Ubuntu
noun /ʊˈbʊntuː/ — I am because we are — the opposite of loneliness as a philosophy.
Definition
A Zulu and Nguni Bantu concept meaning human kindness and community: the idea that a person is a person through other people; that humanity is shared and individual identity is defined by relationships. If nakama is the opposite of loneliness as a feeling, ubuntu is the opposite of loneliness as a worldview.
Beyond the definition
Archbishop Desmond Tutu brought ubuntu to global attention. It's the philosophical basis of restorative justice and community healing. At its heart: you cannot be fully human alone. Your humanity is only realised through recognition by others.
Origin & history
From Zulu and Nguni Bantu ubuntu — humanity, humanness. The full phrase: 'Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu' — 'A person is a person through other people.'
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
Ubuntu was invoked in the post-apartheid reconciliation process — healing through community, not punishment.
She thought about ubuntu every time individualism was taken too far in the organisation.
Ubuntu: I am because we are. It changes how you think about achievement.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Ubuntu” when the meaning fits your context: A Zulu and Nguni Bantu concept meaning human kindness and community: the idea that a person is a person through other people; that humanity is shared and individual identity is defined by relationships. If nakama is the opposite of loneliness as a feeling, ubuntu is the opposite of loneliness as a worldview.
Synonyms
community, shared humanity, human kindness, interdependence
Antonyms
individualism, isolation, indifference
Related words
Ubuntu vs interconnectedness
Interconnectedness is the scientific or spiritual fact of unity. Ubuntu is the ethical framework asserting that one’s own humanity is inextricably linked to the humanity of others.
Word in the Wild
Illustrative story: an imagined scene, not a documented event or interview.
She had moved from Cape Town to London at twenty-six, and what struck her most — more than the weather, more than the pace — was the texture of being alone.
"In Johannesburg," she told people, "you cannot separate yourself from others. It's uncomfortable sometimes. But it also means your neighbours know your name, and if you are ill someone will bring food." She paused. "Here, you can disappear completely. That is not freedom. That is something else."
She started a dinner club. It met weekly. It became sixty people in three years. She was asked to describe her philosophy. She said it in two words.
Questions about this word
What does "Ubuntu" mean?
Ubuntu is noun meaning: I am because we are — the opposite of loneliness as a philosophy.. A Zulu and Nguni Bantu concept meaning human kindness and community: the idea that a person is a person through other people; that humanity is shared and individual identity is defined by relationships. If nakama is the opposite of loneliness as a feeling, ubuntu is the opposite of loneliness as a worldview.
Which words express “realizing everyone has a full life”?
Ubuntu — I am because we are — the opposite of loneliness as a philosophy.
Where does the word "Ubuntu" come from?
From Zulu and Nguni Bantu ubuntu — humanity, humanness. The full phrase: 'Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu' — 'A person is a person through other people.'