# Makonde language

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Bantu language spoken in East Africa

It has been suggested that this article be split out into a new article titled Matambwe language. (Discuss) (November 2024)

Makonde Chi(ni)makonde Native to Tanzania, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya Ethnicity Makonde, Ndonde Hamba Native speakers (2.1 million cited 1987–2016)[1] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Rufiji–Ruvuma Ruvuma Makonde languages Makonde Dialects ? Matembwe–Machinga Mabiha Ndonde Hamba (Mawanda) Writing system Latin Language codes ISO 639-3 Variously: kde – Makonde mvw – Machinga njd – Ndonde Hamba wtb – Matambwe Glottolog mako1251 Makonde mach1265 Machinga mata1313 Matambwe Guthrie code P.23,24,25[2]

Person Mmakonde People Wamakonde Language Kimakonde Country Umakonde

**Makonde** ([Swahili](/source/Swahili_language): *Kimakonde*, [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language): *Maconde*) is the language spoken by the [Makonde](/source/Makonde_people), an ethnic group in southeast [Tanzania](/source/Tanzania) and northern [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique).[3] Makonde is a central [Bantu language](/source/Bantu_language) closely related to [Yao](/source/Yao_language). The [Matambwe](/source/Matambwe_language) (Matembwe) and [Mabiha](/source/Mabiha_language) (Maviha) dialects are divergent, and may not be Makonde.[4][*[full citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#What_information_to_include)*]

A mosquito-borne viral fever first identified on the [Makonde Plateau](/source/Makonde_Plateau) is named *[Chikungunya](/source/Chikungunya)*, which is derived from the Makonde root verb *kungunyala* (meaning "that which bends up", "to become contorted," or "to walk bent over").[5] The derivation of the term is generally falsely attributed to [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language).[6]

## Phonology

The following are the consonants and vowels of the Makonde language:[7]

### Vowels

Front Back High i u Mid e o Low a

There also tends to be a rising final vowel sound /vv́/ within vowel combinations.

### Consonants

Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Plosive voiceless p t k voiced b d ɡ prenasal ᵐb ⁿd ᶮɟ ᵑɡ Affricate tʃ Fricative s h Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Lateral l Approximant ʋ j w

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-e26_1-0)** [Makonde](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/kde) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (26th ed., 2023) [Machinga](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mvw) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (26th ed., 2023) [Ndonde Hamba](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/njd) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (26th ed., 2023) [Matambwe](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/wtb) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (26th ed., 2023)

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)** Hammarström (2015) Ethnologue 16/17/18th editions: a comprehensive review: online appendices

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Nurse 2003

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Morens DM and Fauci AS (2014). ["Chikungunya at the Door — Déjà Vu All Over Again?"](https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJMp1408509). *New England Journal of Medicine*. **371** (10): 885–887. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1056/NEJMp1408509](https://doi.org/10.1056%2FNEJMp1408509). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [25029435](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25029435).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Singh, SS; Manimunda, SP; Sugunan, AP; Sahina, Vijayachari P (2008). ["Four cases of acute flaccid paralysis associated with chikungunya virus infection"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2870928). *Epidemiol Infect*. **136** (9): 1277–80. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1017/S0950268807009739](https://doi.org/10.1017%2FS0950268807009739). [PMC](/source/PMC_(identifier)) [2870928](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2870928). [PMID](/source/PMID_(identifier)) [18634716](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18634716).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Kraal, Pieter J. (2005). [*A Grammar of Makonde (Chinnima, Tanzania)*](https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/handle/1887/4271). pp. 16–32.

v t e Languages of Tanzania Official languages Swahili English Indigenous languages Bantu Northeast Bantu Bena–Kinga Bena Hehe Kinga Kisi Manda Pangwa Sangu Vwanji Chaga Central Kilimanjaro Mochi Gweno Rombo Rusa West Kilimanjaro Great Lakes Ha Hangaza Ikizu Ikoma Jita Kabwa Kara Kerewe Kuria Kwaya Ngoreme Nyambo Suba-Simbiti Sumbwa Vinza Zanaki Zinza Kikuyu–Kamba Sonjo Northeast Coast Digo Doe Gogo Kagulu Kami Kutu Kwere Luguru Ngulu Sagara Shambala Vidunda Zaramo Takama Holoholo Iramba Isanzu Kimbu Nyamwezi Sukuma Turu Kilombero Mbunga Ndamba Pogolo Rufiji–Ruvuma Tumbuka Matengo Matumbi Mpoto Mwera Ndendeule Ndengereko Ndonde Ngindo Ngoni Nindi Yao Rukwa Bungu Fipa Lambya Malila Mambwe-Lungu Mwanga Nyakyusa Nyiha Nyika Safwa Wanda Other Bantu Bemba Makhuwa Mbamba Bay Mbugwe Rangi Cushitic Alagwa Asa Burunge Gorowa Iraqw Kwʼadza Nilotic Akie Datooga Kisankasa Kwavi Maasai Mediak Mosiro Ngasa Luo Ogiek Isolates/unclassified Hadza Sandawe Omaio "Serengeti-Dorobo" Sign languages 7 school sign languages

v t e Languages of Mozambique Official language Portuguese Indigenous languages Barwe Chewa Chichopi Chitonga Chuwabu Dema Gitonga Kimwani Koti Kunda Lomwe Maindo Makhuwa Makonde Makwe Manyika Nathembo Ndau Ngoni Nsenga Nyungwe Phimbi Ronga Sena Shona Swahili Swati Tawara Tewe Tsonga Tswa Yao Immigrant languages English Punjabi Hindi Sign languages Mozambican Sign Language

v t e Narrow Bantu languages (Zones N–S) (by Guthrie classification) Zone N N10 N11 Manda N12 Ngoni N13 Matengo N14 Mpoto N15 Tonga [N101 Ndendeule N102 Nindi N121 Ngoni of Malawi N20 N21 Tumbuka [N201 Mwera of Mbamba Bay N30 N31a Nyanja N31b Cewa N31c Manganja N40 N41 Nsenga N42 Kunda N43 Nyungwe N44 Sena N45[44] Rue N46[44] Podzo [N441 Sena-Malawi Zone P P10 P11 Ndengereko P12 Ruihi P13 Matumbi P14 Ngindo P15 Mbunga P20 P21 Yao P22 Mwera P23 Makonde P24 Ndonde P25 Mabiha P30 P31 Makua P32 Lomwe P33 Ngulu P34 Cuabo [P311 Koti P312 Sakati P331 Lomwe of Malawi P341 Moniga Zone R R10 R11 Umbundu R12 Ndombe R13 Nyaneka R14 Khumbi [R101 Kuvale R102 Kwisi R103 Mbali R20 R21 Kwanyama R22 Ndonga R23 Kwambi R24 Ngandyera [R211 Kafima R212 Evale R213 Mbandja R214 Mbalanhu R215 Ndongwena R216 Kwankwa R217 Dombondola R218 Esinga R241 Kwaluudhi R242 Kolonkadhi-Eunda R30 R31 Herero [R311 North-West Herero R312 Botswana Herero R40 R41 Yei Zone S S10 S11 Korekore S12 Zezuru S13a Manyika S13b Tebe S14 Karanga S15 Ndau S16 Kalanga S20 S21 Venda S30 S31a Tswana S31b Kgatla S31c Ngwatu S31d[311] Khalaxadi S32a Pedi S32b Lobedu S33 Sotho [S301 Phalaborwa S302 Kutswe S303 Pai S304 Pulana S40 S41 Xhosa S42 Zulu S43 Swati S44 (Northern) Ndebele [S401 Old Mfengu S402 Bhaca S403 Hlubi S404 Phuthi S405 Nhlangwini S406 Lala S407 South Ndebele S408 Sumayela Ndebele S50 S51 Tswa S52[53] Gwamba S53 Tsonga S54 Ronga [S511 Hlengwe S60 S61 Copi S62 Tonga [S611 Lenge 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 [Makonde language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makonde_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Makonde_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.