Kitharaka also known as Saraka or Tharaka or Sharoka or Atharaka is a language spoken in Embu, Meru, and Tharaka-Nithi counties in Kenya.
Some consider It a dialect of the Kimeru language.
For beginners embarking on the journey of learning Kitharaka, I have compiled a list of frequently used words along with their English translations, aiming to make the process of mastering the language effortless. I hope this valuable resource assists you in your language-learning endeavours!
GREETINGS IN KITHARAKA
| ENGLISH | KITHARAKA |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Abari ya rûûkîrî |
| Good afternoon | Abari ya gûtinda |
| Good evening | Ûgoro bwaku ibwega |
| How are you? | ûrî ûmwega? |
| How are you today? | Ûrî ûmwega îmunthî? |
| I am fine | Ndî ûmwega |
| Have a good day | îgua gwîna ntugû îmbega |
| I am doing great | Ndî ûmwega |
| Hi/Hello | Nata |
| See you later | Tûonane kerî |
| Nice to meet you | Ngûkenera kwaranîria na gwaû. |
| See you soon | Tûkonana. |
LOVE WORDS IN KITHARAKA
| ENGLISH | KITHARAKA |
|---|---|
| I love you | Ingûkwenda |
| I miss you | ii nkûmisite mono. |
| Love you so much | ii nkwendete mono. |
| I want to see you | ii nkwenda gûkwona. |
| I love you with all my heart | ii ngûkwenda na nkoro yakwa yonthe. |
| I love you too | Na nigû ii ngûkwenda. |
| I want to see you | ii nkwenda gûkwona. |
| I like you | ii ngûkwenda |
| You are beautiful | Nuthongamite mono. |
| My love | Sweetie/Dia wakwa. |
| You look beautiful | ûthongamite |
| My beautiful wife | Mwekuru wakwa ûmûthongamu. |
| I miss you so much, darling | Inkûmisite mono my dia. |
| I need you | ii ngûkwenda |
| You will miss me | ûkamisi. |
| Goodbye, my love | ii bwega my dia. |
| See you tomorrow | Tuonane rûû. |
| I will marry you | ngakûgûra |
| I want some space | mpa kanya. |
| I need your love | ii ngûkwenda |
| You are mine | Ûrî gwakwa |
DIRECTIONS IN KITHARAKA
| ENGLISH | KITHARAKA |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | Ikû ûrî? |
| Where did you go? | Ikû ûrathire? |
| Where do you live? | Gwaku ii kû? |
| Where are you going? | Uthiîte kûû? |
| Where were you? | Ikû ûkûrî? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATION IN KITHARAKA
| ENGLISH | KITHARAKA |
|---|---|
| How much? | Ni igana? |
| How are you feeling? | ûrîgua ata? |
| How have you been? | Abari ya ntugû? |
| What is your name? | Ûrîtwa ata? |
| What are you doing? | Nata ûkûrûtha? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Imbiyo ûkûruga/Ûkûrea? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Urî ûmwega dia? |
| When are you coming? | Ûkaya rîî? |
| How was your night/day? | Ûtûgû bwaku bûrakari ata?/ntugû yaku îrîkari ata? |
| How are you doing? | Ûrî ûmwega? |
| How is your family? | Mûûjwi gwaku ûrî ûmwega? |
| How was your day? | Ntugû yaku nîkûrî îmbega? |
| What is wrong? | Imbiyo biîna thîna? |
| What do you mean? | Ûrî maanisha ata? |
| How's the weather over there? | Nagu gûkari ata? |
| Have you gone to church? | Nûthire Kanisani? |
| What is this? | Imbiyo îno? |
| What's going on? | Imbiyo îkwenderea? |
| Are you listening? | Nûthikîritie? |
| Have you heard? | Ûkwîgua? |
| Can I go home? | Nwambenûke mûjwî? |
| Can I ask something? | Nwambûrie gîntû? |
| How is everything? | Mantû menderete ata? |
| What’s your phone number? | Namba ya thimû yaku nîrîkû? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN KITHARAKA
| ENGLISH | KITHARAKA |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Ingûkwendera ntûgû îmbega ya gûciarwa |
| Thank you | Ibwega |
| I am sorry | pole. |
| You are welcome | karibû |
| Me too! | gwana niû. |
| God bless you. | Mûrungu akûtharime. |
| May God protect you | Mûrungu nakûmenyere. |
| She is happy | Nakenete |
| Please help me | Ntethia bai. |
| I don't know | Ntikûmenya |
| I will come tomorrow | Nkaya rûû. |
| Come here! | Nchû aga! |
| Feel at home | îgua ûganîrîtue |
| Be blessed | Tharimwa |
| I am coming soon | Nkaya kagita gataî kûraya. |
| Excuse me | Tueshimiane |
| Leave me alone | Tigana na niû. |
| It is okay | kûrî sawa/ii kwega. |
| I am going home | ii mbînûkite mûjwî |
| I don't want | Ntikwenda |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Rwendo irwa Bata mono. |
| Let me try | Tiga nchûgie. |
| Welcome home | Karibu mûjwî. |
| I reached home safely | ii ndakinyire mûjwî bwega. |
| God is good | Mûrungu nûmwega. |
| I don't understand | ntikweregwa |
| We are happy to see you | ii tûkenete ii gwûkwona |
| I have it | Nîno |
| Rest in peace | Nogoka mayîîga. |
| I don't have money | Nti îna mbeca. |
| I am done | Nkûrîkia |
| I am going to the shop | Inthiîte ndukani. |
| Happy new year | îgua gwîna Mwaka ûmwega |
| Bad manners | Tabia înthûku. |
| Stop using your phone | Tiga gûtûmira thimû. |
| I need a favour, please | Ntetheria bai. |
| Haven’t seen you for ages | Ngûkara mono ntakona. |
| Great to see you again | Ibwega gûkwona kerî. |
| I really appreciate it | Nkuga iibwega mono. |
| You made my day | Ugûnkenia mono îmunthî. |
| No problem | Gûtiîna thîna. |
| We're hiring | Itûkwandikana |
What next?
Keep going! Learning a language takes consistent practice, but it doesn't have to be difficult. A useful tip is to learn five Kitharaka words every day from the Kitharaka dictionary to improve your skills.
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