Dictionary Entries explained

Head words

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

Plural of nouns

Regular plural forms are indicated by specifying the noun class memberships, e.g. 2  /tɔ́/ n.7/8  head. Irregular plural forms are given after the entry word. 

fa1 /fá/ Pl. vətɔ /və̀tɔ́n.7/8. thing (object)

Pronunciation

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 /Pl. vətɔ /və̀tɔ́n.7/8. thing (object)

Parts of speech

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

Noun class gender

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.

Homonyms

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)

Multiple senses

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).