bantu

/ˈbæntuː/
noun
  1. A large group of related languages spoken in central, eastern, and southern Africa, including Swahili, Zulu, and Xhosa.
    • Many Bantu languages use noun classes to organize their grammar.
    • She is learning a Bantu language for her research on African linguistics.
    • Swahili is one of the most widely spoken Bantu languages in Africa.
  2. A member of any of the peoples who speak a Bantu language.
    • He is proud of his heritage as a Bantu from the Great Lakes region.
    • The Bantu migrated across much of sub-Saharan Africa over thousands of years.
    • The museum has an exhibit on the history of the Bantu peoples.
adjective
  1. Relating to the Bantu languages or peoples.
    • Bantu music often features complex rhythms and call-and-response singing.
    • She studies Bantu culture and oral traditions.
    • The Bantu expansion shaped the linguistic map of Africa.
What does "bantu" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean