Cariban languages


The Cariban languages are a family of languages Indigenous to north-eastern South America. They are widespread across northernmost South America, from the mouth of the Amazon River to the Colombian Andes, and they are also spoken in small pockets of central Brazil. The languages of the Cariban family are relatively closely related. There are about three dozen, but most are spoken only by a few hundred people. Macushi is the only language among them with numerous speakers, estimated at 30,000. The Cariban family is well known among linguists partly because one language in the family—Hixkaryana—has a default word order of object–verb–subject. Prior to their discovery of this, linguists presumed that this order did not exist in any spoken natural language.

Genetic relations

The Cariban languages share irregular morphology with the and Tupian families. Ribeiro connects them all in a Je–Tupi–Carib family. Meira, Gildea, & Hoff note that likely morphemes in proto-Tupian and proto-Cariban are good candidates for being cognates, but that work so far is insufficient to make definitive statements.

Language contact

Jolkesky notes that there are lexical similarities with the Guato, Kawapana, Nambikwara, Taruma, Warao, Arawak, Bororo, Jeoromitxi, Karaja, Rikbaktsa, and Tupi language families due to contact.
Extensive lexical similarities between Cariban and various Macro-Jê languages suggest that Cariban languages had originated in the Lower Amazon region. There they were in contact with early forms of Macro-Jê languages, which were likely spoken in an area between the Parecis Plateau and upper Araguaia River.

Family division

The Cariban languages are closely related. In many cases where one of the languages is more distinct, this is due to influence from neighboring languages rather than an indication that it is not closely related. According to Kaufman, "Except for Opon, Yukpa, Pimenteira and Palmela, the Cariban languages are not very diverse phonologically and lexically."

Previous classifications

Good data has been collected around ca. 2000 on most Cariban languages; classifications prior to that time are unreliable.
Several such classifications have been published; the one shown here, by Derbyshire divides Cariban into seven branches. A traditional geographic classification into northern and southern branches is cross referenced with or after each language.
The extinct Patagón de Perico language of northern Peru also appears to have been a Cariban language, perhaps close to Carijona. Yao is so poorly attested that Gildea believes it may never be classified.

Loukotka (1968)

Below is a full list of Cariban language varieties listed by Loukotka, including names of unattested varieties.
Western languages:
  • Caraib / Calinago / Karib – language spoken by the insular and continental Caraibes, with many dialects:
  • *Dialect of the insular Caraibes, once spoken on the Lesser Antilles Islands, now by only a few old individuals in a reserve on the island of Dominica.
  • *Dialect of Pomeroon / Caribisi / Acarabisi – spoken on the Macarani River and Pomeroon River, Guyana.
  • *Tabare / Cariña – dialect spoken by the inhabitants of the villages of El Guasey, Cachipo, Cachama, and San Joaquín de Parire in the state of Anzoátegui and in the village of Tapaquire in the state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • *Caribe – extinct dialect once spoken by the descendants of Caraibes and by the mixed population on the plains of Barcelona, states of Monagas and Anzoátegui, Venezuela.
  • *Carif / Moreno – dialect combined with Arawakan, spoken by the Negro Indian mixed population of British Honduras, in Guatemala on the Gulf of Honduras, and on Roatan Island in Honduras, Central America.
  • *Cariniaco – extinct dialect once spoken at the mouth of the Caura River, state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • *Mayé – extinct dialect once spoken on the Casipore River, Amapá territory, Brazil.
  • *Paracoto – extinct dialect once spoken at the mouth of the Araguari River, Amapá and at the mouth of the Mana River, French Guiana.
  • *Carane – once spoken at the old mission of São Paulo d'Oiapoque, Amapá territory.
  • *Norac / Norag – once spoken on the Approuague River, French Guiana, later on the Anotarí River; now extinct.
  • *Itutan – once spoken on the lower course of the Casipore River and in the Serra Lombard, Amapá.
  • *Curucuane – once spoken on the lower course of the Casipore River, south of the Itutan tribe.
  • *Aricarí – once spoken near the Curucuane tribe on the lower course of the Calçoene River.
  • *Sapai – once spoken on the Mana River, French Guiana.
  • *Piriou – once spoken in French Guiana on the middle course of the Oyapoque River.
  • *Mersiou – once spoken on the Aratye River, Inini River, and Aua River, French Guiana, now probably extinct.
  • *Acoqua – once spoken at the sources of the Approuague River, and on the Camopi River, French Guiana.
  • *Wai – spoken on the Tamouri River, French Guiana; now perhaps extinct.
  • *Taira – spoken in the same colony as the Wai tribe on the Iracoubo River.
  • *Acuria – originally spoken on the Nickerie River and Coppename River, Suriname; now on the Berbice River, Guyana.
  • *Chacoi – spoken by a few mixed individuals between the Berbice River and Essequibo River, Guyana.
  • *Parabaiana – once spoken on the middle course of the Marouini River, French Guiana.
  • *Caicuchiana – once spoken in French Guiana, south of the Parabaiana tribe.
;Eastern languages
;Trio group
;Chiquena group
;Waiwai group
;Yauapery group
;Pauishana group
;Macusi group
;Pemón group
;Maquiritaré group
  • Decuána / Deukwana / Maquiritaré – spoken on the Caura River, Ventuari River, Merevari River, and Auari River, state of Bolívar and Amazonas territory, Venezuela, and between the Cotingo River and Majari River, territory of Rio Branco, Brazil.
  • Yecuaná / Mayongcong – spoken on the Caura River southwest of the Arecuna tribe, state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • Ihuruána – spoken at the sources of the Ventuari River, territory of Amazonas, Venezuela.
  • Cunuaná / Kunuhana – spoken in the same territory at the sources of the Cunucunuma River.
  • Morononi – extinct language once spoken in the same territory on the Ventuari River.
  • Puipuitene – extinct language once spoken on the same river in the same territory by the neighbors of the Decuaná tribe.
  • Acariana – once spoken by the neighbors of the Morononi tribe on the Orinoco River.
  • Ocomesiane – once spoken in the same region on the Padamo River.
  • Areviriana – once spoken by the eastern neighbors of the Ihuruána tribe.
  • Jure – once spoken on the left bank of the middle course of the Ventuari River.
  • Pishauco / Pshavaco – once spoken on the Serra Tepequem, Rio Branco territory.
  • Mejepure – once spoken on the left ban1e of the lower course of the Ventuari River.
  • Aberiana – once spoken by the neighbors of the Acariana tribe on the upper course of the Orinoco River.
;Mapoyo group
  • Mapoyo / Nepoyo – spoken by a small tribe between the Parguaza River and Suapure River, state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • Carinuaca – extinct language once spoken in the area between the Ihuruána and Yauarána tribes, territory of Amazonas, Venezuela.
  • Curasicana / Kurushikiána / Orechicano – once spoken at the sources of the Biehita River, now by only a few individuals.
  • Wökiare / Uaiquire – unknown language spoken in the same region on the Paru River.
  • Yauarána / Yabarána – language spoken in the same territory on the Manapiare River.
  • Quaqua – once spoken by the northern neighbors of the Mapoyo tribe.
  • Guaquiri – once spoken by the northern neighbors of the Curasicana tribe.
  • Pareca – spoken in the region west of the Cuchivero River, now probably extinct.
  • Taparito – extinct language once spoken on the middle course of the Caura River.
  • Cadupinapo – once spoken by the southern neighbors of the Achirigoto tribe.
  • Tabajari – now probably extinct, once spoken on the left bank of the Erebato River, state of Bolívar.
;Panare group
;Tamanaco group
  • Tamanaco – extinct language once spoken along the Orinoco River from the mouth of the Caroni River to the mouth of the Cuchivero River, state of Bolívar, Venezuela.
  • Chayma / Guarapiche / Sayma – extinct language once spoken on the Guarapiche River, state of Anzoátegui, Venezuela.
  • Cumanagota – extinct language once spoken on the Cabo Codera and near Cumaná, state of Sucre, Venezuela.
  • Tivericoto – once spoken on the coast of the state of Monagas, Venezuela
  • Palenque – once spoken between the Unare River and Tamanaco River, Guárico state.
  • Caraca – once spoken around the modern capital of Caracas, Venezuela.
  • Ciparigoto – extinct language once spoken on the Yaracuy River and Aroa River, state of Yaracuy.
  • Teque – once spoken in the Guaire valley, state of Miranda.
  • Tacarigua – once spoken around Lake Valencia, Miranda.
  • Toromaina – once spoken on the San Pedro River, federal district of Venezuela.
  • Arbaco – once spoken around the modern city of Victoria, state of Aragua.
  • Meregoto – once spoken on the western shore of Lake Valencia in the state of Aragua.
  • Quiriquire – extinct language once spoken on the Tuy River and Misoa River, state of Miranda.
  • Chapacuare – once spoken in the Pascua valley, state of Guárico.
  • Tarma – once spoken near the modern city of Maracay, state of Aragua.
  • Mariche – once spoken in the Baruta valley, state of Miranda.
  • Guayqueri – extinct language once spoken on the Paoviejo River, state of Cojedes.
  • Tomuza – once spoken between the Chico River and Piritú River, states of Miranda and Anzoátegui.
  • Haerena / Guarena – once spoken between the Guarenas River and Guatire River, state of Anzoátegui.
  • Piritú – once spoken around the modern city of Puerto Píritu, state of Anzoátegui.
  • Tagare – once spoken on the coast of the Gulf of Cariaco, state of Sucre.
  • Pariagoto / Guayuno – extinct language once spoken on the Paria Peninsula in the state of Sucre.
  • Chamaygua – once spoken in the state of Sucre by the neighbors of the Cumanagota tribe.
;Yao group
  • Yao / Anacaioury – language once spoken by two tribes: one on the western part of the island of Trinidad; the other in French Guiana on the Ivaricopo River and Cau River.
;Shebayi group
  • Shebayi / Supaye – extinct language once spoken in the Guianas; exact location is unknown.
;Motilon group
  • Yupe / Motilon – spoken by many tribes in the Sierra de Perijá, state of Zulia, Venezuela, and in the department of Magdalena, Colombia. Dialects:
  • *Chague / Apon – spoken on the Apon River, Zulia.
  • *Iroca – spoken on the Casacará River, Magdalena.
  • *Macoa – spoken on the Yasa River and Negro River, Zulia.
  • *Manastara – spoken on the Becerril River, Zulia.
  • *Maraca – spoken by a tribe at the source of the Machigue River and on the Maraca River, Magdalena.
  • *Parirí – spoken to the south of the Apon River.
  • *Shapáru / Chaparro – spoken by the western neighbors of the Parirí tribe, Zulia.
  • *Uasamo – spoken in the same area by the northern neighbors of the Shapáru tribe.
  • *Susa – spoken in the central part of the Sierra de Perijá, Magdalena.
  • *Manaure – spoken on the left bank of the lower course of the La Paz River, Magdalena.
  • *Tucushmo – spoken by the northern neighbors of the Iroca tribe, Magdalena.
  • *Socorpa – spoken in the same area by the northern neighbors of the Maracá tribe.
  • *Curumaní – spoken south of the Tucui River, Magdalena.
  • *Socomba – spoken between the sources of the Maracá River and Tucui River, formerly also on the Buenavista River, Magdalena.
  • *Tucuco – spoken at the sources of the Tucuco River, Zulia.
  • *Shiquimu – spoken by the southwestern neighbors of the Shaparu tribe, Zulia.
  • *Irapa – spoken by the eastern neighbors of the Shiguimu tribe.
  • *Pshicacuo – spoken by the western neighbors of the Tucuco tribe.
  • *Mishorca – spoken at the sources of the Tucuco River by the neighbors of the Pariri tribe.
  • *Yapreria / Sabril – spoken at the sources of the Palmar River, Zulia.
  • *Coyaima / Tupe – extinct language once spoken on the César River, Magdalena.
  • *Burede – once spoken at the sources of the Socuy River, Zulia.
  • *Pemeno – once spoken at the mouth of the Escalante River, Zulia.
  • *Bubure / Bobure – once spoken in the state of Zulia around the modern cities of Bobures and Gibraltar.
  • *Quenagua – extinct language once spoken in Espiritu Santo Valley in the state of Zulia.
  • *Umaquena – once spoken on the Umaquena River, Zulia.
  • *Sunesua – once spoken by the southern neighbors of the Quenaga tribe in the Espiritu Santo Valley, Zulia.
  • *Lobatera – once spoken around the modern city of Lobatera, state of Táchira.
  • *Táchira – once spoken on the Táchira River, state of Táchira.
  • *Tapano – once spoken in the state of Mérida between Lake Onia and Lake Motilon.
  • *Miyuse – once spoken in the state of Mérida on the Mucujepe River and Tucani River.
;Pijao group
;Opone group
  • Opone – extinct language once spoken on the Opone River, department of Santander, Colombia.
  • Carare – spoken by a few individuals on the Carare River in the department of Santander.
  • Yariguí – once spoken on the Sogamoso River and in Barranca Bermeja in the same department.
  • Hacaritama – once spoken around present-day Hacaritama city in the department of Santander.
  • Xiriguana – extinct language of a tribe once living in the department of Santander in the Cordillera de Lebaja.
  • Carate – once spoken around the modern city of Ocaña, department of Norte de Santander.
  • Corbago – once spoken in the department of Magdalena in the Sierra de Mene.
  • Guane – once spoken in the department of Santander at the sources of the Tarare River.
  • Chinato – extinct language once spoken on the upper course of the Zulia River, department of Norte de Santander, around the modern city of Cúcuta.
  • Zorca – once spoken in the same department in the San Cristóbal Valley
  • Cariquena – once spoken on the Cariquena River in the state of Táchira, Venezuela.
  • Capacho – once spoken around the village of Capacho in the state of Táchira, Venezuela.
;Carijona group
;Patagon group
  • Patagon – extinct language once spoken in the villages of Paca, Olipanche, and Bagua and around the modern city of Jaén, department of Cajamarca, Peru.
;Arara group
;Palmela group
;Pimenteira group
;Xingú group

Meira (2006)

Preliminary internal classification of the Cariban languages according to Sérgio Meira :

Gildea (2012)

As of Gildea, there had not yet been time to fully reclassify the Cariban languages based on the new data. The list here is therefore tentative, though an improvement over the one above; the most secure branches are listed first, and only two of the extinct languages are addressed.

Meira et al. (2015)

Meira, Birchall & Chousou-Polydouri give the following phylogenetic tree of Cariban, based on a computational phylogenetic analysis of 100-item Swadesh lists.
Meira, Birchall & Chousou-Polydouri conclude that the Proto-Cariban homeland was located north of the Amazon River, and that there is no evidence for a northward migration from the south, as previously proposed by Rodrigues.Rodrigues, Aryon. 1985. Evidence for Tupi-Carib relationships. In South American Indian Languages: Retrospect and Prospect, ed. HE Manelis Klein, LR Stark, pp. 371–404. Austin: University of Texas Press. Rather there were two southern migrations.

Jolkesky (2016)

Internal classification by Jolkesky :

Vocabulary

lists the following basic vocabulary items for the Cariban languages.
LanguageBranchheadeyetoothmanonetwothree
YarumaXingúu-viteye-nguruu-én
BakairíXingúx-ináraxux-ánux-yériagurótotokoleleasageahágetokólo
NahukwáXingúu-víteröu-vínuruu-vireutotoálechiatakeetila
KuikutlXingúu-ritölu-ínuruu-ílutóto
KalapaloXingúu-íköreu-ínoru
YamarikunáXingúu-ínoruu-iglutóto
AráraAráramuchínaoñurumayériukonenáneatagataganané
PariríAráramũchíunguruheéngol'ügóronanéatágatáganane
ApingiArárai-montxiangrungoyeriukonetoinéasakoroaséruao
PalmelaPalmelana-ápoónoyeréókaaropéahaohehua
PimenteiraPimenteirababuriönthuburüyarichä
PijaoPijaoluːntínkioréma
OponeOponeyu-úhyéuxórokírseneárokosáura
CarareOponesü-okoyeo
GuaqueCarijonaxutuyeyerigire
CarijonaCarijonautuhéyénuruyérikiretéuisekeneréseaueré
UmáuaCarijonabútuheyenuːruyeːligelétéuisakéneledyelauele
PatagonPatagon
YupeMotilono-hárzaánokiíkokürpatukumarkókosárkokoserárko
ChaqueMotilono-harzaanókiíkokürpakumarkokasarkokosera
MacoaMotilonyu-wasáanukiyiːkomashákumárkokósakkoséra
MaracaMotilonyu-wasayo-nu
PariríMotilonyu-wásayá-nukiʔikokipantukumárkukósaʔ
ShapáruMotilonyu-wásayá-nuyikumárkokósa
IrocaMotilontʔkúmaː
Itoto MaimyTamanacoPùpooEnuryJeryItotoTewinAisakeAisoroaw
TivericotoTamanacoo-putpao-neanaovinokoorwa
PalenqueTamanaco
YaoYaoboppevokrehioselitewintageterewaw
ShebayiShebayiwa-kewüriwa-dakölinu-yeri
DecuánaMaquiritaréu-huhéénuyédetokomotoːnihakeaduáne
YecuanáMaquiritaréhóufu-yenuruyeːriareifhetauíniakehedáue
CunuanáMaquiritaréhú-ha
IhuruánaMaquiritaréhú-heyeːde
MapoyoMapoyouastarixene-yonuruxe-ñeiritokomotóskenasakanetominiakeré
YauaránaMapoyoexne-oaixtéliexne-nuruexne-yélitokúnuenix-péteasákepetomeyákele
PanárePanáreoʔóyoʔón
TaurepánTaurepánupaiyénuu-yékuraiteukinánsákeʔenéseulúana
ArecunaTaurepánpu-paiyenúu-yéuaratitäukinángsakeineisélehaúvane
CamaracotoTaurepánpupai-toenu-towaratotaʔakintsaganeetserau
IngaricoTaurepánu-paíu-yenúu-yéorauóteukíngatsalongkongetseuluaong-kóng
UaicaTaurepánienuru
AcawaiTaurepányu-popoyenuruyuwínowtidzyineasakróasorwo
MacusiMacusipo-paitenuu-yekáuaratáetiwingsagarésiruane
KeserumaMacusiyenupemóngótivín
PurucotoMacusihau-pupehau-yenúhau-yéewalaitóaleiniiniperkuruinialé
WayumaraMacusii-hubéyenurúi-yelétotótuevinéasáleeseuluó
ParaviyanaMacusii-pupáe-rénialöe-lelömeimunteuénaköunienolaulé
ZaparáMacusiune-kapúu-yonútopúpesóitxemenétulekalenóoláno
YauaperyYauaperyki-yókembáki-ärimarabáasikiusono
UaimiriYauaperyki-fókopanamareːki-erikumutareːunionoːtukunumáuruanoː
OrixanáYauaperyu-paiu-iniu-yetéitiamontuimosananeburésarsiua
PauishanaPauishanapuːpoyoːnoyeyungweiníkenaːnaataːreãná-mokaːre
WaiwaiWaiwaia-tipirie-oruko-yóritatachewñéasakíchorohoko
ParucotoWaiwaio-yúlako-yalitukinkaréasakenéserkuané
UaiboiWaiwaiku-nurúkamuhí
HishcarianaWaiwaikui-kuturuku-yotamushitonishásakósorowão
BonariWaiwaiiri-opónuru-báyoréukeréabanépademakáuruá
ChiquenaChiquenaya-nũruyolisotowinaliasagasorawau
SalumaChiquenayiwu-tupuliye-nu
PauxiChiquenatoto
UayeuéChiquenavu-turúu-yaritotó
CachuenaChiquenayo-soruyo-núruyorétotótuinaríasákiosoruaul
MutuanChiquenako-nofatiyurú
TrioTrioí-pútupoye-nurui-yerikirítinkiökönövoyerau
UrucuyenaTrioputpíi-eúyi-eːdaokiríwanánashakenéheruáu
WamaTriowi-pupoye-nuruye-ri
TliometesenTriooba-tuwirien-nuruoliːenkilitonikinisokororoebemüni
OcomayanaTriou-nuye
PianocotoTrioye-neiyu-taliokirí
RangúTrio
WaianaEasterne-putiüye-nuruyéreokiriuaptöhakenéeheruaé
UpuruiEasterne-putpiʔiye-nuruyéreokiri
RucuyeneEasternité-purue-nuruyeréokiritavenésakenéhéléuʔau
ApalaiEasternu-pupuanuderierituaseniasakoroeseuʔau
AracajúEasternseresaapükaua
CaraibWesternbúpué-huluyeriuakuriábamabíamaeleva
GalibiWesternu-pupue-nuruyeréokiriawínokuotereva
CaribisiWesternye-pupoye-nuruwokiriówéokoorwá
CaribeWesternada-puxodherebuköreóbinókoórwa
CariniacoWesterné-nuruyeriokiriowiuaririorowa
CarifWesternnábulutágubáriugíriábanabiámaíruwa

LanguageBranchwaterfiresunmoonmaizejaguararrow
YarumaXingúpárukampóntsizinunó
BakairíXingúpárupátochíshinúnaanádzyiakápüráu
NahukwáXingútunaitóritinuneanáikerehüré
KuikutlXingútunañorotékelitinúnetonuríñe
KalapaloXingúitoːturúgitiñe
YamarikunáXingúlitinúne
AráraAráraparúkampottitinúnakonatokorópuiram
PariríAráraparúkampótititunóhonáthogrópuyrém
ApingiAráraparukampotchichinunoanatokoripirem
PalmelaPalmelatunávavayéyuñúñaéñaokóropuera
PimenteiraPimenteiratunavafundititinuluthauatoprümachöpürarü
PijaoPijaotánanuhúgihuílnúnaxaguáde
OponeOponetunáfotóbuenokanómuesixákeyahá
CarareOponekʔarabwenuñemenyepak'anye
GuaqueCarijonatunamaxotovehinunakaikuchi
CarijonaCarijonatunaapotobeinunuakaikusixarakue
UmáuaCarijonatuːnamahótowéinuːneanaːdzyikaikudzyihuːya
PatagonPatagontunáanás
YupeMotilonkunaguestagüichókunaisóʔosamás
ChaqueMotilonkunahuetogichiokunomeisó
MacoaMotilonkúnahuétohuicholkuníkmeíshopuréyi
MaracaMotilonkuːnawhishtahuichokunueːshopuraye
PariríMotilonkánawuetawíchukúnu
ShapáruMotilonkúnawuéta
IrocaMotilonkuːnaesho
TamanacoTamanacodunáuaptoveyununaxexeakérepreu
ChaymaTamanacotunaapotovieyunoninamapokocheikupure
CumanagotaTamanacotunaveyunonumañazekozeikopreu
TivericotoTamanacotunaapotoniano
PalenqueTamanacotunaekere
YaoYaotunáuapotoveyononaaruamapuru
ShebayiShebayiwekulüekirtrireheweri
DecuánaMaquiritarétonawátocéinonanakchimáedohaxkúdi
YecuanáMaquiritarétunáwatozyinuːnamaroshimaːra
CunuanáMaquiritaréuáʔtoshinúnashimáda
IhuruánaMaquiritarétunáwátozyiːnuːne
MapoyoMapoyotunakátunnunaoxonaiékireúbuʔare
YauaránaMapoyotúnawátoyãtonunúnenáchihékelepákuli
PanárePanáreechár-kungüeguakenakxadpoʔót
TaurepánTaurepántunáapógwéikapéianainkaikusépeléu
ArecunaTaurepántunaapoväikapeáaʔanaigkaikusipureu
CamaracotoTaurepánapoiʔbekapuianaiʔkakutsepurau
IngaricoTaurepántunáápowéikapéianaíkaikushípelé
UaicaTaurepántunaapokueynuna
AcawaiTaurepántunowatovieyununokaikushipulewa
MacusiMacusitunauatóweikapoianainkaikushíeriu
KeserumaMacusi
PurucotoMacusitunaapotówéinánõkaikudzépoyá
WayumaraMacusitúnawatóweyúnunámazyinákaikushiheló
ParaviyanaMacusidónavuatútamananonéainiaineköléarámöu
ZaparáMacusitunáwatókapéianáeekeléurapóno
YauaperyYauaperytunáuatóeyúdéʔelikokoshíibikuari
UaimiriYauaperytunãuatoːeioːnunuebauhikúkúboimaprú
OrixanáYauaperytunáuatóueihuteparéeuáekeréupreu
PauishanaPauishanatunáuatóuainúnauátakauraːpa
WaiwaiWaiwaitunáwehtókamonunéyaypíwaywí
ParucotoWaiwaitunawituuchikapubeakeré
UaiboiWaiwaitunazyitónúna
HishcarianaWaiwaitonáwuhritókamaːnanoːnáwaiwí
BonariWaiwaitunáuatúweyukeripureːná
ChiquenaChiquenatunawihalasesiimhoklaho
SalumaChiquenatuna
PauxiChiquenatunaisirenuneuaupréu
UayeuéChiquenatunápiétokamonunámaipurikurumuri
CachuenaChiquenatunámirótóisósoimnóhonesekaikesúpraué
MutuanChiquenatunaritósoːrozyairúpurí
TrioTriotúnamataveyununöanaimaipuripléu
UrucuyenaTriotunámatouwinunamaipurípuréu
WamaTriotunamatoweipaora
TliometesenTriotonomatoweinunupotirerumashibulipureri
OcomayanaTriotunamatouwinuna
PianocotoTriotunamattowehnunaeñayemaipuripurau
RangúTriotumamatonuna
WaianaEasterntunauapotshishinunuöenaiyauéripleu
UpuruiEasterntunauapotshishinunuenaiyaueripiréu
RucuyeneEasterntunauapotchichinunuenaimaipuripiréu
ApalaiEasterntunaapotóchichinunóashinasemachipuripiróu
AracajúEasterntunauaptochichiyasüeuárapára
CaraibWesterntóneuátuhueyunúnúaoashikahikushibuleúa
GalibiWesterntunauatoveyununoauoasikaikusiplia
CaribisiWesterntunawatúwiyeyununopurewa
CaribeWesterntúnabedunúnoperöwa
CariniacoWesterntúnawatowedonunopuriui
CarifWesterndúnawátuuéyuhátauásgáigusiláru

Proto-language

Proto-Cariban phonology according to Gildea :
Proto-Cariban reconstructions by Gildea :
glossProto-Carib
'sun'*titi
'moon'*nunô
'water '*tuna
'sunlight'*awatinɨ
'star'*tirikô
*te
'sand'*saka
'sand'*samutu
'body'*jamun
'flesh, meat, body'*punu
'meat food'*ôtɨ
'water'*paru
'rain'*konopo
'person'*karipona
'man'*wôkɨrɨ
'husband'*nɨjo, *mɨjo
'eye'*ônu-ru
'ear'*para-rɨ
'nose'*ôwna-rɨ
'mouth'*mɨta-rɨ
'lip'*ôtipi-rɨ
'saliva'*ôtaku
'tooth'*ô-rɨ
'tongue'*nuru
'one'*tôwinô
'two'*atjôkô
'head'*pu-tupô
'forehead'*pe-rɨ
'leg'*pôre
'foot'*pupu-ru
'heel'*pu-tôpu
'sole of foot'*pɨta
'knee'*ôtjôkumu-ru
'neck'*pɨmɨ-rɨ
'breast'*manatɨ-rɨ
'chest'*puropi-rɨ
'buttocks'*pupɨtɨkɨ
'cheek'*peta
'forest'*jutu
'inside'*tawô
'to bite'*ôteka
'to give; to put'*utu
'hand'*ômija-rɨ, *amo-rɨ
'to do; to make; to put'*rɨ, *ɨrɨ
'to gift '*ekarama
'to put away'*arama
'belly'*wetVpu
'belly'*wenɨ
'heart ; chest'*ôwanô
'liver'*ôre
'to close '*apuru
'to descend'*wɨpɨtô
'to see'*ône
'to hear'*ôta
'to know '*putu
'to know '*warô
'to sleep'*wônɨkɨ
'to sleep'*wetu
'to shoot; to kill'*wô, *wô
'to drink'*woku-ru
'to drink'*ônɨrɨ
'to eat '*ôt-ôku
'to eat fruit'*ônapɨ
'to eat meat'*ônô
'to eat flour/bread'*ôku
'to eat nuts'*aku
'to grate '*kɨ
'to bathe '*pɨ
'to weave'*kapɨ
'to cook; to boil'*jô
'to take; to pull out/away'*ôwɨ
'to throw out'*papo
'to gather fruit'*pôtɨ
'fire'*wepeto
'fire'*mapoto
'ash'*wôreiCV
'to light fire'*urô
'to burn '*jatu
'to burn '*uka
'to fell tree/farm'*ma
'to go'*tô
'to come'*ôtepɨ
'to come'*ômôkɨ
'to say'*ka
'to be; to say'*a
'to dwell; to be'*eti
'to enter'*ômô
*e-
*ôte-
'beak'*potɨ-rɨ
'earth'*nono
'cloud'*kapurutu
'rope'*ôwa
'hot'*atu
'cold'*atono
'cold'*t-ɨnotɨ-me
'good'*kure
'hard'*akɨpɨ
'snake'*ôkôju
'path'*ôtema
'mountain'*ɨpɨ
'older brother'*pipi
'grandchild'*pa-rɨ
'faeces'*wetɨ, *watô
'to defecate'*weka
'child'*mure
'shoulder'*mota-rɨ
'thigh'*petɨ
'hair'*tipotɨ
'to cut'*akôtô
'to take; to carry'*arô
'to seize'*apôti
*ôwɨ-rô
*ômô-rô
*ôm-jamo
*kɨnmô-rô
*kɨwɨ-rô
'.'*kɨC-jamo
*apina
'this '*ônɨ
'this '*ôrô
'this '*môtjô
'this '*môtj-jamo
'that '*mônɨ
'that '*môrô
'that '*môkɨ-rô
'that '*môk-jamo
'who?'*onôkɨ
'all'*ômerô
'grease; fat'*katɨ
'to grow'*atɨta, *anɨta
'thick'*tɨpɨtɨ-ma
*imô
'small'*pitikô
'woman'*wôriti
'woman'*pɨtɨ
'fish'*kana
'dog'*akôrô
'dog'*kaikuti
'louse'*ajamô
'tree'*wewe, *jeje
'branch'*ekata
'arm'*apô-rɨ
'seed'*ôpɨ
'seed'*a-tɨpô
'seed; contents'*a-rɨ
'seed'*ôna-tɨpô
'leaf'*jare
'root'*mitɨ
'bark, skin'*pitupô
'blood'*munu-ru
'red'*t-api-re
'white'*t-a-mutu-ne
'black'*t-puru-me/ke
'night'*koko
'nightfall '*koko-mamɨ
'bone'*j-ôtîpî-rî
'egg'*pumo
'horn'*retɨ-rɨ
'tail; penis'*arokɨ
'scrotum; testicle'*ômu
'feather'*apôri-rɨ
'name'*ôtetɨ
'ant'*iraka
'ant'*kɨjawôko
'ant'*juku
'ant'*mɨkakô
'ant'*mapu
'bow'*wɨrapa-rɨ
'deer'*kapawu
'deer'*karijakô
'grandfather'*tamo
'heavy'*amôti-ma/-ne
'to sit'*erew-ta/-ma
'lightning'*manan manan
'howler monkey'*arimi
'monkey'*itjo
'rib'*awo-tɨ
'to roast'*puru, *purô
'to run'*ekatu
'shadow'*amore-rɨ
'shadow'*ôkatu
'short'*tɨntɨ-tʲô
'to talk; to converse'*ôt-uru
'spider'*mojoti
'spider'*tjawaraka
'to tie'*ômô
'today; now'*amenarô
'tomorrow'*koropo
'vagina'*ôrɨ
'to wait'*mômôku
'high'*kawô
'sun'*weju
*u-
*i-
'stone'*tôpu
'flesh, meat, body'*punu
'person'*wɨtoto
'jaguar'*kajkuti
'to bite'*eseka
'to find'*eporɨ
'to give; to put'*utu
'to close '*apuru
'to descend'*ôpinô
'to pierce'*atpo
'to shoot; to kill'*wô, *wô
'to eat meat'*ônô
'to grate '*kɨ
'to go'*tô
'to come'*ôtepɨ
'to enter'*ômô