Tiv
Niger-Congo
Tiv is the principal language of the Tiv ethnic group, the largest non-Hausa-Fulani population of central Nigeria, with ~5 million speakers concentrated in Benue State around Gboko and Makurdi. Linguistically, Tiv belongs to the Tivoid subgroup of Bantoid (sister branch to the Bantu languages), but most other Tivoid languages are in Cameroon, making Tiv geographically isolated within its subgroup. Tiv has classical Niger-Congo features: noun-class system (~10 classes), tonal (3 tones with downstep), and SVO constituent order. The Abraham 1940 Tiv-English Dictionary remains a foundational reference. Tiv has a strong literary tradition since the 1930s, with major works including the Tiv New Testament (1936) and the Tiv-language newspaper "Tion".
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tiv
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Tiv | Bemba | Zambian Tonga | Kaonde | Nyaturu | Luvale | Kikuyu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mngerem /mŋɡɛɾɛm/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ | meenda /meːnda/ | mema /mema/ | maji /madʒi/ | meya /meja/ | maaĩ /maːe/ |
| Fire | usu /usu/ | umulilo /umulilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | moto /moto/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | mwaki /mwaki/ |
| Sun | iyange /ijaŋɡe/ | akasuba /akasuba/ | zuba /zuba/ | juba /dʒuba/ | yura /juɾa/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | riũa /ɾioa/ |
| Moon | uwer /uwɛɾ/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ |
| Star | ishan /iˈʃan/ | intanda /intanda/ | nyenyezi /ɲeˈɲezi/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | njota /ndʒota/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ |
| Night | tugh /tuɣ/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | busiku /busiku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ | utiku /utiku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ |
| Rain | ura /ˈura/ | imfula /imˈfula/ | imvula /imvula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mbura /mbura/ | vula /vula/ | mbura /ˈmbura/ |
| Snow | senou /senou/ | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ | caanda /tʃaːnda/ | sino /sino/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | ira /ˈiɾa/ |
| Wind | ahumbe /ahumbe/ | umwela /umwela/ | muwo /muwo/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | peho /peho/ | rũhuho /ɾòhùːhɔ̀/ |
| Earth | tar /tar/ | umushili /umuʃili/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | mavu /mavu/ | tĩĩri /teːɾi/ |
| Stone | iwen /iwen/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | ibbwe /iˈbwe/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | ihiga /iˈhiɣa/ |
| Mountain | uwo /uwo/ | ulupili /ulupili/ | cilundu /tʃilundu/ | mutumba /mutumba/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | pili /pili/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ |
| Sea | zegemnger /zeɡemŋɡɛɾ/ | bemba /bemba/ | lwaanje /lwaːndʒe/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | — |
| Mother | ngo /ŋɡo/ | bamayo /bamajo/ | bama /bama/ | bamama /bamama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | maitũ /maito/ |
| Father | ter /tɛɾ/ | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | wan u kwase /wan u kwase/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | mwana musimbi /mwana musimbi/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ |
| I | mo /mɔ/ | ine /ine/ | ime /ime/ | amiwa /amiwa/ | une /une/ | ami /ami/ | niĩ /nie/ |
| You | we /we/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | obewa /obewa/ | uwe /uwe/ | ove /ove/ | wee /wɛː/ |
| We | se /se/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | iswe /iswe/ | atweba /atweba/ | sese /sese/ | etu /etu/ | ithuĩ /iðue/ |
| Name | iti /iˈti/ | ishina /iʃina/ | izina /iˈziːna/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | rina /ɾina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ |
| Person | or /or/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | mũndũ /mondo/ |
| Head | ityough /itjouɣ/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ |
| Eye | ishe /iʃe/ | ilinso /ilinso/ | liso /liso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | riho /riho/ | liso /liso/ | riitho /riːðɔ/ |
| Ear | togh /toɣ/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | gũtũ /ɣoto/ |
| Nose | hinga /hiŋɡa/ | umona /umona/ | impemo /impemo/ | moona /moːna/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | iniũrũ /inioɾo/ |
| Mouth | zwa /zwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | momo /momo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanua /kaˈnua/ |
| Tooth | inyigh /iɲiɣ/ | ilino /ilino/ | linyo /liɲo/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ | ino /ino/ | lizo /lizo/ | igego /iɣɛɣɔ/ |
| Tongue | nombor /nombor/ | ululimi /ululimi/ | mulaka /mulaka/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | limi /limi/ | rũrĩmĩ /ɾoɾeme/ |
| Hand | uwegh /uweɣ/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | livoko /livoko/ | guoko /ɡuɔkɔ/ |
| Foot | nguhar /ŋɡuhar/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | cituta /tʃituta/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | kũgũrũ /koɣoro/ |
| Heart | ishima /iʃima/ | umutima /umutima/ | moyo /mojo/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | umutima /umutima/ | mutima /mutima/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ |
| Bone | kuhe /kuhe/ | ifupa /ifupa/ | ifuwa /ifuwa/ | kupa /kupa/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | ihĩndĩ /ihende/ |
| Blood | awambe /awambe/ | umulopa /umulopa/ | bulowa /bulowa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | sakami /sakami/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | thakame /ðakamɛ/ |
| Poop | akôngo /akɔŋɡo/ | amafi /amafi/ | tubi /tubi/ | — | — | tuji /tudʒi/ | mai /mai/ |
| Love | dooshima /doːʃima/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | luyando /lujando/ | butemwe /butemwe/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ |
| Tree | kon /kon/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | cisamu /tʃisamu/ | kichi /kitʃi/ | umuti /umuti/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | mũtĩ /mote/ |
| Dog | iwa /iwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | muvwa /muvwa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ |
| Cat | anyam /aɲam/ | pushi /puʃi/ | kaaze /kaːze/ | kapuso /kapuso/ | paka /paka/ | katako /katako/ | nyaũ /ɲao/ |
| Fish | ishu /iʃu/ | isabi /isabi/ | inswi /inswi/ | sabi /sabi/ | somba /somba/ | shi /ʃi/ | thamaki /ðamaki/ |
| Bird | inyon /iɲɔn/ | icuni /itʃuni/ | kayuni /kajuni/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | nyoni /ˈɲɔni/ |
| Butterfly | kokombo /kokombo/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | inkoonkolekwa /iŋkoːŋkolekwa/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | — | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | kĩĩhuruta /keːhuruːta/ |
| Egg | ijikegh /idʒikeɣ/ | ilini /ilini/ | iji /idʒi/ | jike /dʒike/ | ighe /iɣe/ | liulu /liulu/ | itumbĩ /itumbe/ |
| Horse | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | ibbiza /iˈbiza/ | mbili /mbili/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ |
| House | ya /ja/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | ngʼanda /ŋanda/ | nzubo /nzubo/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | nyũmba /ɲomba/ |
| Milk | atumba /atumba/ | umukaka /umukaka/ | mukupa /mukupa/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | maya /maja/ | mavele /mavele/ | iria /iria/ |
| Honey | iyough /ijouɣ/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | buci /butʃi/ | buki /buki/ | ruke /ruke/ | uchi /utʃi/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ |
| Salt | bar /baɾ/ | umucele /umutʃele/ | munyo /muɲo/ | mukele /mukele/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ |
| Wine | wain /wain/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | waini /waini/ | binyu /biɲu/ | divai /divai/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ |
| Iron | iyôgh /ijɔɣ/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ | butale /butale/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | kĩgera /keˈɣɛra/ |
| Wheel | ikyaver /ikjaver/ | umupeto /umupeto/ | ivwili /iˈvwili/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | — | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | kĩgaragari /keɣaraɣari/ |
| Silk | shiliti /ʃiliti/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | — | shilika /ʃilika/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ |
| Book | takerada /takerada/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | ibbuku /iˈbuku/ | buku /buku/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | ibuku /iβuku/ |
| Eat | yan /jan/ | ukulya /ukulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kuja /kudʒa/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ |
| Drink | mba /mba/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kutoma /kutoma/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ |
| Sleep | yav /jav/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | koona /koːna/ | kulaala /kulaːla/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | gũkoma /ɣoˈkɔma/ |
| One | mom /mom/ | cimo /tʃimo/ | mwi /mwi/ | umo /umo/ | umwe /umwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ |
| Two | uhar /uˈhar/ | fibili /fibili/ | bili /bili/ | babiji /babidʒi/ | aviri /aβiri/ | vali /vali/ | igĩrĩ /iɣeɾe/ |
| Three | utar /utar/ | fitatu /fitatu/ | totatwe /totatwe/ | satu /satu/ | itatu /itatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | ithatũ /iðato/ |
| Four | unyiin /uɲiː/ | fine /fine/ | ne /ne/ | bana /bana/ | inne /inːe/ | wana /wana/ | inya /iɲa/ |
| Five | utaan /utaːn/ | fisano /fisano/ | musanu /musanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | itano /itano/ | tanu /tanu/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ |
| Hundred | deri /dɛɾi/ | umwanda /umwanda/ | mwaanda /mwaːnda/ | kitota /kitota/ | ighana /iɣana/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | igana /iɣana/ |
| Hello | m sugh /m suɣ/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | mwabuka buti /mwabuka buti/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | mwane /mwane/ | wĩmwega /wemwɛɡa/ |
| Thank you | m sugh u /m suɣ u/ | natotela /natotela/ | twalumba /twalumba/ | nasanta /nasanta/ | asante /aˈsante/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | nĩ wega /ne wɛɡa/ |
| Good | dedoo /dedoː/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | kabotu /kabotu/ | kyawama /kjawama/ | kihi /kihi/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | wega /wɛɡa/ |
| New | he /he/ | cipya /tʃipja/ | pya /pja/ | kipya /kipja/ | mpya /mpja/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | kĩerũ /keɛro/ |
| Red | nyian /ɲian/ | kashika /kaʃika/ | subila /subila/ | chila /tʃila/ | ntune /ntune/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | ũtune /otunɛ/ |
| White | pupu /pupu/ | buuta /buːta/ | salala /salala/ | toka /toka/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | werũ /wɛro/ |
| Black | il /il/ | fiita /fiːta/ | siya /sija/ | fiita /fiːta/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | ũirũ /oiro/ |
| Green | kwel /kʷel/ | katapa /katapa/ | — | — | — | — | ngirini /ŋɡirini/ |
| Blue | kwel /kʷel/ | — | — | — | — | — | bururu /bururu/ |
| Computer | kômputa /kɔmputa/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kkompyuta /ˈkompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kompiuta /kɔmpiuta/ |
| Tea | tii /tiː/ | tii /tiː/ | tii /tiː/ | — | — | tiyi /tiji/ | cai /tʃaːi/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kkofi /ˈkofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | kofi /kofi/ | kahũa /kahowa/ |
| Sugar | shogar /ʃoɡar/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | syuga /sjuɡa/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | — | shuka /ʃuka/ | cukari /tʃukaːɾi/ |
| Orange | alum /alum/ | — | — | — | — | — | icungwa /itʃuŋɡwa/ |
| Ninety-nine | akunduanyiingber kar utaankarunyiin /akunduaɲiːɡber kar utaːnkaruɲiː/ | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ | makumi aali fuka afuka /makumi aːli fuka afuka/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | mĩrongo kenda na kenda /meɾɔŋɡɔ kɛnda na kɛnda/ |
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