ChiBemba
Bemba
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
Bemba (ChiBemba) is the most widely spoken Zambian language and a major lingua franca of the Copperbelt. It has 5 vowels with phonemic length contrast, a full system of around fifteen Bantu noun classes, and serves as a Bantu reference language in linguistic study.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bemba
Sources
- Bemba Bible "Ishiwi Lyakwa Lesa" 2015 (bible.com version 1097); Mann 1995 Bemba stems via Bantu Basic Vocabulary Database (lexibank bantubvd, CBOLD); en.wiktionary Bemba lemmas; Glosbe en-bem (Wiktionnaire entries + JW sentences)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
| Meaning | Bemba | Zambian Tonga | Kaonde | Tumbuka | Chewa | Yao | Shona |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amenshi /amenʃi/ | meenda /meːnda/ | mema /mema/ | maji /madʒi/ | madzi /madzi/ | mesi /mesi/ | mvura /mvura/ |
| Fire | umulilo /umulilo/ | mulilo /mulilo/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | akasuba /akasuba/ | zuba /zuba/ | juba /dʒuba/ | zuŵa /zuβa/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ | zuva /zuva/ |
| Moon | umweshi /umweʃi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ | mwedzi /mwedzi/ |
| Star | intanda /intanda/ | nyenyezi /ɲeˈɲezi/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ | nyeredzi /ɲeredzi/ |
| Night | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | busiku /busiku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ | usiku /usiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | imfula /imˈfula/ | imvula /imvula/ | mvula /mvula/ | vula /ˈvula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | ula /ula/ | mvura /mvura/ |
| Snow | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ | caanda /tʃaːnda/ | sino /sino/ | chiwuvi /tʃiwuvi/ | chipale chofewa /tʃipale tʃofewa/ | — | sinoo /sinoː/ |
| Wind | umwela /umwela/ | muwo /muwo/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ | mhepo /ˈmʱepo/ |
| Earth | umushili /umuʃili/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | dongo /doŋɡo/ | dothi /ˈdotʰi/ | litaka /litaka/ | ivhu /iβu/ |
| Stone | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | ibbwe /iˈbwe/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | libwe /liˈɓwe/ | mwala /ˈmwala/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ | ibwe /iˈɓwe/ |
| Mountain | ulupili /ulupili/ | cilundu /tʃilundu/ | mutumba /mutumba/ | phiri /pʰiɾi/ | phiri /ˈpʰiɾi/ | litumbi /litumbi/ | gomo /ˈɡomo/ |
| Sea | bemba /bemba/ | lwaanje /lwaːndʒe/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ | bahali /bahali/ | gungwa /ɡuŋɡwa/ |
| Mother | bamayo /bamajo/ | bama /bama/ | bamama /bamama/ | amama /amama/ | amayi /amaji/ | amao /amao/ | amai /amai/ |
| Father | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | bataata /bataːta/ | adada /adada/ | abambo /abambo/ | atati /atati/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | mwana musimbi /mwana musimbi/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | mwana msungwana /mwana msuŋɡwana/ | mwana wamkazi /mwana wamkazi/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ | mwanasikana /mwanasikana/ |
| I | ine /ine/ | ime /ime/ | amiwa /amiwa/ | ine /ine/ | ine /ine/ | une /une/ | ini /ini/ |
| You | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | obewa /obewa/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | mmwe /mːwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | ifwe /ifwe/ | iswe /iswe/ | atweba /atweba/ | ise /ise/ | ife /ife/ | uwe /uwe/ | isu /isu/ |
| Name | ishina /iʃina/ | izina /iˈziːna/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | zina /zina/ | dzina /dzina/ | lina /lina/ | zita /zita/ |
| Person | umuntu /umuntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ | mundu /mundu/ | munhu /muˈnʱu/ |
| Head | umutwe /umutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutu /mutu/ | mutu /mutu/ | mtwe /mtwe/ | musoro /musoro/ |
| Eye | ilinso /ilinso/ | liso /liso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | diso /diso/ | liso /liso/ | ziso /ziso/ |
| Ear | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | khutu /kʰutu/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ | nzeve /nzeβe/ |
| Nose | umona /umona/ | impemo /impemo/ | moona /moːna/ | mphuno /mpʰuno/ | mphuno /mˈpʰuno/ | lupula /lupula/ | mhino /mʱino/ |
| Mouth | akanwa /akanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mlomo /m̩lomo/ | kamwa /ˈkamʷa/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ | muromo /muˈromo/ |
| Tooth | ilino /ilino/ | linyo /liɲo/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ | jino /dʒino/ | dzino /dzino/ | liino /liːno/ | zino /zino/ |
| Tongue | ululimi /ululimi/ | mulaka /mulaka/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | lilime /lilime/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | rurimi /rurimi/ |
| Hand | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | woko /woko/ | dzanja /dzandʒa/ | nkono /nkono/ | ruoko /rwoko/ |
| Foot | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | cituta /tʃituta/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ | lundi /lundi/ | phazi /ˈpʰazí/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ | tsoka /tsoka/ |
| Heart | umutima /umutima/ | moyo /mojo/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | mtima /m̩tima/ | mtima /mtima/ | mtima /mtima/ | mwoyo /mwojo/ |
| Bone | ifupa /ifupa/ | ifuwa /ifuwa/ | kupa /kupa/ | chiwangwa /tʃiwaŋɡwa/ | fupa /fupa/ | liupa /liupa/ | pfupa /pfupa/ |
| Blood | umulopa /umulopa/ | bulowa /bulowa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | ndopa /ndopa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ | miasi /miasi/ | ropa /ropa/ |
| Poop | amafi /amafi/ | tubi /tubi/ | — | mavi /mavi/ | matuvi /matuvi/ | manyi /maɲi/ | tsvina /tsvina/ |
| Love | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | luyando /lujando/ | butemwe /butemwe/ | kutemwa /kutemwa/ | chikondi /tʃikondi/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ | rudo /rudo/ |
| Tree | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | cisamu /tʃisamu/ | kichi /kitʃi/ | khuni /kʰuni/ | mtengo /mteŋɡo/ | mtela /mtela/ | muti /muti/ |
| Dog | imbwa /imbwa/ | muvwa /muvwa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ | ncheŵe /ntʃeβe/ | galu /ɡalu/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | pushi /puʃi/ | kaaze /kaːze/ | kapuso /kapuso/ | chona /tʃona/ | mphaka /mpʰaka/ | paka /paka/ | katsi /katsi/ |
| Fish | isabi /isabi/ | inswi /inswi/ | sabi /sabi/ | somba /somba/ | nsomba /nsomba/ | somba /soːmba/ | hove /hove/ |
| Bird | icuni /itʃuni/ | kayuni /kajuni/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | chiyuni /tʃijuni/ | mbalame /mɓaˈlame/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ | shiri /ʃiri/ |
| Butterfly | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | inkoonkolekwa /iŋkoːŋkolekwa/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | bulawura /bulawuɾa/ | gulugufe /ɡuluˈɡufe/ | chipuluputwa /tʃipuluputwa/ | shaveshave /ʃaveʃave/ |
| Egg | ilini /ilini/ | iji /idʒi/ | jike /dʒike/ | sumbi /sumbi/ | dzira /dzira/ | lindanda /lindanda/ | zai /zai/ |
| Bear | bea /bea/ | bbeya /ˈbeja/ | mbeyala /mbejala/ | — | — | — | bheya /bʱeja/ |
| Horse | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | ibbiza /iˈbiza/ | mbili /mbili/ | hachi /hatʃi/ | hatchi /hatʃʰi/ | falasi /falasi/ | bhiza /biza/ |
| House | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | ngʼanda /ŋanda/ | nzubo /nzubo/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | imba /imba/ |
| Milk | umukaka /umukaka/ | mukupa /mukupa/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ | maŵele /maβele/ | mukaka /mukaka/ |
| Honey | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | buci /butʃi/ | buki /buki/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | umucele /umutʃele/ | munyo /muɲo/ | mukele /mukele/ | mchere /m̩tʃere/ | mchere /mtʃere/ | njete /ndʒete/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | waini /waini/ | binyu /biɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | divai /divai/ | waini /waini/ |
| Rice | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ |
| Iron | icela /iˈtʃela/ | butale /butale/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | chisulo /tʃiˈsulo/ | chitsulo /tʃiˈtsulo/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ | simbi /ˈsimbi/ |
| Wheel | umupeto /umupeto/ | ivwili /iˈvwili/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | khwiro /kʰwiro/ | gudumu /ɡudumu/ | wilo /wilo/ | vhiri /viri/ |
| Silk | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | — | shilika /ʃilika/ | siliki /siliki/ | silika /silika/ | halili /halili/ | sirika /sirika/ |
| Book | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | ibbuku /iˈbuku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /buku/ | buku /ˈbuku/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | bhuku /ˈɓuku/ |
| Eat | ukulya /ukulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kuja /kudʒa/ | kurya /kuɾja/ | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kutoma /kutoma/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | koona /koːna/ | kulaala /kulaːla/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | kurara /kuˈrara/ |
| One | cimo /tʃimo/ | mwi /mwi/ | umo /umo/ | chimoza /tʃimoza/ | chimodzi /tʃimodzi/ | mo /mo/ | potsi /potsi/ |
| Two | fibili /fibili/ | bili /bili/ | babiji /babidʒi/ | viŵiri /viβiɾi/ | awiri /awiri/ | iŵili /iβili/ | piri /piri/ |
| Three | fitatu /fitatu/ | totatwe /totatwe/ | satu /satu/ | vitatu /vitatu/ | zitatu /zitatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | fine /fine/ | ne /ne/ | bana /bana/ | vinayi /vinaji/ | zinayi /zinaji/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ | ina /ina/ |
| Five | fisano /fisano/ | musanu /musanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | vinkhonde /viŋkʰonde/ | sanu /sanu/ | nsano /nsano/ | shanu /ʃanu/ |
| Hundred | umwanda /umwanda/ | mwaanda /mwaːnda/ | kitota /kitota/ | zana /zana/ | zana /zana/ | mia /mia/ | zana /zana/ |
| Hello | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | mwabuka buti /mwabuka buti/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | monire /moniɾe/ | moni /moni/ | salama /salama/ | mhoro /mʱoro/ |
| Thank you | natotela /natotela/ | twalumba /twalumba/ | nasanta /nasanta/ | yewo /jewo/ | zikomo /zikomo/ | — /—/ | maita /maita/ |
| Good | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | kabotu /kabotu/ | kyawama /kjawama/ | chiweme /tʃiweme/ | chabwino /tʃabwino/ | chambone /tʃambone/ | chakanaka /tʃakanaka/ |
| New | cipya /tʃipja/ | pya /pja/ | kipya /kipja/ | chiphya /tʃipʰja/ | chatsopano /tʃatsopano/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ | itsva /itsva/ |
| Red | kashika /kaʃika/ | subila /subila/ | chila /tʃila/ | swesi /swesi/ | chofiira /tʃofiːra/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ | tsvuku /tsvuku/ |
| White | buuta /buːta/ | salala /salala/ | toka /toka/ | tuŵa /tuβa/ | yoyera /joˈjeɾa/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ | chena /tʃena/ |
| Black | fiita /fiːta/ | siya /sija/ | fiita /fiːta/ | fipa /fipa/ | chakuda /tʃakuda/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ | tema /tema/ |
| Green | katapa /katapa/ | — | — | biriŵiri /biɾiβiɾi/ | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ | — | girini /ɡirini/ |
| Computer | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kkompyuta /ˈkompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kombiyuta /kombijuta/ |
| Tea | tii /tiː/ | tii /tiː/ | — | tiyi /tiji/ | tiyi /ˈtiji/ | tiyi /tiji/ | tii /tiː/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kkofi /ˈkofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | khofi /kʰofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | syuga /sjuɡa/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | sukali /sukali/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Ninety-nine | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ | makumi aali fuka afuka /makumi aːli fuka afuka/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | makhumi ghankhonde na ghanayi na vinkhonde na vinayi /makʰumi ɣaŋkʰonde na ɣanaji na viŋkʰonde na vinaji/ | makumi asanu ndi anayi mphambu zisanu ndi zinayi /makumi asanu ndi anaji mpʰambu zisanu ndi zinaji/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ | makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe /makumi mapfumbamwe nepfumbamwe/ |
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