Kisukuma
Sukuma
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sukuma-Nyamwezi)
Sukuma (Kisukuma) is the largest single Bantu language of Tanzania by L1 speakers, with ~5M speakers spoken predominantly in the Lake Victoria region — Mwanza, Shinyanga, Tabora, Geita and Simiyu regions. The Sukuma people are Tanzania's largest ethnic group, around 16% of the national population. The language has tone (high-low contrast on stems and tense-aspect markers) and Bantu noun-class agreement (~18 classes); it is closely related to Nyamwezi (nym), with which it forms a dialect continuum, classified together as Bantu Zone F21. Despite the large speaker community, Swahili (sw) dominates education, media, and government across Tanzania, and Sukuma has limited written tradition or media presence.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Sukuma
Sources
- Glottolog: Sukuma
- Ethnologue: suk
- Maganga & Schadeberg (1992) Kanuri Comparative Lexicon (Sukuma section)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Sukuma-Nyamwezi)
| Meaning | Sukuma | Nyamwezi | Nyaturu | Makonde | Asu | Yao | Shambala |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | minzi /minzi/ | minzi /minzi/ | maji /madʒi/ | medi /medi/ | mende /mende/ | mesi /mesi/ | mazi /mazi/ |
| Fire | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | mshika /mʃika/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | ilyuva /iʎuβa/ | lyuba /ljuβa/ | yura /juɾa/ | liduva /liduva/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ |
| Moon | ng'weji /ŋweːdʒi/ | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mwedi /mwedi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ |
| Star | nyenyeezi /ɲeˈɲeːzi/ | nsonda /nsonda/ | njota /ndʒota/ | inondwa /inondwa/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ |
| Night | bujiku /budʒiku/ | buziku /buziku/ | utiku /utiku/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | usiku /usiku/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | kilo /kilo/ |
| Rain | mbula /mbula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mbura /mbura/ | imbula /imbula/ | mvua /mvua/ | ula /ula/ | fula /fula/ |
| Snow | seluji /seludʒi/ | theluji /θeluʒi/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | — | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | — | — |
| Wind | nyaga /ɲaɡa/ | myaga /mjaɡa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | lipungo /lipuŋɡo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ |
| Earth | malongo /maloŋɡo/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | ulongo /uloŋɡo/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | litaka /litaka/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ |
| Stone | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | liyanga /lijaŋɡa/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | lugulu /luɡulu/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | lichinga /litʃiŋɡa/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | muima /muima/ |
| Sea | nyanza /ɲanza/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | bahali /bahali/ | bahari /bahari/ | bahali /bahali/ | bahali /bahali/ |
| Mother | mayu /maju/ | mayu /maju/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | amao /amao/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | atati /atati/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | nshike /nʃike/ | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | nahaku /nahaku/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ |
| I | nene /ˈnene/ | nene /ˈnene/ | une /une/ | une /une/ | mine /mine/ | une /une/ | niye /nije/ |
| You | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | uve /uve/ | uwe /uwe/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | weye /weje/ |
| We | yise /jise/ | iswe /iswe/ | sese /sese/ | hwetu /hwetu/ | uswi /uswi/ | uwe /uwe/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ |
| Name | lina /ˈlina/ | lina /ˈlina/ | rina /ɾina/ | lina /lina/ | izina /izina/ | lina /lina/ | zina /zina/ |
| Person | munhu /munhu/ | munhu /munhu/ | muntu /muntu/ | munu /munu/ | mntu /mntu/ | mundu /mundu/ | mntu /mntu/ |
| Head | ntwe /ntwe/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | muti /muti/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ |
| Eye | liso /liso/ | liso /liso/ | riho /riho/ | liso /liso/ | iiso /iːso/ | liso /liso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ |
| Ear | gutu /ɡutu/ | itwi /itwi/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | likutu /likutu/ | isikio /isikio/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | shikio /ʃikio/ |
| Nose | lyulu /ljulu/ | nindo /nindo/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | imula /imula/ | fua /fua/ | lupula /lupula/ | mpua /mpua/ |
| Mouth | nomo /nomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ | momo /momo/ | kanya /kaɲa/ | momo /momo/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ |
| Tooth | lino /lino/ | lino /lino/ | ino /ino/ | lino /lino/ | jino /dʒino/ | liino /liːno/ | zino /zino/ |
| Tongue | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ |
| Hand | nkhono /ŋkono/ | kukono /kukono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | nkono /nkono/ | mkono /mkono/ | nkono /nkono/ | mkono /mkono/ |
| Foot | lupambala /lupambala/ | kugulu /kuɡulu/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | likambatu /likambatu/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | mulundi /mulundi/ |
| Heart | ngholo /ŋɡoːlo/ | moyo /mojo/ | umutima /umutima/ | ntima /ntima/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | mtima /mtima/ | moyo /mojo/ |
| Bone | iguha /iɡuha/ | iguha /iɡuha/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ligwangwa /liɡwaŋɡwa/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | liupa /liupa/ | vuha /vuha/ |
| Blood | mininga /miniŋɡa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ | sakami /sakami/ | myadi /mjadi/ | sakame /sakame/ | miasi /miasi/ | phome /pʰome/ |
| Poop | maashi /maːʃi/ | maafi /maːfi/ | — | mavi /mavi/ | — | manyi /maɲi/ | mavi /mavi/ |
| Love | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | kupenda /kupenda/ | lumba /lumba/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ |
| Tree | nti /nti/ | mti /mti/ | umuti /umuti/ | nnandi /nːandi/ | mti /mti/ | mtela /mtela/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | mva /mva/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | nshenye /nʃeɲe/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ |
| Cat | kalulu /kalulu/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | imaaka /imaːka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ |
| Fish | nshi /nʃi/ | somba /soːmba/ | somba /somba/ | homba /homba/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /soːmba/ | samaki /samaki/ |
| Bird | noni /noni/ | noni /noni/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | chuni /tʃuni/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | deghe /deɣe/ |
| Butterfly | ibalabapu /ibalabapu/ | — | — | lipuluputu /lipuluputu/ | — | chipuluputwa /tʃipuluputwa/ | hoho /hoho/ |
| Egg | igi /iɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | liye /lije/ | igi /iɡi/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | tagi /taɡi/ |
| Bear | nduba /nduba/ | — | — | dubu /dubu/ | — | — | — |
| Horse | falasa /falasa/ | falasi /falasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | falasi /falasi/ | farasi /farasi/ | falasi /falasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ |
| House | numba /numba/ | numba /numba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | ing'ande /iŋande/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | mabeele /mabeːle/ | mabeele /maβeːle/ | maya /maja/ | mavele /mavele/ | mavee /maveː/ | maŵele /maβele/ | mele /mele/ |
| Honey | buuki /buːki/ | buuki /buːki/ | ruke /ruke/ | uchi /utʃi/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | uchi /utʃi/ | woki /woki/ |
| Wine | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | divayi /divaji/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Iron | jisinza /dʒisinza/ | kisinza /kisinza/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | chitale /tʃitale/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | kiama /kiama/ |
| Wheel | idandali /idandali/ | — | — | — | — | wilo /wilo/ | — |
| Silk | halili /halili/ | — | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | halili /halili/ | hariri /hariri/ | halili /halili/ | halili /halili/ |
| Book | shitabo /ʃitabo/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kulya /kuʎa/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kurya /kurja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuya /kuja/ |
| Drink | kung'wa /kuŋwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kukumbila /kukumbila/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | kulala /kulala/ | kulala /kulala/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ |
| One | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ | umwe /umwe/ | nimo /nimo/ | imwe /imwe/ | mo /mo/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | ibhili /iˈβili/ | ibili /iβili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | vavili /vaʋili/ | avili /aβili/ | iŵili /iβili/ | mbili /mbili/ |
| Three | idatu /idatʊ/ | idatu /idatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | nnaatu /nːaːtu/ | adatu /adatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | katatu /katatu/ |
| Four | ine /ine/ | inne /inːe/ | inne /inːe/ | ncheche /ntʃetʃe/ | — | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | kane /kaːne/ |
| Five | itano /itano/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itano /itano/ | mwaanu /mwaːnu/ | — | nsano /nsano/ | kashano /kaʃano/ |
| Hundred | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | miya /miːja/ | ighana /iɣana/ | mia /mia/ | gana /ɡana/ |
| Hello | mwangaluka /mwaŋɡaluka/ | mwadita /mwadita/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | nakushukuru /nakuʃukuɾu/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | salama /salama/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | nakulumba /nakulumba/ | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ | asante /aˈsante/ | nashukuru /naʃukuɾu/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | — /—/ | asante /asante/ |
| Good | shihi /ʃihi/ | soga /soɡa/ | kihi /kihi/ | mbone /mbone/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | mtana /mtana/ |
| New | pya /pja/ | pya /pja/ | mpya /mpja/ | chahambi /tʃahambi/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | mpya /mpja/ |
| Red | ndulu /ndulu/ | laluku /laluku/ | ntune /ntune/ | nahuvi /nahuvi/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ |
| White | ape /ape/ | pe /pe/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | naswe /naswe/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ |
| Black | api /api/ | pi /pi/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | napi /napi/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | size /size/ |
| Ninety-nine | makumi kenda na kenda /makʊmi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | tisini na tisa /tisini na tisa/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ |
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