Luhya (language)

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Luhya (also Luyia , Luhia ) is a group of Bantu languages spoken by the Luhya ethnic group in western Kenya in the area between Lake Victoria and Mount Elgon . The language area extends to Uganda , where closely related languages ​​such as Masaba and Nyole are spoken.

Luhya subgroups

Luhya subgroup Luhya language ISO language code region
Bukusu Lubukusu bxk Bungoma ( Kenya )
Idakho Luidakho ida Kakamega ( Kenya )
Ishukha Luisukha ida Kakamega ( Kenya )
Kabras Lukabarasi lkb Kakamega ( Kenya )
Khayo Olukhayo lko Busia ( Kenya )
Kisa Olushisa lks Butere / Mumias ( Kenya )
Maragoli Lulogooli rag Vihiga ( Kenya )
Marachi Olumarachi lri Busia ( Kenya )
Marama Olumarama noisy Butere / Mumias ( Kenya )
Nyala Lunyala nle Busia ( Kenya )
Nyole Olunyole nyd Vihiga ( Kenya )
Samia Lusamia lsm Busia , Kakamega - Uganda
Tachoni Lutachoni lts Lugari , Malava ( Kenya )
Tiriki Lutirichi ida Vihiga ( Kenya )
Tsotso Olutsotso lto Kakamega ( Kenya )
Wanga Oluwanga lwg Butere / Mumias ( Kenya )

Differences between the Luhya varieties

English Kisa Maragoli Nyole Wanga
I eshie nzi ise esie
word amakhuwa makuva amang'ana, amakhuwa amakhuwa
chair eshifumbi ndivi indebe eshisala
head omurwe mutwi omurwe om'rwe
money amapesa mang'ondo amang'ondo, am'mondo, etsilupia amapesa, irupia

Differences between the Bantu languages

German Luhya Luganda Swahili Kikuyu Lingála Shona Zulu
Person or someone mundu, omundu muntu mtu mundu (pronunciation modo) moto munhu umuntu
children abana, baana, otwana, orwana, vaana baana, abaana wana twana abatwana abantwana umntwana
dog imbwa mbwa, embwa mbwa ngui (pronunciation gui) mbwa mbwa, Imbwa inja

Some Luhya phrases

In the dialect of Tiriki or Idakho

  • Mlembe - Hello / Good afternoon
  • Kuka - Grandpa (also as a joking nickname)
  • Orio - thank you
  • Mbwena? - How are you?
  • Amalayi - I'm fine.
  • Otekha sina? - What are you cooking?
  • Ndekhanga obusuma nende lisukuma - I cook ugali (corn polenta) and sukuma wiki (kohlrabi leaf vegetables).

In the dialect of the Maragoli

  • Mrembe - Hello / Good afternoon
  • Guga - grandpa (also as a joking nickname)
  • asande - thank you
  • ovorandi - How are you?
  • mbeye umulamu - I'm fine.
  • odeka kindiki? - What are you cooking?
  • Ndekhanga obusuma nende lisukuma - I cook ugali (corn polenta) and sukuma wiki (kohlrabi leaf vegetables).

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Luhya Languages ​​on Ethnologue