Ekegusii words and phrases

      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....

      Greetings etc.
      Verbs
      Days and times
      People
      Shopping
      Food
      Objects
      Health
      Animals
      Numbers
      Miscellaneous


            Back to the top GREETINGS etc.

      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


            Back to the top VERBS

      ENGLISH

      Come

      Go

      Walk

      Run

      Talk

      Greet

      Write

      Listen

      Look

      EKEGUSII

      Inchu

      Genda

      Tara

      Minyoka

      Kwana

      Ogokwania

      Rika

      Tegerera

      Rigereria


            Back to the top DAYS AND TIMES

      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


            Back to the top PEOPLE

      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


            Back to the top SHOPPING

      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 ......


            Back to the top FOOD

      ENGLISH

      Food

      Ugali (maize staple)

      Vegetable

      Meat

      Bread

      Tea

      Water

      Milk

      Finger millet

      Maize

      Sweet potatoes

      Avocado

      Rice

      Avocado

      Plantain

      Sweet bananas

      Sugar

      Salt

      EKEGUSII

      Endgera

      Okokima

      Chinyeni

      Enyama

      Omogati

      Echae

      Amache

      Amabere

      Obori/wimbi

      Ebituma

      Amarabwoni

      Abukato

      Omochere

      Abukato

      Amatoke

      Ebisukari

      Esukari

      Omonyo


            Back to the top OBJECTS

      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


            Back to the top HEALTH

      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


            Back to the top ANIMALS

      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


            Back to the top NUMBERS

      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


            Back to the top MISCELLANEOUS

      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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      last updated 7th March 2002
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