mbeca
The Kikuyu word for money is mbeca.
mbeca is used to refer to currency in a general sense.
Meaning: currency (noun)
Did you know?
- In many contexts, if you want to say you are 'broke', you might use a phrase that literally translates to having 'no beans' or 'no grains' rather than 'no money'.
- In older Kikuyu-speaking communities, wealth was measured by the number of cattle a person owned rather than the amount of mbeca they held.
- Because 'mbeca' is a loanword, its pronunciation and spelling can vary slightly depending on how closely a speaker adheres to the original English sound versus local Kikuyu phonology.
Examples in context
- Nĩ ndĩ na mbeca.I have money.
Example conversation
Maina is asking Njeri for a small loan.
- MainaNjeri, nĩ ũnota mbeca cia kĩmeneri?Njeri, can you lend me some money for a snack?
- NjeriNĩ ndĩna mbeca ngai, nĩ nĩkũhe.I have money, I will give you.
- MainaNĩ ngũcie mbeca icio rũgũcũ.I will return that money tomorrow.
- NjeriHanya na mbeca iria, Maina.Take care of that money, Maina.
