Category: Runyankore to English

ACTIONS – Runyankore to English

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

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

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

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

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)

QUESTION AND ANSWER – Runyankore to English

Who?; Oha
How? ;Ota
Where?; Nkahi
When? ;Ryari
Why?; Ahabwenki
What?; Ki (chi)
Who told you?; Noha owakugambira
That ;ekyo
Is it?; tikwo?
When will I see you?; Turebane ryari?
Where are you going?;Nozahi
I am going to Mbarara.;Ninza Mbarara
I am going to drink tea.;Ninza kuynwa chai
I am going dancing.;Ninza kuzina.
I am going to class.;Ninza omukibina.
I am going to class to learn.;Ninza Kushoma.
I am going to teach.;Ninza kushomesa.
I am going to do washing.;Ninza kwozya.
I am going to sit.;Ninza kushutama.
Where are you coming from?;Norugahi
I am coming from… ;Ninduga
Why are you late? ;Ahabwenki wakyerererwa?
How much? ;zingahi
there; kuriya
Here; aha
What did you eat?;Waryaki? (singular) Mwaryaki? (plural)
Narya ;(I ate…)
Twarya ;we ate…..
What did you eat for lunch?;Kyamushana waryaki
Oraire gye?; Did you spend the night well?
Oraire gye. ;You spend the night well.
Nkahi?; Where?
Ryari?; When?
Ahabw’enki ; why?
Oha?; Who?
Ki/enki?; What?
-ta ;How?
Nooza hi? ;where are you going?
Nibahinga hi? ;where are they cultivating?
Taahamu ;enter (in)
Baashangamu omukazi;they have found in a woman.
Nintamu amaizi; I am putting in water.
Yaagarukayo; he/she has gone back there
Oineyo ki?; What do you have there?
Have you finished?;waheza?
Yes, finished – singular;Naheza
Yes, finished – plural; Twaheza Mwaheza?(plural)
Have you seen…..; Wamurebire
Have you seen my husband?;Omwami wangye wamurebire?
Have you seen my wife?; Omukazi wangye wamurebire?
Give me the salt.; Mpa omwonyo.
I hope you feel better (to someone ill);Nyinamatsiko noza kubagye.
Can you take my slasher to be sharpened?;Nobasa kutwara sirasha
How much does it cost?;yangye;kugityaza?
Nobasa; can you
Sirasha; slasher
Yangye ; my
Kugityaza ; sharpened
Nibagityariza zingahi.;Can we give you a lift?
Nitubasa kukutwaraho?;Nitubasa kubatwaraho?(pl)
I am going to slash the grass.;Ninza kutemurira ebinyasi byangye.
Ebinyasi;grass

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

PRONOUNS – Runyankore to English

Ou; Whom
Abo; They/them
Nyowe; I
Iwe; You
We ;He/she
itwe; We
Imwe; You (pl)
Bo ;they
N ; I, me
Tu ; we
O ; You
Mu ; You
A ; he/she
Ba – They
Ndi ;I am
Ori; You are (singular)
Ari ;He/she is
Turi; We are
Muri; You are
Bari; They are
Naanye; And I Naitwe Mu-ba
Naiwe ;And you Naimwe Mu-ba
Nakyo; And he/she Nabo Mu-ba
Nakwo ;And it Nabyo Mu-ba
Nabwo; And it Nago Bu-ma
Naryo ;And it Nago Ri-ma
Nagwo;And it Nayo Mu-mi
Narwo; And it Nazo Ru-n
Nako ;And it Nabwo Ka-bu
Nayo ;And it Nazo n-n
Kyo;It Byo Ki-bi
Kwo ;It Go Ku-ma
Bwo ;It Go Bu-ma
Ryo ;It Go Ri-ma
Gwo ;It Yo Mu-mi
Rwo ;It Zo Ru-n
Ko ;It Bwo Ka-bu
yo ;it Zo n-n
Nyenka; I alone Twenka We alone
Wenka; You
alone; Mwenka
Wenka; He/she alone
Bonka ;They alone
Nkaita enjoka nyenka;I killed a snake alone.
Baagyenda bonka.;They have gone alone.
Aine ebitabo byonka.;He has books only.
Mukarya embuzi ibiri zonka.;You ate two goats only.
Ente nizirya zonka.;Cows are grazing alone.
Wangye ;Mine Bangye(plural)
Kyangye ;Mine Byangye(plural)
Kwangye ;Mine Gangye(plural)
Bwangye ;Mine Yangye(plural)
Gwangye ;Mine Gangye(plural)
Ryangye; Mine Zangye(plural)
Kangye ;Mine Bwangye(plural)
Yangye; Mine Zangye(plural)
Nyine; I have(postive) Tiinyine(negative)
Oine ;you have (singular) toine(negative)
Aine ;he/she has taine(negative)
Twine; we have titwine(negative)
Mwine ;you have (plural) timwine
Baine ;they have tibaine(negative)
Kiine ;it has biine(plural)
Kwine ;it has gaine(plural)
Gwine ;it has eine(plural)
Riine ;it has gaine(plural)
Rwine; it has ziine (plural)
Kaine ;it has bwine(plural)
Eine ;it has
Kiine; it has biine(plural)
Kwine; it has gaine(plural)
Gwine; it has eine(plural)
Riine; it has gaine(plural)
Rwine; it has ziine (plural)
Kaine; it has bwine(plural)
Eine ;it has

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?