# Punu language

Yipunu also known as Yisira is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Congo by several thousand people, mainly of the Punu and Ghisir ethnic groups, the largest of the four major ethnic groups in Gabon. Yipunu has about 120 thousand native speakers, mainly from the southern Region, including 8 thousand speakers in southern French Congo. It is classified as B.43 in the Guthrie classification.

## Phonology
### Consonants

| | | Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar |
| Plosive | voiceless | p | t | | k |
| Plosive | voiced | b | d | | (ɡ) |
| Plosive | prenasal vl. | ᵐp | ⁿt | | ᵑk |
| Plosive | prenasal vd. | ᵐb | ⁿd | | ᵑɡ |
| Affricate | Affricate | | t͡s | d͡ʒ | |
| Fricative | voiceless | f | s | | |
| Fricative | voiced | β | | | ɣ |
| Fricative | prenasal | ᶬf | ⁿz | | |
| Nasal | Nasal | m | n | ɲ | |
| Rhotic | Rhotic | | r | | |
| Lateral | Lateral | | l | | |
| Approximant | Approximant | w | | j | |
* /ɣ/ can also be heard as [ɡ] in free variation.
* /ᶬf, ⁿz/ can also be heard as voiceless [ᶬv, ⁿs] in free variation.

### Vowels

| | Front | Central | Back |
| Close | i iː | | u uː |
| Mid | e eː | | o oː |
| Open | | a aː | |
* Vowels /a, e, o, eː, oː/ may also range to [ə, ɛ, ɔ, ɛː, ɔː].
* /i/ before sounds /u, w/ may be heard as an approximant [ɥ].

## Lexicon

Below is a lexicon from the "Parlons Yipunu", collected by Mabik-ma-Kombil.
A = he/she
Agunyi = where?
Agunenyi = who is it?
Agon = over there
Agunu = here (to here)
Amumu = in there
Amune = over there
Ani = who, which one?
Anàne = it's like that, that's it
Avene = there
Avave = here
Avenyi/Avè = where
Ba = they
Babàke = cut quickly
Babàse = fill quickly
Babile = to burn
Babule = flambé (an animal)
Bagule = find
Bagunu = to resemble
Bagusunu = find a resemblance
Bale = to ventilate, to clear away
Bali = day
Balile = shine
Bambige = to tighten
Bande = start
Bande = bottom
Bandebulongu = South
Bandekubu = lower abdomen
Bandige = to bend
Bandimine = to cover
Banganga = rootworkers
Banyigebibogu = May to June
Banze = turn on
Bare = to mount, to climb
Base = fill
Batile = to engulf, to swallow
Bé = forked tongue
Bebeli = very close to
Bèfule = to chip
Bège = carry, bring
Bèkule = initiate
Bele = to be sick
Beli = near, close to
Beluse = to heal
Bembe = touch
Bémbige = to rock, to console
Bèngusunu = going to meet a third party
Beruse = to bring down
Bète = to overthrow
Bètse = watching over a sick person
Biale = to be promoted
Bibeji = 2
Bige = to predict misfortune
Bike = miss, absent
Bikumbu = despicable behavior
Bikumbu = news
Bileli = a cry to implore
Bilongu = remedies, medicine
Bindige = lock
Bine = 4
Binge = pursue
Bingulu = bad habits
Birambi = suspicion
Biranu = 5
Birieri/Bitatu = 3
Bisiamunu = 6
Bisiemu = potions
Biswasu = speed
Bituti = dirty water
Bitoli = problems
Bivatile = stubbornness
Boke = kill
Bokise = losing a parent
Bole = pick up
Bonge = to take
Boti = good
Botse = to wet, soak
Bubitu = gums
Budige = to block, to obstruct a path
Budilu = iron
Budungu = to divine
Buji = honey
Buge = heal
Bukanyi = wickedness
Bukéti = skill
Bukongu = power
Bukulu = tradition
Bule = to break
Bulagu = madness
Bumbe = to shape
Bumbe = to kiss
Bundesti = babysitting
Bundumbe = authority, power, wealth
Bure = to give birth
Burele = hunting
Buse = refuse
Busine = wealth
Butambe = Earth
Buvèdi = teasing
Buvuandi = beauty
Bwage = throw
Bwagene = to lament in a group
Bwali = evil, disease
Bwange = to weave
Bwatu = canoe
Bwèjise = to make beautiful or good
Bwèle = to add
Bwile = to bathe
Dabule = withdraw
Dage = steal, theft
Dedi = similarly
Dédile = to obey
Dèkise = to pour drop by drop
Devise = nod of the head
Dibabe = mute
Dibage = knife
Dibaku = misstep
Dibale = man, male
Dibàle = umbrella
Dibàndu = beginning
Dibandu = game trap
Dibange = play
Dibagu = fever
Dibanzi = temple, place of initiatory worship
Dibéji = annoyance, mockery
Dibèri = drop (of water, blood, rain)
Dibi = bad deed
Dibufu = ash
Dibule = to open
Dibume = projectile
Dibundu = assembly
Difube = bulb
Difubu = hem
Difutu = old plantation
Difuitse = moss
Dige = kaolin, a clay mineral
Digale = coal
Digeru = actions of a baby
Digebu = wink
Digengi = abundance
Digobe = respect
Digogu = clay
Digosu = beverage mixed with breast milk
Diguki = heap
Digumbi = ship
Dijodigeyi = November to December
Dijodineni = January to February
Dikabu = part
Dikibise = teasing, annoyance
Dikimbe = initiatory badge
Dikongu = spear
Dikube = forge, blacksmith
Dikuku = bark
Dikule = to measure
Dikumbi = plane, rocket
Dikunde = dove
Dikundu = sorcery
Dikutu = pole
Dilàbuge = stopper
Dilambe = dance
Dilangi = drunkenness
Dilènze = insolence
Dilàgu = crazy
Dile = win, succeed
Dilongi = advice
Dilute = hole
Dimanyi = stone, pebble, rock
Dimbe = to hit
Dimbu = village
Dimengidiwisi = twilight
Dimi = pregnancy
Dimungi/Dungembi = fog
Dingènde = shriveled thing or person
Dingènze = truth, true thing
Dingibe = palm wine
Dingundu = hip
Dingungu = distinctive noise
Dinyiki = fly
Dingongu = metal box
Dinonge = friendship
Dinu = tooth
Dipaku = branch fork
Dipalulu = exit
Dipapi = bird's wing
Dirambe = swamp, marsh
Dirangi = booty cheek
Dironde = concubine
Dirugeme = sweat
Disabu = landing stage
Disale = dew
Disambeke = shoulder
Disambi = razor
Disàngu = lung
Disite = knot of a rope
Disiere = epilepsy
Disonge = adultery
Disu = eye
Ditage = tadpole
Ditase = thought
Ditebugulu'diwisi = dawn
Ditéji = saliva
Ditèngu = returning
Ditodi = stain
Ditsange = tear
Ditsatselangi = audacity
Ditsutse = crest of a bird
Ditu = leech
Dituji = ear
Ditumbe = fight
Divare = good harvest
Divase = twin
Divembili = gust of wind with rain
Divènde = baldness
Divesi = flank, beside, on one side
Divilu = shaved head
Divesu = hate
Divite = war, fight
Divule = city
Divumbu = boil
Divuvu = throat
Diwavi = jealousy
Diwanzi = high forest of branches
Diwèle = marriage
Diweme = disobedience
Diwèru = hour
Dobule = to remove
Dodise = to comment
Dodimine = to examine
Doke = to pick
Dokimine = observe from afar
Dokule = to pick
Donze = deepen
Dore = to dream
Dubabele = stuttering
Dubambe = rattan, a plant used to make furniture
Dubile = pit
Dubongu = raffia fabric
Dufu = death
Dufunu = price
Dugaji = leaf
Dugane = scabies pustule, type of disease or infestation
Dugange = trap barrier
Dugélu = gossip
Dugongi = eyelash
Dugoru = toad
Dugugeme = stuttering
Dugunge = flat rock slab
Dugungu = imprecatory insult
Duguve = animal tick
Duke = follow
Dukabonu = pangolin
Dukande = insomnia
Dukonduku/Dilobe = hook
Dukuji = flying squirrel
Dulombili = village square, courtyard
Dumbulu = green
Dumise = glorify, boast
Dumuge = jump, leap
Dumwènu = mirror
Dunangu = pride
Dunangu = talk in a loud, aggressive manner with little effect
Dungwène = chameleon
Dure = drink
Duru = spoon
Durundu = red fruit
Dusale = feather
Dusambu = prayer
Dusavu = tale, fable
Dusongu = point
Dusosu = splinter
Dusugi = hawk
Dusièndi = thorn
Dute = to shoot
Dutsi = sneeze
Dutsole = scissors
Duvèsi = cockroach
Dwale = nail, claw
Dwèngu = pot
Fife = to suck
Fike = drink by filtering the liquid between the teeth
Fube = mix
Fuge = cut hair
Fumu'Nzambi/Fumunzambi = God, supreme being
Funde = accuse, denounce
Funde = digging
Fundu = confabulation
Fure = to lie
Fute = pay, spit
Fwale = France
Fwate = go through the small bush
Fwèngilile = to slander, to accuse unjustly
Fwère = to draw, to pick up
Fwimbe = share unequally
Fwinyi = tighten by pulling
Fwiri = boredom, annoyance
Gabe = to share
Gabuge = to return
Gabuse = to give back
Gake = to bite
Galene = to dispute an object
Game = squeeze, wring
Gamuge = to shout
Gandise = to prohibit
Gànge = to catch, seize
Gange = fry, roast
Gari = in the middle of
Gariwisi = midnight
Gebule = to wink, to step
Getubulongu = West
Gobise = respect
Gobule = to spit out
Golile = to wash, to rub oil
Golule = to shell, to tear
Gome = fear, dread
Gombe = to scrape, scrape
Gonge = bypass
Gore = to warm up
Gorule = to scratch
Gubene = to hit
Gubule = dust, brush
Gudige = return
Gufise = to shorten
Gukulile = to imitate, to reproduce
Gulu = ancient, old
Gulu = to hear, to listen
Gumbe = moan, roar, growl
Gumbe = to cover, surround
Gumbesne = to kiss, to embrace
Gumuse = to dry
Ibalu = tree bark
Ibambe = white man
Ibadu = clan
Ibedu = sick
Ibinde = bad luck
Ibindi = corpse, remains
Ibonge = turtle
Ibotsi = rot
Iburu = parent
Ibusi = sister
Idibutsu = lid
Idube = net
Idume = danger
Idumbitsi = shadow
Idumi = thunderclap
Idumuimfule = tornado
Idune = hole, cavity, cavern
Idwaru = garment
Ifu = 9
Ifufu = crumb, poor
Ifulu = steam bath
Ifwale = French language
Ifwinzi = poultry crop
Igabe = punch
Igare = crate, trunk, suitcase
Igume = speech, word
Igumi/Digumi = 10
Igungule'tubi = flooding of a river
Ikadi = bridge
Ikaji = corpse
Ikambi = performer
Ikari = fall
Ikémbi = dwarf
Ikènzi = cricket
Ikibe = shortness of breath
Ikoku = bump
Ikoku = dance of rejoicing
Ikotige = penknife
Ikoyi = disabled, paraplegic
Ikuku = cooking
Ikumbu = fine
Ilange = elephant trunk
Ilèke = source, origin
Ileme = time, moment
Ilengi = child
Ilibe = oblivion, nothingness
Ilime = year
Ilimbe = mark
Ilindi = raft
Ilinge = cassock, robe
Ilingilingi = the center of the world
Ilombi = short story
Ilumbi = message
Ilumbu = day
Ilunge = earring
Image = supernatural event
Imomonyi = firefly
Imosi = 1
Inane = 8
Inde = will-o'-the-wisp
Ingange = church
Ingidi = small xylophone
Ingume = sterile
Inombu = troop, herd
Inyunyi = soul, spirit
Inunu = elder, old man
Ipèle = plate
Ipunge = bat
Ipupu = peeling
Irèle = size
Irèndi = piece of cloth
Irure = vial
Isage = cluster of fruits
Isalu = work, profession, task
Isambwali = 7
Isange = jug, jar
Isangomu = letter
Isindu = pollarded tree trunk
Isinge = grass
Isinzi = pointed stump
Isièmu = remedies
Isièngu = insult
Isièyi = sand
Isombule = way of wearing the loincloth
Isonyi = shame
Isupu = sheath
Isusube = bladder
Iswasu = cold
Iswisu = staring
Itale = smokehouse
Itande = market
Itengi = mask, shard, shell
Itsatse = caterpillar
Itsibe = deep water
Itsige = seat, bed
Itsubi = rainy season
Itumbe = image, engraving, statue
Itunzi = stupid
Itutu = bulrush torch
Ivaru = plant
Ivele = fast
Iviovi = hat, cap
Jabe = to know
Ji = to eat
Jibe = gluttony
Julunzambi/Julu'nzambi = sky
Kabu = anger
Kafi = paddle
Kage = grandfather, grandmother
Kaki = lightning
Kale = crab
Kambe = missing something
Kange = guinea fowl
Kangi = fire
Katsi = maternal uncle
Kédi = morning
Kégèngi = fresh
Kekigangi/Igangi = short dry season
Kekitsubi = short rainy season
Kèle = to wait
Kèlise = to keep
Kibe = to cover
Kibise = to annoy, to tease
Kile = to iron
Kingu = neck
Kobi = bag
Kobige = to hang
Kokolu = sorry
Kondini = in vain, uselessly
Kôngu = jar, clay jug
Kongu = river antelope
Kosi = effigy or statue of a deity
Kote = to enter
Kotise = to bring in
Kugumfu = dust
Kuke = to sow
Kumbu = motto, mantra
Kunge = copper
Kuñi = deprivation of meat
Kuru = armpit
Kute = to surround
Kuteme = to kneel
Kwalele = crosses
Kwé/Kwényi = how much?
Labe = see Lage = to sow
Lambe = to cook
Lambi = lamp
Lege = to spy
Lèle = rocking, caressing, raising a child
Lelévi = full, brim
Lélige = to take, to suspend
Lémbige = to console, to soothe
Lèmbule = apply oil on an abscess, caress
Lènde = to beg
Lènze = to despise
Lengule = examine contemplate
Leve = make an oath
Lile = to cry
Linge = traveling
Lobe = fish
Lobuge = to step over, to cross
Loge = bewitch, curse
Lubuge = to be clever, cunning, shrewd
Lúge = vomit
Luge = name
Lukule = to complete
Longe = teach, promise
Mabale = right
Mabufu = ashes
Madibe = deafness
Madudumbi = clouds
Madungu = hernia
Mafinyi = pus
Magetu = left
Magunde = century, millennium
Make = sap
Makengi = slime
Makibu = pledge
Makiele = dawn
Malamu = palm wine
Malémbi = hug
Malu = confluent, coming together of rivers
Malumbi = praise to the ancestors
Malungu = blood
Mambe = water
Mambi = shit
Mane = finish
Mange = snack
Mangele = dry season
Mapémi = threats
Marangi/Dirangi = booty
Masige = yesterday
Masuku = claps
Mate = to rise, to climb
Matsi = oil
Mbàlebulongu = East
Mbari = palm tree
Mbatsi = friend, comrade
Mbèle = wrong
Mbémbu = voice
Mbèngi = ravine, precipice
Mbingu = food
Mbugu = mouthful
Mbùnge = crab shell
Mbunge = smell
Mbwélili = star
Mengu = sharp
Mfubu = hippopotamus
Mfule = rain
Mfumbi = deceased
Mfunge = to wrap oneself in a loincloth
Mfwange = news of death
Milolu = cries of joy
Minzi = wolf-dog
Mobutsi = savior
Monyu = life
Moru = ring
Mubeji = 2nd
Mubiji = wave
Mubu = sea, ocean
Mudodu = balance
Mufu = 9th
Mufune = load
Mufundu = complaint
Mugamu = cry, howl
Mugumi = 10th
Mukate = skin
Mukolu = night
Mukongu = hill, mountain
Mukube = blacksmith
Mukùbe = beak
Mukubi = malevolence
Mukwati = machete
Mukwili = widower, widow
Mule = blessing
Mulingu = journey
Mulumi = husband
Mulutso = flame
Mumbèngu = small canoe
Mumbinge = stilt
Munaji = strophanthus poison
Munane = 8th
Munangasunge = praying mantis
Mundumbe = notable, renown
Mungongu = musical bow
Mungudi = tornado, whirlwind
Munombi = black man
Mupande = braid
Mupume = year
Muranu = 5th
Murèle = hunter
Murieru = 3rd
Murondu = eel
Musabu = insolence
Musambwali = 7th
Musamu = short story
Musande = umbrella
Musiamunu = 6th
Musini = eyebrow
Musiru = forest
Musoli = fallow field
Musolu = job, work
Musongu = disease
Musoñi = flesh, meat
Musuge = permission
Musulu = boiled
Musungu = sugar cane
Musièngi = large village
Mutu = person, human
Muvedi = scar is
Muvèmbe = albino
Muvige = slave
Muvumu = breathing
Muweli = month
Muyame = rainbow
Muyombu = perfume
Mwaji = brother-in-law
Mwane = child
Mwényi = visitor, stranger
Mwètse = moonlight
Mwine = 4th
Mwinzi = filth, dirt
Na = with
Nane = massage
Nangule = to lift
Ndami = comrade, friend
Ndagu = hut, house
Ndétsi = child's rocker
Ndige = bait
Ndike = small fish basket
Ndilu = limit, border
Nimbe = colour
Ndele = a song which signifies an exchange between the living and the ancestors
Ndunge = reason
Nemise = to hurt
Nènge = to learn
Nèngile = to call
Nesi = no
Ngande = courtyard, village square
Ngangakosi = rootworker who traps sorcerers
Ngange/Nganga = traditional healer
Ngènge = centipede
Ngo = panther, leopard
Ngomfi = harp
Ngombu = raffia
Ngondi = flower
Ngunge = bell
Ngusu = jealousy
Ngwangu = stick
Nongu = proverb, parable
Nwane = to borrow
Nyangu = Sun
Nza = then
Nzale = hunger
Nzile = path
Nzime = back
Nzobu = civet
Nzontsi = judge
Nzoruru = filth
Nzumbili = smoke
Nzwingiri = dragonfly
Page = resin
Pake = to square
Pale = exit
Pambuge = to wander
Pari = pristine forest
Pase = split
Patula = to tear off
Pembi = kaolin mineral
Penge = chin
Pèni = nudity
Pinde = black
Pinze = alone, loneliness
Pitse = to weigh
Pube = mat
Pugu = be patient
Punge = wind
Puni = murderer, thief who robs & kills in forests & mountains
Pupe = spray, sprinkle
Pupe = move
Puve = echo
Pwanyi = width, breadth
Pwasese = interval
Pwele = many
Pwiti = hole, crevice
Rabile = to burn and leave a wound, to bite
Rakule = to snatch
Range = read
Rangemine = to remember
Rarige = to sew
Régeme: tremble, shiver
Rine = flee, run away
Riri = red
Rombe = to search
Ronde = love
Riabe = to cut (dead wood)
Sabi = key
Sakulebibogu = March to April
Sale = to work
Sàle = choose
Sambile = to pray
Sàmbule = to present
Sanze = to drive out, to expel
Save = desire
Sàve = to tell, talk about, denounce
Sibe = to sharpen
Sige = to play an instrument
Sike = to stall
Simbe = to greet
Sindige = to send
Sindile = to push
Singisile = to congratulate
Sobene = to mix
Sole = clear
Sopene = exchange
Sube = to urinate
Sumbe = buy, pay
Sumbise = to sell
Sumune = to defy a prohibition
Sundile = suddenly
Sunduge = go down
Sungesene = to oppose, parallel
Suse = wash
Swèkige = to strangle
Sweme = to hide
Tabule = break, cut
Takule = start walking
Tale = count
Tali = block of stone
Tandige = to align
Tandubulongu = North
Tapele = insolence
Tase = to think
Tate = dad, father
Tate = to express pain
Tege = 1st
Time = dig
Timbuge = bend, be erect
Tinde = to send
Tsakule = to insult
Tsande = loincloth
Tsige = to bury
Tsimbu = to make a mistake
Tsindule = erase, wipe, dust
Tsingule = to say, to confess
Tsisige = evening, afternoon
Tsoke = to prick
Tsoli = bird
Tsone = week
Tsongi = needle
Tsugu = prison
Tsumbi = September to October
Tsune = to watch
Tsunde = to discuss
Tsungi/Ngonde = Moon
Tsungule = to hurt
Tsuve = calabash
Tuge = surety, pledge
Tumbe = flying fast
Tumune = attack, provoke
Tute = to accumulate, to amass
Va = there is
Vage = to do
Vale = far
Vale = to cut
Vande = spiritual artifacts
Vànde = to make mats, to braid
Vàne = to pay, to reimburse
Vare = to plant
Vate = to be stubborn
Vatsi = on the ground
Vagusu = in front
Vege = give
Veme = white, whiteness
Vend = lick
Vèngutse = except
Vère = to shoot a gun
Veve = split
Viluge = to bloom
Vine = to hate
Viri = very, intensity
Vive = wait
Vole = smoking
Vombulu = open
Vonde = ask
Vondinivondini = nonchalantly
Vonu = very thin
Vose = speak, say
Vove = to chat
Vule = to undress, become nude
Vume = to breathe
Vunge = zero, nothing
Vuse = to spread, to exhale
Wabe = to fish
Wabule = take food out of a pot
Wake = to receive
Wale = to extend
Walule = tell a dream
Wamuse = to help
Wanzemwanzu = village chief
Wèle = to marry
Wélige = try, compare
Wème = to disobey
Wimbile = to sing
Wisi = time
Wivule = to ask
Yabutsu = door
Yangele = thirst
Yanzule = filter, sieve
Yari = side
Yasi = slice
Yélu = measure
Yévi = basket
Yèse = luck
Yisasaku = July to August
Yotsi = cold
Yusile = heat