English – Luhya Translation of Basic Phrases
The Luhya language is one of the widely spoken languages in Kenya. The Luhya community is the second most populous community in Kenya after the Agikuyu community. It is found in western Kenya and largely occupies Bungoma, Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia and trans –Nzoia counties. The luhya have several dialects but many words are similar across the board with slight differences in translations.
Greetings – Milembe
How are you – oriena? / ovendi?/bolakho?
I am fine – ndi mulamu/ malai
Good morning – bushere/bwasiele?
Sorry – kalaa
Very sorry – kalaa lukali
Thank you – Orio muno
Thank you very much – orio muno lukali
Please -noyaanza
No problem – eshida ebula
What is your name? – olangwa nanu? /olangwa wina?
My name is….Lisina/ lira  liange liri…
Nice to meet you – nasangalile khukhubona.
Welcome – karibu

Agreements and Disagreements

Ok – eeh
Yes- eeh
No –tawe/ ta
I understand – ese mbelewa
I don’t understand – ese sembelewa tawe
Do you like it? – ewe wakisima/ ewe wakiyaanza ?

Pronouns

I/ me – ese
You (Singular) – ewe
You (plural) – enywe
Mine – owange (person)
Yours (singular) – owoo/ uwoo (person)
Yours (plural) – wenywe (person)
We – efwe
Ours – wefwe (Person)
Questions
What? – Sina/ Shina?
Where? – Waeeh?/ ena?
Who? – nanu?/wina?
Which? – ina?

Shopping in Luhya Language

Shop- eliduka
Price – omurungo/ ebei
Money – mamondo/ amapesa
How much – mamondo kenga? / amapesa kenga?
It is cheap – ebei eli rahisi
It is expensive – ebei eli engali/ebei eli ingali
Please reduce the price – noyaanza pungusia ebei



Food and Drinks

Eat –lia
Bill –kumurungo / ebei
Hot – ivilile / yavilile
Cold –inyifu/enyifu
Chicken – ingokho /engokho
Meat – enyama
Drink –nywa
Beer- amalwa / kamalwa
Tea – echai/ ichai
Fish – ing’eni
It is delicious – ne inulu / eli enulu

Animals

Lion – Etalang’i / italangi
Elephant – enjofu / injofu
Hyena – namunyu
Leopard – engwe/ ingwe
Hippopotamus – efubu
Crocodile – ekwena / ikwena
Goat – imbusi/ embusi
Cow – ing’ombe/ ekhafu
Dog – imbwa / embwa
Cat – ipusi / epusi
Bird – inyuni / enyuni

Family

Father –baba
Mother – mayi/ mama
Girl – omukhana
Boy – omusoleli
Child – omwana
Boy child – omwana omusoleli
Girl child – omwana omukhana
First born – omwana wa mbeli
Old man – omusakhulu
Old woman- omulosi
Wife – omusiele / omukhasi
Husband – omusaja/omusakhulu
My wife – omusiele wange/ omukhasi wange
My husband - omusaja wange/  omusakhulu wange

Other useful words

I love you – nakhuyaanza /nakhusima
Love – buyaanzi / busime
May I take a photo – Nyala khupa ipicha?
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