Kĩembu
Embu
Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Bantu, E.50)
Embu (Kĩembu) is a Bantu language of the Central Kenya Highlands spoken by the Embu people of Embu County and adjacent Tharaka-Nithi and Kirinyaga counties on the southeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, with ~600K speakers. It belongs to the Bantu E.50 (Central Kenya Bantu) group together with Kikuyu (ki, kik), Meru (mer), Kamba (kam) and others, and shares many cognates and grammatical features with these neighbors. Like other Bantu languages, Embu has a noun-class system (~18 classes), agglutinative verbal morphology, and tonal phonology. Recognized as an indigenous Kenyan language under the 2010 constitution. Strong oral tradition; bible translation completed late 20th century.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Embu
Sources
- Ethnologue: ebu
- Mwaniki (1973) The Living History of Embu and Mbeere
- Maho (2009) NUGL Online (Bantu E.50 group)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Bantu, E.50)
| Meaning | Embu | Kikuyu | Meru | Kamba | Nyaturu | Asu | Shambala |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | manjĩ /maɲdʒe/ | maaĩ /maːe/ | rũũjĩ /ɾoːdʒe/ | kĩwʼũ /kiwu/ | maji /madʒi/ | mende /mende/ | mazi /mazi/ |
| Fire | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwanki /mwaŋki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | moto /moto/ | mshika /mʃika/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | rĩũa /ɾeoa/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | syũa /sjua/ | yura /juɾa/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ |
| Moon | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mwei /mwei/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ |
| Star | njata /ɲdʒata/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | njota /ndʒɔta/ | nzaĩ /nzai/ | njota /ndʒota/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ |
| Night | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /utuku/ | utiku /utiku/ | usiku /usiku/ | kilo /kilo/ |
| Rain | mbura /mbura/ | mbura /ˈmbura/ | ngai /ŋɡai/ | mbua /ˈmbua/ | mbura /mbura/ | mvua /mvua/ | fula /fula/ |
| Snow | îra /iːɾa/ | ira /ˈiɾa/ | nkamia /ŋkamia/ | ĩa /ĩa/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | — |
| Wind | rũkũngi /ɾokoŋɡi/ | rũhuho /ɾòhùːhɔ̀/ | ruuo /ɾuːɔ/ | kĩseve /kiseve/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mpeho /mpeho/ |
| Earth | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | tĩĩri /teːɾi/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | muthanga /muθaŋɡa/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ |
| Stone | ĩthiga /eðiɡa/ | ihiga /iˈhiɣa/ | iiga /iːɡa/ | ivia /ivia/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩĩma /kiːma/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | muima /muima/ |
| Sea | ĩria /eɾia/ | — | ĩria /eɾia/ | ũkanga /ukaŋɡa/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | bahari /bahari/ | bahali /bahali/ |
| Mother | nyanya /ɲaɲa/ | maitũ /maito/ | mami /mami/ | mwaitũ /mwaitu/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | vava /βaβa/ | baba /baba/ | baaba /baːba/ | asa /asa/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwĩĩtu /mwiːtu/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ |
| I | nie /niɛ/ | niĩ /nie/ | ni /ni/ | nyie /ɲie/ | une /une/ | mine /mine/ | niye /nije/ |
| You | we /wɛ/ | wee /wɛː/ | gwe /ɡwɛ/ | we /we/ | uwe /uwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | weye /weje/ |
| We | ithũi /iðoi/ | ithuĩ /iðue/ | tuĩ /tue/ | ithye /iðje/ | sese /sese/ | uswi /uswi/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ |
| Name | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | ĩsyĩtwa /isʲitwa/ | rina /ɾina/ | izina /izina/ | zina /zina/ |
| Person | mũndũ /mondo/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | muntũ /munto/ | mũndũ /mundu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mntu /mntu/ | mntu /mntu/ |
| Head | kĩongo /keɔŋɡɔ/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | mũtwe /mutwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwi /mtwi/ |
| Eye | riitho /ɾiːθɔ/ | riitho /riːðɔ/ | riitho /ɾiːðɔ/ | ĩtho /iθo/ | riho /riho/ | iiso /iːso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ |
| Ear | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | gũtũ /ɣoto/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | kutu /kutu/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | isikio /isikio/ | shikio /ʃikio/ |
| Nose | ĩniũrũ /enioɾo/ | iniũrũ /inioɾo/ | nyiũrũ /ɲioɾo/ | inyũũ /iɲuː/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | fua /fua/ | mpua /mpua/ |
| Mouth | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanua /kaˈnua/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanywa /kaɲwa/ | momo /momo/ | momo /momo/ | kanwa /kanwa/ |
| Tooth | gego /ɡɛɡɔ/ | igego /iɣɛɣɔ/ | ĩĩgo /eːɡɔ/ | ĩyo /ĩjo/ | ino /ino/ | jino /dʒino/ | zino /zino/ |
| Tongue | rũrĩmĩ /roɾeːmi/ | rũrĩmĩ /ɾoɾeme/ | rũũme /ɾoːmɛ/ | ũĩmi /uimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ |
| Hand | kĩvoko /keβɔkɔ/ | guoko /ɡuɔkɔ/ | njara /ndʒaɾa/ | kwʼoko /kwoko/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | mkono /mkono/ | mkono /mkono/ |
| Foot | kũgũrũ /koɡoro/ | kũgũrũ /koɣoro/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoɾo/ | kũũ /kuː/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | mulundi /mulundi/ |
| Heart | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | nkoro /ŋkɔɾɔ/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | moyo /mojo/ |
| Bone | ĩvĩndĩ /evende/ | ihĩndĩ /ihende/ | mwĩndĩndĩ /mwendende/ | ĩvĩndĩ /ivindi/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | vuha /vuha/ |
| Blood | nthakame /nðakamɛ/ | thakame /ðakamɛ/ | tharike /ðaɾikɛ/ | nthakame /nðakame/ | sakami /sakami/ | sakame /sakame/ | phome /pʰome/ |
| Love | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wendo/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | lumba /lumba/ | kukunda /kukunda/ |
| Tree | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /muti/ | umuti /umuti/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | ngui /ŋɡui/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | kurũ /kuɾo/ | ngitĩ /ŋɡiti/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | kuli /kuli/ |
| Cat | nyau /ɲau/ | nyaũ /ɲao/ | nyau /ɲau/ | mbaka /mbaka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ |
| Fish | nthamaki /nðamaki/ | thamaki /ðamaki/ | gĩkũyũ /ɡekojo/ | ikoyo /ikojo/ | somba /somba/ | samaki /samaki/ | samaki /samaki/ |
| Bird | gĩconi /ɡetʃɔni/ | nyoni /ˈɲɔni/ | nyoni /ɲɔni/ | nyunyi /ɲuɲi/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | deghe /deɣe/ |
| Egg | itumbi /itumbi/ | itumbĩ /itumbe/ | nkara /ŋkaɾa/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | igi /iɡi/ | tagi /taɡi/ |
| Horse | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbalasi /mbalasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | farasi /farasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ |
| House | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyũmba /ɲomba/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyũmba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | ĩriia /eɾiːa/ | iria /iria/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | iia /iːa/ | maya /maja/ | mavee /maveː/ | mele /mele/ |
| Honey | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | nainchũ /naintʃo/ | ũkĩ /uki/ | ruke /ruke/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | woki /woki/ |
| Salt | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | chumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | mũnyũ /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | ndivei /ndiβei/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | mbinyu /mbiɲu/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Iron | cuma /tʃuːma/ | kĩgera /keˈɣɛra/ | chuma /tʃuːma/ | kyũma /kjuma/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | kiama /kiama/ |
| Wheel | nthugũ /nðuɡo/ | kĩgaragari /keɣaraɣari/ | — | ndĩa /ndia/ | — | — | — |
| Silk | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | — | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /hariri/ | halili /halili/ |
| Book | ĩvuku /evuku/ | ibuku /iβuku/ | yuku /juku/ | ĩvuku /ivuku/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũya /kuja/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kurya /kurja/ | kuya /kuja/ |
| Drink | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | kũmama /komama/ | gũkoma /ɣoˈkɔma/ | kũmama /komama/ | koma /koma/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ |
| One | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /imwe/ | umwe /umwe/ | imwe /imwe/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | igĩrĩ /iɡeɾe/ | igĩrĩ /iɣeɾe/ | ijĩĩrĩ /idʒeːɾe/ | ilĩ /ili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | avili /aβili/ | mbili /mbili/ |
| Three | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | itatu /itatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | adatu /adatu/ | katatu /katatu/ |
| Four | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inne /inːe/ | — | kane /kaːne/ |
| Five | ithano /iðanɔ/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | ithaano /iðaːnɔ/ | itano /itano/ | itano /itano/ | — | kashano /kaʃano/ |
| Hundred | ĩgana /eɡana/ | igana /iɣana/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | ĩana /iana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | gana /ɡana/ |
| Hello | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | wĩmwega /wemwɛɡa/ | muuga /muːɡa/ | mwĩaĩle /mwiaile/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | — /—/ | nĩ wega /ne wɛɡa/ | nĩ bwega /ne bwɛɡa/ | nĩ vinya /ni viɲa/ | asante /aˈsante/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | asante /asante/ |
| Good | mwaro /mwaɾɔ/ | wega /wɛɡa/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | museo /museo/ | kihi /kihi/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | mtana /mtana/ |
| New | gĩcerũ /ɡetʃɛɾo/ | kĩerũ /keɛro/ | kĩerũ /keɛɾo/ | mweũ /mweu/ | mpya /mpja/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | mpya /mpja/ |
| Red | ndune /ndunɛː/ | ũtune /otunɛ/ | ntuune /ntuːnɛ/ | ndune /nduneː/ | ntune /ntune/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ |
| White | njeru /ndʒɛɾu/ | werũ /wɛro/ | njerũ /ndʒɛɾo/ | nzaũ /nzau/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ |
| Black | mbirũ /mbiɾo/ | ũirũ /oiro/ | njirũ /ndʒiɾo/ | nziũ /nziu/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | size /size/ |
| Blue | vururu /βuɾuɾu/ | bururu /bururu/ | — | mbuluu /mbuluː/ | — | — | — |
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