The following list of over 200 Proto-Nilotic lexical roots is from Dimmendaal (1988: 29-64).[1]
| No. | Gloss | Proto-Nilotic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | abandon, let | *pal |
| 2 | adjust, put in order | *tɪʀ |
| 3 | adultery, commit | *lɔm |
| 4 | age, become old | *tɪ |
| 4 | wear down | *ɪ-tɪ |
| 5 | ancestor | *k-wa- |
| 6 | animal, wild | *tyaŋ(ɪ) |
| 7 | antbear, pangolin | *mɔk |
| 8 | approach | *ɲɪk |
| 9 | armpit | *kʊɗɪkʊɗɪ |
| 10 | bad | *ʀɔ |
| 11 | bark of tree, peel | *pɛr-ta |
| 12 | beat severely, smash | *ɗoŋ |
| 13 | beat severely, smash | *’jaʀ |
| 14 | bird | *(k-)wɪɲɔ |
| 15 | bite, sting | *kɔɲ |
| 16 | blister | *bul(bul) |
| 17 | blow | *kʊt̪ |
| 18 | bone | *käw |
| 19 | bowels, intestines | *cin |
| 20 | brains | *kʊ-ŋɪt̪ |
| 21 | breast | *kɪ-t̪ɪn |
| 22 | bedbug | *t̪ɔr |
| 23 | build, frame (house) | *tɛk |
| 24 | burn (out), bake | *nam |
| 25 | buttock, hind leg | *ka-wʊt̪ɛ |
| 26 | call | *lʊŋ |
| 27 | cheek, jaw | *ma-t̪aŋ |
| 28 | circumcise, cut | *mʊr |
| 29 | cloud | *pɔɔl |
| 30 | (be) coagulated, clouded | *ɗik |
| 31 | collect, come together | *(y)ʊm |
| 31 | gather | *ɪ-(y)ʊm |
| 32 | come (singular) | *ɓun, pl. *pɔ |
| 33 | compensate, reimburse | *ɪ-cʊl |
| 34 | cough | *qɔl |
| 35 | count | *kwɛn |
| 36 | cover (verb) | *muk |
| 37 | cow | *d̪ɛŋ, pl. *d̪ʊk |
| 38 | crippled, lame | *ŋwal |
| 39 | crocodile | *ɲaŋ (?) |
| 40 | cut (general) | *ɗuŋ |
| 41 | cut with an axe | *’jɛp |
| 42 | cut off front leg of animal | *ɪ-was |
| 43 | dark, black | *mut̪ |
| 44 | day, sun | *pɛʀat |
| 45 | deaf, dumb | *mɪŋ |
| 46 | deceive | *ŋal |
| 47 | desire | *mar |
| 48 | die | *t̪ɔ |
| 49 | discharge | *lak |
| 50 | door | *kɛka |
| 51 | dove | *kuur |
| 52 | drink | *mat̪ |
| 53 | drop, set free, cause to be free | *ɪ-tyak |
| 54 | dream | *rʊ’j |
| 55 | drunk, get, intoxicated | *mɛʀ |
| 56 | dry season | *ka-mey |
| 57 | dung | *wɔr, *mäʀ |
| 58 | ear | *yit̪ |
| 59 | eat, chew | *ɲam |
| 60 | err | *sac |
| 61 | eye | *(k)ɔŋ, pl. *(k)ɔɲ |
| 62 | fall | *pʊt̪ |
| 63 | fat, oil, grease | *mɔ-(ʀ) |
| 64 | father, ancestor | *k-wa |
| 65 | finger, toe | *mɔr |
| 66 | fire | *ma(-c) |
| 67 | fire sticks | *piɣ-on |
| 68 | firewood | *kʊ-jɛn, *kʊ-yɛn |
| 69 | flash | *lyal |
| 70 | flower, blossom | *tʊr |
| 71 | fly (noun) | *kɔ-lyaŋ |
| 72 | fly, jump | *pär |
| 73 | foam, broth | *pʊk |
| 74 | forest, bushy country | *t̪im |
| 75 | fork, branch, bifurcate | *kar |
| 76 | four | *(ɔ)ŋwan |
| 77 | giraffe | *kɔ-ʀɪ |
| 78 | grey(ish) | *pʊsɪ |
| 79 | grandmother | *ɗa |
| 80 | grind | *ŋaq |
| 81 | grow (intransitive) | *pɪt̪ |
| 82 | guinea-worm (Filaria medinensis) | *t̪yew |
| 83 | hatch | *bek |
| 84 | hate, abhor, be hostile towards | *man |
| 85 | head | *ko-we(-c) |
| 86 | he-goat | *k-waʀɔ |
| 87 | help, share | *ŋar |
| 88 | herd (noun) | *kwat |
| 89 | hold, have, lift up | *tɪŋ |
| 90 | hump | *ʀʊk |
| 91 | hurt, wound | *rem |
| 92 | ignite, take fire | *cwɪɲ |
| 92 | kindle fire | *ɪ-cwɪɲ |
| 93 | insult | *mɔʀ |
| 94 | intercourse, have sexual | *(ɪ-)maɲ |
| 95 | itch, tickle | *gɪd |
| 96 | knot, tie | *tuɗ |
| 97 | know | *na |
| 98 | lake, wide river | *bas |
| 99 | leave behind | *cal |
| 100 | leg | *kɛlɪ |
| 101 | lick | *mɛlɪ |
| 102 | light, be, bright | *kwɛɲ |
| 102 | make light | *ɪ-kwɛɲ |
| 103 | light, be | *nɔq |
| 103 | light (transitive) | *ɪ-nɔq |
| 104 | light up, flash | *lyɛl |
| 105 | lion | *ŋatuɲ |
| 106 | louse | *ɲok |
| 107 | manure | *sike |
| 108 | marry | *mʊr |
| 109 | meat | *riŋ |
| 110 | meet | *ryäm |
| 111 | melt (intransitive) | *mɔy |
| 111 | melt (transitive) | *ɪ-mɔy |
| 112 | milk | *ca(kɔ) |
| 113 | mist, smoke | *pur- |
| 114 | mouth | *(k)ʊt̪ʊk |
| 115 | name | *ka-ʀin |
| 116 | narrow | *ɗɪŋ |
| 117 | navel | *qapule |
| 118 | near, be | *rɪk |
| 118 | press together, link up, surround | *ɪ-rɪk |
| 119 | night | *kɛ-waʀ |
| 120 | nose | *(q)ume |
| 121 | ooze | *yɪt̪ |
| 122 | pat, soothe, rock | *(ɪ)kɛn |
| 123 | person, so-and-so | *ŋa-tɪ |
| 124 | perspire, press out | *ɲɪr |
| 125 | pluck, remove hair/feathers | *buc |
| 126 | pregnant | *-’jac |
| 127 | put on back | *nap |
| 128 | python | *ɪɲal |
| 129 | quiet, be, listen | *lɪŋ |
| 130 | raid, encircle | *luk |
| 131 | rat | *mʊr |
| 132 | remain | *ɗoŋ |
| 133 | ripe, hardened | *goŋ |
| 134 | road, path | *kɔɔr |
| 135 | roast | *pɛlɪ |
| 136 | rock, mountain, stone | *kɔʀ |
| 137 | rope | *win |
| 138 | rotate, stir | *pɪr |
| 139 | round, make, mould (of pots) | *(ɪ)lʊŋ |
| 140 | rub | *sʊɗ |
| 141 | run in opposite directions | *wil |
| 141 | sprain, dislocate | *i-wil |
| 142 | sandal, shoe | *kV-waʀ |
| 143 | scorpion | *kɪ-ʊtɔ- |
| 144 | (sesame) seed | *ɲäm |
| 145 | self (1) | *kɛ-ʀ |
| 146 | self (2) | *-ɔpɛ(-c) |
| 147 | separate, be | *päk |
| 148 | serval cat | *kwar |
| 149 | shake, churn | *(ɪ-)kɪn |
| 150 | sigh, gape | *ŋam |
| 151 | sink | *lut̪ |
| 151 | dip, take down, immerse | *i-lut̪ |
| 152 | skin, flay | *’jɛŋ |
| 153 | speak, talk (noun or verb) | *rɔc |
| 154 | spit | *ŋʊt |
| 155 | spittle, saliva | *ŋʊl- |
| 156 | spread | *(ɪ)lwat |
| 157 | spy, investigate, explore | *ʀɔɔt |
| 158 | stalk | *lɛp |
| 159 | star | *kɔ-kɛɛl |
| 160 | (n/a) | |
| 161 | steal | *kɔl |
| 162 | stink, smell | *ŋu |
| 163 | stuff, stop up | *sɔc |
| 164 | stupid | *ɓaŋ |
| 165 | substitute , reimburse | *(i)luɲ |
| 166 | suck, kiss | *cwɪ |
| 167 | suck | *näk |
| 167 | suckle, give breast | *i-näk |
| 168 | swallow | *lɪk |
| 169 | swarm | *mas |
| 170 | swell | *ɓʊs |
| 171 | take, pick | *lɛm |
| 172 | taste | *cam |
| 173 | teat, nipple | *kɪna |
| 174 | temple | *ma-t̪aŋ |
| 175 | ten | *tɔmɔn |
| 176 | termite, flying ant (edible) | *kɔŋa |
| 177 | thin, become, die off | *kar |
| 178 | thirst, hunger | *kʊ-ryɛ(-w) |
| 179 | thorn | *ku-kua |
| 180 | three | *däk |
| 181 | tongue | *ŋa-lyɛp |
| 182 | tooth | *kɛ-la(-c) |
| 183 | trap, lay snare, angle | *lɔk |
| 184 | tree | *kɛ-ɛt, *kɪ-yat |
| 185 | try, tempt, weigh | *t(y)ɛm |
| 186 | tuft, bunch (of hair) | *d̪wor |
| 187 | turn around, revolve | *wɪr |
| 188 | turn over, fold (by itself) | *bel |
| 189 | two | *aʀyɛw |
| 190 | udder | *ɲaw-a |
| 191 | uncle | *mamaɪ |
| 192 | uncover, open | *ŋaɲ |
| 193 | urine | *kʊ-la(-c) |
| 194 | vein (from which blood is taken) | *kɛpʊ |
| 195 | walk, go, migrate | *wot |
| 196 | water | *pi(-ʀ) |
| 197 | weed | *dɔy |
| 198 | wet season | *k-ɪcwɪr |
| 199 | whittle off, strip, peel | *pac |
| 200 | what | *iɲɔ |
| 201 | who, which (in relative) | *ŋa |
| 202 | wild flock (as against domesticated wild animal(s)) | *tyaŋ |
| 203 | wind | *yɔm |
| 204 | wrinkle, crush | *bɛl |