Chilunda
Lunda
Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu, Guthrie zone L.52)
Lunda, or Chilunda, is a Bantu language of Guthrie zone L.52 spoken in the borderland where Zambia's North-Western Province meets Angola and the DR Congo. Its speakers are the Lunda-Ndembu, whose ritual life became famous in anthropology through Victor Turner's fieldwork in the 1950s. It is a typical Bantu language with a full noun-class system — kawa 'dog' plural tuwa, mutondu 'tree' plural nyitondu, katumbwa 'star' plural tutumbwa — and its orthography is distinctive among Zambian languages in using the letter ŋ (Nzambi 'God', kukeŋa 'to love', itaŋwa 'sun'). Lunda has a complete Bible (1962, revised 2004) and is used in schools and radio, but everyday lexicography is thin: no substantial Lunda dictionary is freely available online, so much of the modern vocabulary is undocumented in public sources. Transmission remains strong in rural Mwinilunga and Zambezi districts.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Lunda
chocolate
wayifayi
Sources
- Lunda-Ndembu Bible, Mukanda Wajila Wanzambi (2004), bible.com version 3305 (LNB04), and Mukanda waNzambi (1962), bible.com 3090 (water meji is the 1962 spelling, menji in 2004); English Wiktionary Lunda (meji "water"); ASJP LUNDA / LUNDA_1 / LUNDA_2 (confirmation). Standard dictionary not online: Fisher, M.K. (1985) Lunda-Ndembu Dictionary, Lusaka; White, C.M.N. (1957) A Lunda-English Vocabulary
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantu, Guthrie zone L.52)
| Meaning | Lunda | Luvale | Kaonde | Luba-Kasai | Kimbundu | Bemba | Chewa |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | meji /medʒi/ | meya /meja/ | mema /mema/ | mâyi /maːji/ | menha /meɲa/ | amenshi /amenʃi/ | madzi /madzi/ |
| Fire | kesi /kesi/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | mujilo /mudʒilo/ | kapia /kapia/ | tubia /tubja/ | umulilo /umulilo/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | itaŋwa /itaŋwa/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | juba /dʒuba/ | dîba /diːba/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ | akasuba /akasuba/ | dzuwa /dzuwa/ |
| Moon | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | ng'ondo /ŋondo/ | ngondo /ŋɡondo/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ | umweshi /umweʃi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ |
| Star | katumbwa /katumbwa/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | ntaanda /ntaːnda/ | mutoto /mutoto/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ | intanda /intanda/ | nyenyezi /ɲeɲezi/ |
| Night | wufuku /wufuku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | bufuku /bufuku/ | butuku /butuku/ | usuku /usuku/ | ubushiku /ubuʃiku/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | nvula /nvula/ | vula /vula/ | mvula /mvula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ | mvula /mvula/ | imfula /imˈfula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ |
| Snow | — /—/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | sino /sino/ | neje /neʒe/ | neve /neve/ | ubunga bwa mfula /ubuŋɡa bwa mfula/ | chipale chofewa /tʃipale tʃofewa/ |
| Wind | mpepela /mpepela/ | peho /peho/ | lubesha /lubeʃa/ | tshipepele /tʃipepele/ | kitembu /kitembu/ | umwela /umwela/ | mphepo /ˈmpʰepo/ |
| Earth | iseki /iseki/ | mavu /mavu/ | mushiji /muʃidʒi/ | buloba /buloba/ | mavu /mavu/ | umushili /umuʃili/ | dothi /ˈdotʰi/ |
| Stone | ilola /ilola/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | jibwe /dʒiˈbwe/ | dibue /diˈbwe/ | ditadi /ditadi/ | ibwe /iˈbwe/ | mwala /ˈmwala/ |
| Mountain | mpidi /mpidi/ | pili /pili/ | mutumba /mutumba/ | mukuna /mukuna/ | mulundu /mulundu/ | ulupili /ulupili/ | phiri /ˈpʰiɾi/ |
| Sea | kaluŋalwiji /kaluŋalwidʒi/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | mbuwu /mbuwu/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | bemba /bemba/ | nyanja /ɲandʒa/ |
| Mother | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | bamama /bamama/ | mâmu /maːmu/ | mama /mama/ | bamayo /bamajo/ | amayi /amaji/ |
| Father | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | bataata /bataːta/ | tâtu /taːtu/ | tata /tata/ | bataata /bataːta/ | abambo /abambo/ |
| Daughter | mwana wamumbanda /mwana wamumbanda/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | mwana wamukazhi /mwana wamukaʒi/ | muana wa bakaji /muana wa bakaʒi/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ | umwana mwanakashi /umwana mwanakaʃi/ | mwana wamkazi /mwana wamkazi/ |
| I | ami /ami/ | ami /ami/ | amiwa /amiwa/ | meme /meme/ | eme /eme/ | ine /ine/ | ine /ine/ |
| You | eyi /eji/ | ove /ove/ | obewa /obewa/ | wewe /wewe/ | eie /eje/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| We | etu /etu/ | etu /etu/ | atweba /atweba/ | tuetu /tuetu/ | etu /etu/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | ife /ife/ |
| Name | ijina /idʒina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | jizhina /dʒiʒina/ | dîna /diːna/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ | ishina /iʃina/ | dzina /dzina/ |
| Person | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | muntu /muntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | munthu /muntʰu/ |
| Head | mutu /mutu/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | mutu /mutu/ | mutue /mutue/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | mutu /mutu/ |
| Eye | disu /disu/ | liso /liso/ | jiso /dʒiso/ | dîsu /diːsu/ | disu /disu/ | ilinso /ilinso/ | diso /diso/ |
| Ear | itu /itu/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | kutwi /kutwi/ | ditshu /ditʃu/ | ditui /ditui/ | ukutwi /ukutwi/ | khutu /kʰutu/ |
| Nose | izulu /izulu/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | moona /moːna/ | diulu /diulu/ | dizulu /dizulu/ | umona /umona/ | mphuno /mˈpʰuno/ |
| Mouth | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mukana /mukana/ | dikanu /dikanu/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | kamwa /ˈkamʷa/ |
| Tooth | iji /idʒi/ | lizo /lizo/ | jiino /dʒiːno/ | dinu /dinu/ | dizu /dizu/ | ilino /ilino/ | dzino /dzino/ |
| Tongue | idimi /idimi/ | limi /limi/ | lujimi /ludʒimi/ | ludimi /ludimi/ | dimi /dimi/ | ululimi /ululimi/ | lilime /lilime/ |
| Hand | chikasa /tʃikasa/ | livoko /livoko/ | kuboko /kuboko/ | tshianza /tʃianza/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | dzanja /dzandʒa/ |
| Foot | mwendu /mwendu/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | kuulu /kuːlu/ | dikasa /dikasa/ | kinama /kinama/ | ulukasa /ulukasa/ | phazi /ˈpʰazí/ |
| Heart | muchima /mutʃima/ | mutima /mutima/ | muchima /mutʃima/ | mutshima /mutʃima/ | muxima /muʃima/ | umutima /umutima/ | mtima /mtima/ |
| Bone | ifwaha /ifwaha/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | kupa /kupa/ | mufuba /mufuba/ | kifuba /kifuba/ | ifupa /ifupa/ | fupa /fupa/ |
| Blood | mashi /maʃi/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | mashi /maʃi/ | mashi /maʃi/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | umulopa /umulopa/ | magazi /maɡazi/ |
| Love | kukeŋa /kukeŋa/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | butemwe /butemwe/ | dinanga /dinaŋɡa/ | henda /henda/ | ukutemwa /ukutemwa/ | chikondi /tʃikondi/ |
| Tree | mutondu /mutondu/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | kichi /kitʃi/ | mutshi /mutʃi/ | muxi /muʃi/ | icimuti /itʃimuti/ | mtengo /mteŋɡo/ |
| Dog | kawa /kawa/ | kawa /kawa/ | kabwa /kabwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | galu /ɡalu/ |
| Cat | — /—/ | katako /katako/ | kapuso /kapuso/ | nyao /ɲao/ | kasalu /kasalu/ | pushi /puʃi/ | mphaka /mpʰaka/ |
| Fish | inshi /inʃi/ | shi /ʃi/ | sabi /sabi/ | mushipa /muʃipa/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ | isabi /isabi/ | nsomba /nsomba/ |
| Bird | kada /kada/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | ng'onyi /ŋoɲi/ | nyunyu /ɲuɲu/ | njila /ndʒila/ | icuni /itʃuni/ | mbalame /mɓaˈlame/ |
| Butterfly | ipupwila /ipupwila/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | kipupulwa /kipupulwa/ | tshibiyibiyi /tʃibijibiji/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ | icipelebesha /itʃipelebeːʃa/ | gulugufe /ɡuluˈɡufe/ |
| Egg | iteta /iteta/ | liulu /liulu/ | jike /dʒike/ | diyi /diji/ | diiaki /dijaki/ | ilini /ilini/ | dzira /dzira/ |
| Bear | bera /bera/ | ulusu /ulusu/ | mbeyala /mbejala/ | — | ulusu /ulusu/ | bea /bea/ | — |
| Horse | kawalu /kawalu/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | mbili /mbili/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | kabalwe /kabalwe/ | hatchi /hatʃʰi/ |
| House | itala /itala/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | nzubo /nzubo/ | nzubu /nzubu/ | inzo /inzo/ | ingʼanda /iŋːanda/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | mayeli /majeli/ | mavele /mavele/ | mukaka /mukaka/ | mabele /mabele/ | lete /lete/ | umukaka /umukaka/ | mkaka /m̩kaka/ |
| Honey | wuchi /wutʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | buki /buki/ | buitshi /buitʃi/ | uiki /wiki/ | ubuci /ubutʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | muŋwa /muŋwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | mukele /mukele/ | luepu /luepu/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ | umucele /umutʃele/ | mchere /mtʃere/ |
| Wine | vinyu /viɲu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | binyu /biɲu/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | umwangashi /umwaŋɡaʃi/ | vinyo /viɲo/ |
| Rice | losu /losu/ | loso /loso/ | mupunga /mupuŋɡa/ | losa /losa/ | loso /loso/ | umupunga /umupuŋɡa/ | mpunga /mpuŋɡa/ |
| Chocolate | chocolate | — | — | — | — | — | chokoleti /tʃokoleti/ |
| Iron | chikuŋu /tʃikuŋu/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | kapotwe /kapotwe/ | tshiamu /tʃiamu/ | felu /felu/ | icela /iˈtʃela/ | chitsulo /tʃiˈtsulo/ |
| Wheel | kafumbu /kafumbu/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | kitanga /kitaŋɡa/ | lukata /lukata/ | dilola /dilola/ | umupeto /umupeto/ | gudumu /ɡudumu/ |
| Book | mukanda /mukanda/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | buku /buku/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | divulu /divulu/ | icitabo /itʃitabo/ | buku /ˈbuku/ |
| Eat | kudya /kudja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kuja /kudʒa/ | kudia /kudia/ | kudya /kudja/ | ukulya /ukulja/ | kudya /kudja/ |
| Drink | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kutoma /kutoma/ | kunua /kunua/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | ukunwa /ukunwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | kukama /kukama/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kulaala /kulaːla/ | kulala /kulala/ | kuzeka /kuzeka/ | ukulaala /ukulaːla/ | kugona /kuˈɡona/ |
| One | wumu /wumu/ | mwe /mwe/ | umo /umo/ | umue /umue/ | moxi /moʃi/ | cimo /tʃimo/ | chimodzi /tʃimodzi/ |
| Two | ayedi /ajedi/ | vali /vali/ | babiji /babidʒi/ | ibidi /ibidi/ | iadi /jaːdi/ | fibili /fibili/ | awiri /awiri/ |
| Three | satu /satu/ | tatu /tatu/ | satu /satu/ | isatu /isatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | fitatu /fitatu/ | zitatu /zitatu/ |
| Four | wana /wana/ | wana /wana/ | bana /bana/ | inai /inai/ | uana /wana/ | fine /fine/ | zinayi /zinaji/ |
| Five | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | itanu /itanu/ | tanu /tanu/ | fisano /fisano/ | sanu /sanu/ |
| Hundred | nkulakaji /nkulakadʒi/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | kitota /kitota/ | lukama /lukama/ | hama /hama/ | umwanda /umwanda/ | zana /zana/ |
| Hello | — /—/ | mwane /mwane/ | mwapoñai /mwapoɲai/ | moyo /mojo/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ | muli shani /muli ʃani/ | moni /moni/ |
| Thank you | nasakilili /nasakilili/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | nasanta /nasanta/ | tuasakidila /tuasakidila/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ | natotela /natotela/ | zikomo /zikomo/ |
| Good | chachiwahi /tʃatʃiwahi/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | kyawama /kjawama/ | impe /impe/ | kiambote /kiambote/ | cisuma /tʃisuma/ | chabwino /tʃabwino/ |
| New | chachiha /tʃatʃiha/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | kipya /kipja/ | mupia /mupia/ | kiobe /kjobe/ | cipya /tʃipja/ | chatsopano /tʃatsopano/ |
| Red | chinana /tʃinana/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | chila /tʃila/ | kunze /kunze/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | kashika /kaʃika/ | chofiira /tʃofiːra/ |
| White | chitooka /tʃitoːka/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | toka /toka/ | toke /toke/ | kuzela /kuzela/ | buuta /buːta/ | yoyera /joˈjeɾa/ |
| Blue | wuzeeli /wuzeːli/ | — | — | fikuluke /fikuluke/ | mulombe /mulombe/ | — | wobiriwira /wobiriwira/ |
| Computer | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kopyuta /kopjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | ordinatere /ordinatere/ | komputadolo /komputadolo/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ |
| Wi-Fi | wayifayi | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | tii /tiː/ | tiyi /tiji/ | — | tshiayi /tʃiaji/ | xá /ʃa/ | tii /tiː/ | tiyi /ˈtiji/ |
| Coffee | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ | kafe /kafe/ | kafé /kaˈfe/ | kofi /kofi/ | kofi /kofi/ |
| Sugar | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | nsukadi /nsukadi/ | sukidi /suˈkidi/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ | shuga /ʃuɡa/ |
| Ninety-nine | makumi atanu nawana natanu nawana /makumi atanu nawana natanu nawana/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina /makumi atanu na ana ne itanu na ina/ | makumi tshitema ne tshitema /makumi tʃitema ne tʃitema/ | makuinhi ivua ni ivua /makwiɲi ivwa ni ivwa/ | amakumi pabula na pabula /amakumi pabula na pabula/ | makumi asanu ndi anayi mphambu zisanu ndi zinayi /makumi asanu ndi anaji mpʰambu zisanu ndi zinaji/ |
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