# Kuhane language

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kuhane_language
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kuhane_language.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhane_language
> Source revision: 1305604079
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Bantu language in Southern Africa

Kuhane Chikuhane / Chisubia Native to Namibia 34,000 Botswana 7,900 Zambia 2,900 Ethnicity Baikuhane / Basubia Native speakers 45,000[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Southern Bantoid Bantu Botatwe Subia Kuhane Language codes ISO 639-3 sbs Glottolog subi1246 Guthrie code K.42 (K.401)[2] ELP Subiya

Person Muikuhane People Baikuhane Language Chikuhane

A Subiya, or Kuhane, speaker speaking the language with an English introduction, recorded in [Namibia](/source/Namibia).

The **Kuhane language** is a [Bantu language](/source/Bantu_languages) spoken in [Southern Africa](/source/Southern_Africa). Also known as Ikuhane, Subia or Subiya, it is spoken by the [Ikuhane people](/source/Subia_people) in [Namibia](/source/Namibia), [Botswana](/source/Botswana) and [Zambia](/source/Zambia).

## History

The language is called **Chikuhane** by native speakers, and gets its name from the second known Subia King, Ikuhane, who reigned from 1575 – 1600. Under his leadership, the people migrated southwards and settled along the [Cuando River](/source/Cuando_River) which is also named the Ikuhane River in his honour. A single Ikuhane person is referred to as Muikuhane while many Ikuhane people are referred to as Baikuhane. The prefix Mu- is singular and the prefix Ba- is plural.

However, Baikuhane are popularly known today as the [Subia people](/source/Subia_people). The [exonym](/source/Endonym_and_exonym) Subia came from neighbouring people and it is derived from the word ‘subila’ which means light in reference to their light skin complexion. A single Subia person is referred to as Musubia while many Subia people are referred to as Basubia or Masubia. The language is called **Chisubia**.

## Phonology

### Consonants

Bilabial Labio- dental Alveolar Post-alv./ Palatal Velar Glottal plain lab. pal. plain lab. plain lab. plain lab. pal. plain lab. plain lab. pal. Nasal m mʷ mʲ (ɱ) n nʷ ɲ ŋ Plosive/ Affricate voiceless p pʷ t tʷ t͡ʃ k kʷ voiced b bʷ d dʷ d͡ʒ d͡ʒʷ ɡ ɡʷ Fricative voiceless f fʷ s sʷ ʃ h hʷ hʲ voiced β βʷ βʲ v vʷ z zʷ Approximant (lʷ) j w Flap ɭ̆ ɭ̆ʷ ɭ̆ʲ

- Prenasal stop and fricative sounds are also present, when stop and fricative sounds are preceded by nasal consonants.

- /t, tʷ/ may also be heard as dental [t̪, t̪ʷ] in free variation.

- /m/ is heard as [ɱ] when preceding a labiodental fricative /f, v/ within nasal compounds.

- /ɭ̆ʷ/ may also be heard as alveolar [lʷ] in free variation.[3]

### Vowels

Front Central Back High i u Mid ɛ ɔ Low a

## Subia text

Chisubia: Kakuli Ileza ava saki ahulu inkanda, mane avahi Mwanakwe yenke, ili kuti yense yo zumina Kwakwe keta afwe kono kave nivuhalo vusamani. Johani 3:16[4]

English: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e25_1-0)** [Kuhane](https://www.ethnologue.com/25/language/sbs) 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)** Baumbach, Erdmann J. M. (1997). *Languages of the Eastern Caprivi*. In Haacke, W. H. G. and Elderkin, Edward Derek (eds.), Namibian Languages: Reports and Papers: Köln: Cologne: Rüdiger Köppe. pp. 313–321.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Kuhane Bible"](https://breakeveryyoke.com/kuhane-bible). *breakeveryyoke.com*. eBible.org. Retrieved 8 November 2022.

v t e Languages of Namibia Official language English Recognized regional Oshiwambo Kwanyama Ndonga Afrikaans German Other Bantu languages Otjiherero Rukwangali Setswana Zemba Gciriku Fwe Kuhane Thimbukushu Shiyeyi Khoisan Nama/Damara Naro ǃXóõ Kung-Ekoka ǂKxʼauǁʼein Kxoe Sign languages Namibian Sign Language Immigrant languages Portuguese

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 Languages of Botswana Indo-European English (official) Afrikaans Bantu Birwa Gciriku Herero Ikalanga Kgalagadi Kuhane Mbukushu Nambya Northern Ndebele Tswana (official) Tswapong Yeyi Zezuru Khoisan ǁAni Gǁana Gǀwi ǂHõã Juǀʼhoan Khwe ǂKxʼauǁʼein Nama Naro Shua Taʼa Tshwa

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)

This Bantu language-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information.

- [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Bantu-lang-stub)
- [t](/source/Template_talk%3ABantu-lang-stub)
- [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Bantu-lang-stub)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kuhane language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhane_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhane_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.