Cou
Tsou
Austronesian (Tsouic)
Tsou (Cou) is one of the most endangered recognized Formosan languages of Taiwan, spoken in the Alishan mountain area of Chiayi County. Six vowel system (i, e, a, o, u plus high central ɯ). Highly elaborate focus system with four voices, marked on the verb. Famous for the historic Mayasvi tribal ceremony. Severely endangered with about 4,000 speakers, ~2,000 daily L1.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Tsou
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Austronesian (Tsouic)
| Meaning | Tsou | Bunun | Proto-Austronesian | Paiwan | Amis | Mandar | Samoan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | chumu /tsumu/ | danum /danum/ | *daNum /daNum/ | zaljum /zaʎum/ | nanom /nanom/ | uai /uai/ | vai /vai/ |
| Fire | puzu /ˈpuzu/ | sapuz /sapuz/ | *Sapuy /Sapuy/ | sapuy /sapui/ | namal /namal/ | api /api/ | afi /afi/ |
| Sun | hie /hie/ | vali /vali/ | *waRi /waRi/ | qadaw /qadaw/ | cidal /tsiðal/ | mata allo /mata alːo/ | lā /laː/ |
| Moon | feohʉ /feohɨ/ | buan /buan/ | *bulaN /bulaN/ | qiljas /qiʎas/ | folad /folað/ | bulang /bulaŋ/ | māsina /maːsina/ |
| Star | congroha /tsoŋɾoxa/ | bintuhan /bintuhan/ | *bituqen /bituqen/ | vituqan /vituqan/ | foʼis /foʔis/ | bittoeng /bittoeŋ/ | fetū /fetuː/ |
| Night | iofna /iofna/ | labian /labian/ | *beRŋi /beʀŋi/ | qezemezemetj /qəzəməzəmətʲ/ | lafiʼ /lafiʔ/ | bongi /boŋi/ | pō /poː/ |
| Rain | tnʉyʉ /tnɨjɨ/ | qudan /qudan/ | *quzaN /quzaN/ | qudjalj /quɟaʎ/ | ʼorad /ʔorad/ | urang /uˈraŋ/ | ua /ua/ |
| Snow | yuho /juho/ | paav /paav/ | *SuReNa /SuReNa/ | sulja /suʎa/ | soleda^ /soləðaʔ/ | — | kiona /kiona/ |
| Wind | poepe /poepe/ | luvluv /luvluv/ | *bali /bali/ | vali /vali/ | fali /fali/ | angin /aŋin/ | matagi /mataŋi/ |
| Earth | ceoa /tseoa/ | dalah /dalah/ | *taneq /taneq/ | qipu /qipu/ | sera /səra/ | litaq /litaʔ/ | ʻeleʻele /ʔeleʔele/ |
| Stone | fatu /fatu/ | batu /batu/ | *batu /batu/ | qaciljai /qatsiʎai/ | fakeluh /fakeluh/ | batu /batu/ | maʻa /maʔa/ |
| Mountain | fuengu /fueŋu/ | ludun /ludun/ | *bukij /bukij/ | gadu /ɡadu/ | lutuk /lutuk/ | buttu /butːu/ | mauga /mauŋa/ |
| Sea | tʉpʉ /tɨpɨ/ | ning-av /ŋiŋʔav/ | *tenem /tenem/ | ljavek /ʎavək/ | riyar /rijar/ | sasiq /sasiʔ/ | sami /sami/ |
| Mother | ino /ino/ | tina /tina/ | *ina /ina/ | kina /kina/ | ina /ina/ | indoq /indoʔ/ | tinā /tinaː/ |
| Father | amo /amo/ | tama /tama/ | *ama /ama/ | kama /kama/ | ama /ama/ | ama /ama/ | tamā /tamaː/ |
| Daughter | oko no mamespingi /oko no mamespiŋi/ | uvaazpingaz /uvaazpiŋaz/ | — | aljak a vavayan /aʎak a vavajan/ | fafahiyan a wawa /fafahijan a wawa/ | — | afafine /afafine/ |
| I | aʼo /aʔo/ | saikin /saikin/ | *aku /aku/ | tiaken /tiakən/ | kako /kako/ | iyau /ijau/ | aʻu /aʔu/ |
| You | suu /suʔu/ | suu /suʔu/ | *iSu /iSu/ | sun /sun/ | kiso /kiso/ | io /iʔo/ | ʻoe /ʔoe/ |
| We | aʼati / aʼami /aʔati / aʔami/ | kata / kaimin /kata / kaimin/ | *kita / *kami /kita / kami/ | titjen / tiamen /titʲən / tiamən/ | kita / kami /kita / kami/ | ikiq / ingkaiq /ikiʔ / iŋkaiʔ/ | tātou / mātou /taːtou / maːtou/ |
| Name | ongko /oŋko/ | ngaan /ŋaan/ | *ŋajan /ŋajan/ | ngadan /ŋadan/ | ngangan /ŋaŋan/ | sanga /saŋa/ | igoa /iŋoa/ |
| Person | cou /tsou/ | bunun /bunun/ | *Cau /tsau/ | caucau /tsautsau/ | tamdaw /tamðaw/ | tau /tau/ | tagata /taŋata/ |
| Head | fŋuu /fŋuu/ | bungu /buŋu/ | *quluh /quluh/ | qulu /qulu/ | tangal /taŋal/ | ulu /ulu/ | ulu /ulu/ |
| Eye | mcoo /mtsoo/ | mata /mata/ | *maCa /maCa/ | maca /matsa/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ | mata /mata/ |
| Ear | koeu /koeu/ | tainga /taiŋa/ | *Caliŋa /tsaliŋa/ | caliŋa /tsaliŋa/ | tangila /taŋila/ | talinga /taliŋa/ | taliga /taliŋa/ |
| Nose | ngʉcʉ /ŋɨtsɨ/ | ngutus /ŋutus/ | *ujuŋ /ujuŋ/ | ŋudus /ŋudus/ | ngosoʼ /ŋosoʔ/ | pudzung /puðuŋ/ | isu /isu/ |
| Mouth | ngayo /ŋajo/ | ngulus /ŋulus/ | — | angal /aŋaɭ/ | ngoyos /ŋojos/ | nganga /ŋaŋa/ | gutu /ŋutu/ |
| Tooth | hisi /hisi/ | nipun /nipun/ | *nipen /nipen/ | alis /aɭis/ | walis /walis/ | isi /isi/ | nifo /nifo/ |
| Tongue | umo /umo/ | mamaʼ /mamaʔ/ | *Sema /Sema/ | sema /səma/ | sema /səmaʔ/ | lila /lila/ | laulaufaiva /laulaufaiva/ |
| Hand | mucu /mutsu/ | ima /ima/ | *lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | kamay /kamaj/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Foot | tʼango /tʔaŋo/ | bantas /bantas/ | *qaqay /qaqay/ | — | waʼay /waʔaj/ | — | vae /vae/ |
| Heart | yofu /jofu/ | is-ang /isaŋ/ | *pusuq /pusuq/ | varung /vaɾuŋ/ | falokoʼ /falokoʔ/ | ate /ate/ | loto /loto/ |
| Bone | cʉehʉ /tsɨehɨ/ | tuhnaz /tuhnað/ | *CuqelaN /CuqelaN/ | cuqelalj /tsuqəlaʎ/ | ʼokak /ʔokak/ | buku /buku/ | ivi /ivi/ |
| Blood | hmuru /m̥uɾu/ | haidang /haidaŋ/ | *daRaq /daRaq/ | djamuq /ɟamuq/ | remes /rəməs/ | ceraq /tʃɛraʔ/ | toto /toto/ |
| Poop | tʼee /tʔee/ | taki /taki/ | *Caqi /tsaqi/ | caqi /tsaqi/ | tayiʼ /tajiʔ/ | tai /tai/ | tae /tae/ |
| Love | yainca /jaintsa/ | madaidaz /madaidaz/ | — /—/ | nasaqaqa /nasaqaqa/ | maolah /maolah/ | mappinawa /mapːinawa/ | alofa /alofa/ |
| Tree | evi /evi/ | kahu /kahu/ | *kaSiw /kaSiw/ | kasiw /kasiw/ | kilang /kilaŋ/ | kaju /kaju/ | laʻau /laʔau/ |
| Dog | avoʼu /avoʔu/ | asu /asu/ | *asu /asu/ | vatu /vatu/ | wacu /watsu/ | asu /asu/ | maile /maile/ |
| Cat | ngiao /ŋiao/ | ngingiyaw /ŋiŋijaw/ | — /—/ | ngiaw /ŋiaw/ | posi /posi/ | mio /mio/ | pusi /pusi/ |
| Fish | roskʉ /ɾoskɨ/ | iskan /iskan/ | *Sikan /Sikan/ | ciqaw /tsiqaw/ | futing /futiŋ/ | bau /ˈbau/ | iʻa /iʔa/ |
| Bird | zomʉ /zomɨ/ | hazam /hazam/ | *manuk /manuk/ | qayaqayam /qajaqajam/ | ayam /ˈajam/ | manu-manuq /manu manuʔ/ | manu /manu/ |
| Egg | fcuyu /ftsuju/ | lububunun /lububunun/ | *qiCeluR /qicəlur/ | qecilu /qətsiɭu/ | fitaʼol /fitaʔol/ | talloq /talːoʔ/ | fuamoa /fuamoa/ |
| Bear | cmoi /tsmoi/ | tumaz /tumað/ | *Cumay /Cumay/ | cumay /tsumai/ | tomay /tomaj/ | — | pea /pea/ |
| Horse | ʼuma /ʔuma/ | tasasikis /tasasikis/ | — | rigi /ɾiɡi/ | efa /əfa/ | — | solofanua /solofanua/ |
| House | emoo /emoo/ | lumaq /lumaq/ | *Rumaq /Rumaq/ | umaq /umaq/ | lomaʼ /lomaʔ/ | boyang /bojaŋ/ | fale /fale/ |
| Milk | nunʼu /nunʔu/ | susu /susu/ | — | — | hacol /hatsol/ | — | susu /susu/ |
| Honey | sʉhsʉ /sɨxsɨ/ | vanu /vanu/ | — | alju /aʎu/ | waneng no ʼodal /waneŋ no ʔoðal/ | — | meli /meli/ |
| Salt | sieu /sieu/ | hasila /hasila/ | *qasiRa /qasiRa/ | qatia /qatia/ | cilah /tsilah/ | sia /sia/ | masima /masima/ |
| Wine | emi /emi/ | — | — | vava /vava/ | fadisosoʼ a ^pah /faðisosoʔ a ʔpah/ | — | uaina /uaina/ |
| Rice | fʉesʉ /fɨesɨ/ | cilas /tsilas/ | *beRas /beRas/ | paday /padai/ | felac /fəlats/ | baras /baras/ | alaisa /alaisa/ |
| Iron | memeno /memeno/ | ngul-a /ŋulʔa/ | — | vatjuljayan /vatʲuʎajan/ | marad /marad/ | bassi /basːi/ | uʻamea /uʔamea/ |
| Silk | kinu /kinu/ | kaiku /kaiku/ | — | — | — | — | silika /silika/ |
| Book | tposʉ /tposɨ/ | patasan /patasan/ | — | sapitj /sapitʲ/ | cudad /tsuðad/ | suraq /suraʔ/ | tusi /tusi/ |
| Eat | bonu /bonu/ | maun /maun/ | *kaen /kaen/ | keman /kəman/ | komaen /komaən/ | maʼande /maʔande/ | ʻai /ʔai/ |
| Drink | ʼumnu /ʔumnu/ | muqun /muqun/ | *inum /inum/ | temekel /təməkəl/ | minom /minom/ | minung /minuŋ/ | inu /inu/ |
| Sleep | oengʉtʉ /oeŋɨtɨ/ | masabah /masabah/ | *tuduR /tuduR/ | qemreng /qəmɾəŋ/ | mafotiʼ /mafotiʔ/ | matindro /matindro/ | moe /moe/ |
| One | cone /tsone/ | tasa /tasa/ | *isa /isa/ | ita /ita/ | cecay /tsetsaj/ | mesa /mesa/ | tasi /tasi/ |
| Two | yuso /juso/ | dusa /dusa/ | *duSa /duSa/ | drusa /ɖusa/ | tosa /tosaʔ/ | dua /dua/ | lua /lua/ |
| Three | tuyu /tuju/ | tau /tau/ | *telu /telu/ | tjelu /tʲəlu/ | tolo /tolo/ | tallu /talːu/ | tolu /tolu/ |
| Four | sʉptʉ /sɨptɨ/ | paat /paːt/ | *Sepat /səpat/ | sepatj /səpatʲ/ | sepat /səpat/ | appe /apːe/ | fā /faː/ |
| Five | eimo /eimo/ | hima /hima/ | *lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ | lima /lima/ |
| Hundred | seʼconza /seʔtsonza/ | saba /saba/ | *RaCus /RaCus/ | taidai /taidai/ | smoʼot /smoʔot/ | sangatus /saŋatus/ | selau /selau/ |
| Hello | yokeoasu /jokeoasu/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | — /—/ | masalu /masalu/ | ngaʼay ho /ŋaʔaj ho/ | salamaʼ maʼondong /salamaʔ maʔondoŋ/ | talofa /talofa/ |
| Thank you | aveoveoyu /aveoveoju/ | uninang /uninaŋ/ | — /—/ | masalu /masalu/ | aray /araj/ | kuruʼ sumangaʼ /kuruʔ sumaŋaʔ/ | faʻafetai /faʔafetai/ |
| Good | ʼaemʼaemo /ʔaemʔaemo/ | masial /masial/ | — /—/ | nguanguaq /ŋuaŋuaq/ | kapah /kapah/ | macoa /matʃoa/ | lelei /lelei/ |
| New | faeva /faeva/ | bahlu /baɬu/ | *baqeRuh /baqeRuh/ | vaquan /vaquan/ | faluhay /faluhaj/ | baru /baru/ | fou /fou/ |
| Red | fʉhŋoya /fɨxŋoja/ | madanghas /madaŋhas/ | *ma-iRaq /ma-iRaq/ | qudjidjilj /quɟiɟiʎ/ | kahengangay /kahəŋaŋaj/ | mamea /mamea/ | mūmū /muːmuː/ |
| White | fʉecʉʼia /fɨetsɨʔia/ | maduhlas /maduɬas/ | *ma-putiq /maputiq/ | vuqavuqalj /vuqavuqaʎ/ | fohecalay /fohətsalaj/ | mapute /mapute/ | paʻepaʻe /paʔepaʔe/ |
| Black | kuaʼonga /kuaʔoŋa/ | matahdung /matahduŋ/ | *qeCeŋeN /qeCeŋeN/ | qucengecengel /qutsəŋətsəŋəl/ | kohtingay /kohtiŋaj/ | malotong /malotoŋ/ | uliuli /uliuli/ |
| Green | enghova /eŋxova/ | masanglav /masaŋlav/ | — | liljuas /ɭiʎuas/ | kangdaway /kaŋdawaj/ | mekurarraq /mekurarːaʔ/ | lanumeamata /lanumeamata/ |
| Blue | enghova /eŋxova/ | masanglav /masaŋlav/ | — | cangiangia /tsaŋiaŋia/ | langdaway /laŋdawaj/ | magavu /maɡavu/ | lanumoana /lanumoana/ |
| Computer | kampiuto /kampiuto/ | tinnau /tinnau/ | — | tinnaw /tinnaw/ | tingnaw /tiŋnaw/ | komputer /komˈputər/ | komipiuta /komipiuta/ |
| Ninety-nine | msiohʉ usio /msiohɨ usio/ | — | — | — | siwa a poloʼ ira ko siwa /siwa a poloʔ ira ko siwa/ | — | ivasefulu ma le iva /ivasefulu ma le iva/ |
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