On Sunday, we are all departing for our villages throughout Namibia. There are eight of us in the north-central regions of Ondangwa and Omusati, two in Kavango, and two between Windhoek and Swakopmund. It’s difficult to articulate the wide gamut of emotions we’re all feeling right now, but I’m eager to arrive, stop having so many unknowns, and dive into real life.
This week, we finally began our language lessons! The eight of us in Owamboland are learning dialects of the Oshiwambo language (pronounced “oh-shee-VAHM-bo”). Those of us in Ondangwa are learning the Oshikwanyama (“oh-shee-kwahn-YAH-mah”) dialect, while the others are learning the Oshindonga dialect. Both dialects are similar and can be understood across O-land, but have slight spelling and pronunciation differences.
I have been on a language high this week with all the new phrases and words we’re learning! I really love Bantu languages, and since I already have background in Swahili and Kinyarwanda, learning Oshikwanyama has been exciting and has made a lot of sense, even in just these first few days.
So I’ll leave you with a few fun words (and will likely post more as I learn this year). Everything is pronounced exactly how it’s spelled, so happy Oshikwanyama-ing!:
Wa lele po – good morning
Wa uhala po – good afternoon
Wa tokelwa po – good evening
Edina lange oKaren – my name is Karen
Okuna oupyu nena – it’s hot today
Oikulya iwa unene – the food is very good
okambishi – dog
ohuhwa – chicken
omwe – mosquito
eluviluvi – spider
kaume – friend
omutima – heart
omeva – water
oraadio – radio
oselula – cell phone
tate – older man
meme – older woman
ofikola – school
omukulunhufikola – princpal
omuhongwa – learner
omuhongi – teacher
onguluyomambo – library
outawodula – rainbow
Here’s to hoping I become fluent this year – hold your thumbs!
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