IBIMANUKA.
An archive of Rwandan knowledge.
Ways of speaking
kwira
kwíira
"to fall" (night)
"to fall" (night)
kwisaba inka
kwíisaba inká
to get up late
kwitaba imana
kwíitaba imáana
to answer the call of god
to die
kwitahira
kwíitahira
to go home
to die
kwituma
kwíituma
to send oneself somewhere
to defecate, to urinate
kwivuga
kwíivuga
to bellow (bull)
to recite one's praise-poem
kwiyahura
kwíiyahura
to send oneself to graze
to commit suicide
kwohoha
kwóohooha
to wander
kwomongana
kwóomoongana
to cry
kwuhira
kwuuhira
to give water to cows
to give a lot of drinks to somebody especially alcohol/to water plants
kwuhira amacumu
kwuuhira amacúmu
to water spears
to kill a lot of enemy troops
kwuhira urugina
kwuuhira urugina
to water the red earth
to kill a lot of people
kwumva
kwúumva
to hear
to listen; to feel; to understand
kwururuka
kwuururuka
to get down from the bed
to give birth (kubyáara)
mama se!
maáma sé!
Eh, mother!
vocative exclamation
mama shenge
maáma sheénge
expression used to mock somebody or to show happiness
used for either mockery or delight, depending on context
maso y'inyana
máaso y'íinyána
eyes of calf
mavuta
mavúta
oil
personal name; also a type of manioc, beans, and banana
mu nsi y'umukondo
muu nsí y'úmukoóndo
under the navel
vagina (igituba)
mugabo
mugábo
insult "man!" used to call someone a coward
mugabo
mugabo
man
personal name; also a type of manioc and a type of sorghum
mugabo/mubyeyi!
mugábo/mubyeéyi!
man/parent!
vocative exclamation
muh-impundu
muh-impuúndu
give her praises
woman's personal name; also a type of manioc
murarutana
murarutana
you are not the same size/age
you peg it (an animal's hide)