Table Of Content

DICTIONARY Kinyarwanda - English English - Kinyarwanda by Betty Ellen Cox, Myra Adamson and Muriel Teusink DICTIONARY KINYARWANDA - ENGLISH ENGLISH - KINYARWANDA Prepared by Myra Adamson, Betty Ellen Cox, and Muriel H. Teusink The purpose of this book is to assist the person learning Kinyarwanda. It contains the vocabulary used in the Cox Grammar and also that in the Gospel of Mark (1957 edition), plus other commonly used words. In the Kinyarwanda-English section, the numbers in parentheses following the words indicate the number of the lesson in the Cox Grammar in which the word was introduced. A few abbreviations are: tr. = transitive; into = intransitive; inv. = invariable; n. = noun; sing. = singular; pI. = plural. Afewnotesontheorthographyused: 1) imp- is used rather than imh- (as in impamba,impumyi, etc.) 2) Since ill.andf are sometimes used interchangeably, in looking for aword with this sound, try under both spellings. 3) The letterL has been used throughout, rather thanL except in the case of afewwords of foreign origin. 4) You will note markings above some of the vowels, e.g. a, e, 1, O. This mark usually indicates ahigh, lengthened tone, though in afew cases itis alow lengthened tone. Many more low ones could have been indicated. No shorttones are indicated. You will need to have aMunyarwanda help you with pronunciation, since Kinyarwanda is a tonal language. These markings are not usually used in writing or printing the language, but are here to help you learn to pronounce the words correctly. Most long markings are not included in the English-Kinyarwanda section. The authors are aware there will be imperfections and lacks, but hope that inspite of them this book will be of some use to those beginning theirstudy of Kinyarwanda. ENGLlSH-KINYARWANDA Page 61 aba-aga A action - umurimo, igikorwa abandon, to - guhana, gutererana, kuzinukwa actions (habitual) - imigenzereze. imigirire abcess - ikibyimba adamant, to be - kutava ku izima ability - ubushobozi add, to - guterana (int.), guteranya (tr.), kongera able, to be - gushobora, kubasha add words, to - kungamo aboriginal - kavukire administration - imitegekere about (concerning) - ibya, ibyerekeye (approximately) - hafi, nka admit, to - kwemera about to, to be - kwenda adore, to - kuramya above - hejuru, hejuru ya adulterer - umusambanyi absent, to be - gusiba adultery - ubusambanyi absolutely - rwose, pe adultery, to commit - gusambana abstain, to - gusiba advance, to - kujya imbere, gutambuka abundant, to be (crop) - kurumbuka advice - inama accept, to - kwakira, kwemera, kwenda advise, to - kuglra inama, guhanura accident - igisida, akisida, ishyano, impanuka advisor - umujyanama acclamation, cry of - impundu affair - urubanza e.g. deCllingwith acaseof misconduct accompany, to - kugendana, kujyana na, gushagara, guherekeza affirm strongly, to - kwirenga accomplish, to - gusohoza afire, to set - gukongeza according to - kubwa afraid, to be - gutinya, kugira ubwoba account (finance) - ibitabo by'amafaranga after - inyuma, hanyuma accusation - ikirego afternoon - ni munsi accuse, to - kurega afterwards - hanyuma, bukeye accustomed, to be - kumenyera again, to do - gusubira, kongera again - ukundi across (a body of water, valley) - hakurya again and again - hato na hato act, to - gukora against, to talk - guhinyura age-ano Page 62 age - imyaka y'amavuka am (I am) - ndi old age - ubukuru, zabukuru middle (30-50) - ubukwerere, amaze,to-gutangaza imikwerere amazing thing - igitangaza all ages - ikigero cyose ambush - igico ago, long - kera lie in ambush, to - kubikira agree, to - kwemera America, U. S. of - Leta zunze z'Amerika agreement, to be in - gukiranuka among - hagati ya, mu, muri aid, to - gufasha, kugoboka, gutabara, kuvuna amount - urugero aid, voluntary - umusanzu, ubuvunnyi amuse achild, to - kubeshyabeshya one who aids - umuvunnyi ancestor - sogokuruza aim at, to - gufora ancestral spirit - umzimu aim, to have for - -gamije (no inf.) ancestral spirit, harmful -igisigo air - umwuka, ikirere and - na, no, kandi airplane - indege and now - none, noneho, none rero and so - none, noneho, none rero, niko alarm, cry of - induru alert, to be - kuba maso angel - (umu-)marayika alive - -zima (muzima, kizima, etc.) anger - uburakari, umujinya (long lasting), alive, to be - kubaho ishavu (light) all - -ose (bose, byose, etc.) angry, to be - kurakara allow, to - gukundira, kureka angry, to become - kurubira almost - hafi anguish - impagarara alone - -nylne (wenyine, etc.) animal - inyamaswa, igisimba -sa (musa, bisa, etc.) animator - umukangurambaga alone, to be - kwiherera announce, to -gutangaza, kuranga along - ku ruhande rwa annoy, to - kurushya also - na, kandi annually - uko umwaka utaha although - nubwo, naho anoint, to - guS]9a always - iteka, ubudahwema, iminsi yose another - -ndi (undl, abandi, etc.) always (do), to - kujya, guhora Page 63 ans-ast answer - igisubizo argument - impaka, amakimbirane answer, to - gusubiza arise, to (from bed, ground) - kubyuka (from dead) - kuzuka answer when called, to - kwitaba arm - ukuboko ant: pincher ant - intozi small food ant - ubushishi armpit - ukwaha white ant - umuswa army - ingabo antelope, small - impongo arouse, to - guhugura anxiety - amaganya, impungenge, inkeke arrive, to - kugera, gusohora, guhinguka, anxious, to be - guhangayika, guhagarika gusesekara umutima, kubunza umutima arrive, to cause to - kugeza arrive by boat, to - komokera anybody - umuntu wese arrive at, to - gushyika anyhow, to do - gupfa ku arrive before another, to - gutanga anything - ikintu cyose arrow - umwambi apart - ukwa art - umwuga apologize, to (before accusation) - kwisegura as - ko, uko, nk'uko, nka as for - kubwa apparent, to be - kwihandagaza ashamed, to be - gukorwa n'isoni appeal to higher court, to - kujurira ashes - ivu appear, to - kuboneka, kugaragara appearsuddenly and without precedent, to ask (question), to - kubaza - kwaduka, gutunguka appear, to cause to (as in court) ask for (favor, article), to - gusaba guhingutsa ask the way, to - kuyoboza apprehension - umususu assessment - umusanzu approach, to - kwegera approach, to cause to - kwegereza assist, to - gufasha, kuvuna, gutabara, kugoboka April - Mata, ukwezi kwa kane assistance -ubuvunnyi Arab - Umwarabu astonish, to- gutangaza are - ni, -ri (bari, biri, etc.) astonished, to be - gutangara, kumirwa are not - si, ntibari, etc. astonishing thing - akumiro, igitangaza area - ikirere, intara astounded, to be - kumirwa ast-bat Page 64 astray, to go - kuzimira back end of boat - ibwerekeza at - i, ku, kuri, kwa backing (support) - ubwishingizi attack, to - kujujubya bad - -bi (mubi, kibi, etc.) that's too bad - n'ishyano attain, to - gushyika bad luck - ishyano, umwaku bad fate - umwaku attempt, to - kugerageza badly - nabi attention to, to pay - kwita, kwitondera; not pay attention, to - kurangara bag - isaho, igunira, umufuka, umupfuka attitudes - imiterere, imimerere, amatwara balance (in account) - insagu August - Kanama, ukwezi kwa munani ball - umupira aunt: my maternal - mama wacu banana: stalk of, tree - igitoki(e) your maternal - nyoko wanyu ripe - umuneke his, her, their maternal - nyina wabo beer - mazizi my paternal - masenge cooking - ikinyamunyu your paternal - nyogosenge lady-fingers - akamaramasenge his, her, their paternal - nyirasenge red - igisukari plantation of - urutoki(e) authority - ubutware banana juice (unfermented) - umutobe automobile - imodoga, imodokari bank (of river, lake) - inkombe avenge, to - guhora baptism - umubatizo awaken, to - gukanguka (int.) gukangura (tr.) baptize, to - kubatiza away, to put - kubika bargain, to be a- guhenduka away, far - kure base of tree - igishitsi axe - incabiti, indyankwi, interezo, ishoka bashfulness - isoni bashful, to be - kugira isoni B basin - ibesani babble, to- kudedemanga basket: large - intonga made of bamboo strips - inkangara baby - umwana, akana tall pointed - igiseke newborn - uruhinja small flat - icyibo deep, no lid - igitebo back (of person) - umugongo bathe (oneself), to - kwiyuhagira back, at the - inyuma bathe another, to - kuhagira Page 65 bat-bet battle - intambara begin, to - gutangira, guhanga begin by, to - kubanza be, to - kuba, -ri, kumera (in a certain state) beginner - umutangizi beach - inkuka beginning - itangiriro, intangiriro, mbere na bead, to -gutaka amasaro mbere beads, tiny - amasaro behave, to - kwifata beans - ibishyimbo behave towards, to - kugenza, gufata green - imiteja behavior - umwifato, imyifatire, amatwara bear (fruit), to - kwera behind - inyuma beat, to - gukubita beat drum, to - kuvuza ingoma belated - bitinze beautiful - -iza (mwiza, cyiza, etc.) Belgian - Umubirigi beautiful person - umunyaburanga bwiza, Belgium - Ububirigi uw'igikundiro belief - kwizera beauty - ubwiza beliefs - imyizerere, inyigisho extraordinary beauty - ishyano physical beauty - uburanga believe, to - kwizera because - kuko below - hepfo, hepfo ya because of - ku mpamvu za (z'uko), kubwa, kubera belt - umushumi, umukandara put on belt, to -gukenyeza become, to - guhinduka, kuba, kumera bend knees, to - guhina bed - uburiri, igitanda (of poles and rope) - urutara bend over, to - kubama make a bed, to - gusasa uburiri beneath - munsi ya bee - uruyuki (pI. inzuki) berries - inkere (or, inkeri) beehive - umutiba (empty) beseech, to - kwinginga beer - inzoga beside - iruhande beer, to make - kwenga best - ikiruta before - mbere, imbere "best man" - imperekeza beg, to - gusaba, gusabiriza, gusega betray, to - kugambana beg earnestly, to - guhendahenda better - ikiruta, kurusha, kuruta beggar - umusabirizi, umusezi bet-bot Page 66 better (after illness), to be - koroherwa blind, to be - guhuma, guhumagurika blind person - impumyi between - hagati ya blood - amaraso beware, to - kwirinda blow, to - guhuha bewitch, to - kuroga blow fire, to - kwatsa beyond - hirya blow with fist (n.) - igipfunsi beyond measure, reason - birenze urugero blue - bururu, bisa n'ijuru dark blue - umukara Bible - Biblia Yera, Igitabo cy'lmana bicycle - igare board - urubaho big - -nini (munini, binini, etc.) board ship, to - kwikira bind, to - kuboha boast, to - kwirata bird (small) - inyoni boat - ubwato (of prey) - igisiga boat, to get into - kwikira birth - ivuka body - umubiri give birth to, to - kubyara boil - ikibyimba bite, to - kuruma, kuryana boil, to - kubira (int.), kubiza (tr.) bitter, to be - kubTha bonded, to be - kuba afite ubwishingizi bitterness - inzika bonds - ingoyi black - umukara black, to be - kwirabura bone - igufwa book - igitabo bladder - uruhago born, to be - kuvuka blame - umugayo, amakemwa born of, to be - gukomoka blame, to - gushinja, kuziza borrow, to - kugurana, gutira blameless person - inyangamugayo kuguriza (actual article to be replaced), kuguza (esp. money) blanket - uburingiti boss - (female) - mabuja bleed, to - kuva amaraso (male) - databuja stop bleeding (int.), to - gukama both - -ombi (bombi, byombi, twembi) blessed, to be - guhirwa bottle - icupa blessing - umugisha, amahTrwe Page 67 bot-bur bottle opener - urufunguzo bride-groom - umukwe friend of bridegroom - imperekeza bottom - hasi bridge (small) - iteme, ikiraro (big, metal) bow (as with arrows) - umuheto (of poles) - urutindo bowl (wood) - imbehe foot-bridge - umugogo box - isanduka, isandugu bright (of light), to be - kurabagirana box with lid (small tin) - umukebe brim - urugara boy - umuhungu bring, to - kuzana braid, to - kubohekanya bring back wife who had left, to - gucyura umugore branch - ishami bring in from sun, to - kwanura bring water, to - kuvoma brass - umuringa bring near, to - kwegereza bread - umugati (European); broad - -gari (hagari) umutsima (African) to make (knead) bread - gukora umugati, broil, to - gukaranga gufunyanga broom - umukubuzo break, to - kumena (tr.), kuvuna (tr.)(something thin); kuvunika (int.), brother - mwene se kumeneka (int.), gucika (int.), kwangiza (of girl) - musaza (tr.) (younger brother of boy) - murumuna (older brother of boy) - mukuru break into bits (tr.), to - kumanyagura, kuvunagura brush teeth, to - kwiyoza amenyo bucket - indobo breast milk - amashereka buffalo - imbogo breath - umwuka build, to - kubaka breathe, to - guhumeka builder - umwubatsi bribe (n.) - amafaranga yo kwituga, ibiturire, ruswa, impongano bUilding (construction) - inyubako building (manner of) - imyubakire bribe, to take - kurya ruswa, kwakira impongano bump into, to - gusekura brick - itafari burden - umutwaro make bricks, to - kubumba amatafari burial - ihambwa bricks, unburned - urukarakara burlap - igunira bride - umugeni bur-cau Page 68 burn - ubushye can (be able) - gushobora burn, to - kwaka (int.), gushya (as house, Canadian - Umukanada etc.)(int.) burn (set fire to), to - gutwika candle - itabaza candy - ibombo burst, to - guturika (int.), guturitsa (tr.) capable, to be - guhuguka bury, to - guhamba car - imodoka bus - ibisi card - igipande bush - igihuru (thick) the bush (uninhabited area) - ishyamba care about, to - kubabara care for, to - kwitaho business - umurimo care for body and house, to - kugira isuku care for the sick, to - kurwaza busy - kugira imirimo myinshi, guhugira, care for lovingly, to - gUkuyakuya, guhugirwa gukundwakaza but - ariko, nyamara, ahubwo (but rather) careful, to be - kwitonda, kwirinda careful about, to be - kwitondera butcher, to - kubaga butcher shop (butchering place) - ibagiro carefully - buhoro-buhoro butter - amavuta careless (with things), to be - kwandarika ibintu button - igifungo in personal appearance - kwiyandarika in work, etc. - kutitaho buy, to - kugura (esp. food) - guhaha carpenter - umubaji by - na carry, to - gutwara, kwikorera, guterura carry on one's back, to - guheka carry on, to - gukomeza C case to law, to take - kuburana calf - inyana cassava - umwumbati call, to - guhamagara, (name) - kwita cast lots, to - gufinda call at a distance, to - kurangurura cat - injangwe calm (someone), to - guhendahenda catch, to -gufata camel - ingamiya cause - impamvu, igituma can, tin - igikombe cause, to - gutuma, gutera