Shopping

10 phrases · Kikuyu with romanization, English and audio

Thogora
Price
Usage
When talking about a price.
Grammar Note
Class 14 (plural mathogora). Bible 66x; Wiktionary "price"; also Benson 1964.
Ngũthiĩ ndũnyũ-inĩ
I am going to the market
Usage
To say you are going shopping.
Grammar Note
Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ngũthiĩ" is "I am going" (Bible 13x). "-inĩ" is the locative suffix ("in, to"); the Bible attaches it with a hyphen after a vowel-final noun.
Nguo
Clothes
Usage
When buying clothes.
Grammar Note
Bible 616x; also Benson 1964.
Kĩraatũ
Shoe
Usage
When buying shoes.
Grammar Note
Bible spelling "kĩraatũ" (8x). Wiktionary and Benson 1964 write "kĩratũ" (Benson "kiratü [kiraatü]").
Ngũbia
Hat / cap
Usage
When buying a hat.
Grammar Note
Class 9/10. Wiktionary "cap, hat"; also Benson 1964; Bible 13x.
Gĩkombe
Cup
Usage
When buying or asking for a cup.
Grammar Note
Class 7. Bible 66x; Wiktionary "cup"; also Benson 1964.
Ngirathi
Glass
Usage
When asking for a glass.
Grammar Note
A loan from English "glass" (Wiktionary and Benson 1964). Not in the Bible.
Gĩciko
Spoon
Usage
When asking for a spoon.
Grammar Note
Class 7. Wiktionary "spoon"; also Benson 1964. Not in the Bible.
Cuba
Bottle
Usage
When talking about a bottle of a drink.
Grammar Note
A loan from Swahili chupa with ch becoming c (Wiktionary and Benson 1964). Bible 13x.
Kĩbiriti
Matches (box)
Usage
When buying matches.
Grammar Note
A loan from Swahili kibiriti. Wiktionary "matchbox"; Benson 1964 "box of matches".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages