Kĩkamba
Kamba
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Kamba-Kikuyu)
Kamba (Kĩkamba) is a major Kenyan Bantu language of the Eastern Province with ~4M speakers — one of Kenya's five largest ethnic-language groups alongside Kikuyu, Luhya, Kalenjin, and Luo. Closely related to Kikuyu (E51) within the Bantu E50 Kamba-Kikuyu group. The Kamba people are renowned woodcarvers (Wamunyu sculptural tradition since the 1920s) and were 19th-c. caravan traders linking the coast to the Great Lakes. Latin orthography developed by missionaries 1888; used in primary education and broadcasting on Musyi FM since 2007.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kamba
chocolate
Wi-Fi
Sources
- Lindblom (1926) — The Akamba in British East Africa
- Ethnologue 27: Kamba
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu, Kamba-Kikuyu)
| Meaning | Kamba | Kikuyu | Asu | Nyaturu | Embu | Shambala | Nyamwezi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | kĩwʼũ /kiwu/ | maaĩ /maːe/ | mende /mende/ | maji /madʒi/ | manjĩ /maɲdʒe/ | mazi /mazi/ | minzi /minzi/ |
| Fire | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | mshika /mʃika/ | moto /moto/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | moto /moto/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | syũa /sjua/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | yura /juɾa/ | rĩũa /ɾeoa/ | zuwa /zuwa/ | lyuba /ljuβa/ |
| Moon | mwei /mwei/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ | ngʼwezi /ŋweːzi/ |
| Star | nzaĩ /nzai/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | njota /ndʒota/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ | nsonda /nsonda/ |
| Night | ũtukũ /utuku/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | usiku /usiku/ | utiku /utiku/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | kilo /kilo/ | buziku /buziku/ |
| Rain | mbua /ˈmbua/ | mbura /ˈmbura/ | mvua /mvua/ | mbura /mbura/ | mbura /mbura/ | fula /fula/ | mvula /mvula/ |
| Snow | ĩa /ĩa/ | ira /ˈiɾa/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | îra /iːɾa/ | — | theluji /θeluʒi/ |
| Wind | kĩseve /kiseve/ | rũhuho /ɾòhùːhɔ̀/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | rũkũngi /ɾokoŋɡi/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | myaga /mjaɡa/ |
| Earth | muthanga /muθaŋɡa/ | tĩĩri /teːɾi/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ | bulongo /buloŋɡo/ |
| Stone | ivia /ivia/ | ihiga /iˈhiɣa/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | ĩthiga /eðiɡa/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | kĩĩma /kiːma/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | muima /muima/ | lugulu /luɡulu/ |
| Sea | ũkanga /ukaŋɡa/ | — | bahari /bahari/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | bahali /bahali/ | nyanza /ɲanza/ |
| Mother | mwaitũ /mwaitu/ | maitũ /maito/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | nyanya /ɲaɲa/ | mama /mama/ | mayu /maju/ |
| Father | asa /asa/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | tata /tata/ | vava /βaβa/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwĩĩtu /mwiːtu/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ | mwana mukima /mwana mukima/ |
| I | nyie /ɲie/ | niĩ /nie/ | mine /mine/ | une /une/ | nie /niɛ/ | niye /nije/ | nene /ˈnene/ |
| You | we /we/ | wee /wɛː/ | uwe /uwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | we /wɛ/ | weye /weje/ | gwegwe /ˈɡweɡwe/ |
| We | ithye /iðje/ | ithuĩ /iðue/ | uswi /uswi/ | sese /sese/ | ithũi /iðoi/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ | iswe /iswe/ |
| Name | ĩsyĩtwa /isʲitwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | izina /izina/ | rina /ɾina/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | zina /zina/ | lina /ˈlina/ |
| Person | mũndũ /mundu/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | mntu /mntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | mntu /mntu/ | munhu /munhu/ |
| Head | mũtwe /mutwe/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | itwe /itwe/ | kĩongo /keɔŋɡɔ/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | mtwe /mtwe/ |
| Eye | ĩtho /iθo/ | riitho /riːðɔ/ | iiso /iːso/ | riho /riho/ | riitho /ɾiːθɔ/ | zisho /ziʃo/ | liso /liso/ |
| Ear | kutu /kutu/ | gũtũ /ɣoto/ | isikio /isikio/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | shikio /ʃikio/ | itwi /itwi/ |
| Nose | inyũũ /iɲuː/ | iniũrũ /inioɾo/ | fua /fua/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | ĩniũrũ /enioɾo/ | mpua /mpua/ | nindo /nindo/ |
| Mouth | kanywa /kaɲwa/ | kanua /kaˈnua/ | momo /momo/ | momo /momo/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanwa /kanwa/ | mulomo /mulomo/ |
| Tooth | ĩyo /ĩjo/ | igego /iɣɛɣɔ/ | jino /dʒino/ | ino /ino/ | gego /ɡɛɡɔ/ | zino /zino/ | lino /lino/ |
| Tongue | ũĩmi /uimi/ | rũrĩmĩ /ɾoɾeme/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | rũrĩmĩ /roɾeːmi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lulimi /lulimi/ |
| Hand | kwʼoko /kwoko/ | guoko /ɡuɔkɔ/ | mkono /mkono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | kĩvoko /keβɔkɔ/ | mkono /mkono/ | kukono /kukono/ |
| Foot | kũũ /kuː/ | kũgũrũ /koɣoro/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoro/ | mulundi /mulundi/ | kugulu /kuɡulu/ |
| Heart | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | moyo /mojo/ | moyo /mojo/ |
| Bone | ĩvĩndĩ /ivindi/ | ihĩndĩ /ihende/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ĩvĩndĩ /evende/ | vuha /vuha/ | iguha /iɡuha/ |
| Blood | nthakame /nðakame/ | thakame /ðakamɛ/ | sakame /sakame/ | sakami /sakami/ | nthakame /nðakamɛ/ | phome /pʰome/ | magazi /maɡazi/ |
| Poop | mai /mai/ | mai /mai/ | — | — | — | mavi /mavi/ | maafi /maːfi/ |
| Love | wendo /wendo/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | lumba /lumba/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ |
| Tree | mũtĩ /muti/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mti /mti/ | umuti /umuti/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mti /mti/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | ngitĩ /ŋɡiti/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | kuli /kuli/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | mbaka /mbaka/ | nyaũ /ɲao/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ | nyau /ɲau/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | ikoyo /ikojo/ | thamaki /ðamaki/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /somba/ | nthamaki /nðamaki/ | samaki /samaki/ | somba /soːmba/ |
| Bird | nyunyi /ɲuɲi/ | nyoni /ˈɲɔni/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | gĩconi /ɡetʃɔni/ | deghe /deɣe/ | noni /noni/ |
| Butterfly | kĩmbalutwʼa /kimbalutwa/ | kĩĩhuruta /keːhuruːta/ | — | — | — | hoho /hoho/ | — |
| Egg | itumbi /itumbi/ | itumbĩ /itumbe/ | igi /iɡi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | tagi /taɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ |
| Bear | nduva /nduva/ | nduba /nduba/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Horse | mbalasi /mbalasi/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | farasi /farasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | faashi /faːʃi/ | falasi /falasi/ |
| House | nyũmba /ɲumba/ | nyũmba /ɲomba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ |
| Milk | iia /iːa/ | iria /iria/ | mavee /maveː/ | maya /maja/ | ĩriia /eɾiːa/ | mele /mele/ | mabeele /maβeːle/ |
| Honey | ũkĩ /uki/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | ruke /ruke/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | woki /woki/ | buuki /buːki/ |
| Salt | mũnyũ /muɲu/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munu /munu/ |
| Wine | mbinyu /mbiɲu/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | ndivei /ndiβei/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Rice | mũsele /musele/ | mũceere /motʃɛːrɛ/ | — | — | — | muhunga /muhuŋɡa/ | — |
| Chocolate | chocolate | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Iron | kyũma /kjuma/ | kĩgera /keˈɣɛra/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | cuma /tʃuːma/ | kiama /kiama/ | kisinza /kisinza/ |
| Wheel | ndĩa /ndia/ | kĩgaragari /keɣaraɣari/ | — | — | nthugũ /nðuɡo/ | — | — |
| Book | ĩvuku /ivuku/ | ibuku /iβuku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | ĩvuku /evuku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kũya /kuja/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kurya /kurja/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kuya /kuja/ | kulya /kuʎa/ |
| Drink | kũnywa /kuɲwa/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | koma /koma/ | gũkoma /ɣoˈkɔma/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kũmama /komama/ | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ | kulala /kulala/ |
| One | ĩmwe /imwe/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | imwe /imwe/ | umwe /umwe/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | imo /imo/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | ilĩ /ili/ | igĩrĩ /iɣeɾe/ | avili /aβili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | igĩrĩ /iɡeɾe/ | mbili /mbili/ | ibili /iβili/ |
| Three | itatu /itatu/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | adatu /adatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | katatu /katatu/ | idatu /idatu/ |
| Four | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | — | inne /inːe/ | inya /iɲa/ | kane /kaːne/ | inne /inːe/ |
| Five | itano /itano/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | — | itano /itano/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | kashano /kaʃano/ | itaano /itaːno/ |
| Hundred | ĩana /iana/ | igana /iɣana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | gana /ɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ |
| Hello | mwĩaĩle /mwiaile/ | wĩmwega /wemwɛɡa/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | — /—/ | mwadita /mwadita/ |
| Thank you | nĩ vinya /ni viɲa/ | nĩ wega /ne wɛɡa/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | asante /aˈsante/ | — /—/ | asante /asante/ | twabakaba /twaβakaβa/ |
| Good | museo /museo/ | wega /wɛɡa/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | kihi /kihi/ | mwaro /mwaɾɔ/ | mtana /mtana/ | soga /soɡa/ |
| New | mweũ /mweu/ | kĩerũ /keɛro/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | mpya /mpja/ | gĩcerũ /ɡetʃɛɾo/ | mpya /mpja/ | pya /pja/ |
| Red | ndune /nduneː/ | ũtune /otunɛ/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | ntune /ntune/ | ndune /ndunɛː/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | laluku /laluku/ |
| White | nzaũ /nzau/ | werũ /wɛro/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | njeru /ndʒɛɾu/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ | pe /pe/ |
| Black | nziũ /nziu/ | ũirũ /oiro/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | mbirũ /mbiɾo/ | size /size/ | pi /pi/ |
| Green | ngilini /ŋɡilini/ | ngirini /ŋɡirini/ | — | — | — | manimani /manimani/ | — |
| Blue | mbuluu /mbuluː/ | bururu /bururu/ | — | — | vururu /βuɾuɾu/ | — | bululu /bululu/ |
| Computer | kombiũta /kombiuta/ | kompiuta /kɔmpiuta/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | kyai /kjai/ | cai /tʃaːi/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coffee | kaawa /kaːwa/ | kahũa /kahowa/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Sugar | sukalĩ /sukali/ | cukari /tʃukaːɾi/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Orange | ĩsungwa /isuŋɡwa/ | icungwa /itʃuŋɡwa/ | — | — | — | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | mĩongo kenda na kenda /mioŋɡo kenda na kenda/ | mĩrongo kenda na kenda /meɾɔŋɡɔ kɛnda na kɛnda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | — | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ |
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