KʌThemnɛ
Themne
Atlantic-Congo (Mel)
Themne (KʌThemnɛ) is one of the two largest Sierra Leonean languages alongside Mende, with ~1.5M speakers in the northern half of the country (Bombali, Tonkolili, Port Loko, Kambia, Karene districts). Part of the Mel branch of Atlantic-Congo (Niger-Congo), it is unrelated to most other major West African languages — Mel languages are restricted to Sierra Leone, Liberia, and adjacent areas. Has a grammatical noun-class system marked by class prefixes (kʌ-, ka-, m-, etc.) typical of Atlantic-Congo. Tonal language. The Themne were one of the major pre-colonial polities of the area; today Themne speakers form an important political and cultural constituency in Sierra Leone.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Themne
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Mel)
| Meaning | Themne | Eastern Maninka | Bambara | Bulu | Fang | Western Cham | Ibibio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mant /mant/ | ji /dʒi/ | ji /dʒi/ | mendim /mendim/ | mendim /mendim/ | ايا /ja/ | mmọọñ /m̩mɔːŋ/ |
| Fire | nant /nant/ | ta /ta/ | tasuma /tasuma/ | nduan /nduan/ | nduan /nduan/ | افوي /apuei/ | ikañ /ikaŋ/ |
| Sun | aret /aret/ | tele /tele/ | tile /tile/ | jôp /dʒɔp/ | zòp /zòp/ | أديتياء /aditiak/ | utịn /utɪn/ |
| Moon | aŋof /aŋof/ | karo /karo/ | kalo /kalo/ | ngon /ŋɡon/ | ngɔn /ŋɡɔn/ | بيلن /bilan/ | afiọñ /afiɔŋ/ |
| Star | akɔs /akɔs/ | lolo /lolo/ | dolo /dòlo/ | ôtɛtɛ /ɔtɛtɛ/ | ótéteŋ /ótéteŋ/ | فتاۛء /patɨʔ/ | ntantaafiọñ /ntantaːfiɔŋ/ |
| Night | a-ren /arɛn/ | su /su/ | su /su/ | alu /alu/ | alu /alu/ | مالم /malam/ | akonayio /akonajio/ |
| Rain | kʌ-ɔm /kʌɔm/ | sanji /saɲɟi/ | sanji /ˈsandʒi/ | mveŋ /mveŋ/ | mveng /mveŋ/ | — | edịm /eˈdɪm/ |
| Wind | a-fef /afef/ | fɔɲɔ /fɔɲɔ/ | fiɲɛ /fiɲɛ/ | évuŋulu /evuŋulu/ | mfongha /mfoŋa/ | أڠين /aŋin/ | afịm /afɪm/ |
| Earth | ʌ-thɔf /ʌt̪ɔf/ | duukolo /duːkolo/ | dugukolo /duɡukolo/ | si /si/ | si /si/ | تانه /tanah/ | isọñ /isɔŋ/ |
| Stone | asar /asar/ | kaba /kaba/ | kaba /kaba/ | akok /akok/ | akok /akok/ | فتاو /patau/ | itiat /itiat/ |
| Mountain | a-rɔŋ /arɔŋ/ | kɔnkɛ /kɔŋkɛ/ | kulu /kulu/ | nkôl /ŋkɔl/ | nkol /ŋkol/ | — | abod /abod/ |
| Sea | kʌ-baŋ /kʌbaŋ/ | kɔɔji /kɔːdʒi/ | kɔgɔji /kɔɡɔdʒi/ | maŋ /maŋ/ | mang /maŋ/ | — | akpa inyañ /akpa iɲaŋ/ |
| Mother | ya /ja/ | ba /ba/ | ba /ba/ | nyia /ɲia/ | nyia /ɲia/ | ماي /mai/ | eka /eka/ |
| Father | pa /pa/ | fa /fa/ | fa /fa/ | tata /tata/ | tara /tara/ | أمآ /amaː/ | ete /ete/ |
| Daughter | ɔwan ubɛra /ɔwan ubɛra/ | denmuso /dɛnmuso/ | denmuso /dɛnmuso/ | ngone /ŋɡone/ | ngoan /ŋɡoan/ | — | ayịn awonwaan /ajɪn awoŋwan/ |
| I | mi /mi/ | ne /ne/ | ne /nè/ | ma /má/ | me /me/ | كاو /kɔw/ | ami /àmì/ |
| You | mʌ /mʌ/ | i /i/ | i /í/ | wô /wɔ/ | wè /wè/ | هاۛ /hɨ/ | afo /àfò/ |
| We | sa /sa/ | an /án/ | an /án/ | bia /bja/ | bie /bje/ | دري /drej/ | nnyịn /ǹɲìn/ |
| Name | es /ɛs/ | tɔɔ /tɔː/ | tɔgɔ /tɔ̀ɡɔ/ | jôé /dʒɔe/ | eyola /ejola/ | أڠن /aŋan/ | anyịn̄ /aɲɪŋ/ |
| Person | ɔwuni /ɔwuni/ | mɔɔ /mɔː/ | mɔgɔ /mɔ̀ɡɔ/ | môt /mɔt/ | mot /mɔt/ | — | awo /awo/ |
| Head | ra-bomp /rabomp/ | kun /kũ/ | kun /kun/ | nlô /nlɔ/ | nlo /nlɔ/ | — | iwuod /iwuod/ |
| Eye | ra-fɔr /rafɔr/ | ɲa /ɲa/ | ɲɛ /ɲɛ/ | dis /dis/ | dis /dis/ | متا /mata/ | anyen /aɲen/ |
| Ear | a-lens /alɛns/ | tolo /tolo/ | tulo /tulo/ | alo /alo/ | alo /alo/ | — | utọñ /utɔŋ/ |
| Nose | a-sot /asot/ | nun /nũ/ | nun /nũ/ | — | dzu /dzu/ | — | iwuo /iwuo/ |
| Mouth | kʌ-səŋ /kʌsəŋ/ | da /da/ | da /da/ | anyu /aɲu/ | anyu /aɲu/ | — | inua /inua/ |
| Tooth | a-sek /asɛk/ | ɲin /ɲĩ/ | ɲin /ɲĩ/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | تڬي /taɡɛj/ | edet /edet/ |
| Tongue | a-mer /amɛr/ | nɛn /nɛn/ | nɛn /nɛn/ | ôyem /ɔjem/ | ôyem /ojəm/ | دله /dalah/ | edeme /edeme/ |
| Hand | kʌ-ta /kʌta/ | bolo /bolo/ | bolo /bolo/ | wo /wo/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | تاڠين /taŋin/ | ubọk /ubɔk/ |
| Foot | ka-tək /katək/ | sen /sen/ | sen /sèn/ | abo /abo/ | abo /abɔ/ | تاكاي /takai/ | ukot /ukot/ |
| Heart | ka-yɔn /kajɔn/ | jusu /dʒusu/ | dusu /dusu/ | nlem /nlem/ | nnem /nnəm/ | هتاي /hatai/ | esịd /esɪd/ |
| Bone | a-bant /abant/ | kolo /kolo/ | kolo /kolo/ | évés /eves/ | ves /ves/ | تلڠ /talaŋ/ | akpọ /akpɔ/ |
| Blood | machir /matʃir/ | jeli /dʒeli/ | joli /dʒoli/ | metyi /metʃi/ | meki /meki/ | دره /darah/ | iyiib /ijiːb/ |
| Poop | e-nin /enin/ | bo /bo/ | bo /bo/ | mebi /mebi/ | mebi /mebi/ | — | uduañ /uduaŋ/ |
| Love | ka-haŋkə /kahaŋkə/ | kanin /kanĩ/ | kanu /kanu/ | nyeʼa /ɲeʔa/ | ndzem /ndzem/ | ڬاوه /ɡauh/ | ima /ima/ |
| Tree | kʌ-ant /kʌant/ | yiri /jiɾi/ | jiri /dʒiri/ | élé /ele/ | eli /eli/ | كايو /kajuv/ | eto /eto/ |
| Dog | tən /tən/ | wulu /wulu/ | wulu /wulu/ | mvu /mvu/ | mvu /mvu/ | أتحو /atʰuv/ | ewa /ewa/ |
| Cat | ayari /ajari/ | ɲaari /ɲaːri/ | jakuma /dʒakuma/ | esinga /esiŋɡa/ | esin /esin/ | ميٛو /meuv/ | ekpe /ekpe/ |
| Fish | a-lop /alɔp/ | jɛɛ /dʒɛː/ | jɛgɛ /dʒɛɡɛ/ | kos /kos/ | kos /kos/ | كان /kan/ | iyak /ijak/ |
| Bird | abamp /abamp/ | kɔnɔ /kɔnɔ/ | kɔnɔ /kɔnɔ/ | anon /anɔn/ | anon /anɔn/ | — | inuen /inuen/ |
| Butterfly | atatka /atatka/ | firinfirinlen /fiɾinfiɾinlen/ | nfirinfirin /nfirinfirin/ | évulabebas /evulabebas/ | evulabeba /evulabeba/ | — | mkpufiopufiop /m̩kpufiopufiop/ |
| Egg | ra-mɛs /ramɛs/ | kili /kili/ | shɛfan /ʃɛfã/ | aki /aki/ | aki /aki/ | بوه /boh/ | ñkwaunen /ŋkwaunen/ |
| Horse | asoe /asoe/ | so /so/ | so /so/ | ékabela /ekabela/ | nkabele /ŋkabele/ | — | enañ mbakara /enaŋ mbakara/ |
| House | anseth /anset̪/ | bon /bon/ | so /so/ | nda /nda/ | nda /nda/ | تحاڠ /tʰaŋ/ | ufọk /ufɔk/ |
| Milk | ma-nɔnɔ /manɔnɔ/ | nɔnɔ /nɔnɔ/ | nɔnɔ /nɔnɔ/ | menyaŋ /meɲaŋ/ | menyang /meɲaŋ/ | — | mmọñ eba /m̩mɔŋ eba/ |
| Honey | ra-mai /ramai/ | li /li/ | di /di/ | wôé /wɔe/ | — | — | adan akwọk /adan akwɔk/ |
| Salt | mɛr /mɛr/ | kɔɔ /kɔː/ | kɔgɔ /kɔɡɔ/ | nku /ŋku/ | nku /ŋku/ | — | inụñ /inʌŋ/ |
| Wine | mawain /mawain/ | — | diwɛn /diwɛn/ | woon /woːn/ | vino /vino/ | — | wain /wain/ |
| Rice | pa-la /pala/ | malo /malo/ | malo /malo/ | ôlis /ɔlis/ | oles /oles/ | — | edesi /edesi/ |
| Iron | a-fat /afat/ | nɛɛ /nɛː/ | nɛgɛ /nɛɡɛ/ | étyé /etʃe/ | ekyeñ /ekjɛɲ/ | — | ukwak /ukwak/ |
| Book | kafa /kafa/ | gbafe /ɡbafe/ | gafe /ɡafe/ | kalate /kalate/ | — | — | ñwed /ŋwed/ |
| Eat | di /di/ | domun /domũ/ | dun /dũ/ | di /di/ | di /di/ | هواء /huak/ | dia /dia/ |
| Drink | mun /mun/ | min /min/ | min /min/ | nyu /ɲu/ | nyu /ɲu/ | ماوم /maum/ | ñwọñ /ŋwɔŋ/ |
| Sleep | dira /dira/ | sunɔɔ /sunɔː/ | sunɔgɔ /sunɔɡɔ/ | — | — | — | daiya /daija/ |
| One | piɲ /piɲ/ | kelen /kelen/ | kelen /kelen/ | fok /fok/ | bok /bok/ | تحا /tʰa/ | keed /kèèd/ |
| Two | pə-rəŋ /pərəŋ/ | fila /fila/ | fila /fìla/ | bɛ̌ /bɛ̌/ | bɛ̀ /bɛ̀/ | ڎوا /ɗuə/ | iba /ìbà/ |
| Three | pə-sas /pəsas/ | saba /saba/ | saba /saba/ | láá /laː/ | lɛ́ɛ́ /lɛː/ | كلاو /klaw/ | ita /ita/ |
| Four | pa-nlɛ /panlɛ/ | naani /naːni/ | naani /naːni/ | nyin /ɲin/ | nyin /ɲiːɲ/ | — | inaŋ /ìnàŋ/ |
| Five | tamath /tamat̪/ | loolu /lóːlu/ | duuru /duːru/ | tan /tan/ | tan /tan/ | لاماۛ /lamɨː/ | ition /itiɔn/ |
| Hundred | kɛmɛ /kɛmɛ/ | kɛmɛ /kɛmɛ/ | kɛmɛ /kɛmɛ/ | ntet /ntet/ | ntɛt /ntɛ̀t/ | — | ikie /íkíè/ |
| Hello | seke /seke/ | i ni se /i ni se/ | i ni ce /i ni tʃɛ/ | mbolo /mbolo/ | mbolo /mbolo/ | سلام /salam/ | mesiere /mesiere/ |
| Thank you | sɔŋ /sɔŋ/ | i ni ce /i ni tʃe/ | i ni ce /i ni tʃɛ/ | akiba /akiba/ | akiba /akiba/ | تريما كاسيه /tarima kasiʔ/ | sọsọñọ /sɔsɔŋɔ/ |
| Good | finɔ /finɔ/ | ka ɲi /ka ɲi/ | ka ɲi /ka ɲi/ | mbamba /mbamba/ | mbeng /mbeŋ/ | سيام /siam/ | mfọn /mfɔn/ |
| New | fu /fu/ | kuda /kuda/ | kura /kura/ | mfefé /mfefe/ | nféféñ /nféféɲ/ | باهاو /bahau/ | ufa /ufa/ |
| Red | yim /jim/ | wulen /wulen/ | bilen /bilen/ | évele /evele/ | vele /vələ/ | ماۛرياه /mɨriah/ | ndandat /ndandat/ |
| White | fera /fera/ | gbɛ /ɡbɛ/ | jɛ /dʒɛ/ | éfumulu /efumulu/ | fum /fum/ | — | afia /afia/ |
| Black | bi /bi/ | fin /fiɲ/ | fin /fin/ | évindi /evindi/ | vine /vine/ | — | obubit /obubit/ |
Page 1/9
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home