Chonyi (Chonyi, Kichonyi, Chichonyi) is a Bantu language spoken along the eastern coast of Kenya in Kilifi County by the Chonyi people. It is part of the Mijikenda dialect cluster.
In 2019, there were an estimated speakers. Of these, spoke the Jibana dialect (Chidzihana) and the Kauma dialect (Chikauma).
References
The major distinction of the Chonyi dialect to their close neighbours which are the Giriama is the use of prefix chi-, instead of ki-. + Chi- / ki- Chichonyi Kigiryama Kiswahili Chihi Kihi Kiti Chidogo Kidogo Kidogo Chitu Kitu Kitu + Greetings and etiquette Kiswahili Chichonyi Umeamkaje? Ulamkadze? Amka- lamuka Umeshindaje Usindadze? Shinda- sinda Asante Nasanta Pole - Pore
+ Counting from one to twenty Kiswahili Chichonyi 1 Mosi/ moja Mosi/ mwenga 2 mbili mbiri 3 tatu tahu/hahu 4 nne inne 5 tano tsano 6 sita/tandatu handahu 7 saba fungahe 8 nane nane 9 tisa/kenda chenda 10 kumi kumi 11 kumi na moja kumi na mwenga 12 kumi na mbili kumi na mbiri 13 kumi na tatu kumi na tahu 14 kumi na nne kumi na inne 15 kumi na tano kumi na tsano 16 kumi na sita 17 kumi na saba kumi na fungahe 18 kumi na nane kumi na nane 19 kumi na tisa kumi na chenda 20 ishirini/miongo miwili mirongo miiri
Chichonyi incorporates intonation during pronunciation which is not very conspicuous in Kiswahili.
+ Sehemu za mwili Kiswahili Chichonyi Kichwa chitswa Jicho (macho) Dzitso(matso) Pua pula Skio (maskio) sikiro (masikiro) Nywele Nyere Mkono mkono Kiganja ganza Kidole/ chanda chala Kifua Chifua Mguu Mgulu Shingo Singo Mdomo Mlomo Ulimi Lulimi Ngozi Chingo Mgongo Mongo