Kimbundu

Facts

  • Language: Kimbundu
  • Alternate names: Dongo, Kimbundo, Kindongo, Loanda Mbundu, Loande, Luanda, Lunda, Mbundu, N’bundo, Nbundu, Ndongo, North Mbundu
  • Language code: kmb
  • Language family: Niger-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern Bantoid, Bantu, Central-Western Bantu, Njila, Northern Njila, Mbundu (H.20)
  • Number of speakers: 3000000
  • Script: Latin

More information:

    Introduction

    Kimbundu is one of the most widely spoken Bantu languages in Angola, concentrated in the north-west of the country, notably in the Luanda Province, the Bengo Province and th Malanje Province.

    The verb

    Sample verb: ku-banga 'to do'

    Present

    eme ngi-bangaI do
    eie u-bangayou do
    muene u-bangahe does
    etu tu-bangawe do
    enu nu-bangayou do
    ene a-bangathey do

    Present Continuous

    eme ng-olo-bangaI am doing
    eie u-olo-bangayou are doing
    muene u-olo-bangahe is doing
    etu tu-olo-bangawe are doing
    enu nu-olo-bangayou are doing
    ene olo-bangathey are doing

    Preterite

    eme ng-a-bangeI have done
    eie u-a-bangeyou have done
    muene u-a-bangehe has done
    etu tu-a-bangewe have done
    enu nu-a-bangeyou have done
    ene a-bangethey have done

    Preterite II

    eme ng-a-bangeleI did
    eie u-a-bangeleyou did
    muene u-a-bangelehe did
    etu tu-a-bangelewe did
    enu nu-a-bangeleyou did
    ene a-bangelethey did