mũnyaka

Kikuyu

Etymology

Cf. Maasai a-munyak (“to be lucky, to be favoured”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mòɲàkáꜜ/

As for Tonal Class, Armstrong (1940) classifies this term into mbori class which includes mbũri, ikinya (pl. makinya), itimũ, kĩhaato, maguta, mbembe, mũgeka, mũrata, nyaga, ũhoro, riitho, riũa, rũrĩmĩ, Kamau (“man's name”), etc. Benson (1964) classifies this term into Class 3 with a disyllabic stem, together with kĩhaato, mbembe, kiugo, and so on.

Noun

mũnyaka class 3 (plural mĩnyaka)

1. luck

   Antonym: mũtino

2. copper

   gĩcango kĩa mũnyaka ― stout copper wire