Table Of ContentW I R U T EG I Gd-I K U Y U
Maritwmaa G ïgïküMyüa taürÍtwo
NaG Tthüngü
DavidN . Muiru
@M MVII
rso(>
WïRUTEoi eïxÜYÜ
Marítwa ma GigÍkíiyú MataíiiÍtwo
Na GÍthíing(r
Na
DavidN . Muiru
@M MVII
@D aüd N. MuiÍu (MMVII)
P.O.B ox 22.N andiH ills
Email: [email protected]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
HOW TO USET HE BOOK. o
PRONOLNCIATIONSO F GÏKÜYÜ WORDS 6
USEO F SUFFÌX 6
TÊNSES o
SENTENCES TRUCTURE, o
CATEGORIESO F WORDS 6
WORDS. 7
KÏNDÜ_NoUN 7
R]IKA _ AGE GROUP
Ì.{YAMÚ_ANIMAL 9
Ì.{YONI_BIRD l0
MÌTÏ _ TREES t0
CIÌGA _ BODY PARTS
BODY WASTE It
MWAKO*BUILDING ll
NGUO _ CLOTHING l2
KANITHA_CHURCH t2
MARANGI_COLOUR l3
CIIRA _ CASE
IJ
MÜTUGo_BEHAVIOR l3
GÌKUÜ DEATH l3
IRIO,FOOD l3
HEAVENLY BODIES t4
FEATURESI N THE SKY t4
INDO CIA NYÚMBA _ HOUSEH OLD l)
LIQUOR- NJOHI 15
RWARIO_ LANGUAGE l)
CUMA _ METAL l)
MÜGÚNDA _ GARDEN 15
MBECA _ MONEY l6
NDÌRA _ RELATIONS 16
GÌTHOMO _ READING l6
KÌÌRoHo _ SPIRITUAL l6
NDWARI - SICKNESS l7
PHYSICALF EATURES t1
NDEBE. TITLE l'l
MÜRo_TooL
t'l
NGAARI _ VEHICLE t8
INDO CIA KÚRIÌRA _ UTENSILS l8
MBAARA_WAR l8
RJERA_WEATTDR t9
wÏRA_WORKING l9
üHIKI-WEDDING t9
MATHAKO-GAMES t9
PRONOUNS l9
GÌÌI(o _ VERB 20
NGEITHI - GF.EETINGS 25
GÏTÏo _ CoURTESY zo
GÚTARÍRIA - ADJECTIVE 26
POSSESSIVAED JECTIVES 27
GÜTARA _ COTJNTING 27
MÜTHENYA_DAY 28
MWENA-DIRECTION 28
IHINDA-SEASON 28
MÜIGUÍRE _ SENSE 28
MÜCAMO_TASTE 28
ADVERB 29
CONJI]NCTION 29
PREPOSITION 29
KAGÚTHÚKO - INTEzuECTION 29
PI.JNCTUATION 29
PREFIX 29
SUFFIX 29
REVERSED TRANSLATION: ENGLISH TO GÍGÏKÚYÚ WORDS.
30
NOITN. KÏNDÚ 30
AGE GROUP_ RIIKA
ANIMAL.NYAMÜ 32
BIRD-NYONI
TREES- MiTÏ 33
BODY PARTS. CIÏGA
BODY WASTE 34
BUILDING.MWAKO
CLOTHING - NGUO
CHURCH-KANITHA 35
COLOUR-MARANGI Jf
CASE. CIIRA 35
BEHAVIOUR - MÜTUGO JO
DEATH-GÌKUÜ JO
FOOD - IRIO 36
ÍIEAVENLY BODIES 37
FEATURESI N THE SKY
HOUSE HOLD _ INDO CIA NY|IMBA
NJOHI _ LIQUOR 37
LANGUAGE - RWARIO 38
METAL - CUMA 38
GARDEN_MÜGÜNDA 38
MONEY-MBECA 38
RELATIONS- NDÌRA 38
READING - GÏTHOMO 38
SPIRITUAL - KÏÏROHO
SICKNESS. NDWARI 39
PHYSICALF EATURES 39
TITLE - NDEBE 39
TOOL - MÜRO 40
VEHICLE - NGAARI 40
UTENSILS _ INDO CIA KÚRÏÌRÂ 40
WAR-MBAARA 40
WEATHER - FJERA 4l
WORKING - WÏRA 4l
WEDDING - ÚHIKI 4l
GAMES. MATHAKO 4l
PRONOUNS 4l
VERB - GÌÏKO 47
GREETINGS. NGEITHI 48
COURTESY. GÌTIO 48
ADJECTIVE. GÜTARIRIA 48
POSSESSIVAED JECTIVES 49
COTJNTING. GÜTARA 50
DAY - MÜTHENYA 50
DIRECTION-MWENA )u
SEASON- IHINDA 50
SENSE. MÜIGUÌRE 50
TASTE- MÜCAMO 50
ADVERB )l
CONJUNCTION )l
PREPOSITION 5l
INTERIECTION - KAGÚTHÜKO )l
Punctuation 5l
Prefix 5l
Suffix 52
GIgIkãtã Wods and lheb English Translations
r,,rrrr:,::i:ì,r,ìiir,::r::iii:rrri.i.:::trt:til.t.:::t:!
t{$ll!f,S:ü!WltÍ.*Éi,:jtlôiÍi{:i:ll,:::r,r::']]r"",
All the GÌgftüyü words have been given the equivalent English translation,
giving someo f them, the different word forms.
Some people may also benefit by learning unknown English words from
the Gïgìkúyü words. Some words have been modified from one part of
speecht o another depending on usage of the word, to give the reader a
broaderv iew ofthe word's meaning.
To differentiate the different forms of words, v. is used for verb, adj. for
adjective,n . for nouns,p/. for plural.
:f'.$.qü,g$l$t8üttÍil{$ôÍ;ôllrfirü:W0RD$:f",,:::::l::,:l:::::rr:,:,:'::i,:
Cigftüyü languagei s unique fiom the other Bantu languagesin that, ú€re
are tÌvo unique vowels, namely;' ï' pronounceda s in letter 'a', and ú
pronounceda s in letter 'o'. A personw ho hasl eamtt he languagew ill be
identifiedb, y how he or shet reatst Ììesetw o voweÌs.
'b' hasa n 'f sound,a ndú ere is no 'f, and 'v' in the GÌgìtüyüa lphabet.
'c' hasa n 's' sound,a nd 's', 'sh-', and 'ch' aren ot in the language'.b -
sound',l ike in thew ord 'book', comesfi om the combinatioonf 'mb-'.
usorsÌ.tmD(
Useo fsuÍfix'-nga', and' -ga' - asks onet o go further,
while '-ga', askso net o be goingf irst.
'I]*ì:YPY . r. ìr '.
NÌnda-p astt ensee .g.N indathiire
NÌndira-p resentte nsee .g.N ÌndïrathrÌ
Nïnga-f uturet ensee. .g.N ingathii
slqif$lÍCúlS crÌRÍ,
Learnt he words,a ndt henp ractisec onstructinsge ntencien speech.
The structureis ; Subjec-t Verb Object
WoÌds have been categorizedf or easeo f identification, and not so much by
parts of speechc lassification
GUIkA!f, Vo s and lheir Eiglíth tuanslaÍions
Bata PurposeM. abata, Kahindâ Chance
pl. Kayil Echo
Biringi Whistle KÍaga Chickenh ouse
Búrüri Country.MabürüÍi, Klanâ Noose
pl. Kiano \pitchd octor's
Coro trumpet containerf or
Giathi Feast concoctlon
GÍko Act Klarâ Rubbishh eap.
Githimâ Well.Ìthima,pl Ciara,p l
Githitú Charm KÍeha Sorrow
Gitina at ther oots KÍglYâtio Excuse.W ìgwatie-
Güoyâ Fear.K ïguoya- Geta ne xcuse.
cowiìtd Kihumo Origin/source
Hinya Strength. Kinanda Recordp layer
Igai iúeritance Kindú Thing( object).
Igongona Ritual/ Ceremony. lndo, pl
Magongonap,/ . King'ang'a Publicp lace.
lgoto Bananaw rapping lng'ang'ap, l
Ihengere Sheept late/ notice King'aratuâM arketc entre
board King'ora Alarm.I ng'orap, /.
Ihiga StoneM. ahigap, l KionerêÌia Example
Ihinda Period KlrÍrâ Generalt alk. Idra,
Ihü PregnancyM. ahu, pl.
pl. Kiriti Un exploitedf orest
Pit / Hole.M arima, KÍyo Active in work
pl. Konâ Comer
Itara A perch for Kwaga Lack
firewoodi n a Ma Truú
kitchen MaaÌ Water
Ithaga Omament Magegâniâ Mystery
Ithatha Pieceo fvolcanic Maheni Lies
rock for washing ManagÍ fancy
feet Maria Poolo f water
Ithendú MarÍâ Letter
Cia ngú Lops Marundurundu Not cleár
ItherÍi Word play, jest, Mâthangania Uncertain
joke Mbu Wail
Glglklyt lyods and rhei, English Tn$ldiont
Mbügi Bell Mwanya Hole
Mbúgü Witch doctors Mwatú Beehive
divination stones Mweke Chancet o do
Meciria thought something
Merirlris Desire Mwlhoko Hope
Mlhehú Whisper Ndâci Dance
Mlhúmú Breath NdâI Riddle
Mlnyamaro Tribulations NdeÍeti Chat.T ereta,v .
Mlrúri Rays Ndeto Discussion
Mübira Rubbers tap / ball Nditi challenge
Mücene Slander Ndogo Smoke
Múcil Home NdoÍo Mud
MücingÍl Aroma /good smell Ndundu Secretagreement
(ofmeat) Ndungata Servant
Mflgambo Sound.Mïgambo, Ndúnyú Market
pl. Ng'ârâgu Hmger
Múgogo Log of a tree Nga Strapsf rom skins
Mügwate Captive/ Prisoner. Ngengere bell
I,tfrgw?úep,l . Ngero Bad luck/ assault
Múh0hÍ Un invited talk Ngombo Slave
MúharaU Trough Ngurunga Cave
Múhiâno Likeness Ngwâtio GÌoup activity
MÍlhlÌfgr Clan. Mihirïga, p/. (merry-go-round)
Mühu Ash Njeme Appetite
Mühuhu Rumour.Ìtfihuhu, Njenga CoaÌse
pl. Njingiri Jingles
Múndú Man.A ndü,p /. Njlra Way
Múnglld Mob RiêÌâ AiÌ
Munju silt depositsi n Riiko hearth
water Riri Glory / radiance
MÍnyaka Luck.Ìvfinyaka,pl /brilliant
Múrata FÍiend. Arat4 p/. RÍtwa Name
Mütego TÍap Rügano Siory
Müthiâ End. Mithia, p/. Rüiuki Crumbs/rubbish
Mútino Accident.Mïtino, RÍlkúngú Dust
pl. Rúrlrl Tribe
MútitÍl Forest Rúruka RaceN. dúa,p/.
Muuma Oath Rúúâ Hide/ skinsN. jüa,
Mwâgo ftn pl.
Mwaki Fire. Mïaki, pi. Rwario Discussion.Mïario.
Mwanya PI.
Mwanya Group of items Thahu unclean/ taboo
GE kllyl Worb dnd lheir English Tranttúiorrs
Thandi Sparks Nyaldnyua'rVomenw hose
Thenema Movie childrenh aveb een
Thi World / ground circumcised
Thimo Proverb Age mates/ group
Biika
Thïnâ Poverty.M athína, Ukúrú Age.M ükürü., {d.
pl.
Thiri S€cret
Thongori blowing hom Giïko Cobra( snake)
Thumu Poison GÍtoore Hyrax. Itoore,p /.
TilhÍ Nothing Guoya Wool
úgemu Beauty.G emia,v . - Hârika Maleg oat
makeb eautiful, Hiti Hyena
úninga Hypocrisy Huko Mole
Uhoro News / Report. Ikorogoca Eggs hell.
Mohoro,p /. Makorogocap, /.
úkengi BrightrÌess ItâÍâÌa Python
Úndú Thing (event). Itumbl Egg. MatumbÌ,p /.
MaÍindü,p l Kang'auÍü Scorpion.
úremi Disobedience TüngaurÍip, /.
Úrirü GÍeat thing Kânyau Cat. Tünyau,p /.
Úrirü MisfoÌtune KanyÍtú Cheetú
útheri Light KÍgunyü Worm / Larva.
útugi kindness Igunyü,p l
Witikio Belief KÍgurumüki
Wonania Demonshation Redn eckl izmd.
Woni Opinion.M aúoni, Igurumüki,p l
pl. Kiugü Pen( animal
ìVooni ProspeÍity enclosureC). iugü,
pl.
KÍüngüyú Fish. CiÍingüyú,p /.
Kaana KÍúÌa Frog. Ciiira, pl -
Kahli Smallb oy Kori Lamb. Tüüri, p/.
KairÍtu Small girl Mahiú Domestica nimals
Kamwâna Boy Mbarâthi Horse
Kang'ei Womenw hose Mbogo buffalo
children haven ot Mbla Rat
beenc iÌcumcised Mbúca Weevil
Múthuri Married / old man. Mbúkü Hare/ rabbit
Athuri, p/. MbúmbúÍ Spider
Mútumia 'ffoman. Atumia,p /. Mbúri Goât
Mwanake Young man.A nake, Múgomâ Femaleg oat.
pl. Ìvílgoma,v .
