Speaking Masai language (Maa) continued

I have introduced to you the very basics of Maa or the language of the Masai now nearly a year ago. Where does time fly?!?

Capturing beautiful moments with dancing Masai 

So I would like to continue this post and give you even more of an insight into this beautiful nilotic language.
Nilotic literally means 'coming from the Nile' and refers to the fact that this kind of language was first spoken in the Nile area, coming from Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia and moving into Kenya and Tanzania.

I have written a similar post for Africa Geographic's blog and someone commented saying how unnecessary it was to know Maa or even Swahili (the National language of both Kenya and Tanzania) stating that it was sufficient to know English, French or Arabic. Well this person might think that it is OK to speak the language of the colonialists but I like to disagree.

Practising to dance like a Masai woman.

The language of a people is the gate to their hearts. It shows them that you make an effort to understand them and communicate with them. It makes it easier for them to trust you and to welcome you into their homes. For me, travel is meeting new people and getting to know different cultures and you can only really fully get to know a culture when you speak at least a few words of the native language.

So here are a few simple expressions and phrases that might come in handy when you are in Tanzania or Kenya on Safari or on Zanzibar encountering Masai and Samburu people.

Masai warrior jumping during a dance.

Kai ta?                                An informal greeting, loosely translated meaning 'what's up?'
Kiti                                      Answer to 'Kai ta?'

Keiya toi?                          Same as 'Kai ta'
Sidai                                   Answer to 'Keiya toi'; also means 'good', 'nice', 'beautiful'

Kai iji enkarrn inno?      What is your name?

Aji......                                  My name is......

Ai?                                        Where?

Anu?                                    When?

Kanyoo?                              Why?


Kai eti....?                             Where is.....?

Choo                                     Toilet (Swahili as there is no word for toilet in Maa)

Kai iloito?                            Where are you going?

Aloito.....                               I am going.....

Kanyoo iyesita?                  What are you doing?

Kai emanya?                       Where do you live?

Kai ingwaa?                         Where do you come from?

Aata esumaji                       I am hungry

Aiyo....                                   I want.....

Maiyo.....                               I don't want. ....

Aata......                                 I have......

Maata.                                   I don't have.

Anyorr                                  I like

Manyorr                               I don't like

Arra                                       I am

Marra                                   I am not

Enchake                               I would like/Please give me

Enkarre                                Water

Food                                      Endaa

Ugali                                     Emutu (staple diet in most sub-saharan african countries,                                                                   made of dried maize)

Meat                                      Ngiri



Personal pronouns

Nanu                                     I

Iye                                         You

Elle/enna                              He/She (there is no 'it' in Maa)

Iyook                                     We

Ndai                                       You

Kullo/Kunna                         They (Male/Female)

Awe-inspiring human beauty: the Masai.

Sooooo I will leave it at these for now as I think these phrases will occupy your brains quite a lot! 😊

Please let me know, if there is anything specific you would like to know.

Wishing you a great rest of the week, until my next post!









             

Speaking Masai language (Maa)

It has been nearly a month since my last post - I hope you can forgive me!

In the Masai Steppe, cattle often take over the roads.

It is not like I got tired of sharing stories with you. It is because I was so super busy running my crowdfunding campaign, Stephanie's Masai Education Fund, to bring environmental education to the Masai community I live in.
It was a successful campaign and we raised enough to take part in a three day Bootcamp in land management and conservation at the Mara Training Centre in Kenya. I am so excited by the change and opportunities this project can bring for us!
I will keep you posted!

So the last two months, I was glued to my tablet all day long sending emails, replying to donors, posting updates, etc. All my energy and inspiration went into this project and it left little time for anything else. Now I am back and would like to share with you another beautiful aspect of Masai culture: their language.

In the western world the Masai language is often called Maa. I do not like to use this term, as it is not what the Masai call it themselves. When they mention their language they call it: Enkotok te Masai, which literally translated means: the mouth of the Masai.

Myself (right in red), my family and my friend Nare from Armenia.

Here are some basics and their translation to English. Masai language is pronounced as it is read. Vowels are pronounced seperately and treated as syllables. For example the number two is pronounced: A~Re, three is: U~Ni, six is I~Le.

Numbers:     nabo                        one                                      
                       are                           two 
                       uni                           three
                       omwan                    four 
                       imieyet                    five
                       ile                             six
                       napischana            seven   
                       isiet                         eight
                       endoroit                  nine
                       tomuon                   ten

To say yes, you say: E-Eh     and no is: A-Ah 

Greetings:     supai                      greeting for boys, girls, warriors and old men
                        hapa (ipa)             reply to 'supai'
                        takwenya              greeting for women
                        iko                          reply to 'takwenya'
                        kiduaye                  we will see each other
                        sere                         bye
                        kadake                   later


Basic vocabulary:    sidai                  nice, beautiful, good
                                    torronok           bad, ugly, unpleasant 
                                    enketeng           cow
                                    enkine               goat (female)
                                    enkir                  sheep (female)
                                    enkerai              child
                                    enkema              fire
                                    enkaji                house
                                    Enkai                 God, higher spirit
                                    enkolong           sun
                                    olappa               moon
                                    lolkirr                star
                                    oljetta                tree
                                    enkoitoi             path
                                    enkarre             water
                                    endaa                 food, ugali
                                    endito                girl
                                    olaiyoni             boy
                                    enkitok              woman 
                                    olmorani           warrior (circumcised boy)
                                    olpaijan             old man 
                                    owaou               grandmother
                                    kuyaa                 grandfather
                                    esepata               true
                                    muluki                false, untrue



Colours:         naiborr           white
                        narok              black
                        nanyuki           red
                        nanyorrei       green
                        pus                   blue


I hope you find their language as beautiful and interesting as I find it and enjoyed this post. Drop me a comment if there is a particular word or expression you would like to know. Wishing you a lovely week and promising to not keep you waiting for too long for my next post! 😉