The lhukonzo (Konzo) language, variously rendered ''Rukonjo'', ''Olukonzo'', ''Olukonzo'' and ''konzo'', is a Bantu language spoken by the Konzo people of

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...

and the

Democratic Republic of the Congo The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...

. It has a 77% lexical similarity with Nande. 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 Mong ...

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