ndimba

Chichewa

Etymology

Cognate with Tumbuka ndimba (“the deep”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈⁿdi.ᵐbá/

Noun

ndimbá class 9 (plural ndimbá class 10)

1. deep place (e.g. in a lake or river)
   1. (by extension) abyss

Derived terms

• chindimba
• kandimba
• tindimba
• zindimba

References

• Steven Paas (2016), Oxford Chichewa-English/English - Chichewa Dictionary‎, Oxford University Press, page 390

Tumbuka

Etymology

Cognate with Chichewa ndimba (“deep place”).

Noun

ndimba class 9 (plural ndimba class 10)

1. the deep
   • (Can we date this quote?), Bible Society of Malawi, transl., Mutendeko 1:2:

     Charu chikaŵavye kaŵiro, chikaŵa chambula kanthu ndipo mdima ukaŵa pachanya pa ndimba.

     Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep

References

• William Y. Turner (1996), Tumbuka/Tonga-English and English - Tumbuka/Tonga Dictionary‎, Central Africana Limited, page 80
• Bible Society of Malawi, New Tumbuka Bible