IBIMANUKA.
An archive of Rwandan knowledge.
Ways of speaking
Inshongore!
inshoóngore
Majestic (cow)
Inyamibwa
inyamíbwa
the trustable
Inzoka irarya imbwa
Inzóka iraryá imbwá
snake is-eating dog
the snake is biting the dog; the dog is eating the snake
Iyo agiye aratubwira
Iyó agiiyé aratúbwiira
Wherever s/he goes, s/he tells us
Whenever s/he goes, s/he tells us
Muganga aravura umwana
Mugaanga aravuura umwáana
doctor cures child
the doctor is treating the child
Murare aharyana
Muraaré aharyáana
spend the night where it itches
equivalent to "Goodnight!" — an itching body is a living one
Mutara turi i Nyanza!
Mutára túri i Nyaánza!
Mutara, when we were together in Nyanza!
exclamation of surprise or nostalgia
Ndagiye mabuja atanyirukana.
Ndagiiye maabuja ataanyírukana.
I am leaving so that my wife doesn't kick me out!
conventionalized excuse to leave — a wife can't actually kick her husband out
Ndamukwereka
Ndamúkweereka
I show-him-you
I am going to show him/her to you; I am going to show you to him/her
Ngaho turakora.
Ngaahó turakóra.
You see us working!
conventional response to Nimuduhé!
Nimuduhe!
Nimuduhé!
Give us!
used to announce oneself entering somebody's house-compound
Nshonje nakwiba
Nshóonje naakwíiba
if I were hungry, I would steal
if I were hungry, I would rob you
Ntabeeshya!
Ntaabeeeshyá!
not-s/he-lie
He is such a great liar; He never lies
Ntimuzirirwe muhamagara abana
Ntimúzirirwe muhámagara abáana
Don't spend the day calling the children
Don't ever attempt to call the children
Ntituzi umubare w'abantu bibye
Ntituuzí umubaré w'ábaantu biíbye
We don't know the number of people who robbed/stole/kidnapped
We don't know the number of people that they robbed/stole/kidnapped
Reka ntahe umugabo atankubita.
Reka ntaahé umugabo ataankúbita.
Let me go home so that my husband doesn't beat me up.
conventionalized excuse to leave — Rwandan husbands don't actually beat their wives
Rudahigwa twataramye!
rudáhigwá twáatáramye
Rudahigwa when we were in a party together
Rukabu turi i Mwima!
rukabú túri i mwiíma
Rukabu when we were at Mwima
Semwaga twataramye!
Séemwaagá twaatáramye!
Semwaga, when we were in a party together!
exclamation of surprise or nostalgia
Sinzi aho agarukira
Siinzí ahó agarúkira
I don't know where s/he will be back from
I don't know when s/he will be back
Sinzi ko abagabo bazapfa badusuye
Siinzí kó abagabo bazaapfá bádusuuye
I don't know if the men will die having visited us
I don't know if the men will ever try to visit us
Twariye maze ndagenda
Twaaríiye máze ndageenda
We ate and when I finished I left
We ate and then I left
Ubwo uwo mugabo atuye arwana abandi bazamwanga.
Ubwó uwo mugabo atuuyé arwáana abaándi bazamwaanga.
Since that man is settled down and fights, others will hate him
Since that man is always fighting, others will hate him
Umugabo araburana agatsinda ahora arwana
Umugabo arabúurana agatsíinda ahora arwáana
The man goes to court as a matter of fact he is always fighting
The man went to court, he wins and is always fighting