Nilotic languages
Small language family of East Africa
title: "Nilotic languages" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["nilotic-languages", "language-families", "southern-eastern-sudanic-languages", "languages-of-ethiopia", "languages-of-sudan", "languages-of-south-sudan", "languages-of-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo", "languages-of-uganda", "languages-of-kenya", "languages-of-tanzania"] description: "Small language family of East Africa" topic_path: "linguistics" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nilotic_languages" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Small language family of East Africa ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox language family"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Nilotic |
| ethnicity | Nilotic peoples |
| region | Southwestern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, northeastern Congo (DRC), northern/eastern Uganda, western/southern Kenya, and northern Tanzania |
| speakers | million |
| familycolor | Nilo-Saharan |
| fam2 | Eastern Sudanic? |
| fam3 | Southern Eastern? |
| child1 | Eastern |
| child2 | Southern |
| child3 | Western |
| protoname | Proto-Nilotic |
| glotto | nilo1247 |
| glottorefname | Nilotic |
| map | Nilotic languages.png |
| mapcaption | Region where Nilotic languages are spoken |
| :: |
|name=Nilotic |ethnicity=Nilotic peoples |region=Southwestern Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, northeastern Congo (DRC), northern/eastern Uganda, western/southern Kenya, and northern Tanzania |speakers= million |familycolor=Nilo-Saharan |fam2=Eastern Sudanic? |fam3=Southern Eastern? |child1=Eastern |child2=Southern |child3=Western |protoname=Proto-Nilotic |glotto=nilo1247 |glottorefname=Nilotic |map=Nilotic languages.png |mapcaption=Region where Nilotic languages are spoken
The Nilotic languages are languages spoken across wide areas between Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Tanzania by the Nilotic peoples.
Etymology
The word Nilotic means of or relating to the Nile River or to the Nile region of Africa. The Nile River runs from Rwanda through various countries upto Egypt.
Demographics
Nilotic peoples, who are the native speakers of the languages, originally migrated from the Gezira area in Sudan. Nilotic language speakers live in parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
Subdivisions
According to linguist Joseph Greenberg, the language family is divided up into three subgroups:
- Eastern Nilotic languages such as Turkana and Maasai
- Southern Nilotic languages such as Kalenjin and Datooga
- Western Nilotic languages such as Luo, Nuer and Dinka
It is important to note that these Nilotic languages' groupings are geographical classifications rather than mutual intelligibility. For instance, the Dinka is a different language from the Luo, which is also different from Nuer etc. Some words may sound similar due to shared location although these are distinct ethnic groups, with distinct speeches. Dinka and Nuer languages are not mutually intelligible but they share a common vocalbulary since both languages are related Western Nilotic languages.
Before Greenberg's reclassification, Nilotic was used to refer to Western Nilotic alone, with the other two being grouped as related "Nilo-Hamitic" languages.
Blench (2012) treats the Burun languages as a fourth subgroup of Nilotic. In previous classifications, the languages were included within the Luo languages. Starostin (2015) treats the Mabaan-Burun languages as "West Nilotic" but outside the Luo level.
Reconstruction
Over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots have been reconstructed by Dimmendaal (1988). Dimmendaal reconstructs the Proto-Nilotic consonants as follows: ::data[format=table]
| Labial | Dental | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Uvular | Plosive | voiceless | voiced | Fricative | Implosive | Nasal | Trill | Lateral | Approximant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| () | ||||||||||||||
| () | ||||||||||||||
| :: |
Numerals
Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
::data[format=table]
| Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern, Bari | Bari | ɡɛ́lɛ̀ŋ | mʊ̀rɛ́k | mʊ̀sálà | ɪ́ŋwàn | mʊ̀kánàt | búkɛ̀r | búryò | búdö̀k | bʊ́ŋwàn | púwö̀k |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo | Lopit | F / M nàbóìtóì / lòbóìtóì | lòhórìk, arik | lòhúnìk | lóŋwán | mìyét (litː | ile | hatarik (5 + 2) | hotohunɪk (5 + 3) | hotoŋwan (5 + 4) | tomon |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo | Lotuho (Lotuxo) (1) | ábótè | áréhè | húníhe | áŋwàn | mìyyàt (litː | ɪ́lle | hàtmɪk (5 + 2) | hùtohunɪk (5 + 3) | hùtoŋwan (5 + 4) | tòmmòn |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Lotuxo | Lotuho (Lotuxo) (2) | ʌ̀bóíté / âbotye | ʌ̀ríxèy / árrexai | xúnixòì / xunixoi | aŋwân | míèt | ɪ́llɛ́ | xáttàrɪ̀k (5 + 2) | xóttóxúnìk (5 + 3) | xɔ́ttɔ́ŋwàn (5 + 4) | tɔ́mɔ̀n |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maa | Maasai | nabô (fem), obô (masc), nebô (place) | aré (fem), aàre/ɔáre (masc) | uní (fem), okúni (masc) | oŋwán (fem), oóŋwan (masc) | ímíêt | ílɛ̂ / íllɛ̂ | naápishana (f.), oópishana (m.) | ísíêt | naáudo (fem), oódó (masc) | tɔ́mɔ̂n |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Lotuxo-Maa, Ongamo-Maa | Samburu | naɓô (fem), oɓô (masc), noɓô (place) | aré (fem), waáre (masc) | uní (fem), okúni (masc) | onɠwán (fem), oónɠwan (masc) | ímɟêt / ímʄêt | ílê | sápâ | ísɟêt / ísʄêt | sâːl | tômôn |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso | Teso (Ateso) (1) | ìdʸòpét | ìɑɾè | íwúní | íwóŋón | íkɑ̀ɲ | íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂pè (5 + 1) | íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂ɾè (5 + 2) | íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wùní (5 + 3) | íkɑ̀ɲɑ̂wòŋòn (5 + 4) | ítòmòn |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Teso | Teso (Ateso) (2) | -diope | -árèy | -(w)únì | -oŋôn | -kaɲ | kaɲ kape (5 + 1) | kaɲ karey (5 + 2) | kaɲ kauni (5 + 3) | kaɲ kaoŋon (5 + 4) | tɔ́mɔ̀n |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana | Karamojong (Dodotho) (1) | ɲípéí | ŋíááréí | ŋúúní | ŋóómwán | ŋííkan ( | ŋíkan ka péí (5 + 1) | ŋíkan ka áréí (5 + 2) | ŋíkan ka úní (5 + 3) | ŋíkan ko ómwán (5 + 4) | ŋítomón |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana | Karamojong (2) | ɛpei | ŋiarei | ŋiuni | ŋiomwɔn | ŋikan | ŋíkàn kà-pei (5 + 1) | ŋíkàn kà-arei (5 + 2) | ŋíkàn kà-uni (5 + 3) | ŋíkàn kà-omwɔn (5 + 4) | ŋítɔ̀mɔ́n |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana | Nyangatom | a-péy ̀ | ŋa-áréy ̀ | ŋa-uní ̀ | ŋa-omwɔn ̀ | ŋa-kànɪ (litː hand) | ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-pey (5 + 1) | ŋa-kanɪ̀ ka-arey (5 + 2) | ŋa-kanɪ ka-uni (5 + 3) | ŋa-kanɪ ka-omwɔn (5 + 4) | ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana | Toposa | péì | áréì | ʊ́nì | ɔ́ŋwɔ́n | kànì̥ | kànì̥ kà-péì (5 + 1) | kànì̥ kà-àréì (5 + 2) | kànì̥ kà-ʊ́ní (5 + 3) | kànì̥ kà-ɔ́ŋwɔ́n (5 + 4) | tɔ̀mɔ́ní̥ |
| Eastern, Lotuxo-Teso, Teso-Turkana, Turkana | Turkana | a-péy ̀ | ŋa-áréy ̀ | ŋa-úní ̀ | ŋa-ómwɔ̀n ̀ | ŋa-kànɪ̥ | ŋa-kanɪ ka-péy (5 + 1) | ŋa-kanɪ ka-áréy (5 + 2) | ŋa-kanɪ ka-úní (5 + 3) | ŋa-kanɪ ka-ómwɔ̀n (5 + 4) | ŋa-tɔ̀mɔn |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon | Kupsabiny (Sebei) | aɡeenɡe [akɛ́ːŋkɛ] | äyëëny [ɑréːɲ] | sömök [sómok] | anɡʼwan [aŋwán] | müüt [múːt] | müüt äk aɡeenɡe [múːt ɑk akɛ́ːŋkɛ] | müüt äk äyëëny (5 + 2) | müüt äk sömök (5 + 3) | müüt äk anɡʼwan (5 + 4) | taman [támán] |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Elgon | Sabaot (Koony dialect) | akeenke [aɡɛ́ːŋɡɛ] | āyēēnɡʼ [ɑyéːŋ] | sōmōk [sómok] | anɡʼwan [aŋwán] | mūūt / muut [múːt] | lo [lɑ] | tisab [tɪ́sap] | sisiit [sɪsɪ́ːt] | sokool [sɑ́kɑːl] | taman [támán] |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markweta | Cherang'any | àkɛ́ɛ́ŋkɛ̀ | ʌ́yíín | sómòk | áŋwaan | múút | lɔ̀ | tɪsáp | sìsít | sʌ́ɡʌ́l | támán |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Markweta | Endo (Marakwet) | ɒ́kɔ́ːŋɔ | ərèːɲ | sómók | ɒ́ŋwɒ̀n | mùːt | lɔ́ | tɪ́sɔ́p | sisíːt | sɔkɔ̀ːl | tɒmɒn |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandi | Keiyo | àkɛ́ŋɡɛ̂ / àɛ́ŋɡɛ̂ | aɛ́ːŋ /aɛ́ːɲ | sɔ̀mɔ̂k | àŋwàn | mʊ́ːt | lɔ̂ | tɪ̀sâp | sɪ̀sɪ́ːt | sɔ́kɔ́ːl | támán |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Nandi-Markweta, Nandi | Tugen | àɣééɲɡé | àééɲ | sómók | àɲwán | múút | ló | tísáp | sìsíít | sóɣóòl | tàmán |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Okiek | Akie (Okiek) | akɛɛnkɛ | ayen | somok | aŋwàn | mʊ́ʊ́t | ílɛ | nápíʃana | ísíêt | náúdo | taman |
| Southern, Kalenjin, Pokot | Pökoot (Suk) | àkɔ́ɔ́ŋkɔ̀ | oɣë̀ë̀ŋ / òdë̀ë̀ŋ | sä́mä́k | àŋwân | múut | múut ŋɡɔ́ àkɔ́ɔ́ŋɔ̀ (5 + 1) | múut ŋɡɔ́ òdë̀ë̀ŋ (5 + 2) | múut ŋɡɔ́ sä́mä́k (5 + 3) | múut ŋɡɔ́ àŋwân (5 + 4) | támàn |
| Southern, Tatoga | Asimjeeg Datooga (1) | àkàlɛːlɛ̀ː / ák / (àqàlɛːlɛ̀ː) | íjèɲ | sàmòɡw | àŋwàn | mùːt | lá | ísːpò | sìs | ʃàɡàʃ | dàmàn |
| Southern, Tatoga | Datooga (2) | ɑ̀ɡi | íiyèeɲɑ | sɑ́mɑ̀ɡu | ɑ́ŋwɑ́n | mʊ̀ʊt | lɑ́ | íispɑ̀ | sís | ʃɑ́ɡɛ̀ɛʃ | dɑ̀mɑ́nɑ́mʊ́qʊ̀ʊʃ |
| Southern, Tatoga | Datooga (3) | ʔàɡi | íyèeɲa | sàmàɡu | ʔàŋwàn | mùuti ~ bánàakta mùuti | làh | ìsbà ~ isbwà | sìss ~ sìs | ʃàɡèeʃʃ ~ ʃàɡèeʃ | dàmáná múqùuʃ |
| Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinka | Dinka Agaar | ʈɔ́k | rɔ́ʷ | dʲák | ŋʊ̀ʷân | ðíɟ | ðɛ̀ʈem | ðɜ̀rʊ́ʷ | bɛ̀ʈ | ðɔ̀ŋʊ́ʷàn | t̪íʲàːr |
| Western, Dinka-Nuer, Dinka | Dinka Padang | tò̤k | ròw | dyá̤k | ŋwán | d̪yì̤c | d̪ètém | d̪ɔ̀rɔ́w | bɛ̤́t | d̪ɔ̀ŋwán | t̪yɛ́ɛ̀r |
| Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer | Nuer (1) | kɛ̀ːl | rɜ̀ʷ | dɪʲɔ̂k | ŋʊ́ʷǎn | ðɪ́ʲɛ̀ɟ | bakɛ̀l (5 + 1) | bàraʷ (5 + 2) | bɛ̀dak (5 + 3) | bɜ̀ŋʊ́ʷǎn (5 + 4) | wɜ́ːl |
| Western, Dinka-Nuer, Nuer | Nuer (2) | kɛ́ɛ̀l | rɛ̌w | dyɔ̌k | ŋwán | d̪yè̤c | bʌ̤́kɛ̀l (5 + 1) | bʌ̤rɔ̀w (5 + 2) | bʌ̤̀dá̤k (5 + 3) | bʌ̤́ŋwàn (5 + 4) | wá̤l |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak | Anuak(Anyua) (1) | àcíɛ̀l | àríyɔ̀ | àdʌ́k | àŋwɛ́ɛ́n | àbíc | àbícìɛ̀l (5 + 1) | àbíríyɔ̀ (5 + 2) | àbárà (5 + 2) | àbíŋwɛ̀ɛ̀n (5 + 4) | àpár |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Anuak | Anuak (2) | aciel / acíɛ̀l | ariio̤ / aríɪàw | ada̤k / adʌ́ɡ | aŋween / aŋwɛ́ɛn | abi̤i̤c / abíiɟ | abi̤ciel / abícíɛ̀l (5 + 1) | abi̤riio̤ /abíríɪàw (5 + 2) | aba̤ra / abʌ́rʌ́ (5 + 3) | abi̤ŋween / abíŋwɛ̀ɛn (5 + 4) | apaar / apáar |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Bor | Belanda Bor | ákɛɛ̂l | arɛ̂w | àdéɡ | àŋwɛ́n | àbíc | àbíc kúkɛ́l (5 + 1) | àbíc kúrɛ̂w (5 + 2) | àbíc kùdēēk (5 + 3) | àbíc kúŋwɛ̂n (5 + 4) | áfaàr |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Jur | Luwo | áciɛ̄lɔ́ | á̟riɔ̄w | á̟dá̟ɡ | áŋwɛ̄ːn | àbī̟ːj | ábíciɛ̄l (5 + 1) | ábɛ́riɔ̄w (5 + 2) | á̟bɛ̟́dā̟ɡ (5 + 3) | ábɛ́ŋwɛ̄ːn (5 + 4) | āpāːr |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Burun | Burun (Mayak) | kɛɛl / kɛ̀ɛl | rɛɛ / rɛ̄ | ɖʌk /ɖʌ̄k | ŋan / ŋān | d̪oc / dōoc | ɖowk /ɖɔ́ùk | ŋat̪ukɛl / ŋàtúkɛ́l | ŋunu / ŋɔ̀nʊ́ | ɟucukɛl / ɲùcúkɛ́l | caac / cáac |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Mabaan-Burun, Mabaan | Mabaan | cyɛ́ɛlɔ̀ | yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ | ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ | ŋáánɔ̀ | d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ | d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wílin nè cyɛ́ɛlɔ̀ (5 + 1) | d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè yɛ́ɛwɔ̀ (5 + 2) | d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ɗɔ́ɔ́ɡɔ́ (5 + 3) | d̪ɔ́ɔ́yɔ̀ wítkɛ̀n nè ŋáánɔ̀ (5 + 4) | ínyáákkɛ̀n (lit: both hands) |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Shilluk | Shilluk | àkjɛ̀l | áɾjɛ̀w | ádə̀k | áŋwɛ̀n | ábîc | ábîkjɛ̀l (5 + 1) | abìɾjɛ̀w (5 + 2) | àbîdèk (5 + 3) | ábîŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4) | pjáár |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Thuri | Thuri | ácîel | aríòw | ádeèk | àŋwɛɛ̀n | àbííc | abícbícèl (5 + 1) | àbícbə́riə́ɔ̀w (5 + 2) | àbícbídèk (5 + 3) | àbíc bə́ŋwɛ́ɛn (5 + 4) | ápaàr |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified | Päri (Lokoro) (1) | ácɛ̀lɔ́ | árìyɔ́ | ádòɡó | áŋwɛ̀nɔ́ | ábìd͡ʒɔ́ | àbícɛ̀lɔ́ (5 + 1) | àbírìyɔ́ (5 + 2) | ábʌ̄rà (5 + 3) | ábúŋwɛ̀nɔ́ (5 + 4) | ápàr |
| Western, Luo, Northern, Unclassified | Päri (Lokoro) (2) | acyelo, took | aryo, ireek | adöɡo, ɡala | aŋweno | abijo, kunat | abicyelo (5 + 1), bukel | abiryo (5 + 2), buryo | abidö̈ɡo, aböra (5 + 3), bodök | abuŋweno (5 + 4), buŋwan | apar |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola | Adhola (1) | ɑ́cêr | ɑ́rîo | ɑ́dêːk | ɑ́ŋʷên | ɑ́bîːc | ɑ̀ᵘcèr (5 + 1) | ɑ̀bírîo (5 + 2) | ɑ́bôːrò (5 + 3) | ɑ̀búŋʷèn (5 + 4) | ɑ́pɑ̂ːr |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Adhola | Adhola (2) | àcíɛl | àríó | àdeék | àŋwɛɛ̂n | àbîc | àwúciɛ̄l (5 + 1) | àbíirò (5 + 2) | àbɔ́ɔ̀rò (5 + 3) | àbúŋwɛ́n (5 + 4) | ápāar |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Kumam | Kumam | ɑ̀cɛ́l | ɑ̀ré | ɑ̀dēk | òŋwɔ́n | kɑ̄ɲ | kɑ́ɲ ɑ̀pé (5 + 1) | kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ré (5 + 2) | kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀wūní (5 + 3) | kɑ̄ɲ ɑ̀ŋɔ́n (5 + 4) | tɔ̄mɔ́n |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Alur | Alur | àcìɛ̄l | àríɔ̀ | àdék | àŋùén | àbîc | àbúcìɛ̀l (5+ 1) | àbírɔ́ (5+ 2) | àboônà (5+ 3) | àbúŋwɛ̄ɛ̄n (5+ 4) | {{lang |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Labwor | Acholi (Labwor) | àcíèl | àríò | àdék | àŋwɛ̂n | àbîc | àbícíèl (5 + 1) | àbíìrɔ́ (5 + 2) | àboôrà (5 + 3) | àbúŋwɛ́n (5 + 4) | àpáàr |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Alur-Acholi, Acholi | Acholi | àcɛ̂l | àryɔ̂ | àdêk | àŋwɛ̂n | àbîc | àbícɛ̀l (5 + 1) | àbíryɔ̀ (5 + 2) | àbórò (5 + 3)?? | àbóŋwɛ̀n (5 + 4) | àpâr |
| Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Luo | Dholuo | àcìɛ̄l | àríɔ̀ | àdék | àŋùén | àbîc | àúcìɛ̀l (5 + 1) | àbíríɔ̀ (5 + 2) | àborô | ɔ́cíkɔ̀ | àpáàr |
| :: |
References
References
- "Nilotic; Ethnologue".
- "Egyptians and Nubians".
- "The Nilotic Languages-a Comparative Essay".
- Barrett, E. Caitlin [[Cornell University]]. (2013). "Nilotic Scenes, Egyptian Religion, and Roman Perceptions". Journal of Ancient Egyptian Interconnections.
- "Historical morphology of Nilotic languages".
- "the definition of Nilotic".
- "countries of Nile River".
- Payne, Doris. "Nilotic Family".
- (1996). "Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology". Taylor & Francis.
- "Dinka-Nuer are not mutually intelligible".
- Ki-Zerbo, Joseph. (1981). "Methodology and African Prehistory". UNESCO.
- Roger Blench (2012) [http://rogerblench.info/Language/Nilo-Saharan/General/NS%20language%20list.pdf Nilo-Saharan language list]
- George Starostin (2015) [https://www.academia.edu/10615385/The_Eastern_Sudanic_hypothesis_tested_through_lexicostatistics_current_state_of_affairs The Eastern Sudanic hypothesis tested through lexicostatistics: current state of affairs] (Draft 1.0)
- Dimmendaal, Gerrit Jan. 1988. "The lexical reconstruction of proto-Nilotic: a first reconnaissance." ''Afrikanistische Arbeitspapiere'' (AAP) 16: 5-67.
- Chan, Eugene. (2019). "The Nilo-Saharan Language Phylum". Numeral Systems of the World's Languages.
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