The following list of Proto-Mangbetu reconstructions is from Demolin (1992).
Note: French glosses are directly from the original source. English glosses, not in the source, are translations in progress.
| French gloss |
English gloss |
Proto-Mangbetu
|
| abeille |
bee |
*ángí
|
| acide |
acid |
*ngángbá
|
| aile |
wing |
*ùpákùbà
|
| aller |
go |
*òlò
|
| amer |
bitter |
*kɔ̀gʊ̀
|
| animal |
animal |
*érì
|
| année |
year |
*kàrángà
|
| appeler |
call |
*òngò
|
| arachide |
peanut |
*sélémúndé; *bándja
|
| arbre |
tree |
*kɪ́rɪ́ɛ̀
|
| arc |
bow |
*ʊ́ɗʊ́
|
| attacher |
attach |
*lábù
|
| autre |
other |
*nákʊ́nɛ́
|
| avec |
with |
*ɓù
|
| bâton |
stick |
*kírè-ɲíngílí
|
| beaucoup |
much, a lot |
*kótù
|
| blanc |
white |
*kúbú
|
| boire |
drink |
*ɔ́mBɔ̀
|
| bon (être) |
good (to be) |
*bàlí
|
| bouche |
mouth |
*tí(kpɔ̀)
|
| bras |
arms |
*tɛ́
|
| brouillard |
fog |
*ndùlú
|
| brûler (int.) |
burn (intransitive) |
*ɔ̀pɛ̀
|
| brûler (tr.) |
burn (transitive) |
*ɔ́sʊ̀
|
| calebasse |
calabash |
*káɗɔ̀
|
| ceci |
this |
*ɪ̀ ~ *dú
|
| cela |
it |
*dúúèndé
|
| cendres |
ashes |
*ápú
|
| cent |
hundred |
*kámá
|
| champ |
field |
*kɪ́pɔ́
|
| chanter |
sing |
*kɔ̀ljà
|
| charbon |
coal |
*kɪ́lɪ́
|
| chaud |
hot |
*dɪ́dɪ́
|
| chemin |
path |
*ɪ́
|
| chercher |
search |
*kɔ̀ndà
|
| chèvre |
goat |
*mɛ́mɛ́
|
| chien |
dog |
*ísì
|
| chose |
thing |
*ɗù
|
| cinq |
five |
*sèzɛ̀rɛ̀nà
|
| cœur |
heart |
*lúsú
|
| colline termitière |
termite hill |
*úʔùlù
|
| compter |
count |
*ɛ́ʔɪ̀
|
| connaître |
know |
*tɪ̀
|
| corde |
rope |
*nzèèképí
|
| corne |
horn |
*lígá
|
| cou, gorge |
neck, throat |
*kɔ́rɔ́
|
| coucher |
sleep |
*éɗò
|
| couper (couteau) |
cut (knife) |
*káfʊ́
|
| couper (hache) |
cut (ax) |
*ɔ̀gɔ̀
|
| courir |
run |
*ɛ̀ngɔ̀
|
| court |
short |
*mèrì
|
| couteau |
knife |
*sápí
|
| cracher |
to spit |
*áʔù ~ *ávù
|
| creuser |
dig |
*ɔ̀bɪ̀
|
| cuire |
cook |
*óúkì
|
| cuisse |
thigh |
*ɗú
|
| cultiver |
cultivate |
*ɔ̀ʔà
|
| danser |
dance |
*ɔ́bɛ̀
|
| debout (être) |
stand (intr.) |
*mápà
|
| dent |
tooth |
*kɪ́
|
| deux |
two |
*sóórú
|
| dire |
say |
*ʔɔ́ʔjɔ̀
|
| dix |
ten |
*tɛ̀kɛ̀v̌ɛ̀
|
| donner |
give |
*òkjò
|
| dormir |
sleep |
*èɗéɗù
|
| droite (à) |
right (side) |
*àtɛ̀
|
| dos |
back |
*lúngú
|
| eau |
water |
*gʷò
|
| écorce, peau |
bark, skin |
*líképí
|
| éléphant |
elephant |
*ʊ́kɔ́
|
| enfant |
child |
*ngʷá
|
| enfanter |
birth |
*ɔ̀ʔɪ̀
|
| enfler |
swell |
*òBò égʷè
|
| entendre |
hear |
*kɔ́gà
|
| enterrer |
bury |
*kùté
|
| envoyer |
send |
*ɔ̀ɗà
|
| épouse |
wife |
*ànɖrɔ̀
|
| épine |
spiked |
*kókí
|
| étoile |
star |
*túlú
|
| étranger |
foreign |
*mbíàmɛ̀kʊ̀
|
| étroit |
narrow |
*PúPú
|
| excréments |
excrement |
*dì
|
| façonner (pot) |
shape (pot) |
*ókpù
|
| fagot |
fagot |
*kpígá
|
| faim |
hunger |
*mʊ̀ɔ̀
|
| farine |
flour |
*ápú
|
| femme |
women |
*ànɖrɔ̀
|
| fer |
iron |
*ímbá
|
| feu |
fire |
*àgò
|
| feuille |
leaf |
*sékébí
|
| filet (pêche) |
net (fishing) |
*adò
|
| finie |
finished |
*líbí
|
| flèche |
arrow |
*vàngà
|
| foie |
liver |
*kùbjà
|
| forger |
to forge |
*òpì
|
| frapper |
hit |
*òdò
|
| frère |
brother |
*ángwɛ̀
|
| froid (être) |
cold (be) |
*mɛ́tʊ̀
|
| frotter |
scrub |
|
| fumée |
smoke |
*kɔ̀
|
| gauche (à) |
left (side) |
*líkù
|
| genou |
knee |
*kálángbú
|
| graisse |
fat |
*zʊ̀
|
| grand |
great |
*kpɔ̀kpɔ̀
|
| gratter (se) |
scratch |
*ògù
|
| guerre |
war |
*áPù
|
| habit |
habit |
*ògì
|
| herbe |
grass |
*sékébì
|
| homme, mari |
man, husband |
*àkwà sí
|
| huile |
oil |
*pààzù
|
| il |
he |
*ínè
|
| ils |
they |
*ìʔè
|
| intestins |
intestines |
*ìkí
|
| je |
I |
*ímá
|
| jeu |
game |
*lángi
|
| jumeaux |
twins |
*lɪ̀ɓɛ̀ɛ̀sɛ́
|
| lancer |
throw |
*kódì
|
| jeter |
throw |
*kòkpù
|
| langue (organe) |
tongue (organ) |
*kàɖrà
|
| laver |
wash |
*ɔ́bà
|
| (se) laver |
wash oneself |
*áúbá
|
| long |
long |
*mɔ̀dà
|
| lourd |
heavy |
*dìdìlì; *ngbóngbó
|
| lune |
moon |
*ángʷɛ́
|
| lutte, se battre |
fight, hit |
*ɔ̀nɖrɔ̀
|
| maïs |
but |
*ɛ́ndɔ́
|
| maison |
House |
*ʔɪ́jó
|
| mal (faire) |
wrong (do) |
*ngádá
|
| manger |
eat |
*láɲɔ̀
|
| marcher |
walk |
*lóólì
|
| mauvaise (ê) |
bad |
*ngándá
|
| mère |
mother |
*ájá
|
| mollet |
calf |
*tòpù
|
| montagne |
mountain |
*úʔùlù
|
| montrer |
show |
*ádɔ̀
|
| mordre (chien) |
bite (dog) |
*kɔ́kà
|
| mordre (serpent) |
bite (snake) |
*ògò
|
| mortier |
mortar |
*kólóbè
|
| mouche |
fly |
*zɛ̀
|
| mourir |
pass away |
*ònzì
|
| nasse |
creels |
*àdò
|
| ne ... pas |
no, not |
*kà
|
| neuf, nouveau |
new |
*màdíjà
|
| nez |
nose |
*amɔ̀
|
| noir |
black |
*lɪ́kʊ́
|
| nom |
name |
*kɛ̀lʊ̀
|
| nombreux (être) |
numerous, many |
*kòtù
|
| nombril |
navel |
*kɔ́tʊ̀
|
| nous |
we |
*màmà
|
| nuit |
night |
*kìnì
|
| odeur |
odour |
*im̀bà
|
| œil |
eye |
*mʷɔ̀
|
| œuf |
egg |
*bɛlàkàkà
|
| oiseau |
bird |
*lípì
|
| oncle (maternal) |
uncle (maternal) |
*ágyá
|
| ongle, griffe |
nail, claw |
*tɛ́kɛ́v̌ɛ́
|
| ordures |
garbage |
*kálù
|
| oreille |
ear |
*bɪ́
|
| os |
bone |
*kpɔ̀
|
| (panthère) léopard |
(panther) leopard |
*kóndó
|
| parler |
speak |
*ɔ̀ʔjɔ̀
|
| peau |
skin |
*líképí
|
| pénis |
penis |
*kʊ́mʊ́
|
| père |
father |
*pápá
|
| personne |
person |
*mbí
|
| petit |
small |
*zàzà
|
| peur |
fear |
*kɛ̀lʊ̀
|
| pied |
foot |
*ɔ́nzɔ́
|
| pierre |
stone |
*kópí
|
| plaie |
wound |
*bí
|
| planter |
plant |
*ɛ́ɖɪ̀
|
| plein (être) |
full |
*lɪ́nʊ̀
|
| pleurer |
cry |
*ómù
|
| pleuvoir |
to rain |
*ósù
|
| pluie |
rain |
*kʊ́má
|
| poil |
hair |
*ɖrúáʔú
|
| poisson |
fish |
*ɪ̀ngɪ̀lɪ̀
|
| pou |
louse |
*ètì
|
| poule |
hen |
*ákʷɛ́lɛ́
|
| pourri (être) |
rotten |
*ɔ́mʷà
|
| prendre |
take |
*kɔ̀tà` ɔ̀ɖrʷà
|
| préparer |
prepare |
*óɖì
|
| près |
near |
*kʊ́ndɪ́
|
| presser |
press |
*árárɛ̀
|
| profond |
deep |
*tútúlú
|
| puiser |
draw |
*òʔì
|
| quatre |
four |
*sɔsʊ̀ʷà
|
| queue |
tail |
*àv̌ì
|
| qui? |
who? |
*àɖì
|
| quoi? |
what? |
*àsóúdʒó
|
| racine |
root |
*kév̌ú
|
| respirer, se reposer |
breathe, rest |
*àkɛ̀ʔɔ̀
|
| rester, (être, assis) |
stay, (sit) |
*òɖrì
|
| rire |
laugh |
*áímvó
|
| rosée |
dew |
*álú
|
| rouge |
red |
*ngàbgà
|
| sable |
sand |
*àɲɛ̀
|
| sagaie, lance |
spear |
*ʊ́rʊ́
|
| saison des pluies |
rainy season |
*íbúlá
|
| saison sèche |
dry season |
*kàlángà
|
| salive |
saliva |
*súʷá
|
| sang |
blood |
*álí
|
| sec (être) |
dry |
*mònɖrù
|
| sein |
breast |
*bà
|
| sel |
salt |
*gánzú
|
| semence, graine |
seed |
*ímbóló
|
| senter (intr.) |
feel (intr.) |
*ɔ̀gà
|
| serpent |
snake |
*tátálá
|
| six |
six |
*tɛ́kànà
|
| sœur cadette |
younger sister |
*ngʷàdɔ̀
|
| soleil |
sun |
*líkó
|
| souffler |
blow |
*àv̌ù
|
| souffler (vent) |
blow (wind) |
*òbù
|
| sucer |
suck |
*ònɖrù
|
| sucré (être) |
sweet |
*ndɛ̀ndɛ̀gɛ̀
|
| termite |
termite |
*ànzì
|
| terre, sol |
ground |
*àpɛ̀
|
| tête |
head |
*ɖrù
|
| téter |
suck |
(cf. sucer)
|
| tirer |
shoot |
*ɛ́ɗá
|
| tomber |
fall |
*óɗì
|
| tortue |
turtle, tortoise |
*ákó
|
| tous, tout |
all, everything |
*pɪ́tɛ́
|
| tousser |
cough |
*ɛ́kɪ̀
|
| tranchant |
sharp |
*méká
|
| (trans)percer |
pierce |
*ɔ̀bɪ̀ ~ *óútú
|
| travail |
job |
*mòlò
|
| trois |
three |
*sɔ̀tà
|
| trou |
hole |
*kúBú ~ *mùgélù
|
| trouver (quelqu'un) |
find (someone) |
*ámbù, ábɛ̀
|
| tu |
you |
*ɪ́mɪ́
|
| tuer |
kill |
*ɔ̀Pʊ̀
|
| un |
one |
*kànà
|
| urine |
urine |
*ɛ́ɖrʷɛ́
|
| vagin |
vagina |
*kúlú
|
| venir |
come |
*èkù
|
| vent |
wind |
*à'vi ~ *àkú
|
| ventre |
belly |
*ʔɔ̀
|
| viande |
meat |
*ɲɪ́ɲí
|
| vieillard |
old man |
*kpɛ̀pà
|
| vieux |
old |
*tɔ́ká
|
| village |
town |
*ɓà
|
| vingt |
twenty |
*ɛ̀tɛ̀kɛ̀v̌ɛ̀ sóónɖrù
|
| voir |
see |
*ògʷò
|
| voler (oiseau) |
fly (bird) |
*òv̌ì
|
| voler (dérober) |
steal |
*ɛ́gʊ̀
|
| vomir |
vomit |
*áúnzà
|
| vouloir |
want |
*lómù
|
| vous |
you |
*màmì
|
| coudre |
sew |
*ɔ̀dà
|
| houe |
hoe |
*jɛ̀mbɛ́ ~ *kòngò
|
| hache |
axe |
*kóómbì
|
| okapi |
okapi |
*ndúmbá
|
| chimpanzé |
chimpanzee |
*ózú
|
| banane |
banana |
*ɓúgú
|
| filet de chasse |
hunting net |
|
- Demolin, Didier. 1992. Le Mangbetu: étude phonétique et phonologique, 2 vols. Brussels: Faculté de Philosophie et Lettres, Université libre de Bruxelles dissertation.
