Nheengatú
Nheengatu
Tupian
Nheengatu (Língua Geral Amazônica, "Good speech of the Amazon") is the modern descendant of Tupinambá, the Tupi-Guarani language used by colonial Portuguese Jesuits as a lingua franca for indigenous communication across coastal and Amazonian Brazil from the 16th-18th centuries. By the 19th century, after the colonial decline and Portuguese imposition, Tupinambá largely died as L1, but Nheengatu survived as a regional vernacular in the upper Rio Negro region near the Brazil-Colombia-Venezuela tri-border. In 2002, São Gabriel da Cachoeira (Amazonas, Brazil) became the first Brazilian municipality to recognize indigenous languages as official languages alongside Portuguese, with Nheengatu among them. ~6,000-8,000 speakers maintain it today, primarily in indigenous communities along the Rio Negro and its tributaries.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Nheengatu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Tupian
| Meaning | Nheengatu | Tupinambá | Guaraní | Mbyá Guaraní | Kimbundu | Luvale | Purépecha |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ií /iˈʔi/ | ʼy /ʔɨ/ | y /ɨ/ | y /ɨ/ | menha /meɲa/ | meya /meja/ | itsï /iˈtsɨ/ |
| Fire | tatá /tata/ | tatá /taˈta/ | tata /tata/ | tata /taˈta/ | tubia /tubja/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | chpíri /ˈtʃpʰiɾi/ |
| Sun | kuarasi /kwaɾasi/ | kuarasy /kwaɾaˈsɨ/ | kuarahy /kwaɾahɨ/ | kuaray /kʷaɾaˈɨ/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | jurhiata /xuɽˈjata/ |
| Moon | yasi /jasi/ | iasy /jaˈsɨ/ | jasy /dʒasɨ/ | jaxy /ʒaˈʃɨ/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | kutsi /ˈkutsi/ |
| Star | yasytatá /jasɨtaˈta/ | jasytata /jasɨtaˈta/ | mbyja /mbɨˈdʒa/ | jaxy tata /ʒaʃɨ taˈta/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | jóskua /ˈxoskʷa/ |
| Night | pituna /pituna/ | pytuna /pɨtuna/ | pyhare /pɨhaɾe/ | pytũ /pɨtũ/ | usuku /usuku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | churikua /tʃuɾikʷa/ |
| Rain | amana /amana/ | amana /amaˈna/ | ama /ˈama/ | oky /okɨ/ | mvula /mvula/ | vula /vula/ | janikua /xanikʷa/ |
| Wind | iwitú /iwiˈtu/ | ybytu /ɨβɨˈtu/ | yvytu /ɨvɨˈtu/ | yvytu /ɨvɨˈtu/ | kitembu /kitembu/ | peho /peho/ | tarhiata /taˈɽiata/ |
| Earth | yby /ɨβɨ/ | yby /ɨˈβɨ/ | yvy /ɨvɨ/ | yvy /ɨˈvɨ/ | mavu /mavu/ | mavu /mavu/ | echeri /etʃeɾi/ |
| Stone | itá /iˈta/ | itá /iˈta/ | ita /iˈtaʔ/ | ita /ita/ | ditadi /ditadi/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | tsakapu /tsaˈkapu/ |
| Mountain | iwitera /iwiteɾa/ | — | yvyty /ɨʋɨˈtɨ/ | yvyty /ɨvɨˈtɨ/ | mulundu /mulundu/ | pili /pili/ | uata /wata/ |
| Sea | paranawasú /paɾanawaˈsu/ | paranã /paɾãˈnã/ | para /paˈɾa/ | yeʼẽ /ɨeˈʔẽ/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | kʼéri japunta /ˈkʰeɾi xapunta/ |
| Mother | manha /ˈmaɲa/ | sy /sɨ/ | sy /sɨ/ | xy /ʃɨ/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | nana /ˈnana/ |
| Father | paiá /paja/ | tuba /ˈtuβa/ | túva /tuva/ | tuu /tuu/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | tata /ˈtata/ |
| Daughter | tayera /tajeˈɾa/ | tajyra /taˈjɨɾa/ | tajýra /taˈdʒɨɾa/ | tajy /taˈʒɨ/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | — |
| I | ixé /iˈʃe/ | ixé /iˈʃɛ/ | che /ʃe/ | xee /ʃeː/ | eme /eme/ | ami /ami/ | ji /xi/ |
| You | indé /ĩˈde/ | endé /ẽˈdɛ/ | nde /nde/ | ndee /ndeː/ | eie /eje/ | ove /ove/ | tʼu /tʰu/ |
| We | yandé /jãˈde/ | îandé / oré /ɲãˈdɛ / oˈɾɛ/ | ñande / ore /ɲãnde / oɾe/ | nhande / ore /ɲãnde / oɾe/ | etu /etu/ | etu /etu/ | juchá /xuˈtʃa/ |
| Name | sera /seˈɾa/ | tera /ˈteɾa/ | téra /ˈtera/ | tery /teɾɨ/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | arhikua /aɽiˈkʷa/ |
| Person | mira /miɾa/ | abá /aˈβa/ | yvypóra /ɨʋɨˈpoɾa/ | — | mutu /mutu/ | mutu /mutu/ | kʼuiripu /kʰʷiˈɾipu/ |
| Head | akanga /akaŋa/ | akanga /aˈkãŋa/ | akã /aˈkã/ | akã /aˈkã/ | mutue /mutue/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | ejpu /expu/ |
| Eye | sesa /sesa/ | t-esá /teˈsa/ | tesa /tesa/ | esa /esa/ | disu /disu/ | liso /liso/ | éskua /ˈeskʷa/ |
| Ear | nambi /nambi/ | nambi /nãbi/ | nambi /nãmbi/ | nambi /nambi/ | ditui /ditui/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | kutsïkua /kuˈtsɨkʷa/ |
| Nose | tĩ /tĩ/ | tĩ /tĩ/ | tĩ /tĩ/ | xĩ /ʃĩ/ | dizulu /dizulu/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | úrhi /ˈuɽi/ |
| Mouth | juru /juɾu/ | îuru /juˈɾu/ | juru /dʒuˈɾu/ | juru /ʒuˈɾu/ | dikanu /dikanu/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | penchumikua /pentʃumikʷa/ |
| Tooth | sanya /saɲa/ | aĩa /ãia/ | tãi /tãj/ | taĩ /tãj/ | dizu /dizu/ | lizo /lizo/ | sïni /sɨni/ |
| Tongue | apekũ /apekũ/ | apekũ /apekũ/ | kũ /kũ/ | kũ /kũ/ | dimi /dimi/ | limi /limi/ | katamba /katamba/ |
| Hand | pó /po/ | pó /po/ | po /po/ | po /po/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ | livoko /livoko/ | jájki /ˈhaxki/ |
| Foot | pí /pi/ | py /pɨ/ | py /pɨ/ | py /pɨ/ | kinama /kinama/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | jantsíri /xanˈtsiɾi/ |
| Heart | piá /piˈa/ | nheʼã /ɲẽˈʔã/ | pyʼa /pɨʔa/ | pyʼa /pɨˈʔa/ | muxima /muʃima/ | mutima /mutima/ | mintsita /minˈtsita/ |
| Bone | kãwera /kãweɾa/ | kanga /kaˈŋa/ | kangue /kãŋɡwe/ | kãgue /kãŋɡwe/ | kifuba /kifuba/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | úni /ˈuni/ |
| Blood | tuwi /tuwi/ | tuguy /tuɣɨ/ | tuguy /tuɣɨ/ | tuguy /tuɣɨ/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | iurhiri /juɽiɽi/ |
| Poop | tiputí /tipuˈti/ | tepoti /tepoˈti/ | tepoti /tepoti/ | — | tuji /tuʒi/ | tuji /tudʒi/ | kuatsita /kʷatsita/ |
| Love | saysu /sajsu/ | aûsub /aˈwsuβ/ | hayhu /haɨhu/ | mborayvu /mboɾaɨvu/ | henda /henda/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | uekpini /wekpini/ |
| Tree | mirá /miˈɾa/ | ybyʼrá /ɨβɨˈɾa/ | yvyra /ɨvɨɾa/ | yvyra /ɨvɨˈɾa/ | muxi /muʃi/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | anhatapu /aŋaˈtapu/ |
| Dog | yawara /jawaɾa/ | îagûara /jaˈɣwaɾa/ | jagua /dʒaɡwa/ | jagua /dʒaɡuˈa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | uíchu /ˈwitʃu/ |
| Cat | pixana /piʃana/ | marakaîá /maɾakaˈja/ | mbarakaja /mbaɾakadʒa/ | xiviʼi /ʃiviˈʔi/ | kasalu /kasalu/ | katako /katako/ | misitu /miˈsitu/ |
| Fish | pirá /piˈɾa/ | pirá /piˈɾa/ | pira /piɾa/ | pira /piɾa/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ | shi /ʃi/ | kurucha /kuɾutʃa/ |
| Bird | wirá /wiˈɾa/ | gûyrá /ɡʷɨˈɾa/ | guyra /ɡʷɨɾa/ | guyra /ɡɨˈɾa/ | njila /ndʒila/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | kuini /kʷini/ |
| Butterfly | panapana /panapana/ | panam /paˈnam/ | panambi /panaˈmbi/ | popo /popo/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | parakata /paˈɾakata/ |
| Egg | supiá /supiˈa/ | s-upiʼa /supiˈʔa/ | rupiʼa /ɾupiʔa/ | rupiʼa /ɾupiʔa/ | diiaki /dijaki/ | liulu /liulu/ | kuaxanda /kʷaʃanda/ |
| Bear | ursu /uɾsu/ | — | óso /ˈoso/ | kaguare-jagua /kaɡuaɾeʒaɡuˈa/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | osu /osu/ |
| Horse | kawarú /kawaˈɾu/ | kabaru /kaβaˈɾu/ | kavaju /kaʋaˈdʒu/ | kavaju /kavaˈʒu/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | kabaiu /kaˈbaju/ |
| House | oka /oka/ | oka /ˈoka/ | óga /oɡa/ | o /o/ | inzo /inzo/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | taa /ta/ |
| Milk | kambí /kamˈbi/ | kamby /kambɨ/ | kamby /kambɨ/ | kamby /kambɨ/ | lete /lete/ | mavele /mavele/ | lechi /letʃi/ |
| Honey | íra /ˈiɾa/ | eíra /eˈiɾa/ | eirete /eiɾeˈte/ | ei /ei/ | uiki /wiki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | tékua /ˈtekʷa/ |
| Salt | yukira /jukiɾa/ | îukyra /juˈkɨɾa/ | juky /dʒuˈkɨ/ | juky /ʒuˈkɨ/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | itúkua /iˈtukʷa/ |
| Wine | vinyu /viɲu/ | — | víno /ˈʋino/ | vinho /ˈviɲu/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | binu /ˈbinu/ |
| Iron | feru /ˈfeɾu/ | — | itakandua /itakanˈdua/ | ferro /ˈfɛʁu/ | felu /felu/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | tiámu /ˈtjamu/ |
| Book | papera /paˈpeɾa/ | kûatiara /kʷatiˈaɾa/ | aranduka /aɾanduˈka/ | kuaxia para /kuaˈʃia paɾa/ | divulu /divulu/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | karakata /kaɾakata/ |
| Eat | mbaú /mbaˈu/ | ʼu /ʔu/ | karu /kaˈɾu/ | karu /kaɾu/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | tʼireni /tʰiˈɾeni/ |
| Drink | u /u/ | ʼu /ʔu/ | yʼu /ɨʔu/ | yʼu /ɨʔu/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | itsïmani /itsɨmani/ |
| Sleep | kéri /keɾi/ | ker /keɾ/ | ke /ke/ | ke /ke/ | kuzeka /kuzeka/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kʼuíni /ˈkʰʷini/ |
| One | yepé /jepe/ | oîepé /ojeˈpe/ | peteĩ /peteĩ/ | peteĩ /peteˈĩ/ | moxi /moʃi/ | mwe /mwe/ | ma /ma/ |
| Two | mukũi /muˈkũĩ/ | mokõi /moˈkõj/ | mokõi /mokõĩ/ | mokoĩ /mokõˈĩ/ | iadi /jaːdi/ | vali /vali/ | tsimani /tsiˈmani/ |
| Three | musapíri /musapiˈɾi/ | mosapyr /mosaˈpɨɾ/ | mbohapy /mbohaˈpɨ/ | mboapy /mboaˈpɨ/ | tatu /tatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | tanimu /tanimu/ |
| Four | irundi /iɾunˈdʒi/ | oîoirundyk /ɔjɔiɾũˈⁿdɨk/ | irundy /iɾuˈdɨ/ | irundy /iɾunˈdɨ/ | uana /wana/ | wana /wana/ | tʼamu /tʰamu/ |
| Five | pú /pu/ | ambó /ãˈᵐbo/ | po /po/ | po /po/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | yumu /jumu/ |
| Hundred | papasawa /papaˈsawa/ | — | sa /sa/ | cem /sẽj̃/ | hama /hama/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | yumu ekuatsi /jumu ekʷatsi/ |
| Hello | poranga /poɾaŋɡa/ | ereîubé /eɾejuˈβe/ | mbaʼéichapa /mbaʔeitʃapa/ | aguyjeve te /aɡʷɨdʒɛˈβɛtɛ/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ | mwane /mwane/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | kuekatú /kwekaˈtu/ | — /—/ | aguyje /aɡuɨdʒe/ | haʼevete /haʔevete/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | diosï meyamu /diosɨ meˈjamu/ |
| Good | katu /katu/ | katu /kaˈtu/ | porã /poɾã/ | porã /poˈɾã/ | kiambote /kiambote/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | sesi /ˈsesi/ |
| New | pisasú /pisaˈsu/ | pysasu /pɨsaˈsu/ | pyahu /pɨaˈhu/ | pyau /pɨˈau/ | kiobe /kjobe/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | jimbanhi /ximbaŋi/ |
| Red | piranga /piˈɾaŋa/ | pirang /piɾaŋ/ | pytã /pɨtã/ | pytã /pɨtã/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | charhápiti /tʃaˈɽapiti/ |
| White | tinga /tiŋa/ | ting /tiŋ/ | morotĩ /moɾoˈtĩ/ | xiĩ /ʃiˈĩ/ | kuzela /kuzela/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | urapiti /uɾapiti/ |
| Black | pixuna /piʃuna/ | pixun /piʃun/ | hũ /hũ/ | hũ /hũ/ | kuxikela /kuʃikela/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | turhipiti /tuɽipiti/ |
| Green | suikiri /suikiɾi/ | oby /oˈβɨ/ | hovyũ /hoʋɨˈʔũ/ | ovy /ovɨ/ | — | — | xunhupiti /ʃuŋupiti/ |
| Blue | suikiri /suikiɾi/ | — | hovy /hoʋɨ/ | ovy /ovɨ/ | mulombe /mulombe/ | — | — |
| Cuckoo | anú /aˈnu/ | anũ /ãˈnũ/ | anó /aˈno/ | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | xaa /ʃaʔa/ | — | te /te/ | — | xá /ʃa/ | tiyi /tiji/ | té /te/ |
| Sugar | asukirí /asukiɾi/ | — | asuka /asuka/ | — | sukidi /suˈkidi/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | — |
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