Useful phrases in Kikuyu

A collection of useful phrases in Kikuyu (Gĩkũyũ), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Central Province of Kenya.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

Phrase Gĩkũyũ (Kikuyu)
Welcome
Hello (General greeting) wĩmwega
Hello (on phone) wĩmwega
How are you? ũhana atĩa?
Reply to 'How are you?' ndĩmwega
Long time no see nĩtũranĩto kahinda kanene
What's your name? wĩtago atĩa?
My name is ... njĩtago ...
Where are you from? wĩ wa kũ?
I'm from ... ndĩ wa ...
Pleased to meet you nĩwega gũkuona
Good morning
(Morning greeting)
ngeithi cia rũcinĩ
Good afternoon
(Afternoon greeting)
ngeithi cia mũthenya
Good evening
(Evening greeting)
ngeithi cia hwainĩ
Good night koma wega
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
tigoi na wega
Good luck! nĩwega
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
rathima andu atene! rathimoi!
Have a nice day thikũ njega
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
mũrĩe na wega
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey
thabarĩ njega
Yes ĩĩ
No aca
Maybe yahota gũkoro
I don't know ndiũĩ
Do you understand? nĩwanyita?
I understand nĩndanyita
I don't understand ndiranyita
Please speak more slowly aria kahora
Please say that again tauga rĩngĩ
Please write it down taandĩka
Do you speak English? nĩwaragia Githũngu?
Do you speak Kikuyu? nĩwaragia Gĩkũyũ?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
ĩĩ, hanini
Do you speak a language
other than
Kikuyu?
nĩwaragia thimo ĩngĩ tiga Gĩkũyũ
Speak to me in Kikuyu njarĩria na Gĩkũyũ
How do you say ... in Kikuyu? ugaga atĩa na Gĩkũyũ
Excuse me tareke
How much is this? ĩno nĩ mbia cigana?
Sorry horera
Please nĩndakũhoya
Thank you nĩndauga nĩ wega
Reply to thank you nĩwega
Where's the toilet / bathroom? kĩha kĩoro?
This gentleman will pay for everything mũthuri ũyũ nĩakurĩha ciothe
This lady will pay for everything mũtumia ũyũ nĩakũrĩha ciothe
Would you like to dance with me? nĩũgũthaka rwĩmbo na niĩ?
Do you come here often? nĩũkaga gũkũ mũno?
I miss you
I love you nĩngwendete
Get well soon hona na ihenya
Go away! thiĩ!
Leave me alone! tigana na niĩ!
Help! teithia!
Fire! mwaki!
Stop! tiga!
Call the police! ĩta borithi!
Christmas greetings
New Year greetings mwaka mwerũ
Easter greetings
Birthday greetings
Congratulations! nĩ wega
One language is never enough thimo ĩmwe ndingĩigana
My hovercraft is full of eels ndege yakwa nini nĩnjiũru na thamaki nyinyi
(my small plane if full of small fish)

Phrases provided by Wambũi Ng’ang’a

Hear some Kikuyu phrases:

If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.

Information about Kikuyu | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Other collections of Kikuyu phrases
https://hubpages.com/education/The-Kikuyu-Language

Phrases in Bantu languages

Bemba, Chichewa, Chokwe, Duala, Herero, Kikuyu, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Lozi, Luganda, Ndebele (Northern - South Africa), Ndebele (Northern - Zimbabwe), Ndebele (Southern) Nkore, Northern Sotho, Oshiwambo, Shona, Southern Sotho (seSotho), Swahili, Swati, Tsonga, Tswana, Tumbuka, Umbundu, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu

Phrases in other languages

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