kari

Agelaea pentagyna (syn. A. heterophylla)


noe

Phaseolus lunatus
Phaseolus lunatus#Translingual

Lima bean(s), butter bean(s), Madagascar bean(s) (Phaseolus lunatus)


minji

Pisum sativum
Pisum sativum#Translingual


ruai

whistling thorn (Vachellia drepanolobium, syn. Acacia drepanolobium)


ndare

bramble (Rubus spp.); berry at least of R. keniensis, R. pinnatus, R. steudneri, and R. volkensii


mbembe

/ᵐbɛ̀.ᵐbɛ́ꜜ/


mbarĩki

/ᵐbàɾékì(ꜜ)/

castor oil; Kikuyu people use it for treating minor wounds and protecting skin, etc.


ndũũma

(old) cocoyam, taro (Colocasia esculenta)


nyeni

Hinde (1904) records nyeni as an equivalent of English vegetables in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also “Ulu dialect” (spoken then from Machakos to coastal area) of Kamba nyunni as its equivalent.


rũhonge

/ɾò.hɔ̀.ᵑɡɛ̌/


mũtĩ

LL-Q33587 (kik)-Samuel Waina (WikiLucas00)-mũtĩ.wav

From Proto-Bantu *-tí. Cognate to Kamba mũtĩ.
Hinde (1904) records muti (pl. miti) as an equivalent of English tree in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also “Ulu dialect” (spoken then from Machakos to coastal area) of Kamba muti (pl. mitino), “Nganyawa dialect” (spoken then in Kitui District) of Kamba mti and Swahili mti (pl. miti) as its equivalents.

mũikari mũtĩ gĩtina nĩwe ũĩ kĩrĩa thambo ĩrĩaga

gĩtinainĩ kĩa mũtĩ


mũbarĩki

/mòβàɾékì(ꜜ)/

Hinde (1904) records mbariki as an equivalent of English castor-oil tree in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also Kamba mbaluku and Swahili mbarika as its equivalents.

Ricinus communis
Ricinus communis#Translingual


mũceere

/mòɕɛ́ːɾɛ̌ꜜ/


ithangũ

LL-Q33587 (kik)-Samuel Waina (WikiLucas00)-ithangũ.wav

Hinde (1904) records mathangu as an equivalent of English leaves and foliage in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also Kamba mathaangu (“leaves”) or mathangu (“foliage”) as its equivalent.


irigũ

Hinde (1904) records marigu as an equivalent of English banana in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also Kamba maīyu as its equivalent.


mũratina

/mòɾáːtìnáꜜ/

sausage tree; its ripe fruits are used for fermenting sugar-cane beverage and in Nyeri County, decoction of the leaves, barks and fruits is allegedly used for treating gonorrhoea, syphilis, measles, etc.


kĩgwa

Hinde (1904) records kigŏă as an equivalent of English sugar cane in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also Kamba iwa as its equivalent.

sugar cane; Kikuyu people use its juice for making alcoholic drink (njohi)


gĩkwa

From Proto-Bantu *kɪ̀kʊ̀á. Hinde (1904) records kikoa (pl. ikoa) and kikera as equivalents of English yam in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also “Ulu dialect” (spoken then from Machakos to coastal area) of Kamba kikwa (pl. ikwa) as its equivalent.


mũkũyũ

certain species of the genus Ficus.
sycamore (F. sycomorus)

certain species of the genus Ficus.
Cape fig (F. sur)


nathi

Physalis peruviana
Physalis peruviana#Translingual


mũgumo

/mòɣùmɔ̀(ꜜ)/

Hutchins (1909) records m'Gumu as the Kikuyu name for Ficus sp..

Ficus thonningii
Ficus thonningii#Translingual

Any of several species of the genus Ficus; regarded as sacred by Kikuyu people and decoction of its bark with milk is used for treating dysentery

wild fig, stranger fig (Ficus thonningii)


thara

Napier grass, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum)


mũthandũkũ

/mòðàⁿdókóꜜ/


barĩthiramu

ki-noun

barĩthiramu class 9/10 (plural barĩthiramu)

/βàɾéːðìɾámú/


mũtore

a certain kind of banana usually roasted or mashed before consumption


mũgaa

Hinde (1904) records mugaa as an equivalent of English mimosa in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu.

red acacia (Vachellia seyal, syn. Acacia stenocarpa, A. seyal)


nyoro

Musa acuminata
Musa acuminata#Translingual

Dwarf Cavendish banana a cultivar of Musa acuminata (Colla (AAA Group) 'Dwarf Cavendish')


gatumia

certain varieties of banana that bear bunches on a short tree

Dwarf Cavendish banana, a cultivar, (Musa acuminata Colla (AAA Group) 'Dwarf Cavendish')


ndabibi

Benson (1964) suspects affinity with Maasai ol-dabibi.


mũkĩndũ

Hinde (1904) records mukindu as an equivalent of English palm (borassus) in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also Kamba ikindu and Swahili mkindu as its equivalents.

Senegal date palm, wild date palm (Phoenix reclinata)


mũhĩa

sorghum, Kaffir corn, dhurra (Sorghum bicolor)


mũhũgũ

Hutchins (1909) records m'Hùgu as the Kikuyu name for Ibean Sandal, or Brachylaena sp.

muhugu, muhuhu (Brachylaena huillensis), syn. B. hutchinsii); Kikuyu people have used this species for firewood, poles, partitioning walls (mĩhĩrĩgo), etc.


mũbariti

silky oak, southern silky oak (Grevillea robusta)


njahĩ

Lablab purpureus
Lablab purpureus#Translingual

seed(s) of hyacinth bean (Lablab purpureus, syn. Dolichos lablab)


mũbangi

/mò.βà.ᵑɡì(ꜜ)/

Mexican marigold, tall khaki weed (Tagetes minuta)


mũkengeria

/mòkɛ́ᵑɡɛ̀ɾiáꜜ/

any species of the genus Commelina, especially wandering Jew (C. benghalensis)


mũkorobia

/mòkɔ̀ɾɔ̀βíːà(ꜜ)/

Persea americana
Persea americana#Translingual


mũcege

Bidens pilosa
Bidens pilosa#Translingual

blackjack, hairy beggarticks, cobbler's pegs (Bidens pilosa)


mũtongu

/mò.tɔ̀.ᵑɡú/

apple of Sodom, Sodom's apple, bitter tomato (Solanum incanum and S. campylacanthum)


mwere

Pennisetum glaucum
Pennisetum glaucum#Translingual

pearl millet, bulrush millet (Pennisetum glaucum)

Eleusine coracana
Eleusine coracana#Translingual


mboco

/ᵐbɔ̀ːɕɔ̀(ꜜ)/

Phaseolus vulgaris
Phaseolus vulgaris#Translingual


mũkangarithi

mũkangarithi class 3 (plural mĩkangarithi)

milkweed, swan plant, wild cotton (Gomphocarpus physocarpus, syn. Asclepias physocarpa and G. fruticosus)


mũtuuya

Hutchins (1909) records m'Tuyu as a local name for Myrianthus arboreus.

giant yellow mulberry (Myrianthus holstii and Myrianthus arboreus)


ituuya

edible fruit of Myrianthus arboreus (mũtuuya).


mũrera

From kũrera (“to float, to hover, to glide”).

fever tree, Naivasha thorn (Acacia xanthophloea)


mũrangi

From Proto-Bantu *-dāŋgí̧. Cognate to Kamba mũangi.
Hinde (1904) records mrangi (pl. mirangi) as an equivalent of English bamboo in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu, listing also “Ulu dialect” (spoken then from Machakos to coastal area) of Kamba miangi and mwangi, and Swahili mwanzi (pl. miwanzi) as its equivalents.

bamboo of species Oldeania alpina (syns. Yushania alpina, Arundinaria alpina)


mũringa

/mò.ɾí.ᵑɡà(ꜜ)/

Hutchins (1909) records m'Ringa as the Kikuyu name for Cordia holstii.

large-leafed cordia (Cordia africana, syn. C. abyssinica, C. holstii); traditionally used for making hives and stools


mũhethu

charcoal tree, gunpowder tree (Trema orientalis, syn. T. guineensis)


mũiri

From kũira (“to be black”)
Hutchins (1909) records m'Wère as the Kikuyu name for Pygeum africanum.

red stinkwood, African cherry, African plum, African prune (Prunus africana, syn. Pygeum africanum)


ibabai

/ì.βà.βà.ì(ꜜ)/


mũcũthi

Agelaea pentagyna (syn. A. heterophylla); according to Leakey (1977), it was used for making tonic soup.


mũtarakwa

/mòtàɾákoáꜜ/

Benson (1964) suspects that this term is related to Maasai ol-tarakwai (“Juniperus procera”). Compare also Kalenjin (Markweeta tarakwet and tarokwa, Nandi tarakwet and turkwet, Pökoot tarokwa, Sabaot torokio, Tugen tarokwa).

cog

Juniperus procera
Juniperus procera#Translingual

African pencil cedar, East African cedar (Juniperus procera)


mũthaithi

/mòðàìðì(ꜜ)/

Hutchins (1909) records m'Saizi as the Kikuyu name for Pillar-wood, or Weihea africana.

certain species of the genus Cassipourea (Rhizophoraceae)


mũrũrũe

/mòɾòɾòwɛ̀(ꜜ)/

forest pepper, Lopez root, wild orange tree (Toddalia asiatica); formerly its leaves and roots were used for treating feverish colds, and recently leaf decoction for colds, asthma, chest pain and toothache


mũrũrũa

/mòɾòːɾòːáꜜ/


mũraraciĩ

Hutchins (1909) records m'Lalàchi as a local name for Chestnut (wild).


mwĩnũ

Hutchins (1909) records Muvènu as the Kikuyu name for Cassia didymobotria (sic!).

peanut butter cassia, candelabra tree (Senna didymobotrya, syn. Cassia didymobotrya); traditionally used as a purgative, etc.


mũthaitĩ

Hutchins (1909) records m'Zaiti as the Kikuyu name for Ocotea usambarensis.

East African camphorwood (Kuloa usambarensis; syn. Ocotea usambarensis) or Ocotea kenyensis; wood of at least the former one was used for making partitioning walls (mĩhĩrĩgo), containers related to honey, etc.


mũhehe

/mòhɛ̀ːhɛ̀(ꜜ)/

giant lobelia (Lobelia giberroa); its stem was used as a substitute for blowing horn


mũcarage

/mòɕàɾáɣɛ̀(ꜜ)/

Hutchins (1909) records m'Sharàge as the Kikuyu name for Olea hochstetterii (sic!).


mũtamaiyũ

Hutchins (1909) records m'Tamàyu as the Kikuyu name for Olea chrysophilla (sic!).

wild olive, brown olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata, syn. O. africana, O. europaea subsp. africana, O. chrysophylla)


gĩtoka

pyjama lily (Crinum kirkii); formerly planted for marking boundaries of individual land holdings.

Cape coast lily, pyjama lily (Crinum macowanii)


mũbĩngũ

Swahili mpingo (“ebony; African blackwood”).

bor

African blackwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon)


mũmondo

/mòmɔ̀ⁿdɔ̀(ꜜ)/

African redwood (Hagenia abyssinica, syn. Brayera anthelmintica)


mũgaita

Hutchins (1909) records m'Gàiyìtà as the local name for Rapanea rhododendroides.

Certain species of Primulaceae producing fruits (ngaita) used as a vermifuge.

Myrsine rhododendroides, syn. Rapanea rhododendroides


ngaita

kũrũra ta ngaita

fruit of some Primulaceae (Cape myrtle Myrsine africana or Rapanea rhododendroides); purple in color, turning to light brown when fully ripe, used as a general stomach medicine and as an anthelmintic


kahũa

Borrowed from Swahili kahawa, ultimately from Arabic قَهْوَة (qahwa).

mũgũnda wa kahũa

coffee, including the plant (Coffea arabica)


mũthũũri

Hinde (1904) records muthuuri as an equivalent of English cactus in “Jogowini dialect” of Kikuyu.

candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens); its latex may cause temporary blindness if applied to the eyes.


ihĩndu

icoya rĩa ihĩndu

Abyssinian banana, ensete (Ensete ventricosum, syn. E. edule)


gĩthũũri

candelabra tree, naboom (E. ingens); its latex may cause temporary blindness if applied to the eyes.

some succulent species of Euphorbia
E. bussei var. kibwezensis

some succulent species of Euphorbia
E. cussonioides


mũkongoro

mortar for making sugar-cane beer; according to Leakey (1977), it was made of red stinkwood (mũiri).


mũcũgi

white pear (Apodytes dimidiata); produces hard timber.


mũtatĩ

Polyscias kikuyuensis; produces soft timber, used traditionally for making beehive and mole-trap.


mbakĩ

Mũmeni ũngĩ amũrutaga mbakĩ iniũrũ.

One who loathes the other takes away snuff from his nose.


mũbeebe

/mòβɛ̀ːβɛ́ꜜ/


inanathi

/ìnànáːðì(ꜜ)/


muunjuga

/muùᶮd͡ʑùɣà(ꜜ)/

(blue) butterfly bush (Rotheca myricoides, syn. Clerodendrum myricoides)


muunjuga-iria

ki-noun

muunjuga-iria class 3 (plural miunjuga-iria)

Literally means “the milk-stirring plant”. According to Benson (1964), twigs of blue butterfly bush were used as swizzle sticks.


kaiyaba

Kei apple (Dovyalis caffra); introduced from Southern Africa, fruit edible, also used for hedging.


mũciciũ

Premna maxima, a tree species of the family Lamiaceae (formerly Verbenaceae); endemic to Kenya, producing timber, but in the IUCN Red List evaluated as 'Endangered' due to probable habitat loss caused by local development.


mũkarakaba

cypress, especially Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa)


mũcemeki

/mòɕɛ̀mɛ́kì(ꜜ)/

Afrocrania volkensii (syn. Cornus volkensii), a timber-tree of the family Cornaceae.


mũkorombothi

mũkorombothi class 3 (plural mĩkorombothi)

/mòkɔ̀ɾɔ̀ᵐbɔ̀ðì(ꜜ)/

Afrocrania volkensii, a timber-tree of the family Cornaceae


mũkoigo

/mòkɔ̀ìɣɔ̀(ꜜ)/

coast goldleaf, coastal goldenleaf, sweetberry (Bridelia micrantha); traditionally used for building material


mũtomoko

/mòtɔ̀ːmɔ́kɔ̀(ꜜ)/

Borrowed from Swahili mtomoko (“custard apple”).

Annona cherimola
Annona cherimola#Translingual


mũruma-andũ

mũruma-andũ class 3 (plural mĩruma-andũ)

/mòɾùmà(ꜜ)àⁿdò(ꜜ)/

Bersama abyssinica, a shrub or tree of the family Francoaceae (formerly Melianthaceae)


mũkũngũgũ

Commiphora eminii subsp. zimmermannii (syn. C. missionis, C. zimmermannii), tree of the family Burseraceae; traditionally used by Kikuyu people for hedging, supporter of yam vine, and so on.


mũhoko

endod, African soapberry (Phytolacca dodecandra; though very poisonous, parts of this plant were traditionally used for treating cattle sickness and as aperient for human being.


mũthathumwa

mũthathumwa class 3 (plural mĩthathumwa)

Hypericum revolutum, a shrub or tree of the St. John's wort family (Hypericaceae)


mũkarara

/mòkàɾàɾà(ꜜ)/

Margaritaria discoidea (syn. Phyllanthus discoideus), a deciduous tree of the family Phyllanthaceae (formerly Euphorbiaceae); traditionally used for making planks (mĩhĩrĩgo).


mũita-thũa

orange-milk tree (Harungana madagascariensis); contains red sap and wood used for building material.


mũtendera

/mòtɛ̀ⁿdɛ̀ɾáꜜ/

forest peach (Rawsonia lucida (syn. R. usambarensis); produces timber.


hatha

(Northern) a species of nettle, Urtica massaica Mildbr.


mũrũrũ

ramontchi, governor's plum, Indian plum (Flacourtia indica); fruit edible.

forest pepper, Lopez root, wild orange tree (Toddalia asiatica)


kĩeha

kĩeha kĩa mũrangi - Engleromyces goetzei

Englerina woodfordioides (syn. Loranthus woodfordioides); parasitic plant found on trees, like mistletoe


icani

Borrowed from Swahili majani (“leaves”).


mũkoigwa

/mòkɔ̀ìɣwà(ꜜ)/


mũhũri

fried egg tree, snuff-box tree (Oncoba spinosa)


mũigaigua

shrub or tree of the genus Oncoba; branches with axillary spines.

snuff-box tree, fried egg tree (Oncoba spinosa)


mũbirũbirũ

/mòβìɾóβìɾóꜜ/

Canthium oligocarpum subsp. friesiorum (syn. Rytigynia friesiorum)


mũtũngũrũ

forest fever tree (Anthocleista grandiflora, syn. Anthocleista zambesiaca)


mũkũndũ

several tree species of the family Rubiaceae

Mitragyna rubrostipulata (syn. Fleroya rubrostipulata); yields timber.


rũathe

Psydrax parviflora, especially subsp. rubrocostata (syn. Canthium rubrocostatum), tree of the madder family (Rubiaceae); yields timber.

Psydrax schimperiana subsp. schimperiana; yields hard wood and is used for building.

false turkey-berry, mottled-bark canthium (Psydrax livida); yields very hard wood.


mũkomakoma

Psychotria fractinervata (syn. Grumilea exserta)


ngobo

Holonym: ihĩndu

Ensete ventricosum
Ensete ventricosum#Translingual

seed(s) of wild banana (Ensete ventricosum); formerly used for making special beads for ceremonial purposes.


mũgoro

/mòɣɔ̀ɾɔ̀(ꜜ)/


mũna

Hutchins (1909) records m'Ona as a Kikuyu name for Chrysophyllum sp.).

muna (Pouteria adolfi-friedericii, syn. Aningeria adolfi-friedericii); yields timber.


mũthegethe

/mòðɛ̀ɣɛ̀ðɛ́/

canary-bird bush, birdflower, lion's claw, rattlebox (Crotalaria agatiflora)


mũembe

Mangifera indica
Mangifera indica#Translingual


icoya

icoya rĩa ihĩndu


inagu

Solanum nigrum
Solanum nigrum#Translingual

black nightshade (Solanum nigrum); its leaves have been traditionally regarded as edible.


mũthithe

African sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata, syn. O. abyssinica)


mũringathinga

mũringathinga class 3 (plural mĩringathinga)

/mòɾìᵑɡáðìŋɡáꜜ/

Mussaenda microdonta subsp. odorata (syn. M. odorata); tree or shrub of the family Rubiaceae


mũrera-kĩĩmbu

mũrera-kĩĩmbu class 3 (plural mĩrera-kĩĩmbu)

/mòɾɛ̀ɾà(ꜜ)keèᵐbú/

mũ- (“[CLASS 3]”) + kũrera (“to rear”) + kĩĩmbu (“chameleon”).

Canthium oligocarpum subsp. friesiorum (syn. Rytigynia friesiorum), shrub or tree species of the family Rubiaceae


mũtĩ-mũirũ

/mòtě moìɾóꜜ/

Galiniera saxifraga (syn. G. coffeoides); shrub or tree of the family Rubiaceae

shrub or tree species of the genus Turraea (Meliaceae)


mũbaage

Meronym: (seeds) mbaage

Mauritius thorn (Biancaea decapetala, syn. Caesalpinia decapetala, C. sepiaria); native to Asia, but naturalized to Kenya for a very long time; traditionally used for hedge.


thabai

Gĩkũyũ Gĩkũyũ

A species of nettle, Urtica massaica Mildbr.; leaves traditionally used as vegetable among Gĩkũyũ people.


mbaage

Fruit and seeds of plants of species Biancaea decapetala (Mauritius thorn) (mũbaage); seeds were used for divination.