Hiw

Hiw is a member of the Southern Oceanic branch of the Malayo-Polynesian language family. It is spoken on the island of Hiw, one of the Torres Islands in Torba province of Vanuatu. There are about 280 speakers of all ages, and the language is considered endangered. Hiw speakers all speak Bislama, and many also speak Lo-Toga, a closely related language.

Hiw is also known as Hiu. It is written with the Latin alphabet, and was first written in 1894. There are translations of parts of the Bible in Hiw.

Hiw alphabet and pronunciation

Notes

r was pronounced [r] historically, and is currently used in recent loanwords

Download an alphabet chart for Hiw (Excel)

Sample sentences

Tōwtōw, ne wane, sise tat wane vitikeyë.
In the old days, the drinking of kava, that was not done casually.
Tekn̄wa tuwtōw sise ver̄oye ur̄ ne tën.
Our ancestors used to fight for land.
Tun̄wuyegë pyë nʼ ov; alë ten̄war̄e var̄er̄ age.
The women lit fires, while the men went to the gardens.

Source: The economy of word classes in Hiw, Vanuatu. Alexandre François

Information about Hiw | Numbers

Links

Information about Hiw
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiw_language
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/hiw
http://alex.francois.online.fr/data/AlexFrancois_2017_Economy-word-classes_St-in-Lg_print.pdf
https://pangloss.cnrs.fr/corpus/Hiw?lang=en&mode=pro

Oceanic languages

Adzera, Ahamb, Äiwoo, Aneityum, Apma, Araki, Are, ʼAuhelawa, Avava, Babatana, Bariai, Bola, Big Numbas, Buhutu, Bwaidoka, Bwanabwana, Caac, Cheke Holo, Daakaka, Dorig, East Ambae, Gapapaiwa, Hiri Motu, Hiw, Hoava, Kakabai, Kaninuwa, Kara, Kilivila, Kokota, Koro. Kove, Kurti, Kwamera, Lakon, Lehali, Lenakel, Lewo, Lote, Lo-Toga, Löyöp, Manam, Marovo, Maskelynes, Mato, Mavea, Mono-Alu, Mota, Motu, Mussau-Emira, Mwerlap, Mwesen, Mwotlap, Nafsan, Nahavaq, Nali, Namakura, Naman, Nanggu, Nduke, Neve‘ei, Neverver, Ninde, North Efate, Nume, Paamese, Papapana, Raga, Rotuman, Roviana, Sa, Sakao, Saliba, Seimat, Siar, Sio, Ske, Sobei, Sudest, Sursurunga, Tamambo, Tami, Teanu, Tigak, Tirax, Tolai, Touo, Tungag, Ubir, Ughele, Uneapa, Vatlongos, Vitu, Vurës, Western Fijian, Wuvulu-Aua, Yabem, Yapese

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 28.09.22. Last modified: 01.06.25

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