mzimu
Chichewa
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit - zone N”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /mˈzí.mu/
Noun
mzímu class 3 (plural mizímu class 4)
Derived terms
- Mzimu Woyera (“Holy Spirit”)
- mzimu wa makolo (“ancestral spirit”)
- mzimu wa mbwebwe (“soothsayer”)
- mzimuzimu (“in the true spirit”)
- -zimuka (“to be spiritual”)
Digo
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 3 (plural mizimu)
- ancestral spirit that protects the family and can provide favours from God if the correct offerings are made.
Related terms
- zimu (“ghost”)
References
- Joseph Mwalonya, Alison Nicolle, Steve Nicolle, Juma Zimbu, Mgombato. Digo-English-Swahili Dictionary (2005), page 129
Nsenga
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 3
- spirit (of a person)
References
- Bible Society of Zambia, Chinsenga New Testament, 2015 - Yh 19:30
Nyungwe
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 3
- spirit (of a person)
References
- Wycliffe Bible Translators, ciNyungwe Bibliya, 2019 - Juwau 19:30
Swahili
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Pronunciation
Audio (Kenya): (file)
Noun
mzimu class I (plural mizimu class II)
Noun
mzimu class III (plural mizimu class IV)
- place for spirit worship
See also
Tonga (Malawi)
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 3
References
- Bible Society of Malawi, Tonga Bible 1986 - Chiyambo 1:3
Tumbuka
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 3 (plural mizimu class 4)
References
- William Y. Turner (1996), Tumbuka/Tonga-English and English - Tumbuka/Tonga Dictionary[1], Central Africana Limited, page 165
Zigula
Etymology
Inherited from Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀dímʊ̀ (“spirit”), from Proto-Atlantic-Congo *-dim- (“spirit”).
Noun
mzimu class 1 (plural wazimu)
Derived terms
- Mzimu (“a surname”)
Noun
mzimu class 3 (plural mizimu)
Related terms
- kuzimu (“ghost world”)
References
- Chizigula of Somalia Dictionary[2], SIL International, 2020