chama

See also: chamá, cham·a, and -chama

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Swahili chamabor.

English chama

Borrowed from Swahili chama (“organisation, society”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʃɑːmə/

Noun

chama (plural chamas)

2. (East Africa, chiefly Kenya) Any of several types of informal cooperative society.
   2. (often) Such a group for pooling and investing savings.

      Hypernym: ROSCA

Anagrams

• Macha

Galician

Chamas ("flames")

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃama/ [ˈt͡ʃa.mɐ]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Hyphenation: cha‧ma

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese chama (13th century, Cantigas de Santa Maria), from Latin flamma (“flame”). Cognate with Portuguese chama, Spanish llama, Sicilian ciamma.

Noun

chama f (plural chamas)

1. flame

   Synonym: lapa

Derived terms

• chamizo
• chamurra
• chamuscar

Etymology 2

Verb

chama

1. inflection of chamar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

References

• Seoane, Ernesto Xosé González; Granja, María Álvarez de la; Agrelo, Ana Isabel Boullón (2006–2022), “chama”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval [Dictionary of dictionaries of Medieval Galician] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Barreiro, Xavier Varela; Guinovart, Xavier Gómez (2006–2018), “chama”, in Corpus Xelmírez: corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval [Corpus Xelmírez: linguistic corpus of Medieval Galicia] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, editor (2006–2013), “chama”, in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega [Dictionary of Dictionaries of the Galician language] (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Antón Luís Santamarina Fernández, Ernesto Xosé González Seoane, María Álvarez de la Granja, editors (2003–2018), “chama”, in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega
• Rosario Álvarez Blanco, editor (2014–2024), “chama”, in Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués (in Galician), Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega, →ISSN

Further reading

• “chama”, in Dicionario da Real Academia Galega (in Galician), A Coruña: Royal Galician Academy, 2012–2026
• “chama”, in Dicionário Estraviz de galego (in Galician), 2014–2026

Garo

Verb

chama

1. to distribute among individuals

Irish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈxamˠə/

Adjective

chama

1. lenited form of cama

Latin

Etymology 1

Variant form of chēma, from Ancient Greek χήμη (khḗmē).

Noun

chāma f (genitive chāmae); first declension

1. bivalve, shellfish, clam; cockle

Declension

First-declension noun.

	singular	plural
nominative	chāma	chāmae
genitive	chāmae	chāmārum
dative	chāmae	chāmīs
accusative	chāmam	chāmās
ablative	chāmā	chāmīs
vocative	chāma	chāmae

Etymology 2

Unknown. Used by Pliny the Elder in Naturalis Historia.

Noun

chama n (genitive chamatis); third declension

1. lynx
   • (Can we date this quote?), Plinius, Naturalis Historia, liber I. In: Pliny Natural History with an English translation by H. Rackham, vol. I, 1961, p. 40–43:

     Libro VIII. continentur: [...] (xxvi-xxx) De camelis; genera eorum. de camelopardali; quando primimi Romae visa. de chamate. de cephis, de rhinocerote. de lynce et sphingibus. de crocottis. de cercopithecis.

     Book VIII. Contents: [...] (xxvi-xxx) Camels; their kinds. The giraffe; when first seen at Rome. The spotted lynx. The cephi. The rhinoceros. The lynx and the sphynxes. The crocottae.^b The long-tailed monkeys.
     ^b Perhaps the hyena.

Declension

Third-declension noun (neuter, imparisyllabic non-i-stem).

	singular	plural
nominative	chama	chamata
genitive	chamatis	chamatum
dative	chamatī	chamatibus
accusative	chama	chamata
ablative	chamate	chamatibus
vocative	chama	chamata

Further reading

• “chama”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
• "chama", in Charles du Fresne du Cange, Glossarium Mediæ et Infimæ Latinitatis (augmented edition with additions by D. P. Carpenterius, Adelungius and others, edited by Léopold Favre, 1883–1887)
• “chama”, in Gaffiot, Félix (1934), Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.

Old Irish

Adjective

chama

1. alternative spelling of chamma: lenited form of cama

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• chamma (pre-reform spelling)

Pronunciation

 

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɐ̃.mɐ/

• (Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɐ̃.mɐ/
  • (Southern Brazil) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɐ.ma/

 

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɐ.mɐ/

• (Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɐ.mɐ/
  • (Northern Portugal) IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃa.mɐ/

• Audio (Portugal (Porto)):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɐmɐ
• Hyphenation: cha‧ma

Etymology 1

From Old Galician-Portuguese chama, from Latin flamma, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰlē- (“to shimmer, gleam, shine”). Cognate with Galician chama, and Spanish llama. Doublet of flama.

Noun

chama f (plural chamas)

1. flame (visible part of fire)

   Synonym: flama

2. (figurative) flame (great zeal or passion)

   Synonym: ardor

Derived terms

• chamiço

See also

• fogo, incêndio, labareda, língua de fogo

Etymology 2

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

Verb

chama

1. inflection of chamar:
   1. third-person singular present indicative
   2. second-person singular imperative

Further reading

• “chama”, in Dicionário Aulete Digital (in Portuguese), Rio de Janeiro: Lexikon Editora Digital, 2008–2026
• “chama”, in Dicionário Priberam da Língua Portuguesa (in Portuguese), Lisbon: Priberam, 2008–2026

Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡ʃama/ [ˈt͡ʃa.ma]
• Rhymes: -ama
• Syllabification: cha‧ma

Noun

chama m (plural chamas)

1. chama
2. female equivalent of chamo

Further reading

• “chama”, in Diccionario de la lengua española [Dictionary of the Spanish Language] (in Spanish), online version 23.8.1, Royal Spanish Academy [Spanish: Real Academia Española], 15 December 2025

Swahili

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Noun

chama class VII (plural vyama class VIII)

1. organization, society
2. union
3. party (a political party)
4. club

Derived terms

• mwanachama

Xhosa

Etymology

From a Khoe language. Compare Khoekhoe ǀkham (“urinate”).

Verb

-chama

1. (intransitive) to urinate

Inflection

This verb needs an inflection-table template.

Zulu

Etymology

From a Khoe language. Compare Khoekhoe ǀkham (“urinate”).

Verb

-chama

1. (intransitive) to urinate

Inflection

tone L (infinitive ukuchama)

	positive	negative
infinitive	ukuchama	ukungachami
imperative
	simple	+ object concord
singular	chama	-chame
plural	chamani	-chameni
present
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyachama, ngichama	engichamayo, engichama	ngichama	angichami	engingachami	ngingachami
2nd singular	uyachama, uchama	ochamayo, ochama	uchama	awuchami	ongachami	ungachami
1st plural	siyachama, sichama	esichamayo, esichama	sichama	asichami	esingachami	singachami
2nd plural	niyachama, nichama	enichamayo, enichama	nichama	anichami	eningachami	ningachami
class 1	uyachama, uchama	ochamayo, ochama	echama	akachami	ongachami	engachami
class 2	bayachama, bachama	abachamayo, abachama	bechama	abachami	abangachami	bengachami
class 3	uyachama, uchama	ochamayo, ochama	uchama	awuchami	ongachami	ungachami
class 4	iyachama, ichama	echamayo, echama	ichama	ayichami	engachami	ingachami
class 5	liyachama, lichama	elichamayo, elichama	lichama	alichami	elingachami	lingachami
class 6	ayachama, achama	achamayo, achama	echama	awachami	angachami	engachami
class 7	siyachama, sichama	esichamayo, esichama	sichama	asichami	esingachami	singachami
class 8	ziyachama, zichama	ezichamayo, ezichama	zichama	azichami	ezingachami	zingachami
class 9	iyachama, ichama	echamayo, echama	ichama	ayichami	engachami	ingachami
class 10	ziyachama, zichama	ezichamayo, ezichama	zichama	azichami	ezingachami	zingachami
class 11	luyachama, luchama	oluchamayo, oluchama	luchama	aluchami	olungachami	lungachami
class 14	buyachama, buchama	obuchamayo, obuchama	buchama	abuchami	obungachami	bungachami
class 15	kuyachama, kuchama	okuchamayo, okuchama	kuchama	akuchami	okungachami	kungachami
class 17	kuyachama, kuchama	okuchamayo, okuchama	kuchama	akuchami	okungachami	kungachami
recent past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngichamile, ngichamē	engichamile, engichamē	ngichamile, ngichamē	angichamanga	engingachamanga	ngingachamanga
2nd singular	uchamile, uchamē	ochamile, ochamē	uchamile, uchamē	awuchamanga	ongachamanga	ungachamanga
1st plural	sichamile, sichamē	esichamile, esichamē	sichamile, sichamē	asichamanga	esingachamanga	singachamanga
2nd plural	nichamile, nichamē	enichamile, enichamē	nichamile, nichamē	anichamanga	eningachamanga	ningachamanga
class 1	uchamile, uchamē	ochamile, ochamē	echamile, echamē	akachamanga	ongachamanga	engachamanga
class 2	bachamile, bachamē	abachamile, abachamē	bechamile, bechamē	abachamanga	abangachamanga	bengachamanga
class 3	uchamile, uchamē	ochamile, ochamē	uchamile, uchamē	awuchamanga	ongachamanga	ungachamanga
class 4	ichamile, ichamē	echamile, echamē	ichamile, ichamē	ayichamanga	engachamanga	ingachamanga
class 5	lichamile, lichamē	elichamile, elichamē	lichamile, lichamē	alichamanga	elingachamanga	lingachamanga
class 6	achamile, achamē	achamile, achamē	echamile, echamē	awachamanga	angachamanga	engachamanga
class 7	sichamile, sichamē	esichamile, esichamē	sichamile, sichamē	asichamanga	esingachamanga	singachamanga
class 8	zichamile, zichamē	ezichamile, ezichamē	zichamile, zichamē	azichamanga	ezingachamanga	zingachamanga
class 9	ichamile, ichamē	echamile, echamē	ichamile, ichamē	ayichamanga	engachamanga	ingachamanga
class 10	zichamile, zichamē	ezichamile, ezichamē	zichamile, zichamē	azichamanga	ezingachamanga	zingachamanga
class 11	luchamile, luchamē	oluchamile, oluchamē	luchamile, luchamē	aluchamanga	olungachamanga	lungachamanga
class 14	buchamile, buchamē	obuchamile, obuchamē	buchamile, buchamē	abuchamanga	obungachamanga	bungachamanga
class 15	kuchamile, kuchamē	okuchamile, okuchamē	kuchamile, kuchamē	akuchamanga	okungachamanga	kungachamanga
class 17	kuchamile, kuchamē	okuchamile, okuchamē	kuchamile, kuchamē	akuchamanga	okungachamanga	kungachamanga
remote past
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngāchama	engāchama	ngāchama	angichamanga	engingachamanga	ngingachamanga
2nd singular	wāchama	owāchama	wāchama	awuchamanga	ongachamanga	ungachamanga
1st plural	sāchama	esāchama	sāchama	asichamanga	esingachamanga	singachamanga
2nd plural	nāchama	enāchama	nāchama	anichamanga	eningachamanga	ningachamanga
class 1	wāchama	owāchama	āchama	akachamanga	ongachamanga	engachamanga
class 2	bāchama	abāchama	bāchama	abachamanga	abangachamanga	bengachamanga
class 3	wāchama	owāchama	wāchama	awuchamanga	ongachamanga	ungachamanga
class 4	yāchama	eyāchama	yāchama	ayichamanga	engachamanga	ingachamanga
class 5	lāchama	elāchama	lāchama	alichamanga	elingachamanga	lingachamanga
class 6	āchama	āchama	āchama	awachamanga	angachamanga	engachamanga
class 7	sāchama	esāchama	sāchama	asichamanga	esingachamanga	singachamanga
class 8	zāchama	ezāchama	zāchama	azichamanga	ezingachamanga	zingachamanga
class 9	yāchama	eyāchama	yāchama	ayichamanga	engachamanga	ingachamanga
class 10	zāchama	ezāchama	zāchama	azichamanga	ezingachamanga	zingachamanga
class 11	lwāchama	olwāchama	lwāchama	aluchamanga	olungachamanga	lungachamanga
class 14	bāchama	obāchama	bāchama	abuchamanga	obungachamanga	bungachamanga
class 15	kwāchama	okwāchama	kwāchama	akuchamanga	okungachamanga	kungachamanga
class 17	kwāchama	okwāchama	kwāchama	akuchamanga	okungachamanga	kungachamanga
potential
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngingachama	—	ngingachama	ngingechame	—	ngingechame
2nd singular	ungachama	—	ungachama	ungechame	—	ungechame
1st plural	singachama	—	singachama	singechame	—	singechame
2nd plural	ningachama	—	ningachama	ningechame	—	ningechame
class 1	angachama	—	engachama	angechame	—	engechame
class 2	bangachama	—	bengachama	bangechame	—	bengechame
class 3	ungachama	—	ungachama	ungechame	—	ungechame
class 4	ingachama	—	ingachama	ingechame	—	ingechame
class 5	lingachama	—	lingachama	lingechame	—	lingechame
class 6	angachama	—	engachama	angechame	—	engechame
class 7	singachama	—	singachama	singechame	—	singechame
class 8	zingachama	—	zingachama	zingechame	—	zingechame
class 9	ingachama	—	ingachama	ingechame	—	ingechame
class 10	zingachama	—	zingachama	zingechame	—	zingechame
class 11	lungachama	—	lungachama	lungechame	—	lungechame
class 14	bungachama	—	bungachama	bungechame	—	bungechame
class 15	kungachama	—	kungachama	kungechame	—	kungechame
class 17	kungachama	—	kungachama	kungechame	—	kungechame
immediate future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngizochama	engizochama	ngizochama	angizuchama	engingezuchama	ngingezuchama
2nd singular	uzochama	ozochama	uzochama	awuzuchama	ongezuchama	ungezuchama
1st plural	sizochama	esizochama	sizochama	asizuchama	esingezuchama	singezuchama
2nd plural	nizochama	enizochama	nizochama	anizuchama	eningezuchama	ningezuchama
class 1	uzochama	ozochama	ezochama	akazuchama	ongezuchama	engezuchama
class 2	bazochama	abazochama	bezochama	abazuchama	abangezuchama	bengezuchama
class 3	uzochama	ozochama	uzochama	awuzuchama	ongezuchama	ungezuchama
class 4	izochama	ezochama	izochama	ayizuchama	engezuchama	ingezuchama
class 5	lizochama	elizochama	lizochama	alizuchama	elingezuchama	lingezuchama
class 6	azochama	azochama	ezochama	awazuchama	angezuchama	engezuchama
class 7	sizochama	esizochama	sizochama	asizuchama	esingezuchama	singezuchama
class 8	zizochama	ezizochama	zizochama	azizuchama	ezingezuchama	zingezuchama
class 9	izochama	ezochama	izochama	ayizuchama	engezuchama	ingezuchama
class 10	zizochama	ezizochama	zizochama	azizuchama	ezingezuchama	zingezuchama
class 11	luzochama	oluzochama	luzochama	aluzuchama	olungezuchama	lungezuchama
class 14	buzochama	obuzochama	buzochama	abuzuchama	obungezuchama	bungezuchama
class 15	kuzochama	okuzochama	kuzochama	akuzuchama	okungezuchama	kungezuchama
class 17	kuzochama	okuzochama	kuzochama	akuzuchama	okungezuchama	kungezuchama
remote future
	positive absolute	positive relative	positive participial	negative absolute	negative relative	negative participial
1st singular	ngiyochama	engiyochama	ngiyochama	angiyuchama	engingeyuchama	ngingeyuchama
2nd singular	uyochama	oyochama	uyochama	awuyuchama	ongeyuchama	ungeyuchama
1st plural	siyochama	esiyochama	siyochama	asiyuchama	esingeyuchama	singeyuchama
2nd plural	niyochama	eniyochama	niyochama	aniyuchama	eningeyuchama	ningeyuchama
class 1	uyochama	oyochama	eyochama	akayuchama	ongeyuchama	engeyuchama
class 2	bayochama	abayochama	beyochama	abayuchama	abangeyuchama	bengeyuchama
class 3	uyochama	oyochama	uyochama	awuyuchama	ongeyuchama	ungeyuchama
class 4	iyochama	eyochama	iyochama	ayiyuchama	engeyuchama	ingeyuchama
class 5	liyochama	eliyochama	liyochama	aliyuchama	elingeyuchama	lingeyuchama
class 6	ayochama	ayochama	eyochama	awayuchama	angeyuchama	engeyuchama
class 7	siyochama	esiyochama	siyochama	asiyuchama	esingeyuchama	singeyuchama
class 8	ziyochama	eziyochama	ziyochama	aziyuchama	ezingeyuchama	zingeyuchama
class 9	iyochama	eyochama	iyochama	ayiyuchama	engeyuchama	ingeyuchama
class 10	ziyochama	eziyochama	ziyochama	aziyuchama	ezingeyuchama	zingeyuchama
class 11	luyochama	oluyochama	luyochama	aluyuchama	olungeyuchama	lungeyuchama
class 14	buyochama	obuyochama	buyochama	abuyuchama	obungeyuchama	bungeyuchama
class 15	kuyochama	okuyochama	kuyochama	akuyuchama	okungeyuchama	kungeyuchama
class 17	kuyochama	okuyochama	kuyochama	akuyuchama	okungeyuchama	kungeyuchama
present subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngichame	ngingachami
2nd singular	uchame	ungachami
1st plural	sichame	singachami
2nd plural	nichame	ningachami
class 1	achame	angachami
class 2	bachame	bangachami
class 3	uchame	ungachami
class 4	ichame	ingachami
class 5	lichame	lingachami
class 6	achame	angachami
class 7	sichame	singachami
class 8	zichame	zingachami
class 9	ichame	ingachami
class 10	zichame	zingachami
class 11	luchame	lungachami
class 14	buchame	bungachami
class 15	kuchame	kungachami
class 17	kuchame	kungachami
past subjunctive
	positive	negative
1st singular	ngachama	ngangachama, angachama, angangachama
2nd singular	wachama	wangachama, awachama, awangachama
1st plural	sachama	sangachama, asachama, asangachama
2nd plural	nachama	nangachama, anachama, anangachama
class 1	wachama	wangachama, akachama, akangachama
class 2	bachama	bangachama, abachama, abangachama
class 3	wachama	wangachama, awachama, awangachama
class 4	yachama	yangachama, ayachama, ayangachama
class 5	lachama	langachama, alachama, alangachama
class 6	achama	angachama, awachama, awangachama
class 7	sachama	sangachama, asachama, asangachama
class 8	zachama	zangachama, azachama, azangachama
class 9	yachama	yangachama, ayachama, ayangachama
class 10	zachama	zangachama, azachama, azangachama
class 11	lwachama	lwangachama, alwachama, alwangachama
class 14	bachama	bangachama, abachama, abangachama
class 15	kwachama	kwangachama, akwachama, akwangachama
class 17	kwachama	kwangachama, akwachama, akwangachama

References

• C. M. Doke; B. W. Vilakazi (1972), “chama”, in Zulu-English Dictionary, →ISBN: “chama (6.3)”