Alternate Names: Kimeru, Mero, Meru
Dialects: Igembe, Igoji, Imenti, Meru (Beik), Miutini, Tigania. Lexical similarity: 85% with dialects Imenti and Tigania, 67% with Chuka ,, 63% with Embu , and Gikuyu ,, 57% with Kamba ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 1,660,000 (2009 census), increasing.
Language Use: Vigorous. Home, community. All ages. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng], Kiembu [ebu], Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Gichuka [cuh], Kiembu [ebu], Kitharaka [thk], Mwimbi-Muthambi [mws].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L1: 5%–10%. Literacy rate in L2: 25%–50%. Taught in primary schools. Poetry. Radio programs. Films. Bible: 1964–2011.
Writing System: Latin
Nation of Origin: Kenya
Other Comments: ‘Mero’ is not a correct spelling. Different from Meru , of Tanzania. Traditional religion, Christian.