Sightseeing

1. Ngwenda kuona nyamũ cia gĩthaka

   I want to see wild animals

   Usage

   At a safari or a national park.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "nyamũ cia gĩthaka" is a Bible expression (wild animals, lit. animals of the bush). "kuona" is "to see" (Bible spelling).

2. Ngwenda gũthiĩ Kĩrĩnyaga

   I want to go to Mount Kenya

   Usage

   As a destination in Central Kenya.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "Kĩrĩnyaga" is the Kikuyu name of Mount Kenya (a ki.wikipedia article title; also in Benson 1964). It is regarded as sacred by the Kikuyu of Central Kenya.

3. Kĩrĩnyaga

   Mount Kenya

   Usage

   The name of the mountain, for asking the way or sightseeing talk.

   Grammar Note

   Appears as a ki.wikipedia article title (Kĩrĩnyaga) and in Benson 1964 (kirinyaga). Both ĩ carry the tilde.

4. Nairobi

   Usage

   A place name, spelled as on signs and maps.

   Grammar Note

   Written as on signboards in Kikuyu too (ki.wikipedia has an article of the same name). No separate Kikuyu spelling could be verified.

5. Mbica

   Photograph

   Usage

   When talking about photos.

   Grammar Note

   A loan from English "picture". Wiktionary "picture; photograph"; Benson 1964 "picture, photo".

6. Mũtĩ mũnene

   A big tree

   Usage

   When talking about scenery or a forest.

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives agree with the noun class. "mũtĩ mũnene" appears 1x in the Bible; Wiktionary has "-nene (big)".

7. Kĩrĩma kĩnene

   A big hill (mountain)

   Usage

   When describing hills and mountains.

   Grammar Note

   Adjectives agree with the noun class. "kĩrĩma kĩnene" appears 2x in the Bible. WARNING: "kĩrimũ" means "fool", so keep the tildes on ĩ.

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