Tao
Austronesian (Batanic)
Tao (Yami, Tao Tao) is unique among Taiwan's recognized indigenous languages as the only Malayo-Polynesian (Batanic branch) — not Formosan — language, spoken by ~3K on Orchid Island (Lanyu, off Taiwan's southeast coast). Closely related to Ivatan of the Batanes Islands of the Philippines, reflecting prehistoric Austronesian seafaring routes. Notable for the elaborate Mivanwa flying-fish ritual cycle, sea-fishing taboos, and silver-armor warrior tradition. Latin orthography developed since 2001 alongside Taiwan's Aboriginal language education program.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tao
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian (Batanic)
| Meaning | Tao | Ivatan | Itbayaten | Maranao | Old Malay | Old Tagalog | Iriga Bicolano |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ranom /ranom/ | danom /danom/ | ranom /ranom/ | ig /iɡ/ | air /air/ | ᜆᜓᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /tubiɡ/ | tubig /tubiɡ/ |
| Fire | apuy /apuj/ | apoy /apoj/ | hapoy /hapoj/ | apoy /apoj/ | api /api/ | ᜀᜉᜓᜌ᜔ /apuj/ | kalayo /kalajɔ/ |
| Sun | araw /araw/ | araw /araw/ | araw /araw/ | alongan /aloŋan/ | matari /matari/ | ᜀᜇᜏ᜔ /araw/ | aldəw /aldəw/ |
| Moon | vehan /vehan/ | vohan /vohan/ | voxan /voɣan/ | bolan /bolan/ | bulan /bulan/ | ᜊᜓᜏᜈ᜔ /buwan/ | bulən /bulən/ |
| Star | vituen /vituən/ | vitohen /vitohɨn/ | vitoen /vitoɨn/ | bito-on /bitoʔon/ | bintang /bintaŋ/ | ᜊᜒᜆᜓᜁᜈ᜔ /bituʔin/ | bitóon /bituʔon/ |
| Night | mahep /mahəp/ | maʼhep /maʔhɨp/ | aʼxep /aʔɣɨp/ | gagawiʼi /ɡaɡawiʔi/ | malam /malam/ | ᜄᜊᜒ /ɡaˈbi/ | gabʼi /ɡabʔi/ |
| Rain | cimoy /tsimoi/ | timoy /timoj/ | timoy /timoj/ | oran /ʔoran/ | — | ᜂᜎᜈ᜔ /ulan/ | uran /uran/ |
| Wind | pagpag /paɡpaɡ/ | salawsaw /salawsaw/ | sarawsaw /sarawsaw/ | angin /aŋin/ | — | ᜑᜅᜒᜈ᜔ /haˈŋin/ | angín /aˈŋin/ |
| Earth | tana /tana/ | tana /tana/ | tana /tana/ | lopaʼ /lopaʔ/ | — | ᜎᜓᜉ /lupaʔ/ | ragaʼ /raɡaʔ/ |
| Stone | vato /vato/ | bato /bato/ | vato /vato/ | wato /wato/ | batu /batu/ | ᜊᜆᜓ /baˈto/ | gapo /ɡaˈpoʔ/ |
| Mountain | tokon /tokon/ | tokon /tokon/ | — | palaw /paˈlaw/ | — | ᜊᜓᜈ᜔ᜇᜓᜃ᜔ /bunˈdok/ | bukid /bukid/ |
| Sea | wawa /wawa/ | taaw /taaw/ | hawa /hawa/ | ragat /raɡat/ | — | ᜇᜄᜆ᜔ /daɡat/ | dágat /ˈdaɡat/ |
| Mother | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ibu /ibu/ | ᜁᜈ /ina/ | ina /ina/ |
| Father | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | bapa /bapa/ | ᜀᜋ /ama/ | ama /ama/ |
| Daughter | anak a mavakes /anak a mavakes/ | anak a mavakes /anak a mavakɨs/ | — | wataʼ a bebay /wataʔ a bəbaj/ | — | — | — |
| I | yaken /jakən/ | yaken /jakɨn/ | yaken /jakɨn/ | ako /ako/ | aku /aku/ | ᜀᜃᜓ /ako/ | akó /ʔako/ |
| You | imo /ʔimo/ | ʼimo /ʔimo/ | ʼimo /ʔimo/ | seka /sɵka/ | kamu /kamu/ | ᜁᜃᜏ᜔ /ikaw/ | ikā /ʔika/ |
| We | yaten / yamen /jatən / jamən/ | yaten / yamen /jatɨn / jamɨn/ | yaten / yamen /jatɨn / jamɨn/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | ᜆᜌᜓ / ᜃᜋᜒ /ˈtajo / kaˈmi/ | kitā / kamī /kita / kami/ |
| Name | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ᜅᜎᜈ᜔ /ŋalan/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ |
| Person | tao /tao/ | tao /tao/ | tawo /tawo/ | taw /taw/ | — | ᜆᜂ /taʔo/ | tawó /taˈwo/ |
| Head | oo /oo/ | oho /oho/ | oxo /oɣo/ | olo /olo/ | — | ᜂᜎᜓ /ulo/ | payo /paˈjo/ |
| Eye | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | ᜋᜆ /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | talinga /taˈliŋa/ | tadinya /tadiɲa/ | talinya /taliɲa/ | tangila /taŋila/ | — | ᜆᜁᜅ /taˈʔiŋa/ | talinga /taˈliŋa/ |
| Nose | momodan /momodan/ | mohed /mohɨd/ | mohdan /mohdan/ | ngirong /ŋiroŋ/ | — | ᜁᜎᜓᜅ᜔ /iˈloŋ/ | oróng /oˈɾoŋ/ |
| Mouth | ngongoy /ŋoŋoj/ | vivi /vivi/ | vivih /vivih/ | ngariʼ /ŋariʔ/ | — | ᜊᜒᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /biˈbiɡ/ | ngangá /ŋaˈŋa/ |
| Tooth | nepen /nəpən/ | nyipen /ɲipɨn/ | nyipen /ɲipɨn/ | ngipen /ŋipən/ | gigi /ɡiɡi/ | ᜅᜒᜉᜒᜈ᜔ /ŋiˈpin/ | ngipən /ŋipən/ |
| Tongue | lila /lilaʔ/ | rida /rida/ | rila /rila/ | dilaʼ /dilaʔ/ | lidah /lidah/ | ᜇᜒᜎ /diˈlaʔ/ | riraʼ /riraʔ/ |
| Hand | kamay /kamaj/ | tanoro /tanoro/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | tangan /taŋan/ | ᜃᜋᜌ᜔ /kamaj/ | kamət /kamət/ |
| Foot | ai /ai/ | kokod /kokod/ | ayi /aji/ | aʼi /aʔi/ | — | ᜉᜀ /paˈʔa/ | — |
| Heart | paso /paso/ | tawol /tawol/ | tawor /tawor/ | pusoʼ /pusoʔ/ | hati /hati/ | ᜉᜓᜐᜓ /puso/ | puso /puso/ |
| Bone | toang /toaŋ/ | tohang /tohaŋ/ | toʼxang /toʔɣaŋ/ | tolan /toˈlan/ | tulang /tulaŋ/ | ᜊᜓᜆᜓ /buˈtoʔ/ | tulang /tuʔˈlaŋ/ |
| Blood | rala /ralaʔ/ | raya /raja/ | raya /raja/ | rogoʼ /roɡoʔ/ | darah /darah/ | ᜇᜓᜄᜓ /duˈɡoʔ/ | rugoʼ /ruɡoʔ/ |
| Poop | obot /obot/ | — | — | taʼi /taʔi/ | — | ᜆᜁ /taʔe/ | — |
| Love | makakdeng /makakdəŋ/ | addaw /addaw/ | — /—/ | kalimo /kalimo/ | sayang /sajaŋ/ | ᜁᜊᜒᜄ᜔ /ibiɡ/ | pagkaibəg /paɡkaʔibəɡ/ |
| Tree | kayo /kajo/ | kayo /kajo/ | kayoh /kajoh/ | kayo /kajo/ | kayu /kaju/ | ᜃᜑᜓᜌ᜔ /kahoj/ | kahoy /kahɔj/ |
| Dog | ino /ino/ | cito /tʃito/ | tito /tito/ | aso /aso/ | anjing /andʒiŋ/ | ᜀᜐᜓ /aso/ | ayam /ajam/ |
| Cat | koving /koviŋ/ | — /—/ | — /—/ | pusa /pusa/ | — /—/ | ᜉᜓᜐ /pusa/ | kuting /kutiŋ/ |
| Fish | among /amoŋ/ | among /amoŋ/ | among /amoŋ/ | seda /səˈdaʔ/ | ikan /ikan/ | ᜁᜐ᜔ᜇ /ʔisˈdaʔ/ | isira /ʔiˈsiɾaʔ/ |
| Bird | laciw /latsiw/ | manomanok /manomanok/ | kangkang /kaŋkaŋ/ | papanok /papanok/ | burung /buruŋ/ | ᜁᜊᜓᜈ᜔ /iˈbon/ | bayóng /baˈjoŋ/ |
| Butterfly | pahapahad no anito /pahapahad no anito/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Egg | icioy /itsioj/ | ottioy /ottioj/ | ittiiyoy /ittiijoj/ | orak /orak/ | — | ᜁᜆ᜔ᜎᜓᜄ᜔ /itˈloɡ/ | itlog /ʔitloɡ/ |
| House | vahay /vahaj/ | vahay /vahaj/ | vaxay /vaɣaj/ | walay /walaj/ | rumah /rumah/ | ᜊᜑᜌ᜔ /bahaj/ | baləy /baləj/ |
| Milk | mizoko /mizoko/ | gatas /ɡatas/ | — | gatas /ɡatas/ | susu /susu/ | ᜄᜆᜐ᜔ /ˈɡatas/ | gatas /ˈɡatas/ |
| Salt | asin /asin/ | asin /asin/ | asin /asin/ | asin /asin/ | garam /ɡaram/ | ᜀᜐᜒᜈ᜔ /aˈsin/ | asin /aˈsin/ |
| Wine | potaw cyo /potaw tsjo/ | vino /vino/ | parek /parɨk/ | — | — | ᜀᜎᜃ᜔ /ˈʔalak/ | — |
| Rice | mogis /moɡis/ | — | paray /paraj/ | begas /bəɡas/ | — | ᜊᜒᜄᜐ᜔ /biˈɡas/ | bəgas /bəɡas/ |
| Iron | vahalang /vahalaŋ/ | vahayang /vahajaŋ/ | — | potaw /potaw/ | — | ᜊᜃᜎ᜔ /ˈbakal/ | — |
| Book | vakong /vakoŋ/ | libro /libro/ | — | ribro /ribro/ | — | — | libro /libˈɾo/ |
| Eat | kuman /kuman/ | koman /koman/ | koman /koman/ | mangan /maŋan/ | makan /makan/ | ᜃᜁᜈ᜔ /kain/ | kaən /kaʔən/ |
| Drink | minum /minum/ | ominom /ominom/ | ominom /ominom/ | minom /minom/ | minum /minum/ | ᜁᜈᜓᜋ᜔ /inom/ | inum /inum/ |
| Sleep | mitkeh /mitkəh/ | makayceh /makajtʃɨh/ | makahicex /makahitʃɨɣ/ | matorog /matoˈroɡ/ | tidur /tidur/ | ᜆᜓᜎᜓᜄ᜔ /ˈtuloɡ/ | turog /tuɾoɡ/ |
| One | asa /asa/ | asa /asa/ | aʼsa /aʔsa/ | isa /isa/ | sa /sa/ | ᜁᜐ /isa/ | əsad /əsad/ |
| Two | doa /doa/ | dadwa /dadwa/ | doha /doha/ | dowa /dowa/ | dua /dua/ | ᜇᜎᜏ /dalaˈwa/ | darwā /darwaː/ |
| Three | tilo /tilo/ | tatdo /tatdo/ | atlo /atlo/ | telu /təlu/ | tlu /tlu/ | ᜆᜆ᜔ᜎᜓ /tatˈloʔ/ | tolō /toloː/ |
| Four | apat /apat/ | aʼpat /aʔpat/ | aʼpat /aʔpat/ | pat /pat/ | mpat /əmpat/ | ᜀᜉᜆ᜔ /aˈpat/ | əpat /əpat/ |
| Five | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | ᜎᜒᜋ /liˈma/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | ranaw /ranaw/ | omyatos /omjatos/ | omyatos /omjatos/ | magatos /maɡatos/ | ratus /ratus/ | ᜇᜀᜈ᜔ /daˈʔan/ | sanggatos /saŋɡaˈtos/ |
| Hello | akokay /akokaj/ | Kapian capa nu dios /kapian tʃapa nu dios/ | — /—/ | kapian /kapijan/ | — /—/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜑᜌ᜔ /mabuhaj/ | kumusta /kumusta/ |
| Thank you | ayoy /ajoj/ | Dios mamajes /dios mamahes/ | — /—/ | salamat /salamat/ | — /—/ | ᜐᜎᜋᜆ᜔ /salamat/ | dyos mabalos /djos mabalos/ |
| Good | mapia /mapia/ | mapia /mapia/ | mapia /mapia/ | mapia /mapija/ | baik /baik/ | ᜋᜊᜓᜆᜒ /mabuti/ | marhəy /maɾhəj/ |
| New | vayo /vajo/ | vayo /vajo/ | vaʼyo /vaʔjo/ | bego /bəɡo/ | — | ᜊᜄᜓ /baɡo/ | bago /baˈɡo/ |
| Red | mivalah /mivalah/ | mavaya /mavaja/ | mavayah /mavajah/ | marigaʼ /maˈriɡaʔ/ | merah /merah/ | ᜉᜓᜎ /puˈlaʔ/ | pula /puˈla/ |
| White | malavang /malavaŋ/ | maydak /majdak/ | mahilak /mahilak/ | mapoti /maˈpotiʔ/ | putih /putih/ | ᜉᜓᜆᜒ /puˈtiʔ/ | maputi /maˈputiʔ/ |
| Black | mavaheng /mavahəŋ/ | mavaheng /mavahɨŋ/ | mavaeng /mavaɨŋ/ | maitem /maˈʔitəm/ | hitam /hitam/ | ᜁᜆᜒᜋ᜔ /iˈtim/ | itom /iˈtom/ |
| Green | mogaraw /moɡaraw/ | maarem /maarɨm/ | maharem /maharɨm/ | gadong /ˈɡadoŋ/ | — | — | — |
| Blue | mogaraw /moɡaraw/ | asol /asol/ | asol /asol/ | biro /ˈbiro/ | — | — | — |
| Computer | tiannaw /tiannaw/ | — | — | kompyuter /komˈpjutɛr/ | — | — | kompyuter /komˈpjutɛr/ |
| Orange | vazcinok /vaztsinok/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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