Reconstruction:Proto-Nguni/ímvú

This Proto-Nguni 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-Nguni

Etymology

From an earlier *-gú borrowed from a Khoe language.

Noun

*ímvú class 9

1. sheep

Descendants

• Phuthi: ívú
• Swazi: îmvú
• Xhosa: ímvú
• Zulu: îmvú

References

• Ehret, Christopher (2008) “The early livestock-raisers of southern Africa”, in Southern African Humanities, volume 20, pages 7–35