This is a Swadesh list of words in Chuvash, 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 | Chuvash чӑваш чӗлхи (čăvaš čĕlh̬i) edit (207) | IPA (key) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I (1sg) | эпӗ (ep̬ĕ) | /ˈebʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 2 | you (2sg) | эсӗ (es̬ĕ) | /ˈezʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 3 | he, she, it (3sg) | вӑл (văl) | /ˈʋŏl/ |
| 4 | we (1pl) | эпир (ep̬ir) | /eˈbʲirʲ/ |
| 5 | you (2pl) | эсир (es̬ir) | /eˈzʲirʲ/ |
| 6 | they (3pl) | вӗсем (vĕs̬em) | /ʋʲ(ə)ˈzʲemʲ/ |
| 7 | this | ку (ku) | /ˈku/ |
| 8 | that | лешӗ (leš̬ĕ), ҫавӑ (śavă), вӑл (văl) | /ˈlʲeʒʲ(ə)/, /ˈɕaʋ(ə)/, /ˈʋŏl/ |
| 9 | here | кунта (kunt̬a) | /kunˈda/ |
| 10 | there | унта (unt̬a), ҫавӑнта (śavănt̬a), лере (lere) | /unˈda/, /ɕaʋ(ə)nˈda/, /lʲeˈrʲe/ |
| 11 | who | кам (kam) | /ˈkam/ |
| 12 | what | мӗн (mĕn) | /ˈmʲø̆nʲ/ |
| 13 | where | ӑҫта (ăśta) | /əɕˈta/ |
| 14 | when | хӑҫан (hăś̬an) | /χ(ə)ˈʑan/ |
| 15 | how | мӗнле (mĕnle) | /mʲənʲˈlʲe/ |
| 16 | not | ҫук (śuk) | /ˈɕuk/ |
| 17 | all | пӗтӗм (pĕt̬ĕm), пур (pur), пурте (purt̬e) | /ˈpʲø̆dʲəmʲ/, /ˈpur/, /purˈdʲe/ |
| 18 | many | нумай (numaj) | /nuˈmaj/ |
| 19 | some | темиҫе (temiś̬e) | /tʲemʲiˈʑʲe/ |
| 20 | few | сахал (sah̬al) | /saˈɣal/ |
| 21 | other | урӑх (urăh) | /ˈurăχ/ |
| 22 | one | пӗрре (pĕrre) | /pʲɘˈrːʲe/ |
| 23 | two | иккӗ (ikkĕ) | /ˈikːʲ(ə)/ |
| 24 | three | виҫҫӗ (viśśĕ) | /ˈʋʲiɕːʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 25 | four | тӑваттӑ (tăvattă) | /təˈʋatː(ə)/ |
| 26 | five | пиллӗк (pillĕk) | /ˈpʲilːʲɘkʲ/ |
| 27 | big | пысӑк (pys̬ăk), мӑнӑ (mănă) | /ˈpɯz(ə)k/, /ˈmŏn/ |
| 28 | long | вӑрӑм (vărăm) | /ˈʋŏr(ə)m/ |
| 29 | wide | сарлака (sarlak̬a), анлӑ (anlă) | /sarlaˈɡa/, /ˈanl(ə)/ |
| 30 | thick | хулӑн (hulăn) | /ˈχul(ə)n/ |
| 31 | heavy | йывӑр (jyvăr) | /ˈjɯʋər/ |
| 32 | small | пӗчӗк (pĕč̬ĕk) | /ˈpʲø̆dʑʲəkʲ/ |
| 33 | short | кӗске (kĕske) | /kʲəsʲˈkʲe/ |
| 34 | narrow | ансӑр (ans̬ăr), тӑвӑр (tăvăr) (tight) | /ˈanzər/, /ˈtŏʋ(ə)r/ |
| 35 | thin | ҫӳхе (śüh̬e), ҫинҫе (śinś̬e) | /ɕʲyˈɣʲe/, /ɕʲinʲˈʑʲe/ |
| 36 | woman | хӗрарӑм (hĕrarăm) | /χʲɘˈrar(ə)m/ |
| 37 | man (adult male) | арҫын (arś̬yn) | /arˈʑɯn/ |
| 38 | man (human being) | ҫын (śyn), этем (et̬em) | /ˈɕɯn/, /eˈdʲemʲ/ |
| 39 | child | ача (ač̬a) | /aˈdʒa/ |
| 40 | wife | арӑм (arăm) | /ˈar(ə)m/ |
| 41 | husband | упӑшка (up̬ăška) | /ub(ə)ʃˈka/ |
| 42 | mother | анне (anne) | /aˈnːʲe/ |
| 43 | father | атте (atte) | /aˈtːʲe/ |
| 44 | animal | чӗрчун (čĕrč̬un), выльӑх (vylʹăh) | /tɕʲərˈdʒun/, /ˈʋɯlʲ(ə)χ/ |
| 45 | fish | пулӑ (pulă) | /ˈpul(ə)/ |
| 46 | bird | кайӑк (kajăk) | /ˈkaj(ə)k/ |
| 47 | dog | йытӑ (jyt̬ă) | /ˈjɯd(ə)/ |
| 48 | louse | пыйтӑ (pyjt̬ă) | /ˈpɯjd(ə)/ |
| 49 | snake | ҫӗлен (śĕlen) | /ɕʲ(ə)ˈlʲenʲ/ |
| 50 | worm | ӑман (ăman), хурт (hurt) | /(ə)ˈman/, /ˈχurt/ |
| 51 | tree | йывӑҫ (jyvăś) | /ˈjɯʋ(ə)ɕ/ |
| 52 | forest | вӑрман (vărman) | /ʋərˈman/ |
| 53 | stick | патак (pat̬ak), туя (tuja) | /paˈdak/, /tuˈja/ |
| 54 | fruit | ҫимӗҫ (śimĕś) | /ɕʲimʲ(ɘ)ɕʲ/ |
| 55 | seed | вӑрлӑх (vărlăh), вӑрӑ (vără) | /ˈʋŏrləχ/, /ˈʋŏr(ə)/ |
| 56 | leaf | ҫулҫӑ (śulś̬ă) | /ˈɕulʑ(ə)/ |
| 57 | root | тымар (tymar) | /tɯˈmar/ |
| 58 | bark (of a tree) | хупӑ (hup̬ă), хуйӑр (hujăr) | /ˈχub(ə)/, /ˈχuj(ə)r/ |
| 59 | flower | чечек (čeč̬ek), ҫеҫке (śeśke) | /tɕʲeˈdʑʲek/, /ɕʲeɕʲˈkʲe/ |
| 60 | grass | курӑк (kurăk) | /ˈkur(ə)k/ |
| 61 | rope | вӗрен (vĕren), пӑяв (păjav), ҫип (śip) | /ʋʲ(ɘ)ˈrʲen/, /p(ə)ˈjaʋ/, /ˈɕʲip/ |
| 62 | skin | тир (tir) | /tʲir/ |
| 63 | meat | аш (aš), какай (kak̬aj) | /ˈaʃ/, /kaˈɡaj/ |
| 64 | blood | юн (jun) | /ˈjun/ |
| 65 | bone | шӑмӑ (šămă) | /ˈʃŏmə/ |
| 66 | fat (noun) | ҫу (śu) | /ˈɕu/ |
| 67 | egg | ҫӑмарта (śămart̬a) | /ɕəmarˈda/ |
| 68 | horn | мӑйрака (măjrak̬a) | /məjraˈɡa/ |
| 69 | tail | хӳре (hüre) | /xʲyˈrʲe/ |
| 70 | feather | тӗк (tĕk) | /ˈtʲø̆kʲ/ |
| 71 | hair | ҫӳҫ (śüś) | /ˈɕʲyɕ/ |
| 72 | head | пуҫ (puś) | /ˈpuɕ/ |
| 73 | ear | хӑлха (hălh̬a) | /ˈχəlɣa/ |
| 74 | eye | куҫ (kuś) | /ˈkuɕ/ |
| 75 | nose | сӑмса (săms̬a) | /səmˈza/ |
| 76 | mouth | ҫӑвар (śăvar) | /ɕ(ə)ˈʋar/ |
| 77 | tooth | шӑл (šăl) | /ˈɕŏl/ |
| 78 | tongue (organ) | чӗлхе (čĕlh̬e) | /tɕʲɘlˈɣʲe/ |
| 79 | fingernail | чӗрне (čĕrne) | /tɕʲɘrˈnʲe/ |
| 80 | foot | ура (ura) | /uˈra/ |
| 81 | leg | пӗҫӗ (pĕś̬ĕ) | /ˈpʲø̆ʑʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 82 | knee | чӗркуҫҫи (čĕrk̬uśśi) | /tʃʲø̆r ɡuˈɕːʲi/ |
| 83 | hand | алӑ (ală) | /ˈalə/ |
| 84 | wing | ҫунат (śunat) | /ɕuˈnat/ |
| 85 | belly | хырӑм (hyrăm) | /ˈxɯr(ə)m/ |
| 86 | guts | пыршӑ (pyrš̬ă) | /ˈpɯrʒ(ə)/ |
| 87 | neck | мӑй (măj) | /ˈmŏj/ |
| 88 | back | ҫурӑм (śurăm) | /ˈɕur(ə)m/ |
| 89 | breast | кӑкӑр (kăk̬ăr) | /ˈkŏɡ(ə)r/ |
| 90 | heart | чӗре (čĕre) | /tʃʲ(ə)ˈrʲe/ |
| 91 | liver | пӗвер (pĕver) | /pʲ(ə)ˈʋʲer/ |
| 92 | to drink | ӗҫ (ĕś) | /ˈø̆ɕʲ/ |
| 93 | to eat | ҫи (śi) | /ˈɕʲi/ |
| 94 | to bite | ҫырт (śyrt) | /ˈɕɯrd/ |
| 95 | to suck | ӗм (ĕm) | /ˈø̆mʲ/ |
| 96 | to spit | сур (sur) | /ˈsur/ |
| 97 | to vomit | хӑс (hăs) | /ˈxŏs/ |
| 98 | to blow | вӗр (vĕr) | /ˈʋʲø̆rʲ/ |
| 99 | to breathe | сывла (syvla) | /sɯʋˈla/ |
| 100 | to laugh | кул (kul) | /ˈkul/ |
| 101 | to see | кур (kur) | /ˈkur/ |
| 102 | to hear | илт (ilt) | /ˈilʲdʲ/ |
| 103 | to know | пӗл (pĕl) | /ˈpʲø̆lʲ/ |
| 104 | to think | шухӑшла (šuh̬ăšla), шутла (šutla) (opine) | /ʃuɣ(ə)ʃˈla/, /ˈʃutla/ |
| 105 | to smell | шӑршла (šăršla) (sniff, smell, snuff), шӑршӑ кӑлар (šărš̬ă k̬ălar) (give off smell), шӑршӑ кӗр (šărš̬ă k̬ĕr) (give off smell) | /ʃəʃˈla/, , |
| 106 | to fear | хӑра (hăra) | /χəˈra/ |
| 107 | to sleep | ҫывӑр (śyvăr) | /ˈɕɯʋ(ə)r/ |
| 108 | to live | пурӑн (purăn) | /ˈpur(ə)n/ |
| 109 | to die | вил (vil) | /ʋʲilʲ/ |
| 110 | to kill | вӗлер (vĕler) | /ʋʲ(ə)ˈlʲerʲ/ |
| 111 | to fight | ҫапӑҫ (śap̬ăś) | /ˈɕab(ə)ɕ/ |
| 112 | to hunt | сунара ҫӳре (sunara ś̬üre), кайӑка ҫӳре (kajăk̬a ś̬üre), тытма ҫӳре (tytma ś̬üre) | |
| 113 | to hit | ҫап (śap), шакка (šakka) | /ˈɕap/, /ʃaˈkːa/ |
| 114 | to cut | кас (kas) | /ˈkas/ |
| 115 | to split | пайла (pajla), уйӑр (ujăr) | /pajˈla/, /ˈujər/ |
| 116 | to stab | чик (čik), тир (tir) | /tʃʲikʲ/, /tʲirʲ/ |
| 117 | to scratch | чӑрмала (čărmala), чер (čer), шӑйӑр (šăjăr) | /t͡ʃərmaˈla/, /t͡ʃʲerʲ/, /ˈʃŏj(ə)r/ |
| 118 | to dig | алт (alt), чавма (čavma), чакала (čak̬ala), чавала (čavala), чавса кӑлар (čavsa k̬ălar) | /ˈald/, /tɕaʋˈma/, /tɕaɡaˈla/, /tɕaʋaˈla/, /tɕaʋˈsa ɡ(ə)ˈlar/ |
| 119 | to swim | иш (iš) | /ˈiʃʲ/ |
| 120 | to fly | вӗҫ (vĕś) | /ˈʋʲø̆ʃʲ/ |
| 121 | to walk | ут (ut), ҫӳре (śüre) | /ˈut/, /ɕʲyˈrʲe/ |
| 122 | to come | кил (kil), пы (py) | /kʲilʲ/, /ˈpɯ/ |
| 123 | to lie (as in a bed) | вырт (vyrt) | /ˈvɯrd/ |
| 124 | to sit | лар (lar) | /ˈlar/ |
| 125 | to stand | тӑ (tă) | /ˈtŏ/ |
| 126 | to turn (intransitive) | пӑр (păr), ҫавӑр (śavăr) | /ˈpŏr/, /ˈɕaʋ(ə)r/ |
| 127 | to fall | тӳн (tün), такӑн (tak̬ăn), ӳк (ük) | /ˈtʲynʲ/, /ˈtaɡ(ə)n/, /ykʲ/ |
| 128 | to give | пар (par) | /ˈpar/ |
| 129 | to hold | тыт (tyt) | /ˈtɯt/ |
| 130 | to squeeze | хӗс (hĕs), чӑмӑрта (čămărt̬a), хӗстер (hĕster), пӑчӑрта (păč̬ărt̬a) | /xʲø̆sʲ/, /tɕ(ə)mərˈda/, /xʲ(ə)sʲtʲerʲ/, /p(ə)dʑərˈda/ |
| 131 | to rub | сӑтӑр (săt̬ăr), сӗр (sĕr) | /ˈsŏd(ə)r/, /sʲø̆rʲ/ |
| 132 | to wash | ҫу (śu) | /ˈɕu/ |
| 133 | to wipe | шӑл (šăl) | /ˈʃŏl/ |
| 134 | to pull | турт (turt), сӗтӗр (sĕt̬ĕr) (to drag) | /ˈturd/, /ˈsʲø̆dʲɘrʲ/ |
| 135 | to push | тӗк (tĕk), тӗрт (tĕrt) | /ˈtʲø̆kʲ/, /ˈtʲørʲtʲ/ |
| 136 | to throw | ывӑт (yvăt), ут (ut), пӑрах (părah) | /ˈɯʋ(ə)t/, /ˈut/, /p(ə)ˈraχ/ |
| 137 | to tie | кӑкар (kăk̬ar), ҫых (śyh), сып (syp) | /k(ə)ɡar/, /ɕɯχ/, /ɕɯp/ |
| 138 | to sew | ҫӗле (śĕle), тӗрле (tĕrle) (to knit) | /ɕʲɘˈlʲe/, /tʲərˈlʲe/ |
| 139 | to count | шутла (šutla) | /ʃutˈla/ |
| 140 | to say | те (te), кала (kala) | /ˈtʲe/, /kaˈla/ |
| 141 | to sing | юрла (jurla) | /jurˈla/ |
| 142 | to play | выля (vylja) | /vɯˈlʲa/ |
| 143 | to float | иш (iš) | /ˈiʃʲ/ |
| 144 | to flow | юх (juh) | /ˈjuχ/ |
| 145 | to freeze | шӑн (šăn) | /ˈʃŏn/ |
| 146 | to swell | шыҫ (šyś) | /ˈʃɯɕ/ |
| 147 | sun | хӗвел (hĕvel) | /χʲɘˈʋʲelʲ/ |
| 148 | moon | уйӑх (ujăh) | /ˈuj(ə)χ/ |
| 149 | star | ҫӑлтӑр (śălt̬ăr) | /ˈɕŏldər/ |
| 150 | water | шыв (šyv) | /ˈʃɯv/ |
| 151 | rain | ҫумӑр (śumăr) | /ˈɕumər/ |
| 152 | river | ҫырма (śyrma), шыв (šyv), юханшыв (juh̬anš̬yv) | /ɕɯrˈma/, /ˈʃɯʋ/, /juɣanˈʒɯʋ/ |
| 153 | lake | кӳлӗ (külĕ) | /ˈkʲylʲə/ |
| 154 | sea | тинӗс (tinĕs) | /ˈtʲinʲ(ɘ)sʲ/ |
| 155 | salt | тӑвар (tăvar) | /t(ə)ˈʋar/ |
| 156 | stone | чул (čul) | /ˈtʃul/ |
| 157 | sand | хӑйӑр (hăjăr) | /ˈxŏj(ə)r/ |
| 158 | dust | тусан (tus̬an) | /tuˈzan/ |
| 159 | earth | ҫӗр (śĕr), тӑпра (tăpra) | /ˈɕʲø̆rʲ/, /təpˈra/ |
| 160 | cloud | пӗлӗт (pĕlĕt) | /ˈpʲø̆lʲ(ə)tʲ/ |
| 161 | fog | тӗтре (tĕtre) | /tʲətʲˈrʲe/ |
| 162 | sky | тӳпе (tüp̬e) | /tʲyˈbʲe/ |
| 163 | wind | ҫил (śil) | /ˈɕʲilʲ/ |
| 164 | snow | юр (jur) | /ˈjur/ |
| 165 | ice | пӑр (păr) | /ˈnŏr/ |
| 166 | smoke | тӗтӗм (tĕt̬ĕm) | /ˈtʲø̆dʲəmʲ/ |
| 167 | fire | вут (vut) | /ˈʋut/ |
| 168 | ash | кӗл (kĕl) | /ˈkʲø̆lʲ/ |
| 169 | to burn | ҫун (śun) | /ɕunˈma/ |
| 170 | road | ҫул (śul) | /ˈɕul/ |
| 171 | mountain | ту (tu) | /ˈtu/ |
| 172 | red | хӗрлӗ (hĕrlĕ) | /ˈχʲø̆rʲlʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 173 | green | симӗс (simĕs), ешӗл (eš̬ĕl) | /ˈsʲimʲ(ɘ)sʲ/, /ˈjeʒʲ(ɘ)lʲ/ |
| 174 | yellow | сарӑ (sară) | /ˈsar(ə)/ |
| 175 | white | шурӑ (šură) | /ˈʃur(ə)/ |
| 176 | black | хура (hura) | /χuˈra/ |
| 177 | night | каҫ (kaś) | /ˈkaɕ/ |
| 178 | day | кун (kun) | /ˈkun/ |
| 179 | year | ҫул (śul) | /ˈɕul/ |
| 180 | warm | ӑшӑ (ăš̬ă) | /ˈŏʒ(ə)/ |
| 181 | cold | сивӗ (sivĕ) | /ˈsʲiʋʲ(ə)/ |
| 182 | full | тулли (tulli) | /tuˈlːi/ |
| 183 | new | ҫӗнӗ (śĕnĕ) | /ˈɕʲø̆nʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 184 | old | кивӗ (kivĕ), ватӑ (vat̬ă) (person) | /kʲiʋʲ(ə)/, /ˈʋat(ə)/ |
| 185 | good | лайӑх (lajăh) | /ˈlaj(ə)x/ |
| 186 | bad | япӑх (jap̬ăh), начар (nač̬ar) | /ˈjab(ə)x/, /naˈd͡ʒar/ |
| 187 | rotten | ҫӗрӗк (śĕrĕk) | /ɕʲø̆rʲ(ə)kʲ/ |
| 188 | dirty | пыльчӑклӑ (pylʹčăklă), варланчӑк (varlanč̬ăk), хура (hura) | /ˈpɯlʲtɕʲəklə/, /ʋarˈlandʑək/, /xuˈra/ |
| 189 | straight | тӳрӗ (türĕ) | /ˈtʲyrʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 190 | round | ҫаврака (śavrak̬a) | /ɕaʋraˈɡa/ |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) | ҫивӗч (śivĕč), вичкӗн (vičkĕn) | /ˈɕʲiʋʲ(ɘ)t͡ʃ/, /ˈʋʲitɕʲkʲɘnʲ/ |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) | мӑка (măk̬a) | /m(ə)ˈɡa/ |
| 193 | smooth | яка (jak̬a), такӑр (tak̬ăr), тӳрӗ (türĕ) | /ˈjaɡa/, /ˈtaɡ(ə)r/, /tʲyrʲ(ɘ)/ |
| 194 | wet | йӗпе (jĕp̬e), нӳрӗ (nürĕ), исленчӗк (islenč̬ĕk) | /jʲɘˈbʲe/, /ˈnʲyrʲ(ɘ)/, /isʲlʲenʲˈdʑʲəkʲ/ |
| 195 | dry | типӗ (tip̬ĕ), хӑрӑк (hărăk) | /tʲibʲ(ɘ)/, /ˈxŏr(ə)k/ |
| 196 | correct | тӗрӗс (tĕrĕs) | /ˈtʲø̆rʲ(ɘ)sʲ/ |
| 197 | near | ҫывӑх (śyvăh) | /ˈɕɯʋ(ə)χ/ |
| 198 | far | инҫе (inś̬e) | /inʲˈɕʲe/ |
| 199 | right | сылтӑм (sylt̬ăm) | /ˈsɯld(ə)m/ |
| 200 | left | сулахай (sulah̬aj) | /sulaˈɣaj/ |
| 201 | at | -ра/-ре (-ra/-re), -та/-те (-ta/-te) | /ˈra/ or /ˈrʲe/, /ˈta/ or /ˈtʲe/ |
| 202 | in | -ра/-ре (-ra/-re), -та/-те (-ta/-te) | /ˈra/ or /ˈrʲe/, /ˈta/ or /ˈtʲe/ |
| 203 | with | -па/-пе (-pa/-pe) | /ˈpa/ or /ˈpʲe/ |
| 204 | and | тата (tat̬a), та (ta), те (te), -па/-пе (-pa/-pe) | /taˈda/, /ˈta/, /ˈtʲe/, /ˈpa/ or /ˈpʲe/ |
| 205 | if | -сан/-сен (-san/-sen), енчен (enč̬en), эхер (eh̬er) | /ˈsan/ or /ˈsʲen/, /jenʲˈdʑʲenʲ/, /eˈxʲerʲ/ |
| 206 | because | мӗншӗн тесен (mĕnš̬ĕn t̬es̬en) | /ˈmʲø̆nʲʒʲɘnʲ dʲezʲenʲ/ |
| 207 | name | ят (jat) | /ˈjat/ |
Notes: