| Kipsigis | |
|---|---|
| Native to | Kenya |
| Ethnicity | Kipsigis |
Native speakers | 1.9 million (2009 census)[1] |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | sgc |
| Glottolog | kips1239 |
Kipsigis (or Kipsikii, Kipsikiis) is part of the Kenyan Kalenjin dialect cluster,[1] It is spoken mainly in Kericho and Bomet counties in Kenya. The Kipsigis people are the most numerous tribe of the Kalenjin in Kenya, accounting for 60% of all Kalenjin speakers. Kipsigis is closely related to Nandi, Keiyo (Keyo, Elgeyo), South Tugen (Tuken), and Cherangany.
The Kipsigis territory is bordered to the south and southeast by the Maasai. To the west, Gusii (a Bantu language) is spoken. To the north-east, other Kalenjin people are found, mainly the Nandi. East from the Kipsigis, in the Mau forests, live some Okiek speaking tribes.
The Kipsigis language has two lengths of vowel sounds. When spoken, a single vowel has a short sound of that vowel whereas the duplication of a vowel indicates an elongated sound of that vowel. Most common nouns in the Kipsigis language end with a consonant when a common noun ends with a vowel; it will either be an a or o. Proper nouns such as names of places and people can end in any vowel.
- ^ Kipsigis at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015) (subscription required)