Random Sentences

Mfite ishema ryo kuba Umunyarwanda. = I am proud of being a Rwandan.

A Few Random Tidbits

Miscellaneous Names :
Sainte-Famille Church = Kiriziya y'Umuryango Mutagatifu
Lake Kivu = Ikiyaga cya Kivu
Iwawa Island = Ikirwa cy'Iwawa
Southern Province = Intara y'Amajyepfo
City of Kigali = Umujyi wa Kigali
Huye District = Akarere ka Huye
Land of a Thousand Hills = Igihugu cy'Imisozi Igihumbi
Amahoro Stadium = Sitade Amahoro
The Honourable Prime Minister Makuza = Nyakubahwa Minisitiri w'Intebe Makuza
The Switzerland of Afrika = Busuwisi bw'Afurika
The Holy Bible = Bibiriya Yera
The Old Testament = Isezerano rya Kera
The New Testament = Isezerano Rishya
Mouvement Révolutionaire National pour le Développement (MRND) = Muvoma Revorisiyoneri Nasiyonari Iharanira Amajyambere
Afrikan Union = Umuryango w'Ubumwe bw'Afurika
European Union = Umuryango w'Ubumwe bw'u Burayi
United Nations = Umuryango w'Abibumbye
Banque Populaire du Rwanda = Banki y'Abaturage y'u Rwanda
The United States of America = Reta Zunze Ubumwe z'Amerika

Writing Out the Names of Years :
mwaka w'1776 = mwaka w'igihumbi kimwe magana arindwi mirongo irindwi na gatandatu
mwaka w'1957 = mwaka w'igihumbi kimwe magana cyenda mirongo itanu na karindwi
mwaka w'1994 = mwaka w'igihumbi kimwe magana cyenda mirongo icyenda na kane

Miscellaneous Phrases :
ihanurwa ry'indege ya Perezida = the shooting down of the President's plane
indege yo mu bwoko bwa Falcon 50 = Falcon 50 plane
imiyoborere myiza = good governance
Intego z'Ikinyagihumbi Gishya = Millennium Development Goals

Names of Foreign Countries (Amazina y'Amahanga) :
Afghanistan = Afuganisitani
Albania = Arubaniya
Algeria = Arigeriya
American Samoa = Samowa Nyamerika
Andorra = Andora
Angola = Angora
Anguilla = Angwiya
Antartica = Antarigitika
Antigua and Barbuda = Antigwa na Baribuda
Argentina = Arijantina
Armenia = Arumeniya
Aruba = Aruba
Australia = Ositarariya
Austria = Ositiriya
Azerbaijan = Azeribayijani
The Bahamas = Bahamasi
Belarus = Berarusi
Belgium = Bubirigi
Bosnia and Herzegovina = Bosiniya na Herizegovina
Bulgaria = Burigariya
Burundi = Burundi

China = Bushinwa
Croatia = Korowatiya
Czech Republic = Cekiya
Cyprus = Shipure
Denmark = Danimarike
England = Bwongereza
Estonia = Esitoniya
Faroe Islands = Ibirwa bya Farowe
Finland = Finirande
France = Bufaransa
Georgia = Geworigiya
Germany = Budage
Gibraltar = Giburaritari
Greece = Ikigereki
Hungary = Hongiriya
Iceland = Isirande
Ireland = Irirande
Italy = Butariyani
Kazakhstan = Kazakisitani

Kongo = Kongo

Korea = Koreya
Kosovo = Kosovo


Latvia = Rativiya
Liechtenstein = Riyeshitensiteyine
Lithuania = Rituwaniya
Luxemburg = Rugizamburu
Macedonia = Masedoniya
Malta = Marita

Moldova = Moridova
Monaco = Monako

Montenegro = Montenegoro
The Netherlands = Nederirande
Netherlands Antilles = Antiye za Nederirande
Nigeria = Nijeriya
Norway = Noruveje
Poland = Poronye
Portugal = Porutigari
Romania = Romaniya
Russia = Burusiya
Samoa = Samowa
San Marino = Mutagatifu Marino
Saudi Arabia = Arabiya Sawudite
Serbia = Seribiya
Slovakia = Sirovakiya
Slovenia = Siroveniya
South Afrika = Afurika y'Epfo*
Spain = Esipanye
Sweden = Suwede
Switzerland = Busuwisi
Tanzania = Tanzaniya
Uganda = Buganda
Ukraine = Ikerene
Zaïre = Zayire

Afrika = Afurika
North America = Amerika ya Ruguru
South America = Amerika y'Epfo
Asia = Aziya
Europe = Burayi

*Note the distinction between South Afrika (Afurika y'Epfo) and southern Afrika (Afurika y'amajyepfo).

Vocabulary List (Urukurikirane rw'Amagambo)

Here are some useful vocabulary terms :

Months of the Year (Amezi y'Umwaka)
January = Mutarama
February = Gashyantare
March = Werurwe
April = Mata
May = Gicurasi
June = Kamena
July = Nyakanga
August = Kanama
September = Nzeri#
October = Ukwakira
November = Ugushyingo
December = Ukuboza
year = umw-aka, imy- (2)
month, moon = ukw-ezi, am- (9)

Days of the Week (Iminsi y'Icyumweru) :
Monday = ku wa mbere
Tuesday = ku wa kabiri
Wednesday = ku wa gatatu
Thursday = ku wa kane
Friday = ku wa gatanu
Saturday = ku wa gatandatu
Sunday = ku cyumweru
week = icy-umweru, iby- (4)
day = umu-nsi, imi- (2)
hour = i-saha, ama- (5)

Directions :
north = amajyaruguru
south = amajyepfo
east = iburasirazuba
west = iburengerazuba

Numbers (Imibare) :
one = -mwe
two = -biri#
three = -tatu
four = -ne
five = -tanu
six = -tandatu
seven = -rindwi#
eight = (u)munani
nine = (i)cyenda
ten = (i)cumi [plural ama-kumi (5)]
dizaine = umu-rongo, imi- (2)
twenty = makumi abiri / makumyabiri#
thirty = mirongo itatu / mirongwitatu
forty = mirongo ine / mirongwine
hundred = i-jana, ama-gana (5)
thousand = igi-humbi, ibi- (4)
million = miriyoni#
number = umu-bare, imi- (2)

Administrative Divisions :
province = in-tara, in- (3)
district = aka-rere, utu- (7)
sector = umu-renge, imi- (2)
cell = aka-gari, utu- (7)
village = umu-dugudu, imi- (2)
city, municipality = umu-jyi, imi- (2)
capital city = umu-rwa, imi- (2)
boundary, border = uru-bibi, im- (6)

Landscape :
hill, mountain = umu-sozi, imi- (2)
valley = aka-bande, utu- (7)
lake = iki-yaga, ibi- (4)
island = iki-rwa, ibi- (4)
volcano = iki-runga, ibi- (4)
river = ur-uzi, inz- (6)
plain, prarie, grassland, plateau = iki-baya, ibi- (4)

People (Abantu) :
person = umu-ntu, aba- (1)
man, husband = umu-gabo, aba- (1)
woman, wife = umu-gore, aba- (1)
boy, son = umu-hungu, aba- (1)
girl, daughter = umu-kobwa, aba- (1)
parent = umu-byeyi, aba- (1)
orphan = im-fubyi, im- (3)
widow = umu-pfakazi, aba- (1)
dead person, cadavre = umu-pfu, aba- (1)
white person = umu-zungu, aba- (1)
black person = umw-irabura, ab-irabura (1)
Rwandan person = Umu-nyarwanda, Aba- (1)
player (of a sport) = umu-kinnyi, aba- (1)
author, creator, inventor, founder = umu-hanzi, aba- (1)
doctor = umu-ganga, aba- (1)
student = umu-nyeshuri, aba- (1)#; umw-igishwa, ab- (1)
teacher = umw-arimu, ab- (1)#; umw-igisha, ab- (1)
foreigner = umu-nyamahanga, aba- (1)
diplomat = umu-nyacyubahiro, aba- (1)
president = (umu-)perezida, aba- (1)*
minister = (umu-)minisitiri, aba- (1)*
soldier = umu-sirikare, aba- (1)#
child = umw-ana, ab- (1)
old person = umu-saza, aba- (1)
killer, murderer = umw-icanyi, ab- (1)
appeaser, accomplice, traitor = icy-itso, iby- (4)
family, organisation = umu-ryango, imi- (2)#
leader = umu-yobozi, aba- (1)
tourist = umu-(mu)kerarugendo, aba- (2)
guitarist = umu-curanzi, aba- (1)
singer = umu-ririmbyi, aba- (1)
Muslim = umuy-islamu, abay- (1)
slave = im-bata, im- (3)
messenger = in-tumwa, in- (3)
saviour = umu-kiza, aba- (1)
worker = umu-kozi, aba- (1)
king = umw-ami, ab- (1)
victim = inz-irakarengane, inz- (3)
visitor = umu-shyitsi, aba- (2)
friend = in-shuti, in- (3)**
traveller = umu-genzi, aba- (1)
prime minister = (umu-)minisitiri w'intebe, aba-minisitiri b'intebe (1)*
*This word usually appears as Perezida in the singular, though it is occasionally umuperezida or umu Perezida. In the plural, it is always abaperezida or aba Perezida. I do not favour splitting the prefix from the stem of a noun unless it is a proper place name like u Rwanda, i Kigali, u Bwongereza. Minisitiri follows the same rules as perezida.
**I have often seen the word inshuti appearing alternately as incuti. I have not quite figured this one out yet, but i have a feeling that inshuti is more standard.

Animals (Inyamaswa) :
wild animal = i-nyamaswa, i- (3)
domesticated animal = i-tungo, ama- (5)
meat, flesh = i-nyama, i- (3)
snake = inz-oka, inz- (3)
mamba, viper = i-mamba, i- (3)
lion = in-tare, in- (3)
cockroack = iny-enzi, iny- (3)
wasp = i-vubi, ama- (5)
dog = im-bwa, im- (3)
cat = in-jangwe, in- (3)
pig = in-gurube, in- (3)
cow = in-ka, in- (3)
organism = in-girangingo, in- (3)
bird = i-nyoni, i- (3)
mosquito = umu-bu, imi- (2)
goat = im-pene, im- (3) or i-hene, i- (3)*
*I have heard different things about this word. Some say impene is a more Hutu word and that ihene is a more Tutsi word, while others attribute the difference to region (which sounds far more plausible to me) with far southerners saying impene and the rest of the population saying ihene.

In the House (Mu Nzu) :
mosquito netting = aga-timba, udu- (7)
bed = igi-tanda, ibi- (4)
bathroom = umu-sarane, imi- (2)
medicine = umu-ti, imi- (2)
book = igi-tabo, ibi- (4)
pail, bucket = in-dobo, in- (3)
machete = umu-panga, imi- (2)
scythe, hooked blade = umu-horo, imi- (2)
lens = in-dorerwamo, in- (3)
passport = i-pasiporo, i- (3)
identity card = in-dangamuntu, in- (3)
franc, (money pl.) = i-faranga, ama- (5)
toy = aga-kinisho, udu- (7)
map; card = i-karita, i- (3) or ama- (5) in the plural
chair = in-tebe, in- (3)
seat = icy-icaro, iby- (4)
cushion = aga-sego, udu- (7)
calendar = i-karandariye, i- (3)#
glasses = ama-taratara (5 pl.)
notebook = igi-tabo cy-andikwamo, ibi-tabo by-andikwamo (4)

In the City (Mu Mujyi) :
trail = aka-yira, utu- (7)
street, road = umu-handa, imi- (2)
road, street = inz-ira, inz- (3)
main road = i-barabara, ama- (5)
prison, jail = i-gereza, i- (3) or ama- (5) in the plural
church (building) = i-kiriziya, i- (3) or ama- (5) in the plural#; uru-sengero, in- (6)
church (people) = i-torero, ama- (5)
house = in-zu, in- (3) or ama- (5) in the plural#
office, desk, dresser = ibi-ro (4 pl.)
school = i-shuri, ama- (5)#
tourist office = ibi-ro by'aba-(mu)kerarugendo (4 pl.)
airport = iki-buga cy'in-dege, ibi-buga by'in-dege (4)
aeroplane = in-dege, in- (3)
market = i-soko, ama- (5)
post office = i-posita, ama- (3 sg./5 pl.)
bank = i-banki, ama- (3 sg./5 pl.)

Food (Ibiryo) :
food = ibi-ryo (4 pl.)
bread = umu-gati, imi- (2)
sorghum porridge, nshima, ugali = umu-tsima, imi- (2)
banana (ripe) = umu-neke, imi- (2)
butter = ama-vuta (5 pl.)
honey = ubu-ki, ama- (8)
wheat = in-gano, in- (3)
salt = umu-nyu, imi- (2)
bean = igi-shyimbo, ibi- (4)
water = ama-zi (5 pl.)
milk = ama-ta (5 pl.); in-shyushyu, in- (3)

Body Parts :
heart = umu-tima, imi- (2)
head = umu-twe, imi- (2)
ear = ugu-twi, ama- (9)
stomach, intestine, gut = in-da, in- (3)
bone = i-gufwa, ama- (5)

Other Words (Ayandi Magambo) :
malaria = ubu-ganga, ama- (8)
war = in-tambara, in- (3)
massacre = i-tsembatsemba, ama- (5)
kick = umu-geri, imi- (2)
genocide = i-tsembabwoko, ama- (5)
ethnicity, tribe, race, kind, brand, type = ubw-oko, am- (5)
government = i-reta, ama- (3 sg., 5 pl.)#*
country = igi-hugu, ibi- (4)
memorial = urw-ibutso, inz- (6)
abroad, foreign countries = ama-hanga (5 pl.)
language = uru-rimi, in-dimi (6)
tree = igi-ti, ibi- (4)
God = I-mana, i- (3)
election = i-tora, ama- (5)
political party = i-shyaka, ama- (5)
news = ama-kuru (5 pl.)
hole, pit, grave = icy-obo, iby- (4)
colonialism = ubu-koroni, ama- (8)#
imperialism = im-patsibibugu, im- (3)
culture = umu-co, imi- (2)
plot, plan = umu-gambi, imi- (2)
gun = im-bunda, im- (3)
verb = in-shinga, in- (3)
vowel = i-nyajwi, i- (3)
summary = ibi-rimo (4 pl.)
consonant = in-dagi, in- (3)
consonant cluster = igi-hekane, ibi- (4)
peace = ama-horo (5 pl.)
history = ama-teka (5 pl.)
name = i-zina, ama- (5)
sun = i-zuba, ama- (5)
fear = ubw-oba, am- (8)
agreement, testament, covenant = i-sezerano, ama- (5)
star, planet, asteroid, comet = uru-nyenyeri, in- (6)#
unity = ubu-mwe, ama- (8)
exam = iki-zamini, ibi- (4)
bullet = i-sasu, ama- (5)
doctrine, teachings, course, lesson = iny-igisho, iny- (3)
sin = icy-aha, iby- (4)
abuse = i-hohoterwa, ama- (5)
wealth, surplus = ubu-kungu, ama- (8)
association = i-shyirahamwe, ama- (5)
action, deed, performance = igi-korwa, ibi- (4)
fine (of criminal punishment) = i-hazabu, ama- (5)
punishment = igi-hano, ibi- (4)
sentence (of criminal punishment) = igi-fungo, ibi- (4)
certificate = icy-erezo, iby- (4)
attack = igi-tero, ibi- (4)
list (of things) = uru-kurikirane, in- (6)
ideology = in-gengabitekerezo, in- (3)
law = i-tegeko, ama- (5)
journey, trip = uru-gendo, in- (6)
council = i-nama, i- (3)
grammar = iki-bonezamvugo, ibi- (4)
dictionary = in-koranyamagambo, in- (3)
machine = i-mashini, i- (3)
generator = i-mashini y'umu-riro, i-mashini z'umu-riro
photocopier = i-mashini i-tubura iny-andiko, i-mashini zi-tubura iny-andiko (3)
fire, fever = umu-riro, imi- (2)
fright = ubw-oba, am- (8)
place = aha-ntu, aha- (10)
disease = in-dwara, in- (3)
contagious disease = in-dwara y-andura, in-dwara z-andura (3)
song = in-dirimbo, in- (3)
religion = i-dini, ama- (5)
voice = i-jwi, ama- (5)
pride = i-shema, ama- (5)
temperature = ubu-shyuhe, ama- (8)
rain = im-vura, im- (3)
reason = im-pamvu, im- (3)
schedule = in-gengabihe, in- (3)
millennium = iki-nyagihumbi, ibi- (4)
question = iki-bazo, ibi- (4)
programme = i-gahunda, i- (3)
weather = i-teganyagihe, ama- (5)
vaccination = iki-ngira, ibi- (4)
authority = ubu-tegetsi, ama- (8)
earth, world = i-si, i- (3)
stone, rock = i-buye, ama- (5)
responibility = in-shingano, in- (3)
beginning = in-tangiriro, in- (3)
rabies = ibi-sazi (4 pl.)
consequences, repercussions, results = in-garuka, in- (3)
speech = im-vugo, im- (3)
security = umu-tekano, imi- (2)
distance, span, gap, level, rank = in-tera, in- (3)
conversation = iki-ganiro, ibi- (4)
kingdom = ubw-ami, am- (8)
darkness; liver = umw-ijima, imy- (2)
garment, clothing; debt = umw-enda, imy- (2)
smoke, plume of smoke = umw-otsi, imy- (2)
power = in-gufu, in- (3)
vaccine = uru-kingo, ama- (6)
gendarmerie = i-jandarumori, i- (3)
complementarity, reciprocity = ubw-uzuzanye, am- (8)
ministry (of government) = i-minisiteri, ama- (5)
profit, interest, gain = iny-ungu, iny- (3)
sport = umu-kino, imi- (2)
section = icy-iciro, iby- (4)
sub-section = ak-iciro, utw-iciro (7)
genocide ideology = in-gengabitekerezo y'itsembabwoko (3) or in-gengabitekerezo ya jenoside (3)
parliament = in-teko i-shinga ama-tegeko, in-teko zi-shinga ama-tegeko (3)
non-governmental organisation = umu-ryango u-tagengwa na Reta, imi-ryango i-tagengwa na Reta (2)#
holiday = umu-nsi w'iki-ruhuko, imi-nsi y'ikiruhuko (2) or iki-ruhuko, ibi- (4)
non-profit organisation = umu-ryango u-daharanira iny-ungu, imi-ryango i-daharanira iny-ungu (2)#
constitution = i-tegeko n-shinga, ama-tegeko n-shinga (5)
political organisation = umu-twe w-a poritiki, imi-twe y-a poritiki (2)#
*This word is commonly seen as i Leta, ama Leta, that being capitalised with the prefix separated out in front. I am not a fan of this notation, and prefer ireta, amareta. The word is derived from French l'état.

Adjectives :
new = -shya
big, great, large = -kuru
many = -inshi
temporary, interim, impermanent = -'agateranyo

Verbs :
to write = kw-andika (tse)
to type, make a machine write = kw-andikisha (shije) i-mashini
to vaccinate = gu-kingira (ye)
to hate, refuse = kw-anga (nze)
to be = ku-ba (baye)*
to buy = ku-gura (ze)
to sell = ku-gurisha (shije)
to excuse, pardon, forgive = ku-babarira (ye)
to start with, do first = ku-banza (nje)
to start, begin = gu-tangira (ye)
to count = ku-bara (ze)
to ask = ku-baza (jije)
to put away, store = ku-bika (tse)
to see = ku-bona (nye)
to have, do, make = ku-gira (ze)*
to be proud = ku-gira (ze) i-shema*
to cause = gu-tera (ye)
to kick, strike with the foot = gu-tera (ye) umu-geri
to frighten = gu-tera (ye) ubw-oba
to panic, be afraid = gu-shya (hije) ubw-oba
to be hot, get hot = gu-shyuha (shye)
to heat = gu-shyushya (hije)
to tickle = gu-kirigita (se)
to sing = ku-ririmba (mbye)
to pray, ask for, apply for = gu-saba (bye)
to govern, command, supervise = ku-genga (nze)
to proclaim, make public, advertise = gu-tangaza (je)
to explain, clarify = ku-garagaza (je)
to return, come back = ku-garuka (tse)
to eat = ku-rya (riye)
to beat, strike, hit = gu-kubita (se)
to laugh = gu-kubita (se) igi-twenge
to cry, weep = ku-rira (ze)
to assassinate = gu-hitana (nye)
to be assassinated = gu-hitanwa (nywe)
to shoot = ku-rasa (she)
to know = ku-menya (nye)*
*Kuba, kumenya, and kugira are defective verbs. Their present tense stems are -ri, -zi, and -fite respectively. The given infinitives are used in every situation where the present tense stems are not acceptable.

Interrogatives :
where = hehe
who = nde
what = iki
when = ryari
how = -te

Other Parts of Speech :
before = mbere ya
after = nyuma ya
above = hejuru ya
below = hepfo ya
very = cyane
especially = cyane cyane
but, however = ariko#, nyamara

# Note : Some words are commonly or occasionally seen spelled with the letter L instead of R. The two letters represent the same sound in Kinyarwanda, L being far less common and generally arbitrary. I have personally abandoned the use of the letter L in all words save for the name of the capital city, Kigali, and words related to Islamu which don't follow the normal rules of Kinyarwanda orthography anyway.

NOUNS

Kinyarwanda has 10 noun classes, each of which has both a singular and a plural form.



Class 1 : umu- / aba-

This class refers to people. Some common words in this class are :

umuntu/abantu (person)

umwana/abana (child)

umwarimu/abarimu (teacher)

umwigishwa/abigishwa (pupil)

umunyarwanda/abanyarwanda (Rwandan)

umuzungu/abazungu (white person)



Note that nouns with vowel stems take the prefix umw- in the singular, as the u morphs into a glide, as Kinyarwanda does not allow two vowels to occur next to each other, unlike Kiswahili. As for aba-, the final a elides, disappearing completely (this may affect vowel length, however - I know almost nothing about vowel length and tone in Kinyarwanda, as they are not indicated in the standard orthography).



On a side note, it irks me how many websites about Rwanda talk about how children come up to foreigners shouting "Mzungu ! Mzungu !". To set the record straight on this, mzungu/wazungu is Kiswahili, not Kinyarwanda. The word is umuzungu/abazungu. Note additionally that under certain circumstances, the initial vowel is removed from nouns (unless they are class 5 singular). This generally represents the difference between indefinite (umuntu 'a person') and definite (muntu 'the person').



Class 2 : umu- / imi-

Not to be confused with class 1, class 2 is for non-human nouns. Some common words :

umwaka/imyaka (year)

umugati/imigati (bread)

umupanga/imipanga (machete)

umusozi/imisozi (hill)

umutima/imitima (heart)



In front of vowel stems, the same rule applies to umu- as in class 1, and imi- becomes imy- according to the same principles.



Class 3 : in- / in- Refers to quite a variety of things, I've yet to figure out any pattern. Some common words :

inzira/inzira (road)

inyenzi/inyenzi (cockroach)

intebe/intebe (chair)

inka/inka (cow)

impene/impene (goat)

imbwa/imbwa (dog)

Imana/imana (God)

inzu/inzu (house, room)



The morphology of in- is rather varied. In front of b, p, f, and v it becomes im-. In front of m or n, it is elided altogether. In front of a vowel stem, it becomes inz- in every instance I can think of. I'll leave off with that and resume with the next post.

LEARNING KINYARWANDA

I'm a student from the USA making use of the scarce resources available in the USA to teach myself Kinyarwanda, a beautiful language from the heart of Afrika. It's proven difficult, and as I've never met a native speaker (though I'm travelling to Rwanda this summer) I am bound to make mistakes. However, I'll try my best to record here my progress with figuring out the language.

The following are Kinyarwanda's grammatical prefixes :

There are more rules, but I'll go over them another time. For clarification, I'll give some examples. Let's take umuntu (person) as our noun. It is first class (first class refers to people), and thus starts with umu-. Now let's take the verb kugenda (to walk, go). Verb infinitives always start with ku-, gu-, or kw- (although some people are spelling kw- as just k- when it precedes o or u, a practice I'm not particularly fond of). To say 'a man walks', we can say umuntu agenda. Notice how the verb subject prefix appears as a- so as to agree with the first class singular. Next are the possessives. This applies to -a (of), as well as words like -anjye (my), -awe (your, singular), et cetera. To say 'my person' (which doesn't really have to make sense to demonstrate the grammatical principle) we would say umuntu wanjye. In the chart, I simply gave the forms of -a, as all the possessive adjectives start with a anyway. Finally, regular adjectives. Let's take -bi (bad). To say 'a bad man' we say umuntu mubi. That's all I'll go over for the moment, but I will put a more in-depth description of morphology in the future.