Greetings

1. Wĩ mwega?

   How are you? (to one person)

   Usage

   General check-in greeting. Literally "are you good?". Reply "Ndĩ mwega". Several people take a different form.

   Grammar Note

   Wiktionary has "wĩ mwega = how are you? (lit. are you good?)". "wĩ" is the 2sg form of "-rĩ" (be); "mwega" is the class-1 (person) form of "good".

2. Ndĩ mwega

   I am fine

   Usage

   Reply to "Wĩ mwega?".

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ndĩ" is "I am" (Bible 665x). The Bible's "Nĩ wega" (it is fine) also works as a reply.

3. Wĩtagwo atĩa?

   What is your name?

   Usage

   To ask one person their name.

   Grammar Note

   Attested in the Bible as "Wĩtagwo atĩa?" (what are you called?; Genesis 32). "wĩtagwo" is the passive "you are called".

4. Njĩtagwo …

   My name is …

   Usage

   Put your own name in place of "…".

   Grammar Note

   Attested in the Bible as "Njĩtagwo Jakubu" (I am called Jacob). "njĩtagwo" is "I am called".

5. Uuma kũ?

   Where do you come from?

   Usage

   To ask where someone is from or has just come from.

   Grammar Note

   Attested in the Bible as "uuma kũ na wathiĩ kũ?" (where do you come from and where are you going?; Genesis 16). "uuma" means "you come out".

6. Ndĩ mũgeni gũkũ

   I am a visitor here

   Usage

   To say you are a traveller or visitor.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). The Bible has "ndĩ mũgeni na mũgendi gũkũ" (I am a stranger and traveller here). "gũkũ" means "here" (647x).

7. Thiĩ na thayũ

   Go in peace (goodbye)

   Usage

   A blessing at parting, to one person who is leaving. It comes from the Bible, so it sounds a little formal.

   Grammar Note

   Attested in the Bible as "Thiĩ na thayũ" (1 Samuel 1). The sources do not confirm whether it is the everyday parting phrase.

8. Thiĩi na thayũ

   Go in peace (to several people)

   Usage

   A blessing at parting, to several people who are leaving.

   Grammar Note

   Attested 2x in the Bible as "Thiĩi na thayũ". The plural imperative adds -i.

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