Volta–Niger languages facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Volta–Niger |
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West Benue–Congo or East Kwa | |
Geographic distribution: |
West Africa, from Eastern Ghana to central Nigeria |
Linguistic classification: | Niger–Congo
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Subdivisions: |
Akpes
Ayere–Ahan
Gbe
yeai (= Defoid+)
noi
? Ukaan
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![]() Map cut-out of Volta-Niger family of languages area, with most of the languages bounded by the Volta river, in modern-day Ghana, and the Niger river, found in modern-day Nigeria
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The Volta–Niger language family is a large group of languages. About 70 million people speak these languages. They are part of the even bigger Niger–Congo language family.
You can find Volta-Niger languages mostly in West Africa. This includes southern Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and southeast Ghana. Some important languages in this family are Yoruba, Igbo, Bini, and Gbe.
For a long time, experts debated how to group these languages. Some put them with the Kwa family. Others placed them with the Benue–Congo family. Since the 1970s, many experts have grouped them together.
Contents
Language Branches
The Volta–Niger family has several smaller groups, called branches. Here are some of the main branches and their most important languages. The number in parentheses shows how many languages are in each branch.
- Akpes (1 language)
- Ayere–Ahan (2 languages)
- Gbe (21 languages): This branch includes Fon (2 million speakers) and Ewe (3 million speakers).
- YEAI group:
- NOI group:
- Nupoid (12 languages): Includes Ebira (1 million speakers) and Nupe (1 million speakers).
- Oko (1 language)
- Idomoid (9 languages): This branch has Idoma (600,000 speakers).
- ? Ukaan (1 language): It's not clear if Ukaan truly belongs to the Volta-Niger family. Some experts think it might be closer to the Benue–Congo family.
Where Languages Are Spoken
Here is a list of the main Volta–Niger branches. It also shows where they are mostly spoken in Nigeria.
Branch | Main Locations |
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Akpes | Akoko North Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State |
Ayere–Ahan | Akoko North LGA, Ondo State |
Gbe | Badagry LGA, Lagos State and nearby areas |
Yoruboid | Southwestern Nigeria |
Edoid | Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Delta States |
Akoko | Akoko North LGA, Ondo State |
Igboid | Anambra, Rivers, Delta States (not including Igbo itself) |
Nupoid | Niger, Kwara, Nasarawa States |
Oko | Okene LGA, Kogi State |
Idomoid | Benue, Cross River, Nasarawa States |
Ukaan | Akoko North LGA, Ondo State |
Words in Different Languages
Here are some common words from different Volta–Niger languages. You can see how they are similar or different.
Language | eye | ear | nose | tooth | tongue | mouth | blood | bone | tree | water | eat | name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yoruba | ojú | etí | imú | eyín | ahọ́n | ẹnu | ẹ̀jẹ | egungun | igi | omi | jẹ | orúkọ |
Proto-Edoid | *dhI-dhω | *ghU-chɔGɪ | *I-chuəNi; *-chuveNi | *dhI-kωN | *U-dhamhɪ | *A-nuə | *U-ɟɪ-, -ɟɪa | *U-thaNɪ | *A-mɪN | *dhɪ | *dhI-ni | |
Proto-Gbe | *-tó | *aɖú | *-ɖɛ́ | *-ɖũ; *-ɖũkpá | *-ʁʷũ | *-χʷú | *-tĩ́ | *-tsĩ | *ɖu | *yĩ́kɔ́ | ||
Akoko (Arigidi) | ódʒù | oto | (odʒ)uw̃ɔ̃̀ | éɲì̃ | ɛŕɛ̀ | õrũ | ɛ̀dʒɛ̀ | ɛ̀dʒɛ̀ | ɔ́hɔ̃̄ | edʒĩ | dʒō | |
Akpes (Ajowa) | *èyò | *àsùgù | *àhũ | *ìyũ | *ìndàlì | *onu | ìkɔ̃̀n | ɔhuni | imi | ìmũ̀nũ̀ | ||
Ayere | ɛ́jɛ́ | éndí | ówṹ | éyĩ́ | únú | anu | èʃwè | egbe | oŋwu | oyin | ʃe | éwú |
Ahan | ewú | éndí | owũ | eɲĩ | irɛ̃́ | arũ | èsè | igbegbe | oɲĩ | |||
Proto-Nupoid | *e-wie | *CV-tuNukpua | *V-bhʊə | *jiNkɔN | *a-giNtara | *V-giə | *CV-kiukuNu | *V-cigbɔNa | *nuNŋʷa | *gi | *CV-jɛ | |
Proto-Ebiroid | *e-ji | *ʊ-tɔkpa | *a-ʃɪ | *a-ɲɪ | *ɪra-rɛ | *aɲa | *ʧʊku | *ɔ-tʃɪ | *e-ɲi | *rɪ | *ɪrɛ-ʃa | |
Oko | áɲẽ́ | ɔ́tɔ̃́ | ɔ́mɔ́dɔ́rɛ̀ | írú | ɛ́làárɛ́ | ówó | ɛ́ŋɔ̂ | ófú | esáma | ébí | jé | íwúrù |
Proto-Idomoid | *eyi | *ʊrʊ/a- | *eŋgwu | *ìmàǹjī | *ìmànyì; *ma-yeni ? | *ri | *ɛɲɪ | |||||
Proto-Ukaan | *ìdʒì | *ʊrʊgV | *ɔ̀kɔ̃́rɔ̃̀ | *ʊ̀ɲʊ̀gV; jɔ̀r | *ɛ̀ɲʊ̃́ | *òŋʷṍ | *ùɲṹ | *òɣʷó | *ɔ̀hʊ̃́nṽ | *ùmɔ̃̀ | *jé | *ìnĩ́ |
Counting in Volta-Niger Languages
Here's how people count from one to ten in some of the Volta-Niger languages.
Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Akpes | Akpes | íɡbōn / ēkìnì | īdīan(ì) | īsās(ì) | īnīŋ(ì) | īʃōn(ì) | ītʃānās(ì) | ītʃēnētʃ(ì) | ānāānīŋ(ì) | ɔ̀kpɔ̄lɔ̀ʃ(ì) | īyōf(ì) |
Defoid, Akokoid | Ariɡidi (Iɡasi) | [kɛ̀ɛ́ɲɛ̃] | [kèji] | [kedà] | [kenɛ] | [kéntɔ̀] | [kefà] | [keɸi] | [kerò] | [kéndà] | [kéjè] |
Defoid, Akokoid | Òɡè | [ékán] | [ìyí] | [ídaː] | [ínɛ́] | [ítɔ̃̀] | [ìfà] | [ídʒúí] | [írò] | [ĩ́ŋa] | [íyè] |
Defoid, Ayere-Ahan | Ayere (Úwû) | ĩ̀kã̌ | ìd͡ʒì | ītā | ĩ̄jẽ̄ | ĩ̄tṹ | ìfà | īd͡ʒʷī | īrō | ĩ̄dã̂ | īɡʷá |
Defoid, Ayere-Ahan | Ayu | ɪdɪ | ahwa /afah | ataar | anaŋaʃ | atuɡen | atɛɛr | ataraŋaʃ (3 ?) | anababoɡ (4 ?) | atuluboɡ (5 ?) | iʃoɡ / ajalaboɡ |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Cabe (Ede Cabe) | ɔ̀kɛ̃ | mɛ̃́d͡ʒì | mɛ̃́ta | mɛ̃́hɛ̃ | mɛ́hú | mɛ̃́fà | méd͡ʒe | mɛ̃́d͡ʒɔ | mɛ̃́sɛ̃́ | mɛ̃́wá |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Ede Ica (Ica) | ɔkɔ̃ | eɟi | ɛta | ɛ̃ɛ̃ | ɛwu | ɛfa | ɛɟɛ | ɛɟɔ | ɛsɔ̃ | ɛya |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Idaca (Ede Idaca) | òbú | méd͡ʒi | mɛ́ta | mírĩ | mɛrú | mɛ́fà | méd͡ʒe | mɛ́d͡ʒɔ | mɛ́sã | maa |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Ifè (1) | ɛnɛ́ | méèdzì | mɛ́ɛta | mɛ́ɛrɛ̃ | mɛ́ɛrú | mɛ́ɛfà | méedze | mɛ́ɛdzɔ | mɛsã́ | maá |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Ifè (2) | ɛ̀nɛ / ɔ̀kɔ̃̀ | méèdzì | mɛ́ɛta | mɛ́ɛrɛ̃ | mɛ́ɛrú | mɛ́ɛfà | méedze | mɛ́ɛdzɔ | mɛsã́ | maá |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Ulukwumi | ɔ̀kɑ̃ | mɛ́zì | mɛ́tɑ | mɛ́rɛ̃ | mɛ́rú | mɛ́fɑ̀ | méze | mɛ́zɔ | mɛ̀hɑ̃́ | mɛ́ɡʷɑ́ |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Edekiri | Yoruba | oókan [oókɔ̃] | eéjì [eéɟì] | ẹẹ́ta [ɛɛ́ta] | ẹẹ́rin [ɛɛ́ɾĩ] | aárùn-ún [aáɾũ̀ṹ] | ẹẹ́fà [ɛɛ́fà] | eéje [eéɟe] | ẹẹ́jọ [ɛɛ́ɟɔ] | ẹẹ́sàn-án [ɛɛ́sɔ̃̀ɔ̃́] | ẹẹ́wàá [ɛɛ́wàá] |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Igala | Igala (1) | éɲɛ́ / ǒkâ | èdʒì | ɛ̀ta | ɛ̀lɛ̀ | ɛ̀lú | ɛ̀fà | èbʲe | ɛ̀dʒɔ | ɛ̀lá | ɛ̀ɡʷá |
Defoid, Yoruboid, Igala | Igala (2) | ínyé̩ [íɲɛ́] | èjì [èdʒì] | ẹ̀tā [ɛ̀tā] | ẹ̀lè̩ [ɛ̀lɛ̀] | è̩lú [ɛ̀lú] | ẹ̀fè̩ [ɛ̀fɛ̀] | ẹ̀biē [èbjiē] | ẹ̀jọ̄ [ɛ̀dʒɔ] | ẹ̀lá [ɛ̀lá] | ẹ̀ɡwá [ɛ̀ɡwá] |
Ukaan | Ukaan (Ikaan dialect) | ʃí | wā | tāːs / hrāhr | nāʲ / nā | hrʊ̀ːn / tòːn | hràdá | hránèʃì | nàːnáʲ / nàːná | hráòʃì | òpú * |
Edoid, Delta | Degema | ɔβʊ́ | iβə́ | sáj (ɪsáj) | iní | súwón (ɪsúwón) | jɪ́sa (ɪjɪ́sá) | síjéβə (isíjéβá) | anɪ́ (ɪnʊ́mán) | əsí (ɔβʊ óte mʊ iɡ͡beɲ) (10 -1) | əɡ͡beɲ (iɡ͡béɲ) |
Edoid, Delta | Engenni | ávʊ̀ | ívà | ɛ́sàà | ínìì | ìsyònì | ɛ̀nyísà | ìsyovà | ɛ̀nʊ̀màní | àvʊ́mó (10 -1) | íɡ͡bèì |
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-Ora | Ẹdo (1) | òwó [òwó] (used only to count) | èvá [èvá]́ | èhá [èhá] | èné [ènɛ́] | ìsén [ìsɛ́] or [ìsɛ̃́] ?? | èhàn [èhã̀] | ìhírọ̃n [ìhĩɺɔ]̃ | èrẹ̀nrẹ̀n [èɺɛ̃ɺɛ̃] | ìhìnrín [ihĩɺĩ] | ìɡ͡bé [ìɡ͡bé] |
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-Ora | Edo (Bini) (2) | ɔ̀k͡pá / òwo (used only to count) | èvá | èhá | ènɛ́ | ìsɛ́n | ěhàn | ìhinrɔ̀n | èrɛ̀nrɛ́n | ìhìnrín | ìɡ͡bé |
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-Ora | Emai (Emai-luleha-Ora) | ɔ̀k͡pa | èvà | èéà | èélè | ìíhìɛ̀n | èéhàn | ìhíɔ́n | èɛ́n | ìsín | ìɡ͡bé |
Edoid, North-Central, Edo-Esan-Ora | Esan | ɔ̀k͡pá | èvá | éà | énɛ̃̀ | ìsɛ̃́ | éhã́ | ìhĩ́lɔ̃̀ | èlɛ̃́lɛ̃̀ | ĩ̀sɪ̃́lɪ̃̀ | ìɡ͡bé |
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee | Etsako (Yekhee) | ọkpa [ɔk͡pà] | eva [évà] | ela [élà] | ejiẹ [éʒié] | ise [ìsé] | esa [ésà] | isevha [ìsévhà] | eleeh [éːléː] | ithi [ìtií] | iɡbe [ìɡ͡bé]̄ |
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee | Ghotuo | ɔ̀k͡pā | èvā | èēsà | èēnè | ìīʒè / ìīʒìè | ìjhēhà / ìēhà jh = a week, vd | ìhīɲã̄ | ènhīē nh = n̥ voiceless n ? | ìsī | ìɡ͡bē LM͡L |
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee | Okphela (1) | oɡ͡ɣʷo ˥˩ ˨ | evɑ ˨ ˧ | esɛ ˧ ˨ | ene ˧ ˨ | iʃe ˧ ˨ | esesa ˨ ˧ ˨ | iʃilʷɑ ˨ ˧ ˨ | elele ˨ ˩˥ ˨ | itili ˨ ˩˥ ˧ | iɡ͡be ˨ ˧ |
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee | Ivbie-North-Okphele-Arhe (2) | oɣuo | eva | esɛ | ene | iʃie | esesa | iʃilua | elele | itili | iɡ͡be |
Edoid, North-Central, Ghotuo-Uneme-Yekhee | Ososo | oɡwo [òɡwò] | eva [èvá] | esa [èsá] | ene [èné] | ichie [ìt͡ʃè] | esesa [èsâsà] | ifuena [ìfwènà] | inyenye [ìɲèɲẽ́] | isini [ìsĩ̀nĩ̀] | iɡbe [ìɡ͡bé] |
Edoid, Northwestern, Southern | Okpamheri | ɔkpa | eva | esa | enen | ishe | eaza | izuonua | ɛnien | isie | iɡ͡be |
Edoid, Southwestern | Isoko (1) | ɔvʊ | ɪ́vɛ | ɪ́sa | ɪ́nɪ | ɪ́sɔɪ | ɪ́zɪ́za | ɪ́hɾɛ | ɪ́rɪ́ː | ɪ́zɪ́ː | ɪ́kpe |
Edoid, Southwestern | Isoko (2) | ọvụ | ịvẹ | ịsạ | ịnị | isoi | ịzịza | ihrẹ | ịrịị | izii | ikpe |
Edoid, Southwestern | Urhobo | ɔ̀vò | ǐvɛ̀ | ěrà | ɛ̌nè | ǐjòɾĩ̀ | ěsã́ | ǐɣwɾɛ̃́ | ɛ̌ɾéɾẽ | ǐríɾĩ | ǐxwè |
Igboid, Ekpeye | Ekpeye | nwùrnér, ŋìnɛ́ | ɓɨ̂bɔ́ bh = IPA [ɓ] | ɓɨ́tɔ́ ir = IPA [ɨ] | ɓɨ́nɔ̂ o̠r = IPA [ɔ] | ɓísê | ɓísû | ɓɨ́sábɔ̀ | ɓɨ́sátɔ́ | ɓɨ́sánɔ̂ or nàzáma or nàzáma ɗi | ɗì dh = IPA [ɗ] |
Igboid, Igbo | Igbo (1) | ótù | àbʊ̄ɔ́ | àtɔ́ | ànɔ́ | ìsé | ìsiì | àsáà | àsátɔ́ | ìtólú | ìri |
Igboid, Igbo | Échiè Igbo (2) | otù | àbʊ̀ɔ́ ~ m̀bʊ̀ɔ̀ ~ nam̀̀ | tɔ ~ àtɔ | (ǹ)nɔ ~ ànɔ | se~ ìse | ʃiì ~ ìʃiì | saà ~ àsaà | satɔ̄ ~ àsatɔ̄ | totū ~ ìtolū | ìri |
Igboid, Igbo | Igbo (3) | otù | àbʊɔ́ | àtɔ | ànɔ | ìse | ìsiì | àsaà | àsatɔ́ | ìtolú, ̀tolú | ìri |
Igboid, Igbo | Ikwere | ótù | ɛ̀bɔ̀ | ɛ̀tɔ́ | ɛ̀nɔ̂ | ìsẽ̂ | ìsínù | ɛ̀sâ | ɛ̀sátɔ́ | tólú | ǹrí |
Oko | Oko (Oko-Eni-Osayen) | ɔ̀ɔ́rɛ / ɔ̀jɛ́rɛ | ɛ̀bɔ̀rɛ̀ | ɛ̀ta | ɛ̀na | ùpi | ɔ̀pɔ́nɔ̀ɔ́rɛ (5 + 1) * | úfɔ́mbɔ̀rɛ̀ (5 + 2) * | ɔ̀nɔ́kɔ́nɔkɔ́nɔ | ùbɔ́ɔ̀rɛ̀ (< 'ten is less than one ') * | ɛ̀fɔ |
Nupoid, Ebira-Gade | Ebira | ɔ̀ɔ̀nyɪ̄ | ɛ̀ɛ̀vā | ɛ̀ɛ̀tá | ɛ̀ɛ̀nà | ɛ̀ɛ̀hɪ́ | hɪ̋nɔ̋nyɪ̄ (5+ 1) | hɪ̋m̋bā (5+ 2) | hɪ̋n̋tá (5+ 3) | hɪ̋ǹnà (5+ 4) | ɛ̀ɛ̀wʊ́ |
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, Gbagyi-Gbari | Gbari | ɡ͡bᵐaːɾí | ŋʷã̂ba | ŋʷã̂t͡ʃa | ŋʷã̂ɲi | ŋʷã̂tⁿù | tⁿúwĩ (5+ 1) | tⁿâba (5+ 2) | tⁿẫ̂t͡ʃa (5+ 3) | tⁿâɲi (5+ 4) | ŋʷã̂wò |
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, Nupe | Kakanda | ɡúní | ɡúbà | ɡútá | ɡúni | ɡútũ | ɡútuaɲĩ̀ (5+ 1) | ɡútuabà (5+ 2) | ɡútòtá (5+ 3) | ɡútuani (5+ 4) | ɡúwo |
Nupoid, Nupe-Gbagyi, Nupe | Nupe | niní | ɡúbà | ɡútá | ɡúni | ɡútsũ | ɡútswàɲĩ (5+ 1) | ɡútwàbà (5+ 2) | ɡútotá (5+ 3) | ɡútwã̀ni (5+ 4) | ɡúwo |
Idomoid, Akweya, Eloyi | Eloyi (Afo) (1) | ńɡwònzé | ńɡwòpó | ńɡwòlá | ńɡwòndó | ńɡwolɔ́ | ńɡwɔ̀rɛ́nyí | ńɡwòrówó | ńɡwòràndá | ńɡwòròndó | úwó |
Idomoid, Akweya, Eloyi | Eloyi (Afo) (2) | ònzé | òpā | ōlá | ōndō | ɔ̄lɔ̀ o̠= ɔ | ōròwò | ɔ̀rɛ̀nyi | ōràndá | òròndō | ūwó |
Idomoid, Akweya, Eloyi | Eloyi (3) | ònzé | òpā | ōlá | ōndō | ō̠lò̠ | ōròwò | ò̠rɛ̀nyi | ōràndá | òròndō | ūwó |
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, Idoma | Agatu | óyè [ɔ́jè] | ẹ̀pà [ɛ̀pà] | ẹ̀tá [ɛ̀tá] | ẹ̀nẹ̀ [ɛ́nɛ̀] | ẹ̀họ́ [ɛ̀hɔ́] | ẹ̀hílí [ɛ̀hílí] | àhápà [àhápà] | àhàtá [àhàtá] | àhànè [àhànè] | ìɡwó [ìɡwó ] |
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, Idoma | Alago | óje | èpà | èta | ènɛ̀ | ɛ̀hɔ | ìhirì | àhapà | àhatá | àhánɛ̀ | ìɡʷó |
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, Idoma | Idoma | éyè [éjè] | ẹpà [ɛ́pà] | ẹtá [ɛtá] | ẹhẹ [ɛ́hɛ́] | ẹhọ [ɛ́hɔ] | ẹhili [ɛ́hili] | àhapà [àhapà] | àhátá [àhátá] | àhánẹ [àhánɛ́] | iɡwó [iɡwó ] |
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, Idoma | Igede | óòk͡pók͡póh | îmíìyèh | ītā | īnêh | ērʊ̄ / īrʊ̄ | īrʷɔ̀nyɛ̀ | īrùyèh | īnêkúh | ìhíkítʃú | īwō |
Idomoid, Akweya, Etulo-Idoma, Idoma | Yala | ósè | ɛ̀pà | ɛ̀ta | ɛ̀nɛ̀ | èrwɔ | èríwi | àrapà | àratá | àranɛ̀ | ìɡwó |