The Kamba community is part of the native Bantu speakers in Kenya. Kamba is the tribe, while Kikamba is the language used for communication. Kikamba language has different vocabularies used for daily interaction by people from the tribe. The Language contains seven vowels and several consonants.
The vowels
| A | E | Î | I | O | Û | U |
| As for
Arm |
As for
Egg |
As for
Israel |
As for
inkjet |
As for
Orange |
U as for
Ululate |
As for
Unique |
The common consonants used are:
| K | L | M | N | P | S | T | V | W | Y | Mb | Nd | Ng | Th |
Let’s now get to learn some Kikamba words.
Greetings in Kamba
| English | Kikamba |
| Good evening
Response: Good evening too |
Watindata ata?
Natinda nesa. |
| Good morning
Response: Good morning too |
Waamûka ata?
Naamûka nesa |
| Good afternoon
Response: Good afternoon too |
Ûvoo wa mûthenya? (Translating to how is your afternoon).
Nî mûseo |
| How are you?
Response: I am good |
Wîîw’a ata?
Nîîw’a nesa |
| How are you today
Response: I am fine |
Wîîw’a ata ûmûnthî? Ûmûnthî wîîw’a ata?
Nîîw’a nesa |
| Have a good day | Îthîwa na mûthenya mûseo/ mwaîlu |
| I am do great | Nîendeeye nesa vyû |
| Hi/Hello | Ûvoo waku? |
| Nice to meet you | Nûseo kûkomana naku |
| See you soon | Twonane mîtûkî |
| See you later | Twonane yîîngî. |
Love Words in Kamba
| English | Kikamba |
| I love you | Nîngwendete |
| I miss you | Nîna mea ma kûkwona |
| Love you so much | Ngwendete mûno vyû |
| I want to see you | Nîenda ûkwona/ kûkwona |
| I love with all my heart | Ngwendete na ngoo yakwa yonthe |
| I love you too | Onakwa ningwendete |
| I like you | Nîwambendeesya |
| You are beautiful | Wî mûmbe nesa |
| My love | Mwendwa wakwa |
| You look beautiful | Ûmbe waku nîwakwendeesya. |
| My beautiful wife | Mûka wakwa mûmbe nesa/ Kîveti kyakwa kyanake. |
| I miss you so much, darling | Ngûlilikanaa/ Nîûkumbûkaa muno vyû mwendwa wakwa. |
| I need you | Nîkûngwenda/ Nîna vata naku |
| You will miss me | Ûkandilikanaa/ Ûkangumbûkaa |
| Goodbye, my love | Tiwa nesa, mwendwa wakwa |
| See you tomorrow | Twonane ûnî. |
| I will marry you | Ngaûtwaa/ Niwe ngatwaa |
| I want some space | Nîenda mwanya |
| I need your love | Nîenda wendo waku/ Wendo waku niw’o ngwenda |
| You are mine | Wî wakwa |
Directions in Kamba
| English | Kikamba |
| Where are you? | Wîva/ Ûîva? |
| Where did you go? | Wendie/ Ûendie va? |
| Where do you live? | Wîkalaaa va? |
| Where are you going? | Wendete/ Ûendete va? |
| Where were you? | Wîî va/ kû? |
Common Questions in Conversations
| English | Kikamba |
| How much? | This depends on the nature of the substance in question
For price (Mbesa): Syana/ Siana ata? Water (Kîw’û): Kyana/ kîana ata? Oil (Mauta): Meana ata? |
| How are you feeling? | Wîw’a ata? |
| How have you been? | Wendeeye/ Ûendeeye ata? |
| What is your name? | Wîtawa ata? |
| What are you doing? | Wîka ata? |
| What are you cooking? | Wîuwa kyaû? Nîchaû ûkûuwa? |
| What are you eating? | Wîya kî? Nîchaû ûûya/ ûkwete ûya? |
| Are you okay dear? | Nûkwîw’a nesa? |
| When are you coming? | Ûka/ Wîûka îndîî? |
| How was your night? | Kîwîyoo kyaku kîîilye ata? |
| How was your day? | Mûthenya waku wîîilye ata? |
| How are you doing? | Ûendeeye/ Wendeeye ata? |
| How is your family | Andû maku maendeeye ata? |
| What is wrong? | Nî kyaû kîna thîna? |
| What do you mean? | Wîmaanîthya ata? |
| How’s is the weather over there? | Nzeve ku yîilye ata? |
| Have you gone to church? | Nîwendie kanisa/ kyumwa? |
| What is this? | Kîî nîchaû? |
| What’s going on? | Nî kyaû kyendeeye/ kîendeeye? |
| Are you listening? | Nîwîthukîîsye? |
| Have you heard? | Nîweew’a? |
| Can I go home? | No nînûke? |
| Can I ask something? | Nonîkûlye îkûlyo? |
| How is everything? | Kîla kîndû kîendeeye ata? |
| What’s your phone number? | Namba yaku ya simû nî kyaû? |
Everyday Conversations
| English | Kikamba |
| Happy birthday | Mûthenya wa kûsyawa. |
| Thank you | Nî mûvea. |
| I am sorry | Nîneetya ûekeo/ wekeo. |
| You are welcome | Wîmûthokye. |
| Me too! | Onakwa! |
| God bless you. | Ngai nî akûathime. |
| May God protect you. | Ngai nî akûsûvîe |
| She is happy | Nî mûtanu/ Ena ûtanu |
| Please help me | Mwa ndethya |
| I don’t know | Nye ndyîsî |
| I will come tomorrow. | Ngooka ûnî |
| Come here! | Ûka vaa! |
| Feel at home | Îw’a wî mwîanîe |
| Be blessed | Athimîka/ athimwa |
| I am coming soon. | Nînûkîte mîtûkî |
| Excuse me! | Kwanya |
| Leave me alone | Eka nakwa nye |
| It is okay. | Vai thîna/ No sawa |
| I am going home. | Nîendete mûsyî |
| I don’t want. | Ndikwenda |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | Wendo nî kîndû kîseo |
| Let me try. | Kwaeka ndate/ nîtate |
| Welcome home | Wîmûthokye kûû mûsyî |
| I reached home safely | Nîvikie mûsyî onesa |
| God is good | Ngai nî mûseo |
| I don’t understand | Ndikûelewa |
| We are happy to see you | Twîna ûtanu kûkwona |
| I have it | Nînayo/ Nînakyo |
| Rest in peace. | Thyûmûa na mûuo |
| I don’t have money | Nye ndina mbesa |
| I am done | Nîna mina |
| I am going to the shop. | Nîendete katukanî/ ndukanî. |
| Happy new year | Mwaka mweû mûseo |
| Bad manners. | Tavia nthûku/ tavia îte nzeo |
| Stop using your phone | Eka kûtûmîa simû yaku. |
| I need your favour please. | Aki nîngwenda ûtethyo waku |
| I haven’t seen you for ages. | Nîna tûmyaka ndakwona |
| Great to see you again. | Nûndû mûnene kûkwona îngî |
| I really appreciate it. | Mwa nîngûtûnga mûvea |
| You made my day. | We/ Ue! Nîwangoota ûmûnthî. |
| No problem. | Vai thîna. |
| We are hiring | Nîtûkwosana/ Nîtûkûandîkana |
Takeaways and thoughts.
Kikamba language is as deeply rooted as any other African language and has its accent. It is very simple to learn it when you start with simple vocabulary. To pronounce it well, the lower lip should be free. Additionally, the Kikamba language has no, to put it in Swahili, “Sauti ghuna”.
The language has different dialects depending on the part of the tribe you come from. For instance, we have “Kîkamba kya kîtwii”, meaning Kamba language for Kitui. We have “Kîkamba kya Kîlûngû” associated with the Kamba people of lower Makueni. Lastly, we also have “Kîkamba kya Masakû” for Kamba residing in Machakos.
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