Kalenjin
Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Southern Nilotic — Kalenjin cluster)
Kalenjin is a Southern Nilotic language cluster of the Nilo-Saharan family, spoken by the Kalenjin people mainly in the Rift Valley region of Kenya, with smaller communities in Uganda and Tanzania. It has around 5 million speakers and comprises closely related varieties such as Nandi, Kipsigis, Keiyo, Tugen, Marakwet and Sabaot. Written in the Latin script, it is a tonal language and, like other Nilotic languages, uses vowel harmony based on tongue-root (ATR) position.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kalenjin
Sources
- Kalenjin Bible (KAPR / Kalenjin DC Bible), Bible Society of Kenya, bible.com versions 1585/1586; Old Kalenjin Bible (BUKUIT), bible.com version 2927
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Sudanic, Nilotic, Southern Nilotic — Kalenjin cluster)
| Meaning | Kalenjin | Samburu | Maasai | Asu | Luo | Makonde | Proto-Ryukyuan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | beek /beːk/ | nkare /ŋkare/ | ɛŋare /ɛŋare/ | mende /mende/ | pi /pi/ | medi /medi/ | *midu /midu/ |
| Fire | maat /maːt/ | nkima /ŋkima/ | ɛnkima /ɛŋkima/ | mshika /mʃika/ | mach /matʃ/ | moto /moto/ | *pii /piː/ |
| Sun | asis /asis/ | lakwa /lakʷa/ | enkolong /eŋkoloŋ/ | idhuva /iðuʋa/ | chiengʼ /tʃiɛŋ/ | liduva /liduva/ | *teda /teda/ |
| Moon | arawa /arawa/ | lapa /lapa/ | olapa /olapa/ | mwezi /mwezi/ | dwe /dwe/ | mwedi /mwedi/ | *tuki /tuki/ |
| Star | kokeel /kokeːl/ | lakira /lakira/ | olakira /olakira/ | nyenyeri /ɲeɲeri/ | sulwe /sulwɛ/ | inondwa /inondwa/ | *posi /posi/ |
| Night | kemeut /kemeut/ | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | usiku /usiku/ | otieno /otiɛno/ | chilo /tʃilo/ | *yoru /joru/ |
| Rain | robta /robta/ | nchan /ntʃan/ | ɛnchan /ɛntʃan/ | mvua /mvua/ | koth /kɔθ/ | imbula /imbula/ | *ame /ame/ |
| Snow | teluchi /telutʃi/ | — | empaso /empaso/ | chasheru /tʃaʃeru/ | theluji /θeluʒi/ | — | *yuki /juki/ |
| Wind | usoonet /usoːnet/ | siwuo /siwuo/ | olkutati /olkʊtati/ | mpeho /mpeho/ | yamo /jamo/ | lipungo /lipuŋɡo/ | *kaze /kaze/ |
| Earth | ng'ung'unyek /ŋuŋuɲek/ | nkop /ŋkop/ | enkop /eŋkop/ | isanga /isaŋɡa/ | lowo /loːwo/ | ulongo /uloŋɡo/ | *tuti /tuti/ |
| Stone | koita /koita/ | soit /soit/ | osoit /oˈsoit/ | ibwe /ibwe/ | kidi /ˈkidi/ | liyanga /lijaŋɡa/ | *isi /isi/ |
| Mountain | tulwet /tulwet/ | ldonyuo /ldoɲuo/ | oldoinyo /oldoiɲo/ | ntuvi /ntuvi/ | got /ɡɔt/ | lichinga /litʃiŋɡa/ | *yama /jama/ |
| Sea | nyanjet /ɲandʒet/ | mpaso /mpaso/ | enaiposha /enaipoʃa/ | bahari /bahari/ | nam /nam/ | bahali /bahali/ | *omi /omi/ |
| Mother | kamet /kamet/ | yieyo /jiejo/ | yieyio /jiejio/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | *amma /amma/ |
| Father | kwanda /kwanda/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ | *aja /aja/ |
| Daughter | chepto /tʃepto/ | ntito /ntito/ | entito /entito/ | mwana wa kibora /mwana wa kibora/ | nyar /ɲar/ | nahaku /nahaku/ | — |
| I | anee /aneː/ | nanu /nanu/ | nanʉ /nanʊ/ | mine /mine/ | an /an/ | une /une/ | *wa /wa/ |
| You | inyee /iɲeː/ | iye /ije/ | iyie /ijie/ | uwe /uwe/ | in /in/ | uve /uve/ | *ura /ura/ |
| We | acheek /atʃeːk/ | iyioo /ijioː/ | iyiook /ijioːk/ | uswi /uswi/ | wan /wan/ | hwetu /hwetu/ | — /—/ |
| Name | kaina /kaina/ | nkarna /ŋkarna/ | enkarna /eŋkarna/ | izina /izina/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | lina /lina/ | *na /na/ |
| Person | chiito /tʃiːto/ | ltungani /ltuŋani/ | oltungani /oltuŋani/ | mntu /mntu/ | dhano /ðano/ | munu /munu/ | *pito /pito/ |
| Head | metit /metit/ | nkue /ŋkue/ | ɛlukunya /ɛlʊkʊɲa/ | mtwi /mtwi/ | wich /witʃ/ | muti /muti/ | *atama /atama/ |
| Eye | konda /konda/ | nkoŋu /ŋkoŋu/ | ɛŋɔŋu /ɛŋɔŋu/ | iiso /iːso/ | wangʼ /waŋ/ | liso /liso/ | *mii /miː/ |
| Ear | itit /itit/ | nkiook /ŋkiˈoːk/ | enkiook /ɛnkiˈoːk/ | isikio /isikio/ | it /it/ | likutu /likutu/ | *mimi /mimi/ |
| Nose | serut /serut/ | nkume /ŋkume/ | enkume /ɛnˈkume/ | fua /fua/ | um /um/ | imula /imula/ | *pana /pana/ |
| Mouth | kutit /kutit/ | nkutuk /ŋkutuk/ | enkutuk /ɛŋkʊtʊk/ | momo /momo/ | dhok /ðok/ | kanya /kaɲa/ | *kuti /kuti/ |
| Tooth | kelet /kelet/ | lalai /lalai/ | olalai /olalai/ | jino /dʒino/ | lak /lak/ | lino /lino/ | *pa /pa/ |
| Tongue | ngelyepta /ŋeljepta/ | lngejep /lŋɛɟɛp/ | olngejep /ɔlŋɛɟɛp/ | ulimi /ulimi/ | lep /lɛp/ | lulimi /lulimi/ | *sita /sita/ |
| Hand | eut /eut/ | nkaina /ŋkaina/ | ɛŋaina /ɛŋaina/ | mkono /mkono/ | lwedo /lwɛdo/ | nkono /nkono/ | *tii /tiː/ |
| Foot | keldo /keldo/ | nkeju /ŋkedʒu/ | enkeju /ɛnkɛdʒʊ/ | ivunda /ivunda/ | tielo /tiɛlo/ | likambatu /likambatu/ | *asi /asi/ |
| Heart | muguleldo /muɡuleldo/ | ltau /ltau/ | oltau /oltau/ | ngiti /ŋɡiti/ | chuny /tʃuɲ/ | ntima /ntima/ | *kimu /kimu/ |
| Bone | kowet /kowet/ | loito /loito/ | oloito /oloito/ | ivindi /ivindi/ | chogo /tʃoɡo/ | ligwangwa /liɡwaŋɡwa/ | *poni /poni/ |
| Blood | korotik /korotik/ | lodo /loɗo/ | osarge /osarɡe/ | sakame /sakame/ | remo /rɛmo/ | myadi /mjadi/ | *ti /ti/ |
| Poop | ng'atatek /ŋatatek/ | nkik /ŋkik/ | inkik /iŋkik/ | — | chieth /tʃiɛθ/ | mavi /mavi/ | *kuso /kuso/ |
| Love | chamyet /tʃamjet/ | eitalu /eitalu/ | eitalu /eitalu/ | lumba /lumba/ | hera /hera/ | kupenda /kupenda/ | — /—/ |
| Tree | keetit /keːtit/ | lchani /ltʃani/ | olchani /oltʃani/ | mti /mti/ | yath /jaθ/ | nnandi /nːandi/ | *kii /kiː/ |
| Dog | ses /ses/ | ldia /ldia/ | oldia /oldia/ | mbwa /mbwa/ | guok /ɡuok/ | nshenye /nʃeɲe/ | *in /in/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | imaaka /imaːka/ | *maja /maja/ |
| Fish | njiryot /ndʒirjot/ | singirr /siŋɡirː/ | osingirri /osiŋɡirːi/ | samaki /samaki/ | rech /rɛtʃ/ | homba /homba/ | *iwo /iwo/ |
| Bird | taritiet /taritiet/ | nkueenyi /ŋkuɛːɲi/ | motonyi /moˈtoɲi/ | ideghe /ideɣe/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | chuni /tʃuni/ | *tori /tori/ |
| Butterfly | taburburiet /taburburiet/ | — | ɔsampurimpuri /ɔsampurimpuri/ | — | oguyo /oɡujo/ | lipuluputu /lipuluputu/ | — |
| Egg | mayaiyat /majaijat/ | mboliboli /mboliboli/ | olmosori /olmosori/ | igi /iɡi/ | tongʼ /toŋ/ | liye /lije/ | *koga /koɡa/ |
| Horse | mbartanyit /mbartaɲit/ | mbarta /mbarta/ | ɛmbarta /ɛmbarta/ | farasi /farasi/ | faras /faras/ | falasi /falasi/ | — |
| House | gaa /ɡaː/ | nkang /ŋkaŋ/ | engʼaji /ɛŋadʒi/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | ot /ot/ | ing'ande /iŋande/ | *yaa /jaː/ |
| Milk | chego /tʃeɡo/ | kule /kule/ | kule /kule/ | mavee /maveː/ | chak /tʃak/ | mavele /mavele/ | — |
| Honey | kumyat /kumjat/ | naicho ee lotoro /naitʃo eː lotoro/ | enaisho /enaiʃo/ | nzoke /nzoke/ | mor kich /mor kitʃ/ | uchi /utʃi/ | — |
| Salt | munyek /muɲek/ | nkisiicho /ŋkisiːtʃo/ | ɛmunyan /ɛmuɲan/ | munyu /muɲu/ | chumbi /tʃumbi/ | munyu /muɲu/ | *masio /masio/ |
| Wine | divai /divai/ | naichuo e lmusabibu /naitʃuo e lmusabibu/ | enaisho oo sabibu /enaiʃo oː sabibu/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ | divai /divai/ | divayi /divaji/ | — |
| Iron | karnet /karnet/ | senkei /seŋkei/ | olchuma /ɔltʃʊma/ | kighera /kiɣera/ | nyinyo /ˈɲiɲo/ | chitale /tʃitale/ | — |
| Wheel | tireet /tireːt/ | — | enkeju /ɛnkɛdʒʊ/ | — | nyange /ɲaŋe/ | — | — |
| Silk | aririt /aririt/ | — | — | hariri /hariri/ | las /las/ | halili /halili/ | *ito /ito/ |
| Book | bukuit /bukuit/ | mbuku /mbuku/ | embuku /embuku/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | buk /buk/ | chitabu /tʃitabu/ | — |
| Eat | am /am/ | anya /aɲa/ | anya /aɲa/ | kurya /kurja/ | chiemo /tʃiemo/ | kulya /kuʎa/ | *kam- /kam/ |
| Drink | ee /eː/ | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | kunwa /kunwa/ | madho /maðo/ | kukumbila /kukumbila/ | *num- /num/ |
| Sleep | ru /ru/ | airura /airura/ | airura /airʊra/ | kushinjia /kuʃindʒia/ | nindo /nindo/ | kugona /kuɡona/ | *nebur- /nebur/ |
| One | agenge /aɡeŋe/ | obo /obo/ | obo /obo/ | imwe /imwe/ | achiel /atʃiɛl/ | nimo /nimo/ | *pitu /pitu/ |
| Two | aeng /aeŋ/ | aare /aːre/ | aare /aːre/ | avili /aβili/ | ariyo /arijo/ | vavili /vaʋili/ | *puta /puta/ |
| Three | somok /somok/ | uni /uni/ | uni /uni/ | adatu /adatu/ | adek /adek/ | nnaatu /nːaːtu/ | *mi /mi/ |
| Four | angwan /aŋwan/ | ongwan /oŋwan/ | ongwan /oŋwan/ | — | angʼwen /aŋwɛn/ | ncheche /ntʃetʃe/ | *yo /jo/ |
| Five | muut /muːt/ | imiet /imiet/ | imiet /imiɛt/ | — | abich /abitʃ/ | mwaanu /mwaːnu/ | *itu /itu/ |
| Hundred | bogol /boɡol/ | ip /ip/ | ip /iːp/ | ighana /iɣana/ | mia /mia/ | miya /miːja/ | — |
| Hello | chamege /tʃameɡe/ | sopa /sopa/ | sopa /sopa/ | shiloi /ʃiloi/ | misawa /misawa/ | nakushukuru /nakuʃukuɾu/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | kongoi /koŋoi/ | ashe /aʃe/ | ashe /aʃe/ | mwasanga /mwasaŋɡa/ | erokamano /erokamano/ | nashukuru /naʃukuɾu/ | — /—/ |
| Good | karaaran /karaːran/ | supat /supat/ | sidai /sidai/ | mwamba /mwamba/ | maber /maber/ | mbone /mbone/ | *masi /masi/ |
| New | leel /leːl/ | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | shaa /ʃaː/ | manyien /maɲien/ | chahambi /tʃahambi/ | *mii- /miː/ |
| Red | birirben /birirben/ | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | makwar /makwar/ | nahuvi /nahuvi/ | *aka /aka/ |
| White | leel /leːl/ | naibor /naiˈbor/ | naibor /naibor/ | jewa /dʒewa/ | rachar /ratʃar/ | naswe /naswe/ | *siro /siro/ |
| Black | tuui /tuːi/ | narok /narok/ | narok /narok/ | jiru /dʒiru/ | ratengʼ /ratɛŋ/ | napi /napi/ | *kuro /kuro/ |
| Green | nyalil /ɲalil/ | nanyori /naɲori/ | nanyori /naɲori/ | — | — | — | — |
| Blue | arus /arus/ | kapatei /kapatei/ | pus /pus/ | — | rambulu /rambulu/ | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | tamanwogik sogol ak sogol /tamanwoɡik soɡol ak soɡol/ | ntomoni saal o saal /ntomoni saːl o saːl/ | ntomoni naaudo o naaudo /ntomoni naːudo o naːudo/ | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | piero ochiko gochiko /piero otʃiko ɡotʃiko/ | tisini na tisa /tisini na tisa/ | — |
Page 1/9
Open the interactive map: Word Map · HanMap · Name Map · Word Order · Tree
Part of LangMap — a linguistic visualization project. This is a static, crawlable summary; the interactive maps offer pronunciation audio, filters, and a globe view.
Made by Heuron Inc. · GitHub · cho@heuron.com · LangMap home