Kwaya language

Kwaya
Native to	Tanzania
Region	Mara Region
Native speakers	120,000 (2005)
Language family	Niger–Congo? Atlantic–Congo Volta-Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Southern Bantoid Bantu Northeast Bantu Great Lakes Bantu East Nyanza Suguti Kwaya
Dialects	Kwaya Ruri
Language codes
ISO 639-3	kya
Glottolog	kway1241
Guthrie code	JE.251,253

Kwaya is a Bantu language of Tanzania spoken by the Kwaya people. Jita–Kara–Kwaya are close to being dialects; Maho (2009) separates Ruri from Kwaya as equally distinct. It is closely related to the Bemba language and Tumbuka language of Malawi and Zambia.

Examples

Death-Kufwa

Ear-Okutwi

Eye-Linso

Four-Ne

Hand-Mboko

I-Nyimi

Name-Dzina

Night-Usiku

Nose-Mzunu

Sun-Kasubuka

Three-Tatu

Tongue-Ulimi

Tooth-Izinyu

Two-Mbila

Water-Amanji

Who-Nani

Wind-Omoya

You-Wewo

Sample text (Hail Mary)

Murembe, Maria, wizuye enema, omukama anawe, wabalikwa mu bagasi bone, na Yezu, mwana wamunda ayo yabalikwa. Maria mutakatifu, Nyira Ngumi, okisabire eswe abakayi ôri na mu nkaga yokufwa kweswe. Amina.

Translation

Hail Mary, full of grace. The lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God. Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.