The Kuki-Chin languages (also called Kukish or South-Central Tibeto-Burman languages) are a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family spoken in northeastern India, western Myanmar and southeastern Bangladesh. Most notable Kuki-Chin-speaking ethnic groups are referred to collectively as the Zo people which includes the Mizo, Kuki, Chin and Zomi people.
Kuki-Chin is alternatively called South-Central Trans-Himalayan (or South Central Tibeto-Burman) by Konnerth (2018) because the term "Kuki-Chin" carries negative connotations for many speakers of languages in this group.
Kuki-Chin is sometimes placed under Kuki-Chin–Naga, a geographical rather than linguistic grouping.
Geographical distribution Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Chandel district of Manipur, India; Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, Myanmar. Northeastern ("Kuki-Zo"): Chandel district, Churachandpur district, Kangpokpi district, Noney district, Tamenglong district, and Tengnoupal districts of Manipur, India; Tedim Township and Tonzang Township of Chin State, Myanmar; Tamu Township of Sagaing Region, Myanmar. Central: whole state of Mizoram, India; Pherzawl district of Manipur, India; parts of Cachar district and parts of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India; parts of East Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya, India; Falam Township, Hakha Township, and Thantlang Townships of Chin State, Myanmar; Kalay Township and Khampat area of Sagaing Region, Myanmar, parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Maraic: majority of Siaha district of Mizoram, India; parts of Matupi Township of Chin State, Myanmar. Southern: Kanpetlet Township, Matupi Township, Mindat Township, Paletwa Townships of Chin State, Myanmar; parts of the Arakan Range of Rakhine State, Myanmar; parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. Khomic: Paletwa Township of Chin State, Myanmar; parts of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.
Internal classification The Karbi languages may be closely related to Kuki-Chin, but Thurgood (2003) and van Driem (2011) leave Karbi unclassified within Sino-Tibetan.
The Kuki-Chin branches listed below are from VanBik (2009), with the Northwestern branch added from Scott DeLancey, et al. (2015), and the Khomic branch (which has been split off from the Southern branch) from Peterson (2017).
Kuki-Chin Northeastern ("Northern"): Suantak-Vaiphei, Zo (Zou), Paite, Tedim, Thado (Kuki), Gangte, Simte, Vaiphei, Sizang, Ralte, Ngawn Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Monsang, Moyon, Lamkang, Aimol, Anal, Tarao, Koireng (Kolhreng), Chiru, Kom, Chothe, Purum, Kharam, Central: Mizo (Duhlian), Bawm (Sunthla and Panghawi), Falam (Hallam, Ranglong, Darlong, Hauhulh, Simpi, Hualngo, Chorei), Thor (Tawr), Hmar, Hrangkhol, Biate (Biete), Hakha (Lai/Pawi, Mi-E, Zokhua), Pangkhua, Saihriem, Laizo/Tlaisun, Khualsim, Zanniat, Zahau, Sim Maraic: Mara (Tlosai {Siaha and Saikao}, Hawthai {Lyvaw, Sizo, and Lochei}, Hlaipao {Zyhno, Heima, and Lialai}), Zophei, Senthang, Zotung (Lungngo, Calthawn, Innmai), Lautu Southern: Shö (Asho/Khyang, Chinbon), Thaiphum, Daai (Nitu), Mün, Yindu, Matu, Welaung (Rawngtu), Kaang, Laitu, Rungtu, Songlai, Sumtu Khomic: Khumi (Khumi proper and Khumi Awa), Mro, Rengmitca, etc.
Darlong and Ranglong are unclassified Kuki-Chin language.
The recently discovered Sorbung language may be mixed language that could classify as either a Kuki-Chin or Tangkhul language.
Anu-Hkongso speakers self-identify as ethnic Chin people, although their language is closely related to Mru rather than to Kuki-Chin languages. The Mruic languages constitute a separate Tibeto-Burman branch, and are not part of Kuki-Chin.
VanBik (2009) Kenneth VanBik classified the Kuki-Chin languages based on shared sound changes (phonological innovations) from Proto-Kuki-Chin as follows.
Kuki-Chin Central: *k(ʰ)r-, *p(ʰ)r- > *t(ʰ)r-; *k(ʰ)l-, *p(ʰ)l- > *t(ʰ)l-; *y- > *z- Pangkhua? Lamtuk Thet: Lamtuk, Ruavan Lai Hakha: Hakha, Thantlang, Zokhua Falam: Bawm, Bualkhaw, Laizo, Lente, Khualsim, Khuangli, Sim, Tlaisun, Zanniat Mizo Mizo: Fanai, Hualngo, Lushai, Khiangte Hmar: Khosak, Thiek, Lawitlang, Khawbung, Darngawn, Lungtau, Leiri Maraic: *kr- > *ts-; *-ʔ, *-r, *-l > -Ø; *-p, *-t, *-k > *-ʔ; *θ- > *s- Mara Tlosai Saikao Siaha Hlaipao Heima Lialai Vahapi/Zyhno HawThai Sizo Ngaphepi Sabyu Chapi Lyvaw Lochei Tisih Phybyu Lautu Hnaro Chawngthia Zophei Vytu Sate/Awsa Senthang Khuapi Surkhua Zotung *h- > *f-; *kr- > *r-; *khl- > *kh-, *l-; *c(h)- > *t(h)-/*s-; *y- > *z-/*z(h)-; *w- > *v- Calthawng Innmai Lungngo/Tinpa Peripheral: *r- > *g- Northern: *θ- > *ts-; *kl- > *tl-; *-r > *-k Thado/Kuki, Tedim, Khuangsai, Paite Vuite, Chiru Sizang, Guite, Vaiphei, Ralte, Southern (Southern Plains): *-r > *-y Khumi: Khomi, Wakung Cho-Asho Asho Cho: Matu; Chinpon; Daai, Nghmoye, Ngmuun, Mkaang
Peterson (2017) David A. Peterson's internal classification of the Kuki-Chin languages is as follows.
Kuki-Chin Northwestern ("Old Kuki"): Purum, Koireng, Monsang, etc. Central Core Central Maraic Peripheral Northeastern ("Northern") Khomic: Khami/Khumi, Mro-Khimi, Lemi, Rengmitca, etc. Southern Cho Daai Hyow/Asho
Peterson's Northeastern branch corresponds to VanBik's Northern branch, while Peterson's Northwestern corresponds to the Old Kuki branch of earlier classifications.
See also Pau Cin Hau script Kuki-Chin Swadesh lists (Wiktionary)
Notes
References
Bibliography
Further reading Büchi, Janna Viktoria. 2025. A preliminary reconstruction of case marking in Northwestern South-Central, including a grammatical reconstruction of genitive marking. 58th International Conference on Sino-Tibetan Languages and Linguistics (ICSTLL 58), 3–5 September 2025, University of Bern.
Comparative word list of Paite, Simte, Thangkhal, Zou, Kom, Paite or Tedim, and Vaiphei
External links Tlângsam: Latest News in Hmar language – Mizoram, Manipur, Assam, NE India Recent Advances in Kuki-Chin Linguistics