Ekisuba/va is one of the native Bantu languages in Kenya. with those who speak it living majorly in the South Nyanza region of the Country. The language is also spoken in the Mara region of Tanzania. The Abasuba are found in both Kenya and Tanzania.
Suba language has its grammatical guidelines. In this article, you will learn phrases and how to use them in day-to-day life.
In the Suba language, V, B, BH, and W are interchangeable or intertwin together in a word or in the plural form. A speaker can pronounce a word fully, the listener can grasp a single or double or triple word in it. We have vowels with double words and single words.
Double vowels ‘aa’ ‘, ee’ ‘, oo ‘, ii’ ‘, uu’.
Single vowels a e i o u.
The main parts of speech are nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs.
Check out a few examples of pronoun usage below.
Examples:
Milk: Amaveere / Amabeere / Amabheere / Amaweere. “(Amabhvweere)”
Children: Avaana / Abaana / Abhaana / Awaana. “(Abhvwaana)”
Good: Vuya / Buya / Bhuya. “(Bhvuya)”
The presence of either a single or double vowel can alter the meaning of a word.
Examples:
Okumanya - To Know
Okumaanya – To pull off
More examples:
Okuaamba, Okukeeria, amiiso, Buroothu, Ekisuunthi.
In this article, I share two of Suba's most common dialects, the Ekisuba and Olusuba dialects.
GREETINGS IN SUBA
| ENGLISH WORDS | EKISUBA WORDS | OLUSUBA WORDS |
|---|---|---|
| Good evening
Response to good evening: Good evening |
Vurirriri / Vurira (B, BH, V, W) Response: Vurirriri / Vurira | Wuirre |
| Good morning.
Response to good morning: Good morning |
Vukieye / Vukiere (B, BH, V, W)
Response: Vukieye muno / Vukiere muno |
Wukiere |
| How have you woken up?
Response to how have you woken up: I’ve woken up well |
Oramukiri igake.
Response: Ndamukiri Vuroothu. (B, BH, V, W) |
|
| How have you woken up?
Response to how have you woken up: I’ve woken up well |
Warae.
Response: Ndae or buya warae. |
|
| Good afternoon. (From 9:00 to 16:00)
Response to good afternoon: Good afternoon |
Wakia.
Response: Wakia |
|
| Good afternoon. | Omuvasu omuroothu. | |
| How are you?
Response to how are you: I’m fine |
Ogi igake? / Ogia igake?
Response: Ndagia Vuroothu. (B, BH, V, W) |
Ogia otie? |
| How are you today?
Response to how are you today: I’m fine |
Reero ogi igake? / Ogi igake reero?
Response: Vuroothu / Vuya. (B, BH, V, W) |
Ogia otie reero? |
| How have you been?
Response to how have you been: I’ve been well |
Oongei Igake?
Response: Ng’oongei Vuroothu. (B, BH, V, W) |
|
| I am fine. | Ndingi Vuroothu. (B, BH, V, W) | Ndia geeza / Ndi geeza |
| Have a good day. | Owe ne erigoro eriroothu. | Owe no owuirre wulootu |
| I am doing great. | Ndagia Vuroothu (B, BH, V, W) | Ngia geeza / Ndi geeza |
| Hi/Hello.
Response to Hi/Hello: Hi/Hello. |
Igake.
Response: Vuroothu/Vuya/Igano. (B, BH, V, W) |
Gatie |
| Nice to meet you. | Ng’omerewue okunyorona ni iwue./Vuroothu okunyorona ni iwue. (B, BH, V, W) | Ni geeza okuagana niwue |
| See you soon. | Thuvoonane igano ang’I./Thumaane igano ang’i. (B, BH, V, W) | Tuwonane ampi ano |
| See you later. | Ndacha okukumaaha munyima / Ndacha okukuvoona munyima. (B, BH, V, W)
Ndacha okukumaha enginga indi / Ndacha okukuvoona enginga indi. (B, BH, V, W) |
Tuwonane lunyima |
| We will see each other later. | Thuracha okumaahana. / Thuracha okuvoonana. (B, BH, V, W) | |
| Goodbye.
Response to goodbye: Goodbye |
Ekurinde.
Response: kurinde mbe |
LOVE WORDS IN SUBA
| ENGLISH WORDS | EKISUBA WORDS | OLUSUBA WORDS |
|---|---|---|
| Love | Ovugonchi, or Ovunyanchi (B, BH, V, W) | |
| I love you | Ndakugonchia / Ndakugochiri | Nkugonziizie |
| I miss you | Ndingi na amiiga ni iwue./Onthekiria mu-mwoyo | Ndi na amiiga niwue/Amiiga gandia niwue |
| I love you so much | Ndakugonchiri vukong’u | Nkugonziizie ino |
| I want to see you | Ndagara okukumaaha. / Ndagara okukuvoona (B, BH, V, W) | Nyagala okukuwona |
| I love you with all my heart | Ndakugonchia ku-mwoyo ogwane gwoona | Nkugonziizie no Omwoyo gwange gwona |
| I love you too | Ndakugonchia ona. / Inchi ona ndakugochia | Noona nkugonziizie |
| I like you | Ndakugochiri / ndakuyanchia | Nkugonziizie |
| You are beautiful | Oringi omuroothu | Ori omudega |
| My love | Omugonchi wane | Omugonzi wange |
| You look beautiful | Orikara omuroothu. / oringi omuroothu | |
| My beautiful wife | Omukari wane omuroothu | |
| I miss you so much, darling | Amiiga gandia ni iwue in omugonchi/ Ndakuthekiria vukong’u, omugonchi. (B, BH, V, W) | Amiiga gandia niwue in, omugonzi. |
| I need you | Ndakuaagara | Nkuagala |
| You will miss me | Oriva na amiiga ninchi. / Ocha okunithekiria. (B, BH, V, W) | Oriwa na amiiga ninze. |
| Goodbye, my love | Ekurinde, omugonchi wane | Ekurinda, omugonzi wange |
| See you tomorrow | Ndacha okukumaaha munkio | Tuwonane enkio |
| I will marry you | Ndacha okukuserera | Nyiiza okukukwa / Nyiiza okukuserera |
| I want some space | Ndagara erivaga. (B, BH, V, W) | Nyagala iwaga risugre |
| I need your love | Ndagara ovugonchi vuao. (B, BH, V, W) | Nyagala Olugonzi lwaao |
| You are mine | Oringi wane | Ori wange |
DIRECTIONS IN SUBA
| ENGLISH WORDS | EKISUBA WORDS | OLUSUBA WORDS |
|---|---|---|
| Where are you? | Oringi aae? | Oriai / Ori aai? |
| Where did you go? | Warungiei aae? | Owagiai? |
| Where do you live? | Omenyiri aae? Oramenya aae? | Omenyerai? / Omenyere aai? |
| Where are you going? | Oragia aae?/Oragenda aae? | |
| Where were you? | Ovainga aae? | Owerengai?/Owerenga aai? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS - AMAVOORIA EYE ENYINGA SIOONA MU AMAGAMBO
| ENGLISH WORDS | EKISUBA WORDS | OLUSUBA WORDS |
|---|---|---|
| How much? | Emeka? | Ameka? |
| How are you feeling? | Oigwa igake? / Oraigwa igake? | Owurra otie? |
| How have you been? | Ovainga igake? / Oongei igake? | Omiire okuwa nogia otie? |
| What is your name? | Erina eriao ni iwue? / Oethwa ng’we? | Oetwa otie? / Eriina riao naanu? |
| What are you doing? | Orakora ke? | Okolaki? |
| What are you cooking? | Orafumba ke? | Ofumbaki? |
| What are you eating? | Oraria ke? | Oriaki? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Oringi omuoru, omugonchi? / Oringi vuroothu, omugonchi? (B, BH, V, W) | Ori geeza, omugonzi? |
| When are you coming? | Oracha magoro ke? | Ooza rii? |
| How was your night? | Obuthiko obwao wavanga igake?
Owuirre owuao wavanga igake? |
Ogoneere otie? / Owuirre wuaao wuawanga wutie? |
| How was your day? | Oongei igake? | Oongeere otie? / omuwasu gwaao gwawanga gutie? |
| How are you doing? | Ogi igake? / Oragia igake? | Ogia otie? |
| How is your family? | Eviocheri vao vari igake? | Awamunyumba wagia watie? |
| What is wrong? | Nke kivee? | Niki kiwiwi? |
| What do you mean? | Ogamba ngo ke? / Oragamba ngo ke? | Olaganaki? |
| How's the weather over there? | Emikama kiri ke eyo?/Ekiaro kiri ke eyo? | |
| Have you gone to church? | Ogieiri mukanisa? | |
| What is this? | Kino n’ke? | |
| What's going on? | N’ke kiragia embere o? | |
| Are you listening? | Kane, oraigwa? | |
| Have you heard?
Can I go home? |
Kane, ukiegure?/Kane origuri?
Kane, ndanyara okugia munyumba? |
|
| Can I ask something? | Ndanyara okuvooria ekinthu? | |
| How is everything? | Evinthu vioona viri igake?
Kira ekinthu kiri igake? |
|
| What's your phone number? | Enamba eyao eye esimu ni ke? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS/AMAGAMBO AGE ENYINGA SIOONA
| ENGLISH WORDS | EKISUBA WORDS |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Ngomerewue erigoro erio okuivurwa kwao. |
| Thank you | Okorriri vuroothu/Okorriri vuya/Igaoo (B, BH, V, W) |
| I am sorry | Ng’ora |
| You are welcome | Osoiriwue |
| Welcome | Ang’i |
| Me too! | Inchi ona! / nakava inchi! |
| God | Enonkwe / Eng’aanga / Katonda / Waryubha |
| God bless you | Enonkwe ekukavere |
| May god protect you | Enonkwe ekurinde |
| She is happy | Aomeremuwe |
| Please help me | Thugira nthurie |
| I don't know | Manyiri de |
| I will come tomorrow | Ndacha okuchra munkio |
| Come here! | Icha rwano / Icha ano |
| Feel at home | Ndingwa muisoiri munyumba |
| Be blessed | Enkavi ekukavere |
| I am coming soon | Ndaacha igano wuangu |
| Excuse me | Thigira |
| Leave me alone. | Nthige omwene / Nthige omwene ngo |
| It is okay | Ni igao |
| I am going home | Ndagia yieka / Ndagia Yiika / Ndagia iika |
| I don't want | Nyagara de |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Ovugonchi ne ekinthu ekiroothu / Ovuyanchi ne ekinthu ekiroothu. (B, BH, V, W) |
| Let me try | Thiga n’geerenia |
| Welcome home | Ang’i munyumba |
| I reached home safely | Ndikiri munyumba vuroothu / Ndikiri yiika vuroothu. (B, BH, V, W) |
| God is good | Eng’aanga Endoothu / Enonkwe Endoothu |
| I don't understand | Nga’manyiri de / Manyiri de |
| We are happy to see you | Thuomereuwe okukumaaha / Thuomereuwe okukuvoona. (B, BH, V, W) |
| I have it | Ndingi nakio. / Ndege nakio |
| Rest in peace | Oesesa no ovusauthuthu. / Oesesa no omurembe |
| I don't have money | Ndavura amasendi |
| I am done | Mariri |
| I am going to the shop | Ndagia muduuka |
| Happy new year | Omwaka Omwemereri Omuyia Omuroothu |
| Bad manners | Obukeri obuveeve (B, BH, V, W) |
| Stop using your phone | Thiga okuroosya esimu esiao |
| I need a favour, please | Ndaagara enkavi, nthugire |
| Haven't seen you for ages | Nkiari kumaaha ku emiaka emiaru. / Nkiari kuvoona ku emiaka emiaru (B, BH, V, W) |
| Great to see you again | Ng’omereuwe okukuvoona kandi / Ng’omerewue okukumaaha kandi (B, BH, V, W) |
| I really appreciate it | Ndiraniria vukong’u (B, BH, V, W) |
| You made my day | Okorriri erigoro eriane/Oumereuwe erigoro eriane |
| No problem | Amanyakio garavurao(B, BH, V, W) |
CONCLUSION
- Amaguge ne evikene vavarigwa igano omunthu yavanga yawakenya okureka omugundu ogwe eviduuma yaakua, Vaomererwa okuomererwa okunene.
Omwaka ogwa ronda ko, eviduuma vyanyoreka de. Vavanyora ngo vavanga no okusuu, igao omunthu yaakua yavanga omurimi.
When the Baboons and Monkeys heard that the Man who used to chase them away from the maize field had died, they hysterically celebrated.
The following year, there was no maize, that is when they painfully realized the dead man was the farmer.
- Omunthu onyara okuanga omuandu ogwe Ekiaro no omukiri owa omuwene.
One who can renounce Worldly assets is truly the winner.
- Omwana owe Ensaariru aria de enyinyi.
The baby hawk does not eat vegetables.
- Okuvooria ng'a ovumaya de.
To ask is not stupidity. - Owaagara okuria embiichi, chogora omunoru.
If you want to eat a pig, choose a fat one. - Enthebe nga'muaa de omunthu.
Sitting on the chair all day, does not provide sustenance. - Nsanukure ni kusanukura.
Uncover me, I uncover you.
- Okuvooria ng'a ovumaya de.
- Omwana owe Ensaariru aria de enyinyi.
- Omunthu onyara okuanga omuandu ogwe Ekiaro no omukiri owa omuwene.
What Next?
Keep going. Consistent practice is essential for learning a language, but it doesn't have to be difficult. The most effective strategy is to learn at least five new Suba words from the Suba dictionary every day.
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