# Mwani language

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Bantu language spoken in Mozambique

Mwani Kimwani Native to Mozambique[1] Ethnicity Mwani speakers L1: 150,000 (2017)[2] L2: 20,000 (no date)[2] Language family Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantu Northeast Northeast Coast Bantu Sabaki Mwani Dialects Kiwibo Kisanga Kinkojo Kinsimbwa Writing system Latin Language codes ISO 639-3 wmw Glottolog mwan1247 Guthrie code G.403[3] This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

The **Mwani language**, also known by its native name **Kimwani**, (*Kimwani* [\[kiˈmwani\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Swahili)) is a Bantu language spoken on the coast of the [Cabo Delgado Province](/source/Cabo_Delgado_Province) of [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique), including the [Quirimbas Islands](/source/Quirimbas_Islands). Although it shares high lexical similarity (60%) with [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language), it is not intelligible with it. It is spoken by around 167,150 people (including 147,150 who speak it as a first language and 20,000 who use it as their second language). Speakers also use [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) (the official language of [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique)), [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language) and [Makhuwa](/source/Makhuwa_language) language. *Kiwibo*, the dialect of the Island of [Ibo](/source/Ibo%2C_Mozambique) is the prestige dialect. *Kimwani* (sometimes spelled as *Quimuane*) is also called *Mwani* (sometimes spelled as: *Mwane, Muane*) and *Ibo*. According to Anthony P. Grant[4] Kimwani of northern [Mozambique](/source/Mozambique) appears to be the result of imperfect shift towards [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language) several centuries ago by speakers of [Makonde](/source/Makonde_language), and Arends et al. suggest it might turn out to be a Makonde–Swahili [mixed language](/source/Mixed_language).[5]

## Name

The name of the language comes from the word "Mwani", meaning "beach". The prefix "Ki" means the language of, so "Kimwani" literally means "language of the beach".

## Sounds

*Kimwani* (similar to [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language)) is unusual among sub-Saharan languages in having lost the feature of [lexical tone](/source/Tone_(linguistics)) (with the exception of some verbal paradigms where its use is optional). It does not have the penultimate stress typical of [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language); it has movable [pitch accent](/source/Pitch_accent). [Labialization](/source/Labialization) of consonants (indicated by a [w] following the consonant) and [palatalization](/source/Palatalization_(phonetics)) of [r](/source/R) (ry; [rj]) are frequent. [Nasalization](/source/Nasalization) of vowels occurs only before a nasal consonant [n](/source/N) followed by a consonant.

### Vowels

*Kimwani* has five vowel [phonemes](/source/Phoneme): /a/, /e/, /i/, /o/, and /u/, that is: its vowels are close to those of [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) and [Hawaiian](/source/Hawaiian_language). It does not have a distinction of [closed](/source/Close-mid_vowel) and [open](/source/Open-mid_vowel) [mid vowels](/source/Mid_vowel) typical of [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language) or [French](/source/French_language) and found in some other [Bantu languages](/source/Bantu_languages) like [Lingala](/source/Lingala), [Fang](/source/Fang_language), and perhaps [Sukuma](/source/Sukuma_language).

The pronunciation of the phoneme /i/ stands between [International Phonetic Alphabet](/source/International_Phonetic_Alphabet) [i] and [e]. Vowels are never [reduced](/source/Vowel_reduction), regardless of [stress](/source/Stress_(linguistics)). The vowels are pronounced as follows:

- /a/ is pronounced like the "a" in Arabic *hajj*

- /e/ is pronounced like the "e" in *beat*

- /i/ is pronounced like the "y" in *yam*

- /o/ is pronounced like the "o" in *or*

- /u/ is pronounced like the "u" in *Sue*.

Kimwani has no [diphthongs](/source/Diphthong); in vowel combinations, each vowel is pronounced separately.

### Consonants

Consonants of Kimwani[6] Labial Alveolar Palatal Velar Glottal Nasal m n ɲ ŋ Plosive & affricate voiceless p t tʃ k voiced b d dʒ g Fricative voiceless f s ʃ h voiced v z Trill r Approximant w l j

## Orthography

*Kimwani* can be spelled in three ways: using orthography similar to [Swahili](/source/Swahili_language), using a slightly modified spelling system used in Mozambique schools or using a [Portuguese](/source/Portuguese_language)-based spelling. Here are the differences:

Kimwani spelling systems differences Swahili language spelling Modified spelling Portuguese spelling Translation /tʃ/ chala cala tchala finger /dʒ/ juwa juwa djua Sun /k/ kitabu kitabu quitabo book /ŋ/ ng'ombe ng'ombe ngombe cow /ɲ/ nyoka nyoka nhoca snake /s/ fisi fisi fissi hyena /z/ meza meza mesa table /ʃ/ kushanga kushanga cuxanga to admire /w/ wakati wakati uacate time /j/ kipya kipya quípia new /i/ sukili sukili suquile sugar /u/ ufu ufu ufo flour

## Numbers

Mwani English moja one mbili two natu three n’né four tano five sita six saba seven nane eight kenda nine kumi ten kumi na moja eleven kumi na mbili twelve ishirini twenty thelathini thirty arubaini fourty hamsini fifty sitini sixty sabini seventy themanini eighty tisini ninety mia one hundred mia mbili two hundred elfu one thousand elfu mbili two thousand

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Ethnologue list of countries where Kimwani is spoken](http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=wmw)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-e26_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-e26_2-1) [Mwani](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/wmw) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (26th ed., 2023)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Guthrie_3-0)** 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-4)** Smith, Norval; Veenstra, Tonjes (2001). [*Creolization and Contact*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yjzoVTRvyXQC&pg=PA94). John Benjamins Publishing. p. 94. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [90-272-5245-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-272-5245-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Arends, Muysken, & Smith (1995), *Pidgins and Creoles: An Introduction*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [A sketch of Kimwani by Petzell, Malin](https://web.archive.org/web/20041207234533/http://www.african.gu.se/aa/pdfs/aa02088.pdf)

- Petzell, Malin. *A sketch of Kimwani (a minority language of Mozambique)*; Africa & Asia, #2, pp. 88–110, Göteborg University. 2002. [ISSN](/source/ISSN_(identifier)) [1650-2019](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/1650-2019)

- *Namuna ya kufifunda kufyoma na kwandika (Manual de transição, língua Kimwani)*; SIL & JUWA; Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique. 2002.

- [Gerdes, Paulus](/source/Paulus_Gerdes) (2008). *A Numeração Em Moçambique*. Lulu.com. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4357-2634-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4357-2634-5).[*[self-published source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*]

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 E–H) (by Guthrie classification) Zone E [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 E50 E51 Kikuyu E52 Embu E53 Meru E54 Saraka E55 Kamba E56 Daiso [E531 Mwimbi-Muthambi E541 Cuka E60 E61[621a] Rwo E62a[621b,622a] Hai E62b[622c] Wunjo E62c[623] Rombo E63 Rusa E64 Kahe E65 Gweno E70 E71 Pokomo E72a Gyriama E72b Kauma E72c Conyi E72d Duruma E72e Rabai E73 Digo E74a Dabida E74b[741] Sagala [E701 Elwana E731 Segeju E732 Degere E74 Taita Zone F F10 F11 Tongwe F12 Bende [J]F20 [J]F21 Sukuma [J]F22 Nyamwezi [J]F23 Sumbwa [J]F24 Kimbu [J]F25 Bungu F30 F31 Nilamba F32 Remi F33 Langi F34 Mbugwe Zone G G10 G11 Gogo G12 Kaguru G20 G21 Tubeta G22 Asu G23 Shambala G24 Bondei [G221 Mbugu G30 G31 Zigula G32 Ngwele G33 Zaramo G34 Ngulu G35 Ruguru G36 Kami G37 Kutu G38 Vidunda G39 Sagala [G301 Doe G311 Mushungulu G40 G41 Tikuu G42a Amu G42b Mvita G42c Mrima G42d Unguja G43a Phemba G43b Tumbatu G43c Hadimu G44a Ngazija G44b Njuani [G402 Makwe G403 Mwani G404 Sidi G411 Socotra Swahili G412 Mwiini G50 G51 Pogolo G52 Ndamba G60 G61 Sango G62 Hehe G63 Bena G64 Pangwa G65 Kinga G66 Wanji G67 Kisi [G651 Magoma Zone H H10 H11 Beembe H12 Vili H13 Kunyi H14 Ndingi H15 Mboka H16a South Kongo H16b Central Kongo H16c Yombe H16d Fiote H16e Bwende H16f Laadi H16g East Kongo H16h Southeast Kongo [H111 Hangala H112 Kamba-Doondo H131 Suundi H20 H21a Kimbundu H21b Mbamba H22 Sama H23 Bolo H24 Songo H30 H31 Yaka H32 Suku H33 [L12b] Hungu H34 Mbangala H35 Sinji [H321 Soonde H40 H41 Mbala H42 Hunganna 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 [Mwani language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwani_language) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mwani_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.