Meru (Kĩmĩĩrũ)

Meru is a Northeast Bantu language spoken in central Kenya by about 2 million people. It is particularly spoken in Meru County, and also in the counties of Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Nyeri, and in other parts of Kenya, such as Nairobi and Mombasa. It is used in daily conversations, markets, primary schools and community gatherings, while Swahili and English are used in secondary schools, government and the media.

Meru is also known as Kimeru or Kĩmĩrũ, and the people who speak it call their language Kĩmĩĩrũ and themselves Amĩĩrũ. Dialects include Igemba, Tigania, Imenti, Tharaka, Igoji, Mwimbi-Muthambi and Chuka. Meru is closely related to Gikuyu and Embu.

The dialect with the most speakers is Imenti, which is spoken in Nkubu, Timau, Kibirichia, Meru and Ruiri in Meru County. The Chuka and Mwimbi-Muthambi dialects are spoken in the Igoji, Chogoria and Chuka regions of Meru County and Tharaka Nithi County. The Tigania and Igembe dialects are spoken in Muthara, Karama, Kangeta, Maua, Laare and Mutuati in Meru County, and the Tharaka dialect is spoken in Tharaka areas of Tharaka Nithi County.

Meru is written with the Latin alphabet, and there is a translation of the Bible and other religious works, and some original literature in Meru.

Meru alphabet

Download an alphabet chart for Meru (Excel)
Details of the Meru alphabet provided by Wolfram Siegel (PDF)

Notes

The letters l and s only appear on their own in loanwords and foreign names.
The letters d, h, j and p are usually accompanied by other letters at the beginning of words: e.g. ndaraca, nthare, njara and mpandi.
Consonants followed by w are labialized.
Meru has tones, but they are not usually marked in writing.
The letters ĩ and ũ are also written î and û.

Sample text

Tontû bûû, rombageni ûjû: ‘Baaba weetû ûrîa ûrî îgûrû: Riîtwa rîaakû rîathûrwe,
ûnene bwaaku bûroeja, wendi bwaaku bûrothithagua nthîgûrû, o ta ûrîa bûthithagua îgûrû.
Twee naarua biakûrîa bia gûtûng'ana.
Tûrekere meeyia jeetû, o ta ûrîa tûrekagîra barîa batwîagia.
Ûgatwikia magerioone, îndî twonokie kuuma kîrî ûrîa Mûûî.’

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/2929/MAT.6.KIMERUBIBLE

Translation

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
The Lord's Prayer - Matthew 6: 9-13

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/MAT.6.KJV

Sample videos in and about Meru

Information about Meru | Numbers | Phrases | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about Meru
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meru_language
https://worldschoolbooks.com/meru-language/
https://ourkenya.com/Meru/Meru-Language
https://kimeruonline.co.ke
https://kimeruinstitute.com/
https://www.everyalphabet.com/kimeru

Bantu languages

Aka, Aushi, Bafaw-Balong, Bangi, Bangubangu, Basaa, Bemba, Bembe, Bena, Benga, Bhaca, Bila, Bube, Budu, Bujeba, Bukusu, Bulu, Bushong, Central Kilimanjaro, Central Teke, Chichewa, Chokwe, Chopi, Chuwabu, Comorian, Dciriku, Digo, Duala, Eton, Ewondo, Fang, Fuliiru, Fwe, Ganda/Luganda, Giryama, Gogo, Gungu, Gusii, Gwere, Gyele, Ha, Haya, Hehe, Herero, Ibinda, Idaxo-Isuxa-Tiriki, Ikizu, Ikoma, Jita, Kabwa, Kako, Kalanga, Kamba, Kanyok, Kgalagadi, Kiga, Kikuyu, Kimbundu, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Kisi, Kobo, Kogo, Komo, Kongo, Konjo, Koti, Kuhane, Kukuya, Kunda, Kuria, Kwambi, Kwangali, Kwasio, Lambya, Lega, Lengola, Lingala, Loma, Lomwe, Lozi, Luba-Katanga, Luchazi, Lunda, Luvale, Luyana, Makaa, Makonde, Makhuwa, Mandekan, Maore, Masaaba, Mbama, Mbere, Mbosi, Mbugu, Mbukushu, Mbunda, Mbuun, Mende, Mongo, Mpiemo, Mushungulu, Mwani, Myene, Nambya, Nande, Ndau, Ndonga, Ngoni, Ngwii, Njebi, Nkore, North Teke, Northern Ndebele (South Africa), Northern Ndebele (Zimbabwe), Northern Sotho, Nyamwezi, Nyakyusa, Nyemba, Nyole, Nyoro, Nyungwe, Nzadi, Oroko, OshiWambo, Pagibete, Pare, Phuthi, Punu, Rangi, Ronga, Safwa, Seki, Sena, Sengele, Shambala, Shi, Shona, Soga, Songe, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Suba, Sukuma, Swahili, Swati, Taita, Talinga, Tanga, Tembo, Tetela, Tonga, Tongwe, Tooro, Tshiluba, Tsonga, Tswa, Tswana, Tumbuka, Turu, Umbundu, Venda, Vili, Vwanji, Wanzi, West Teke, Xhosa, Yakam, Yansi, Yao, Yasa, Yeyi, Zigula, Zinza, Zulu

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page created: 24.09.26. Last modified: 24.09.26

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