View source for Maore dialect

{{Short description|Dialect spoken in Mayotte}}
{{Distinguish|Māori language}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Maore
|nativename={{lang|swb-Latn|Shimaore}} {{Script|Arab|{{lang|swb-Arab|شِمَ}}وُوْرِيْ}}
|states=[[Mayotte]], [[Madagascar]]
|speakers=152,000
|date=2012
|ref=<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/swb|title=Comorian, Maore|work=Ethnologue|access-date=2018-08-03|language=en}}</ref>
|familycolor=Niger-Congo
|fam2=[[Atlantic–Congo languages|Atlantic–Congo]]
|fam3=[[Benue–Congo languages|Benue–Congo]]
|fam4=[[Bantoid languages|Bantoid]]
|fam5=[[Bantu languages|Bantu]]
|fam6=[[Northeast Coast Bantu]]
|fam7=[[Sabaki languages|Sabaki]]
|fam8=[[Comorian language|Comorian]]
|script        = [[Latin script|Latin]]<Br>[[Arabic script|Arabic]]<ref name="mayote-la-1ere">“Le Conseil Départemental a Tranché, l’alphabet Des Langues Mahoraises Se Fera En Caractères Latins et Arabes.” Mayotte la 1ère, October 15, 2020. [https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/le-conseil-departemental-a-tranche-l-alphabet-des-langues-mahoraises-se-fera-en-caracteres-latins-et-arabes-881430.html]. ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230612190147/https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/mayotte/le-conseil-departemental-a-tranche-l-alphabet-des-langues-mahoraises-se-fera-en-caracteres-latins-et-arabes-881430.html Archive])</ref><ref name="bulletin"/>
|iso3=swb
|glotto=maor1244
|glottorefname=Maore Comorian
|guthrie=G.44d
|notice=IPA
}}

'''Maore Comorian''', or '''''Shimaore''''' ([[French language|French]] ''Mahorais''), is one of the two indigenous languages spoken in the [[France|French]] island of [[Mayotte]]; Shimaore being a dialect of the [[Comorian language]], while [[Bushi language|ShiBushi]] is an unrelated [[Malayo-Polynesian languages|Malayo-Polynesian language]] originally from [[Madagascar]].  Historically, Shimaore- and ShiBushi-speaking villages on Mayotte have been clearly identified, but Shimaore tends to be the ''de facto'' indigenous ''[[lingua franca]]'' in everyday life, because of the larger Shimaore-speaking population.  Only Shimaore is represented on the local television news program by [[La Première (French TV network)|Mayotte La Première]].  The 2002 census references 80,140 speakers of Shimaore in Mayotte itself, to which one would have to add people living outside the island, mostly in metropolitan France.  There are also 20,000 speakers of Comorian in Madagascar, of which 3,000 are Shimaore speakers.

The same 2002 census indicates that 37,840 persons responded as knowing how to read or write Shimaore.  However this number has to be taken with caution, since it was a few years after this census was taken that a standard writing system was introduced.

From a [[sociolinguistics|sociolinguistic]] perspective, [[French language|French]] tends to be regarded by many Shimaore speakers as the language of higher education and prestige, and there is a temptation by native Mahorans to provide an all-French education to their children.  This puts a lot of pressure on Shimaore and the language may become endangered in the near future if nothing is done.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

Although French remains the official language in Mayotte, Shimaore will probably be taught in Mahoran schools starting in the next few years,{{when|date=February 2020}} and a pilot project began in fall 2004.  As in many parts of France where local languages are introduced in the school system, this has led to tensions between partisans of a French-centered education system and administrations, versus those promoting a more diversified approach.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}  Shimaore's position in this regard is however different from other French regions (such as [[Brittany]]), since the language is locally spoken by a majority of the population.  The project in Mayotte has been inspired by similar projects involving [[Swahili language|Swahili]] in eastern Africa countries.

Mayotte is a geographically small territory, but frequent exchanges between villages only began in the last quarter of the twentieth century.  As of 2004, linguistic differences between the east and west part of the island, and between the main city of Mamoudzou and the remote villages, are still noticeable, especially when it comes to phonological differences.  One typical example is the word ''u-la'' (to eat), notably pronounced this way in the city due to the influence of a brand of yogurt bearing the same name, but pronounced ''u-dja'' in other parts of the island.

==Phonology==

===Consonants===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" |
! [[Bilabial consonant|Bilabial]]
! [[Labiodental consonant|Labio-<br>dental]]
! [[Dental consonant|Dental]]
! [[Alveolar consonant|Alveolar]]
! [[Retroflex consonant|Retroflex]]
! [[Palatal consonant|Palatal]]
! [[Velar consonant|Velar]]
! [[Glottal consonant|Glottal]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |[[Nasal consonant|Nasal]]
| {{IPAlink|m}}
|
| 
| {{IPAlink|n}}
|
| {{IPAlink|ɲ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="5" |[[Plosive]]
! [[Voiceless|<small>voiceless</small>]]
| {{IPAlink|p}}
|
|
| {{IPAlink|t}}
| {{IPAlink|ʈ}}
|
| {{IPAlink|k}}
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[Voiced|<small>voiced</small>]]
| {{IPAlink|b}}
|
|
| {{IPAlink|d}}
| {{IPAlink|ɖ}}
|
| {{IPAlink|ɡ}}
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[Implosive consonant|<small>implosive</small>]]
| {{IPAlink|ɓ}}
|
|
| {{IPAlink|ɗ}}
|
|
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! <small>voiceless [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalized]]</small>
| {{IPAlink|ᵐp}}
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"

!<small>voiced [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalized]]</small>
|{{IPAlink|ᵐb}}
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ⁿd}}
|{{IPAlink|ᶯɖ}}
|
|{{IPAlink|ᵑɡ}}
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="4" |[[Affricate]]
![[Voiceless|<small>voiceless</small>]]
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ts}}
|
|{{IPAlink|tʃ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
![[Voiced|<small>voiced</small>]]
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|dz}}
|
|{{IPAlink|dʒ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
!<small>voiceless [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalized]]</small>
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ⁿts}}
|
|
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"

!<small>voiced [[Prenasalized consonant|prenasalized]]</small>
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|ⁿdz}}
|
|{{IPAlink|ᶮdʒ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" |[[Fricative]]
! [[Voiceless|<small>voiceless</small>]]
|
| {{IPAlink|f}}
| {{IPAlink|θ}}
| {{IPAlink|s}}
|
|{{IPAlink|ʃ}}
|
| {{IPAlink|h}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
![[Voiced|<small>voiced</small>]]
|{{IPAlink|β}}
|{{IPAlink|v}}
|{{IPAlink|ð}}
|{{IPAlink|z}}
|
|{{IPAlink|ʒ}}
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |[[Rhotic consonant|Rhotic]]
|
|
|
|{{IPAlink|r}}
|
|
|
|
|- style="text-align:center;"
! colspan="2" |[[Approximant]]
|
|
|
| {{IPAlink|l}}
|
| {{IPAlink|j}}
| {{IPAlink|w}}
|
|}

This language features an unusual contrast between {{IPA|/w, β, v, b, ɓ/}}.

===Vowels===
{| class="wikitable"
!
! [[Front vowel|Front]]
! [[Central vowel|Central]]
! [[Back vowel|Back]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[High vowel|High]]
| {{IPAlink|i}}
|
| {{IPAlink|u}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[Mid vowel|Mid]]
| {{IPAlink|e}}
|
| {{IPAlink|o}}
|- style="text-align:center;"
! [[Low vowel|Low]] 
|
| {{IPAlink|a}}
|
|}

This is a basic five-vowel system similar to that of languages such as [[Spanish language|Spanish]].

==Orthography==

Shimaore was traditionally written with an informal [[French alphabet|French]]-based [[Latin script|Latin]] alphabet.  On {{Date|22 February 2006}}, the ''Conseil de la Culture, de l'Éducation et de l'Environnement de Mayotte'' introduced an official alphabet developed by ''Association ShiMé'' that utilizes the basic Latin alphabet without c, q, and x and adds three letters: ɓ, ɗ, and v̄.<ref>[http://shime.free.fr/linguist_04.htm Alphabet du Shimaore] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720225949/http://shime.free.fr/linguist_04.htm |date=2011-07-20}} {{in lang|fr}}</ref> On {{Date|3 March 2020}}, the Conseil départemental de Mayotte announced the adoption of official orthographies in both Latin and Arabic scripts for Shimaore.<ref name="bulletin">[https://cg976.fr/ressources/raa/2020/?file=bulletinofficiel_30032020 https://cg976.fr/ressources/raa/2020/?file=bulletinofficiel_30032020] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230612191612/https://cg976.fr/ressources/raa/2020/?file=bulletinofficiel_30032020 Archive])</ref><ref name="alphabets-langues-mahoraises">[https://cg976.fr/ressources/dcp/?file=alphabets-langues-mahoraises https://cg976.fr/ressources/dcp/?file=alphabets-langues-mahoraises] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20230612191930/https://cg976.fr/ressources/dcp/?file=alphabets-langues-mahoraises Archive]</ref>


===Maore Latin Alphabet=== 

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+'''Shimaore alphabet<br />''Alifuɓe ya Shimaore'''''
|-
! [[Letter (alphabet)|Letter]] || '''A a''' || '''B b''' || '''Ɓ ɓ'''<br />''<small>[[implosive consonant|Implosive]]</small>'' || '''D d''' || '''Ɗ ɗ'''<br />''<small>[[implosive consonant|Implosive]]</small>'' || '''E e''' || '''F f''' || '''G g''' || '''H h''' || '''I i''' || '''J j''' || '''K k''' || '''L l''' || '''M m''' || '''N n''' || '''O o''' || '''P p''' || '''R r''' || '''S s''' || '''T t''' || '''U u''' || '''V v''' || '''V̄ v̄''' || '''W w''' || '''Y y''' || '''Z z'''
|- 
| [[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA Value]] || {{IPA|/a/}} || {{IPA|/b/}} || '''{{IPAslink|ɓ}}''' || {{IPA|/d/}} || '''{{IPAslink|ɗ}}''' || {{IPA|/e/}} || {{IPA|/f/}} || {{IPA|/ɡ/}} || {{IPA|/h/}} || {{IPA|/i/}} || {{IPAslink|ʒ}} || {{IPA|/k/}} || {{IPA|/l/}} || {{IPA|/m/}} || {{IPA|/n/}} || {{IPA|/o/}} || {{IPA|/p/}} || {{IPA|/r/}} || {{IPA|/s/}} || {{IPA|/t/}} || {{IPA|/u/}} || {{IPA|/v/}} || {{IPAslink|β}} || {{IPA|/w/}} || {{IPAslink|j}} || {{IPA|/z/}}
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Digraphs/Trigraphs
![[Letter (alphabet)|Letter]]
!Dh, dh
!Dj, dj
!Dr, dr
!Dz, dz
!Mb, mb
!Mp, mp
!Nd, nd
!Ndj, ndj
!Ndr, ndr
!Ndz, ndz
!Ng, ng
!Nts, nts
!Ny, ny
!Sh, sh
!Th, th
!Tr, tr
!Ts, ts
!Tsh, tsh
|-
|[[International Phonetic Alphabet|IPA Value]]
|{{IPA|/ð/}}
|{{IPA|/d͡ʒ/}}
|{{IPA|/ɖ/}}
|{{IPA|/d͡z/}}
|{{IPA|/mb/}}
|{{IPA|/mp/}}
|{{IPA|/ⁿd/}}
|{{IPA|/ᶮd͡ʒ/}}
|{{IPA|/ᶯɖ/}}
|{{IPA|/ⁿd͡z/}}
|{{IPA|/ᵑɡ/}}
|{{IPA|/ⁿt͡s/}}
|{{IPA|/ɲ/}}
|{{IPA|/ʃ/}}
|{{IPA|/θ/}}
|{{IPA|/ʈ/}}
|{{IPA|/t͡s/}}
|{{IPA|/t͡ʃ/}}
|}

===Maore Arabic Alphabet===

Maore Arabic Alphabet, officially recognized alongside Latin since 2020, consists of 35 letters, of which 27 are from the original Arabic script, and 9 are created for sounds not found in Arabic. However, many of the letters in Maore have a different pronunciation than their Arabic counterpart.

Whereas in Arabic there are 3 vowels, in Maore there are 5. While the common convention in [[Swahili Ajami]] orthography has been to use two new [[Arabic diacritics|diacritics]], which are modified varieties of two existing diacritics, in Maore Arabic alphabet, only the 3 original Arabic diacritics are used. Arabic vowels themselves represent vowels [a], [u], and [i].

The vowel [o] is created by adding a ''waw'' "و" and a [[Arabic_diacritics#Sukūn|zero-vowel diacritic (sukun)]] after the consonant.

The vowel [e] is created by adding a ''ya''' "ي" and a [[Arabic_diacritics#Sukūn|zero-vowel diacritic (sukun)]] after the consonant.

In Maore Arabic Alphabet, (similar to [[Swahili Ajami]] Script) stressed syllables are marked, either with ''alif'' "ا" (if the vowel of the syllable is [a]), ''waw'' "و" (if the vowel of the syllable is [u]), or ''ya''' "ي" (if the vowel of the syllable is [i]). These letters are written with no diacritic, not even [[Arabic_diacritics#Sukūn|zero-vowel diacritic (sukun)]]. (the existence or lack thereof of the zero-vowel diacritic is what distinguishes between [e] and a stressed [i]). This does not apply to stressed syllables containing vowels [o] or [e].

In most cases, the stressed syllable happens to be the one before last.

Whereas in Arabic, the letter [[ʿayn]] is used as a [[pharyngeal consonant]], in Maore it has a unique role of being the carrier for nasal vowels. Meaning that with the use of [[Arabic diacritics|diacritics]] (and the letter ''waw'' "و" and ''ya''' "ي" as needed), nasal vowels are written.

When non-nasal vowels are at the beginning of a word, ''alif-hamza'' "أ / إ" is used as a carrier of the appropriate diacritic (followed by the letter ''waw'' "و" and ''ya''' "ي" as needed.)

{|
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Maore Arabic Alphabet Consonants<ref name="bulletin"/><ref name="alphabets-langues-mahoraises"/>
|-
!Letter
!Latin Equivalent
!IPA
!Example
!Latin spelling
!Meaning
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|أ، إ}}</span>
| - ||[ʔ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|سُألَ}}</span>
| suala|| question
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ب}}</span>
| Ɓ ɓ ||[ɓ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|بَهَاتِ}}</span>
| ɓahati || chance
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ٻ}}</span>
| ‌B b ||[b]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ٻِيْنْڠَانِ}}</span>
| bengani || eggplant
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|پ}}</span>
| ‌P p ||[p]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|پَارِيْ}}</span>
| parè || route
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ت}}</span>
| ‌T t ||[t]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|تِبَاكُ}}</span>
| tiɓaku || tobacco
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ث}}</span>
| ‌Th th ||[θ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ثَوَابُ}}</span>
| thawaɓu || [[Thawab|religious/spiritual reward]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ج}}</span>
| ‌Dj dj ||[dʒ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|جَوَابُ}}</span>
| djawabu || response, answer
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|چ}}</span>
| ‌J j ||[ʒ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|چِيْچِيْ}}</span>
| jeje || "How is it going?"
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|خ}}</span>
| Kh kh ||[χ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|خَلِيفَ}}</span>
| khalifa ||  [[Khalifa|successor/ruler]]
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|د}}</span>
| D d ||[d]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|دَامُ}}</span>
| damu|| blood
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ذ}}</span>
| Dh dh ||[ð]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ذَهَابُ}}</span>
| dhahabu || gold
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ډ}}</span>
| Ɗ ɗ ||[ɗ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ډُوْمُوْ}}</span>
| ɗomo || lip
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڍ}}</span>
| Dy dy ||[ʄ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|أُڍَا}}</span>
| udya|| to eat
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ر}}</span>
| R r ||[r]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|رُوْهُوْ}}</span>
| roho || heart
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ز}}</span>
| Z z ||[z]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|زُوزِ}}</span>
| zuzi || day before yesterday
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|س}}</span>
| S s ||[s]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|سِمْٻَ}}</span>
| simba || lion
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ش}}</span>
| Sh sh || [ʃ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|شَمْٻَ}}</span>
| shamba || cultivated land
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ص}}</span>
| Sw sw ||[sw]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|صَلَا}}</span>
| swala || [[salah]]/prayer
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ض}}</span>
| Dw dw ||[dw]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ضَرُورَ}}</span>
| dwarura || urgency/emergency
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ط}}</span>
| Tw tw ||[tw]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|طَرِيكَ}}</span>
| twarika || religious brotherhood
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ظ}}</span>
| Dhw dhw ||[ðw]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ظَاهِرِ}}</span>
| dhwàhiri || visible
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|غ}}</span>
| Gh gh<Br>H h ||[ɣ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|غَالِ}}</span>
| hali || expensive
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڠ}}</span>
| G g ||[g]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڠَارِ}}</span>
| gari || car
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ف}}</span>
| F f ||[f]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|فِيجُو}}</span>
| fidjo || sound
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڤ}}</span>
| V v ||[v]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڤُوَ}}</span>
| vua || rain
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݡ}}</span>
| Bv bv<br>V̄ v̄ ||[β]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ݡُوْلِيْݡُوْلِيْ}}</span>
| Bvolebvole || gently/softly
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ك}}</span>
| K k ||[k]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|كَامْبَا}}</span>
| kamba || lobster
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ل}}</span>
| L l ||[l]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|لِيْوُوْ}}</span>
| leo || today
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|م}}</span>
| M m ||[m]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مَاتْرَا}}</span>
| matrà || oil
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ن}}</span>
| N n ||[n]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نَادْزِي}}</span>
| nadzì || coconut
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڼ}}</span>
| Ny ny ||[ɲ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|ڼَامَ}}</span>
| nyama || meat
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|و}}</span>
| W w ||[w]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|وَاوِيْ}}</span>
| wawe || you
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ه / هـ}}</span>
| H h ||[h]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|هَازِ}}</span>
| hazi || work/function
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|ي}}</span>
| Y y ||[j]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|يِيْزِ}}</span>
| yezi || power
|}
|
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Maore Arabic Digraphs/Trigraphs<ref name="bulletin"/><ref name="alphabets-langues-mahoraises"/>
|-
!Letter
!Latin Equivalent
!IPA
!Example
!Latin spelling
!Meaning
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْر}}</span>
| Tr tr ||[tr]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْرَمْبُوْ}}</span>
| trambo || lie/deceit
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْس}}</span>
| Ts ts ||[ts]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْسِنْڠُوْ}}</span>
| tsingo || elbow
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْش}}</span>
| Tsh tsh ||[tʃ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|تْشُوْرَ}}</span>
| tshora || spear
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|دْر}}</span>
| Dr dr ||[dr]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|دْرَادْرَاكَ}}</span>
| dradraka || crab
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|دْز}}</span>
| Dz dz ||[dz]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|دْزِنْدْزَانُوْ}}</span>
| dzindzano || yellow
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|مْٻ}}</span>
| Mb mb ||[ᵐb]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مْٻِيَ}}</span>
| mbia || grain
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|مْپ}}</span>
| Mp mp ||[ᵐp]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|مْپِيَ}}</span>
| mpia || new
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْتْس}}</span>
| Nts nts ||[nts]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|فَرَنْتْسَا}}</span>
| Farantsa || France
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْج}}</span>
| Ndj ndj ||[ᶮd͡ʒ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْجِيْمَ}}</span>
| ndjema || good/nice
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْد}}</span>
| Nd nd ||[ⁿd]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْدُوْڤُ}}</span>
| ndovu || elephant
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْدْر}}</span>
| Ndr ndr ||[ᶯɖ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْدْرَا}}</span>
| ndra || louse (lice)
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْدْز}}</span>
| Ndz ndz ||[ⁿd͡z]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْدْزَا}}</span>
| ndza || hunger
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْڠ}}</span>
| Ng ng ||[ᵑɡ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْڠُوْمَ}}</span>
| ngoma|| drum
|-
|<span style="font-size:160%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْي}}</span>
| Ny ny ||[ɲ]
|<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|نْيَامَ}}</span>
| nyama || meat
|}
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:70%;text-align:center;"
|+Vowel as first sound of word
|-
! A || E || I || O || U
|-dir="rtl"
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أَ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|إِيْـ / إِيْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|إِ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أُوْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أُ}}</span>
|-
|‌<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|أَدَابُ}}</span><br>adabu<br>''politeness''
|‌<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|إِيْوَا}}</span><br>ewa<br>''yes''
|‌<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|إِينَا}}</span><br>ina<br>''henna''
|‌<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|أُوْكْتُوْٻْرُ}}</span><br>Oktobru<br>''October''
|‌<span style="font-size:120%;">{{Script/Arabic|أُسُبُوتُ}}</span><br>usuɓutu<br>''to defy''
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:70%;text-align:center;"
|+Simple Vowels
|-
! -a || -e || -i || -o || -u
|-dir="rtl"
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌َ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِيْـ / ◌ِيْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُوْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُ}}</span>
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:70%;text-align:center;"
|+Simple Vowels in a stressed syllable
|-
! -a || -e || -i || -o || -u
|-dir="rtl"
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌َا}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِيْـ / ◌ِيْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ِيـ / ◌ِي}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُوْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|◌ُو}}</span>
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout:fixed;width:70%;text-align:center;"
|+Nasal Vowels
|-
! Ã -ã || Ẽ -ẽ || Ĩ -ĩ || Õ -õ || Ũ -ũ
|-dir="rtl"
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|عَـ / عَ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|عِيْـ / عِيْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|عِـ / عِ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|عُوْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|عُـ / عُ}}</span>
|-
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أَنْـ / أَنْ<br>◌َانْـ / ◌َانْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|إِيْنْـ / إِيْنْ<br>◌ِيْنْـ / ◌ِيْنْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|إِنْـ / إِنْ<br>◌ِنْـ / ◌ِنْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أُوْنْـ / أُوْنْ<br>◌ُوْنْـ / ◌ُوْنْ}}</span>
| <span style="font-size:160%;line-height:1.35;">{{Script/Arabic|أُنْـ / أُنْ<br>◌ُنْـ / ◌ُنْ}}</span>
|}

==Grammar==
===Noun classes===
{{interlinear|indent=3
|'''zi'''-mbuzi '''z'''-angu '''z'''-endr-e ɓazari
|'''CL10'''.DEF-goat '''CL10'''-AGR-my '''CL10'''.{{gcl|SM|subject marker}}-go-{{gcl|VH|vowel harmony}}.RET market
|'My goats went to the market.'}}

{{interlinear|indent=3
|'''wa'''-ntru-washe '''wa'''-raru '''wa'''-ngu
|'''CL2'''-person-female '''CL2'''.AGR-three '''CL2'''.AGR-my
|'my three wives' (Rombi 1983: 123)}}

<ref>''The Clause Structure Of The Shimaore Dialect Of Comorian (Bantu)'' by Aimee Johansen Alnet, p. 58</ref>

==See also==
*[[Abdou Baco]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==See also==
*[[Languages of Mayotte]]

==Bibliography==
* Blanchy, Sophie (1987). ''L'interprète. Dictionnaire Mahorais - Français et Français - Mahorais''. CMAC, Mayotte. L'Harmattan, Paris.
* Cornice, Abdillahi D. (1999). ''Manuel grammatical de shimaore''. Mamoudzou, Mayotte: L'Association SHIME - Le SHImaorais MEthodique.
* Johansen Alnet, Aimee (2009). ''The clause structure of the Shimaore dialect of Comorian (Bantu)''. Ph.D thesis. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois.
* Kordji, Chamsidine, Martine Jaquin, et alia (1999). ''Narifundrihe shimaore - Apprenons le shimaore''. Association SHIME, Mamoudzou.
* Maandhui, Ousseni (1996). ''Parlons Shimaore''. Editions du Baobab, Mamoudzou.
* Rombi, Marie-Françoise (1983). ''Le Shimaore (Île de Mayotte, Comores): Première approche d'un parler de la langue comorienne''. Paris: Société d'Etudes Linguistiques et Anthropologiques de France (SELAF).

==External links==
*[http://ylangue.free.fr/ Ylangue]
*[http://shime.free.fr/ SHIME]
*[http://perso.telecom-bretagne.eu/aimeejohansen/data/Publications/Aimee_Johansen_Alnet_thesis.pdf Johansen Alnet's Thesis]

{{Languages of Comoros}}
{{Languages of France}}
{{Arabic alphabets}}
{{Mayotte topics}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Languages of the Comoros]]
[[Category:Culture of Mayotte]]