(Redirected from Kiembu )
Bantu language spoken in Kenya
Embu , also known as Kîembu , is a Bantu language of Kenya . It is spoken by the Embu people, also known as the Aembu (sg. Muembu). Speakers of the Embu language can also be found in neighboring districts /counties and in the diaspora.
The language is closely related to the Kikuyu and Kimeru languages.
Dialects
Embu has two known dialects; Mbeere (Mbere, Kimbeere) and Embu proper. Native Embu speakers can also tell apart a speaker from areas close to Mount Kenya , because they speak with a slight dialect locally called Kiruguru (Kirũgũrũ).
Sample Translations
Sample translations of words from English to Kiembu. Note: Accented characters or diacritical mark are not shown in the following two tables.
English
Kiembu
mouth
kanyua
eye; eyes
ritho; metho
head; heads
kiongo; ciongo
hair
njuiri (no plural)
tooth; teeth
igego; magego
tongue; tongues
rurimi; irimi
nose; noses
inyiuru; manyiuru
ear; ears
gutu; matu
neck; necks
ngingo (no plural)
hand; hands
njara (no plural)
throat; throats
mumero; mimero
breast; breasts
nyondo
arm; arms
kivi;ivi
claw; claws
ngunyu
nail; nails
ngunyu
leg; legs
kuguru; maguru
foot; feet
kuguru; maguru or gitende; itende
buttock; buttocks
itina; matina
belly, stomach
nda, ivu
navel
ikonye
intestines
mara
blood
nthakame
urine
mathugumo
bone; bones
ivindi; mavindi
skin
ngothi
wing; wings
ithagu; mathagu
feather; feathers
ivuta; mavuta
school
cukuru
church
kanitha
horn; horns
ruvia; ivia, mvia
tail; tails
mukia; mikia
human being(s)/person(s)
mundu; andu
man; men
mundu murume; andu arume
woman; women
mutumia; atumia or mundu muka; andu aka
husband; husbands
muthuri; athuri
child; children
mwana; ciana
name; names
riitwa; mariitwa
sky
matu/iguru
night
utuku
moon
mweri
sun
riua
wind
ruvuvo
cloud; clouds
itu; matu
dew
ime
rain
mbura
ground
nthi
sand
muthanga
path/road
gacira/njira
water
manji or mai
stream/river
karunji/runji
sweat
nthithina
hill/mountain
karima/kirima
house; houses
nyomba
fire
mwaki
firewood
ruku (singular); nguu (plural)
smoke
ndogo
ash
muu
knife; knives
kaviu; tuviu
rope; ropes
mukanda; mikanda
spear; spears
itumu; matumu
war
mbaara
animal; animals
nyamu
meat
nyama
dog; dogs
ngui
elephant; elephants
njogu
goat; goats
mburi
bird; birds
giconi; iconi
tortoise
nguru
snake
njoka
fish
nthamaki
louse; lice
muthui; mithui
egg; eggs
itumbi; matumbi
tree; trees
muti; miti
bark
ikoni
English
Kiembu
lake/sea/ocean
iria
lakes/seas/oceans
maria
leaf; leaves
ithangu; mathangu
root; roots
muri; miri
salt
cumbi
oil/fat
maguta
hunger(general)
ng’aragu
hunger for meat
ngumba
iron (metal)
cuma
one
Imwe
two
Igiri
three
Ithatu
four
Inya
five
Ithano
six
Ithathatu or Ithanthatu
seven
Mugwanja
eight
Inyanya
nine
Kenda
ten
Ikumi
come
uka
send
tuma
walk
thii
fall
gua
leave
uma
fly
guruka
pour
iturura
strike
ringa
bite
ruma
to strike
kugoma
wash (tr.)
thambia
split
atura
give
va
steal
iia
squeeze
vivinya
cultivate
rima
bury (tr.)
thika
burn (tr.)
vivia
eat
ria
drink
nyua
vomit I
tavika
vomit II
mataviko
suck I
onga
suck II
onga
spit (saliva)
tua
blow (on)
vuva
swell
imba
give birth
ciara
die
kua
kill
uraga
push
tindika
pull
gucia
sing
ina
play (game)
thaaka
be afraid
itigire
want
enda
say
uga
smell (something)
nungira
see
ona
show
onia
hear
igua
know
menya
count
tara
advice
utaro
advise
taara
Sample Phrases
English
Kiembu
Gĩkũyũ
Kiswahili
How are you?
Ũvoro waku? or Kũvana atĩa?
Ũhoro waku? or Kũhana atĩa?
Habari yako? or U hali gani?
(Please) give me some water
Mve/mva maĩ. or Ngundia maĩ.
He maĩ.
Tafadhali nipe maji. or Naomba unipe maji.
How are you doing?
Wi mwaro?
Ũrĩ mwega? or Wi mwega?
Uko mzima? or U hali gani?
I am hungry.
Nĩ mũvũtu.
Ndĩ mũhũtu.
(Mimi) niko na njaa.
Help me.
Ndethia.
Ndeithia.
Nisaidie.
I am good.
Nĩ mwaro.
Ndĩ mwega.
Sijambo or Mimi mzima.
Are you a friend?
Wĩ mũrata?
Wĩ mũrata?
Wewe ni rafiki?
Bye, be blessed.
Tigwa na wega. or Tigwaa na thayũ.
Tigwo na wega. or Tigwo na thaayũ.
Kwaheri, na ubarikiwe.
I love you.
Nĩngwendete.
Nĩngwendete.
(Mimi) nakupenda.
Come here.
Ũka ava. or Ũkava.
Ũka haha.
Njoo hapa.
I will phone you.
Nĩngũkũvũrĩra thimũ.
Nĩngũkũhũrĩra thimũ.
Nitakupigia simu.
I am blessed.
Nĩmũrathime.
Ndĩmũrathime.
(Mimi) nimebarikiwa.
God is good.
Ngai ni mwaro.
Ngai ni mwega.
Mungu ni mwema.
Give me some money.
Mve mbeca. or Mva mbia.
He mbeca.
Nipe pesa.
Stop the nonsense.
Tiga wana. or Tigana na ũrimũ.
Tiga wana.
Wacha upuuzi.
You are educated.
Wi műthomű.
Wi műthomű.
Umeelimika (umesoma sana).
References
^ Embu at Ethnologue
New Updated Guthrie List Online
The Harmonization and Standardization of Kenyan Languages: Orthography and Other Aspects
Languages of Kenya Official languages
Indigenous Immigrant languages
Sign languages
Urban languages
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