Appendix:Proto-Nilotic reconstructions

The following list of over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots is from Dimmendaal (1988: 29-64).[1]

List edit

No. Gloss Proto-Nilotic
1 abandon, let *pal
2 adjust, put in order *tɪʀ
3 adultery, commit *lɔm
4 age, become old *tɪ
4 wear down *ɪ-tɪ
5 ancestor *k-wa-
6 animal, wild *tyaŋ(ɪ)
7 antbear, pangolin *mɔk
8 approach *ɲɪk
9 armpit *kʊɗɪkʊɗɪ
10 bad *ʀɔ
11 bark of tree, peel *pɛr-ta
12 beat severely, smash *ɗoŋ
13 beat severely, smash *’jaʀ
14 bird *(k-)wɪɲɔ
15 bite, sting *kɔɲ
16 blister *bul(bul)
17 blow *kʊt̪
18 bone *käw
19 bowels, intestines *cin
20 brains *kʊ-ŋɪt̪
21 breast *kɪ-t̪ɪn
22 bedbug *t̪ɔr
23 build, frame (house) *tɛk
24 burn (out), bake *nam
25 buttock, hind leg *ka-wʊt̪ɛ
26 call *lʊŋ
27 cheek, jaw *ma-t̪aŋ
28 circumcise, cut *mʊr
29 cloud *pɔɔl
30 (be) coagulated, clouded *ɗik
31 collect, come together *(y)ʊm
31 gather *ɪ-(y)ʊm
32 come (singular) *ɓun, pl. *pɔ
33 compensate, reimburse *ɪ-cʊl
34 cough *qɔl
35 count *kwɛn
36 cover (verb) *muk
37 cow *d̪ɛŋ, pl. *d̪ʊk
38 crippled, lame *ŋwal
39 crocodile *ɲaŋ (?)
40 cut (general) *ɗuŋ
41 cut with an axe *’jɛp
42 cut off front leg of animal *ɪ-was
43 dark, black *mut̪
44 day, sun *pɛʀat
45 deaf, dumb *mɪŋ
46 deceive *ŋal
47 desire *mar
48 die *t̪ɔ
49 discharge *lak
50 door *kɛka
51 dove *kuur
52 drink *mat̪
53 drop, set free, cause to be free *ɪ-tyak
54 dream *rʊ’j
55 drunk, get, intoxicated *mɛʀ
56 dry season *ka-mey
57 dung *wɔr, *mäʀ
58 ear *yit̪
59 eat, chew *ɲam
60 err *sac
61 eye *(k)ɔŋ, pl. *(k)ɔɲ
62 fall *pʊt̪
63 fat, oil, grease *mɔ-(ʀ)
64 father, ancestor *k-wa
65 finger, toe *mɔr
66 fire *ma(-c)
67 fire sticks *piɣ-on
68 firewood *kʊ-jɛn, *kʊ-yɛn
69 flash *lyal
70 flower, blossom *tʊr
71 fly (noun) *kɔ-lyaŋ
72 fly, jump *pär
73 foam, broth *pʊk
74 forest, bushy country *t̪im
75 fork, branch, bifurcate *kar
76 four *(ɔ)ŋwan
77 giraffe *kɔ-ʀɪ
78 grey(ish) *pʊsɪ
79 grandmother *ɗa
80 grind *ŋaq
81 grow (intransitive) *pɪt̪
82 guinea-worm (Filaria medinensis) *t̪yew
83 hatch *bek
84 hate, abhor, be hostile towards *man
85 head *ko-we(-c)
86 he-goat *k-waʀɔ
87 help, share *ŋar
88 herd (noun) *kwat
89 hold, have, lift up *tɪŋ
90 hump *ʀʊk
91 hurt, wound *rem
92 ignite, take fire *cwɪɲ
92 kindle fire *ɪ-cwɪɲ
93 insult *mɔʀ
94 intercourse, have sexual *(ɪ-)maɲ
95 itch, tickle *gɪd
96 knot, tie *tuɗ
97 know *na
98 lake, wide river *bas
99 leave behind *cal
100 leg *kɛlɪ
101 lick *mɛlɪ
102 light, be, bright *kwɛɲ
102 make light *ɪ-kwɛɲ
103 light, be *nɔq
103 light (transitive) *ɪ-nɔq
104 light up, flash *lyɛl
105 lion *ŋatuɲ
106 louse *ɲok
107 manure *sike
108 marry *mʊr
109 meat *riŋ
110 meet *ryäm
111 melt (intransitive) *mɔy
111 melt (transitive) *ɪ-mɔy
112 milk *ca(kɔ)
113 mist, smoke *pur-
114 mouth *(k)ʊt̪ʊk
115 name *ka-ʀin
116 narrow *ɗɪŋ
117 navel *qapule
118 near, be *rɪk
118 press together, link up, surround *ɪ-rɪk
119 night *kɛ-waʀ
120 nose *(q)ume
121 ooze *yɪt̪
122 pat, soothe, rock *(ɪ)kɛn
123 person, so-and-so *ŋa-tɪ
124 perspire, press out *ɲɪr
125 pluck, remove hair/feathers *buc
126 pregnant *-’jac
127 put on back *nap
128 python *ɪɲal
129 quiet, be, listen *lɪŋ
130 raid, encircle *luk
131 rat *mʊr
132 remain *ɗoŋ
133 ripe, hardened *goŋ
134 road, path *kɔɔr
135 roast *pɛlɪ
136 rock, mountain, stone *kɔʀ
137 rope *win
138 rotate, stir *pɪr
139 round, make, mould (of pots) *(ɪ)lʊŋ
140 rub *sʊɗ
141 run in opposite directions *wil
141 sprain, dislocate *i-wil
142 sandal, shoe *kV-waʀ
143 scorpion *kɪ-ʊtɔ-
144 (sesame) seed *ɲäm
145 self (1) *kɛ-ʀ
146 self (2) *-ɔpɛ(-c)
147 separate, be *päk
148 serval cat *kwar
149 shake, churn *(ɪ-)kɪn
150 sigh, gape *ŋam
151 sink *lut̪
151 dip, take down, immerse *i-lut̪
152 skin, flay *’jɛŋ
153 speak, talk (noun or verb) *rɔc
154 spit *ŋʊt
155 spittle, saliva *ŋʊl-
156 spread *(ɪ)lwat
157 spy, investigate, explore *ʀɔɔt
158 stalk *lɛp
159 star *kɔ-kɛɛl
160 (n/a)
161 steal *kɔl
162 stink, smell *ŋu
163 stuff, stop up *sɔc
164 stupid *ɓaŋ
165 substitute , reimburse *(i)luɲ
166 suck, kiss *cwɪ
167 suck *näk
167 suckle, give breast *i-näk
168 swallow *lɪk
169 swarm *mas
170 swell *ɓʊs
171 take, pick *lɛm
172 taste *cam
173 teat, nipple *kɪna
174 temple *ma-t̪aŋ
175 ten *tɔmɔn
176 termite, flying ant (edible) *kɔŋa
177 thin, become, die off *kar
178 thirst, hunger *kʊ-ryɛ(-w)
179 thorn *ku-kua
180 three *däk
181 tongue *ŋa-lyɛp
182 tooth *kɛ-la(-c)
183 trap, lay snare, angle *lɔk
184 tree *kɛ-ɛt, *kɪ-yat
185 try, tempt, weigh *t(y)ɛm
186 tuft, bunch (of hair) *d̪wor
187 turn around, revolve *wɪr
188 turn over, fold (by itself) *bel
189 two *aʀyɛw
190 udder *ɲaw-a
191 uncle *mamaɪ
192 uncover, open *ŋaɲ
193 urine *kʊ-la(-c)
194 vein (from which blood is taken) *kɛpʊ
195 walk, go, migrate *wot
196 water *pi(-ʀ)
197 weed *dɔy
198 wet season *k-ɪcwɪr
199 whittle off, strip, peel *pac
200 what *iɲɔ
201 who, which (in relative) *ŋa
202 wild flock (as against domesticated wild animal(s)) *tyaŋ
203 wind *yɔm
204 wrinkle, crush *bɛl

References edit

  1. ^ Dimmendaal, Gerrit Jan. 1988. "The lexical reconstruction of proto-Nilotic: a first reconnaissance." Afrikanistische (AAP) 16: 5-67.
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