The lhukonzo (Konzo) language, variously rendered ''Rukonjo'', ''Olukonzo'', ''Olukonzo'' and ''konzo'', is a

Bantu language The Bantu languages (English: , Proto-Bantu: *bantʊ̀) are a large family of languages spoken by the Bantu people of Central, Southern, Eastern africa and Southeast Africa. They form the largest branch of the Southern Bantoid languages. The t ...

spoken by the Konzo people of Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has a 77% lexical similarity with

Nande Nande is a village in Mulshi taluka of Pune District in the state of Maharashtra, India.Talukas surrounding the village are Karjat taluka, Talegaon Dabhade Taluka, Mawal taluka and by Khalapur taluka. Districts closest to the village are Raigad ...

. There are many dialects, including Sanza (Ekisanza).

Writing System

Phonetics

Consonants

In addition to the phonemes noted above, Konjo also has a prenasalized, voiceless /Nt/; and a voiceless alveolar sibilant affricate /Ts/.

Vowels

Konzo is characterized for having

advanced tongue root In phonetics, advanced tongue root (ATR) and retracted tongue root (RTR) are contrasting states of the root of the tongue during the pronunciation of vowels in some languages, especially in Western and Eastern Africa, but also in Kazakh and ...

Konjo's IPA Vowel Chart

Basic vocabulary

List of basic phrases and words. *Good morning – ''Wabukire'' *Good afternoon – ''Wasibire'' *Good night - ''Ukeyesaye buholho'' *Thank you (very much) – ''Wasingya (kutsibu)'' *How are you? – ''Ghune wuthi?'' *How are you? – Muneyo? *Fine – Ngane ndeke *Sir/Man – ''Mulhume'' *Madam/Woman – ''Mukalhi'' *Boy – ''Omuthabana'' *Girl – Omumbesa *Dear – ''Mwanithu'' *Friend – Omukaghu *King – ''Mukama/Mwami omusinga'' *2-10 – ''ibiri, isatu, ini, ithanu, mukagha, musanju, munani, mwenda, ikumi'' *Car – ''Engumbaghalhi'' *Water – ''Amaghetse'' *Gift – ''Kihembo'' *House - ''Enumba'' *Goat - ''Embene'' *Dog - ''Embwa''

References

Languages of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Languages of Uganda Great Lakes Bantu languages {{Bantu-lang-stub