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Glite Dictionary
🌍 African culture 🧑🏿 An African group 🗣️ African languages
Bantu

Bantu

7.3
A person from central and southern Africa who speaks a language like Swahili
  • noun
  • /ˈbæn.tu/
translation icon : bantu
  • Archaeologists study the ancient settlements of Bantu peoples.

Examples

  • The Bantu migrated across large areas of Africa over thousands of years.

  • Many Bantu traditions are still practiced in rural communities today.

  • The Bantu people have a rich cultural heritage.

  • Many Bantu communities celebrate their traditional festivals.

  • Archaeologists study the ancient settlements of Bantu peoples.

  • Many Bantu communities celebrate their traditional festivals.

  • The Bantu migrated across large areas of Africa over thousands of years.

Compounds

Bantu-speaking
7.7

People, groups, or places where a Bantu language is spoken

Surface Forms

Bantu singular
Bantus plural

Etymology

The word Bantu comes from words found across many African languages: ba- meaning 'they' or the plural and -ntu meaning 'person' or 'people'. So Bantu literally means 'people', which is why we use it for groups of peoples who share these languages.