In Ciluba, like in many other languages, people refer to a common object to define a color, for example:
-a mayi aa mamvwa
couleur maïs / color of corn => jaune/yellow
-a mayi aa kamata
couleur tomate/ tomato color => rouge/red
-a mayi aa matàmbà/kaleji
couleur feuille de manioc / cassava leave color => vert/green
But there are standard color names as well:
Cibundubundu
Gris Cendre / Ash grey
Kaki
Marron / Brown
Kàlaabi
Jaune / Yellow
Lubundubundu
Violet / Purple
Lumbidi
Orange
Mbùlê
Bleu / Blue
Mufika
Noir / Black
Mukùnze
Rouge / Red
Mutòòka
Blanc / White
To associate those colors with names, you have two options, according to the adjective you want to use:
- you drop the prefix mu- and put instead the corresponding prefix, depending on the class the name is part of.
- you add the particle -a + color
-fiike(a) = noir/black
-kùnze = rouge/red
-tòòke(a) = blanc/white
-a bùlê = bleu/blue
-a kàlaabi = jaune/yellow
-a lumbidi = orange
-a lubundubundu = violet/purple
example: ditumbu difiike
un chapeau noir/ a black hat
Biensûr, il existe des nuances:
-kùnze = rouge/red -kùnzùbìle = rougeâtre / redish
-tòòke = blanc; -tòòkòlòke = blanchâtre
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