Umbundu, or South Mbundu (autonym umb, úmbúndú), one of many Bantu languages, is the most widely-spoken autochthonous language of Angola. Its speakers are known as '' Ovimbundu'' and are an ethnic group constituting a third of Angola's population. Their homeland is the Central Highlands of Angola and the coastal region west of these highlands, including the cities of Benguela and

Lobito Lobito is a Municipalities of Angola, municipality in Angola. It is located in Benguela Province, on the Atlantic Coast north of the Catumbela Estuary. The Lobito municipality had a population of 393,079 in 2014. History The city was founded in ...

. Because of recent internal migration, there are now also large communities in the capital

Luanda Luanda () is the Capital (political), capital and largest city in Angola. It is Angola's primary port, and its major Angola#Economy, industrial, Angola#Culture, cultural and Angola#Demographics, urban centre. Located on Angola's northern Atl ...

and its surrounding province, as well as in Lubango.

Phonology

Consonants

Vowels

Tone

Umbundu has two tones: low and high. The first acute accent (á) in a word represents a high tone. The low tone is represented by a grave accent (à). Unmarked syllables carry the same tone as the preceding syllable.

Vocabulary

*Welcome – ('The guests has come') *Hello – (sg); (pl) *How are you? – (sg); (pl) *I'm fine thanks, and you? – ('I'm fine'); ('We're fine') *What's your name? – (frm); (inf) *My name is... – *Where are you from? – ('Where is your country?') *I'm from... – ('My country is...') *Good morning – *Good afternoon – *Good evening – *Good night – ('Sleep well') *Goodbye – ('I went') *Do you speak English? – *Do you speak Umbundu? – *Sorry – (sg); (pl) *Please – ('Give me pity') *Thank you – (sg); (pl) *Reply –

Sample text

Translation: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

References

External links

Educação
– Umbundu lessons at Nação Ovimbundu

– alphabet at omniglot.com
Dictionary Umbundu – Medical
Hospital Nossa Senhora da Paz, Cubal, Angola. Bantu languages Languages of Angola Languages of Namibia {{Bantu-lang-stub