Meru language
Bantu language spoken in Kenya / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the language spoken in Tanzania and sometimes known as Meru, see West Kilimanjaro language.
Meru is a Bantu language spoken by the Meru people (Ameru) who live on the Eastern and Northern slopes of Mount Kenya and on the Nyambene ranges. They settled in this area after centuries of migration from the north.
Quick Facts Native to, Region ...
Meru | |
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Kĩmĩĩrũ | |
Native to | Kenya |
Region | Meru County and Tharaka Nithi County |
Ethnicity | Ameru |
Native speakers | 2.0 million (2019 census)[1] |
Niger–Congo?
| |
Dialects |
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Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 | mer – Meru |
Glottolog | meru1245 Meru |
E.53,531,54,541 [2] |
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The Meru people are a fairly homogeneous community and all share a common ancestry. They speak the same language, Kimeru, but there are some slight regional differences, in accent and local words. The community comprises the following subdivisions, from the north to south:
- Igembe
- Tigania (Tiania) (culture close to neighbouring Cushitic and Nilotic communities)
- Imenti
- Tharaka (Saraka)
- Igoji
- Mwimbi–Muthambi
- Chuka (Gicuka)
As the Meru language is similar to its surrounding neighbors, the Kikuyu and Embu could have possibly adopted parts of Meru.