Classe |
Type |
Description |
Examples |
1 |
mu- |
words defining people, gender, family members, trades, professions, etc. |
mwana (child), muledi (parent), mukaji (woman), mulume (man), mulongeshi (teacher), mufudi (forgeron) |
2 |
ba- |
plural form of words from class 1 |
muntu -> bantu (man, men); muledi -> baledi parent(s); mukaji -> bakaji: woman, women; mukalenge -> bakalenge: chief(s) |
3 |
mu- |
animals, inanimated objects, instruments, actions, consequences, body parts, products, etc. |
mulangi (bottle), mucima (heart, liver, morals), mwendu (lamp) |
4 |
mi- |
plural form of words from class 3 |
munu -> minu: finger(s); muci -> mici: tree(s); musulu -> misulu: river(s); musoko -> misoko: village(s) |
5 |
di- |
body parts going into pairs, liquids, feelings, various objects |
dilongu, dici (ear), dikasa (foot) |
6 |
ma- |
plural form of words from class 5 & 14 |
CLASS 5: diboku -> maboku: arm(s); ditama -> matama: cheek(s); dicuwa -> macuwa: rechaud(s)CLASS 14: bwalu -> malu: affairs, problems; buloba -> maloba: land(s); buta -> mata: bow(s); bukalu -> malalu: bed(s) |
7 |
ci- |
locations, inanimated agents, instruments, products, Surnames, feelings, vices, etc. |
cilamba (bridge), cibota (banana), cikumbi (stable, fence) |
8 |
bi- |
plural form of words from class 7 |
cilembi -> bilembi: hunter(s); cinji -> binji; anger(s); cisalu -> bisalu: market(s) |
9 |
n-/m- |
animals, |
nzoolu (chicken), ngombe (cow), mbuji (goat) |
10 |
n-/m- |
plural form of words from class 9 & 11 |
CLASS 9: nyoka -> nyoka: snake(s); mbuji -> mbuji: goat(s); mbwa -> mbwa: dog(s)CLASS 11: lusuki -> nsuki: hair(s); lupusu -> mpusu: spot(s); luzadi -> nzadi: nail(s) |
11 |
lu- |
|
lupangu (plot-land), ludimi (tongue), lukambu (powerful man) |
12 |
ka- |
|
kashingi (needle), kapaaya (razor), kambela |
13 |
tu- / ka- |
plural form of words from class 12 |
tushingi, tupaaya, tumbela |
14 |
bu- |
concepts, abstract, nature, characteristics, instruments, locations, etc. |
budimi (agriculture), bwatu (boat), bukondu |
15 |
ku- |
basic forms of verbs |
kudya (to eat), kulaala (to sleep), kukwata (to work), kufwidikija (to think) |
16 |
pa- |
adverbs |
pambelu (at home) |
17 |
ku- |
adverbs |
kumbelu (from home), kunyima (in the back, behind, after) |
18 |
mu- |
adverbs |
munjila (on the road, on the way)
|