Maa

Wu - wu

wu Letter combination which, when preceding another vowel, represents the Maa strongly-articulated labiovelar glide phoneme, eg. a-wuapá 'to overreact angrily'. This phoneme contrasts in pronunciation with the lightly-articulated glide w, as in a-wál 'to answer' . The fortis glide may be spelled with tone on the u depending on tone of the following vowel.

a-wúá [North]₁ In some suffixed forms: -wuar. v. [North] To fence. Kéwua lpáyian bɔɔ́ The man will fence the cattle enclosure. (S). See: a-ɨkárr ‘To fence’.

a-wuaríé [North] v.inst. [North] To use for fence building.

a-wúá [North]₂ v. [North] To be a weight, amount, degree of fullness. awúá ána to be as heavy as (S). See: a-bá ‘To reach’.

ol-wúámpá Nom sg: ol-wuampá. Acc pl: il-wúámpān. Nom pl: il-wuampán. [Purko] Acc pl: il-wúámpan. n. 1 • Cattle raid. Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɨrmʉ́rrân olwúámpá áaru inkíshú oó nkúápi. The warriors have gone for a raid to bring cows from other lands. (Pk).

2 • Raiding group.

3 • [North] Raiding camp. This word is the origin of the name of the town of Wamba. See: ɛm-pɨ́kás ‘Group of lion hunters’; im-púki ‘Raiding groups’; en-jóré ‘Group of cattle raiders’.

ɨl-wuaná Nom pl: ɨl-wúána. n.pl. Species of bee(s) that stays in groups of two or three under the rocks. See: ol-otóroī ‘Bee’.

l-wuanâî [North] [North] Nom sg: l-wúánai. [North] Acc pl: l-wuaná. [North] Nom pl: l-wúána. n. [North] A species of small bees which build a large gourd-shaped underground nest, which they fill with honey.

wúánátá [North] [North] Nom sg: wuanatá. [North] Acc pl: wuanát. [North] Nom pl: wuanát. n. 1 • [North] Place for sitting down.

2 • [North] A stay.

3 • [North] Gathering of elders seated togehter.

e-wúánkɛ́ Nom sg: w-wuankɛ́. n. Unreliability. Etomitíkīō dúóó (e)wuankɛ́ éás esíáai ánaa enaishiakínō. His unreliability has made him unable to do the work as was required. (Pk).

L-wúántéró [North] [North] Nom pl: L-wuanteró. n.pl. [North] Ancient age-set pre-dating the L-meicópo.

l-wuaó [North] n. [North] Wind. See: o-síwúó ‘Wind’.

a-wúáp v. To snatch s.o. or sth. Kéwúáp oshî olmótonyî ɨnkɛ́ra kʉtɨ́tɨ́ ayá inkírí. A big bird always snatches meat from young children. (Pk).

a-wuapaá v.dir. To snatch sth. away; to pickpocket. Eyéwuo dúóó awuapaá ɛmpáláí áí. They came to snatch my letter away. (Pk).

a-wuapʉ́ v.dir. To snatch sth. out, back, up; remove sth. from. Áshɔ́mɔ awuapʉ́ ɛ́nâ dúóó páláí áí naawá. I have gone to snatch back my letter which he took. See: a-ŋɨsʉ́ ‘To remove from; snatch sth. out’; ɔ-sawuapʉ́nɨ̄ ‘Worm’.

a-wuapá v.mid. 1 • To overreact angrily and quickly. Míntóki doí awuapá, táányʉ míkítólíkini. Stop overreacting angrily and quickly, wait until you get informed. (Pk).

2 • To be insane, abnormal as a result of sickness or taking drugs.

ol-wuapá n. Hot temperedness; quick-temperedness; anger.

e-wúápa n. Rage, anger, hot-temperedness, overreacting angrily. Tápala ewúápa, íniniŋó eníkíjókini. Stop being angry, listen to what you are being told. (Pk).

e-wúápátá Nom sg: e-wúápata. Acc pl: e-wúápáré. Nom pl: e-wuaparé. n. 1 • Snatching. Tɛnkárakɨ́ ɨ́nâ wúápátá ɛnyɛ́ peê atuduŋó kɛwɔ́n. It is because of his snatching that I cut myself. (Pk).

2 • Dangerous opening in the ground into which somebody could accidentally fall.

3 • [North] Insanity, abnormality. See: a-wúáp ‘To snatch’.

a-wúár v. To lash or slash out sth. (eg. from an animal hide, a piece of meat). Táwuarakákɨ nánʉ́ ɔldʉŋtʉ́tɨ obô peê aló. Slash out a chunk of meat for me so that I can go. (Pk). Áwúár. I am going to lash out. (W). Táwuara taá enconí peê itúm eníímíe empíto. Slash out the skin so that you get a place to pass string through. (Pk). See: ol-owuarú ‘Carnivorous animal’.

a-wuará v.mid. 1 • To be in a slashed condition. Kéwúara olconí. The skin is slashed (out).

2 • To be stupid, foolish, unwise (lit: to have a piece missing). Usage: derog. Káke ewúára ɛná kiyíó. But this (derog) child is stupid. (Pk).

a-wuará v.mid. To be stupid, foolish, unwise. Káke ɛwúára ɛná kíyíó. But this child is stupid. (Pk).

wúára [North] [North] Nom sg: wúárâ. n. Commiphora flaviflora. [North] Gum of the Commiphora flaviflora tree, used medicinally and as a glue.

L-wúáraní [North] [North] Nom sg: L-wúáraní. [North] Acc pl: L-wuará. [North] Nom pl: L-wúára. n. 1 • [North] Member of the L-wuará clan. Usage: singular.

2 • [North] Clan within the L-másʉ́lá phratry. Usage: plural.

wúárɛ́ [North] [North] Nom sg: wuarɛ́. n. [North] Thorn fence craft.

ɔl-wúárgas Nom sg: ɔl-wúárgâs. Acc pl: ɨl-wuargasîn. Nom pl: ɨl-wúárgasîn. n. Grant's gazelle. Kítoduaâ ŋolé ɔlwúárgas ɔdáa tiáúluo. Yesterday we saw a Grant's gazelle grazing outside home. (Pk). See: enk-olií ‘Gazelle’; ɛnk-ɔ́ɨ́bɔ́rsiadí ‘Grant's gazelle’.

a-wuaríé [North] v.inst. [North] To use for fence-building. See: a-wúá [North] ‘To fence’.

l-wuarwuarsáŋ [North] n. [North] Aardwolf.

a-wúás v. 1 • To shoot an arrow, fire a gun.

2 • To foretell.

3 • [North] Hit the side of sth., not straight to the target. See: a-díák ‘To miss, not to the target’; a-tút ‘To miss the target’.

wúâs [wwâs] Nom sg: wuas. Acc pl: wúásin. Nom pl: wúásîn. Variant: wúásīn. [North] Nom sg: wúâs. [North] Acc pl: wúásin. [North] Nom pl: wúásîn. adj. 1 • With a big patch of contrasting color (typically white) on side or belly. Usage: rare for non-cattle. Téreú ɛldê áshê wúâs metóoko ɛnkárɛ́. Bring that calf with a long white patch on the side to drink water. (Pk). Képuonú inkíshu wúásīn ɛnɛ̂. The cows with patches will come here. (Pk).

2 • Multi-colored, spotted. See: Il-Wúásinkíshu ‘Maasai section’; a-rashá ‘To have spots or multiple colors’.

e-wúâs n. 1 • Plain; flat expanse with no trees. Kɛ́ɨ́rrag ɛndá wúâs olêŋ The plain is very flat. (Pk). Idiá wúâs táatá ínosíé ɨlashɔ́. Today have the calves graze at that plain. (Pk). Ɛ́ntɛrɛʉ́ ɨlashɔ́ ɛndâ wúâs peê ɨdɔlɨdɔ́lɔ ɨlɔɔ́tɨ́ tɛ nɛ́ɨ́rág. [ ɛ̀ndá wwàs] You all take the calves to that plain so that you can see when the small ones rest. (Pk). See: áŋátá ‘Plain’.

2 • [North] An animal having a large patch of contrasting color (eg. black on white).

a-wuasá In some suffixed forms: wuasar. v.mid. 1 • To be proud in a bad, arrogant way; showy; snobby and aloof. Kéwúásare ɛndá kitók inkíshú ɛnyɛ́nak. That woman is arrogantly proud of her cattle. (Pk).

2 • To be strong-tasting, with deleterious effects (eg. strong brew, strong snuff). Syn: a-ŋɨdá ‘To be proud’; Ant: a-bɔ́r ‘To be calm, gentle, docile’.

ol-wuasá Nom sg: ol-wúása. n. Arrogance. Mɛ́nyɔ́r ɨltʉŋaná olwuasá, káke kɛ́nyɔ́r esúpátisho. People don't like arrogance, but they like calmness. (Pk). Syn: ɛ-ŋída ‘Pride’. See: ɛn-kɨlashá ‘Pride’.

ɔl-Wúásínkíshúí Nom sg: ɔl-Wuasinkishúí. Acc pl: ɨl-Wúásinkíshu. Nom pl: ɨl-Wúásinkíshu. n. 1 • n. Person of the Wuasinkishu section (lit: patchy-cattle).

2 • n. Owner of cows with big patches on the side or belly. Kíshɔmɔ dúóó ɛnkáŋ ɔlwúásínkíshúí wúásin inkíshu. We went to the home of the owner of cows with big patches on the side (or belly). (Pk).

3 • n. Usage: plural.

n.prop. Maasai section in the western Trans Mara part of Kenya.

4 • n.prop. People of the Il-Wúásinkíshu section. Átódúáa ŋolé IlWúásinkíshu oíŋúa Trans Mara tɛ Nkárɛ Nárɔk. Yesterday I saw Il-Wuasinkishu who are from Trans Mara in Narok. (Pk). Átɔ́duaa ɔlwúásínkíshúí ɔbɔ́ɨ́ta ɔ́ lpúrkóí. I have seen a Wuasinkishu person and a Purko person together. (Pk). See: ol-oshô ‘Section’.

e-wúáso Nom sg: e-wúáso. Acc pl: i-wúáson. Nom pl: i-wuasón. [Purko] Acc sg: e-úáso. [Purko] Nom sg: e-wúásô, e-úásô. [Purko] Acc pl: i-úáson. [Purko] Nom pl: i-uasón. [Chamus] Acc sg: wúásʉ. n. River. Ɛ́ncɔm táatá ɛ́ntookó ɨlashɔ́ ewúáso. Today go cause the calves to drink at the river. (Pk). Ɛɨlɛ́putúâ iwuasón. The rivers have risen. Átɔ́duaa ɛnkárɛ́ sápʉk nayɨmá ɛwúáso ŋirô. I have seen a lot of water running in the brown river. (Pk). See: ɛnk-árɛ́; ɔl-kɛjʉ́; o-reyíét ‘River’; sɛ́rɛ́ [North] ‘River’.

e-wúáso ɔɔ́ nkídoŋi n.prop. Name of a stream, also extended to a trading centre, about 40 kms. west of Ngong', Kajiado district. Other names for the same place are simply Ewúáso and Oséro ónyókíé.

wúátá [North] [West] Acc sg: wúátá. Variant: wúɛ́ta. [North] Nom sg: wuatá. [North] Acc pl: wúɛ́t. [North] Nom pl: wûât. n. 1 • [West] Thorn fence.

2 • [North] Outside fence around the perimeter of the kraal.

l-wuatán lɛ́ nkɛjʉ́ [North] Nom sg: l-wuatán lɛ́ nkɛjʉ́. n. [North] Lower part of leg, calf. See: l-kúndud lɛ́ nkɛjʉ́ [North] ‘Calf’; ol-orrôk ‘Shin’; l-ailéleê [North] ‘Lower part of the leg’.

wúátáníé [North] [North] Acc sg: wúátáníɛ́. [wwátáɲɛ́] Nom sg: wuataníé. Acc pl: wúátánɨ́ta. [[wwátánɪ̄ta]] Nom pl: wuatánɨ́ta. [[wwàtánɪ̄ta]] [North] Acc sg: wúátánɨ́. [North] Nom sg: wuatanɨ́. [North] Acc pl: wúátánɨta. [North] Nom pl: wuatánɨta. n. [North] Grill for roasting meat, made of parallel sticks laid across stones above the fire. The sticks are usually green, wet, from a non-poisonous and non-bitter type of tree, and one that does not catch fire easily. Kóduŋú láyēnī wúátáníé. The boy will cut the grill-stick. (SN). Kéírrúsha kʉná wuatánɨ́ta nátudúŋua. These grill-sticks that I have cut are thick. (SN). See: ol-péreré ‘Grill’.

wúátánta [North] Nom sg: wuatantá. n. [North] Sticks arranged in a kind of net on top of a fire for roasting meat; grill. See: ɨ-ŋɛ́shɛ́rrata ‘Sticks for roasting meat’.

a-wueicieré [North] v.apas v.inst. [North] To use for fence building. See: a-wúá [North] ‘To fence’.

e-wúéji Variant: e-wúéi. Nom sg: e-wúéjî. Acc pl: i-wuejítin. Nom pl: i-wúéjitin. n. 1 • Place. Néídoŋ aké téínê wúéjî néaráa. He beat her in that place and sent her away. Ɛgɨ́ra aaparɛ́ oreyíét aɨŋɔrʉ́ ewúéji nɛlaŋíé. He is going alongside the river to look for a place to cross. (W). Ɛshɔmɔ́ ɨlmʉ́rrân áasotu ɨmbáa te wúéjî nɛ́taararɛ̂ ɔ́ lmaŋátī ŋolé. The warriors have gone to collect arrows from where they fought with the enemies yesterday. (W). ḿme ewúéji nowhere (W).

2 • Stage in a process. Óre táatá íné wúéjî néyīētū ɨ́nâ kɨ́páátá. And that stage pulls that initial ceremony. See: ŋʉ́jɨ ‘Place’.

a-wúɛ́n v.prog. 1 • To sit. Átáwúɛ́na to lóríka. I sat on the chair. (SN). átáwúénie olórika I sat on the chair. (SN).

2 • To stay, remain. Káwúɛ́n, maló Naɨrɔ́bɨ. I will stay, I will not go to Nairobi.

l-wuenét [North] Nom sg: l-wúénet. Acc pl: l-wuenéta. Nom pl: l-wúéneta. n. [North] Behavior, character, way of life, practice. See: ol-kúaak ‘behavior’.

áa-wueni [North] v.pl. [North] Imperfective plural stem for a-wúón 'to sit, stay'. See: a-wúón [North] ‘To sit’.

wuerrikói [North] [North] Nom sg: wúérrikói. [North] Acc pl: wuerrikôn. [North] Nom pl: wúérrikôn. adj. [North] Pinkish tan.

a-wúɛ́sh v. To corrupt; profane; taint.

a-wuɛshá v.mid. To be tainted; profane.

ol-wúlul [òlwúlul], not [òlwwúlul] n. Usage: archaic?. Drum. In some areas (K), not generally used by fifty years and younger, but used by their parents' generation. See: o-sínkólīō ‘Drum’; ol-dam ‘Drum’; n-câ [Chamus] ‘Drum’; l-bêm [North] ‘Drum’.

a-wuoicó [North] v.apas. [North] To build a thorn fence with branches. See: a-wúá [North] ‘To fence’.

a-wúón [North] [Chamus]: wɔn. Variant: a-wúɛ́n. PF: a-towuɛná. v. 1 • [North] To sit, sit down. Átówúɛ́na to lóríka. I sat down on the chair. (S).

2 • [North] To lie down on one's back.

2 • [North] To stay. iloówuonie ɛnkárɛ́ the ones that stay at the water (C).

3 • [North] To have not yet done sth. See: ɛɨtʉ́ ‘Not have done’.

a-wueníé v.inst. 1 • To sit on, sit down using sth.

2 • To overeat until one is not able to move. See: a-lɛkʉ́ ‘To remain’; a-tɔ́n ‘To remain, sit’.

wuɔrwuɔrsáŋ [North] [North] Nom sg: wúɔ́rrwuɔrsâŋ. [North] Acc pl: wuɔrwuɔrsaŋí. [North] Nom pl: wúɔ́rrwuɔrsaŋí. n. [North] Bat-eared fox. Otocyon megalotis. See: e-siró [North] ‘Bat-eared fox’.