Kamëntšá language

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Indigenous language of the Kamëntšá people of Colombia

title: "Kamëntšá language" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["language-isolates-of-south-america", "languages-of-colombia"] description: "Indigenous language of the Kamëntšá people of Colombia" topic_path: "linguistics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamëntšá_language" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Indigenous language of the Kamëntšá people of Colombia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox language"]

Field	Value
name	Kamëntšá
altname	Camsá, Sibundoy
region	Putumayo Department
speakers	4,000
ethnicity	Kamëntšá people
date	2008
ref	e18
familycolor	American
family	Language isolate
iso3	kbh
glotto	cams1241
glottorefname	Camsá
map	Camsá.png
mapcaption	Location of the Kamëntšá language speakers.
states	Colombia
ancestor	Quillasinga?
pronunciation
nativename	Kamintšá
::

Kamëntšá, commonly rendered Camsá or Sibundoy in old sources, is a language isolate and native language of the Kamëntšá people who primarily inhabit the Sibundoy Valley of the Putumayo Department in the south of Colombia.

Classification

Kamëntšá appears to be a language isolate. Researchers have tried connecting it to the Chibchan languages without success. Fabre reports that the Kamëntšá are descended, at least in part, from the , whose language is unattested.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Choco languages due to contact.

Varieties

Mason lists the following names as Coche (Mocoa) varieties.

Sebondoy
Quillacinga
Patoco

Phonology

Consonants

::data[format=table title="Consonants{{sfn|Howard|1972|p=78}}"]

Bilabial	Alveolar	Retroflex	Palatal	Velar	Stop	voiceless	voiced	prenasal	Affricate	voiceless	prenasal	Fricative	voiceless	voiced	Trill	Nasal	Lateral	Approximant











::

Howard and O'Brien call the retroflex phonemes in the above table retroflex, while Huber & Reed use the alveolo-palatal symbols. More specifically, Howard uses and , O'Brien uses and , and Huber & Reed use and .

Vowels

Huber & Reed, Howard, and O'Brien all analyze six vowel phonemes in Kamëntšá: , , , , , and . O'Brien notes that has a limited distribution and is rarely found at the beginnings of words, and that in many cases may be an allophone of before palatal consonants. Howard found that and fluctuate in some morphemes, as do and .

::data[format=table title="Vowels{{sfn|O'Brien|2018|p=34}}"]

Front	Central	Back	Close	Mid	Open



::

Grammar

Kamëntšá is a polysynthetic language with prefixes and suffixes. It also has dual number, which is unusual for languages around it.

Vocabulary

Huber & Reed's book provides a comparison between 68 indigenous languages of Colombia. The following table provides the order of words in the book, along with glosses in English and Spanish. The Kamëntšá words follow their orthography, i.e., using and instead of and .

:{| class="wikitable sortable" ! no. !! English gloss !! Spanish gloss !! Camsá !! notes |- | 001 || tongue || lengua || bitʃtá-xa || |- | 002 || mouth || boca || wajá-ɕa || |- | 003 || lip || labio || wajatsebiá-ɕa || |- | 004 || tooth || diente || xuatsá-ɕe || |- | 005 || nose || nariz || tsxá-ɕe || |- | 006 || eye || ojo || bɕnɨ-bé || |- | 007 || ear || oreja || matskuá-ɕe || |- | 008 || head || cabeza || bestɕá-ɕe, betɕá-ɕe || |- | 009 || forehead || frente || xuentsɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 010 || hair || cabello || stxɨnɨ́-xa || |- | 011 || chin || mentón || kumbambɨ́-ɕa || |- | 012 || beard || barba || wangɨtsboboʃɨ́-xua || |- | 013 || neck || cuello || tamoɕá-xa || |- | 014 || chest || pecho || kotʃá-xa || |- | 015 || woman’s breast || teta, seno, pechos || tʃótʃo || |- | 016 || abdomen || vientre, abdomen || wabsbiá || |- | 017 || back || espalda || stɨtɕá-xa || |- | 018 || shoulder || hombro || tantɕá-xa || |- | 019 || arm || brazo || buakuá-tɕe || |- | 021 || elbow || codo || ʃɨmia-bé || |- | 022 || hand || mano || kukuá-tɕe || |- | 023 || finger || dedo de la mano || ntɕabuá-bxa || |- | 024 || fingernail || una || ngétsebia-ɕe || |- | 025 || leg || pierna || mɨntxá-xa || |- | 027 || knee || rodilla || ntsamiá-ɕe || |- | 028 || shin || espinilla || ɕɨbxá-xa || |- | 029 || foot || pie || ʃekuá-tɕe || |- | 030 || toe || dedo del pie || xɨntɕá-bxa || |- | 031 || skin || piel || bobátʃe || |- | 032 || bone || hueso || betá-ɕe, betá-bxa || |- | 033 || blood || sangre || buíɲe || |- | 034 || heart || corazón || ainána || |- | 035 || lungs || pulmones || béxnatse || |- | 036 || penis || pene || lótɕe || |- | 037 || vulva || vulva || salápo || |- | 038 || man || hombre || entɕá (jentɕá) || |- | 039 || male || varón || bojabása || |- | 040 || woman || mujer || ʃembása || |- | 041 || people || gente || entɕánga || |- | 042 || husband || marido, esposo || bojá || |- | 043 || wife || marida, esposa || ʃéma || |- | 044 || father || padre || taitá, bébta || |- | 045 || mother || madre || mamá, bebmá, máma || |- | 046 || baby, infant || criatura || ɕeɕóna, (ɕoɕóna) || |- | 047 || old man || viejo || bɨtsanań || |- | 048 || water || agua || bújeʃe, béxa-je || |- | 049 || river || río || béxa-ke, bʃáxa-je || |- | 051 || lake || lago || wabxaxóna-je || |- | 052 || swamp || pantano || xatɨʃáɲe || |- | 053 || spring of water || fuente, ojo de agua || obaxtʃkaníɲe || |- | 054 || waterfall || caída de agua || buatʃkɨkxaníɲe || |- | 055 || rapids || catarata, raudal || bʃawenaníɲe || |- | 056 || flame, fire || candela, fuego || íɲe, níɲe || |- | 057 || ash || ceniza || xatinjá || |- | 058 || charcoal || carbón || enaxomá-ɕe || |- | 059 || smoke || humo || ngóna || |- | 060 || firewood || leña || niɲá || |- | 061 || sky || cíelo || sel-óka || Spanish loanword |- | 062 || rain || lluvia || wabténa || |- | 063 || wind || viento || bínjia || |- | 064 || sun || sol || ʃínje || |- | 065 || moon || luna || xuaʃkóna || |- | 066 || star || estrella || estrelja-téma || Spanish loanword |- | 067 || day || día || bɨnɨ-té, té || |- | 068 || night || noche || ibéta || |- | 069 || thunder || trueno || waxuesajá || |- | 070 || lightning || relámpago || tkuínje || |- | 071 || rainbow || arco iris || tsɨbkuákuatxo || |- | 072 || earth, soil || tierra || bʃántse || |- | 073 || stone || piedra || ndɨtɕ-bé || |- | 074 || sand || arena || kaskáxo || Spanish loanword |- | 075 || house || casa || jébna || |- | 076 || roof || techo || thɨxnaɲe, bonxanána || |- | 077 || door || puerta || bɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 078 || seat, stool || banco || tɕenɨ́-ɕe || |- | 079 || mat || estera || txuá-ʃe || |- | 080 || hammock || hamaca || uxonjanɨ́-ʃa || |- | 081 || bed || catre, cama de barbacoa || xutsnɨ́-ʃa || |- | 082 || cooking pot || olla || matbá-xa || |- | 083 || cultivated clearing || roza, sementera || xaxáɲe || |- | 084 || village || caserío || pueblo-téma || Spanish loanword |- | 085 || path, trail || camino, sendero, trocha || benátʃe || |- | 086 || fish net || red || ataʒajɨ́-ʃa || Spanish loanword |- | 087 || fish hook || anzuelo || ansuelɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 088 || axe || hacha || tatɕnía || Spanish loanword |- | 089 || knife || cuchillo || kutʃiljɨ-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 090 || canoe || canoa || kanoú-ɕe || |- | 091 || paddle || remo || ʒem-bé || Spanish loanword |- | 092 || club || porra, macana || ngarot-bé || Spanish loanword |- | 093 || spear || lanza || lantsɨ́-ʃa || Spanish loanword |- | 094 || bow || arco de cazar || arkú-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 095 || arrow || flecha || pletʃɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 096 || blowgun || cerbatana || . xuesanɨ-ɕa || |- | 097 || tapir || danta || bɨtsijá || |- | 098 || jaguar || tigre || tígre || Spanish loanword |- | 099 || puma || león, puma || león || Spanish loanword |- | 100 || armadillo || armadillo || armadiljo-bé || |- | 101 || dog || perro || kéɕe || |- | 102 || deer || venado || biángana, móngoxo || |- | 103 || bat || murciélago || tʃimbiláko || |- | 104 || otter || nutria || salado-bé || |- | 105 || cebus monkey (Cebus capucinus) || capuchin, machín || komendéro || Spanish loanword |- | 110 || spotted cavy || paca, guagua || mɨmaɕe || |- | 113 || tortoise || tortuga || tortúga-ɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 115 || collared peccary || saíno || saín kótɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 117 || agouti || agutí || entsóje-ɕe || |- | 118 || rat || rata || ʒáta-tɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 119 || cat || gato || meséto || |- | 120 || mouse || ratón || ʃiéna || |- | 121 || tail || cola || waskuatɕi-xuá || |- | 122 || snake || serpiente, culebra || mɨtɕkuáje || |- | 123 || anaconda, water boa || mapana || amarón || |- | 126 || toad || sapo || sápo || Spanish loanword |- | 127 || bird || pájaro || ʃlóbtɕe || |- | 128 || hummingbird || picaflor, colibrí || ngɨntsiána || |- | 130 || toucan || tucán || pikúdo || |- | 131 || parrot || loro || ʃatúo, ʃatú || |- | 133 || buzzard || gallinazo || ngaljináso || Spanish loanword |- | 134 || curassow || pavo || tʃúmbo || |- | 135 || owl || lechuza, buho || koskúngo || |- | 136 || guan || pava de monte || kukuána || |- | 137 || hen || gallina || tuámba || |- | 138 || fish || pescado || beóna || |- | 140 || bee || abeja || txowána || |- | 141 || fly || mosca || ʃatsɨbiána || |- | 142 || flea || pulga || nzantsána || |- | 143 || louse || piojo || mɨtsána || |- | 144 || mosquito || zancudo || ʃɨngna-bxa || |- | 146 || ant || hormiga || xuána || |- | 147 || spider || arana || báxna, batʃná-ɕe || |- | 148 || jigger flea || nigua, pigue || tsɨtxóna || |- | 149 || bush, jungle || monte || txá-ɲe || |- | 150 || open grassland || pajonal, sabana || xatʃáɲe || |- | 151 || hill || cerro, loma || batsxáɲe || |- | 152 || tree || árbol || betíje, betijé-ʃe || |- | 153 || leaf || hoja || tsbuaná-tʃe || |- | 154 || tree leaf || hoja de árbol || tsbuaná-tʃe || |- | 155 || flower || flor || wantɕebxú-ʃa || |- | 156 || fruit || fruta || ʃaxuan-bé || |- | 158 || root || raíz || tbɨtɨ́-xa || |- | 159 || seed || semilla || xénaje || |- | 160 || stick || palo || niɲɨ́-ɕe || |- | 161 || grass || hierba || ʃákuana || |- | 162 || corn, maize || maíz || mátse || |- | 163 || manioc || yuca || bʃendɨ́-ɕe || |- | 165 || tobacco || tabaco || tbáko || Spanish loanword |- | 166 || cotton || algodón || tongéntse-ʃe || |- | 167 || gourd || calabazo poro || taus-bé || |- | 168 || yam || ñame || tʃaná || |- | 169 || sweet potato || camote || mijá || |- | 170 || achiote || achiote, bija || mandorɨ́-ʃa || |- | 171 || chili pepper || ají || tsɨtɕá || |- | 173 || Banisterium, hallucinogenic vine || ayahuasca, jajé || biaxíje || |- | 174 || plantain || plátano || blandɨ́-tɕa || Spanish loanword |- | 178 || cane || caña brava || ɕɨ́-ɕe || |- | 179 || salt || sal || tamó || |- | 180 || chicha || chicha, masato || bóko-ye || |- | 181 || one || uno || kánje || |- | 182 || two || dos || úta || |- | 183 || three || tres || únga || |- | 184 || four || cuatro || kánta || |- | 185 || five || cinco || ʃátʃna || |- | 190 || ten || diez || bnɨ́tsan || |- | 191 || first || primero || natsána || |- | 192 || last || último || ústonoje || |- | 193 || rattle || sonajero, maraca || marakɨ́-ʃe || Spanish loanword |- | 194 || drum || tambor || ɕɨnxana-bé || |- | 195 || cushma || cushma || ʃabuanguanɨ-xuá || |- | 196 || ear ornament || orejera, arete || wamatsaxonjanɨ́-ʃa || |- | 197 || mask || máscara || xobɨ́tsanɨ-ɕe || |- | 198 || healer, shaman || curandero || tatɕmbuá, jobá || |- | 199 || chief || cacique, curaca, capitán || utabná, mandádo || Spanish loanword |- | 200 || I, me, my || yo, mí usted || átɕe || |- | 201 || you (singular) || usted || áka || |- | 202 || he || él || tʃá || |- | 203 || she || ella || tʃá || |- | 204 || we inclusive || nosotros inclusivo || bɨ́nga || |- | 206 || you plural || ustedes || tɕingabtánga || |- | 207 || they || ellos || tʃɨ́nga || |- | 208 || my hand || mi mano || átɕ-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 209 || your (sg.) hand || tu mano || ák-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 210 || his hand || su mano || tʃá-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 211 || our hands || nuestras manos || bɨng-be kukuá-tɕe || |- | 213 || their hands || sus manos (de ellos) || tʃɨ́ng-be kukuátɕe || |- | 214 || my bow || mi arco || átɕ-be arkú-bxa || Spanish loanword |- | 215 || your bow || tu arco || ák-be arkú-bxa || |- | 216 || his bow || su arco (de él) || tsá-be arkú-bxa || |- | 217 || our bow || nuestro arco || bɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa || |- | 219 || their bow || su arco (de ellos) || tʃɨ́ng-be arkú-bxa || |- | 220 || big || grande || bɨ́ts || |- | 221 || small, little || pequeño || báse, bíntʃe || |- | 222 || cold || frío || ʃék-bana || |- | 223 || hot || caliente || ntɕníɲe || |- | 224 || good || bueno || tɕábe, tɕabá || |- | 225 || bad || malo || baká, bákna sóje || |- | 226 || white || blanco || bxántse || |- | 227 || black || negro || btsénga || |- | 228 || go! || vaya, ve! || m-ó-tsa || |- | 229 || come! || ven! || m-á-bo || |- | 230 || eat! || come! || m-ó-se || |- | 231 || drink! || bebe! || m-o-bɕé || |- | 232 || sleep! || duerme! || m-o-tsámana || |- | 233 || crown of head || corona || tʃinʃ-óka || |- | 234 || front teeth, incisors || dientes delanteros incisivos || btɨɕá-ɕe || |- | 236 || long hair || pelo largo || bɨ́n stxɨná-ʃe || |- | 237 || the neck region || garganta y cuello || bexɨ́ngua-xa || |- | 238 || Adam’s apple || nuez de la garganta || tamoɕtxon-bé || |- | 239 || upper back || espalda, parte superior || stɨtɕá-xa || |- | 241 || wrist || muñeca || ʃɨmia-bé || |- | 242 || lower leg || pierna inferior || ɕɨbxá-tɕe || |- | 243 || body hair || el pelo del cuerpo || bobo-ʃɨ́-xa || |- | 244 || stomach || estómago || wabsbiá || |- | 245 || intestines || intestinos || tʃuntʃuljɨ-xua-ngá || |- | 246 || old woman || viejita || wela-xéma || |- | 247 || clouds at rest || nubes quietas || xantɕetɨ́-ʃe || |- | 249 || cultivated clearing || roza, sementera de maíz || taɕxá-ɲe || |- | 250 || stream || quebrada || báse béxa-je || |- | 251 || pebbles || piedrecillas || ndɨtɕmé-ʃe || |- | 252 || huge rocks || rocas grandes || peɲí-ɕe || Spanish loanword |- | 253 || path, trail || camino, sendero, trocha || axʃatʃnɨxní-ɲe || |- | 255 || shelter || rancho || tambo-téma || |- | 256 || this || este || kém || |- | 257 || that || eso, ese, aquel || tʃɨ́ || |- | 258 || who || quién || ndá, ndmuá || |- | 259 || what || que || ndajá || |- | 260 || not || no || ndóɲe || |- | 261 || all || todos || njćtska || |- | 262 || many || muchos || bɨtská, bá, bá-nga || |- | 263 || long || largo || bɨ́n || |- | 264 || bark || corteza || xubobá-ʃe || |- | 265 || flesh || carne || mɨntɕéna || |- | 267 || grease, animal fat || grasa || minjiká || Spanish loanword |- | 268 || egg || huevo || ʃɨmnɨ-bé || |- | 269 || horn || cuerno || tsɨtxoní-ɕe || |- | 270 || feather || pluma || plumɨ-bxuá || Spanish loanword |- | 271 || elaw, nail || uña, garra || ngétsebia-ɕe || |- | 272 || belly || barriga || wabsbiá || |- | 273 || liver || hígado || bekotʃká || |- | 274 || drink || beber || xatmuána, xobɕiána || |- | 275 || eat || comer || xasána || |- | 276 || bite || morder || xaxantsána || |- | 277 || see || ver || xinjána || |- | 278 || hear || oir || xowenána || |- | 279 || know || saber || xtsetatɕmbuána || |- | 280 || sleep || dormir || xómanana || |- | 281 || die || morir || xóbanana || |- | 282 || kill || matar || xóbana || |- | 283 || swim (not bathe) || nadar || xatʃbabána || |- | 284 || fly || volar || xongébxuana || |- | 285 || walk || andar || xtsanána || |- | 286 || come || venir || xabána || |- | 287 || lie down || acostarse || xtsexáxonana || |- | 288 || sit down || sentarse || xotbemána || |- | 289 || stand || ponerse en pie, de pie || xotsajána || |- | 290 || give || dar || xatɕetajána || |- | 291 || say || decir || xajanána || |- | 292 || burn || quemar, arder || xtsejiɲána || |- | 293 || mountain || montaña || xáɲe || |- | 294 || red || rojo || buángana || |- | 295 || green || verde || ngɨ́bʃna || |- | 296 || yellow || amarillo || tsɨɕijána || |- | 297 || full || lleno || xútxena || |- | 298 || new || nuevo || tsɨ́m || |- | 299 || round || redondo || -bé || |- | 300 || dry || seco || boxóxo, buaʃána || |- | 301 || name || nombre || wabáina || |- | 302 || how || cómo || ntɕámo || |- | 303 || when || cuándo || ntséko, ntséko ora || |- | 304 || where || donde || ndm-óka, ndaj-éntɕe || |- | 305 || here || aquí || mu-éntɕe || |- | 306 || there || allí || tʃ-éntɕe || |- | 307 || other || otro || ínje, injá || |- | 308 || few || poco || batɕá, básebta || |- | 309 || fog || neblina || xantɕetɨ́-ʃe || |- | 310 || flow || fluir || xtsobuána || |- | 311 || sea || mar || már béxa-je || |- | 312 || wet || mojado || btʃékuana || |- | 313 || wash || lavar || xáxabiana || |- | 314 || worm || gusano || tsɨkɨmiána || |- | 315 || wing || ala || xuatɨngmiá-ʃa || |- | 316 || fur || piel peluda || bobo-ʃá, bobó-ʃe || |- | 317 || navel || ombligo || wamɨʃtɨtɨ́-ɕa || |- | 318 || saliva || saliva || jebuá-je || |- | 319 || milk || leche || létɕi-je || Spanish loanword |- | 320 || with || con || -ka, -btaka || |- | 321 || in || en || -óka, -íɲe, -éntɕe || |- | 322 || at || en, lugar definido || -óka || |- | 323 || if || si || -se, -sna || |- | 324 || ice || hielo || jélo || Spanish loanword |- | 326 || freeze || helarse || xtseʃekbána || |- | 327 || child || niño || báse-tema || |- | 328 || dark || oscuro || ibéta || |- | 329 || cut || cortar || kutʃú-j || |- | 330 || wide || ancho || tɨntɕá || |- | 331 || narrow || estrecho, angosto || báse tɨntɕá || |- | 332 || far || lejos || bɨn-óka || |- | 333 || near || cerca || béko-ɲe || |- | 334 || thick || grueso || xoʃá || |- | 335 || thin || delgado || báse xoʃá || |- | 336 || short || corto || béko || |- | 337 || heavy || pesado || teʃut-, úta || |- | 338 || dull || embotado || ndɨ-ngmɨtʃɨ́-bxa || |- | 339 || sharp || afilado || bɕá-xa, ngmitʃɨ́-bxa || |- | 340 || dirty || sucio || tsénga, tsengá || |- | 341 || rotten || podrido || xanguána || |- | 342 || smooth || liso || bɨngɨnjána || |- | 343 || straight || recto || nderítʃe || |- | 344 || correct || correcto || tɕabá || |- | 345 || left || izquierdo || waɲikuaj-ói-ka || |- | 346 || right || derecho || katʃbi-ói-ka || |- | 347 || old || viejo || tángua || |- | 348 || rub || frotar || xanɨtxuána || |- | 349 || pull || jalar, arrastrar || xuasxanána || |- | 350 || push || empujar || xatsɨntɕána || |- | 351 || throw || botar, tirar || xutɕenána || |- | 352 || hit || golpear || xuénanana || |- | 353 || split || hender || xaʃtɨtɕána || |- | 354 || pierce || punzar, chuzar || xangɨsɨtxuána || |- | 355 || dig || cavar || xaxutxuána || |- | 356 || tie || atar || xabátsikana || |- | 357 || sew || coser || xuaxonajána || |- | 358 || fall || caer || xotsatɕána || |- | 359 || swell || hinchar || xabʃatʃána || |- | 360 || think || pensar || xenóxuabojana || |- | 361 || sing || cantar || xabérsiana || Spanish loanword |- | 362 || smell || oler || xongɨtsetɕiána || |- | 363 || vomit || vomitar || xáʃkonana || |- | 364 || suck || chupar || xobkuakuajána || |- | 365 || blow || soplar || xangowána || |- | 366 || fear || temer || xtsawatxána || |- | 367 || tighten, squeeze || apretar, exprimir || xatɨbána || |- | 368 || hold || sostener || xotbajána || |- | 369 || down || abajo || tsɨtx-óka || |- | 370 || up || arriba || tsbanán-oka || |- | 371 || ripe || maduro || bótʃena || |- | 372 || dust || polvo || polbɨ́-ʃe || Spanish loanword |- | 373 || alive || vivo || ainá || |- | 374 || rope || cuerda || biá-xa || |- | 375 || year || año || wáta || |}

Notes

Bibliography

(Contains mythic and legendary in Camsá with interlinear morphemic glossing and English translations.)

References

Handbook of South American Indians

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