Maa

W - w

w In Maasai there are two contrasting labio-velar glide phonemes, one that is lenis /w/ and one that is more strongly articulated /wu/. In the latter case it is spelled by the addition of the vowel u. Compare a-iwúáŋ: to get away from; a-wúáp: to snatch; and a-wáŋ: to be bright; a-wál: to answer.Letter representing the Maa lightly-articulated labio-velar glide phoneme.

ɛ-wá Variant: -awa. In some suffixed forms: -wak. v.pf. Perfect(ive) and subjunctive form of the verb a-yá 'to take'; took, taken. Ɛwá dúóó ɛnkɨlâ. He took the cloth. (Pk). Ɛwá ɔltámúéyíáí sipitáli. He has taken a sick person to hospital. (Pk). Áwa ɛnkárɛ́ ɛnkají ɛnyɛ̂. I have carried water to their house. (Pk). Káwa. I took it. (S). peyíê étûm aáwa so that he could take us (C). Ɛwákɨ dúóó Kɨ́mʉ́nyák sipitáli amʉ̂ ɛ́ɨ́nɔ́sá ŋolé ɛsáyíét. Kimunyak has been taken to the hospital today because he had eaten poison yesterday. (Pk). Ɛ́tányá eirúk ajó nɨnyɛ́ ɔɔ́wá olkér láí. He has denied that he is the one who took (stole) my castrated ram. (Pk). Ɛgɨ́ra ɔlpáyian aturú ɨlɔmɔ́n lɔɔ́rpúrishó ɔɔ́waitâ inkíshú. The man is finding out information about the thieves who took (stole) cows. (Pk). Ɨ́wa ɛncatá nabô! Take one thousand! (singular addressee) (W). Ɨ́wa oŋúán! Take four! (W). Ɛ́waɨtá! Take it! (plural addressee). Ɛwáɨ́ta. They have taken it. Ɛwákɨ ɔlápa. The moon has been taken (ie. it is the first sighting of the new moon). Nɛ́rɛwakɨnɨ́ ɛnkáŋ é ntítō inkíshú. They will take cows to the girl's home. (W). awá ɛŋkárɛ́ To carry water. See: a-náp; a-yá ‘To carry’.

waáre [North] num. [North] Two (masculine). See: aré ‘Two (fem)’; aáre ‘Two (masc)’.

l-wááta [North] [North] Nom sg: l-waatá. n. [North] Edge (eg. of a table); encirclement.

a-wál [North]: a-wál, a-wɔ́l. v.prog. 1 • To answer, reply to. awál enkíkílíkúánata to answer a question (Pk).

2 • To exchange.

a-itawál v.cause. To question; make s.o. answer a question. Eitáwal ɔláɨ́tɛ́ŋɛ́nání ɨnkɛ́ra tɛ súkuúl The teacher asks questions to children in school. (Pk). See: a-lɨmʉ́ ‘To answer’.

a-walá v.mid. 1 • To be answered. Ɛgɨ́ra nɨ́nyɛ ɨnâ kikilikúánatá awalá. That question is getting answered. (Pk).

2 • To be changed, transfigured; change color. Kɛ́gɨ́ra ená tókî awalá aakʉ́ tɔrrɔ́nɔ. This thing is changing to become bad. Ɛgɨ́ra ŋóto tankí awalá. The chameleon is changing colours. (Pk).

áa-wala v.mid.pl. To interchange. Ɨncɔ́ɔ́ ɛɛwalá kʉnâ péria aŋ; níyá íyíá ɛnâ, náyá nanʉ́ ɨnâ. Let us interchange these spears of ours; you take this one and I take that one. (Pk).

a-walaá v.dir. 1 • To keep on answering. Nínyɛ́ doí aké ɔ́gɨ́rá awalaá nɛ́ná kikilikuanát ɨmɛtíí lɨ́kaɨ He is the only one who keeps answering those questions; no one else does. (Pk).

2 • To exchange. Ɨncɔɔ́ ɛwalaá ɛnâ kɨ́tɛ́ŋ olupí aɨnyaŋʉ́ áɨ́. Let him exchange this barren cow by buying another one. (Pk).

a-walɨkɨ́ v.dat. To answer s.o.

a-walʉ́ v.dir. 1 • To answer sth. out. Ɨncɔɔ́ dúóó ɛwalʉ́ nɨ́nyɛ, peê intóki íyíé ɛnkáɨ́ Let him/her answer that one, so that you will do the other. (Pk).

2 • To solve sth.

ɛ-wálátá Nom sg: ɛ-walatá. Acc pl: ɨ-walát. Nom pl: ɨ-wálat. [North] Acc sg: wálátá, wálɛ́tá, wɔ́lɛ́tá. [North] Nom sg: walatá. [North] Acc pl: walát, walɛ́t, wɔlɛ́t. [North] Nom pl: walát. n. 1 • Answer, reply, response. Ɨ́ncɔɔ ɛwálátá naɨdɨ́mʉ nɛna kikilikuanát ɛnyɛ́na. Give him an answer that will answer those questions of his. (Pk).

2 • Change, exchange. Ɛlɛ̂ áshɛ́ apá ɛwalatá ɔlápa kɨ́nɛ́ ɔtɛyiaŋa. This calf is what he gave for the exchange of the castrated he-goat he slaughtered. (Pk).

3 • Translation. Ɨ́ncɔɔ taá peê ɛlɨmʉ́ tɛ nkʉtʉ́k ɔ́ɔlashʉmpá nɨ́ncɔ́rʉ iwalát tɛ nkʉtʉ́k ɔ́ɔ̄ lMáásâɨ̂. If he speaks in English, give the translations in Maa. (Pk). Syn: ɛ-walɛ́t, ɛ-wálíkínotó ‘Answer’.

ɛ-walɛ́t Nom sg: ɛ-wálɛt. [North] Acc sg: ɛ-wɔlɛ́t. n. Verbal form used in response to sth.; chorus, refrain, response, answer. Ɛnâ ɛwálɛt ɛ́ ɨ́lɔ sínkólīō. This is the refrain of that song. (Pk).

wálɛ́tá [North] n. [North] Answer. See: ɛ-wálátá ‘Answer’.

a-walɨkɨ́ [North]: a-wɔlɨkɨ́. v. 1 • To answer. Ɨ́ncɔɔ dúóó kɨ́wálɨ́kɨ nɨ́nyɛ amʉ̂ nɨnyɛ́ óyiolo. Let him answer you because he is the one who knows. (Pk).

2 • To respond by disagreeing with s.o.'s idea; refuse to agree with a proposal. Ɛgɨ́ra entió awalɨkɨ́ mɛnyɛ. The girl is disagreeing with her father's idea. (Pk).

ɛ-wálíkínotó [North] Acc sg: walíkínotó. n. Answer. See: ɛ-wálátá ‘Answer’; wɔlíkínotó [North] ‘Answer’; a-walɨkɨ́ ‘To answer’.

ɛ-walɨ́na n. Pendant. See: ol-bisíli ‘Pendant’.

a-wám v. To hear. Syn: a-níŋ ‘To hear’.

ɛ-wamɛ́t n. Ear; thing to hear with.

a-wán [Chamus] [North]: a-wɔɔ́n. v. [North] To melt. See: a-shɔ́l ‘To melt’.

a-wáŋ [North]: a-wáŋ a-wɔ́ŋ. v.s. 1 • To be open (of country). Kɛ́wáŋ ené wúéjî ḿmɛ entîm ánaa anadoí wúéji nikíŋúa. This place is open, not bush like where we came from. Ɛgɨ́ra áaɨtawaŋ ɛ́mʉ́kʉ́ntâ peê étúmí áatutur. The ground is being cleared so that it can be tilled. (Pk).

2 • To be bright, light. Tɛ ɛndámâ oshî ɛwáŋ ɛnkɔ̂p. It is during daylight that earth is bright. (Pk). Kéwáŋ ené aláŋ ine netíī. There is more light here than there. (Pk). Káke ɛwáŋ ɛná kɔ̂p, ɛnɛ́mɛ́ɛ́ta entóki nɨ́mɨ́dɔ́l. But this land is bright; you can virtually see everything. (Pk). Máítīēū ashɔ́mɔ tɛ mísimísī áányʉ́ mɛtáwaŋá. I fear going in the darkness; I will wait until it is bright. (W).

3 • To be clear. Ɛtawáŋā enkoitóí amʉ̂ etuuróyiokí ilkeék. The path has become clear because the trees were felled.

4 • To shine.

a-waŋú v.dir. [North]: a-woŋú. To become visually light, get light. Eitérūā awaŋú amʉ̂ eilépūā ɛnkɔ́lɔŋ. It is getting light because the sun has risen.

ɔltʉŋáni ɔwáŋ ɔltâʉ̂ Person who has a clean heart ie. has no bad intentions. See: e-wáŋ ‘Brightness’.

ɛ-wáŋ [West] n. [West] Brightness.

ɛ-waŋán Nom sg: ɛ-waŋán. Variant: ɛ-wáŋan. [North] Acc sg: wɔŋɔ́n, wɔŋán. n.sg. Lightness, brightness (from the sun or a light fixture). Eéuo ɛwaŋán amʉ̂ kémīsīmīs náají. Lightness has come because it was dark awhile ago. Eéuo ɛwáŋan. The light has come. [possible, but rare]. Eéuo taá nɨnyɛ́ ɛwaŋán amʉ̂ einuáákɨ ɨltáaí. There is light because the lamps have been put on. (Pk). See: a-wɔ́ŋ [North] ‘To be clear’.

l-waó [North] [North] Nom sg: l-wáó. [North] Acc pl: l-waôn. n. [North] Wind. See: l-wuaó [North] ‘Wind’; o-síwúó ‘Wind’.

l-watán [North] [North] Nom sg: l-wátan. [North] Acc pl: l-wataní. n. [North] Lower leg of a person. nkiriŋó ɛ́ lwatán Calf of leg. See: ol-orrôk ‘Shin, tibia’.

l-wáúú [North] [North] Acc sg: l-wuaó. n. Wind. See: en-kijápɛ; ɔl-kʉtatɨ́; o-síwúó ‘Wind’.

wɛɨtʉ conj. Whether or not. Iyewúó wɛɨtʉ álótíto nanʉ̂. Whether you come or not, I am going. (W).

l-wɛ́rsɛt [North] [North] Nom sg: l-wɛrsɛ́t. n. [North] Tool with wooden handle and iron shank, used for carving out the inside of a calabash.

werrikôî [North] adj. [North] Brownish-yellow in color; light brown. See: barrikôî ‘Brownish-yellow’.

e-wíki Nom sg: e-wíkî. Acc pl: i-wíkií. Nom pl: i-wíkií. Variant: i-wikií. n. The seven days Sunday through Saturday; week. Inkóloŋī naápishana oshî nátií ewíki. There are seven days in a week. (Pk). Borrowed word: English week [wik]. See: e-jumaá [South] ‘Week’; sapanabô ‘Week’.

a-wó v. 1 • To bleed. See: a-ó ‘To bleed’.

2 • To leak.

3 • [North] To ooze.

a-wokí [North] v.dat. [North] To leak on.

a-woyú [Purko] v. [Purko] To bleed, let blood. Táduaa amʉ̂ kéítóki taá awoyú. Take care because it will bleed/let blood (out) again. (Pk).

e-wó In some suffixed forms: -wok. v. Variant of e-ó 'It is ripe'. See: a-ó ‘To be ripe’.

a-wokó n. To rap (song).

e-wóko Nom sg: e-wókô. [North] Acc sg: óko. n. Type of song or riddle by men in which they narrate stories of successes or failures, how good their animals are and how much one is devoted to look for more or care for his cows. It can also be used to praise other men or warriors for their achievements. See: n-tírrá [North] ‘Song by warriors’; l-aparasíyíó [North] ‘Song by women’; n-dikíé [North] ‘Song by boys’; l-ɛbárta [North] ‘Mockery song for almost circumcised boys’; l-kíshúrótó [North] ‘Raiders song of victory’; l-kulonkói [North] ‘Song by night trekkers’; n-kéreyio [North] ‘Song by uncircumcised girls’; l-ɔ́dɔ [North] ‘Song by old men’.

a-wɔ́l [North] v. 1 • [North] To arbitrate.

2 • [North] To quit suckling when the cows go into calf.

a-wɔlɨkɨ́ [North] v.dat. [North] To arbitrate for s.o.

ɛ-wɔ́látá n. Answer. káa náají ɨ́ndɨ̄m íyīē atólīkī lɛlɔ̂ naájí ámaâ náaí tiátua tɛnɨ́kɨ́ncɔ́rɨ ɛwɔ́látá entókɨ̄ naaíjō ɨ́nâ, What would you tell those people if you are given answer for somethinglike that? See: a-wál ‘To answer’.

ɛ-wɔlɛ́t Nom sg: ɛ-wɔ́lɛ̄t. Acc pl: ɨ-wɔlɛ́ta. Nom pl: ɨ-wɔ́lɛ́ta. [North] Acc sg: ɔlɛ́t. n. 1 • Child born after the death of a first child. This has been heard used by a woman referring to one of her children as "a piece of her"; an endearment. (Pk).

2 • An answer.

wɔlíkínotó [North] n. [North] Answer. See: e-walíkínotó ‘Answer’.

a-wɔ́ny v.prog. To bite (of humans or animals). Káwɔ́nyɨ́ta. I am biting it. Ágɨ́ra awɔnyɨwɔ́ny. I am biting several times.

a-wɔnyɨwɔnyɔ́ v.mid. To be sticky (of muddy clay soil). Kéwɔ̄nyɨ̄wɔ̄ny ɛnkɔ̂p. The ground is sticky. Kɛ́wɔnyɨwɔ́nyɔ ɛnkôp olêŋ. The ground is very sticky. Kéwonyiwónyu ɛnkɔ̂p. The ground will become muddy (sticky). Kɛ́gɨ́ra awonyiwonyú. It (the ground) is becoming muddy (sticky). The stickiness is as of wet clay soil which adheres in increasing amounts to one's shoes, making the shoes very heavy. Thus, this verb cannot, for example, refer to the stickiness of honey. See: a-ɨbʉ́ŋ ‘To catch, sieze’.

a-wɔ́ŋ [North] v. 1 • [North] To have light, eg. a room.

2 • [North] To be clear, open (eg. of land).

3 • [North] To be frank and open.

a-woŋú [North] v.incep. [North] To get light. See: a-wáŋ ‘To be light’.

wɔŋán [North] n. [North] Light. See: waŋán ‘Light’.

a-wɔɔ́n v. To melt. See: a-wán ‘To melt’.

wórr [North] [North] Nom sg: wôrr. [North] Acc pl: worró. [North] Nom pl: wórro. n. 1 • [North] Swamp. See: n-tabás [North] ‘Lowland’.

2 • [North] South Horr.

wótó [North] n. [North] Dripping. See: a-wó ‘To bleed’.

wóu PF.PL: wóutú. v.pf. Irregular Perfect(ive) or Imperative/Subjunctive form of a-lotú 'come'. Etíáká ɛntɔ́mɔ́nɔ́ní ɛnkáɨ́ wóu máɨ́tɔbɨrá ɛná ɛsʉntái. The postpartum woman had asked the other one to come and help her. (Pk).

ol-wúshúwúshí Nom sg: ɔl-wushuwushí. Acc pl: ɨl-wúshuwúsh. Nom pl: ɨl-wúshuwúsh. n. 1 • Transgressor, criminal. Nɨ́mɨ̄ncɔ̄ aké ɛlɛ̂ wúshúwúshí élô aɨrrɨtá inkíshú amʉ̂ kɛ́ɨ́tʉrráa. Do not let this transgressor go herd cows because he will loose them. (Pk).

2 • Loiterer, wanderer, idle person. Émintóki áaɨ̄shɔ ilwúshuwúsh lɛ́mɛ́ātā ɛ́náâs láâ kɛ́manáa aké eponú áaɨtanyamalɨshɔ. Do not let loiterers who have nothing to do but walk around come and disturb. (Pk).

e-wúshúwúshí Female transgressor, criminal, loiterer. See: ɔl-cánkílí ‘Donkey, wanderer’; ol-kíríkóí ‘Vagabond’; l-máásháí [North] ‘Vagabond’; l-óyíópó [North] ‘Vagabond’.