English
Etymology
From Arabic عَمْبَة (ʕamba) and Hebrew עמבה; ultimately from Sanskrit आम्र (āmra).
Noun
amba (uncountable)
- A tangy mango pickle used as a condiment in the Middle East.
Anagrams
Cebuano
Pronunciation
Noun
amba
- lowing or mooing sound of cattle
Verb
amba
- to moo, low as of cattle
Synonyms
Hiligaynon
Verb
ámba
- chant, sing
Icelandic
Pronunciation
Noun
amba f (genitive singular ömbu, nominative plural ömbur)
- Alternative form of amaba
Declension
Italian
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Amharic አምባ (ʾämba).
Noun
amba f (plural ambe)
- (geology) A characteristic landform in Ethiopia, consisting of a steep-sided, flat-topped mountain.
Etymology 2
Noun
amba f (plural ambe)
- (chiefly in the plural) circumlocution, periphrasis
- Synonyms: (formal) circonlocuzione, (colloquial) giro di parole, perifrasi
References
- amba in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana
- Template:R:DIO
Kanufi
Noun
amba
- plural of uwa
References
Kikuyu
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu *-bàmba (“to stretch and peg a hide”).
Pronunciation
Verb
amba (infinitive kwamba)
- to peg (out), to pitch
- to stretch out
- to do first
Derived terms
References
- Armstrong, Lilias E. (1940). The Phonetic and Tonal Structure of Kikuyu, p. 360. Rep. 1967. (Also in 2018 by Routledge).
- “amba” in Benson, T.G. (1964). Kikuyu-English dictionary, p. 7. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Pali
Etymology 1
From Sanskrit आम्र (āmra).
Noun
amba m
- the mango tree, Magifera indica
Declension
Declension table of "amba" (masculine)
Noun
amba n
- the mango fruit
Declension
Declension table of "amba" (neuter)
References
- Pali Text Society (1921–1925) “amba”, in Pali-English Dictionary, London: Chipstead
Etymology 2
Noun
amba
- vocative singular of ambā (“mummy”)
Swahili
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu *-gàmba (“to speak, to answer”).
Pronoun
amba-
- which; who (relative pronoun)
Inflection
Verb
-amba (infinitive kwamba)
- to say, to explain
Conjugation
Conjugation of -amba
|
Positive present
|
-naamba
|
Subjunctive
|
-ambe
|
Negative
|
-ambi
|
Imperative singular
|
amba
|
|
Infinitives
|
|
Imperatives
|
|
Tensed forms
|
Habitual
|
huamba
|
Positive past
|
positive subject concord + -liamba
|
Negative past
|
negative subject concord + -kuamba
|
|
Positive present (positive subject concord + -naamba)
|
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
1st person
|
ninaamba/naamba
|
tunaamba
|
2nd person
|
unaamba
|
mnaamba
|
3rd person
|
m-wa(I/II)
|
anaamba
|
wanaamba
|
other classes
|
positive subject concord + -naamba
|
|
Negative present (negative subject concord + -ambi)
|
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
1st person
|
siambi
|
hatuambi
|
2nd person
|
huambi
|
hamwambi
|
3rd person
|
m-wa(I/II)
|
haambi
|
hawaambi
|
other classes
|
negative subject concord + -ambi
|
|
Positive future
|
positive subject concord + -taamba
|
Negative future
|
negative subject concord + -taamba
|
|
Positive subjunctive (positive subject concord + -ambe)
|
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
1st person
|
niambe
|
tuambe
|
2nd person
|
uambe
|
mwambe
|
3rd person
|
m-wa(I/II)
|
aambe
|
waambe
|
other classes
|
positive subject concord + -ambe
|
|
Negative subjunctive
|
positive subject concord + -siambe
|
Positive present conditional
|
positive subject concord + -ngeamba
|
Negative present conditional
|
positive subject concord + -singeamba
|
Positive past conditional
|
positive subject concord + -ngaliamba
|
Negative past conditional
|
positive subject concord + -singaliamba
|
|
|
Perfect
|
positive subject concord + -meamba
|
"Already"
|
positive subject concord + -meshaamba
|
"Not yet"
|
negative subject concord + -jaamba
|
"If/When"
|
positive subject concord + -kiamba
|
"If not"
|
positive subject concord + -sipoamba
|
Consecutive
|
kaamba / positive subject concord + -kaamba
|
Consecutive subjunctive
|
positive subject concord + -kaambe
|
|
|
|
Some forms not commonly seen in modern Standard Swahili are absent from the table. See Appendix:Swahili verbs for more information.
|
Derived terms
Venda
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu *-gàmba (“to speak, to answer”).
Verb
amba
- to speak
Zulu
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu *-gàmba (“to speak, to answer”).
Verb
-amba
- to be sarcastic
Inflection
Tone L
|
Infinitive
|
ukwamba
|
|
Positive
|
Negative
|
Infinitive
|
ukwamba
|
ukungambi
|
|
Imperative
|
|
Simple
|
+ object concord
|
Singular
|
yamba
|
-ambe
|
Plural
|
yambani
|
-ambeni
|
|
Present
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngiyamba, ngamba
|
engambayo, engamba
|
ngamba
|
angambi
|
engingambi
|
ngingambi
|
2nd singular
|
uyamba, wamba
|
owambayo, owamba
|
wamba
|
awambi
|
ongambi
|
ungambi
|
1st plural
|
siyamba, samba
|
esambayo, esamba
|
samba
|
asambi
|
esingambi
|
singambi
|
2nd plural
|
niyamba, namba
|
enambayo, enamba
|
namba
|
anambi
|
eningambi
|
ningambi
|
Class 1
|
uyamba, wamba
|
owambayo, owamba
|
amba
|
akambi
|
ongambi
|
engambi
|
Class 2
|
bayamba, bamba
|
abambayo, abamba
|
bamba
|
abambi
|
abangambi
|
bengambi
|
Class 3
|
uyamba, wamba
|
owambayo, owamba
|
wamba
|
awambi
|
ongambi
|
ungambi
|
Class 4
|
iyamba, yamba
|
eyambayo, eyamba
|
yamba
|
ayambi
|
engambi
|
ingambi
|
Class 5
|
liyamba, lamba
|
elambayo, elamba
|
lamba
|
alambi
|
elingambi
|
lingambi
|
Class 6
|
ayamba, amba
|
ambayo, amba
|
amba
|
awambi
|
angambi
|
engambi
|
Class 7
|
siyamba, samba
|
esambayo, esamba
|
samba
|
asambi
|
esingambi
|
singambi
|
Class 8
|
ziyamba, zamba
|
ezambayo, ezamba
|
zamba
|
azambi
|
ezingambi
|
zingambi
|
Class 9
|
iyamba, yamba
|
eyambayo, eyamba
|
yamba
|
ayambi
|
engambi
|
ingambi
|
Class 10
|
ziyamba, zamba
|
ezambayo, ezamba
|
zamba
|
azambi
|
ezingambi
|
zingambi
|
Class 11
|
luyamba, lwamba
|
olwambayo, olwamba
|
lwamba
|
alwambi
|
olungambi
|
lungambi
|
Class 14
|
buyamba, bamba
|
obambayo, obamba
|
bamba
|
abambi
|
obungambi
|
bungambi
|
Class 15
|
kuyamba, kwamba
|
okwambayo, okwamba
|
kwamba
|
akwambi
|
okungambi
|
kungambi
|
Class 17
|
kuyamba, kwamba
|
okwambayo, okwamba
|
kwamba
|
akwambi
|
okungambi
|
kungambi
|
|
Recent past
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngambile, ngambē
|
engambile, engambē
|
ngambile, ngambē
|
angambanga
|
engingambanga
|
ngingambanga
|
2nd singular
|
wambile, wambē
|
owambile, owambē
|
wambile, wambē
|
awambanga
|
ongambanga
|
ungambanga
|
1st plural
|
sambile, sambē
|
esambile, esambē
|
sambile, sambē
|
asambanga
|
esingambanga
|
singambanga
|
2nd plural
|
nambile, nambē
|
enambile, enambē
|
nambile, nambē
|
anambanga
|
eningambanga
|
ningambanga
|
Class 1
|
wambile, wambē
|
owambile, owambē
|
ambile, ambē
|
akambanga
|
ongambanga
|
engambanga
|
Class 2
|
bambile, bambē
|
abambile, abambē
|
bambile, bambē
|
abambanga
|
abangambanga
|
bengambanga
|
Class 3
|
wambile, wambē
|
owambile, owambē
|
wambile, wambē
|
awambanga
|
ongambanga
|
ungambanga
|
Class 4
|
yambile, yambē
|
eyambile, eyambē
|
yambile, yambē
|
ayambanga
|
engambanga
|
ingambanga
|
Class 5
|
lambile, lambē
|
elambile, elambē
|
lambile, lambē
|
alambanga
|
elingambanga
|
lingambanga
|
Class 6
|
ambile, ambē
|
ambile, ambē
|
ambile, ambē
|
awambanga
|
angambanga
|
engambanga
|
Class 7
|
sambile, sambē
|
esambile, esambē
|
sambile, sambē
|
asambanga
|
esingambanga
|
singambanga
|
Class 8
|
zambile, zambē
|
ezambile, ezambē
|
zambile, zambē
|
azambanga
|
ezingambanga
|
zingambanga
|
Class 9
|
yambile, yambē
|
eyambile, eyambē
|
yambile, yambē
|
ayambanga
|
engambanga
|
ingambanga
|
Class 10
|
zambile, zambē
|
ezambile, ezambē
|
zambile, zambē
|
azambanga
|
ezingambanga
|
zingambanga
|
Class 11
|
lwambile, lwambē
|
olwambile, olwambē
|
lwambile, lwambē
|
alwambanga
|
olungambanga
|
lungambanga
|
Class 14
|
bambile, bambē
|
obambile, obambē
|
bambile, bambē
|
abambanga
|
obungambanga
|
bungambanga
|
Class 15
|
kwambile, kwambē
|
okwambile, okwambē
|
kwambile, kwambē
|
akwambanga
|
okungambanga
|
kungambanga
|
Class 17
|
kwambile, kwambē
|
okwambile, okwambē
|
kwambile, kwambē
|
akwambanga
|
okungambanga
|
kungambanga
|
|
Remote past
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngāmba
|
engāmba
|
ngāmba
|
angambanga
|
engingambanga
|
ngingambanga
|
2nd singular
|
wāmba
|
owāmba
|
wāmba
|
awambanga
|
ongambanga
|
ungambanga
|
1st plural
|
sāmba
|
esāmba
|
sāmba
|
asambanga
|
esingambanga
|
singambanga
|
2nd plural
|
nāmba
|
enāmba
|
nāmba
|
anambanga
|
eningambanga
|
ningambanga
|
Class 1
|
wāmba
|
owāmba
|
āmba
|
akambanga
|
ongambanga
|
engambanga
|
Class 2
|
bāmba
|
abāmba
|
bāmba
|
abambanga
|
abangambanga
|
bengambanga
|
Class 3
|
wāmba
|
owāmba
|
wāmba
|
awambanga
|
ongambanga
|
ungambanga
|
Class 4
|
yāmba
|
eyāmba
|
yāmba
|
ayambanga
|
engambanga
|
ingambanga
|
Class 5
|
lāmba
|
elāmba
|
lāmba
|
alambanga
|
elingambanga
|
lingambanga
|
Class 6
|
āmba
|
āmba
|
āmba
|
awambanga
|
angambanga
|
engambanga
|
Class 7
|
sāmba
|
esāmba
|
sāmba
|
asambanga
|
esingambanga
|
singambanga
|
Class 8
|
zāmba
|
ezāmba
|
zāmba
|
azambanga
|
ezingambanga
|
zingambanga
|
Class 9
|
yāmba
|
eyāmba
|
yāmba
|
ayambanga
|
engambanga
|
ingambanga
|
Class 10
|
zāmba
|
ezāmba
|
zāmba
|
azambanga
|
ezingambanga
|
zingambanga
|
Class 11
|
lwāmba
|
olwāmba
|
lwāmba
|
alwambanga
|
olungambanga
|
lungambanga
|
Class 14
|
bāmba
|
obāmba
|
bāmba
|
abambanga
|
obungambanga
|
bungambanga
|
Class 15
|
kwāmba
|
okwāmba
|
kwāmba
|
akwambanga
|
okungambanga
|
kungambanga
|
Class 17
|
kwāmba
|
okwāmba
|
kwāmba
|
akwambanga
|
okungambanga
|
kungambanga
|
|
Potential
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngingamba
|
—
|
ngingamba
|
ngingambe
|
—
|
ngingambe
|
2nd singular
|
ungamba
|
—
|
ungamba
|
ungambe
|
—
|
ungambe
|
1st plural
|
singamba
|
—
|
singamba
|
singambe
|
—
|
singambe
|
2nd plural
|
ningamba
|
—
|
ningamba
|
ningambe
|
—
|
ningambe
|
Class 1
|
angamba
|
—
|
engamba
|
angambe
|
—
|
engambe
|
Class 2
|
bangamba
|
—
|
bengamba
|
bangambe
|
—
|
bengambe
|
Class 3
|
ungamba
|
—
|
ungamba
|
ungambe
|
—
|
ungambe
|
Class 4
|
ingamba
|
—
|
ingamba
|
ingambe
|
—
|
ingambe
|
Class 5
|
lingamba
|
—
|
lingamba
|
lingambe
|
—
|
lingambe
|
Class 6
|
angamba
|
—
|
engamba
|
angambe
|
—
|
engambe
|
Class 7
|
singamba
|
—
|
singamba
|
singambe
|
—
|
singambe
|
Class 8
|
zingamba
|
—
|
zingamba
|
zingambe
|
—
|
zingambe
|
Class 9
|
ingamba
|
—
|
ingamba
|
ingambe
|
—
|
ingambe
|
Class 10
|
zingamba
|
—
|
zingamba
|
zingambe
|
—
|
zingambe
|
Class 11
|
lungamba
|
—
|
lungamba
|
lungambe
|
—
|
lungambe
|
Class 14
|
bungamba
|
—
|
bungamba
|
bungambe
|
—
|
bungambe
|
Class 15
|
kungamba
|
—
|
kungamba
|
kungambe
|
—
|
kungambe
|
Class 17
|
kungamba
|
—
|
kungamba
|
kungambe
|
—
|
kungambe
|
|
Immediate future
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngizokwamba
|
engizokwamba
|
ngizokwamba
|
angizukwamba
|
engingezukwamba
|
ngingezukwamba
|
2nd singular
|
uzokwamba
|
ozokwamba
|
uzokwamba
|
awuzukwamba
|
ongezukwamba
|
ungezukwamba
|
1st plural
|
sizokwamba
|
esizokwamba
|
sizokwamba
|
asizukwamba
|
esingezukwamba
|
singezukwamba
|
2nd plural
|
nizokwamba
|
enizokwamba
|
nizokwamba
|
anizukwamba
|
eningezukwamba
|
ningezukwamba
|
Class 1
|
uzokwamba
|
ozokwamba
|
ezokwamba
|
akazukwamba
|
ongezukwamba
|
engezukwamba
|
Class 2
|
bazokwamba
|
abazokwamba
|
bezokwamba
|
abazukwamba
|
abangezukwamba
|
bengezukwamba
|
Class 3
|
uzokwamba
|
ozokwamba
|
uzokwamba
|
awuzukwamba
|
ongezukwamba
|
ungezukwamba
|
Class 4
|
izokwamba
|
ezokwamba
|
izokwamba
|
ayizukwamba
|
engezukwamba
|
ingezukwamba
|
Class 5
|
lizokwamba
|
elizokwamba
|
lizokwamba
|
alizukwamba
|
elingezukwamba
|
lingezukwamba
|
Class 6
|
azokwamba
|
azokwamba
|
ezokwamba
|
awazukwamba
|
angezukwamba
|
engezukwamba
|
Class 7
|
sizokwamba
|
esizokwamba
|
sizokwamba
|
asizukwamba
|
esingezukwamba
|
singezukwamba
|
Class 8
|
zizokwamba
|
ezizokwamba
|
zizokwamba
|
azizukwamba
|
ezingezukwamba
|
zingezukwamba
|
Class 9
|
izokwamba
|
ezokwamba
|
izokwamba
|
ayizukwamba
|
engezukwamba
|
ingezukwamba
|
Class 10
|
zizokwamba
|
ezizokwamba
|
zizokwamba
|
azizukwamba
|
ezingezukwamba
|
zingezukwamba
|
Class 11
|
luzokwamba
|
oluzokwamba
|
luzokwamba
|
aluzukwamba
|
olungezukwamba
|
lungezukwamba
|
Class 14
|
buzokwamba
|
obuzokwamba
|
buzokwamba
|
abuzukwamba
|
obungezukwamba
|
bungezukwamba
|
Class 15
|
kuzokwamba
|
okuzokwamba
|
kuzokwamba
|
akuzukwamba
|
okungezukwamba
|
kungezukwamba
|
Class 17
|
kuzokwamba
|
okuzokwamba
|
kuzokwamba
|
akuzukwamba
|
okungezukwamba
|
kungezukwamba
|
|
Remote future
|
|
Positive absolute
|
Positive relative
|
Positive participial
|
Negative absolute
|
Negative relative
|
Negative participial
|
1st singular
|
ngiyokwamba
|
engiyokwamba
|
ngiyokwamba
|
angiyukwamba
|
engingeyukwamba
|
ngingeyukwamba
|
2nd singular
|
uyokwamba
|
oyokwamba
|
uyokwamba
|
awuyukwamba
|
ongeyukwamba
|
ungeyukwamba
|
1st plural
|
siyokwamba
|
esiyokwamba
|
siyokwamba
|
asiyukwamba
|
esingeyukwamba
|
singeyukwamba
|
2nd plural
|
niyokwamba
|
eniyokwamba
|
niyokwamba
|
aniyukwamba
|
eningeyukwamba
|
ningeyukwamba
|
Class 1
|
uyokwamba
|
oyokwamba
|
eyokwamba
|
akayukwamba
|
ongeyukwamba
|
engeyukwamba
|
Class 2
|
bayokwamba
|
abayokwamba
|
beyokwamba
|
abayukwamba
|
abangeyukwamba
|
bengeyukwamba
|
Class 3
|
uyokwamba
|
oyokwamba
|
uyokwamba
|
awuyukwamba
|
ongeyukwamba
|
ungeyukwamba
|
Class 4
|
iyokwamba
|
eyokwamba
|
iyokwamba
|
ayiyukwamba
|
engeyukwamba
|
ingeyukwamba
|
Class 5
|
liyokwamba
|
eliyokwamba
|
liyokwamba
|
aliyukwamba
|
elingeyukwamba
|
lingeyukwamba
|
Class 6
|
ayokwamba
|
ayokwamba
|
eyokwamba
|
awayukwamba
|
angeyukwamba
|
engeyukwamba
|
Class 7
|
siyokwamba
|
esiyokwamba
|
siyokwamba
|
asiyukwamba
|
esingeyukwamba
|
singeyukwamba
|
Class 8
|
ziyokwamba
|
eziyokwamba
|
ziyokwamba
|
aziyukwamba
|
ezingeyukwamba
|
zingeyukwamba
|
Class 9
|
iyokwamba
|
eyokwamba
|
iyokwamba
|
ayiyukwamba
|
engeyukwamba
|
ingeyukwamba
|
Class 10
|
ziyokwamba
|
eziyokwamba
|
ziyokwamba
|
aziyukwamba
|
ezingeyukwamba
|
zingeyukwamba
|
Class 11
|
luyokwamba
|
oluyokwamba
|
luyokwamba
|
aluyukwamba
|
olungeyukwamba
|
lungeyukwamba
|
Class 14
|
buyokwamba
|
obuyokwamba
|
buyokwamba
|
abuyukwamba
|
obungeyukwamba
|
bungeyukwamba
|
Class 15
|
kuyokwamba
|
okuyokwamba
|
kuyokwamba
|
akuyukwamba
|
okungeyukwamba
|
kungeyukwamba
|
Class 17
|
kuyokwamba
|
okuyokwamba
|
kuyokwamba
|
akuyukwamba
|
okungeyukwamba
|
kungeyukwamba
|
|
Present subjunctive
|
|
Positive
|
Negative
|
1st singular
|
ngambe
|
ngingambi
|
2nd singular
|
wambe
|
ungambi
|
1st plural
|
sambe
|
singambi
|
2nd plural
|
nambe
|
ningambi
|
Class 1
|
ambe
|
angambi
|
Class 2
|
bambe
|
bangambi
|
Class 3
|
wambe
|
ungambi
|
Class 4
|
yambe
|
ingambi
|
Class 5
|
lambe
|
lingambi
|
Class 6
|
ambe
|
angambi
|
Class 7
|
sambe
|
singambi
|
Class 8
|
zambe
|
zingambi
|
Class 9
|
yambe
|
ingambi
|
Class 10
|
zambe
|
zingambi
|
Class 11
|
lwambe
|
lungambi
|
Class 14
|
bambe
|
bungambi
|
Class 15
|
kwambe
|
kungambi
|
Class 17
|
kwambe
|
kungambi
|
|
Past subjunctive
|
|
Positive
|
Negative
|
1st singular
|
ngamba
|
ngangamba, angamba, angangamba
|
2nd singular
|
wamba
|
wangamba, awamba, awangamba
|
1st plural
|
samba
|
sangamba, asamba, asangamba
|
2nd plural
|
namba
|
nangamba, anamba, anangamba
|
Class 1
|
wamba
|
wangamba, akamba, akangamba
|
Class 2
|
bamba
|
bangamba, abamba, abangamba
|
Class 3
|
wamba
|
wangamba, awamba, awangamba
|
Class 4
|
yamba
|
yangamba, ayamba, ayangamba
|
Class 5
|
lamba
|
langamba, alamba, alangamba
|
Class 6
|
amba
|
angamba, awamba, awangamba
|
Class 7
|
samba
|
sangamba, asamba, asangamba
|
Class 8
|
zamba
|
zangamba, azamba, azangamba
|
Class 9
|
yamba
|
yangamba, ayamba, ayangamba
|
Class 10
|
zamba
|
zangamba, azamba, azangamba
|
Class 11
|
lwamba
|
lwangamba, alwamba, alwangamba
|
Class 14
|
bamba
|
bangamba, abamba, abangamba
|
Class 15
|
kwamba
|
kwangamba, akwamba, akwangamba
|
Class 17
|
kwamba
|
kwangamba, akwamba, akwangamba
|
References