VOCABULARY: COMMON WORDS (PART TWO 3/3).
Note :
At the insistent request of some English-speaking visitors, I was forced to translate this lexicon from French to English. It’s a colossal job that took me a lot of time, I applied myself and tried to do my best. Despite this, since English is not my usual language, there could be some translation errors here and there. If you find any, do not hesitate to report them to me by writing to me through the contact page of this website.
Thank you in advance !
- MISCELLANEOUS WORDS.
Preliminary note.
The Kikongo uses all the letters of the Roman alphabet, except the letters “q”, “r” and “x” which are unusual, even if the letter “r” may appear in some “Lari” words.
In Kikongo the “u” is pronounced “oo”, the “s” is pronounced “ss” regardless of its position in the word and the “g” is pronounced “gg” when preceded by the letter “n” and “ghe” if this is not the case and this only when the following letter is the vowel “a”, “e” or “o”, if the following letter is the vowel “i” or “u”, the “g” is pronounced “gg”.
The letters “y” and “w” which are used as vowels in Kikongo can also become consonants when they are at the beginning of the word or when they are preceded by the letters “n” and “m” respectively.
The words presented in the list below may have different spellings depending on the Kikongo dialect used by the speaker. This is how we can have the vowel “u” instead of “o”, the vowel “i” instead of “e”, the consonant “g” instead of “v” or anything else. In the Lari for example, the letter “k” in the first syllable of a word can be replaced by “ts” as in “tsitoko”/”kitoko” (beauty) or in “ntsila”/”nkila” (tail). Listening to our Bazombo brothers, I discovered that in them the “b” of “bantu” is transformed into “h” or “w” to hear “hantu”/”wantu”, “hana”/”wana” or “heto”/”weto” which also says “yeto”, so you have only to know it and to take it into account in the search for words, in any case this makes the richness of our language and does not prevent us from understanding each other very well and being able to dialogue.
Derived words.
To the list of words we give in this lexicon, we should add those that we have deliberately omitted because they are words derived from verbs when they are very rarely used, they are simple language constructions that can intervene in a conversation to indicate either the actor of the verb or the way in which the verb is accomplished. These words can be easily reconstructed by following the method presented below.
To indicate the actor of the verb, the derived word is obtained by replacing the letter “a” ending of the verb with the letter “i” unless the verb ends with the syllable “la”, in which case the letter is transformed into “di”, then by replacing the prefix “ku” of the verb with :
– the letter “n” if the consonant following “ku” is d, g, k, l, n, s, t, y or z,
example 1: “kulunda” which turns into “nlundi” which translates into “conservative”.
example 2: “kutula” which is transformed into “ntudi” which is translated as “layer”.
– the letter “m” if the consonant following “ku” is b, f, m, p, v, or w,
example 1: “kubonga” which is conjugated “mbongi” which is translated as “taker”.
example 2: “kufuta” which conjugates “mfuti” which translates as “payer”.
– the prefix “mu” as an alternative to the two previous cases in some Kikongo dialects, in which case the four examples above become respectively “mulundi”, “mutudi”, “mubongi” and “mufuti”.
To indicate the action of the verb or the way in which the verb is performed, the beginning of the derived word is obtained by following the same rule as described above to indicate the actor of the verb unless the consonant following the prefix “ku” of the verb is “l”, “n” or “m”, in which case “nl” and “n’ n” are replaced by “nd” while “m’m” is replaced by “mb”. As for the end of the word, the letter “a” ending of the verb is replaced by :
– the “ilu” termination (which can be transformed into “ulu”) in most cases,
example 1: “kulunda” which is transformed into “ndundilu” (conservation or way of conserving).
example 2: “kutula” which is transformed into “ntudilu” (way of posing).
– the ending “olo” in the particular case of verbs whose penultimate syllable contains the vowel “e” or “o”,
example 1: “kubonga” which is transformed into “mbongolo” (way of taking).
example 2: “kutenda” which is transformed into “ntendolo” (way of tearing).
When the word derived from the verb is entered in the common language, then this word normally appears in the list,
example 1: “kulonga” which is transformed into “nlongi” (teacher)
example 2: “kuvuluza” which is transformed into “mvuluzi” (liberator)
There are other words derived from verbs to indicate the result obtained by the action of the verb, most of them have become full-fledged words used in everyday language, in which case they are present in this list.
example 1: “kulonga” which is transformed into “di/malongi” (teaching)
example 2: “kufuta” which is transformed into “difuta” (pay)
Many words beginning with the prefix “ki” do not appear in this list although they are considered as words of the common language, they are words derived from other words already present in this list or from verbs and that we have deliberately omitted to avoid duplicating and overloading the file. These words can be easily reconstructed by placing the prefix “ki” at the head of the word whose quality, function, habit or state is to be indicated.
Example 1: The word “soda” (soldier) will give the word “kisoda” (soldier quality or function).
Example 2: The verb “kuyiba” gives the word “muyibi” (thief) which will give the word “kimuyibi” (quality or habit of thief).
Note: The “/” sign in the word definition separates two definitions of the same word depending on how it is pronounced.
– niama : beast, animal
– niamba : rising, swelling, flood
– nianga : straw, thatch
– niangalakata : good-for-nothing, fool, idiot
– nianzi : dirtiness, filthiness, dirt, filth / fly
– niekese : soft feel, comfort, elasticity, suppleness
– nienge : sand
– nihimbi : deep universe, space night
– nima : back
– nima-koko : slap given with the back of the hand
– nima-nzo : backyard, a woman’s rump
– nimelo : number, size
– nitu : body
– nivo : level
– nkaba : gift, donation / piece of cassava
– nkabu : resistance, opposition
– nkadiampemba : satan, person with evil intentions
– nkadilu : behaviour, way of being / fate
– nkaka : other, alternative / grandparent, ancestor, grandfather (grandmother)
– nkaku : obstacle, dam, opposition
– nkala : flowerbed, clod of soil intended for plant cultivation / crab
– nkalasani : relationship
– nkama : one hundred / dam on a watercourse
– nkamba : peace / species of tree from which boards are drawn
– nkanda : book, booklet, letter, mail / metal blade / skin, leather, hide
– nkandi : shell or stone of the palm nut
– nkangu : people, population, community
– nkanka : mouthful
– nkankala : fence made from palm branch with braided leaves
– nkanu : decision, resolution
– nkasa : truth-detecting potion becoming poison in case of lies, anti-sorcerer poison
– nkata : padding obtained by winding a fabric and used to deaden a load carried on the head
– nkata : seat formed by crossing the thighs to accommodate a child
– nkatika : real, really, quite, entirely, par excellence
– nkatukulu : withdrawal, retreat, retirement, departure
– nkava : high cost, state of what is precious
– nkawa : cane / emissary, ambassador
– nkayi : paddle
– nkayilu : gift, donation
– nke / nkeke : little
– nke-nke : tiny, minuscule
– nkefu / nkefua : gas, emanation, scent, fragrance, smell
– nkela : packing case, box, chest, coffin
– nkele : rifle, firearm
– nkelo : water source, fountain, tap / funnel
– nkembo : glory, rejoicing
– nkembolo : celebration, rejoicing, festivities, commemoration, praise
– nkenda : pity, compassion
– nkengi / mukengi : supervisor, guard, security officer
– nkeni : cup
– nkeni : seed, grain, pod
– nkento : female, woman, wife
– nkesi : anger, wrath
– nkewa : accessory that is placed around the waist to climb in a palm tree
– nkiama : rainbow
– nkiela : daylight, fine weather
– nkiesolo : clarification, elucidation, explanation
– nkindu : war, battle
– nkinzi : fete, celebration, festival
– nkinzingidi : festival
– nkisi : fetish, traditional medication
– nko : formal intent to harm, voluntary action to harm
– nkobo : hardness, roughness
– nkodia / kodia : snail shell, symbol of the Kongo law, fetish, talisman
– nkoka : drop, fall, regression, decline
– nkokila : evening
– nkoko : bark, cocoon / fish species / watercourse
– nkokona : manipulation, handling
– nkokoni : people manipulator
– nkole : slave, prisoner
– nkolo : drunkenness
– nkoma : writings, comment
– nkombi : sweeper
– nkombo : error, mistake / goat
– nkombola : sweeping
– nkome : fist, punch
– nkongo : member of an ethnic group from the Kongo kingdom where the kikongo is spoken
– nkongolo / lukongolo : rainbow
– nkonzi : hollow tree trunk on which you hit to report an event
– nkotolo : entry, entrance
– nkua : endowed with, described as, defined as
– nkua : nearest and dearest, neighbour
– nkuamusu : worry, torment, hassle
– nkuasiki : scratch, scratching, graze
– nkuba : thrashing, beating, caning, physical violence
– nkubamanu : preparation, organization
– nkubukulu : preparation, organization, project, plan
– nkudulu : evolution, development, growth, way of growing
– nkufi : short, small, little, brief
– nkufukulu : abridgement, abstract, summary
– nkuika : constraint
– nkulu : elder, ancestor, seniority attribute
– nkuluntu : elder, superior, chief, leader
– nkumba : padlock / navel, umbilicus
– nkumbi : fetter, yoke
– nkumbu : name, patronymic, designation, appellation / multiplying factor, number of times
– nkumisi (bakumisi) : supporter, fan
– nkumu : customary chief, chief, authority
– nkuna : sprog, offspring / cutting, young shoot
– nkundi (bakundi) : friend, pal, mate, comrade, fellow man, neighbour
– nkunga : song, singing
– nkunzi : chief, boss
– nkunzu : raw, unripe, young
– nkuta : fear, terror / food supplies
– nkutakani : gathering, grouping
– nkutu : bag, handbag, saddlebag, purse / savannah, meadow, grassland / besides, anyway
– nkuyu / mukuyu : devil, demon
– nkwa : neighbour, the one who is, the one who has
– nlaku : flame of fire, flame of bush fire, large flame
– nlangu : river, stream, watercourse
– nleke (baleke) : person younger than oneself
– nlemvo : forgiveness
– nlengi : flatterer
– nloki / muloki : sorcerer
– nlonga : row, list, queue
– nlongi : teacher, professor, monitor
– nlongo : sacred
– nlongoki : pupil, student
– nlunga : degree of initiation
– nlungu : pirogue
– nluta : gain, profit
– n’nanga : slave
– n’nangu : mountain, high relief
– n’ningu : melody, music tune, song, singing
– n’nua : mouth, orifice
– nodi : North
– nomba : number
– notika : point, spot, dot
– nsa : sourness, tartness, bitterness / times, repetition unit, multiplication factor
– nsaba : garden, plantation
– nsadi : worker, employee
– nsadisi : support, tutor, benefactor, healer
– nsaka : game
– nsakala : percussion instrument in the shape of a rattle, maracas
– nsaku : bag / footpath, road, path, way, track
– nsala : bird feather
– nsalasani : mutual aid, solidarity, collaboration, cooperation
– nsamba : tattoo, scarification
– nsambi : portable xylophone
– nsambodia / nsambuadi : seven
– nsambu : blessing
– nsampa : hut / newspaper
– nsampulusi : liberator
– nsamu : message, statement, news, business
– nsanduka : development
– nsanga : necklace / shoot, offshoot
– nsangi : mixer / mixture / fish species
– nsangu (zinsangu) : news, information
– nsasa : meaning, significance
– nsasilu : explanation
– nsatu : hunger, famine, desire
– nsayi : joy, cheerfulness, contentment
– nseke : savannah, meadow, high land, before, upstream, distance, remoteness
– nseki : introduction, preface, avant / lead singer
– nsende : thornbush, prickle, fish bone
– nsendo : reward, gratification
– nsengila : metal
– nsi : country, homeland, earth, ground / down, under, below
– nsibu : incantatory formula, incantation
– nsibundu : country federation
– nsielo : state of what is slippery
– nsienika : irradiation, radiation
– nsiku : law, prohibition
– nsikudukusu : penal code, regulatory code
– nsikumusu : awakening, awareness, waking
– nsilulu : promise, prophecy
– nsindukulu : going with, coming with, accompanying
– nsindusulu : incitement, instigation, influence, indoctrination
– nsinga : thread, rope, link
– nsingulu : curse
– nsinsa : rythm, gesture
– nsinzidi : sentry, supervisor, guard, attendant
– nsisani : cooperation, rotating solidarity system to finance members’ projects
– nsisani : competition
– nsisi : danger, fright, terror, dread, amazement / handle of a knife, handle of a hoe
– nsitu : bush, wood, jungle
– nsiuka : morning
– nsobolo : change, transformation, mutation
– nsodi : beak
– nsololo : choice, option, action of choosing, sorting, voting
– nsombe : young, immature, novice / orange palm worm
– nsongi : point, tip / guide / palm wine drawer
– nsongo : pain / bullet / copper
– nsoni : shame, embarrassment, shyness, modesty
– nsua : permission, authorization
– nsualu : promptness, speed of execution
– nsuasuani : difference, distinction
– nsudi : smell, odour
– nsuebidi : secretary general
– nsueki : secretary, the one who hides / species of fish with teeth
– nsuesue : freshness of a harvest
– nsuka : end, boundary
– nsukami : poor, needy, person who is destitute
– nsuku : plain, plateau
– nsukudulu : purification rite of a widower following the death of his or her spouse, washing
– nsukunu : finality, aim, objective
– nsukusunu : end, conclusion, outcome, ending, denouement
– nsumba : purchasing, corruption / cat-fish
– nsundi : winner
– nsunga : smell, scent, perfume
– nsungi : season
– nsuni : piece of meat, flesh, muscle / sparrow
– nsunsa : game opposing two teams which consists in guessing the arm extended by the other
– nsutu : uncircumcised man
– nsuza : (male) prostitute, seducer, seductress
– nta : act of saying
– ntadi : spectator, onlooker, viewer, observer, watcher, inspector, beholder
– ntadisi : demonstrator
– ntaku : step, pace, stride / distance attribute
– ntalu : price, cost, amount, number, calculation
– ntama : past, precedence, long ago, far away
– ntambu : trap, ambush / tam-tam or accompanying drum
– ntambuisi : pilot, driver, leader
– ntanda : traditional xylophone, balafon
– ntandi : fisherman
– ntandu : upstream, top
– ntangu : moment, time, period, epoch / sun
– ntangu : amount, sum, number, reckoning
– ntani : protector
– ntantu : enemy, opponent
– nteka : sale, selling
– nteke : mud, mortar
– ntela : size in height, height, standing position
– ntela-ntela : unstable, unattached, without a fixed home, who walks the streets
– ntelo : addition, surplus, supplement
– ntemo : light, glow, glimmer
– ntete : wicker basket that is carried on the head / first, firstly, in the head
– ntetokolo : hatching, advent
– ntewolo : way of saying
– nti : tree, stick, cane
– ntiengo : circular movement of the hips
– ntima : heart, middle, core
– ntimi : the one who digs, gravedigger
– ntindu / mutindu : sort, kind, type, way, manner
– ntinta : ink, color, dye, paint
– ntinu : speed, quickness of movement / king
– ntinusu : reign
– nto : source, origin
– ntoko : beauty, prettiness
– ntomabilu/ntuamabilu : car, truck
– ntomo : good taste, pleasant taste
– ntomosono : improvement, change for the better
– ntonono : beginning, start, introduction, starting
– ntontolo : temptations, solicitations
– ntonzi : curse, bad luck
– ntotela : Kongo sovereign, emperor
– ntoto : earth, ground, soil
– ntotolo : collection, gathering, picking, crop, harvest
– ntsaki : cutter
– ntshangi : dodge
– ntu : head, brain, mastermind, locomotive, motive force
– ntuadisi : guide, leader
– ntuala : in front, forward
– ntuazi : president, leader
– ntuedi : stock breeder, cattle farmer, rancher
– ntuela : stock breeding, rearing
– ntuena : young
– ntuenia : total youth population
– ntuka : going out, coming out, output / source, origin
– ntululu : destination, arrival
– ntumbu : syringe
– ntumi : chief, manager, the one who gives the order
– ntumua : emissary, representative, ambassador
– ntumunu : command, order
– ntungasani : art of palaver, art of negotiating
– ntungi : builder, bricklayer, mason, couturier, dressmaker / guide
– ntungulu : construction, building, erection
– ntunta : rhythm, beat / brutality, bandit
– n’yekudi : traitor
– n’yuvu / kiuvu : question
– nza : world
– nzadi : river / sister-in-law
– nzakama : trembling, quivering, shivering, shiver
– nzaki : quickness, speed
– nzaki-nzaki : haste, over-excitement
– nzaku : border
– nzakundisa : parasite, sponger, person who tries to benefit from the work of others
– nzala : hunger, famine / signature / fingernails, toenails, claws
– nzambala : ample garment in dress shape, boubou
– nzanza : hill, nature, open air
– nzata duya : nuclear reaction
– nzaya : knowledge, learning
– nzayilu : knowledge
– nzaza : vehicle, ship, vessel
– nzazazulu : spacecraft, spaceship
– nzazi : lightning / pretty woman
– nzaziki : electricity
– nzazila : vibration
– nzazoni : electronics
– nzele : young lady, pretty girl, chick
– nzengi : cutter, the one who cuts / edge, border
– nzengo : stop, point
– nzengolo : decision, measure, instruction, directive
– nzenza : foreigner, guest
– nzenzo : sweet taste, honey taste, pleasant taste, pleasant sensation, comfort
– nzibudilu : openning, introduction, introduction to the subject
– nzieti : traveller, pilgrim, tourist
– nzietolo : travel, pilgrimage, tour, tourism
– nzila : road, path, track / thorny plant species
– nzimbu: currency that was used in the Kongo Kingdom, money, dough
– nzinga : who brings together
– nzinga-nzinga : surroundings, neighbourhood, proximity
– nzinzia : cold
– nzitusu : respect, deference, honour
– nziwa : constellation, zodiac
– nzo : house, home
– nzobadila : cash cow, goose that lays the golden eggs, a person that everyone benefits from
– (n)zola : love of neighbour, understanding
– nzomono : chase, deportation, expropriation, dismissal
– nzondo : cyclone
– nzong-nzing : extra-activity, additional activity, occasional work
– nzongo : gunpowder, sound of a gunshot, deafening noise
– nzonzi : spokesperson or negotiator in customary marriages or talks between families
– nzungidila : circle of acquaintances, surroundings, vicinity, proximity
– nzunzu /nzunza : valour, fearlessness, audacity, vivacity, hyperactivity, energy, vigour
– ofele : free, offered
– oye ! : hurrah ! cheers !
– pakapaka : helicopter, fruit called carambola
– pake : packet, package, large muscle, bundle of banknotes, large amount of money
– palado : sorry, please
– palaki : disc, plate, plaque
– papila : paper, sheet of paper
– pele : not, negation
– pembeni : close, proximity, vicinity, next door
– pene-pene : close (to), near
– pete-pete : softness
– pili : mourning clothes, mourning
– pitolo(yi) : oil, fuel
– posi / poketi : pocket
– potopoto : mud, puree
– pulusi : policeman, cop
– pusiele : dust
– pusu : rickshaw, cat
– rumba : Congolese dance of Cuban origin
– sabala : sabre
– sabu : bank, shore, port
– sakombi : measure used for the sale of foods in grain or powder form
– sakuba : stumble, obstacle on which we stumble
– salamu : greeting
– sala-sala : hard work
– salite : dirt
– salongo : community service
– sambanu : six
– sambu : direction, side
– sanduku : chest, case, crate, trunk, box, coffin
– sante : health
– santima : pleasure, enjoyment, feeling
– santinele : sentry, supervisor, guard, attendant
– sanza : attic, storeroom
– sata : bitterness, sourness, acidity
– sebene : musical sequence performed by the lead guitarist to make people dance
– sekele : secret
– seko : perpetuity, eternity, for life
– selembawu : female energy
– sensebele : surface area
– sigaleti : cigarette
– siki : article
– sikola / sikulu : school
– silikoti : skipping rope game, jumping rope game
– simba-simba : commotion
– sina : origin, source, cause
– sindangadi : Senegalese
– sindima : cinema
– sinsu : sign, mark,symbol
– sinzidi : surveillance, supervision
– sivi (masivi) : miracle
– soda : soldier, sweetened soft drink
– sofele : driver, car driver
– sokomuntu : humanoid monster, big ape
– sokoto : military uniform
– solo : musical sequence performed by the leading guitarist
– somele : unemployed person
– songi-songi : slander, indiscretion, snooping, telephone speaker
– sosiete : company, firm
– sudi : South
– sukuse : Congolese dance created in the 1960s
– swapanti : scoundrel
– tadi : stone, electric battery, slate
– tala : branch, bough
– tandu : era, century
– tanu : five
– tapale : disorder, confusion, hubbub, boisterous, unruly, undisciplined, outlaw
– tata : father, sir
– tatu : three
– tayele : tailor, couturier, dressmaker
– tedituadi : territory
– telasie : gutter
– tembele : stamp
– temue : witness
– tezi : measurement unit
– tidibinadi : court
– tieno : will, testament, posthumous message, recommendation
– tike : ticket
– tile-langi : languorous kiss with tongue
– tiya : fire, heat
– tiyatezi : thermometer
– toko : young man, husband, companion
– tolo (matolo) : sheet metal, corrugated iron for roofing
– tolo / tulu : sleep
– tombe : darkness, gloom
– tombula-buaka : second-hand clothing, used clothing
– tondo : mystical symbol of thanks
– tono : barrel, cask
– tsheleka : really
– tshipoyi / kipoyi : sedan chair, stretcher
– tshobo : passage of the ball between the opponent’s legs
– tsume : kick with the tip of the foot
– tuba-tuba : gossip, slander
– tuku : origin, source
– tulendo : power
– tumbaku : tobacco
– tusevo/tusego : laugh, sneer, snigger
– tuti (matuti) : cloud
– tuvi : excrement, shit
– vangu : action, act
– vata / gata : village
– velela / vedila : purity attribute
– velo : bicycle
– vema : will, zeal
– veta / geta : hunting
– vilu-vilu : haste, changeability, fickleness, changeableness, inconstancy
– vinga : residence, home
– vitu : door, threshold
– vizavi : vis-à-vis, opposite, facing
– voka : necropolis, cemetery
– vola : steering wheel
– vonza : fear, fright
– vua : nine
– vula (mavula) : town
– vuvu : hope, wish
– wafua (bafua) : dead, deceased
– wamoyo (bamoyo) : alive
– wara : West African, Senegalese, Malian
– wawu : now / this one, that one
– waya : not at all, lie, bluff
– wazinga (bazinga) : alive
– wenze : small market
– widi : deceased, late / heard
– wisu : energy
– wola : hour, time, gold
– wolo : gold
– wonga : fear, terror, fright, panic
– wumpulu : underground cavity, cave
– wunu : today
– ya : four, state of what is cooked, agricultural field
– ya : courtesy title preceding the name of an older brother or sister
– yakala : male person, male
– yaki-yaki : agility, lightness, quickness, liveliness
– yamu : state of what is warm, state of what has been immersed in hot water
– yanga : pond
– yanke : kaïd, little thug
– yaya (bayaya) : courtesy title given to a female person
– yemba : place where clan men gather in the evening to eat and talk around the fire
– yenge : joy, cheerfulness, peace
– yimbua : poison
– yingi : plural, abundant, much
– yinza : territory, country, terrain, ground
– yombe : furnace
– yuma : coward, weak person, wimp
– yuma : state of what is dry
– yunga / kiyunga : cassock, coat, boubou, overcoat
– yuti : view of all, broad daylight, public (square)
– yuwoni : superior
– zala : bird’s nest
– zala : dump, rubbish dump, landfill
– zandu : market
– zayi : learning, knowledge
– ziami : grave, tomb
– zikopo : family of hearts at the card game
– zikua : hearth around which the men of the clan gather to talk / church cell, parish
– zimbabue / zimba : circular stone temple
– zimi : pregnancy
– zina : name, patronymic
– zindombe : family of spades at the card game
– zinselele : family of clubs at the card game
– zinsongi : family of tiles at the card game
– zita : management centre, leadership, nucleus, core
– zitu : weight, load
– zizi : face
– zoba : idiot, fool, stupid
– zole : two
– zone : zone, area
– zu : voice, language, dialect / cemetery
– zulu : sky, high, above
– zumbua : cemetery
– zunga / kizunga : zone, sector, district, territory, region
– zuzi : judge
