Chonyi (Conyi, Kichonyi, Chichonyi) is a Bantu language spoken along the eastern coast of Kenya in Kilifi County by the Chonyi people. It is part of the Mijikenda dialect cluster.
| Chonyi | |
|---|---|
| "Chichonyi" | |
| Native to | Kenya |
| Region | Kilifi County |
| Ethnicity | Chonyi people |
Native speakers | 310,000 (2019)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | coh |
| Glottolog | chon1287 |
E72c[2] | |
In 2019, there were an estimated 310,000 speakers.[1] Of these, 39,000 spoke the Jibana dialect (Chidzihana) and 71,000 the Kauma dialect (Chikauma).[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Chonyi at Ethnologue (25th ed., 2022)
- ^ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
The major distinction of the Chonyi dialect to their close neighbours which are the Giriama is the use of prefix chi-, instead of ki-.
| Chichonyi | Kigiryama | Kiswahili |
|---|---|---|
| Chihi | Kihi | Kiti |
| Chidogo | Kidogo | Kidogo |
| Chitu | Kitu | Kitu |
| Kiswahili | Chichonyi | |
|---|---|---|
| Umeamkaje? | Ulamkadze? | Amka- lamuka |
| Umeshindaje | Usindadze? | Shinda- sinda |
| Asante | Nasanta | Pole - Pore |
| Kiswahili | Chichonyi |
|---|---|
| Mosi/ moja | Mosi/ mwenga |
| mbili | mbiri |
| tatu | tahu/hahu |
| nne | inne |
| tano | tsano |
| sita/tandatu | handahu |
| saba | fungahe |
| nane | nane |
| tisa/kenda | chenda |
| kumi | kumi |
| kumi na moja | kumi na mwenga |
| kumi na mbili | kumi na mbiri |
| kumi na tatu | kumi na tahu |
| kumi na nne | kumi na inne |
| kumi na tano | kumi na tsano |
| kumi na saba | kumi na fungahe |
| kumi na nane | kumi na nane |
| kumi na tisa | kumi na chenda |
| ishirini/miongo miwili | mirongo miiri |
Chichonyi incorporates intonation during pronunciation which is not very conspicuous in Kiswahili
| Kiswahili | Chichonyi |
|---|---|
| Kichwa | chitswa |
| Jicho (macho) | Dzitso(matso) |
| Pua | pula |
| Skio (maskio) | sikiro (masikiro) |
| Nywele | Nyere |
| Mkono | mkono |
| Kiganja | ganza |
| Kidole/ chanda | chala |
| Kifua | Chifua |
| Mguu | Mgulu |
| Shingo | Singo |
| Mdomo | Mlomo |
| Ulimi | Lulimi |
| Ngozi | Chingo |
| Mgongo | Mongo |