kanyamũ
- small animal, creature. Small animal, creature. A diminutive form referring to a small living being, often used for insects, small birds, or other tiny creatures.
Example: Nake Jesu agĩkĩmoria atĩrĩ, Ciana, mwĩ na kanyamũ ga kũrĩa? Makĩmũcokeria, Aca, tũtirĩ. (Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” Lk 24:41.); Matukũ makwa nĩmarathira na ihenya rĩkĩrĩte rĩa kanyamũ karĩa gakonjanithagia uthi tama ũgĩtumwo, (My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle;); Mũndũ aakua-rĩ agayanagwo nĩ mũthũa, na igunyũ na tũnyamũ tũrĩa tũkoragwo tĩĩriinĩ. (When a people die, they inherit corruption and worms, gnats and maggots.); Ningĩ tũnyamũ tuothe tũrĩa tũtambaga thĩ twĩ mathagu, twĩ mũgiro harĩ inyuĩ; tũtikanarĩo. (All winged insects are also unclean for you and shall not be eaten.)