Embu language

{{Infobox language

|name=Embu

|nativename=Kiembu

|states=Kenya

|region=Eastern Province, Embu District

|ethnicity=Aembu

|speakers={{sigfig|324,000|2}}

|date=2009 census

|ref=e18

|familycolor=Niger-Congo

|fam2=Atlantic–Congo

|fam3=Volta-Congo

|fam4=Benue–Congo

|fam5=Bantoid

|fam6=Southern Bantoid

|fam7=Bantu

|fam8=Northeast Bantu

|fam9=Thagiicu

|fam10=West Thagiicu

|fam11=Kikuyu-Embu

|dia1=Mbeere

|dia2=Embu proper

|iso3=ebu

|glotto=embu1241

|glottorefname=Embu

|guthrie=E.52

}}

Embu, also known as Kîembu, is a Bantu language of Kenya. It is spoken by the Embu people, also known as the Aembu (sg. Muembu). Speakers of the Embu language can also be found in neighboring districts/counties and in the diaspora.

The language is closely related to the Kikuyu and Kimeru languages.

Dialects

Embu has two known dialects; Mbeere (Mbere, Kimbeere) and Embu proper.{{Cite book|url=https://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/iribe/publications/%e2%80%9c-case-harmonization-kikuyu-kiembu-and-kimbeere-phonology-and-orthography%e2%80%9d-chapte|title=The Harmonization and Standardization of Kenyan Languages: Orthography and Other Aspects|year=2012|publisher=CASAS}} Native Embu speakers can also tell apart a speaker from areas close to Mount Kenya, because they speak with a slight dialect locally called Kiruguru (Kirũgũrũ).

Sample Translations

Sample translations of words from English to Kiembu. Note: Accented characters or diacritical mark are not shown{{why|date=January 2023}} in the following two tables.

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

!English

!Kiembu

mouth

|kanyua

eye; eyes

|ritho; metho

head; heads

|kiongo; ciongo

hair

|njuiri (no plural)

tooth; teeth

|igego; magego

tongue; tongues

|rurimi; irimi

nose; noses

|inyiuru; manyiuru

ear; ears

|gutu; matu

neck; necks

|ngingo (no plural)

hand; hands

|njara (no plural)

throat; throats

|mumero; mimero

breast; breasts

|nyondo

arm; arms

|kivi;ivi

claw; claws

|ngunyu

nail; nails

|ngunyu

leg; legs

|kuguru; maguru

foot; feet

|kuguru; maguru or gitende; itende

buttock; buttocks

|itina; matina

belly, stomach

|nda, ivu

navel

|ikonye

intestines

|mara

blood

|nthakame

urine

|mathugumo

bone; bones

|ivindi; mavindi

skin

|ngothi

wing; wings

|ithagu; mathagu

feather; feathers

|ivuta; mavuta

school

|cukuru

church

|kanitha

horn; horns

|ruvia; ivia, mvia

tail; tails

|mukia; mikia

human being(s)/person(s)

|mundu; andu

man; men

|mundu murume; andu arume

woman; women

|mutumia; atumia or mundu muka; andu aka

husband; husbands

|muthuri; athuri

child; children

|mwana; ciana

name; names

|riitwa; mariitwa

sky

|matu/iguru

night

|utuku

moon

|mweri

sun

|riua

wind

|ruvuvo

cloud; clouds

|itu; matu

dew

|ime

rain

|mbura

ground

|nthi

sand

|muthanga

path/road

|gacira/njira

water

|manji or mai

stream/river

|karunji/runji

sweat

|nthithina

hill/mountain

|karima/kirima

house; houses

|nyomba

fire

|mwaki

firewood

|ruku (singular); nguu (plural)

smoke

|ndogo

ash

|muu

knife; knives

|kaviu; tuviu

rope; ropes

|mukanda; mikanda

spear; spears

|itumu; matumu

war

|mbaara

animal; animals

|nyamu

meat

|nyama

dog; dogs

|ngui

elephant; elephants

|njogu

goat; goats

|mburi

bird; birds

|giconi; iconi

tortoise

|nguru

snake

|njoka

fish

|nthamaki

louse; lice

|muthui; mithui

egg; eggs

|itumbi; matumbi

tree; trees

|muti; miti

bark

|ikoni

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

!English

!Kiembu

lake/sea/ocean

| iria

lakes/seas/oceans

|maria

leaf; leaves

|ithangu; mathangu

root; roots

|muri; miri

salt

|cumbi

oil/fat

|maguta

hunger(general)

| ng’aragu

hunger for meat

| ngumba

iron (metal)

|cuma

one

|Imwe

two

|Igiri

three

|Ithatu

four

|Inya

five

|Ithano

six

|Ithathatu or Ithanthatu

seven

|Mugwanja

eight

|Inyanya

nine

|Kenda

ten

|Ikumi

come

|uka

send

|tuma

walk

|thii

fall

|gua

leave

|uma

fly

|guruka

pour

|iturura

strike

|ringa

bite

|ruma

to strike

| kugoma

wash (tr.)

|thambia

split

|atura

give

|va

steal

|iia

squeeze

|vivinya

cultivate

|rima

bury (tr.)

|thika

burn (tr.)

|vivia

eat

|ria

drink

|nyua

vomit I

|tavika

vomit II

|mataviko

suck I

|onga

suck II

|onga

spit (saliva)

|tua

blow (on)

|vuva

swell

|imba

give birth

|ciara

die

|kua

kill

|uraga

push

|tindika

pull

|gucia

sing

|ina

play (game)

|thaaka

be afraid

|itigire

want

|enda

say

|uga

smell (something)

| nungira

see

|ona

show

|onia

hear

|igua

know

|menya

count

|tara

advice

|utaro

advise

|taara

Sample Phrases

class="wikitable sortable"

!English

!Kiembu

!Gĩkũyũ

!Kiswahili

|{{lang|ebu|Ũvoro waku?}} or {{lang|ebu|Kũvana atĩa?}}

|{{lang|ki|Ũhoro waku?}} or {{lang|ki|Kũhana atĩa?}}

|{{lang|sw|Habari yako?}} or {{lang|sw|U hali gani?}}

|{{lang|ebu|Mve/mva maĩ.}} or {{lang|ebu|Ngundia maĩ.}}

|{{lang|ki|He maĩ.}}

|{{lang|sw|Tafadhali nipe maji.}} or {{lang|sw|Naomba unipe maji.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Wi mwaro?}}

|{{lang|ki|Ũrĩ mwega?}} or {{lang|ki|Wi mwega?}}

|{{lang|sw|Uko mzima?}} or {{lang|sw|U hali gani?}}

|{{lang|ebu|Nĩ mũvũtu.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ndĩ mũhũtu.}}

|{{lang|sw|(Mimi) niko na njaa.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Ndethia.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ndeithia.}}

|{{lang|sw|Nisaidie.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Nĩ mwaro.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ndĩ mwega.}}

|{{lang|sw|Sijambo}} or {{lang|sw|Mimi mzima.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Wĩ mũrata?}}

|{{lang|ki|Wĩ mũrata?}}

|{{lang|sw|Wewe ni rafiki?}}

|{{lang|ebu|Tigwa na wega.}} or {{lang|ebu|Tigwaa na thayũ.}}

|{{lang|ki|Tigwo na wega.}} or {{lang|ki|Tigwo na thaayũ.}}

|{{lang|sw|Kwaheri, na ubarikiwe.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Nĩngwendete.}}

|{{lang|ki|Nĩngwendete.}}

|{{lang|sw|(Mimi) nakupenda.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Ũka ava.}} or {{lang|ebu|Ũkava.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ũka haha.}}

|{{lang|sw|Njoo hapa.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Nĩngũkũvũrĩra thimũ.}}

|{{lang|ki|Nĩngũkũhũrĩra thimũ.}}

|{{lang|sw|Nitakupigia simu.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Nĩmũrathime.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ndĩmũrathime.}}

|{{lang|sw|(Mimi) nimebarikiwa.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Ngai ni mwaro.}}

|{{lang|ki|Ngai ni mwega.}}

|{{lang|sw|Mungu ni mwema.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Mve mbeca.}} or {{lang|ebu|Mva mbia.}}

|{{lang|ki|He mbeca.}}

|{{lang|sw|Nipe pesa.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Tiga wana.}} or {{lang|ebu|Tigana na ũrimũ.}}

|{{lang|ki|Tiga wana.}}

|{{lang|sw|Wacha upuuzi.}}

|{{lang|ebu|Wi műthomű.}}

|{{lang|ki|Wi műthomű.}}

|{{lang|sw|Umeelimika (umesoma sana).}}

References

Category:Northeast Bantu languages

Category:Languages of Kenya