The Luhya tribe, also known as the Abaluyia, Baluhya, or Abaluhya, is the second-largest tribe in Kenya according to Kenya Population and Housing Census 2019. The Luhya community occupies the fertile parts western province of the country around Mt Elgon. The Luhya language has several dialects, the most common being Bukusu, Maragoli, Wanga, Abagisu, and Marama. Below is a list of the most commonly used words in the Luhya language.
Greetings and Responses
Luhya greetings are mostly used in different occassions.
Mulembe – Peace/general greeting
Bushire – Good morning
Keshitare – Good afternoon
Bwakhera – Good evening
OIiomulamu – Are you fine?
Oriena – How are you? (singular)
Murieena – How are you? (plural)
Ostitonga hena – Where are you going?
Obulayi muno – Very good
Mulembe muno – Peace Good – a general greeting in response to Mulembe
Bushire muno – A very good morning to you
Namalayi muno – Good afternoon / I’m fine
Bwirire – evening greeting
Bwirire muno – Good evening
Endiomulamu – Yes, I’m fine
Khukhani khandi – See you soon
Khukhani mukumba – See you tomorrow
Mwana – greeting used by people of similar ages who share a degree of Plural – bana, bane
Family Members and Relations
Abakuka – grandfathers
Abana – children
Kuka – grandfather
Kukhu – grandmother
Mbotso – sister/brother/sibling
Mama – mother
Papa – father
Mao – your mother
Senje – paternal aunt
Khotsa – maternal uncle
Mulamwa – sister or brother-in-law
Pronouns
Abenyu – your (possessive)
–enyu – your
–ene – oneself
Eshiefu – our
Ababi – bad
Muno – much, very much, good
Amani – strength
Parts of the Body
Amarwi/eshirwi/efirwi – ears
Emikhono – hands
Eshilemje – leg/foot
Lisikamo – knee
Counts and Food products
Eshikhumi – hundred
Eshikhumira – thousand
Amabeere – milk
Ebilibwa – food
Amatuma – maize
Amahenjera – dry maize and beans boiled together
Amatsi – water
Eshiachi – granary, grain store
Eshiamo – fruit
Ingokho – chicken
Eshimuli – flower
Ichai – tea
Ingano – wheat
Inyanya – tomato
Animals
Like any other community, the Luhyas have special naming for all animals both domestic and wild animals as given below;
Inyeni – fish
Italanyi – lion
Itwasi – cow
Liyoni – bird
Inzofu – elephant
Eshiroboto – flea
Cutlery
Eshifumbi – chair
Isahani – plate
Eshichiko – spoon
Eshikombe – cup
Indoo – bucket
Injeso – knife
Inyumba – house
Ijikoni – kitchen
Ichupa – bottle
Eshiwo – glass
Eshitanda – bed
Ibirika – kettle/teapot
Eshikapo – basket
Eshiserero – wedding
Eshiiro – market
Eshifwalo – clothes/garment
Ikanisa – church
Isubutali – hospital
Ikalamu yamare – pencil
Ikalamu yobwino – pen
Eliaro – boat/canoe
Eshichanuwo – comb
Eshifuli – padlock
Ekulu – up, above
Eliira – name
Others
Eshiro shino – last night
Omutoka – car
Eshirima – darkness
Ewefu – at our home
Ewenyu – at your home
Okhufunga – lock
Okhusaala – pray
Amberi –first
Eshikulu – hill
Eliuba – sun
Let us enjoy the diversity in our African language.
Content created and supplied by: MuangeJr (via Opera News )
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