mwimbi

Swahili

Etymology

Likely cognate with Kikuyu mũgĩmbĩ (“finger millet”), and possibly further afield with Dhivehi ބިންބި (bin̊bi⁩, “finger millet”).

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

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Noun

mwimbi class III (no plural)

1. finger millet (Eleusine coracana)

   Synonym: mbege

Tumbuka

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀jɪ́mbɪ̀ (“singer”). Although not ascribed to region N, it is likely that this is the source of Tumbuka's noun since the BLR3 ascribes this variant to zone S also.

Noun

mwimbi class 1 (plural ŵimbi class 2)

1. musician
   1. (by extension) singer
      • 2019, Jehovah's Witnesses (jw.org), transl., Ŵalevi Awo Paŵekha Ŵakawonanga Yehova Kuŵa Phande Lawo:

        Yumoza mwa Ŵalevi awo ŵakayowoyapo mazgu agha, wakaŵa mwimbi na mwati wa sumu.

        One of the Levites who said such words was a singer and a composer.