The Giriama people are one of the nine tribes of the Mijikenda, found in Kenya along the coast, primarily on the Northern Coast.
The language is simple to understand because the terms are so similar to Swahili.
For instance, "Njoo" in Swahili is equivalent to "Nzoo" in Giriama.
Note: Contrary to English, gendered pronouns like she and he are not used in Giriama.
English translation: He's going to the hospital.
Giriama: Anenda siptali. (Lacks a pronoun indicating gender.)
GREETINGS IN GIRIAMA.
| ENGLISH | GIRIAMA |
| Good evening. | Udzasindadze.
Note: Giriama greetings are very long. E.g. Greetings between two people will be like this; Katana: Udzasindadze? Response:Nidzasinda simanya uwe ( Good , what about you?) Katana: Sinda( Am good too) |
| Good morning? | Udzalamkadze?
E.g; Tina: Udzalamkadze? (Good morning?) Response: Nidzalamka simanya uwe(Good morning to you, what about you?) Tina: Lamka (Good) Response: Ndo vidzo ( That's great) |
| Good afternoon. | Udzasindadze.
E.g Philip: Udzasindadze (Good afternoon?) Response:Nidzasinda simanya uwe (Good , what about you?) Philip: Sinda (I am good too) Response: Ndo vidzo ( that's great) |
| How are you? | Unaendereradze?
How are you today? (Unaendereradze rero?) |
| I am fine | Ni tototo. |
| Have a good day. | Sindato/ Kala na siku mbidzo. |
| I am doing great. | Naenderera tototo.
E.g. - Even though I have been through a lot this year, I thank God for I am doing great. (Tha kala nidzakirira manji mwaka uu namshkuru Mulungu naenderera tototo.) |
| Hi/hello? | Vidze? |
| Nice to meet you. | Ni vidzo kukona. |
| See you soon. | Hundaonana si kapindi. |
| See you later. | Hundaonana baadaye. |
LOVE WORDS IN GIRIAMA.
| ENGLISH | GIRIAMA |
| I love you. | Nakuhenza.
E.g. Ndakurinda siku zosi maana nakuhenza. ( I will always protect you because I love you.) |
| I miss you. | Nakuthamani.
E.g. - I missed you so much that I fell sick because I hadn't seen you for a long time. (Nakuthamani sana hatha ni kikala mukongo kwa sababu sikonere kwa muda mure.) |
| I love you so much. | Nakuhenza sana.
E.g. - I love you so much that I want to marry you.(Nakuhenza sana tha namala nikuhale.) |
| I want to see you. | Namala nikone.
E.g. - I want to see you so that we can make plans for the new year.(Namala nikone ili huhende mipango ya mwaka musha.) |
| I love you with all my heart. | Nakuhenza na moyo wa kwangu wosi.
E.g - Even though we have had many problems, I love you with all my heart. (Tha kala hudzakirira matatizo manji, nakuhenza na moyo wa kwangu wosi.) |
| I like you. | Nakuhenza |
| You are beautiful | U mudzo.
Every time I see you, I am lost for words because you are beautiful. (Kila nikikona maneno gananga'mika maana u mudzo.) |
| My love | Mhenzwi wangu. |
| You look beautiful. | Udzahendzeza. |
| My beautiful wife. | Mchangu mudzo. |
| I miss you so much darling. | Nakuthamani sana mhenzwi wangu. |
| I need you. | Nakuhitaji. |
| You will miss me. | undanithamani. |
| Goodbye my love. | Enda to mhenzwi wangu. |
| See you tomorrow | Huonane machero |
| I will marry you. | Nindakuhala.
E.g. - I will marry you and make you the mother to our kids. (Nindakuhala nikuhende mhamha wa ahoho ehu.) |
| I want some space. | Namala nafasi. |
| I need your love. | Nahitaji henzero. |
| You are mine. | Uwangu. |
DIRECTIONS IN GIRIAMA
| ENGLISH | GIRIAMA |
| Where are you? | Uhiko? |
| Where did you go? | Wakwendahi? |
| Where do you live? | Unakalahi? |
| Where are you going? | Unendahi? |
| Where were you? | Were uhiko? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS.
| ENGLISH | GIRIAMA |
| How much? | Ni nyingahi?
E.g. - Ni nyingahi zindathosha? ( How much is enough?) |
| How are you feeling? | Unadzisikiradze?
E.g. - How are you feeling after taking the medication? (Unadzisikiradze baada ya kuhumira mihaso?) |
| How have you been? | Udze?
E.g. - How have you been since we last met?( Udze hangu fuhegezane?) |
| What is your name? | unaifwa hani? |
| What are you doing? | Uhendani? |
| What are you cooking? | Unagita noni? |
| What are you eating? | Unarya noni? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Umzima, dede? |
| When are you coming? | Unadza rini? |
| How was your night? | Usikuwo udzakaladze? |
| How was your day? | Siku yo idzakaladze? |
| How are you doing? | Unaendereradze? |
| How is your family? | Adamuwo manaendereradze? |
| What is wrong? | Shidha ni noni? |
| What do you mean? | Unamaanisha noni? |
| How's the weather over there? | Hali ya anga idze ko? |
| What is this? | Vino ni noni? |
| Have you gone to church? | Udzakwenda kanisani? |
| What's going on? | Kunaendererani? |
| Are you listening? | Unaskiza? |
| Have you heard? | Udzaskira? |
| Can I go home? | Nadima kwenda nyumbani? |
| Can I ask you something? | Nadima kukuza utu? |
| How is everything? | Kila kitu kinaendereradze? |
| What's your phone number? | Namba ya kwako ya simu ni hiyo? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS.
| ENGLISH | GIRIAMA |
| Happy birthday. | Kuzhalwa kudzo. |
| Thank you | Namvera |
| I am sorry | Pore |
| You are welcome | Unakaribishwa. |
| Me too | Hatha mimi |
| God bless you | Mulungu akuhase. |
| May God protect you. | Mulungu akurinde. |
| She is happy. | Ana raha. |
| Please help me. | Tafadhali nisaidhia. |
| I don't know | Simanya |
| I will come tomorrow. | Ndakudza machero. |
| Come here | Nzo hano. |
| Be blessed | Haswa |
| I am coming soon. | nadza karibuni |
| Excuse me. | Nisamehe |
| Leave me alone | Niricha hakhi yangu. |
| It is okay | Ni karakara |
| I am going home. | Nenda mudzini. |
| I don't want | Tsenzi |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | Mahenzo ni kitu kidzo. |
| Let me try. | Richa nijeze |
| Welcome home | Karibu nyumbani |
| I reached home safely | Nidzafika nyumbani salama. |
| God is good. | Mulungu ni mudzo. |
| I don't understand. | Sielewa. |
| We are happy to see you. | Hunafahirwa kukona. |
| I have it. | Ninacho. |
| Rest in peace. | Oya Kwa amani. |
| I don't have money. | Sina pesa |
| I am done. | Nidzagonya
Example; I am done with yesterday's work.( Nidzagonya kazi ya dzana) |
| I am going to the shop. | Nenda dhukani.
Example: I am going to the shop to buy milk.( Nenda dhukani nikagule mazia.) |
| Happy new year. | Mwaka musha mudzo. |
| Bad manners. | Tabia kolo.
Example: Ahoho ajirani mana tabia kolo. (Our neighbors kids have bad manners.) |
| Stop using your phone. | Richa kuhumira simuyo. |
| I need a favour, please. | Ninavoya msaadha tafadhali. |
| Haven't seen you for ages. | Sidzakona Kwa muda mure sana. |
| Great to see you again. | Ni vidzo kukona keheri. |
| I really appreciate it. | Namvera zhomu. |
| You made my day | Udzahenda siku ya kwangu ikale mbidzo. |
| No problem. | Kahana shidha. |
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