Below is a comparison of Proto-Niger-Congo numerals and supporting reconstructions in lower-level Niger-Congo branches, many of which are tentative branch reconstructions by Tom Güldemann (2018: 142-145) and Pozdniakov (2018).
The numerals are ‘two’, ‘three’, ‘four’, and ‘five’. Güldemann (2018: 147) reconstructs these forms for the numerals 2-5 in Proto-Niger-Congo.
However, Pozdniakov (2018: 293) reconstructs:
| Numeral | Proto-Niger-Congo |
|---|---|
| 1 | *ku-(n)-di (> ni/-in), *do, *gbo/kpo |
| 2 | *ba-di |
| 3 | *tat / *tath |
| 4 | *na(h)i |
| 5 | *tan, *nu(n) |
| 6 | 5+1 |
| 7 | 5+2 |
| 8 | *na(i)nai (< 4 reduplicated) |
| 9 | 5+4 |
| 10 | *pu / *fu |
| 20 | < ‘person’ |
Other lexemes used by Güldemann (2018) as Niger-Congo diagnostic forms (i.e., to determine whether or not a language should be classified as Niger-Congo) are:
| sg. | pl. | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | *mVfront | *TVclose |
| 2 | *mVback | *NVclose |
| Lineage code | Lineage | ‘two’ | ‘three’ | ‘four’ | ‘five’ | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | Niger-Congo | *Ri | *ta(C) | *na(C) | *nU | Güldemann (2018: 147) |
| (U6.A) | Bantoid: Bantu | *-bV.di | *-tá.tu | *-na.i̦ | *-táa.no | Meeussen (1967: 105) |
| (U6.A) | Bantoid: Jarawan | *-ba.ri | *-ta.tu | *-n(E) | – | Gerhardt (1982: 94, 84) |
| (U6.A) | Bantoid: Ekoid | *-ba.(l) | *-Tá(a) | *-nE | *-Tɔ̂.n | Crabb (1965: 68–69, 97, 99) |
| (U6.A) | Bantoid: Mambiloid | *Ba | *ta.R | *na | *tV.n | Connell (2010) |
| (U6.B) | Cross River: Upper | *-ppán- | *ttá.DN | *-nà.(ŋ)i | *tá.ǹ(ò) | Dimmendaal (1978: 243, 267, 273, 312) |
| (U6.B) | Cross River: Lower | *-bà | *-tá | *-nǐàŋ | *-tíò.n | Connell (1991: 340–341) |
| (U6.C) | Kainji-Platoid: Ninzic | *-pah | *-ta.t | *-na.s | *-tó.ŋ | Gerhardt (1983a: 144, 153) |
| (U6.C) | Kainji-Platoid: Central Jukunoid | *-pan | *-ta.r | *(-)NE.(n) | *-to.n | Shimizu (1980,2: 1, 51–52, 108, 61–62); Storch (1999: 373) |
| U6.D | Igboid | *-bʊ̀ wá | *-tɔ́ | *-nɔ̀ | *-tõ̂ | Williamson, Blench, and Ohiri-Aniche (2013: series 551–554) |
| U6.E | Idomoid | *-pà | *-tā | *-nE | *-rūɔ̄ | Armstrong (1983: 111, 116–118, 121) |
| U6.F | Nupoid | *-ba | *-ta | *-nV | *-tu.(N) | Blench (2013d: 133–135) |
| U6.G | Edoid | *-və | *-cha.Gɪ | *-niə | *-chi.Nə.nhi | Elugbe (1986: 150, 153, 211, 228) |
| U6.H | Akpes | *-di.aN | *-sa.s | *-ni.(N) | – | Ibrahim-Arirabiyi (1989: 33, 35) |
| U6.I | Ukaan | *wà | *tá.ɾV | *ná̃.hí̃ | *tʃʊ̀̃.nṼ | Abiodun (1999: 331) |
| U6.J | Oko | -bò.rè ̣ | -ta | -na | u-pi | Atoyebi (2010: 150) |
| U6.K | Owon-Arigidi | *-ji | *-da | *-nɛ | *-tṼ | Fadoro (2010: 90) |
| U6.L | Ayere-Ahan | *-ji | *-ta | *-rEn | *-(n)tu | Blench (2007b: 15); Ogunmodimu (2015: 66) |
| U6.M | Yoruboid | *-jì | *-ta | *-rɪ̃ | *-rɷ̃á̃ | Akinkugbe (1978: 480, 590, 614, 666) |
| U6.N | Gbe | *-’bè | *-tɔ̀̃ | *-nɛ̄ ̃ | *à.tɔ́̃ | Capo (1990: 66–67); Kluge (2000: 141–143) |
| (U6.O) | Ghana-T.-M.: Ka-Togo | ? | *-ta | *-nV | *-to.(N) | Heine (1968: 236–237, 245, 248) |
| (U6.O) | Ghana-T.-M.: Na-Togo | *-NO | *-tE | *-na | *-(to).no | Heine (1968: 236–238, 245, 248) |
| U6.P | Potou-Akanic | *(-)ɲɔ̃ | *-tã | *-nã | – | Stewart (1993: 28, 35, 37; 2002: 215, 223) |
| U6.Q | Ga-Dangme | *-nyɔ̰̄ | *-tɛ̰̄ | *JwE | *-nṵ̄.mɔ̰̄ | Kropp Dakubu (2006: 46, 54) |
| U6.R | Lagoon: Abe | a.ñɔ̃ | a.re | a.lɛ | o.ni | Dumestre et al. (1971: 270–271) |
| U6.S | Ega | -ɲɔ̀ | -tà | -lɛ̀ | -ŋwè | Blench (2004b: 11) |
| U7 | Dakoid | *ba.ra | *ta.ra | *na.sa | *tO.(ŋ)o.na | Boyd (1989b: 170) |
| U8 | Ijoid | *ma̰a̰-mV̰ | *taa.tʊ | *-no̰.ḭ | *tʊ.ŋʊ̰.r̰ɔ̰ | Williamson (2004b: 14, 33, 35) |
| U9.A | Kru | *sO/sÕ | *ta/tã | *(-)na/ɲiɛ | ? | Marchese (1983: 399–400) |
| U9.B | Siamou | nĩ | tya.r | yiro | kwẽ | Prost (1964: 354) |
| U10 | Pere | yɔ̀ ŋgɔ́ | tàː.ŋɔ́ | náː | nû | Creissels (2010: 7, 9, 10) |
| (U11.A) | Atlantic: Cangin | *ana | *a(ɛ)ɠɛ(a)y | ? | ? | Drolc (2005: 203) |
| (U11.B) | Mel: Temnic | *-rə.ŋ | *-sa.s | *-aŋ(ə)lɛ | *(kə)Tamat | Wilson (1961: 62) |
| U11.C | Gola | ti.el | tā́ .(l) | tī ́.nâ | nó.no | Westermann (1921: 39) |
| U11.D | Limba | -le | -ta.t | -na.ṅ | -so̱ hi | Clarke (1922: 94, 96, 142, 144) |
| U11.E | Sua | -ceŋ | -ra.r | -na.n | sɔŋgun | Wilson (2007: 200–201) |
| U11.F | Nalu | -lɛ | pwaat | -na.ŋ | tɛɛduŋ | Wilson (2007: 200–201) |
| U11.G | Rio Nunez | *-lE | *-Tɛ.T | *-nə.ŋ | ? | Wilson (2007: 200–201) |
| (U12) | Mande: Southwest | *fele | *sa(g)ba | *naa.ni | *zɔlɔ | Dwyer (1988: 145); Kastenholz (1996: 188, 189) |
| (U12) | Mande: Niger-Volta | *pela | *jalko | *sireko | *sodu | Schreiber (2008: 327) |
| U13 | Dogon | *leV | *ta.n(dV) | *nai | *nu(m)V | Moran, Forkel and Heath (2016) |
| U14 | Bangime | jíndò | táá.rù | néɛ̀ | núndì | Hantgan (2013: 489) |
| (U15.A) | Central: Oti-Volta | *le | *ʈa | *na:.(si) | *nu | Manessy (1975; 180, 306, 308) |
| (U15.A) | Central: Gan-Dogose | *-nyo | *-sa | *-nyi | *-mU.wa | Miehe (2001: 270) |
| U15.B | Kulangoic | ? | *sA.(r) | *na | *tO | Miehe (2001: 271) |
| U15.C | Miyobe | -tí:.rɛ́ | -tā:nī | -nā | -nūbū | Pali (2011: 262) |
| U15.D | Tiefo | *jɔ̃ | *sã | *ŋ(w)Õ | *kã | Heath, Ouattara, and Hantgan (2017: 40) |
| U15.E | Viemo | nii.ni | saa.si | juumi | kwɛge | Prost (1979: 39) |
| U15.F | Tusian | *ni.nV | *tṼ.nṼ | *(V)nyã | *k(V)lV | Prost (1964: 279); Zaugg-Coretti (2005: 36) |
| U15.G | Samuic | ? | *tV | *naa.(so) | *susu | Miehe (2001: 271) |
| U15.H | Senufo | *Suni | *ta.r(e) | *TiKyEr(E) | *kaKuro | Miehe (2001: 271) |
| U16.A | Tula-Waja | *-rVP | *-taa.T- | *-naa.T | *-nU.(N)- | Kleinewillinghöfer (2012c) |
| U16.B | Longuda | *-Kwa(i) | *-(t)sE.r | *-nyI.r | *-nyO.(N) | Kleinewillinghöfer (2014c) |
| U16.C | Ɓǝna-Mboi | *fEtE | *taa- | *kurun | *-nO.n | Kleinewillinghöfer (2011c) |
| (U16.E) | Samba-Duru (minus Samba) | *-i.tV | *taa.r | *naa.r | *-nO.n- | Boyd (1974: 68, 73, 75); Kleinewillinghöfer (2015c) |
| U16.F | Mumuyic | *zi.ti | *taa.ti | *(d)nee.ti | *maani | Shimizu (1979: 82, 106–107) |
| U16.G | Maya | *iDNE(t) | *taa.t | *naa.t | *nu.ŋ | Kato, Yoder, and Blench (n.d.: v) |
| U16.H | Kebi-Benue | *si.tV | *sa.i | *na.i/na.N | *ndep | Boyd (1974: 68, 73, 75) |
| U16.I | Kimic: Kim | *zī | *ta(’) | *nda | *nũy | Lafarge and Seignobos (1975: 104) |
| U16.K | Day | dīí | tāà | ndāà.g | sāri | Nougayrol (1980: 154, 157, 171, 177) |
| U16.L | Baa~Kwa | gbéè | mwáàn | nà.t | núú | Kleinewillinghöfer (2011b) |
| U16.M | Nyingwom~Kam | yiraak | cà.r | ná.r | ŋwú.n | Kleinewillinghöfer (2015b) |
| U16.N | Fali | cuk | *ta:.n | *na:.n | kɛ̃ɾɛw | Sweetman (1981: 90–91); Kramer (p. c.) |
| U17.A | Gbayaic | *ḷíí.tò/*bùà | *tà.r(à) | *ná.r(á) | *mɔ̀rkɔ̰ ́ | Moñino (1995: 654) |
| U17.B | Zandic | ? | *-ta.(i) | ? | *-SU | Boyd and Nougayrol (1988: 69–71) |
| U17.C | Mbaic | ? | ? | *-na | ? | Pasch (1986: 398) |
| U17.D | Mundu-Baka | *-Si | *-tà | *-na | *Būè | Winkhart (in prep.); cf. Moñino (1988: 101, 106, 133, 142) |
| U17.E | Ngbandic | *-sɛ̀ | *-tá | *-siO | *-kO | Moñino (1988: 101, 106, 133, 142) |
| U17.F | Bandaic | *-Sì | *-tà | *-nā | *mīndû | Moñino (1988: 101, 106, 133, 142) |
| (U17.G) | Ndogoic: South | *(-)s.o | *ta.o | *na.o | *vo.o | Santandrea (1961: 37); cf. Moñino (1988) |
| U18.A | Heibanic | ? | ? | *-aɽŋo | *-ud̪ine | Schadeberg (1981a: 56, 180–181) |
| U18.B | Talodic | *-eḍac | *-ət̪t̪ək | *bəḍandɔ | (derived) | Norton and Alaki (2015: 151) |
| U18.C | Lafofa | pa.d̪ɛ́ɛ́r.iŋ | pa.daa.iŋ | kɛ̂kká | kilíɛgúm | Schadeberg (1981b: 45) |
| U18.D | Rashadic | *-(r)ko(k) | *-V.tta | *-aaram | *-arVm | Schadeberg (2013: 338) |
Numeral reconstructions by Pozdniakov (2018):
| Numeral | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 20 | 100 | 1000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proto-Niger-Congo | *ku-(n)-di (> ni/-in), *do, *gbo/kpo | *ba-di | *tat / *tath | *na(h)i | *tan, *nu(n) | 5+1 | 5+2 | *na(i)nai (< 4 reduplicated) | 5+4 | *pu / *fu | |||
| Proto-Ijo | ? | *n-kɛ̀ni | *die | *mamV | *tató | *nɛ́ín | *túnɔ́ | 5+1 | 5+2 | 4+4 | 5+4 | *(w)ójí | *síí |
| Proto-Bantoid | *m-o-ʔ, m-o-i, m-o-ti, mo-di | *pa/fe, badi (*ba-di?) | *tat | *nai | *tan | *ta-ta(t) (< 3 redupl.?) | *samba/camba (< *c/saN+2?) | *na-nai (< 4 redupl.) | *bukV | *fu, kum/kam | 10*2 | *gbi? ki? 20*5? kam? | ? |
| Proto-Defoid | *ɲɛ́, ka(n) | *jì | *tā | *lɛ(n)/ne, je | *lú(n)/tu(n) | *fà | *byē | *jo/ro | *sá(n), dà | *gwá | *gwú(n)/gbolo | 20*5 | |
| Proto-Yoruba-Igala | *ɲɛ́, ka(n) | *jì | *tā | *lɛ(n) | *lú(n) | *fà | *byē | *jɔ̄ | *sá(n) | *gwá | *gwú(n) | 20*5 | |
| Igala | é-ɲɛ́/ǒ-kâ | è-dʒì | ɛ̀-ta | ɛ̀-lɛ̀ | ɛ̀-lú | ɛ̀-fà | è-bʲe | ɛ̀-dʒɔ | ɛ̀-lá | ɛ̀-ɡʷá | ó-ɡʷú | 20*5 | |
| Yoruba | ē-nḭ́, ɔ̀-kɔ̰̄ | è-jì | ɛ̀-tā | ɛ̀-rḭ̄ | à-rṵ́ | ɛ̀-fà | è-jē | ɛ̀-jɔ̄ | ɛ̀-sɔ̰́ | ɛ̀-wá | ō-gṵ́ | 20*5 | |
| Ariɡidi (dial.) | kɛ̀ɛ́-ɲɛ̃ | kè-ji | ke-dà | ke-nɛ | ké-ntɔ̀ | ke-fà | ke-ɸi | ke-rò | ké-ndà | ké-è | u-ɡbɔrɔ̀ | 20*5 | |
| Ayere (dial.) | ì̃-kǎ̃ | ì-dʒì | ī-tā | ī̃-jē̃ | ī̃-tú̃ | ì-fà | ī-dʒʷī | ī-rō | ī̃-dẫ | ī-ɡʷá | ē-ɡbɔ̄lɔ̄ | 20*5 | |
| Proto-Cross | *kin/cin, *ni(n), *gboŋ/gwan | *bae, *po/pa | *ta(t)/ca(t) | *na(n) | *tan, *gbo(k) | 5+1, diʔ, 3+3 | 5+2 | 4+4 | 10–1, 5+4 | *kpo/kop, fo? ʔo? *job | *ti/ci ? dip ? | 20*5 | |
| Proto-Edoid | *kpa, wo/gwo/vu | *va/və | *sa | *ni | *sien/su(w)on | 3PL, 3 | *ghie? | 4 redupl. | *cien/sin | *gbe, kpe | *gie/jie | 20*5 | *du, ria/li |
| Proto-Idomoid | *nze/je/nye/ye, kpokpoh?a | *pa, miyeh? | *ta/la | *nɛ̀, ndo, he | *do/lo, ho, ro/rwo | *rowo/riwi, ji, hili | 5+2, renyi | 5+3 | 5+4 | *gwo/wo, jwo | *fu/hu, su | 20*5, 10*10 | |
| Proto-Igboid | *tù, ŋìnɛ́ (Ekpeye)? | *bɔ́ | *tɔ́ | *nɔ́ | *sé | *ʃıi̋ | *saà | 5+3 | *totu/tolu | *ɗì/ri/li | *ɡwʊ̃́/ɣʰʊ̄, kpɔrɔ | 20*5 | *puk(w)u |
| Proto-Jukunoid | *(d)zun? ʃɪʃ́ e? tə́ŋ? | *pa(n)/fa(n) | *ta | *nye | *tsoŋ | 5+1 | 5+2 | 4 redupl., 5+3 | 5+4 | *jwe, wo? kur? | ‘body’ (di) | 20*5 | < Hausa |
| Proto-Kainji | *tsin, hin, din, jan/yan, *te … | *re, *ba/bi, -pu? | *tat | *nas | *tan | *ci(hi)n, *tas (< 3?), *tel | 5+2 | *ro/ru, *5+3, *kunle(v)/kunlo | 5+4, *10–1, *jiro | *pwa, *turu, *kuri, *kup/kpa | 10*2, *ʃín/ʃík | ? | |
| Proto-Platoid | *(y)in, di(n), jir, nìŋ | *pa/fa/ha, ba/wa. | *tat | *nai/nas | *tu(ku)n | 5+1, 3PL | 5+2, 4+3 | 4 redupl., 5+3 | 5+4, 10–1, 12–3, tu(ku)n | *kop, gur/wur | 12+8 | ? | |
| Proto-Nupoid | *ni/nyi, wi? ri? | *ba | *ta | *na/ni | *tun/tnu/tsun, hi? | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | *wo | *ʃi, hu? | 20*5 | ? |
| Proto-Ikaan | *ʃí | *wà | *tāːs/h-rāhr | *nāʲ/nā/náhḭ́ | *tòːn/h-rʊ̀ːn/sò̰n/cʊ̰̀nv̰ | *h-ɾàdá/sàdá/sàrá | *h-ránèʃì (’6+1’) | *nàːnáʲ (4 redupl.) | *h-ráòʃì (X-1) | *ò-pú/fú | *ù-ɡbɔ́rɔ́ (< ‘sack’), * à-ɡbá | *à-ɡbá à-h-ruǹ(20*5) | |
| Akpes | í-ɡbōn, ē-kìnì | ī-dīan(ì) | ī-sās(ì) | ī-nīŋ(ì) | ī-ʃōn(ì) | ī-tʃānās(ì) | ī-tʃēnētʃ(ì) | ā-nāānīŋ(ì) (4 redupl.) | ɔ̀-kpɔ̄lɔ̀ʃ(ì) | ī-yōf(ì), t-ēfī | ɔ̄-ɡbɔ̄(lɔ̄) | ī-ɡbɔ́ ʃōnì (20*5) | |
| Oko | ɔ̀-ɔ́rɛ, ɔ̀-jɛ́rɛ | ɛ̀-bɔ̀rɛ̀ | ɛ̀-ta | ɛ̀-na | ù-pi | ɔ̀-pɔ́nɔ̀ɔ́rɛ (5+1) | ú-fɔ́mbɔ̀rɛ̀ (5+2) | ɔ̀nɔ́kɔ́nɔkɔ́nɔ (4 redupl.?) | ù-bɔ́ɔ̀rɛ̀ (10–1) | ɛ̀-fɔ | ɔ́-ɡbɔlɔ | í-pì | |
| Lufu | ù-tí | (ba)-máhà | bá-tá | ba-ɲì | bá-tsó | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | ú-wó | e-ce | ? | |
| Benue-Congo | *ni, kin/cin (< k-in?), gbon, (o-)di(n)?, (o-)ti? | *ba-di/ba-ji, pa? ba(i)? | *tat | *nai | *tan/ton | 3PL/3 redupl./3+3, 5+1 | 5+2 | 4 redupl. | 5+4 | *pu/fu, kup/kop, gwo/jwo | *absent? gwa/gwe? < ‘person’? | *absent? 20*5 | |
| Proto-Gbe | *è-ɖe/ɖe-kpo | *è-ve/e-wè | *è-tɔ̀̃ | *è-nɛ̀ | *à-tɔ̃́ɔ̃ | *à-dɛ̃́/zɛ̃́ | ‘hand’+2, 5+2 | *e-ɲí, ‘hand’+3 | 8+1, 5+4 | *e-wó, *bula | 10*2, ko | 40*2+20 | *à-kpé, kotokũ |
| Proto-Attié | *kə(n) | *mwə(n) | *ha(n) | *dʒí(n) < *kɥe? | *bə(n) | *mu(n) | *nson | *ma-4? 2 de 10? | *ŋgwan | *kɛŋ | ‘hand’ (bwa?)*2? | *ja | *a-kpi |
| Proto-Potou | *bɛ̰̀/brɛ̀, ló-ɓō; ce/seno | *no̰ɔ̰́ | *ɗyá/je | *ɗi/ni | *na̰ | *kwa | *6+1 | *ɓyá/gɓī | *ɓrɔ̀, tru᷄ | *wɔ | *pɛ̰ | *ya | |
| Proto-Western Tano | *o-kue | *a-ɲu(n) | *n-ha(n) | *n-na(n) | *n-nu(n) | *n-cɪ́ɛ̀/híɛ̀ | *n-cʋ̀n, à-fà | *mɔ̀-kʋ̀ɛ́, à-nɛ̀mrɔ̰̀ | *puálɛ́hʋ̀n, brúkú | *ò-bùlṵ́, è-dí | *ɛ́-fɪ(n) | *ɛ̀-vá/ɛ̀-yǎ, átá | *a-kpi |
| Proto-Akanic | *ba-kó(n) | *mie-nú | *mie-nsá(n) | *náín | *núḿ | *sìá(n) | *só(n) | *twé/cué | *n-króń | *dú | 10*2 | *ɔ-ha | *a-píḿ |
| Proto-Bia | *ko(n) | *nu, ɲɔ̀(n) | *sa(n) | *na(n) | *nu(n)/nu(m) | *sia(n) | *su(n) | *cʊɛ/twɛ | *ǹɡɔ̀̃lã̀ , nkróń | *bulu | 10*2 | *ya | *akpi |
| Proto-Northern Guang | *kɔ́ | *ɲɔ́ | *sá | *ná | *nú(n) | *síyé | *súnɔ́ | *bùrùwá, kwé | *kpɔnɔ, sàngɔ́ɔ́ʔ | *dú | *o-ko, 10*2 | *lafa (< Akan?) | *kpɪŋ́, pim |
| Proto-Southern Guang | *kɔ | *ɲɔ́ | *sa(n) | *nɛ(n)/na | *nu/ni | *siɛ(n) | *súnɔ̋ | *twi/cwi | *kpunɔ | *du | 10*2 | *ɔ̀lɔ̀fɛ́/lafa | *a-kpe |
| Proto-Guang | *kɔ | *ɲɔ́ | *sa(n) | *na(n) | *nu(n) | *siɛ(n) | *súnɔ(n) | *bùrùwá, kwé/cwi | *kpunɔ, sàngɔ́ɔ́ʔ | *du | 10*2, ko? | *lafa | *kpi(N), pim |
| Proto-Ka-Togo | *di | *bha, din | *ta | *na/nɛ | *tu(N) | *golo/ koro | 6+1 | 4*2, nsɛ/lɛ? | 8+1? 10-1 | *fo/wo, te, bula | 10*2 | *lafa? | *a-kpe |
| Proto-Na-Togo | *i-wɛ/kpɛ ?, di(N) ? | *i-nyɔ | *i-ta | *i-na | *i-no(N) | *golo/kolo, ku | 6+1 | 4PL | 10-1 | *fo, ɗu, təb | 10*2, ɔ-ɖɔ(n), ā-kōō, dìkpìlìn | 20*5, lofa, u-ga | *a-kpi, pim ? |
| Proto-Agneby | *N-kpɔ, ɲ-âm, *a-ri | *a-ɲʊ̰/nʊ̄ | *a-ti(N)/ri | *a-nḭ́/la, jar | *o-ne, lɔ̀hʊ̰̀, jên | *hu(n) | 6+1, bu(n) | *è-pyè, wo(n) | *bare(-n) | *nɛ(n) (< 5pl?), diw/ liw | < ‘hand’; *2?,li-kŋ | *ja, 20*5 | *a-kpi |
| Proto-Awikam-Alladian | *ɛ-to̰ | *á-ɲɔ̰, ā̰-yrɛ | *á̰-zá̰, ā̰-ò | *à-ná̰, ā̰-zɔ̀ | *à-ɲú, ɛ̄-nrì | *á-wá, ɛ̄-wrè | *ɛ́-byɔ̰́, ɛ̄-bwḛ̀ | *ɛ̀-tyɛ́, ē-ɥrì | *ɛ́-mrɔ̰́ | *è-jú, ɛ̄-và | *ɛ̀-vɛ́, ɛ̄-ɥá | 20*5, àkpá-ɲú | |
| Proto-Kwa | *di-kpo | *ɲɔ, *di? | *ta | *na | *nu(n), ton | *golo/kolo, kua, ciɛ | 6+1 | 4PL, kwe/kye | 10–1? | *fo/wo, bula, du | 10*2, ko | 20*5, lofa, ja/gya? | *kpi, pim |
| Proto-Kru | *do, (g)bolo | *so(n) | *taa(n) | *na | *gbə/gbo, mm | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | *pu, kʊgba? | *golo | 20*5 | 400*2+200 |
| Laal | ɓɨ̀dɨĺ (ɓɨ̀-dɨĺ ?) | ʔīsī (ʔī-sī?) | māā | ɓīsān (ɓī-sān?) | sāb, swa- | cìcààn | 5+2 | 4 redupl. | yàŋjáŋ | tūū | 10*2 | 10- ‘big’ | < Baguirmi < Hausa |
| Proto-Gbaya-Manza-Ngbaka | *kpɔ́k/kpóm ;ndáŋ | *bùà, *ɭíítò; bùwá (bù-wá?)/vàχ, -too | *tàr(à) | *nár(á) | *mɔ̀ɔ̀rɔ̰́/mɔ̀r-kɔ́ ̰ | 5+1, (ɡàzɛ̀lɛ̀) | 5+2 | 5+3; 4PL | 5+4;kùsì | *ɓú/ɓú-kɔ́ | 10*2 | *gɔ́m-màá ; < Lingala | < French ‘sack’, < Lingala |
| Proto-Ngbandi | *kɔ(i) | *sɛ | *ta | *siɔ/syɔ | *kɔ̃/kṵ̄ | *mana, mɛ̀rɛ̄ | *mbara-mbara | *miambe/myɔ̀mbè | *ɡumbaya | *sui, bàlé | 10*2 | *nɡbanɡbo | < Lingala, Arabic |
| Proto-Sere-Ngbaka-Mba | *kí-lī, sa | *ī-jō/ī-yō/úé | *bíá-tá/ā-tā | *lu, bīà-nɡì ~ bīà-mà | *ì-sìbē/bī-sùè | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | *ŋɡbɔ̃̄/bà-wē | ‘people one’ | *ndɔ̄ŋɡbʉ́, nɡbànɡbù < Sango | *sákì/sākè (< Sango < French) |
| Proto-Dogon | *túrú/tumɔ, ti(i) | *lɛ́(y)/lɔ́(y)/nɛ́(y)/nɔ́(y) | *taan | *nay(n), kɛɛso | *núnɛ́ɛ́(n)/nǔː(yn)/nûm | *kuro/kule | *suli/soli/soye | *gá(a)rà, sagi, sele (< Mande?) | *túwɔ́ | *pɛ́rú/pɛ́lú | 10*2 | 80 (síìŋ/súŋ) +20, < Fula | 800 (múɲú) +200 |
| Bangime | tòré/tǐyɛ́ (in counting) | jíndò | táárù | nìjɛ́ | nǔndí | kěré | kǐjé | sàáɡín (< Mande?) | tɛ́ɡò | kúrɛ́ | tàáw̃á | tɛ̀ɛ̀mɛ̀dɛ́rɛ́ (< Fula ) | mǔʒú |
| Proto-Oti-Volta | *den/yen, ni, de? | *li/yi | *ta(t) | *naa(si) | *nu | *lob/yob | *lob-le; (6+1)?; poi(n)? | *ni | *wey/weʔ | *pi(k) | 10*2 | *kob, kook | |
| Proto-Grusi | *do/du/lu, de/re | *lɛ/le/ne/ɲi | *toro/toso/tɔ | *naare/naasi/na | *nu/nʊ | *dʊ/lo-ɖo/lo-ro, 5+1 | *pɛ/lʊ-pɛ/lʊ-bɛ, 5+2 | 4 redupl. | 10–1, nibi/nibu (ni-bi/bu?) | *fu/fi | 10*2? | 20*5? bi? kɔwa/kɔɔ? | *kpoŋ/ɡboŋ |
| Proto-Lobi-Dyan | *bɪɛ̀l, *dò | *nyɔ̀(n) | *thɛ̀̃s(i)/tʰěr | *nã́ | *mɔ̀ɩ̀/*mà/*mɔ̀lɔ̀, dìèmà | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 10–1 | *ni-kpo, nyʊ̀ɔ́r | *kpèle, ceeru | *tàmâ | *ɡbʊ̀lanɪ, 100*10 |
| Proto-Mande | *do, kelen | *pila/fila | *sakpa/sagba/sawa, ʔààkɔ̃/yààká? | *náání/nɑ̃ɑ̃i | *dúuru/sɔ́ɔ́ru, wo? ko? *tan? (> ‘10’?), nù̃? | *wɔrɔ (wɔ-rɔ? ‘hand’+1?), t(s)um? | *wɔ-X-fila (‘hand’+2?) | *seki/segi (< ‘plus’-3?) | *kònonto/kɔ̀nɔndɔ(n) (10–1, 5+4) | *pu/fu, tan (< *‘5’?) | < ‘human’ | *kɛmɛ, 20*5 | *wulu, wa(g)a |
| Proto-Southern Mel | *pìlɛ̀/pilɔ (< *lɛ/lɔ?), bul, mɔ | *tsiŋ/tiŋ | *ra | *hiɔl | *wan/wen | 5+1 | |||||||
| Proto-Northern Mel | *-in | *-rəŋ | *-sas | *-ŋkɨlɛ/-nlɛ | *kə-ʈamaʈ (< * kə- ʈa ‘hand’?) | 5+1 | |||||||
| Proto-Mel | *-in, < *lɛ/lɔ? | *díŋ/tsiŋ/tiŋ, -rəŋ | *tat (> sas, ra) | *hiɔl, -ŋkɨlɛ/< -nlɛ? | *wan/wen, < ‘hand’ | 5+1 | |||||||
| Proto-Cangin | *no | *nak | *haj/ʔéeyə | *nik-iɭ < *nak-iɭ? | *jat (< ‘hand’), ʔiːp | 5+1 | |||||||
| Proto-Tenda | *ɓɑt, ndi/riye/diye/iye, mbɔ | *ki | *taʈ | *næ̀x | *mbəɗ (< ‘hand’), cɔ/njɔ | 5+1 | |||||||
| Proto-North Atlantic | *di(n)/li(n)/ye(n)/ne(n), mbɔ | *di(k), nak | *taʈ | *nak | < ‘hand’, jo, tVk/rog, rib/ʔiːp | 5+1 | |||||||
| Bak | don/lɔŋ, -anor, əkon | ɬubəʔ, -təb/-təw, -puguʈ/pugus | feeɡir, yanʈ/jenʈ, habi/yabi | baakər/wakər, tasala/tahala | ‘hand’, tɔk, tən? | paag/paaj, 5+1 | 6+1, 5+2, jand/jaanʔ/ cand (Pepel) | 4PL/4 redupl., ʊʌs | 5+4, 10–1, 6+3 | 5pl (‘hands’), (n)taaj, taim, -suwan | ‘person’, 10*2 | borrowed | kʊnt (borrowed?) |
| Sua | sɔn | cen | b-rar | b-nan | sɔŋɡun | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | tɛŋi | 10*2 | kɛmɛ | uŋ-kɔntu |
| Gola | ɡuùŋ | tì-yèe/tī-el/cel | taai/tāāl | tii-nàŋ | nɔ̀ɔ̀nɔ̀ŋ | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | zììyà | kpɛ̀(w)ùŋ | 20*5 | < English |
| Limba | ha-nthe | ka-le/kaa-ye | ka-tati | ka-naŋ | ka-sɔhi | 5+1 | 5+2 | 5+3 | 5+4 | kɔhi | 10*2 | kɛmɛ, wuli (borrowed) | wulu (< Mande) |