This is a Swadesh list of words in Akkadian, compared with definitions in English.
American linguist Morris Swadesh believed that languages changed at measurable rates and that these could be determined even for languages without written precursors. Using vocabulary lists, he sought to understand not only change over time but also the relationships of extant languages. To be able to compare languages from different cultures, he based his lists on meanings he presumed would be available in as many cultures as possible. He then used the fraction of agreeing cognates between any two related languages to compute their divergence time by some (still debated) algorithms. Starting in 1950 with 165 meanings, his list grew to 215 in 1952, which was so expansive that many languages lacked native vocabulary for some terms. Subsequently, it was reduced to 207, and reduced much further to 100 meanings in 1955. A reformulated list was published posthumously in 1971.
| № | English | Akkadian edit (166) | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I (1sg) | anāku | /aˈnaː.ku/ |
| 2 | you (2sg) | atta (masculine), atti (feminine) | /ˈat.ta/, /ˈat.ti/ |
| 3 | he, she, it (3sg) | šū (masculine), šī (feminine) | /ʃuː/, /ʃiː/ |
| 4 | we (1pl) | nīnu | /ˈniː.nu/ |
| 5 | you (2pl) | attunu (masculine), attina (feminine) | /ˈat.tu.nu/, /ˈat.ti.na/ |
| 6 | they (3pl) | šunu (masculine), šina (feminine) | /ˈʃu.nu/, /ˈʃi.na/ |
| 7 | this | annûm (masculine), annītum (feminine) | /anˈnuːm/, /anˈniː.tum/ |
| 8 | that | šū (masculine), šī (feminine), ullûm (masculine), ullītum (feminine) | /ʃuː/, /ʃiː/, /ulˈluːm/, /ulˈliː.tum/ |
| 9 | here | annânum, annīkiam | /anˈnaː.num/, /anˈniː.ki.am/ |
| 10 | there | ullīkiam | /ulˈliː.ki.am/ |
| 11 | who | mannum | /ˈman.num/ |
| 12 | what | mīnum, minûm | /ˈmiː.num/, /miˈnuːm/ |
| 13 | where | ali, ayyānum, ayyīkiam, êš | /ˈa.li/, /ajˈjaː.num/, /ajˈjiː.ki.am/, /eːʃ/ |
| 14 | when | mati, matīma | /ˈma.ti/, /maˈtiː.ma/ |
| 15 | how | kī | /kiː/ |
| 16 | not | ul, lā | /ul/, /laː/ |
| 17 | all | kalûm | /kaˈluːm/ |
| 18 | many | mādum (masculine), māttum (feminine) | /ˈmaː.dum/, /ˈmaːt.tum/ |
| 19 | some | ayyumma (masculine), ayyītumma (feminine) | /ajˈjum.ma/, /aj.jiːˈtum.ma/ |
| 20 | few | wīṣum, maṭûm | /ˈwiː.sˤum/, /maˈtˤuːm/ |
| 21 | other | šanûm (masculine), šanītum (feminine) | /ʃaˈnuːm/, /ʃaˈniː.tum/ |
| 22 | one | ištēn (masculine), išteat (feminine) | /iʃˈteːn/, /iʃˈteat/ |
| 23 | two | šinā (masculine), šittā (feminine) | /ˈʃi.naː/, /ˈʃit.taː/ |
| 24 | three | šalāšat (masculine), šalāš (feminine) | /ʃaˈlaː.ʃat/, /ʃaˈlaːʃ/ |
| 25 | four | erbet (masculine), erbe (feminine) | /ˈer.bet/, /ˈer.be/ |
| 26 | five | ḫamšat (masculine), ḫamiš (feminine) | /ˈχam.ʃat/, /ˈχa.miʃ/ |
| 27 | big | rabûm (masculine), rabītum (feminine) | /raˈbuːm/, /raˈbiː.tum/ |
| 28 | long | arkum (masculine), ariktum (feminine) | /ˈar.kum/, /aˈrik.tum/ |
| 29 | wide | rapšum (masculine), rapaštum (feminine) | /ˈrap.ʃum/, /raˈpaʃ.tum/ |
| 30 | thick | kabrum (masculine), kabartum (feminine) | /ˈkab.rum/, /kaˈbar.tum/ |
| 31 | heavy | kabtum | /ˈkab.tum/ |
| 32 | small | ṣuḫārum (masculine), ṣuḫārtum (feminine) | /sˤuˈχaː.rum/, /sˤuˈχaːr.tum/ |
| 33 | short | kurûm (masculine), kurītum (feminine) | /kuˈruːm/, /kuˈriː.tum/ |
| 34 | narrow | qatnum (masculine), qatattum (feminine), pīqum (masculine), pīqtum (feminine) | /ˈqat.num/, /qaˈtat.tum/, /ˈpiː.qum/, /ˈpiːq.tum/ |
| 35 | thin | qatnum (masculine), qatattum (feminine), pīqum (masculine), pīqtum (feminine) | /ˈqat.num/, /qaˈtat.tum/, /ˈpiː.qum/, /ˈpiːq.tum/ |
| 36 | woman | sinništum | /sinˈniʃ.tum/ |
| 37 | man (adult male) | zikarum | /ˈzi.ka.rum/ |
| 38 | man (human being) | awīlum | /aˈwiː.lum/ |
| 39 | child | ṣeḫrum | /ˈsˤeχ.rum/ |
| 40 | wife | aššatum | /ˈaʃ.ʃa.tum/ |
| 41 | husband | mutum | /ˈmu.tum/ |
| 42 | mother | ummum | /ˈum.mum/ |
| 43 | father | abum | /ˈa.bum/ |
| 44 | animal | umāmum | /uˈmaː.mum/ |
| 45 | fish | nūnum | /ˈnuː.num/ |
| 46 | bird | iṣṣūrum | /isˤˈsˤuː.rum/ |
| 47 | dog | kalbum | /ˈkal.bum/ |
| 48 | louse | uplum | /ˈup.lum/ |
| 49 | snake | ṣerrum | /ˈsˤer.rum/ |
| 50 | worm | tûltum | /ˈtuːl.tum/ |
| 51 | tree | iṣum | /ˈi.sˤum/ |
| 52 | forest | qištum | /ˈqiʃ.tum/ |
| 53 | stick | ḫaṭṭum | /ˈχatˤ.tˤum/ |
| 54 | fruit | inbum | /ˈin.bum/ |
| 55 | seed | zērum | /ˈzeː.rum/ |
| 56 | leaf | artum, ḫasḫaltu | /ˈar.tum/, /χasˈχal.tu/ |
| 57 | root | šuršum | /ˈʃur.ʃum/ |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | quliptum | /ˈqu.lip.tum/ |
| 59 | flower | ayyarum, inbum | /ˈay.ya.rum/, /ˈin.bum/ |
| 60 | grass | dīšum, šammum | /ˈdiː.ʃum/, /ˈʃam.mum/ |
| 61 | rope | ašlum | /ˈaʃ.lum/ |
| 62 | skin | maškum | /ˈmaʃ.kum/ |
| 63 | meat | šīrum | /ˈʃiː.rum/ |
| 64 | blood | dāmum | /ˈdaː.mum/ |
| 65 | bone | eṣemtum | /eˈsˤem.tum/ |
| 66 | fat (noun) | šamnum | /ˈʃam.num/ |
| 67 | egg | pelûm | /ˈpe.luːm/ |
| 68 | horn | qarnum | /ˈqar.num/ |
| 69 | tail | zibbatum | /ˈzib.ba.tum/ |
| 70 | feather | kappum | /ˈkap.pum/ |
| 71 | hair | šārtum | /ˈʃaːr.tum/ |
| 72 | head | rēšum, qaqqadum | /ˈreː.ʃum/, /ˈqaq.qa.dum/ |
| 73 | ear | uznum | /ˈuz.num/ |
| 74 | eye | īnum | /ˈiː.num/ |
| 75 | nose | appum | /ˈap.pum/ |
| 76 | mouth | pûm | /ˈpuːm/ |
| 77 | tooth | šinnum | /ˈʃin.num/ |
| 78 | tongue (organ) | lišānum | /liˈʃaː.num/ |
| 79 | fingernail | ṣuprum | /ˈsˤu.prum/ |
| 80 | foot | šēpum | /ˈʃeː.pum/ |
| 81 | leg | šēpum | /ˈʃeː.pum/ |
| 82 | knee | birkum | /ˈbir.kum/ |
| 83 | hand | qātum | /ˈqaː.tum/ |
| 84 | wing | abrum, kappum | /ˈa.brum/, /ˈkap.pum/ |
| 85 | belly | libbum, karšum | /ˈlib.bum/, /ˈkar.ʃum/ |
| 86 | guts | errum, libbum | /ˈer.rum/, /ˈlib.bum/ |
| 87 | neck | kišādum | /kiˈʃaː.dum/ |
| 88 | back | ṣērum, warkatum | /ˈsˤeː.rum/, /ˈwar.ka.tum/ |
| 89 | breast | irtum | /ˈir.tum/ |
| 90 | heart | libbum | /ˈlib.bum/ |
| 91 | liver | kabattum, amūtum | /kaˈbat.tum/, /aˈmuː.tum/ |
| 92 | to drink | šatûm | /ʃaˈtuːm/ |
| 93 | to eat | akālum | /aˈkaː.lum/ |
| 94 | to bite | našākum | /naˈʃaː.kum/ |
| 95 | to suck | enēqum | /eˈneː.qum/ |
| 96 | to spit | nadûm | /naˈduːm/ |
| 97 | to vomit | arûm | /aˈruːm/ |
| 98 | to blow | napāḫum | /naˈpaː.χum/ |
| 99 | to breathe | napāšum | /naˈpaː.ʃum/ |
| 100 | to laugh | ṣiāḫum | /sˤiˈaː.χum/ |
| 101 | to see | amārum | /aˈmaː.rum/ |
| 102 | to hear | šemûm | /ʃeˈmuːm/ |
| 103 | to know | edûm | /eˈduːm/ |
| 104 | to think | ||
| 105 | to smell | ||
| 106 | to fear | ||
| 107 | to sleep | ||
| 108 | to live | ||
| 109 | to die | ||
| 110 | to kill | ||
| 111 | to fight | ||
| 112 | to hunt | ||
| 113 | to hit | ||
| 114 | to cut | ||
| 115 | to split | ||
| 116 | to stab | ||
| 117 | to scratch | ||
| 118 | to dig | ||
| 119 | to swim | ||
| 120 | to fly | ||
| 121 | to walk | alākum | /aˈlaː.kum/ |
| 122 | to come | ||
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | niālum | /niˈaː.lum/ |
| 124 | to sit | wašābum | /waˈʃaː.bum/ |
| 125 | to stand | izuzzum | /iˈzuz.zum/ |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | saḥārum | /saˈχaː.rum/ |
| 127 | to fall | maqātum | /maˈqaː.tum/ |
| 128 | to give | nadānum | /naˈdaː.num/ |
| 129 | to hold | kullum, aḫāzum | /ˈkul.lum/, /aˈχaː.zum/ |
| 130 | to squeeze | mazûm, ḫalāṣum | /maˈzuːm/, /χaˈlaː.sˤum/ |
| 131 | to rub | ||
| 132 | to wash | mesûm, raḥāṣum | /meˈsuːm/, /raˈχaː.sˤum/ |
| 133 | to wipe | kapārum | /kaˈpaː.rum/ |
| 134 | to pull | šadādum | /ʃaˈdaː.dum/ |
| 135 | to push | napāṣum, sakāpum | /naˈpaː.sˤum/, /saˈkaː.pum/ |
| 136 | to throw | nasākum | /naˈsaː.kum/ |
| 137 | to tie | kaṣārum, ṣamādum, rakāsum | /kaˈsˤaː.rum/, /sˤaˈmaː.dum/, /raˈkaː.sum/ |
| 138 | to sew | ||
| 139 | to count | manûm | /maˈnuːm/ |
| 140 | to say | qabûm | /qaˈbuːm/ |
| 141 | to sing | zamārum | /zaˈmaː.rum/ |
| 142 | to play | mēlulum | /ˈmeː.lu.lum/ |
| 143 | to float | ||
| 144 | to flow | ||
| 145 | to freeze | ||
| 146 | to swell | ||
| 147 | sun | šamšum | /ˈʃam.ʃum/ |
| 148 | moon | Sîn | /siːn/ |
| 149 | star | kakkabum | /ˈkak.ka.bum/ |
| 150 | water | mû | /ˈmuː/ |
| 151 | rain | šamûm | /ʃaˈmuːm/ |
| 152 | river | nārum | /ˈnaː.rum/ |
| 153 | lake | tiāmtum | /ti.ˈaːm.tum/ |
| 154 | sea | tiāmtum | /ti.ˈaːm.tum/ |
| 155 | salt | ṭabtum | /ˈtˤab.tum/ |
| 156 | stone | abnum | /ˈab.num/ |
| 157 | sand | bāṣum | /ˈbaː.sˤum/ |
| 158 | dust | eperum | /ˈe.pe.rum/ |
| 159 | earth | erṣetum | /ˈer.sˤe.tum/ |
| 160 | cloud | erpetum | /ˈer.pe.tum/ |
| 161 | fog | imbarum | /ˈim.ba.rum/ |
| 162 | sky | šamû | /ʃaˈmuː/ |
| 163 | wind | šārum | /ˈʃaː.rum/ |
| 164 | snow | šalgum | /ˈʃal.gum/ |
| 165 | ice | šurīpum | ʃuˈriː.pum |
| 166 | smoke | qutrum | /ˈqu.trum./ |
| 167 | fire | išātum | /iˈʃaː.tum/ |
| 168 | ash | tumrum | /ˈtum.rum/ |
| 169 | to burn | ||
| 170 | road | ḫarrānum | /χarˈraː.num/ |
| 171 | mountain | šadûm | /ʃaˈduːm/ |
| 172 | red | sāmum (masculine), sāmtum (feminine) | /ˈsaː.mum/, /ˈsaːm.tum/ |
| 173 | green | warqum (masculine), waruqtum (feminine) | /ˈwar.qum/, /waˈruq.tum/ |
| 174 | yellow | warqum (masculine), waruqtum (feminine) | /ˈwar.qum/, /waˈruq.tum/ |
| 175 | white | peṣûm (masculine), peṣītum (feminine) | /peˈsˤuːm/, /peˈsˤiː.tum/ |
| 176 | black | ṣalmum (masculine), ṣalimtum (feminine) | /ˈsˤal.mum/, /sˤaˈlim.tum/ |
| 177 | night | mūšum, līliātum | /ˈmuː.ʃum/, /liː.liˈaː.tum/ |
| 178 | day | ūmum | /ˈuː.mum/ |
| 179 | year | šattum | /ˈʃat.tum/ |
| 180 | warm | ||
| 181 | cold | kaṣûm | /kaˈsˤuːm/ |
| 182 | full | ||
| 183 | new | eššum (masculine), edištum (feminine) | /ˈeʃ.ʃum/, /eˈdiʃ.tum/ |
| 184 | old | ||
| 185 | good | ||
| 186 | bad | ||
| 187 | rotten | ||
| 188 | dirty | ||
| 189 | straight | ||
| 190 | round | ||
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | ||
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | ||
| 193 | smooth | ||
| 194 | wet | ||
| 195 | dry | ||
| 196 | correct | išarum, kīnum | /ˈi.ʃa.rum/, /ˈkiː.num/ |
| 197 | near | ||
| 198 | far | ||
| 199 | right | imnum | /ˈim.num/ |
| 200 | left | šumēlum | /ʃuˈmeː.lum/ |
| 201 | at | ina | /ˈi.na/ |
| 202 | in | ina | /ˈi.na/ |
| 203 | with | itti | /ˈit.ti/ |
| 204 | and | u | /u/ |
| 205 | if | šumma | /ˈʃum.ma/ |
| 206 | because | aššum, ištu | /ˈaʃ.ʃum/, /ˈiʃ.tu/ |
| 207 | name | šumum | /ˈʃu.mum/ |