omuntu

Luganda

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀ntʊ̀.

Noun

omuntu (class 1, plural abantu)

1. human, person, man (as opposed to being an animal)

Derived terms

• erintu

See also

• omusajja (“man, as opposed to being a woman”)

References

The Essentials of Luganda, J. D. Chesswas, 4th edition. Oxford University Press: Nairobi. 1967, p. 14.

Tooro

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀ntʊ̀, from Proto-Bantu *-ntʊ̀ (“some, any”). Cognate with Swahili mtu (“person, someone”), Kikuyu mũndũ (“human being, person”) and Tswana motho (“person”). Doublet of ekintu (“thing, object”), ahantu (“place”), and obuntu (“humanity”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /omúːntu/

Noun

omuntu class 1 (plural abantu class 2, augmentless muntu, plural augmentless bantu)

1. person, human being
2. someone, anyone

   Synonym: nanka

   Haliyo omuntu. ― There is someone there.

References

• Kaji, Shigeki (2007) A Rutooro Vocabulary‎^[1], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, pages 189-190