Ny - ny
ny Letter sequence representing the Maa alveopalatal nasal sound [ɳ].
a-nyá v.prog. 1 • To eat sth. chewable. Ányáɨ́ta ɛndáa. I am eating food. (K). Ányɛ́ɨ́ta ~ Ányáɨ́ta ɛndáa. I am eating food. (W). Kɛ́nyɛ́ɨ́ta ndáa. He is eating food. (S). Ágɨ́ra aanyá ɛndáa. I am eating the food. (W). Mɛnyáɨ́. It is not edible (does not taste good, is not well cooked, etc.). Álótú anyá ɛná dáa tɛ náshukúnye. I will eat this food when I return. (W). Men may not eat food that falls into the class of items consumed as a-nyá in the presence of certain women, such as their mother-in-laws. Syn: a-ɨnɔ́s, a-ám ‘To eat’. See: a-daá ‘To eat’.
2 • To consume, burn. Ɛ́nyá ɛnkɨ́ma ɛnkáŋ. The fire will consume the home. Náanyá. It [a fire] burned me.
3 • To spend (or use) all. anyá iropiyianí To spend all money. anyá inkíshú To sell all cows.
4 • To discuss (as in a meeting). Nɛ́nyāɨ̄ aké dúóó entúmō. They held a meeting. (lit: They ate the meeting.).
1 •
a-nyaɨshɔ́ v.apass. 1 • To have sexual relations (with a woman).
2 • To eat (intransitive), bite. Míséyie aké ɛldɛ́ dîâ amʉ̂ ɛnyɛ́ɨ́shɔ. Don't disturb that dog because it bites (ie. it's wild). (W).
a-nyá nalʉmɛ́ [North] Variant: a-nyá nalʉmɛ̂. v.prog v.phrase. [North] To yawn (lit: To eat the yawn). Kɛ́nyáɨ́ta nalʉmɛ́. [kɛ́ɲáɪ́ta, two morae in penultimate syllable] She is yawning. (lit: He/She is eating yawn.) (SN). See: a-ám ɛnalʉ́mɛ ‘To sneeze’.
áa-nya kúik v.pl v.phrase. To play hide-and-seek (lit: to eat "kuik"). kúik is the sound a child makes to call others to come and search for him/her as he/she hides.
a-nyá esúmâsh v.phrase. To be hungry. Náanyâ esúmâsh ŋolé. I felt hungry yesterday. (lit: Hunger ate me yesterday.). Áanyâ esúmâsh tááisére. I will feel hungry tomorrow. Kínyá esúmâsh? Will you feel hunger? Note: Compare: Kínyá 'It will eat you.'
a-nyá ɔlmʉmâî v.phrase. To take (lit: eat) an oath.
a-nyá lɔmɔ́n [North] [North] To discuss (lit: to eat news).
a-nyá elíyio [North] To feel lonely.
a-nyá lkɨlɨkuái [North] To evade delivering a message (lit: to eat the message).
a-nyakɨ́ [North] v.dat. [North] To tell to, discuss with.
a-nyaʉ́ [North] v.dir. [North] To explain sth.
a-nyaaká PF.PL: -nyaákɨtâ. In some suffixed forms: -nyaakak. NPF: a-itokí. v.pf. To have repeated sth. Ányááka aitukú inkikompení. I washed the cups again. Ááta ɛncɨpái sápʉk amʉ̂ kɨ́nyááká alotú aɨrɔrɔkɨ́. I have great happiness/joy because you have come to greet me again. (Pk). Ɛnyaáká oshî táatá enturoré ɔ́ ngumót asapukú pésho. There is/has been an increase in the digging of holes with no apparent cause. (Pk). See: a-ɨgɨ́l; a-itokí ‘To do again, repeat’.
nyáakɨ́ v.imp. Suppletive imperative or perfect(ive) of a-itokí; repeat it!; do sth. again. Nyáakɨ́ shɔ́mɔ íyakɨ́ ɛnkákuiyia ɛnkʉrmá. Go again and bring maize to your grandmother. (W). Nyáakɨ́ shɔ́mɔ íyakákɨ ɛnkʉrmá. Go again and get me maize. (W). See: a-itokí ‘To repeat’.
a-nyaál v. 1 • To chew.
2 • To scornfully express contempt or disdain to s.o.
3 • [North] To physically make somebody appear useless by a repeated assault.
a-nyaalá v.mid. To be ill, sick, unwell (lit: To have been chewed). Usage: metaphorical. Mɛ́ɨ́dɨm ɛnkɛráí ashɔ́mɔ sukúul amʉ̂ kɛ́nyaála. The child cannot go to school because she/he is unwell. ɔltʉŋáni ɔnyaála person who is ill, sick, unwell. Syn: a-múéí ‘To be sick; ill’. See: a-nyaál ‘To chew’; a-ibisíóŋ ‘To be ill’.
ɛ-nyaalái n. Sickness, illness. See: a-nyáál ‘To chew’.
ɛ-nyaaláti Nom sg: ɛ-nyááláti ?. Acc pl: ɨ-nyaalát. Nom pl: ɨ-nyáálat ?. n. Quid (of tobacco).
ɛ-nyaánca n. Large gourd for serving beer, with narrow (potentially crooked) neck and spherical body. See: en-kúkúrí ‘Calabash’.
áa-nyaanyʉk v.pl. To look or be alike, resemble. See: a-nyanyʉ́k ‘To resemble’.
a-nyaanyukíé v. To resemble s.o. or sth.
nyáāī v.imp. Go again. Nyáāī NEGST Go again to NEGST. Ínyaáí Nairobi (i) Take it back to Nairobi. (ii) Take it towards Nairobi. See: nyákʉ ‘Come again’; a-inyaayá ‘To take it back’.
l-nyábíté [North] [North] Nom sg: l-nyabité. n. [North] Character, behavior. See: ɛm-pɨ́kátá ‘Putting; character’.
nyábʉrr [North] [North] Nom sg: nyabʉ́rr. [North] Acc pl: nyábúrrî, nyáburrí. [North] Nom pl: nyaburrî. n. 1 • [North] Container made of wood with skin on both ends for storing oil, honey.
2 • [North] Wooden calabash used for long-term storage of meat and fat, about 28 cm tall by 11 cm diameter.
nyákʉ v.imp v.pf. Come again. Nyákʉ tɛldɛ́ árî. Come again next year. Ányákūā NEGST. I came again to NEGST. See: nyáāī ‘Go again’.
nyalááti [North] [North] Nom sg: nyálaáti. [North] Acc pl: nyaláát. [North] Nom pl: nyálaát. n. [North] Quid of tobacco. See: a-nyaál ‘To chew’.
l-nyálɨ́gɔ́ɨ́ [North] n. [North] Tree sp. Grewia similis.
a-nyamál v. 1 • To fuss. Eéwuo oloshî tʉŋání óítanyamalɨ́shɔ. That person who is troublesome has come.
2 • To be busy (eg. loaded down with responsibility. ɔltʉŋáni ɔnyámal a person who is busy.
a-ɨtanyamál v.cause. 1 • To inconvenience, bother.
2 • To annoy, disturb.
a-nyamalú v.incep. 1 • To become overloaded with responsibility.
2 • To become bothered, become disturbed by a problem. See: a-yɛ́k ‘To bother’.
ɛ-nyamálī Nom sg: ɛ-nyámalí. Nom pl: ɨ-nyámalitin. [North] Nom sg: nyámali. [North] Acc pl: nyamalitín, nyamalotín. [North] Nom pl: nyámalitín, nyámalotín. n. Difficulty, problem, trouble. Ɛáta ɛlɛ́ páyian ɛnyamálī. This man has troubles. (W). See: a-nyamál ‘To fuss’; en-gólótó ‘Difficulty’.
ɛ-nyámu Nom sg: ɛ-nyámû. Acc pl: ɨ-nyámīn. Nom pl: ɨ-nyamín. n. 1 • The theft of livestock, which is the most serious theft possible. If a theft is declared ɛnyámu, it is punishable by paying 9 cows (or some other number of cows where the numeral ends in 9). If the fine is not paid, it is believed that the thief will die. Only a group of elders together can decide whether a theft constitutes ɛ-nyámu. It is also a most serious offence for anyone else in addition to the actual thief to touch or consume the stolen item. Ɛ́ɨ́nɔ́sá ɛldɛ́ páyian ɛnyámu ɔɔ́ ɨntarɛ́ ɛ́nkáŋ âŋ. That man has stolen from the flocks of our home. See: ɔl-áínyámoní ‘A thief’; ɛm-púrrōrrre ‘Theft’.
2 • The theft by one Maasai of another Maasai's cow or sheep, and his consumption of that meat. Ɛ-nyámu involves both the stealing and the eating of the cow/sheep. This is a culturally serious crime. If a man is found guilty of ɛnyámu, he might be required to pay back as much as seven cows for the theft of the one cow. The decision about the crime and payment is discussed in a meeting of elders. Those who feasted on the meat, regardless of whether or not they did the stealing and regardless of whether or not they knew they were eating stolen meat, are also tried for ɛ-nyámu. Ɛɨtaláakɨ́ ɔlmʉ́rrāni ɔɨnɔsá ɛnyámu inkíshú naápishana . The warrior who stole and ate was fined five cows.
3 • The theft and sale of the meat (rather than the consumption). Usage: modern.
ɔl-nyányāī Nom sg: ɔl-nyanyáí. Acc pl: ɨl-nyánya. Nom pl: ɨl-nyányâ. n. Tomato. See: ɔl-nyɛ́nyāī ‘Tomato’.
a-nyanyʉ́k v. To resemble, be like. Ɛnyányʉk elíyîô ɔ́ bátísho Loneliness is more or less like danger. (Pk). See: áa-nyaanyʉk ‘To resemble’.
L-nyápárraɨ [North] [North] Nom pl: L-nyaparráɨ́. n.prop n.pl. [North] A phratry in the black cattle moiety.
ɛ-nyarú Nom sg: ɛ-nyárū. Acc pl: ɨ-nyaruní. Nom pl: ɨ-nyáruní. n. Type of grass.
l-nyárrá [North] Nom sg: l-nyarrá. Acc pl: l-nyarraní. n. [North] Cheetah. See: ol-owuarú kerî ‘leopard’.
l-nyárrarrâ [North] [North] Acc pl: l-nyarrarraní. [North] Nom pl: l-nyárrarraní. n. [North] Cheetah. Found north of the Ndooto mountains as of 1996.
nyátíó [North] [North] Nom sg: nyatíó. [North] Acc pl: nyátîôn. [North] Nom pl: nyatíón. n. [North] Butter churn, made from a large calabash strapped with leather and suspended from the roof so that it can be churned by pulling a rope.
nyátúpá [North] [North] Nom sg: nyatupá. [North] Acc pl: nyatúpân. [North] Nom pl: nyátupá. n. [North] Traditional bowl. See: n-cáráá [North] ‘Bowl’. Etymology: ?< Turkana.
e-nyaú [South] n. [South] Cat. See: em-puús ‘Cat’.
e-nyaʉ́ Nom sg: e-nyáʉ̄. Acc pl: i-nyaûn. Nom pl: i-nyáūn. n. 1 • General term for lots of small, unsorted things when the specific name is not known, eg. insects, food.
2 • Issues, matters. Óre naá peê ɛakʉ́ nkulîê nyaûn, nɛ́ákʉ́ ɨlɛ́wá ɔ́ as ɔ̂pɛ́ny. When it comes to other issues, it is the men who do them alone.
ɛ-nyáwá Variant: ɛ-nyɛ́wá. Nom sg: ɛ-nyawá. Acc pl: ɨ-nyáwáītie. Variant: ɨ-nyɛ́wáítie. Nom pl: ɨ-nyawaitíé. [North] Acc pl: nyáwáci. [North] Nom pl: nyawací. n. Milk-producing organ; udder; woman's breasts. Ɨlkɨ́ oshî oóŋuan óotií ɛnyɛ́wá ɛ́ nkɨ́tɛ́ŋ náaa aáre óotií ɛnɛ́ nkíné. The udder of a cow always has four teats and a goat has two. Káamê ɛnyɛwá. My breast(s) is painful. ɨnyɛ́wáítie ɔɔ́ nkíshú Udders of the cows. See: ɔl-kɨ́na ‘Breast, teat’.
ɔl-nyɛ́nyāī [ɔ̀lnyɛ́nyay] [West] Acc pl: ɨl-nyɛ́nya. n. Tomato. See: ɔl-nyányāī ‘Tomato’.
nyéregés [North] [North] Nom sg: nyéregés. [North] Acc pl: nyéregésí. n. [North] Stick used for pulling thorn branches. See: ol-koncóorr ‘Hook for pulling thorn branches’.
ɛ-nyɛ́wá udder. See: ɛ-nyáwá.
nyɨ́bɛlɛ́t [North] [North] Nom sg: nyɨ́bɛlɛ́t. [North] Acc pl: nyibeletí. [North] Nom pl: nyíbeletí. n. [North] Crook-shaped walking stick popular with the Turkana people.
a-nyɨ́k v. To approach, meet. Ɔldúruk lɛ́ ntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́nɨ lɛ́mɛ̄ɨ̄shɔ̄ ɛnyɨkakɨ́ ɔlɛ́ɛ̂ The dirt of the woman who has just given birth which does not allow a man to approach her.
áa-nyɨka v.pl v.mid. To be close together.
a-nyɨkakɨ́ v.dat. To draw near to. Kátɨ́nyɨ́káka. I have gone near it. (S).
a-nyɨkaá v.dir. 1 • To meet going away.
2 • To go further away from s.o.
a-nyɨkarɛ́ v.mid v.inst. To be near to.
a-nyɨkʉ́ v.dir. To approach, come near, meet.
a-ɨtɨnyɨ́k v.cause. 1 • [North] To place near.
2 • To bring together.
ɛ-nyɨ́kákínotó n. 1 • Approach, access.
2 • [North] Nearness, proximity. See: a-nyɨ́k ‘To approach, meet’.
a-nyɨkɨtá v. To be near to.
a-nyɨ́l v. 1 • To be oily, greasy.
2 • To sparkle, glitter, glisten.
3 • [North] To be smooth.
a-ɨtɨnyɨ́l To make oily.
ɛ-nyɨlán n. Oilyness. See: a-nyɨ́l ‘To be fat’; ɛ-ɨ́látá ‘Fat, oil’.
e-nyílás Nom sg: e-nyilás. Acc pl: i-nyílásí. Nom pl: i-nyilasí. n. 1 • Gap where tooth was unintentionally lost or did not grow. Syn: ɔl-kɨŋɛsʉ́ ‘Unintentional gap in teeth’.
2 • Meat.
a-nyím v. 1 • To dislike a certain kind of food.
2 • [North] To dislike working with s.o.
a-nyɨ́m [North] v. [North] To smile. See: a-nyimó ‘To smile’.
a-nyimó v. To smile.
nyinyôî [North] [North] Nom sg: nyínyoi. [North] Acc pl: nyinyó. [North] Nom pl: nyínyo. n. [North] Residue, dregs (eg. of soup borth, milk).
í-nyíô [íɲyô] Acc pl: ényiotó. v.imp. To rise up. Áuuûî! lóórére ényiotó amʉ̂ ɛwákɨ ɨntaré inyî! Help! People, wake up! because somebody has stolen your sheep! See: a-inyototó ‘To get up’.
e-nyírbat n. Lip. See: en-coní ɛ́ nkʉ́tʉ́k ‘Lip’; sɔ́ɔtɛ ɛ́ nkʉ́tʉ́k [North] ‘Lip’; en-giremu(u) [South] ‘Lip’.
nyɨ́rɨg [North] Nom sg: nyɨ́rɨ́g, nyɨ́rɨ̂g. [North] Acc pl: nyírigi, nyírigî. [North] Nom pl: nyírigí, nyírígî. n. Baby camel, camel calf. See: n-tamɨ́s [North] ‘Camel’; l-aúrr [North] ‘Male camel’. Borrowed word: Somali or Cushitic nirig 'baby camel'.
ɛ-nyɨ́rt Nom sg: ɛ-nyɨ̂rt. Acc pl: ɨ-nyɨrtá. Nom pl: ɨ-nyɨ́rta. [North] Nom sg: nyɨ́rt. n. 1 • Gum (of mouth).
2 • Mouth. See: en-daket; ɛn-kʉ́tʉ́k ‘Mouth’.
a-nyít v. To shame ? See: ɛn-kʉrrʉ́ná ‘Shame’.
-nyo v.pf v.imp. Singular Imperative root for a-inyototó 'to wake up'. Ínyô! Wake up! (KS). See: a-inyototó ‘To wake up’.
nyɔ́ [North] pn.inter. [North] What? See: nyɔ́ɔ́ ‘What’.
a-nyók v. To try. See: a-tɛ́m ‘To try, measure’; a-saán ‘To try’.
a-nyɔ́k Variant: a-nyók (??). v.prog. v.prog. To work hard. Ɛ́nyɔ́k ɔlcékut aɨrrɨtá inkíshú peê mɛ́ɨ́mɨn. The shepherd will work hard to look after cows, so that they do not get lost. (Pk). Ɛnárɛ̄ nɛ́nyɔk inkɛ́râ pɔ́ɔkɨ náatií sukúul. All the children in school ought to work hard. (Pk). Ɛ́tɔ́nyúáá ɔlárɛ́wání abɔɨ́n ɛngárri. The driver has worked hard to change the direction of the car. (Pk). Óre dúóó nɨnyɛ́ ɔlbáɛ lɛnyɛ́ náa kɛ́mʉ́taɨ amʉ̂ ɨmɛnyɔkɨ́taɨ. According to his opinion, people will die (of hunger) because they are not working hard. (Pk).
2 • v.prog. To try hard, make an attempt. See: e-nyúáátá ‘Hard work’.
a-nyokíé [North]: a-nyʉkɨ́ɛ́. In some suffixed forms: -nyokien. v.pl: -nyokíōō. v.s. To be red in color, ripe-tomato red, brownish-red; the color of a Black person with a light complexion, the color of a white person who is sunburned. Enyokíé ɛná tókî. This thing is red. (W). Kényokíé ŋolé olashé óíminá. The calf that got lost yesterday is red. (Pk). ɔltʉŋáni ónyókíé a person with light brown skin (Pk). nányókíé (that) which is red. Etíī entitó nányokie kʉ́tʉ́kají énkajiâŋ. A red girl is at the door of our house. (Pk). For some speakers, a-nyokíé could be applied to blood, though a-dɔ́(r) is prototypical for blood. For some this may be a more general 'red' color term, covering red, maroon, scarlet, red-brown. Others seem to rarely use it.
a-nyokienú v.incep. To become red, redden. See: sɔpía ‘Dark’; e-múgíé ‘Brown’; a-dɔ́(r) ‘To be red’.
ɛ-nyokíénī n. Redness. Enyokíénī ɔpá ɛndâ térít kítonyorrâ peê kítúúnô ínê. It was the redness of the soil that we liked, and that is why we planted there. (Pk).
nyɔ́lɛ̂ [North] n. [North] Ulcerating skin infection of humans.
nyɔ́ɔ́ What, what for. See: ɨ́nyɔ̄ɔ̄ ‘What’; nyɔ́ [North] ‘What’.
nyɔ́ɔ́rtɛ̂ [North] n. [North] Plants useless for fodder.
a-nyɔrɛ́ v. 1 • To be suitable.
2 • To be opposite. See: a-iririkinó; a-ishiaá; a-narɛ́ ‘To be suitable’.
a-nyɔrɨ́ In some suffixed forms: nyɔrɨj. v.s. To be green, as of vegetation. Íyaú ɛndâ bénéyíó nanyɔ́rɨ. Bring that leaf which is green. Kɛ́nyɔ́rɨ oltîm ŋolé ɔ́yawuakɨ́. The branch of tree that was brought yesterday for closing the gate is green. nanyɔ́rɨ that which is green. Óre ɛnkɨlâ naishopíto Leonard náa emúá nanyɔ́rɨ. The cloth that Leonard is wearing is color that is green. (W).
a-nyorijú v.incep. To become green.
l-nyórigé [North] Acc pl: l-nyórigên. Nom sg: l-nyorigé. Nom pl: l-nyórigên. n. [North] Junior warrior. See: ɔl-mʉ́rráni ‘Warrior’; ɔl-ŋéétíáí ‘Senior elder’.
a-nyɔ́r(r) kɛwán v. To be selfish (lit: to love self).
a-nyɔ́rr v v.aux+Sbjn-Infinitive. 1 • To like, love (possibly romantically). Mɛ́nyɔ́rr ɨltʉŋaná olwuasá, káke kɛ́nyɔ́r esúpátisho. People don't like arrogance, but they like calmness. Kɛ́nyɔ́rr alɛ́ tʉŋání atarrésho ŋúési. This man likes trapping animals. (Pk). Kɨ́ntɔ́nyɔ̄rrā ŋolé. You (sg.) made me love it. (W). See: a-cám [North] ‘To like, love’; a-shɨpá ‘To be happy’.
2 • To be pleased with s.o. or sth.
3 • To love romantically.
a-nyɔraá v.dir. To agree, accept (things, people, ideas), consent.
a-nyɔrrakɨ́ v.dat. To have love for.
a-nyɔrrakinó v.dat v.mid. To agree. áanyɔrrakino entóki nabô to agree on one thing.
a-nyɔrraríé v.dir v.inst. To agree with.
a-nyɔrrɨkɨ́ v.dat. 1 • To find out.
2 • [North] To accept s.o.'s word.
a-nyɔrraá v.dir. 1 • To accept, agree, consent. See: a-irúk ‘To permit, agree’; a-camá [North] ‘To agree’.
2 • To permit. See: a-ɨshɔ́ ‘To give, permit’.
ɛ-nyɔ́rrátá Nom sg: ɛ-nyɔrratá. n. 1 • Liking, love. Ɛnyányʉk ɛnyɔrratá nányɔr ɔltʉ́ŋání ɔlcɔrɛ́ ɛ́nanyɔr ɛncɔrúɛ́t. The love s.o. has for his male friend is the same as that for a female friend. (Pk).
2 • Predilection.
il-nyórri n. Type of bees. See: il-otórok ‘Bees’.
ɛ-nyɔrrɨ́kɨ v.aux. Find out, discover, suddenly realize. Etódúá Kɨ́mɛlɨ ajó kégól ɛntɛmatá. Náajokí ɨ́sʉmá embólúnotó eoŋúán. Nɛ́kɛnyʉ́ kíâs ɛntɛ́mátá. Nájádɔ̄l, kóre ɨmbáa kúmok néíŋúaa embólúnotó eoŋúán. Ɛnyɔrrɨ́kɨ (ɔl)adúani Kɨ́mɛlɨ. Kimeli felt the test would be hard. Then he told me I should read chapter four. The following morning we did the exam. When I tried to observe [during the exam], a lot of questions came from Chapter Four. I discovered Kimeli has foresight. (W). Ɛnyɔrrɨ́kɨ ɨ́rá ŋên! So [s.o. just realized], you are clever! (W). Ɛnyɔrrɨ́kɨ árá ŋên! So, I am clever! [eg. I was sure I would fail the exam, but in fact passed with very high marks; so I suddenly realize I understand/am clever.].
e-nyúáátá [North] Nom sg: nyuaatá. n. Hard workingness, effort, perseverence. ɔltʉŋáni ɔáta enyúáátá a person who is hardworking (lit: person who has hardworkingness). See: a-nyɔ́k ‘To work hard’.
i-nyúát n.pl. Efforts.
a-nyʉkɨ́ɛ́ [North] PL: áa-nyukuo. v.s. [North] To be red (sg.). Kenyukûô. They are red. (S). See: a-nyokíé ‘To be red’.
áa-nyukuo [North] v.pl. [North] To be red (of plural entity). See: a-nyʉkɨ́ɛ́ ‘To be red (sg)’.
nyúlûâ [North] [North] Nom sg: nyúlûâ. [North] Acc pl: nyulwání. n. [North] Small light-weight spear used by boys, having a long shaft and a small blade. See: ɛm-pɛ́rɛ́ ‘Spear’.
e-nyúntu Nom sg: e-nyúntû. Acc pl: i-nyúntui. Nom pl: i-nyúntuí. [North] Acc sg: nyúnto. n. Tool with metal head and wooden handle, made for pounding; hammer. Ɨncɔɔ́kɨ enyúntu náóshóríé ɛlɛ̂ mʉshʉmáa. Give me a hammer that I can use to drive this nail. Borrowed word: Swahili nyundo 'hammer'. See: ol-kumá ‘Mallet’.
nyunyú [North] n. [North] Type of mushroom that grows on anthills. See: ɔl-ápa ‘mushroom’.
a-nyʉnyʉ́k [North] v. [North] To be similar, be the same (in color or shape). See: a-dɨ́p [North] ‘To be similar’; áa-risio ‘To be equal, the same’.
a-nyunyukoré [North] v.dir v.inst. [North] To resemble.