Nyungwe language


Nyungwe is a Bantu language of Mozambique. It is used as a trade language throughout Tete Province.

Geographic distribution

Nyungwe is spoken by more than 439,000 people in Mozambique along the Zambezi River, principally in Tete Province.

Official status

While Portuguese is the only official language of Mozambique, Nyungwe is one of the recognized national languages.

Phonology

The phonological inventory is:

Vowels

Consonants

History

Many vocabulary words collected by David Livingstone in Tete in the 1850s, and Courtois in the 1890s are similar to the words in common use by Nyungwe-speaking people today.
LivingstoneCourtoisMartinsTranslation
MolungoMulunguMulunguGod
MozungoMuzunguMuzunguWhite man

Examples