Regularly confused Kalenjin words

Kalenjin is a Southern Nilotic Language that has a harmony system normally associated with the vowel system. Just like any other language, the Kalenjin language has confusing terms that cannot be easily distinguished, especially by the present generation.  The following are some of the terms;

Kapyugoi

Name of son-in-law by father-in-law.

Botoiten

Name of father-in-law by a son-in-law.

Nyoiten

Name of a brother-in-law by a son-in-law.

Sandanin

Name of son-in-law by brother-in-law.

Umama

The name given to your mother’s real or actual brother.

Abule

Name of one’s mother’s male cousin.

Senge

The respectful name for your father’s sister (auntie).

Konyiteniot

Respect name to close relatives of different clans.

Makigat

Respectful name of your great grandfather of either sex.

Mochogoret

Respect the name of the grandparent to his/her grandchildren.

Korgetab-yugoi

Respect name to daughter-in-law by mother-in-law.

Iyoo

Respectful name of mother-in-law by a daughter-in-law.

Bamongo/Aboiyon

Respectful name to a father by son.

Konut

Name of your father by a neighbor when distressed.

Batiem/Kogo

Name of grandmother by grandchildren.

Chepyoset

Name of an elderly woman by his husband.

Boger

Name of mother-in-law to a son-in-law who requests sheep to be part of the dowry.

Bogine

Name of mother-in-law to a son-in-law who requests a goat as part of the dowry.

Bomori /Agui

Name of an elderly man of your grandfather’s also the name of parent.

Batany

Name of the grandfather of your father’s side.

Bokwo/Botich

Name of the grandfather of your mother’s side.

Bakule

Name of agemates who were circumcised in the same home.

Botum

Name of agemates circumcised same time but different in homes.

Ornyon

Name of clan members by distantly related.

Manyun

Name of clan members but closely related.

Chonginiek

First members of a given age group or sets.

Kiptaru

Second members of a given age group or set.

Kiptoyotoek

Middle members of a given age set.

Kiptoin  

Last group of members of a given age set or group.

Yootik

First spies of a raid.

Seegeik

Second spies of a raid.

Ngametyet

Leaders of return forces (warrior).

Pirtich

Those responsible for cattle.

Odimdo/lumweet

Followed pitch and cattle.

Kipeelbany

Cowards who feed warriors on their way home.

Chebobor

The priest during boys’ initiation.

Motiryot

General priest for marriage or initiation.

Kiboretiet

First members under seclusion initiate whose parents are elderly.

Koyumkok

Last members of initiates under seclusion initiates whose parents are younger.

Ngetet

Uncircumcised boy.

Murisha

Age of a boy between ngetet and murganyek.

Murganyek

Young uncircumcised boy who is still allowed to sleep with their mother.

Somiot

Mature overgrown male or boy who is yet to be circumcised.

Acherik

Able-bodied men who are still energetic to perform various tasks.

Murenik

Men who have first married.

Meliat

Mature uncircumcised female.

Korget

Young uncircumcised girl.

Chepto

Young girl.

Tibik

Daughters.

Kwondo

Second wife.

Osotiot

First respectful woman.

Kanyun

My wife.

Simotonik

Twin which are not identical.

Saramek

Identical twins of same-sex.

Chepkutiat

Soloist.

Tienindet

Singer.

Chepkugoniot

Prostitute woman.

Chebaigeyat

Concubine.

Chepkerta/chepkesesiot

Promiscuous woman.

Kipkerta-gigolo

Promiscuous man for money.

Bunotian

Alien person.

Kipsogorindet

Spy.

Chemungarainik

Businessmen.

Chepngwalo

Traders.

Tarusiek

Boys in initiation ceremony chetom kelabeun.

Marangojik

Boys under seclusion who have been allowed to roam around.

Bogototik

Boys initiate who has just come out of seclusion.

Chemerinik

Female initiates under seclusion who have been allowed to perform some chores while in seclusion.

Chepkelelik/Cheptongilo

Female initiates who have just come out of seclusion ready for marriage.

Kiptoiyot

An orderly young boy who has just been circumcised.

Kimoino/Raera

A disorderly young boy who has been circumcised.

Tamonet/Chi-nyigis

An expectant woman who is about to deliver.

Saloito

A mother who has just delivered.

Karuchon

Mother’s name by a son.

Iyoo

Mother’s name by a daughter.

Kwanda

Father.

Kwompop

Father of.

Kamet

Mother.

Kametab

Mother of.

Ne konyitot

Honorable one.

Nebo konyit

Guest of honor.

Barnotiot

Youth.

Neranik

Young children.

Lakwet

Child.

Kesoita

To see.

Kegerto

To look.

Kengalal

To talk.

Ketwek

To speak.

Kemwa

To say.

Kelembechan

To talk in a bizarre way.

Kimegut

To talk obscenities.

Kawaletabge

Pride.

Atebet

Traditions.

Bitet

Culture.

Indet/kasubosiek

Customs.

Misto

Character.

Mbaret

Farm.

Koret

Land.

Kabungut

Garden.

Konoita

Territory.

Moldet

Forehead.

Togoch

Face.

Keosit

To grow old.

Kesai

To age.

Kekong

To mature.

Akweek

Cattle.

Kiagik

Livestock.

Nego

Sheep and goats.

Kaita

Homestead.

Kapchi

Family.

Chepsogeiyot

Herbalist.

Chepkerichot

Doctor.

Bunyot

Enemy.

Bunyondit

Enemity.

Sosindet

Foe.

Sulindet

One with evil eye.

Tengekto

Sin.

Chalwokto

Evil.

Ngogisto

Generational curse.

Yaitiet-

Misbehavior.

Leluutik

Unintentional wrongdoings.

Kachililet

Intentional wrongdoings.

Kioboyi

To check.

Kichigili

To investigate.

Lewenet

Selection.

Chenget

Searching.

Imanit

Truth.

Imanda

Righteousness

Tililindo

Cleanliness.

Lipkwoopindo

Holiness.

Mieindo

Goodness.

Nyalilda

Suffering.

Bananda

Poverty.

Seretet

Challenges.

Yomset

Temptations.

Siriret

Loneliness.

Sinet

Deficiency.

Nyosutik

Accidents or unexpected events.

Kewelinweek

Problems.

Miilet

Load.

Ngomnatet/naet

Knowledge.

Ngulotiet

Wisdom.

Busarek

Herbal ashes.

Orek

Ashes.

Kegas

To hear.

Keyepiit

To listen.

Mianwek

Diseases.

Korotwek

Defects/deformities.

Mologenik

Fruits.

Tenterek/keswek

Seeds.

Ketik

Trees.

Sondit

Shrubs.

Osnet

Forest.

Timndo

Vegetation.

Ndororet

Herbs.

Berurto

Blessings.

Mogornatet

Riches.

Kimugulmet

Person.

Kimoch/Kechil

Close castration of young bull.

Kelat

Open castration involving the surgical operation of bull.

Rubeet

Famine.

Kemeut

Drought.

Cherewonet

First payment installment for herbs.

Kimagutit

Payments to elders who were assisting to solve conflicts.

Kori teta

Cow to conceive.

Koabait teta

Cow under lactation.

Saruriet

The tail of a herbivore.

Katutiet

The tail of a carnivore.

Kipkororiet-

Coccyx (vestigial tail).

Chemoget

A bull was castrated through the internal destruction of the testis.

Eito

A bull that open castration was done when it was mature.

Kabugek

Mucus in the nose of an adult person.

Serebuk-

Mucus in the nose of a young child.

Keturek

Manure from livestock waste.

Ronget

Grieve for food and others.

Munyesta

Grieve for sexual desires.

Singirtenik

Dirt on the body of a person as a result of contact with mud or dust or anything foreign.

Sonyogenik

Dirt on the body as a result of sweating.

Tuguk

Things.

Malik

Property.

Kurbet

Belongings.

Sogosek

Human urine.

Sogororek

Livestock urine.

Sigek

Human waste.

Kiptangasiat

Cow dung.

Sorowek

Wastes of sheep or goats.

Agutanik

Small intestines.

Cheboge/korotik

All internal organs apart from liver and heart.

Kerenget

Leg of animals apart from human beings.

Keldo

Leg of human a being.

Cherumbeniot

Loiterer.

Chelegesiat

Wanderer.

Kebenet

Cave on the ground.

Bonet

Hole in a tree as a result of old age.

Kelonget

Place down the escarpment.

Toteet

Place of inner room of homestead.

Marabaek

Iron metals ores.

Rokiet

Fragments of broken pot.

Sakasakiet

Fragments of volcanic rocks are used for cleaning legs.

Kelelik

Fragments of ostrich eggs.

Kesuryo

To differ.

Kebesio

To separate.

Bolatet

Politics.

Chego

Milk.

Lolongeiywek/toloek

Fresh milk.

Mursik

Sour milk.

Amitwogik

Food.

Amdit

Meal.

Kesambur/kegel

To fry.

Kiyoo

To boil.

Kebel

To roast.

Melewet

A Desert.

Surkwen

Wilderness.

Banda

Movement.

Wendoet

Walking.

Ueet

Migration.

Kot

House.

Gaa

A Home.

Mie

Good.

Kararan

Attractive and good.

Keloiso

To conquer.

Kiterter/Kesindan

To defeat.

Kenenet

To overcome

Luget

Battle.

Bariet

War.

Chelesosiek

Terrorists.

Chemarget

Violence.

Keboi

To rule.

Kindo

To lead.

Kandoik

Leaders.

Bounik

Rulers.

Katwalet

Playing.

Chigitenet

Jumping.

Samisen/Yaachen

Bad things.

Kweruken

Smelly.

Nunat

Rotten.

Boiboyet

Happiness.

Sirmoenet

Excitements.

Ketengeret

Remnants of a used basket.

Mesengeswet

Remnants of used clothes.

Nyanjet

A Lake.

Araraita

A sea.

Riret

Ocean.

Asururiet

A Waterfall.

Oinet

River.

Segeneniat

Stream

Tolil

A Deep side of a river.

Togomnda/Silanget

A Dam.

Nyanyawet

A Swamp.

Kondamet

A Spring.

Kisiet

A traditional bowl for placing ugali.

Kiptiget

A small traditional bowl for children.

Kipsamuet

A large traditional bowl for initiates.

Cherosingo

Large traditional bowl.

Kimyet

Ugali.

Kinanet

A poorly cooked ugali.

Kiptirgat

A ceremonial ugali.

Kipligligit

Unripe ugali that is given to a very hungry child.

Mogoriet

Stale ugali.

Kabatisiet

Agriculture.

Temisiet

Cultivation.

Murungut

Udder.

Kinaiik

Tits.

Chuchunet

Nipples.

Kiam

To eat.

Kesus

To bite.

Kelugui

To swallow.

Kwombisik/Chepkombet

Love portion.

Musunyek

Witchcraft/paraphernalia.

Chepngabait

Cow paid to circumcision guardian.

Keraniat/ Kimanagen

A cow that is given to someone to take care of for you.

Chepletyot

Last cow paid to in-laws while clearing dowry.

Irinyotit-cow

A cow that is given as a deposit by a murderer to the deceased party before the actual fine is agreed upon.

Poruneiwot/Poreiwot

A cow that is brought from a cattle raid.

Syoonik

Co-wives.

Katunisietab toronyeet

Important ceremony performed late in life to show respect for the couple who had been married for many years.

Kitunchi toloch

Occurs when a married woman (Kapsirwonin) married another woman so that she can give birth on her behalf.

Kabwatereret

Involves booking of a young child at a tender age by an individual so that he can start paying dowry.

Museet

Occurs when a parent arranges for a wife for her son who is at war.

Kandiet

Widow inheritance by close relatives.

Makatet

Skin.

Muita

Hide.

Turguk

Dry and hard hide.

Kisoob

To heal.

Kinyaa

To cure.

Moriik

Cultivation is done on a rotational basis. 

Isasamet

Cultivation done by masses for example digging among others.

Konobeiywek

Cultivation consisting of rotations from different villages to accomplish a given task.

Chepwichwichet/Usonet

Wind.

Sulisyet

Destructive activities of one with the evil eye.

Kong neya

The evil eye.

Ibetabge

Fornication/Adultery.

Kebosyigee

To gang rape.

Kenyeren

Rape by one person.

Keeset

Wedding.

Kongasis

East

Cherongo

West

Murot katam

North.

Murot taai

South.

Menegubeet

Garment worn by initiates during the period of seclusion.

Legetyeet

This was the leather belt worn around the leather garment of a woman

Kimogo

Leather belt of a man without beads.

Kenyatet

Leather belt of a man with beads.

Segeerek/Semonok

Cowrie shells.

Kelelik 

Broken shells of ostrich eggs.