# Tausug language

Tausūg (Bahasa Sūg, بَهَسَ سُوْغْ, Filipino: Wikang Tausug, Malay: Bahasa Suluk, بهاس سولوق, lit. 'Language of Sulu/the Tausūg people') is an Austronesian language spoken in the province of Sulu in the Philippines and in the eastern area of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. It is widely spoken in the Sulu Archipelago (Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, and Basilan), the Zamboanga Peninsula (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City), southern Palawan, Malaysia (eastern Sabah), and Indonesia (Tarakan City and Nunukan Regency, province of North Kalimantan).
Tausūg has some lexical similarities or near similarities with Surigaonon language of the provinces Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and Agusan del Sur and with the Butuanon language of Agusan del Norte; it has also some vocabulary similarities with Sugbuanon, Bicolano, and with other Philippine languages. Many Malay and Arabic words are found in Tausug language.

## Nomenclature

In English, the language is primarily known as Tausug (i.e., Tausug language "language of the Tausug people"). The local name of the language is bahasa Sūg (Sulu language). The term Tausūg (tau Sūg, meaning "people of Sulu") is derived from two words: tau ("person") and Sūg (The transformation of "Sūk", itself the contraction of Sūlūk). Thus, in Tausug, Tausug refers to people while Bahasa Sūg refers to the language. Several scholars postulate that "Sūlūk" derives from "Ahl ul-Sūlūk", or "people of the path (to Allah)," in reference to the Islamic missionaries who arrived to spread the religion of Islam. Meanwhile, a similar sounding word "sug", which means "water-current", has been given by a number of writers as the etymologic source of the term; the two words, even if similarly pronounced, are not related. In the past, the language has also been simply referred to using the generic term "Moro".

## Classification

Tausūg is an Austronesian language. It is classified by linguists as being a member of the Bisayan languages family, which includes Cebuano and Waray. In particular, it has many similarities with the Surigaonon language of the provinces Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Agusan del Sur and with the Butuanon language of Agusan del Norte – both spoken in northeastern Mindanao; hence, Zorc (1977) groups these three languages as part of a "South Bisayan" grouping.

## Speakers

Tausūg is primarily spoken in the Sulu Archipelago, which aside from the island of Sulu, also includes the Tawi-Tawi chain of islands and the island of Basilan. It is a lingua franca spoken in different areas/islands of the archipelago.
Due to migration, the language is also spoken alongside other local languages in the Zamboanga Peninsula (e.g., Cebuano and Chavacano), which includes the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur, and Zamboanga City. It is also spoken in Southern Palawan, Eastern Sabah, Malaysia and in Tarakan City and Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, Indonesia.

## Phonology
### Vowels

Tausūg has three vowel phonemes: /a/, /i/, /u/, with phonemic length (e.g. īpun, "shrimp" vs. ipun, "tooth"). Stress is not phonemic and usually occurs on the final syllable.
The vowel phonemes have a broad range of allophones:
* /a/: [a,ɐ,ɑ]
* /i/: [i,ɪ]
* /u/: [u,ʊ,ɤ,ʌ,ə]
Tausūg has expectedly developed some variations in accent and vocabulary from one area to another, but there are two basic dialects characterized by differences with regard to vowel sounds. The "Gimbahanun" (literally means people from the farm) speakers, the residents of the out-of-town rural areas, use four vowels: /a/, /i/, /u/ and /ə/, the last vowel representing schwa sound or "obscure u", a retention from Proto-Philippine and Proto-Bisayan. The "Parianun", the residents of the urban areas, use only three vowel phonemes: /a/, /i/, /u/,; the loss of /ə/ is common in many Bisayan and other Philippine languages.

### Consonants

The consonant phonemes are:
| | | Labial | Alveolar | Palatal | Velar | Glottal |
| Nasal | Nasal | m | n | | ŋ | |
| Plosive Affricate | voiceless | p | t | | k | ʔ |
| Plosive Affricate | voiced | b | d | d͡ʒ ⟨j⟩ | ɡ | |
| Fricative | Fricative | f | s | | | h |
| Approximant | Approximant | | l | j ⟨y⟩ | w | |
| Trill | Trill | | r | | | |
Allophones:
* /b/: per default [b], but [β] between vowels
* /g/: per default [ɡ], but [ɣ] between vowels
* /h/: per default [h], but [ɦ] between vowels
* /r/: per default [r], but [ɹ] before /m,n,g,k/
Medial gemination (of all non-glottal consonants) is phonemic.

## Grammar
### Pronouns
#### Personal pronouns

Tausūg has three pronoun sets:
| | | | nominative | nominative | genitive | genitive | oblique | oblique |
| 1st person | singular | singular | aku | اَكُ‎ | -ku | ـكُ‎ | kāku' | كَاكُؤْ‎ |
| 1st person | dual | dual | kita | كِتَ‎ | -ta / -natu' | ـتَ / ـنَتُؤْ‎ | kātu' | كَاتُؤْ‎ |
| 1st person | plural | exclusive | kami | كَمِ‎ | -namu | ـنَمُؤْ‎ | kāmu' | كَامُؤْ‎ |
| 1st person | plural | inclusive | kitanyu | كِتَپُ‎ | -taniyu / -natu'nyu | ـتَپُ / ـنَتُؤْپُ‎ | katu'nyu, katu'tanyu | کَاتُؤْپُ / كَاتُؤْتَپُ‎ |
| 2nd person | singular | singular | ikaw / kaw | اِكَوْ / كَوْ‎ | -mu | ـمُ‎ | kaymu | كَيْمُ‎ |
| 2nd person | plural | plural | kamu | كَمُ‎ | -nyu | ـپُ‎ | kanyu | كَپُ‎ |
| 3rd person | singular | singular | siya | سِيَ‎ | -niya | ـنِيَ‎ | kaniya | كَنِيَ‎ |
| 3rd person | plural | plural | sila | سِلَ‎ | -nila | ـنِلَ‎ | kanila | كَنِلَ‎ |

#### Demonstratives
### Case markers

The case markers of Tausūg are:
| | nominative | genitive | oblique |
| common | in | sin | ha |
| common | اِنْ‎ | سِنْ‎ | هَ‎ |
| proper singular | hi | hi | kan |
| proper singular | هِ‎ | هِ‎ | كَنْ‎ |
| proper plural | hinda' | hinda' | kanda' |
| proper plural | هِنْدَ‎ | هِنْدَ‎ | كَنْدَ‎ |
Non-subject undergoers take the oblique marker when definite or a proper noun, but indefinite common nouns take the genitive marker sin.
* Hi Nasul in kimaun ha mampallam. هِ نَسُلْ اِنْ کِمَؤُنْ هَ مَمْفَلَّمْ.‎
** "It was Nasul who ate the mango."
* Nagdakdak sin baju' in manga bujang. نَغْدَكْ۲ سِنْ بَجُ اِنْ مَڠَ بُجَڠْ.‎
** "The maidens washed clothes."

### Existentials

The positive existential ("there is") is aun, the negative existential ("there is none") is way.

### Interrogative words

| English | Tausug |
| Who? | Siyu?/Hisiyu? |
| What? | Unu? |
| Where? | Diin? / Hariin? / Hāin? (contracted Hariin) / Haunu? (Ha+uuu) |
| Why? | Mayta'? / Mahi? |
| When? (future) | Ku'nu? |
| When? (past) | Ka'nu? |
| How? (manner) | Biya'diin? |
| How many? | Pila? |

### Verbs

Verbs in Tausūg are inflected for focus and aspect.
| | completed | progressive | contemplative | imperative |
| Actor focus | ⟨im⟩ nag- naN- | C⟨im⟩V- nag-CV- naN-CV- | ‹um› mag- maN- | ∅ ∅ paN- |
| Patient focus | ⟨i⟩ | C⟨iy⟩V- | -un | -a |
| Locative focus | ⟨i⟩ -an | C⟨iy⟩V- -an | -an | -i |
| Instrument focus | ⟨i⟩ | C⟨iy⟩V- | hi- | -an |
Affixes expressing ability:
| | completed | progressive | contemplative |
| Actor focus | naka- | nakaka- | maka- |
| Patient focus | na- | na-CV- | ma- |
| Locative focus | kiya- -an | kiya-CV- -an | ka- -an |
| Instrument focus | kiya- | kiya-CV- | hika- |

### Numbers

Tausūg numerals:
| | Tausug | Tausug |
| 1 | isa / hambuuk | اِسَ‎ |
| 2 | duwa | دُوَ‎ |
| 3 | tū | تُوْ‎ |
| 4 | upat | اُفَتْ‎ |
| 5 | lima | لِيْمَ‎ |
| 6 | unum | اُنُمْ‎ |
| 7 | pitu | فِتُ‎ |
| 8 | walu | وَلُ‎ |
| 9 | siyam | سِيَمْ‎ |
| 10 | hangpū' | هَڠْفُؤْ‎ |
| 11 | hangpū' tag isa | هَڠْفُؤْ تَغِسَ‎ |
| 20 | kawha'an | كَوْهَأَنْ‎ |
| 30 | katlu'an | كَتْلُؤَنْ‎ |
| 40 | kapatan | كَفَتَنْ‎ |
| 50 | kay'man | كَيْئْمَنْ‎ |
| 60 | kanuman | كَأْنُمَنْ‎ |
| 70 | kapituwan | كَفِتُوَنْ‎ |
| 80 | kawaluwan | كَوَلُوَنْ‎ |
| 90 | kasiyaman | كَسِيَمَنْ‎ |
| 100 | hanggatus / gatus | هَڠْغَتُسْ / غَتُسْ‎ |
| 1,000 | hangibu / ibu | هَڠِيْبُ / إِيْبُ‎ |
| 1,282 | hangibu tag duwang gatus tag kawaluwan tag duwa | هَڠِيْبُ تَغْدُوَڠْ غَتُسْ تَغْكَوَلُوَنْ تَغْدُوَ‎ |
| 2,000 | duwa nga'ibu | دُوَ ڠَئِيْبُ‎ |
| 10,000 | hangpu' nga'ibu | هَڠْپُؤْ ڠَئِيْبُ‎ |

## Writing system

Tausūg is today primarily written using the Latin alphabet. Historically, it had previously been written using the Arabic alphabet. The script used was derived from Jawi used in writing the Malay language. The script is referred to as Sulat Sug
The Arabic script used to write Tausūg differs in some aspects from the script used for Arabic and in the Jawi script used for Malay.
In Sulu, there is no separate letter for [g]. Whereas in Jawi, the sound [g] is represented with the letter غ (which has a pronunciation [ɣ] in Arabic) is reserved for Arabic loanwords, and sometimes the letter ݢ.
In Sulu, there is no differentiation between [f] and [p]. Whereas in Jawi, the letters ف and ڤ are used respectively, in Sulu the letter ف is used in all instances.
For the sound [ɲ] in the final position, in Sulu, the letter پ is used whereas in Malay Jawi, the letter ڽ is instead used. The letter پ is associated with the sound [p] in Persian and other scripts derived from Persian. In both Malay Jawi and Sulu the letter پـ/ڽـ is used in all other positions.
For the sound [k] in the final position, in Malay Jawi, the letter ک is used, having the same form as when in initial or medial positions. In Sulu, similar to Arabic, it is customary to use ك.

### Arabic

Tausūg Alphabet – Arabic Script :
| Character | Isolated | Initial | Medial | Final | Name |
| ا | ﺍ | | | ﺎ | alip |
| ب | ب | بـ | ـبـ | ـب | bā' |
| ت | ﺕ | ﺗ | ـﺘ | ـﺖ | tā' |
| ث | ث | ثـ | ـثـ | ـث | sā(thā') |
| پ | پ | پـ | ـپـ | ـپ | nyā' |
| ج | ﺝ | ﺟ | ـﺠ | ـﺞ | jīm |
| ح | ح | حـ | ـحـ | ـح | hā' |
| خ | خ | خـ | ـخـ | ـخ | khā' |
| چ | چ | چـ | ـچـ | ـچ | chā' |
| د | د | | | ـد | dāl |
| ذ | ذ | | | ـذ | jāl |
| ر | ﺭ | | | ـر | rā' |
| ز | ز | | | ـز | jā' |
| س | ﺱ | ﺳ | ـﺴ | ـﺲ | sīn |
| ش | ش | شـ | ـشـ | ـش | sīn |
| ص | ص | صـ | ـصـ | ـص | sād |
| ض | ض | ضـ | ـضـ | ـض | dād |
| ط | ط | طـ | ـطـ | ـط | tā' |
| ظ | ظ | ظـ | ـظـ | ـظ | lā' |
| ع | ع | عـ | ـعـ | ـع | 'ayn |
| غ | ﻍ | ﻏ | ـﻐـ | ـﻎ | gayn |
| ڠ | ڠ | ڠـ | ـڠـ | ـڠ | ngā' |
| ف | ﻑ | ﻓ | ـﻔ | ـﻒ | pā' |
| ق | ق | قـ | ـقـ | ـق | kāp |
| ك | ك | كـ | ـكـ | ـك | kāp |
| ل | ﻝ | ﻟ | ـﻠ | ـﻞ | lām |
| م | ﻡ | ﻣ | ـﻤ | ـﻢ | mīm |
| ن | ﻥ | ﻧ | ـﻨ | ﻦ | nūn |
| ه | ﻩ | ﻫ | ـﻬ | ﻪ | hā' |
| و | ﻭ | | | ـو | wāw |
| ي | ﻱ | ﻳ | ـﻴـ | ﻲ | yā' |
| ء | ء | | | ء | hamja |
| أ | أ | | | ـأ | alip with hamja above |
| ﺅ | ﺅ | | | ـﺆ | wāw with hamja above |
| ئ | ئ | ئـ | ــئـ | ـئ | yā' with hamja above |
| لا | لا | لا | ــلا | ــلا | lām alip |

### Sample Texts

Below some examples of Sulu in both Latin and Arabic scripts:
* Latin script:
** Wayruun tuhan malayngkan Allāh, hi Muhammad ing (in) rasūl sin Allāh
* Arabic script
** وَيْرُؤُنْ تُهَنْ مَلَيِڠْکَنْ هَالله، هِمُحَمَّدْ اِڠْ رَسُولْ سِنْ الله‎
* English translation
** There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
* Latin script
** Uu kamu manga bang-sa Islam dii haka-pu'-pu' an Suug, agad tu'ud kamy sing da'akun i-ban sing tagga-hun sing parin-ta.
* Arabic script
** اُو كَمْ مَڠَ بَڠْ‌سَ اِسْلَامْ دِي هَكَ فُؤْ۲ اَنْ سُوغْ اَغَدْ تُؤُدْ كَمُ سِڠْ دَأَ كُنْ اِ بَنْ سِڠْ تَغَّ هُنْ سِڠْ فَرِنْ تَ.‎
* English translation
** Oh ye of Islamic race here in the Sulu Archipelago, obey ye fully the orders and prohibitions of the government.

## Examples

| English | Tausūg Latin Script | Tausūg Arabic Script |
| What is your name? | Unu in ngān mu? / Siyu in ngān mu? | اُنُ اِنْ ڠَانْ مُ؟ / سِيُ اِنْ ڠَانْ مُ؟‎ |
| My name is Muhammad. | In ngān ku Muhammad. | اِنْ ڠَانْ كُ مُحَّمَدْ.‎ |
| How are you? | Maunu-unu na kaw? | مَؤُنُ اُنُ نَكَوْ؟‎ |
| I am good. | Marayaw da isab. | مَرَيَوْ دَ اِسَبْ.‎ |
| Where is Ahmad? | Hariin hi Ahmad? | هَرَينْ هِ اَحْمَدْ؟‎ |
| He is in the house. | Yadtu siya ha bāy. | يَدْتُ سِيَ هَ بَايْ.‎ |
| Thank you! | Magsukul kaymu! | مَغْسُكُلْ كَيْمُ‎‎ |

## Loanwords

Many Tausug words derive from the Arabic language.
Some examples of Arabic words in Tausug are
| Tausūg Word | Meaning (Tausūg) | Arabic Word | Pronunciation | Meaning (Arabic) |
| Adab | manners | أدب | adab | manners |
| Ahirat | hereafter | آخرة | ākhirah | hereafter |
| Ajayb | amazing | عجيب | 'ajīb | amazing |
| Akkal | intelligence | عقل | 'Aql | intellect |
| Alam | universe | عالم | 'ālam | world |
| Allāh | God (Allah) | الله | Allāh | God (Allah) |
| Amānat | message | أمانة | amānah | trust |
| Ammal | use | عمل | 'amal | to make |
| Awal | origin | أوّل | awwal | first |
| Awliya | ascetic | أولياء | awliyā' | ascetics |
| Ayat | verse | آية | āyah | verse |
| Ayb | shame | عيب | 'ayb | shame |
| Barawi | Desert robber | بدوي | badawī | bedouin |
| Batāl | unclean | باطل | bātil | void |
| Bilāl | Muezzin/caller to prayer | بلال | Bilāl | Bilal ibn Rabah |
| Daawa | excuse/alibi | دعوة | da'wah | invitation |
| Duhul | extremity | دخول | dukhūl | entrance |
| Daira | city | دائرة | dā'irah | area |
| Dayyus | cuckold | ديّوث | dayyūth | cuckold |
| Dunya | earth | دنيا | dunyā | world |
| Duwaa | prayer | دعاء | du'ā | prayer/supplication |
| Habal | news | خبر | khabar | news |
| Hadas | impurity | حدث | hadath | impurity |
| Hakīka | birth ritual | عقيقة | aqīqah | birth ritual |
| Hakīkat | truth | حقيقة | haqīqah | truth |
| Hatīb | speaker | خطيب | khatīb | speaker |
| Hawa | Eve | حواء | Hawā' | Eve |
| Hidāyat | announcement | هداية | hidāyah | guidance |
| Hikmat | wisdom | حكمة | hikmah | wisdom |
| Hukum | judge | حكم | hukm | ruling |
| Humus | alms | خمس | khums | fifth |
| Hutba' | sermon | خطبة | khutbah | sermon |
| Hurup | sound of a letter | حروف | hurūf | letters |
| Ibilīs | demon | إبليس | Iblīs | devil |
| Ihilās | sincerity | إخلاص | ikhlās | sincerity |
| Ijin | blessing | إذن | idhn | permission |
| Ilmu' | knowledge | علم | 'ilm | knowledge |
| Imān | forbearingness | إيمان | īmān | faith |
| Intiha' | end | إنتهى | intihā | end |
| Irādat | determination | إرادة | irādah | determination |
| Islām | Islam | إسلام | Islām | Islam |
| Istigapar | to beg pardon | إستغفار | istighfār | to beg pardon |
| Instinja | pure | إستنجاء | istinjā' | to clean one's self |
| Jabūr | Psalms | زبور | zabūr | Psalms |
| Jāhil | foolish | جاهل | jāhil | ignorant |
| Jakāt | tithe | زكاة | zakāh | tithe |
| Jamāa | congregation | جماعة | jamā'ah | congregation |
| Jamān | clock | زمان | zamān | time |
| Janāja | bier | جنازة | janāzah | funeral |
| Jāt | appearance | ذات | dhāt | self |
| Jaytūn | olive | زيتون | zaytūn | olive |
| Jin | spirit | جنّ | jinn | demon |
| Jinā | adultery | زنا | zinā | adultery |
| Juba | garment | جبّة | jubbah | garment |
| Jubul | anus | دبر | dubr | anus |
| Junub | pollution | جنوب | junūb | dirty |
| Jurriyat | lineage | ذرية | dhurriyyah | offspring |
| Kahawa | coffee | قهوة | qahwah | coffee |
| Kāpil | disbeliever | كافر | kāfir | disbeliever |
| Karāmat | miracle | كرامة | karāmah | miracle |
| Kawwāt | power | قوّة | quwwah | force |
| Kubul | grave | قبور | qubūr | graves |
| Kudarat | Power of God | قدرة | qudrah | ability |
| Kulbān | sacrifice | قربان | qurbān | sacrifice |
| Kuppiya' | male head covering | كوفيّة | kūffiyah | kefiyyeh |
| Kupul | disbelief | كفز | kufr | disbelief |
| Lidjiki' | blessing | رزق | rizq | sustenance |
| Maana | meaning | معنة | ma'nah | meaning |
| Magrib | sunset | مغرب | maghrib | sunset |
| Magsukul | Thanks | شكر | shukr | thanks |
| Mahluk | human | مخلوق | maklūq | created |
| Maksud | purpose | مقصود | maqsūd | intended |
| Makbul | fulfilled | مقبول | maqbūl | accepted |
| Malak | Beautiful | ملك | malak | Angel |
| Maruhum | deceased | مرحوم | marhūm | deceased |
| Masrik | east | مشرق | mashriq | east |
| Matakaddam | parable | متقدّم | mutaqaddam | preceding |
| Mayat | corpse | ميت | mayt | dead |
| Mujijat | mystery | معجزة | mu'jizah | miracle |
| Mulid | pupil | مريد | murīd | pupil |
| Munapik | hypocrite | منافق | munāfiq | hypocrite |
| Murtad | apostate | مرتد | murtad | apostate |
| Muskil | uncommon | مشكل | mushkil | problem |
| Mustahak | lawful owner | مستحقّ | mustahaqq | deserving |
| Mustajab | occurred | مستجاب | mustajāb | answered |
| Muwallam | scholar | معلّم | mu'allim | teacher |
| Nabī | prophet | نبي | nabī | prophet |
| Najal | promise | نذر | nadhar | vow/promise |
| Najjis | filth | ناجس | nājis | filthy |
| Napas | breath | نفس | nafas | breathe |
| Napsu | desire | نفس | nafs | ego/desire |
| Nasihat | advice | نصيحة | nasīhah | advice |
| Paham | familiarity | فهم | fahm | understanding |
| Pardu' | legislation | فرض | fard | compulsory |
| Piil | action | فعل | fi'l | action |
| Pikil | think | فكر | fikr | thought |
| Pir'awn | Pharaoh | فرعون | fir'awn | Pharaoh |
| Rahmat | blessing | رحمة | rahmah | mercy |
| Rasūl | messenger | رسول | rasūl | messenger |
| Ruku' | bow | ركوع | rukū' | bowing |
| Rukun | precept | ركن | rukn | pillar |
| Sabab | because | سبب | sabab | reason/cause |
| Sahabat | follower | صحابة | sahābah | companions |
| Saytān | Satan | شيطان | shaytān | Satan |
| Sual | discussion | سؤال | su'āl | question |
| Subu | dawn | صبح | subh | dawn |
| Sunnat | female circumcision | سنّة | sunnah | tradition/sunnah |
| Takabbul | arrogant | تكبّر | takabbur | arrogance |
| Takwīm | calendar | تقويم | taqwīm | calendar |
| Tallak | divorce | طلاق | talāq | divorce |
| Tarasul | Tausug poem | تراسل | tarāsul | correspondence |
| Tasbi | prayer beads | تسبيح | tasbīh | praise |
| Ummul | age | عمر | 'amr | age |
| Wajib | compulsory | واجب | wājib | compulsory |
| Wakap | pause | وقف | waqf | pause |
| Waktu | time | وقت | waqt | time |
Tausūg words derived from Sanskrit
| Tausūg Word | Tausūg Word | Meaning (Tausūg) | Sanskrit Word | Pronunciation | Meaning (Sanskrit) |
| Guru | غُرُ‎ | teacher | गुरु | guru | teacher |
| Naga | نَغَ‎ | dragon | नाग | nāga | serpent |
| Āgama | آغَمَ‎ | religion | आगम | āgama | religion |
| Lahu' | لَهُؤْ‎ | eclipse | राहु | rāhu | eclipse |
| Lupa | لُفَ‎ | appearance | रूप | rūpa | appearance |
| Dukka | دُكَّ‎ | grieve | दुःख | duḥkha | suffering |
| Sutla' | سُتْلَأْ‎ | silk | सूत्र | sūtra | to sew/thread |