The Kamba tribe in Kenya is one of the largest tribes in the country, making up 11% of the country’s population. For anyone who is interested in learning the colorful Kamba language, here are a few words to start with!
1. Wakyeewa ata? – Good morning
2. Wi museo? – Are you fine?
3. Ni museo – I am fine
4. Ni muvea – Thank you
5. Uka tuthi – Come let’s go
6. Koma nesa – Goodnight
7. Uvoo – news
8. Uvoo wa kwakya – News of the morning
9. Uvoo waku – How are you? (singular)
10. Uvoo wenyu – How are you? (plural)
11. Uvoo wa wia – How is work?
12. Ti muthuku – Not bad
13. Wikaa ata? – What do you do?
14. uswii – Hair
15. Itho/Metho – Eye/eyes
16. Kyaa/Syaa –Finger/fingers
17. Inyuu – Nose
18. Kutu/Matu – Ear/ears
19. Kuu – Leg
20. Umunthi – Today
21. Uni – Tomorrow
22. Iyoo – Yesterday
23. Mwiitu – Young unmarried lady
24. Mwanake – Young unmarried man
25. Syana – Children
26. Nesa – Good, nice, well
27. Thuku – bad
28. Nyie – Me
29. We – You
30. Ithyi – We
31. Inywi – You (plural)
32. Mo – They
33. Uyu – This
34. Usu – That
35. Uya – That over there
36. Aya – These
37. Aso – Those
38. Aaya – Those over there
39. Vulana – Sweater
40. Muvuuto – Trousers
41. Ikoti – Coat
42. Ilinda – Dress
43. Kiatu/Ilatu – Shoe/shoes
44. Ndunyu – Market
45. Kwakya – morning
46. Muthenya – day
47. Munyanyawa – My friend
48. Musyi – City/town
49. Ndunyu – Market
50. Sukulu – School
51. Mbasi – bus
52. Kisululu – Bicycle
53. Motokaa – car
54. Mwalimu – Teacher
55. Kalani – Clerk
56. Nthi – Country
57. Ng’ombe – Cow
58. Nguluwe – Pig
59. Mbui – Goat
60. Ilondu – Sheep
61. Nguku – Chicken
62. Simu – Telephone
63. Kaawa – Coffee
64. Iia – Milk
65. Kiwu – Water
66. Nyai – Tea
67. Sota – Soda
68. Ngima – Ugali
69. Isyo – Beans
70. Ikuyu – Fish
71. Musele – Rice
72. Sukali – Sugar
73. Itunda – Fruit
74. Muunda – Farm
75. Viasala – Business
76. Mwalimu – Teacher
77. Musomethwa – Student
78. Muimi – Farmer
79. Ndakitali – Doctor
80. Mualavu – Arab
81. Kilasi – Class
82. Kyamyka – To wake up
83. Kithi – to go
84. Kwitwa – To be called
85. Kwikala – To stay
86. Kuka – To come
87. Kulisa – To climb
88. Kusyoka – To return
89. Kwona – To see
90. Kunenga – To give
91. Kwika – To do
92. Kuya – To eat
93. Kunywa – To drink
94. Kusomethya – To teach
95. Kuandika – To write
96. Kuthoosya – To sell
97. Kwimunyisya – To study/learn
98. Thumua – Rest
99. Kuvanda – To plant
100. Kukwata – To get
Kamba alphabet does NOT have the letter R. Additionally, Kamba has 7 vowels including the two diphthongs at i and u.
The next time you go to the land of the Kamba people, carry a list of these words in your hand, and soon you will be talking like you have lived there all your life!