# Langues bénoué-congolaises

Les langues bénoué-congolaises sont une branche de la famille de langues nigéro-congolaises. Elles sont parlées par 550 millions de locuteurs en Afrique du Sud, en Angola, au Botswana, au Burundi, au Cameroun, en Centrafrique, en République du Congo, en République démocratique du Congo, aux Comores, au Gabon, en Guinée équatoriale, au Kenya, au Lesotho, au Malawi, au Mozambique, en Namibie, au Nigeria, en Ouganda, au Rwanda, en Somalie, en Eswatini, en Tanzanie, en Zambie et au Zimbabwe.
Elles contiennent notamment les langues bantoues (dont le swahili). Cette branche regroupe 938 langues connues (sans compter les dialectes).

## Le proto-bénoué-congo

Le proto-bénoué-congo peut être reconstitué. Le tableau présente son lexique selon de Wolf (1971)$^,$:
| français | anglais (de Wolf) | classe (proto-bénoué-congo) | racine (proto-bénoué-congo) |
| Dieu | God | *ù/*ba | *-base |
| abeille | bee | *ì/*í | *-gwodi |
| aile | wing | *li/*a | *-babaŋ |
| aile | wing | *li/*a | *-pabaŋ |
| aisselle | armpit | *ku/*a | *-kpakpapa |
| ami | friend | *ù/*ba | *-tiende |
| animal, viande | animal / meat | *ì/*í | *-nama |
| année | year | *li/*a | *-zag |
| arachide | groundnut | *ì SC | *-piri (~) |
| arbre | tree | *ka/*ti | *-kwon |
| arbre | tree | *ú/*ti | *-titi |
| arc | bow | *bu/*a | *-tas |
| bile | gall | *ma SC | *-zili |
| bière | beer | *ma SC | *-kiam |
| bois à brûler | firewood | *ki/*bi | *-mwene |
| bois à brûler | firewood | *bu/*í | *-kwoni |
| bois à brûler | firewood | *ì SC | *-tukot |
| bouch, lèvre | mouth / lip | *ú/*ti | *-nuŋa |
| branche | branch | *ú/*ti | *-tabi |
| bras, main | arm / hand | *ku/*a | *-boko |
| buffle | buffalo | *ì/*í | *-zati |
| buffle | buffalo | *ì/*í | *-poŋ |
| bâton, fouet | stick / whip | *bu/*a | *-ti |
| bâton, fouet | stick / whip | *ú/*ti | *-taŋga |
| cadavre | corpse | *li/*a | *-comon |
| calebasse | calabash | *li/*a | *-kono |
| calebasse | calabash | *ki/*a | *-tema |
| calebasse | calabash | *ki/*a | *-gbede |
| calebasse | calabash | *ka/*í | *-do |
| cerveau / intelligence | brains | *ma SC | *-podo |
| champignon | mushroom | *bu/*a | *-gbub (~) |
| charbon | charcoal | *li/*a | *-kalaŋ |
| charbon | charcoal | *ì/*í | *-bide |
| charbon | charcoal | *li SC | *-tiadana |
| chat | cat | *ì/*í | *-kpandema |
| chef | chief | *ù/*ba | *-kwomo |
| chef | chief | *ù/*ba | *-tudo |
| chemin, route | path / road | *ì/*í | *-toku |
| chemin, route | path / road | *ú/*ti | *-zena |
| chemin, route | path / road | *ú/*í | *-gbenda |
| cheveu / poil | hair | *ú/*ti | *-titi |
| cheveu / poil | hair | *ú/*í | *-godo |
| chose | thing | *ku/*a | *-kiaŋ |
| chose | thing | *ki/*bi | *-goma |
| chèvre | goat | *ì/*í | *-bwoni |
| chèvre | goat | *ì/*í | *-kpeba |
| chèvre | goat | *ì/*í | *-gbale |
| cœur | heart | *li/*a | *-temu |
| corne, défense | horn / tusk | *li/*a | *-tano |
| corps | body | *li/*a | *-bekot |
| corps | body | *li SC | *-zudu |
| cou, nuque | neck / nape | *ki/*bi | *-melu |
| cou, nuque | neck / nape | *ki/*bi | *-toto |
| coussin de portage | headpad | *li/*a | *-kata |
| couteau | knife | *lu*í | *-pi |
| crabe | crab | *ku/*í | *-kala |
| crocodile | crocodile | *ì/*í | *-wame |
| crocodile | crocodile | *ì/*í | *-zibu |
| crocodile | crocodile | *ì/*í | *-kute |
| cuir, écorce, peau | hide / bark / skin | *ki/*bi | *-pu (~) |
| cuisse | thigh | *ku/*a | *-nama |
| cuisse, jambe, pied | thigh / leg / foot | *ku/*a | *-tak |
| dent | tooth | *li/*a | *-nini |
| dent | tooth | *li/*a | *-nino |
| dent | tooth | *li/*a | *-sana |
| dent | tooth | *li/*a | *-gaŋgo (~) |
| dos | back | *ì/*í | *-duma |
| dos | back | *ú/*ti | *-sene |
| douleur | pain / ache | *bu SC | *-dane |
| eau | water | *ma SC | *-izi (~) |
| eau | water | *ma SC | *-ni (~) |
| enclos, ferme | compound / farm | *ku/*a | *-kwan |
| enfant | child (boy, young man, youth) | *ù/*ba | *-ŋgbwana / *-bana |
| esclave | slave | *ù/*ba | *-kpan |
| esclave | slave | *ù/*ba | *-sam |
| excréments | excrements | *a SC | *-biŋ |
| faim | hunger | *ì SC | *-zana |
| fantôme, Dieu, esprit | ghost / God / spirit | *ka SC | *-seli |
| fardeau | load | *li/*a | *-son |
| femme | woman | *ù/*ba | *-kwazi |
| femme | woman (= mother ?) | *ù/*ba | *-nine |
| femme | woman (= mother ?) | *ù/*ba | *-nene |
| femme | woman (= mother ?) | *ù/*ba | *-nina |
| feu | fire | *ku/*a | *-zwuŋi |
| feu | fire | *ú/*í | *-lilo (~) |
| feuille | leaf | *ku/*í | *-wade |
| fil, corde | cord / rope | *ú/*ti | *-duŋu |
| fil, corde, liane | cord / rope / liana | *ú/*í | *-digi |
| flèche | arrow | *li/*a | *-bano |
| forêt, savane | forest, bush | *li/*a | *-kodi |
| forêt, savane | forest / bush | *ku/*a | *-kit (~) |
| forêt, savane | forest / bush | *ki/*bi | *-gbek |
| forêt, savane | forest / bush | *ki/*bi | *-dumo |
| front | forehead | *bu/*í | *-tini |
| genou | knee | *li/*a | *-duno |
| genou | knee | *li/*a | *-kudu |
| gorge, voix | throat, voice | *li/*a | *-mado |
| gorge, voix | throat / voice | *ì/*í | *-toŋo |
| gorge, voix | throat / voice | *ki/*bi | *-zosi |
| gorge, voix | throat / voice | *ú/*í | *-kodoŋ |
| gras, graisse, huile | fat, grease, oil | *ma SC | *-kud |
| gras, graisse, huile | fat, grease, oil | *ma SC | *-nai |
| grenouille, crapaud | frog / toad | *ì/*í | *-boto |
| guerre, bagarre | war, quarrel | *li/*a | *-kondu |
| guerre, bagarre | war / quarrel | *bi SC | *-ta |
| guérisseur | medicine man | *ù/*ba | *-bok |
| homme | man | *ù/*ba | *-lume |
| houe | hoe | *ú/*í | *-gbadi |
| huile, huile de palme | oil / palm oil | *ma SC | *-nawi |
| igname | yam | *ì/*í | *-kod |
| invité | guest | *ù/*ba | *-kena |
| jambe, pied | leg / foot | *ku/*a | *-kudu |
| jambe, pied | leg / foot | *ku/*a | *-kpel (~) |
| jambe, pied | leg / foot | *ku/*í | *-bona |
| joue | cheek | *li/*a | *-tama |
| joue | cheek | *ku/*a | *-kweŋge |
| jour | day | *li/*a | *-tien |
| jour | day | *li SC | *-tiane |
| jumeau | twin | *li/*a | *-pata |
| lait | milk | *ma SC | *-mino |
| lance | spear | *li/*a | *-kwoŋga |
| langue | tongue | *li/*a | *-lemi |
| langue | tongue | *li/*a | *-lake |
| larmes | tears | *ma SC | *-zini |
| lourd | heavy | *li SC | *-tik |
| léopard | leopard | *ì/*í | *-kpoŋi |
| lézard | lizard | *ì/*í | *-gondol |
| lézard | lizard | *ki/*bi | *-pame |
| maison | house | *ì/*í | *-ntabu |
| maison | house | *ì/*í | *-zu |
| maison | house | *ku/*í | *-tumba |
| menton | chin | *li/*a | *-leku |
| miel | honey | *li SC | *-toŋi |
| mois, lune | month / moon | *ku/*í | *-pele |
| mois, lune | month / moon | *ú/*í | *-kondi |
| montagne | mountain | *ki/*bi | *-kwol |
| montagne | mountain | *ú/*í | *-bal |
| mortier | mortar | *ú/*ti | *-dudo |
| mouche | fly | *ì/*í | *-zin |
| moustique | mosquito | *ì/*í | *-munan (~) |
| mouton | sheep | *ì/*í | *-gun.. (~) |
| mouton | sheep | *bu/*í | *-tiaŋe |
| mâchoire | jaw | *ku/*í | *-baŋga |
| mère | mother | *ù/*ba | *-nina |
| mère | mother (probably with Ø-prefix) | *ù/*ba | *-mama |
| mère (ta ~) | mother (your ~) | *ù/*ba | *-noko |
| médicament | medicine | *bu/*a | *-kal |
| natte | mat | *ku/*a | *-putu |
| natte | mat | *ki/*bi | *-kpaŋga |
| nez | nose | *li/*a | *-zua |
| noir | black | *ki/*bi | *-zida |
| nom | name | *li/*a | *-zina |
| nombril | navel | *li/*a | *-kwop (~) |
| nuit, jour | night / day | *bu/*í | *-tuno |
| œil | eye | *li/*a | *-lito |
| œuf | egg | *li/*a | *-kiŋ |
| œuf | egg | *li/*a | *-tiŋ |
| ongle | nail | *ki/*bi | *-kiada (~) |
| oreille | ear | *ku/*a | *-tuŋi |
| os | bone | *ki/*bi | *-kupe |
| palmier | palm-tree | *bu/*a | *-tende |
| palmier | palm-tree | *bu/*a | *-pide |
| palmier | palm-tree | *bu/*í | *-bonu |
| partie, morceau | part / piece | *ki/*bi | *-tun |
| personne | person | *ù/*ba | *-neto |
| peur | fear | *bu SC | *-bogo |
| pilon | pestle | *ú/*í | *-todi |
| pintade | guineafowl | *ì/*í | *-kaŋga |
| pintade | guineafowl | *ì/*í | *-ziŋin |
| pirogue, bateau | canoe / boat | *ku/*a | *-kpaŋe |
| pirogue, bateau | canoe / boat | *bu/*í | *-atumu |
| pluie, saison des pluies | rain / rainy season | *li SC | *-bakoli |
| pluie, temps pluvieux | rain / rainy weather | *ú/*í | *-mbaŋ |
| poisson | fish | *ì/*í | *-sidi |
| poisson | fish | *ì/*í | *-kote |
| porc | pig | *ì/*í | *-kumba |
| poumon | lung | *li/*a | *-pupu |
| poussière, terre, boue | dust / earth / mud | *ka SC | *-bubu |
| père | father | *ù/*ba | *-itu |
| père | father (probably with Ø-prefix) | *ù/*ba | *-tata |
| queue | tail | *ku/*a | *-zum |
| queue | tail | *ú/*í | *-kila |
| queue | tail | *ú/*í | *-tiad |
| racine | root | *li/*a | *-nan |
| rivière | river | *ú/*í | *-tiana |
| rocher, pierre | rock, stone | *li/*a | *-tadi |
| rocher, pierre | rock, stone | *li/*a | *-pandi |
| rocher, pierre | rock / stone | *bu/*a | *-kwaata |
| rosée | dew | *ma SC | *-miŋ |
| rosée | dew | *a SC | *-bude |
| salive | saliva | *ma SC | *-(n)tati |
| sang | blood | *ma SC | *-zi |
| sang | blood | *ma SC | *-luŋ |
| sauterelle | grasshopper | *ki/*bi | *-tadek |
| sauterelle | grasshopper | *ka/*í | *-kiuku |
| scorpion | scorpion | *ì/*í | *-nan |
| scorpion | scorpion | *ì/*í | *-get |
| sein | breast | *li/*a | *-bani |
| sel | salt | *bu/*í | *-nunu |
| sel | salt | *ma SC | *-mu |
| serpent | snake | *ì/*í | *-noko |
| serpent | snake | *ú/*í | *-kpi |
| singe | monkey | *ì/*í | *-bogu |
| singe | monkey | *ka/*í | *-kama |
| soleil | sun | *li/*a | *-zuba |
| soleil | sun | *lu*í | *-z(wa)ma |
| sorcellerie | witchcraft | *bu SC | *-tieŋu |
| sorcière | witch | *ù/*ba | *-tieŋu |
| tambour | drum | *ì/*í | *-kama |
| tambour | drum | *ì/*í | *-bina |
| temps | time | *ì SC | *-tani |
| terre, sol | earth / ground | *ì SC | *-tie |
| tortue | tortoise | *ì/*í | *-kulu |
| travail | work | *ku/*í | *-tomo |
| trou, puits | hole / pit | *li/*a | *-bonV (~) |
| tête | head | *li/*a | *-to |
| vache | cow | *ì/*í | *-nak |
| vent | wind | *bu/*í | *-pepod |
| ventre | belly | *li/*a | *-bumu |
| ventre | belly | *li/*a | *-mani |
| vie | life | *bu SC | *-guma |
| vin de palme | palm wine | *ma SC | *-tuk |
| visage, front | face / forehead | *bu/*a | *-su |
| volaille, poule | fowl / chicken | *ì/*í | *-nkuba |
| volaille, poule | fowl / chicken | *ì/*í | *-nono |
| voleur | thief | *ù/*ba | *-zibudi |
| voleur | thief | *ù/*ba | *-taŋ |
| travail | work | *ú/*í | *-pone |
| écorce, enveloppe, peau | bark / husk / skin | *ki/*bi | *-kpaga |
| éléphant | elephant | *ì/*í | *-ni |
| éléphant | elephant | *ì/*í | *-zon(om) |
| épaule | shoulder | *ku/*a | *-peŋga |
| épine | thorn | *ú/*ti | *-zibo |
| épouse | wife | *ù/*ba | *-nianin |
| étang, mare, lac | pond / pool / lake | *ki/*bi | *-zugi |