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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.
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