Huli

Trans-New Guinea (Engan)

FamilyTrans-New Guinea (Engan) Speakers~150K ScriptLatin CountriesPapua New Guinea (Hela Province) Official inNo (recognized regional) Vitalitysafe ISO 639-3hui

Huli is one of the largest Engan languages of the New Guinea highlands. Huli speakers are known for their elaborate wig traditions and the famous Huli Wigmen culture. It uses a base-15 numeral system, unusual among the world's languages.

Where it is spoken

20 core words in Huli

Water

iba

/iba/

Fire

tia

/tia/

Sun

nogo

/noɡo/

Moon

hina

/hina/

Mother

ainya

/aiɲa/

Father

aba

/aba/

Eat

na

/na/

Drink

ila

/ila/

Love

hando

/hando/

Heart

hambu

/hambu/

Tree

danda

/danda/

House

anda

/anda/

Dog

yamu

/jamu/

Cat

pusi

/pusi/

Hand

ki

/ki/

Eye

ta

/ta/

Hello

balu

/balu/

Thank you

wei

/wei/

One

mendene

/mendene/

Good

poke

/poke/

Words compared

Compared with related Trans-New Guinea (Engan) languages

Meaning HuliEngaHiri MotuMaranaoMandaicYagariaTuvaluan
Water iba /iba/ endaki /endaki/ ranu /ɾanu/ ig /iɡ/ ࡌࡉࡀ /mia/ nofa /nofa/ vai /vai/
Fire tia /tia/ ita /ita/ lahi /lahi/ apoy /apoj/ ࡍࡅࡓࡀ /nura/ yo /jo/ afi /afi/
Sun nogo /noɡo/ niko /niko/ dina /dina/ alongan /aloŋan/ ࡔࡀࡌࡔࡀ /ʃamʃa/ kena /kena/ laa /laː/
Moon hina /hina/ kana /kana/ hua /hua/ bolan /bolan/ ࡎࡉࡓࡀ /sira/ ulu /ulu/ masina /masina/
Mother ainya /aiɲa/ ainya /aiɲa/ sina /sina/ ina /ina/ ࡀࡌࡀ /ama/ nene /nene/ maatua /maːtua/
Father aba /aba/ taata /taːta/ tama /tama/ ama /ama/ ࡀࡁࡀ /aba/ papa /papa/ tamana /tamana/
Eat na /na/ nepenge /nepeŋe/ ania /ania/ mangan /maŋan/ ࡀࡊࡀࡋ /akal/ na /na/ kai /kai/
Drink ila /ila/ na pee /na peː/ inua /inua/ minom /minom/ ࡔࡕࡀ /ʃta/ nava /nava/ inu /inu/
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