Chitonga
Zambian Tonga
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Tonga-Lenje)
Tonga (Chitonga) of Zambia and Zimbabwe is a Bantu language of the M64 group, with ~1.7M speakers. Distinct from Tongan of the Pacific despite the name. One of the seven officially recognized regional languages of Zambia, spoken in the Southern and Western Provinces around Lake Kariba (and across in Zimbabwe). The Tonga people are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the Zambezi valley and were displaced by the construction of the Kariba Dam (1955–1959). Bantu noun class system with characteristic concord, no ejectives or clicks. Major literature includes the Bible translation and a substantial body of educational materials.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Zambian Tonga
ccokoleti
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Tonga-Lenje)
| Meaning | Zambian Tonga | Bemba | Shona | Kaonde | Manyika | Tumbuka | Nyamwezi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | meenda /meːnda/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ | mvura /mvura/ | mema /mema/ | mvura /mvuɾa/ | maji /madʒi/ | minzi /minzi/ |
| Fire | mulilo /mulilo/ | umulilo /umulilo/ | moto /moto/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | zuba /zuba/ | akasuba /akasuba/ | zuva /zuva/ | juba /dʒuba/ | zuva /zuva/ | zuŵa /zuβa/ | lyuba /ljuβa/ |
| Moon | mwezi /mwezi/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ |
| Star | nyenyezi /ɲeˈɲezi/ | intanda /intanda/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nsonda /nsonda/ |
| Night | busiku /busiku/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | buziku /buziku/ |
| Rain | imvula /imvula/ | imfula /imˈfula/ | mvura /mvura/ | mvula /mvula/ | mvura /mvura/ | vula /ˈvula/ | mvula /mvula/ |
| Snow | caanda /tʃaːnda/ | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ | sinoo /sinoː/ | sino /sino/ | — | chiwuvi /tʃiwuvi/ | theluji /θeluʒi/ |
| Wind | muwo /muwo/ | umwela /umwela/ | mhepo /ˈmʱepo/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | mhepo /mʰepo/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | myaga /mjaɡa/ |
| Earth | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | umushili /umuʃili/ | ivhu /iβu/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | ivhu /iβu/ | dongo /doŋɡo/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ |
| Stone | ibbwe /iˈbwe/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | ibwe /iˈɓwe/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | ibwe /iɓwe/ | libwe /liˈɓwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | cilundu /tʃilundu/ | ulupili /ulupili/ | gomo /ˈɡomo/ | mutumba /mutumba/ | gomo /ɡomo/ | phiri /pʰiɾi/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ |
| Sea | lwaanje /lwaːndʒe/ | bemba /bemba/ | gungwa /ɡuŋɡwa/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | gungwa /ɡuŋɡwa/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ |
| Mother | bama /bama/ | bamayo /bamajo/ | amai /amai/ | bamama /bamama/ | amai /amai/ | amama /amama/ | mayu /maju/ |
| Father | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | baba /baba/ | bataata /bataːta/ | baba /baba/ | adada /adada/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwana musimbi /mwana musimbi/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | mwanasikana /mwanasikana/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | mukunda /mukunda/ | mwana msungwana /mwana msuŋɡwana/ | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ |
| I | ime /ime/ | ine /ine/ | ini /ini/ | amiwa /amiwa/ | ini /ini/ | ine /ine/ | nene /ˈnene/ |
| You | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | obewa /obewa/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ |
| We | iswe /iswe/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | isu /isu/ | atweba /atweba/ | isu /isu/ | ise /ise/ | iswe /iswe/ |
| Name | izina /iˈziːna/ | ishina /iʃina/ | zita /zita/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | zita /zita/ | zina /zina/ | lina /ˈlina/ |
| Person | muntu /muntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | munhu /muˈnʱu/ | muntu /muntu/ | munhu /munʱu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | munhu /munhu/ |
| Head | mutwe /mutwe/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | musoro /musoro/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | musoro /musoro/ | mutu /mutu/ | mtwe /mtwe/ |
| Eye | liso /liso/ | ilinso /ilinso/ | ziso /ziso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | ziso /ziso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | kutwi /kutwi/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | nzeve /nzeβe/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | nzeve /nzeve/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | itwi /itwi/ |
| Nose | impemo /impemo/ | umona /umona/ | mhino /mʱino/ | moona /moːna/ | mhino /mʱino/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | nindo /nindo/ |
| Mouth | kanwa /kanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | muromo /muˈromo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | muromo /muromo/ | mlomo /m̩lomo/ | mulomo /mulomo/ |
| Tooth | linyo /liɲo/ | ilino /ilino/ | zino /zino/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ | zino /zino/ | jino /dʒino/ | lino /lino/ |
| Tongue | mulaka /mulaka/ | ululimi /ululimi/ | rurimi /rurimi/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | rurimi /rurimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | kuboko /kuboko/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | ruoko /rwoko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | ruoko /ɾwoko/ | woko /woko/ | kukono /kukono/ |
| Foot | cituta /tʃituta/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | tsoka /tsoka/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ | — | lundi /lundi/ | kugulu /kuɡulu/ |
| Heart | moyo /mojo/ | umutima /umutima/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ | mtima /m̩tima/ | moyo /mojo/ |
| Bone | ifuwa /ifuwa/ | ifupa /ifupa/ | pfupa /pfupa/ | kupa /kupa/ | godo /ɡodo/ | chiwangwa /tʃiwaŋɡwa/ | iguha /iɡuha/ |
| Blood | bulowa /bulowa/ | umulopa /umulopa/ | ropa /ropa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | ropa /ropa/ | ndopa /ndopa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ |
| Poop | tubi /tubi/ | amafi /amafi/ | tsvina /tsvina/ | — | tsvina /tsvina/ | mavi /mavi/ | maafi /maːfi/ |
| Love | luyando /lujando/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | rudo /rudo/ | butemwe /butemwe/ | rudo /ɾudo/ | kutemwa /kutemwa/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ |
| Tree | cisamu /tʃisamu/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | muti /muti/ | kichi /kitʃi/ | muti /muti/ | khuni /kʰuni/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | muvwa /muvwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | ncheŵe /ntʃeβe/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | kaaze /kaːze/ | pushi /puʃi/ | katsi /katsi/ | kapuso /kapuso/ | katsi /katsi/ | chona /tʃona/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | inswi /inswi/ | isabi /isabi/ | hove /hove/ | sabi /sabi/ | hove /hove/ | somba /somba/ | somba /soːmba/ |
| Bird | kayuni /kajuni/ | icuni /itʃuni/ | shiri /ʃiri/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | shiri /ʃiri/ | chiyuni /tʃijuni/ | noni /noni/ |
| Butterfly | inkoonkolekwa /iŋkoːŋkolekwa/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | shaveshave /ʃaveʃave/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | — | bulawura /bulawuɾa/ | — |
| Egg | iji /idʒi/ | ilini /ilini/ | zai /zai/ | jike /dʒike/ | zai /zai/ | sumbi /sumbi/ | igi /iɡi/ |
| Bear | bbeya /ˈbeja/ | bea /bea/ | bheya /bʱeja/ | mbeyala /mbejala/ | — | — | — |
| Horse | ibbiza /iˈbiza/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | bhiza /biza/ | mbili /mbili/ | bhiza /biza/ | hachi /hatʃi/ | falasi /falasi/ |
| House | ngʼanda /ŋanda/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | imba /imba/ | nzubo /nzubo/ | mhatso /mhatso/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ |
| Milk | mukupa /mukupa/ | umukaka /umukaka/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | mabeele /maβeːle/ |
| Honey | buci /butʃi/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | buki /buki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | buuki /buːki/ |
| Salt | munyo /muɲo/ | umucele /umutʃele/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mukele /mukele/ | munyu /muɲu/ | mchere /m̩tʃere/ | munu /munu/ |
| Wine | waini /waini/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | waini /waini/ | binyu /biɲu/ | waini /waini/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Rice | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | — |
| Chocolate | ccokoleti | — | chokoreti /tʃokoreti/ | — | — | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ | — |
| Iron | butale /butale/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ | simbi /ˈsimbi/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | simbi /simbi/ | chisulo /tʃiˈsulo/ | kisinza /kisinza/ |
| Wheel | ivwili /iˈvwili/ | umupeto /umupeto/ | vhiri /viri/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | vhiri /βiri/ | khwiro /kʰwiro/ | — |
| Book | ibbuku /iˈbuku/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | bhuku /ˈɓuku/ | buku /buku/ | bhuku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kulya /kulja/ | ukulya /ukulja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kuja /kudʒa/ | kudya /kudʒa/ | kurya /kuɾja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ |
| Drink | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kutoma /kutoma/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | koona /koːna/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | kurara /kuˈrara/ | kulaala /kulaːla/ | rara /ˈraɾa/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kulala /kulala/ |
| One | mwi /mwi/ | cimo /tʃimo/ | potsi /potsi/ | umo /umo/ | rimwe /ɾimwe/ | chimoza /tʃimoza/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | bili /bili/ | fibili /fibili/ | piri /piri/ | babiji /babidʒi/ | piri /piri/ | viŵiri /viβiɾi/ | ibili /iβili/ |
| Three | totatwe /totatwe/ | fitatu /fitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | satu /satu/ | tatu /tatu/ | vitatu /vitatu/ | idatu /idatu/ |
| Four | ne /ne/ | fine /fine/ | ina /ina/ | bana /bana/ | ina /ina/ | vinayi /vinaji/ | inne /inːe/ |
| Five | musanu /musanu/ | fisano /fisano/ | shanu /ʃanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | shanu /ʃanu/ | vinkhonde /viŋkʰonde/ | itaano /itaːno/ |
| Hundred | mwaanda /mwaːnda/ | umwanda /umwanda/ | zana /zana/ | kitota /kitota/ | zana /zana/ | zana /zana/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | mwabuka buti /mwabuka buti/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | mhoro /mʱoro/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | makadii /makadiː/ | monire /moniɾe/ | mwadita /mwadita/ |
| Thank you | twalumba /twalumba/ | natotela /natotela/ | maita /maita/ | nasanta /nasanta/ | mazviita /mazviita/ | yewo /jewo/ | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ |
| Good | kabotu /kabotu/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | chakanaka /tʃakanaka/ | kyawama /kjawama/ | kunaka /kunaka/ | chiweme /tʃiweme/ | soga /soɡa/ |
| New | pya /pja/ | cipya /tʃipja/ | itsva /itsva/ | kipya /kipja/ | itsva /itsva/ | chiphya /tʃipʰja/ | pya /pja/ |
| Red | subila /subila/ | kashika /kaʃika/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ | chila /tʃila/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ | swesi /swesi/ | laluku /laluku/ |
| White | salala /salala/ | buuta /buːta/ | chena /tʃena/ | toka /toka/ | chena /tʃena/ | tuŵa /tuβa/ | pe /pe/ |
| Black | siya /sija/ | fiita /fiːta/ | tema /tema/ | fiita /fiːta/ | tema /tema/ | fipa /fipa/ | pi /pi/ |
| Computer | kkompyuta /ˈkompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kombiyuta /kombijuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — |
| Tea | tii /tiː/ | tii /tiː/ | tii /tiː/ | — | — | tiyi /tiji/ | — |
| Coffee | kkofi /ˈkofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | — | khofi /kʰofi/ | — |
| Sugar | syuga /sjuɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | — | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | — |
| Ninety-nine | makumi aali fuka afuka /makumi aːli fuka afuka/ | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ | makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | makumi mapfumbamwe namapfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe namapfumbamwe/ | makhumi ghankhonde na ghanayi na vinkhonde na vinayi /makʰumi ɣaŋkʰonde na ɣanaji na viŋkʰonde na vinaji/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ |
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