Kwaya
Native toTanzania
RegionMara Region
Native speakers
120,000 (2005)[1]
Dialects
  • Kwaya
  • Ruri
Language codes
ISO 639-3kya
Glottologkway1241
JE.251,253[2]

Kwaya is a Bantu language of Tanzania. Jita–Kara–Kwaya are close to being dialects; Maho (2009) separates Ruri from Kwaya as equally distinct. It is closely related to the Bemba language.

Examples

Death-Kufwa

Ear-Okutwi

Eye-Linso

Four-Ne

Hand-Mboko

I-Nyimi

Name-Dzina

Night-Usiku

Nose-Mzunu

Sun-Kasubuka

Three-Tatu

Tongue-Ulimi

Tooth-Izinyu

Two-Mbila

Water-Amanji

Who-Nani

Wind-Omoya

You-Wewo

Sample text (Hail Mary)

Murembe, Maria, wizuye enema, omukama anawe, wabalikwa mu bagasi bone, na Yezu, mwana wamunda ayo yabalikwa. Maria mutakatifu, Nyira Ngumi, okisabire eswe abakayi ôri na mu nkaga yokufwa kweswe. Amina.

Translation

Hail Mary, full of grace. The lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

  1. ↑ Kwaya at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)
  2. ↑ Jouni Filip Maho, 2009. New Updated Guthrie List Online


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