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B - b
b Letter representing the Maa bilabial voiced stop consonant /b/. Some speakers may have extremely light implosion, while for others the stop is not implosive.
a-bá v. To reach. See: a-baʉ́ ‘To arrive at the point of reference’; a-bayá ‘To go away from the point of reference’.
a-bá ánaa 1 • Comparative verb phrase: to be as X as (eg. to be as big as) (lit: to reach like). ɨ́bá ánaa ɔltɔ́mɛ́. You are as big/strong as an elephant. Ɛbâ ɛlɛ̂ ashé ánaa ɨ́lɔ̂. This calf is as (big as) that one. (Pk).
2 • To be as big as sth. For W, this comparative expression is used only for size.
a-ɨtabá v.cause. To make sth. to be as big as. Ɨ́nkɛnɨshɔ siî íyīē téjo "nabô, aré, uní" oóntabáí îp. Do the counting saying "one, two, three" up to one hundred. (lit: ...to cause it to be as big as one hundred).
a-baá1 [North] Acc sg: a-baí. v.mid. To be cracked. Kɛ́baa eŋúdî tenéosh ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ. A stick will crack when scorched by the sun. (lit: A stick will crack when the sun hits it.). Kɛ́báa ɛnkɔ̂p. The ground will become cracked. (Pk). Ɛbáa ɛnkɔ̂p. The ground is cracked. (Pk). Ɛtabɛ́ɛ ɛncáta táatá. The stick cracked today. (Pk). See: a-bák2 ‘To cut, excise’.
l-baá [North] [North] Nom sg: l-báa. [North] Acc pl: l-baân, l-báân. [North] Nom pl: l-báan. n.pl. 1 • [North] Stream of water, rivulet.
2 • [North] Gully. See: ɔl-báátá ‘Crack, gully’. See: ol-buáá ‘Swamp’; l-orrían [North] ‘Swamp’; ɔl-árɛ́; ɔl-cɔ́rrɔ ‘Dam’.
a-baá [North]2 v. [North] To be an extent (in length, height, duration of time).
a-baá ánā [North] [North] To be as far, long, tall as (etc.); comparative.
ɨm-báa Nom pl: ɨm-báâ. n.pl. Issues, matters, abstract things. Nájó ádɔ́l kóre ɨmbáa kúmok néíŋúaa ɛmátua e oŋúán. I saw that a lot of items [questions on an exam] came from Chapter Four. Kééwuo dúóó aké nɨ́nyɛ ɛlɛ́ páyian aɨnyál oróréí amʉ̂ ɛtarrúóítie dúóó aké ɨmbáâ. This man just came to make things go from bad to worse because things were already spoiled. ɛ́nâ báa? [ɛ̀nà báa] Which quantity? (W). See: ɛm-báɛ ‘Matter’.
ɨl-báa n.pl. Wounds. See: ɔl-báɛ ‘Wound’.
ɔl-báak Nom sg: ll-baák. n. Crack (eg. on ground or tree). See: ɔl-báátá ‘Crack’.
l-báan [North] n. [North] Dry river bed for a seasonal river; laaga.
ɛm-báárɛ́ Nom sg: ɛm-baarɛ́. n.f.sg. 1 • Treatment. Mɛ́ɨ́sɨsɨ ɔlabáani tɛ mbaarɛ́ ɛ́nyɛ. You should praise the healer for his treatment.
2 • Skinning of an animal.
ɔl-báátá Nom sg: ɔl-baatá. Acc pl: ɨl-baát. Nom pl: ɨl-baát. n. 1 • A long narrow depression in a surface; crack, eroded gully, ditch, channel.
2 • [North] The trench dug as a foundation of a house, into which the pegs (m-bókic) are pounded. See: a-bák ‘To cut, excise’.
a-baayá [North] v.dir. [North] To cut open the chest of a slaughtered animal. See: a-bák2 ‘To tear, dig, cut’.
l-babák [North] [North] Acc pl: l-babakîn. n. [North] Rib. See: ɔl-arási ‘Rib’; l-márai [North] ‘Rib’.
ɔl-báɛ1 Nom sg: ɔl-báɛ̂. Acc pl: ɨl-báa. Nom pl: ɨl-báâ. n. 1 • Wound, injury. Enótō ɔlbáɛ amʉ̂ ɛ́tábátátá ɛngárrî. He got a wound because he fell off the car. See: ɛm-bɔ́rátá ‘Wound’.
2 • Sexually transmitted disease; gonorrhoea. This disease affects both men and women. For women, it is painful to sit down, there are little wounds all over the vagina, and problems can develop in the belly. S.o. with this disease urinates with difficulty. Ékémítóki oshî ɔlbáɛ̂ ɔltʉŋáni ɛ́lʉ̂t esídáí. [ɛ̀lʊ̀t] Gonorrhoea does not let a person urinate well. (Pk).
3 • [South] Rheumatism.
4 • [North] Gumtipped arrow used by initiate boys to shoot birds. See: ɛm-báɛ ‘Arrow’. Etymology: Proto-OngamoMaa *-baɛ 'arrow' (Vossen 1989:194).. See: l-báɛ lɛ́ nkúé [North] ‘Severe headache’.
ɛm-báɛ2 Nom sg: ɛm-báɛ̂. Acc pl: im-báa. Nom pl: ɨm-báâ. [North] Nom sg: m-báɛ. n. 1 • Arrow. Ɨ́ncɔɔ́kɨ ɛmbáɛ natíī ɛndâ móotíán. Give me an arrow that is in that quiver.
2 • Sharp spine. Kɛ́pɨ̄ ɔshɨ̂ ɨmbáâ ɔ́ yɨ́yáí. The spines of a porcupine are sharp. (Pk).
3 • [North] Traditional razor.
4 • Matter, affair, issue, abstract thing. Óre ɛmbáɛ naáíjó ɨ́nâ náa esíáai ɔ́laríkoni. Such a matter is the work of a leader. (Pk). Etymology: Proto-OngamoMaa *-baɛ (Vossen 1989:194).
ɔl-báɛ 1 • Opinion. Óre dúóó nɨnyɛ́ ɔlbáɛ̂ lɛnyɛ́, náa kɛ́mʉ́tāɨ̄ amʉ̂ ɨmɛnyɔkɨ́tāɨ̄. According to his opinion, people will die (of hunger) because they are not working hard.
2 • [North] Arrow.
a-baɨkɨ́ [North]: a-bakɨ́. In some suffixed forms: -baɨkɨn. v.dat. 1 • To reach, arrive at. Négiróō aké, nɛ́bāɨ̄kɨ̄ ɛnkáŋ ɔ́ loibóni. When he had passed them, he came to a magician's home. Kɛ́báɨ́kɨ́ ɔlpolosíé láŋ ínê Our boundary reaches there. Áábáɨ́kɨ. I will reach you./I will visit you. See: a-bá ‘To reach’.
2 • To visit. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɛntásât abaɨkɨ́ entítō ɛnyɛ́. The woman has gone to visit her daughter.
3 • To endure for, last until. Ɛbáɨ́kɨ nɛ́ya ɛná síáái ɛ́sáâ nabô ɔ aashʉ̂ aré. This work will last one hour or maybe two.
4 • To attain. Ɛtabáíkīā taá táatá ɔlpurishóí oitiŋí Today the thief has reached the ultimate end. [ie. He is dead.].
5 • To suffice, be sufficient, be enough; fit. Káabaɨkɨ́ ɛná dáâ. This food is sufficient for me. Káabaɨkɨ́ nánʉ́ ɛná kɨ́lâ. This cloth (piece of clothing) fits me. See: a-ɨdɨ́p; a-imú ‘To be sufficient’; a-itiemú [North] ‘To be sufficient’.
5 • Epistemic modal: perhaps be possible, maybe able to happen. Ɛbáɨ́kɨ nɨ́nyɔ̄r, nímīrēt. Perhaps you love him, but you don't help him. Mɛbáɨ́kɨ nɨ́nyɔ̄r nímīrēt. It cannot happen that you love him but you don't help him.
a-baikinoré v.dat v.mid v.inst. 1 • To be related to. Káa ɨbáíkínoré Léken? How related are you to Leken?
2 • To be at a certain distance from. Káa ɨbáíkínoré Nairobi? How far are you from Nairobi?
a-atá ɛnɛbaikínoré v.phrase. To have a kinship relationship to. Kɛ́nyɔ̄r ɛnkɛráí ŋɔ́tɔ́nyɛ́ amʉ̂ kɛ́áta ɛnɛbaikínoré. A child loves his mother because he is related to her.
a-bák1 v. To heal, treat. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɛnkɛráɨ́ kɨ́tɨ mɛshɔ́mɔ́ɨ́ áabak. The small child has gone to be healed. Ɛgɨ́ra ɔltamueyíáí aɨtɨrrɨŋá mɛtábakɨ. The patient is calm so that he can be treated. See: a-ishíú ‘To heal’.
a-bák2 v. 1 • To tear or dig the ground longitudinally; make a trench. abák ɛnkɔ́p aitayú ɔlbáátá To tear the ground to make a long narrow depression in a surface. Nɛ́bākɨ̄ ɛnkɔ́p. The ground is broken (in preparation for making a house). (Pk). Kɛ́bāk ɛnkárɛ ɛnkɔ́p. Water can make a crack on the ground. abák nkulipó to dig a shallow trench in the soil (S).
2 • To crack sth. by exposure to the sun. Ɛ́tábáá ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ ɛncatá. The (heat of the) sun cracked the stick.
3 • To cut as in a surgical operation in order to removing sth.; excise. abák nkíné to open the chest or forelegs of an animal when butchering. See: a-yɨ́ɛ́ŋ ‘To cut by breaking the skin’.
a-baayá [North] v.dir. [North] To cut open the chest of a slaughtered animal.
ɔl-bákɛt Nom sg: ɔl-bákɛ̂t. Acc pl: ɨl-báketí. Nom pl: ɨl-báketí. n. Bucket. ɔlbákɛt lɛ́ nkurmá bucket of maize flour. A bucket of about 20 kilos is used to measure maize flour. Borrowed word: English. See: ɔl-dɛ́pɛ ‘Large tin’.
ɛm-báka [South] [North] Acc sg: m-báka. n. Boundary. Etymology: < Swahili paka. See: ɛ-rɨ́shátá; ol-pólósíé ‘Boundary’; nɛwɔ́rɔrɛ [Chamus] ‘Boundary’; l-kɨr(r)ɨɛ ‘Boundary’.
a-bakɨ́ [North] Variant: a-baɨkɨ́. v.dat. 1 • [North] To want to, be likely to do sth. Kébáki nálō Nairobi táísērē. I think I will/can go to Nairobi tomorrow. (S). See: a-yíéú ‘To want’.
2 • [North] To arrive at, attain, reach (a place). Kɛ́tábáka. He has arrived (there). (S). See: a-bá ‘To reach’.
3 • [North] To be sufficient.
bakúli n. Bowl. Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ ɛldɛ̂ bakúli bárláí mawáyie enkurmá. Give me that orange bowl so that we may use it to carry the maize-flour. Borrowed word: Swahili bakuli 'basin'.
ɛm-báláŋ Nom sg: ɛm-baláŋ. Acc pl: ɨm-balaŋá. Nom pl: ɨm-bálaŋa. n. Chest resonance; vibration of large amplitude produced by the lungs; deep roar. Kɛ́áta ɔlŋatúny ɛmbáláŋ A lion has a deep loud roar. ɔlpayíán ɔáta ɛmbáláŋ A man with a deep lound voice. See: a-búák ‘To shout, bark’.
ɔl-báláŋ n. Idle person.
m-baláti [North] Nom sg: m-bálati. Acc pl: m-balát. Nom pl: m-bálat. n. [North] Bark for making strap. See: enk-opitó ‘Strap’.
ɔl-bálbál Nom sg: ɔl-balbál. Acc pl: ɨl-bálbálí. Nom pl: ɨl-balbalí. n. 1 • Body of water: pool, temporary lake, lake, ocean, sea, pond, swamp. Ɛ́tɛ́rɛ́wákɨ ɨlashɔ́ ɔlbálbál metóoko ɛnkárɛ́. The calves have been taken to a pool to drink water. (Pk).
2 • Pool of any liquid. ɔlbálbál lɔ́ɔ sargɛ pool of blood (Pk). Etymology: From Eastern Cushitic (eg. Soomaali bal) 'pool of water'. See: ɛ-naɨpɔ́sha ‘Lake’; ɛ-sʉ́kʉta ‘Mineral lake’; m-básu [North] ‘Lake’; em-párinko ‘Lake’; ol-túrótó ‘Lake’.
bálbál [North] v. [North] To be wide. Kɛ́bálbál. It is wide. (S).
ɔl-bálelo Nom sg: ɔl-bálélo. Acc pl: ɨl-balélon. Nom pl: ɨl-bálelón. n. Kid, lamb. Etymology: < Eastern Cushitic (eg. Soomaali bareer) ‘kid, lamb’. See: ol-kúoo ‘Young offspring of goat or sheep’.
ɛm-balísh [North] Nom sg: ɛm-bálīsh. Acc pl: ɨm-balishîn. Nom pl: ɨm-bálishîn. n. [North] Vagina. Kɛ́yá mbálīsh. The vagina is hurting. (SN). See: ɛm-palísh ‘Vagina’; en-túdé ‘Vagina’.
ɔl-bálósí Nom sg: ɔl-balosí. Nom pl: ɨl-balosiní. Nom pl: ɨl-bálosiní. n. Ambassador, spokesman, representative. Nɛ́ata enkíjiji pɔ́ɔ̄kɨ̄ ɔlbálósí lɛnyɛ́. Every village has its own ambassador. (KS). Borrowed word: Swahili baluzi or balozi 'ambassador'.
ɔl-bánkílí [North] Nom sg: l-bankilí. [North] Acc pl: l-bankiliní. [North] Nom pl: l-bánkiliní. n. 1 • Bangle, worn around the wrist and made from ivory, copper, iron or horn.
2 • [North] Metal bracelet worn by both sexes. Men may wear this if they have killed an enemy. Etymology: English 'bangle'.
m-bánybany [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bánybany. [North] Acc pl: m-banybanyí. [North] Nom pl: m-bánbanyí. n. 1 • [North] Small decorative beadwork of flowers on a warrior's neck bead.
2 • [North] Oldtime ornament made from a goat's bladder filled with oil and pierced with minute holes so as to drip and lubricate the red ochre that warriors wear on the chest.
ɔl-báo Acc pl: ɨl-baoi. n. Borrowed word: Swahili mbao. Wood, log, plank.
ɛm-báo Signboard; blackboard. Kéyíólo ɔlmalimúí ɛsɨ́rárɛ̄ ɛ́ mbáo. The teacher knows how to write on the blackboard.
a-bár1 v. 1 • [North] To increase; [South] To increase.
2 • [South] To profit.
3 • [North] To tend, keep, preserve. Kábār súām. I'm taking care of livestock. (S). See: a-barakɨ́ ‘To do sth. carefully’.
4 • [North] To live.
5 • To breed stock.
6 • [North] To rear. See: a-ramát ‘To rear’.
a-barɨshɔ́ [North]: a-barɨcɔ́. v.apas. 1 • To have many cattle; increase a heard through good management. Tábarɨshɔ. Have many cows. A word of blessing, "May you have many cattle/riches.".
2 • To be a good organizer. See: a-bár ‘To tend, care for, keep’. See: abárani ‘Precise, organized’.
ɨl-tábara lé kíshú Usage: poetic. Those who tend cattle, those who live from cows.
a-bár [North]2 v. 1 • [North] To injure.
2 • [North] To cut skin. See: a-bɔ́r ‘To cut skin, injure’.
a-barú [North] v.dir. [North] To cut thin strips from an animal skin.
a-bár nkányɨt [North] v.phrase. [North] To show respect, as a child does towards elders. Tábar nkányɨt! Mind your manners! See: a-bár ‘To increase, rear, do carefully’.
ɔl-barabára [North] Nom sg: l-bárabára. [North] Acc pl: l-barabaraní. [North] Nom pl: l-bárabaraní. n. Road. Etymology: Swahili barabara.
a-barakɨ́ v.apl. 1 • To do sth. patiently and without haste. Áás abarakɨ́. I will do it patiently. Áyíéú nɨ́kɨnɔ́s ɨlɔmɔ́n áabarakɨ. I want us to share the news without haste. (lit: I want us to eat the news carefully.). Kɨ́barakɨ́ ilomón adé. We will talk in detail later. (Said, for example, when the speaker is in a hurry and hasn't yet had time to carefully share the news.). Sharing of news áabarakɨ means that the two or more people involved will have to narrate the news interchangeably and in detail.
2 • To do with care and thought; carefully, properly, correctly, in the right way. Téjo abarakɨ́ Say it carefully. Árámát abarakɨ́. I look after it with care. (W). Ɛɨrrɨ́tā ɔláyíóní inkíshú abarakɨ́ The boy has grazed the cows properly. Ɛɛ́tuo inkíshu áŋ áabarakɨ. The cows have come home safely. Ɛɨ́má Kónené ɛntɛ́mátá abarakɨ́. Konene passed the test correctly. (W). See: abárani ‘The quality of doing things carefully, perfectly, correctly’.
3 • To do intentionally. Ɛgɨ́ra abarakɨ́ ainyál esíái. He is intentionally spoiling the work. (Pk). See: a-otikí ‘To do on purpose’.
4 • [North] To flout, do wrong deliberately.
5 • [North] To joke. See: a-ɨtɔbɨ́r ‘To make’.
m-bárárɛ́ [Chamus] n. [Chamus] Livestock, including cows, sheep, goats and donkeys.
ɛm-bárátá [North] Nom sg: m-baratá. n. 1 • The proper care of, safe-keeping; care.
2 • [North] Breeding, enlarging a herd.
3 • [North] Increase of any commodity.
4 • [North] Cutting in strips. See: a-bár ‘To keep’.
ɔl-barɨbára Nom sg: ɔl-bárɨbára. Acc pl: ɨl-barɨbaraní. Nom pl: ɨl-bárɨbaraní. [North] Acc sg: barabárá. n. Road. Ɛ́ɨ́má ɛngárɨ́ ɔlbarɨbára. The car has passed on the road. (Pk). Ɛɨsɨ́rɨ́rɨ́á ɛlɛ́ bárɨbára. This road has become straight. (W). See: mʉnyɔrɔ́rɔ ‘Road’; enk-óítóí ‘Road’.
ɛm-báríé Nom sg: ɛm-barié. Acc pl: ɨm-báríak. Nom pl: ɨm-bariák. [North] Nom sg: m-baríé. [North] Acc pl: m-báríâk. [North] Nom pl: m-bariák. n. Jackal; small nocturnal animal known for eating young sheep. Especially the common jackal (canis aureus) but may also include other species. The jackal is thought to be the most fearful animal. canis aureus, canis mesomelas, canis adustus, otocyon megalotis. See: en-tírrásh [South] ‘Jackal’.
ɔl-báréí 1 • Someone who is timid or cowardly, esp. a young boy with this trait; coward, cowardliness. Ɔlbáríé ɛná áyíóní tenkúritisho. This cowardliness of this boy is equivalent to that of a jackal. Máaitíéú ɛlɛ́ mʉrraní amʉ̂ ɔlbáríé. This warrior cannot face me in fighting because he is a coward.
2 • Name of a small greyish-white cloud which rests on the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro like the patch of black-greyish hair on the back of the black-backed or silver-backed jackal (canis mesomelas); one of the signs that rainy season is near. See: ɛm-báríé ‘Fox’.
lopi ta bariak [North] [North] Acc pl: loopi ta bariak. [North] Canine tooth, in humans (lit: sharp like jackals').
Barigoi n.prop. Anglicized form of Barrikói. See: Barrikói ‘Place name north of Maralal, Samburu District, Kenya’.
bárláí [bárláy] Acc pl: bárlân. [North] Acc sg: bárláɨ́. [North] Nom sg: barláɨ́. [North] Acc pl: bárla. [North] Nom pl: bárlâ. adj. 1 • Bright orange color; rarely used to describe living things. Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ ɛldɛ̂ bakúli bárláí mawáyie enkurmá. Give me that orange bowl so that I may use it to carry the maize-flour.
2 • [North] Pastel, lightened, desaturated (of any colour). Note: This is sufficiently uncommon for some speakers, such that km does not know what the nominative forms would be -dp
a-bárn v.prog. 1 • To shave sth. or s.o.
Ɛgɨ́ra áabarn ɛnkayíóni ɛlʉ́kʉ́nyá. The boy is having his head shaved. (Pk). Óre peê kɨbarnʉ́ ɨlpápɨ́t ló lmelíl, níkiduŋúduŋ. When we shave hair from the neck, we shall cut it into pieces. Ábárníé olmúnyéí ɔlmʉrʉ́nya. I use a razor to shave the beard. Ábárnishoré ɔlmʉrʉ́nya. I use a razor for shaving. abarnishoré entalóíshi e kishómi to shave at one side of the gate of the kraal. Ɛgɨ́rá áabarno ilmúnyuo. They are shaving each other's beards. Ɛbárna. He is shaven. / He will shave himself. Ɛbárno. He is shaven. / He will shave himself. (W). Ɛ́bárn kɛwɔ́n. He will shave himself. (W). Maasai men do not traditionally shave themselves. The kɛwɔ́n form is appropriately used to express the unusual reflexive situation, rather than the middle form. In Samburu, mothers will shave themselves and their children, though children can go to s.o. else's mother to get shaved. Men are shaved by their own wife (wives?). A week after a birth, the mother and her midwives will be shaved. If warriors are ever shaved, they will shave each other, though only in great mourning, after all the rest of the family has been shaved. (Warriors mourn about the shaving of their hair, which they have taken all their time to make, about their lifestyle that will have to change, and their friends that they have to part with.). abárn ɨntaré To shave sheep. See: a-rɔ́ny ‘To shave’.
2 • To give a [person a] name in the em-barnoi ceremony.
a-barnɨshɔ́ v.apass. To shave, do shaving. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛntásât abarnɨshɔ́. The old woman is shaving. Étéjó entitó kéyoóki abarnishoyú. The girl said she shall be good at shaving (some day).
a-barnʉ́ v.dir. To shave (off?). Ɛgɨ́rāɨ̄ áabarnʉ ɨlpápɨ́t lɔɔ́nkɔnyɛ́k. She is having her eyebrows shaved.
a-barnaá v.dir. To shave off; to shave several people in succession. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛntásât abarnaá ɨnkɛ́ra. The old woman is shaving children in succession.
a-barnoó v.dir. To shave off; to shave several people in succession. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛntásât abarnoó ɨnkɛ́ra. The old woman is shaving children in succession. (Pk).
a-barnicieré [North] v.apass v.inst. [North] To use for shaving.
ɔl-barnɛ́t Nom sg: ɔl-bárnɛt. Acc pl: ɨl-barnɛ́ta. Nom pl: ɨl-bárnɛta. n. 1 • Lamb slaughtered for shaving ceremony. Eteyiaŋákɨ ɔlbarnɛ́t tɛndá âŋ The lamb for the shaving ceremony has been slaughtered at that home.
2 • A goat or sheep slaughtered in child's naming ceremony. A shaving ceremony is performed when a child of about two is given a new name, and again about a month prior to circumcision. These are performed for both boys and girls.
ɛm-barnɛ́t Shaving instrument. See: l-kérr lɛ́ m-bárnóto [North] ‘Lamb for shaving ceremony’; a-bárn ‘To shave’.
ɛm-barnisho n. Shaving ceremony.
ɛm-bárno n. 1 • [South] Ceremony where warriors are shaved to graduate them to adulthood.
2 • Shaving. See: ɛm-barnisho ‘Shaving ceremony’.
ɛm-barnoi n. Coming of age ceremony in which a person is named and ceremonially shaved. See: a-bárn ‘To shave’.
ɔl-barnóti Nom sg: ɔl-bárnoti. Acc pl: ɨl-barnót. Nom pl: ɨl-barnót. n. 1 • Novice moran, young man (lit: one who is shaved). Etoríkūō ɔlbárnoti enkitók. The young man has brought a woman home (ie. got married).
2 • Junior warrior. In S, this specifically refers to a junior warrior in the younger half of his age-set, considered to be of the left-hand side. Mélô ɔlbároti ɔlámayio etií olmorijóí. A junior warrior would not go for raids when an elder warrior is there. Ɛbɔ́ɨ́ta ɔlbárnoti ó lmóríjóí. [ɔ́ɾm!óɾíjóí] The junior warrior is with the senior warrior. (Pk).
3 • Shaved initiate (male only). Mol notes that in an age-group or in a family there is always one ɔl-mʉrráni 'warrior' who is the senior while all the others are considered junior. The senior is called ol-móríjóí 'maroon one,' while the juniors are referred to as ɨl-barnót 'shaved ones.'. See: a-bárn ‘To shave’.
ɛm-barnóti 1 • A young woman after having been shaved and finishing her initiation period.
2 • Young warrior, man. Usage: contemptuous.
ɛm-bárnōrē [West] Acc sg: ɛm-bárnārē. n. Shaving. See: a-bárn ‘To shave’.
ɛm-bártá Nom sg: ɛm-bartá. Acc pl: ɨm-bártân. Nom pl: ɨm-bartán. n. 1 • Horse. Kɛ́kúɛ́t oshî ɛmbartá aláŋ osíkiria. A horse is faster than a donkey. (Pk).
2 • [North] Mule.
ɔl-bártá 1 • Male horse.
2 • High place providing a good view all around; view, wide view. See: a-ɨbárt ‘To watch over’.
lɛ-bártá n. Slow haunting circumcision song, sung by boys about to be initiated. This is thought to be a form of "collective inducement", and to give encouragement to the initiates to withstand pain. See: ɔl-áɨ́bártani ‘Shaved initiate’.
ɔl-bártá [North] Nom sg: l-bárta. n. 1 • A high place providing a good view all around.
3 • [North] Baragoi or Barrikoi area. Some speakers may use the plural form for this place name. See: ɛm-bártá ‘Horse’.
ɔl-bárríkô n. 1 • Complacent; not diligent. See: álábany ‘Complacent’.
2 • Open place with no tree or house to hide in. [North] Syn: l-dánkâl ‘Open place without any object to hide behind’.
Barrikói n.prop. Place name north of Maralal, Samburu District, Kenya (lit: brown). The anglicised form is Barigoi. See: barrikói ‘brown’.
barrikói Nom sg: bárrikói. Acc pl: barrikôn. [North] Acc sg: werrikói. adj. 1 • Tan, beige, very light brownish-yellow color; primarily used for animals. This color may describe a goat, cow, lion, wood, a plain, ant-hill, etc.; it does not describe the color of a sheep. Káíbarrikói oshî olóíŋóní lɔ́lɛ Mɛɛlɨ́. Ole Meeli's bull is brownish-yellow in color. (Pk). Kɛ́ɛ́tā ɛldɛ́ sháni ɛntɔnáɨ barrikói. That tree has brownish-yellow roots. (Pk).
2 • Skin-color of a person who is almost white, including Asians. Ɛshɔmɔ́ dúó entitó bárrikói ólɛ Lekutît. The brownish-yellow daughter of Ole Lekutit had gone. (Pk).
bási [South]: básī. conj. Initiating conjunction: so, so then, well, now. Bási etíī apá ɛnkátá nabô... Now there was a time... Maa speakers are generally very conscious that this is a Swahili word, but it is widely used. Borrowed word: Swahili basi. Syn: nɛ́akʉ ‘So then’. See: a-akʉ́ ‘To become’.
ɛm-básikil Nom sg: ɛm-básíkil. Acc pl: ɨm-basikiliní. Nom pl: ɨm-básíkílíní. n. Bicycle. Áabatatá ɛmbáísíkil. I have fallen from the bike. (lit: The bike fell me.) (Pk). Etymology: bicycle < English.
m-básu [North] n. [North] Lake. See: ɛ-naɨpɔ́sha ‘Lake’; ɔl-bálbál ‘Pool, lake’; ɛ-sʉ́kʉta ‘Lake’; m-párinko [North] ‘Lake’; ol-túrótó ‘Lake’; ɛ́m-pasô ‘Lake’.
m-báta [North] n. [North] Duck. See: ɛm-páta ‘Duck’.
ɛm-bátá1 Nom sg: ɛm-batá. Acc pl: ɨm-bát. Nom pl: ɨm-bât. n.r. 1 • Side, edge. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɨnkíshu bátá. The cows have gone to the edge. Ɛtɛrɛ́wáká ɔldɛrɛfáí ɛngárri bátá ɔlbarɨbára. The driver drove the car to the side /edge of the road. (W). See: a-ɨbát [North] ‘To go on the side’.
2 • Bank (eg. of river). Álóíto (ɛm)bátá ó reyíét I am going to the side of the river (W).
3 • Beside. Etíí ɨláshɔ ɛmbátá ɔ́ lkɛjʉ́. The calves are close to the river. (Pk).
4 • [North] Region, area.
bátá [North] n.r. [North] To the side (of). See: (ɛnk-)áló ‘Near to, beside’.
bátá2 n. Danger. See: bátīshō ‘Danger’.
batároyú n.r. 1 • Congenial. ɔltʉŋáni ɔbatároyú person who is nice to live with.
2 • Not involved in society.
a-batát v.prog. 1 • To trip s.o., make sth. fall down. Táduaa ɨ́lɔ̂ sóít mɨ́kɨ́batat. Take care so that that stone does not make you fall. Káábátáɨ́ta. I am making you fall. Káabatát ɛmbáísíkil. The bike will make me fall. Káābātāt. I will make you fall. See: a-sʉ́l ‘To lop off’; a-ɨrriaayá ‘To make s.o. fall down’.
2 • To rape. Kɛ́batát olwushuwushí iselenkên. The transgressor rapes young girls.
a-batatá v.mid. 1 • To fall down. Ágɨ́ra abatatá. I am falling down. (Pk). Ábátátā. I am going to fall down. Míntóki aló abatatá ɛ́shâl ɛnkɔ̂p Don't go and fall down when the ground is wet. Átábátátɛ ŋolé. I fell down yesterday (eg. from a tree). Átábátátɛ tɛ mbáísíkil. I fell down on (ie. while riding) the bicycle. Usage: This is not used for fruit falling from a tree, or for a tree falling over.. See: a-ɨtɛrrɛ́ ‘To fall’; a-urorí ‘To fall down’; a-irraayá ‘To drop’.
2 • To stumble.
3 • To loose control.
4 • To leave one's faith, beliefs. Átábátátɛ. I backslid/lost my faith (perhaps a long time ago).
bátísho Nom sg: batísho. n. 1 • Danger. Etíi ɛnkáyíóní bátísho táatá. The boy is in danger today. Ɛnyányʉk elíyîô ɔ́ bátísho Loneliness is more or less like danger. (Pk).
2 • Dangerous place; edge (of Maasai territory) where enemy is. See: bátá ‘Side, dangerous’.
a-báʉ́ [West]: a-bɔ́ʉ́, a-báʉ́. [Chamus]: báó. In some suffixed forms: -baʉn. v. To arrive at the reference point (typically towards the speaker). Ɛtabáwūā ɔlɔ́ɨ́ŋɔ́ní. The bull has arrived. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkárɛ abáʉ́ ɛnɛ̂. The water is reaching here. (Pk). Kɛ́tabáutúa. They have arrived. (S). Ɛtabáutúā dúóó nóoshi pálâ nɨ́kɨanyɨta. The papers that we have been waiting for/expecting have arrived. (SN). Ɛtabáutûâ dúóó inoshî pálâ níkianyɨta. The papers that we have been waiting for have arrived. (Pk). Áataanyúá nɛ́ɨ́tʉ abáʉ́. [àbáʊ́ with two moras in final syllable] He waited for me, and I never arrived. (W). Ɛbɔ́ʉ́ ~ Ɛbáʉ́ ɛdaá. He(i) will arrive while he(i) is eating. (W). Kɛ́tábáʉ́tʉ̂â. They arrived here. (S). Ant: a-ló ‘To go’. See: a-bayá ‘To arrive there’.
ɛm-baúnotó [North] Nom sg: m-baúnotó. n. [North] Arrival. See: a-baʉ́ ‘To arrive’.
a-bayá [Chamus]: báó. v. 1 • To arrive at a place away from the reference point (typically away from the speaker; reach (a place). Ɛgɨ́ra abayá kundên. He is arriving to those places. (Pk). Ájî ɨ́tábáye? Where did you end up?
2 • [North] To accomplish sth. as planned, achieve.
a-ɨtabayá v.cause. 1 • To make sth. reach. Áɨ́tábáyā ɛnkɨ́tɛ́ŋ Naɨrɔ́bɨ. I will drive the cow to Nairobi. Áɨ́tábáyie ɛnkɨ́tɛ́ŋ Naɨrɔ́bɨ. I drove the cow to Nairobi (I reached with it to Nairobi). Tɛ́rɛwa ɛnkɨ́tɛ́ŋ oóntabáí Naɨrɔ́bɨ. Drive the cow until you reach Nairobi.
2 • To accomplish; fulfill. See: a-baɨkɨ́ ‘To reach’; a-báʉ́ ‘To arrive here’; a-bá ‘To be as much as’.
bayaróti adj. Perfect, with reference to human behavior; meeting the requirements; performing one's role perfectly: being the perfect person for a job, perfect woman (good in all ways); a perfect husband; to do what one is supposed to do, and do it very well. Ɔltʉŋáni aké bayaróti ɛnarikínó erikóre. It is s.o. who meets leadership qualifications who becomes a leader. (Pk). See: a-bayá ‘To reach, arrive at’.
a-bayú Variant: a-bayí. [South]: a-baí. v.incep. To become (like sth.). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛná ashé abayú ánaa ɛnkɨ́tɛ́ŋ. This she-calf is becoming like a cow (eg. big in size). (Pk). See: a-bá ‘To reach’.
a-bayíé In some suffixed forms: a-bayíék. v itr. 1 • To be last (eg. last in line, on either end of a line of people, last day of the week, a last farewell, a final warning). Bási ɨ́nâ ɔlɔ́ŋ taá ɛbayíé Ɛnkár ɛ-Nárɔk ɛnâ kɔ́p odúóó. That was the last day Narok was on this land until today. Ntʉ́ŋʉ́s ɔlápá ɔ́bāyīē tɔ lárî. December is the last month of the year. Ɨ́báyíé íyíé tɔ lkéreri. You are last in the line. Ant: a-iturúk ‘To be first’. See: a-isiadʉ́ ‘To come last, lag’; síádí ‘Behind’.
2 • To not be as proficient as others, inexperienced. ɔltʉŋáni ɔbayíé person who is inexperienced, less proficient.
3 • To be about to give birth. Restrict: woman. Nítūm ɛntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́nɨ natabáyie nanʉ́ta. You will find a woman who is pregnant. Ɛtabáyie ɛntɔmɔnɔnɨ́ The woman is just about to give birth.
4 • To be first (in a group).
5 • To be on the side.
6 • To have just seen sth. In this form, this word will refer to the recent past while when referring to other time, then an additional word is added. Ábáyíé ɛnkɛ́ráí I have just seen the child. Ábáyíé ɛnkɛ́ráí tɛ ldɛ́ árî I last saw the child last year. Ɛ́bayíéki ɛnkɛ́ráí tené The child was last seen here.
áa-bayioro v.mid.pl. To have last seen each other. Usage: reciprocal. Kɨ́bayíórō ŋolé We last saw each other yesterday. Kɨ́bayíórō tɛ ldɛ́ árî We have last seen each other last year. See: a-bayíé ‘To have been last, seen sth. last’.
a-bɛbɛ́k v. 1 • To be thin, flimsy (material), sparse in thickness (eg. hair, grass suitable only for grazing by goats and sheep but not by bigger animals such as cows). Éíshópó ɛnkɨlâ nábɛ́bɛ́k amʉ̂ kéírówua táatá. She has put on a flimsy cloth because it is hot today. (Pk).
2 • To be diluted or watery. Kɛ́bɛbɛ́k kʉná lɛ́ amʉ̂ ɛ́tɨ́pɨ́kákɨ ɛnkárɛ́. [kʊ̀ná lɛ̀] This milk is diluted because it has water. Ɛbɛbɛ́k ɛná shái amʉ̂ eitú kʉlɛ́. This tea is "light" because it has no milk. (W). Kétébébia. It was dilute/watery. (S). See: a-ɨbɛbɛ́k ‘To be dilute, watery’.
3 • To be light in weight. Ɛbɛbɛ́k ɛná mábáti. This iron (roofing) sheet is light. (W). Ant: a-ɨrrʉshá ‘To be heavy’. See: a-nɛnɛ́ŋ ‘To be light’.
4 • To be cheap, inexpensive. Ɛbɛbɛ́k. It is light / cheap. Ɛbɛbɛ́k. It is light / cheap. (W).
5 • [North] To be fragile, delicate.
a-bebekú v.incep. To become breakable. Ebebéku. It becomes breakable. Ebébéku. It becomes breakable. (W).
a-bɛ́l v. 1 • To break sth. into pieces, break off, shatter sth. Ɛgɨ́ra enkáyíóní abɛ́l osóít. The boy is breaking a stone. (Pk). Etɛbɛ́lɛ ɨná kɨ́kɔmpɛ. That cup is broken. (W). Etɛbɛ́latɛ inkíyoyí ɔ́ɔ nkɔnyɛ́k. The eye glasses are broken. (W). Usage: a-bɛ́l is used for shattering, chipping, or breaking sth. brittle. It would not be used for breaking a stick, arm, or pen into two..
2 • [North] To beat sth. with the aim of humiliating, dehumanizing, or demoralizing. Kátɛ́bɛ́la ŋolé. I beat him yesterday. (SN). Ɨ́kɨ́tɛ́bɛ́lâ ŋolé. You (pl) beat me yesterday. (SN). See: a-idóŋ ‘To beat’.
3 • [North] To cut off (eg. piece of meat).
a-bɛlʉ́ To take or break sth. out; extract teeth.
a-bɛlá [North] v.mid. [North] To be broken off. Kɛ́bɛ́la. It is broken off.
a-bɛlbɛ́l [North] [North] To break up, break or divide into many small pieces. See: ɛn-abɛlɨ́ ‘Sodium bicarbonate’; a-dány ‘To burst’; a-gɨ́l ‘To break sth. that is saliently two dimensional’; a-rrárr ‘To crush into pieces’; a-dúŋ ‘To cut’.
ɛm-bɛ́látá [North] Nom sg: m-bɛlatá. n. 1 • Breaking, cracking, crack.
2 • [North] Beating, abuse. See: a-bɛ́l ‘To break off; to fight’.
em-bélbélōī Nom sg: em-belbelóí. Acc pl: im-bélbélo. Nom pl: im-bélbelóí. n. Usage: Slang. Head. Syn: ɛn-dʉkʉ́ya ‘Head’; ɛ-lʉ́kʉ́nyá ‘Head’.
m-bɛ́lɛ́lɛ́ [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bɛlɛlɛ́. n. [North] Solo dance when performed by males; when performed by grups both sexes participate.
l-bêm [North] Nom sg: l-bém. n. [North] Musical drum. See: ol-wúlul ‘Drum’.
ɔl-bɛ́nɛ́ Nom sg: ɔl-bɛnɛ́. Acc pl: il-beníá. Nom pl: il-bénia. n. 1 • Bag, sack. Ɔlbɛ́nɛ́ ɛlɛ́. This is a bag. (W). Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ ɔlbɛ́nɛ́ lánápíé inkɨláni. Give me a bag to use for carrying clothes. (Pk). Áapurroríé ɔlmʉrraní imbeníá. The warrior will steal the bags from me. (W).
2 • Large beer-gourd made from skins. See: ol-mosorî ‘Beer gourd’.
3 • Shared financial account, used by a group with some common interest. Ɛ́yaʉ́ ɨropiyianí naápɨkɨ́ ɔlbɛ́nɛ́ lɔɔ́ ntasáti ɔ́ltʉrrʉr. Bring money that will be put in the group of women's account. (Pk).
ɛm-bɛ́nɛ́ 1 • Pocket or small bag. ashʉtʉ́ ɛnkáɨ́ná tɛ mbɛnɛ́ to remove a hand from a pocket. See: ɛm-bɛ́nyɛ́t ‘Small bag’.
2 • [North] Pouch carried by men.
l-bɛ́nɛ́ lɛ́ kuecí [North] Men may not look inside this sack. Even at the death of his wife, a man is not permitted to inspect its contents. This is the task of other women.[North] Storage sack; a large cowhide sack used for a woman's secret personal storage. See: sampʉ́rr [North] ‘A woman's personal cowhide storage sack’.
m-bɛ́nɛ́ ɛ́ múrt [North] [North] Bead ornament suspended from a necklace, worn by warriors (lit: neck bag). See: nk-aiwéli [North] ‘Necklace’.
em-bénéyíó [èmbénéyyó] Nom sg: em-beneyíó. Acc pl: im-bénék. Nom pl: im-benék. [North] Acc pl: m-béné. [North] Nom pl: m-bené. n. Leaf. Nɛ́ná ɛmbénéyíó nanyɔ́rɨ. Here is a green leaf. (Pk).
ɛm-bɛ́nyɛ́t n. Small bag or wallet. See: ɔl-bɛ́nɛ́ ‘Bag’.
m-beríri [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bérirí. n.sg. [North] Gas or diarrhoea in cattle from eating early grass; bloat. The treatment is to puncture the animal and let the gas out.
ɔl-biásɨ [South] [North] Acc sg: l-biásɨ. n. Potato. Borrowed word: Swahili viazi 'potato'. See: ɛn-kuashé ‘Potato’; ɔl-mʉrʉ́nkʉ́i ‘Potato’; m-pɨ́ásɨ [Chamus] ‘Potato’.
ɛm-bibi Acc pl: ɨm-bibii. n. 1 • Sunbird, honey-sucker. nectariniidae.
2 • Flowering tree with crimson-colored blossoms; one of the first-blooming plants at the end of the June rains.
a-bɨbɨ́ [North] v. 1 • [North] To suck (eg. blood directly from a cow's vein).
2 • [North] To drain, devitalize, sap. See: a-ɨbɨbɨ́.
l-bɨɛ́ta [North] n. [North] A wholesome food diet given to a mother after childbirth, traditionally for six months.
bíitíá [bíìtyá] Nom sg: bíitíá. n. AIDS. Ɛ́ɨ́tɔrrɔ́nɔ̂ ɛnkɛ́ɛ́ya nájî bíitíá. AIDS is a bad disease. (lit: 'The disease that is called bíitíá is bad.').
biitiarí [bììtyàɾí] n. Failure to thrive, eg. as when a child does not grow even with food. See: a-ibiitiarí ‘To go down in health’.
a-bík v.prog. 1 • To last. Etobiko! It lasted! Etobiko naleŋ! It lasted long! Kébík ɛná kɨ́lâ. This cloth will last. (Pk).
2 • To stay, remain. Ébík. He will stay long. Kébík siî táatá. He will stay today. (Pk).
3 • To reside. Kébík tɛná áji. He will reside in this house. (Pk).
4 • [North] To postpone a journey for a day or two.
a-bikokí 1 • To last on or with s.o. (eg. a disease). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛ́ɛya abikokí ɔltámúéyíáí. The disease is lasting on the sick man (ie. the disease is not healing). (Pk).
2 • To wait for s.o. who has gone far. Ágɨ́ra abikokí meeû amʉ̂ mmaló naá ɛɨtʉ adúarɛ. I am waiting for him to come because I cannot go without seeing him. (Pk).
a-bikoó 1 • To last, endure; live forever. Ekébikóo intókitin pɔ́ɔkɨ náaramát ɨlɔ́ɔpɛ̂ny. All things that their owners care for last long. (Pk).
2 • [North] To stay around (eg. in a place) for a long time.
a-bikíé To stay with, at; to last for; to remain with, at; to reside with, at. Itóbíkie taá nɨnyɛ́ Naɨrɔ́bɨ. You really stayed long at Nairobi. (Pk).
a-bikishó To last, remain, stay, reside [intransitive]. Ɛgɨ́ra nɨ́nyɛ abikishó tɛ́ɨ́na kɔp. He is remaining in that land. (Pk).
ol-bíkít Nom sg: ol-bikít. Acc pl: il-bikitó. Nom pl: il-bíkito. [Purko] Nom pl: ɨl-bɨ́kɨ́tɔ. n. 1 • Snail.
2 • Shells of a snail or slug. Ɛkɛ́pɨ́kɨ́ apá ɨlbɨ́kɨ́tɔ ɨrmurotó ɔɔ́nkɛ́ra. Long ago shells of snails used to be put on children's necks. (Pk). See: ɔl-ɔsɨkɨ́ ‘Snail’; sampʉ́lálɨ́ ‘Snail’; l-cíŋei [North] ‘Snail’; ɔ-sɨkɨrâɨ̂ ‘Snail’.
em-bíkótó Variant: em-bíkító. Acc pl: im-bikitot. n. 1 • Stay. Embíkíto apá náaimîê nɛna báa. It is the stay that made me miss those things. (Pk).
2 • Abode, residence.
em-bilaóni Nom sg: em-bílaóni. Acc pl: im-bilaoniní. Nom pl: im-bílaoniní. n. Cup. Borrowed word: Swahili bilauri 'cup'. See: ɛn-kɨkɔ́mpɛ ‘Cup’; ɛn-kɨ́yáí ‘Cup’.
ɛm-bɨ́lbɨ́l n. Tin, can. Ɛ́tɨ́pɨ́ká enkítok ɛnkárɛ̄ ɛmbɨ́lbɨ́l. The woman put the water in the can. (W).
ol-bílí [North] Nom sg: l-bilí. [North] Acc pl: l-bílîn. [North] Nom pl: l-bilín. n. Tree or shrub sp. Commiphora, commifera specialis. See: l-áɨ́lɨ́páɨ́ [North] ‘Tree sp.’.
a-biokí [North] v. [North] To slaughter cows or sheep for a woman that has just given birth. See: a-ɨtamúéí ‘To nurse a sick person’; a-yɨ́ɛ́ŋ ‘To slaughter’.
bíótó Variant: bíyótó; bíyoto. Nom sg: biotó. Variant: biyotó. Acc pl: biót. Variant: biyót. Nom pl: biót. Variant: biyót. adj. 1 • Healthy. Áísídáí ɔltʉ́ŋání biyotó amʉ̂ kɛ́ɨ́dim ataása esíái. A healthy person is good because he can work. (Pk). Ɛ́táá doí apá tásat ɛldɛ̂ áyíóní imeekúré aa bíyoto. That boy is disabled, he is no longer healthy. (Pk).
2 • Kind, socially good. Shɔ́mɔ amʉ̂ ɛkíŋámú nɛnâ kɛ́rá amʉ̂ áíbiyót. Go because you will be received by those children because they are good. (Pk).
3 • Perfect.
a-biotú v.incep. To become healthy.
a-bɨrɨ́ PL.IMP: en-ti-biri-a. v. v. To sip or eat slowly and cautiously, because the food or drink is disliked or dirty. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛráɨ́ abɨrɨ́ kʉlɛ́ amʉ̂ mɛ́nyɔ̂r The child is sipping milk cautiously because she does not like. Míntóki doí abɨrɨ́ ɛndáa; tápala tenímīyīēū. Stop eating the food cautiously; if you don't like it, stop eating it.
2 • v. [North] To sip liquid through the teeth or a cloth in order to strain out impurities. Tɨ́bɨrɨa! Sip it through the teeth / a cloth! Kábíríyie nanká. I will sip it through the cloth.
a-biriyíé [North] v.inst. [North] To strain with, while sipping out of a vessel.
m-biríri [North] Nom sg: m-bírirí. n. [North] New green grass. See: en-dîs; em-pílílí ‘New green grass’.
ɛm-bɨ́rrɨsh Nom sg: ɛm-bɨ́rrɨ́sh. n. Small compound made inside a cattle kraal, separated from the main kraal by a small fence or sub-fence. Inkíshú naálepó aké ɛɨŋʉ́árí tɛ mbɨ́rrɨ́sh. It is only the cows that are lactating that will be left in the samll compound within the main kraal. (Pk). See: en-dúŋórotó ‘Fence’; ɔl-álɛ́ ‘Pen for calves, kids, etc.’; e-múátátá ‘Fold for goats and sheep’.
ol-bisíli Nom sg: ol-bísili. Acc pl: il-bisíl. Nom pl: il-bisíl. n. Pendant; an ornament that hangs from a leather strap, often ornate, worn by babies, believed to bring good luck and prevent diseases. Ɨnkɛ́ra ɛpɨkɨ́ ilbisíl. It is children that are adorned with pendants.
l-bisióŋ [North] [North] Nom sg: l-bísioŋ. [North] Acc pl: l-bisioŋîn. [North] Nom pl: l-bísioŋîn. n. [North] Cycod tree.
ɔl-bítír Variant: ol-bítír. Nom sg: ɔl-bitír. Acc pl: ɨl-bitiró. Nom pl: ɨl-bítiro. [North] Nom pl: l-bítiró. n. Warthog. Ilálá áare ɔɨ́pɨkʉ bɔɔ́ ɛɛ́ta olbitír. A warthog has two tusks that project conspicuously outside. (Pk). See: l-ŋárrâb [North] ‘Warthog’.
em-bítír Female warthog.
bíyótó [North] [North] Nom sg: biyotó. [North] Acc pl: biyoót. adj. 1 • [North] Healthy when slaughtered (of animals or their skins).
2 • [North] Good, kind (of people).
a-bɔ́ [West]: a-búá. v. To pull or extract the lower incisor teeth. Ɛ́bɔ́. He will extract the lower incisor teeth (from s.o. else). Ɛgɨ́ráɨ́ áabɔ ɨnkɛ́ra kʉtɨ́tɨ. The little children are having their lower incisor teeth extracted. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́ráɨ́ áabua ɨnkɛ́ra kʉtɨ́tɨ. The little children are having their lower incisor teeth extracted. (W). Ɛtabúákɨ enkayíóni áaitayu ɨlálá lɛ kɨshɨ́áá. The boy had his lower incisor teeth taken out. (Pk). Kááɨ́tɔ́bɔ (va: káɨ́tábua) míkíntáyu ɨlálá l ɛ kishiáá. I will make her remove your lower incisor teeth. (Pk). This happens twice during one's life, first when the child's milk teeth have completely grown, and again when the set of wisdom teeth have completely grown. It is only the two lower incisor teeth that are extracted. The extraction is said to be done for beauty or handsomeness, or for easy passage of fluids when the jaws are locked as in the case of tetanus.
a-búá To have the lower incisor teeth extracted.
ɛm-bɔ̂ Nom sg: ɛm-bɔ̂. n. Bark used for soup. Ɛ́tɨ́pɨ́ka ɛmbɔ̂ imotorí. A bark has been put in the soup. (Pk). See: ɛnk-abobóki ‘Bark’.
a-bɔbɔ́ v.mid. To be brittle, fragile, easily breakable. Kɛ́bɔbɔ́ olmósorî. An egg is brittle.
a-bɔbɔ́l v. 1 • To hold to with difficulty.
2 • To wrestle with force, struggle. Áatabobolá ɛndá ayiʉní aorú ɛncátī. That boy wrestled me to snatch the shirt. Tɔ́bɔbɔla tóorú ɨ́lɔ̂ mʉrʉ́nya. Wrestle him and snatch away that razor blade. (Pk).
3 • To make an animal open the mouth (eg. to give medicine). Ágɨ́ra abɔbɔ́l ɛnâ kíné amʉ̂ mmê shɔ́rʉ ɛnak ɔlkúó. I am making this goat open its mouth because it has not suckled its kid. (Pk).
4 • To attempt to dislodge sth. held by s.o. stronger. See: a-bɔ́l ‘To pry open the mouth of an animal’.
l-bói [North] [North] Acc pl: l-bóin. n. [North] Servant, house servant, client. Etymology: < English boy.
a-bɔɨ́n v.prog. 1 • To change direction of sth., turn sth. Ɛ́tɔ́nyúáá ɔlárɛ́wání abɔɨ́n ɛngári. The driver has worked hard to change the direction of the car. (Pk). Ábɔ́ɨ́nɨ́ta ɛngárri. I am turning the car. Tɔ́bɔɨnʉ́ ɛndâ kɨ́tɛ́ŋ wúâs ɔ́ ɛ́ndâ nárɔ̄k peê éúdí. Bring that cow with the patch on the side/belly together with that black one to be vaccinated.
2 • To change meaning of sth.
a-bɔɨná v.mid. To change direction. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɛngári abɔɨná tɛ mbatá eúlulû. The car changed direction near the canyon. Tɔ́bɔɨnáɨ́. Take it away from me by redirecting it elsewhere. (Pk).
a-bɔɨnʉ́ To direct sth. "hither", towards the point of reference. Tɔ́bɔɨnʉ́ ɛndâ súpen Meshɔ́mɔ intarɛ́. Direct that ewe to go with the sheep. (Pk). See: a-mɛrrɛgɛ́l ‘To change direction’.
ɛm-bɔ́ɨ́nata n. Corner. See: a-bɔɨ́n ‘To change direction of sth.’; en-cúkótó ‘Corner’.
áa-boita [North]: áa-bɔɨta. v. 1 • To be together. Ebóíta ɔlbárnoti ɔ́ lmóríjóí. The shaved initiate is with the senior warrior. Átɔ́duaa ɔlwúásínkíshúí ɔbɔ́ɨ́ta ɔ́ lpúrkóí. I have seen a Wuasinkishu person and a Purko person together. (Pk).
2 • To have a close interpersonal relationship.
3 • To have sex. Usage: polite.
4 • [North] To live together.
a-boitarɛ́ [North]: a-boɨtɨarɛ́, a-bɔɨtɛrɛ́. [aboɪtyarɛ́, abɔɪtɛrɛ́] v.mid v.inst. 1 • To be with, live with, stay with. Ábóítārɛ̄ ɔlayíóni láí. I am together with my son. Óre taá siî nɨnyɛ́ ɛyɨkâî nɛ́mɛ̄ɨ̄shɔ̄ ɔltʉŋáni eboitarɛ́ ilkulîê. Pride does not let s.o. stay well with others. (Pk). Kɛ́bɔ́ɨ́tɛrɛ. S/he lives with her/him/it.
2 • [North] To sleep with.
o-boitáreyú n. One who is nice to stay with.
em-bóíta Nom sg: em-bóítâ. n.sg. 1 • Togetherness, being together. Mmeyíéúní esúnkúreisho ti átua ɛrámátarɛ ɔ́ embóíta. Guile is not wanted in living and working together. (Pk).
2 • Sexual intercourse.
3 • [North] Cohabitant, companion in a place. See: áa-boita ‘To be together’.
o-boitáreyú n. One who is nice to stay with. See: a-boitarɛ́.
l-bóítéí Variant: l-bóítíéí. n. [North] Companion.
l-bóítíéí [North] [North] Nom sg: l-boitíéí. [North] Acc pl: l-boityeií. n. [North] Companion on a journey. See: a-boitá ‘To be together’.
m-bókíci [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bokícî. [North] Acc pl: m-bókic. [North] Nom pl: m-bókîc. n. [North] One of the main vertical posts pounded into the ground, reinforcing the perimeter of a traditional house; house post. See: em-bókíshīī ‘Post’.
ol-bókis Variant: ol-boksi; ɔl-bɔ́kis. Nom sg: ol-bókîs. Acc pl: il-bókisí. Nom pl: il-bókisí. n. Box, carton; luggage. Kéíróshi ɛlɛ́ bókîs olêŋ. This box is very heavy. Borrowed word: English 'box'. See: ol-sandúkū ‘Luggage’.
em-bókíshīī Nom sg: em-bokíshīī. Acc pl: im-bókíshii. Nom pl: im-bokíshii. [North] Acc sg: m-bókíci. [North] Nom sg: m-bokícî. [North] Acc pl: m-bókic. [North] Nom pl: m-bókîc. n. Post placed vertically for the construction of the walls of a Maasai house.
These posts are 2 to 3 centimeters in diameter. See: ɛ-ŋápɛ́ ‘Supports’; ɛ-rɨ́shɨna ‘Roof sticks’; ɨl-ɔ́ɔm ‘Horizontal construction sticks’.
a-ból v.prog. 1 • To open. Éból. He will open it. Ɛ́tábóló. She opened it. Ɛtábóló. She opened it. (W). Étábóló enkeráí enkají. The child has opened the house. Etabolóko olpáyian enkitók enkají. The man has opened the house for the woman. Étábóló enkeráí enkají tolbólēt. The child opened the house with a key. Étábólíé enkeráí olbolét enkají. The child has used a key to open the house. Kátóbólíciere. I used it for opening. aból nkʉ́tʉ́k To speak (lit: to open the mouth) (S).
1 • To uncover. Ágɨ́ra aból embúku. I am opening/uncovering a book. See: a-kɨ́ny.
3 • To pay attention, heed. Tábolo inkííyāā inónók; máíniŋinó oróréí lɛ́ nKáí. Open your ears; let's listen to the word of God. (W).
a-bolicó [North] v.apass. To rape. See: m-bólóré [North] ‘Rape’.
a-boló v.mid. To be opened, as a door, gate, etc. Kébólo. It is opened. (S). Kétóbólɛ̄tɛ. They are opened. (S).
a-bolokí v.dat. 1 • To open for. Áataboloko ɛnkɛráɨ́ kishómi. The child has opened the gate for me. (Pk).
2 • To reveal to. Ɛtabólokí nɨnyɛ́ nɛna kisudorót pɔɔkɨ́. He has been given the revelation of all those mysteries. (Pk).
a-boloó v.dir. 1 • To let out, release, let go. Ágɨ́ra aboloó inkíshú I am letting cows go out. (Pk). Etabolóyie olpáyian enkitók. The man has released the woman. aboloríé To let out or release with (S).
2 • [North] To conquer, vanquish, overcome decisively.
a-bolú v.dir. 1 • To open towards.
2 • To be sexually open (of a woman, towards a man).
3 • To uncover towards, open towards, open up. aboluníé To open towards with (eg. a knife) (S).
áa-bol v.pl. 1 • To be in labor. Ebolítōī enkitók. The woman is in labor (is about to give birth).
2 • To open (by multiple participants).
a-bɔ́l v. 1 • To hold a cow or other animal by the mouth. Ɛ́bɔ́l. He will hold its mouth. Kɨ́tɔbɔlâ. We held it by its mouth. Kɨ́tɔbɔlɔlâ We held it by its mouth. (W). Tɔ́bɔla ɨ́nâ kíné peê ɛɨshɔrʉ mɛ́tanaa olkúó. [tɔ́bɔla ɪ̀nà] Hold that goat by mouth so that it can allow its kid to suckle. (Pk).
2 • To pry open the mouth of a cow (eg. to apply medicine or to remove sth.). Tɔ́bɔla ɔlbɔɔ́ny lɛ́ nkiteŋ. Open the cow's mouth by its jaw. Ɛ́kɨbɔl ɛndâ kɨ́tɛ́ŋ peê kɨpɨk ɔlcaní ɛnkʉ́tʉ́k. We will open (the mouth of) that cow so that we can put medicine in the mouth. (Pk). See: ɛm-bɔ́látá ‘Holding’.
ɛm-bɔ́látá Acc pl: ɨm-bɔlát. [North] Nom sg: m-bɔlatá. n. 1 • Holding of an animal by the mouth, opening of a cow's mouth (such as to introduce medicine). Ɛɨtʉ́ atumóki ɛmbɔ́látá ɛná kɨ́tɛ́ŋ. (My) holding of the mouth of this cow is not the best. (Pk). See: a-bɔ́l ‘To hold an animal by the mouth’.
2 • [North] Tactic or trick to outsmart prey or enemy. See: ɔl-ɔsɛ́k ‘Trick’; l-ɔsɛ́g [North] ‘Trick’.
a-bɔlbɔ́l v. To hold with difficulty; struggle with the mouth. Ɛbɔlbɔ́l. He will hold its mouth. (W). See: a-bɔbɔ́l ‘To hold with difficulty’.
ɔl-bɔ́lbɔl Nom sg: ɔl-bɔ́lbɔ̄l. Acc pl: ɨl-bɔ́lbɔlɨ́. Nom pl: ɨl-bɔ́lbɔlɨ́. n. Skull (of human or animal). Ɛtɛbɛ́lɛ ɔlbɔ́lbɔ̂l lɛ́nyɛ. His skull is broken. Syn: ɛ-rakará ‘Skull’. See: ɛ-lʉ́kʉ́nyá ‘Head’; ɛn-dʉkʉ́ya ‘Head’.
m-bolbóli [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bólbóli. [North] Acc pl: m-bolból. [North] Nom pl: m-bólból. n. [North] Egg (of birds, snakes, etc.). Tóduaa mʉ́pʉ́rd mbolbóli. Be careful not to break the egg. (SN). See: m-bolibóli [North] ‘Egg’.
ɔl-bɔlbɔ́li [North] Nom sg: ɔl-bɔ́lbɔ́li. [North] Acc pl: l-bɔlbɔ́l. [North] Nom pl: l-bɔ́lbɔl. n. 1 • Type of seed-bearing fruit which is yellow and bristled.
2 • [North] Small gourd carried on the back by female initiates, containing fat from a cow slaughtered at the time.
om-bolét [North] Nom sg: l-bólet. [North] Acc pl: l-boléta. [North] Nom pl: l-bóleta. n. Opener, key.
em-bolét 1 • Pet name for a child, given soon after birth (before the child receives his or her proper name at the embarnoto e nkɛ́ráí ceremony).
2 • Small key.
m-bolibóli [North] Variant: m-bolbóli. n. [North] Egg.
l-bolibóli [North] [North] Container for holding fat used by a female initiate to oil herself. See: ol-mósorî ‘Egg’.
em-bolíêî Nom sg: em-bóliei. Acc pl: im-bolíó. Nom pl: im-bólio. [West] Acc sg: em-boliôî. [South] Acc sg: ɛm-bʉlɨ́ɔ̂ɨ̂. n. Clay soil that cows lick; salt-lick. Ɛyákakɨ́ dúóó inkíshú embolíêî námêj. The cows were brought the salt-lick for licking. Ɛshɔmɔ́ inkíshu embolíêî. The cows have gone to the salt-lick. See: en-cúmpi ‘Salt’; shímpi ‘Salt’. Syn: ɛ-mʉnyán ‘Salt’; ɛn-aɨsʉ́kʉt ‘Salt’. See: ɛ-makát ‘Sodium bicarbonate’.
m-bólóré [North] [North] Nom sg: m-boloré. n. [North] Rape. See: a-ból ‘To open’.
l-bólório [North] [North] Nom sg: l-bolório. [North] Acc pl: l-bɔ́lɔr. [North] Nom pl: l-bɔ́lɔ̂r. n. [North] Tree sp., the wood of which women use to make 'calabashes' called l-ŋɔrróocî. Cussonia hostii.
ol-bolóti Acc pl: il-boloti. [North] Nom sg: l-bóloti. [North] Acc pl: l-bolót. [North] Nom pl: l-bólot. n. 1 • Clump.
2 • [North] Dried nasal mucus; bugger.
3 • [North] Scab.
ɛm-bólótó Nom sg: ɛm-bolotó. Acc pl: ɨm-bolót. Nom pl: ɨm-bólot???. Variant: im-bolót (Nominative). n. Opening. Ɛtabáwúá ɛmbolotó é sukúul. The opening of school has come. (Pk). See: a-ból ‘To open’.
em-bólúnotó Nom sg: em-bolúnotó. Acc pl: im-bolunót. Nom pl: im-bólunot. [North] Acc sg: m-bolúnotó. [North] Nom sg: m-bolúnotó. n. 1 • Chapter. Náajokí ɨ́sʉmá embólúnotó eoŋúán. He told me to read Chapter Four. (W). Kégól embolúnotó éóŋūān olêŋ. Chapter Four is very hard. (W). imbolunót oŋúán four chapters (W).
2 • Revelation, disclosure. See: a-ból ‘To open’.
ɛm-bɔɔ́ Nom sg: ɛm-bɔ́ɔ. Acc pl: ɨm-bóóítíé. Nom pl: ɨm-bootíé. [Purko] Nom pl: ɨm-bóóítíé. [North] Acc sg: m-boó. [North] Nom sg: m-bóo. [North] Acc pl: m-bóótíé, m-bóítíé. [North] Nom pl: m-boitíé. n. 1 • Cattle-enclosure, with a fence typically made of thorn bushes; kraal, cattle pen.
The typical parts of ɛm-bɔɔ́ include: ɛnk-ají 'house' or houses located around the inner perimeter; ɛm-bɨ́rrɨsh 'space in front of a house;' e-sitá 'thorn fence around the ɛm-bɔɔ́;' ol-osinkó 'center of the ɛm-bɔɔ́;' en-dúŋórotó 'yard or pen within the ɛm-bɔɔ́;' and ɔl-álɛ́ 'young-animal pen'.
2 • Homestead, compound. Átɔ́duaa náají ɛntʉ́rkūlɨ naɨnɔsɨ́ta ɨlkʉ́rt tɛ mpɔ́lɔ̂s ɛ́ bɔɔ. I have seen a dove eating worms in the middle of the homestead. (Pk).
3 • [North] Herd, flock.
bɔɔ́
boó [North] n.r. Outside (particularly outside the house but inside the kraal). Shɔ́mɔ bɔɔ́ Go outside into the kraal. (Pk). Tɛ́ bɔ́ɔ átúdúmua. I collected it outside. (Pk). Tɔɔ́ nkúápi ɛ́ bɔɔ́ yɛ́wuakɨ́. It is brought from the foreign countries. (Pk). Ilálá áare ɔɨ́pɨkʉ bɔɔ́ ɛɛ́ta olbitír. A warthog has two tusks that project conspicuously outside. (Pk).
ɛm-bɔɔ́2 Nom sg: ɛm-bɔ́ɔ. Acc pl: ɨm-bóóítíé. Nom pl: ɨm-bootíé. [North] Acc pl: bóótíé. [Purko] Nom pl: ɨm-bóóítíé. n. Group, cluster, collection (eg. of shoes, stars, animals); herd. ɛmbɔɔ́ ɔɔ́ nkíshú herd of cows (PK). mbɔɔ́ ɛɛ́ ntáré herd of goats (SN). See: sûm ‘Sheep enclosure’; ɛn-táréí ‘Flock, herd’.
ɔl-bɔɔ́ny Nom sg: ɔl-bɔ́ɔny. Acc pl: ɨl-bɔɔnyɔ́. Nom pl: ɨl-bɔ́ɔnyɔ. [North] Acc pl: l-boonyîn. [North] Nom pl: l-boonyîn. n. 1 • Chin. Káāmē ɔlbɔ́ɔny olêŋ My chin hurts very much. Ɛtabatátɛ ɛnkáyíóní néosh ɛnkɔ́p tɔɔ́lbɔɔny The boy fell and hit the ground by his chin. (Pk).
2 • Jaw. Tɔ́bɔla ɔlbɔɔ́ny lɛ́ nkiteŋ. Open the cow's mouth by its jaw. See: ol-múnyéí ‘Chin’; ɔl-tagɨ́lɨgɨ́lɨ; ɔl-manyaálishôî; ɛ-sɛ́dɛr ‘Jaw’.
a-bɔ́r1 [West]: a-bár. [North]: a-bár. v.prog. 1 • To cut skin or leather. Ábɔ́rɨ́ta olconí. I am cutting the skin. (Pk).
2 • To cut leather precisely, eg. for fixing a shoe. Ɛshɔmɔ́ enkítok abɔ́r olconí aitayú ɛnamʉ́kɛ. The woman has gone to cut skin to make a shoe. Ábɔ́rɨta. I am cutting the skin.
3 • To injure by striking; hit or crack sth. hard. abɔ́r ɛnkʉ́ɨ́ To hit the head. abár nkúí To injure someone's head (SN). Ɛ́tóóshó ɔmɛtɔ́bɔra ɛlʉ́kʉ́nyá. She hit until she cracked the head. (Pk). Kémē tɛ nɨ́kɨ́bɔ́r ɔltʉ́ŋání. It is painful when s.o. hits you (using an object). One would use sth. hard like orinká 'club' or esiarê 'thick stick' to carry out a-bɔ́r. However, the verb primarily refers to the hardness of hitting on a hard object, rather than the instrument. See: ɔl-ɔbɔrʉ́ ŋɔtɔnyɛ́ ‘One who is formed by his mother’.
ɛm-bɔ́rátá Nom sg: ɛm-bɔratá. Acc pl: ɨm-bɔrát. Nom pl: ɨm-bɔrát. n. Wound, esp. on the head as a result of being hit hard. Kɛ́ɛ́ta oshî ɨlmʉ́rrán ɨmbɔrát kúmok eiŋúáa enjóré. Warriors have many wounds when they come from fighting. Ɛ́tɔ́n ɛ́yâ ɛmbɔratá. [ɛ̀yà] The wound on his head is still sick. (Pk). See: ɔl-báɛ1 ‘Wound’; n-goldonyoti ‘Wound’.
a-boré [North]: a-bɔrɛ́. v.s. To be full; abundant with. Ebórē. It is full. (W). Ebórē ɨlpayɛ́k enkurmá The garden is abundant with maize. Etíí oltóo ɛnkárɛ aboré. The barrel is full of water. (Pk). Kóbóré sáani. The plate is full. (SN). Kóboréi. It will become full (eg. a barrel filled by rain). (SN). Kótobóreya. It became full. (SN). Ncɔɔ́kɨ saáni nabórē táatá. Give me a full plate now! (SN).
em-boréɨ n. 1 • Fullness; a basketful, handful, etc. Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ emboréɨ ɛ́ nkáɨ́ná ɛ́ naɨsʉ́kʉt. Give me a handful of salt. (Pk).
2 • Fullness of milk. See: a-boré ‘To be full’.
ɔl-boróî Nom sg: ɔl-bóroi. Acc pl: il-boró. Nom pl: il-bóro. [North] Acc sg: l-boróí, l-boróî. n. 1 • Dry, hardened animal dropping.
2 • Dry clot of earth, dung, chalk, etc.; clump.
3 • [North] Plaster of mud-dung used on inside and outside walls in construction of a traditional house.
m-boróî [North] [North] Dry cattle dung. See: e-modíêî ‘Dung (cow)’; in-kíík ‘Faeces’.
em-borowai n. Bow. See: ɛn-káwuo ‘Bow’.
a-bɔ́rr Variant: a-bɔ́r. v.s. To be calm, quiet, docile, gentle; humble, polite. Kɛ́bɔ́rr ɔláŋaríé kɨ́na. My brother is gentle. Kɛ́nyɔ̄r ŋɔtɔnyɛ́ ɛnkɛ́ráí nabɔ́rɨ́. A calm/humble child is loved by his/her mother. Kɛ́nyɔ̄r ŋɔtɔnyɛ́ ɛnkɛ́ráí nabɔ́rr. A calm/humble child is loved by his/her mother. Ɛ́ɨ́sidaín inkíshu náabɔ̂rr. Tameable cows are nice. Ɛtɔbɔ́rrɔ́ ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ. The cow has calmed down. Ɛtɔbɔ́rrɔ́ ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ. The cow has calmed down. (W). Kɛ́tɔ́bɔ́rra. It has become calm. (S). Kɔ́bɔ́rr aná kɨ́tɛŋ. This cow is calm. (SN). Kábɔ̄rr olêŋ. I am very calm. (SN). Ɨ́bɔ̄rr. You (sg) are calm. (SN). Ɨ́bɔ́rrʉ̄bɔ̄rr. You (pl) are calm. (SN). Kóbórru. She will become calm. (SN). ɔltʉŋáni ɔbɔ́rr person who is calm, quiet, docile, gentle. See: ɛm-bɔrrɔ́n ‘Calmness’. Syn: a-maaɨ́ ‘To be docile’; Ant: a-gogóŋ ‘To be agressive’. See: ɛ-ŋɨ́da ‘Pride’.
ɛm-bɔ́rrbɔrr [North] Nom sg: m-bɔ́rrbɔ̂rr. [North] Acc pl: m-bɔ́rrbɔrrí. [North] Nom pl: m-bɔ́rrbɔrrí. n. Skull.
ɛm-bɔrrɔ́n Nom sg: ɛm-bórrɔn. n.sg. Calmness, docility, gentleness, quietness, politeness, humility. Ɛmbɔrrɔ́n nɛ́mɛ́ɨ́shɔ́ ɛnâ kɛ́ráɨ́ ɛɛ rarɛ́ inkulîê. It is because of the calmness of this child that she does not fight others. (Pk). See: e-súpátisho ‘Goodness’; o-sótúá ‘Love’; a-bɔ́rr ‘To be calm’.
a-bós [North] v. [North] To pick up, collect, tiny scattered things.
a-bosbós [North] [North] To pick or collect things in small numbers.
a-bosicó [North] v.apas. [North] To be out picking.
a-bosoó [North] v.dir. 1 • [North] To collect and take everything.
2 • [North] To seize and take away completely.
a-bosú [North] v.dir. [North] To pick up, collect, tiny scattered things.
l-bosét [North] [North] Nom sg: l-bóset. [North] Acc pl: l-boséta. [North] Nom pl: l-bóseta. n. [North] Pubic area, lowest abdominal area; pubes. See: ol-kulám ‘Pubes’.
m-bosoónyi [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bósoónyi. [North] Acc pl: m-bosoóny. [North] Nom pl: m-bósoóny. n. [North] Blood clot. See: sotoónyi [North] ‘Blood clot’.
m-bósóré [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bosoré. n. [North] Harvest of fruit.
a-bɔsʉ́ [North] v.prog. [North] To collect, gather. Káló abɔsʉ́ lŋanayíó. I am going to collect fruit. (S). Kábɔ́sɨ́ta. I am gathering/collecting it. (SN). Kátóbósúá soitó. I collected stones. (SN). Syn: a-sót ‘To gather, collect’. See: a-iturrúrr ‘To gather together’.
a-botiró v. To have an erection. See: a-ŋododú [North] ‘To have an erection’.
bótór Nom sg: botór. Acc pl: botóro(k). Nom pl: bótoro. adj. 1 • Old, senior, elder (relative to others). Kéíbōtōr ɔlpáyian alaŋʉ́ enkitók. The man is older than the woman.
2 • Large (of a person or animal). Syn: kitók, móruo, mʉsána ‘Old, large’.
3 • Adult.
em-bótór n. Older one. Nɛ́aráā ɛnapá tásat ɛnyɛ́ bótór. He chased away his older wife. Intóyîê kúnyinyík ó mbotórok nɛ́nya Small girls and big (girls) will eat it.
a-botorú [North] v.incep. [North] To become senior; become large. Kébotóru. He will become senior (S). Kétóbótoro. He has become senior. (S). See: bótór ‘Senior, large’.
a-bɔtɔ́t v. To break off; remove (eg. bark from a tree). See: a-dɛ́ ‘To shell’.
a-búá [àbwá] v.mid v.prog. To have one's lower incisor teeth taken out. Ebûâ. He had his lower teeth pulled out. (W). Kábúáɨ́ta nkɛ́ráí. I am removing the child's two lower front teeth. (SN). The two lower incisor teeth may be intentionally removed, especially when a child is young, in order to be able to administer medicine or food if the child is sick (eg. from lockjaw). See: a-bɔ́ ‘To extract lower incisor teeth’; a-ɨtɛ́ [North] ‘To remove’.
ol-buaá1 Nom sg: ol-búāā. [North] Acc pl: l-buaân. n.sg. 1 • Words from a senior person to a junior person, intended to irritate the hearer in order to provoke change; "spoken noise", harrangue. Etiákā ɔlpáyian ɔlɨkâɨ̂ "Tápala olbuaá amʉ̂ kɛ́ɨ́tála ɨltʉ́ŋáná". The man told the other "Stop the noise because it confuses people".
2 • Threat.
3 • To scorn.
4 • [North] Shouting. See: o-róréí ‘Word’; ɔ-lɔlɛpɨlɛpɨ́; ol-odoo ‘Noise’; l-oilɛmɨlɛmɨ́ [North] ‘Noise’; a-búák ‘To shout, bark’.
ol-buáá n. Natural or man-made depression on the ground that temporarily stores water, depending on the season. Ɛshɔmɔ́ inkíshu áaok olbuaá amʉ̂ ɛ́tɨ́pɨ́ká ɛncân ɛnkárɛ́ The cows have gone to drink water from the reservoir, because the rain has put water in it. See: ol-túrótó ‘Reservoir’; sɛ́rɛ́ ‘River’; l-baá [North] ‘Stream’.
Ol-buaá ónyókíé n.prop. Place name near Koora, Kajiado District, Kenya (lit: shouts that are red). See: a-búák ‘To shout, bark’.
ɛm-búáárotó Nom sg: ɛm-buáárotó. Acc pl: im-buaarót. Nom pl: im-búaarot. n. 1 • Cry, exclamation. Átóníŋo ɛmbúáárotó tɔ ldoinyíó I have heard a cry from the hill.
2 • Making noise. See: a-búák ‘To shout, bark’; ol-kíyíóí ‘Cry of alarm’.
ɛm-búáátá Nom sg: ɛm-buaatá. [North] Acc pl: m-búáát. [North] Nom pl: m-buaát. n. Shouting, barking. Átóníŋo ɛmbúáátá ɔ́ ldia. I heard the dog's barking. (Pk). See: a-búák ‘To shout, bark’.
em-búáátá2 Nom sg: ɛm-buaatá. n. Loud sound. Ɛgɨ́ra ɛná buatá aɨtɔmɨŋán ɨltʉ́ŋáná. This loud sound is deafening the people. (Pk).
a-buaayá v. Motion away form of the verb a-búák 'shout'; to shout out; make noise while moving away. See: a-búák ‘To shout’.
a-búák [North] Acc sg: bʉ́ák. v.prog. 1 • To emit a loud noise: shout, bark. Áabʉakɨ́ ɔláyíóní. The boy will shout at me. (W). Míntóki abuaakɨ́ ɨnkɛ́ra amʉ̂ kɛ́ákʉ kuréti. Stop shouting at the children because they will become fearful. (Pk). Ɛ́mintóki áabuaak amʉ̂ kɛ́ɨ́rʉ́ra ɛnkɛráɨ́. Stop shouting because the child is sleeping. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛ́ráɨ́ abúákʉ́ aŋ. The child is shouting as she comes home. (Pk). atabʉaá To have barked (PF). Kɛ́tɔ́bʉ́ɑ́a. It barked. (S).
2 • To moo. Ɛ́bʉ́ák ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ. The cow is mooing.
a-buaayá To shout out; shout loudly like an abnormal person. Ɛgɨ́ra ɔltʉ́ŋání ɔ́mádá abuaayá. The mad man is shouting loudly. (Pk). Mɛáta ɛlʉ́kʉnyá ɨná áyíóní nábuaáya. That boy who is making noise running away is crazy. (W).
a-ɨtabuák 1 • To cause to bark. Míntóki aɨtabúák oldíá tɛ woshotó ɛ́pɛ́shɔ. Stop causing the dog to bark by unnecessary beating.
2 • To make sound.
3 • To make sth. known that should be kept secret. Míló taá aɨtabuaák, peê méníŋ aké lɛlɔ̂ tʉŋaná. Do not go and shout, so that those people do not hear it. (Pk).
a-ɨtabuakʉ́ To say sth. loud, to sound. Míntóki aɨtabuakʉ́ ororéí. Stop talking loud in the conversation. (Pk). See: a-ɨlɛmlɛ́m ‘To shout’.
em-búákínotó Nom sg: em-buakínotó. Acc pl: im-buakinót. Variant: im-buaakinót. n. 1 • Shouting. ɛ́ɨ́tɔrrɔ́nɔ̂ embuaakínotó naáíjó ɛnâ amʉ̂ kemilisho. Such shouting is bad because it can adversely affect your ears. (Pk).
2 • Barking. Kítóníŋuokí tɛ nkárakɨ́ ɛmbúáákínotó ó ldia. You were heard while coming because of the dog's barking. (Pk).
3 • Blasting. Ɛmbuaakínotó taá doí ɛnyɛ naitorikine intokitín. His blasting made me forget things. (Pk). See: a-búák ‘To shout, to bark’.
ɛm-búátá1 Nom sg: ɛm-buatá. Acc pl: ɨm-buát. Nom pl: ɨm-buât. [North] Acc pl: m-búát. [North] Nom pl: m-bûât. n. 1 • Gap between the lower front teeth where a tooth was intentionally removed. Ɛ́tɔ́n ɛ́yâ ɛnkɛ́ráɨ́ ɛmbuatá amʉ̂ ŋolé ɛ́tábúákɨ̄ [ɛ̀yà] The child is still suffering because the lower front teeth were extracted yesterday. (lit: The child's gap between the lower front teeth still hurts because the incisor teeth were extracted yesterday.) (Pk). The gap allows people to be fed during illness when the jaw cannot be opened.
2 • The extraction of the lower incisor teeth. See: a-bɔ́ ‘To extract teeth’; m-búɛ́t [North] ‘Extracting instrument’.
m-búɛ́t [North] n. [North] Extracting instrument. See: ɛm-búátá ‘Extraction’.
a-búk v.prog. To pour out, empty one container into another. Tʉ́buko kʉlɛ́ Pour the milk! (S).
a-bukitó v.prog. To keep on pouring; sobbing. Ábúkito. I keep on pouring. Ɛgɨ́ra aabukitó ilkíyio. He keeps on pouring out tears (ie. sobbing). (Pk).
a-bukokí v.dat. To pour in, pour into, pour on. Ebukóki. He will pour it in. Ebúkóki. He will pour it in. (W). Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian abukokí ɛnkárɛ́ empeút. The man is pouring water into the trough.
a-ibukoó v.dir. 1 • To pour out a fluid from many containers, pour away. Míntóki abukoó inkáríák ti áji amʉ̂ kɛ́ɨ́táshal. Stop pouring out (containers of) waters because it makes the house wet. (Pk).
2 • To pour away, waste.
3 • [North] To pour from one container into another and take away.
a-bukú v.dir. To pour out, pour towards. Ebukú enkítok ɛnkárɛ́ apɨ́k oltóo. The woman will pour the water to the water-container. Ɛgɨ́ra entitó abukú ɛnkárɛ́ to ltóô. The girl is pouring out water from the barrel. (Pk).
a-bukuníé [North] v.dir v.apl. 1 • [North] To flow steadily and heavily.
2 • To pour with or at. See: a-ibúk ‘To pour, pour back and forth’.
a-bukaashá v. To be double-minded; torn between two opinions. Tʉ́dʉtáí nabô, míntóki abukaashá. Choose one, don't be torn between two decisions.
búkóí [South] adj. [South] Brownish-yellow. Syn: sikítói ‘yellow’; túlélei ‘yellow’; dɛ́rlɛ́í ‘yellow’.
em-búku Nom sg: em-búkû. Acc pl: im-búkuí. Nom pl: im-búkuí. n. Book. Embúku ɛná. This is a book. (W). Ánótó embúku násɨ́r. I have gotten a book to write on. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛráí aɨsʉ́m embúku. The child is reading a book. (Pk). Ɛshɔmɔ́ oladúó áyíóní kɛrɛrɛ arrarrú imbúkuí tɛ kábât. That slovenly boy has gone to knock all the books out of the cupboards. (W). Borrowed word: English book. See: ɛn-kɨtábu ‘Book’; ɛm-pálāī ‘Paper, book’.
a-búl v.prog. 1 • To pierce so that sth. comes out; burst. Ébúl. He will pierce it. Kábúl ɛnê náilubúlub tɛ nkaɨná. I want to pierce this blister on my hand. (Pk). Ábúlito olgúsa lɛnyɛ́. I am piercing his/her blister. (Pk). abúl ɛnkɔŋʉ́ to poke somebody's eye. See: em-búlótó ‘Piercing’.
2 • To tear out, remove. Kébūl ɔlábáání ɔldʉtʉtáī A doctor will tear out a boil. (Pk). Eitubúlu. He will cause him to remove it (eg. via an operation).
3 • [North] To add a little milk to plain water. See: a-sɨ́r.
áa-bulu ɛnkɛ́ráí To deliver a child by Caesarean section.
a-bʉ́l v.prog. 1 • To increase in number or size (eg. beans or rice when cooking; money, cattle herd).
2 • To flourish, prosper, get rich as the result of the flourishing of one's livesotck or plants. Ɛ́bʉ́l. He will prosper. Ɛ́tʉ́bʉ́lá. He prospered. Ɛtʉ́bʉ́lá. He prospered. (W). Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian akarsisú amʉ̂ ɛ́tʉ́bʉ́lâ intókitin ɛ́nyɛná pɔ́ɔ̄kɨ̄. The man is getting rich because his things (eg. plants, animals) are increasing.
3 • To grow. Kɛ́bʉ́lɨ́ta. It is growing. (S). Ɛtʉ́bʉ́lʉ́á ɛnkɛráɨ́ amʉ̂ ɛɨbʉ́ŋá ɔltápʉ̂t. The child is now grown up because she is able to touch the ceiling. (W).
4 • To get well. Ɛgɨ́ra intárɛ áabʉl. The sheep/goats are getting well/increasing in number.
a-bʉlʉ́ Kɛ́túbúlua. It has grown up. (S). Nɛ́bʉ̄lʉ̄ aké ɛnâ kɨ́tɨ áyíóní. And this young boy grew. Kɔ́bʉlʉ́ lcáni. The tree will grow. (SN). Ɛgɨ́ra ɛnkɛráɨ́ kɨ́tɨ abʉlʉ́. The baby is growing. Nɛ́tɔn ɛnapá kɛráɨ́ abʉlʉ́. The previously-mentioned child continues to grow. (K). Kɛ́tʉ́bʉ́lʉ́a. It has grown. (S). Amʉ̂ ɛtʉbʉ́lʉtʉ́a kʉná tóyîê ɛ́ nyɛná ekeyieu na néíshōōyō Because these girls of his had grown, he wanted to give them out (for marriage). (Pk).
2 • To sprout (of plants). Ɛbʉlʉ́. It will sprout. (W). Usage: a-bʉlʉ́ refers to growing in general; a-adorú (from a-adɔ́ 'to be extended') refers to becoming extended in length or height..
a-bʉlʉbʉlʉ́ To grow little by little.
ɔl-bʉ́labʉ́li Nom sg: ɔl-bʉ́labʉ́li. [West] Acc pl: ɨl-bʉ́labʉ́l. [West] Nom pl: ɨl-bʉ́labʉ́l. n. Sign, symptom, form, shape. Óre apá náa kɛ́átāɨ̄ ɨlbʉlábʉl. A long time ago there were signs. (KS). Óre kʉná atampó náa ɨlbʉ́labʉ́l ɔɔ́ʉtʉ́ ɛncán. These clouds are signs that show it's going to rain. (W). Note: kk (W) notes that the singular is rarely used.
ɛm-búlátí [North] Acc sg: m-bʉ́láti. [North] Nom sg: m-bʉlátî. [North] Acc pl: m-bʉ́lat. [North] Nom pl: m-bʉlát. n. 1 • Stomach, intestines.
2 • Rectum.
3 • Large intestine.
4 • [South] Fat person. See: ɛnk-ɔ́shɔ́kɛ́ ‘Stomach’.
em-búlótó Nom sg: em-bulotó. n. 1 • Piercing.
2 • [North] Poking. See: a-búl ‘To prod, tear out’.
búlû [North] n.m. [North] Paint for eyes or adorning chest; typically pink.
l-búnat [North] Nom sg: l-bunát. Acc pl: l-búnatin. Nom pl: l-búnatín. n. [North] Very heavy metal spear. This kind of spear is used by people with strength. See: ɛm-pɛ́rɛ́ ‘Spear’.
ol-búnkéí Nom sg: ol-bunkéí. [òlbùŋkéy] Acc pl: il-búnkei. [ìlbúŋkei] two final moras] n. Member of parliament. Elotú olbunkéí aasakɨ́ ɨ́nâ sukúul harampée peê ɛshɛt inkalasiní náatɔŋɔrɔ̂. The Member of Parliament will come to do a harambee (fundraiser) for that school so that they can build the remaining classes. (W). Borrowed word: Swahili.
ɔl-bʉ́ŋaɨ Nom sg: ɔl-bʉ́ŋáɨ. Acc pl: ɨl-bʉŋáɨ́kɔ̄(k). Nom pl: ???. [North] Acc pl: l-bʉŋáíko. n. 1 • Male calf. Ɔlbʉ́ŋaɨ oshî aké eyíú ɛnkɨ́tɛŋ arashɨ entá A cow always gives birth to a male calf or to a female calf. (Pk). For paying debts, a male calf is equivalent to a full-grown castrated ram or castrated he-goat. Consequently, Maasais have olkér lɔ́ɔ́láshê 'a castrated ram of a male calf', or olkíné lɔ́ɔ́láshê 'a castrated he-goat of a male calf'. Generally, ɔlbʉ́ŋaɨ is a little lower in value than a female calf. The latter can be given to settle the debt of an oxen; but one would need two or more male calves to settle such a debt.
2 • Bull.
3 • [North] Male of any species. Syn: sɨtɨmâ [North] ‘Male (human or animal)’.
l-bʉŋáɨ́kɔ n. Ox.
a-bʉrʉkʉ́sh v. To dislocate (bones). See: a-gɨ́l ‘To break; get a fracture’.
a-bʉrʉkʉshá v.mid. Ɛtʉbʉrʉkʉ́shɛ emûrt ɛ́ nkáíná. The wrist has been dislocated.
a-bʉrʉkʉshʉ́ v.dir. Ant: a-ishóp ‘To put on; wear’. To strip off clothes, ornaments, shoes.
em-búrra Nom sg: em-búrrâ. Acc pl: im-búrraí. Nom pl: im-búrraí. [West] Acc sg: pattern above.. n. Cat. Etóókó embúrra kʉlɛ́. The cat has drunk the milk. (Pk). Usage: See dialect variants at. See: em-puús ‘Cat’.
l-bʉ̂s [North] [North] Nom sg: l-bʉ̂s. n. [North] Serious contagious disease of sheep and humans characterized by a swollen throat.
ɨl-búsabús [South] Nom pl: ɨl-búsabús. n.pl. [South] Scabies. See: ɔl-pepédoi ‘Scabies’.
ɨl-bʉsʉbʉ́s Acc pl: il-bʉsʉbʉ́s. [North] Acc sg: l-busubúsi. [North] Nom sg: l-búsubúsi. [North] Acc pl: l-busubús. [North] Nom pl: l-búsubús. n. Lung. See: ol-kipíêî ‘Lung’.
ɛ́m-bútúa [North] Acc sg: m-butúai. [N: mbùtúay] [North] Nom sg: m-bútuai. n. Pectoral muscle, breast. Káayá mbútuai ɛ́ tɛ́tɛ́nɛ́. My right pectoral muscle/breast hurts. (SN). See: em-putúai ‘Pectoral muscle’.
m-butúáî [North] [North] Nom sg: m-bútuai. [North] Acc pl: m-butúá. [North] Nom pl: m-bútua. n. [North] Breast (of both men and women). See: ɔl-kɨ́na ‘Breast’.
l-búután [North] n. [North] Ceremony held about four days after the birth of a child (or up to several months or definitely before the child is circumcised ) when an ox or sheep is slaughtered outside the mother's house. Prior to this ceremony, the father does not go near his wife's house.