# Chonyi language

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Bantu language of Kenya

Chonyi "Chichonyi" Native to Kenya Region Kilifi County Ethnicity Chonyi people Native speakers 310,000 (2019)[1] Language family Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu Northeast Coast Bantu Mijikenda Chonyi Language codes ISO 639-3 coh Glottolog chon1287 Guthrie code E72c[2]

**Chonyi** (Chonyi, Kichonyi, Chichonyi) is a [Bantu](/source/Bantu_languages) language spoken along the eastern coast of [Kenya](/source/Kenya) in [Kilifi County](/source/Kilifi_County) by the [Chonyi people](/source/Chonyi_people). It is part of the [Mijikenda](/source/Mijikenda_language) dialect cluster.

In 2019, there were an estimated 310,000 speakers.[1] Of these, 39,000 spoke the Jibana dialect (Chidzihana) and 71,000 the Kauma dialect (Chikauma).[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e25_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e25_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-e25_1-2) [Chonyi](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/coh) 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)

The major distinction of the Chonyi dialect to their close neighbours which are the Giriama is the use of prefix chi-, instead of ki-.

Caption text Chichonyi Kigiryama Kiswahili Chihi Kihi Kiti Chidogo Kidogo Kidogo Chitu Kitu Kitu

Greetings and etiquette Kiswahili Chichonyi Umeamkaje? Ulamkadze? Amka- lamuka Umeshindaje Usindadze? Shinda- sinda Asante Nasanta Pole - Pore

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

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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Chonyi language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonyi_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chonyi_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.