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<span>Etymology</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Etymology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Languages_and_dialects" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Languages_and_dialects"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Languages and dialects</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Languages_and_dialects-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Orthography" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Orthography"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Orthography</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Orthography-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Phonology" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Phonology"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Phonology</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Phonology-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Phonology subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Phonology-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Vowels" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Vowels"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>Vowels</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Vowels-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Consonants" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Consonants"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Consonants</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Consonants-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Grammar" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Grammar"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Grammar</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Grammar-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Grammar subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Grammar-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Verbs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Verbs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.1</span> <span>Verbs</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Verbs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Noun_classes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Noun_classes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.2</span> <span>Noun classes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Noun_classes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Personal_pronouns" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Personal_pronouns"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6.3</span> <span>Personal pronouns</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Personal_pronouns-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Vocabulary" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Vocabulary"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Vocabulary</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Vocabulary-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Vocabulary subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Vocabulary-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Numerals" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Numerals"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.1</span> <span>Numerals</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Numerals-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Months_of_the_year" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Months_of_the_year"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.2</span> <span>Months of the year</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Months_of_the_year-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Borrowings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Borrowings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7.3</span> <span>Borrowings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Borrowings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Writing_system" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Writing_system"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>Writing system</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Writing_system-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Writing system subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Writing_system-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Xitsonga_Latin_Alphabet" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Xitsonga_Latin_Alphabet"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.1</span> <span>Xitsonga Latin Alphabet</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Xitsonga_Latin_Alphabet-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Xiyinhlanharhu_xa_Mipfawulo" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Xiyinhlanharhu_xa_Mipfawulo"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8.2</span> <span>Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Xiyinhlanharhu_xa_Mipfawulo-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Oral_literature" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Oral_literature"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>Oral literature</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Oral_literature-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Oral literature subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Oral_literature-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Tales" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Tales"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.1</span> <span>Tales</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Tales-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Songs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Songs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.2</span> <span>Songs</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Songs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Riddles" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Riddles"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.3</span> <span>Riddles</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Riddles-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Proverbs" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Proverbs"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9.4</span> <span>Proverbs</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Proverbs-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">10</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">11</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-External_links-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle External links subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Software_and_localisation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Software_and_localisation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">12.1</span> <span>Software and localisation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Software_and_localisation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">Toggle the table of contents</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-unpinned-container" class="vector-unpinned-container"> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Tsonga language</span></h1> <div id="p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown mw-portlet mw-portlet-lang" > <input type="checkbox" id="p-lang-btn-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-p-lang-btn" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox mw-interlanguage-selector" aria-label="Go to an article in another language. Available in 69 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-69" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">69 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-af mw-list-item"><a href="https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Afrikaans" lang="af" hreflang="af" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Afrikaans" data-language-local-name="Afrikaans" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Afrikaans</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-anp mw-list-item"><a href="https://anp.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%80_%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B7%E0%A4%BE" title="शंगानी भाषा – Angika" lang="anp" hreflang="anp" data-title="शंगानी भाषा" data-language-autonym="अंगिका" data-language-local-name="Angika" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>अंगिका</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%A9_%D8%AA%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%86%D8%BA%D8%A7" title="لغة تسونغا – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="لغة تسونغا" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ast mw-list-item"><a href="https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_tsonga" title="Idioma tsonga – Asturian" lang="ast" hreflang="ast" data-title="Idioma tsonga" data-language-autonym="Asturianu" data-language-local-name="Asturian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Asturianu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az mw-list-item"><a href="https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonqa_dili" title="Tsonqa dili – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az" data-title="Tsonqa dili" data-language-autonym="Azərbaycanca" data-language-local-name="Azerbaijani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Azərbaycanca</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga-g%C3%AD" title="Tsonga-gí – Minnan" lang="nan" hreflang="nan" data-title="Tsonga-gí" data-language-autonym="閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú" data-language-local-name="Minnan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gú</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A6%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0" title="Цонга – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Цонга" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-br mw-list-item"><a href="https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsongeg" title="Tsongeg – Breton" lang="br" hreflang="br" data-title="Tsongeg" data-language-autonym="Brezhoneg" data-language-local-name="Breton" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Brezhoneg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sn mw-list-item"><a href="https://sn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chitsonga" title="Chitsonga – Shona" lang="sn" hreflang="sn" data-title="Chitsonga" data-language-autonym="ChiShona" data-language-local-name="Shona" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ChiShona</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_(sprog)" title="Tsonga (sprog) – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Tsonga (sprog)" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xitsonga" title="Xitsonga – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Xitsonga" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_keel" title="Tsonga keel – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Tsonga keel" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_tsonga" title="Idioma tsonga – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Idioma tsonga" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga_lingvo" title="Conga lingvo – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Conga lingvo" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu mw-list-item"><a href="https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsongera" title="Tsongera – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu" data-title="Tsongera" data-language-autonym="Euskara" data-language-local-name="Basque" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Euskara</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%B4%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C" title="زبان شنگانی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="زبان شنگانی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hif mw-list-item"><a href="https://hif.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_bhasa" title="Tsonga bhasa – Fiji Hindi" lang="hif" hreflang="hif" data-title="Tsonga bhasa" data-language-autonym="Fiji Hindi" data-language-local-name="Fiji Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Fiji Hindi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fo mw-list-item"><a href="https://fo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_m%C3%A1l" title="Tsonga mál – Faroese" lang="fo" hreflang="fo" data-title="Tsonga mál" data-language-autonym="Føroyskt" data-language-local-name="Faroese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Føroyskt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_(langue)" title="Tsonga (langue) – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Tsonga (langue)" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_tsonga" title="Lingua tsonga – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Lingua tsonga" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%B4%9D%EA%B0%80%EC%96%B4" title="총가어 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="총가어" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ha mw-list-item"><a href="https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harshen_Tsonga" title="Harshen Tsonga – Hausa" lang="ha" hreflang="ha" data-title="Harshen Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Hausa" data-language-local-name="Hausa" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hausa</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_jezik" title="Tsonga jezik – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="Tsonga jezik" data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-io mw-list-item"><a href="https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conga-linguo" title="Conga-linguo – Ido" lang="io" hreflang="io" data-title="Conga-linguo" data-language-autonym="Ido" data-language-local-name="Ido" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ido</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ig mw-list-item"><a href="https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_language" title="Tsonga language – Igbo" lang="ig" hreflang="ig" data-title="Tsonga language" data-language-autonym="Igbo" data-language-local-name="Igbo" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Igbo</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahasa_Tsonga" title="Bahasa Tsonga – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Bahasa Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-xh mw-list-item"><a href="https://xh.wikipedia.org/wiki/IsiTsonga" title="IsiTsonga – Xhosa" lang="xh" hreflang="xh" data-title="IsiTsonga" data-language-autonym="IsiXhosa" data-language-local-name="Xhosa" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>IsiXhosa</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zu mw-list-item"><a href="https://zu.wikipedia.org/wiki/IsiTsonga" title="IsiTsonga – Zulu" lang="zu" hreflang="zu" data-title="IsiTsonga" data-language-autonym="IsiZulu" data-language-local-name="Zulu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>IsiZulu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-is mw-list-item"><a href="https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Icelandic" lang="is" hreflang="is" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Íslenska" data-language-local-name="Icelandic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Íslenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua_tsonga" title="Lingua tsonga – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Lingua tsonga" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ks mw-list-item"><a href="https://ks.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%98%D9%88%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7_%D8%B2%D9%8E%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ژونگا زَبان – Kashmiri" lang="ks" hreflang="ks" data-title="ژونگا زَبان" data-language-autonym="कॉशुर / کٲشُر" data-language-local-name="Kashmiri" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>कॉशुर / کٲشُر</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sw mw-list-item"><a href="https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsonga" title="Kitsonga – Swahili" lang="sw" hreflang="sw" data-title="Kitsonga" data-language-autonym="Kiswahili" data-language-local-name="Swahili" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Kiswahili</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kv mw-list-item"><a href="https://kv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0_(%D0%BA%D1%8B%D0%B2)" title="Тсонга (кыв) – Komi" lang="kv" hreflang="kv" data-title="Тсонга (кыв)" data-language-autonym="Коми" data-language-local-name="Komi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Коми</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsong%C5%B3_kalba" title="Tsongų kalba – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Tsongų kalba" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mk mw-list-item"><a href="https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A6%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0_(%D1%98%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BA)" title="Цонга (јазик) – Macedonian" lang="mk" hreflang="mk" data-title="Цонга (јазик)" data-language-autonym="Македонски" data-language-local-name="Macedonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Македонски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-xmf mw-list-item"><a href="https://xmf.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A1%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9C%E1%83%92%E1%83%90_(%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98%E1%83%9C%E1%83%90)" title="ტსონგა (ნინა) – Mingrelian" lang="xmf" hreflang="xmf" data-title="ტსონგა (ნინა)" data-language-autonym="მარგალური" data-language-local-name="Mingrelian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>მარგალური</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mzn mw-list-item"><a href="https://mzn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C" title="شنگانی – Mazanderani" lang="mzn" hreflang="mzn" data-title="شنگانی" data-language-autonym="مازِرونی" data-language-local-name="Mazanderani" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مازِرونی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%84%E3%82%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AC%E8%AA%9E" title="ツォンガ語 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="ツォンガ語" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-frr mw-list-item"><a href="https://frr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_(Spriik)" title="Tsonga (Spriik) – Northern Frisian" lang="frr" hreflang="frr" data-title="Tsonga (Spriik)" data-language-autonym="Nordfriisk" data-language-local-name="Northern Frisian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nordfriisk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn mw-list-item"><a href="https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Norsk nynorsk" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Nynorsk" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk nynorsk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps mw-list-item"><a href="https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%B4%D9%86%DA%AB%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A_%DA%98%D8%A8%D9%87" title="شنګاني ژبه – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps" data-title="شنګاني ژبه" data-language-autonym="پښتو" data-language-local-name="Pashto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پښتو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pms mw-list-item"><a href="https://pms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenga_Tsonga" title="Lenga Tsonga – Piedmontese" lang="pms" hreflang="pms" data-title="Lenga Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Piemontèis" data-language-local-name="Piedmontese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Piemontèis</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C4%99zyk_tsonga" title="Język tsonga – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Język tsonga" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%ADngua_tsonga" title="Língua tsonga – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Língua tsonga" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle mw-list-item" title="good article badge"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0_(%D1%8F%D0%B7%D1%8B%D0%BA)" title="Тсонга (язык) – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Тсонга (язык)" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sat mw-list-item"><a href="https://sat.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%B1%A5%E1%B1%B3%E1%B1%9D%E1%B1%9C%E1%B1%9F_%E1%B1%AF%E1%B1%9F%E1%B1%B9%E1%B1%A8%E1%B1%A5%E1%B1%A4" title="ᱥᱳᱝᱜᱟ ᱯᱟᱹᱨᱥᱤ – Santali" lang="sat" hreflang="sat" data-title="ᱥᱳᱝᱜᱟ ᱯᱟᱹᱨᱥᱤ" data-language-autonym="ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ" data-language-local-name="Santali" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ᱥᱟᱱᱛᱟᱲᱤ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-st mw-list-item"><a href="https://st.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsonga" title="Setsonga – Southern Sotho" lang="st" hreflang="st" data-title="Setsonga" data-language-autonym="Sesotho" data-language-local-name="Southern Sotho" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Sesotho</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nso mw-list-item"><a href="https://nso.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsonga" title="Setsonga – Northern Sotho" lang="nso" hreflang="nso" data-title="Setsonga" data-language-autonym="Sesotho sa Leboa" data-language-local-name="Northern Sotho" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Sesotho sa Leboa</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tn mw-list-item"><a href="https://tn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsonga" title="Setsonga – Tswana" lang="tn" hreflang="tn" data-title="Setsonga" data-language-autonym="Setswana" data-language-local-name="Tswana" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Setswana</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq mw-list-item"><a href="https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gjuha_tsonga" title="Gjuha tsonga – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq" data-title="Gjuha tsonga" data-language-autonym="Shqip" data-language-local-name="Albanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Shqip</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_language" title="Tsonga language – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Tsonga language" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ss mw-list-item"><a href="https://ss.wikipedia.org/wiki/SiTsonga" title="SiTsonga – Swati" lang="ss" hreflang="ss" data-title="SiTsonga" data-language-autonym="SiSwati" data-language-local-name="Swati" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>SiSwati</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh mw-list-item"><a href="https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga_jezik" title="Tsonga jezik – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh" data-title="Tsonga jezik" data-language-autonym="Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски" data-language-local-name="Serbo-Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsongan_kieli" title="Tsongan kieli – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Tsongan kieli" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsonga" title="Tsonga – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tl mw-list-item"><a href="https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikang_Tsonga" title="Wikang Tsonga – Tagalog" lang="tl" hreflang="tl" data-title="Wikang Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Tagalog" data-language-local-name="Tagalog" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tagalog</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%9A%E0%AF%8B%E0%AE%99%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95_%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8A%E0%AE%B4%E0%AE%BF" title="சோங்க மொழி – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="சோங்க மொழி" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>தமிழ்</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tt mw-list-item"><a href="https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0_%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5" title="Тсонга теле – Tatar" lang="tt" hreflang="tt" data-title="Тсонга теле" data-language-autonym="Татарча / tatarça" data-language-local-name="Tatar" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Татарча / tatarça</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ve mw-list-item"><a href="https://ve.wikipedia.org/wiki/XiTsonga" title="XiTsonga – Venda" lang="ve" hreflang="ve" data-title="XiTsonga" data-language-autonym="Tshivenda" data-language-local-name="Venda" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tshivenda</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsongaca" title="Tsongaca – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Tsongaca" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B0_(%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0)" title="Тсонга (мова) – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Тсонга (мова)" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi mw-list-item"><a href="https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ti%E1%BA%BFng_Tsonga" title="Tiếng Tsonga – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi" data-title="Tiếng Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Tiếng Việt" data-language-local-name="Vietnamese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Tiếng Việt</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu mw-list-item"><a href="https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%81%AA%E5%8A%A0%E8%AF%AD" title="聪加语 – Wu" lang="wuu" hreflang="wuu" data-title="聪加语" data-language-autonym="吴语" data-language-local-name="Wu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>吴语</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ts mw-list-item"><a href="https://ts.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xitsonga" title="Xitsonga – Tsonga" lang="ts" hreflang="ts" data-title="Xitsonga" data-language-autonym="Xitsonga" data-language-local-name="Tsonga" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Xitsonga</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-yo mw-list-item"><a href="https://yo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%88d%C3%A8_Tsonga" title="Èdè Tsonga – Yoruba" lang="yo" hreflang="yo" data-title="Èdè Tsonga" data-language-autonym="Yorùbá" data-language-local-name="Yoruba" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Yorùbá</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%81%AA%E5%8A%A0%E8%AF%AD" title="聪加语 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="聪加语" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q34327#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <div class="vector-page-toolbar"> <div class="vector-page-toolbar-container"> <div id="left-navigation"> <nav aria-label="Namespaces"> <div id="p-associated-pages" class="vector-menu vector-menu-tabs mw-portlet mw-portlet-associated-pages" 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color: black; background-color: #ffddaa;">Tsonga</th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-subheader" style="font-size:110%; color: black; background-color: #ffddaa;"><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xitsonga</i></span></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;">Native to</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul{line-height:inherit;list-style:none;margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .plainlist ol li,.mw-parser-output .plainlist ul li{margin-bottom:0}</style><div class="plainlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Eswatini" title="Eswatini">Eswatini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mozambique" title="Mozambique">Mozambique</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;">Region</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"><div class="plainlist"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gauteng" title="Gauteng">Gauteng</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Limpopo" title="Limpopo">Limpopo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mpumalanga" title="Mpumalanga">Mpumalanga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gaza_Province" title="Gaza Province">Gaza Province</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maputo_Province" title="Maputo Province">Maputo Province</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maputo_City" class="mw-redirect" title="Maputo City">Maputo City</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/North_West_(South_African_province)" title="North West (South African province)">North West</a></li> <li>Chiredzi District</li> <li>Mwenenzi District</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;">Ethnicity</th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Tsonga_people" title="Tsonga people">Tsonga</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Native speakers</div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;">3.7<span class="nowrap"> </span>million (2006–2011)<sup id="cite_ref-e18_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-e18-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><br />3.4 million <a href="/wiki/L2_speakers" class="mw-redirect" title="L2 speakers">L2 speakers</a> in South Africa (2002)<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span class="wrap"><a href="/wiki/Language_family" title="Language family">Language family</a></span></div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><div style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/Niger%E2%80%93Congo_languages" title="Niger–Congo languages">Niger–Congo</a>? <ul style="line-height:100%; margin-left:1.35em;padding-left:0"><li> <a href="/wiki/Atlantic%E2%80%93Congo_languages" title="Atlantic–Congo languages">Atlantic–Congo</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Volta-Congo" class="mw-redirect" title="Volta-Congo">Volta-Congo</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Benue%E2%80%93Congo_languages" title="Benue–Congo languages">Benue–Congo</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Bantoid" class="mw-redirect" title="Bantoid">Bantoid</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Southern_Bantoid_languages" title="Southern Bantoid languages">Southern Bantoid</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Bantu_languages" title="Bantu languages">Bantu</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Southern_Bantu" class="mw-redirect" title="Southern Bantu">Southern Bantu</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><a href="/wiki/Tswa%E2%80%93Ronga_languages" title="Tswa–Ronga languages">Tswa–Ronga</a><ul style="line-height:100%;margin-left:0.45em;padding-left:0;"><li><b>Tsonga</b></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span class="wrap"><a href="/wiki/Writing_system" title="Writing system">Writing system</a></span></div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Latin_script" title="Latin script">Latin</a> (Tsonga alphabet)<br /><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_Braille&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Tsonga Braille (page does not exist)">Tsonga Braille</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span class="wrap"><a href="/wiki/Manually_coded_language" title="Manually coded language">Signed forms</a></span></div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a href="/wiki/Signed_Tsonga" class="mw-redirect" title="Signed Tsonga">Signed Tsonga</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="color: black; background-color: #ffddaa;">Official status</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Official language in</div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"><div class="plainlist"> <ul><li><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/23px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/35px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Flag_of_South_Africa.svg/45px-Flag_of_South_Africa.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a></li> <li><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg/23px-Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="12" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg/35px-Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg/46px-Flag_of_Zimbabwe.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a> (as 'Shangani')</li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;">Recognised minority<br />language in</div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><div style="vertical-align:middle;"><span class="flagicon"><span class="mw-image-border" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Mozambique.svg/23px-Flag_of_Mozambique.svg.png" decoding="async" width="23" height="15" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Mozambique.svg/35px-Flag_of_Mozambique.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Mozambique.svg/45px-Flag_of_Mozambique.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600" /></span></span> </span><a href="/wiki/Mozambique" title="Mozambique">Mozambique</a></div></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="color: black; background-color: #ffddaa;">Language codes</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/ISO_639-1" title="ISO 639-1">ISO 639-1</a></span></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><code><span class="plainlinks"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/langcodes_name.php?iso_639_1=ts">ts</a></span></code></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/ISO_639-2" title="ISO 639-2">ISO 639-2</a></span></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><code><span class="plainlinks"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.loc.gov/standards/iso639-2/php/langcodes_name.php?code_ID=460">tso</a></span></code></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><span class="nowrap"><a href="/wiki/ISO_639-3" title="ISO 639-3">ISO 639-3</a></span></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><code><a href="https://iso639-3.sil.org/code/tso" class="extiw" title="iso639-3:tso">tso</a></code></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><i><a href="/wiki/Glottolog" title="Glottolog">Glottolog</a></i></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><code><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/tson1249">tson1249</a></code></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><div style="display: inline-block; line-height: 1.2em; padding: .1em 0;"><span class="wrap"><a href="/wiki/Guthrie_classification_of_Bantu_languages" title="Guthrie classification of Bantu languages">Guthrie code</a></span></div></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><code>S.53 (S.52)</code><sup id="cite_ref-Guthrie_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Guthrie-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="white-space:nowrap;padding-right:0.65em;"><a href="/wiki/Linguasphere_Observatory" title="Linguasphere Observatory">Linguasphere</a></th><td class="infobox-data" style="line-height:1.3em;"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://linguasphere.info/?page=linguascale&linguacode=99-AUT-dc">99-AUT-dc</a> incl. varieties 99-AUT-dca...<br />-dcg</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below noprint selfref" style="background-color:#E7E7FF;color:inherit;padding:0.3em 0.5em;text-align:left;line-height:1.3;"><b>This article contains <a href="/wiki/International_Phonetic_Alphabet" title="International Phonetic Alphabet">IPA</a> phonetic symbols.</b> Without proper <a href="/wiki/Help:IPA#Rendering_issues" title="Help:IPA">rendering support</a>, you may see <a href="/wiki/Specials_(Unicode_block)#Replacement_character" title="Specials (Unicode block)">question marks, boxes, or other symbols</a> instead of <a href="/wiki/Unicode" title="Unicode">Unicode</a> characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see <a href="/wiki/Help:IPA" title="Help:IPA">Help:IPA</a>.</td></tr></tbody></table><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236303919">@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-has-images-with-white-backgrounds img{background:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-has-images-with-white-backgrounds img{background:white}}</style> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg/220px-South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="193" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg/330px-South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg/440px-South_Africa_2011_Tsonga_speakers_proportion_map.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="809" data-file-height="709" /></a><figcaption>Geographical description of Tsonga in South Africa: proportion of the population that speaks a form of Tsonga at home.</figcaption></figure> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"><table class="infobox" style="background:#fff6d9"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above">Tsonga</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="background:#fee8ab">Person</th><td class="infobox-data">Mutsonga</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="background:#fee8ab">People</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Tsonga_people" title="Tsonga people">Vatsonga</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label" style="background:#fee8ab">Language</th><td class="infobox-data">Xitsonga</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Tsonga</b> (<span class="rt-commentedText nowrap"><span class="IPA nopopups noexcerpt" lang="en-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Help:IPA/English" title="Help:IPA/English">/<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="/ˈ/: primary stress follows">ˈ</span></span>(<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="'t' in 'tie'">t</span></span>)<span style="border-bottom:1px dotted"><span title="'s' in 'sigh'">s</span><span title="/ɒ/: 'o' in 'body'">ɒ</span><span title="/ŋ/: 'ng' in 'sing'">ŋ</span><span title="/ɡ/: 'g' in 'guy'">ɡ</span><span title="/ə/: 'a' in 'about'">ə</span></span>/</a></span> <span class="noprint"><span class="ext-phonos"><span data-nosnippet="" id="ooui-php-1" class="ext-phonos-PhonosButton noexcerpt ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel oo-ui-widget oo-ui-widget-enabled oo-ui-buttonElement oo-ui-buttonElement-frameless oo-ui-iconElement oo-ui-buttonWidget" data-ooui="{"_":"mw.Phonos.PhonosButton","href":"\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/transcoded\/c\/c3\/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav\/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav.mp3","rel":["nofollow"],"framed":false,"icon":"volumeUp","data":{"ipa":"","text":"","lang":"en","wikibase":"","file":"LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav"},"classes":["ext-phonos-PhonosButton","noexcerpt","ext-phonos-PhonosButton-emptylabel"]}"><a role="button" tabindex="0" href="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/c/c3/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav/LL-Q1860_%28eng%29-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav.mp3" rel="nofollow" aria-label="Play audio" title="Play audio" class="oo-ui-buttonElement-button"><span class="oo-ui-iconElement-icon oo-ui-icon-volumeUp"></span><span class="oo-ui-labelElement-label"></span><span class="oo-ui-indicatorElement-indicator oo-ui-indicatorElement-noIndicator"></span></a></span><sup class="ext-phonos-attribution noexcerpt navigation-not-searchable"><a href="/wiki/File:LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav" title="File:LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Tsonga1.wav">ⓘ</a></sup></span></span></span> <a href="/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key" title="Help:Pronunciation respelling key"><i title="English pronunciation respelling"><span style="font-size:90%">(T)SONG</span>-gə</i></a>) or, natively, <b>Xitsonga</b>, as an <a href="/wiki/Endonym_and_exonym" title="Endonym and exonym">endonym</a>, is a <a href="/wiki/Bantu_languages" title="Bantu languages">Bantu language</a> spoken by the <a href="/wiki/Tsonga_people" title="Tsonga people">Tsonga people</a> of <a href="/wiki/South_Africa" title="South Africa">South Africa</a>. It is mutually intelligible with <a href="/wiki/Tswa_language" title="Tswa language">Tswa</a> and <a href="/wiki/Ronga_language" title="Ronga language">Ronga</a> and the name "Tsonga" is often used as a cover term for all three, also sometimes referred to as Tswa-Ronga. The Xitsonga language has been standardised for both academic and home use. Tsonga is an official language of the Republic of South Africa, and under the name "Shangani" it is recognised as an official language in the Constitution of Zimbabwe. All Tswa-Ronga languages are recognised in Mozambique. It is not official in <a href="/wiki/Eswatini" title="Eswatini">Eswatini</a> (formerly Swaziland). </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Xi-tsonga language was studied in great detail by the Swiss missionary, <a href="/wiki/Henri-Alexandre_Junod" title="Henri-Alexandre Junod">Henri-Alexandre Junod</a> between the years 1890 and 1920, who made the conclusion that the Xitsonga language (which he called the "Thonga language" at the time) began to develop in Mozambique even before the 1400s. In his own words, Junod states the following:<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1244412712">.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 32px}.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;margin-top:0}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .templatequotecite{padding-left:1.6em}}</style><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>My conclusion is then that the Thonga language was already-spoken by the primitive occupants of the country more than 500 years ago and that, together with a certain number of customs, it formed the great bond which bound the Thonga clans together in past centuries.</p></blockquote> <p>Further studies were carried out by Junod and other Swiss missionaries such as Henri Berthoud and Ernest Creux, who began to unify the language in order to have a standard way of writing and reading. "Shigwamba" was a term used by the missionaries in order to group the language under a unified identity, however the name was unfamiliar to many of the Tsonga people and had to be replaced with "Thonga/Tsonga". Harries makes reference to this:<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1244412712"><blockquote class="templatequote"><p>As the term Gwamba was unknown outside the Spelonken, Henri Berthoud recommended that the mission abandon the term and replace it with the widely accepted genericism, Tonga/Thonga.</p></blockquote> <p>Swiss missionaries worked with the Tsonga people, assisting in the translation of the Bible from English and Sesotho into Tsonga. Paul Berthoud published the first book in 1883, thanks to assistance from translations by Mpapele (Mbizana) and Mandlati (Zambia). The two men were active in teaching and translating the language to the missionaries since none of the missionaries were familiar with it and had to dedicate much of their time to learn it. The language of the Tsonga people and the dialects were put into print and the first books were published. The language was later on finally registered as "Xitsonga" within the Constitution of South Africa (Act 108 of 1996) and it was declared an official language. The standardization of the Xitsonga language as a result made it possible for the Tsonga people to develop a common way of speaking and writing. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Etymology">Etymology</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Etymology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The name "Tsonga" is the root of Xitsonga (culture, language or ways of the Tsonga) Mutsonga (a Tsonga person), Vatsonga (Tsonga people), etc. In the language of the Vatsonga themselves, the root never appears by itself. It is Tsonga for the ease and accessibility of the wider international community. </p><p>As for the origins of the name, there are three theories. The first states that Tsonga is another pronunciation for Dzonga, which means "South" and also the name of one of the dialects of Xitsonga. The second theory is that it is an alternate spelling of the old ancestral name of the <a href="/wiki/Chopi_people" title="Chopi people">Chopi</a> and Tembe groups, Tonga/Thonga.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The other Zulu explanation for the alternative spelling of "Thonga" is that the Tembe and Rhonga people, who were the first to arrive at the Delagoa Bay and around the Natal Bay, transitioned the Rhonga "Rh" into the Zulu form of "Th". An example is <b>rhuma</b> (Tsonga word for "send") becomes <b>thuma</b> (Zulu word for the same action). The third and most accepted is that it is another pronunciation for "Rhonga", the root for the word "vurhonga" for east or the direction where the sun rises. Vurhonga also means dawn in Xitsonga. Rhonga (commonly and wrongly spelt as Ronga) is one of the Tsonga languages. The physical evidence of most Tsonga people residing along the eastern coast of Africa in the south, extending inland in a westward direction, makes this explanation especially inviting. However Junod had initially used the Ronga appellation but had also realized that the northern clans did not frequently use the name 'Ronga' as their identity name, but most certainly Tsonga is a derivation of Ronga. </p><p>Much of the written history about the Tsonga regards the aftermath of the mfecane where the <a href="/wiki/Nguni_people" title="Nguni people">Nguni people</a> overran many of the pre-existing African tribes of South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Languages_and_dialects">Languages and dialects</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Languages and dialects"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237032888/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle 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src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tsonga3.jpg/200px-Tsonga3.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="134" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tsonga3.jpg/300px-Tsonga3.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Tsonga3.jpg/400px-Tsonga3.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1620" data-file-height="1086" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Tsonga4.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Tsonga4.jpg/200px-Tsonga4.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="132" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Tsonga4.jpg/300px-Tsonga4.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/Tsonga4.jpg/400px-Tsonga4.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1636" data-file-height="1082" /></a></span></div></div></div></div></div> <p>Tsonga is a Bantu language (Guthrie code S.53), closely related to other members to the <a href="/wiki/Tswa%E2%80%93Ronga_languages" title="Tswa–Ronga languages">Tswa-Ronga</a> group (S.50): </p> <ol><li>Ronga (Rhonga) dialects are Kalanga (Xinyisa, Xindindindi (Xizingili), Putru, and Xinyondroma.</li> <li>Tsonga (Gwamba, Gwapa) dialects are Bila (Vila), Djonga (Dzonga, Jonga), Hlanganu (Langanu, Nhlanganu), Hlave (Mbayi, Nkuna, Pai), Kande, Khosa, Luleke, N'walungu (Ngwalungu), Nkuma, Songa, Valoyi, Xika, and Xonga.</li> <li>Tswa (Tshwa) dialects are Dzibi (Dzivi), Dzibi-Dzonga (Dzivi-Dzonga), Tshwa, Hlengwe (Lengwe, Lhenge), Khambani, Makwakwe-Khambani, Mandla, Ndxhonge, and Nhayi (Nyai, Nyayi).</li></ol> <p>Some dialects are subdialects but have been mentioned here for completeness. For example, Valoyi and Luleke comprise the N'walungu dialect. There is no Gwamba dialect as Gwamba is another name for Xitsonga itself. Formally Xitsonga has been called Gwamba. Tswa-Ronga dialects not considered part of the family include Pulana (Xipulana, Sepulane). What is commonly referred to as "Shangana/Changana" is not a recognized language in South Africa and is not a dialect that falls within the Xitsonga language group, as its distinctiveness stems mainly from the use of the <a href="/wiki/Nguni_languages" title="Nguni languages">Nguni language</a> and grammar. </p><p>Only six Thonga/Tsonga dialects exist and these were identified by the dawn of the 1900s. These are namely xiRonga, xiHlanganu, xiBila, xiDjonga, xiN'walungu, and xiHlengwe. All other variations within South Africa are sub-dialects of the aforementioned. The dialects most spoken in the rural communities of Limpopo are the N'walungu, Bila, Hlengwe, and the Hlanganu dialects. The Xitsonga vocabulary and phonetic permutations are also largely based on these dialects (cf. Junod 1912, p. 470–473) </p><p>For "language of", the various languages and dialects employ one or more of the following prefixes: Bi-, Chi-, Ci-, Gi-, Ici-, Ki-, Ma-, Shee-, Shi-, Txi-, Va-, Wa-, and Xi-. For "people of", they use either "Ba-" or "Va-". </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Orthography">Orthography</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Orthography"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Letter </th> <th>IPA Value<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th> <th>Letter </th> <th>IPA Value<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th> <th>Letter </th> <th>IPA Value<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th> <th>Letter </th> <th>IPA Value<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </th></tr> <tr> <td>a </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">a</span> </td> <td>p </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">p</span> </td> <td>pf </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">p̪f</span> </td> <td>ff </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɸ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>aa </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">aː</span> </td> <td>ph </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">pʰ</span> </td> <td>pfh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">p̪fʰ</span> </td> <td>v </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">β</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>e </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɛ</span> </td> <td>py </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">pʲ</span> </td> <td>bv </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">b̪v</span> </td> <td>f </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">f</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>ee </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɛː</span> </td> <td>phy </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">pʲʰ</span> </td> <td>bvh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">b̪vʱ</span> </td> <td>vh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">v</span>, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">vʱ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>i </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">i</span> </td> <td>b </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">b</span> </td> <td>ts </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ts</span> </td> <td>s </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">s</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>ii </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">iː</span> </td> <td>bh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">bʱ</span> </td> <td>tsh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsʰ</span>, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsᶲʰ</span> </td> <td>sw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">sʷ</span>, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">sᶲ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>o </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɔ</span> </td> <td>by </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">bʲ</span> </td> <td>tsw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsʷ</span>, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsᶲ</span> </td> <td>z </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">z</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>oo </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɔː</span> </td> <td>bhy </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">bʲʱ</span> </td> <td>dz </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dz</span> </td> <td>zw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">zʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>u </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">u</span> </td> <td>t </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">t</span> </td> <td>dzh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dzʱ</span> </td> <td>hl </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɬ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>uu </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">uː</span> </td> <td>th </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʰ</span> </td> <td>dzhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dzʷʱ</span> </td> <td>hlw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɬʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>r </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">r</span> </td> <td>tw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʷ</span> </td> <td>dzw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dzᵝ</span> </td> <td>l </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">l</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>rh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">rʱ</span> </td> <td>thw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʷʰ</span> </td> <td>dhl </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dɮ</span> </td> <td>lw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">lʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>rw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">rʷ</span> </td> <td>ty </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʲ</span> </td> <td>c </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʃ</span> </td> <td>x </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ʃ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>rhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">rʷʱ</span> </td> <td>thy </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʲʰ</span> </td> <td>ch </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʃʰ</span> </td> <td>xw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ʃʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>m </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">m</span> </td> <td>d </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">d</span> </td> <td>cw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʃʷ</span> </td> <td>xj </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ʒ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>mh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">mʱ</span> </td> <td>dh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʱ</span> </td> <td>chw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tʃʷʰ</span> </td> <td>hh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">x</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>my </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">mʲ</span> </td> <td>dw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʷ</span> </td> <td>j </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʒ</span> </td> <td>hhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">xʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>n </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">n</span> </td> <td>dy </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʲ</span> </td> <td>jh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʒʱ</span> </td> <td>h </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɦ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>nh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">nʱ</span> </td> <td>tl </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡ</span> </td> <td>jw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dʒʷ</span> </td> <td>hw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɦʷ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>nw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">nʷ</span> </td> <td>tlh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʰ</span> </td> <td>w </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">w</span> </td> <td>hy </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɦʲ</span> </td></tr> <tr> <td>nhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">nʷʱ</span> </td> <td>tlw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʷ</span> </td> <td>y </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">j</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>ny </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɲ</span> </td> <td>tlhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʷʰ</span> </td> <td>wh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">wʱ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>nyw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɲʷ</span> </td> <td>dl </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dˡ</span> </td> <td>yh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">jʱ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>n' </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ŋ</span> </td> <td>dlw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dˡʷ</span> </td> <td>yw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">jʷ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>n'h </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ŋʱ</span> </td> <td>k </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">k</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>n'w </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ŋʷ</span> </td> <td>kh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">kʰ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>n'hw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ŋʷʱ</span> </td> <td>kw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">kʷ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>q </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ᵏǀ</span> </td> <td>khw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">kʷʰ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>qh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ᵏǀʰ</span> </td> <td>g </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɡ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>qhw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ᵏǀʷʰ</span> </td> <td>gh </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɡʱ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>gq </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ᶢǀ</span> </td> <td>gw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɡʷ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <td>gqw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ᶢǀʷ</span> </td> <td>ghw </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">ɡʷʱ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Phonology">Phonology</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Phonology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Tsonga has a distinction between <a href="/wiki/Modal_voice" title="Modal voice">modal</a> and <a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">breathy voiced</a> consonants: <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/bʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>bvʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>vʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>dʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ɖʐʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>dʒʱ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ɡʱ/</span> vs <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/b,<span class="wrap"> </span>bv,<span class="wrap"> </span>v,<span class="wrap"> </span>d,<span class="wrap"> </span>ɖʐ,<span class="wrap"> </span>dʒ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ɡ/</span> among the obstruents (the one exception being <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/ɮ/</span>), and <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/m̤,<span class="wrap"> </span>n̤,<span class="wrap"> </span>ŋ̈,<span class="wrap"> </span>r̤,<span class="wrap"> </span>ȷ̈,<span class="wrap"> </span>w̤/</span> vs <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/m,<span class="wrap"> </span>n,<span class="wrap"> </span>ŋ,<span class="wrap"> </span>r,<span class="wrap"> </span>j,<span class="wrap"> </span>w/</span> among the sonorants (the one exception being <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/ɲ/</span>). The segmental inventory is as follows:<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Vowels">Vowels</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Vowels"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"> <tbody><tr> <th> </th> <th><a href="/wiki/Front_vowel" title="Front vowel">Front</a> </th> <th><a href="/wiki/Central_vowel" title="Central vowel">Central</a> </th> <th><a href="/wiki/Back_vowel" title="Back vowel">Back</a> </th></tr> <tr style="text-align:center;"> <th><a href="/wiki/Close_vowel" title="Close vowel">Close</a> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Close_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Close front unrounded vowel">i</a></span>, (<span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Nasal_vowel" title="Nasal vowel">ĩ</a></span>), <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Close_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Close front unrounded vowel">iː</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Close_back_rounded_vowel" title="Close back rounded vowel">u</a></span>, <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Close_back_rounded_vowel" title="Close back rounded vowel">uː</a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <th><a href="/wiki/Mid_vowel" title="Mid vowel">Mid</a> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open-mid_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Open-mid front unrounded vowel">ɛ</a></span>, (<span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Nasal_vowel" title="Nasal vowel">ẽ</a></span>), <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open-mid_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Open-mid front unrounded vowel">ɛː</a></span> </td> <td>(<span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Nasal_vowel" title="Nasal vowel">ə̃</a></span>) </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel" title="Open-mid back rounded vowel">ɔ</a></span>, <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open-mid_back_rounded_vowel" title="Open-mid back rounded vowel">ɔː</a></span> </td></tr> <tr style="text-align:center;"> <th><a href="/wiki/Open_vowel" title="Open vowel">Open</a> </th> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Open front unrounded vowel">a</a></span>, <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Nasal_vowel" title="Nasal vowel">ã</a></span>, <span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Open_front_unrounded_vowel" title="Open front unrounded vowel">aː</a></span> </td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Long vowels are written double. Nasalized vowels are not distinguished in writing; <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ĩ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ẽ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ə̃]</span> are only found in words for 'yes' and 'no', while <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ã]</span> is found in a few mimetic words. Mid vowels can vary from close-mid to open-mid; they are generally close-mid <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[e,<span class="wrap"> </span>o]</span> before a high vowel, <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/i/</span> or <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/u/</span>, and low-mid <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ɛ,<span class="wrap"> </span>ɔ]</span> otherwise. Vowels may be realized as murmured <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[i̤,<span class="wrap"> </span>a̤]</span> when following breathy consonants. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Consonants">Consonants</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Consonants"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="2" colspan="2"> </th> <th colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Labial_consonant" title="Labial consonant">Labial</a> </th> <th rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Labiodental_consonant" title="Labiodental consonant">Labio-<br />dental</a> </th> <th colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Dental_consonant" title="Dental consonant">Dental</a> </th> <th colspan="4"><a href="/wiki/Alveolar_consonant" title="Alveolar consonant">Alveolar</a> </th> <th colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Lateral_consonant" title="Lateral consonant">Lateral</a> </th> <th colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Postalveolar_consonant" title="Postalveolar consonant">Post-<br />alveolar</a> </th> <th colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Velar_consonant" title="Velar consonant">Velar</a> </th> <th colspan="3"><a href="/wiki/Glottal_consonant" title="Glottal consonant">Glottal</a> </th></tr> <tr> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>pal.</small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>pal.</small> </th> <th><small><a href="/wiki/Whistled_sibilant" class="mw-redirect" title="Whistled sibilant">wstld.</a></small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>plain</small> </th> <th><small>lab.</small> </th> <th><small>pal.</small> </th></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="3"><a href="/wiki/Click_consonant" title="Click consonant">Click</a> </th> <th><small>voiceless</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Tenuis_dental_click" title="Tenuis dental click">ᵏǀ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>aspirated</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Pre-stopped_consonant" title="Pre-stopped consonant">ᵏǀʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Pre-stopped_consonant" title="Pre-stopped consonant">ᵏǀʷʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_dental_click" title="Voiced dental click">ᶢǀ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Pre-stopped_consonant" title="Pre-stopped consonant">ᶢǀʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Nasal_consonant" title="Nasal consonant">Nasal</a> </th> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_bilabial_nasal" title="Voiced bilabial nasal">m</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">mʲ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_nasal" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiced alveolar nasal">n</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">nʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_palatal_nasal" title="Voiced palatal nasal">ɲ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ɲʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_velar_nasal" title="Voiced velar nasal">ŋ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ŋʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">mʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">nʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">nʷʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">ŋʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ŋʷʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="4"><a href="/wiki/Stop_consonant" class="mw-redirect" title="Stop consonant">Stop</a> </th> <th><small>voiceless</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_bilabial_plosive" title="Voiceless bilabial plosive">p</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">pʲ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_plosive" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiceless alveolar plosive">t</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">tʲ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡ</span> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʷ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_velar_plosive" title="Voiceless velar plosive">k</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">kʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>aspirated</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Aspirated_consonant" title="Aspirated consonant">pʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">pʲʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Aspirated_consonant" title="Aspirated consonant">tʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tʷʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">tʲʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʰ</span> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tˡʷʰ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Aspirated_consonant" title="Aspirated consonant">kʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">kʷʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_bilabial_plosive" title="Voiced bilabial plosive">b</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">bʲ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_plosive" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiced alveolar plosive">d</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">dʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">dʲ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dˡ</span> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dˡʷ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_velar_plosive" title="Voiced velar plosive">ɡ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ɡʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">bʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">bʲʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">dʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">ɡʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ɡʷʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="4"><a href="/wiki/Affricate_consonant" class="mw-redirect" title="Affricate consonant">Affricate</a> </th> <th><small>voiceless</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_labiodental_affricate" title="Voiceless labiodental affricate">p̪f</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_affricate" title="Voiceless alveolar affricate">ts</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tsʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsᶲ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_postalveolar_affricate" title="Voiceless postalveolar affricate">tʃ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tʃʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>aspirated</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Dental_consonant" title="Dental consonant">p̪fʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Aspirated_consonant" title="Aspirated consonant">tsʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tsʷʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">tsᶲʰ</span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Aspirated_consonant" title="Aspirated consonant">tʃʰ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">tʃʷʰ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_labiodental_affricate" title="Voiced labiodental affricate">b̪v</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_affricate" title="Voiced alveolar affricate">dz</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">dzᵝ</span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_lateral_affricate" title="Voiced alveolar lateral affricate">dɮ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_postalveolar_affricate" title="Voiced postalveolar affricate">dʒ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">dʒʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Dental_consonant" title="Dental consonant">b̪vʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">dzʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">dzʷʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">dʒʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="3"><a href="/wiki/Fricative_consonant" class="mw-redirect" title="Fricative consonant">Fricative</a> </th> <th><small>voiceless</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_bilabial_fricative" title="Voiceless bilabial fricative">ɸ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_labiodental_fricative" title="Voiceless labiodental fricative">f</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_fricative" title="Voiceless alveolar fricative">s</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">sʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">sᶲ</span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_alveolar_lateral_fricative" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiceless alveolar lateral fricative">ɬ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ɬʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_postalveolar_fricative" title="Voiceless postalveolar fricative">ʃ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ʃʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiceless_velar_fricative" title="Voiceless velar fricative">x</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">xʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_bilabial_fricative" title="Voiced bilabial fricative">β</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_labiodental_fricative" title="Voiced labiodental fricative">v</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_fricative" title="Voiced alveolar fricative">z</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">zʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_postalveolar_fricative" title="Voiced postalveolar fricative">ʒ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_glottal_fricative" title="Voiced glottal fricative">ɦ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">ɦʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Palatalization_(phonetics)" title="Palatalization (phonetics)">ɦʲ</a></span> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">vʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Trill_consonant" title="Trill consonant">Trill</a> </th> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_trill" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiced alveolar trill">r</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">rʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">rʱ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">rʷʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th rowspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Approximant_consonant" class="mw-redirect" title="Approximant consonant">Approximant</a> </th> <th><small>voiced</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_alveolar_lateral_approximant" class="mw-redirect" title="Voiced alveolar lateral approximant">l</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">lʷ</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_palatal_approximant" title="Voiced palatal approximant">j</a></span> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Labialization" title="Labialization">jʷ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Voiced_labial%E2%80%93velar_approximant" title="Voiced labial–velar approximant">w</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr> <tr> <th><small>breathy</small> </th> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">jʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td><span class="IPA" lang="und-Latn-fonipa"><a href="/wiki/Breathy_voice" title="Breathy voice">wʱ</a></span> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td> <td> </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Many of these consonants may be preceded by a nasal, but they are not prenasalized consonants: at least in word-initial position, they are nasal–obstruent sequences where the nasals are syllabic. </p><p>Different consonant sounds may alternate the place of articulation. A number of Tsonga speakers vary the affricates from alveolar <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ts],<span class="wrap"> </span>[tsʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dz],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dzʱ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dzʷʱ]</span> to retroflex <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[tʂ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[tʂʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dʐ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dʐʱ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[dʐʷʱ]</span>; the latter are weakly <a href="/wiki/Whistled_sibilant" class="mw-redirect" title="Whistled sibilant">whistled</a> in Tsonga proper and in Changana dialect. Labiodental <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ɱ]</span> and dental <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[n̪]</span> appear in homorganic consonant clusters.<sup id="cite_ref-Baumbach_7-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Baumbach-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Unlike some of the <a href="/wiki/Nguni_languages" title="Nguni languages">Nguni languages</a>, Tsonga has very few words with <a href="/wiki/Click_consonant" title="Click consonant">click consonants</a>, and these vary in place between <a href="/wiki/Dental_click" title="Dental click">dental</a> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ᵏǀ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᵏǀʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᵏǀʷʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᶢǀ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᶢǀʷ]</span> and <a href="/wiki/Postalveolar_click" class="mw-redirect" title="Postalveolar click">postalveolar</a> <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">[ᵏ!],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᵏ!ʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᵏ!ʷʰ],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᶢ!],<span class="wrap"> </span>[ᶢ!ʷ]</span>. Examples are: <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ngqondo</i></span> (mind), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">gqoka</i></span> (wear/dress), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">guqa</i></span> (kneel), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">riqingo</i></span> (phone), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">qiqi</i></span> (earring), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">qamba</i></span> (compose), <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mugqivela</i></span> (Saturday). </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Grammar">Grammar</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Grammar"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The grammar is generally typical of Bantu languages with a <a href="/wiki/SVO_language" class="mw-redirect" title="SVO language">subject–verb–object</a> order. The structure changes to subject—object—verb when addressing another person: </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Tsonga </th> <th>English </th></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndza ku rhandza</i></span> </td> <td>I you love (I love you) </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wa ndzi rhandza</i></span> </td> <td>You love me </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ha ku tiva</i></span> </td> <td>We know you </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va ndzi tiva</i></span> </td> <td>They know me </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Verbs">Verbs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Verbs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Almost all <a href="/wiki/Infinitive" title="Infinitive">infinitives</a> have the prefix <i>ku</i>- and end with -<i>a</i>. </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Tsonga </th> <th>English </th></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku chava</i></span> </td> <td>To fear </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku tsaka</i></span> </td> <td>To rejoice </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku rhandza</i></span> </td> <td>to love </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>The main exception to this is the verb <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku ri</i></span> – "to say" It corresponds to "ti" in many other Bantu languages. Examples of its usage include:<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">u ri yini?</i></span> – What do you say? (What are you saying?)<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ndzi ri ka n'wina</i></span> – I say to you all. </p><p>In many instances the <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ri</i></span> is often omitted and thus <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku</i></span> on its own can also mean "say".<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va ri ndza penga</i></span> – They say I'm crazy.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va ri yini?</i></span> – What do they say? (What are they saying?) </p><p><b>Present tense</b><br /> The present tense is formed by simply using the personal pronoun along with the verb.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi lava mali</i></span> – I want money,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hi tirha siku hinkwaro</i></span> – We work all day,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mi(u) lava mani?</i></span> – Who are you looking for?<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U kota ku famba</i></span> – S/He knows how to walk. </p><p><b>Present progressive</b><br /> Generally, to indicate ongoing actions in the present one takes the personal pronoun, drops the <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">i</i></span> and adds <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">a</i></span>.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi nghena (e)ndlwini</i></span> – I am entering the house,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ha tirha sweswi</i></span> – We are working right now,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ma hemba</i></span> – You (plural) are lying,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wa hemba</i></span> – You (singular) are lying,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wa hemba</i></span> – S/He is lying,<br /> With the plural <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">va</i></span> (they) there is no difference. Thus <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">va hemba</i></span> = "they lie" and "they are lying". </p><p><b>Past tense</b><br /> This is for in one of three ways, depending on the word.<br /> (i) Generally, one drops the <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">a</i></span> from the verb and adds the prefix <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">-ile</i></span> <br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi nghenile ndlwini</i></span> – I entered the house,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hi tirhile siku hinkwaro</i></span> – We worked all day,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U hembile</i></span> – You lied,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U hembile</i></span> – S/He lied,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va hembile</i></span> – They lied. </p><p>(ii) With verbs that end with <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">-ala</i></span>, the past tense changes to <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">-ele</i></span> or <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">-ale</i></span>.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku rivala</i></span> – to forget,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi rivele</i></span> – I forgot, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U rivele</i></span> – you forgot, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va rivele</i></span> – they forgot,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku nyamalala</i></span> – To disappear,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U nyamalarile</i></span> – S/He – disappeared,<br /> Words used to describe a state of being also use the past tense.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku karhala</i></span> – To be tired,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi karhele</i></span> – I am tired, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U karhele</i></span> – S/He is tired, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va karhele</i></span> – They are tired. </p><p>(iii) In many cases merely changing the last <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">a</i></span> in the verb to an <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">e</i></span> indicates past action.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku fika</i></span> – To arrive,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U fike tolo</i></span> – S/He arrived yesterday,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi fike tolo</i></span> – I arrived yesterday,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hi tirhe siku hinkwaro</i></span> – We worked all day,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi nghene (e)ndlwini</i></span> – I entered the house. </p><p><b>Future tense</b><br /> This is formed by the adding <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ta</i></span> in between the personal pronoun and the verb.<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzi ta nghena (e)ndlwini</i></span> – I will enter the house,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hi ta tirha siku hinkwaro</i></span> – We will work all day,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Va ta tirha siku hinkwaro</i></span> – They will work all day,<br /> <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mi ta tirha siku hinkwaro</i></span> – You (plural) will work all day. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Noun_classes">Noun classes</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Noun classes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Tsonga has several classes, much like other Bantu languages, which are learned through memorisation mostly. These are: </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Class </th> <th>Prefix </th> <th>Examples </th></tr> <tr> <th>1 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">mu-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mufana#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:mufana">mufana</a></i> "boy", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/murhangeri#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:murhangeri">murhangeri</a></i> "leader", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/munhu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:munhu">munhu</a></i> "person" </td></tr> <tr> <th>2 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">va-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vafana#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vafana">vafana</a></i> "boys", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/varhangeri#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:varhangeri">varhangeri</a></i> "leaders", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vanhu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vanhu">vanhu</a></i> "people" </td></tr> <tr> <th>3 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">mu-, m-, n-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nseve#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:nseve">nseve</a></i> "arrow", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nenge#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:nenge">nenge</a></i> "leg", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nambu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:nambu">nambu</a></i> "river" </td></tr> <tr> <th>4 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">mi-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/miseve#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:miseve">miseve</a></i> "arrows", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/milenge#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:milenge">milenge</a></i> "legs", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/milambu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:milambu">milambu</a></i> "rivers" </td></tr> <tr> <th>5 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ri-</i></span>, Ø- </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tiko#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:tiko">tiko</a></i> "country", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rito#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:rito">rito</a></i> "word", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vito#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vito">vito</a></i> "name" </td></tr> <tr> <th>6 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ma-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/matiko#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:matiko">matiko</a></i> "countries", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/marito#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:marito">marito</a></i> "words", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mavito#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:mavito">mavito</a></i> "names" </td></tr> <tr> <th>7 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xi-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Xikwembu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:Xikwembu">Xikwembu</a></i> "God", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xilo#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:xilo">xilo</a></i> "thing", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/xitulu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:xitulu">xitulu</a></i> "chair" </td></tr> <tr> <th>8 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swi-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Swikwembu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:Swikwembu">Swikwembu</a></i> "gods", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/swilo#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:swilo">swilo</a></i> "things", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/switulu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:switulu">switulu</a></i> "chairs" </td></tr> <tr> <th>9 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">yi(n)-, (n)-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yindlu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:yindlu">yindlu</a></i> "house", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mbyana#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:mbyana">mbyana</a></i> "dog", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/homu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:homu">homu</a></i> "cow" </td></tr> <tr> <th>10 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">tiyi(n), ti(n)-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tiyindlu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:tiyindlu">tiyindlu</a></i> "houses", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/timbyana#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:timbyana">timbyana</a></i> "dogs", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tihomu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:tihomu">tihomu</a></i> "cows" </td></tr> <tr> <th>11 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ri-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rihlaya#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:rihlaya">rihlaya</a></i> "jaw", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rivambu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:rivambu">rivambu</a></i> "rib", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rintiho#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:rintiho">rintiho</a></i> "finger" </td></tr> <tr> <th>14 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">vu-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vutomi#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vutomi">vutomi</a></i> "life", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vumunhu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vumunhu">vumunhu</a></i> "humanness", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/vululami#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:vululami">vululami</a></i> "righteousness" </td></tr> <tr> <th>15 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/tshembha#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:tshembha">ku tshembha</a></i> "to trust", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dya#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:dya">ku dya</a></i> "to eat", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/biha#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:biha">ku biha</a></i> "ugliness" </td></tr> <tr> <th>21 </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">dyi-</i></span> </td> <td><i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dyimunhu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:dyimunhu">dyimunhu</a></i> "abnormally huge person", <i lang="ts"><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dyiyindlu#Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wikt:dyiyindlu">dyiyindlu</a></i> "abnormally huge house" </td></tr></tbody></table> <ul><li>In classes 9 and 10, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">yi</i></span> is present when the noun stem has one syllable, and is absent otherwise.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Personal_pronouns">Personal pronouns</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: Personal pronouns"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Personal pronouns in Tsonga are very similar to those of many other Bantu languages, with a few variations. </p><p>These may be classified as <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_person" title="Grammatical person">first person</a> (the speaker), <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_person" title="Grammatical person">second person</a> (the one spoken to), and third person (the one spoken about). They are also classified by <a href="/wiki/Grammatical_number" title="Grammatical number">grammatical number</a>, i.e., singular and plural. There is no distinction between subject and object. </p><p>Each pronoun has a corresponding <a href="/wiki/Agreement_(linguistics)" title="Agreement (linguistics)">concord or agreement morpheme</a>.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="margin-left:0.1em; white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Please_clarify" title="Wikipedia:Please clarify"><span title="The text near this tag may need clarification or removal of jargon. (April 2012)">clarification needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <caption>Personal Pronouns </caption> <tbody><tr> <th></th> <th>1st sg.</th> <th>2nd sg.</th> <th>3rd sg.</th> <th>1st pl.</th> <th>2nd pl.</th> <th>3rd pl. </th></tr> <tr> <th>Pronoun </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">mina</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">wena</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">yena</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">hina</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">n'wina</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">vona</i></span> </td></tr> <tr> <th>Agreement morpheme </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ndzi, ndza</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">u, wa</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">u, wa</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">hi, ha</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">mi, ma</i></span></td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">va</i></span> </td></tr> <tr> <th>Example sentences </th> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mina ndzi vona huku.</i></span> ("I see a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mina ndza yi vona huku.</i></span> ("I see it—the chicken.")</td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wena u vona huku.</i></span> ("You see a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wena wa yi vona huku.</i></span> ("You see it—the chicken.")</td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Yena u vona huku.</i></span> ("He/she sees a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Yena wa yi vona huku.</i></span> ("He/she sees it—the chicken.")</td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hina hi vona huku.</i></span> ("We see a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hina ha yi vona huku.</i></span> ("We see it—the chicken.")</td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wina mi vona huku.</i></span> ("You see a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wina ma yi vona huku.</i></span> ("You see it—the chicken.")</td> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Vona va vona huku.</i></span> ("They see a chicken.")<br /><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Vona va yi vona huku.</i></span> ("They see it—the chicken.") </td></tr> </tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Vocabulary">Vocabulary</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Vocabulary"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The vocabulary of Xitsonga is essentially similar not only to most South African languages but also other Eastern Bantu languages, for example, Kiswahili.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Numerals">Numerals</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: Numerals"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Tsonga </th> <th>English </th></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'we</i></span> </td> <td>one </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mbirhi</i></span> </td> <td>two </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nharhu</i></span> </td> <td>three </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mune</i></span> </td> <td>four </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ntlhanu</i></span> </td> <td>five </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ntsevu</i></span> </td> <td>six </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nkombo</i></span> </td> <td>seven </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nhungu</i></span> </td> <td>eight </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nkaye</i></span> </td> <td>nine </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Khume</i></span> </td> <td>ten </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Khume (na) n'we / Khumen'we</i></span> </td> <td>eleven </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Khume (na) mbirhi / Khumembirhi</i></span> </td> <td>twelve </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Khume (na) nharhu / Khumenharhu</i></span> </td> <td>thirteen </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mbirhi wa makhume / Makumembirhi</i></span> </td> <td>twenty </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Makhume manharhu / Makumenharhu</i></span> </td> <td>thirty </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mune wa makhume / Makumemune</i></span> </td> <td>forty </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ntlhanu wa makhume / Makumentlhanu</i></span> </td> <td>fifty </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Dzana</i></span> </td> <td>hundred </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Gidi</i></span> </td> <td>thousand </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Miliyoni</i></span> </td> <td>million </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Months_of_the_year">Months of the year</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: Months of the year"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Tsonga </th> <th>English </th></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Sunguti</i></span> </td> <td>January </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nyenyenyani</i></span> </td> <td>February </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nyenyankulu</i></span> </td> <td>March </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Dzivamisoko</i></span> </td> <td>April </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mudyaxihi</i></span> </td> <td>May </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Khotavuxika</i></span> </td> <td>June </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mawuwani</i></span> </td> <td>July </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mhawuri</i></span> </td> <td>August </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndzati</i></span> </td> <td>September </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nhlangula</i></span> </td> <td>October </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Hukuri</i></span> </td> <td>November </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wendzamhala</i></span> </td> <td>December </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Borrowings">Borrowings</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=15" title="Edit section: Borrowings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Tsonga, like many other African languages, have been influenced by various European colonial languages. Tsonga vocabulary includes words borrowed from English, <a href="/wiki/Afrikaans" title="Afrikaans">Afrikaans</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Portuguese_language" title="Portuguese language">Portuguese</a>. Also, due to the assimilation of the Shangaan nation, it has taken some words from Nguni languages. </p><p>Words borrowed from English </p> <ul><li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Thelevhixini (Mavonakule)</i></span> – television</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Rhediyo (Xiyanimoya)</i></span> – Radio</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xitulu</i></span> – chair (Stool)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Wachi (Xikomba-nkarhi)</i></span> – watch (to tell time)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Movha (Xipandza-mananga)</i></span> – car (automobile)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Sokisi</i></span> – socks</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nghilazi</i></span> – glass</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Tliloko</i></span> – clock(bell)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Masipala</i></span> – municipal (plural: <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">vamasipala</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Makhiya/swikhiya (Xilotlela)</i></span> – keys</li></ul> <p>Words borrowed from Afrikaans </p> <ul><li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">lekere</i></span> – sweets (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">lekkers</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">fasitere</i></span> – window (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">venster</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">lepula</i></span> – spoon (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">lepel</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">kereke</i></span> – church (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">kerk</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">buruku</i></span> – trousers (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">broek</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">domu</i></span> – idiot (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">dom</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">tafula</i></span> – table (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">tafel</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xipuku</i></span> – ghost (<span title="Afrikaans-language text"><i lang="af">spook</i></span>)</li></ul> <p>Words borrowed from other Nguni languages: </p> <ul><li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">riqingho</i></span> – phone</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku qonda</i></span> – to head towards (not standard = <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku kongoma</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku gcina</i></span> – to end (not standard = <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku hetelela</i></span>)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku zama</i></span> – to try (not standard = <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">ku ringeta</i></span>)</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Writing_system">Writing system</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=16" title="Edit section: Writing system"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Xitsonga_Latin_Alphabet">Xitsonga Latin Alphabet</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=17" title="Edit section: Xitsonga Latin Alphabet"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Xitsonga uses the <a href="/wiki/Latin_alphabet" title="Latin alphabet">Latin alphabet</a>. However, certain sounds are spelled using a combination of letters, which either do not exist in <a href="/wiki/Indo-European_languages" title="Indo-European languages">Indo-European languages</a>, or may be meant to distinguish the language somewhat. </p><p>An example of this is the letter "x" taken from Portuguese orthography, which is pronounced <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/ʃ/</span>. Therefore, the following words, [ʃuʃa], [ʃikolo], [ʃilo], are written in Tsonga as <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">-xuxa, xikolo,</i></span> and <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xilo</i></span>. </p><p>Other spelling differences include the letter "c", which is pronounced <span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/t͡ʃ/</span>. However, where the emphasis of a word is on the following vowel the letter is hardened by adding "h" this the Tsonga word -chava (fear) </p><p>A sound equivalent to the Welsh "ll" (<span class="IPA nowrap" lang="und-Latn-fonipa" title="Representation in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)">/ɬ/</span>) is written "hl" in Tsonga, e.g. -hlangana (meet), -hlasela (attack), -hleka (laugh) </p><p>A whistling sound common in the language is written "sw" or "sv" in Zimbabwean ChiShona. This sound actually belongs to the "x-sw" class within the language. E.g.: </p> <ul><li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">sweswi</i></span> (now)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xilo</i></span> (thing) – <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swilo</i></span> (things)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xikolo</i></span> (school) – <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swikolo</i></span> (schools)</li> <li><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xikwembu</i></span> (God) – <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swikwembu</i></span> (gods)</li></ul> <p>Another whistling sound is spelled "dy" but has no English equivalent, the closest being the "dr" sound in the English word "drive" </p><p>Xitsonga has been standardised as a written language. However, there are many dialects within the language that may not pronounce words as written. For example, the Tsonga bible uses the word <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">byela</i></span> (tell), pronounced bwe-la, however a large group of speakers would say "dzvela" instead. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Lord%27s_Prayer" title="Lord's Prayer">Lord's Prayer</a> as written in the Xitsonga Bible (Bibele) </p> <div class="poem"> <p><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Tata wa hina la nge matilweni,<br /> vito ra wena a ri hlawuriwe;<br /> a ku te ku fuma ka wena;<br /> ku rhandza ka wena a ku endliwe misaveni; <br /> tani hi loko ku endliwa matilweni;<br /> u hi nyika namuntlha vuswa bya hina<br /> bya siku rin'wana ni rin'wana;<br /> u hi rivalela swidyoho swa hina,<br /> tani hi loko na hina hi rivalela lava hi dyohelaka; <br /> u nga hi yisi emiringweni<br /> kambe u hi ponisa eka Lowo biha,<br /> hikuva ku fuma, ni matimba, ni ku twala i swa wena<br /> hi masiku ni masiku. <br /> Amen.</i></span> </p> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Xiyinhlanharhu_xa_Mipfawulo">Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=18" title="Edit section: Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">sintu</i></span> writing system, <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Isibheqe Sohlamvu/<a href="/wiki/Ditema_tsa_Dinoko" title="Ditema tsa Dinoko">Ditema tsa Dinoko</a></i></span>, also known technically in Xitsonga as <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xiyinhlanharhu xa Mipfawulo</i></span>,<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is used for all Xitsonga varieties. The class 7/8 noun pairs above are represented as follows: </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xilo</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Xilo.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b5/Xilo.jpg" decoding="async" width="112" height="76" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="112" data-file-height="76" /></a><figcaption>[ʃiːlɔ]</figcaption></figure> </td> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swilo</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Swilo.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Swilo.jpg" decoding="async" width="106" height="70" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="106" data-file-height="70" /></a><figcaption>[ʂiːlɔ]</figcaption></figure> </td></tr> <tr> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xikolo</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Xikolo.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Xikolo.jpg" decoding="async" width="154" height="79" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="154" data-file-height="79" /></a><figcaption>[ʃikʼɔːlɔ]</figcaption></figure> </td> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swikolo</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Swikolo.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Swikolo.jpg" decoding="async" width="158" height="84" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="158" data-file-height="84" /></a><figcaption>[ʂikʼɔːlɔ]</figcaption></figure> </td></tr> <tr> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">xikwembu</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size mw-halign-left" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Xikwembu.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/Xikwembu.jpg" decoding="async" width="159" height="72" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="159" data-file-height="72" /></a><figcaption>[ʃikʷʼɛmbu]</figcaption></figure> </td> <th><i><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">swikwembu</i></span></i> </th> <td> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Swikwembu.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Swikwembu.jpg" decoding="async" width="156" height="80" class="mw-file-element" data-file-width="156" data-file-height="80" /></a><figcaption>[ʂikʷʼɛmbu]</figcaption></figure> </td></tr> </tbody></table> <p><br /> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Oral_literature">Oral literature</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=19" title="Edit section: Oral literature"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Tales">Tales</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=20" title="Edit section: Tales"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>E. Dora Earthy, a missionary in Mozambique,<sup id="cite_ref-h930_10-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-h930-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> published a selection of Tsonga folktales (Lenge dialect) with facing-text English translations in the 1937 volume of the journal <i>Folklore</i>: Part 1 contains 3 stories<sup id="cite_ref-i268_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-i268-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and Part 2 contains an additional 7 stories.<sup id="cite_ref-j697_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-j697-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Songs">Songs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=21" title="Edit section: Songs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Henri-Alexandre_Junod" title="Henri-Alexandre Junod">Henri-Alexandre Junod</a> included a selection of Tsonga song lyrics with English translations in his 1913 study, <i>The Life of a South African Tribe.</i><sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>For more recent studies of Tsonga music and songs, see the publications of Thomas Johnston in the 1970s, all of which include Tsonga song lyrics with English translations.<sup id="cite_ref-z352_14-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-z352-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-g474_15-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-g474-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-f445_16-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-f445-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-y930_17-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-y930-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> <sup id="cite_ref-a460_18-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-a460-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Riddles">Riddles</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=22" title="Edit section: Riddles"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Junod also included a selection of Tsonga riddles with English translations in <i>The Life of a South African Tribe.</i><sup id="cite_ref-19" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-19"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>19<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Here are two of those riddles: </p> <ul><li>"<i>Tiban leshi, nambi mamana wa nwana a ku mu randja ngopfu, loko a tlhasa kaya a nga hluleka ka ku mu yamukela? Hi nyimba.</i>" "Guess what is it that a mother dearly loves but which could not run to meet her on her return home? The unborn babe in the womb."</li> <li>"<i>Leshi, nambi wa ba, ntonsi wa kone wu nga boneki? I mati.</i>" "The thing which you can beat without leaving a scar? Water."</li></ul> <p>Following up on Junod's work on Tsonga riddles, J.E. Kaemmer has documented Tsonga "tone riddles," specifically the <i>titekatekani</i> of the Tswa people.<sup id="cite_ref-20" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-20"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>20<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Proverbs">Proverbs</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=23" title="Edit section: Proverbs"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Here are some of the Tsonga proverbs which Junod recorded in <i>The Life of a South African Tribe</i>:<sup id="cite_ref-21" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-21"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>21<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <ul><li>"<i>Mumiti wa nhengele a dumba nkolo wa kwe.</i>" "He who swallows a large stone has confidence in the size of his throat (i.e. applying to bumptious and pretentious folk)." (#1)</li> <li>"<i>Tinhlange ta le ntjhaku ti tibyiwa hi mutlhabi.</i>" "The tattooing marks made on the back are known by the tattooer (not by the tattooed, i.e. you do not know what may happen when you have turned your back)." (#3)</li> <li>"<i>Matimba ya ngwenya i mati.</i>" "The strength of the crocodile is water (i.e. when you are in your own domain you can succeed)." (#4)</li></ul> <p>Junod later published <i>Quelques Proverbes Thonga,</i> a booklet of Tsonga proverbs, in 1931.<sup id="cite_ref-22" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-22"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>22<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Some additional Tsonga proverbs:<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2024)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1251242444"><table class="box-Unreferenced_section plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-content ambox-Unreferenced" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Question_book-new.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/50px-Question_book-new.svg.png" decoding="async" width="50" height="39" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/75px-Question_book-new.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Question_book-new.svg/100px-Question_book-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="399" /></a></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section <b>does not <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">cite</a> any <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">sources</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help <a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Tsonga_language" title="Special:EditPage/Tsonga language">improve this section</a> by <a href="/wiki/Help:Referencing_for_beginners" title="Help:Referencing for beginners">adding citations to reliable sources</a>. Unsourced material may be challenged and <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Burden_of_evidence" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">removed</a>.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">September 2022</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Tsonga </th> <th>English </th> <th>Meaning </th></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wana wa mfenhe a nga tsandziwi hi rhavi</i></span> </td> <td>The child of baboon does not fail a branch </td> <td>A wiseman's child can do anything. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U nga teki mali u bohela enengeni wa mpfuvu</i></span> </td> <td>Do not tie money in the leg of hippopotamus </td> <td>Do not lend your money to people who do not pay back. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U nga dlayi nyoka u yi ndzuluta, ta micele ta ku vona</i></span> </td> <td>Do not kill a snake and swing it, the ones inside the holes are watching you </td> <td>Do not do unnecessary bad things to someone, other people are watching you. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Kuwa ro tshwuka ri na xivungu endzeni.</i></span> </td> <td>A fig fruit which is pink, it has a worm inside. </td> <td>Most of very beautiful women they have bad habits. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wana wa nyoka i nyoka.</i></span> </td> <td>The child of snake is a snake. </td> <td>A child of a bad person, might be a very bad person. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ndlopfu a yi fi hi ribambu rin'we</i></span> </td> <td>An elephant does not die of one (broken) rib </td> <td>When in trouble, a man should try all efforts to find a solution. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mbuti ya xihaha a yi tswaleli entlhambini</i></span> </td> <td>A secretive goat does not give birth in a midst. </td> <td>Keep a secret do not say it where there are many people </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'hwarimbirhi yin'we yi ta tshwa nkanga</i></span> </td> <td> </td> <td>If one tries to do more than one thing at the same time, one might not prosper. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wana wo ka a nga rili u ta fela a dzobyeni</i></span> </td> <td>A child who does not cry will die unnoticed at the back of his mother. </td> <td>If you do not raise your voice (in a form of a complaint), you will not be heard. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mbuti yi dya laha yi nga bohiwa kona</i></span> </td> <td>A goat eats where it is tied. </td> <td>A person must use properties of a place where he is working. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku tlula ka mhala ku letela n'wana wa le ndzeni</i></span> </td> <td>The way an impala jumps, it influences its unborn child. </td> <td>Whatever bad things a mother does, her daughter will also do. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">I malebvu ya nghala.</i></span> </td> <td>It is a lion's beard. </td> <td>A thing may not be as scary as it looks. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nomu a wu taleriwi hi nambu</i></span> </td> <td>A mouth can cross any river. </td> <td>A mouth can say all words of promises. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mavoko ya munhu a ma mili nhova/byanyi</i></span> </td> <td>Grass cannot grow on a human being's hands. </td> <td>You must work hard (in every possible way) to succeed. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xandla famba, xandla vuya.</i></span> </td> <td>Let the hand go and let the hand come back. </td> <td>A giving hand is a receiving hand. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Humba yi olele nkuma</i></span> </td> <td>The snail has collected ashes </td> <td>A person has died </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mbyana loko yi lava ku ku luma ya n'wayitela.</i></span> </td> <td>A dog smiles when it intends to bite something. </td> <td>A person can do (or intend to do) bad things to you, while he is smiling. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku hiwa hi Thomo ku suka e palamendhe ya le tilweni.</i></span> </td> <td>To be given by Thomo (king's name) from heavenly parliament. </td> <td>To be blessed by God. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Vana va munhu va tsemelana nhloko ya njiya.</i></span> </td> <td>Siblings are sharing the head of locust. </td> <td>Siblings must share good things. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mhunti yo tlulatlula Mangulwe u ta yi khoma.</i></span> </td> <td>An antelope which is jumping around next to Mangulwe (dog's name), he will catch it. </td> <td>Any girl who has been seen by this boy, she will accept his proposal (used by a boy when he is in love with a girl). </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Tolo a nga ha vuyi.</i></span> </td> <td>Yesterday will not come back. </td> <td>Wishing to bring interesting old things of old days to nowadays. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Nghala yi vomba exihlahleni.</i></span> </td> <td>A lion roars in the bush. </td> <td>A warrior is seen in a war. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku hundza muti ri xile</i></span> </td> <td>To pass a home during the day </td> <td>To be stupid </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Tinghala timbirhi ta chavana.</i></span> </td> <td>Two lions fear each other. </td> <td>Two powerful nations fear each other. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Timpfuvu timbirhi a ti tshami xidziveni xin'we.</i></span> </td> <td>Two hippos cannot stay in the same deep water. </td> <td>Enemies cannot stay in the same place. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Vuhosi a byi peli nambu.</i></span> </td> <td>Chiefdom does not cross the river. </td> <td>Chiefdom stays in the same family, cannot be passed to other families. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">A ndzi ku hi laha ku nga na mpfula ku sala ndzhongo.</i></span> </td> <td>I thought is where the rain has poured and left fertile soil. </td> <td>I thought it was good things. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">I matutu vana va ntavasi</i></span> </td> <td> </td> <td>It is plenty. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku tshwa nomo</i></span> </td> <td>To have a burnt mouth </td> <td>Referring to someone who constantly lies, e.g. <span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Jephrey Cuma u tshwe nomo.</i></span> </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">N'wana u tseme mubya</i></span> </td> <td> </td> <td>A disobedient child </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mutlhontlhi wa tinyarhi ti vuya hi yena</i></span> </td> <td>The one who challenges buffaloes they will chase him. </td> <td>He who provokes other people, will face the consequences. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Loko u tsundzuka mhelembe khandziya ensinyeni</i></span> </td> <td>When you think of rhino, climb a tree. </td> <td>When you think of something, act immediately. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku ba ndlopfu hi xibakele</i></span> </td> <td>To hit an elephant with a fist </td> <td>To make a very slight impression. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku banana hi rhambu ra mfenhe</i></span> </td> <td>To hit each other with a baboon's bone </td> <td>To exchange gifts with relatives only. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Ku banana hi rhanga ro hisa</i></span> </td> <td>To hit each other with a hot 'pumpkin' </td> <td>To accuse each other. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U nga hlawuli nkuku wa mhangele</i></span> </td> <td>One must not choose the male of the guinea-fowl (similar to "Don't count your chickens before they are hatched"). </td> <td>This proverb is said to a young husband who might be tempted to prepare something for their babies before their birth, since you do not know if the baby is a male or female. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xihlovo a xi dungiwi loko u heta ku nwa mati</i></span> </td> <td>Do not close the well after having drunk. </td> <td>Do not mess up things after using them, you might need them tomorrow. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">U nga sahi nsinya hi vuxika, u ta tshwa hi mumu hi malanga</i></span> </td> <td>Do not cut the tree in winter, you will burn by sun in summer. </td> <td>Do not mess up things when you do not need them, you will suffer when you need them. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Mhunti yi biwa ya ha ri na mahika</i></span> </td> <td>An antelope is killed while is sighing </td> <td>A problem must be solved immediately. </td></tr> <tr> <td><span title="Tsonga-language text"><i lang="ts">Xirhami xi vuyisa na n'wana evukatini</i></span> </td> <td>Chillness causes a girl to come back to her parents' house from her husband's house. </td> <td>It is very cold. </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=24" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap mw-references-columns"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-e18-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-e18_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/tso/">Tsonga</a> at <i><a href="/wiki/Ethnologue" title="Ethnologue">Ethnologue</a></i> (18th ed., 2015) <span style="font-size:0.95em; font-size:95%; color: var( --color-subtle, #555 )">(subscription required)</span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Webb, Vic. 2002. 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Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Folklore&rft.atitle=Folk-Stories+of+Gazaland%2C+Portuguese+East+Africa%2C+Part+I&rft.volume=48&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=206-215&rft.date=1937&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1257246%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=0015587X&rft.aulast=Earthy&rft.aufirst=E.+Dora&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1257246&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-j697-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-j697_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFEarthy1937" class="citation journal cs1">Earthy, E. Dora (1937). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/1257063">"Folk-Stories of Gazaland Portuguese East Africa, Part II"</a>. <i>Folklore</i>. <b>48</b> (3): 288–319. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X">0015-587X</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1257063">1257063</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Folklore&rft.atitle=Folk-Stories+of+Gazaland+Portuguese+East+Africa%2C+Part+II&rft.volume=48&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=288-319&rft.date=1937&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1257063%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=0015587X&rft.aulast=Earthy&rft.aufirst=E.+Dora&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1257063&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Junod, Henri (1913). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric02junouoft/page/166/mode/2up?view=theater">"Songs,"</a> in <i>The Life of a South African Tribe: vol. 2, The Psychic Life.</i> pp. 167–190.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-z352-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-z352_14-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnston1973" class="citation journal cs1">Johnston, Thomas F. (1973). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/767499">"The Cultural Role of Tsonga Beer-Drink Music"</a>. <i>Yearbook of the International Folk Music Council</i>. <b>5</b>: 132–155. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0316-6082">0316-6082</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/767499">767499</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Yearbook+of+the+International+Folk+Music+Council&rft.atitle=The+Cultural+Role+of+Tsonga+Beer-Drink+Music&rft.volume=5&rft.pages=132-155&rft.date=1973&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F767499%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=03166082&rft.aulast=Johnston&rft.aufirst=Thomas+F.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F767499&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-g474-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-g474_15-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnston1973" class="citation journal cs1">Johnston, Thomas F. (1973). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/539152">"Tsonga Children's Folksongs"</a>. <i>The Journal of American Folklore</i>. <b>86</b> (341): 225–240. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-8715">0021-8715</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/539152">539152</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+American+Folklore&rft.atitle=Tsonga+Children%27s+Folksongs&rft.volume=86&rft.issue=341&rft.pages=225-240&rft.date=1973&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F539152%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=00218715&rft.aulast=Johnston&rft.aufirst=Thomas+F.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F539152&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-f445-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-f445_16-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnston1974" class="citation journal cs1">Johnston, Thomas F. (1974). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/26293182">"Secret Circumcision Songs of the Tsonga"</a>. <i>Anthropologie (1962-)</i>. <b>12</b> (3): 231–238. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0323-1119">0323-1119</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/26293182">26293182</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Anthropologie+%281962-%29&rft.atitle=Secret+Circumcision+Songs+of+the+Tsonga&rft.volume=12&rft.issue=3&rft.pages=231-238&rft.date=1974&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F26293182%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=03231119&rft.aulast=Johnston&rft.aufirst=Thomas+F.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F26293182&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-y930-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-y930_17-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnston1974" class="citation journal cs1">Johnston, Thomas (1974). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/538969">"Secret Initiation Songs of the Shangana-Tsonga Circumcision Rite: A Textual and Musical Analysis"</a>. <i>The Journal of American Folklore</i>. <b>87</b> (346): 328–339. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0021-8715">0021-8715</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/538969">538969</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Journal+of+American+Folklore&rft.atitle=Secret+Initiation+Songs+of+the+Shangana-Tsonga+Circumcision+Rite%3A+A+Textual+and+Musical+Analysis&rft.volume=87&rft.issue=346&rft.pages=328-339&rft.date=1974&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F538969%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=00218715&rft.aulast=Johnston&rft.aufirst=Thomas&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F538969&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-a460-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-a460_18-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFJohnston1979" class="citation journal cs1">Johnston, Thomas F. (1979). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/1259601">"Tsonga Rain Songs"</a>. <i>Folklore</i>. <b>90</b> (2): 234–240. <a href="/wiki/ISSN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISSN (identifier)">ISSN</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0015-587X">0015-587X</a>. <a href="/wiki/JSTOR_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="JSTOR (identifier)">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/1259601">1259601</a><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">14 August</span> 2024</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Folklore&rft.atitle=Tsonga+Rain+Songs&rft.volume=90&rft.issue=2&rft.pages=234-240&rft.date=1979&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1259601%23id-name%3DJSTOR&rft.issn=0015587X&rft.aulast=Johnston&rft.aufirst=Thomas+F.&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fstable%2F1259601&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-19"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Junod, Henri (1913). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric02junouoft/page/156/mode/2up?view=theater">"Proverbial Sayings and Riddles,"</a> in <i>The Life of a South African Tribe: vol. 2, The Psychic Life.</i> pp. 157–166.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Kaemmer, J.E. (1972). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/formsoffolklorei0000unse/page/204/mode/1up?view=theater&q=kaemmer">"Tone Riddles from Southern Mozambique."</a> Research in African Literatures. 3 (1): 5-20. Available at Internet Archive.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-21"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Junod, Henri (1913). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/lifeofsouthafric02junouoft/page/156/mode/2up?view=theater">"Proverbial Sayings and Riddles,"</a> in <i>The Life of a South African Tribe: vol. 2, The Psychic Life.</i> pp. 157–166.</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-22"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-22">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Junod, Henri (1931). <i>Quelques Proverbes Thonga.</i> Lausanne: Mission suisse dans l'Afrique du Sud.</span> </li> </ol></div></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=25" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFvan_WykOdendalNkatini2012" class="citation cs2">van Wyk, E. B.; Odendal, F. F.; Nkatini, N. L. (2012) [1988], "Comparison between the phonetic systems of Afrikaans and Tsonga", <i>South African Journal of Linguistics</i>, <b>7</b> (1), <a href="/wiki/Taylor_%26_Francis_Group" class="mw-redirect" title="Taylor & Francis Group">Taylor & Francis Group</a>: 38–45, <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.1080%2F10118063.1989.9723787">10.1080/10118063.1989.9723787</a></cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=South+African+Journal+of+Linguistics&rft.atitle=Comparison+between+the+phonetic+systems+of+Afrikaans+and+Tsonga&rft.volume=7&rft.issue=1&rft.pages=38-45&rft.date=2012&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1080%2F10118063.1989.9723787&rft.aulast=van+Wyk&rft.aufirst=E.+B.&rft.au=Odendal%2C+F.+F.&rft.au=Nkatini%2C+N.+L.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3ATsonga+language" class="Z3988"></span></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=26" title="Edit section: External links"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1235681985">.mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px 0;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #aaa;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em;background-color:var(--background-color-interactive-subtle,#f8f9fa);display:flow-root}.mw-parser-output .side-box-abovebelow,.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{padding:0.25em 0.9em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-image{padding:2px 0 2px 0.9em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-imageright{padding:2px 0.9em 2px 0;text-align:center}@media(min-width:500px){.mw-parser-output .side-box-flex{display:flex;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .side-box-text{flex:1;min-width:0}}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .side-box{width:238px}.mw-parser-output .side-box-right{clear:right;float:right;margin-left:1em}.mw-parser-output .side-box-left{margin-right:1em}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1237033735">@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox{display:none!important}}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sistersitebox img[src*="Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg"]{background-color:white}}</style><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/40px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="37" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/60px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/80/Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg/80px-Wikipedia-logo-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="103" data-file-height="94" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist"><i><b><a href="https://ts.wikipedia.org/wiki/" class="extiw" title="ts:"> Tsonga edition</a></b></i> of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia" title="Wikipedia">Wikipedia</a>, the free encyclopedia</div></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1235681985"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237033735"><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/40px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/60px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg/80px-Wiktionary-logo-en-v2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="512" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Look up <i><b><a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Tsonga" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:Tsonga">Tsonga</a></b></i> in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.</div></div> </div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1235681985"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1237033735"><div class="side-box side-box-right plainlinks sistersitebox"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1126788409"> <div class="side-box-flex"> <div class="side-box-image"><span class="noviewer" typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/60px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/80px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="193" data-file-height="193" /></span></span></div> <div class="side-box-text plainlist">Wikivoyage has a phrasebook for <i><b><a href="https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Tsonga_phrasebook#Q34327" class="extiw" title="wikivoyage:Tsonga phrasebook">Tsonga</a></b></i>.</div></div> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Software_and_localisation">Software and localisation</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Tsonga_language&action=edit&section=27" title="Edit section: Software and localisation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.bisharat.net/wikidoc/pmwiki.php/PanAfrLoc/Tsonga">PanAfriL10n page on Tsonga</a></li> <li><a href="https://translatewiki.net/wiki/Portal:ts" class="extiw" title="translatewiki:Portal:ts">Tsonga on translatewiki.net</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.xitsonga.org">Xitsonga Online Dictionary on Xitsonga.org</a> discontinued in January 2024.</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist 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abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Languages_of_Mozambique" title="Template:Languages of Mozambique"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Languages_of_Mozambique" title="Template talk:Languages of Mozambique"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Languages_of_Mozambique" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Languages of Mozambique"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Languages_of_Mozambique" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Mozambique" title="Languages of Mozambique">Languages of Mozambique</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Official language</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mozambican_Portuguese" title="Mozambican Portuguese">Portuguese</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Indigenous languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Barwe_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Barwe language">Barwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Chewa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chopi_language" title="Chopi language">Chichopi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tonga_language_(Zambia)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tonga language (Zambia)">Chitonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chuwabu_language" title="Chuwabu language">Chuwabu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dema_language" title="Dema language">Dema</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tonga_language_(Mozambique)" title="Tonga language (Mozambique)">Gitonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mwani_language" title="Mwani language">Kimwani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Koti_language" title="Koti language">Koti</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kunda_language" title="Kunda language">Kunda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lomwe_language" title="Lomwe language">Lomwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Maindo_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Maindo language">Maindo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Makhuwa_language" title="Makhuwa language">Makhuwa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Makonde_language" title="Makonde language">Makonde</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Makwe_language" title="Makwe language">Makwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manyika_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Manyika language">Manyika</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nathembo_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Nathembo language">Nathembo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ndau_dialect" title="Ndau dialect">Ndau</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ngoni_language" title="Ngoni language">Ngoni</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nsenga_language" title="Nsenga language">Nsenga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nyungwe_language" title="Nyungwe language">Nyungwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phimbi_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Phimbi language">Phimbi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ronga_language" title="Ronga language">Ronga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Sena</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shona_language" title="Shona language">Shona</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swahili_language" title="Swahili language">Swahili</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swazi_language" title="Swazi language">Swati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tawara_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Tawara language">Tawara</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Manyika_dialect" title="Manyika dialect">Tewe</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tsonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tswa_language" title="Tswa language">Tswa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Yao_language" title="Yao language">Yao</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Immigrant languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Punjabi_language" title="Punjabi language">Punjabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindi_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindi language">Hindi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Sign languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Mozambican_Sign_Language" title="Mozambican Sign Language">Mozambican Sign Language</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Languages_of_South_Africa" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Languages_of_South_Africa" title="Template:Languages of South Africa"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Languages_of_South_Africa" title="Template talk:Languages of South Africa"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Languages_of_South_Africa" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Languages of South Africa"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Languages_of_South_Africa" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Languages_of_South_Africa" title="Languages of South Africa">Languages of South Africa</a></div></th></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Pan_South_African_Language_Board" title="Pan South African Language Board">Pan South African Language Board</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Commission_for_the_Promotion_and_Protection_of_the_Rights_of_Cultural,_Religious_and_Linguistic_Communities" title="Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities">Commission for Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Community Rights</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Department_of_Arts_and_Culture_(South_Africa)" title="Department of Arts and Culture (South Africa)">Department of Arts and Culture</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Official</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/West_Germanic_languages" title="West Germanic languages">West Germanic</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Afrikaans" title="Afrikaans">Afrikaans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_African_English" title="South African English">English</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Southern_Bantu_languages" title="Southern Bantu languages">Southern Bantu</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Sotho%E2%80%93Tswana_languages" title="Sotho–Tswana languages">Sotho–Tswana</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Northern Sotho language">Northern Sotho <i>(Sesotho sa Leboa)</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sotho_language" title="Sotho language">Southern Sotho <i>(Sesotho)</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tswana_language" title="Tswana language">Tswana <i>(Setswana)</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Nguni_languages" title="Nguni languages">Nguni</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Southern_Ndebele_language" title="Southern Ndebele language">Southern Ndebele <i>(isiNdebele)</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swazi_language" title="Swazi language">Swazi <i>(siSwati)</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Xhosa_language" title="Xhosa language">Xhosa <i>(isiXhosa)</i></a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zulu_language" title="Zulu language">Zulu <i>(isiZulu)</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/Tswa%E2%80%93Ronga_languages" title="Tswa–Ronga languages">Tswa–Ronga</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tsonga <i>(Xitsonga)</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Venda</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Venda_language" title="Venda language">Venda <i>(Tshivenḓa)</i></a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Recognised<br />unofficial languages<br />mentioned in the<br /><a href="/wiki/Constitution_of_South_Africa" title="Constitution of South Africa">1996 constitution</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Indigenous</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Bhaca_language" title="Bhaca language">Bhaca</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khoe_languages" title="Khoe languages">Khoe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khoisan_languages" title="Khoisan languages">Khoisan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lala_language_(South_Africa)" title="Lala language (South Africa)">Lala</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lozi_language" title="Lozi language">Lozi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Khoekhoe_language" title="Khoekhoe language">Nama</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Nhlangwini_language" title="Nhlangwini language">Nhlangwini</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Ndebele_language" title="Northern Ndebele language">Northern Ndebele</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Phuthi_language" title="Phuthi language">Phuthi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tuu_languages" title="Tuu languages">Tuu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Foreign</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek language">Greek</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gujarati_language" title="Gujarati language">Gujarati</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindi" title="Hindi">Hindi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_language" title="Portuguese language">Portuguese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Malay_language" title="Malay language">Malay</a> (historical)</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Telugu_language" title="Telugu language">Telugu</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Urdu" title="Urdu">Urdu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Religious</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Arabic" title="Arabic">Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hebrew_language" title="Hebrew language">Hebrew</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sanskrit" title="Sanskrit">Sanskrit</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/LGBTQ_slang" title="LGBTQ slang">LGBTQ slang</a></th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Gayle_language" title="Gayle language">Gayle</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/IsiNgqumo" title="IsiNgqumo">IsiNgqumo</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Other</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Tsotsitaal_and_Camtho" title="Tsotsitaal and Camtho">Tsotsitaal and Camtho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Oorlams_Creole" title="Oorlams Creole">Oorlams Creole</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Fanagalo" title="Fanagalo">Fanagalo</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Pretoria_Sotho" title="Pretoria Sotho">Pretoria Sotho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scamto" title="Scamto">Scamto</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/South_African_Sign_Language" title="South African Sign Language">SA Sign Language</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Angloromani_language" title="Angloromani language">Angloromani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kaaps" title="Kaaps">Kaaps</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Languages_of_Eswatini" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Languages_of_Eswatini" title="Template:Languages of Eswatini"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Languages_of_Eswatini" title="Template talk:Languages of Eswatini"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Languages_of_Eswatini" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Languages of Eswatini"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Languages_of_Eswatini" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Eswatini" title="Languages of Eswatini">Languages of Eswatini</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Official languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Swazi_language" title="Swazi language">Swazi (Swati)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Non-official languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Afrikaans" title="Afrikaans">Afrikaans</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tsonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zulu_language" title="Zulu language">Zulu</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Immigrant languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Chewa (Nyanja)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shimaore_dialect" class="mw-redirect" title="Shimaore dialect">Shimaore</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sotho_language" title="Sotho language">Sotho (Sesotho)</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Immigrant languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/English_language" title="English language">English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/French_language" title="French language">French</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Punjabi_language" title="Punjabi language">Punjabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Spanish_language" title="Spanish language">Spanish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/German_language" title="German language">German</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Italian_language" title="Italian language">Italian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindi_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindi language">Hindi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Arabic_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_language" title="Chinese language">Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_language" title="Portuguese language">Portuguese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Japanese_language" title="Japanese language">Japanese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Romani_language" title="Romani language">Romani</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Russian_language" title="Russian language">Russian</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Danish_language" title="Danish language">Danish</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dutch_language" title="Dutch language">Dutch</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Languages_of_Zimbabwe" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Languages_of_Zimbabwe" title="Template:Languages of Zimbabwe"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Languages_of_Zimbabwe" title="Template talk:Languages of Zimbabwe"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Languages_of_Zimbabwe" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Languages of Zimbabwe"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Languages_of_Zimbabwe" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/Languages_of_Zimbabwe" title="Languages of Zimbabwe">Languages of Zimbabwe</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Official languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Zimbabwean_English" title="Zimbabwean English">Zimbabwean English</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Chewa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Chibarwe</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalanga_language" title="Kalanga language">Kalanga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tshwa_language" title="Tshwa language">Koisan</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Kalanga_language" title="Kalanga language">Nambya</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Ndau_dialect" title="Ndau dialect">Ndau</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Northern_Ndebele_language" title="Northern Ndebele language">Ndebele</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Shona_language" title="Shona language">Shona</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Sotho_language" title="Sotho language">Sotho</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tonga_language_(Zambia)" class="mw-redirect" title="Tonga language (Zambia)">Tonga</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tsonga</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tswana_language" title="Tswana language">Tswana</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Venda_language" title="Venda language">Venda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Xhosa_language" title="Xhosa language">Xhosa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Zimbabwean_sign_languages" title="Zimbabwean sign languages">Zimbabwe Sign</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Unofficial languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kunda_language" title="Kunda language">Kunda</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Tswa_language" title="Tswa language">Tswa</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Lozi_language" title="Lozi language"> Lozi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Immigrant languages</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/French_language" title="French language">French</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Punjabi_language" title="Punjabi language">Punjabi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Hindi_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Hindi language">Hindi</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Chinese_language" title="Chinese language">Chinese</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Portuguese_language" title="Portuguese language">Portuguese</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N–S)_(by_Guthrie_classification)" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks hlist mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N%E2%80%93S)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N%E2%80%93S)" title="Template talk:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N%E2%80%93S)" title="Special:EditPage/Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N–S)_(by_Guthrie_classification)" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em">Narrow <a href="/wiki/Bantu_languages" title="Bantu languages">Bantu languages</a> (Zones N–S) (by <a href="/wiki/Guthrie_classification_of_Bantu_languages" title="Guthrie classification of Bantu languages">Guthrie classification</a>)</div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zone N</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">N10</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>N11 <a href="/wiki/Manda-Matumba_language" title="Manda-Matumba language">Manda</a></li> <li>N12 <a href="/wiki/Ngoni_language" title="Ngoni language">Ngoni</a></li> <li>N13 <a href="/wiki/Matengo_language" title="Matengo language">Matengo</a></li> <li>N14 <a href="/wiki/Mpoto_language" title="Mpoto language">Mpoto</a></li> <li>N15 <a href="/wiki/Tonga_language_(Malawi)" title="Tonga language (Malawi)">Tonga</a></li> <li>[N101 <a href="/wiki/Ndendeule_language" title="Ndendeule language">Ndendeule</a></li> <li>N102 <a href="/wiki/Nindi_language" title="Nindi language">Nindi</a></li> <li>N121 <a href="/wiki/Ngoni_language" title="Ngoni language">Ngoni of Malawi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">N20</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>N21 <a href="/wiki/Tumbuka_language" title="Tumbuka language">Tumbuka</a></li> <li>[N201 <a href="/wiki/Mbamba_Bay_language" title="Mbamba Bay language">Mwera of Mbamba Bay</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">N30</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>N31a <a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Nyanja</a></li> <li>N31b <a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Cewa</a></li> <li>N31c <a href="/wiki/Chewa_language" title="Chewa language">Manganja</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">N40</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>N41 <a href="/wiki/Nsenga_language" title="Nsenga language">Nsenga</a></li> <li>N42 <a href="/wiki/Kunda_language" title="Kunda language">Kunda</a></li> <li>N43 <a href="/wiki/Nyungwe_language" title="Nyungwe language">Nyungwe</a></li> <li>N44 <a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Sena</a></li> <li>N45[44] <a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Rue</a></li> <li>N46[44] <a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Podzo</a></li> <li>[N441 <a href="/wiki/Sena_language" title="Sena language">Sena-Malawi</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zone P</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">P10</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>P11 <a href="/wiki/Ndengereko_language" title="Ndengereko language">Ndengereko</a></li> <li>P12 <a href="/wiki/Ndengereko_language" title="Ndengereko language">Ruihi</a></li> <li>P13 <a href="/wiki/Matumbi_language" title="Matumbi language">Matumbi</a></li> <li>P14 <a href="/wiki/Ngindo_language" title="Ngindo language">Ngindo</a></li> <li>P15 <a href="/wiki/Mbunga_language" title="Mbunga language">Mbunga</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">P20</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>P21 <a href="/wiki/Yao_language" title="Yao language">Yao</a></li> <li>P22 <a href="/wiki/Mwera_language" title="Mwera language">Mwera</a></li> <li>P23 <a href="/wiki/Makonde_language" title="Makonde language">Makonde</a></li> <li>P24 <a href="/wiki/Makonde_language" title="Makonde language">Ndonde</a></li> <li>P25 <a href="/wiki/Makonde_language" title="Makonde language">Mabiha</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">P30</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>P31 <a href="/wiki/Makhuwa_language" title="Makhuwa language">Makua</a></li> <li>P32 <a href="/wiki/Lomwe_language" title="Lomwe language">Lomwe</a></li> <li>P33 <a href="/wiki/Lomwe_language" title="Lomwe language">Ngulu</a></li> <li>P34 <a href="/wiki/Chuwabu_language" title="Chuwabu language">Cuabo</a></li> <li>[P311 <a href="/wiki/Koti_language" title="Koti language">Koti</a></li> <li>P312 <a href="/wiki/Nathembo_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Nathembo language">Sakati</a></li> <li>P331 <a href="/wiki/Malawi_Lomwe_language" title="Malawi Lomwe language">Lomwe of Malawi</a></li> <li>P341 <a href="/wiki/Moniga_language" title="Moniga language">Moniga</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zone R</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">R10</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>R11 <a href="/wiki/Umbundu" title="Umbundu">Umbundu</a></li> <li>R12 <a href="/wiki/Ndombe_language" title="Ndombe language">Ndombe</a></li> <li>R13 <a href="/wiki/Nyaneka_language" title="Nyaneka language">Nyaneka</a></li> <li>R14 <a href="/wiki/Nkumbi_language" title="Nkumbi language">Khumbi</a></li> <li>[R101 <a href="/wiki/Kuvale_language" title="Kuvale language">Kuvale</a></li> <li>R102 <a href="/wiki/Kwisi_people" title="Kwisi people">Kwisi</a></li> <li>R103 <a href="/wiki/Mbali_language" title="Mbali language">Mbali</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">R20</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>R21 <a href="/wiki/Kwanyama_dialect" class="mw-redirect" title="Kwanyama dialect">Kwanyama</a></li> <li>R22 <a href="/wiki/Ndonga_dialect" class="mw-redirect" title="Ndonga dialect">Ndonga</a></li> <li>R23 <a href="/wiki/Kwambi_dialect" title="Kwambi dialect">Kwambi</a></li> <li>R24 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Ngandyera</a></li> <li>[R211 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Kafima</a></li> <li>R212 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Evale</a></li> <li>R213 <a href="/wiki/Mbandja_language" title="Mbandja language">Mbandja</a></li> <li>R214 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Mbalanhu</a></li> <li>R215 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Ndongwena</a></li> <li>R216 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Kwankwa</a></li> <li>R217 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Dombondola</a></li> <li>R218 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Esinga</a></li> <li>R241 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Kwaluudhi</a></li> <li>R242 <a href="/wiki/Ovambo_language" title="Ovambo language">Kolonkadhi-Eunda</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">R30</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>R31 <a href="/wiki/Herero_language" title="Herero language">Herero</a></li> <li>[R311 <a href="/wiki/Zemba_language" title="Zemba language">North-West Herero</a></li> <li>R312 <a href="/wiki/Herero_language" title="Herero language">Botswana Herero</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">R40</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>R41 <a href="/wiki/Yeyi_language" title="Yeyi language">Yei</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Zone S</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S10</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S11 <a href="/wiki/Shona_language" title="Shona language">Korekore</a></li> <li>S12 <a href="/wiki/Shona_language" title="Shona language">Zezuru</a></li> <li>S13a <a href="/wiki/Manyika_dialect" title="Manyika dialect">Manyika</a></li> <li>S13b <a href="/wiki/Manyika_dialect" title="Manyika dialect">Tebe</a></li> <li>S14 <a href="/wiki/Shona_language" title="Shona language">Karanga</a></li> <li>S15 <a href="/wiki/Ndau_dialect" title="Ndau dialect">Ndau</a></li> <li>S16 <a href="/wiki/Kalanga_language" title="Kalanga language">Kalanga</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S20</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S21 <a href="/wiki/Venda_language" title="Venda language">Venda</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S30</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S31a <a href="/wiki/Tswana_language" title="Tswana language">Tswana</a></li> <li>S31b <a href="/wiki/Tswana_language" title="Tswana language">Kgatla</a></li> <li>S31c <a href="/wiki/Tswana_language" title="Tswana language">Ngwatu</a></li> <li>S31d[311] <a href="/wiki/Kgalagadi_language" title="Kgalagadi language">Khalaxadi</a></li> <li>S32a <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Pedi</a></li> <li>S32b <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Lobedu</a></li> <li>S33 <a href="/wiki/Sotho_language" title="Sotho language">Sotho</a></li> <li>[S301 <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho#Other_varieties_of_Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Phalaborwa</a></li> <li>S302 <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho#Other_varieties_of_Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Kutswe</a></li> <li>S303 <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho#Other_varieties_of_Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Pai</a></li> <li>S304 <a href="/wiki/Northern_Sotho#Other_varieties_of_Northern_Sotho" title="Northern Sotho">Pulana</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S40</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S41 <a href="/wiki/Xhosa_language" title="Xhosa language">Xhosa</a></li> <li>S42 <a href="/wiki/Zulu_language" title="Zulu language">Zulu</a></li> <li>S43 <a href="/wiki/Swazi_language" title="Swazi language">Swati</a></li> <li>S44 <a href="/wiki/Northern_Ndebele_language" title="Northern Ndebele language">(Northern) Ndebele</a></li> <li>[S401 <a href="/wiki/Fengu_people" title="Fengu people">Old Mfengu</a></li> <li>S402 <a href="/wiki/Bhaca_language" title="Bhaca language">Bhaca</a></li> <li>S403 <a href="/wiki/Hlubi_language" title="Hlubi language">Hlubi</a></li> <li>S404 <a href="/wiki/Phuthi_language" title="Phuthi language">Phuthi</a></li> <li>S405 <a href="/wiki/Nhlangwini_language" title="Nhlangwini language">Nhlangwini</a></li> <li>S406 <a href="/wiki/Lala_language_(South_Africa)" title="Lala language (South Africa)">Lala</a></li> <li>S407 <a href="/wiki/Southern_Ndebele_language" title="Southern Ndebele language">South Ndebele</a></li> <li>S408 <a href="/wiki/Sumayela_Ndebele_language" title="Sumayela Ndebele language">Sumayela Ndebele</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S50</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S51 <a href="/wiki/Tswa_language" title="Tswa language">Tswa</a></li> <li>S52[53] <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Gwamba</a></li> <li>S53 <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Tsonga</a></li> <li>S54 <a href="/wiki/Ronga_language" title="Ronga language">Ronga</a></li> <li>[S511 <a href="/wiki/Tswa_language" title="Tswa language">Hlengwe</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">S60</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li>S61 <a href="/wiki/Chopi_language" title="Chopi language">Copi</a></li> <li>S62 <a href="/wiki/Tonga_language_(Mozambique)" title="Tonga language (Mozambique)">Tonga</a></li> <li>[S611 <a href="/wiki/Chopi_language" title="Chopi language">Lenge</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div> <ul><li><i>Italics</i> indicate <a href="/wiki/Language_death" title="Language death">extinct languages</a>.</li> <li>Languages between parentheses are <a href="/wiki/Variety_(linguistics)" title="Variety (linguistics)">varieties</a> of the language on their left.</li></ul> <ul><li>The <a href="/wiki/Guthrie_classification_of_Bantu_languages" title="Guthrie classification of Bantu languages">Guthrie classification</a> is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them.</li></ul> <dl><dt>Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates</dt> <dd><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_A%E2%80%93B)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B)">Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_C%E2%80%93D)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D)">Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_E%E2%80%93H)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H)">Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_J%E2%80%93M)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)">Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M)</a></dd> <dd><a href="/wiki/Template:Narrow_Bantu_languages_(Zones_N%E2%80%93S)" title="Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)">Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)</a></dd></dl> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" 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