# Luchazi

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Bantu language spoken in Angola and Zambia

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Luchazi Ngangela, Lucazi Chiluchazi Native to Angola, Zambia Native speakers 431,000 (2010-2014)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Southern Bantoid Bantu (Zone K) Chokwe–Luchazi (K.10) Luchazi Official status Recognised minority language in Angola (as "Nganguela" or "Ganguela") Language codes ISO 639-3 lch – inclusive code Individual codes: lch – Luchazi nba – Nyemba (Ngangela) mfu – Mbwela Glottolog luch1239 Luchazi nyem1238 Nyemba mbwe1238 Mbwela Guthrie code K.13, K.12b, K.17[2]

**Luchazi** (also called *Lucazi*[3] or *Chiluchazi*) is a [Bantu language](/source/Bantu_languages) of [Angola](/source/Angola) and [Zambia](/source/Zambia). Luchazi is the principal language of the [Ngangela](/source/Ngangela) people.[4] Ngangela is a term coined by the Vimbundu traders and missionaries in 18th century to describe the tribes occupying the area of eastern-central Angola.[5]

## Distribution

Luchazi is spoken in eastern Angola, around the town of [Muié](/source/Mui%C3%A9). It is part of a [dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum) that includes [Nyemba](/source/Nyemba_language), [Mbunda](/source/Mbunda_language), [Ngonzela](/source/Ngonzela_language), and other dialects. Luchazi and Ngangela can also be used as blanket terms for all variants within the dialect continuum. Based on the similarities and differences across these dialects, it appears that Luchazi speakers migrated from their original settlements, explaining some geographically disparate connections to other dialects.[6]: 100–104, 108

## Phonology

### Consonants

The following table displays all the consonants in Luchazi:[7][8]

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Plosive voiceless p t tʲ1 k prenasalized ᵐb ⁿd ᵑɡ prenasalized asp. ᵐpʰ ⁿtʰ ᵑkʰ Affricate voiceless t͡s t͡ʃ prenasalized ⁿt͡s ᶮt͡ʃ prenasalized vd. ⁿd͡z ᶮd͡ʒ Fricative voiceless f s ʃ1 h voiced β z ʒ1 ɦ Approximant l j w

- **[^1](#ref_1)** Occur rarely, may only exist in loanwords.

The position of the speech-organs in producing the consonants is different from the positions taken in producing the similar sounds in European languages. T and D, for example, are lower than in English but higher than in Portuguese. L is flatter-tongued than in either English or Portuguese. The language contains many consonantal glides, including the prenasalized plosives and the voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate (the ts sound).[4]

### Vowels

Source:[4][8]

Front Back Close ɪ iː ʊ uː Mid ɛ ɛː ɔ ɔː Open a aː Diphthongs eɪ aɪ au ia ie io iu ua ue ui uo

The close front vowel (i), when occurring before another vowel, becomes a [semi-consonant](/source/Semi-consonant) and is written y, unless it is immediately preceded by a consonant, when it remains i. Examples: yange, viange.

The vowels have the Continental or Italian values. They are shorter when unstressed and are prolonged when doubled or when stressed at the end of a word.

- The vowel **a** is Long when accented, as *a* in *tata, nana*.

Short when unstressed or before two consonants or *y* or *s* and in monosyllabic adverbs, as *a* in *tata, paya, asa, hanga*. Prolonged when doubled or stressed at the end of a word or syllable. Example: *ku laako*.

- The vowel **e** is Long when accented, as *a* in *heta, seza*.

Short when unstressed, as *a* in *hete, seze*. Short with the value of *e* in *henga, lenda* before two consonants. Exceptions are hembo and membo (due to coalescence of vowels). Many words derived from Portuguese have the short vowel though not followed by two consonants. Examples: *pena, papelo, luneta, ngehena,* etc. Prolonged when stressed at the end of a word.

- The vowel **i** is Long when accented, as *e* in *tina, sika*.

Short when unstressed or before two consonants, as *e* in *citi, linga*. In monosyllabics it is short, as *i* in *it*. Examples: ni, ndi. Prolonged when stressed. Examples: ti, fui.

- The vowel **o** is Long when accented, as *o* in *sota, koka*.

Short when unstressed, as *o* in *soko, loto*. Short, with value of *o* in *onga, yoya, kosa, luozi, ndo*, before two consonants or y or s, and sometimes before z and in some monosyllables. The o is long in *zoza* and *ngozi*. Sometimes prolonged when stressed at the end of a word. Example: *to*.

- The vowel **u** is Long when accented, as *u* in *tuta, fula*.

Short, when unstressed or before two consonants or before s, as *u* in *futuka, mbunga, kusa*.

## Orthography

Luchazi is written using the [Latin alphabet](/source/Latin_alphabet), with most characters representing the same sound as in English, with some exceptions. c is pronounced like *ch* in *church*, n followed by k or g is always nasal like *ng* in *ring*, the sound of v is bilabial instead of labiodental.[4]

### Alphabet

Majuscules A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P R S Sh T U V Y Z Minuscules a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p r s sh t u v y z Phonetic value a/aː b t͡ʃ/t͡ʃʰ d/d̪/ð ɛ/e/ɛː f ɡ h ɪ/i/iː d͡ʒ k l/ɭ m n ɔ/o/ɔː p ɹ s ʃ t/t̪/θ ʊ/u/uː/w β j z

B, D, G, J, R, and Sh only exist in loanwords.[9]

### Letter combinations

Multigraphs ai au ei ia ie io iu kh mb mp nc nd ng nj nk nt ny ph th ts ua ue ui uo IPA aɪ̯ aʊ̯ eɪ̯ i̯a i̯e i̯o i̯u kʰ ᵐb ᵐpʰ ᶮt͡ʃʰ ⁿd ᵑɡ/ŋ ᶮd͡ʒ ᵑkʰ ⁿtʰ ɲi pʰ tʰ tʲ~t͡s u̯a u̯e u̯i u̯o

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Lucazi"](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/lch). *Ethnologue*. Retrieved 2018-08-14.

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-MK2002_3-0)** Marten, Lutz; Kula, Lucy Chongo (2002). ["Semantic transparency in phonology: Telicity and vowel copying in Dciriku"](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lutz-Marten-2/publication/237629347_Semantic_transparency_in_phonology_Telicity_and_vowel_copying_in_Dciriku_1/links/00b7d533bd2b09e890000000/Semantic-transparency-in-phonology-Telicity-and-vowel-copying-in-Dciriku-1.pdf) (PDF). *Phonologica*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Pearson_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Pearson_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Pearson_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-Pearson_4-3) Emil Pearson, "Luchazi Grammar", pp. 5-7

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Gerhard Kubik and Moses Yotamu, 1998, "The Luchazi People. Their History and Chieftaincy", pp. 16, 123

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Fleisch2009_6-0)** Fleisch, Axel (2009). ["Language History in SE Angola. The Ngangela-Nyemba Dialect Cluster"](https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/publications/language-history-in-se-angola-the-ngangela-nyemba-dialect-cluster/). *SUGIA Sprache und Geschichte in Afrika*. **20**: 97–111. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [0170-5946](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0170-5946). Retrieved 2 April 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Kubik_7-0)** Gerhard Kubik, 2006, *Tusona: Luchazi Ideographs : a Graphic Tradition of West-Central Africa*, pp. 300, 303

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Fleisch2000_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Fleisch2000_8-1) Fleisch, Axel (2000). *Lucazi grammar: a morphosemantic analysis*. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Luchazi language and alphabet"](https://www.omniglot.com/writing/luchazi.htm). *Omniglot*. Retrieved 5 March 2021.

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