Kiembu | Ethnologue

A language of Kenya

ISO 639: ebu
Alternate Names: Embo, Embu
Autonym: Kiembu
Population: 600,000 (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity. Embu 405,000; Mbeere 195,000 (2019 census).
Location:: Embu county: southeast of Mount Kenya.
Language Status: 5 (Developing).
Classification: Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.52)
Dialects: Mbeere (Kimbeere, Mbere), Embu. Mbeere dialect reportedly has intelligibility with Embu. Population estimate may include Gichuka [cuh] and Mwimbi-Muthambi [mws]. Lexical similarity: 85% with the Mbeere dialect, 73% with Gikuyu [kik] and Gichuka [cuh], 66% with Kamba [kam], 63%–65% with Kimîîru [mer].
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Some also use Gikuyu [kik], due to previous teaching in schools, but limited in rural areas. Also use Kimîîru [mer], but with limited comprehension. Also use Swahili [swh], and up to 70% have low proficiency in it.
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. There are government literacy materials in Kiembu. Texts. Bible: 2012.
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kiembu
Writing: Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments: Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Embu county: southeast of Mount Kenya.