a-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord, used in the subjunctive and potential mood.


a-

Originally a reduced form of la- (“general demonstrative”). Compare Swazi relative forms such as lesi-, which still keep the initial l-.


o-

From a- (“relative”) + u- (“second person singular”).

affix

Second-person singular relative concord.


im-

Class 9 noun prefix; form of in- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


em-

Class 9 adjective concord; form of en- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


en-

From a- (“relative”) + n- (“class 9 basic noun prefix”).


um-

Class 1 noun prefix; form of umu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


um-

Class 3 noun prefix; form of umu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


esi-

From a- (“relative”) + si- (“first person plural”).


esi-

From a- (“relative”) + si- (“class 7 subject prefix”).


esi-

From a- (“relative”) + si- (“class 7 basic noun prefix”).


i-

Contracted from earlier íli-, from Proto-Bantu *dɪ́-, plus augment. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *ì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.


i-

Class 9 noun prefix; form of in- used before stems beginning with l, m or n.


be-

Class 2 simple noun prefix, used with nouns whose full prefix is abe-.


se-

Coalescence of sa- with the Proto-Bantu copula *-dɪ̀.

Form of sa- used in copulative constructions.


u-

you, thou; second-person singular subject concord.


u-

From Proto-Bantu *ʊ́-. This noun class is marked simply with the class 1 augment and a null prefix.


u-

Contracted from earlier úlu-, from Proto-Bantu *dʊ́-dʊ̀-.


ku-

you; second-person singular object concord.


emi-

From a- (“relative”) + mi- (“class 4 basic noun prefix”).


ka-

-ly; forms adverbs of manner from adjectives and relatives.


ka-

he, she, it; class 1 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.


ni-

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *mɪ̀-.

you, you all; second-person plural subject concord.


ni-

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ́-, via an intermediate form *mɪ́-.

you, you all; second-person plural object concord.


ngi-

I; first-person singular subject concord.


ngi-

me; first-person singular object concord.


utshw-

Class 14 full noun prefix; form of ubu- used before stems beginning with a.


abe-

Class 2 noun prefix, used by some nouns.


ili-

Archaic form of i- (literally “class 5 full noun prefix”).


ulu-

Archaic form of u- (literally “class 11 full noun prefix”).


ezin-

From a- (“relative”) + zin- (“class 10 basic noun prefix”).


ezim-

Class 8 and 10 adjective concord; form of ezin- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


izi-

From Proto-Bantu *jí-, plus augment. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Class 10 noun prefix, used when preceding a consonant n, m, or l.


engimu-

From a- (“relative”) + ngi- (“first person singular”) + mu- (“class 1 basic noun prefix”).

First-person singular adjective concord.


eniba-

From a- (“relative”) + ni- (“second person plural”) + ba- (“class 2 basic noun prefix”).


engi-

From a- (“relative”) + ngi- (“first person singular”).


eni-

From a- (“relative”) + ni- (“second person plural”).


esiba-

From a- (“relative”) + si- (“first person plural”) + ba- (“class 2 basic noun prefix”).


izim-

Class 10 noun prefix; form of izin- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


olu-

From a- (“relative”) + lu- (“class 11 basic noun prefix”).


olu-

From a- (“relative”) + lu- (“class 11 subject prefix”).


uku-

Class 15 noun prefix; forms the infinitive of verbs.


ama-

From a- (“relative”) + ma- (“class 6 basic noun prefix”).


obu-

From a- (“relative”) + bu- (“class 14 basic noun prefix”).


obu-

From a- (“relative”) + bu- (“class 14 subject prefix”).


eli-

From a- (“relative”) + li- (“class 5 basic noun prefix”).


eli-

From a- (“relative”) + li- (“class 5 subject prefix”).


omu-

From a- (“relative”) + u- (“second person singular”) + mu- (“class 1 basic noun prefix”).

Second-person singular adjective concord.


omu-

From a- (“relative”) + mu- (“class 1 basic noun prefix”).


omu-

From a- (“relative”) + mu- (“class 3 basic noun prefix”).


oku-

From a- (“relative”) + ku- (“class 15 basic noun prefix”).


oku-

From a- (“relative”) + ku- (“class 15 subject prefix”).


oku-

From a- (“relative”) + ku- (“class 17 basic noun prefix”).


oku-

From a- (“relative”) + ku- (“class 17 subject prefix”).


aba-

From a- (“relative”) + ba- (“class 2 basic noun prefix”).


aba-

From a- (“relative”) + ba- (“class 2 subject prefix”).


ezi-

From a- (“relative”) + zi- (“class 8 subject prefix”).


ezi-

From a- (“relative”) + zi- (“class 10 subject prefix”).


yi-

they; class 4 subject concord; form of i- used when another prefix precedes.


yi-

he, she, it; class 9 subject concord; form of i- used when another prefix precedes.


wu-

you, thou; second-person singular subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.


wu-

he, she, it; class 3 subject concord; form of u- used when another prefix precedes.


engim-

First-person singular adjective concord; form of engimu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


om-

Second-person singular adjective concord; form of omu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


om-

Class 1 adjective concord; form of omu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


om-

Class 3 adjective concord; form of omu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


zi-

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *bì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.

Class 10 simple noun prefix, used when preceding a consonant n, m, or l.


zi-

From Proto-Bantu *jí-. Originally the prefix of class 10, it replaced the class 8 prefix as well.


zim-

Class 10 simple noun prefix; form of zin- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


tshw-

Class 14 simple noun prefix; form of bu- used before stems beginning with a.


zin-

From Proto-Bantu *jí-ǹ-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.


li-

From Proto-Bantu *dɪ́-. Originally the pronominal and verbal concord, it displaced the older Bantu noun prefix *ì-. The tone was lowered by analogy with other noun prefixes.


si-

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ̀-, via an intermediate form *tɪ̀-.

we; first-person plural subject concord.


si-

From Proto-Bantu *tʊ́-, via an intermediate form *tɪ́-.


wa-

they; class 6 subject concord; form of a- used when another prefix precedes.


m-

Class 1 simple noun prefix; form of mu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


m-

him, her, it; class 1 object concord; form of mu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


m-

Class 3 simple noun prefix; form of mu- used before stems of more than one syllable.


m-

Class 9 simple noun prefix; form of n- used before stems beginning with a labial consonant.


ma-

From a clipping of make (“hortative marker”).

Masihambe!

let, may; gives a verb a hortative force.


uma-

úma- (canonical class-1a)
ṓma- (class-2a plural)

Forms compound nouns from a verb and an adverb (which may be a locative noun).


ub-

Class 14 full noun prefix; form of ubu- used before stems beginning with o.


ukw-

Class 15 full noun prefix; form of uku- used before stems beginning with a vowel.


ukw-

Class 17 full noun prefix; form of uku- used before stems beginning with a vowel.