BANTUNOMICSLanguages
The Bantu languages directory

Every Bantu language names itself, its people and its land from one stem.

Find yours. 618 Bantu languages are listed here — each introduced in its own grammar, each with what BantuNomics has for it, and each open to a request.

O·lu·ganda
the language
class 11
/oluɡaːnda/
O·mu·ganda
a person
class 1
/omuɡaːnda/
A·ba·ganda
the people
class 2
/abaɡaːnda/
Bu·ganda
the land
class 14
/buɡaːnda/

One stem, ganda — the beginning changes and the meaning moves from the language to a person, the people and the land.

618Bantu languages listed459with a released syllable inventory (FSI)29countries
AkóoseKwambaKipareIciaushiLiboleBafawRikaMokpweKibaliLibaloiKimbangalaKibangubanguHop BasaaKibeekeiciBembaKibembeEbembeIkibenaKibendeEbengaKibheleKibilaKibinjiKibiraKibobangiKibodoKiboguruLiboliaKiboloLibolokiLibomaLomongoKibondeiÉyéKibuduLibudzaLubukusuKibunguKibuyuLibuaLibwelaIchibwileChichewaChichokweChichonyiGichukaEchuwaboShimaoreShimwaliShingazidjaKingwanaKidawidaLidengeseChidigoRugcirikuKidoeEdualáLidumaChidurumaKidingNulibieKiembuKienyaHë EtonGeviyaKieuondoFanIchifipaKifuliiruChifweKigiriamaCigogoRugunguEkegusiiLugwereIkihaIkihangazaKihavuOluhayaKiheheKihemaKihembaOtjihereroKiholoholoKiholuKihundeKihunganaLuidakhoEkiikomaCiilaIsisuEcijiitaOlukabrasOlukabuuriKikabwariChikaguluKikaheLikakoTjikalangaKikambaKikamiKikangoTshikanyokKikaondeEkikaraChikaumaLikelaLokeleLukenyiEkikerebeChiketeShekgalagadiOlukhumbiOrukigaGĩkũyũKikimbuKikingaIkirundiOlukonjoKikonongoIkotaEkotiKikumuChikundaKikunyiIgikuriaKikusuOshikwambiRuKwangaliOshikwanyamaKikwayaKikwereKikweseKilaariIchilambyaKilangiKilegaKilegaKasai LeleChilenjeKilengolaLulogooliEloloElomweSiloziKilubaChiluchaziOlugandaChiluimbiChilundaChiluvaleSiluyanaLulwaluLimabaaleKimachameKimachingaEmakhuwaShimakondeKimakweIcimavilaChimandaKimanyangaChimanyikaOlumarachiOlumaramaLumasaabaKimatumbiKimbalaOshimbalanhuLimbamaLimbatiLimbesaEmbosiLomboleSimboweThimbukushuChimbundaKimeruImettoKimfinuKimitukuLimoiKimpuonoKimushunguliKimvubaIchimwangaKimwaniChimweraMbamba BayOmyeneEkinandeKindakaIcindaliChindambaChindauKindengerekoOshindongaLongandoOshingandyeraChingindoLingombeChingoniKinguluKinilambaShinkoyaLinkutshuisiNdebeleSesotho sa LeboaChinsengaLontombaKinunuIkinyakyusaOlunyalaKinyaliRunyamboKinyamweziOlunyanekaKinyangaRunyankoreKinyaturuShinyembaIchinyihaChinyikaIton NyokonRunyoroChimang'anjaChinyungweLiomboLondoKipandeKipendeCiphimbiIcipimbweIpinjiChipogoloKipfokomoYipunuKiromboXirongaKiruriUruundKirwaIcisafwaKisagalaKisakataChisalaChisalampasuKisambaOlusamiaIsanguYisanguLisayiIkisebaChisenaKisengeleKishambalaMashiEshirimaChishonaLusingaKishinjiEsoOlusogaKisongeKisongolaisiNdebeleSesothoOlusubaEkisimbitiChikuhaneKisukuKisukumaShisumbwaKisuundiKiswahilisiSwatiIcitabwaOlutachoniEchitakwaneKitavetaKitekeKiteke-FuumuIbaliKiteke-LaaliKinzikuKitegeKitekeKityeeChitemboKitemiOtétéláKitharakaKitieneChitongaChitongaGiTongaKitongweRutooroChitotelaMitsogoXitsongaOlutsotsoXitswaSetswanaSetswapongChitumbukaOtshiumbunduTshivendaKividundaKiviliIkivinzaKivumbuKivunjoKiwanziOlushiwangaisiXhosaKiyakaChiyaoShiyeyiKiyombeEkizanakiKizaramoKizigulaKizimbaEchizinzaisiZulu
AngolaBotswanaBurundiCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosDemocratic Republic of the CongoEquatorial GuineaEswatiniEthiopiaGabonKenyaLesothoMalawiMayotteMozambiqueNamibiaNigerNigeriaRepublic of the CongoRwandaSomaliaSouth AfricaSudanTanzaniaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe
From local knowledge to generative infrastructure

What every page shows

01 · Local knowledge

Native speakers

Names, words and recordings come from people who speak the language, with consent.

02 · Primitives

The operating alphabet

Each language's complete syllable inventory (FSI) — the units every word is built from.

03 · Composition rules

The noun equation

Class prefixes that turn one stem into many words — shown on every page through the language's own names.

04 · Generative infrastructure

Engines

Rules that generate correct forms on demand — numbers to a trillion, verb paradigms, noun forms.

How the noun equation works →

Browse

By Guthrie zone

By country

A–Z

All 618 languages

syllable inventory released   coming soon   a dialect of another language

A

AkeleAkoseAkóoseAkwaAmbaKwambaAsuKipareAsuChasuAushiIciaushi

B

BaboleLiboleBafaw BalongBafaw-BalueBafawBafiaRikaBafia MajaBajuniKibajuniBakakaBakokoBakokoBakoleBakonBakweriMokpweBaliBaliKibaliBaloiLibaloiBalongBangalaKimbangalaBangubanguKibangubanguBankonBarombiIbiBasaaHop BasaaBatangaBatiBebeleBebilBeekeKibeekeBekwelBekwelBekwilBekwilBembaiciBembaBembeKibembeBembeEbembeBenaIkibenaBendeKibendeBendeBengaEbengaBetiBhacaBhacaIsibhacaBheleKibheleBilaKibilaBinjiKibinjiBirwaKibiraBirwaBirwaSebirwaBisaBisaIcibiisaBobangiKibobangiBodoKibodoBoguruKiboguruBoliaLiboliaBolia (Ébolia)BoloKiboloBolokiLibolokiBomaKibomaBomaLibomaBombomaBomongoLomongoBondeiKibondeiBonekBongiliBonjoBubiÉyéBubiaEbubiaBuduBuduKibuduBudzaLibudzaBukusuLubukusuBuluBunguKibunguBushoongBushoongIkubaBuyuKibuyuBwaLibuaBwaliMubwaliBwelaLibwelaBwileIchibwileBwisi

C

ChewaChichewaChokweChichokweChonyiChichonyiChopiCicopiChukaGichukaChuwaboEchuwaboCicopiComorian (Shimaore)ShimaoreComorian (Shimwali)ShimwaliComorian (Shindzuani)ShindzuaniComorian (Shingazidja)ShingazidjaCongo SwahiliKingwanaCuwabo

D

DawidaKidawidaDengeseLidengeseDhaisoDhaisoDigoChidigoDiiDirikuRugcirikuDoeKidoeDondoDualaEdualáDumaLidumaDurumaChidurumaDzingKiding

E

ElipNulibieEmbuKiembuEnengaEnyaKienyaEnyaKienyaEtonHë EtonEviyaGeviyaEwodiEwondoKieuondo

F

FangFanFipaIchifipaFuliiruKifuliiruFweChifwe

G

GalwaEgalwaGiriamaKigiriamaGogoCigogoGunguRugunguGusiiEkegusiiGwenoKigwenoGwereLugwereGwereGyele

H

HaIkihaHandaHandaHangazaIkihangazaHavuKihavuHayaOluhayaHeheKiheheHemaKihemaHembaKihembaHereroOtjihereroHijukHlengweXihlengweHoloholoKiholoholoHoluKiholuHundeKihundeHunganaKihunganaHungana

I

Idakho-Isukha-TirikiLuidakhoIkizuIkizuIkomaEkiikomaIlaCiilaIlwanaIsanzuIsuIsisuIwaIciwaIwaIyasa

J

JibanaChijibanaJitaEcijiita

K

KabrasOlukabrasKabuuriOlukabuuriKabwaKabwariKikabwariKaguluChikaguluKaheKikaheKakoLikakoKakongoKalangaTjikalangaKambaKikambaKamba (Cameroon)KambeChikambeKamiKikamiKandeKangoKikangoKaningiKanyokTshikanyokKaondeKikaondeKaraEkikaraKariKaumaChikaumaKelaLikelaKelaKeleLokeleKenyiLukenyiKerebeEkikerebeKeteChiketeKgalagadiShekgalagadiKhayoKhayoOlukhayoKhumbiOlukhumbiKigaOrukigaKikiliogoKikongoKikukwaKikuyuGĩkũyũKiluguruKimbuKikimbuKimbunduKingaKikingaKinyarwandaKirundiIkirundiKisamaKisiKisiKikisiKisi (Tanzania)KisongyeKitubaKituba (Congo)KiwosoKolKol (Papua New Guinea)Komo (Ikoma)KondaLokondaKondaLikondaKonjoOlukonjoKonongoKikonongoKorekoreKotaIkotaKotiEkotiKoyoKoyoLikoyoKumuKikumuKundaChikundaKunyiKikunyiKuriaIgikuriaKusuKikusuKutuKutuKikutuKwakumKwambiOshikwambiKwangaliRuKwangaliKwangeKwangwaSikwangwaKwanyamaOshikwanyamaKwasioKwayaKikwayaKwereKikwereKweseKikwese

L

LaariKilaariLalaIcilalaLalaIsilalaLala-BisaLaliaLilaliaLambaIchilambyaLambyaLangiKilangiLefaLegaKilegaLega-MalingaKilegaLeleKasai LeleLenjeChilenjeLenjeKilengolaLetiLeyaChileyaLibinzaLikaLikilaLikoLilikoLikubaLingalaLingiriLobeduKhilobeduLogooliLulogooliLogooliLulogooliLoiLiloiLoloEloloLoloLombiLomweElomweLondoLoziSiloziLuba-KatangaKilubaLubwisiLuchaziChiluchaziLugandaOlugandaLuguruKiluguruLuimbiChiluimbiLumbuYilumbuLumbuLundaChilundaLunguIcilunguLusengoLuvaleChiluvaleLuyanaLuyanaSiluyanaLwaluLulwalu

M

MabaaleLimabaaleMachameKimachameMachingaKimachingaMagomaMahongweMakaaMakhuwaEmakhuwaMakondeShimakondeMakweKimakweMalilaIcimavilaMalimbaMambwe-LunguMandaChimandaManehasManiManyangaKimanyangaManyikaChimanyikaMarachiOlumarachiMaramaOlumaramaMasabaLumasaabaMatengoMatengoChimatengoMatumbiKimatumbiMatumbiMbalaMbalaKimbalaMbalanhuOshimbalanhuMbamaLimbamaMbangweMbatiLimbatiMbeereKimbeereMbereMbesaLimbesaMbeteLimbeteMbeteMboMboKimboMbochiEmbosiMboleLomboleMboweSimboweMboweSimboweMbugweKimbugweMbugweMbukushuThimbukushuMbuleMbundaChimbundaMbungaKimbungaMbuunMbuunKimbuunMbwelaMbwelaShimbwelaMengisaMengisaMeruKimeruMettoImettoMfinuMfinuKimfinuMitukuKimitukuMmaalaMoiLimoiMolengueMolibaLimolibaMpamaLimpamaMpiemoMpongmpongMpongweMpotoMpotoChimpotoMpuonoKimpuonoMushunguliKimushunguliMvubaKimvubaMvumboMwangaIchimwangaMwaniKimwaniMweraChimweraMwera (Nyasa)Mbamba BayMwimbiKimwimbiMwimbi-MuthambiMyeneOmyene

N

NambyaNandeEkinandeNdakaKindakaNdaliIcindaliNdambaChindambaNdauChindauNdembuChindembuNdendeuleNdengerekoKindengerekoNdongaOshindongaNdongaNdumuNdweweNdzwaniNenNgando (Central African Republic)LongandoNgandyeraOshingandyeraNgareLingareNgayabaNgindoNgindoChingindoNgomNgombeLingombeNgondeIchingondeNgondeNgoniChingoniNguluXinguluNguluKinguluNgundiNgungwelNgungwelNgwiNhlangwinIsinhlangwinNilambaKinilambaNjebiYinjebiNjyemNkonghoNkoyaShinkoyaNkoyaNkundoLonkundoNkutuLinkutuNkutuLinkutshuNomaandeNorthern NdebeleisiNdebeleNorthern SothoSesotho sa LeboaNsengaChinsengaNsong-MpiinNtombaLontombaNtombaLontombaNugunuNunuKinunuNyakyusaIkinyakyusaNyalaOlunyalaNyalaOlunyalaNyaliKinyaliNyamboRunyamboNyamweziKinyamweziNyanekaOlunyanekaNyangaKinyangaNyankoreRunyankoreNyaturuKinyaturuNyembaShinyembaNyihaIchinyihaNyihaNyika (Tanzania)ChinyikaNyokonIton NyokonNyoleNyoroRunyoroNyungweChimang'anjaNyungweChinyungweNzadiNzebi

O

OmboLiomboOmboLiomboOrokoLondoOrungu

P

PagibetePandeKipandePangwaPangwaKipangwaPediSepediPendeKipendePhimbiCiphimbiPhuthiSiphuthiPimbweIcipimbwePinjiIpinjiPogoloChipogoloPokomoKipfokomoPokomoKipokomoPoliPunuYimpumuPunuYipunu

R

RabaiChirabaiRibeChiribeRomboKiromboRongaXirongaRuriKiruriRuruuliRuundUruundRwaKirwa

S

SafwaSafwaIcisafwaSagalaKisagalaSakaEsakaSakanyiSakanayiSakataKisakataSakeSalaChisalaSalampasuChisalampasuSambaKisambaSamiaOlusamiaSangaKisangaSanga (Democratic Republic of Congo)SanguIsanguSanguYisanguSanguIsanguSayiLisayiSebaIkisebaSekiSekiSekiyaniSenaChisenaSengaSengaSengeleSengeleKisengeleSeseLuseseShambalaKishambalaShambyuRushambyuShanjoShiMashiShirimaEshirimaShiwaShonaChishonaShuSihaSihaKisihaSimaaSimbitiSingaLusingaSiraKishinjiSizakiEkisizakiSoEsoSogaOlusogaSoliSoliSoliChisoliSongeKisongeSongolaKisongolaSouthern NdebeleisiNdebeleSouthern SothoSesothoSubaOlusubaSuba-SimbitiEkisimbitiSubiyaChikuhaneSukuKisukuSukumaKisukumaSukwaSukwaSumbwaShisumbwaSuundiKisuundiSwahiliKiswahiliSwatisiSwatiSwo

T

TabwaIcitabwaTachoniOlutachoniTakwaneEchitakwaneTanzanian NgoniTavetaKitavetaTawaraTeke-EbooKitekeTeke-FuumuKiteke-FuumuTeke-IbaliIbaliTeke KukuyaTeke-LaaliKiteke-LaaliTeke-NzikouKinzikuTeke-TegeKitegeTeke-TyeeKitekeTeke-TyeeKityeeTemboChitemboTemiKitemiTetelaTetelaOtétéláTharakaKitharakaTibeaTieneKitieneTirikiLutirikiToka-LeyaToka-Leya-DombeTongaChitongaTonga (Malawi)ChitongaTonga (Mozambique)GiTongaTongweTongweKitongweTooroRutooroTotelaChitotelaTsaangiTshilubaTsogoMitsogoTsongaXitsongaTsotsoOlutsotsoTswaXitswaTswaXitswaTswanaSetswanaTswapongSetswapongTswapongTukiTukiBetukiTukiTumbukaChitumbukaTunenItunɛnTunenTuotomb

U

UmbunduOtshiumbundu

V

VendaTshivendaVidundaKividundaViliKiviliVinzaIkivinzaVumbuKivumbuVunjoKivunjoVwanjiVwanjiIcivwanji

W

WandaWandaIciwandaWandjiKiwanziWangaOlushiwangaWongoWongoWumbokoWumbokoWumbvu

X

XhosaisiXhosa

Y

YakaKiyakaYaka (Congo)YambasaKaayambaYambetaYansiKiyansiYansiYaoChiyaoYelaYeyiShiyeyiYombeKiyombe

Z

ZanakiEkizanakiZaramoKizaramoZigulaKizigulaZimbaKizimbaZimbaZinzaEchizinzaZuluisiZulu
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