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100 Most Commonly Used Kiembu Words and their Translations

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The Embu people, the speakers of the Kiembu language, are found in Embu County in the former Eastern Province in Kenya. Coming up is a list of 100 commonly used Kiembu words and their translations.

  1. Uvoro – how are you
  2. Ri? – When?
  3. Ku? – Where?
  4. Uka – come
  5. Hava – here
  6. Varia – there
  7. Vakuve – close (noun)
  8. Kuraca – far (noun)
  9. Ciakwa – my/mine
  10. Cucu – grandmother
  11. Mundu – person
  12. Andu – people
  13. Mwana – child
  14. Mutumia – woman
  15. Muthuri – man
  16. Eritu – girls/young ladies
  17. Ageni – visitors
  18. Nengera – give
  19. Kumaka – shock
  20. Kugura – buy
  21. Kuina – sing
  22. Kuthondeka – making
  23. Kavora – slowly
  24. Kuringana – collide
  25. Kumama – sleep
  26. Kuruga – cook (verb)
  27. Kuvanda – plant (verb)
  28. Gutwa – climb
  29. Kurira – cry
  30. Kuthoma – study
  31. Thikiriria – listen
  32. Kuthukia – destroy
  33. Kwithamba – shower/bath
  34. Gukama – milk (verb)
  35. Vamwe- together
  36. Magego – teeth
  37. Njara- hand
  38. Ngingo – neck
  39. Metho – eyes
  40. Maguru – legs
  41. Mboco – beans
  42. Makondovia – avocados
  43. Mburi – goat
  44. Njoka – snake
  45. Nguru mathendu – tortoise
  46. Ngui – dog
  47. Njuki – bees
  48. Mai – water
  49. Waru – potatoes
  50. Gitima – grass
  51. Mavavai – pawpaws
  52. Nyama – meat
  53. Igwa – sugarcane
  54. Itumbi – egg
  55. Mbembe – maize
  56. Ruagi – mosquito
  57. Nyenje – cockroach
  58. Ndegwa – bull
  59. Ivuku – book
  60. Karatathi – paper
  61. Giti – chair/seat
  62. Thaani – plate
  63. Giciko – spoon
  64. Nyomba – house
  65. Mucii – home
  66. Ndawa – medicine
  67. Savi – keys
  68. Mugunda – land
  69. Thivitari – hospital
  70. Kanitha- church
  71. Muthetu – soil
  72. Maua – flowers
  73. Mugende – mango tree
  74. Mutitu – forest
  75. Miti – trees
  76. Mathangu – leaves
  77. Kithuki – stump
  78. Ngari – vehicle
  79. Murio – sweet (adjective)
  80. Inegene – noise
  81. Wendo – love
  82. Sati – shirt
  83. Muvuto – trouser
  84. Iratu – shoes
  85. Mukuvi – short (noun)
  86. Muthini – poor
  87. Mbura – rain
  88. Irima – hole/ridge
  89. Uviki – wedding
  90. Wira –work (noun)
  91. Murimi – farmer
  92. Gatagati – middle
  93. Kuvuri – padlock
  94. Riiko – kitchen
  95. Ngai – God
  96. Kirema –scar (noun)
  97. Muno – much
  98. Goro – expensive
  99. Mbia – money
  100. Ngengere – bell

Now you are all set to make your first sentence in Kiembu! Good luck!