Warao
Language isolate
Warao (the autonym means "boat-people" — wa "canoe" + arao "people of") is a language isolate spoken in the Orinoco Delta of eastern Venezuela by ~28,000 speakers, with smaller groups in adjacent Guyana and Suriname. The Warao are riverine canoe-builders whose language has been resistant to genealogical classification — proposals linking it to Macro-Paezan or to Chibchan have not gained acceptance. Warao has unusually rich vocabulary for water, boats, and aquatic life reflecting their delta environment, and uses ergative-like alignment patterns with extensive use of nominal-clause structures. Maintained by relative isolation in the swampy delta, but increasingly under pressure from Spanish.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Warao
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Language isolate
| Meaning | Warao | Asháninka | Shipibo-Conibo | Northern Embera | Galibi Carib | Ivatan | Trinitario Mojeño |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ho /ho/ | nija /niha/ | jene /hɨnɨ/ | baido /baido/ | tuna /tuna/ | danom /danom/ | une /une/ |
| Fire | hekunu /hekunu/ | paamari /paːmaɾi/ | chii /tʃiː/ | tɨbɨ /tɨbɨ/ | wàto /wahto/ | apoy /apoj/ | yuku /juku/ |
| Sun | ya /ja/ | oorya /oːɾja/ | bari /bari/ | umãdau /umãdau/ | weju /weju/ | araw /araw/ | sache /satʃe/ |
| Moon | waniku /waniku/ | kashiri /kaʃiɾi/ | oxe /oʂɨ/ | hedeko /heɗeko/ | nuno /nuno/ | vohan /vohan/ | koje /kohe/ |
| Star | kura /kuɾa/ | impoquiro /impokiɾo/ | wishti /wiʃtĩ/ | chĩdau /tʃĩdau/ | siriko /siɾiko/ | vitohen /vitohɨn/ | jreegi /hreːçi/ |
| Night | ima /ima/ | tsiteni /tsiteni/ | yame /jamɨ/ | diamasi /diamasi/ | koko /koko/ | maʼhep /maʔhɨp/ | yoti /joti/ |
| Rain | naha /naha/ | inkani /iŋkani/ | oi /oi/ | kue /kue/ | konopo /konopo/ | timoy /timoj/ | tgiwo /tçiwo/ |
| Wind | ahaka /ahaka/ | tampea /tampea/ | niwe /niwɨ/ | nãũ /nãũ/ | pepeito /pepeito/ | salawsaw /salawsaw/ | tektikwo /tektikwo/ |
| Earth | hobahi /hobahi/ | kipatsi /kipatsi/ | mai /mai/ | egoro /eɡoˈro/ | nono /nono/ | tana /tana/ | moteji /motehi/ |
| Stone | hoyo /hojo/ | mapi /mapi/ | makan /makan/ | mõgara /mõɡaɾa/ | topu /topu/ | bato /bato/ | mari /maɾi/ |
| Mountain | inebe /inebe/ | otishi /otiʃi/ | manan /manan/ | eya /eja/ | wypy /wɨpɨ/ | tokon /tokon/ | ʼnugʼe mari /ʔnuçʔe maɾi/ |
| Sea | nabautu /nabautu/ | inkajare /iŋkahaɾe/ | aniparo /anipaɾo/ | pusa /pusa/ | parana /paɾana/ | taaw /taaw/ | — |
| Mother | dani /dani/ | ina /ina/ | tita /tita/ | papa /papa/ | sano /sano/ | ina /ina/ | meme /meme/ |
| Father | dima /dima/ | apa /apa/ | papa /papa/ | zeze /ˈzeze/ | papa /papa/ | ama /ama/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | ukatira /ukatiɾa/ | noshinto /noʃinto/ | bake ainbo /bake ãĩbo/ | kau /kau/ | emyiry /emɨiɾɨ/ | anak a mavakes /anak a mavakɨs/ | chicha /tʃitʃa/ |
| I | ine /ine/ | naaka /naːka/ | ea /ea/ | mʉ /mɨ/ | au /au/ | yaken /jakɨn/ | nuti /nuti/ |
| You | ihi /ihi/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ | mia /mia/ | bʉ /bɨ/ | amoro /amoɾo/ | ʼimo /ʔimo/ | piti /piti/ |
| We | oko /oko/ | arori / narori /aɾoɾi / naɾoɾi/ | noa /noa/ | tachi / dai /tatʃi / dai/ | kʉʼkaron / naʼna /kəʔkaɾon / naʔna/ | yaten / yamen /jatɨn / jamɨn/ | witi /witi/ |
| Name | wai /wai/ | ivairo /iβaiɾo/ | jane /hanɨ/ | trʉ̃ /tɾɨ̃/ | eeti /eːti/ | ngaran /ŋaran/ | ijare /ihaɾe/ |
| Person | arao /aɾao/ | atiri /atiɾi/ | joni /honi/ | ẽberã /ẽbeɾã/ | kariʼna /kaɾiʔna/ | tao /tao/ | ʼchane /ʔtʃane/ |
| Head | kua /kua/ | noito /noito/ | mapo /mapo/ | boro /boɾo/ | upuʼpo /upuʔpo/ | oho /oho/ | chuti /tʃuti/ |
| Eye | mu /mu/ | noki /noki/ | bero /bɨɾo/ | dau /dau/ | enu /enu/ | mata /mata/ | ugʼa /uçʔa/ |
| Ear | kohoko /kohoko/ | noyempita /nojempita/ | pabíki /pabiki/ | kɨuɨrɨ /kɨuɨɾɨ/ | panari /panari/ | tadinya /tadiɲa/ | choka /tʃoka/ |
| Nose | kari /kaɾi/ | noirina /noiɾina/ | rekin /ɾɨkin/ | kẽbʉ /kẽˈbɨ/ | anàta /anahta/ | mohed /mohɨd/ | siri /siɾi/ |
| Mouth | doko /doko/ | novante /noβante/ | kexa /kɨʂa/ | ite /ite/ | pota /pota/ | vivi /vivi/ | jaka /haka/ |
| Tooth | i /i/ | nayi /naji/ | xeta /ʂɨta/ | kida /kiɗa/ | yerï /jelə/ | nyipen /ɲipɨn/ | oʼe /oʔe/ |
| Tongue | hono /hono/ | nene /nene/ | jana /hana/ | kĩrãme /kĩɾãme/ | nuru /nuɾu/ | rida /rida/ | nene /nene/ |
| Hand | moho /moho/ | nako /nako/ | meken /mɨkɨn/ | jua /xua/ | aina /aina/ | tanoro /tanoro/ | wupe /wupe/ |
| Foot | omu /omu/ | noiti /noiti/ | tae /taɨ/ | hẽrũ /hẽˈrũ/ | pupu /pupu/ | kokod /kokod/ | iype /ijpe/ |
| Heart | kobe /kobe/ | nosanto /nosanto/ | joínti /hoˈinti/ | so /so/ | emanga /emaŋɡa/ | tawol /tawol/ | samre /samɾe/ |
| Bone | muhu /muhu/ | tonki /tonki/ | xao /ʂao/ | bɨuɨrɨ /bɨuɨɾɨ/ | yepo /jepo/ | tohang /tohaŋ/ | ʼyopege /ʔʲopeçe/ |
| Blood | hotu /hotu/ | iraja /iɾaha/ | jimi /himi/ | oa /oa/ | mʉnʉ /mənə/ | raya /raja/ | iti /iti/ |
| Poop | so /so/ | notia /notia/ | poi /poi/ | ãkaka /ãkaka/ | — | — | — |
| Love | anaubu /anaubu/ | nonintsi /nonintsi/ | noi /noi/ | kɨãga /kɨãɡa/ | kataneko /kataneko/ | addaw /addaw/ | emnako /emnako/ |
| Tree | dau /daw/ | inchato /intʃato/ | jiwi /hiwi/ | bakuru /bakuɾu/ | wewe /wewe/ | kayo /kajo/ | wkugi /wkuçi/ |
| Dog | beroro /beɾoɾo/ | otsiti /otsiti/ | ochiti /otʃiti/ | usa /usa/ | pero /peɾo/ | cito /tʃito/ | paku /paku/ |
| Cat | mishi /miʃi/ | mishito /miʃito/ | mishito /miʃito/ | misi /misi/ | meu /meu/ | — /—/ | mitsi /mitsi/ |
| Fish | homakaba /homakaba/ | shima /ʃima/ | yapa /japa/ | beda /ɓeda/ | woto /woto/ | among /amoŋ/ | jimo /himo/ |
| Bird | domu /domu/ | tsimeri /tsimeɾi/ | isa /isa/ | ĩbana /ĩbana/ | tonoro /tonoɾo/ | manomanok /manomanok/ | koyre /kojɾe/ |
| Butterfly | warowaro /waɾowaɾo/ | tsampi /tsampi/ | pëpë /pɨ̃pɨ̃/ | bagabaga /baɡabaɡa/ | palanpalan /palanpalan/ | — | — |
| Egg | ahi /ahi/ | iitsoki /iːtsoki/ | bachi /batʃi/ | ʉmʉ /ɨˈmɨ/ | iʼmo /iʔmo/ | ottioy /ottioj/ | wrayʼa /wɾajʔa/ |
| Horse | kawayo /kawajo/ | kavayo /kaβajo/ | kabayo /kabajo/ | kawayo /kawajo/ | kaware /kawaɾe/ | kabayo /kabajo/ | kwoyu /kwoju/ |
| House | hanoko /hanoko/ | pankotsi /paŋkotsi/ | xobo /ʂobo/ | de /de/ | paty /pati/ | vahay /vahaj/ | peti /peti/ |
| Milk | amiho /amiho/ | tsomitsi /tsomitsi/ | xoma /ʂoma/ | jub̶a /huˈɓa/ | manaty aikuru /manatɨ aikuɾu/ | gatas /ɡatas/ | chenyomo /tʃenʲomo/ |
| Salt | bamu /bamu/ | tivi /tiβi/ | tashi /taʃi/ | tã /tã/ | wajo /wajo/ | asin /asin/ | ʼchewe /ʔtʃewe/ |
| Rice | arisi /aɾisi/ | aroso /aɾoso/ | aros /aɾos/ | arro /aˈro/ | — | — | arusu /aɾusu/ |
| Iron | — /—/ | ashiro /aʃiɾo/ | yami /jami/ | jiorro /hioro/ | siparari /sipaɾaɾi/ | vahayang /vahajaŋ/ | gero /çeɾo/ |
| Book | karata /kaɾata/ | sankenarentsi /saŋkenaɾentsi/ | kirika /kiɾika/ | karta /kaɾta/ | kareta /kaɾeta/ | libro /libro/ | — |
| Eat | nahoro /nahoɾo/ | noyaki /nojaki/ | piti /piti/ | ko /ko/ | onökö /onøkø/ | koman /koman/ | niko /niko/ |
| Drink | hobi /hobi/ | noiri /noiɾi/ | xeati /ʂɨati/ | do /do/ | ëne /ɘne/ | ominom /ominom/ | ero /ero/ |
| Sleep | uba /uba/ | nomai /nomai/ | oxa /oʂa/ | kãĩ /kãĩ/ | ònyky /ohnɨkɨ/ | makayceh /makajtʃɨh/ | imko /imko/ |
| One | hisaka /hisaka/ | aparoni /apaɾoni/ | westíora /wɨstioɾa/ | aba /aɓa/ | o:wi /oːwi/ | asa /asa/ | etona /etona/ |
| Two | manamo /manamo/ | apite /apite/ | rabé /ɾabɨ/ | umé /ume/ | oko /oko/ | dadwa /dadwa/ | apina /apina/ |
| Three | dihanamo /dihanamo/ | maava /maːβa/ | kimisha /kimiʃa/ | ũbea /ũbea/ | oruwa /oɾuwa/ | tatdo /tatdo/ | mopona /mopona/ |
| Four | orabakaya /oɾabakaja/ | otsipasati /otsipasati/ | chosko /tʃosko/ | kimarẽ /kimaɾẽ/ | okupaen /okupaen/ | aʼpat /aʔpat/ | — |
| Five | mohabasi /mohabasi/ | apapacoroni /apapakoɾoni/ | pichika /pitʃika/ | juesuma /huesuma/ | ainatone /ainatone/ | lima /lima/ | — |
| Hello | yakera /jakeɾa/ | aviro /aβiɾo/ | jakon raoma /xakon raoma/ | sake bia /sake bia/ | mary /maɾi/ | Kapian capa nu dios /kapian tʃapa nu dios/ | pejamikpo /pehaˈmikpo/ |
| Thank you | kase /kase/ | naranki /naɾaŋki/ | irake /iɾake/ | bia bara /bia baɾa/ | irombo /iɾombo/ | Dios mamajes /dios mamahes/ | rusrupaya /ɾusɾuˈpaja/ |
| Good | yakera /jakeɾa/ | kameetsa /kameːtsa/ | jakon /hakon/ | bia /bia/ | epoja /epoja/ | mapia /mapia/ | tyuri /curi/ |
| New | hido /hido/ | iroakera /iɾoakeɾa/ | bena /bɨna/ | jiwidi /hiwidi/ | asery /aseɾɨ/ | vayo /vajo/ | ʼrajru /ʔɾahɾu/ |
| Red | símo /ˈsimo/ | kitioncari /kitionkaɾi/ | joshin /hoʃin/ | purea /puˈɾea/ | tapyre /tapɨɾe/ | mavaya /mavaja/ | titsi /titsi/ |
| White | hoko /hoko/ | kitamaari /kitamaːɾi/ | joxo /hoʂo/ | torroa /toˈroa/ | tamuʼne /tamuʔne/ | maydak /majdak/ | tjopu /thopu/ |
| Black | ana /ana/ | potsitari /potsitaɾi/ | wiso /wiso/ | pãĩma /pãĩma/ | tykaraije /tɨkaɾaije/ | mavaheng /mavahɨŋ/ | siso /siso/ |
| Green | hebuɾa /hebuɾa/ | kenashi /kenaʃi/ | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | pãwãrã /pãwãˈɾã/ | — | maarem /maarɨm/ | jeʼchu /heʔtʃu/ |
| Blue | hebuɾa /hebuɾa/ | — | yãkõ /jãkõ/ | pãwãrã /pãwãˈɾã/ | tupulu /tupulu/ | asol /asol/ | ripu /ɾipu/ |
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