Shisumbwa Lessons
Shisumbwa Lesson 1: Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven
Isefwe we mw’irunde
Hallowed be thy name
Izina Lyako likuzibwe
Thy Kingdom come
Bwami bako bwize
Thy will be done
Vyona wavilagire vizumibwe
On earth as it is in heaven
Mu nsi kati mw’irunde
Give us this day our daily bread
Utuhe bwalero shilibwa shitu shye nsiku zyona
And forgive us our trespasses
Ututashizye mabi gitu
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Kati ifwe twekubatashizya abo batukenagwire
And lead us not into temptation
Utakatufira mu kugemibwa
But deliver us from evil. Amen
Nahe utushizye mu bubi. Amina
Shisumbwa Lesson 2: Hail Mary
Hail Mary, full of grace
Katule Maria, we bwokare nema,
The Lord is with thee.
Mukama ali n’obe:
Blessed are thou among women,
Uli bufuhulwe kukira bakima bona,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Ne Yezu, mwana we mu nda yako, ali bufuhulwe.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Maria Mutakatifu, nina we Mungu,
Pray for us sinners,
Utusabire ifwe bakenaguzi,
now and at the hour of our death.
Otine ne mu shigingo shye kufwa kwitu
Amen
Amina
Shisumbwa Lesson 3: Apostles’ Creed - Nazumya Mungu
I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Nazumya Mungu umwi, Baba musoboka vyona,
Creator of heaven and earth,
Ng’alagema irunde ne nsi ne vintu vyona
Evyo tukubonanga nolo tutakuvibonanga
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
Nazumya kandi Mukama umwi Yezu Kristu,
Mwana nakamwi we Mungu,
Ng’alabutwa mwa Baba mbele ye nsiku zyona;
Mungu we Mungu, mwanga we mwanga, Mungu
Shyenkana we Mungu shyenkana;
Ng’alabutwa, atalagemwa, ng’ekwilinganira
Bumungu hamwine ne Baba;
Vintu vyona vilasumbwa ku awe;
Ng’alinkayo mw’irunde ng’ok’ifwene bantu,
Kutusungula; ng’alahebwa bugondo ku mulimo
Gwe Mwizo mutakatifu, ng’alabutwa ne Bikira
Maria,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
He descended into hell;
on the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
Ng’alagemwa muntu; ng’alakomererwa ku
Musalaba ng’ok’ifwene; ng’alanegerwa ku Ponsio Pilato, kone ng’alazikwa; ng’alazyoka
Mu bafu lusiku lwe kasatu kati galandikwa;
Ng’alagegera mw’irunde, ekwikarishyayo ku
Bulyo bwe Baba, ng’alasube kwiza kulamula
Bahanga ne bafu; nahe bwami bwamwe bunantamala.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Holy Catholic Church,
the communion of Saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen
Nazumya Mwizo mutakatifu, ne Muzyola,
Ng’ekurwa mu Baba ne mu Mwana,
Ng’ekwisengwa, ng’ekukuzibwa hamwine ne
Baba ne Mwana, ng’alayomba ku baprofeta.
Nazumya Eklezya ng’ili yimwine ntakatifu ne
Katolika nge yavwa mu Batumwa.
Natenga Batismu umwine mu kutashya mabi.
Nalindirira buzyoshi bwe bafu ne buhanga bwe
Nsiku zilakiza.
Amina.
Shisumbwa Lesson 4: Classes of Nouns
In Shisumbwa, nouns are divided into nine main classes. Certain nouns belong to one class for the singular and another for the plural; other singulars in French have a plural form.
Class: Mu – Ba
This class includes: The names of reasonable beings which begin in the singular with mu – or mw (before a vowel). Their plural is made by changing mu – or mw – to ba.
Examples:
Singular
Muntu: a man
Mugosha: a strong man, viril
Mukazi: a wife
Musungizi: a savior
Mutuale or Mutwale: army chief
Mukama: a master
Muhinda: a prince
Plural
Bantu: men
Bagosha: strong men, viril
Bakazi: wives
Basungizi: saviors
Batuale ou Batwale: army chiefs
Bakama: des maîtres
Bahinda: des princes
Singular
Mutumami: a worker
Muhizi: a hunter
Muhesi: a blacksmith
Mubohi: an executioner
Mubohwa: a prisoner
Mulongwa: a poisoned
Plural
Batumami: workers
Bahizi: hunters
Bahesi: blacksmiths
Babohi: executioners
Babohwa: prisoners
Balongwa: poisoned people
Singular
Mwana: a child
Mwami: a king
Mwenga: a young fiancé
Mwesi: a player
Mwoba: a coward
Mwononi: a fisherman
Mwiru: a slave
Mwihazi: an assassin
Mwanirizya: a stubborn person
Plural
Bana ou Baana: children
Bami ou Baami: kings
Benga: young fiancés
Besi ou Baesi: players
Boba ou Baoba: cowards
Bononi ou baononi: fishermen
Biru ou Bairu: slaves
Bihazi ou Baihazi: assassins
Banirizya ou Baanirizya: stubborn people
Singular
Mungu: God
Bwana: Gentleman or Sir
Guku: grandfather
Mayo: my mother
Baba: my father
Nina: his mother
Ishye: his father
Sengi: auntie
Mama: grandmother
Ninefwe: our mother
Isabo: their father
Namwambulwa: a disgraced person
Plural
Bamungu: Gods
Babwana: Gentlemen
Baguku: grandfathers
Bamayo: my mothers
Bababa: my fathers
Banina: their mothers
Bishye: their fathers
Basengi: aunties
Bamama: grandmothers
Baninefwe: our mothers
Bisabo: their fathers
Banamwambulwa: disgraced people
Shisumbwa Lesson 5: Class Mu - Mi
This class includes all nouns that begin in the singular with mu or mw – (before a vowel) and designate inanimate beings. They make their plural form mis – or my – (before a vowel).
Singular
Muti: a tree
Mutwe: a head
Muliro: a fire
Mulomo: a mouth
Muzwi: a voice
Mutemba: a pipe
Mulambo: a cadaver
mwani: green coffee
Mwambi: an arrow
Mwezi: a month
Mwenda: a fabric
Mwoto: a light
Mwizo: a spirit
Mwiga: a river
Mwinko: a spoon
Plural
Miti: trees
Mitwe: heads
Miliro: fires
Milomo: mouths
Mizwi: voices
Mitemba: pipes
Milambo: cadavers
Mvani: coffees
Nyambi: arrows
Myezi: months
Myenda: fabrics
Myoto: lights
Mizo: spirits
Miga: rivers
Minko: spoons
Names of trees:
Munyembe; Minyembe: mango tree; mango trees
Mupera; Mpera: guava tree; guava trees
Musisi; Misisi: tamarind tree; tamarind trees
Mubabayu; Mibabayu: papaya; papaya trees
Names of some animals:
Mubu; Mibu; mosquito; mosquitoes
Muntamba; Mintamba:swift; swifts
Mukongoroso; Mikongoroso: bird, birds
Mukose; Mycose: small antelope; small antelopes
Mugeye; Migeye: little wild animal; little wild animals
Shisumbwa Lesson 6: Class N
This class includes:
Nouns with a prefix n – singular and plural. Most animal names are part of it.
Examples
Ndogobe: a donkey
Nzovu: an elephant
Nkoko: a chicken
Noni: a bird
Ngwe: a leopard
Ntama: a sheep
Nsazi: a fly
Nama: meat
Ndimu: a wild animal
Nkofiro: a hat
Ngabo: a shield
Numba: a house
Ngoma: a drum
Names of foreign origin which cannot be placed in another class.
Examples
Karumbete: a trumpet
Tara: a lamp
Nema: grace
Samunduli: a music box
Sabuni: a soap
Langi: one color
Virtuti: virtue
N before b, p, v, becomes m
Examples
Mbuzi: a goat
Mbongo: a buffalo
Mbwa: a dog
Mbina: a dance
Mbolelo: fertilizer
Mbongolo: a pocket
Mbizi: leprosy
Mboni: the retina of the eye
Mvula: rain
Mpapulo: paper
Mpera: a reward
SHISUMBWA LESSON 7: CLASS SHI – VI
This class includes nouns that start with shi. The plural is formed by the change of shi to vi (Shi – Vi become shy – vy before a vowel).
Examples:
Shintu – Vintu: thing
Shivwi – Vivwi: knee
Shitambo – Vitambo: thigh
Shishiki – Vishiki: witness
Shishigi – Vishigi: eyebrow
Shitabu – Vitabu: book
Shyelu – Vyelu: luck
Shyeni – Vyeni: facial wrinkle
Shyoga – Vyoga: animal hoof
Shyoma – Vyoma: iron
Shifuba – Vifuba: chest
Shisake – Visaka: tote
Shiseme – Viseme: utensil
Shisumo – Visumo: bay
Shiloti – Viloti: dream
Shyalo – Vyalo: kingdom
Shyanzi – Vyanzi: milk pot
Shilibwa – Vilibwa: food
SHISUMBWA LESSON 8: CLASS I - OR LI - MA
This class includes nouns which make their plural by taking ma – before the singular. This includes all nouns whose singular prefix is i – or li -.
Examples:
Ilibwa – Malibwa: cassava
Itabazi – Matabazi: branch
Izina – Mazina: name
Ibele: breast Mabele: woman’s milk
Ishinde – Mashinde: clod of earth
Inasi: a blade of grass
Manasi: herbs
Igi – Magi: egg
Igambo – Magambo: lyrics
Itutu – Matutu: leaf
Irunde: sky, heavens
Marunde: clouds
The a in ma is contracted into long i Lino –
Mino: tooth
Ligwa – Migwa: thorn
Linsozi – Minsozi: tear
Lina – Mina: pit
Ligi – Migi: door
Ly before the vowel a becomes ma Examples:
Lyato – Mato: boat
Lyande – Mande: furrow
Lyambaliro – Mambaliro: costume
Lyala – Mala: nail Lyale – Male: reel
Ly – before the vowel o becomes mo
Examples:
Lyonshi – Monshi: smoke
Lyolo – Molo: stretched wood
Lyola – Mola: toad
Lyoma – Moma: ravine
Some instrument names
Examples:
Lihyo – Mihyo: sickle
Isekuzyo – Masekuzyo: pillon
Ikeshyo – Makeshyo: kind of knife
Ikoshyo – Makoshyo: chisel
All nouns whose singular prefix is bu – . Most are action nouns, some are plural, others not. Some do not have a singular.
Examples:
Buhumbe – Mahumbe or Mabuhumbe: imbecility
Bushinzi – Mashinzi or Mabushinzi: insomnia
Bukolwa – Makolwa or Mabukolwa: drunkenness
Bulozi – Malozi or Mabulozi: witchcraft
Bugondo – Mabugondo: body
Bukonde – Mabukonde: sweetness
Bwato – Mabwato: trough
Bwenge – Mabwenge: spirit, intelligence
Bwire – Mabwire: night
Bwiru – Mabwiru: slavery
Bula – Mabula: entrails
Bugoro – Mabugoro: snuff
Bwami – Mabwami: royalty
Bwangu – Mabwangu: speed
Bwira – Mabwira: mercy
Buyanda – Mabuyanda: childhood Mate: saliva
Minzi: water
Magazi: blood
All augmentative nouns
Examples:
Limuti – Mamiti: big tree
Lishisaka – Mavisaka or Mashisaka: large batch
Lilukekera – Malukekera or Mankekera: large enclosure
Lishigulu – Mashigulu or Mavigulu: large termite mound
Lintu – Mantu: great man
Lishisabo – Mashisabo or Mavisabo: large calabash
Limwembi – Mamyambi: an arrow
Lilugembe – Malugembe or Manyembe: great razor
Ligulu – Malugulu or Mangulu: large mountain
All names start with na – or n-. Most are animal or bird names, to indicate a large quantity.
Examples:
Nahungulema – Manangulema: bat
Nole – Manole: lizard
Ngiri – Magiri: wild boar
Ndulu – Madulu: wild donkey
Ntinga – Matinga: green pigeon
Mpera – Mapera: rhinoceros
Disease names starting with n – or ka-.
Examples:
Ndubi – Mandubi (not Madubi): smallpox
Nsefu – Masefu (not Mansefu): hiccups
Nsundo – Masundo or Mansundo: wart
Kaswende – Makaswende: syphilis
Kasoni – Makasoni: bad side
Kahoha – Makahoha: bronchitis
Certain words express the action of the verb
Examples:
Mazyana: departure, going
Malevuka: the return
Nouns expressing the thing or state resulting from the action of the verb
Igambo – Magambo: word, story
Ilagiro – Malagiro: order
Ipatano – Mapatano: contract
Iyombo – Mayombo: dispute
Ikugono – Makugono: work
SHISUMBWA LESSON 9: CLASS LU - N-
This class includes nouns whose prefix is read- in the singular (lw – before a vowel) and n- in the plural.
Examples:
Lugendo – Ngendo: travel
Lusaku – Nsaku: beard
Lukwi – Nkwi: log
Lukololo – Nkololo: cold
Lunindo – Nnindo: ong nose
Lusiku – Nsiku: day
Lugulu – Ngulu: hill
Luvwi – Nvwi: white hair
Lwimbo – Nimbo: vocals
When after the prefix lu – there is an l – or an r, this l or this r changes to d.
Examples:
Lulimi – Ndimi: language
Lulanga – Ndanga: pole
Lulila – Ndila: umbilical cord
Exception:
Luleme – Maluleme
Lulelema – Malulelema
Lumima – Malumima
Lulumbi – Malulumbi
And in general nouns which are not susceptible to the plural of this class.
N- in the plural becomes M- before b-, p-, and h-.
Examples:
Lubavu – Mbavu: rib
Luhu – Mpu: animal skin
Lupazi – Mpazi: tick
Lubilye – Mbilye: turn of events
Lupele – Mpele: bug
Exception:
Luba (reed fence) is plural Maluba.
Certain nouns expressing a partial idea of number or quantity have their singular in read and their plural in bu.
Lusaru: a pearl; Busaru: pearls
Luzi: a piece of thread; Buzi: thread
Lwoga: a bit of hair; Bwoga: hair
Lutinga: a horsehair; Butinga: horsehair
Lunasi: a blade of grass; Bunasi: grass
Lwoba: a mushroom; Bwoba: mushrooms
Lusiga: a grain of sorghum; Busiga: sorghum
Lulandi: a scabies pustule; Bulandi: scabies
SHISUMBWA LESSON 10: CLASS KA - TU-
This class includes nouns which begin in the singular with Ka- and whose plural is formed by the change from ka- to tu-. This is the form of diminutives.
Examples:
Kakima – Tukima: little woman
Katutu – Tututu: small leaf
Kado – Tudo: a little, small
Katebe – Tutebe: small seat
Kasaku – Tusaku: little beard
Belonging to this class:
1. Lots of disease names.
Examples: nouns probably do not have a plural, perhaps are of the 3rd.
Kahaha – Tuhaha: bronchitis
Kasomi – Tusomi: pleurisy
Kaswende – Tuswende: syphilis
2. Lots of abstract nouns expressing faults or that we have this class to make them express contempt.
Examples:
Kasamuke – Tusamuke: disputer
Kayomvi – Tuyomvi: disputant
Kapulungane – Tupulungane: quibbler
Kahumbe – Tuhumbe: fool
Kazogane – Tuzogane: laughable
3. The numbers to which we want to express the times.
Examples:
Kamwi: once
Kabili: twice
Kasatu: three times
Kanne: four times
Katano: five times
Names expressing certain parts of the day.
Examples:
Kasase or Kamusase: rising sun
Kagoro: evening
Kakagorogoro: evening
Kampindimpindi: a little before sunset
Kabufukufuku: nightfall
Kabwirebwire: nightfall
Kamuntunguyuntunguyu: evening twilight
Kamulabolabo: a little before sunrise
Kakeshikeshi: aurora
Kakingirimakingirima: aurora
Nouns which do not have a singular and whose prefix is silenced, such as the word tulo (sleep), and diminutives of quantity: (liquid, food)
Examples:
Twinzi: a little water
Twinu: a little salt
Tusere: a little beer
Tufuta: a little oil
Tusaru: a few
Tufuma: a little flour
Tuhalage: a few beans
Tusiga: a little sorghum
Nouns derived from the radical which express a state or way of being.
Examples:
Katumiro: way of dancing
Katumbagiro: way of walking
Katumamiro: way of working
Kapehero: way of smoking
Kamwero: way of drinking
Kayombero: way of speaking
Kimbiro: way of singing
Euphony:
When the stem begins a, e, o, the a- of the singular prefix elides and these vowels become long – and the tu- of the plural prefix becomes tw-.
Examples:
Mwambi: arrow, knife; Kambi, Twambi
Mwenda: fabric; Kenda, Twenda
Mwana: child; Kana, Twana
Mwenekili: teacher; Kenekili, Twenekili
Lwaya: hair; Koya, Twoya
Mwiru: slave; Kiru, Twiru
SHISUMBWA LESSON 11: KU-
This class includes:
1. All infinitives taken substantively or adverbially. Ku- before a vowel becomes Kw-.
Examples:
Kufwa: death (to die)
Kushima: love (love)
Kugaya: hate (hate)
Kuzumya: faith (believe)
Kwizukira: the memory (memory)
Kutogwa: will (want)
Bantu kwingiha: numerous men
Buganga kusema: from a mild remedy to taste
2. Some singular nouns including the plural in ma- belong to the fifth class.
Examples:
Kugulu – Magulu: leg
Kukoko – Makoko: arm
Kutwi – Matwi: ear
Kwaha – Makwaha: hollow of the armpit
Kuhwani – Makunhwani: species of heron
3. Lots of adverbs.
Examples:
Kusoga: good
Kubi: evil
Kusura: hi
4. Some month names.
Examples:
Kwezi: month
Kuzogo: month which ends the great mazika
Kutundu: last month of the big rains
Kweru: harvest month
Kwirabuke: the one who begins the dry season
SHISUMBWA LESSON 12: MU- (or Mw-), W-, Ku-, E-, H-.
This class includes prepositions of place.
1. Mu- which designates the very interior of a place.
Examples:
Wingire mu numba: Enter the house
Nekuzya mwi Igulwa: I’m going to Igulwa
2. W- chez, which specifies the location without indicating the interior.
Examples:
Muzye winu: Go home
Azire wabo: He went to their house
Note: Sometimes we join w-, mu- separately or jointly mwa-.
Examples:
Azire mu wamwe: He went to his house
Azire mwambati: He went to so-and-so
3. E-, towards, which designates a place with movement towards this place or in an indeterminate way.
Examples:
Uzye eyo: Go there
Wize eno: Come here
4. Ku- which designates the place where we are or we do something.
Examples:
Wikarishe ku itebe: Sit on the seat
Utule shintu ku muti: Put the thing on the tree
5. H-, designates the place in an uncircumscribed way.
Examples:
Hansi: On the ground
Ha muzigo: At the door
Aha hasoga: it’s nice here
Mu numba ne hafunde: It’s narrow in the house
SHISUMBWA LESSON 13: DIMINUTIVES AND AUGMENTATIVES
Most nouns in Shisumbwa are susceptible to a diminutive and an augmentative.
The diminutive is formed by passing the name to the class characterized in the singular by the prefix Ka- and in the plural by the prefix Tu-.
Examples:
Kayanda – Tuyanda: little boy
Kakima – Tukima: little woman
The augmentative is formed by making the name of the class whose characteristics are Li – Ma-.
Examples:
Limwambi: a large arrow
Lumuti: a large tree
Lilusaku: a big beard
Lishintu: a great thing
Iyanda: an extraordinary child
Ihumbe: a big fool
The plural Ma- of the augmentative is used to indicate a meeting of beings and a large quantity.
Examples:
Mamiti: a large pile of wood
Mamyenda: a large quantity of fabric
Mamuntu: a large number of people
Note 1: All augmentative nouns are made with a vowel Ly-
Examples:
Mukima Ikima: a great woman
Mufumu – Ifumu: a great wizard
Mwivi – Lyivi: a great thief
Mwoba – Lyoba: a big coward
Note 2: Repetition of the name often indicates contempt, deformity.
Examples:
Limwendamwenda: bad stuff
Ikimakima: an evil woman
Iyandayanda: a bad boy
Limutimuti: a misshapen tree
Note 3: To all nouns which already have the augmentative form, we add the adjective Ikuru = large.
Examples:
Liso lukuru: a big eye
Izizi ikuzi ikuru: a large potato
SHISUMBWA LESSON 14: ON THE REPORT OF TWO NAMES
Nouns not only govern other parts of speech, but they can also govern other nouns.
This relationship between two nouns is made by the letter ‘e’ which takes as a prefix the characteristic letter specific to the class of the noun.
Explanatory table
Classe | Lettre Caractéristique | Exemples |
| Sing.: W- Plur.: B- |
|
| Sing.: Gw- Plur.: Zy-, Y- |
|
| Sing.: Y- Plur.: Zy |
|
| Sing.: Shy Plur.: Vy |
|
| Sing.: Ly Plur.: G- |
|
| Sing.: Lw- Plur.: Zy |
|
| Sing.: K- Plur.: Tw- |
|
| Sing.: K- |
|
| Sing.: Bw- |
|
The letter -e indicating the report becomes -a when the last letter of the word is an ‘a’ and the second letter of the reported word is also an ‘a’.
Examples:
Kutashibwa kwa mabi: remission of sins
Kushira kwa mayo: my mother’s healing
Kuzya kwa baba: the departure of my father