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)