Kivunjo

Kirua Vunjo · Kilema · Marangu · Mamba · Mwika

The Vunjo dialect is spoken in the eastern-central Kilimanjaro areas of Kirua, Kilema, Marangu, Mamba and Mwika. It is also the dialect of most Kilimanjaro mountain guides and porters.

Sounds to practise

Ŕ — A distinct R sound. Practise: Ŕeŕo (word), Nuwoŕe (you have), Chiuŕo, Iŕeŕa, Ŕuo (take).
Ĝ — A distinct G sound. Practise: Ĝa (these), Ĝaha, Ĝahu, Ĝalya, Ĝafoi (many), Ĝako (my), Uĝambe (news).
R̲ — A third R, written with an underline in the book. Practise: R̲uu (banana), Mar̲uu (bananas), Mbur̲e (goat), Kisor̲o (son), Mr̲inga (water).

Masomo · Lessons

Sarufi · Grammar

KI/SHI class (things)

Prefixes are KI in the singular and SHI in the plural. Possessives KYA (sing.) / SHA (pl.) come after the noun.

Kimar̲ogo kileoloka: The Kimar̲ogo tree fell down
Shimar̲ogo shileoloka: The Kimar̲ogo trees fell down
Ngileur̲a kitapu / Ngilekiur̲a: I bought a book / I bought it
Kiimbo kicha / Shindo shiwicho: A nice song / Bad things
Kite kyako · Kitapu kyapfo · Kitar̲a kyake · Kiŕi kyaŕu · Kishu kyanyu · Kiombo kyawo: My dog · Your book · Her/his bed · Our tree · Your (pl) knife · Their pot
Kyi / Kilya / Kyo — Shi / Shilya / Sho: This / That / That referred to — These / Those / Those referred to

M/WA class (people)

All nouns in this class are human beings. Verb prefixes: A, E, NA, NE (singular), WA (plural). Object prefixes: M(W)/MU (singular), W/WE/WA (plural).

Msor̲o, Mka, Mfee, Mndu: Man, Woman, Parent, Person
Wasor̲o, Waka, Wafee, Wandu: Men, Women, Parents, People
Ngikemuona / Ngikewuona: I always see him / I always see them
Mndu mbicho · Wandu wose · Wandu wafoi · Mndu umwi · Wakunde wecha: A bad person · All people · Many people · One person · Nice friends
oko, opfo, oke, oŕu, onyu, owo / wako, wapfo, wake, woŕu, wowo: my, your, his/her, our, your (pl), their (sing. / pl.)
Chu / Ulya / Wa / Walya: This / That / These / Those (people)

I/TSI class (no change sing./pl.)

The noun does not change between singular and plural. Verb prefixes I (sing.) and TSI (pl.).

Nguwe ilee / Nguwe tsilee: The pig is asleep / The pigs are asleep
Nguwe nginoŕu · Nguku tsifoi · Nguo ngicha: A fat pig · Many chickens · A nice cloth
Yako, yapfo, yake, yaŕu, yanyu, yawo / Tsako, tsapfo, tsake, tsaŕu, tsanyu, tsawo: my, your… (sing. / pl.)
Numba yo ilesanjuka / Numba tso tsilesanjuka: The house / houses that became derelict

R̲UU/MAR̲UU class

Example: R̲uu / Mar̲uu (banana / bananas). Verb prefixes LYI/LYE (sing.), ĜA (pl.).

R̲uu lyileiwo / Mar̲uu ĝaleiyio: The banana was stolen / The bananas were eaten
Ŕui lyicha · Mar̲uu mecha · Maŕeŕo ĝafoi: A nice voice · Nice bananas · Many words
Ŕeŕo lya Kristo: The word of Christ
Lyi / Lyilya — Ĝa / Ĝalya: This / That — These / Those

U class (uncountables)

Verb and object prefixes U/LU. Possessives Woko… or Loko…

Ushari luleor̲oka: The congregation stood up
Ngekelya ugali / Ngekelulya: I always eat ugali / I always eat it
Ushangunyi lo Ruwa: The brow of God
Uloĝo lu / Uloĝo lulya: This news / That news

HA and KU place classes

Handu = a general place (prefix HA). Kundu = a known specific place (prefix KU).

Handu hawono / Kundu kuwono: The place is seen
Handu hecha · Handu hang'anyi: A nice place · A big place
Kundu kucha · Kundu kung'anyi: A nice place · A big place
Iha / Halya / Iho: This place here / That place there / Here referred to

Verb tenses (iimba = to sing)

A selection of the tense forms, with the negative in brackets.

Ngiimba (Ngiimbapfo): I am singing
Ngikeriimba (Ngikeriimbapfo): I am still singing
Ngikeimba (Ngikeimbapfo): I sing
Ngicheimba / Ngecheimba (Ngicheimbapfo): I will sing
Ngiweiimba (Ngiweiimbapfo): I was singing
Ngamimba (Ngilandeimbepfo): I sang
Ngileweimba (Ngileweimbapfo): I did sing
Ngileimba (Ngileimbapfo): I have sung
Ngaimba (Ngaimbapfo): I have just sung
Ngiimbe? (Ngilaimbe?): Should I sing?
Keimba (Mola imbe): Please sing
Kiimbo kiimbiyo / kekeimbo / kechiimbo / kileimbo / kileimbiyo: The song is being sung / is sung / will be sung / was sung / has been sung

Mazungumzo · Conversations

Conversation 1 — A visit

Shimbonyi sha ngamenyi?
Habari za asubuhi, u hali gani?
Good morning, how are you?
Nashicha kapisa, aika, ungiwie shapfo?
Nzuri sana, asante, na wewe je?
Very well, thank you, and how are you?
Ngimcha kapisa.
Mimi ni mzima kabisa.
I am very well.
Kennjo uchekuliiya nainyi. Ngiwoŕe kelya kunu numbenyi koko.
Tafadhali njoo ule pamoja nami. Nina chakula nyumbani kwangu.
Please come and eat with me. I have some food in my house.
Ikyo nyikindo kya ikunda lyapfo ling'anyi. Koikyo ngechicha na iyoe.
Huo ni wema mkubwa. Hakika nitakuja nawe.
That is very kind of you. I will certainly come with you.
Nyi kui numba yapfo ikeri?
Nyumba yako iko wapi?
Where is your house?
Numba yako ikeri kufui kitutu iwuka iha. Ikeri halya ur̲enyi lo kumoso. Sinde luende.
Nyumba yangu iko karibu tu na hapa. Iko pale upande wa kushoto. Twende.
My house is only a short distance from here. It is there on the left. Let us go.
Nuichue njaa mnu?
Una njaa sana?
Are you very hungry?
Yee, ngiichue njaa mnu. Ngiweir̲unda kasi ngikari sana.
Ndiyo, nina njaa sana. Nimekuwa nikifanya kazi kwa bidii.
Yes, I am very hungry. I have been working hard.
Ai nyama. Ngakusuria nochiikunda.
Hii hapa nyama. Natumaini utaipenda.
Here is some meat. I hope you will like it.
Aika mnu. Iloŕa sana.
Asante sana. Ina ladha nzuri sana.
Thank you very much. It tastes very good.
Nukundi inyo wari? Ngiwoŕe wari iha.
Unataka kunywa pombe? Ninayo hapa.
Do you want to drink some beer? I have some here.
Aika. Wandu wekeamba ke wari wo iha nyi wokeloŕa kuta wose wo mr̲i chu.
Asante. Watu wanasema pombe ya wilaya hii ndiyo bora zaidi mkoani.
Thank you. People say that the beer in this district is the best in the region.
Yee, luwoŕe njia ya mbaŕe ngicha ye uŕika.
Ndiyo, tuna njia ya kuvutia ya kuitengeneza.
Yes, we have an interesting way of making it.
Nyimr̲asa ngiende ulalu. Nowaŕa ikunda ling'anyi mnu. Mr̲asa uche na kulya kanyi koko kyeri kitutu.
Lazima niende sasa. Umekuwa mwema sana. Lazima uje nyumbani kwangu hivi karibuni.
I must go now. You have been very kind. You must come to my house soon.
Ngekyekaa kufui na hekalu ur̲enyi lo kulywe lo duka la misionyi. Nakopfo.
Ninaishi karibu na kanisa, upande wa kulia wa duka la misheni. Kwaheri.
I live near the church on the right of the mission shop. Goodbye.

Conversation 2 — At the shop

Shimbonyi mbuya yako, nyi kyikyi ukundi iur̲a?
Salamu rafiki, unataka kununua nini?
Greetings friend, what do you want to buy?
Ngikundi koka-kola tafadhali.
Nataka koka-kola tafadhali.
I want a coca-cola please.
Luwoŕe koka-kola pfo, kyaindi luwoŕe fanta.
Hatuna koka-kola, samahani, lakini tuna fanta.
We have no coca-cola, sorry, but we have fanta.
Aika, ngikundi tsiwi. Tseketo tsiingu?
Asante, nitachukua mbili. Ni bei gani?
Thank you, I shall have two. How much are they?
Shillingi maĝana ĝawi.
Shilingi mia mbili.
Two hundred shillings.
Iyo nyi kalyi mnu.
Hiyo ni ghali sana.
That is very expensive.
Par̲apar̲a ikerendiya, koikyo ibasi lechiifima iende chupatso pfo, koikyo wana weketsikuŕika, wakatoo pesa tsitutu.
Barabara inateleza, kwa hiyo basi haliwezi kuleta chupa, hivyo watoto wanazibeba kwa pesa kidogo.
The road is slippery, so the bus cannot bring the bottles, therefore the children carry them for a little money.
Nombone mlosha ang'anyi o shuule?
Umemwona mwalimu mkuu wa shule?
Have you seen the headmaster of the school?
Yee, naleur̲a mbatu iha kiweri kitutu.
Ndiyo, alinunua sigara hapa muda mfupi uliopita.
Yes, he bought some cigarettes here a short time ago.
Nyi kui aleenda?
Alienda wapi?
Where did he go?
Ngakusar̲e naienda ichumia na mr̲inyi.
Nadhani anatembea kwenda mjini.
I think he is walking to town.
Ngakusuria kye kokapa mvuo pfo.
Natumaini mvua hainyeshi.
I hope it doesn't rain.
Lasima ngiende ulalu. N'nga ikyi uur̲e kindo kenyo. Mka opfo namcha ulalu?
Lazima niende sasa. Hii hapa ya kinywaji. Mke wako amepona sasa?
I must go now. Here's something for a drink. Is your wife better now?
Yee, ulalu namcha necha. Nakopfo na aika ko kindo kenyo.
Ndiyo, amepata nafuu kubwa. Kwaheri na asante kwa kinywaji.
Yes, she is much better. Goodbye and thank you for the drink.

Conversation 3 — The bus to Mamba

Ngesu ibasi lyi lekyeenda Mamba?
Basi hili linaenda Mamba?
Does this bus go to Mamba?
Yee, fimafima chakyipfa lyiienda ulalu kuŕi.
Ndiyo, harakisha, linaondoka hivi karibuni.
Yes, hurry, for it is leaving soon.
Nauri nyi tsiinga?
Nauli ni shilingi ngapi?
How much is the fare?
Nyi shilingi shiku shir̲ar̲u.
Shilingi elfu tatu.
Three thousand shillings.
Kyaro kyekeŕuo kyeri kyinganyi kuŕa?
Safari inachukua muda gani?
How long does the journey take?
Nochishikaho ngama ngamenyi kyeri kya saa ikumi-na-tsiwi tsa ngamenyi.
Utafika huko kesho asubuhi saa kumi na mbili.
You will arrive there tomorrow morning at 6am.
Par̲apar̲a yo ikeri kuŕa?
Barabara ikoje?
How is the road?
Ingicha.
Ni nzuri.
It is good.
Aika mbe, nakopfo.
Asante bwana, kwaheri.
Thank you sir, goodbye.

Conversation 4 — Climbing Kilimanjaro

Nyi kui uienda kyeri kya ionyonya lyapfo?
Unaenda wapi likizo yako?
Where are you going for your holidays?
Ngikundi iŕooya fumvu la Kilimanjaro.
Nataka kupanda Mlima Kilimanjaro.
I want to climb Mt Kilimanjaro.
Nyi hanga ochianzia?
Utaanzia wapi?
From where are you going to begin?
Ngeanzia Morang'u. Ngilemmarisa iŕooya fumvu lo iwukia Loitokitoki.
Kutoka Marangu. Nimeshapanda mlima kutoka Loitokitok.
From Marangu. I have already climbed the mountain from Ol Loitokitok.
Kyaro kyapfo kilewa kuŕa iwukia Loitokitoki?
Safari yako kutoka Loitokitok ilikuwaje?
What was your journey like from Ol Loitokitok?
Ngileenda na mbuya yako na kisinga o Kimaasai. Kuwooka nyi kuwoŕe nguŕu kyaindi numa nyi kuwoŕe njia ngicha.
Nilienda na rafiki yangu na mpagazi Mmaasai. Mwanzoni kuna msitu lakini kuna njia iliyo wazi.
I went with my friend and a Maasai porter. At first there is forest but there is a well-marked path.
Njia yo ayi iwoŕe msar̲i ung'anyi kuta ucho wo njia iya iwukie Morang'u.
Njia ina mwinuko mkali, zaidi ya njia ya Marangu.
The path is very steep, steeper than the Marangu path.
Wuye ya nguŕu nyi kuwoŕe mar̲u ĝalya gekyeŕo mafumvunyi maleshi tupu.
Baada ya msitu kunakuja mimea inayoota kwenye milima mirefu tu.
After the forest comes vegetation which grows only on high mountains.
Kio kilyu kya kuwooka lulelaa mr̲eshenyi.
Tulilala pangoni usiku wa kwanza.
We slept in a cave the first night.
Kyeri kya kingoto luleshikia numba tsa miisho tsilya tsikeri halya wanda ya fumvu.
Mchana tulifika kwenye vibanda chini ya sehemu ya mwisho ya mlima.
In the afternoon we reached the huts at the bottom of the last part of the mountain.
Luletaruma mndu msor̲o ang'anyi mnu ikyama halya barafunyi.
Tulimsaidia mtu mkubwa sana kutembea kuvuka theluji.
We helped a very big man to walk across the snow.
Luleambuya chandu mnengeri uweiŕo numa ya fumvu la Mawenzi.
Tuliangalia jua likichomoza nyuma ya Mlima Mawenzi.
We watched the sun rise behind Mt Mawenzi.
Ngina yoose iwekeri kimaande. Luleendelea na kyaro kyaŕu.
Anga lote lilikuwa jekundu. Tuliendelea kupanda.
The whole sky was red. We continued to climb.
Ko wukiwa wung'nnyi luleshikia kifumvu kya Gilman.
Kwa taabu tulifika Kilele cha Gilman.
Painfully we reached Gilman's Peak.
Rundu lyilecha naho lulawone kindo kyose.
Ukungu ulikuja na hatukuona kitu.
A mist came and we could see nothing.
Luwewoŕe kyela mna kyenyo pfo kyaindi lulelya barafu.
Hatukuwa na chakula wala kinywaji lakini tulikula barafu.
We had no food nor drink but we ate the ice.
Kikiĝambe kye mmbiu o rung'wi ulegandisho nyi barafu, kye nyi wukeri ipfo makiŕi ĝawi ĝa fumvu lyi lya Kibo.
Inasemekana mwili wa chui umegandishwa ndani ya barafu, ndani ya Kibo.
It is said that the body of a leopard lies frozen in the ice, inside Kibo.
Msinga ulya oŕu o KiMaasai nalekunda sana iluwona.
Mpagazi wetu Mmaasai alifurahi sana kutuona.
Our Maasai porter was very pleased to see us.

Maandiko · Texts

The Lord's Prayer — Kiterewo kya Mndumii

Awu yoŕu, ukeri ipfo ruwewu, rina lyapfo lyitano lyeele

Wumangi wopfo wuche

Kindo ukundi, chandu kekewa ipfo ruwewu, na wuŕo kiwewe na kunu urukenyi

Kando kaŕu kalufoi luenenge inu

Uluŕee sile tsapfo, cha soe luiŕea wasile waŕu

Ulaluŕuoe kitewionyi

Indi ulukiŕe shindo shiwicho

Cha kipfa wumangi nyi wopfo, na pfinya, na ngeela shiyeri shose shilunganyi

Amen

Source: Chagga: A Course in the Vunjo Dialect of the KiChagga Language, Bernard Leeman & Trilas Matesha Lauwo (1972 / 1993 / 2015 (2nd ed.)). Reproduced with the authors' permission.