Kikongo-Kituba - English
word list

Kikongo-Kituba is a creole language that is based on some Bakongo languages. It is known with various names, such as Kikongo ya leta, Munukutuba, Ikeleve and sometimes plainly as Kituba and even Kikongo. It is spoken by several peoples in the Republic of Congo (a.k.a. Congo-Brazzaville), the Democratic Republic of Congo (a.k.a. Congo-Kinshasa, ex-Zaire) and Angola. It is an official language in Congo-Kinshasa and Congo-Brazzaville. The language has up to 10 million speakers.

Kikongo-Kituba words consist of a prefix and a stem. In this dictionary the Kituba words are arranged in the alphabetic order according to the word stem. Therefore it is essential to be able to recognise the prefixes. They are presented in the following table.

Singular
prefix
Plural
prefix
Examples Notes on usage
- ba- kento bakento This is the most common class
mu- mukento bakento This class includes mostly words describing human beings
N- nkento bakento This is contraction of the previous class
mu- mi- mukánda mikánda Many kinds of words are included in this class.
- ma- kutu makutu This class includes i.a. living organisms and body parts.
di- dikutu makutu The plural is used for uncountable things such as liquids.
ki- bi- kilápi bilápi Tools and apparatus
lu- n-
ba-lu-
lukáya nkáya
balukáya
Collective things
ka- tu- kamfulu tumfulu Diminutive and affectionate words.
bu- bumósi This class includes abstract ideas, therefore there is no plural.
ku- kupésa This group includes only verbs and verbal nouns.

Notes

The two "mu"-prefixes are differentiated with enumeration. "¹mu" stands for Class 1-2 (mu-, ba-) and "³mu" stands for Class 3-4 (mu-, mi-).

Kikongo-Kituba has pitch accent system with one pitch distinction: low vs. high. In this word list the low pitch is unmarked and the high pitch is marked with acute accent on vowels.

Note on pronunciation: nk = [ŋk], ng = [ŋg] and ng' = [ŋ].

Kituba has two tones, high (´) and low (`). A falling tone (^) occurs rarely, on the final syllable. Great majority of Kituba words have the main pattern of a single high tone on the penultimate (second to last) syllable. Only words with deviating tone patterns are marked in this dictionary.

  1. The second to last syllable has high tone.
  2. The last syllable has high tone.
  3. All the syllables have low tone.
  4. All the syllables of the stem have low tone and the prefix that immediately precedes the stem has high tone.
  5. All the syllables of the stem have high tone and all prefixes have low tone.

A B D E F G H I K L M N NG' O P R S T U V W Y Z


A

    kiadi angst, anxiety, mental pain → mpási
      Afelika Africa = Katiopa
    diaki egg
     maki eggs
      Alubé Albert
   ³muamba palm oil
      Amelika America
   ¹muana child
  bumuana childhood
     bana children
     bana ya Kongo the people of Congo
     bana ya Nzambi children of God
      ata particle marking future tense → ta
      Azia Asia

B

        ba they = bawu
      kibahá Bahaism, the Bahá'í faith
    kubaka to take, to receive
      bakala man, male; husband = yakala
    kibakala courage, manliness
   ³mubaku fox
   kibala shell, scale
     mbàlà time, iteration
     mbalá yam; potato
     mbàlà mingi many times, often, frequently
     mbàlà mosi one time, once
    kimbanda an Afro-American religion of Brazil
    dibanga boulder, rock, stone
    kubangula to explain
    babantu the Bantu people(s)
    kibantu Bantu, Bantoid
     mbanza town, city
     Mbanza-Kongo former capital of the Congo Kingdom
     Mbanza-Ngungu major station town in Central Congo
    kubasika to get out, to exit
    kubasisa to let out, to oust
      bawu they
    kubeba to be spoiled, wasted
    kubebisa to spoil, to waste, to squander
    dibelé breast, teat
    mabelé breasts, bust, bosom; milk
      bembe dove, pigeon
    kibendé iron
    kibeni self (myself, yourself, himself, herself, ...)
    kibeni dump truck
      beno you (plural)
      beno kibeni you yourself
      benu you (plural)
    kibesi hoe
    dìbètè drop, water drop
      beto we
     mbeto bed = mfúlu
    kibila sacred grove, sanctuary
    kibilikí brick
      biló bureau, office; desk
    kubinga to invite
    kubisa to defy, to disobey, to oppose
   kimbisa an Afro-American religion of Cuba = kipálo
      bisi = busi
     mbizi fish
     mbizi ya kuyúma dried or smoked fish
    diboka a shamanic dance or divinatory technique
    diboko hand, arm
    kiboko hippopotamus = ngubu
      boma pen, enclosure, paddock
     mbombo nose; nostril
   bambombo nostrils
     mbòngo money
     Mbóté! Hello!
   kimbóté goodness
  ya mbóté good
      boyi boy, houseboy, servant
     mbuá dog
      buala village, town
      Buali ancient capital of Luango
    kibubu gorilla
     mbuetete star
      buku book → ³mukanda
     mbuku place, locality, centre = mbúka
     Mbuku-Nzawu Bucu-Zau, a municipality in the enclave of Cabinda
      bula-matadi government
    kubukuna to break, to fracture
    kubukuta to crunch, to munch
    kibula-matadikituba
    kubula to hit; to break
    kubula mabóko to clap hands, to applaud
    kubula ³mukanda na masinu to type with typewriter
    dibunda thigh
    dibundu fruit, berry
  (di)bundu sect, church, congregation
      Bundu ya Kongo a Bakongo movement for the restauration of the Kongo Kingdom
    dibundu ya katolika the Catholic Church
    kibundu total, entirety
      busi bus
     mbuta elder; ancestor
   kubutama to be born
    kibuti parent

D

      dalapó flag
    badawi the Bedouins
     ndefu = ndevu
     ndeke bird = nuni
   ³mundelé white person, Caucasian
  bamindelé the White people
      dernié last = ya nsuka
 (ma)ndevu beard
    kúdia to eat
    mádia food
      diaka again
      Dido Dieudonné
    kudila to cry, to weep
    ludimi tongue
     ndinga language
     ndinga ya bwála national language
     ndokí sorcerer, witch
   kindokí sorcery, witchcraft
      dokotolo doctor, physician = munganga
    budokotolo medicine = kilongo
     ndómbé person with dark skin, negroid
     ndona lady, mistress; madonna
     ndosi dream
  ya ndudi sour
     nduku friend
   ³muduma mamba (snake)
     nduma mamba
     ndumba miss, young woman
    didungú testicle
    madungú testicles, balls
     ndundú albino
   Bandundú Bandundu city, ex-Banningville
     ndunzi happiness

E

      ebene ebony
      ébue...? Is it so that...?
      éé yes → ínga
      estano → ntani
      Ezipte Egypt = Ngipiti

F

    kifalu rhinoceros
   ¹mufarisi Pharisee
      fasó fashion, way, style → mpilá
    mafinya pus
      fioti a little, not much
   ya fioti little, small
      foti fault, mistake
    kufua to die; to kill
    lufua death
    kufwana to suffice, to be enough
    kufuanana to be alike/equal, to resemble
    kifuanisu image, portrait, likeness
  (di)fubu marrow, core; pineapple
    kufuété must, to have to
      fufú rat
      fuku million
     mfulu bed
   kamfulu cradle
     mfumu chief, boss
    kufunda to accuse
   ¹mufundi accuser
    kufundisa to judge
    kifundisi judge
   ¹mufundisi judge
    mafuta grease, oil

G

     Ngabu Gabon
  ¹mungabu Gabonese
      gale train station
   bangala the Bangala people
   dingala Lingala
   kingala Lingala, the lingua franca of North Congo
     ngandu crocodile
    mugàngà = nganga
     ngàngà medicine man, physician, doctor; priest
     ngàngà-nkisi medicine man
     ngàngà-nzambi priest
     ngasi palm nut
      gata village = buala
     ngayí-ngayí acidious
      gazete periodical, journal, gazette
      gazi gas
     ngé you (singular)
  na ngé your
  ya ngé your
     Ngipiti Egypt
     ngò leopard, panther
     ngò-zulu eagle
     ngolo power, force, strength
     ngoma drum
     ngondá moon; month
     ngongolo centipede
     nguana Arabized blacks of East Africa
   kinguana variant of kiswahili spoken in east Congo-Kinshasa
     nguba peanut
     ngubu hippopotamus = kibóko
     ngulú pig
     ngulú-gata domestic pig
     ngulú-mfinda bush pig
     ngumba porcupine
     ngunga bell, gong; bell ring; hour, the interval between two bell rings
     ngunza prophet; messiah, saviour
   kingunza prophetic religion
     nguvu hippopotamus = kiboko

H

     hozana! hosanna!
   bahúng'ana a Bakongo tribe

I

     ikele particle marking durative tense/aspect → kele, ké
   builu darkness, obscurity
     imene particle marking perfect tense/aspect → mene, mé
   ³muinda light, lamp, candle
     inga yes → éé
  ¹muisi inhabitant (pl. besi)
     ivuari ivory → dinu ya nzáu
     iyá 4, four
  ya iyá fourth
    kiyá Thursday

K

   ³mukaba belt, girdle
  (di)kabu part, section
     nkadi (ya mpembe) demon, evil spirit
     nkafi oar, paddle
      kaka only
     nkaka other, another
  ya nkaka other
      kakí khaki (color)
    dikaku monkey
    makaku monkeys
  (ma)kala charcoal; blackness
 ya makala black, pitch-black
      kalasi class; school
  (di)kalu rail, metal bar, metal rod
    kikalu stairs, ladder
    lukalu train
     nkama 100, hundred
   ³mukanda text: letter, article; book = buku
     nkanda text, document; letter
      kanza cobra
      kapita foreman
    makasi anger, wrath
      katekisimu catechism
      kati center; interior
     nkati center; interior
   na kati ya inside
   ya kati ya central
      Katiopia Africa
     nkatu nothing, nil, zero
      katuka from = tuka
     nkayi = nkafi
 particle marking the present tense
      kele particle marking the present tense
      kele na to have
    makelélé noise, sound
   ¹mukeluba cherub
      kena to be = 
 (¹mu)kentó woman; female
     nkentó woman; female
    luketo hip
     nkì(í)nki
     nkiama rainbow
   ³mukìdì river bank, solid land
      kiló kilogram
    kukina to dance
  (ki)kindá grave, sepulchre
    makinu dance
    mukisi = nkísi
     nkisi spirit of nature; magical power; fetish, amulet, talisman; medicine
     nkisi nsi spirit of earth
     nkita spirit that is captured by ngàngà to fight against ndokí
      Klisto Christ
   ¹muklisto christian
     nkokila evening
   ¹mukoko tribal Teke king
    mukólé snail
     nkólé captive, prisoner
    lukolo school
      komí secretary, registrar
      komputa computer
      kóndé net, network, web
      Kongo Congo
      Kongo-Braza Congo-Brazzaville
      Kongo-Kinsasa Congo-Kinshasa
      Kongo ya ntotila Congo Kingdom
    bakongo the Kongo people
    dikongó spear, javelin
    kikongo any of the interrelated languages spoken by the Bakongo, incl. kituba
    kikongo ya letá Kikongo of the state = kitúba
    kikongo-kituba lingua franca based on Kikongo
   ¹mukongo a Kongo person
   ³mukongó back, spine
     nkongo a Kongo person; hunter
     nkosi lion; fetish (representing lion)
    dikoto knee
   ¹múkua possessor of, inhabitant of
     nkua possessor of, inhabitant of
     nkua Bandundu inhabitant of Bandundu
      Kuámuntu Kwamouth
   ³mukuba painting
   ³mukubu ya mengá bleeding, flow of blood
     nkubu bleeding
      Kuenda mbóté! Goodbye!, Farewell!
    kukuenda to go, to leave
    kukuisakukwiza
      Kuíza mbóté! Welcome!
    kukuiza to come
     nkulu ancestor; spirit of deceased = nkuyu
   kinkulu past, history
  (di)kùlù foot, leg
      kumbi wagon; ship; train
      kumbi ya maza ship = masuá
      kumbi ya ntoto train = lukalu
      kumi 10, ten
      kumi ná mosi 11, eleven
      kumi ná zolé 12, twelve
      kumi ye mosi 11, eleven
      kumi ye zolé 12, twelve
    makumi zolé 20, twenty
    makumi zolé ná mosi 21, twenty-one
      kuna there
    dikundú supplementary internal organ of witches, organ of supernatural power in abdomen
     nkuni wood, firewood
      kurá electric current, electricity
     nkusi fart
     nkusu parrot
   ¹mukuyu spirit of deceased, ghost, lost soul
     nkuyu spirit of deceased, ghost, lost soul

L

      labó (hand) plane
    balabu the Arabs
    kilabu Arabic language
   ¹mulabu an Arab
    baladi a Bakongo tribe = balari
      ladió radio
    malafu alcohol
    dilálá orange, citrus fruit
      langi color
   ya langi muamba yellow
   ³mulàngì bottle
      lapé rabbit
    kilari a dialect of Kikongo spoken mainly in Brazzaville and the Pool region
   ¹mulate mulatto
   ¹mulatere mulatto
    Malebo the Malebo Pool, the Stanley Pool
    kiletá = kikongo ya leta, kituba
    kilima climate
   ³mulisi militia
      lita liter, litre
      litelo = lita
   ³mulolo savanna shrub
    dilòngà plate
    kilongo medicine = nkisi
      Lorá Laurent
      loso rice
      Luango ancient empire of the Bavili
    baluba the Luba people
    kiluba the Luba language
    kiluba ya Kasai Ciluba
    kiluba ya Katanga Kiluba
    dilulu insect
    maluma semen, sperm
    kilumbu day, 24 hours
  (ki)lunzi soul, spiritual double
      Lunzi Santu the Holy Ghost
    kuluwé to rent, to lease
      Luwí Louis

M

    kíma thing, item, article
    bíma things, stuff
      mama mother
      mamá mother
    kimanianga a dialect of Kikongo spoken in the Manianga region = kikongo ya Manianga
  (di)manga mango
      masuá boat, ship
      mbua dog
     imbua dog
    bumbuli central pillar of house
  (di)mémé sheep
      mene particle marking perfect tense/aspect = 
 particle marking perfect tense/aspect = méne
      menga blood
      mesa table
      meta meter, metre
      metelometa
      meza table → mesa
      mine mine (bomb), mine (excavation)
      mingi many, much; very
    lumingu Sunday
      mira myrrh
      misa (Catholic) mass
    kumona to see, to look
   ¹mumoni seer, visionary, clairvoyant
    kumonisa to show
      mono I, me = múnu
   na mono my
   ya mono my
      Mose Moses
      mosi 1, one; self
    bumosi oneness, unity
    kimosi Monday
      moyo soul, spirit
    kimpenzi chimpanzee
    kimpiti antelope
 I, me
      Mú zaba ve. I don't know.
      Mudiso Maurice
      munu I, me
      munu kibeni me myself
   ya munu my
      múnukutúba kikongo ya munu kutuba = kituba
      muéné ruler, lord, sir
    bamuéné rulers, lords
      muéné Kongo Manikongo, ruler of Kongo
      muéné Mputu ruler of Portugal (hist.)
      muéné-nsi ruler of land, head of state
      muéné Soyo ruler of Soyo, count of Soyo (hist.)

N

 at, in, on; to; from
 with; and
        mama ná muana mother and child
      nanasi pineapple
      nani who
    banani who (plural)
      nde that (conjunction)
   ¹mundongo slave
    lùngàdì muslim = musilamu
    lunguenia chameleon
      ni it's
      ni munu it's me
      ni nge it's you
      ni nge yina me sala yawu. it's you who did it.
      niama animal, beast; prey; meat
      niau cat
      Nikolá Nicholas
      nioka snake
      nionia ant
      nitu body
    kinkokó magic animal, animal familiar, demon familiar, totem animal
   ³munòkò mouth, orifice, opening
   (í)nsua permission, right
    kinsukulu eggplant, aubergine
    mante saliva
   (í)nti tree; wood
   (í)ntu head
    bàntù people, population
    bántu heads
    bùntù humanity, humaneness
   ¹mùntù person, human being
  bumùntù humanity
    dínu tooth
    dínu ya nzawu elephant tusk, ivory
    ménu teeth
    kunuana to fight, to battle
      nuanu conflict, fight, battle
      nuani fighter, warrior
      núni bird → ndeke
   ³munuta minute, 60 seconds
    kúnua to drink
   ³munyi the visible world
      nyitu body = nitu
    dinzanza tin plate, sheet metal
    kinzanzala insect
   (í)nzo house
   (í)nzo-nzambi church (building)
   (í)nzo ya manzanza house with tin roof
   mwanzo cottage, cabin, shed, hangar, small house

NG' (Ŋ)

      ng'ambú the opposite shore
   na ng'ambú on the other side of the river
   ³mungwá salt
   (í)nki? what?
   (í)nki kilumbu? which day?
   (í)nki ntangu? what time? when?
      ng'ombé cow, bovine
      ng'ombé-koko bull
      ng'ombé-nkento cow

O

      oro gold = wolo

P

    kipalo an Afro-American religion of Cuba, Palo = kimbisa
     mpangi friend
   kimbangi fraternity
      papá father, poppa
     mpasi pain, ache
      pe and = yé, ná
     mpe also, too
     mpémbé white
   ³mupèpè wind, breeze
    kupesa to give
   ¹mupesi donor, giver
      Pételo Peter
     mpevé spirit
     Mpevé Santu the Holy Ghost
    kupeza to weigh, to measure weight
     mpi also = mpe
     mpika slave
   bumpika slavery
     mpilá type, sort, kind; way → fasó
     mpilá mosi similar, same kind, same way
     mpilá na mpilá all kinds of
     mpilá ve no way, impossible
     mpilá yayi this way, like this
    lupitalu hospital
     mpimpá night; dark
    kupola to rot
 ya kupola rotten
     mpondó millet or sorghum
   ¹mupopó Beninese, a person from Benin
      potó-póto swamp, marsh, mud
      puaka simpleton
      puante point, tip
      Puántenuá Pointe-Noire
     Mpumbu the Malebo pool; (old name of) Kinshasa
     mputo grape
     Mputu Europe

R

     rabólabó
     radió radio → ladió
     Repo! At ease! (mil.)
     Roma Rome
     Rusia Russia

S

    mása = máza
      sabala Saturday
  (ki)sabato Saturday; Sabbath
      sabatu shoe
    kusadisa to help
 (di)nsala feather
    kusala to do; to work
      sala ngolo make an effort
     nsala feather, dove
    kisalu work, job
      sanduku case, suitcase, trunk, chest
     nsangu news
     nsangu ya mbóté Gospel, the Good Word
    lusanse gasoline
      santu saint
   ya santu saint, holy
    busantu saintity, holiness
   ³músapi finger, toe
     nséké savannah, steppe, prairie; land, region
      selafé seraphim
      sena senate, parliament
      si land = nsi
    besi people of
    besi Kongo people of Kongo
    besi Mputu Europeans
   ¹músi land = nsi
    Músikongo = Músi Kongo Kongo land
     nsi land
     nsi ya ntotila kingdom
  na nsi ya under, beneath, at the base of
    ínsi land
   ¹muisi inhabitant (pl. besi)
   ¹muisi Kongo inhabitant of Congo, a Congolese
   ¹munsi inhabitant = ¹muisi
(³mu)nsikú law
   minsikú ya letá constitution
    kisilamu Islam
    musilamu muslim, moslem
      simba lion = nkosi
    kusimbá to grab, to grasp, to hold
    kusimbá nzila to take route
  (ki)simbi genie, water spirit, nature spirit
    masini machine
      sodá soldier
      sokolá chocolate
    dísu eye
    mésu eyes
    masuba urine, piss
    kisubulu toilet, WC
     nsuka end
  ya nsuka the last, final
      sukadi sugar
    kusukula to wash, to bathe
    kusumba to buy
    kusumbama to be bought
     nsusu hen, chicken
     nsusu-koko cock, rooster
   kiswahili Kiswahili, the lingua franca of East Africa

T

      ta particle marking future tense = ata
    ditadi stone, rock
    kitadi metal; medal
      takisí taxi
    ditaku buttock
    mataku buttocks, bottom, bum, ass
    kutala to look, to watch, to see
   (ki)talatala mirror
   ³mutambu trap, snare
     ntandu highland(s), upland(s)
   kintandu Kikongo dialect of upper Congo
     ntangu sun; moment, time
     ntangu ya when, at the moment of
     ntani tin, Sn
      tanu 5, five
   ya tanu fifth
    kitanu Friday
      tata father
      tatá father
      tatu 3, three
   ya tatu third
    butatu trinity
    kitatu Wednesday
     ntatu trio, troika
    bateké Teke people
    kiteki idol, statue of deity
    kutela to call for, to send for, to summon
    lutelu calling, summoning, convoking
  ya ntété the first, premier
 to, until; and = 
     nti tree = (í)nti
     ntima heart
     ntinu head of state, monarch, emperor, chieftain
     ntinu-nkento queen, empress
      to or
      toko young man
    kitoko beauty
     ntomi priest, augur, soothsayer
     ntomubilu automobile
  (bu)tongo brain
    kutonda to thank, to appreciate, to show gratitude
     ntonda thanks, gratitude
    Matondo Thanks!, Thank you!
    Matondo kibeni! Thank you yourself!
    Matondo na beno! Thank you!
  (bu)tonzu brain = tongo
     ntotila monarch, king
  ya ntotila royal
     ntoto earth
     ntuadisi leader
  na ntuala behind, after, in back of
na mantuala behind, after, in back of
     kituba lingua franca (based on Kikongo), essentially the same as múnukutúba and kikongo ya letá
     kutuba to speak, to talk
       tuka from = katúka
       tuka Kinsása tí Matádi from Kinshasa to Matadi
     kutuka to leave, to depart
     ditungulu onion
     dituti cloud
   (di)tutu flute

U

       Unazá National University of Zaire
       uvua 9, nine
    ya uvua ninth

V

      vanda to be
      vandaka particle marking past tense; was
    kuvanda to rest
    kuvanda na to have
      ve no, not
    bavili a Bakongo tribe of the Atlantic coast north of the Kongo river
    kivili the language of Bavili
   mvita combat, war
    kuvuanda to reside, to live; to rest
      vuatili car, automobile, vehicle
    kuvutuka to return, to come back

W

      Wa fasó? How are you? (used in Congo-Brazzaville) = wapi fasó
    kúwa to sense, to perceive, to listen; to understand
    kúwa makasi to get angry
      wanzio angel
      wapi? question particle
      wapi fasó? which way?, how?
      Wapi mambu? What's the problem/matter?
      wapi mutindu? which way?, how?
      wapi sika? where?
      wolo gold

Y

      ya of
 he, she = yandi; it = yawu
    kiyá Thursday
   ¹muyadi administrator, ruler
      yakala man, male; husband = bakala
    kuyala administrate, govern, reign
    luyalu administration, government, regime, reign
      yandi he, she
      yandi mosi he himself, she herself
      yangó the one(s) in question
    bayansi Yansi people
      yawu it = yo
      yayi this, these
 and = 
      Yemá Emma
      Yesu Jesus
    kiyesu Christianity
   ¹muyesu a christian
    mayi water = maza
    Mayi-Ndómbé a great lake near Bandundu
      yina this, these
      yina who, which
      yinki what?
      yinti tree = nti
      yinzo house = nzo
    mayita semen, sperm
 it = yawu
    bayombé a Bakongo tribe, Mayombe
    Mayombé vast rain forest in Cabinda and Congo
      yowa the cosmic cross of the Bakongo religion
      Yuda Judas
   ¹muyuda Jew
    kuyuma to dry, to get dry
 ya kuyuma dried or smoked
    kuyumisa to dry, to make dry

Z

 Jean, John
    maza water; river, lake, sea, etc.
    kuzaba to know, to know how
    kizábavé = kituba
    muzabi expert, sage
    kuzabisa to inform, to let know
    kizabu science
    mazabu knowledge, information
     nzadi river
     nzadi Kongo Congo river
     nzala hunger, famine
     nzala nail, claw
    kizama exam, examination
     nzambi god, divinity
     Nzambi-Mpungu God Almighty
     Nzambi ya Mpungu God Almighty
     nzawu elephant
    kuzaya to know = kuzaba
    mazayu information, knowledge, science = kizabu, mazabu
     nzazi lightning, thunderbolt
     nzò house = (í)nzo
    muzidi figurine, statue, idol, fetiche statue
    mazi oil, grease = mafúta
    kuzieta to walk, to go for a walk
     nzietolo walk, promenade
     nzila road, street, path, route, way
  na nzila ya on the way to
     nzila-kumbi railroad, railway
     nzila-lukalu railroad, railway
     nzila-mukidi road on land
     nzila-nseke path on savanna
     nzila-nzadi waterway, riverine route
     nzimbu seashell money
     nzinga roll, cylinder
    muziri = muzidi
    buzitu respect
    kuzola to like, to love; to want, to feel like doing
      zolé 2, two
   ya zolé the second
    kizolé Tuesday
     nzolé a couple, twosome
    luzolo love; desire
    kuzonzá to discuss, to talk
  (di)zulu sky, heaven; top
    mazulu heavens
   na zulu ya on, on top of
   ¹muzuluma muslim = ¹musilamu
      zuzi judge = ¹mufundisi

Bantu week

The traditional Bakongo week consists of four days. The week is called nsóna, which is also the name of the day dedicated for rest and worship i.e. their equivalent for Sunday.

  1. nsona = day of rest and worship
  2. nkandu/mukila
  3. (mu)konso/konzo = market day
  4. nkéngé

References

In addition to other sources I have used the following dictionaries as reference in compiling this word list.