Gĩkũyũ
Kikuyu
Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
Kikuyu (Gĩkũyũ) is the most widely spoken Bantu language in Kenya, native to the Mount Kenya region and the central highlands. The Agĩkũyũ are the largest ethnic group in Kenya. Kikuyu has a 7-vowel system (with ATR contrast) and uses tilde diacritics on ĩ and ũ to mark non-ATR variants — an orthographic convention also used in Embu and Meru. Played a central role in the Mau Mau independence struggle (1952-60); Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, was a Kikuyu speaker. Latin script with characteristic tilde-marked vowels.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kikuyu
Sources
- Benson, T. G. 1964. Kikuyu-English Dictionary (Oxford), cited through en.wiktionary Kikuyu lemmas (IPA with tones: nyoni, thakame, ihĩndĩ, ibuku, kĩĩhuruta, kahũa, mwarĩ, ngui, tĩĩri, itumbĩ, riitho, mwaki, thamaki, kũgũrũ, guoko, mũtwe, ngoro, ũũkĩ, mbarathi, nyũmba, kĩgera, wendo, iria, mweri, kĩrĩma, kanua, rĩĩtwa, ũtukũ, mũndũ, mai, mbura, ũtune, mũceere, cumbĩ, njata, ihiga, cukari, nĩ wega, igego, mũtĩ, werũ 'whiteness'); Kiugo Gĩtheru Kĩa Ngai (GKY, bible.com 1622; the round-58 fish source)
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Atlantic-Congo (Bantu)
| Meaning | Kikuyu | Embu | Meru | Kamba | Runyankole | Nyaturu | Asu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | maaĩ /maːe/ | manjĩ /maɲdʒe/ | rũũjĩ /ɾoːdʒe/ | kĩwʼũ /kiwu/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | maji /madʒi/ | mende /mende/ |
| Fire | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwanki /mwaŋki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | moto /moto/ | mshika /mʃika/ |
| Sun | riũa /ɾioa/ | rĩũa /ɾeoa/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | syũa /sjua/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | yura /juɾa/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ |
| Moon | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mwei /mwei/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mwezi /mwezi/ |
| Star | njata /ɲdʒata/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | njota /ndʒɔta/ | nzaĩ /nzai/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | njota /ndʒota/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ |
| Night | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /utuku/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | utiku /utiku/ | usiku /usiku/ |
| Rain | mbura /ˈmbura/ | mbura /mbura/ | ngai /ŋɡai/ | mbua /ˈmbua/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | mbura /mbura/ | mvua /mvua/ |
| Snow | ira /ˈiɾa/ | îra /iːɾa/ | nkamia /ŋkamia/ | ĩa /ĩa/ | — | seluji /seludʒi/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ |
| Wind | rũhuho /ɾòhùːhɔ̀/ | rũkũngi /ɾokoŋɡi/ | ruuo /ɾuːɔ/ | kĩseve /kiseve/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | mpeho /mpeho/ |
| Earth | tĩĩri /teːɾi/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | muthanga /muθaŋɡa/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ |
| Stone | ihiga /iˈhiɣa/ | ĩthiga /eðiɡa/ | iiga /iːɡa/ | ivia /ivia/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | ibwe /ibwe/ |
| Mountain | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩĩma /kiːma/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ |
| Mother | maitũ /maito/ | nyanya /ɲaɲa/ | mami /mami/ | mwaitũ /mwaitu/ | maawe /maːwe/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | baba /baba/ | vava /βaβa/ | baaba /baːba/ | asa /asa/ | tata /tata/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwĩĩtu /mwiːtu/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ |
| I | niĩ /nie/ | nie /niɛ/ | ni /ni/ | nyie /ɲie/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | une /une/ | mine /mine/ |
| You | wee /wɛː/ | we /wɛ/ | gwe /ɡwɛ/ | we /we/ | iwe /iwe/ | uwe /uwe/ | uwe /uwe/ |
| We | ithuĩ /iðue/ | ithũi /iðoi/ | tuĩ /tue/ | ithye /iðje/ | itwe /itwe/ | sese /sese/ | uswi /uswi/ |
| Name | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | ĩsyĩtwa /isʲitwa/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | rina /ɾina/ | izina /izina/ |
| Person | mũndũ /mondo/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | muntũ /munto/ | mũndũ /mundu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | muntu /muntu/ | mntu /mntu/ |
| Head | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | kĩongo /keɔŋɡɔ/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | mũtwe /mutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ |
| Eye | riitho /riːðɔ/ | riitho /ɾiːθɔ/ | riitho /ɾiːðɔ/ | ĩtho /iθo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | riho /riho/ | iiso /iːso/ |
| Ear | gũtũ /ɣoto/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | kutu /kutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | isikio /isikio/ |
| Nose | iniũrũ /inioɾo/ | ĩniũrũ /enioɾo/ | nyiũrũ /ɲioɾo/ | inyũũ /iɲuː/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | fua /fua/ |
| Mouth | kanua /kaˈnua/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanywa /kaɲwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | momo /momo/ | momo /momo/ |
| Tooth | igego /iɣɛɣɔ/ | gego /ɡɛɡɔ/ | ĩĩgo /eːɡɔ/ | ĩyo /ĩjo/ | eriino /eriːno/ | ino /ino/ | jino /dʒino/ |
| Tongue | rũrĩmĩ /ɾoɾeme/ | rũrĩmĩ /roɾeːmi/ | rũũme /ɾoːmɛ/ | ũĩmi /uimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ |
| Hand | guoko /ɡuɔkɔ/ | kĩvoko /keβɔkɔ/ | njara /ndʒaɾa/ | kwʼoko /kwoko/ | omukono /omukono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | mkono /mkono/ |
| Foot | kũgũrũ /koɣoro/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoro/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoɾo/ | kũũ /kuː/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | ivunda /ivunda/ |
| Heart | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | nkoro /ŋkɔɾɔ/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | omutima /omutima/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ |
| Bone | ihĩndĩ /ihende/ | ĩvĩndĩ /evende/ | mwĩndĩndĩ /mwendende/ | ĩvĩndĩ /ivindi/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ivindi /ivindi/ |
| Blood | thakame /ðakamɛ/ | nthakame /nðakamɛ/ | tharike /ðaɾikɛ/ | nthakame /nðakame/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | sakami /sakami/ | sakame /sakame/ |
| Poop | mai /mai/ | — | — | mai /mai/ | amazi /amazi/ | — | — |
| Love | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wendo/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | lumba /lumba/ |
| Tree | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /muti/ | omuti /omuti/ | umuti /umuti/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | ngui /ŋɡui/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | kurũ /kuɾo/ | ngitĩ /ŋɡiti/ | embwa /embwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mbwa /mbwa/ |
| Cat | nyaũ /ɲao/ | nyau /ɲau/ | nyau /ɲau/ | mbaka /mbaka/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | thamaki /ðamaki/ | nthamaki /nðamaki/ | gĩkũyũ /ɡekojo/ | ikoyo /ikojo/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | somba /somba/ | samaki /samaki/ |
| Bird | nyoni /ˈɲɔni/ | gĩconi /ɡetʃɔni/ | nyoni /ɲɔni/ | nyunyi /ɲuɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ |
| Butterfly | kĩĩhuruta /keːhuruːta/ | — | — | kĩmbalutwʼa /kimbalutwa/ | ekihuguuhugu /ekihuɡuːhuɡu/ | — | — |
| Egg | itumbĩ /itumbe/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | nkara /ŋkaɾa/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | ighe /iɣe/ | igi /iɡi/ |
| Bear | nduba /nduba/ | — | — | nduva /nduva/ | edubu /edubu/ | — | — |
| Horse | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbalasi /mbalasi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | farasi /farasi/ |
| House | nyũmba /ɲomba/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyũmba /ɲumba/ | enju /endʒu/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | iria /iria/ | ĩriia /eɾiːa/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | iia /iːa/ | amate /amate/ | maya /maja/ | mavee /maveː/ |
| Honey | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | nainchũ /naintʃo/ | ũkĩ /uki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | ruke /ruke/ | nzoke /nzoke/ |
| Salt | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | chumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | mũnyũ /muɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | ndivei /ndiβei/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | mbinyu /mbiɲu/ | viino /viːno/ | divai /divai/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Rice | mũceere /motʃɛːrɛ/ | — | — | mũsele /musele/ | omukyeeri /omukjeːri/ | — | — |
| Iron | kĩgera /keˈɣɛra/ | cuma /tʃuːma/ | chuma /tʃuːma/ | kyũma /kjuma/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | kighera /kiɣera/ |
| Wheel | kĩgaragari /keɣaraɣari/ | nthugũ /nðuɡo/ | — | ndĩa /ndia/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | — | — |
| Silk | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | — | riiri /riːri/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /hariri/ |
| Book | ibuku /iβuku/ | ĩvuku /evuku/ | yuku /juku/ | ĩvuku /ivuku/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũya /kuja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kurya /kurja/ |
| Drink | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunwa /kunwa/ |
| Sleep | gũkoma /ɣoˈkɔma/ | kũmama /komama/ | kũmama /komama/ | koma /koma/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ |
| One | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /imwe/ | emwe /emwe/ | umwe /umwe/ | imwe /imwe/ |
| Two | igĩrĩ /iɣeɾe/ | igĩrĩ /iɡeɾe/ | ijĩĩrĩ /idʒeːɾe/ | ilĩ /ili/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | aviri /aβiri/ | avili /aβili/ |
| Three | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | itatu /itatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | adatu /adatu/ |
| Four | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | eina /eina/ | inne /inːe/ | — |
| Five | ithano /iðanɔ/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | ithaano /iðaːnɔ/ | itano /itano/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itano /itano/ | — |
| Hundred | igana /iɣana/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | ĩana /iana/ | igana /iɡana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | ighana /iɣana/ |
| Hello | wĩmwega /wemwɛɡa/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | muuga /muːɡa/ | mwĩaĩle /mwiaile/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ |
| Thank you | nĩ wega /ne wɛɡa/ | — /—/ | nĩ bwega /ne bwɛɡa/ | nĩ vinya /ni viɲa/ | webare /webare/ | asante /aˈsante/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ |
| Good | wega /wɛɡa/ | mwaro /mwaɾɔ/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | museo /museo/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kihi /kihi/ | mwamba /mwamba/ |
| New | kĩerũ /keɛro/ | gĩcerũ /ɡetʃɛɾo/ | kĩerũ /keɛɾo/ | mweũ /mweu/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | mpya /mpja/ | shaa /ʃaː/ |
| Red | ũtune /otunɛ/ | ndune /ndunɛː/ | ntuune /ntuːnɛ/ | ndune /nduneː/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | ntune /ntune/ | nkundu /nkundu/ |
| White | werũ /wɛro/ | njeru /ndʒɛɾu/ | njerũ /ndʒɛɾo/ | nzaũ /nzau/ | kwera /kwera/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | jewa /dʒewa/ |
| Black | ũirũ /oiro/ | mbirũ /mbiɾo/ | njirũ /ndʒiɾo/ | nziũ /nziu/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | jiru /dʒiru/ |
| Green | ngirini /ŋɡirini/ | — | — | ngilini /ŋɡilini/ | kibabi /kibabi/ | — | — |
| Blue | bururu /bururu/ | vururu /βuɾuɾu/ | — | mbuluu /mbuluː/ | bururu /bururu/ | — | — |
| Computer | kompiuta /kɔmpiuta/ | — | — | kombiũta /kombiuta/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — | — |
| Tea | cai /tʃaːi/ | — | — | kyai /kjai/ | chai /tʃai/ | — | — |
| Coffee | kahũa /kahowa/ | — | — | kaawa /kaːwa/ | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — | — |
| Sugar | cukari /tʃukaːɾi/ | — | — | sukalĩ /sukali/ | shukaari /ʃukaːri/ | — | — |
| Orange | icungwa /itʃuŋɡwa/ | — | — | ĩsungwa /isuŋɡwa/ | omucungwa /omutʃuŋɡwa/ | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | mĩrongo kenda na kenda /meɾɔŋɡɔ kɛnda na kɛnda/ | — | mĩrongo kenda na kenda /meɾɔŋɡɔ kɛnda na kɛnda/ | mĩongo kenda na kenda /mioŋɡo kenda na kenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ |
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