Bemba

noun

Bem·​ba ˈbem-bə How to pronounce Bemba (audio)
plural Bemba or Bembas
1
: a member of a primarily agricultural Bantu-speaking people of northeastern Zambia
2
: a Bantu language of the Bemba people

Word History

Etymology

Bemba, stem of ulúbembá, a self-designation

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Bemba was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near Bemba

Cite this Entry

“Bemba.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Bemba. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Bemba

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!