How to say beautiful in Maragoli language. 25+ different ways to describe all kinds of beauty in all ways: playful, flirty, honorable and even sensual words and phrases.
The most widely used and possibly universally understood description of a beautiful woman in Luhya is “omukhasi eshiombo”. I say this whilst hiding. This is because the sibling rivalry between the eighteen houses of mulembe over all manner of things can be intense.
One such area we brothers who call mumbo home love to split hairs are the subtle and sometimes stark differences in our dialects. Stark or subtle, the net effect of such sibling rivalries is more often than desired, a crack in the spirit of mulembe.
But because we here at mulembenation.co.ke are in the business of halala, we take the trouble to make things right. Our council of magutu sat and saw it not proper that a Luhya brother (or one Luhya at heart) should meet a Maragoli beauty and suffer the ignominy of being unable to speak his intentions. Thus, this starter pack.
How to tell her she’s beautiful in Maragoli: 25+ different ways
1
Wagasa
In Kimaragoli, kugasa is to be well put together, serene-like, appealing. To be perfect; with everything where it should be. It is a word that is used in various contexts. For example, you can compliment a friend who appears to be doing well with this word. When used to express that someone is beautiful in Maragoli, it talks of beauty that puts one at ease and is at ease with itself.
Wagasa also talks to the object of desire’s astute fashion sense. This is a woman who you’d be honored to have her wrapped around your arm as you walk down the street; and still, not be embarrassed by her attire in the event you bump into your senje. Those who grew up Luhya know too well that one better not embarrass your senge, especially not in this manner; for she might just decide to take up her ancestor given roles and help you find a girl.
2
Umwana or mwana or omwana
In everyday Maragoli speak, the words umwana or mwana or omwana, means (in various tenses) child. However, when it comes to expressing beauty in Maragoli language, these words are among the most important. The following 14 words and phrases not only express doting affection, they also let her know that they are such a babe.
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Umwana kweli
This phrase expresses exclaim by way of the Swahili word ‘kweli’. In this context, it means ‘truly’ and it’s used with finality. Taken together with the Maragoli word umwana, the message is the speaker has ran out of superlatives to describe the beauty before their eyes.
Umwana ilollipop
That kind of babe that you’d savor as one does a lollipop. Only that it’s this type/brand of lollipop that you know you’ll keep helping yourself in ways, frequency and amounts that it becomes unhealthy.
Umwana ya sweleka kuri mtere gu vita muridundu
Mtere is a much loved Luhya traditional vegetable that when cooked is as slimy, if not more, as okra. For those who enjoy their traditional vegetables, mtere or murere or murenda must be among the top two. Be it with miroo or likhubi, it’s a sure winner. So where’s the compliment here?
First, the being compared to an all time favorite meal. Secondly, it could have something to do with your beautiful smooth skin.
Umwana madavara
Well, this compliment is very much an oxymoron. Do you find beauty in abstract art? Are rugged jeans your thing? Maybe you the sight of a beauty rocking afro natural hair makes your mind wander.
Umwana rigaraba riamatsi rivura maguta
Ngovola! Uvikakuza kajumbi numira. This is a babe whose beauty is like good food.
Rigaraba or magaraba is a Luhya traditional vegetable that, lets say, is not the commonest but certainly carries among the most interesting food stories. Here, Lulogooli describes the woman’s beauty as rigaraba that has been cooked by boiling. With no fat. The words in italic are those of a wingman who agrees with the assessment of his mate: “I tell you! Just sprinkle salt to taste as it goes down”.
Umwana ripera
Ripera is guava. Yes, those big ones that are all red inside but not yet too ripe. Anyone who knows their guava will admit that they these types are the very best of the bunch. On taking a bite, the tangy of the green outer contrasts well with the sweetness of the inside to be just right. Further, because it’s not too ripe, the texture is perfect. This is the kind of unsullied beauty that shines outside as well as inside.
Umwana ibanana
Keeping on with this theme of bananas and their symbolic use in confessing that someone is beautiful in Maragoli, this phrase pays homage to the beauty in bananas: the symmetry and smooth straight lines of a ripe banana; unmistakable sweetness of a sweet banana; the classic ‘welcome home’ feel of Luhya banana delights such as katogo; and, the captivating, attractive yellowness of a perfectly ripe banana. What a beauty!
Mwana rihembe rya dodo
This one comes from the Swahili saying, ’embe dodo sawa na kisukari’. A saying that’s immortalized in the zilizopendwa hit by Them Mushrooms embe dodo.
Groovy tune that, isn’t it? Growing up Luhya, this is the music. I remember my mother dancing to this tune on the radio most mornings, over lunch hour or early evenings when the national broadcaster KBC used to play such gold.
Such kind of music seemed to always made her nostalgically happy. The music must have taken her back to those days that this Maragoli proverb talks about: utarora nya vukana, avora baba yasyuva tsing’ombe. Anyway, in Swahili, embe is mango; dodo a type of mango. In this compliment, the mango is said to be just as good (sweet) as kisukari, a type of banana that’s gloriously sweet.
Umwana wa mama apepetanga
You love the way she moves. She basically fans the sparks inside you into a raging fire.
Omwana kitunguru kifunyaa vutsa kari nubaminyi havundu
Her beauty is so fragrant, so unmistakable and difficult to hide like the pungent odor of an onion.
Mwana umkado kweri
Way before avocados became the in thing, Mulogooli acknowledged the fruit’s appeal equating a woman’s beauty to it. Caution though, here we talk of those avocados with a perfect shape and whose flesh is of consistency that would fool you into thinking it’s a painting. So perfect. Yes, those ones that on social media memes are claimed to have gone to boarding school.
3
Chombo cha varogori
I have a feeling that if I say that chombo is a Swahili word that means tool, I will lose at least half of you in my attempt at illuminating the majesty of this statement in letting someone know that they are beautiful in Maragoli language.
The only way I can bring it home is this: Think of how important the beauty of Cleopatra was to Egypt during her reign. Cleopatra gained notoriety as a woman who knew how to make an entrance. An astute mind at home with scholars in diverse fields: from philosophy, mathematics to astronomy. A debauched temptress with a mellifluous speaking voice and “irresistible charm”.
That woman with such Cleopatra like qualities, is the woman Maragoli speak of when they say: chombo cha varagori.
4
Egeswidi
Sweetheart.
5
Nengorori ipuresha inina iguru.
Just seeing you sends my blood pressure to the roof.
6
Ningorori ma suvira za na menye ni ngororanga
When I see you, I hope and pray that it will be that I keep seeing you for the rest of my life.
7
Ove munifu mwanitu
When somebody describes you as munifu in Maragoli, they are complimenting you as well put together. The bit of mwanitu , meaning our daughter or my sister, indicates that this pick up line is best suited between Balagooli avene. It also opens this compliment to be suitable for use between close relations such as cousins.
8
Umukana umuzwezwe
A light skin beauty. Yellow-yellow, rangi ya thao so I hear they call them today.
9
Mkana umbofu
A girl of great beauty.
10
Rigondo ria vayise
Best when you want to compliment not only her, but also the stock that she comes from. Ise in Maragoli relations is to father to so and so. Rigondo means visage.
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