Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/bàntʊ̀

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

Alternative forms

*bábàntʊ̀ (augmented)

Noun

*bàntʊ̀ class 2

people, plural of *mʊ̀ntʊ̀

Descendants

Sawabantu:
- Kpwe:
  - Mokpwe (A22): wato
- Duala (A24): bato
- Benga (A34): bato

Sira:
- Punu (B43): bátu

Bangi-Tetela:
- Bangi-Ntomba:
  - Bangi-Moi:
    - Lingala (C30B): bato

Northeast Bantu:
- Kikuyu-Kamba:
  - Kikuyu (E51): andũ
- Northeast Coast Bantu:
  - Sabaki:
    - Mijikenda:
      - Giryama (E72a): at'u

Bende (F12): bhántú

Northeast Bantu:
- Takama:
  - Sukuma (F31): banhu
- Northeast Coast Bantu:
  - Seuta:
    - Shambala (G23): wantu
    - Zigula (G31): wantru
  - Ruvu:
    - Vidunda (G38): wanhu
  - Sabaki:
    - Swahili:
      - Swahili (G42): watu

Kongo:
- Kongo (H16): bantu

Kimbundu:
- Kimbundu (H21): athu

Northeast Bantu:
- Great Lakes Bantu:
  - Gungu (J101): bantu
  - Haya-Jita:
    - Talinga-Bwisi (J102): bantu
  - Nyoro-Ganda:
    - Nyoro (J11): bantu, extended abantu
    - Tooro (J12): bantu, extended abantu
    - Nyankole (J13): bantu, extended abantu
    - Luganda (J15): bantu, extended abantu
  - Haya-Jita:
    - Zinza (J23): abaantu
  - Masaba-Luhya:
    - Masaba (J31): bantu
    - Nyole (Uganda) (J35): abaatu
  - Logooli-Kuria:
    - Ikizu (J402): abhaatʉ
    - Suba (J403): awantu
    - Suba-Simbiti (J403): abhantö
    - Kabwa (J405): abhantu
    - Gusii (J42): abanto
  - Rwanda-Rundi (J61/62): abantu

Chokwe-Luchazi:
- Nkangala (K18): vantu

Mbukushu (K333): hanu

Luban:
- Nkoya (L60): bantu

Rukwa:
- Mbeya:
  - Lambya (M201): abantu
- Mwika:
  - Nyamwanga (M22): awantu
- Rungwe:
  - Nyakyusa (M31): abandu

Sabi:
- Bemba (M42): bantu, extended abantu
- Lala-Bisa (M51/52): abantu

Nyasa:
- Tonga (Malawi) (N15): ŵanthu
- Tumbuka (N21): ŵanthu
- Chichewa (N31): anthu
  - Sena:
    - Nsenga (N41): ŵanthu
    - Kunda (N42): wanthu
    - Nyungwe (N43): wanthu
    - Sena (N44): anthu

Rufiji-Ruvuma:
- Mbinga:
  - Ndendeule (N101): bhando
  - Matengo (N13): bându
  - Mpoto (N14): bhandu
- Ruvuma:
  - Yao (Africa) (P21): ŵandu
  - Mwera (P22): bhandu

Umbundu (R11): omanu

Kavango-Southwest Bantu:
- Southwest Bantu:
  - Ovambo:
    - Kwanyama (R21): ovaṅu/ovanhu
    - Ndonga (R22): aantu
  - Herero (R30): ovandu
    - Zemba (R311): ovantu

Shona:
- Shona (S10): vanhu

Venda (S20): vhathu
Southern Bantu
- Makhuwa
  - Makhuwa (P31): atthu
- Sotho-Tswana
  - Tswana (S31): batho
  - Northern Sotho (S32): batho
  - Sotho (S33): batho
- Nguni
  - Ngoni (Malawi) (N121): abantu
  - Southern Ndebele (S407): abantu
  - Xhosa (S41): abantu
  - Zulu (S42): abantu
  - Swazi (S43): bantfu
  - Northern Ndebele (S44): abantu
- Tswa-Ronga:
  - Tsonga (S53): vanhu