Greetings are an essential aspect of every language.
The foundation of learning a new language starts at the greetings level before delving deeper into other phrases.
Kimeru is the ethnic language of the Meru tribe, which has 2 million people.
Kimeru is an exciting and easy language to comprehend for beginners.
This guide will teach you the Meru greetings and salutations.
How to say “hello” in Meru
- Hello- “Muuga” when greeting one person, and “Muugeni” when greeting more than one person.
- Hi- same as Hello for “Muuga,”
- Good morning- “Nureere Bwega?,” “Uguukira Bwega?,” The first greeting is asking someone if they slept well, and the second one is asking them if they’ve woken up well.
- Good evening- “Ugutinda Bwega?” A good evening greeting asking someone how their day has been.
- Good afternoon– “Ntuku Yaku Nibui?,” or “Ntuku Yaaku Yendereete Atia?,” This good afternoon greeting means asking someone if their day is progressing well.
- Enjoy the rest of your afternoon!- “Ingukwendera Ntuku Injega,” or “Tinda Bwega”
- Good night- When wishing someone a good night, the Meru people say “Raara Bwega” or “Ingukwendera Utuku Bubwega.”
- Enjoy the rest of your night– This is similar to wishing someone goodnight
- Hey there!- This greeting is similar to Hello for “Muuga.”
- What’s up?- Wanting to know what someone has been up to in Kimeru, you should ask them, “Uriuga Atia?” or “Niatia?”. The phrase also insinuates something could be bothering someone, to which you should ask, “Imbi Thiina?” or “Imbi Ina Thiina?”
- How are you? (informal)- Asking someone how they are holding up in Kimeru goes like “Nutwire Bwega?,” “Utwire Atia?,” “Nuubui?”
How to say Goodbye in Meru
- Bye– When bidding someone goodbye in Kimeru, you should say “Tigwa Bwega,” “Twonane Kairi,”
- Goodbye- Same as Bye
- “Later!”- Bidding someone goodbye but with the promise of being back later in the day or at night, you say,” Twonane Thaingi.”
- See you later– Same as “Later.”
- See you soon– Telling someone this type of goodbye implies looking forward to seeing the person again later in the day or coming days. “Twonane Mathaa Jangi,” or “Twonane Thaingi,” is said when planning to meet the person again within the day. “Twonane Kairi,” or “Twonane Rua,” is told when planning to see someone in the coming days.
- See you in a while!- This is said to someone you intend to meet after a few minutes of hours to which you say “Kambije Twonane,” or “Ija Twonane,”. The latter is said when you are meeting the other person, and the former is when they intend to come to meet you.
- I’m sorry, but I have to go– “Itu Kambite/Gampaane Mathaa Jagwita Mono”
- I Will See you tomorrow!- “Twonane Ruuju.”
- Enjoy the rest of your day!”- “Ithirwa Wina Ntuku Injega,” or “Ingukwendera Ntuku Injega,”
- God bless you– “Murungu Akutharime,”
- Good day– “Tinda Bwega”, or ”Ithirwa Wina Ntuku Injega”
Other Useful Meru Phrases to Use During Conversation
- Sir/Madam– Ntomurume/Mwekuru
- How are you?- “Ukari atia?,” or “Nwagirite?” or “Nuturaga Bwega?”, and “Nubui?”
- How are things?- “Mantu Jakari Atia?”
- Are you feeling well?- “Nukwigua Bwega?,”
- Are you doing well?- “Nwendereete Bwega?”
- What’s new?- “Wina Mageni?,” or “Kwina Mageni”
- It’s good to see you- “Ngukena Igukwona,” or “Nkugwirua Igukwona,”
- It’s a pleasure to meet you– “Ni Gikeno Kwonana Nagwe.”
- I’m not doing well- ”Ntibui,” or “Ntikwigua Bwega,”
- I’m well, thanks.- ”Imbui, Ibwega,” or “Ndiumwega, Ibwega,”
- I am fine, thanks– “Nimbui, Ibwega”
- Nice to meet you!- “Nibwega Kwonana Nagwe”
- What is your name?- “Witagwa Atia?”
- What’s happening?- “Nimbi Ikwenderea?”
- Hey beautiful- “Natia Murembo” or “Natia Mwari Umuthongi.”
- I’m fine.- “Imbagirite,” or “Imbui”, or “Ntina Mantu”
- It’s Been a While– “Tugukura Tutonana”, or “Ndigukara Ntakwona”, or “Tutiirigene”, “Tutiiriga Ikwonana”
- Everything is going fine.- “Mantu Ijabui”, or “Mantu Ijagirite”
- You’re welcome- “Igua Ung’aniirite.”
- Thank you! – “Ibwega”
Seasonal Meru Greetings
- Merry Christmas!- “Gukeenera Thigunku ya Guciarwa Kwa Jesu Kristo”, or “Meri Kirismas”
- Happy Easter!- “Ithirwa Wina Easter Ina Gikeno” or “Gukeneera Thigunku ya Gukua na Kuriuka kwa Mwonokia Jesu”
- Happy New Year!- “Gukeneera Thigunku ya Mwanka Jumweru”
- Happy birthday!- “Gukeneera Ntuku ya Guciarwa”
- Season’s Greetings!- “Nkethi cia Thigunku”
Rules for Meru Greetings
There are protocols or rules to follow in Meru greetings.
However, some rules rarely apply today because of modernization and westernization, slowly eroding most cultural practices.
These are some that apply today but not always:
- Younger people are supposed to initiate greetings when they meet the elderly
- Younger people should stand up when greeting older people
- Young men should avoid eye contact when greeting their mothers
- Males should be the first to greet their female counterparts
- Children should greet older people first
One thing about Kimeru is that it is an easy language that balances vowels and consonants, making it easy to read aloud for non-speakers.
It is one of the easiest Bantu languages in Kenya to learn quickly.
It is also worth noting that the Kimeru spoken in Tigania may differ slightly from the one spoken in Imenti, especially the placement of the letter “L.”
Related: Meru Love Messages: Here’s How to Express Love in Kimeru
