ba

See also: Appendix:Variations of "ba"

Languages (81)

Translingual • English

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Page categories

Translingual

Symbol

ba

1. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Bashkir.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Bashkir terms

English

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Egyptian bꜣ,

Noun

ba (plural bas)

1. (Egyptian mythology) A being's soul or personality, represented as a bird-headed figure, which survives after death but must be sustained with offerings of food.
   • 1981, William Irwin Thompson, The Time Falling Bodies Take to Light: Mythology, Sexuality and the Origins of Culture, London: Rider/Hutchinson & Co., page 220:

     Any ordinary person who has ever floated out of his body during a nap knows what a Ba is, but unfortunately the dogmas of our materialistic culture constrain the person to ignore and repress his experience.

   • 1983, Norman Mailer, Ancient Evenings:

     But the Ba, I remembered, could be seen as the mistress of your heart and might or might not decide to speak to you, just as the heart cannot always forgive.

Etymology 2

The sound is very commonly made by infants, and is interpreted by parents as a reference to themselves.

Noun

ba (plural bas) (not generally used in the plural)

1. (colloquial and in direct address) Father, baba.

Etymology 3

Alternative forms

• ba'

Noun

ba (uncountable)

1. (historical) A medieval football game played in parts of Scotland around Christmas and New Year.
   • 2011, Alistair Moffat, The Borders:

     The townsmen played ba often and clearly knew what they were doing.

Etymology 4

Noun

ba (plural bas)

1. (in real estate ads) Abbreviation of bathroom.

   Alternative form: BA

   Coordinate term: br (“bedroom”)

   2 beds, 1 ba

Etymology 5

From Mandarin 吧 (ba).

Alternative forms

• bah

Pronunciation

• (Singapore) IPA^(key): [p˭ɑ˨]

Particle

ba

1. (Manglish, Singlish) Used to indicate a tentative suggestion.

   I think you should go see a doctor ba.

2. (Manglish, Singlish) Used to indicate confident speculation.
   • 2024 June 7, Vegas, “Planning to get new Rims & Tyres”, in MyCarForum‎^[3], archived from the original on 21 June 2024:

     rich pple in here... 15" Conti for 800? thats a little steep... same class as ps4s? / 18" tires about 600 to 750 bah...

Usage notes

A relatively new and uncommon particle in Singapore, used mainly by Mandarin-speaking Singaporeans.

See also

Discourse particles in colloquial Singaporean and Malaysian English
⟵ More assertiveLess assertive ⟶
Objection	what	Assertive emphasis	lah1–14	Self-evident answer	lor2–3	Resignation	lor1, ah6	Uncertainty	leh1–2
Self-evident reason	mah	Declarative emphasis	leh3–6, one1–3, hor1, know, nia, only	Discontent; shock; coarseness	sia	Agreement-seeking	hor2	Confirmation-seeking	ah1–3, hah1–3
Skepticism	meh			Confident speculation	ba2	Tentative judgment	leh7–11, ba1
Non-pragmatic
Aspectual					liao, already
References Gupta, A. F. (1992), “The pragmatic particles of Singapore colloquial English”, in Journal of Pragmatics, volume 18, number 1, →DOI

See also

• ba-dum-ching
• ba-dum-tss

Anagrams

• -ab, A&B, A.B., A/B, AB, Ab, a.b., ab, ab-, ab.

Akan

Verb

ba

1. (Fante) come

References

• Rose-Juliet Anyanwu, Fundamentals of Phonetics, Phonology and Tonology (2008)

Albanian

Alternative forms

• bô — alt. spelling

Pronunciation

• (Gheg) IPA^(key): [ˈbɑ̃ː], [ˈbɒ̃ː]

Participle

bâ

1. Gheg form of bërë

References

• Mann (1948), page 16a: “bâ”

Anguthimri

Noun

ba

1. (Mpakwithi) island

References

• Terry Crowley, The Mpakwithi dialect of Anguthimri (1981), page 184

Australian Kriol

Preposition

ba

1. alternative form of blanga

Bakung

ba

Noun

ba

1. water (clear liquid H₂O)
2. water (mineral water)

Bambara

Etymology 1

Noun

ba

1. mother

   Synonyms: bamuso, ma

Etymology 2

Noun

bà

1. goat

Etymology 3

Noun

bá

1. river, stream, lake

Etymology 4

Numeral

bà

1. one thousand

   Synonym: waa

Basque

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/ [ba]
• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: ba

Etymology 1

Particle

ba

1. alternative form of ba-

   Ba al zatoz? ― Are you coming?

   Ba ote al dago inor etxean? ― Is anyone home?

   Ba omen zegoen bidea ezagutzen zuen norbait. ― There was someone who knew the way.

Usage notes

See usage notes at ba-.

Etymology 2

Clipping of bada (“it is”).

Particle

ba

1. so, then, well

   Ez nizun ba esan. ― Well, I didn't tell you.

Etymology 3

Clipping of bai (“yes”).

Particle

ba

1. (Northern) yes

Etymology 4

Probably from Spanish bah.

Interjection

ba

1. Indicates disdain or unbelief.

Further reading

• “ba”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language]
• “ba”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005

Borôro

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbaː/

Noun

ba

1. egg

Buhi'non Bikol

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bahaq, from Proto-Austronesian *baSaq.

Noun

bâ

1. flood

Cebuano

Pronunciation 1

• (Standard Cebuano) IPA^(key): /ˈba/
• Rhymes: -a

Particle

ba

1. interrogative particle

   Kini ba ang Kabisay-an? ― Is this the Visayas?

   Kamao ka ba molangoy? ― Do you know how to swim?

Pronunciation 2

• (Standard Cebuano) IPA^(key): /ˈbaː/
• Rhymes: -a

Etymology

Short for baba.

Verb

ba

1. to piggyback; to carry someone on the back

Chavacano

Etymology

Borrowed from Tagalog ba, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈba/, [ˈba]

Particle

ba

1. marks a sentence as interrogative

Chichewa

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Bantu *-jíba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɓa/

Verb

-ba (infinitive kubá)

1. steal

Derived terms

• Verbal derivations:
  • Applicative: -bera
  • Causative: -betsa
  • Negative: -saba
  • Passive: -bedwa
  • Reduplicative: -baba
  • Repetitive: -banso
  • Other formations: -ba mawu (“eavesdrop”)

• Nominal derivations:
  • wakuba (“thief”)

Chickasaw

Conjunction

ba

1. alternative spelling of ba'

Cimbrian

Alternative forms

• bo

Etymology

From Middle High German wā, from Old High German wār, hwār, from Proto-West Germanic *hwār, from Proto-Germanic *hwar (“where”). Cognate with German wo, English where.

Pronoun

ba

1. (Sette Comuni, relative) that; which; who

   dar faff ba de pridighet ― the priest who preaches

Adverb

ba (dative bannont)

1. (Sette Comuni, interrogative) where

   Ba pisto gabéest in gantzen tag?

   Where have you been all day?

Adverb

ba

1. (Sette Comuni, attributive only) how (modifier used to express surprise, delight, etc.)

   Ba khalt! ― How cold!

Related terms

• éppadabaa

References

• “ba” in Martalar, Umberto Martello; Bellotto, Alfonso (1974), Dizionario della lingua Cimbra dei Sette Communi vicentini, 1st edition, Roana, Italy: Instituto di Cultura Cimbra A. Dal Pozzo

Dagbani

Etymology 1

Noun

ba (plural banima)

1. father
2. a title of respect

Usage notes

• obligatorily possessed: includes father's brothers, and in the plural all relatives on the father's side, particularly those of his generation.

See also

• ma

Etymology 2

Pronoun

ba

1. Third-person, animate, singular, neutral, object pronoun them

See also

• bɛ
• o
• ban
• bana

Dama (Sierra Leone)

Etymology

Cognate with Vai [script needed] (ba), Mende (Sierra Leone) wa.

Adjective

ba

1. big

References

• Dalby, T. D. P. (1963), “The extinct language of Dama”, in Sierra Leone Language Review, volume 2, Freetown: Fourah Bay College, pages 50–54

Duun

Etymology

Onomatopoeic?

Noun

ba

1. goat

Further reading

• Duungooma ABC (alphabet duun), page 3

East Miraya Bikol

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bahaq, from Proto-Austronesian *baSaq.

Noun

bâ

1. flood

Eastern Penan

Noun

ba

1. water

References

• Dictionary of Eastern Penan

Esperanto

Etymology

Etymology tree

French bahbor.

German bahbor.

Proto-Indo-European *bʰoder.?

Proto-Slavic *ba

Russian ба (ba)bor.

Greek μπα (ba)bor.

Esperanto ba

From French bah, German bah, Russian ба (ba), and Greek μπα (ba).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Interjection

ba

1. An expression of dismissal or indifference; bah
2. An expression of surprise; whoa

Further reading

• “ba”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “ba”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Fijian

Etymology 1

From Proto-Central-Pacific *baa, from Proto-Oceanic *paqa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *paqa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *paqa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *paqa (“stem, stalk”).

Noun

bā

1. edible taro stalk (Colocasia esculenta), considered a delicacy and typically steamed with the skin removed

   Synonym: baba

   E dau vakasisila na ba ena waitui, lemoni kei na boro.

   The taro stalk is often seasoned with saltwater, lemon and chili pepper.

2. (Rewa, by extension) the taro plant itself, eaten as a staple food

   Synonym: dalo

   Na ba e kakana uasivi duadua mai Rewa.

   Taro is the most important food in Rewa.

Usage notes

Taro stalks are considered a ceremonial gift for mothers of newborns, as seen with the derived terms below.

Derived terms

• ba Rewa! (“hi beautiful/handsome!”, greeting, literally “Rewa taro”) (slightly dated, humorous)
• cola ba (“to bring taro with stalks to a new mother”) (of a man)
• dreke ba (“to bring taro stalks to a new mother”) (of a woman)

Etymology 2

From Proto-Central-Pacific *baa, from Proto-Oceanic *baʀa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *baʀa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *baʀa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *baʀa (“animal enclosure, pen”).

Noun

bā

1. special fence or enclosure made from reeds to catch fish trapped during tides

   Na ba ni ika e dau tara ena mati me ra coriti kina na ika.

   The fish fence is built at low tide to trap fish.

Derived terms

• ba-ni-ika (“fish fence”)

References

• Gatty, Ronald (2009), “ba”, in Fijian–English Dictionary‎^[4], Suva, Fiji: Ronald Gatty, →ISBN, page 10

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

• Audio (France (Lyon)):

  (file)

Noun

ba

1. (Egyptian mythology) ba

Fula

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Particle

ba

1. (Pular) interrogative particle

   Si himo ka suudu ba, si o alaa ton ba.

   Whether he's at the house, or whether he's not there.

Usage notes

• Placed at the end of a phrase
• Implies an alternative

Adverb

ba

1. (Maasina) not even

   ba nde wootere

   not even once

   ba gooto

   not even one

2. nothing
3. even

   Synonym: fay

   ba joonin

   even now

   ba naanen

   even a short while ago

See also

• yalli

References

• Oumar Bah, Dictionnaire Pular-Français, Avec un index français-pular, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2014.
• Richard Smith, Urs Niggli, Dictionnaire fulfulde - anglais - français, Webonary.org, SIL International, 2016.

Garo

Etymology

Probably from Bengali বা (ba), which is a short form of কিংবা (kiṅba).

Conjunction

ba

1. or

Ghomala'

Particle

ba (prepositional)

1. and, also, as well, too

   Ba myə gaə̂ sɔ'. ― I came also.

   Lwɔ̂' bə́ nə̂ bâwə́lə́. ― Each one has a shortcoming.

   Myə̂ mŋo' bâwə́lə̂ bə́ á nə́ é. ― Each one has shortcomings.

See also

• bawə
• bàtə̀

References

• Erika Eichholzer et al., editors (2002), Dictionnaire Ghomala’ (in French)

Gothic

Romanization

ba

1. romanization of 𐌱𐌰

Haitian Creole

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Verb

ba

1. to give

   Synonyms: ban, bay

References

• Targète, Jean; Urciolo, Raphael (1993), Haitian Creole-English Dictionary‎^[5], Dunwoody Press, →ISBN, page 18

Hlai

Pronunciation

• (Standard Hlai, Baoding) IPA^(key): /pa˥˧/

Etymology 1

From Proto-Hlai *hmaː (“five”), from Pre-Hlai *maː (Norquest, 2015).

Hlai cardinal numbers

<  4	5	6  >
Cardinal : ba

Numeral

ba

1. five

Etymology 2

From Proto-Hlai *hmaː (“dog; hunting dog”), from Pre-Hlai *maː (Norquest, 2015). Compare Proto-Tai *ʰmaːᴬ (“dog”) (whence Thai หมา (mǎa)).

Noun

ba

1. dog, hunting dog

Iban

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [baʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ

Preposition

ba

1. in

   ba Kuching

   in Kuching

2. at

   ba sungai

   at the river

3. on

   ba atas jalai

   on top of the road

Indonesian

Etymology

Borrowed from Bulungan [Term?].

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈba/ [ˈba]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Noun

ba (plural ba-ba)

1. the spirit of a deceased person is believed to visit his relatives as a notification that he has passed away.

Further reading

• “ba”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Irish

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bˠɑ(h)/, /bˠa(h)/, (Cois Fharraige) [bˠaː]

Noun

ba f pl

1. plural of bó

   Tá na ba sa mhá. ― The cows are in the field.

Etymology 2

From Old Irish ba.

Alternative forms

• (affirmative): b’ (used before a vowel sound except for the pronouns é, í, iad, ea)
• (relative): ab (used before a vowel sound)
• badh (archaic)
• bu, budh (superseded)
• dob, dob' (dialectal equivalent of b’)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bˠə/, (before é, í, iad, ea) /bˠəj/
• (Munster, also) IPA^(key): /bˠɔ/

Particle

ba (triggers lenition)

1. past/conditional affirmative of is

   Ba é Dónall an múinteoir. ― Dónall was the teacher.

   Ba mhaith liom cupán tae. ― I would like a cup of tea.

2. past/conditional direct relative of is (used to introduce the comparative/superlative form of adjectives)

   fear ba shine ná m'athair ― a man (who was) older than my father

Related terms

Irish copular forms

simple copular forms
present/future		affirmative	negative	interrogative	negative interrogative
main clause		is	ní	an	nach
relative clause	direct		nach	—
	indirect	ar, arbv
other subordinate clause		gur, gurbv		an	nach
past/conditional		affirmative	negative	interrogative	negative interrogative
main clause		ba, b’v	níor, níorbhv	ar, arbhv	nár, nárbhv
relative clause	direct	ba, abv	nár, nárbhv	—
	indirect	ar, arbhv
other subordinate clause		gur, gurbhv		ar, arbhv	nár, nárbhv
present subjunctive		affirmative	negative
—		gura, gurabv	nára, nárabv
compound copular forms
base word		present/future		past/conditional
cá		cár, cárbv		cár, cárbhv
cé		cér, cérbv		cér, cérbhv
dá		—		dá mba, dá mb’v
de/do		dar, darbv		dar, darbhv
faoi		faoinar, faoinarbv		faoinar, faoinarbhv
i		inar, inarbv		inar, inarbhv
le		lenar, lenarbv		lenar, lenarbhv
má		más		má ba, má b’v
mura		mura, murabv		murar, murarbhv
ó (preposition)		ónar, ónarbv		ónar, ónarbhv
ó (conjunction)		ós		ó ba, ó b’v
trí		trínar, trínarbv		trínar, trínarbhv

^v Used before vowel sounds

Mutation

Mutated forms of ba

radical	lenition	eclipsis
ba	bha	mba

Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Modern Irish.
All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

Italian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈba/
• Rhymes: -a
• Hyphenation: bà

Interjection

ba

1. bah!
2. oh well!

Anagrams

• ab-

Japanese

Romanization

ba

1. The hiragana syllable ば (ba) or the katakana syllable バ (ba) in Hepburn romanization.

Kongo

Noun

ba class 5 (singular diba, plural maba)

1. palm tree

Lhao Vo

Etymology

Uncertain.

Noun

ba

1. sun

Verb

ba

1. to know; to understand.

References

• Dr. Ola Hanson, A Dictionary of the Kachin Language (1906).

Lithuanian

Etymology

According to Derksen, inherited from Proto-Balto-Slavic *ba (“for”), but Smoczyński thinks that it is borrowed from Belarusian бо (bo) and Polish bo instead

Conjunction

bà

1. or
2. because

Lower Tanana

Etymology 1

From Proto-Athabaskan *we-nʸ. Cognate with Ahtna bae, Navajo -BĮ́Į́ʼ, Koyukon baanh.

Root

ba

1. a singular subject swims on the surface

   Synonym: 'atl

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Momentaneous	bayh	banh	baɬ	baɬ
Customary	bayh	bayh	bayh	bayh
Perambulative	bayh	banh	bayh	bayh
Progressive	baɬ	—	—	—
Perambulative-customary	biyh	biyh	biyh	biyh

Derived terms

• ghebaɬ (“it is swimming along”)
• k'odebayh (“it is swimming around”)
• noghebaɬ (“it is swimming across”)
• noghedebaɬ (“it is swimming back”)
• yenobaɬ (“he is swimming after it”)

References

• Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 68

Etymology 2

From Proto-Athabaskan *wâˑx̣, *əbaˑ. Cognate with Navajo -BAAʼ (“to make war”), Ahtna ʼeba (“Ouch!”).

Root

ba

1. wage war, attack, sickness spreads
2. pain, ouch

Stem set

Aspect	Imperfective	Perfective	Future	Optative
Momentaneous	box	box	bex	box
Perambulative	bex	box	bex	bex

Derived terms

• eba, ebo (“Ouch!”)
• nebox (“war”)
• nebox tthi' (“war chief”)
• -tthi' eba (“to have a headache”)

References

• Kari, James et al. (2024), Kari, James, editor, Lower Tanana Dene Dictionary, Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Native Language Center, →ISBN, page 78

Makasar

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Etymology 1

Noun

ba (Lontara spelling ᨅ or 𑻤, definite baya)

1. the fifth letter of the Makasar alphabet

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Arabic بَاء (bāʔ, “ba”).

Noun

ba (Lontara spelling ᨅ or 𑻤, definite baya)

1. the second letter of the Arabic alphabet
2. the sixth year of the eight-year cycle (windu) in the traditional Islamic calendar

Derived terms

compounds

• taung ba

Etymology 3

Interjection

ba

1. yes, certainly; indeed; well certainly (used to answer a negative question or one expressing doubt)

   Ikau bedeng lamballi anjo ballaka? Ba, inakkemi.

   So you are the one who wants to buy that house? Yes certainly, I will do it.

   Punna kammaintu tenantu paleng kissikola, karaeng? Nappiwalimo mesetereka: Ba, assikolajakiʼ.

   If that is so, then we surely don't have school, sir? The teacher answered: Well certainly, we do have school.

   Ioʼ, ba karaeng.

   Yes, certainly sir.

Further reading

• Cense, A. A. (1979), Makassaars-Nederlands woordenboek [Makasar-Dutch dictionary], 's-Gravenhage: Martinus Nijhoff, →ISBN

Malagasy

Etymology 1

From English bar.

Noun

ba

1. (music) bar; measure

Etymology 2

From French bas (“stocking”).

Noun

ba

1. stockings; socks
2. knitting

Mandarin

Pronunciation

• Audio (Liaoning):

  (file)

Romanization

ba (ba⁵ / ba⁰, Zhuyin ˙ㄅㄚ)

1. Hanyu Pinyin reading of 吧, 罷 / 罢

Romanization

ba

1. nonstandard spelling of bā
2. nonstandard spelling of bá
3. nonstandard spelling of bǎ
4. nonstandard spelling of bà

Usage notes

• Transcriptions of Mandarin into the Latin script often do not distinguish between the critical tonal differences employed in the Mandarin language, using words such as this one without indication of tone.

Middle English

Etymology

Form of *bān, from (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.).

Verb

bā

1. Imperative form of of *bān (“to kiss”)
   • 1387–1400, Geoffrey Chaucer, “The Wyfe of Bathes Tale”, in The Canterbury Tales, [Westminster: William Caxton, published 1478], →OCLC; republished in [William Thynne], editor, The Workes of Geffray Chaucer Newlye Printed, […], [London]: […] [Richard Grafton for] Iohn Reynes […], 1542, →OCLC:

     Com neer, my spouse, lat me ba thy cheke!

     Come here, my spouse, let me kiss your cheeks!

Nias

Preposition

ba

1. in, at, on (general preposition for locative adjuncts)

References

• Sundermann, Heinrich. 1905. Niassisch-deutsches Wörterbuch. Moers: Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen, p. 22–23.

Northern Kurdish

Etymology

From Proto-Iranian *HwáHatah (“wind”) (compare Avestan 𐬬𐬁𐬙𐬋 (vātō), Pashto and Persian باد (bâd)), from Proto-Indo-Iranian *HwáHatas (“wind”) (compare Sanskrit वात (vā́ta)), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂wéh₁n̥ts (“blowing”), present participle of *h₂weh₁- (“to blow”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɑː/
• Rhymes: -ɑː

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

Central Kurdish	با (ba)
Zazaki	vay

ba m (Arabic spelling با)

1. weather
2. wind

Declension

Declension of ba

definite masculine gender
case	singular	plural
nominative	ba	ba
construct	bayê	bayên
oblique	bayî	bayan
demonstrative oblique	wî bayî	wan bayan
vocative	bayo	bayino
indefinite masculine gender
case	singular	plural
nominative	bayek	bayin
construct	bayekî	bayine
oblique	bayekî	bayinan

Derived terms

• babelîsk
• baberik
• badar
• badarî
• bader
• bager
• bahoz
• bakur
• bakurî
• bakêş
• bareş
• barove
• başûr
• başûrî
• hireba
• sîseban

Norwegian Bokmål

Alternative forms

• bad

Verb

ba

1. simple past of be

Old English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɑː/
• Rhymes: -ɑː

Determiner

bā

1. neuter/feminine nominative/accusative singular of beġen

Old Irish

Etymology 1

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Alternative forms

• (2nd sg. pres. subj.): be

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Verb

ba

1. inflection of is:
   1. first/second/third-person singular present subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative
   3. third-person singular preterite/imperfect indicative nonrelative/relative

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /βa/

Conjunction

ba

1. alternative form of fa (“or”)

Old Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *ba. First attested in the 15th century.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Particle

ba

1. or rather; or should I say; moreover; yea; nay (used to say that what has been said thus far is true, but could be said more accurately)
   • Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎^[6], page 181:

     A ci […] mąk nie wierzyli ani czci, ani dostojeństwa, ba i wstania przychodzącego sądu przeli (nam et resurrectionem mortuorum futuram negabant), mnimając, aby dusze po społu s ciały umirały

     And these men […] believed neither in torment, nor in honor, nor in dignity, nay, they even feared the resurrection of the coming judgment ("For they also denied that there would be a resurrection of the dead." [Historia scholastica 31:10]), thinking that the souls would die together with the bodies

2. well; well then (transitional particle)
   • Middle of the 15th century, Rozmyślanie o żywocie Pana Jezusa‎^[7], page 731:

     Drugi potem przybieżąc uderzył ji w ciemię i rzekł: O Jesusie, snadź ci mirzka w [o]czu, ba pokrzep sie im, dobry druże; takeś omdlał, jakoby nie miał boga ojca, ba pochwaci sie, ale nie daj sie sromocić

     [Drugi[m] potem przybieżąc uderzył ji w ciemię i rzekł: "O Jesusie, snadź ci mirzka w [o]czu, ba, pokrzep sie im, dobry druże! Takeś omdlał, jako by nie miał Boga Ojca. Ba, pochwaci sie, ale nie daj sie sromocić!"]

     Then running came the other one and struck her on the crown of the head, and quoth: "O Jesus, perhaps there is a twinkle in thine eyes, yea, take heart from them, good friend! Thou hast become so weak as if thou hadst no Godly Father. Well, thou wilt praise thyself, but let thee not be shamed!"

Descendants

• Polish: ba
• Silesian: ba

References

• Boryś, Wiesław (2005), “ba”, in Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie, →ISBN
• Mańczak, Witold (2017), “ba”, in Polski słownik etymologiczny (in Polish), Kraków: Polska Akademia Umiejętności, →ISBN
• Sławski, Franciszek (1958-1965), “ba”, in Jan Safarewicz, Andrzej Siudut, editors, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), Kraków: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
• B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “ba”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN

Olukumi

Etymology

Compare with Yoruba bàbá, Ekiti Yoruba àbá, Ekiti Yoruba bà, Ondo Yoruba bàí, Yoruba ụba, Owo Yoruba iba

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bā/

Noun

ba

1. father; old man or elder

Coordinate terms

• yé (“mother”)

Derived terms

• bá bá (“grandfather”)
• ba ba mì líla (“(my) great-grandfather”)
• énẹ́bá (“fatherlessness”)

Palula

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Particle

ba (discourse, Perso-Arabic spelling بہ)

1. Marker with a (switch-)topic function (variously corresponding to 'and, however, instead, as for, but')

References

• Henrik Liljegren; Naseem Haider (2011), “ba”, in Palula Vocabulary (FLI Language and Culture Series; 7)‎^[8], Islamabad, Pakistan: Forum for Language Initiatives, →ISBN

Phuthi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-báa.

Verb

-ba

1. to be
2. to become

Inflection

This entry needs an inflection-table template.

Polish

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish ba.

Pronunciation

 

• IPA^(key): /ˈba/

• (Middle Polish) IPA^(key): /ˈba/
• (Masovia):
  • (Ostróda) IPA^(key): [ˈba]
  • (Warmia) IPA^(key): [ˈba]
  • (Masuria) IPA^(key): [ˈba]
  • (Łowicz) IPA^(key): [ˈba]
• (Lesser Poland):
  • (Goral):
    • (Zagórze) IPA^(key): [ˈba]

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba
• Homophone: -ba

Particle

ba

1. nay, or rather, or should I say, moreover, hell (used to say that what has been said thus far is true but could be said more accurately)

   Synonyms: mało tego, więcej

   To danie jest dobre, ba, przepyszne! ― This dish is good, nay, delicious!

2. duh, obviously (used when the speaker believes what has been said is obvious)

   „On jest trochę głupi, co?” „Ba!” ― “He's a little dumb, isn't he?” “Duh!”

3. denotes disappointment; bah
4. (obsolete) that's easy to say
5. (obsolete, repeated) well, well
6. (obsolete) that's another thing
7. (Middle Polish) used to urge a command.

   Synonym: no

8. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia) Introduces a continued statement; well, so
9. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia) Used to answer a question; well
10. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia) Used to respond to a request; unfortunately
11. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia) Adds to a statement furthermore

Interjection

ba

1. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia, Zagórze) Denotes surprise; there you have it!

Conjunction

ba

1. (Masuria, Ostróda, Warmia, Zagórze, contrastive) but; just

Derived terms

interjections

• ba i co to

nouns

• bajbardzo

particles

• baćto
• no ba

Further reading

• “ba”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎^[9] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• “ba”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[10] (in Polish)
• Maria Renata Mayenowa; Stanisław Rospond; Witold Taszycki; Stefan Hrabec; Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023), “ba”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
• Barbara Rykiel-Kempf (19.01.2017), “BA”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
• Samuel Bogumił Linde (1807–1814), “ba”, in Słownik języka polskiego
• Aleksander Zdanowicz (1861), “ba”, in Słownik języka polskiego, Wilno 1861
• J. Karłowicz, A. Kryński, W. Niedźwiedzki, editors (1900), “ba”, in Słownik języka polskiego (in Polish), volume 1, Warsaw, page 77
• Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024), “ba”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 137
• Halina Świderska (1929), “ba”, in Dialekt Księstwa Łowickiego (in Polish), Warsaw, →ISBN, page 88
• Józefa Kobylińska (2001), “ba”, in Marian Kucała, editor, Słownik gwary gorczańskiej (zagórzańskiej)‎^[11] (in Polish), Kraków: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Akademii Pedagogicznej, →ISBN, page 2

Rinconada Bikol

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bahaq, from Proto-Austronesian *baSaq.

Noun

bâ

1. flood

Romagnol

Alternative forms

• bab

Etymology

From Latin *babbus (“dad”), of Onomatopoeic origin.

Pronunciation

• (Central Romagnol) IPA^(key): [ˈbaɐ̯]
  • (Ravenna) IPA^(key): [ˈbaɐ̯]

Noun

ba m (plural bëb)

1. father, dad

   Ba ’d famèja ― Paterfamilias

References

• Masotti, Adelmo (1996), Vocabolario Romagnolo Italiano [Romagnol-Italian dictionary] (in Italian), Bologna: Zanichelli, page 51
• Ercolani, Libero (1971), Vocabolario Romagnolo-Italiano, Monte di Ravenna, page 33

Shona

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-jíba.

Verb

-bá (infinitive kubá)

1. to steal

Silesian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Polish ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈba/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Particle

ba

1. Expresses negation or disagreement; obviously not

Further reading

• Aleksandra Wencel (2023), “ba”, in Dykcjůnôrz ślų̊sko-polski, page 32

Spanish

Verb

ba

1. alternative form of va

Sumerian

Romanization

ba

1. romanization of 𒁀 (ba)

Swazi

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-báa.

Verb

-ba

1. to be
2. to become

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Swedish

Alternative forms

• ba'

Etymology

Apocopic form of bara.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bɑː/, /bɑ/

Adverb

ba (not comparable)

1. (colloquial) pronunciation spelling of bara ("just, only")

   Asså allt ba spåra' [spårade] direkt

   Y'know everything just went off the rails right away

   Ba gört [gör det]!

   Just do it!

   • 2019, Veronica Maggio, "Tillfälligheter" (song), Fiender är tråkigt (album)

     Klockan är tre så ba säg vad du heter.

     It's three o'clock so just tell me your name.

Derived terms

• tjabba

Verb

ba (preterite ba)

1. (colloquial, defective) Used colloquially to indicate speech or action. Compare English be like, like.

   Ja ba: ”Vafan är det!” o han ba: ”Ingen aning!”.

   I was (just) like: ”Wtf is that!” and he was (just) like: ”No idea!”.

   Han ba, hon ba, ja [jag] ba!

   He like ..., she like ..., I was like ...! [implying something sexual, sometimes with accompanying gestures (though clear enough anyway) – widespread joke]

Usage notes

Only used in the preterite (past) and infinitive forms.

Anagrams

• AB, Ab

Tagalog

Etymology 1

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *ba, or shortened form of baga. Cognate with Cebuano ba and Malagasy va.

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ba/ [bɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Particle

ba (Baybayin spelling ᜊ)

1. marks a sentence as interrogative

   Synonyms: (dialectal) ga, (dialectal) baga, (obsolete) kaya

   Mayroon ka bang pera?

   Do you have money?

Usage notes

• The particle sometimes disappears in informal contexts and the sentence can be inferred as interrogative depending on the tone of the speaker.

  Mayroon kang pera?

  You have money?

Derived terms

• ano ba

Etymology 2

Influenced by Baybayin character ᜊ (ba).

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ba/ [bɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Noun

ba (Baybayin spelling ᜊ)

1. the name of the Latin script letter B/b, in the Abakada alphabet

   Synonyms: (in the Filipino alphabet) bi, (in the Abecedario) be

See also

• baba

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ba/ [bɐ]
• Rhymes: -a
• Syllabification: ba

Interjection

ba (Baybayin spelling ᜊ)

1. clipping of aba

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbaʔ/ [ˈbaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ba

Interjection

bâ (Baybayin spelling ᜊ)

1. boo (used in play-scare with babies)

   Synonyms: ga, bulaga

Etymology 5

Pronunciation

• (Standard Tagalog) IPA^(key): /ˈbaʔ/ [ˈbaʔ]
• Rhymes: -aʔ
• Syllabification: ba

Noun

bâ (Baybayin spelling ᜊ)

1. clipping of amba

Further reading

• “ba”, in KWF Diksiyonaryo ng Wikang Filipino, Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino, 2025
• “ba”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, 2018
• Blust, Robert; Trussel, Stephen; et al. (2023) “*ba₅”, in the CLDF dataset from The Austronesian Comparative Dictionary (2010–), →DOI

Tày

Pronunciation

• (Thạch An – Tràng Định) IPA^(key): [ɓaː˧˧]
• (Trùng Khánh) IPA^(key): [ɓaː˦˥]

Verb

ba

1. to be (horizontally) spread out

   xu ba ― big ear

References

• Lương Bèn (2011), Từ điển Tày-Việt [Tay-Vietnamese dictionary]‎^[12][13] (in Vietnamese), Thái Nguyên: Nhà Xuất bản Đại học Thái Nguyên

Tetum

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Verb

ba

1. to go

Further reading

• Fransiskus Monteiro (1985), Kamus Tetun-Indonesia [Tetum-Indonesian Dictionary] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Pusat Pembinaan dan Pengembangan Bahasa, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan

Tiruray

Noun

ba

1. (anatomy) mouth

Tswana

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-báa.

Verb

ba

1. to be
2. to become

Uneapa

Etymology

From Proto-Oceanic *bʷa, possibly from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Verb

ba

1. to not be

   Synonym: bali

Further reading

• Terry Crowley et al, The Oceanic Languages (2013), page 374

Vietnamese

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaː˧˧]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaː˧˧]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [ʔɓaː˧˧]

• Audio (Hà Nội):

  (file)

• Audio (Saigon):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Attested quite late in Vietnamese literature. Likely a loan from some variety of Chinese 爸 (bà) (if so distantly related to bố). The resemblance to French papa is probably coincidental.

In Đại Nam quấc âm tự vị (1895), the imitative ba ba was annotated as [t]iếng con nít hay kêu ("a word that children often use"), while glossed as cha, the chief and/or formal word for "father".

Noun

ba • (爸)

1. (chiefly Southern Vietnam) father

   Synonyms: áng, bác, bọ, bố, cậu, cha, thầy, tía

   Ba con tên gì?

   What is your dad's name?

Derived terms

• ba má
• ba mẹ

Etymology 2

Vietnamese numbers ^(edit)

	30
←  2	3	4  →
Cardinal: ba     Ordinal: thứ ba

From Proto-Vietic *paː, from Proto-Austroasiatic *peːʔ (“three”). Cognate with Muong pa, Khmer បី (bəy), Halang pe, Pacoh pe, Mon ပိ, Santali ᱯᱮ (pe).

Numeral

ba • (𠀧, 巴)

1. three

   Ba người lính ngự lâm ― The Three Musketeers

Adjective

ba • (𠀧, 巴)

1. (Southern Vietnam, of a sibling) secondborn

   anh/chị ba ― second eldest brother/sister

   bác ba ― second eldest brother/sister of one's parent

   chú ba ― secondborn younger brother of one's father

Derived terms

• áo ba lỗ
• ba bảy hai mốt ngày
• ba chỉ
• ba lần bảy lượt
• ba phải
• ba que
• ba que xỏ lá
• ba rọi
• Ba Tàu
• ba xạo
• ba xu
• Chúa Ba Ngôi
• dăm ba
• nón ba tầm
• tháng ba
• thứ ba

Determiner

ba

1. (colloquial) some, an indefinite quantity greater than one

   Ba cái đó chả đáng quan tâm.

   There's no need to be concerned about those.

Etymology 3

Romanization

ba

1. Sino-Vietnamese reading of 波

Derived terms

• âm ba
• Ba Lan
• Ba Tây
• Ba Tư
• ba-la-mật-đa
• bôn ba
• phong ba
• vi ba

See also

• sóng

Volapük

Adverb

ba

1. perhaps
   • 1931, Arie de Jong, Gramat Volapüka, § 256:

     Sevol-li ba? kiöpo (kitopo) söl : R. lödom.

     Do you perhaps know where Mr. R. lives?

   • 1946, “Nuns”, in Volapükagased pro Nedänapükans, page 34:

     Söl: ‚Tarnow’ äbinom konletan zilik dinas valik teföl valemapükis valasotik. Bukem valemapükik omik, kel äbinon ba gretikün un Deutän, ye pedistukon ti löliko.

     Mr. Tarnow was an industrious collector of all things in the field of world languages of all kinds. His library about world languages, which was perhaps the largest in Germany, has, however, been almost completely destroyed.

West Makian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Noun

ba

1. the vagina

References

• Clemens Voorhoeve (1982), The Makian languages and their neighbours‎^[14], Pacific linguistics

West Miraya Bikol

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bahaq, from Proto-Austronesian *baSaq.

Noun

bâ

1. flood

Woiwurrung

Pronunciation

1. IPA^(key): [ba]

Conjunction

ba

1. and

Wolaytta

Verb

ba

1. go, act going

Xhosa

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-báa.

Verb

-ba

1. to be
2. to become

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Yapese

Verb

ba

1. (auxiliary) to be (doing something); forms the present tense

Yola

Alternative forms

• b', bee, be

Etymology

From Middle English been, from Old English bēon, from Proto-West Germanic *beun.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bə/, /b/, /biː/

Verb

ba (inflected forms aam, yarth, is, beeth, bin, waz, wasth, war)

1. be
   • 1867, “VERSES IN ANSWER TO THE WEDDEEN O BALLYMORE”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 1, page 100:

     A laafe ing lemethès chote wel ta ba zang,

     A leaf in tatters, I know well to be sung,

2. is
3. are
4. been

References

• Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828), William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 24

Yoruba

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bà/

Verb

bà

1. to ferment

   kòkó ti bà ― The cocoa seeds have fermented

2. to carry out the process of fermentation on seeds or plants

Usage notes

• ba before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìbà (“act of fermenting”)
• ìdíbá-nǹkan (“fermentation”)

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bà/

Verb

bà

1. (horticulture) to plant seeds in prepared pots for future transplanting into a farm (when it becomes an established seedling)

   ba òrom̀bó ― To plant lemon seeds for future transplanting

Usage notes

• ba before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìbà

Etymology 3

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bà/

Verb

bà

1. to press a wound; to apply a warm compress on a wound

   Synonym: mọ́

   ba ojú egbò ― To apply a warm compress to a wound

Usage notes

• ba before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìbà

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /bà/

Verb

bà

1. to hit (with an impact)

   ọfà á bà wọ́n ― The arrow hit them

2. to be overcome with fear (literally, to be hit with fear)

   ẹ̀rú bà wá ― Fear overcame us

3. (usually used with ilẹ̀) to be too long or oversized (to hit the ground)

   agbádá yìí bà mí nílẹ̀ ― The agbada was too big for me

4. to perch

   Lékeléke bà mí lékè, ẹyẹ àdàbà bà mí lékè ― An egret perched on me, a dove perched on me

5. to braid; to plait

   Synonym: dì

Usage notes

• ba before a direct object

Derived terms

• ìbà
• dẹ́rù bà (“to scare”)
• bẹ̀rù (“to fear”)
• ìbẹ̀rù (“fear”)

Zaghawa

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba/

Noun

ba

1. arm

References

• Beria-English English-Beria Dictionary [provisional] ADESK, Iriba, Kobe Department, Chad

Zoogocho Zapotec

Etymology 1

Cognate with Yatzachi Zapotec ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba˦/

Noun

ba

1. hot weather (clarification of this definition is needed)

Derived terms

• chex̱ba
• gwba
• lagüeꞌ ba

Etymology 2

Cognate with Isthmus Zapotec baꞌ, Yatzachi Zapotec ba.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ba˩/

Noun

ba

1. grave, tomb

Etymology 3

Cognate with Yatzachi Zapotec ba-.

Adverb

ba

1. already

References

• Long C., Rebecca; Cruz M., Sofronio (2000), Diccionario zapoteco de San Bartolomé Zoogocho, Oaxaca (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 38)‎^[15] (in Spanish), second electronic edition, Coyoacán, D.F.: Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 3

Zou

Etymology 1

From Proto-Kuki-Chin *ɓaa. Cognate with Mizo bá.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bāː]
• Hyphenation: ba

Verb

bâ (stem II bàt)

1. (transitive) to owe
2. (transitive) to borrow

Etymology 2

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [bāː]
• Hyphenation: ba

Noun

bâ

1. branch (of a tree)

References

• Philip Thangliènmâng (2010), Minimal dictionary and Self-tutor Functional Grammar in Zo-English-Hindi, New Delhi: Zoculsin, →ISBN, page 29; 81
• Lukram Himmat Singh (2013), A Descriptive Grammar of Zou (PhD thesis), Canchipur: Manipur University, pages 44, 45

Zulu

Etymology

From Proto-Bantu *-báa.

Verb

-ba

1. to be
2. to become

Inflection

tone L (infinitive ukuba)

	positive	negative
infinitive	ukuba	ukungabi
imperative
	simple	+ object concord
singular	yiba	-be
plural	yibani	-beni
present
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyaba, ngiba	engibayo, engiba	ngiba	angibi	engingabi	ngingabi
2nd singular	uyaba, uba	obayo, oba	uba	awubi	ongabi	ungabi
1st plural	siyaba, siba	esibayo, esiba	siba	asibi	esingabi	singabi
2nd plural	niyaba, niba	enibayo, eniba	niba	anibi	eningabi	ningabi
class 1	uyaba, uba	obayo, oba	eba	akabi	ongabi	engabi
class 2	bayaba, baba	ababayo, ababa	beba	ababi	abangabi	bengabi
class 3	uyaba, uba	obayo, oba	uba	awubi	ongabi	ungabi
class 4	iyaba, iba	ebayo, eba	iba	ayibi	engabi	ingabi
class 5	liyaba, liba	elibayo, eliba	liba	alibi	elingabi	lingabi
class 6	ayaba, aba	abayo, aba	eba	awabi	angabi	engabi
class 7	siyaba, siba	esibayo, esiba	siba	asibi	esingabi	singabi
class 8	ziyaba, ziba	ezibayo, eziba	ziba	azibi	ezingabi	zingabi
class 9	iyaba, iba	ebayo, eba	iba	ayibi	engabi	ingabi
class 10	ziyaba, ziba	ezibayo, eziba	ziba	azibi	ezingabi	zingabi
class 11	luyaba, luba	olubayo, oluba	luba	alubi	olungabi	lungabi
class 14	buyaba, buba	obubayo, obuba	buba	abubi	obungabi	bungabi
class 15	kuyaba, kuba	okubayo, okuba	kuba	akubi	okungabi	kungabi
class 17	kuyaba, kuba	okubayo, okuba	kuba	akubi	okungabi	kungabi
recent past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngibile, ngibē	engibile, engibē	ngibile, ngibē	angibanga	engingabanga	ngingabanga
2nd singular	ubile, ubē	obile, obē	ubile, ubē	awubanga	ongabanga	ungabanga
1st plural	sibile, sibē	esibile, esibē	sibile, sibē	asibanga	esingabanga	singabanga
2nd plural	nibile, nibē	enibile, enibē	nibile, nibē	anibanga	eningabanga	ningabanga
class 1	ubile, ubē	obile, obē	ebile, ebē	akabanga	ongabanga	engabanga
class 2	babile, babē	ababile, ababē	bebile, bebē	ababanga	abangabanga	bengabanga
class 3	ubile, ubē	obile, obē	ubile, ubē	awubanga	ongabanga	ungabanga
class 4	ibile, ibē	ebile, ebē	ibile, ibē	ayibanga	engabanga	ingabanga
class 5	libile, libē	elibile, elibē	libile, libē	alibanga	elingabanga	lingabanga
class 6	abile, abē	abile, abē	ebile, ebē	awabanga	angabanga	engabanga
class 7	sibile, sibē	esibile, esibē	sibile, sibē	asibanga	esingabanga	singabanga
class 8	zibile, zibē	ezibile, ezibē	zibile, zibē	azibanga	ezingabanga	zingabanga
class 9	ibile, ibē	ebile, ebē	ibile, ibē	ayibanga	engabanga	ingabanga
class 10	zibile, zibē	ezibile, ezibē	zibile, zibē	azibanga	ezingabanga	zingabanga
class 11	lubile, lubē	olubile, olubē	lubile, lubē	alubanga	olungabanga	lungabanga
class 14	bubile, bubē	obubile, obubē	bubile, bubē	abubanga	obungabanga	bungabanga
class 15	kubile, kubē	okubile, okubē	kubile, kubē	akubanga	okungabanga	kungabanga
class 17	kubile, kubē	okubile, okubē	kubile, kubē	akubanga	okungabanga	kungabanga
remote past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngāba	engāba	ngāba	angibanga	engingabanga	ngingabanga
2nd singular	wāba	owāba	wāba	awubanga	ongabanga	ungabanga
1st plural	sāba	esāba	sāba	asibanga	esingabanga	singabanga
2nd plural	nāba	enāba	nāba	anibanga	eningabanga	ningabanga
class 1	wāba	owāba	āba	akabanga	ongabanga	engabanga
class 2	bāba	abāba	bāba	ababanga	abangabanga	bengabanga
class 3	wāba	owāba	wāba	awubanga	ongabanga	ungabanga
class 4	yāba	eyāba	yāba	ayibanga	engabanga	ingabanga
class 5	lāba	elāba	lāba	alibanga	elingabanga	lingabanga
class 6	āba	āba	āba	awabanga	angabanga	engabanga
class 7	sāba	esāba	sāba	asibanga	esingabanga	singabanga
class 8	zāba	ezāba	zāba	azibanga	ezingabanga	zingabanga
class 9	yāba	eyāba	yāba	ayibanga	engabanga	ingabanga
class 10	zāba	ezāba	zāba	azibanga	ezingabanga	zingabanga
class 11	lwāba	olwāba	lwāba	alubanga	olungabanga	lungabanga
class 14	bāba	obāba	bāba	abubanga	obungabanga	bungabanga
class 15	kwāba	okwāba	kwāba	akubanga	okungabanga	kungabanga
class 17	kwāba	okwāba	kwāba	akubanga	okungabanga	kungabanga
potential
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngingaba	—	ngingaba	ngingebe	—	ngingebe
2nd singular	ungaba	—	ungaba	ungebe	—	ungebe
1st plural	singaba	—	singaba	singebe	—	singebe
2nd plural	ningaba	—	ningaba	ningebe	—	ningebe
class 1	angaba	—	engaba	angebe	—	engebe
class 2	bangaba	—	bengaba	bangebe	—	bengebe
class 3	ungaba	—	ungaba	ungebe	—	ungebe
class 4	ingaba	—	ingaba	ingebe	—	ingebe
class 5	lingaba	—	lingaba	lingebe	—	lingebe
class 6	angaba	—	engaba	angebe	—	engebe
class 7	singaba	—	singaba	singebe	—	singebe
class 8	zingaba	—	zingaba	zingebe	—	zingebe
class 9	ingaba	—	ingaba	ingebe	—	ingebe
class 10	zingaba	—	zingaba	zingebe	—	zingebe
class 11	lungaba	—	lungaba	lungebe	—	lungebe
class 14	bungaba	—	bungaba	bungebe	—	bungebe
class 15	kungaba	—	kungaba	kungebe	—	kungebe
class 17	kungaba	—	kungaba	kungebe	—	kungebe
immediate future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngizokuba	engizokuba	ngizokuba	angizukuba	engingezukuba	ngingezukuba
2nd singular	uzokuba	ozokuba	uzokuba	awuzukuba	ongezukuba	ungezukuba
1st plural	sizokuba	esizokuba	sizokuba	asizukuba	esingezukuba	singezukuba
2nd plural	nizokuba	enizokuba	nizokuba	anizukuba	eningezukuba	ningezukuba
class 1	uzokuba	ozokuba	ezokuba	akazukuba	ongezukuba	engezukuba
class 2	bazokuba	abazokuba	bezokuba	abazukuba	abangezukuba	bengezukuba
class 3	uzokuba	ozokuba	uzokuba	awuzukuba	ongezukuba	ungezukuba
class 4	izokuba	ezokuba	izokuba	ayizukuba	engezukuba	ingezukuba
class 5	lizokuba	elizokuba	lizokuba	alizukuba	elingezukuba	lingezukuba
class 6	azokuba	azokuba	ezokuba	awazukuba	angezukuba	engezukuba
class 7	sizokuba	esizokuba	sizokuba	asizukuba	esingezukuba	singezukuba
class 8	zizokuba	ezizokuba	zizokuba	azizukuba	ezingezukuba	zingezukuba
class 9	izokuba	ezokuba	izokuba	ayizukuba	engezukuba	ingezukuba
class 10	zizokuba	ezizokuba	zizokuba	azizukuba	ezingezukuba	zingezukuba
class 11	luzokuba	oluzokuba	luzokuba	aluzukuba	olungezukuba	lungezukuba
class 14	buzokuba	obuzokuba	buzokuba	abuzukuba	obungezukuba	bungezukuba
class 15	kuzokuba	okuzokuba	kuzokuba	akuzukuba	okungezukuba	kungezukuba
class 17	kuzokuba	okuzokuba	kuzokuba	akuzukuba	okungezukuba	kungezukuba
remote future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyokuba	engiyokuba	ngiyokuba	angiyukuba	engingeyukuba	ngingeyukuba
2nd singular	uyokuba	oyokuba	uyokuba	awuyukuba	ongeyukuba	ungeyukuba
1st plural	siyokuba	esiyokuba	siyokuba	asiyukuba	esingeyukuba	singeyukuba
2nd plural	niyokuba	eniyokuba	niyokuba	aniyukuba	eningeyukuba	ningeyukuba
class 1	uyokuba	oyokuba	eyokuba	akayukuba	ongeyukuba	engeyukuba
class 2	bayokuba	abayokuba	beyokuba	abayukuba	abangeyukuba	bengeyukuba
class 3	uyokuba	oyokuba	uyokuba	awuyukuba	ongeyukuba	ungeyukuba
class 4	iyokuba	eyokuba	iyokuba	ayiyukuba	engeyukuba	ingeyukuba
class 5	liyokuba	eliyokuba	liyokuba	aliyukuba	elingeyukuba	lingeyukuba
class 6	ayokuba	ayokuba	eyokuba	awayukuba	angeyukuba	engeyukuba
class 7	siyokuba	esiyokuba	siyokuba	asiyukuba	esingeyukuba	singeyukuba
class 8	ziyokuba	eziyokuba	ziyokuba	aziyukuba	ezingeyukuba	zingeyukuba
class 9	iyokuba	eyokuba	iyokuba	ayiyukuba	engeyukuba	ingeyukuba
class 10	ziyokuba	eziyokuba	ziyokuba	aziyukuba	ezingeyukuba	zingeyukuba
class 11	luyokuba	oluyokuba	luyokuba	aluyukuba	olungeyukuba	lungeyukuba
class 14	buyokuba	obuyokuba	buyokuba	abuyukuba	obungeyukuba	bungeyukuba
class 15	kuyokuba	okuyokuba	kuyokuba	akuyukuba	okungeyukuba	kungeyukuba
class 17	kuyokuba	okuyokuba	kuyokuba	akuyukuba	okungeyukuba	kungeyukuba
present subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngibe	ngingabi
2nd singular	ube	ungabi
1st plural	sibe	singabi
2nd plural	nibe	ningabi
class 1	abe	angabi
class 2	babe	bangabi
class 3	ube	ungabi
class 4	ibe	ingabi
class 5	libe	lingabi
class 6	abe	angabi
class 7	sibe	singabi
class 8	zibe	zingabi
class 9	ibe	ingabi
class 10	zibe	zingabi
class 11	lube	lungabi
class 14	bube	bungabi
class 15	kube	kungabi
class 17	kube	kungabi
past subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngaba	ngangaba, angaba, angangaba
2nd singular	waba	wangaba, awaba, awangaba
1st plural	saba	sangaba, asaba, asangaba
2nd plural	naba	nangaba, anaba, anangaba
class 1	waba	wangaba, akaba, akangaba
class 2	baba	bangaba, ababa, abangaba
class 3	waba	wangaba, awaba, awangaba
class 4	yaba	yangaba, ayaba, ayangaba
class 5	laba	langaba, alaba, alangaba
class 6	aba	angaba, awaba, awangaba
class 7	saba	sangaba, asaba, asangaba
class 8	zaba	zangaba, azaba, azangaba
class 9	yaba	yangaba, ayaba, ayangaba
class 10	zaba	zangaba, azaba, azangaba
class 11	lwaba	lwangaba, alwaba, alwangaba
class 14	baba	bangaba, ababa, abangaba
class 15	kwaba	kwangaba, akwaba, akwangaba
class 17	kwaba	kwangaba, akwaba, akwangaba

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “-ɓa”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “-ɓa”