Colors

1. Tuba

   White

   Usage

   The colour white, for example when describing clothing

   Grammar Note

   An adjective root; a prefix that agrees with the noun class is added (for example "cisani cituba", a white garment)

2. Cisani cituba

   A white garment

   Usage

   A white garment or white cloth

   Grammar Note

   "Cisani" is a class 7 noun, so the adjective takes the prefix "ci-" and becomes "cituba". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

3. Ndiyanda cisani cituba.

   I want a white garment.

   Usage

   Says that you would like a white garment

   Grammar Note

   Placing a noun after "ndiyanda" means "I want ...". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

4. Salala

   Red

   Usage

   The colour red, for example for clothing or the sky

   Grammar Note

   An adjective root that also means "clean" or "pure". Another word for red is "subila"

5. Cisani cisalala

   A red garment

   Usage

   A red garment or red cloth

   Grammar Note

   The adjective takes the prefix "ci-" to agree with the class 7 noun "cisani". Composed from known words and sentence patterns; native review recommended

6. Siya

   Black / dark

   Usage

   The colour black, or a dark appearance

   Grammar Note

   An adjective root. The verb "siya" has the same form but means "leave" or "leave behind", so the context decides

7. Cisombo

   Purple

   Usage

   The colour purple; it is also used for the colour of a royal robe

   Grammar Note

   A class 7 form, used with "mubala" (colour) as in "mubala wacisombo" (of a purple colour); native review recommended

8. Tete

   Green

   Usage

   The colour green

   Grammar Note

   An adjective that also means "fresh", "moist" or "soft". Attested in the dictionary only; native review recommended

9. Mutuntula

   Yellow

   Usage

   The colour yellow

   Grammar Note

   An adjective. Attested in the dictionary only; native review recommended

10. Makumbimakumbi

    Blue

    Usage

    The colour blue

    Grammar Note

    An adjective. Attested in the dictionary only; native review recommended

11. Mubala

    Colour

    Usage

    A colour or shade

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 noun. The same form also means "a person building a new home"

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