maloto
/ma.lo.to/
noun
Origin
Chichewa
loto — dirt
Overview
Meaning Now
- dirt, filth, or refuse
- the plural form of 'loto' (dirt or soil)
Literal older meaning
soils or dirks
Language path
Bantu → Chichewa
Earliest form
maloto
Earliest period
19th century
Journey
In many Bantu languages, nouns starting with the prefix 'ma-' denote pluralization of mass nouns or abstract concepts. 'Maloto' specifically refers to the collective state of being dirty or the presence of refuse.
Evolution
- Proto-Bantu
*doto
“dirt”
- Chichewa
maloto
“dirt or filth”
pluralization using the ma- class prefix
Connections
Word parts
ma-
prefix
plural class prefix
loto
root
dirt
Related across languages
Tumbuka
dirt/refuse
Explore next
Related to maloto
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.