The Swadesh list is the result of linguistic researches including languages from all continents and determining the most common words used by humanity, somewhat a “universal vocab list”. Here’s the translation in Cilubà to add some words to your flashcards. 😉
English |
Français |
Cilubà |
| I | moi | mêma |
| You | toi | wêwa |
| we | nous | twêtu |
| this | ceci | eyi |
| that | cela | ayi |
| who? | qui? | nganyì? |
| what? | quoi? | cinganyì? |
| not | pas | to |
| all (of a number) | tout | -ônsu |
| many | beaucoup | -à/-a bûngì |
| one | un | ùmwà |
| two | deux | ibìdì |
| big | gros(se) | -nèna |
| long | long(ue) | -le(a) |
| small | petit(e) | -kesà |
| woman | femme | mukàjì |
| man | homme | mulùma |
| person | personne | muntu |
| fish | poisson | mushipa |
| bird | oiseau | nnyunyu |
| dog | chien | mbwa |
| louse | pou | lukùsù |
| tree | arbre | mucì |
| seed | graine | ditungù |
| leaf (botanics) | feuille | cibeji |
| root (botanics) | racine | muji |
| bark (of tree) | écorce | cipusu |
| skin | peau | dikòbà |
| flesh | chair | munyìnyi |
| blood | sang | mashi |
| bone | os | cifùbà |
| grease | graisse | dìfutà |
| egg | œuf | diyi |
| horn | corne | lusèngu |
| tail | queue | mukìla |
| feather | plume | disàlà |
| hair | cheveux | nsukì |
| head | tête | mutù |
| ear | oreille | dicì(ò) |
| eye | œil | dîsu |
| nose | nez | dyûlu |
| mouth | bouche | mukana |
| tooth | dent | dînu |
| tongue | langue | ludimi |
| claw | griffe | dìkama/luzàdi |
| foot | pied | dikàsà |
| knee | genou | cinù |
| hand | main | cyanza |
| belly (abdomen) | ventre | difù |
| neck (not nape!) | cou | nshìngù |
| breasts (female) | poitrine | mpàngà |
| heart | cœur | mucìma |
| liver | foie | mucìma |
| drink (verb) | boire | kunwà |
| eat (verb) | manger | kudyà |
| bite (verb) | mordre | kusùma |
| see (verb) | voir | kumona |
| hear (verb) | entendre | kumvwa |
| know (facts) | savoir | kumanya |
| sleep (verb) | dormir | kulala |
| die (verb) | mourir | kufwà |
| kill (verb) | tuer | kushipa |
| swim (verb) | nager | kwombela |
| fly (verb) | voler | kubùùka |
| walk (verb) | marcher | kwenda |
| come (verb) | venir | kulwa |
| lie (on side, recline) | coucher | kushima |
| sit (verb) | asseoir | kubwela |
| stand (verb) | tenir debout | kwimana shìmbàà |
| give (verb) | donner | kupeesha |
| say (verb)† | dire | kuamba |
| sun | soleil | dîba |
| moon | lune | ngondu |
| star | étoile | mùtôtù |
| water | eau | mâyi |
| rain | pluie | mvùla |
| stone | pierre | dibwa |
| sand | sable | lusenga |
| earth (=soil) | terre | buloba |
| cloud (not fog) | nuage | ditutu |
| smoke (noun, of fire) | fumée | minshi |
| fire | feu | mudilu |
| ash(es) | cendre(s) | butù |
| burn (verb intr.!) | brûler | kwosha |
| path (road, trail) | chemin | njila |
| mountain (not hill) | montagne | mukùnà |
| red (colour) | rouge | -kùnze(a) |
| green (colour) | vert | -à/-a mâyààmatàmbà |
| yellow (colour) | jaune | -à/-a kàlaabi |
| white (colour) | blanc | -tòòka |
| black (colour) | noir | -fììka |
| night | nuit | bufùku |
| hot (of weather) | chaud | luuyà |
| cold (of weather) | froid | mashìka |
| full† | plein | -pasa |
| new | nouveau | -pya-pyà |
| good | bon | -ìmpà |
| round | arrondi | cijèngù |
| dry (substance!) | sec | -ûma |
| name | nom | dîna |
LUBANATION.COM 
Thank you very much for the wonderful job you are doing by providing useful material to teach us ciluba.
May I bring to your attention the fact that in the vocabulary list above, the ciluba words, which the most needed, are only partly visible.
Would you kindly see to it that this is addressed?
Twasakidila wa bungi
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Moyo Kanyiki! Sorry but I checked the page on my cellphone and on my computer (IE, Chrome & Firefox) and the display is fine. Maybe have a look at your settings and make sure whatever browser you use is up to date.
Good day! 😊
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