CHONYI IN PICTURES

CHONYI TRADITIONAL CLOTHES (COPYRIGHT2021) 

 MALE CLOTHING 

 CHITAMBI & DARUBUSHI (HAT)

 FEMALE CLOTHING

 CHISHUTU

LANGUAGE SHIFT THE MIJIKENDA-SWAHILI INFLUENCE

 Just like any other language the chonyi language is experiencing changes,the changes have been about by neighboring mijikenda and Swahili languages.
This influence has created a shift of how the chonyi language is spoken between different generations and between different locations.
Swahili Influence (the v-w shift)

even though Swahili originated from mijikenda languages it has in turn come to influence the languages.In chonyi the influence has led the shift from the use of V to w.

Vosi-means all, some chonyi say Wosi to mean all ,this influnce is from the swahili word Wote.W
Vebigana means they have fought some chonyi say webigana ,this is swahili influence from wamepigana.
vombo-wombo
Vebigirwa-Webigirwa
vana-wana

the original chonyi grammar uses V ,the influence of Swahili has changed it to W among some chonyi,mostly the  younger generation and chonyi living near the Swahili use W.

MIJIKENDA INFLUENCE
even though chonyi is a mijikenda language it has been influenced by other neighboring mijikenda tribes.

Kauma Influence

the chonyi who live in dzitsoni and other areas bordering the kauma speak a chonyi dialect that is mixed with Ki kauma,the difference is not that noticeable though ,only few words stand out as chonyi and kauma are really close languages.

Giriama /jiriama Influence

the chonyi border the giriama both in the north and the south,Chonyi who live in places like Kolongoni and mwangaza among others speak a dialect mixed with Giriama and some speak both languages interchangeably. Generally the Chonyi have  also borrowed some giriama words in there vocabulary.

JIbana/Dzihana influence

the jibana are a minority who are sometimes considered as the Achonyi,they however have there own dialect which is seen as a different  chonyi dialect.the chonyi living next to the jibana speak a mixture of both dialects which may borrow few words and have a different sounding accent.

VOCABULARY

Welcome to the mijikenda language chonyi vocabulary (a-z)

VOCABULARY

MIJIKENDA(CHONYI) - ENGLISH-SWAHILI TRANSLATION


A
a - them - wa
a- she - a
achili-brain-akili
adisi-story-hadithi
adzo-good-nzuri
afu(silafu)-ants-siafu 
ambira-tell-ambia
andika -write -andika
andza - start -anza
andzaza- spread -tandaza
afuna-chew-tafuna
ageni (ajeni) -visitors-wageni
aho-them-wao
ahuka-torn-pasuka
ahula-cut open-pasua

akaladzi-locals-wakaaji
alimu-teachers-walimu
amba-posibilly-ama
amba-say-sema
ambala-crawl-tambaa
ambwe-that-ati
amula-judge-amua
angamika-lost-potea
angira-enter -ingia
ano-group of -hao
anji-many-wengi
anjine-others-wengine
asichana -girls -wasichana
asa-light-washa
asanta/namvera-thank you-asante
at'u -people -watu 
atumia-grownpersons-watu wazima
ayuka-non stop talking- payuka

ayusa-confuse-changanya
azo-thought-wazo

B
baba-father-baba
bado-not yet-bado
baha-better than-afadhali
bahari-ocean-bahari
bahi-if/enough-basi
bananga-spoil-haribu
bandu/bandula-chop-bandua/kata
banzi-grasshopper-panzi
bara-inland-bara
bizhala father-in-law (of woman) -shemeji
basikili-bicycle-baisikeli
bombolibo-tap-mfereji
bomola-demolish-bomoa
bomu-big-kubwa
bubudzika-melt-yeyuka

buja-disturb-sumbua
bule-free-bure
bumbumbu-drums-ngoma
bumbunda-play drums-piga ngoma
bundukwi-gun-bunduki
burunzi-fruit fly-vurunzi
bgwira/gbwira (giriama)-catch-shika

C
chakurya-food-chakula
chala/vyala-finger-kidole/vidole
chambo-bait-mtego
chandzo-source-chanzo
charo-journey-safari
chenda-nine-tisa/kenda
chesa-stay awake-kesha
chiasi-ammount-kiasi
chibanda-structure-kibanda
chibao-plank-kibao
chibaruwa-contract-kibarua
chibakuli-bowl-kibakuli
chibiriti-matchstick-kiberiti
chichonyi-chonyi -kichonyi (mjk language)
chidigo-digo-kidigo(mjk language)
chidzidzi-village-kijiji
chidziko-spoon-kijiko
chidzicho-envy-kijicho
chidzihana-jibana-kijibana (mjk language)
chifo-death-kifo
chifyu /kishu (giriama)-knife-kisu
chihendo-act-kitendo

Chikala-Was-Ilikuwa/Nilikuwa
chikombe-cup-kikombe
chilongozi-leader-kiongozi

Chilume-Manly-Kiume

chimbira-run-kimbia
chimidzichenda-mijikenda-kimijikenda

Chiswahili-swahili-kiswahili (language)
chitswa-head-kichwa

Chirevu-Beard-Ndevu
chironda-sore-kidonda
chigulu-leg-mguu

Chizungu-English-Kizungu
chunu-waist-kiuno

D
denderesha-spin-zungusha

dima-able-weza( From giriama)
d'uka -shop- duka
dungbwa-stung-dungwa
dzitso-eye-jicho
dzogolo-cork-jogoo
dzua-sun-jua
dzudzi-day before yesterday-juzi
dzulu-up-juu

E
enye-owners-wenyewe
enderera-continue-endelea

Ee mbaa -Expression (yes of course) Ndio

F

Fifi-Us-Sisi
fugula-open-fungua
funza-teach-funza
fyuka-crooked-kombo

G
ga-for-ya
galagala-wriggle-tapatapa
gehu-ours-yetu
go- those- hayo
goma -finished-isha(see marigisa)
gomba-talk-ongea
golomokpwa-dazed/possessed-pagawa
gula-buy-nunua
guza-sell-uza

H

hacheyo-alone/your own-pekee yako
hacheye-alone/his/her own-pekee yake
hakeyo- (giriama. see hacheyo)
hadza-mention-taja
haho-there-hapo
hahika-vomit-tapika
Hala-marry-oa

Hamirwa-Happy-Furahia
hani-who-nani
hano-there-hapo
hawe-grandmother-nyanya(giriama) see wawe
hedu-or-au
hedudze-or not-au la
hewa-given-pewa
heiwa-called-itwa
hendza-like/love-penda
here-like-kama
hererwa-happy-furahishwa
hinde-lets go-twende
hiko-where-wapi
hokera-accept-pokea
hokerwa-accepted-pokelewa
huhu-naked-tupu
humira-sent-tumiwa
humwa-sent-tumwa
humbo-stomach-tumbo

I
indzi-fly-inzi
imba-sing-imba

J
jesu-jesus-yesu
jeza-play-cheza
jiriama-giriama-giriyama(mjk language)
jiza-darkness-giza

K
kahoho-child-katoto
kahuna-we dont have-hatuna

Kahana-Dont have-Hakuna
kakuna-doesnt have-hakuna
Kala-stay-kaa
kala(see here)-as-kama 
Kala-charcoal-kaa

Kalanga-fry-karanga
kamare-definately-kabisa
kanda-beside-kando
kanisa-church-kanisa
kapindi-former-zamani
kare-kitambo-kale
kavana-they dont have-hawana
Kazi-work-Kazi
kenga-lie/cheat-danganya

Kenzi-Doesn't like-Hapendi
kitsunzi-light headed-kizunguzungu
kitswa (giriama see chitswa)-head-kichwa
kitundu-window-dirisha
kodzola-pee-kojoa
kolola-cough-kohoa
konde-fist-ngumi/konde

Kondo-Fight-Vita
konze-outside-nje
kosi-everywhere-kote
kotsi(photsi)-down-chini
kpwa-at-kwa
kpwani-what is-kwani

kpwa ani-so and so's place-kwakina
kulu-big-kuu

kululu-noise-kelele

Kumbu-Sadine-Dagaa
kumbukira-remember-kumbuka

kunani-what is going on-kuna nini

kundza-fold-kunja
kuno-there-huko
kuphaha-to get-kupata
kuratu-there-kule

Kure-Far/longdistance-Mbali/Njia ndefu
kuro-dog-mbwa
kwehu-our place-kwetu

L
lala-sleep-lala
lamusa-greet-salimu
lazha-arbort-avya
Lola-look at-tazama
lufu-corpse-wafu
lugwe-rope-kamba
luka-jump/skip-ruka
lumbwi-chameleon-kinyonga
lumiza-injure-umiza
luwara-bald-kipara

M
ma-they-wa (giriama)
machero-tommorow-kesho

Macha-Morning-Asubuhi
madzi-water-maji
madzacha-early morning-kuchwa
madzuchi-palm wine-mnazi
mafuha-oil/fat-mafuta
maiz'u-banana-ndizi
maingu-clouds-mawingu
mkaza-so and so's wife-mke wa
makala-charcoal-makaa
mala-want-taka
malo-quick-mbio
mana-they-wana(giriama)
manya-know-jua
manji-many-mengi
mapula-nose-mapua
marigisa-finish-maliza (gonya in giriama)
masihi-messiah-masiya

matsere- maize-mahindi
matsozi-tears-machozi
mavoyo-prayers-maombi
maziya-milk-maziwa
mbere-first/forward-mbele
mbirikimo-dwarf-mbilikimo
mbola-remove/comefrom-toa/toka
mche-wife/woman-mke
mchiya-poor person-maskini
mhoho-child-mtoto
mino-mine/me-yangu/mimi (depends with use)
miti-trees-miti
miya-thorn-miba
mjema-brewer-mgema
mkahe-bread-mkate
mkongo-sick-mgonjwa
mkufu-chain-shanga
mlomo-mouth-mdomo
mlongo-liar-mwongo

Mlunguni-sky/Heaven-Mbinguni
mo-in there-humo
m'oga-coward-mwoga
m'oho-fire-moto
mongo-back-mgongo
mongomongo-backborn-uti wa mgong
mpambavu (see zuzu)-fool-mpumbavu
mtsai-witch-mchawi
mtumia-grown up-mtu mzima

Mtune-Nice-Nzuri
muhi-tree-mti
muho-river-mto
mujeni-visitor-mgeni
mulume-husband/man-mume
munda-farm-shamba
munyu-salt-munyu
murevi-drunkard-mlevi
muryango-door-mlango
musha-new-mpya
mutama-rice-mchele
mutsindzi-butcher-mchinjaji
mutsongi(from swahili kuchonga)-carpenter-seremala
mut'sanga-young-mchanga
muzungu-stranger-mzungu
mvuhi-fisherman-mvuvi
mvula-rain-mvua
mzhazi/mvyere-parent-mzazi
mwamba-tell someone-mwambia
mwenye-his/herself-mwenyewe
mweru-dark-mweusi
mwiri-body-mwili
mwivi-thief-mwizi
mzhere-old/older-mzee

N
na-and -na (joining word)
nago-with-nazo
na gonya-and then-kisha
nere-i was-nilikuwa
ndzala-hunger-njaa
ndoa-marriage-ndoa
ndzovu-elephant-ndovu
ngahi-how much-ngapi
ngamira-camel-ngamia
ng'ombe-cow-ng'ombe
nguluwe-pigs-nguruwe
nguwo-clothes-nguo
ni-and-na (together with)
nichikala-i was-nilikua
nichikala-i stayed-nilikaa
nifika-i have arrived-nimefika
ninarya-i am eating-ninakula/ninala
ninwi-you guys-nyinyi
nipa-give-nipe
nirichani-leave me-niacheni
njira-road-njia
noni-what-nini
nyahi-buffalo-nyati
nyere-hair-nywele
nyika-inland-bara/nyika
nyinji-many-nyingi

Nyola-shave-Nyoa
nzoo-come-njoo/kuja

O
Ogoha-fear-ogopa

Ojerera-Swim-Ogelea
Ola-rot-oza
Ombola-remove/comefrom-toka (used in greetings in Giriama)
Osi-all-ote (zote,wote,yote etc)

P
peho-upepo/cold-upepo
photsi-below-chini
pigira-call-piga
pingi-mice- fuko
pore-sorry-pole
porepore-slow-polepole
pwani-coast-pwani

R
rani-whose-la nani
rehe-bring-leta
remera-tiring-lemea
rero-today-leo
richa-leave-wacha
rima-farm-lima
rini-when-lini

S
sagala-sit-kaa/keti (keresi in giriama)
saa ngahi?-what time-saa ngapi
senzi-dont want-sitaki
shoma-read-soma
sikiro-ear-sikio
sikuli-school-shule
siswi-us-sisi (giriama) see Fifi
sumilani-?

T
thuu-only-tu
thuluka-jump-ruka
tima-descend-shuka
tite-small-ndogo
tsagula-choose-chagua
tsaka-bush-chaka
tsavu-cheek-shavu
tsawe-grandfather-babu
tsikitaa-crush-ponda
tsikiro-ear-sikio
tsoka-tired-choka
tsoka-axe-shoka
tsola-pick-okota
tsimba-dig-chimba
tsuha-throw-tupa
tsukirwa-angry-chukizwa
tototo-well-vizuri

U
ukongo-sickness-ugonjwa
unambadze-what you saying?-unasemaje
unguja-zanzibar-zanzibari
uwe-you-wewe
usiniriche-dont live me-usiniwache
utsungu-pain-uchungu
urimwengu-world-ulimwengu
uya-return-rudi
uza-ask-uliza

V
va-of-wa
vidze-so-aje
viha-war/fight-vita
vina-dance-cheza
virahu-shoes-viatu
virivo-the way they are-vilivyo
vithabu-books-vitabu
vitite-small-vidogo
voya-pray-omba
vugula-open-fungua
vumirira-endure-vumilia

Vyenye-Alot-Sana

W
wani-which-wa nani/gani
wari-ugali-ugali/sima

Wawe-Grandmother-Nyanya
were-they were-walikuwa
weza-able-weza (see dima)
wehu-ours-wetu
wira-song-wimbo/nyimbo
wokofu-spiritual-wokovu

Y
yani-which-gani

Yegbwa-Fall-anguka
yo-that-iyo
yosi-all-yote
yoyosi-any-yoyote

Z
zere-they were-zilikuwa(giriama)see chikala
zhehu-ours-zetu
zhomu-sana-alot (giriama (see vyenye
zosi-all-zote
zunguluka-spin-zunguka
zungulusha-spin-zungusha (spinning action)

GREETINGS & POPULAR PHRASES/SENTENCES

GOOD MORNING - DZALAMUKADZE -UMEAMUKAJE

REPLY TO GOOD MORNING -LAMUKA SIMANYA UWE-NIMEAMUKA SIJUI WEWE

GOOD AFTERNOON - UDZASINDADZE-UMESHINDAJE   

REPLY TO GOOD AFTERNOON -DZASINDA SIMANYA UWE-NIMESHINDA SIJUI WEWE 

THANK YOU -NINAMUVERA -ASANTE 

YOU ARE WELCOME-KARIBU-KARIBU

GOODBYE-UKALETO-KWAHERI

REPLY TO GOODBYE -WENDE MUZIMA-ENDA SALAMA

GOODNIGHT-ULAZETO-LALA SALAMA

WHAT IS YOUR NAME -UNAHEIWANI-UNAITWAJE

WHAT IS YOUR NAME-DZINARO NDI HANI-JINA LAKO NI NANI

COME HERE NZOO HANO-KUJA/NJOO HAPA

SAGALA HANO-SIT HERE-KETI/KAA (KERESI IN GIRIAMA)

SAGALA PHOTSI-SIT DOWN-KAA CHINI 

UNAMALA NONI?-WHAT DO YOU WANT-UNATAKA NINI

UNAUYA RINI-WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK-UNARUDI LINI

WENDAHI-WHERE ARE YOU GOING-UNAENDA WAPI

I DONT KNOW-SIMANYA-SIJUI

I LOVE YOU -NAKUHENZA-NAKUPENDA

UNARYA NONI- WHAT ARE YOU EATING-WAKULA NINI

NI SAA NGAHI-WHAT IS THE TIME-NI SAA NGAPI

UHIKO-WHERE ARE YOU-UKO WAPI

PORENI-SORRY-POLENI

MWENEHU-OUR CHILD-MWANA WETU

NIHUMIRA-SEND ME-NITUMIE

MRICHANI/MRICHENI-LEAVE HIM.HER-MWACHENI

SIKU ZIZI-THESE DAYS-SIKU HIZI

NIFIKA-I HAVE ARRIVED-NIMEFIKA

WENDA RINI- WHEN ARE YOU GOING-UNAENDA LINI

NAKONA-I SEE YOU- NAKUONA

NUMBERS & COUNTING

NUMBERS (Eng -Chonyi -Swahili)

1 Mwenga -moja
2 Mbiri-mbili
3 Tahu- Tatu
4 Inne -Nne
5 Tsano-Tano
6 Sita/andahu (old usage)- Sita
7 Saba -Saba
8 Nane-nane
9 Chenda-Tisa
10.Humi-Kumi
20.Mirongo- ishirini
50.Mirongo Mitsano-hamsini
100.Gana-Mia Moja

For Swahili speakers,1 is different

3, 4, 5,6,7 and perhaps 2 & 10 have a small difference in pronunciation 

9 is completely different. 

 8 stays the same.

CHONYI ALPHABET & SPELLING

notes
mij- mijikenda
swh-swahili
eng -english

SUBJECT CONCORD
U -you
a-he/she
Mu -you guys
Fu-we (exclusive) from giriama
Ma-they swh (wa)
Hu-we (inclusive) Swh (tu)
Ni-i am- na


Chonyi Alphabet
a,b,ch,d,dh,dz,e,f,g,i.j.k.l,m,m,ng'ny,o,p,ph,r,s,sh,t,ts,th,u,v,w,y,z,zh

SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION
dz=j emaple Jana is swahili becomes dzana in mijikenda
gbw- bw  example dungwa in swahili becomes dungbwa in mijikenda
kpw = kw example kwetu ni swahili becomes Kpwehu in mijikenda
v(ph)

INTRODUCTION TO CHONYI (MIJIKENDA) LANGUAGE

LEARN MIJIKENDA ONLINE

IT was with great concern that i did not find any written document of the Mijikenda Chonyi language anywhere,there is record of the larger Giriama and Digo Mijikenda languages but are still hard to come by.that is why i was inspired to but together a list of chonyi vocabulary words,below is an introduction to the chonyi language.
hopefully it shall be used in assisting anyone who wants to learn mijikenda specifically the chonyi dialect and also preserve the language for future generations.

written by lennox m. Zamora
edited by brian k. Nyale

MIJIKENDA -ENGLISH-SWAHILI DICTIONARY (CHONYI DIALECT)

INTRODUCTION

CHONYI or chichonyi is one of the dialects of the mijikenda language spoken by the Achonyi community in the Kenyan coast.the chonyi language is similar to all the other eight Mijikenda languages  (Giriama ,Digo,Kambe,Jibana,Ribe,Rabai,kauma,Duruma) and is related to Swahili some sources put the similarities at around 75% to 80% therefore it should be easy for a Swahili speaker to comprehend this language.
among the mijikenda the chonyi language is closely related to the Jibana and the Kauma languages,however all mijikenda tribes understand the chonyi dialect and each other.
the chonyi traditional music is known as chiringongo or kiringongo among the giriama and features a xylophone which is rare in Kenyan music.(chi)chonyi is spoken mainly in kilifi county ,they border the giriama to the north in Malindi the Kauma to the north west the Swahili to the east the Jibana to the the south east and the giriama again to  the south in kaloleni.

Mijikenda elders source (Daily Nation)