# Southern Bantoid languages

Southern Bantoid (or South Bantoid) is a branch of the Bantoid language family. It consists of the Bantu languages along with several small branches and isolates of eastern Nigeria and west-central Cameroon (though the affiliation of some branches is uncertain). Since the Bantu languages are spoken across most of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Bantoid comprises 643 languages as counted by Ethnologue, though many of these are mutually intelligible.

## History

Southern Bantoid was first introduced by Williamson in a proposal that divided Bantoid into North and South branches.
The unity of the North Bantoid group was subsequently called into question, and Bantoid itself may be polyphyletic, but the work did establish Southern Bantoid as a valid genetic unit, something that has not happened for (Narrow) Bantu itself.

## Internal classification

According to Williamson and Blench, Southern Bantoid is divided into the various Narrow Bantu languages, Jarawan, Tivoid, Beboid, Mamfe (Nyang), Grassfields and Ekoid families. The Bendi languages are of uncertain classification; they have traditionally been classified with Cross River, but they may actually be Southern Bantoid. Blench suggests that Tivoid, Momo (ex-Grassfields) and East Beboid may form a group, perhaps with the uncertain languages Esimbi and Buru–Angwe:
* ? Bendi
* Tivoid–Beboid: Tivoid, Esimbi, East Beboid, ? Buru–Angwe, ? Menchum
* West Beboid (geographic)
* Furu
* Mamfe
* Ekoid–Mbe: Ekoid, Mbe
* Grassfields: Ring, Eastern Grassfields (Mbam–Nkam), Momo, ? Ndemli, Southwest Grassfields (Western Momo), ? Ambele
* Narrow Bantu, Jarawan–Mbam

### Grollemund (2012)

Classification of Southern Bantoid by Grollemund (2012):

## Numerals

Comparison of numerals in individual languages:
| Classification | Language | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Bantu | Luganda | emu | bbiri | ssatu | nnya | ttaano | muukaga | musanvu | muunana | mwenda | kkumi |
| Ndemli | Ndemli | mɔ̀hɔ́ | ífɛ́ | ítáá | ítʃìjè | ítâŋ | tóhó | sàᵐbá | fɔ̀ːmɔ́ | bùʔɛ̀ | dʒòm |
| Tikar | Tikar | mbɔʔ | ɓî | lê | ɲî | ʃæ̃̂ | ɸyulu | ʃâmɓì | nìnì | tæ̂nì | wûm |
| Tivoid | Esimbi (1) | kēnə̄ | mə̄rākpə̄ | mākə̄lə̄ | mōɲī | mātə̄nə̀ | mālālə̄ | mātə̄nə̀ mə̄rākpə̄ (5+ 2) | mōɲìōɲī (4+ 4) | mātə̄nə̀ mōɲī (5 + 4) | būɣù |
| Tivoid | Esimbi (2) | ɔ-nə | râkpə | á-kələ | oɲí | a-tənə | a-lələ | à-tən râkpə (5+ 2) | ò-ɲi o-ɲí (4+ 4) | à-tən o-ɲí (5 + 4) | bùɣù |
| Tivoid | Ipulo | émɔ̀ | víàl | vétàt | véɲì | vétàn | véɾátúm | véɾátúm nɔ̀mɔ̀ (6 + 1) | víɲèɲí | víɲèɲí nɔ̀mɔ̀ (8 + 1) | épɔ́ːt |
| Tivoid | Iyive | mɔ̌m | hjâl | tàt | ɲîn | táŋə̀n | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt | kə̀lə̀kə̀tàt kàt mɔ̀mú (6 + 1) | kíníkìnì | táŋìɲìn (5 + 4 ??) | pùɛ̀ |
| Tivoid | Tiv | mɔ̀ḿ / mɔ́m | úhár | útáŕ | únjì: | útã́ː | átérátáŕ | útã́ː kàː úhár (5 + 2) | ániènì | útã́ː kàː únjì: (5 + 4) | púè / púwè |
| Grassfields, Menchum | Befang | móʔ (~mʊ́ʔ) | fe | táí | ɪ̀kᶣà (ɪ̀kɥà) | ɪ̀tʲə̂n | ⁿdʊ̀fú | èkᶣànátáí (4 and 3) i.e. (4+ 3) | éfómó | étʲə̂nékᶣà (5+ 4) | éɣúm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (1) | ʃʉʔ | pʉ́ɒ́ | tāā | kwɒ̀ | tíì | ntɔ́hɔ́ | sə̀mbʉ́ɒ́ | hə̌ | vʉ̀ʔʉ̄ | ɣǎm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Fe'fe' (2) | ŋʃʉʔ | pʉ́ə | táá | kwà | tiì | ntóɣó | sə̀mbʉ́ə́ | hə́ə́ | vʉ́ʔʉ́ | ɣám |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ghomala | yə́mūʔ | yə́pwə́ | yə́tá | yápfʉə̀ | yə́tɔ̂ | ntɔ̀kə́ | sɔmbwə́ə | hɔ̌m | vʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣǎm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Mengaka (Megaka) | yimɔʔɔ / mɔʔ | yipá /pa | yitét / tét | nəkʷɔ̀ | yitɛ | ntɔ̌ | sambá | nəhǎ | nəvøʔ | nəɣám |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Nda'nda' | ŋtʃɔ̀ʔ | pə́ɣə́ | té | kwò | tɔ̀ | tó | sòmbə̀ɣə̀ | χóp | vɨ̀ʔ | ɣáp |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngiemboon | mmɔ́ʼɔ́ [m̩̀mɔ́ʔɔ́] | mbʉ́a [m̩̀bɯ́á] | ntá [ǹ̩tá] | lekùa [lèkùȁ] | ntʉ̂a [ɳ̩̀ʈɯ́à] | ntɔɡɔ́ [ǹ̩tɔ̀ʁɔ́] | sɔɔn mbʉ́a [sɔ̃̀ːm̩̀bɯ́á] | lefɔ̌ɔn [lèfɔ̃̌ː] | lepfwɔʼɔ́ [lèpfwɔ̀ʔɔ́] | leɡém [lèɣə́m] |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngomba | yemoʔ | yépá | yétát | yénékwa | yeta | yenentúku | sambá | yénéfom | yenepfúʔú | neɡʉ́m |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngombale | tá | pwó | tárə | kwo | taa | toɣə | saabwó | ləfaa | ləpfuʔú | ləɡham |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Ngwe | mɔʔfi | -biə | -tat | lɛkwə | -tɛ | -ntuli | saambiə | lɛfɔ | lɛʙə̌ʔá | lɛ̄ɣɛ̀m |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Bamileke | Yemba (Dschang) | wɔ́ mɔʔɔ́ | mé piá | mé tét | lekwa | metā | ntukɔ́ | ésabiā | lefá | levuʔɔ́ | leɣɛ̄m |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (1) | mɔ̌ | pɛ́ | térə́ | nə̀kwà | ténə̀ | tóɣə́ | sàmbɛ́ | nə̀fémə́ | nə̀púʔə́ | nə̀ɣə́mə́ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Awing (2) | mɔh | pəːə | teːre | kwa | taa | ntuɡu | saːmbe | nɨfeːme | nɨpueh | nɨɡeːme |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | báà | tárə̀ | kwàà | ntáà | ntóʔò | sàmbà | fwámə́ | kwálìʔí / nɨ̀bùʔû | tàwûm / nɨ̀wûm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bafut (2) | mɔʔɔ̂ | baa | tarə | kwà | ǹtaà | ntoʔo | sàmbà | fwamə | kwalɛ̀ʔɛ | tàɡhûm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (1) | mɔ̀ʔɔ̀ | bə̀ɡə̀ | tyè | kyà | tɔ̀ɔ̀ | ntúú | ʃàmbà | nɨ̀fɔ̀ɔ̀ | nɨ̀bɛ̀ʔɛ̀ | nɨ̀ɣám |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bambili-Bambui (2) | mɔʔɔ | bɨɡə | tyé | kɥa | tɔː | n-túː | ʃambá | nɨ-fɔː | nɨ-bɛʔɛ | nɨ-ɣám |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Bamukumbit | m²mɔʔɔ⁷⁷ or tɑʔ | bɛ, bɨbɛ, mɨmbɛ | tɑrɨ, bɨ²tɑː⁷⁵ɾə², mɨntɑrɨ | nɨkwɑ, bɨnɨkwɑ, mɨnkwɑ | jitɑ̃, bɨtɑ̃, mɨntɑ̃ | jintoʔ, bɨntoʔ, mɨntoʔ | ʃɑmbɛ, bɨʃɑmbɛ, mɨʃɑmbɛ | nɨfɔ̃, bɨnɨfɔ̃, mɨnɨfɔ̃ | nɨ²buʔ²¹, bɨnɨbuʔ, mɨnɨbuʔ | nɨwũ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Mendankwe-Nkwen | mɔ̄h | bəɡə | tarɔ | kua | tan | ntɔ̄ | sāmbā | nəfah | nəbuɔ̄h | nəɣəm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Mbəkum (Mankon) (1) | mɔ́ʔɔ̂ | bâ | tárə̂ | kwà | tánə̀ | ntúɣú | sàmbà | nɨ̀fámə́ | nɨ̀bùʔû | nɨ̀ɣɨ̂m |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Ngemba (Mankon) (2) | mɔ́ʔɔ́ | bǎ | táré | kwà | tâŋ | ntúɡhə̂ | sámbǎ | nɨ̀fə̂ŋ | nɨ̀bvùʔə́ | nɨ̀wúmə̀ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Ngemba | Pinyin | mɔ́ʔɔ̀ | páá | táɾə̀ | kwà | tânə̀ | ǹtô | sàmbâ | nə̀fámə̂ | nə̀pùʔə̂ | nə̀wúmə̀ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Kwaja | mũũ ˧˩ | baa ˦˧ | ta ˦ | kɥ ˧˩ | tɔ̃ ˦˧ | tɔ̃ ˨ fũ ˧ | sə ˨ mba ˧˨ | wɔ ˦ ŋkxɨt ˦ | bə ˦ ʁət ˨ | wəm˦ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (1) | mɔ̀ʔsíɾ | báː | táːɾ | kjèː | tâ | ntūːnfú | sàːmbâ | wāːmí | bɨ̀ʔɨ̂ / bɨ̀ɾɨ̂ | ɾɨ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Limbum (2) | mòʔsír | báā | táar | kyèe | tâ | ntūunfú | sàambâ | wāamé | bʉ̀ʔʉ̂ | rʉ̂ʉ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Mfumte (Koffa) | mìʔincí | bʉ́à | tó | kweé | tóŋ | ntunfúu | sɔ̀mbaa | wáamí | búum | húʔum |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nkambe | Yamba | mòʔfís | bá | tɛʔ | kwè | tàŋ | ntuuŋfú | sàmbâ | fwamɛʔ | və̀kɛʔ | húm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba1 (Papia) (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | mbá | ntí | kúá | tè | ntíóʔó | kpataɾ | fómə́ | ʃìpó | kòɣəm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Baba (Papia) (2) | jimàa / jímɔ̀ | jípàa / ji mbá | ji tára / ji ntíi | ji kwà / kpa | ji tè | ntúwó / tuʔo | kwàtar / kpataɾ | fómə | tʃìpóo / ʃipɔ | kòɣəm / ɣəm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bafanji | jimuʔu / muʔu³⁵ / tiʔæ⁵³ | jipɑɑ / piæ³⁵ | jitii / tii³⁵ | jikwə / kwə³ | jintɑ̃ĩ⁵³ / tɑ̃ĩ⁵³ | jintou / ntou⁵ | jikwætæ / kwætæ³⁵ | jifũɔ̃ / fũɔ̃⁵ | jipuʔu / puʔu³⁵ | jiɣwũ / ɣwũ⁵³ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamali (Papia) | mʷəʔə | pɛt | tɛt | kʷa | ta | ntɔ | kʷatʃø | nəfɔː | nəpuʔu | nəɣu |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bambalang | tɛʔi | paa | tɾe | kʰwɛ | tiɛ̃ | ntiɡaw | kwatʃəɨ | fuõ | ndipoʔu | wuŋ |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Shupamen) (1) | mòʔ | mbàá | tɛ́t | pkà | tɛ̀n | ntú | sàmbà | fámə́ | kóvýʔ | ɣə́m |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bamun (Bamum) (2) | ímoʔ | ípáa | ítɛt | ípkwà | ítɛ̀n | ítúu | ísamba | ífámə | ívʉ̀ʔʉ́ | ɣóm |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Bangolan | mɔ̀ | mbǎ | tét | kpà | tíjē | ǹtúhù | kpáte̙t | fó | tʃɛ̀ŋɔ́ʔɔ̀ | vwó |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Medumba | ntʃɯ̀ʔ | bɔ̂ | t̪át | kwà | t̪ân | ndɔ́ɣə́ | sàmbɔ̂ | fúmə́ | bwə̀ʔə́ | ɣám |
| Grassfields, Mbam-Nkam, Nun | Mungaka (Bali) | ɲín | íbáā | itɛ́t | ikwà | itàn | intwúʔ | kwàtát | ifúm | sʉibɔ́m | ɣóm / wɔm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Moghamo | ímɔ̄ʔ | íbē | ítád | íkwē | ítã | tìfóɣə́ | sàmbé | fàmí | àbōɡ | ìɣùm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Mundani | yea-mɔʔ | bebe | betat | bekpì | betã̀ã̂ | bentùa | besã̀ã̀mbe | befã̀ã | bebə̀ʔa | èɣɛm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (1) | -mɔ̀ʔ | be | tád | kwè | tân | rɨ̀fúɣɔ́ / rʌ̀fúɣɔ́ | sàmbe | fàam | bɔ̀ɔk | ɣum |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngamambo (2) | -mɔ̀ʔ | bé | tɑ́t | kwè | tɑ̂n | rɨ̀fúɣə́ | sɑ̀mbé | fɑ̌m | ə̀bɔ̌k | wúm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (1) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡə | ìtá | ìkjùɡə | ìtɨŋ | ìfəw | ìsàmbìɡə | ìfɨŋì | àbəw | ìwùm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngie (2) | ìfìŋ | ìbǐɡ | ìtá | ìkɥǐɡ | ìtʉ̄ŋ | ìfœ́ | ìsàmbǐɡ | ìfɔ̌ŋ | àbœ̀ | ìwùm |
| Grassfields, Momo | Ngwo | ŋwāʔ | fjēː | tɛ́d | kwɛ̀ | tân | m̀fó | sàːmbjɛ̄ | fwɔ̌ː | kɔ̄ː | wūm |
| Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (1) | mɔ̌ʔ | buǔ | tiâ | kʷì | taâ | ntɨ̌ʔ | tə́kʷiǐtiâ (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̌ŋ | bɔ̀mɔ̂ʔ (10–1) ? | wûŋ |
| Grassfields, Ring | Bamunka (2) | mɔʔ L | buː RF | tià F | kʷi L | ta F | ntʉ̀ʔ F | təkʷitia HHF (4 + 3) ? | fɔ̃ R | bɔmɔʔ R (10–1) ? | wũ L |
| Grassfields, Ring | Wushi | mùɔ́ʔ | bā | tɨ́ə̀ʔ | tsə̀ | tɛ́ɛ̀ | ǹtùɔ́ʔ | tsə̀tɨ́ə̀ʔ (4 + 3) | fə́mə́ | bùfə̀mùɔ́ʔ (10–1) ? | vóó |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Babanki (Kejom) | mùʔ | bò | táʔ | kàʔ | tàn | ǹtʉ̀fə́ | sòmbô | fwòmə́ | àbʉ̀múʔ (10–1) | wúm |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Bum | mɔ̀k | bà | tât | kìk | tân | túfá | sàmbâ | fâmá | búlá mɔ̀k (10–1) | ìwûm |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kom | nòʔ | bò | tal | kàe / kæ̀ | tâyn | ntufa | nsòmbo / nsombô | nfama | bulamòʔ | ivɨm |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kuk | mɔ̀ʔ | bòː | tóː | kɪ̀ːkò | tâː | tóːfə́ | sōːmboː | fāːmə́ | buː́mɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | íɣə̄m |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Kung | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ː | tə́ː | kʲə̀kə̀ | tàʲ | tūːfə́ | sɛ̀ːⁿbɛː | fɛ̀ːmə́ | bólímɔ̀ʔ (? -1)? | ìɣə̄m |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Mmen | mɔ̀ʔ | pɛ᷆ | tá | kjā | tâɲ | tūfɜ́ | sɛ̄mbɛ᷇ | fāmmɜ́ | pʊ̄lɜ̄mɔ̀ʔ (10–1) | ēɣə̆̀m |
| Grassfields, Ring, Center | Oku | mɔɔ | baa | taa | kwɪʲ | tan | ntuufə | saamba | ɛfaamə | buumək | ɛvəm |
| Grassfields, Ring, East | Lamnso' | mɔ̀ʔɔ́n | bàà | táár | kwɛ̀ɛ̀ | tàn | ntùùfú | sààmbà | wāāmɛ́ | bvə̀ʔə̀ | ɣwə̀m |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (1) | mɔ̀ʔ | bə̀ˠà | tə́ˠá | tʃʲàkò | tɛ̀ʲ | tǔ̞ː | sə̀ˠàⁿbə̄ˠā | ɪ́fǎː | tɛ̄ⁿdzū̞ˠū̞ | ɪ́ɣə̄m |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Aghem (2) | mɒ̀ʔ | bɨ̀ɣà | tɨ́ɣá | cìakɔ̀ | tɛ̀ | tǒo | sɨ̀ɣàmbɨ̀ɣà | ɛ́ʔfáa | tèndzùɣò | é-ʔɣɨ́m |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Isu | mɔ̀ʔ | bèː(bè) | tsíː | tʃàʔì | tàː | ntsìfɔ́ŋ | sèmbè | fáːmə́ | bùkə́ | ívə̄m |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Laimbue | mòʔ | bò | tó | kjə̀ʔ | táì | tɔ̀ɔ́ | sùmbô | ìfámá | bə́lə́mɔ̀ʔ | ɨɣɨ́m |
| Grassfields, Ring, West | Weh | mó | bə̀ɣə́ | tə̀ɣə́ | kaikə́ | tá | tùbə́ | səɣ-mbə̀ɣ | ifám | tàndzú | iɣə́m |
| Yemne-Kimbi | Ajumbu | mʷə̀ | fʲə̂ŋ | tò | ɲì | kpɛ̂ | kʲàtò | nàtò | nànà | kpɛ̂ɲì | kòɲ |
| Yemne-Kimbi | Mundabli | m¹.mö³² | m¹.fɪe³² | n¹.tɔ³² | n¹.de² | kpɔn² | tʃi²ta² | nɔ¹³tɔ² | ne¹ne¹ | kpa²ne¹ | dzo²fɯ² |
| Yemne-Kimbi | Mungbam (Abar) (1) | -m̩̀ / -mù | -fìn /-fá | -tì / -tēè | -ɲ̩̀ / -nì | kpáān / kpōa | lētɛ̀ / -lētè | -ɲ̩̀tɛ̄ / -ɲītɛ | -nə̀nè / -nə̄nè | kpánə̀ɲ̩̀ / kpānāɲì | dʒūhɛ́ / dʒóhó |
| Yemne-Kimbi | Munbam (Munken) (2) | -mwə́nə̀ / -mù / – mù | -fè /-fō / -fé | -tɛ̄ / -tēa / -tè | -ɲə̄nə́ / -ɲì / -ɲì | kpòōnə́ / kpɛ̄n / kpààɲì | -lētɛ̀ / -létēa / -lētɛ̀ | -ɲītɛ̀ / -ɲītə̀ / -ɲītɛ̀ | -ɲīɲì ~ -ɲìɲì / --ɲìɲì / -ɲìɲì | kpɔ̄ndʒùɲì / -ɲìnkpɛ̄n | kwîn / kwîn / kwɔ̂n |