Kĩmĩĩru
Meru
Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Bantu, E.50/E.60 — Mount Kenya cluster)
Meru (Kĩmĩĩru) is a Bantu language of central Kenya spoken by the Ameru people on the eastern and northeastern slopes of Mount Kenya, with roughly 2 million speakers. It belongs to the Mount Kenya cluster of the Bantu E.50 / E.60 zone alongside Kikuyu (ki), Embu (ebu), and Kamba (kam), with which it shares extensive cognate vocabulary and a 7-vowel ATR-contrast system. The orthography uses tilde diacritics on ĩ and ũ to mark the non-ATR (lax) variants — a convention shared with Kikuyu and Embu. Meru comprises several mutually intelligible varieties: Imenti (the largest and basis of standard written Meru), Tigania, Igembe, Igoji, Mwimbi-Muthambi, and Chuka; Tharaka, spoken on the southern fringe, is sometimes classified as a separate language. The Bible was fully translated by 1964. Meru is recognized as an indigenous Kenyan language under the 2010 constitution and is used in primary education and regional broadcasting.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Meru
Sources
- Ethnologue 27: Meru
- Glottolog: Meru (meru1247)
- Maho (2009) NUGL Online (Bantu E.50/E.60 group)
- Marete (1986) The Meru People
- Möhlig (1974) A dialectological grammar of Meru
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Niger-Congo (Atlantic-Congo, Bantu, E.50/E.60 — Mount Kenya cluster)
| Meaning | Meru | Embu | Kikuyu | Kamba | Nyaturu | Rwa | Shambala |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | rũũjĩ /ɾoːdʒe/ | manjĩ /maɲdʒe/ | maaĩ /maːe/ | kĩwʼũ /kiwu/ | maji /madʒi/ | mura /muɾa/ | mazi /mazi/ |
| Fire | mwanki /mwaŋki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | mwaki /mwaki/ | moto /moto/ | muro /muɾo/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | riũa /ɾioa/ | rĩũa /ɾeoa/ | riũa /ɾioa/ | syũa /sjua/ | yura /juɾa/ | saa /saː/ | zuwa /zuwa/ |
| Moon | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mweri /mwɛɾi/ | mwei /mwei/ | umweri /umweɾi/ | mwiri /mwiɾi/ | ṅwezi /ŋwezi/ |
| Star | njota /ndʒɔta/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | njata /ɲdʒata/ | nzaĩ /nzai/ | njota /ndʒota/ | nyinyiri /ɲiɲiɾi/ | ntondwe /ntondwe/ |
| Night | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /otuko/ | ũtukũ /utuku/ | utiku /utiku/ | kio /kio/ | kilo /kilo/ |
| Rain | ngai /ŋɡai/ | mbura /mbura/ | mbura /ˈmbura/ | mbua /ˈmbua/ | mbura /mbura/ | fua /fua/ | fula /fula/ |
| Snow | nkamia /ŋkamia/ | îra /iːɾa/ | ira /ˈiɾa/ | ĩa /ĩa/ | seluji /seludʒi/ | mboṛongo /mboɾoŋɡo/ | — |
| Wind | ruuo /ɾuːɔ/ | rũkũngi /ɾokoŋɡi/ | rũhuho /ɾòhùːhɔ̀/ | kĩseve /kiseve/ | mpefo /mpefo/ | mburaato /mbuɾaːto/ | mpeho /mpeho/ |
| Earth | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | mũthetu /moðɛtu/ | tĩĩri /teːɾi/ | muthanga /muθaŋɡa/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ | uteri /uteɾi/ | shanga /ʃaŋɡa/ |
| Stone | iiga /iːɡa/ | ĩthiga /eðiɡa/ | ihiga /iˈhiɣa/ | ivia /ivia/ | igwe /iɡwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ |
| Mountain | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩrĩma /keɾema/ | kĩĩma /kiːma/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ | uro /uɾo/ | muima /muima/ |
| Sea | ĩria /eɾia/ | ĩria /eɾia/ | — | ũkanga /ukaŋɡa/ | irambo /iɾambo/ | nruva /nɾuva/ | bahali /bahali/ |
| Mother | mami /mami/ | nyanya /ɲaɲa/ | maitũ /maito/ | mwaitũ /mwaitu/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | baaba /baːba/ | vava /βaβa/ | baba /baba/ | asa /asa/ | tata /tata/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwarĩ /mwaɾe/ | mwĩĩtu /mwiːtu/ | muncha /muntʃa/ | mwana wa kika /mwana wa kika/ | ṅwana ywa kindele /ŋwana jwa kindele/ |
| I | ni /ni/ | nie /niɛ/ | niĩ /nie/ | nyie /ɲie/ | une /une/ | inyi /iɲi/ | niye /nije/ |
| You | gwe /ɡwɛ/ | we /wɛ/ | wee /wɛː/ | we /we/ | uwe /uwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | weye /weje/ |
| We | tuĩ /tue/ | ithũi /iðoi/ | ithuĩ /iðue/ | ithye /iðje/ | sese /sese/ | ise /ise/ | ishwi /iʃwi/ |
| Name | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | rĩĩtwa /ɾeːtwa/ | ĩsyĩtwa /isʲitwa/ | rina /ɾina/ | irina /irina/ | zina /zina/ |
| Person | muntũ /munto/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | mũndũ /mondo/ | mũndũ /mundu/ | muntu /muntu/ | nndu /ndu/ | mntu /mntu/ |
| Head | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | kĩongo /keɔŋɡɔ/ | mũtwe /motwɛ/ | mũtwe /mutwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | nrwe /nɾwe/ | mtwi /mtwi/ |
| Eye | riitho /ɾiːðɔ/ | riitho /ɾiːθɔ/ | riitho /riːðɔ/ | ĩtho /iθo/ | riho /riho/ | iriso /iɾiso/ | zisho /ziʃo/ |
| Ear | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | gũtũ /ɡoto/ | gũtũ /ɣoto/ | kutu /kutu/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ | kuri /kuɾi/ | shikio /ʃikio/ |
| Nose | nyiũrũ /ɲioɾo/ | ĩniũrũ /enioɾo/ | iniũrũ /inioɾo/ | inyũũ /iɲuː/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ | — | mpua /mpua/ |
| Mouth | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanyua /kaɲua/ | kanua /kaˈnua/ | kanywa /kaɲwa/ | momo /momo/ | kana /kana/ | kanwa /kanwa/ |
| Tooth | ĩĩgo /eːɡɔ/ | gego /ɡɛɡɔ/ | igego /iɣɛɣɔ/ | ĩyo /ĩjo/ | ino /ino/ | iyoo /ijoː/ | zino /zino/ |
| Tongue | rũũme /ɾoːmɛ/ | rũrĩmĩ /roɾeːmi/ | rũrĩmĩ /ɾoɾeme/ | ũĩmi /uimi/ | urimi /urimi/ | ulumi /ulumi/ | ulimi /ulimi/ |
| Hand | njara /ndʒaɾa/ | kĩvoko /keβɔkɔ/ | guoko /ɡuɔkɔ/ | kwʼoko /kwoko/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ | uko /uko/ | mkono /mkono/ |
| Foot | kũgũrũ /koɡoɾo/ | kũgũrũ /koɡoro/ | kũgũrũ /koɣoro/ | kũũ /kuː/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ | urende /uɾende/ | mulundi /mulundi/ |
| Heart | nkoro /ŋkɔɾɔ/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | ngoro /ŋɡɔɾɔ/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | umutima /umutima/ | ngoo /ŋɡoː/ | moyo /mojo/ |
| Bone | mwĩndĩndĩ /mwendende/ | ĩvĩndĩ /evende/ | ihĩndĩ /ihende/ | ĩvĩndĩ /ivindi/ | ikufa /ikufa/ | ifua /ifua/ | vuha /vuha/ |
| Blood | tharike /ðaɾikɛ/ | nthakame /nðakamɛ/ | thakame /ðakamɛ/ | nthakame /nðakame/ | sakami /sakami/ | usao /usao/ | phome /pʰome/ |
| Love | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wɛndɔ/ | wendo /wendo/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ | lumbo /lumbo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ |
| Tree | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /mote/ | mũtĩ /muti/ | umuti /umuti/ | nri /nɾi/ | mti /mti/ |
| Dog | kurũ /kuɾo/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | ngui /ŋɡui/ | ngitĩ /ŋɡiti/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | mboha /mboha/ | kuli /kuli/ |
| Cat | nyau /ɲau/ | nyau /ɲau/ | nyaũ /ɲao/ | mbaka /mbaka/ | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | nyau /ɲau/ |
| Fish | gĩkũyũ /ɡekojo/ | nthamaki /nðamaki/ | thamaki /ðamaki/ | ikoyo /ikojo/ | somba /somba/ | ikunga /ikuŋɡa/ | samaki /samaki/ |
| Bird | nyoni /ɲɔni/ | gĩconi /ɡetʃɔni/ | nyoni /ˈɲɔni/ | nyunyi /ɲuɲi/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ | ndee /ndeː/ | deghe /deɣe/ |
| Egg | nkara /ŋkaɾa/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | itumbĩ /itumbe/ | itumbi /itumbi/ | ighe /iɣe/ | ngosho /ŋɡoʃo/ | tagi /taɡi/ |
| Horse | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbarathi /mbaɾaði/ | mbalasi /mbalasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ | farasi /faɾasi/ | faashi /faːʃi/ |
| House | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyomba /ɲɔmba/ | nyũmba /ɲomba/ | nyũmba /ɲumba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ | numba /numba/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | ĩria /eɾia/ | ĩriia /eɾiːa/ | iria /iria/ | iia /iːa/ | maya /maja/ | maruva /maɾuva/ | mele /mele/ |
| Honey | nainchũ /naintʃo/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | ũũkĩ /oːke/ | ũkĩ /uki/ | ruke /ruke/ | uki /uki/ | woki /woki/ |
| Salt | chumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | cumbĩ /tʃumbe/ | mũnyũ /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | ndivei /ndiβei/ | ndibei /ndibɛi/ | mbinyu /mbiɲu/ | divai /divai/ | mfinyo /mfiɲo/ | mvinyo /mviɲo/ |
| Iron | chuma /tʃuːma/ | cuma /tʃuːma/ | kĩgera /keˈɣɛra/ | kyũma /kjuma/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ | minya /miɲa/ | kiama /kiama/ |
| Silk | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | — | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ | halili /halili/ |
| Book | yuku /juku/ | ĩvuku /evuku/ | ibuku /iβuku/ | ĩvuku /ivuku/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ | kitabu /kitabu/ |
| Eat | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũrĩa /koɾea/ | kũya /kuja/ | kuria /kuɾia/ | kuria /kuria/ | kuya /kuja/ |
| Drink | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnyua /koɲua/ | kũnywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunyua /kuɲua/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | kũmama /komama/ | kũmama /komama/ | gũkoma /ɣoˈkɔma/ | koma /koma/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ | — | kugosha /kuɡoʃa/ |
| One | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /emwɛ/ | ĩmwe /imwe/ | umwe /umwe/ | mongo /moŋɡo/ | imo /imo/ |
| Two | ijĩĩrĩ /idʒeːɾe/ | igĩrĩ /iɡeɾe/ | igĩrĩ /iɣeɾe/ | ilĩ /ili/ | aviri /aβiri/ | fivili /fivili/ | mbili /mbili/ |
| Three | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | ithatũ /iðato/ | itatu /itatu/ | itatu /itatu/ | firaru /fiɾaɾu/ | katatu /katatu/ |
| Four | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inya /iɲa/ | inne /inːe/ | fiini /fiːni/ | kane /kaːne/ |
| Five | ithaano /iðaːnɔ/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | ithano /iðanɔ/ | itano /itano/ | itano /itano/ | firaanu /fiɾaːnu/ | kashano /kaʃano/ |
| Hundred | ĩgana /eɡana/ | ĩgana /eɡana/ | igana /iɣana/ | ĩana /iana/ | ighana /iɣana/ | iyana /ijana/ | gana /ɡana/ |
| Hello | muuga /muːɡa/ | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | wĩmwega /wemwɛɡa/ | mwĩaĩle /mwiaile/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ | kira /kiɾa/ | — /—/ |
| Thank you | nĩ bwega /ne bwɛɡa/ | — /—/ | nĩ wega /ne wɛɡa/ | nĩ vinya /ni viɲa/ | asante /aˈsante/ | asante /asante/ | asante /asante/ |
| Good | mwega /mwɛɡa/ | mwaro /mwaɾɔ/ | wega /wɛɡa/ | museo /museo/ | kihi /kihi/ | kya /kja/ | mtana /mtana/ |
| New | kĩerũ /keɛɾo/ | gĩcerũ /ɡetʃɛɾo/ | kĩerũ /keɛro/ | mweũ /mweu/ | mpya /mpja/ | shiiya /ʃiːja/ | mpya /mpja/ |
| Red | ntuune /ntuːnɛ/ | ndune /ndunɛː/ | ũtune /otunɛ/ | ndune /nduneː/ | ntune /ntune/ | nkundu /nkundu/ | nkundu /nkundu/ |
| White | njerũ /ndʒɛɾo/ | njeru /ndʒɛɾu/ | werũ /wɛro/ | nzaũ /nzau/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ | sheelwa /ʃeːlwa/ | yengʼaa /jeŋaː/ |
| Black | njirũ /ndʒiɾo/ | mbirũ /mbiɾo/ | ũirũ /oiro/ | nziũ /nziu/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ | shuu /ʃuː/ | size /size/ |
| 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 kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ | makumi kyeenda na kyeenda /makumi kjeːnda na kjeːnda/ | milongo kenda na kenda /miloŋɡo keːnda na keːnda/ |
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