Maaĩ
Water
Usage
To ask for water.
Grammar Note
Bible spelling "maaĩ" (814x); Wiktionary headword "maĩ". Class 6, plural only. WARNING: tilde-less "mai" means dung/faeces, so never drop the ĩ.
Irio
Food
Usage
The general word for food.
Grammar Note
Bible 626x; Wiktionary class 8 "food". Do not use Swahili "chakula".
Mbeeca
Money
Usage
The word for money.
Grammar Note
Bible spelling "mbeeca" (190x); Wiktionary and Benson write "mbeca". Class 10. Do not use Swahili "pesa".
Kĩoro
Toilet
Usage
When looking for a toilet.
Grammar Note
Class 7 (plural cioro). Bible 4x; Wiktionary "toilet, lavatory".
Ndawa
Medicine
Usage
At a pharmacy, or when asking for medicine.
Grammar Note
Bible 90x; Wiktionary "drug". Class 9/10.
Kĩhingũro
Key
Usage
For a room key or a luggage key.
Grammar Note
Bible 3x; Benson 1964 "kihinguro, i- (key)". Class 7. Not the same word as "kĩhingo" (gate).
Thibitarĩ
Hospital
Usage
When looking for a hospital.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "hospital", listed in Wiktionary and Benson 1964. Not in the Bible.
Borithi
Police
Usage
When calling for or looking for the police.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "police". Wiktionary "police"; Benson 1964 "borithi, see birithi".
Nduka
Shop
Usage
The word for a shop.
Grammar Note
Wiktionary "shop" (class 9/10); also in Benson 1964.
Njĩra
Road / path
Usage
When asking the way.
Grammar Note
Bible 790x; Wiktionary "way, path, road". Class 9/10.
Rĩĩtwa
Name
Usage
For saying or asking a name.
Grammar Note
Bible 662x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964. Class 5 (plural marĩĩtwa).
Mbarĩ
Family / clan
Usage
Refers to a family group or kinship group.
Grammar Note
Wiktionary "family group, sub-clan"; Bible 266x. It refers to an extended, patrilineal kin group rather than a nuclear family.
Mũtwe
Head
Usage
To describe pain in the head.
Grammar Note
Class 3 (plural mĩtwe). Bible 269x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Riitho
Eye
Usage
To describe an eye problem. The plural is "maitho".
Grammar Note
Class 5 (plural maitho, Bible 633x). Singular "riitho" appears 55x in the Bible and in Wiktionary.
Igego
Tooth
Usage
To describe a toothache. The plural is "magego".
Grammar Note
Class 5. Bible 11x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mũmero
Throat
Usage
To describe a sore throat.
Grammar Note
Class 3. Wiktionary "throat"; Bible 5x.
Nda
Stomach / belly
Usage
To describe a stomach ache.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 207x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mũgongo
Back
Usage
To describe back pain.
Grammar Note
Class 3. Wiktionary "(one's) back"; Bible 6x.
Kũgũrũ
Leg / foot
Usage
To describe a leg or foot injury.
Grammar Note
Wiktionary class 15 "leg"; Benson 1964 "foot, leg"; Bible 59x.
Guoko
Hand / arm
Usage
To describe a hand or arm problem. The plural is "moko".
Grammar Note
Class 15. Bible 729x; Wiktionary "hand; arm".
Gĩthũri
Chest
Usage
To describe chest pain.
Grammar Note
Class 7 (plural ithũri). Bible 55x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Nyũmba
House / room
Usage
A house, or a room within a building.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 1,802x. Wiktionary "house; a hut where woman lives".
Mũrango
Door
Usage
To ask for a door to be closed or opened.
Grammar Note
Class 3. Bible 81x; Wiktionary "door".
Ndirica
Window
Usage
When you want a window opened.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 31x; Wiktionary "window".
Metha
Table
Usage
The word for a table.
Grammar Note
A loan from Swahili meza (Wiktionary class 9/10). Bible 111x. Note that z has become th.
Gĩtanda
Bed
Usage
The word for a bed.
Grammar Note
Class 7. Bible 21x; Wiktionary "bed".
Ibuku
Book
Usage
The word for a book.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "book". Bible 207x; Wiktionary class 5 "book". Benson 1964 lists both ibuku and mbuku.
Kanitha
Church
Usage
When looking for a church. In Central Kenya many people gather there on Sundays.
Grammar Note
From English "church". Bible 101x; Wiktionary "the church; church building".
Ndũnyũ
Market
Usage
When looking for a market.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 16x; Wiktionary "market". Wiktionary also lists the variant "thoko".
Mũgate
Bread
Usage
To ask for bread.
Grammar Note
A loan from Swahili mkate (Wiktionary class 3). Bible 81x; plural "mĩgate".
Cumbĩ
Salt
Usage
To ask for salt.
Grammar Note
Bible 55x; Wiktionary "salt". A native word, not a loan.
Nyama
Meat
Usage
To ask for meat.
Grammar Note
Same form as Swahili, but it is also a native Kikuyu word (Bible 205x; Wiktionary "meat, flesh").
Ng'ombe
Cow / ox
Usage
Livestock, or when talking about beef or milk.
Grammar Note
"ng'" is the velar nasal (as in English 'sing') and the apostrophe is required; "ngombe" would be a different sound. Bible 164x; Wiktionary "cow or ox".
Mbũri
Goat
Usage
The word for a goat.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 166x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Ngui
Dog
Usage
The word for a dog.
Grammar Note
Wiktionary lists both "ngui" and "ngitĩ" as "dog". The Bible uses "ngui" (33x).
Njogu
Elephant
Usage
When talking about wildlife.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Wiktionary "elephant", also Benson 1964. Only 1x in the Bible.
Mbogo
Buffalo
Usage
When talking about wildlife.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Wiktionary and Benson 1964 "buffalo". Bible 6x.
Njagĩ
Zebra
Usage
When talking about wildlife.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Wiktionary and Benson 1964 "zebra". Bible 7x.
Nyoka
Snake
Usage
To warn of danger.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Bible 57x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mbura
Rain
Usage
When talking about the weather.
Grammar Note
Class 9. Bible 165x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Riũa
Sun
Usage
When talking about the weather.
Grammar Note
Class 5 (plural mariũa). Bible 193x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mwaki
Fire
Usage
Fire, whether a blaze or a campfire.
Grammar Note
Class 3. Bible 564x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mũtĩ
Tree
Usage
The word for a tree. The plural is "mĩtĩ".
Grammar Note
Class 3. Bible 290x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Kĩrĩma
Hill / mountain
Usage
For scenery. Mount Kenya is "Kĩrĩnyaga".
Grammar Note
Class 7. Bible 352x; Wiktionary "hill, mountain". WARNING: "kĩrimũ" means "fool" and is a different word; do not confuse the tildes and word shape.
Rũũĩ
River
Usage
The word for a river.
Grammar Note
Class 11 (plural njũĩ). Bible 308x; Wiktionary "river".
Ihiga
Stone
Usage
The word for a stone.
Grammar Note
Class 5. Bible 249x; also Wiktionary and Benson 1964.
Mũtumia
Woman
Usage
Woman; also used for "wife".
Grammar Note
Class 1 (plural atumia). Bible 680x; Wiktionary "woman; married woman".
Mũrũme
Man
Usage
Man; a male person.
Grammar Note
Bible 129x; Benson 1964 "a male". Also used adjectivally: "mũndũ mũrũme" (a male person).
Mwana
Child
Usage
The word for a child. The plural is "ciana".
Grammar Note
Class 1. Bible 213x; Wiktionary "child"; the plural "ciana" appears 611x.
Mũrata
Friend
Usage
The word for a friend.
Grammar Note
Class 1. Bible 52x; Wiktionary "friend; girlfriend".
Baba
Father / dad
Usage
To address or mention one's father; it means "my father".
Grammar Note
Same form as Swahili, but listed in Wiktionary as "my father, dad" (Bible 323x).
Maitũ
Mother / mum
Usage
To address or mention one's mother; it means "my mother".
Grammar Note
Bible 312x; Benson 1964 "mother". The form already contains "my".
Mwarĩ
Daughter
Usage
When talking about family.
Grammar Note
Class 1. Bible 403x; Wiktionary "daughter"; also Benson 1964.
Mũriũ
Son
Usage
When talking about family.
Grammar Note
Class 1 (plural ariũ). Bible 489x; also Benson 1964.
Mũgeni
Guest / stranger
Usage
Guest or stranger; also how a traveller might describe themselves.
Grammar Note
Class 1 (plural ageni). Bible 69x; Wiktionary "stranger; guest"; Benson 1964 "stranger, foreigner".
Ndagĩtarĩ
Doctor
Usage
When you need a doctor.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "doctor". In Wiktionary and Benson 1964; Bible 4x.
Ndereba
Driver
Usage
The word for a driver.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "driver". Wiktionary "driver, chauffeur"; also Benson 1964.
More Kikuyu phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Weather & Climate
- Directions
- Health & Hospital
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Culture & Etiquette
- Accommodation
- Cooking & Markets
- Festivals & Events
- Dating & Romance
- Fruits
- Colors
- Time & Dates
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences