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Kimbundu Language Archive

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Language

Language

Historical dictionary entries are published now and refined continuously through editorial review.

Dictionary structure

Noun Classes

Kimbundu noun classes help organize meaning and agreement. Use this section to browse vocabulary grouped by class and study recurring prefix patterns.

Class IAnimated beings, rational beings, people.

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
mu	a
mutu – person	atu – people

Class IIInanimate beings, covers almost all the names of animals and plants.

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
mu	mi
mutue – head	mitue – heads

Class IIINames of People, animals, augmentatives

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
ki	i
kima – thing	ima – things

Class IVobjects of magnitude

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
ri	ma
ritari – stone	matari – stones

Class Vabstract terms

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
u	mau
uta – weapon	mauta – weapons

Class VIExtension objects

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
lu	malu
lumbu – walls	malumbu – walls

Class VIIabstract terms

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
tu	matu
tubia – fire	matubia – fires

Class VIIIverbal terms

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
ku	maku
kuria – food	makuria – food

Class IXAnimals, things, people, foreign languages, etc...

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
--	ji
mbiji – fish	jimbiji – fishes

Class XDiminutive

Prefix patterns

Singular	Plural
ka	tu
-	-