GREETINGS IN HAYA

ENGLISH HAYA

Good morning Agolaileyo

Good afternoon Agasibayo

Good evening Aga ombigolo

How are you? Nogendelela ote?

How are you today? Nogendelela ote mbwenu?

How was your day Wasibamwota?

I am fine Ndige

Have a good day Osibege

I am doing great Ningendelelagi

Hi/Hello Waguma

Nice to meet you Nashemelelwa kutekina neiwe

See you soon Tubonangane kale

See you later Tubonangane hila

LOVE WORDS IN HAYA

ENGLISH HAYA

I love you Nkwenda

I miss you Nkubulwao

Love you so much Nkwenda mnoo

I want to see you. Nkwetaga

I love you with all my heart Nkwenda hushagao

I love you too Nkwenda nanye

I like you Nkwenda

You are beautiful Iwe mlungi

My love Omgonzibwa wange

I miss you so much, darling Nakubulwa omgonzibwa wange

Goodbye my love mpao omgonzibwa wange

See you tomorrow Tulabonangano nyekya

I will marry you Ndakubona

I want some space Ompe omda

I need your love Ninyenda

You are mine Iwe wange

I love you my wife Mkazi wange omgonzibwa

I love you my husband Msheija wange omgonzibwa

The rib of my heart Olubaju lwa moyo wange

Good night my love O’alega omgonzibwa wange

DIRECTIONS IN HAYA
ENGLISH HAYA

Where are you? Olinkahi?

Where did you go? Okagendankahi?

Where do you live? Noikala nkaa?

Where are you going? Nogya nkaa?

Where were you? Waba olinkaa?

COMMON QUESTIONS IN CONVERSATIONS IN

HAYA
ENGLISH HAYA

How much? Amaela ganga?

How are you feeling? Notekeleza ota?

How have you been? Wabaute?

What is your name? Ibala lyawe oliowa?

What are you doing? Wokolaki?

What are you cooking/eating? Nolya/ nochumbaki?

Are you okay dear? Olige omgonzibwa?

When are you coming? Noija maki?

How was your night ? Enilo kyawe kibile kita?

How was your day? Ekilo kyawe kibile kita?

How are you doing? Nogendelela ota?

How is your family? Abawe mbagendelela bata?

How is the weather over there? Ehali yigulu ilyele?

Have you gone to church? Waga kwegashaniza?

What is this? Wabaki?

What’s going on? Nikiwe ekili kugendelela?

Are you listening? Naulila?

Have you heard? Waulila?

Can I go home? Nimbasa kugya omka?

Can I ask you something? Nimbasa kubaza?

How is everything? ehari yawe?

What is your phone number? Nokola nkaa emilimo ?

How old are you? Weine emyaka engaa?

Where do you live? Noikala nkaa?

Have you eaten? Walile?

What are you saying? Nogambaote?

EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN HAYA

ENGLISH HAYA

Happy birthday Weiuka nekuzalwa

Thank you Wakola

I am sorry Onganyile

You are welcome Nonyegezibwa

Me too Nanyetyo

God bless you Omkama akubele

May god protect you Omkama akulinde

She is happy Yashemelelwa

Please help me Bojo onjune

I don’t know Timanya

I will come tomorrow Ninyija nyekya

Come here Hija aaha

Feel at home Oyeulile omka

Be blessed Obelwe

I coming soon Ninyija mbwenu aaha

Excuse me Onganyile

Leave me alone Ondeke

It is okay Onganyile

I don’t want Tinkwenda

Love is a beautiful thing Engonzi nizilungi

Let me tray Oleke ndenge

Welcome home Onyegela omka

I reached home safely Ngobilege

God is good Omkama mlungi

I don’t understand Tinkwiamu

We are happy to see you Twashemelelwa kukubona

I have it Nyinayo

Rest in peace Onyame nemilembe

I don’t have money Tinyine maela

I am done Namala

Happy new year Weuka nomwaka

Bad manners Omwenendo gubi

Stop using your phone Oleke kutumia esimu

Great to see you again Nashemelelwa kukubona dindi

I real appreciate it Ninsima mno

You made my day Wakola ekilo kyange

Let us go home Tugende omka

I am very tired Nalemwa mno

I have agreed Neikeliza

I am married Nshwilwe

She/ he is crying Nalila

She/he is digging Nalima

I am bathing Ninyoga

I am playing Ninzana

I am eating Nindya

You are late Wakelelelwa

What are you carrying? Oehile ekiki?

Who are you? Iwe doi?

What next?
 Ego = Yes ("aygo")
 Che = No ("chay")
 Inga = Nothing
[also used as 'no']

 Ota? = How [are you]?

 Tata olailota = Good morning [man I respect]
 Mama olailota = Good morning [woman I respect]
 Agasi bao = Good morning [peer]
 Masibota = Good day [woman I respect]
 Tasibota = Good day [man I respect]
 Wasibiota = Hello again [peer/child]
 Agandi? = How are you? [lit.: News?]
  Orige? = How are you?
[Conventional reply: 'Ndige!']
 Waguma? = Alright?
[Conventional: 'Naguma!']
 Wabonake? = Any problems?
[Conventional: 'Inga!']

[Jennifer Clark writes to point out the more specific response

"tinabonakantu" - I see no problems before me.]

 Ogumile ge? = How is your endeavour? [Formal]

[Conventional: 'Ngumile!']
 Shumara mwaitu? = Morning [married man].**

My favourite Kihaya word of all is a greeting:

 wayokayo. (Roughly, "You look well upon your return")

Most of the above greetings can be answered merely with 'Ego' - yes. Inject
a little joy and you'll get away with it.

 Nyegera! = Welcome!
 Mpao = Goodbye.
 Mpore = Sorry / regrets
 Garungi = Good
 Garembe = Fine
 Ndungi = Great
 Mbi = Bad
 Ulio = OK [lit: I am present]
 Muno = very [used as affix e.g: "garungi muno"]
 Nganyila = please [rare: a begging measure]
 Wakora = Thankyou
 Kasinge = Thankyou [only during day?]
 Inye = I/me
 Yange = My/mine [possessing objects]
 Bange = My/mine [possessing abstracts like friendships]
  Iwe = You***
 Ichwe = We

'Tinku-' is a general negation prefix. Works with both nouns and verbs. "Ge?"
is a particle indicating a question, but it isn't mostly necessary.

 Namanya = [I] know

 Tinkumanya = [I] Don't know
 Nog ya Kamachumu = [I am] Going to Kamachumu.

The rules for pluralising are obscure to me:

 Omzungu = Foreigner
 Abazungu = Bunch of foreigners
 Munywanyi = Friend
 Banywanyi = Friends
 Dada/kaka/mama = [as in Kiswahili]
 Tata = Father
 Mae = Paternal grandmother
 Mwana = Child
 Mwaa = Now
 Anunku = Here
 Nyenkya = Tomorrow
 Bwankya = Morning
 Omushana = Afternoon
 Bwaigoro = Evening
 Omkiro = Night (after sunset)

"E-" is a general prefix for a noun; "Eki-" is a general prefix for an artefact
(literally: craft-thing). "Ebi" is for plural artefacts (e.g. 'ekitabu', book,
and 'ebitabu', books). "Ama-" and "En-" are for foods.

 Ebegi yange = My bag

 Ekitebe = Chair
 Ekitanda = Bed
  Ekiratwa = Shoe
 Ekitabu = Book
 Ekidonge = Pill
 Etara = Light
 Etoche = Torch
 Egras = Glass
 Omuswaki = Toothbrush
 Emiwani = Spectacles
 Ebitoke = Plantain
 Enfulu = Fish (mostly for tilapia)
 Ente = Cow
 Embuzi = Goat
 Enjangwa = Cat
 Enyama = Beef
 Enfuma = Sweet potato
 Amanumbu = Potato
 Amauli = Egg
 Ekyai = Chai
 Enjura = rainwater

Finally, and most importantly:

 Ompungulizemu ebei! = Lower that price!

 Nganyila, tinku ebitoke ya omkiro! = I beg you, not plaintain tonight!