Kituba (Kikongo ya leta)

Kituba is a Kikongo-based creole language spoken by about 5.4 million people. It is a a national language in Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In the Republic of Congo it is called Munukutuba or Kituba, while in the Democratic Republic of the Congo it is called Kikongo ya leta (state Kikongo). It has also been known as Kibulamatadi, Kikwango, Ikeleve and Kizabave.

Kituba is used in regional administration and primary schools, as well as on the radio and television. There is also a translation of the New Testament in Kituba.

Kituba alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

s is pronounced [ɕ] and z is pronounced [ʑ] before -i.
h (ha) is only used in onomatopoeia, e.g. héé
Low tones are written with an acute accent and high tones with a grave accent

Download an alphabet chart for Kituba (Excel)

Some details by Wolfram Siegel and Michael Peter Füstumum

Sample text in Kituba

Bantu nyonso, na mbutukulu kevwandaka na kimpwanza ya bawu, ngenda mpe baluve ya mutindu mosi. Mayela na mbanzulu je na bawu, ni yawu yina bafwana kusalasana na bumpangi.

Translation

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Sample video in Kituba

Information about Kituba | Numbers

Links

Information about the Kituba language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kituba_language
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/mkw
http://www.ethnologue.com/18/language/ktu

Online Kituba courses
https://www.livelingua.com/project/fsi/Kituba/
https://www.7000.org/courses/kituba

Creole languages

Betawi, Bislama, Cape Verdean Creole, Chavacano, Chinook Jargon, Dominican Creole French, Fanagalo, French Guianese Creole, Guadeloupean Creole, Guinea-Bissau Creole, Haitian Creole, Jamaican, Kituba, Manado Malay, Mauritian Creole, Nagamese, Ndyuka, Norfuk, Nubi, Palenquero, Papiamento, Pijin, Réunion Creole, Sango, Saramaccan, Seychelles Creole, Sierra Leonean Creole, Singlish, Sranan, Saint Lucian Creole, Tok Pisin, Torres-Strait Creole

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 05.07.23

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