Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 16, 2026

Bembe language (Kibembe)

Bembe is a Bantu language spoken primarily in the Republic of Congo. It is closely related to Kikongo and forms part of the Kongo language cluster.

Last revised
Jul 16, 2026
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≈ 1 min
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Wikipedia ↗
Bembe
Kibembe / Kibeembe
Native toRepublic of Congo
Native speakers
Bembe: 100,000
Kambba: 1,500
Doondo: 30,000 (2007 census)1
Dialects
  • Beembe
  • Kamba-Doondo
  • Hangala (Ghaangala)
Language codes
ISO 639-3Variously:
beq – Bembe
xku – Kamba
dde – Doondo
Glottologbeem1239  Beembe
kaam1238  Kaamba
doon1238  Doondo
H.11,111,1122

Bembe (Kibembe or Kibeembe) is a Bantu language spoken primarily in the Republic of Congo. It is closely related to Kikongo and forms part of the Kongo language cluster.

It should not be confused with the Bembe language (Ibembe) spoken in Congo-Kinshasa and Tanzania.

Maho (2009) considers Beembe, Kamba-Doondo, and Gangala (or Hangala, Gaangala, Haangala) to be distinct languages.

Phonology

The language exhibits typical Bantu phonology, including a system of noun classes and verb conjugations. (Further details can be added as linguistic research becomes available.)

Grammar

Bembe follows the noun class system characteristic of Bantu languages. Verbs are marked for tense, aspect, and subject agreement.

References

References

  1. "Bembe". Ethnologue. 2007.
  2. Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online
External links