Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/màtáì

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

Noun

*màtáì class 6

1. saliva
2. milk

Descendants

• Kongo (H16): mate (“saliva”)
• Nzadi (B865): atɛ
• Herero (R30): omate (“saliva”)
• Shona (S10): mate
• Bemba (M42): amate (“saliva”)
• Northeast Bantu
  • Great Lakes Bantu:
    • Haya (J22): amata (“milk”)
    • Nyoro (J11): amata (“milk”)
    • Luganda (J15): amata (“milk”)
    • Rwanda-Rundi (J61/62): amate (“saliva”) (Rwanda), amata (“milk”)
    • Gusii (J42): amabere (“milk”)
  • Northeast Coast Bantu
    • Swahili (G42): mate
  • Thagiicu
    • Kikuyu (E51): mata
• Southern Bantu:
  • Nguni:
    • Tekela:
      • Swazi (S43): ematse
    • Zunda:
      • Xhosa (S41): amathe (“saliva”)
      • Zulu (S42): amathe (“saliva”)
  • Sotho-Tswana:
    • Northern Sotho (S32): mare
    • Sotho (S33): mathe
    • Tswana (S31): mathe
  • Tswa-Ronga:
    • Tsonga (S53): marhi, marha
  • Venda (S20): mare