{{Short description|Bantu language of Kenya}} {{Infobox language | name = Chonyi | nativename = "Chichonyi" | states = [[Kenya]] | region = [[Kilifi County]] | ethnicity = [[Chonyi people]] | speakers = {{sigfig|309,000|2}} | date = 2019 | ref = e25 | familycolor = Niger-Congo | fam1 = [[Niger–Congo languages|Niger–Congo]] | fam2 = [[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]] | fam3 = [[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]] | fam4 = [[Bantoid languages|Bantoid]] | fam5 = [[Bantu languages|Bantu]] | fam6 = [[Northeast Coast Bantu languages|Northeast Coast Bantu]] | fam7 = [[Mijikenda language|Mijikenda]] | iso3 = coh | guthrie = E72c | glotto = chon1287 | glottorefname=Chonyi-Dzihana-Kauma }}

'''Chonyi''' (Chonyi, Kichonyi, Chichonyi) is a [[Bantu languages|Bantu]] language spoken along the eastern coast of [[Kenya]] in [[Kilifi County]] by the [[Chonyi people]]. It is part of the [[Mijikenda language|Mijikenda]] dialect cluster.

In 2019, there were an estimated {{sigfig|309,000|2}} speakers.<ref name=e25/> Of these, {{sigfig|38,500|2}} spoke the Jibana dialect (Chidzihana) and {{sigfig|71,100|2}}&nbsp;the Kauma dialect (Chikauma).<ref name=e25/>

== References == <references />

[[Category:Bantu languages]] [[Category:Languages of Kenya]] [[Category:Mijikenda]]

The major distinction of the Chonyi dialect to their close neighbours which are the Giriama is the use of prefix chi-, instead of ki-. {| class="wikitable" |+ Caption text |- ! Chichonyi !! Kigiryama !! Kiswahili |- | Chihi || Kihi || Kiti |- | Chidogo || Kidogo || Kidogo |- | Chitu || Kitu || Kitu |} {| class="wikitable" |+Greetings and etiquette |- ! Kiswahili !! Chichonyi !! |- | Umeamkaje? || Ulamkadze? || Amka- lamuka |- | Umeshindaje || Usindadze? || Shinda- sinda |- | Asante|| Nasanta || Pole - Pore |}

{| class="wikitable" |+Counting from one-twenty |- ! Kiswahili !! Chichonyi |- | Mosi/ moja || Mosi/ mwenga |- | mbili || mbiri |- | tatu || tahu/hahu |- | nne || inne |- | tano || tsano |- | sita/tandatu || handahu |- | saba || fungahe |- | nane || nane |- | tisa/kenda || chenda |- | kumi || kumi |- | kumi na moja || kumi na mwenga |- | kumi na mbili || kumi na mbiri |- | kumi na tatu || kumi na tahu |- | kumi na nne || kumi na inne |- | kumi na tano || kumi na tsano |- | kumi na saba || kumi na fungahe |- | kumi na nane|| kumi na nane |- | kumi na tisa || kumi na chenda |- | ishirini/miongo miwili || mirongo miiri |}Chichonyi incorporates intonation during pronunciation which is not very conspicuous in Kiswahili

{| class="wikitable" |+ Sehemu za mwili |- ! Kiswahili !! Chichonyi |- | Kichwa || chitswa |- | Jicho (macho) || Dzitso(matso) |- | Pua || pula |- | Skio (maskio) || sikiro (masikiro) |- | Nywele || Nyere |- | Mkono || mkono |- | Kiganja || ganza |- | Kidole/ chanda || chala |- | Kifua || Chifua |- | Mguu|| Mgulu |- | Shingo || Singo |- | Mdomo || Mlomo |- | Ulimi || Lulimi |- | Ngozi || Chingo |- | Mgongo || Mongo |}