Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/nɲàmà

This Proto-Bantu entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Bantu

Etymology

Cognates outside Bantu are Proto-Grassfields *nàm` (“animal”), Tiv *inyam (“meat”), Efik *unam (“meat”) (from Proto-Lower Cross River *ú-nàm (“animal”) and Proto-Edoid *E-nhamhɪ (“Animal/Meat”)

Noun

*nɲàmà class 9 (plural *nɲàmà class 10)

1. animal
2. meat

Descendants

• Northeast Bantu:
  • Great Lakes Bantu:
    • Rwanda-Rundi (J61/62): inyama
    • Luganda (J15): ennyama
    • Nyankole (J13): enyama
    • Haya (J22): eñama
    • Nande (J42): enyäma
    • Jita (J25): iñama
  • Thagiicu:
    • Kikuyu (E51): nyama
  • Northeast Coast Bantu:
    • Swahili (G42): nyama, mnyama
• Kongo (H16): niama
• Duala (A24): ńama
• Bemba (M42): nama, inama
• Chichewa (N31): nyama
• Lingala (C30B): nyama
• Ruwund (L53): nnam
• Shona (S10): nyama
• Njila
  • Herero (R30): onyama
• Southern Bantu:
  • Makhuwa (P31): enama
  • Nguni:
    • Lala (South Africa) (S406): nyama
    • Northern Ndebele (S44): inyama
    • Phuthi (S404): ínyama
    • Swazi (S43): ínyama
    • Xhosa (S41): ínyama
    • Zulu (S42): ínyama
  • Sotho-Tswana:
    • Northern Sotho (S32): nama
    • Sotho (S33): nama
    • Tswana (S31): nama
  • Tsonga (S53): nyama
  • Venda (S20): ṋama