Editing Beja language (section)

==Lexicon==
Through lexicostatistical analysis, David Cohen (1988) observed that Beja shared a basic vocabulary of around 20% with the East Cushitic Afar and Somali languages and the Central Cushitic Agaw languages, which are among its most geographically near Afroasiatic languages. This was analogous to the percentage of common lexical terms that was calculated for certain other Cushitic languages, such as Afar and Oromo. Václav Blažek (1997) conducted a more comprehensive glottochronological examination of languages and data. He identified a markedly close ratio of 40% cognates between Beja and Proto-East Cushitic as well as a cognate percentage of approximately 20% between Beja and Central Cushitic, similar to that found by Cohen.{{sfn|Vanhove|2020a|p=302}}

A fairly large portion of Beja vocabulary is borrowed from Arabic. In Eritrea and Sudan, some terms are instead [[Tigre language|Tigre]] loanwords.{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2007|p=17}} Andrzej Zaborski has noted close parallels between Beja and Egyptian vocabulary.{{sfn|Zaborski|1988}}

The only independent Beja dictionary yet printed is Leo Reinisch's 1895 ''Wörterbuch der Beḍauye-Sprache''. An extensive vocabulary forms an appendix to E.M. Roper's 1928 ''Tu Beḍawiɛ: An Elementary Handbook for the use of Sudan Government Officials'', and this has formed the basis for much recent comparative Cushitic work. Klaus and Charlotte Wedekind and Abuzeinab Musa's 2007 ''A Learner's Grammar of Beja (East Sudan)'' comes with a CD which contains a roughly 7,000-word lexicon, composed mostly of one-word glosses. Klaus Wedekind, Abuzeinab Muhammed, Feki Mahamed, and Mohamed Talib were working on a Beja-Arabic-English dictionary, but publication appears to have been stalled by Wedekind's death.{{sfn|Wedekind|Musa|Mahamed|Talib|2017}} Martine Vanhove announced a forthcoming Beja-Arabic-English-French dictionary in 2006. It has not yet been published.{{sfn|Vanhove|2006|p=6}} The Beja scholar Muhammed Adarob Ohaj produced a Beja-Arabic dictionary as his masters thesis in 1972. It has not yet been published.{{sfn|Hamid Ahmed|2010}}

===Swadesh List===
The following list is drawn from Wedekind, Wedekind, and Musa's 2007 grammar and Roper's 1928 handbook. Nouns are given in indefinite accusative forms (the citation form); unless marked otherwise, forms that end in {{angbr|t}} are feminine and all others are masculine. Verbs are given in the singular masculine imperative.
{| class="wikitable"
|i=No|  '''No.'''
!c=en|  English
!c=01|  Beja<br />Bidhaawyeet
|-
|i=No| 1
|c=en| 	I
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|aneeb}} (acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|ani}} (nom)
|-
|i=No| 2
|c=en| you ''(singular)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|barook}} (m.acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|batook}} (f.acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|baruuk}} (m.nom), {{lang|bej-Latn|batuuk}} (f.nom)
|-
|i=No| 3
|c=en| we
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hinin}}
|-
|i=No| 4
|c=en| this
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|oon-}} (m.acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|toon-}} (f.acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|uun-}} (m.nom), {{lang|bej-Latn|tuun-}} (f.nom)
|-
|i=No| 5
|c=en| that
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|been}}
|-
|i=No| 6
|c=en| who
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|aab}} (acc), {{lang|bej-Latn|aaw}} (nom)
|-
|i=No| 7
|c=en| what
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|naa}}
|-
|i=No| 8
|c=en| not
|c=01| —{{ref|not}}
|-
|i=No| 9
|c=en| all
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kass-}}
|-
|i=No| 10
|c=en| many
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gwidaab}}
|-
|i=No| 11
|c=en| one
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gaal}} (m), {{lang|bej-Latn|gaat}} (f)
|-
|i=No| 12
|c=en| two
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|maloob}}
|-
|i=No| 13
|c=en| big
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|win}}
|-
|i=No| 14
|c=en| long
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|saraaraab}}
|-
|i=No| 15
|c=en| small
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|dibiloob}}
|-
|i=No| 16
|c=en| woman
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|takat}}
|-
|i=No| 17
|c=en| man ''(adult male)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|tak}}
|-
|i=No| 18
|c=en| man ''(human being)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|m'aadamiib}}
|-
|i=No| 19
|c=en| bird
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kilaay}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|kilay}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 20
|c=en| dog
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|yaas}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|yas}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 21
|c=en| louse
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|taat}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|tat}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 22
|c=en| tree
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hindiib}} (s/p)
|-
|i=No| 23
|c=en| seed
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|teeraab}} (s/p)
|-
|i=No| 24
|c=en| leaf
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|raat}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|rat}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 25
|c=en| root
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gadam}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|gadamaab}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 26
|c=en| bark ''(of a tree)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|adhift}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|adhifaat}} (p); {{lang|bej-Latn|hindi shadhiidh}}
|-
|i=No| 27
|c=en| skin
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|adeeb}}
|-
|i=No| 28
|c=en| meat
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|shaat}}
|-
|i=No| 29
|c=en| blood
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|booy}}
|-
|i=No| 30
|c=en| bone
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|miitaatt}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|miitatt}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 31
|c=en| fat ''(noun)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|l'aab}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|dhhaab}}
|-
|i=No| 32
|c=en| fire
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|n'eet}}
|-
|i=No| 33
|c=en| egg
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kwhiib}}
|-
|i=No| 34
|c=en| horn
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|d'aab}}
|-
|i=No| 35
|c=en| tail
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|niiwaat}}
|-
|i=No| 36
|c=en| feather
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|tambaat}}/{{lang|bej-Latn|timbaat}}
|-
|i=No| 37
|c=en| fish
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ashoob}}
|-
|i=No| 38
|c=en| hair
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hamoot}}
|-
|i=No| 39
|c=en| head
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|girmaab}}
|-
|i=No| 40
|c=en| ear
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|angwiil}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|angwil}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 41
|c=en| eye
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|liiliit}}{{ref|liiliit}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|gw'aj}}
|-
|i=No| 42
|c=en| fingernail
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|n'af}}
|-
|i=No| 43
|c=en| nose
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ginuuf}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|ginif}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 44
|c=en| mouth
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|yaf}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|yafaab}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 45
|c=en| tooth
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kwiriib}}
|-
|i=No| 46
|c=en| tongue ''(organ)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|miid(al)aab}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|miid(al)ab}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 47
|c=en| foot
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ragad}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|ragadaab}} (p){{ref|ragad}}
|-
|i=No| 48
|c=en| knee
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gindhif}}/{{lang|bej-Latn|gindif}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|gindhifaab}}/{{lang|bej-Latn|gindifaab}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 49
|c=en| hand
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ayeeb}}
|-
|i=No| 50
|c=en| belly
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|f'iib}}
|-
|i=No| 51
|c=en| neck
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|alaat}}
|-
|i=No| 52
|c=en| breast
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|nigw}}
|-
|i=No| 53
|c=en| heart ''(organ)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gin'aab}}
|-
|i=No| 54
|c=en| liver
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|seet}}
|-
|i=No| 55
|c=en| to drink
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gw'a}}
|-
|i=No| 56
|c=en| to eat
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|tamaa}}
|-
|i=No| 57
|c=en| to bite
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|finika}}
|-
|i=No| 58
|c=en| to see
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|rhaa}}
|-
|i=No| 59
|c=en| to hear
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|maasiwa}}
|-
|i=No| 60
|c=en| to know
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kana}}
|-
|i=No| 61
|c=en| to sleep
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|diwaa}}
|-
|i=No| 62
|c=en| to die
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|yaya}}
|-
|i=No| 63
|c=en| to kill
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|dira}}
|-
|i=No| 64
|c=en| to swim
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|nidabaa}}
|-
|i=No| 65
|c=en| to fly
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|firaa}}
|-
|i=No| 66
|c=en| to walk
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hiireeraa}}
|-
|i=No| 67
|c=en| to come
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|m'aa}}{{ref|m'aa}}
|-
|i=No| 68
|c=en| to lie ''(as in a bed)''
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|b'iya}}
|-
|i=No| 69
|c=en| to sit
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|sa'a}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|thathaa}}
|-
|i=No| 70
|c=en| to stand
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gada}}
|-
|i=No| 71
|c=en| to give
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hiya}}
|-
|i=No| 72
|c=en| to say
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|diya}}
|-
|i=No| 73
|c=en| sun
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|yint}}
|-
|i=No| 74
|c=en| moon
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|tirigt}}
|-
|i=No| 75
|c=en| star
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hayiikw}}
|-
|i=No| 76
|c=en| water
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|yam}}
|-
|i=No| 77
|c=en| rain
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|bireeb}}
|-
|i=No| 78
|c=en| stone
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|aweeb}}
|-
|i=No| 79
|c=en| sand
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|isseet}}
|-
|i=No| 80
|c=en| earth
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|burt}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|haash}}
|-
|i=No| 81
|c=en| cloud
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|baal}} (f.s), {{lang|bej-Latn|baalaat}} (p); {{lang|bej-Latn|sahaab}}
|-
|i=No| 82
|c=en| smoke
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|eegaab}}
|-
|i=No| 83
|c=en| ashes
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|n'eetehaash}}
|-
|i=No| 84
|c=en| to burn
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|liwa}} (tr), {{lang|bej-Latn|lawa}} (intr)
|-
|i=No| 85
|c=en| road
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|darab}}
|-
|i=No| 86
|c=en| mountain
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ribaab}}
|-
|i=No| 87
|c=en| red
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|adaroob}}
|-
|i=No| 88
|c=en| green
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|sootaay}}{{ref|sootaay}}
|-
|i=No| 89
|c=en| yellow
|c=01| —
|-
|i=No| 90
|c=en| white
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|eeraab}}
|-
|i=No| 91
|c=en| black
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hadal}}
|-
|i=No| 92
|c=en| night
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|hawaad}} (s), {{lang|bej-Latn|hawad}} (p)
|-
|i=No| 93
|c=en| warm
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|naba'}}
|-
|i=No| 94
|c=en| cold
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|m'akwaraab}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|l'aab}}
|-
|i=No| 95
|c=en| full
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|ataab}}
|-
|i=No| 96
|c=en| new
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|gayiib}}
|-
|i=No| 97
|c=en| good
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|daayiib}}
|-
|i=No| 98
|c=en| round
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|kwadhaadh}}; {{lang|bej-Latn|kwalaal}}
|-
|i=No| 99
|c=en| dry
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|balamaab}}
|-
|i=No| 100
|c=en| name
|c=01| {{lang|bej-Latn|sim}}
|}
#{{note|not}}Beja handles negation through distinct negative polarity conjugation. There is no lexical "not."
#{{note|liiliit}} In some dialects {{lang|bej-Latn|liiliit}} means "pupil."
#{{note|ragad}} {{lang|bej-Latn|Ragad}} refers to the foot and leg.
#{{note|m'aa}} This is a rare [[suppletion|suppletive]] imperative. Other forms of the verb have no {{IPA|/m/}} and are constructed around a consonantal root {{IPA|/j/}}.
#{{note|sootaay}} {{lang|bej-Latn|Sootaay}} covers the [[Blue–green distinction in language|blue-green range]].

===Numbers===
{| class="wikitable"
!|
!|1
!|2
!|3
!|4
!|5
!|6
!|7
!|8
!|9
!|10
|-
!|m
|{{lang|bej-Latn|gaal}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|maloob}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|mhay}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|fadhig}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|ay}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asagwir}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asaramaab}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asumhay}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|ashshadhig}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|tamin}}
|-
!|f
|{{lang|bej-Latn|gaat}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|maloot}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|mhayt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|fadhigt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|ayt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asagwitt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asaramaat}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|asumhayt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|ashshadhigt}}
|{{lang|bej-Latn|tamint}}
|}
"Ten" has combining forms for the production of teens and products of ten. Numbers from 11 to 19 are formed by {{lang|bej-Latn|tamna-}} followed by the units. E.g., "fourteen" is {{lang|bej-Latn|tamna fadhig}}. Combining ones use the form {{lang|bej-Latn|-gwir}}; e.g., "eleven" is {{lang|bej-Latn|tamnagwir}}. "Twenty" is {{lang|bej-Latn|tagwuugw}}. "Twenty-one" is {{lang|bej-Latn|tagwgwagwir}}. "Thirty" is {{lang|bej-Latn|mhay tamun}}; "forty" is {{lang|bej-Latn|fadhig tamun}}; "fifty" is {{lang|bej-Latn|ay tamun}}; etc. "One hundred" is {{lang|bej-Latn|sheeb}}. For higher numbers, Beja-speakers use Arabic terms.

Ordinal numbers are formed by the addition of a suffix {{lang|bej-Latn|-a}}. "First" is {{lang|bej-Latn|awwal}}, borrowed from Arabic.

"Half" is {{lang|bej-Latn|tarab}}. Other fractions are borrowed from Arabic.{{sfn|Wedekind|Wedekind|Musa|2004–2005|loc=§§250–257}}