Umbundu

Umbundu, also known as Angolan, South Mbundu (autonym úmbúndú), one of many Bantu languages, is the most widely-spoken autochthonous language of Angola. Its speakers are known as Ovimbundu, an ethnic group that constitutes a third of Angola's population and whose homeland is the Central Highlands of Angola and the coastal region west of the highlands, including the cities of Benguela and Lobito. Because of recent internal migration, there are now also large communities in the capital, Luanda, and in its surrounding province, as well as in Lubango.

Phonology Consonants +Umbundu consonantsLabialAlveolarPalatalVelarGlottalStopplainprenasal.Fricativevoiceless voicedNasalApproximant

Vowels +Umbundu vowelsFrontCentralBackClose Mid Open

Tone Umbundu has two tones: low and high. The first acute accent (á) in a word represents a high tone. The low tone is represented by a grave accent (à). Unmarked syllables carry the same tone as the preceding syllable.

Sample words and phrases Welcome – ("The guests have come") Hello – (sg); (pl) How are you? – (sg); (pl) I'm fine thanks, and you? – ("I'm fine"); ("We're fine") What's your name? – (frm); (inf) My name is... – Where are you from? – ("Where is your country?") I'm from... – ("My country is...") Good morning – Good afternoon – Good evening – Good night – ("Sleep well") Goodbye – ("I went") Do you speak English? – Do you speak Umbundu? – Sorry – (sg); (pl) Please – ("Give me pity") Thank you – (sg); (pl) Reply –

Sample text Omanu vosi vacitiwa valipwa kwenda valisoka kovina vyosikwenda komoko. Ovo vakwete esunga kwenda, kwenda olondunge kwenje ovo vatêla okuliteywila kuvamwe kwenda vakwavo vesokolwilo lyocisola.

Translation: "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood." (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

References

Umbundu

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