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Makonde, or Kimakonde, is the language spoken by the Makonde, an ethnic group in southeast Tanzania and northern Mozambique.[3] Makonde is a central Bantu language closely related to Yao. The Matambwe (Matembwe) and Mabiha (Maviha) dialects are divergent, and may not be Makonde.[4][full citation needed]
 | It has been suggested that this article should be split 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] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
| Dialects |
|
| Latin | |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:kde – Makondemvw – Machinganjd – Ndonde Hambawtb – Matambwe |
| Glottolog | mako1251 Makondemach1265 Machingamata1313 Matambwe |
P.23,24,25[2] | |
A mosquito-borne viral fever first identified on the Makonde Plateau is named 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.[6]
The following are the consonants and vowels of the Makonde language:[7]
Vowels
There also tends to be a rising final vowel sound /vv́/ within vowel combinations.
Consonants
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