imbira

Chichewa

Alternative forms

  • -yimbira

Etymology

From imba (“to sing”) +‎ -ira (“applicative suffix for verbs where the penultimate vowel of the stem is either 'a', 'i' or 'u'”). Cognate with Nyole (Uganda) -embera (“to sing a lullaby for a baby”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /iˈᵐbi.ɽa/

Verb

-imbira (infinitive kuímbira)

  • Applicative form of -imba
  1. (applicative) to sing for someone or something.
  2. to sing with others
  3. to call, to phone, to ring

Derived terms

  • Verbal derivations:
    • Reciprocal: -imbirana
    • Reflexive: -dziimbira
    • Repetitive: -imbiranso
    • Other formations: -imbira pamodzi nyimbo (“to sing songs together, to sing along, to sing in unison”)

References

  • Steven Paas (2016) Oxford Chichewa-English/English - Chichewa Dictionary‎[1], Oxford University Press, page 169
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