Expressions.

Metaphors, idioms, greetings, and other forms of Kinyarwanda speech.

Ways of speaking

452 expressions

kwira

kwíira

"to fall" (night)

"to fall" (night)

Taboo

kwisaba inka

kwíisaba inká

to get up late

Idiom

kwitaba imana

kwíitaba imáana

to answer the call of god

to die

Euphemism

kwitahira

kwíitahira

to go home

to die

Euphemism

kwituma

kwíituma

to send oneself somewhere

to defecate, to urinate

Euphemism

kwivuga

kwíivuga

to bellow (bull)

to recite one's praise-poem

Metaphor

kwiyahura

kwíiyahura

to send oneself to graze

to commit suicide

Metaphor

kwohoha

kwóohooha

to wander

Vulgar

kwomongana

kwóomoongana

to cry

Vulgar

kwuhira

kwuuhira

to give water to cows

to give a lot of drinks to somebody especially alcohol/to water plants

Metaphor

kwuhira amacumu

kwuuhira amacúmu

to water spears

to kill a lot of enemy troops

Metaphor

kwuhira urugina

kwuuhira urugina

to water the red earth

to kill a lot of people

Metaphor

kwumva

kwúumva

to hear

to listen; to feel; to understand

Metaphor

kwururuka

kwuururuka

to get down from the bed

to give birth (kubyáara)

Euphemism

mama se!

maáma sé!

Eh, mother!

vocative exclamation

Exclamation

mama shenge

maáma sheénge

expression used to mock somebody or to show happiness

used for either mockery or delight, depending on context

Bipolar

maso y'inyana

máaso y'íinyána

eyes of calf

Idiom

mavuta

mavúta

oil

personal name; also a type of manioc, beans, and banana

Praise name

mu nsi y'umukondo

muu nsí y'úmukoóndo

under the navel

vagina (igituba)

Euphemism

mugabo

mugábo

insult "man!" used to call someone a coward

Vulgar

mugabo

mugabo

man

personal name; also a type of manioc and a type of sorghum

Praise name

mugabo/mubyeyi!

mugábo/mubyeéyi!

man/parent!

vocative exclamation

Exclamation

muh-impundu

muh-impuúndu

give her praises

woman's personal name; also a type of manioc

Praise name

murarutana

murarutana

you are not the same size/age

you peg it (an animal's hide)

Homonym
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