Kerewe is a Bantu language of Tanzania, spoken on Ukerewe Island in Lake Victoria, the largest inland island in Africa.
Learning a new language can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it can also be a daunting task, especially for beginners. That's why we have created a list of commonly used Kerewe words and their English translations to assist those interested in learning the language.
GREETINGS IN KEREWE
| ENGLISH | KEREWE |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Mwanagilamota |
| Good afternoon | Mwasibhamota |
| Good evening | Mwasibhamota |
| How are you today? | mwaimukamota ika munu? |
| How was your day? | Mkugendelela mota? |
| I am doing great | Wasibhamota |
| I am fine | Nilikuzima choka |
| We are fine | Wena tuliwazima |
| Have a good day | Uwe nene kunzima |
| How is grandmother doing? | Mama akugendelela mota? |
| I am doing well | Nigendelela kuzima |
| We all woke up safe | Bhona twemka kuzima |
| Hello | Ulimzima? |
| Nice to meet you | Nasemelelwa kubhonana newe |
| See you soon | Tubhonane lunaku yonayona |
| See you later | tulabonana badae |
| Is your family fine? | Abhana bhae ni wazima? |
| How is the patient doing? | Omlelwe akugendelela ota? |
| Are your parents fine? | Abhezele bhae ni bhazima? |
| We woke up well | Twemka tuli wazima |
| Bye, see you tomorrow | Munagilemo tulibonana necha |
| Greet them all | Ubhabwache bhona |
LOVE WORDS IN KEREWE
| ENGLISH | KEREWE |
|---|---|
| I love you | Nkwenda |
| Love you so much | Nkwenda mno |
| I need you | Nkwenda |
| I love you with all my heart | Nkwenda kuluga mmoyo |
| I love you too | wenene nkwenda |
| You are beautiful | Usemele mno |
| I love you, my friend | Nkwenda mnwani wange |
| I need you | Nkwenda |
| you will miss me | Umbula |
| Goodbye my friend | Weike kuzima mnwani wange |
| See you tomorrow | Tukwibhona nencha |
| I want some space | Nompe muda |
| You have a good shape | Uli no umbo zima |
| I love you, my wife | Nkwenda mkazi wange |
| I love you, my husband | Nkwenda mseza wange |
| Goodnight my love | Unagilemo kuzima mnwani wange |
| You are so good | Usemelwa mkazi wange |
| I always think of you my love | Kila katungu nikuwaza mkazi wange |
| I love you so much, mother | Nkwenda mno mama wange |
| I love you so much, father | Nkwenda mno baba wange |
| I love my darling so much | Nkwenda sana mnwani wange |
| Your mine | Ewe ni wange |
DIRECTIONS IN KEREWE
| ENGLISH | KEREWE |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | Olihai? |
| Where did you go? | Sanga uli hai? |
| Where are you going? | Ukuza hai? |
| Where do you live? | Otula hai? |
| Where were you? | Sanga uli hai? |
| Which side are you sitting on? | Ukele hai? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS IN KEREWE
| ENGLISH | KEREWE |
|---|---|
| How much? | Ela zinga haa? |
| Where do you live? | Utula hai ? |
| How have you been? | Ubhaki ? |
| How are you feeling? | wokuhisi kiya? |
| What’s your name? | Lizina lao niga? |
| What are you doing? | Oukola ki ? |
| What are you cooking? | Okutekaki? |
| Are you okay? | Ulimzima mlwani? |
| When are you coming? | Ukwiza lihi? |
| How was your night? | Ekilo/wanagilamota |
| How was your day? | Olunaku sanga luli bhita |
| How are you doing? | Okugendelela ota? |
| How is your family? | Abhana bhao bhakugendelela ota? |
| What is wrong? | Niki etabhu? |
| What do you mean? | Esonga yawe niki? |
| How’s the weather over there? | Ehali ya mele elota? |
| Have you gone to church | Waza mukanisa ? |
| What is this? | Kinu niki? |
| What's going on? | Nekecho kikugendelela? |
| Are you listening? | Okuhulila? |
| Have you heard? | Wahulilwa? |
| Can I go home? | Okucha kugenda muka? |
| Can I ask something? | Kucha okubhuza omusango? |
| Whats your phone number? | Onamba yao ya simu ni nambaki? |
| How many kids do you have? | Ulinambhana bhangaha? |
| Are you married? | oswele? |
| What’s your father’s name? | Iso wawe akwetaga |
| What’s your mother’s name? | Nina wao akwetaga? |
| What time will you leave? | Okwimka sangapi? |
| Do you know how to read? | Okumanya kusoma? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN KEREWE
| ENGLISH | KEREWE |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Hongera yo kuzwalwa |
| Thank you | wasemezya |
| I am sorry | Nsansila |
| You are welcome | wakukalibishwa |
| Me too | Yeniki |
| God bless you | Omukama akuwele |
| May God protect you | Omukama akulindee |
| She is happy | Asemelelwa |
| Please help me | Kusabya nisakile |
| I don’t know | ntikumanya |
| I will come tomorrow | Kwiza nencha |
| Come here | iza hanu |
| Feel at home | Utabha ne wasiwasi |
| Be blessed | ubarikiwe |
| I am coming soon | Ndieyi kwiza |
| Leave me alone | Ndeka |
| Excuse me | Nsasila |
| I am going home | Nikuza mka |
| I don’t want | Ntikwenda |
| Let me try | Siga nijaribu |
| Welcome home | Karibu muka |
| I reached home safely | Nekingile muka kuzima |
| God is good | Omukama ni mzima |
| I don’t understand | Ntikumanya |
| I am happy to see you | Nakondelwe kukulola |
| I have it | nilinayo |
| I don’t have money | Ntinaela |
| I am done | Namala |
| I am going to the shop | Enigenda kuduka |
| Happy new year | Hongera ya kuzwala |
| Stop using your phone | Leka kutumia isumu yao |
| Great to see you again | Nasemelelwa kukubhona |
What Next?
Don't stop here. Learning a language requires constant practice, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The best trick is to master at least five Kerewe words daily from the Kerewe dictionary.
Join the Lughayangu Community!
