Learn Kimbundu

The first 65 words

Every human language can express the same 65 basic concepts — the semantic primes. They are the ideas all other meanings are built from, which makes them the most useful place to start. Here is each one in Kimbundu, in the modern official spelling, linked to its dictionary entry.

59/65 words mapped to dictionary entries

Substantives

Relational substantives

Determiners

Quantifiers

Evaluators

Descriptors

Mental predicates

Speech

Actions, events, movement

Existence, possession

Life and death

live

Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.

Kúfuadie

To cease to live

Mona a Nzambi ua tu fuila

The Son of God died for us.

Attested — Chatelain, 1889

Time

Kitanganawhen/time

Time that elapses between two operations.

Kindaulanow

Now.

nga mu vuala kindaula

I gave birth to it just now.

Attested — Chatelain, 1894

Ùkulubefore

From before; formerly.

Hándaafter

After.

a long time

Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.

a short time

Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.

for some time

Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.

Kitanganamoment

Moment; instant.

Kitangana, uivua bu kanga bu muelu ua 'nzo

A while later, she hears something outside, at the door of the house.

Attested — Chatelain, 1894

Space

Logical concepts

Intensifier, augmentor

very

Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.

Ringimore

More; again ; still; to a greater degree.

Similarity

Based on the Natural Semantic Metalanguage research programme (Goddard & Wierzbicka). Mappings are drawn from the historical dictionary corpus and are under editorial review.