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Khumi, or Khumi Chin, is a Kuki-Chin-Mizo language of Burma, with some speakers across the border in Bangladesh. Khumi shares 75%–87% lexical similarity with Eastern Khumi, and 78-81% similarity with Mro-Khimi.

Geographical distribution

Khumi proper is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (Ethnologue).

• Kaladan river area in Paletwa township, Chin State
• A few villages in Kyauktaw township, Rakhine State.

Eastern Khumi (Khami) is spoken in the following townships of Myanmar (Ethnologue). The Eastern Khumi dialects have a high degree of mutual intelligibility, with all dialects sharing at least 74% lexical similarity, although there are strong attitudes against sharing the same literature. In terms of lexical similarity, Nisay, Nideun, and Khongtu dialects share 92%–97% while the Khenlak and Asang dialects also share 92%–97%. The Likhy variety of Eastern Khumi shares 86%–90% lexical similarity with Mro-Khimi Chin.

• Matupi township, Chin State (in 4 villages)
• Sami subtownship, Paletwa township, Chin State (in 85 villages)

Dialects

Ethnologue lists the following dialects.

• Khumi
  • Pi Chaung
  • Kaladan
  • Eastern Kaladan
  • Southern Paletwa
• Eastern Khumi (Khami)
  • Nisay (Nise, Palyng, Tao Cha)
  • Nideun (Amlai, Ghu, Laungtha, Maru, Paru, Tahaensae, Taheunso, Uiphaw)
  • Lemi (Akelong, Aki Along, Kaja, Kajauk)
  • Khongtu
  • Likhy (Likhaeng)
  • Rengcaa (Namboi, Nangbwe)
  • Khenlak
  • Asang (Kasang, Sangtha)

The Kasang (also known as Khenlak, Ta-aw, Hkongsa-Asang, Hkongso-Asang, Asang, and Sangta) consider themselves as ethnic Hkongso, but their language is intelligible with Khumi rather than Anu or Hkongso (Wright 2009). Kasang villages include Lamoitong and Tuirong.

References

1. Khumi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
   Eastern Khumi at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
2. ^ "Myanmar". Ethnologue: Languages of the World. 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2023-04-01.
3. Jonathan Michael Wright. 2009. Hkongso Grammar Sketch. MA thesis, Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics.

• Herr, Kristen. 2011. The Phonological Interpretation of Minor Syllables, Applied to Lemi Chin. Master’s thesis.
• Lung, K Nu San. 2017. Vitality of Language and Music among the Lemi People In Southern Chin State of Myanmar. Master’s Thesis.
• Peterson, David A. 2012. The Khumi cluster and its place in Kuki-Chin-Mizo. Paper presented at ICSTLL 45, Singapore.

v t e Sino-Tibetan branches
Western Himalayas (Himachal, Uttarakhand, Nepal, Sikkim)	West Himalayish Tamangic Newaric Newar Baram–Thangmi Kiranti Dhimalish Dhimal Toto Lhokpu Lepcha Greater Magaric Magaric Magar Kham Chepangic Chepang Bhujel Raji–Raute Dura–Tandrange
Eastern Himalayas (Tibet, Bhutan, Arunachal)	Bodish Tibetic East Bodish Tshangla Basum Nam? Gongduk ʼOle Tani Chamdo
Myanmar and Indo- Burmese border	Karbi Kuki-Chin Mruic Mru Hkongso Pyu Taman "Naga" Ao Angami–Pochuri Meitei Tangkhulic Zeme Sal Boro–Garo Konyak Jingpho–Luish
East and Southeast Asia	Sinitic Bai Tujia Nungish Karenic Gong Kathu Cai–Long Caijia Longjia Luren Burmo-Qiangic Qiangic Gyalrongic Ersuic Naic Lolo-Burmese Mondzish Burmish Loloish
Dubious (possible isolates) (Arunachal)	Hrusish Hruso Mijiic Kho-Bwa Puroik Miju–Meyor Songlin Greater Siangic Siangic Koro Milang Idu–Taraon
Proposed groupings	Central Tibeto-Burman Kuki-Chin–Naga Macro-Bai Mahakiranti Rung Tibeto-Burman Tibeto-Kanauri
Proto-languages	Proto-Sino-Tibetan Proto-Tibeto-Burman Proto-Loloish Proto-Karenic Proto-Min Proto-Hakka
Italics indicates single languages that are also considered to be separate branches.

v t e Languages of Bangladesh
Official language	Bengali
Indo-European	Assamese Goalpariya Kamrupi Bengali Chittagonian Dhakaiya Kutti Dobhashi Eastern Bengali Noakhailla Rangpuri Rarhi Sylheti Varendri Bihari Bishnupriya Chakma English Bangladeshi English Hajong Hindustani Dhakaiya Urdu Hindi Urdu Khotta Odia Persian Rohingya Sadri (Nagpuri)
Sino-Tibetan	Shö A'Tong Bawm Sak Kukish Falam Garo Hakha Chin (Laiholh) Khumi Koch Kokborok Megam Meitei (Manipuri) Mizo Mru Pangkhu Rakhine (Marma) Rengmitca Tanchangya
Austroasiatic	Khasi Koda Kol Mundari Pnar Santali War-Jaintia
Dravidian	Kurukh Sauria Paharia
Afro-Asiatic	Arabic
Sign	Indo-Pakistani Sign Language

• Kuki-Chin languages
• Languages of Bangladesh
• Languages of Myanmar