mbuzi
/mbu.zi/
noun
Origin
Proto-Bantu
*-búdi — goat
Overview
Meaning Now
- A goat (Capra hircus).
- Slang term for a police patrol car, often due to the perceived 'stubborn' or persistent nature of its presence.
Language path
Proto-Bantu → Swahili
Earliest form
mbuzi
Earliest period
Pre-colonial era
Journey
The term is ubiquitous across East and Central Africa, reflecting the ancient role of goat herding in Bantu agricultural societies. It is a class 9/10 noun, meaning the plural form remains 'mbuzi'.
Evolution
- Proto-Bantu
*-búdi
“goat”
- Early Swahili
mbuzi
“goat”
Standard Bantu nasal prefix addition
Connections
Word parts
m-
prefix
class 9 noun prefix
-buzi
root
goat
Related across languages
Zulu
imbuzi
goat
Chichewa
goat
Explore next
Related to mbuzi
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.