Sampur
Samburu
Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Nilotic, Maa cluster — sister to Maasai mas)
Samburu (Sampur, "those who hold us together") is the language of the Samburu people, semi-nomadic Maa-speaking pastoralists of the Northern Frontier of Kenya. Linguistically, Samburu is part of the Maa cluster of Eastern Nilotic alongside Maasai (mas) — they are mutually intelligible to a large degree but maintain distinct ethnic identities. The Samburu have historically been allied with the Maasai through shared cultural patterns (warrior-age sets, lion-hunting initiation, cattle-centered ritual) but also with the neighboring Cushitic Rendille people through trade and intermarriage. The 2009 census recorded 310,327 ethnic Samburu, with most speakers also bilingual in Swahili.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Samburu
Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Nilo-Saharan (Eastern Nilotic, Maa cluster — sister to Maasai mas)
| Meaning | Samburu | Maasai | Ateso | Bari | Kalenjin | Acholi | Luo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | nkare /ŋkare/ | ɛŋare /ɛŋare/ | akipi /akipi/ | piong /piɔŋ/ | beek /beːk/ | pii /piː/ | pi /pi/ |
| Fire | nkima /ŋkima/ | ɛnkima /ɛŋkima/ | akim /akim/ | kima /kima/ | maat /maːt/ | mac /matʃ/ | mach /matʃ/ |
| Sun | lakwa /lakʷa/ | enkolong /eŋkoloŋ/ | akolong /akoloŋ/ | kolong /koloŋ/ | asis /asis/ | ceng /tʃɛŋ/ | chiengʼ /tʃiɛŋ/ |
| Moon | lapa /lapa/ | olapa /olapa/ | elap /elap/ | yapa /japa/ | arawa /arawa/ | dwe /dwe/ | dwe /dwe/ |
| Star | lakira /lakira/ | olakira /olakira/ | akanyeret /akaɲeret/ | kaserokoti /kaserokoti/ | kokeel /kokeːl/ | lakalatwe /lakalatwɛ/ | sulwe /sulwɛ/ |
| Night | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | kewarie /kɛwarie/ | akware /akʷare/ | tukwaje /tukʷaje/ | kemeut /kemeut/ | dyewor /dʲɛwor/ | otieno /otiɛno/ |
| Rain | nchan /ntʃan/ | ɛnchan /ɛntʃan/ | akiru /akiru/ | kudu /kudu/ | robta /robta/ | kot /kot/ | koth /kɔθ/ |
| Wind | siwuo /siwuo/ | olkutati /olkʊtati/ | ekwam /ekʷam/ | köbuŋöt /kɔbuŋɔt/ | usoonet /usoːnet/ | yamo /jamo/ | yamo /jamo/ |
| Earth | nkop /ŋkop/ | enkop /eŋkop/ | alup /alup/ | kak /kak/ | ng'ung'unyek /ŋuŋuɲek/ | ngom /ŋɔm/ | lowo /loːwo/ |
| Stone | soit /soit/ | osoit /oˈsoit/ | amoru /amoru/ | ŋurupit /ŋurupit/ | koita /koita/ | kidi /kidi/ | kidi /ˈkidi/ |
| Mountain | ldonyuo /ldoɲuo/ | oldoinyo /oldoiɲo/ | emoru /emoru/ | mere /mere/ | tulwet /tulwet/ | got /ɡot/ | got /ɡɔt/ |
| Sea | mpaso /mpaso/ | enaiposha /enaipoʃa/ | angolol /aŋolol/ | tör na balang /tɔr na balaŋ/ | nyanjet /ɲandʒet/ | nam /nam/ | nam /nam/ |
| Mother | yieyo /jiejo/ | yieyio /jiejio/ | toto /toto/ | ŋote /ŋote/ | kamet /kamet/ | mego /meɡo/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | papa /papa/ | baba /baba/ | kwanda /kwanda/ | baba /baba/ | baba /baba/ |
| Daughter | ntito /ntito/ | entito /entito/ | akoku /akoku/ | ŋuro nakwan /ŋuro nakʷan/ | chepto /tʃepto/ | nya /ɲa/ | nyar /ɲar/ |
| I | nanu /nanu/ | nanʉ /nanʊ/ | eong /eoŋ/ | nan /nan/ | anee /aneː/ | an /an/ | an /an/ |
| You | iye /ije/ | iyie /ijie/ | ijo /iɟo/ | do /do/ | inyee /iɲeː/ | in /in/ | in /in/ |
| We | iyioo /ijioː/ | iyiook /ijioːk/ | siong /sioŋ/ | yi /ji/ | acheek /atʃeːk/ | wan /wan/ | wan /wan/ |
| Name | nkarna /ŋkarna/ | enkarna /eŋkarna/ | ekiror /ekiror/ | karin /karin/ | kaina /kaina/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ | nying /ɲiŋ/ |
| Person | ltungani /ltuŋani/ | oltungani /oltuŋani/ | etunganan /etuŋanan/ | ŋutu /ŋutu/ | chiito /tʃiːto/ | dano /dano/ | dhano /ðano/ |
| Head | nkue /ŋkue/ | ɛlukunya /ɛlʊkʊɲa/ | akou /akou/ | kwe /kʷe/ | metit /metit/ | wic /witʃ/ | wich /witʃ/ |
| Eye | nkoŋu /ŋkoŋu/ | ɛŋɔŋu /ɛŋɔŋu/ | akongu /akoŋu/ | kongi /koŋɡi/ | konda /konda/ | wang /waŋ/ | wangʼ /waŋ/ |
| Ear | nkiook /ŋkiˈoːk/ | enkiook /ɛnkiˈoːk/ | akit /akit/ | swot /swot/ | itit /itit/ | it /it/ | it /it/ |
| Nose | nkume /ŋkume/ | enkume /ɛnˈkume/ | ekume /ekume/ | kume /kume/ | serut /serut/ | um /um/ | um /um/ |
| Mouth | nkutuk /ŋkutuk/ | enkutuk /ɛŋkʊtʊk/ | akituk /akituk/ | kutuk /kutuk/ | kutit /kutit/ | dog /doɡ/ | dhok /ðok/ |
| Tooth | lalai /lalai/ | olalai /olalai/ | ekialai /ekialai/ | kele /kele/ | kelet /kelet/ | lak /lak/ | lak /lak/ |
| Tongue | lngejep /lŋɛɟɛp/ | olngejep /ɔlŋɛɟɛp/ | angajep /aŋaɟep/ | ŋadap /ŋadap/ | ngelyepta /ŋeljepta/ | leb /lɛb/ | lep /lɛp/ |
| Hand | nkaina /ŋkaina/ | ɛŋaina /ɛŋaina/ | akan /akan/ | könin /kɔnin/ | eut /eut/ | cing /tʃiŋ/ | lwedo /lwɛdo/ |
| Foot | nkeju /ŋkedʒu/ | enkeju /ɛnkɛdʒʊ/ | akeju /akeɟu/ | moköt /mokɔt/ | keldo /keldo/ | tyen /tʲɛn/ | tielo /tiɛlo/ |
| Heart | ltau /ltau/ | oltau /oltau/ | etau /etau/ | töili /tɔili/ | muguleldo /muɡuleldo/ | cwiny /tʃwiɲ/ | chuny /tʃuɲ/ |
| Bone | loito /loito/ | oloito /oloito/ | akoyit /akojit/ | kuyutio /kujutio/ | kowet /kowet/ | cogo /tʃoɡo/ | chogo /tʃoɡo/ |
| Blood | lodo /loɗo/ | osarge /osarɡe/ | awokot /awokot/ | rima /rima/ | korotik /korotik/ | remo /rɛmo/ | remo /rɛmo/ |
| Poop | nkik /ŋkik/ | inkik /iŋkik/ | acin /atʃin/ | kin /kin/ | ng'atatek /ŋatatek/ | cet /tʃɛt/ | chieth /tʃiɛθ/ |
| Love | eitalu /eitalu/ | eitalu /eitalu/ | akimina /akimina/ | nyar /ɲar/ | chamyet /tʃamjet/ | mar /mar/ | hera /hera/ |
| Tree | lchani /ltʃani/ | olchani /oltʃani/ | ekitoi /ekitoi/ | ködini /kɔdini/ | keetit /keːtit/ | yat /jat/ | yath /jaθ/ |
| Dog | ldia /ldia/ | oldia /oldia/ | ekingok /ekiŋok/ | ’dioŋ /ɗioŋ/ | ses /ses/ | gwok /ɡʷok/ | guok /ɡuok/ |
| Cat | paka /paka/ | paka /paka/ | ekapa /ekapa/ | lupa /lupa/ | paka /paka/ | ngabu /ŋabu/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | singirr /siŋɡirː/ | osingirri /osiŋɡirːi/ | ekoleit /ekoleit/ | sumuti /sumuti/ | njiryot /ndʒirjot/ | rec /rɛtʃ/ | rech /rɛtʃ/ |
| Bird | nkueenyi /ŋkuɛːɲi/ | motonyi /moˈtoɲi/ | akweny /akʷeɲ/ | kwenti /kʷenti/ | taritiet /taritiet/ | winyo /wiɲo/ | winyo /wiɲo/ |
| Egg | mboliboli /mboliboli/ | olmosori /olmosori/ | abeet /abeet/ | katulukuti /katulukuti/ | mayaiyat /majaijat/ | tong /toŋ/ | tongʼ /toŋ/ |
| Horse | mbarta /mbarta/ | ɛmbarta /ɛmbarta/ | ebalasit /ebalasit/ | kusan /kusan/ | mbartanyit /mbartaɲit/ | aguragura /aɡuraɡura/ | faras /faras/ |
| House | nkang /ŋkaŋ/ | engʼaji /ɛŋadʒi/ | etogo /etoɡo/ | kadi /kadi/ | gaa /ɡaː/ | ot /ot/ | ot /ot/ |
| Milk | kule /kule/ | kule /kule/ | akile /akile/ | le /le/ | chego /tʃeɡo/ | cak /tʃak/ | chak /tʃak/ |
| Honey | naicho ee lotoro /naitʃo eː lotoro/ | enaisho /enaiʃo/ | asik /asik/ | siwatat /siwatat/ | kumyat /kumjat/ | kic /kitʃ/ | mor kich /mor kitʃ/ |
| Salt | nkisiicho /ŋkisiːtʃo/ | ɛmunyan /ɛmuɲan/ | abalang /abalaŋ/ | alang /alaŋ/ | munyek /muɲek/ | kado /kado/ | chumbi /tʃumbi/ |
| Wine | naichuo e lmusabibu /naitʃuo e lmusabibu/ | enaisho oo sabibu /enaiʃo oː sabibu/ | ebino /ebino/ | binyo /biɲo/ | divai /divai/ | bwino /bwino/ | divai /divai/ |
| Iron | senkei /seŋkei/ | olchuma /ɔltʃʊma/ | asowat /asowat/ | witi /witi/ | karnet /karnet/ | nyonyo /ɲoɲo/ | nyinyo /ˈɲiɲo/ |
| Book | mbuku /mbuku/ | embuku /embuku/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | buk /buk/ | bukuit /bukuit/ | buk /buk/ | buk /buk/ |
| Eat | anya /aɲa/ | anya /aɲa/ | akinyam /akiɲam/ | nyo /ɲo/ | am /am/ | cam /tʃam/ | chiemo /tʃiemo/ |
| Drink | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | oŋg /oŋɡ/ | akimat /akimat/ | mwoi /mwoi/ | ee /eː/ | mat /mat/ | madho /maðo/ |
| Sleep | airura /airura/ | airura /airʊra/ | ajo /aɟo/ | doto /doto/ | ru /ru/ | nino /nino/ | nindo /nindo/ |
| One | obo /obo/ | obo /obo/ | ediopet /ediopet/ | geleŋ /ɡeleŋ/ | agenge /aɡeŋe/ | acel /atʃɛl/ | achiel /atʃiɛl/ |
| Two | aare /aːre/ | aare /aːre/ | iarei /iarei/ | murek /murek/ | aeng /aeŋ/ | aryo /arjo/ | ariyo /arijo/ |
| Three | uni /uni/ | uni /uni/ | iuni /iuni/ | musala /mʊsala/ | somok /somok/ | adek /adek/ | adek /adek/ |
| Four | ongwan /oŋwan/ | ongwan /oŋwan/ | iwongon /iwoŋon/ | ŋwan /ŋwan/ | angwan /aŋwan/ | angwen /aŋwɛn/ | angʼwen /aŋwɛn/ |
| Five | imiet /imiet/ | imiet /imiɛt/ | ikany /ikaɲ/ | mukanat /mʊkanat/ | muut /muːt/ | abic /abitʃ/ | abich /abitʃ/ |
| Hundred | ip /ip/ | ip /iːp/ | akwatat /akʷatat/ | mia /mia/ | bogol /boɡol/ | miya /mija/ | mia /mia/ |
| Hello | sopa /sopa/ | sopa /sopa/ | yoga /joɡa/ | gwon /ɡwon/ | chamege /tʃameɡe/ | itye nining /itʲɛ niniŋ/ | misawa /misawa/ |
| Thank you | ashe /aʃe/ | ashe /aʃe/ | eyalama /ejalama/ | tinate /tinate/ | kongoi /koŋoi/ | apwoyo /apwojo/ | erokamano /erokamano/ |
| Good | supat /supat/ | sidai /sidai/ | ejok /eɟok/ | ’but /ɓut/ | karaaran /karaːran/ | ber /ber/ | maber /maber/ |
| New | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | ŋejuk /ŋedʒuk/ | lokitetet /lokitetet/ | ludukotyo /ludukotjo/ | leel /leːl/ | manyen /maɲɛn/ | manyien /maɲien/ |
| Red | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | nanyokie /naɲokie/ | lokarengan /lokareŋan/ | lotor /lotor/ | birirben /birirben/ | makwar /makwar/ | makwar /makwar/ |
| White | naibor /naiˈbor/ | naibor /naibor/ | akwang /akʷaŋ/ | lokwe /lokwe/ | leel /leːl/ | tar /tar/ | rachar /ratʃar/ |
| Black | narok /narok/ | narok /narok/ | lokirionon /lokirionon/ | lurwö /lurwɔ/ | tuui /tuːi/ | macol /matʃol/ | ratengʼ /ratɛŋ/ |
| Green | nanyori /naɲori/ | nanyori /naɲori/ | — | loŋem /loŋem/ | nyalil /ɲalil/ | atworo /atworo/ | — |
| Blue | kapatei /kapatei/ | pus /pus/ | lobululu /lobululu/ | lomurye /lomurje/ | arus /arus/ | mabulu /mabulu/ | rambulu /rambulu/ |
| Tea | chai /tʃai/ | shai /ʃai/ | ecai /etʃai/ | — | — | cai /tʃai/ | chai /tʃai/ |
| Ninety-nine | ntomoni saal o saal /ntomoni saːl o saːl/ | ntomoni naaudo o naaudo /ntomoni naːudo o naːudo/ | akaisakany kaungon ka ikanykawongon /akaisakaɲ kauŋon ka ikaɲkawoŋon/ | merya buŋwan wot buŋwan /mɛrja bʊŋwan wɔt bʊŋwan/ | tamanwogik sogol ak sogol /tamanwoɡik soɡol ak soɡol/ | pyere abongwen wiye abongwen /pjere aboŋwɛn wije aboŋwɛn/ | piero ochiko gochiko /piero otʃiko ɡotʃiko/ |
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