Your Professional Trekking Services
Two communities, two languages, one mountain. Discover the words that have echoed across Mount Elgon for generations — from the Bamasaba valleys to the Sabiny highlands.
Mount Elgon is home to two rich linguistic traditions. The Bamasaba speak Lumasaba — a vibrant Bantu language — while the Sabiny speak Kupsabiny, a Nilotic tongue of the Kalenjin family. Learning even a few words delights your hosts and opens doors no guidebook can.
| ColumnEnglish | SwahiliKiswahili | LugandaOluganda | Bamasaba / GisuLumasaba | Sabiny / SebeiKupsabiny |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greetings & Courtesies | ||||
| Hello | Habari / Jambo | Oli otya | Waliiro | Chamuge |
| Good morning | Habari za asubuhi | Wasuze otyanno | Waliiro | Chamuge ne ingeny |
| Good evening | Habari za jioni | Otuuse mutyanno | Mwiriwe | Chamuge koiywek |
| How are you? | Habari yako? | Oli otya? | Oli muno? | Komie? |
| I am fine / well | Sijambo / Nzuri | Ndi bulungi | Ndi muno | Koony |
| Thank you | Asante | Webale | Webale | Kongoi |
| Thank you very much | Asante sana | Webale nyo | Webale nyo | Kongoi nyo |
| Welcome | Karibu | Tukusanyukidde | Mukaribuni | Karibu |
| Goodbye | Kwaheri | Weeraba | Welabye | Chao |
| Please | Tafadhali | Bambi | Bambi | — |
| Yes | Ndiyo | Yee | Yee | Ee |
| No | Hapana / La | Nedda | Nedda | Mana |
| My name is… | Jina langu ni… | Nze nsiibwa… | Nze nsiibwa… | Ak kony… |
| What is your name? | Jina lako nani? | Osiibwa atya? | Osiibwa atya? | Iko kony ak? |
| Food & Drink | ||||
| Food | Chakula | Ebyokurya | Ebyolia | Chuma |
| Water | Maji | Amazzi | Amazzi | Pit |
| Millet / sorghum porridge | Ugali | Posho | Bugali | Uji |
| Meat | Nyama | Ennyama | Enyama | Sirwo |
| Cooking banana (plantain) | Matoke | Matooke | Amaboke | Amaboke |
| Milk | Maziwa | Amata | Amata | Metit |
| Local millet beer | Pombe | Omwenge | Omwenge | Soet |
| Honey | Asali | Omubisi | Omubisi | Kiptum |
| Salt | Chumvi | Omunnyu | Omunnyu | — |
| Eggs | Mayai | Amagi | Amagi | Koikot |
| Fish | Samaki | Ekyenva | Enywa | — |
| I am hungry | Nina njaa | Ndi n'enzala | Ndi n'enzala | — |
| Getting Around | ||||
| Road / Path | Njia / Barabara | Oluguudo | Oluguudo | Siit |
| Car / Vehicle | Gari / Motokaa | Emmotoka | Emmotoka | Motoka |
| Boda boda (motorcycle taxi) | Boda boda | Boda | Boda | Boda |
| Where is…? | …iko wapi? | …eri wa? | …eri wa? | …ale? |
| How far? | Ni mbali kiasi gani? | Wadde? | Wadde? | — |
| Stop here | Simama hapa | Yimirira wano | Yimirira wano | — |
| Market / Trading centre | Soko | Akatale | Akatale | Akatale |
| Bridge | Daraja | Olubatu | Olubatu | — |
| Left / Right | Kushoto / Kulia | Kkono / Ddyo | Kkono / Ddyo | — |
| On the Trail | ||||
| Mountain | Mlima | Olusozi | Olusosi | Tiim |
| Valley | Bonde | Ekiwonvu | Ekiwonvu | — |
| River | Mto | Omugga | Omugga | Rongwet |
| Waterfall | Maporomoko | Amazzi agakulukuta | Amazzi agakulukuta | — |
| Cave | Pango | Omuwa | Omuwa | — |
| Forest / Jungle | Msitu / Pori | Kibira | Kibira | Kiberi |
| Trek / Hike | Tembea / Panda mlima | Tambula | Tambula | — |
| Guide | Mwongozo / Kiongozi | Omuwoobi | Omuwoobi | — |
| Camp / Rest | Kambi | Enkyaalo | Enkyaalo | — |
| Beautiful! | Mzuri sana! | Ekirimu! | Mwofu! | Lakwani! |
| Help me, please | Nisaidie, tafadhali | Nkwagalile | Nkwagalile | — |
| Sunrise / Dawn | Alfajiri / Mapambazuko | Enkya | Enkya | — |
| Culture & Traditions | ||||
| Circumcision ceremony | Tohara / Unyago | Okulowoza | Imbalu | Sabaot / Imbalu |
| Dance | Ngoma / Dansi | Okuzina | Okusina | — |
| Drum | Ngoma | Engoma | Engoma | Komus |
| Elder / Respected person | Mzee | Omulenzi | Omuzike | Koibatek |
| Clan / Community | Ukoo / Jamii | Ekika | Ekika | Karet |
| Festival / Celebration | Sherehe | Omwaka | Omwaka | — |
| Ancestral spirit | Mzimu | Omuzimu | Omuzimu | Oyik |
| Chief / Leader | Mkuu / Kiongozi | Omukulu | Omukulu | Koibatek |
| Song / Music | Wimbo / Muziki | Oluyimba | Oluyimba | — |
| Story / Folklore | Hadithi | Olugero | Olugero | Teet |
| Animals of Mount Elgon | ||||
| Elephant | Tembo / Ndovu | Enjovu | Enjovu | Torokwet |
| Buffalo | Nyati | Embogo | Embogo | Mpeet |
| Leopard | Chui | Ngo | Ngo | Kiter |
| Monkey (colobus) | Mbega / Kima | Enkima | Enkima | Kewi |
| Bird | Ndege | Ennuni | Ennuni | Lelwet |
| Snake | Nyoka | Enyoka | Enyoka | Kobwet |
| Cow | Ng'ombe | Ente | Ente | Ingo |
| Goat | Mbuzi | Embuzi | Embuzi | Sipiinik |
| Dog | Mbwa | Embwa | Embwa | Kirwet |
| Eagle | Tai / Korongo | Empunga | Empunga | — |
| Hyena | Fisi | Empisi | Empisi | Ceemakeet |
| Lizard | Mjangili / Kenge | Olugave | Olugave | Ceerinkis |
| Plants & Nature | ||||
| Tree | Mti | Omuti | Omuti | Aret |
| Banana / Plantain plant | Mgomba | Olusuku | Omusuku | — |
| Coffee plant | Mmea wa kahawa | Omukawa | Omukawa | — |
| Bamboo | Mianzi | Omugavu | Omugavu | Rondeet |
| Flower | Ua | Ekimuli | Ekimuli | — |
| Grass | Nyasi | Obusenke | Obusenke | Rondeet |
| Root | Mzizi | Omuzizi | Omuzizi | — |
| Soil / Earth | Udongo | Ttaka | Itaka | — |
| Millet (grain) | Mtama / Uwele | Obulo | Obulo | Lelbet |
| Sorghum | Mtama | Omuwemba | Omuwemba | — |
Our guides speak Lumasaba, Kupsabiny, Luganda & English — and they love to teach. Hear these words come alive on the mountain.
