Basic Verbs

1. Gũthiĩ

   To go

   Usage

   The verb "to go".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is thiĩ. Bible 201x; Wiktionary "to go, to walk".

2. Gũũka

   To come

   Usage

   The verb "to come".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is ũka; gũ- + ũka becomes gũũka. Bible 62x; Wiktionary "to come".

3. Kũrĩa

   To eat

   Usage

   The verb "to eat".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is rĩa (Wiktionary "to eat"). WARNING: "kũrĩa" is also a very common relative word meaning "where" (900+ Bible hits), so context decides.

4. Kũnyua

   To drink

   Usage

   The verb "to drink".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is nyua (Wiktionary "to drink"). Bible 78x.

5. Kũgũra

   To buy

   Usage

   The verb "to buy".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is gũra. In Wiktionary and Benson 1964; the Bible has "kũgũra ngano" (to buy grain).

6. Kuona

   To see

   Usage

   The verb "to see".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is ona; ku- + ona becomes kuona (Bible spelling, 241x). Wiktionary "to see".

7. Gũkoma

   To sleep

   Usage

   The verb "to sleep, to lie down".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is koma. Bible 28x; Wiktionary "to sleep, to lie down".

8. Kwenda

   To want / like

   Usage

   The verb "to want, to like".

   Grammar Note

   The infinitive is the stem with the class-15 prefix gũ-/kũ-. The stem is enda. Bible 47x; Wiktionary and Benson 1964 "to like, to love".

9. Ngwenda gũthiĩ

   I want to go

   Usage

   A starter before naming the destination.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ngwenda" means "I want" (Bible 25x; an infinitive can follow, as in "ngwenda gũkũhooya").

10. Ngwenda kũrĩa irio

    I want to eat

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to eat.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "irio" (food) is added so that "kũrĩa" is read as "to eat", not as "where".

11. Ngwenda gũgũra

    I want to buy

    Usage

    To start a shopping request.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). Add the thing you want to buy after it.

12. Ndikwenda

    I do not want it

    Usage

    To decline an offer or a persistent seller.

    Grammar Note

    Bible 14x (e.g. "ndikwenda gũtũũra nginya tene", I do not want to live forever). "ndi-" is the negative "I … not".

13. Ndĩ na mbeeca

    I have money

    Usage

    To say you can pay.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ndĩ na" means "I have" (Bible 179x).

14. Ndirĩ na mbeeca

    I have no money

    Usage

    To say you have nothing to pay with.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words (the phrase itself is not attested). "ndirĩ na" means "I do not have" (Bible 41x).

15. Ndagũthaitha, ta njĩĩra

    Please tell me

    Usage

    As an opening when asking the way or a price; the question follows.

    Grammar Note

    Attested in the Bible as "Ndagũthaitha, ta njĩĩra atĩrĩ …" (please tell me whether …; Acts 8). "njĩĩra" means "tell me"; "ta" is a particle that accompanies imperatives.

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