Sani language/Vocabulary

Sani vocabulary

Most of the Sani vocabulary is Cosimo-Benacian in origin, but the language has also borrowed words, mostly from Cisamarrese, some from Laqi and more recently Istvanistani, Praeta and Babkhi.

Semantic Domain	Word	Etymology	Definition
body	xonu		noun: head, main
government	xonuti		noun: king, leader, chieftain
grammar	ti		suffix: abstraction of noun to refer to a person
grammar	lha		suffix: area belonging to the modified noun
grammar	qe		suffix: part, section, subdivision of the modified noun
	zawa		adjective: free, unchained, not in servitude, independent
government	rrumë		noun: state, independent entity
grammar	na		conjunction: and
government	kosos	Pr. Koïsoß, "Empire or a significant State, realm, domain, sphere"	noun: empire
interjection	oyá		interj.: hello, hi
color	lunti		noun, adjective: green
structure	ffaman		noun: garden, fenced or otherwise delimited area with controlled greenery
direction	esa		noun, adjective: east
geology	paharr		noun: spring, source of running water
direction	ate		noun, adjective: west
geography	hareffa		noun: island
geography	hareffina	Sa. hareffa, island + ina, half	noun: peninsula
colloquialism	tata		noun: filth, dirt
profanity	tati	Sa. tata, filth, dirt	noun: originally a derogatory term for Sanis used by Istvani-speakers in and around Niyi. Now considered a racist slur, but used to that effect all over the country in certain circles.
abstract	pesh		adjective, noun: dead, death
abstract	peshë		verb: die, cease to live
geography	ranti		noun: beach, shore
direction	teta		noun, adjective: south
geography	puri		noun: harbour, port
geography	kara		noun: river
	axi		adjective: new
	pantera	Cis. bandiera	noun: flag
	insenya	Cis. insegna	noun: ensign
	sale		noun: health, soundness
	sale	Cis. sale	noun: salt
	manso	Cis. manzo	noun: beef, meat from cattle
	muton	Ist. mutton	noun: mutton, meat from sheep
	kalarha		noun: fish
	whaso		noun: bird
	inseto	Cis. insetto	noun: insect
	ffesun		noun: animal, beast, non-human living being
	xo sale	San. xo much, plentiful + San. sale health	interj. hello, hi. Often pronounced xos. Heavily promoted by Sani- and Ama-speaking cantons instead of Istvanistani expressions.
	shaw	Cis. ciao	interj. hello, hi. Sometimes used in Amarra and by Ama speakers in majority Cisamarrese areas.
	helo	Ist. hello	interj. hello, hi. Sometimes used in Sanilla and by Sani speakers in majority Istvanistani areas.
	namake	Bab. namak salt	noun: semen
	narte	Bab. nard nectar	noun: vaginal fluids
geography	ixar		noun: inlet, narrow bay
direction	sirha		noun, adjective: north
building	islus	Elw. islus sluice	noun: sluice, lock
concept	halin		adj.: secure, safe
concept	halimpan	San. halin secure, safe	noun: security, safety
grammar	-pan		suffix: turns an abstract adjective into a noun
direction	apishe	Cis. apice apex, peak, climax, top	noun: apex, top, peak
	zawa	R. Laq. zaua fight, battle, war	noun: disagreement, conflict
business	pangka	Cis. banca bank	noun: bank
grammar	-li		suffix: genitive, signifying the owner of the preceding noun phrase
grammar	-ya		suffix: turns an abstract noun into an adjective
	nasyon	Ist. nation	noun: nation
	nasyonal	Ist. national	adj.: national
	lhusan	San. lhus to discuss, an house	noun: assembly, council; often used for the traditional local tribal councils in Sanilla and Amarra. For foreign deliberative bodies, konselyo is used.
	konselyo	Cis. consiglio	noun: council; see also lhusan.
grammar	-en		suffix: turns a transitive verb into a noun.
structure	an		noun: house, built structure for human habitation.
grammar	-ako		suffix: place of, physical space belonging to the modified word. Contrasts with -lha in that -lha refers to a geographical area.
	rrumëti	San. rrumë state, San. -ti person of.	noun: citizen, national. Ex.: rrumëti Sanamali, citizen of Sanama.
nature	qanë	Elw qanyr snowflake	noun: snow
geography	estorlla	Sto. Stormark, San. -lla area belonging to	noun: Stormark
	estorti	San. estor(lla) Stormark, -ti person of	noun: 1. Storish person, 2. degenerate
	estorya	San. estor(lla) Stormark, -ya turns noun into adjective	1. adj.: Storish, 2. adj.: Morally corrupt, degenerated

Swadesh list

Istvani	Sani	Istvani	Sani
I		breasts
you		heart
we (inclusive)		liver
this		drink (verb)
that		eat (verb)
who?		bite (verb)
what?		see (verb)
not		hear (verb)
all (of a number)		know (facts)
many		sleep (verb)
one		die (verb)
two		kill (verb)
big		swim (verb)
long (not wide)		fly (verb)
small		walk (verb)
woman		come (verb)
man (adult male human)		lie (on side, recline)
person (invididual human)		sit (verb)
fish (noun)		stand (verb)
bird		give (verb)
dog		say (verb)
louse		sun
tree (not log)		moon
seed (noun)		star
leaf (botanics)		water (noun)
root (botanics)		rain (noun)
bark (of tree)		stone (noun)
skin (person's)		sand
flesh (meat, flesh)		earth (soil)
blood		cloud (not fog)
bone		smoke (noun, of fire)
grease (fat, organic substance)		fire
egg		ash(es)
horn (of bull etc.)		burn (verb intr.)
tail		path (road, trail)
feather (large, not down)		mountain (not hill)
hair (on head of humans)		red (color)
head (anatomic)		green (color)
ear		yellow (color)
eye		white (color)
nose		black (color)
mouth		night
tooth (front, rather than molar)		hot (adjective)
tongue (anatomical)		cold (of weather)
claw		full
foot (not leg)		new
knee		good
hand		round
belly (lower part of body, abdomen)		dry (substance)
neck (not nape)		name