Bulu
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Beti)
Bulu is a Beti-Pahuin Bantu language of southern Cameroon, mutually intelligible with Ewondo and Fang. It served as a major lingua franca in colonial-era Cameroon thanks to early Presbyterian translation work, particularly the American Presbyterian Mission's 1881 Bible projects in Ebolowa. Today Bulu is overshadowed by French and Cameroonian Pidgin English in commerce, but remains a key vehicle of southern Cameroonian identity, oral epic (mvet), and Christian liturgy.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bulu
chocolat
ordinateur
Sources
- New Bulu Bible (BULU09), Bible Society of Cameroon, bible.com version 856 (also Bulu DC Bible, version 3293)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Beti)
| Meaning | Bulu | Ewondo | Fang | Kikongo | Luba-Kasai | Kaonde | Kimbundu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | mendim /mendim/ | medzim /medzim/ | mendim /mendim/ | maza /maza/ | mâyi /maːji/ | mema /mema/ | menha /meɲa/ |
| Fire | nduan /nduan/ | ndoa /ndoa/ | nduan /nduan/ | tiya /tija/ | kapia /kapia/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | tubia /tubja/ |
| Sun | jôp /dʒɔp/ | dzōb /dʒoːb/ | zòp /zòp/ | ntangu /ntaŋɡu/ | dîba /diːba/ | juba /dʒuba/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ |
| Moon | ngon /ŋɡon/ | ngɔn /ŋɡɔn/ | ngɔn /ŋɡɔn/ | ngonda /ŋɡonda/ | ngondo /ŋɡondo/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ |
| Star | ôtɛtɛ /ɔtɛtɛ/ | ôtɛtɛ /ótɛtɛ/ | ótéteŋ /ótéteŋ/ | mbwetete /mbwetete/ | mutoto /mutoto/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ |
| Night | alu /alu/ | alu /alu/ | alu /alu/ | builu /builu/ | butuku /butuku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ | usuku /usuku/ |
| Rain | mveŋ /mveŋ/ | mveŋ /mvəŋ/ | mveng /mveŋ/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mvula /mvula/ |
| Wind | évuŋulu /evuŋulu/ | evundu /evundu/ | mfongha /mfoŋa/ | mupepe /mupepe/ | tshipepele /tʃipepele/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | kitembu /kitembu/ |
| Earth | si /si/ | si /si/ | si /si/ | ntoto /ntoto/ | buloba /buloba/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | mavu /mavu/ |
| Stone | akok /akok/ | akok /akok/ | akok /akok/ | tadi /ˈtadi/ | dibue /diˈbwe/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | ditadi /ditadi/ |
| Mountain | nkôl /ŋkɔl/ | nkol /ŋkol/ | nkol /ŋkol/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ | mukuna /mukuna/ | mutumba /mutumba/ | mulundu /mulundu/ |
| Sea | maŋ /maŋ/ | maŋ /maŋ/ | mang /maŋ/ | mbu /mbu/ | mbuwu /mbuwu/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ |
| Mother | nyia /ɲia/ | nyia /ɲia/ | nyia /ɲia/ | mama /mama/ | mâmu /maːmu/ | bamama /bamama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | tata /tata/ | tara /taɾa/ | tara /tara/ | tata /tata/ | tâtu /taːtu/ | bataata /bataːta/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | ngone /ŋɡone/ | ngon /ŋɡɔn/ | ngoan /ŋɡoan/ | mwana ya nkento /mwana ja nkento/ | muana wa bakaji /muana wa bakaʒi/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ |
| I | ma /má/ | ma /má/ | me /me/ | mono /mono/ | meme /meme/ | amiwa /amiwa/ | eme /eme/ |
| You | wô /wɔ/ | wa /wá/ | wè /wè/ | ngeye /ŋɡeje/ | wewe /wewe/ | obewa /obewa/ | eie /eje/ |
| We | bia /bja/ | bia /bjá/ | bie /bje/ | beto /beto/ | tuetu /tuetu/ | atweba /atweba/ | etu /etu/ |
| Name | jôé /dʒɔe/ | jôé /ʒóé/ | eyola /ejola/ | nkumbu /nkumbu/ | dîna /diːna/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ |
| Person | môt /mɔt/ | môt /mɔt/ | mot /mɔt/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Head | nlô /nlɔ/ | nlo /nlo/ | nlo /nlɔ/ | ntu /ntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutue /mutue/ |
| Eye | dis /dis/ | dzìs /dʒis/ | dis /dis/ | disu /disu/ | dîsu /diːsu/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | disu /disu/ |
| Ear | alo /alo/ | alo /alo/ | alo /alo/ | kutu /kutu/ | ditshu /ditʃu/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | ditui /ditui/ |
| Mouth | anyu /aɲu/ | anyu /aɲu/ | anyu /aɲu/ | nnwa /nnwa/ | mukana /mukana/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | dikanu /dikanu/ |
| Tooth | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | asoŋ /asoŋ/ | dinu /dinu/ | dinu /dinu/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ | dizu /dizu/ |
| Tongue | ôyem /ɔjem/ | ôyem /ojəm/ | ôyem /ojəm/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | dimi /dimi/ |
| Hand | wo /wo/ | woó /woʔó/ | wɔ /wɔ/ | koko /koko/ | tshianza /tʃianza/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ |
| Foot | abo /abo/ | abo /abɔ/ | abo /abɔ/ | kulu /kulu/ | dikasa /dikasa/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ | kinama /kinama/ |
| Heart | nlem /nlem/ | nlem /nlem/ | nnem /nnəm/ | ntima /ntima/ | mutshima /mutʃima/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | muxima /muʃima/ |
| Bone | évés /eves/ | évés /évɛ́s/ | ves /ves/ | visi /visi/ | mufuba /mufuba/ | kupa /kupa/ | kifuba /kifuba/ |
| Blood | metyi /metʃi/ | meki /meki/ | meki /meki/ | menga /meŋɡa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | mashi /maʃi/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ |
| Poop | mebi /mebi/ | — | mebi /mebi/ | tufi /tufi/ | tumvi /tumvi/ | — | tuji /tuʒi/ |
| Love | nyeʼa /ɲeʔa/ | nyeʼe /ɲeʔe/ | ndzem /ndzem/ | zola /zola/ | dinanga /dinaŋɡa/ | butemwe /butemwe/ | henda /henda/ |
| Tree | élé /ele/ | elé /elé/ | eli /eli/ | nti /nti/ | mutshi /mutʃi/ | kichi /kitʃi/ | muxi /muʃi/ |
| Dog | mvu /mvu/ | mvu /mvu/ | mvu /mvu/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | esinga /esiŋɡa/ | esìŋga /esiŋɡa/ | esin /esin/ | nyau /ɲau/ | nyao /ɲao/ | kapuso /kapuso/ | kasalu /kasalu/ |
| Fish | kos /kos/ | kos /kos/ | kos /kos/ | mbisi /mbisi/ | mushipa /muʃipa/ | sabi /sabi/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ |
| Bird | anon /anɔn/ | anon /anɔn/ | anon /anɔn/ | nuni /ˈnuni/ | nyunyu /ɲuɲu/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | njila /ndʒila/ |
| Butterfly | évulabebas /evulabebas/ | — | evulabeba /evulabeba/ | lumbembambemba /lumbembambemba/ | tshibiyibiyi /tʃibijibiji/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ |
| Egg | aki /aki/ | aki /aki/ | aki /aki/ | diaki /diaki/ | diyi /diji/ | jike /dʒike/ | diiaki /dijaki/ |
| Bear | urs /urs/ | — | — | beli /beli/ | — | mbeyala /mbejala/ | ulusu /ulusu/ |
| Horse | ékabela /ekabela/ | ekabeli /ekabeli/ | nkabele /ŋkabele/ | mpunda /mpunda/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | mbili /mbili/ | kabalu /kabalu/ |
| House | nda /nda/ | nda /nda/ | nda /nda/ | nzo /nzo/ | nzubu /nzubu/ | nzubo /nzubo/ | inzo /inzo/ |
| Milk | menyaŋ /meɲaŋ/ | menyan /meɲan/ | menyang /meɲaŋ/ | midiki /midiki/ | mabele /mabele/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | lete /lete/ |
| Honey | wôé /wɔe/ | woe /woe/ | — | bwiki /bwiki/ | buitshi /buitʃi/ | buki /buki/ | uiki /wiki/ |
| Salt | nku /ŋku/ | nku /ŋku/ | nku /ŋku/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | luepu /luepu/ | mukele /mukele/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ |
| Wine | woon /woːn/ | wayn /wajn/ | vino /vino/ | vinu /vinu/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | binyu /biɲu/ | vinyu /viɲu/ |
| Rice | ôlis /ɔlis/ | oles /oles/ | oles /oles/ | loso /loso/ | losa /losa/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | loso /loso/ |
| Chocolate | chocolat | — | — | chocolat | — | — | — |
| Iron | étyé /etʃe/ | ekye /ekje/ | ekyeñ /ekjɛɲ/ | kibende /kiˈbende/ | tshiamu /tʃiamu/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | felu /felu/ |
| Wheel | nka /ŋka/ | — | — | dikulu /dikulu/ | lukata /lukata/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | dilola /dilola/ |
| Book | kalate /kalate/ | kalara /kalara/ | — | buku /buku/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | buku /buku/ | divulu /divulu/ |
| Eat | di /di/ | di /di/ | di /di/ | kudia /kudja/ | kudia /kudia/ | kuja /kudʒa/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | nyu /ɲu/ | nyu /ɲu/ | nyu /ɲu/ | kunua /kunwa/ | kunua /kunua/ | kutoma /kutoma/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| One | fok /fok/ | fok /fok/ | bok /bok/ | mosi /mosi/ | umue /umue/ | umo /umo/ | moxi /moʃi/ |
| Two | bɛ̌ /bɛ̌/ | bɛ̌ /bɛ̌/ | bɛ̀ /bɛ̀/ | zole /zole/ | ibidi /ibidi/ | babiji /babidʒi/ | iadi /jaːdi/ |
| Three | láá /laː/ | lɛ́ /lɛ́/ | lɛ́ɛ́ /lɛː/ | tatu /tatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | satu /satu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | nyin /ɲin/ | nyi /ɲì/ | nyin /ɲiːɲ/ | iya /ija/ | inai /inai/ | bana /bana/ | uana /wana/ |
| Five | tan /tan/ | tán /tán/ | tan /tan/ | tanu /tanu/ | itanu /itanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ |
| Hundred | ntet /ntet/ | ntɛt /ntɛ̀d/ | ntɛt /ntɛ̀t/ | nkama /nkama/ | lukama /lukama/ | kitota /kitota/ | hama /hama/ |
| Hello | mbolo /mbolo/ | mbɔlɔ /mbɔlɔ/ | mbolo /mbolo/ | mbote /mbote/ | moyo /mojo/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ |
| Thank you | akiba /akiba/ | akiba /akiba/ | akiba /akiba/ | matondo /matondo/ | tuasakidila /tuasakidila/ | nasanta /nasanta/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ |
| Good | mbamba /mbamba/ | mbaŋ /mbaŋ/ | mbeng /mbeŋ/ | mbote /mbote/ | impe /impe/ | kyawama /kjawama/ | kiambote /kiambote/ |
| New | mfefé /mfefe/ | mkpaman /mkpaman/ | nféféñ /nféféɲ/ | mpa /mpa/ | mupia /mupia/ | kipya /kipja/ | kiobe /kjobe/ |
| Red | évele /evele/ | nyín /ɲín/ | vele /vələ/ | mbwaki /mbwaki/ | kunze /kunze/ | chila /tʃila/ | kusuka /kusuka/ |
| White | éfumulu /efumulu/ | mfum /mfum/ | fum /fum/ | mpembe /mpembe/ | toke /toke/ | toka /toka/ | kuzela /kuzela/ |
| Black | évindi /evindi/ | evindi /evindi/ | vine /vine/ | ndombe /ndombe/ | fike /fike/ | fiita /fiːta/ | kuxikela /kuʃikela/ |
| Blue | blum /blum/ | — | — | bule /bule/ | fikuluke /fikuluke/ | — | mulombe /mulombe/ |
| Computer | ordinateur | — | ordinateur | ludinatelo /ludinatelo/ | ordinatere /ordinatere/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | komputadolo /komputadolo/ |
| Tea | thé /te/ | — | — | ti /ti/ | tshiayi /tʃiaji/ | — | xá /ʃa/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | — | — | kafe /kafe/ | kafe /kafe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kafé /kaˈfe/ |
| Sugar | minkôk /miŋkɔk/ | — | — | sukadi /sukadi/ | nsukadi /nsukadi/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | sukidi /suˈkidi/ |
| Ninety-nine | mewôm ébul a ébul /mewɔm ebul a ebul/ | — | — | makumi ivwa na ivwa /makumi ivwa na ivwa/ | makumi tshitema ne tshitema /makumi tʃitema ne tʃitema/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | makuinhi ivua ni ivua /makwiɲi ivwa ni ivwa/ |
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