Author: aznimi

ACTIONS – Runyankore to English

FAMILY – Runyankore to English

Taata/ tata ;My father Baataata(plural)
Maama/ maawe ;My mother Baamaama/baamaawe(plural)
Munyaanyazi My sister, brother Banyaanyazi(plural)
Munyaanya; His/her sister, brother Banyaanya(plural)
Munyanyaanyako; Your (sing) sister,brother Banyaanyako(plural)
Munyanyaakoimwe; Your sister, brother Banyaanyakoimwe(plural)
Munyanyaaziitwe; Our sister, brother Banyanyaziitwe(plural)
Mukuru wangye; My elder brother,sister Bakuru bangye(plural)
Murumuna; wangye My younger brother, sister Barumuna bangye(plural)
Shwento/ tatento; My paternal uncle Baashwento/ baatatento(plural)
Ishento ;His/her paternal uncle Baishento(plural)
Ishentobo; Their paternal uncle Baishentobo(plural) Nyakoromi/ maarumi
My maternal uncle; Baanyakoromi(plural)
Nyinarimi; His/her maternal uncle Baanyinarimi(plural)
Nyinarimibo; Their maternal uncle Banyinarimibo(plural)
Shwenkazi/ Tatenkazi;My paternal aunt Baashwenkazi(plural)
Ishenkazi ;His/her paternal aunt Baishenkazibo(plural)
Ishenkazibo; Their paternal aunt Baishenkazibo(plural)
Nyakwento/maawento ;My maternal aunt Banyakwento(plural)
Nyinento; His/her materal aunt Banyinento(plural)
Nyinentobo; Their materal aunt Banyinentobo(plural)
Sho ;Your (sing) father Baasho(plural)
Ishe ;His/her father Baishe(plural)
Tataitwe; Our father Baatataitwe(plural)
Shoimwe; Your (pl) father Baamaaweitwe(plural)
Maaweitwe; Our mother Baamaaweitwe(plural)
Nyoko ;Your (sing) mother Baanyoko(plural)
Nyokoimwe; Your (pl) mother Baanyina(plural)
Nyina; His/her mother Baanyinabo(plural)
Nyinabo; Their mother Baanyinabo (plural)
Tatenkuru/ ishenkuru; Grandfather Bashwenkuru(plural)
Maawenkuriitwe ;Our grandmother Baanyakwenkuruitwe(plural)
Nyokwenkuriimwe; Your (sing) grandmother Banyokwenkuru iimwe(plural)
Maazaara; My mother-in-law Baamazaara(plural)
Mazaaraitwe ;Our mother-in-law Baamazaaraitwe(plural)
Tatazaara; My father-in-law Baatatazaaraitwe(plural)
Tatazaaraitwe; Our father-in-law Baatazaaraitwe(plural)
Nyokozaara; Your (sing) motherin- law Baanyinazaara(plural)
Nyokozaaraimwe; Your (pl) motherin- law Baanyokozaaraimwe(plural)
Tatazaara; My father-in-law Baatatazaara(plural)
Nyinenkuru; His/her grandmother Baanyineenkuru(plural)
Ishenkuru ;His/her grandfather Baaishenkuru(plural)
Nyokoromi; Your (sing) maternal uncle Baanyokoromi(plural)
Mwijukuru; His/her grandchild Abaijukuru(plural)
Muramu ;Brother/sister-inlaw(plural)
Omuramu; His/her sister-inlaw Abaramu(plural)
Omuhara; His/her daughter Abahara(plural)
Mutabani wa; Son of Batabani ba(plural)
Omutabani ;His/her son Abatabani(plural)
Omukwe ;Son-in-law abakwe(plural)
Omukamamwana ;Daughter-in-law Abakaamwana(plural)
Muka ;Wife of Baka(plural)
Omukyara ;Lady, wife, Mrs, Miss
Abakyara;(plural)
Omwami; Gentleman, Mr, Master, chief, husband
Abaami;(plural)
Iba; Her husband Baiba(plural)
Baro; Your (sing) husband
Baabaro;(plural)
Ibanyi; My husband Baibanyi(plural)
Ibanyiitwe; Our husband Baibanyiitwe(plural)
Omugurusi; Old woman Abagurusi(plural)
Omukaikuru; Old woman?? abakaikuru(plural)
Omutsigazi; Young man, bachelorAbatsigazi;(plural)
Empangare; Young lady Empangare(plural)

DAYS OF THE WEEK – Runyankore to English

Monday ;orwokubanza
Tuesday; Orwakabiri
Wednesday; orwakashatu
Thursday; Orwakana
Friday ;orwakatano
Saturday ;orwamukaga
Sunday ;Sande saabiiti

EXPRESSIONS – Runyankore to English

Kukunda ;To love/like
Tukunda ;We love
Nkunda; You love
Mukunda; You love
Akunda; He loves
Bakunda; They love
Agandi; what is the news
Ni; marungi it is good, well
Eego;Yes
Ngaaha; No
Omuka ;Home, at home
-ta ;How?
Ndyaho ;I am there, I am okay
Turyaho; We are there, we are okay
iwe ;You (singular)
Ndigye; I am fine
Oriyo ;Are you there?
Niiwe ;It is you (singular)
Niinye ;It is me
Ryangye; My/mine
Ryawe; Yours (singular)
Oha?; Who?
Owaanyu; Your home
Owaitu; Our/my home
-ti ;That (when reporting)
Baranyeta; They are calling you
barakweta; They call me
Ogumeho; Stay well, bye bye
kare;okay
Turimu; We are in
Wangye; Mine
Haihi; near
Kodi kodi; Knock at the door
Omu/omuri ;Is in, into
Waawe; Yours
Buri; Every
Bingi ;Many
Munonga ;Very much
Ka ngyende; Let me go
Naanye; And me/I
Eriho; It is there (N class)
Harimu; In which there is
Nikwo; It is (emphatic ku class)
Obwo ;Then; when
Kaije!; Welcome! (let you come)
Buhooro?; Are you well? (safety; well-being)
Hoona; Even; yet
Ninyetwa ;They call me (my name is…)
Na mbwenu; And now
Tikwo?; Isn’t it: is it now so?
Turiyo ;We are there
Bambe!; Dear me! Please!
Ngu ;That (when reporting)
Bambe; Please, dear you
Nyaabura’we ;(pl. nyaabura’mwe, please)
Tikiine ; it doesn’t have
Webare ; thank you
Munonga ; very, very much
Ahabw’enki;why?

CONJUCTIONS – Runyankore to English

Ninga ;or
Kandi ;and, again, moreover
Kwonka;but, nevertheless
Na or n’ ; and
Shana; perhaps
Kwonka ;but, nevertheless
Ni; is, are
Kandi ;and

COMMON DISEASE – Runyankore to English

omushwija; Fever/ malaria Emishwija(plural)
Kuteerwa omutwe; Headache Kuteerwa emitwe(plural)
Ekihinzi; Cold in the head Ebihinzi(plural)
Senyiga /muyego; Influenza Senyiga/ muyego(plural)
Kushaasha eriisho; Itching eye Kushaasha amaisho(plural)
Kushaasha eriino; Toothache Kushaasha amaino(plural)
Kuribwa omunda ;Stomach pain Kuribwa omunda(plural)
Ekyata ;Heartburn Ekyata(plural)
Ekirukano;Diarrhoea Ekirukano(plural)
Enbiku; Venereal disease Enziku(plural)
Ekironda ;Ulcer/ sore/ wound Ebironda(plural)
Sirimu (slim); Aids Sirimu(plural)
Akahere; Septic sore/gooseflesh/ skin rash Obuhere(plural)
Ebibembe; Leprosy Ebibembe(plural)
Esheshe; Dysentery Esheshe(plural)
Obusheru; Measles Obusheru(plural)
Orukororo; Cough Enkororo(plural)
Ensundo ;Tonsillitis Ensuundo(plural)
Eizoomba; Ringworms Amazoomba(plural)
Omuze ;Small pox Omuze(plural)
Amatojo; Chicken pox Amatojo(plural)
Rukaka; Yellow fever Rukaka(plural)
Akakonko; Whooping cough Obukonko (plural)
Rubyamira ;Combination of fever, flu, cold, cough Rumbyamira(plural)
Enjoka; Stomach worms Enjoka(plural)

BASICS – Runyankore to English

Sir; Sebo
Group of men; Ba-sebo
Madame Nyabo
Group of women; Ba-nyabo
Bad; Nikibi
Too ;hot
– too bad –;kanikibi
very unpleasant;kanikibi
Yes ;Ego
No ;Ngaha
Thank you ;Webare (way-ba ree)
Thank you very much ;Webare munonga
You’re welcome ;Webare kusiima
Home; Omuka
My husband ;Omwami wangye
My ;Wangye
My wife ;Omukazi wangye
Pardon, didn’t understand? Or in reply to being called – ie yes, what?;Wanji
Or; ninga

AMOUNT – Runyankore to English

Enamba; Number Enamba n-n
Esente/empiiha ;Money Esente/empiiha n-n
Enshonga; Problem Enshonga n-n
Ekizibu ;Difficulty Ebizubu Ki-bi
Shiringi; Shilling Shiringi n-n
Omwabazyo; Evening Omwabasyo Mu-mi
Omwonyo; Salt Omwonyo n-n
Kiro ;Kilo Kiro n-n
Ekindi; Other Ebindi Ki-bi
Omwenda; Cloth Emyenda Mu-mi
Empare; Trouser Empare n-n
Mita ;Metre Mita n-n
Omukyebe ;Tin Emikyebe Mu-mi
Buto ;Cooking oil Buto n-n
Edebe; Tin (large) Edebe n-n
Omukyebe; Tin (small) Emikyebe Mu-mi
Ekipimiso; A weight Ebipimiso Ki-bi
Ekipimo; Measurement Ebipimo Ki-bi
Omuhendo ;Price Emihendo Mu-mi

ADJECTIVES – Runyankore to English

Obukuru; Age/ importance/ responsible position
Bikye; Few/ a few/ little
Irooko; You (sing) may go
Buri; every
Yaawe ;(pl. zaawe) Yours
Bingi; Many
Obundi; Others
Zoona; all
muntu mukye; small person
abantu bakye; small people
ekitabo kikye; small book
ebitabo bikye ;small books
-bi; bad/ugly
omuti mubi; bad/ugly tree
emiti mibi; bad/ugly trees
omushaija mubi ;bad/ugly man
abashaija babi; bad/ugly men
Omuti murungi; good tree
Abashaija barungi; good men
-rungi; well, beautiful
Omukazi murungi; a beautiful woman
ekitabo kirungi; a good book

ADVERBS – Runyankore to English

Nyenkyakare; Tomorrow
Nyentsya/ kwosha nyenkyakare ;Day after tomorrow
Nyomwabazyo; Yesterday
Ijo/kwosha nyomwabazyo ;Day before yesterday
Buzima; Truly; real
Hati; Now/ today
Omumaisho ;Ahead/ in front
Nangwa /And/ even
Hati ;Now, today
Butoosha; Always
Bwanyima; Later, afterwards
Hoona ;Even, yet
Zinka ;Only
Ahab’ekyo; therefore
Obundi ; at times, sometimes, at other time
Buzima ;truly
Aha ; here