To burn or be heated, both literally (of materials being set aflame, glowing, drying up) and figuratively (of intense emotion, especially anger or zeal). The word’s semantic range includes physical burning, drying, or becoming parched, as well as describing the state or manifestation of burning passion, anger, or internal heat.

Etymology Root: חָרַר. The root ח-ר-ר carries the basic sense of burning, glowing, or producing heat. The verb חָרַר primarily refers to the action or process of becoming hot, burning, or inflamed, whether literally in natural phenomena or metaphorically in emotions.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Chokwe kala to burn (tr.) -kal-
Kaonde kala to set on fire, to burn -kal-
Kikongo kala to roast, to scorch kala
Kimbundu kala to roast -kala-
Lingala kala to roast, to grill -kala-
Luba-Kasai (Tshiluba) kala to burn, set on fire kala
Luba-Lulua kala to burn, to be hot -kal-
Lunda kala to burn, to cause to burn -kal-
Umbundu okala to roast (maize, etc.) -kala-