Learn Isukha language with us – the home of everything Mulembe. Lwisukha or Luisukha or Isukha language is the tongue of the Isukha, the house of Mulembe Nation known as the bull fighters. Kick off your journey learning this Luhya dialect with these 60+ common Isukha words. Learn their meaning and find translation into English.
Learn Lwisukha
- Resources on learning Lwisukha.
- Common Isukha action words.
- Parts of the human body in Isukha.
- Common Isukha words relating to people.
- Isukha words relating to food.
- Common Isukha words relating to plants.
- Common Isukha descriptive words.
Enjoy learning the language thanks to our growing library of
Resources on learning Lwisukha
Before we get started, our growing Luhya-English dictionary and Thesaurus is a must have as you embark on this journey of learning Luhya.
In the dictionary you will find meaning, synonyms, variations of common Luhya words from across the 18 dialects and links to stories that provide context and examples of everyday use of common Luhya words.
Common Isukha words for different actions
In Lwisukha the prefix Khu / Kh / Khw often denotes a ‘doing action’.
Khusamba
To burn.
Khwabula
To divide/share. Such as, khwabula ingoko, when dividing up chicken after slaughtering.
Khukhalaka
To cut.
Khukhunikha
To cover. As one does with food in a bowl using a lid.
Khwaya
To harvest.
Khuogitsa
To clean by washing or using water as one does to utensils or fresh fruits.
Khulachila
To eat. In the strict sense, this Isukha word refers to eating ugali.
Khunyola
To pluck the leaves of traditional vegetables in preparation for cooking.
Parts of the human body in Isukha
Induli
Bile.
Bilenge
Legs.
Head
Omurwe.
Neck
Olukosi.
Indumbu
The calf. Among the Luhya, well formed indumbu is a sign of beauty. A woman with shapely indumbu is much priced.
Matsai
Blood.
Common Isukha words relating to people
Bacheni
Visitors.
Bamama
Mothers.
Mundu
Person.
Mundu mulochi
A witch.
Omusumba
Bachelor.
Common Isukha words relating to food
Amaica
Traditional three stone cooking fire.
Inyungu
Earthenware pot.
Lutelu
A traditional woven flat basket or tray commonly used in food preparation known as uteo in Swahili.
Shitero
Known as kihinda in Maragoli language or shimwero in several Luhya languages including Lubukusu. It is a woven basket of varied sizes used in handling food. It’s inside is often smeared with cow dung.
Mushelekha
A traditional lye quintessential to Luhya cuisine and food. Also known simply as munyu. Other Luhya words referring to this lye include: musherekha, mukhereka, mushelekha and omunyu. Learn more about musherekha.
Likoshe
Known as ligoke in Kimaragoli, it refers to ash. It is from the likoshe of plant materials such as maize, beans, groundnuts or even simsim that we make munyu mushelekha.
Kimuka
Calabash or guard commonly used by the Luhya for storing seeds or making milk sour.
Lihondo
Pumpkin. Lihondo is the root word of the popular Luhya girl’s name Khaondo.
Tsinjugu
Groundnuts. Learn how to make peanut butter in the traditional way of our grandmothers.
Tsinduma
Taro. What Kenyans commonly refer to as arrowroot.
Mapuoni
Sweet potatoes.
Tsimbande
Bambara nuts. Njugu mawe in Swahili.
Tsinuni
Simsim as they are commonly known or sesame.
Isiachi
Lard from animal meat that’s commonly used for cooking Luhya traditional vegetables. Try out our 100+ year old hearty simple Luhya traditional mushroom recipe using to cook wild mushroom to perfection.
Tsimbare
Kamakhalanje, makhalanje, mkarango, tsimbale in other Luhya dialects. It is a snack cum precursor for traditional beer making that is made by frying spontaneously fermented maize and water mixture.
Shitienyi
The Luhya bean stew delicacy that the Maragoli call muduya.
Shivambala
The Luhya dried fish delicacy also known as kivambara.
Common Isukha words relating to plants
Amaru
Banana leaves.
Bisala
Twigs, small sticks or stalks of a plant.
Musale
Pole or stick.
Common Isukha descriptive words
Lumwamu
Dark coloured.
Lilabu
Light colored or white.
Mabii
Bad.
Common Isukha words for places
Mundangu
The Maragoli call this area of a house chandangu. Mundangu refers to the veranda area/ backyard of traditional Isukha house.
Common Isukha words for animals and living things found in nature
Shimuna
Squirrels. Also a traditional source of animal protein in the diet of Baluhya.
Tsikhome
A breed of large rat that’s a pest feeding on stored grains. Also a traditional source of animal protein in the diet of Baluhya.
Tsimbuku
Molerat. Also a traditional source of animal protein in the diet of Baluhya.
Tsisindu
Quail bird. A favorite protein among the Luhya.
Common Isukha words for inanimate things
Luchina
Stone.
Lipipa
A huge drum used for cooking busaa or harvesting rain water.
Lupanga
Machete. Panga in Swahili.
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