IBIMANUKA.
An archive of Rwandan knowledge.
Ways of speaking
Umugabo ararwaza umugore.
Umugabo ararwaaza umugoré.
man is-causing woman to be-sick (causative -iish-/-y-)
The man is going to make the woman sick; The man is nursing the woman
Umugabo yankubise inkoni nziza mu bitugu
Umugabo yaankubise inkoni nziizá mu bitúgu
man hit-me stick good in shoulders
ironic: the man hit me hard on my shoulders, despite the literal "good stick"
Umugeni ajyana n'umukobwa wo kumutinyisha
Umugeni ajyaana n'úmukoóbwa wó kumútiinyiisha
bride goes with girl to cause her fear (causative -iish-)
The bride goes with a girl to help her recover from fear; The bride goes with the girl to cause her to be scared
Umugore agenda yiruka
Umugoré ageenda yíiruka
The woman walks by running
The woman leaves by running
Umugore akunda kuduhamagara nimugoroba
Umugoré akuunda kudúhamagara nimúgorooba
The woman likes to call us in the evening
The woman always calls us in the evening
Umugore aramukumpera igitabo
Umugoré aramukuumpéera igitabo
woman gives-him-you-me book (multiple pronoun incorporation)
The woman is giving my book to him for you; your book to him for me; my book to you for him; his book to you for me; his book to me for you
Umugore asanzwe ananiwe
Umugoré asaanzwe anániwe
The woman is found tired
The woman is always tired
Umugore atetse ibiryo.
Umugoré ateetse ibiryó.
woman she-cooks food
The woman is cooking food
Umusirikare yankubise urushyi ruryoshye
Umusirikare yaankubise urushyí ruryooshyé
soldier hit-me slap tastes-good
ironic: the soldier hit me hard, despite the literal "tasty slap"
Umwalimu yatsindishije abana.
Umwáalimú yatsíindiishije abáana.
teacher caused children to win/fail (causative -iish-)
The teacher made the children win; The teacher made the children fail
Umwana aravura muganga
Umwáana aravuura mugaanga
child cures doctor
the child is curing the doctor; the child is cured by the doctor
Uretse guhamagara ndamusura.
Urétse guhámagara ndamusuura.
If you stop calling him/her, I am going to visit him/her
Except calling him/her, I visit him/her
Uri aho
uri aaho
You are there?
Hi!
Uribuka ba bagabo abagore batweretse?
Uribuuka báa bagabo abagoré baátweeretse?
Do you remember those men that the women showed us
Do you remember those men the women that they showed us
Usibye kujya kw'ishuri ibindi tuzabikora
Usíibye kujya kw'iishuúri ibiíndi tuzaabikora
If you miss going to school, everything else we will do
Except going to school, everything else we will do
Uzi umuntu wishe?
Uzi umuuntu wiíshe?
Do you know the person who killed?
Do you know the person that you killed?
Waramutse (ho)?
waramutse (hó)?
Did you spend the night alive?
Good morning!
Wiriwe (ho)?
wiiriwe (hó)?
Did you survive the day?
Good afternoon!
Yabeshya!
Yaabéeshya!
s/he-tense-lie
s/he would lie; s/he is such a great liar (hortative mood with intonation/repetition)
Yampaye inka Rudahigwa!
Yaámpaaye inká Rudahigwá!
(King) Rudahigwa gave me a cow!
exclamation of surprise or delight
Yampaye inka!
yaámpaaye inká
He gave me a cow
abarundi
abaruúndi
Barundi people
Barundi people
agakobwa
agakoóbwa
small girl
the diminutive class marker reads as beautiful or naughty, depending on tone
agakoko
agakóokó
small animal
insect