Lubukusu
Bukusu
Niger-Congo
Bukusu (Lubukusu) is a Bantu language of the Luhya cluster (Glottolog JE31c), spoken by approximately 750,000 to 1.4 million people in Bungoma and Trans-Nzoia counties of western Kenya. The Bukusu community is the largest of the ~17 Luhya subgroups, distinguishing themselves through circumcision rites (sikhebo), warrior traditions, and Mt Elgon mythology shared with sister-language Masaaba (myx) across the Uganda border. Linguistically, Bukusu retains conservative Bantu features (15-18 noun classes, complex verbal morphology with tense-aspect-mood, two-tone register system), with Mutonyi (2000) providing the most comprehensive modern linguistic description. The Bible was translated into Bukusu in the 1960s, and there is active community publishing in folktales and proverbs.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Bukusu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo
| Meaning | Bukusu | Masaaba | Luhya | Soga | Runyankole | Chiga | Yao |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kameechi /kameːtʃi/ | kamaatsi /kamaːtsi/ | amatsi /amatsi/ | amaadhi /amaːd̪i/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | mesi /mesi/ |
| Fire | kumulilo /kumulilo/ | kamulilo /kamulilo/ | omuliro /omuliro/ | omuliro /omuliɾo/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | enyanga /eɲaŋɡa/ | suuba /suːba/ | liuba /liuba/ | endhuba /end̪uba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | lyuwa /ʎuwa/ |
| Moon | kumwesi /kumwesi/ | umweesi /umweːsi/ | omwesi /omwesi/ | omwezi /omwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | mwesi /mwesi/ |
| Star | eng'enieesi /eŋeɲeːsi/ | kumunyeenye /kumuɲeːɲe/ | engʼiningʼini /eŋiniŋini/ | emuunienie /emuːɲeɲe/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | ndondwa /ndondwa/ |
| Night | siilo /siːlo/ | busilo /busilo/ | eshilo /eʃilo/ | obwire /obwire/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ | chilo /tʃilo/ |
| Rain | efula /efula/ | ifula /ifula/ | efula /eˈfula/ | enkuba /eŋkuba/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | ula /ula/ |
| Snow | ebarafu /ebarafu/ | — | itsaluchi /itsalutʃi/ | — | — | — | — |
| Wind | embeo /embeo/ | imbewo /imbewo/ | omuyeka /omujeka/ | empewo /empewo/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | mbungo /mbuŋɡo/ |
| Earth | liloba /liloba/ | liloba /liloba/ | liloba /liloba/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | litaka /litaka/ |
| Stone | libaale /libaːle/ | libaale /libaːle/ | lichina /litʃina/ | eibaale /eibaːle/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | liganga /liɡaŋɡa/ |
| Mountain | sikulu /sikulu/ | lukiingi /lukiːŋɡi/ | eshikulu /eʃikulu/ | olusozzi /olusozzi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | omusozi /omusozi/ | litumbi /litumbi/ |
| Sea | enyanja /eɲandʒa/ | inyaantsa /iɲaːntsa/ | inyanza /iɲanza/ | enhandha /eɲand̪a/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | bahali /bahali/ |
| Mother | maayi /maːji/ | mayi /maji/ | mayi /maji/ | maama /maːma/ | maawe /maːwe/ | nyina /ɲina/ | amao /amao/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | lata /lata/ | tata /tata/ | ishe /iʃe/ | atati /atati/ |
| Daughter | omukhaana /omuxaːna/ | umukhaana /umuxaːna/ | omukhaana /omuxaːna/ | omughala /omuɣala/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | mwanache jwamkongwe /mwanatʃe dʒwamkoŋɡwe/ |
| I | ese /ese/ | ise /ise/ | ese /ese/ | nze /nze/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | une /une/ |
| You | ewe /ewe/ | iwe /iwe/ | ewe /ewe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | mmwe /mːwe/ |
| We | efwe /efwe/ | ifwe /ifwe/ | efwe /efwe/ | iffe /ifːe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | uwe /uwe/ |
| Name | lisina /lisiːna/ | lisiina /lisiːna/ | elira /elira/ | eriina /eriːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | lina /lina/ |
| Person | omundu /omundu/ | umundu /umundu/ | omundu /omundu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | mundu /mundu/ |
| Head | kumurwe /kumurwe/ | kumurwe /kumurwe/ | omurwe /omurwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | mtwe /mtwe/ |
| Eye | emoni /emoni/ | liiso /liːso/ | liiso /liːso/ | eriiso /eɾiːso/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | liiru /liːru/ | khukhuru /kʰukʰuru/ | eshirwi /eʃirwi/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | liwiwi /liwiwi/ |
| Nose | lyolu /ljolu/ | lilyoolu /liʎoːlu/ | amolu /amolu/ | ennhindo /eɲːindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | lupula /lupula/ |
| Mouth | kumunwa /kumunwa/ | kumunwa /kumunwa/ | omunwa /omunwa/ | omunwa /omunwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | kang'wa /kaŋwa/ |
| Tooth | liino /liːno/ | liino /liːno/ | lino /lino/ | erino /erino/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | liino /liːno/ |
| Tongue | lulimi /lulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ | olulimi /olulimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | kumukhono /kumukʰono/ | kumukhono /kumukʰono/ | omukhono /omukʰono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | nkono /nkono/ |
| Foot | sikele /sikele/ | shikyele /ʃikjele/ | eshilenje /eʃilendʒe/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | lukongolo /lukoŋɡolo/ |
| Heart | kumwoyo /kumwojo/ | umwoyo /umwojo/ | omwoyo /omwojo/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | mtima /mtima/ |
| Bone | sikuumba /sikuːmba/ | kumba /kumba/ | eshikumba /eʃikumba/ | eigumba /eiɡumba/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | liupa /liupa/ |
| Blood | kamafuki /kamafuki/ | kamafuki /kamafuki/ | amasayi /amasaji/ | omusaayi /omusaːji/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | miasi /miasi/ |
| Love | khusiima /kʰusiːma/ | khusima /kʰusima/ | obuyanzi /obujanzi/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | unonyelo /unoɲelo/ |
| Tree | kumusaala /kumusaːla/ | kumusaala /kumusaːla/ | omusala /omusala/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | mtela /mtela/ |
| Dog | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | enyawu /eɲawu/ | paka /paka/ | lipusi /lipusi/ | pusi /pusi/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | kapa /kapa/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | eng'eeni /eŋeːni/ | enyeni /eɲeni/ | inyeni /iɲeni/ | ekyenhandha /etʃeɲand̪a/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | somba /soːmba/ |
| Bird | enyuni /eɲuni/ | khanywinywi /kʰaɲwiɲwi/ | linyonyi /liɲoɲi/ | enhonhi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | cijuni /tʃidʒuni/ |
| Egg | liiki /liːki/ | liiki /liːki/ | liki /liki/ | eggi /eɡːi/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | lindanda /lindanda/ |
| Horse | efarasi /efarasi/ | ifarasi /ifarasi/ | ifarasi /ifarasi/ | embalaasi /embalaːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | falasi /falasi/ |
| House | enju /endʒu/ | nzu /nzu/ | enzu /enzu/ | endhu /end̪u/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | kamabeele /kamaβeːle/ | kamabeele /kamabeːle/ | amabeere /amabeːre/ | amata /amata/ | amate /amate/ | amate /amate/ | maŵele /maβele/ |
| Honey | buukhi /buːkʰi/ | bubuukhi /bubuːkʰi/ | obushi /obuʃi/ | omudheenene /omud̪eːnene/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwuuki /obwuːtʃi/ | uchi /utʃi/ |
| Salt | kumuunyu /kumuːɲu/ | kyumbi /kjumbi/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omuunhu /omuːɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | njete /ndʒete/ |
| Wine | endali /endali/ | iviini /iviːni/ | idivai /idivai/ | omwenge gw'emizabbibu /omweŋɡe ɡwemizabːibu/ | viino /viːno/ | viino /viːno/ | divai /divai/ |
| Iron | sichuuma /sitʃuːma/ | sikyuma /sikjuma/ | eshibia /eʃibia/ | ekyuma /ekjuma/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | obutare /obutare/ | chisyano /tʃisjano/ |
| Wheel | engara /eŋɡara/ | kumukuwu /kumukuwu/ | omukurutumu /omukurutumu/ | enkede /eŋkede/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | wilo /wilo/ |
| Book | sitabu /sitabu/ | shitabo /ʃitabo/ | eshitabu /eʃitabu/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ |
| Eat | khulya /kʰuʎa/ | khulya /kʰuʎa/ | khulia /kʰulia/ | kulya /kulja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ |
| Drink | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | khunywa /kʰuɲwa/ | kunhwa /kuɲʷa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kumwa /kumwa/ |
| Sleep | khukona /kʰukona/ | khukona /kʰukona/ | khukona /kʰukona/ | kutenduka /kutenduka/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kugona /kuɡona/ |
| One | ndala /ndala/ | mulala /mulala/ | ndala /ndala/ | ndala /ndala/ | emwe /emwe/ | rumwe /rumwe/ | mo /mo/ |
| Two | babili /βaβili/ | babili /βaβili/ | tsibili /tsibili/ | ibiri /ibiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | iŵili /iβili/ |
| Three | bataru /bataru/ | bisatu /bisatu/ | tsitaru /tsitaru/ | isatu /isatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | sitatu /sitatu/ |
| Four | bane /bane/ | tsine /tsine/ | tsine /tsine/ | ina /ina/ | eina /eina/ | ina /ina/ | ncece /ntʃetʃe/ |
| Five | baraano /baraːno/ | tsirano /tsirano/ | tsirano /tsirano/ | itaanu /iˈtaːnu/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ | nsano /nsano/ |
| Hundred | miya /mija/ | sitondo /sitondo/ | emia /emia/ | kikumi /kikumi/ | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | mia /mia/ |
| Hello | mulembe /mulembe/ | mulembe /mulembe/ | mulembe /mulembe/ | mwaakire /mwaːkiɾe/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | oraire /oraire/ | salama /salama/ |
| Thank you | orio /orio/ | ole nise /ole nise/ | orio /orio/ | weebale /weːbale/ | webare /webare/ | webare /webare/ | — /—/ |
| Good | kalayi /kalaji/ | kalayi /kalaji/ | malayi /malaji/ | bulungi /buluŋɡi/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | chambone /tʃambone/ |
| New | embia /embia/ | imbya /imbja/ | eshiyia /eʃijia/ | iyaka /ijaka/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | ekisya /etʃisja/ | jasambano /dʒasambano/ |
| Red | besemu /βesemu/ | kumafu /kumafu/ | kumafu /kumafu/ | myufu /mjufu/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | cheejewu /tʃeːdʒewu/ |
| White | waanga /waːŋɡa/ | iwanga /iwaŋɡa/ | eshilafu /eʃilafu/ | ndheru /nd̪eɾu/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | cheswela /tʃeswela/ |
| Black | mali /mali/ | imali /imali/ | eshimali /eʃimali/ | ndhirugavu /nd̪iɾuɡavu/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | chepiliu /tʃepiliu/ |
| Ninety-nine | kamakhumi tisa na tisa /kamaxumi tisa na tisa/ | kamakhumi syeenda na syeenda /kamakʰumi sjeːnda na sjeːnda/ | amakhumi tisa na tisa /amaxumi tisa na tisa/ | kyenda na mwenda /kjenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi nsano ni ncece kwisa nsano ni ncece /makumi nsano ni ntʃetʃe kwisa nsano ni ntʃetʃe/ |
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