A collection of useful phrases in Kikuyu (Gĩkũyũ), a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Central Province of Kenya.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
| Phrase | Gĩkũyũ (Kikuyu) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | |
| Hello (General greeting) | wĩmwega |
| Hello (on phone) | wĩmwega |
| How are you? | ũhana atĩa? |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | ndĩmwega |
| Long time no see | nĩtũranĩto kahinda kanene |
| What's your name? | wĩtago atĩa? |
| My name is ... | njĩtago ... |
| Where are you from? | wĩ wa kũ? |
| I'm from ... | ndĩ wa ... |
| Pleased to meet you | nĩwega gũkuona |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
ngeithi cia rũcinĩ |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
ngeithi cia mũthenya |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
ngeithi cia hwainĩ |
| Good night | koma wega |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
tigoi na wega |
| Good luck! | nĩwega |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
rathima andu atene! rathimoi! |
| Have a nice day | thikũ njega |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
mũrĩe na wega |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
thabarĩ njega |
| Yes | ĩĩ |
| No | aca |
| Maybe | yahota gũkoro |
| I don't know | ndiũĩ |
| Do you understand? | nĩwanyita? |
| I understand | nĩndanyita |
| I don't understand | ndiranyita |
| Please speak more slowly | aria kahora |
| Please say that again | tauga rĩngĩ |
| Please write it down | taandĩka |
| Do you speak English? | nĩwaragia Githũngu? |
| Do you speak Kikuyu? | nĩwaragia Gĩkũyũ? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
ĩĩ, hanini |
| Do you speak a language other than Kikuyu? |
nĩwaragia thimo ĩngĩ tiga Gĩkũyũ |
| Speak to me in Kikuyu | njarĩria na Gĩkũyũ |
| How do you say ... in Kikuyu? | ugaga atĩa na Gĩkũyũ |
| Excuse me | tareke |
| How much is this? | ĩno nĩ mbia cigana? |
| Sorry | horera |
| Please | nĩndakũhoya |
| Thank you | nĩndauga nĩ wega |
| Reply to thank you | nĩwega |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | kĩha kĩoro? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | mũthuri ũyũ nĩakurĩha ciothe |
| This lady will pay for everything | mũtumia ũyũ nĩakũrĩha ciothe |
| Would you like to dance with me? | nĩũgũthaka rwĩmbo na niĩ? |
| Do you come here often? | nĩũkaga gũkũ mũno? |
| I miss you | |
| I love you | nĩngwendete |
| Get well soon | hona na ihenya |
| Go away! | thiĩ! |
| Leave me alone! | tigana na niĩ! |
| Help! | teithia! |
| Fire! | mwaki! |
| Stop! | tiga! |
| Call the police! | ĩta borithi! |
| Christmas greetings | |
| New Year greetings | mwaka mwerũ |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | |
| Congratulations! | nĩ wega |
| One language is never enough | thimo ĩmwe ndingĩigana |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | ndege yakwa nini nĩnjiũru na thamaki nyinyi (my small plane if full of small fish) |
Phrases provided by Wambũi Ng’ang’a
Hear some Kikuyu phrases:
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Kikuyu | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Kikuyu phrases
https://hubpages.com/education/The-Kikuyu-Language
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