Hotel

1. Rumu

   Room

   Usage

   The word for a room in a lodging.

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "room". Wiktionary "room"; also Benson 1964. "nyũmba" can mean the whole house.

2. Ngwenda rumu

   I want a room

   Usage

   To ask for a room at a lodging.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ngwenda" is "I want" (Bible 25x).

3. Ũrĩ na rumu?

   Do you have a room?

   Usage

   To ask a lodging whether a room is available.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ũrĩ na" means "you have" (Bible 279x).

4. Thabuni

   Soap

   Usage

   To ask for soap at a lodging.

   Grammar Note

   A loan from Swahili sabuni (s becomes th). Wiktionary "soap"; also Benson 1964; Bible 3x.

5. Thitima

   Electricity

   Usage

   When talking about electricity.

   Grammar Note

   Listed in Wiktionary as "electricity"; Benson 1964 has an example meaning to switch on the electric light.

6. Gũtirĩ thitima

   There is no electricity

   Usage

   When the power is out or the room has no electricity.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "gũtirĩ" means "there is not" (Bible 719x).

7. Gũtirĩ maaĩ

   There is no water

   Usage

   When the water is not running.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "gũtirĩ" means "there is not" (Bible 719x). Dropping the tilde of "maaĩ" would give a word for dung.

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