English-Bemba Dictionary

By Dr John Sendama

Bemba is one of Zambia's 72 languages. It is also the most widely spoken in the northern part of the country and along the line of rail.

Bemba continues to evolve as it assimilates words from other languages, including English.
Those learning the language will find this dictionary helpful.

The dictionary has grown as part of the free Bemba lessons and translation service offered on our KitweOnline website.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dr John Sendama
• Release date: May 4, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476179599

Dr John Sendama

John has worked as a doctor, mini cab driver, cleaner and entrepreneur. With his wife, he is coach to four wonderful children. At night, he is a budding blogger and writer. His blogs include KitweOnline.com and How to Write eBooks.org.

Book preview

ENGLISH

BEMBA

DICTIONARY

Dr. John Sendama

Editor: Oliver Mumba

KitweOnline Management Ltd.

Publisher’s note

Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is accurate at the time of going to press, and the publisher and author cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by the publisher or the author.

Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publisher, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publisher at the undermentioned address:

Published by Kitweonline Management Ltd. at Smashwords

http://kitweonline.com/

Copyright Dr. John Sendama 2012

The rights of Dr John Sendama to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988.

1st Edition

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Preface

Abbreviations Used in the Text

Aa

Bb

Cc

Dd

Ee

Ff

Gg

Hh

Ii

Jj

Kk

Ll

Mm

Nn

Oo

Pp

Qq

Rr

Ss

Tt

Uu

Vv

Ww

Xx

Yy

Zz

Appendix

- Week days

- Months

- Birthday

- Seasons

- Computer Terminology

Acknowledgements

Getting this book written involved long hours of isolation. I must thank my wife, Lina, and my children for their understanding.

To my parents I owe a debt of gratitude for showing me the value of my cultural heritage and for setting an example of selfless giving.

To Oliver Mumba for editing the text.

To my friend John Katebe for his encouragement and advice and Charles Kambuka for translating some words that were beyond my Bemba vocabulary.

To Anthony Musaluke for permission to include his computer translation work of Linux into Bemba.

The Hippocrene Concise Bemba-English/English-Bemba Dictionary by Rev. E. Hoch proved a valuable reference.

Finally, I am grateful to my readers on KitweOnline.com who want to learn Zambian languages. I truly appreciate your participation and encouragement for me to continue working on the dictionary.

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Foreword

Bemba is originally the language of the Bemba people of the Northern Province of Zambia. However, over time, it has become the most spoken indigenous language in Zambia.

Dr. John Sendama has taken up the gargantuan task of compiling a ‘living’ English dictionary of the Bemba language. I say ‘living’ because John’s work is not meant to be an academic treatise but rather a compilation of Bemba words in current usage.

I consider The Bemba English Dictionary by John Sendama very useful piece of work because it is written to answer a real need among various groups of people. For some time now, John has been providing a Bemba Dictionary and Translation service through his website, http://www.KitweOnline.com.

Users of the Bemba Dictionary and Translation service have included;

- Non-Zambian partners of Zambians living abroad and in Zambia;

- Non-Zambian parents who want their child to learn their father's language;

- Children of Zambians living in the diaspora;

- Friends of Zambians, living abroad, who want to make their Zambian friends smile;

- Zambian IT workers working on translating computer jargon into Bemba;

- Zambian companies wishing to put out work notices in Bemba;

- Volunteers working in rural and peri-urban parts of Zambia;

- Missionaries working in Zambia;

- Tourists and ex-residents who retain Zambian pen pals;

- White people who grew up