A few words of Kimwani

Kimwani is the language spoken on Ibo Island and along the nearby coast. A few words go a long way: try them with our team and in the village, people will be delighted. This list is written with people from Ibo and grows over time.

Greetings

• Karibu Pronunciation: /kah-REE-boo/ Welcome^*
• Karibuni Pronunciation: /kah-ree-BOO-nee/ Welcome (to several people)^*
• Habari? Pronunciation: /hah-BAH-ree?/ How are you? (lit. what news?)^*
• Nzuri Pronunciation: /NZOO-ree/ Good, fine (reply to Habari?)^*
• Salama Pronunciation: /sah-LAH-mah/ Peace; I'm fine; Hello^*
• Kwaheri Pronunciation: /kwah-HEH-ree/ Goodbye^*
• Lala salama Pronunciation: /LAH-lah sah-LAH-mah/ Good night (sleep in peace)^*
• Zina rako nani? Pronunciation: /ZEE-nah RAH-koh NAH-nee?/ What is your name? (lit. your name, who?)^*

Courtesy

• Asante Pronunciation: /ah-SAHN-teh/ Thank you^*
• Asante sana Pronunciation: /ah-SAHN-teh SAH-nah/ Thank you very much^*
• Samahani Pronunciation: /sah-mah-HAH-nee/ Sorry, excuse me^*
• Ndiyo Pronunciation: /NDEE-yoh/ Yes^*
• Hapana Pronunciation: /hah-PAH-nah/ No^*
• Rafiki Pronunciation: /rah-FEE-kee/ Friend^*

Numbers

• M'moja Pronunciation: /M'MOH-jah/ One (1)
• Mbire Pronunciation: /MBEE-reh/ Two (2)
• Natu Pronunciation: /NAH-too/ Three (3)
• N'né Pronunciation: /n'neh/ Four (4)
• N'tano Pronunciation: /N'TAH-noh/ Five (5)
• Sita Pronunciation: /SEE-tah/ Six (6)
• Saba Pronunciation: /SAH-bah/ Seven (7)
• Nane Pronunciation: /NAH-neh/ Eight (8)
• Khénta Pronunciation: /KHEHN-tah/ Nine (9)
• Kumi Pronunciation: /KOO-mee/ Ten (10)
• Kumi na m'moja Pronunciation: /KOO-mee nah M'MOH-jah/ Eleven (11)
• Kumi na mbire Pronunciation: /KOO-mee nah MBEE-reh/ Twelve (12)
• Shirini Pronunciation: /shee-REE-nee/ Twenty (20)
• Talatini Pronunciation: /tah-lah-TEE-nee/ Thirty (30)
• Mia Pronunciation: /MEE-ah/ One hundred (100)
• Álufu Pronunciation: /AH-loo-foo/ One thousand (1000)

Food and drink

• Maji Pronunciation: /MAH-jee/ Water
• Samaki Pronunciation: /sah-MAH-kee/ Fish^*
• Luziki Pronunciation: /loo-ZEE-kee/ Daily food, sustenance
• Kurya Pronunciation: /KOO-ryah/ To eat^*

Places and directions

• Mwani Pronunciation: /MWAH-nee/ Beach
• Nyumba Pronunciation: /NYOOM-bah/ House, home^*
• Njira Pronunciation: /NJEE-rah/ Path, road

At the market

• Lozya Pronunciation: /LOH-zyah/ Shop (from Portuguese loja)
• Duka Pronunciation: /DOO-kah/ Shop (Nsimbwa dialect)

Sea and nature

• Bahari Pronunciation: /bah-HAH-ree/ Sea, ocean^*
• Jua Pronunciation: /JOO-ah/ Sun^*
• Mvua Pronunciation: /MVOO-ah/ Rain^*
• Mwezi Pronunciation: /MWEH-zee/ Moon; month
• Nyuni Pronunciation: /NYOO-nee/ Bird
• Nyuki Pronunciation: /NYOO-kee/ Bee
• Mbuzi Pronunciation: /MBOO-zee/ Goat
• Lukuni Pronunciation: /loo-KOO-nee/ Firewood

Time

• Pole pole Pronunciation: /POH-leh POH-leh/ Slowly, take it easy^*
• Kila suku Pronunciation: /KEE-lah SOO-koo/ Every day
• Suku Pronunciation: /SOO-koo/ Day
• Rero Pronunciation: /REH-roh/ Today
• Kesho Pronunciation: /KEH-shoh/ Tomorrow^*

People

• Zina Pronunciation: /ZEE-nah/ Name
• Mwana Pronunciation: /MWAH-nah/ Child
• Baba Pronunciation: /BAH-bah/ Father
• Ofwe Pronunciation: /OH-fweh/ We, us

Other

• Ngoma Pronunciation: /NGOH-mah/ Drum; drum dance
• Lulimi Pronunciation: /loo-LEE-mee/ Tongue; language
• Kimwani Pronunciation: /kee-MWAH-nee/ The Mwani language (lit. "language of the beach")
• Kiwibo Pronunciation: /kee-WEE-boh/ Dialect of Ibo Island, the prestige form of Kimwani

^* Word still being checked: our team on Ibo will be happy to confirm it.

You can also ask Msaidizi, our assistant, for example: “How do you say thank you in Kimwani?”