This is a Swadesh list of Nakh languages, specifically Chechen, Ingush and Bats, compared with that of 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 | Chechen | Ingush | Bats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | со (so) | со (so) | so |
| 2 | you (singular) |
хьо (ḥʳo) | хьо (ḥʳo) | ħo |
| 3 | he | |||
| 4 | we | (excl.) тхо (txo), (incl.) вай (vaj) | (excl.) тхо (txo), (incl.) вай (vaj) | (excl.) txo, (incl.) vej |
| 5 | you (plural) |
шу | шо (šo) | šu |
| 6 | they | уьш | уж (už) | obi |
| 7 | this | ] | ер (jer) | e |
| 8 | that | ] | дӏара (dˀara) | o |
| 9 | here | ] | (ess.) ise, (lat.) isev | |
| 10 | there | ] | (ess.) osi, (lat.) osiv / uis | |
| 11 | who | мила | мала (mala) | meⁿ |
| 12 | what | хӏун | фу (fu) | wux |
| 13 | where | ] | (ess.) miče, (lat.) mič | |
| 14 | when | маца | маца (maca) | macaⁿ |
| 15 | how | муха | мишта (mišta) | moħ |
| 16 | not | ца, -ац | ца (ca), -ац | co |
| 17 | all | дерриг | деррига (derriga) | wumaɁ |
| 18 | many | дукха | дукха (duqa) | duq |
| 19 | some | ] | meⁿ / meɬmi | |
| 20 | few | ] | k'aʒik' | |
| 21 | other | ] | qeⁿ | |
| 22 | one | цхьаъ | цаӏ (caˀ) | cħa |
| 23 | two | шиъ | шиъ (šiʔ) | ši |
| 24 | three | кхоъ | кхоъ (qoʔ) | qo |
| 25 | four | диъ | диъ (diʔ) | d-ʕivɁ |
| 26 | five | пхиъ | пхиъ (pxiʔ) | pxi |
| 27 | big | доккха | доккха (doqqa) | d-aqqoⁿ |
| 28 | long | деха | дӏаьха (dˀäxa) | d-axxeⁿ |
| 29 | wide | ] | šoriⁿ | |
| 30 | thick | ] | jupst'iⁿ // d-uq'iⁿ | |
| 31 | heavy | деза | деза (deza) | d-ac'iⁿ |
| 32 | small | ] | зӏамига (zˀamiga) | k'ac'k'oⁿ |
| 33 | short | доца | лоаца (loaca) | d-acuⁿ |
| 34 | narrow | ] | kottiⁿ | |
| 35 | thin | дуткъа | диткъа (ditqʼa) | d-ut'q'iⁿ |
| 36 | woman | ] | кхалсаг (qalsag) | pst'uin |
| 37 | man (adult male) |
] | маӏа саг (maˀa sag) | st'ak' |
| 38 | man (human being) |
стаг | саг (sag) | admieⁿ |
| 39 | child (a youth) |
бер | бер (ber) | bader |
| 40 | wife | ] | pst'u | |
| 41 | husband | майра | мар (mar) | mar |
| 42 | mother | нана | нана (nana) | nan |
| 43 | father | да | да (da) | dad |
| 44 | animal | ] | aq (wild animal) | |
| 45 | fish | чӏара | чкъаьра (čqʼära) | č'ar |
| 46 | bird | олхазар | оалхазар (oalxazar) | ħac'uk' |
| 47 | dog | жӏаьла | жӏали (žˀali) | pħu |
| 48 | louse | меза | маза (maza) | mac' |
| 49 | snake | ] | бӏехал (bˀexal) | laħ |
| 50 | worm | нӏаьна (nˀäna) | нӏана (nˀana) | ნჵან (n'an) |
| 51 | tree | ] | га (ga) | xeⁿ |
| 52 | forest | ] | ħuⁿ | |
| 53 | stick (of wood) |
] | čxir | |
| 54 | fruit | ] | xil | |
| 55 | seed | ] | ги (gi) | oɁ |
| 56 | leaf | гӏа | гӏа (ğa) | potol |
| 57 | root | олам | овла (ovla) | ʒir |
| 58 | bark (of tree) |
] | коаст (koast) | kerk |
| 59 | flower | ] | bubuk' | |
| 60 | grass | ] | buc | |
| 61 | rope | ] | karsaⁿ | |
| 62 | skin (of a person) |
цӏока | цӏока (cʼoka) | qaqaⁿ |
| 63 | meat (as in flesh) |
] | дулх (dulx) | ditx |
| 64 | blood | цӏий | цӏий (cʼii) | c'ig |
| 65 | bone | даьӏахк | тӏехк (tʼexk) | ʒol |
| 66 | fat (noun) |
мохь | мухь (muḥʳ) | sacxim |
| 67 | egg | хӏоа | фуъ (fuʔ) | gagaⁿ |
| 68 | horn | маӏа | муӏа (muˀa) | mʕaɁ |
| 69 | tail | цӏога | цӏог (cʼog) | muġbo |
| 70 | feather (rather not down) |
] | бедар (bedar) | bumbul |
| 71 | hair | чо (čo) | чо (čo) | ჩო (čo) |
| 72 | head | корта | корта (korta) | kort |
| 73 | ear | лерг | лерг (lerg) | lark' |
| 74 | eye | бӏаьрг | бӏарг (bˀarg) | bʕark' |
| 75 | nose | мара | мераж (meraž) | marɬ |
| 76 | mouth | батт (batt) | баге (bage) | ბაქ (bak) |
| 77 | tooth (rather not molar) |
церг (cerg) | царг (carg) | ცარკ (carḳ) |
| 78 | tongue | мотт (mott) | мотт (mott) | მოტტ (moṭṭ) |
| 79 | fingernail | мӏара | мӏара (mˀara) | mʕejr |
| 80 | foot | ког (kog) | ког (kog) | ქოკ (koḳ) |
| 81 | leg | ког (kog) | ког (kog) | ქოკ (koḳ) |
| 82 | knee | гола | го (go) | goug |
| 83 | hand | куьг | кулг (kulg) | t'ot' |
| 84 | wing | ] | p'ʕaⁿ | |
| 85 | belly | ] | че (če) | gagaɁ |
| 86 | guts | ] | ejħ | |
| 87 | neck | ворта | фоарт (foart) | sak'er |
| 88 | back | ] | suk' | |
| 89 | breast | накха | накха (naqa) | t'ar |
| 90 | heart | дог (dog) | дог (dog) | დოკ (doḳ) |
| 91 | liver | доӏах (doˀax) | дийхк (diı̇xk) | დჵეჸ (d'eʾ) |
| 92 | to drink | мала | мела (mela) | maɬar |
| 93 | to eat | даа | даа (daa) | d-aq'ar |
| 94 | to bite | цергаш йохка | царгаш йохка (cargaš joxka) | qaħar |
| 95 | to suck | ] | d-aqar | |
| 96 | to spit | ] | tuj qottar | |
| 97 | to vomit | ] | et't'itar | |
| 98 | to blow (as wind) |
] | ħeqar | |
| 99 | to breathe | ] | sa dux daxar | |
| 100 | to laugh | ] | delar | |
| 101 | to see | ] | го (go) | dagar |
| 102 | to hear | хаза | хаза (xaza) | xac'ar |
| 103 | to know (a fact) |
хаа | ха (xa) | xaɁar |
| 104 | to think | ] | dak'lavar | |
| 105 | to smell (sense odor) |
] | ħejč' samsar | |
| 106 | to fear | ] | qerɬar | |
| 107 | to sleep | наб ян | наб е (nab je) | toħar |
| 108 | to live | ] | d-axar | |
| 109 | to die | дала | дала (dala) | d-alar |
| 110 | to kill | ден | де (de) | d-ʕevar |
| 111 | to fight | ] | letar | |
| 112 | to hunt (transitive) |
] | aqex d-ac'ar | |
| 113 | to hit | ] | toxar | |
| 114 | to cut | ] | tit'ar | |
| 115 | to split | ] | d-eq'ar | |
| 116 | to stab (or stick) |
] | ap'q'ar | |
| 117 | to scratch (an itch) |
] | qapsar | |
| 118 | to dig | ] | axk'ar | |
| 119 | to swim | нека дан | нек де (nek de), наьк де | curi |
| 120 | to fly | лела | лела (lela) | p'ʕanar lelar |
| 121 | to walk | даха | даха (daxa) | lelar |
| 122 | to come | ] | ва (va) | d-oɁar |
| 123 | to lie (as on one's side) |
] | алла (alla) | d-išar |
| 124 | to sit | ӏан | вагӏа (vağa) | ʕa-d-aġar |
| 125 | to stand | латта | латта (latta) | lattar |
| 126 | to turn (change direction) |
] | d-erc'ar | |
| 127 | to fall (as in drop) |
] | ak'ar | |
| 128 | to give | дала | дала (dala) | d-aɬar |
| 129 | to hold (in one's hand) |
] | lacar | |
| 130 | to squeeze | ] | ] | |
| 131 | to rub | ] | ħaq-d-ar | |
| 132 | to wash | ] | d-ittar | |
| 133 | to wipe | ] | ] | |
| 134 | to pull | ] | oc'ar | |
| 135 | to push | ] | d-ožar | |
| 136 | to throw | ] | qasar | |
| 137 | to tie | ] | axk'ar | |
| 138 | to sew | ] | abar | |
| 139 | to count | ] | dak'ar-d-ar | |
| 140 | to say | ала | ала (ala) | aɬar |
| 141 | to sing | ] | moqbar | |
| 142 | to play | ] | lap'c'ar | |
| 143 | to float | ] | labžar | |
| 144 | to flow | ] | ] | |
| 145 | to freeze | ] | ] | |
| 146 | to swell | ] | d-est'ar | |
| 147 | sun | малх | малх (malx) | matx |
| 148 | moon | бутт | бутт (butt) | butt |
| 149 | star | седа | седкъа (sedqʼa) | t'ʕir |
| 150 | water | хи (xi) | хий (xii) | ხი (xi) |
| 151 | to rain | ] | q'ar | |
| 152 | river | хи (xi) | хий (xii) | ხი (xi) |
| 153 | lake | ] | gub | |
| 154 | sea (as in ocean) |
] | zġva | |
| 155 | salt | туьха | тух (tux) | tuix |
| 156 | stone | ] | кхера (qera) | qer |
| 157 | sand | гӏум | гӏум (ğum) | kviš |
| 158 | dust | ] | t'k'mel | |
| 159 | earth (as in soil) |
латта | лаьтта (lätta) | latt |
| 160 | cloud | марха | морх (morx) | doxk' |
| 161 | fog | ] | buġ | |
| 162 | sky | ] | ca | |
| 163 | wind (as in breeze) |
мох (mox) | мух (mux) | მოხ (mox) |
| 164 | snow | ло̄ (loo) | лоа (loa) | ლავ (lav) |
| 165 | ice | ша (ša) | ша (ša) | ფშა (pša) |
| 166 | smoke | кӏур (kʼur) | кӏур (kʼur) | კურ (ḳur) |
| 167 | fire | цӏе (cʼe) | цӏи (cʼi) | წე (c̣e) |
| 168 | ashes | йукъ, юкъ (juqʼ, juqʼ) | йокъ (joqʼ) | ჲოპყ (yoṗq̇) |
| 169 | to burn (intransitive) |
дага | дага (daga) | ak'ar |
| 170 | road | некъ (neqʼ) | никъ (niqʼ) | ნიყ (niq̇) |
| 171 | mountain | лам | лоам (loam) | loum |
| 172 | red | цӏен | цӏе (cʼe) | c'egeⁿ |
| 173 | green | баьццара | баьццара (bäccara) | apeⁿ |
| 174 | yellow | ] | ӏажагӏа (ˀažağa) | k'ap'raš |
| 175 | white | кӏайн | кӏай (kʼaj) | k'uiⁿ |
| 176 | black | ] | ʕarč'iⁿ | |
| 177 | night | буьйса | бийса (biı̇sa) | buisa |
| 178 | day (daytime) |
] | de | |
| 179 | year | шо (šo) | шу (šu) | შო (šo) |
| 180 | warm (as in weather) |
довха | дӏайха (dˀajxa) | dapxeⁿ |
| 181 | cold (as in weather) |
шийла | шийла (šiı̇la) | pšeliⁿ |
| 182 | full | дуьззина | дизза (dizza) | duc'in |
| 183 | new | керла | керда (kerda) | c'in |
| 184 | old | ] | q'ejn // tišiⁿ | |
| 185 | good | дика | дика (dika) | ġazeⁿ |
| 186 | bad | ] | mossiⁿ | |
| 187 | rotten (as a log) |
] | d-axk'-d-alin | |
| 188 | dirty | ] | mut'oreⁿ | |
| 189 | straight | ] | nipsiⁿ | |
| 190 | round | ] | герга (gerga) | gogriⁿ |
| 191 | sharp (as a knife) |
] | ʕiriⁿ | |
| 192 | dull (as a knife) |
] | ] | |
| 193 | smooth | ] | šareⁿ | |
| 194 | wet | ] | t'at'eⁿ | |
| 195 | dry (adjective) |
декъа | декъа (deqʼa) | d-aq'iⁿ |
| 196 | right (correct) |
] | nipsiⁿ | |
| 197 | near | ] | гаргара (gargara) | garg |
| 198 | far | ] | гаьнара (gänara) | čaq |
| 199 | right (side) |
] | at't'iⁿ | |
| 200 | left (side) |
] | ariⁿ | |
| 201 | at | ] | -go | |
| 202 | in | ] | ču | |
| 203 | with (accompanying) |
] | -ciⁿ | |
| 204 | and | ] | je | |
| 205 | if | ] | -ħe | |
| 206 | because | ] | oquindalla me | |
| 207 | name | цӏе (cʼe) | цӏи (cʼi) | წე (c̣e) |