Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/bú

This Proto-Bantu entry contains reconstructed terms and roots. As such, the term(s) in this entry are not directly attested, but are hypothesized to have existed based on comparative evidence.

Proto-Bantu

Etymology

cognates outside of Bantu include Proto-Grassfields *bÚ` (“ashes”)

Noun

*bú class 5 (plural *màbú class 6)

1. soil, ashes, dust

Descendants

• Northeast Savanna Bantu
  • Great Lakes Bantu
    • North Nyanza
      • Luganda (J15): bu (“country, land of”), evvu (“ash”)
      • Soga (J16): bu (“country, land of”)
      • Gwere (J17): bu (“country land of”)
    • Rutara
      • Rukiga (J14): bu (“country, land of”)
      • Nyoro (J11): bu (“country, land of”)
      • Tooro (J12): bu (“country, land of”)
      • Haya (J22): bu (“country, land of”)
    • Rwanda-Rundi (J61/62): bu (“country, land of”)
    • Luhya (J32): ebu (“country, land of”)
    • Shi (J53): bu (“country, land of”)
    • Nande (J42): eríbü (“ash”)
  • Northeast Coast Bantu
    • Swahili (G42): U- (“region, land of”)
  • Thagiicu
    • Kikuyu (E51): bũrũrĩ (“country, land”)