Luhya (; 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:Maho (2019) Wanga Tsotso Marama Kisa Kabras East Nyala
All Luhya subtribes Banyala Bukusu Gisu Idakho Isukha Kabras Khayo Kisa Marachi Maragoli Marama Masaaba Nyole Samia Tachoni Tiriki Tsotso Wanga
Comparison A comparison between two dialects of Luhya proper, and to two other Bantu languages spoken by the Luhya: English Kisa Logoli Nyole Wanga I (me) eshie nzi/ inze ise esie words amakhuwa makuva amang'ana, amakhuwa amakhuwa chair eshifumbi indeve/ endeve indebe eshisala head omurwe mutwi omurwe om'rwe money amapesa mang'ondo amang'ondo, am'mondo, etsilupia amapesa, irupia
Comparison to Bantu English Luhya Kikuyu Kinyarwanda Lingala Luganda Shona Swahili Zulu children abana, baana, otwana, orwana, vaana twana abana bana baana, abaana vana wana abantwana dog imbwa ngui (pron. gui) imbwa mbwa mbwa, embwa mbwa, imbwa mbwa inja fire omuliro mwaki umuriro moto omuliro moto moto umlilo
Phonology The following is the phonology of the Luwanga dialect:
Vowels FrontCentralBackClosei iːu uːMide eːo oːOpena aː
Consonants BilabialLabio-dentalAlveolarPost-alveolarPalatalVelarStopplainptkprenasalᵐbⁿdᶮɟᵑɡAffricatetstʃFricativeplainβfsʃxprenasalⁿzNasalmnɲŋTrillrApproximantljw
References
Musimbi Kanyoro (1989), "The Abaluyia of Kenya; one people, one language: What can be learned from the Luyia project": The Abaluyia of Western Kenya. (p. 27). Wanga-English Dictionary
External links Eshitabo Eshiokhulaama nende Tsisakalamendo nende Akebiima Bindi Bieikanisa 1967 Anglican liturgical text digitized by Richard Mammana