For the nouns the singular form is used as the main entry form. The plural form is only added when it is irregular preceded by Pl.
fa1 /fá/ Pl. vətɔ /və̀tɔ́/ n.7/8. thing (object)
For the verbs the citation form is used which is also the imperative.
fa2 /fǎ/ v.tr. to hook, to steal
Regular plural forms are indicated by specifying the noun class memberships, e.g. tɔ2 /tɔ́/ 7/8 head. Irregular plural forms are given after the entry word.
fa1 /fá/ Pl. vətɔ /və̀tɔ́/ n.7/8. thing (object)
Immediately after the Head word follows the head word with the tone marks between slashes. The pronunciation of the tone of the plural form is indicated in the same way.
fa1 /fá/ Pl. vətɔ /və̀tɔ́/ n.7/8. thing (object)
After each word we have indicated the part of speech or word class to which the word belongs.
baba ŋoʼ /bábá ŋōʼ/ n.7/8. wall gecko
kɨɨ1 /kɨ́ɨ/ v.itr to burn
kɔlə /kɔ́lə́/ conj if, even if
The following abbreviations are used:
adj adjective
adv adverb
aux auxiliary verb
conj conjunction
dem.pron demonstrative pronoun
id idiom
ideoph ideophone
n noun
num numeral
part particle
pers.pron personal pronoun
poss.pron possessive pronoun
prep preposition
pron pronoun
q question word or marker
rel relative pronoun
v verb
v.itr intransitive verb
v.tr transitive verb
For all nouns the noun class gender is given in the form of the usual Bantu numbering system. Babungo has the following singular/plural combinations or genders (the most common ones are in bold letters with examples below):
1/2, 1/6a, 3/2, 3/4, 3/6, 3/10, 3/13, 5/6, 5/13, 6/13, 7/6, 7/6a, 7/8, 7/13, 9/2, 9/6, 9/10, 9/6, 19/6, 19/6a.
liŋ /li᷆ŋ/ n.1/2. friend, mate
fi /fī/ n.3/2. puff adder (snake)
fɔŋ /fɔ̄ŋ/ n.3/13. fresh vegetable
yifəə /yìfə́ə/ n.5/6. cheek
yifuˈ /yìfûˈ/ n.5/13. cockroach
baˈ /bāˈ/ n.7/8. cutlass, machete
mbia /mbi᷆a/ n.9/2. person hiding
nyaa /nya᷆a/ n.9/10. animal
fəbuˈ /fə̀búˈ/ n.19/6a. chimpanzee
There are a few nouns with triple class genders, i.e. with singular, dual (pair) and plural:
fəŋ /fə́ŋ/ n.1/6~13. leg
yifəə /yìfə́ə/ n.5/6~13. cheek
yikia /yìkía/ n.5/6~13. testicle
yiməŋ /yìmə́ŋ/ n.5/6~13. breast
Furthermore, there are many nouns that do not have a singular/plural distinction. They are found with the following noun classes (the most common ones are in bold letters with examples below): 1, 2, 3, 6, 6a, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15, 19.
məluˈ /mə̀lûˈ/ n.1. fog.
vənzi /və̀nzi᷆/ n.2. beginning.
məməŋ /mə̀mə́ŋ/ n.6a. milk.
zɔsə /zɔ̄sə̄/ n.10. honey.
kəndi /kə̀ndi᷆/ n.15. loss.
Often there are words which are identical in form which have unrelated meanings, called homonyms. These are marked with a numerical subscript:
bee1 /běe/ v.tr. to hate
bee2 /běe/ v.tr. to tell (a story)
fi1 /fī/ n.3/13. greens (edible leaves)
fi2 /fī/ n.3/2. puff adder (snake)
Words frequently have more than one meaning which are related, but distinct. These are also displayed as homonyms with a numerical subscript:
bɔŋsə2 /bɔ̀ŋsə́/ v.tr. to make straight.
bɔŋsə3 /bɔ̀ŋsə́/ v.tr. to lead, to educate s.o.
The same notification for homonyms and multiple senses has been chosen because it is often difficult to clearly differentiate between them:
ta1 /tá/ v.itr. to grow up (people).
ta2 /tá/ v.itr. to overgrow (hair).
ta3 /tá/ v.tr. to collect honey.
ta4 /tá/ v.tr. to sew.
ta5 /tá/ n.3/13. hut.
ta6 /tá/ part. yet (negative).