# Chokwe language

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Bantu language spoken by the Chokwe people

Not to be confused with [Chöke language](/source/Ch%C3%B6ke_language).

Chokwe Ucôkwe (Wuchokwe) Native to Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia Ethnicity Chokwe people Native speakers (2.5 million cited 1990–2018)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu (Zone K) Chokwe–Luchazi (K.10) Chokwe Official status Official language in Angola (national language) Regulated by Instituto de Línguas Nacionais Language codes ISO 639-3 cjk Glottolog chok1245 Guthrie code K.11[2]

Chokwe Person Kacôkwe People Tucôkwe Language Ucôkwe (Wuchokwe)

**Chokwe** (also known as Batshokwe, Ciokwe, Kioko, Kiokwe, Quioca, Quioco, Shioko, Tschiokloe or Tshokwe[3]) is a [Bantu language](/source/Bantu_languages) spoken by the [Chokwe people](/source/Chokwe_people) of the [Democratic Republic of the Congo](/source/Democratic_Republic_of_the_Congo), [Angola](/source/Angola) and [Zambia](/source/Zambia).

In Angola, it is the native language of more than 2 million people (as of 2024);[4] another half a million speakers lived in the Congo in 1990, and some 20,000 in Zambia in 2010.[1] It is used as a [lingua franca](/source/Lingua_franca) in eastern Angola.

## Writing system

This section needs expansion with: description (and sources) for said system. You can help by adding missing information. (June 2022)

Angola's Instituto de Línguas Nacionais (National Languages Institute) has established spelling rules for Chokwe with a view to facilitate and promote its use.[5]

## Phonology

### Vowels

Front Central Back Close i u Close-mid e o Open-mid ɛ ɔ Open a ~ ɑ

Vowels may also be heard as nasalized when preceding nasal consonants.

### Consonants

Labial Alveolar Post- alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Stop voiceless p t (c) k voiced b d (ɟ) g aspirated pʰ tʰ kʰ prenasal vd. ᵐb ⁿd (ᶮɟ) ᵑɡ prenasal vl. ᵐp Affricate voiceless p͡f t͡f t͡ʃ voiced t͡v d͡ʒ prenasal ⁿd͡v ⁿd͡ʒ Fricative voiceless f s ʃ h voiced v z ʒ prenasal ⁿz ⁿʒ Nasal m n ɲ Approximant lateral l ʎ plain j w

Affricate sounds /t͡ʃ, d͡ʒ, ⁿd͡ʒ/ may also be pronounced as palatal stops [c, ɟ, ᶮɟ].

### Tones

Chokwe has three tones as /v́/, /v̀/, and /v̂/.[6][7]

## Examples

English Chokwe Good Morning -Response Menekenu -Mwane See you Ndo shimbu yikehe Goodbye Salenuho What is your name? Jina lie yena iya? My name is ____ Jina liami ___

[8]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e25_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e25_1-1) [Chokwe](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/cjk) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (25th ed., 2022)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guthrie_2-0)** Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. [New Updated Guthrie List Online](https://web.archive.org/web/20180203191542/http://goto.glocalnet.net/mahopapers/nuglonline.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Nurse, Derek; Philippson, Gérard; Bostoen, Koen; Van de Velde, Mark (2019). *The Bantu languages* (Second ed.). London. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781317628682](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781317628682).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-censoAO_4-0)** ["Resultados Definitivos do Recenseamento Geral da População e Habitação - 2024"](https://www.ine.gov.ao/Arquivos/arquivosCarregados//Carregados/Publicacao_638992698392586291.pdf) (PDF) (in Portuguese). 2025-11-20.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Ethnologue report for Angola"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120923031547/http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Angola). 2012-09-23. Archived from [the original](http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=Angola) on 2012-09-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Ualhanga, Xavier Chipuleno (2017). *Antroponímia na Língua Cokwe (Lunda-Norte)* [*Anthroponymy in the Cokwe Language (Lunda-Norte)*] (Master's thesis) (in Portuguese). Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. [hdl](/source/Hdl_(identifier)):[10362/21952](https://hdl.handle.net/10362%2F21952).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Martins, João Vicente (1990). *Elementos de Gramática de Utchokwe* [*Utchokwe Grammar Elements*] (in Portuguese). Lisboa: Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical. pp. 25–32.{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: publisher location ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_publisher_location))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Akindipe, Omotola. ["Learn Chokwe (Greetings and Introduction)"](https://chokwe.mofeko.com//greetings.html). *[Learn Chokwe](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Learn_Chokwe&action=edit&redlink=1)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210509162920/http://chokwe.mofeko.com/greetings.html) from the original on 2021-05-09.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Chokwe language](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chokwe_language).

- [Learn Chokwe on the internet (Mofeko)](http://chokwe.mofeko.com/) Omotola Akindipe, Geofrey Kakaula & Alcino Joné

v t e Languages of Angola Official language Portuguese National languages Bolo Chokwe Gciriku Hakaona Herero Holu Ibinda Khwe Kimbundu Kongo !Kung Kung-Ekoka Kuvale Kwadi Kwangali Kwanyama Lunda Mbunda Ndonga Oshiwambo Umbundu Lucazi Luimbi Luvale Luyana Mashi Mbali Mbangala Mbukushu Ndombe Ngambwe Ngoya Nkumbi Nsongo Nyaneka Nyengo Ruund Sama Sekele Zemba

v t e Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Official language French National languages Kongo Kituba Lingala Swahili (Congo Swahili) Tshiluba Indigenous languages (by province) Bandundu Boma Chokwe Ding Hungana Kwese Lia-Ntomba Mbala Mpuono Nzadi Pende Sakata Sengele Shinji Sonde Suku Tiene Yaka Yansi Équateur Bala Bangi Bango Budza Central Banda Furu Losengo Mbaka Mbandja Mongo Mono Ndolo Ndunga Ngbaka Minagende Ngbandi Ngbinda Ngbundu Ngombe Pagibete Sango South Banda Yangere Kasai-Occidental Binji Bushong Chokwe Lele Lwalu Wongo Kasai-Oriental Budya Dengese Luna Nkutu Salampasu Songe Tetela Katanga Bangubangu Bemba Bwile Chokwe Hemba Kaonde Kebwe Luba-Katanga Lunda Ruund Sanga Tabwa Zela Yazi Kinshasa Mfinu Maniema Hendo Zimba Nord-Kivu Amba Havu Hunde Kinyarwanda Kirundi Nande Nyanga Talinga Tembo Vanuma Yaka Orientale Alur Asoa Avokaya Bangala Bangba Barambu Beeke Bila Budu Bwa Bwela Dongo Guru Hema Kaliko Kango (Bas-Uélé District) Kango (Tshopo District) Kari Kele Lendu Lese Lika Likile Linga Loki Logo Lombo Lugbara Ma Mangbetu Mangbutu Mayogo Mba Mbo Ndaka Ngbee Ngelima Nyali Nyanga-li Nzakara Omi Pambia Poke Soko Tagbo Zande Sud-Kivu Buyu Fuliiru Havu Kabwari Kinyarwanda Nyindu Kirundi Shi Tembo Sign languages French African Sign

v t e Languages of Zambia Official language English Regional languages Bemba Kaonde Lozi Lunda Luvale Nyanja Tonga Tumbuka Indigenous languages Bwile Chokwe Ila Kuhane Kunda Kwangwa Lala-Bisa Lamba Lenje Luyana Mambwe-Lungu Mbamba Bay Mbowe Mbukushu Mbunda Mwanga Nkangala Nkoya Nsenga Shanjo Shona Soli Tabwa Wanda Yao Sign languages Zambian Sign Language

v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) (by Guthrie classification) Zone J* [J]D40 [J]D41 Konzo [J]D42 Ndandi [J]D43 Nyanga [J]D50 [J]D51 Hunde [J]D52 Haavu [J]D53 Nyabungu [J]D54 Bembe [J]D55 Buyi [J]D56 Kabwari [JD501 Nyindu [J]JD502 Yaka [J]JD531 Tembo [J]D60 [J]D61 Ruanda [J]D62 Rundi [J]D63 Fuliiro [J]D64 Subi [J]D65 Hangaza [J]D66 Ha [J]D67 Vinza [JD631 Vira [J]E10 [J]E11 Nyoro [J]E12 Tooro [J]E13 Nyankore [J]E14 Ciga [J]E15 Ganda [J]E16 Soga [J]E17 Gwere [J]E18 Nyala [JE101 Gungu JE102 Talinga-Bwisi JE103 Ruli JE121 Hema [J]E20 [J]E21 Nyambo [J]E22 Ziba [J]E23 Dzindza [J]E24 Kerebe [J]E25 Jita [JE221 Rashi JE251 Kwaya JE252 Kara JE253 Ruri [J]E30 [J]E31a Gisu [J]E31b Kisu [J]E31c Bukusu [J]E32a Hanga [J]E32b Tsotso [J]E33 Nyore [J]E34 Saamia [J]E35 Nyuli [JE341 Xaayo JE342 Marachi JE343 Songa [J]E40 [J]E41 Logooli [J]E42 Gusii [J]E43 Koria [J]E44 Zanaki [J]E45 Nata E46 Sonjo [JE401 Nguruimi JE402 Ikizu JE403 Suba/Suba-Simbiti JE404 Shashi JE405 Kabwa JE406 Singa JE407 Ware JE411 Idaxo JE412 Isuxa JE413 Tiriki JE431 Simbiti JE432 Hacha JE433 Surwa JE434 Sweta [J]F20 [J]F21 Sukuma [J]F22 Nyamwezi [J]F23 Sumbwa [J]F24 Kimbu [J]F25 Bungu Zone K K10 K11 Chokwe K12a Luimbi K12b Nyemba K13 Lucazi K14 Lwena K15 Mbunda K16 Nyengo K17 Mbwela K18 Nkangala K20 K21 Lozi K30 K31 Luyana K32 Mbowe K33 Kwangali K34 Mashi K35 Simaa K36 Sanjo K37 Kwangwa [K321 Mbume K322 Liyuwa K332 Manyo K333 Mbukushu K334 Mbogedu K351 Mulonga K352 Mwenyi K353 Koma K354 Imilangu K371 Kwandi K40 K41 Totela K42 Subiya [K402 Fwe K411 Totela of Namibia Zone L L10 L11 Pende L12 Samba & Holu L13 Kwese [L101 Sonde L20 L21 Kete L22 Binji Mbagani L23 Songe L24 Luna [L201 Budya L202 Yazi L221 Lwalwa L231 Binji L30 L31a Luba-Kasai L31b Lulua L32 Kanyoka L33 Luba-Katanga L34 Hemba L35 Sanga [L301 Kebwe L331 Zeela L40 L41 Kaonde L50 L51 Salampasu L52 Lunda L53 Ruund [L511 Luntu L60 L61 Mbwera L62 Nkoya [L601 Kolwe L602 Lushangi L603 Shasha Zone M M10 M11 Pimbwe M12 Rungwa M13 Fipa M14 Rungu M15 Mambwe [M131 Kuulwe M20 M21 Wanda M22 Mwanga M23 Nyiha M24 Malila M25 Safwa M26 Iwa M27 Tambo [M201 Lambya M202 Sukwa M30 M31 Nyakyusa [M301 Ndali M302 Penja M40 M41 Taabwa M42 Bemba [M401 Bwile M402 Aushi M50 M51 Biisa M52 Lala M53 Swaka M54 Lamba M55 Seba [M521 Ambo M522 Luano M541 Lima M542 Temba M60 M61 Lenje M62 Soli M63 Ila M64 Tonga [M611 Lukanga Twa M631 Sala M632 Lundwe M633 Kafue Twa Italics indicate extinct languages. Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. The Guthrie classification is geographic and its groupings do not imply a relationship between the languages within them. Narrow Bantu languages by Guthrie classification zone templates Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones A–B) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones C–D) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones E–H) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones J–M) Template:Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chokwe language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokwe_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokwe_language?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.