Colors

4 phrases · Kikuyu with romanization, English and audio

Rangi mũtune
Red
Usage
To name it, or to point at it and ask.
Grammar Note
"rangi" is colour (179 times in the Bible), "mũtune" is "red". "rangi mũtune" (red colour) is attested in the Bible. The adjective changes with the noun class.
Rangi mwerũ
White
Usage
To name it, or to point at it and ask.
Grammar Note
The Bible has "rangi mwerũ" (white colour: white clothes, a white throne). "-erũ" means white (Benson). The same stem can also mean "new", so say "rangi" when you mean the colour.
Rangi wa bururu
Blue
Usage
To name it, or to point at it and ask.
Grammar Note
"rangi wa bururu" (blue colour) occurs 49 times in the Bible. "bururu" is in Benson as washing-blue, a loanword.
Rangi mũirũ
Black
Usage
To name it, or to point at it and ask.
Grammar Note
Composed from verified words (the phrase itself is not attested), on the pattern of the attested "rangi mũtune" and "rangi mwerũ". "rangi" is colour; "-irũ" means black or dark (Benson), and the Bible has "ndĩ mũirũ" (I am dark).

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