Learn Kimbundu
Learn Kimbundu
Two steps: learn the words every language shares, then learn the one pattern that shapes almost every Kimbundu noun.
Step 1
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
The basic things a sentence can be about.
the speaking self, I
eme nga ku zolà
I love you.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
the person addressed, you
eye u muloji
You are a wizard.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
a person, somebody
ku mundu oko kueniê muthu, uauaba usokela n'cie
In this world there is no one as beautiful as you.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
a thing, subject of discussion
O kamba dietu riakexile mu binga kima
Our friend was asking for something.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
a group of people, a crowd
athu kiyadi
two people
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
the body, the outward visible form
Relational substantives
Words for a part of something, or a kind of something.
Determiners
Words that point: this, the same, another.
Quantifiers
Words for how many or how much.
the number one, a single unit
muthu umoxi
one person
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
the number after one
athu kiyadi
two people
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
an indefinite but small number or amount
Amoxi êxi: "Tu mu jiba ni matadi."
Some said: "We shall kill him with stones."
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
every one, without exception
kiatundu yoso mu kuwabha
nicer than all
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
to exist or be present in great quantity
of small size or limited quantity
Also expresses small
Evaluators
Words for good and bad.
Descriptors
Words for size.
Mental predicates
What happens in the mind: thinking, knowing, wanting, feeling.
to think about, consider, or form an intention
to be acquainted with or have knowledge of
to want or intend something
Se uandala, zuela.
If you want to, speak.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
to perceive through the senses
Also expresses hear
Kithangana, uivua bhu kanga bhu muelu ua 'nzo
A while later, she hears something outside, at the door of the house.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
to see, observe, or recognise something
Eme ki ngimona kyoso ki ngibanga.
I do not see what I shall do.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
to listen and take in what is said
Also expresses feel
Speech
Saying words, and what is said.
Actions, events, movement
Doing something, something happening, and moving.
Existence, possession
Being somewhere, existing, and having.
to reside or remain in a place
Also expresses there is
O jingombe jala mu yangu? — Jalê-mu.
Are the oxen in the grass? — They are not.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
to exist or be present somewhere
Also expresses be (somewhere)
Sai-ku, sai-bhu, sai-mu
there is, there are
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
to exist or be in a given condition
belonging to me, mine
O m'bik' ó ki wami ê
This slave is not mine.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
Life and death
Being alive, and dying.
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
to stop living, to cease to exist
Mona a Nzambi ua tu fuila
The Son of God died for us.
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
Time
When something happens, and for how long.
the interval between two events
Also expresses moment
at this very moment, right now
nga mu vuala kindaula
I gave birth to it just now.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
in earlier times, formerly
later, coming after
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
a brief instant, a moment
Also expresses when/time
Kithangana, uivua bhu kanga bhu muelu ua 'nzo
A while later, she hears something outside, at the door of the house.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
Space
Where something is, and which way.
in what place, where
in this place, right here
O hoji ixi: "Iza baba; ngi zukame."
The lion said: "Come here; come close to me."
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
the upper part of something elevated
underneath, in a lower position
Eye, uakuata o uanda koxi a menia
You who are holding the net under the water.
Attested — Chatelain, 1894
at a great distance, far off
to be located nearby, close to another
a side, part, or half of a whole
Also expresses part
in, inside, or within a space
to touch or spread by contagion
Logical concepts
Not, maybe, because, if.
a word of negation, meaning no
kana
no
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
perhaps, it may be that
to be able, to have the capacity
-tena
to be able
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
for what reason or cause
mukonda
because
Attested — Chatelain, 1889
in the event that, should it happen that
Intensifier, augmentor
Very, and more.
Not a single word in Kimbundu — this concept is expressed grammatically.
more, again, or to a greater degree
Similarity
Being like something else.
Based on the Natural Semantic Metalanguage research programme (Goddard & Wierzbicka). Mappings are drawn from the historical dictionary corpus and are under editorial review.
Step 2
How Kimbundu nouns change
Kimbundu sorts its nouns into ten classes. The class decides how a word forms its plural, and how the rest of the sentence agrees with it. Learn the pattern from the source, then meet the words it applies to.
Read the ten grammar lessons
Chatelain’s 1888–1889 grammar, one printed page per lesson: the rule, the singular and plural pattern, the words, and his own exercises.
Open the grammar lessonsBrowse the ten classes
Every dictionary entry, grouped by its noun class, with the prefix pair for each.
Browse the ten classes