Kikuyu (Gĩkũyũ)

Kikuyu is a Bantu language spoken mainly in the Central Province of Kenya between Nyeri and Nairobi. In 2009 there were about 6.6 million speakers of Kikuyu, and the Kikuyu people (Agĩkũyũ) make up the largest ethnic group in Kenya. There are four mutually intelligible dialects known as Kirinyaga, Muranga, Nyeri and Kiambu.

Kikuyu is also known as Gikuyu or Gekoyo, and the native name for the language isGĩkũyũ [ɣēkōjó].

Kikuyu is taught in primary schools, and used in literature and newspapers, and on radio and TV. Literature in Kikuyu includes essays, poetry, children's stories and translations by such as authors as Mwangi wa Mutahi, Gatua wa Mbugwa and Waithĩra wa Mbuthia

Kikuyu alphabet

Kikuyu is written with a version of theAfrican reference alphabet, which was first proposed at a 1978 conference organised by UNESCO.

Kikuyu alphabet andpronunciation

Tones

Kikuyu has two level tones: a low-high rising tone and a downstep.

Download an alphabet chart for Kikuyu (Excel)

Hear the Kikuyu alphabet:

Sample text (John 1:1)

Kĩambĩrĩianĩ Ũhoro aarĩ o kuo, na aatũire harĩ Ngai, nake aarĩ o Ngai.

Translation

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Sample video in Kikuyu

Information about Kikuyu |Phrases |Numbers |Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Kikuyu language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gikuyu_language
http://emmanuelkariuki.hubpages.com/hub/The-Kikuyu-Language
http://aboutworldlanguages.com/kikuyu
http://www.ethnologue.com/language/kik

Kikuyu phrases
https://hubpages.com/education/The-Kikuyu-Language

Bantu languages

Aka,Aushi,Bafaw-Balong,Bangi,Bangubangu,Basaa,Bemba,Bembe,Bena,Benga,Bhaca,Bila,Bube,Budu,Bujeba,Bukusu,Bulu,Bushong,Central Kilimanjaro,Central Teke,Chichewa,Chokwe,Chopi,Chuwabu,Comorian,Dciriku,Digo,Duala,Eton,Ewondo,Fang,Fuliiru,Fwe,Ganda/Luganda,Giryama,Gogo,Gungu,Gusii,Gwere,Gyele,Ha,Haya,Hehe,Herero,Ibinda,Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki,Ikizu,Ikoma,Jita,Kabwa,Kako,Kalanga,Kamba,Kanyok,Kgalagadi,Kiga,Kikuyu,Kimbundu,Kinyarwanda,Kirundi,Kisi,Kobo,Kogo,Komo,Kongo,Konjo,Koti,Kuhane,Kukuya,Kunda,Kuria,Kwambi,Kwangali,Kwasio,Lambya,Lega,Lengola,Lingala,Loma,Lomwe,Lozi,Luba-Katanga,Luchazi,Lunda,Luvale,Luyana,Makaa,Makonde,Makhuwa,Mandekan,Maore,Masaaba,Mbama,Mbere,Mbosi,Mbugu,Mbukushu,Mbunda,Mbuun,Mende,Mongo,Mpiemo,Mushungulu,Mwani,Myene,Nambya,Nande,Ndau,Ndonga,Ngoni,Ngwii,Njebi,Nkore,North Teke,Northern Ndebele (South Africa),Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe),Northern Sotho,Nyamwezi,Nyakyusa,Nyemba,Nyole,Nyoro,Nyungwe,Nzadi,Oroko,OshiWambo,Pagibete,Pare,Phuthi,Punu,Rangi,Ronga,Safwa,Seki,Sena,Sengele,Shambala,Shona,Soga,Songe,Southern Ndebele,Southern Sotho,Suba,Sukuma,Swahili,Swati,Taita,Talinga,Tanga,Tembo,Tetela,Tonga,Tongwe,Tooro,Tshiluba,Tsonga,Tswa,Tswana,Tumbuka,Turu,Umbundu,Venda,Vili,Vwanji,Wanzi,West Teke,Xhosa,Yakam,Yansi,Yao,Yasa,Yeyi,Zigula,Zinza,Zulu

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 22.02.24

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