Reconstruction:Proto-Bantu/mʊ̀jòjò

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

*mʊ̀jòjò class 3 (plural *mɪ̀jòjò class 4)

1. life, spirit
2. heart

   Synonym: *mʊ̀tɪ́mà

Descendants

• Luganda (J15): omwoyo (“spirit, soul”)
• Tooro (J12): omwoyo (“soul, spirit”)
• Kongo (H16): moyo (“soul”)
• Gungu (J101): mwoyo (“spirit”)
• Chichewa (N31): moyo (“life”)
• Shona (S10): mwoyo (“heart”)
• Swahili (G42): moyo (“heart”)
• Kikuyu (E51): muoyo (“soul”)
• Gusii (J42): emioyo (“soul”)

From mʊ̀jòjà:

• Luba-Katanga (L33): muya (“soul”)
• Northern Ndebele (S44): umoya (“wind, spirit”)
• Northern Sotho (S32): moya (“wind, spirit, soul”)
• Phuthi (S404): mmoya (“wind, spirit, soul”)
• Sotho (S33): moya (“wind, spirit”)
• Southern Ndebele (S407): umoya (“wind, spirit”)
• Swazi (S43): umoya (“wind, spirit”)
• Tsonga (S53): moya (“wind, spirit, soul”)
• Venda (S20): muya (“wind, spirit, soul”)
• Xhosa (S41): umoya (“wind, spirit”)
• Zulu (S42): umoya (“wind, spirit, soul”)