Expressions.
Metaphors, idioms, greetings, and other forms of Kinyarwanda speech.
Ways of speaking
igisambo
igisaambo
crook
igisasiro
igisasiro
the made-bed
king's bed
igishegabo
igishéegabo
virago
igitabo
igitabo
traditional house front ridge
book
igitondo kikiri umutavu
igitóondo kíkiri umutavu
when the morning was still a young calf
early in the morning
igongo
igoóngo
ruler
soil which is unproductive because of trees/rainforest
ihene irateetse.
ihené iraatéeetse.
goat it-cooks
The goat is cooking; The goat is being cooked (the -ye perfective marker is ambiguous between perfective and imperfective for some verbs)
ijigija
ijigíja
old cow
late
ijoro ribaye ijigija
ijoro ríbaaye ijigíja
when the night became an old cow
late in the night
ikinege
ikinege
only child
ikinyandaro
ikinyándáaro
out-of-wedlock
ikiragi
ikiragi
mute
ikiraro cyavuye
ikiráaro cyaavuuye
the cow's lodging is leaking/falling
to run out of food
ikirema
ikiréma
handicapped
ikiremba
ikireémba
impotent
ikirere
ikirere
banana leaf
firmament
ikivu
ikivú
Lake Kivu
a huge amount/size
imbeba
imbeba
"rat/mouse"
"rat/mouse"
imbwa
imbwá
dog
coward
imbyeyi
imbyéeyi
nursing cow
gentle and generous person
imfura
imfúra
the noble one
imitozo
imitóozo
milk stick
long fingers
imparirwakurusha
imparirwakurusha
the one who has all the challenges
impfizi
impfiíizi
bull
father/crown prince/a very important item in a large group