Page Type: languageGikuyu | Ethnologue

KIK ISO 639-3

Gikuyu

Gĩgĩkũyũ Autonym

A language of Kenya

ISO 639
kik
Alternate Names
Gĩkũyũ, Gekoyo, Kikuyu
Autonym
Gĩgĩkũyũ
Population
8,150,000 (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity.
Location:
Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Meru, Murang’a, and Nyeri counties; Nakuru county: Lake Naivasha area; Nairobi.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, E, Kikuyu-Kamba (E.51)
Dialects
Southern Gikuyu (Kiambu, Southern Murang’a), Ndia (Southern Kirinyaga), Gichugu (Northern Kirinyaga), Mathira (Karatina), Northern Gikuyu (Northern Murang’a, Nyeri). Lexical similarity: 73% with Kiembu [ebu], 70% with Gichuka [cuh], 67% with Kikamba [kam], 63% with Kimîîru [mer].
Typology
SVO; 10 noun classes; no articles; verb affixes mark person, number; tense and aspect; 18 consonant and 14 vowel phonemes; tonal (2 tones: high, low).
Language Use
Vigorous. Home, social gatherings, business. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh], Kiembu [ebu], Kitharaka [thk].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 30%–60%. Literacy rate in L2: 75%–100%. 95% of the children are in school. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Newspapers. Periodicals. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1951–1965.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Gikuyu
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Meru, Murang’a, and Nyeri counties; Nakuru county: Lake Naivasha area; Nairobi.