mzimu
/mˈzi.mu/
noun
Origin
Proto-Bantu
*-jímu — spirit, ghost
Overview
Meaning Now
- A spirit, especially the soul or ghost of an ancestor in Bantu belief systems.
- A supernatural being, often associated with a shrine or a specific lineage.
Literal older meaning
spirit
Language path
Proto-Bantu → Swahili / Bantu languages
Earliest form
*-jímu
Earliest period
Proto-Bantu era
Journey
The term 'mzimu' is central to the traditional cosmologies of many Bantu-speaking peoples. It refers to the spirits of deceased ancestors who are believed to retain an interest in the lives of their descendants. Shrines or sacred groves are often dedicated to specific 'mizimu' to mediate between the living and the spiritual realm.
Evolution
- Proto-Bantu
*-jímu
“spirit”
- Modern Swahili
mzimu
“spirit of an ancestor”
Class 3/4 noun (m-/mi-)
Connections
Word parts
m-
prefix
Noun class 3 prefix
-zimu
root
spirit
Related across languages
Zulu
idlozi
ancestral spirit
Shona
mudzimu
ancestral spirit
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Related to mzimu
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.