Where does “jambo” come from?

jambo (Swahili) comes from Swahili amba, from Proto-Bantu -gàmba — to speak, to answer.

jambo (Swahili): thing, affair, issue, matter; Hello!

Definitions

  1. thing, affair, issue, matter; Hello!

Ancestry of “jambo”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Swahiliambawhich; who; to say, to explain
2Proto-Bantu-gàmbato speak, to answer
Every word from Proto-Bantu -gàmba →Every word from Swahili amba →