Luhya (/ˈluːjə/; also Luyia, Oluluyia, Luhia or Luhiya) is a Bantu language of western Kenya.

Dialects

The various Luhya tribes speak several related languages and dialects, though some of them are no closer to each other than they are to neighboring non-Luhya languages. For example, the Bukusu people are ethnically Luhya, but the Bukusu dialect is a variety of Masaba. (See Luhya people for details.) However, there is a core of mutually intelligible dialects that comprise Luhya proper:

  • Wanga (OluWanga)
  • Tsotso (OluTsotso)
  • Marama (OluMarama)
  • Kisa (OluShisa)
  • Kabras (LuKabarasi)
  • East Nyala (LuNyala)

All Luhya subtribes

  1. Banyala
  2. Bukusu
  3. Gisu
  4. Idakho
  5. Isukha
  6. Kabras
  7. Khayo
  8. Kisa
  9. Marachi
  10. Maragoli
  11. Marama
  12. Masaaba
  13. Nyole
  14. Samia
  15. Tachoni
  16. Tiriki
  17. Tsotso
  18. Wanga

Comparison

A comparison between two dialects of Luhya proper, and to two other Bantu languages spoken by the Luhya:

EnglishKisaLogoliNyoleWanga
I (me)eshienzi/ inzeiseesie
wordsamakhuwamakuvaamang'ana, amakhuwaamakhuwa
chaireshifumbiindeve/ endeveindebeeshisala
headomurwemutwiomurweom'rwe
moneyamapesamang'ondoamang'ondo, am'mondo, etsilupiaamapesa, irupia

Comparison to Bantu

EnglishLuhyaKikuyuKinyarwandaLingalaLugandaShonaSwahiliZulu
childrenabana, baana, otwana, orwana, vaanatwanaabanabanabaana, abaanavanawanaabantwana
dogimbwangui (pron. gui)imbwambwambwa, embwambwa, imbwambwainja
fireomuliromwakiumuriromotoomuliromotomotoumlilo

Phonology

The following is the phonology of the Luwanga dialect:

Vowels

FrontCentralBack
Closei iːu uː
Mide eːo oː
Opena aː

Consonants

BilabialLabio- dentalAlveolarPost- alveolarPalatalVelar
Stopplainptk
prenasalᵐbⁿdᶮɟᵑɡ
Affricatetstʃ
Fricativeplainβfsʃx
prenasalⁿz
Nasalmnɲŋ
Trillr
Approximantljw

External links

  • 1967 Anglican liturgical text digitized by Richard Mammana