Umbundu
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Southwest)
Umbundu is the largest indigenous Bantu language of Angola, with ~6M speakers, native to the central plateau (Bié, Huambo provinces). It is one of six recognized national languages of Angola (along with Kimbundu, Kikongo, Chokwe, Nganguela, and Kwanyama). Historically a major language of trade with the Portuguese empire from the 16th c. onwards, and the language of the Ovimbundu people who formed important pre-colonial kingdoms (Bailundu, Bié, Huambo). Bantu noun-class system with extensive concord; tones; rich verbal morphology with TAM markers. Major Umbundu literature includes traditional praise poetry and modern educational/religious texts.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Umbundu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Southwest)
| Meaning | Umbundu | Kuanyama | Herero | Kimbundu | Ndonga | Luvale | Kikongo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | ovava /ovava/ | omeva /omeva/ | omeva /omeva/ | menha /meɲa/ | omeya /omeja/ | meya /meja/ | maza /maza/ |
| Fire | ondalu /ondalu/ | omundilo /omundilo/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | tubia /tubja/ | omulilo /omulilo/ | kakahya /kakahja/ | tiya /tija/ |
| Sun | ekumbi /ekumbi/ | etango /etaŋɡo/ | eyuva /ejuva/ | dikumbi /dikumbi/ | etango /etaŋɡo/ | likumbi /likumbi/ | ntangu /ntaŋɡu/ |
| Moon | osãi /osãi/ | omwedi /omwedi/ | omueze /omueze/ | mbeji /mbeʒi/ | omwedhi /omweði/ | kakweji /kakwedʒi/ | ngonda /ŋɡonda/ |
| Star | onyeleñgele /oɲeleŋɡele/ | onyofi /oɲofi/ | onyose /oˈɲose/ | tetembwa /teˈtembwa/ | onyothi /oɲoθi/ | tanganyeka /taŋɡaˈɲeka/ | mbwetete /mbwetete/ |
| Night | uteke /uteke/ | oufiku /oufiku/ | ouṱuku /outuku/ | usuku /usuku/ | uusiku /uːsiku/ | ufuku /ufuku/ | builu /builu/ |
| Rain | ombela /ombela/ | odula /odula/ | ombura /ombura/ | mvula /mvula/ | omvula /omvula/ | vula /vula/ | mvula /ˈmvula/ |
| Snow | oneve /oneve/ | olumi /olumi/ | ovitutukende /ovitutukende/ | neve /neve/ | olumi /olumi/ | mbundu /mbundu/ | mvula ya mpembe /mvula ja mpembe/ |
| Wind | ofela /ofela/ | omhepo /om̥epo/ | ombepo /ombepo/ | kitembu /kitembu/ | ombepo /ombepo/ | peho /peho/ | mupepe /mupepe/ |
| Earth | eve /eve/ | edu /edu/ | ehi /ehi/ | mavu /mavu/ | evi /evi/ | mavu /mavu/ | ntoto /ntoto/ |
| Stone | ewe /ewe/ | emanya /emaɲa/ | ewe /ewe/ | ditadi /ditadi/ | emanya /emaɲa/ | lilolwa /lilolwa/ | tadi /ˈtadi/ |
| Mountain | omunda /omunda/ | omhunda /om̥unda/ | ondundu /ondundu/ | mulundu /mulundu/ | ondundu /ondundu/ | pili /pili/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ |
| Sea | okalunga /okaluŋɡa/ | efuta /efuta/ | okuvare /okuvare/ | kalunga /kaluŋɡa/ | efuta /efuta/ | kalungalwiji /kaluŋɡalwidʒi/ | mbu /mbu/ |
| Mother | inã /inã/ | meme /meme/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | meme /meme/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tate /tate/ | tata /tata/ | tate /tate/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | omõla ukãi /omõla ukãi/ | omona okakadona /omona okakadona/ | omukazona /omukazona/ | mona a muhatu /mona a muhatu/ | omwana omukadhona /omwana omukaðona/ | mwana wapwevo /mwana wapwevo/ | mwana ya nkento /mwana ja nkento/ |
| I | ame /ame/ | ame /ame/ | ami /ami/ | eme /eme/ | ngame /ŋame/ | ami /ami/ | mono /mono/ |
| You | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | ove /ove/ | eie /eje/ | ngoye /ŋoje/ | ove /ove/ | ngeye /ŋɡeje/ |
| We | etu /etu/ | fye /fje/ | eṱe /ete/ | etu /etu/ | tse /tse/ | etu /etu/ | beto /beto/ |
| Name | onduko /onduko/ | edina /edina/ | ena /ena/ | dijina /diˈʒina/ | edhina /eðina/ | lijina /liˈʒina/ | nkumbu /nkumbu/ |
| Person | omunu /omunu/ | omunhu /omun̥u/ | omundu /omundu/ | mutu /mutu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | mutu /mutu/ | muntu /muntu/ |
| Head | utwe /utwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | otjiuru /otʃiuru/ | mutue /mutue/ | omutse /omutse/ | mutwe /mutwe/ | ntu /ntu/ |
| Eye | iso /iso/ | eisho /eiʃo/ | eho /eho/ | disu /disu/ | eho /eho/ | liso /liso/ | disu /disu/ |
| Ear | okutwi /okutwi/ | omutwi /omutwi/ | okutwi /okutwi/ | ditui /ditui/ | okutsi /okutsi/ | litwitwi /litwitwi/ | kutu /kutu/ |
| Nose | enyulu /eɲulu/ | edyulu /edjulu/ | eyuru /ejuru/ | dizulu /dizulu/ | eyulu /ejulu/ | lizulu /lizulu/ | nzunu /nzunu/ |
| Mouth | omẽla /omẽla/ | okanya /okaɲa/ | otjinyo /otʃiɲo/ | dikanu /dikanu/ | okana /okana/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | nnwa /nnwa/ |
| Tooth | eyo /ejo/ | eyo /ejo/ | eyo /ejo/ | dizu /dizu/ | eyego /ejeɡo/ | lizo /lizo/ | dinu /dinu/ |
| Tongue | elimi /elimi/ | elaka /elaka/ | eraka /eraka/ | dimi /dimi/ | elaka /elaka/ | limi /limi/ | ludimi /ludimi/ |
| Hand | eka /eka/ | eke /eke/ | eke /eke/ | lukwaku /lukwaku/ | oshikaha /oʃikaha/ | livoko /livoko/ | koko /koko/ |
| Foot | omai /omai/ | omhadi /om̥adi/ | ombaze /ombaze/ | kinama /kinama/ | ompadhi /om̥aði/ | lihinji /lihindʒi/ | kulu /kulu/ |
| Heart | utima /utima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | muxima /muʃima/ | omutima /omutima/ | mutima /mutima/ | ntima /ntima/ |
| Bone | ekepa /ekepa/ | ekipa /ekipa/ | eṱupa /etupa/ | kifuba /kifuba/ | esipa /esipa/ | lifuwa /lifuwa/ | visi /visi/ |
| Blood | osonde /osonde/ | ohonde /ohonde/ | ombinḓu /ombinɗu/ | manhinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | ombinzi /ombinzi/ | manyinga /maɲiŋɡa/ | menga /meŋɡa/ |
| Poop | eniña /eniŋa/ | — | — | tuji /tuʒi/ | — | tuji /tudʒi/ | tufi /tufi/ |
| Love | ocisola /otʃisola/ | ohole /ohole/ | orusuvero /orusuvero/ | henda /henda/ | ohole /ohole/ | zangi /zaŋɡi/ | zola /zola/ |
| Tree | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | muxi /muʃi/ | omuti /omuti/ | mutondo /mutondo/ | nti /nti/ |
| Dog | ombwa /ombwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | ombwa /ombwa/ | kawa /kawa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | ocikangu /otʃikaŋɡu/ | okatufi /okatufi/ | okatjiru /okatʃiru/ | kasalu /kasalu/ | okashima /okaʃima/ | katako /katako/ | nyau /ɲau/ |
| Fish | ombisi /ombisi/ | oshi /oʃi/ | ohi /ohi/ | mbiji /mbiʒi/ | ohi /ohi/ | shi /ʃi/ | mbisi /mbisi/ |
| Bird | onjila /oˈɲila/ | odila /odila/ | onḓera /oɳɗera/ | njila /ndʒila/ | ondhila /onðila/ | kajila /kadʒila/ | nuni /ˈnuni/ |
| Butterfly | ocimbiambiulu /otʃimbiambiulu/ | onghanga /oŋɡaŋɡa/ | otjikaiva /otʃikaiva/ | kimbiambia /kimbjambja/ | okambilimbili /okambilimbili/ | kauyauya /kaujauja/ | lumbembambemba /lumbembambemba/ |
| Egg | esaila /esaila/ | ei /ei/ | ei /ei/ | diiaki /dijaki/ | eyi /eji/ | liulu /liulu/ | diaki /diaki/ |
| Horse | okavalu /okavalu/ | onghambe /oŋɡambe/ | okakambe /okakambe/ | kabalu /kabalu/ | okakambe /okakambe/ | kavalu /kavalu/ | mpunda /mpunda/ |
| House | onjo /ondʒo/ | eumbo /eumbo/ | ondjuwo /ondʒuwo/ | inzo /inzo/ | egumbo /eɡumbo/ | zuvo /zuvo/ | nzo /nzo/ |
| Milk | asenjele /asendʒele/ | omashini /omaʃini/ | omaihi /omaihi/ | lete /lete/ | omahini /omahini/ | mavele /mavele/ | midiki /midiki/ |
| Honey | owiki /owiki/ | omaadi eenyiki /omaːdi eːɲiki/ | ouitji /ouitʃi/ | uiki /wiki/ | omagadhi goonyushi /omaɡaði ɡoːɲuʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ | bwiki /bwiki/ |
| Salt | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | mungua /muŋɡwa/ | omongwa /omoŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ | mungwa /muŋɡwa/ |
| Wine | ovinyu /oviɲu/ | omaviinyu /omaviːɲu/ | omavinu /omavinu/ | vinyu /viɲu/ | omaviinu /omaviːnu/ | vinyo /viɲo/ | vinu /vinu/ |
| Rice | oluoso /oluoso/ | olwishi /olwiʃi/ | — | loso /loso/ | olwiishi /olwiːʃi/ | loso /loso/ | loso /loso/ |
| Iron | utale /utale/ | oshivela /oʃivela/ | otjitenda /otʃitenda/ | felu /felu/ | oshiyela /oʃijela/ | fwelu /fwelu/ | kibende /kiˈbende/ |
| Wheel | elola /elola/ | okuulu /okuːlu/ | otjiryo /otʃirjo/ | dilola /dilola/ | okugulutemba /okuɡulutemba/ | lifumbo /lifumbo/ | dikulu /dikulu/ |
| Silk | oseta /oseta/ | osilki /osilki/ | — | seda /seda/ | ofeyi /ofeji/ | shiliki /ʃiliki/ | seda /seda/ |
| Book | elivulu /elivulu/ | embo /ˈembo/ | embo /ˈembo/ | divulu /divulu/ | embo /embo/ | mukanda /mukanda/ | buku /buku/ |
| Eat | okulya /okulja/ | okulya /okuʎa/ | okurya /okurja/ | kudya /kudja/ | okulya /okuʎa/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | kudia /kudja/ |
| Drink | okunwa /okunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | okunwa /okunwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunua /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | okupekela /okupekela/ | okukofa /okukofa/ | kurara /kurara/ | kuzeka /kuzeka/ | okukotha /okukoθa/ | kusavala /kusavala/ | kuleka /kuˈleka/ |
| One | mosi /mosi/ | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | moxi /moʃi/ | mwe /mwe/ | mwe /mwe/ | mosi /mosi/ |
| Two | vali /vali/ | vali /vali/ | vari /vari/ | iadi /jaːdi/ | mbali /mbali/ | vali /vali/ | zole /zole/ |
| Three | tatu /tatu/ | nhatu /n̥atu/ | ndatu /ndatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | ndatu /ndatu/ | tatu /tatu/ | tatu /tatu/ |
| Four | kwãla /kwãla/ | nhee /n̥eː/ | ine /ine/ | uana /wana/ | ne /ne/ | wana /wana/ | iya /ija/ |
| Five | tãlo /tãlo/ | nhano /n̥ano/ | ndano /ndano/ | tanu /tanu/ | ntano /n̥tano/ | tanu /tanu/ | tanu /tanu/ |
| Hundred | ocita /otʃita/ | efele /efele/ | esere /esere/ | hama /hama/ | ethele /eθele/ | likulukaji /likulukadʒi/ | nkama /nkama/ |
| Hello | wakolapo /wakolapo/ | wa hala po /wa hala po/ | wa penduka /wa penduka/ | nga ku menekena /ŋɡa ku menekena/ | wa lalapo /wa lalapo/ | mwane /mwane/ | mbote /mbote/ |
| Thank you | ndapandula /ndapandula/ | pandula /pandula/ | okuhepa /okuhepa/ | nga ku sakidila /ŋɡa ku sakidila/ | tangi /taŋɡi/ | nasakwilila /nasakwilila/ | matondo /matondo/ |
| Good | uwa /uwa/ | wa /wa/ | wa /wa/ | kiambote /kiambote/ | nawa /nawa/ | mwaza /mwaza/ | mbote /mbote/ |
| New | okaliye /okalije/ | pe /pe/ | pe /pe/ | kiobe /kjobe/ | pe /pe/ | chihya /tʃihja/ | mpa /mpa/ |
| Red | kusuka /kusuka/ | tilyana /tiʎana/ | serandu /serandu/ | kusuka /kusuka/ | tiligane /tiliɡane/ | chikuhwa /tʃikuhwa/ | mbwaki /mbwaki/ |
| White | kuyela /kujela/ | toka /toka/ | vapa /vapa/ | kuzela /kuzela/ | tokele /tokele/ | chitoma /tʃitoma/ | mpembe /mpembe/ |
| Black | kutekava /kutekava/ | laula /laula/ | zorondu /zorondu/ | kuxikela /kuʃikela/ | luudhe /luːðe/ | chilava /tʃilava/ | ndombe /ndombe/ |
| Tea | osia /osia/ | otee /oteː/ | otee /otee/ | xá /ʃa/ | otee /oteː/ | tiyi /tiji/ | ti /ti/ |
| Coffee | okafe /okafe/ | okoofi /okoːfi/ | okosiva /okosiva/ | kafé /kaˈfe/ | okoothiwa /okoːθiwa/ | kofi /kofi/ | kafe /kafe/ |
| Sugar | osuka /osuka/ | osuuka /osuːka/ | osukuri /osukuri/ | sukidi /suˈkidi/ | osuuka /osuːka/ | shuka /ʃuka/ | sukadi /sukadi/ |
| Orange | elalanja /elalandʒa/ | — | — | dilalanza /dilalanza/ | — | — | dilala /dilala/ |
| Ninety-nine | akwi ecea lecea /akwi etʃea letʃea/ | omilongo omugoi nomugoi /omiloŋɡo oŋŋɡoi noŋŋɡoi/ | omirongo muvyu na muvyu /omiroŋɡo muvju na muvju/ | makuinhi ivua ni ivua /makwiɲi ivwa ni ivwa/ | omilongo omugoyi nomugoyi /omiloŋɡo omuɡoji nomuɡoji/ | makumi atanu naawana navatanu navawana /makumi atanu naːwana navatanu navawana/ | makumi ivwa na ivwa /makumi ivwa na ivwa/ |
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