat /paːt/ | sepat /səpat/ | supat /supat/ | sepatj /səpatʲ/ | apat /apat/ |
| Five | rima /rima/ | *lima /lima/ | hima /hima/ | lima /lima/ | xasep /xasəp/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | shaba /ʃaba/ | *RaCus /RaCus/ | saba /saba/ | lasubu /lasubu/ | haten /hatən/ | taidai /taidai/ | ranaw /ranaw/ |
| Hello | ya /ja/ | — /—/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | marayas /maɾajas/ | — /—/ | masalu /masalu/ | akokay /akokaj/ |
| Thank you | mihu /mihu/ | — /—/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | lalumahan /lalumahan/ | — /—/ | masalu /masalu/ | ayoy /ajoj/ |
| Good | kapah /kapah/ | — /—/ | masial /masial/ | kapah /kapah/ | — /—/ | nguanguaq /ŋuaŋuaq/ | mapia /mapia/ |
| New | faqlhu /faqɬu/ | *baqeRuh /baqeRuh/ | bahlu /baɬu/ | baluhay /baluhaj/ | xias /xias/ | vaquan /vaquan/ | vayo /vajo/ |
| Red | mashinaw /maʃinaw/ | *ma-iRaq /ma-iRaq/ | madanghas /madaŋhas/ | sumanah /sumanah/ | lubahing /lubahiŋ/ | qudjidjilj /quɟiɟiʎ/ | mivalah /mivalah/ |
| White | mapuzi /mapuði/ | *ma-putiq /maputiq/ | maduhlas /maduɬas/ | sanglac /saŋlatʃ/ | risilaw /ɾisilaw/ | vuqavuqalj /vuqavuqaʎ/ | malavang /malavaŋ/ |
| Black | maqusum /maqusum/ | *qeCeŋeN /qeCeŋeN/ | matahdung /matahduŋ/ | lumeniʼ /luməniʔ/ | terehen /təɾəhən/ | qucengecengel /qutsəŋətsəŋəl/ | mavaheng /mavahəŋ/ |
| Green | madishlum /madiʃlum/ | — | masanglav /masaŋlav/ | langdaway /laŋdawaj/ | tululik /tululik/ | liljuas /ɭiʎuas/ | mogaraw /moɡaraw/ |
| Blue | madishlum /madiʃlum/ | — | masanglav /masaŋlav/ | sumilaway /sumilawaj/ | — | cangiangia /tsaŋiaŋia/ | mogaraw /moɡaraw/ |
| Computer | tiannau /tiannau/ | — | tinnau /tinnau/ | tingnaw /tiŋnaw/ | — | tinnaw /tinnaw/ | tiannaw /tiannaw/ |
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