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Although this language is spoken by less than 2 million people around the world, many of them speak little or no Kiswahili or English (Kenya's official languages). Primary schooling is carried out in Ekegusii (also called Kikisii), the tribal language of Kisii, and it is the language spoken at home and - for the most part - in church.
The use of even a few phrases of the "mother tongue" will make you instant friends with whomever you meet! Ekegusii is spelt phonetically, so while you might not get the accent quite right you can rest assured that you're pronouncing the words fine....
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Greetings etc.
Verbs Days and times People |
Shopping
Food Objects |
Health
Animals Numbers Miscellaneous |
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ENGLISH
Are you well? (sing.) I'm fine Are you well? (pl.) We're fine Good morning Good afternoon/evening How was the night? Good/very well Goodbye Remain well What is your name? My name is... Nice to meet you (sing.) Nice to meet you (pl.) We shall meet again I have enjoyed myself I speak a little Ekegusii I don't understand We are teaching in ........ I will miss you Thank you Sorry Welcome I have enjoyed myself very much I am satisfied Excuse me |
EKEGUSII
Imbuya ore? Imbuya ande Imbuya more? Imbuya tore Bwakire buya Bwairire buya Kwabokire? Buya Kwaheri Tigara buya Naki okura kwa? Korokura kwa ... Mbuya ase ogokoumera Mbuya ase okobaumera Toumerane Nagokiwe mono Ngokwana Ekegusii egeke Tinkari koigua ............ togosomia Nindakobore Imbuya mono Pole Kwareganigure Nagokiwe mono Naigotire Nyabere akeigo |
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ENGLISH
Come Go Walk Run Talk Greet Write Listen Look |
EKEGUSII
Inchu Genda Tara Minyoka Kwana Ogokwania Rika Tegerera Rigereria
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ENGLISH
Today Yesterday Tomorrow This week Last week Next week Sunrise Sunset See you later |
EKEGUSII
Kero Igoro Mambi Ewiki eye Ewiki ya erete Ewiki egocha Rigaso rigosuka Rigaso rikorimeria Tororane |
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ENGLISH
People Person Man Woman Boy Girl Father Mother Brother Sister Cousin Child My friend |
EKEGUSII
Abanto Omonto Omosacha Omokungu Omomura Omoiseke Tata Mama Momura ominto Moiseke ominto Bamwabo Omwana Omosani one |
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ENGLISH
Money Coins Notes One shilling Five shillings Ten shillings How much does it cost? How much are those? Do you have ...... ? I would like ...... I like ..... I don't like ...... Very expensive I want to buy ..... |
EKEGUSII
Chibesa Chisiringi/chitongoro Amanoti Esiringi eyemo Chisiringi isano Chisiringi ikomi Rigori irengu? Birenga bire? Nobwate ...... ? Nigondanche ...... Ning'achete ..... Titageti ...... Rigori rinene Tagete kogora ...... |
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ENGLISH
Food Ugali (maize staple) Vegetable Meat Bread Tea Water Milk Finger millet Maize Sweet potatoes Avocado Rice Avocado Plantain Sweet bananas Sugar Salt
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EKEGUSII
Endgera Okokima Chinyeni Enyama Omogati Echae Amache Amabere Obori/wimbi Ebituma Amarabwoni Abukato Omochere Abukato Amatoke Ebisukari Esukari Omonyo |
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ENGLISH
Table Chair Door Window Wall Roof Book Pen Paper Keys Bed Toilet paper Shoes Trousers Shirt Skirt |
EKEGUSII
Emesa Ekerogo Omorangu/Egesieri Edirisa Enyasi Ekerama Egetabu Ekaramu Ekaratasi Keys Egetanda Etisiu/Ekaratasi ye choo Ebikoroto Erongi Esuti Esigati |
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ENGLISH
Are you feeling better? I'm not feeling well I have a cold I have flu My head aches Is this drinking water? What happened? I was bitten by a mosquito Head Ear Mouth Eye Shoulder Heart Chest Stomach Back Leg |
EKEGUSII
Noiguete buya? Tingiweti buya Mbwate ribuku Mbwate ribuku rineru Nki omotu okongateri Aya namache yokonywa? Nki kiabete? Narometu ne embu Omotu Ogoto Omonu Eriso Amareko Enkoro Egekubu Enda Omogongo Okogoro |
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ENGLISH
Hen Cock Chicks Cow Bull Dog Cat Bird Rat Fish Donkey Goat Sheep Flies |
EKEGUSII
Engoko Etwoni Ebichuchu Engombe Eheri Esese Ekebusi Enyoni Embeba Ensu Ebunda Embori Engondi Chingu |
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ENGLISH
one two three four five six seven eight nine ten eleven twelve twenty twenty-one |
EKEGUSII
eyemo ibere isato inye isano isanemo isano ibere isano isato kianda ikomi ikomi nemo ikomi na ibere imeronge ebere imerongebere na eyemo |
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ENGLISH
Yes No What? Where? Why? How? Because Usually Sometimes Straight ahead Left Right Is it far? Not too near/far |
EKEGUSII
Ee..... Aa..... Inki? Arari? Aseki? Naki? Ase eng'encho Botambe Insa chinde Gochia bosio rioka Ekebee Okorio Ngare are? Tori ange/are mono |
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http://www.cam.ac.uk/societies/kenyap/index.html
last updated 7th March 2002
Orginal html by Sophie Dixon-Box