Fililwa dialect

Fililwa dialect
Chifililwa
Native toMalawi, Tanzania
RegionNorthern lakeshore communities
Native speakers
21,000 (local use)
Niger–Congo
  • Atlantic–Congo
    • Benue–Congo
      • Bantoid
        • Bantu (Zone N)
          • Tumbuka
            • Fililwa dialect
Latin alphabet and Mwangwego script
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
N.21 (parent)

Fililwa dialect (Chifililwa) is a lakeshore dialect of the Tumbuka language, spoken mainly in Chitipa, Rumphi and Karonga districts.

Mutual intelligibility

Fililwa is mutually intelligible with standard Tumbuka but features localized pronunciation, conserved older Tumbuka-lakeshore terms, and distinct tone realizations, especially in vocabulary linked to fishing and lake-based community life.

References

  1. ↑ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
  2. ↑ "Glottolog 5.2 - Fililwa". glottolog.org. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  3. ↑ "Tumbuka: Fililwa language". globalrecordings.net. Retrieved 2025-11-30.
  4. ↑ "Chitumbuka,Citumbuka,Tamboka,Tambuka,Tumboka,Tumbuka to English dictionary ". Lughayangu. Retrieved 2025-11-30.