Expressions.

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

Ways of speaking

452 expressions

umugore w'umugabo

umugoré w'úmugabo

woman of man

a courageous woman; a man's wife

Idiom

umugore w'umuganga

umugoré w'úmugaanga

woman of doctor

a woman doctor; a doctor's wife

Idiom

umugore yatangiye gukira

umugoré yataangiye gukíra

the woman started becoming rich/recovering

the woman gave to become rich

Homonym

umuheha

umuhehá

straw

pipe's tail

Metaphor

umuhungu

umuhuúngu

boy

son

Metaphor

umuhungu w'imbwa

umuhuúngu w'íimbwá

boy of dog

a boy with a dog; a coward boy

Idiom

umukara

umukara

otter

black

Metaphor

umukobwa

umukoóbwa

girl

daughter

Metaphor

umunyo

umunyó

multitude

Vulgar

umunyururu

umunyurúru

chain

prisoner; jail

Metaphor

umupira

umupiíra

ball

sweater

Homonym

umuporisi arakururisha imodoka abanyururu

umupoórisi arakururiisha imódoká abanyurúru

policeman causes to pull car prisoners

The policeman is having the prisoners pull the car; The policeman is pulling the prisoners with the car

Idiom

umuriro

umuriro

fire

temperature; fever

Metaphor

umurishyo

umurishyo

drum stick

king's arm

Euphemism

umuryango

umuryango

family

door

Homonym

umusambi

umusambi

straw mat

crested crane

Homonym

umusarani

umusáraáni

toilet

excrements

Euphemism

umuseke

umuseké

royal reed

dawn

Homonym

umushashi

umushashi

the bed maker

the bed maker

Taboo

umushoba

umushobá

(no independent gloss given)

Taboo

umutavu

umutavu

young calf

early

Metaphor

umutonzi

umutoónzi

nose

Vulgar

umuvugo uvumera

umuvúgo uvúmeera

a poem which moos for the calf

a harmonious and rhythmic poem

Metaphor

umuvunamuheto

umuvúnamuheto

son of a bitch (lit. breaker of the bow)

praise: "the great one"

Bipolar
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