thiruai

Kikuyu
thiruai (Taurotragus oryx)

Alternative forms
  • thirua

Etymology

Benson (1964) suspects affinity with Maasai o-sirua (“eland”).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ðiɾuai/, /ðiɾoai/
As for Tonal Class, Benson (1964) classifies this term into Class 5.
  • (Murang'a) IPA(key): /ðí.ɾwà.íꜜ/
The same underlying pattern as that of mindira.[1]
  • (Nyeri) IPA(key): /ðì.ɾwá.ǐ/[1]
  • (Ndia) IPA(key): /ðí.ɾwá.ì/
The same underlying pattern as that of njohero.[1]

Noun

thiruai class 9/10 (plural thiruai)

  1. eland
    Synonym: namũ

(Nouns)

  • gĩthirua class 7

References
  1. Kagaya, Ryohei (1982). "Tonal Analysis of Kikuyu Nouns in Three Dialects: Murang'a, Nyeri and Ndia." In Journal of Asian and African Studies, No. 24, 1–42.
  • “thirua” in Benson, T.G. (1964). Kikuyu-English dictionary, p. 517. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  • Kingdon, Jonathan (1982). East African Mammals: An Atlas of Evolution in Africa, Volume III Part C (Bovids), p. 126. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. →ISBN
  • Leakey, L. S. B. (1977). The Southern Kikuyu before 1903, v. I, p. 451. →ISBN
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