Rukiga notes:

First class:

My teacher is called Nuwagira Richard.

Rukiga and Runyankore are sister languages. Rukiga is spoken from Kabale onwards, in old
Kigezi district. Runyankore is spoken in Mbarara (where Richard comes from), Bushenyi and
Ntungamo, etc. They are pretty much identical in terms of grammar and vocabulary, but they
differ quite a bit in pronunciation and accent. Both are written languages though, which means
that there are story books and dictionaries available.

Parts of the day:

- The day is broadly divided into four parts:
o Akasheeshe = morning
o Eihangwe = daytime
o Omwabazyo = evening
o Ekiro = night
- Ni = means
- Ki = what?

Formal greetings:
- These vary depending on the time of day
- The basic aim is to ask how the previous block of time has gone for somebody
o How was your night? In the morning
- Okuramutsya omu kasheeshe = greeting in the morning
o Oraire gye? (you spent the night well?)
o Eego. Oraire ota? (Yes. You spent the night you how?)
o Ndaire kurungi. Shana iwe? (I spent the night well. Except perhaps you?).
o Ndaire gye (I spent the night well).
- Ai and ei sound like ii
- Oraire ota? = how was your night?
- Ndaire gye/Ndaire kurungi = I spent it well

Personal pronouns:
- N=I
- O = You
- A = He/She
- Tu = we
- Mu = you (plural)
- Ba = They

Vocab:
- Sebo = man/mr.
- Nyabo = woman/madam
- Ngaho = no
 - Eego = yes
- Ninga = or

There is no written L in Rukiga. It is basically R. The R sound is kind of half way between R
and L in English.

- Raire is the stem of the verb “to spend the night”

- So Oraire = you spend the night
- Ndaire = I spend the night
o Nr is impossible, so it becomes Nd

Normally personal pronouns are used as subject prefixes. SP + Verb is the normal structure

- Tugyende = let’s go
o The gy is pronounced like j in jelly

Verbs in infinitive form:

- In the infinitive verbs have ku- before them
- Following are some infinitive form verbs and some with the modified verb stem (MVS).
In the infinitive form, the bit following ku- is called the Original Verb Stem (OVS)
- Ku-raara (raire) = to spend the night
- Ku-siiba (siibire) = to spend the day
- Ku-baasa (basize) = to be able to
- Ku-kora (kozire) = to do work
- Ku-shoma (shomire) = to study/read
- Kw-enda (enzire) = to want/need
- Kw-eta (etsire) = to call
- Kw-ozya (ogize) = to wash (things)

Kw is used before stems beginning with a vowel to avoid sounds which can’t work

Daytime greetings:
- Osiibire ota sebo?
- Nsiibire gye sebo. Shana iwe?
- Nsiibire kurungi.

- Ku-ramutsya (rumukize) = to greet

Putting an O in front of the ku form makes the word into a noun

- ku-ramutsya = to greet
- okuramutsya = a greeting

- Oraire gye sebo?

- Eego. Agandi?
- Nimarungi. Shana iwe?
- Ndyaho.
Or:
- Agandi?
- Ni gye (this is the form which I learned at Buhoma)

There are several extra gambits used with greetings, which are along the lines of “how is your
wife, how are your children” etc.

- Omuka baraire bata?

o At home they spent the night how? (Omuka = at home)
- Omuka baraire gye/kurungi
o At home they spent the night well

- Yebare = thank you

- Yebare munonga = thank you very much
- Omukazi = a wife
- Omwana = a child
- Omushaija = a man

The greetings using ku-siiba are used from about 10/11 in the morning through until late at night

Conjugation:
- Siibire
o Nsiibire
o Osiibire
o Asiibire
o Tusiibire
o Musiibire
o Basiibire
- Ogize
o Nyogize
o Oyogize
o Ayogize
o Twogize
o Mwogize
o Boogize
- Basize
o Mbasize
o Obasize
o Abasize
o Tubasize
o Mubasize
o Babasize

Kare = goodbye/ok (pronounced kale)

Homework:

Task: Write a dialogue between two people greeting each other, including some additional
gambits. Write two versions, one using the singular forms of the verbs and one using the plural
forms

Conversation 1:
Person 1: Oraire gye sebo?
Person 2: Eego nyabo. Oraire ota?
Person 1: Ndaire gye. Shana iwe?
Person 2: Ndaire kurungi.
Person 1: Omuka baraire bata sebo?
Person 2: Omuka baraire gye nyabo. Shana iwe?
Person 1: Omuka baraire kurungi. Omukazi araire gye?
Person 2: Eego, omukazi araire kurungi.
Person 1: Omwana ashomire gye?
Person 2: Omwana ashomire kurungi.
Person 1: Kare sebo.
Person 2: Kare nyabo.

Conversation 2:
Group 1: Musiibire gye?
Group 2: Eego. Tusiibire kurungi. Agandi?
Group 1: Nimarungi. Shana imwe?
Group 2: Ndyaho.
Group 1: Yebare.
Group 2: Yebare munonga.

Class 2:

Self standing personal pronouns:

- Nyowe – I/me
- Iwe – you
- We – her/him
- Itwe – us/we
- Imwe – you (plural)
- Bo – them

Ki always sounds like chi

Informal greetings:
- Oraire ota sebo?
- Ndaire gye. Agandi?
- Nimarungi. Noogamba ki?
- Tinyine nshonga.
This starts off formally and then goes informal with Noogamba ki. This word pretty much
means “what are you saying?”

- Ku-gamba = to talk, speak

So Noogamba ki means “you are saying, what?”

- Omuka baraire bata?

- Tibaine nshonga
o “They have no problem”

Irregular verbs
- -ine is the verb “to have”
- It is irregular
- Conjugated as follows in present continuous:
o Nyine = I have
o Oine = you have
o Aine = he/she has
o Twine = we have
o Mwine = you have
o Baine = they have
- Ti- is a negative prefix
- So Tinyine means “I have not” so tinyine nshonga means “I have no problem”
- For oine + ti we get toine
- For aine = taine
- For Twine = titwine
- For Mwine = timwine
- For baine = tibaine

- Motorbike is “pikipiki” pronounced pretty much as bitchy bitchy

- Emotoka = motorcar
- Entebe = chair
- Ekitabo = book
- Emeeza = table

- Oine emeeza n’entebe?

o Eego. Nyine emeeza n’entebe
- Na = and (it can be contracted to n’)
- Enju = house
- Ebintu = things/belongings

- Omuka oine bintu ki omu nju?

o At home what things do you have in your house
- Nyine emeeza, ekitabo n’entebe omuka
o I have a table, book and chair at home
o Or, omuka can go at the start of the sentence if you want
 - -ri = to be
- Conjugated as follows in present continuous:
o Ndi = I am
o Ori = you are
o Ari = he/she is
o Turi = we are
o Muri = you are
o Bari = they are
- Omuka bari bata?
- Omuka bari gye.
o At home how are they
o At home they are good
- Ori ota? (how are you?)
- Ndi gye. Shana iwe? (I am well. And you?)

Greetings like noogamba ki, agandi and ori ota are all informal and are only used after someone
has been known or present for some time.

- Chris na Richard bari gye?

- Eego, tibaine nshonga

Hati nookora ki?

- What am I doing now? This is in the present continuous tense
- Hati = now

Verbs:
- ku-kozesa = to use
- ku-gamba = to talk/speak
- ku-handiika = to write
- ku-reeba = to see
- ku-shomesa = to teach
- kw-ega = to learn
- ku-kunda = to like/love

Ni- is a tense marker used with the subject prefix and the verb stem
- So “I am speaking” is ningamba
- This tense is similar to French – it means both I speak and I am speaking

There are many past tenses in Rukiga, although their use is clear.
- So ku-gamba conjugates as follows in the present continuous:
o Ningamba
o Noogamba
o Nagamba
o Nitugamba
o Nimugamba
 o Nibagamba
- Hati nikoseza computer kuhandiika
o Now I am using a computer to write
- Present continous markers are:
o Nin-
o Noo-
o Na-
o Nitu-
o Nimu-
o Niba-

Sentences
- Hati Richard nashomesa Rukiga
- Hati tinkureeba Sheraton
o Now I can’t see the Sheraton
- Hati ninyenda kunywa kyayi
o Now I need to drink kyayi (tea)
- Hati turi omu Kampala
o Now we are in Kampala

- Ku-tuura = to live/stay

Interrogatives:
- ki? = what?
- hi/nkahi? = where?
- ryari? = when?
- ahanki? = why?
- -ha = who?
- -ta = how?
o As in oraire ota

- Ori oha?
o Who are you?
- Ori ota?
o How are you?
- Ori nkahi?
o Where are you?
- Ori ki?
o What are you?

- Nitunywa kyayi ryari?

o When do we drink tea?

They have a different way of telling time in Bantu culture. It starts at 6am, and then 7 is called 1
hour, 8 is 2 hours etc. This fits with the day properly.
 - aha = here
- Herbert tari aha
o Herbert is not here
- Negative present continuous of –ri (to be):
o Tindi
o Tori
o Tari
o Tituri
o Timuri
o Tibari

Adverbs of time:
- Hati = now
- Erizooba = today
- Nyomwabazyo = yesterday
- Nyencakare = tomorrow
o “ca” sounds like cha and “ka” sounds like ka
- Bwanyima = later on
- Kareho = earlier
- Omu kasheeshe, omu eihangwe (etc) = in the morning, in the daytime (etc)
- Buri = every
- Buri izooba = every day
- Buriijo = always
o (never is much more complicated and actually a tense of its own)

When constructing the present continuous tense, the stem used is the infinitive form (what
comes after ku) with the appropriate prefixes attached. The modified verb stem is used with the
other tense we used yesterday.

- kw-ozya = to wash
- ku-naaba = to wash (oneself)
- ku-rya = to eat

Situation practice:
- Welcoming a visitor
o Visitor: Kodi kodi
o Host: Ni oha?
o Visitor: Ndi Richard
o Host: Ee, Richard. Tahamu!
 (ku-tahamu = to enter)
o Host: Nakushemererwa! (I’m glad to see you!)
o Visitor: Niinye naakira (I am more than glad)
o Then exchange normal greetings
o Host: Akatebe, shutama aha. (This stool, sit here)
 o Visitor: Yebare munonga.
 (ku-shutama = to sit)
 You don’t need the prefix for shutama because it is a command

- Yebare emirimo = thanks for the work/your effort

- Kare (no problem) ninga Niiwe gyebare

Homework:

Construct ten simple sentences using some of the things we have done today. I should use nouns
and then we can correct them later. I should also try to make a free-flowing conversation
between two people using some of these things. One should ask as much as possible of the other
person. Where do you live? Etc.

1) Erizooba ninega Rukiga.

2) Hati ninkoseza computer kuhandiika
3) Nooreba ki?
4) Omuka mwine emotoka?
5) Nyencakare ninenda kushoma Rukiga.
6) Nootura nkahi omu Kampala?
7) Nookunda Chris ninga Richard?
8) Nookunda kurya ekitookye na posho?
9) Omuka omukazi nareeba ki?
10) Noowozya omwana? (are you washing the child?)

Class three:

Put these in plural form

1) Oraire ota = muraire muta

2) John nagambaki = John na Richard nibagambaki
3) Herbert araire ata = Herbert na Chris baraire bata
4) Noogambaki? = Nimugambaki?
5) Tinyine nshonga = Titwine shonga
6) Ni oha? = Ni baha?

Oha pluralised can only go to baha. This is an odd one out.

Ni means “it is”

Kurika x-mas? = did you survive christmas? (welcome back from christmas)
Naiwe gikurike = you also

Kandi = and (for connecting phrases or sentences)

Na = and (for lists) + with
Kurika omwaka! = did you survive the year?
Naiwe gukurike = yes and you?

Omwaka = year

Ekitookye = matooke
Posho = posho

Tinkumanya = I don’t know

Amaizi = water

Pikipiki negyenda mangu mangu kukira taxi. = Motorbike goes faster than taxi

Ku-kira = to exceed/outstrip

Mangu = quickly
Mpora = slowly

Kwonka = but

Munywani = friend
Banywari = friends

When using the negative prefix ti- the verb is given in infinitive form. E.g. tinkumanya = I don’t
know, kwonka nimanya

Herbert natuura kireka = Herbert lives in kireka

Kuruga = preposition “from” + verb to come from

Aha pikipiki = on a motorbike

Omu motoka = in a car
Enyonyi = bird/aeroplane

Enyonyi negyenda mangu mangu kukira motoka = the aeroplane goes faster than the car

Orujungu = english
Orukiga = the language rukiga
Orunyankore = the language runyankore
Oruganda = the language Luganda
Literally, the language of the xxxxxxx

Ekimuri = flower

Nyencakare nitwija kushoma = tomorrow we are coming to study

Ni kirungi = it is good

Amaani = strength/energy/power

Ebihimba = beans
Posho n’ebihimba = posho and beans

Ekibuuzo = a question

Obundi = sometimes

Ekitabo kirungi = a good book

Ekitabo ni kirungi = the book is good

It is very important to always greet people and maintain social relationships. If you do not
always greet people you will be considered a loner and rude. It is an obligation to greet people.
You need to come into the meeting with a smile and be positive.

We are going to go beyond greetings to introducing ourselves, and giving some details about
what we are doing.

Topic 2: Okweyanjura = introducing self

Often people do not actually introduce themselves (this is my wife, this is my son etc). It is
assumed that everyone already knows each other. You have to actually ask to get a proper
introduction.

Kw-eta = to call

Nibanyeta Richard = they are calling me Richard

Nibanyeta Chris = they are calling me Chris

Nibakweta oha? = what is your name (lit. how are they calling you?)
(there is a liaison between these words – it sounds nibakwetoha)

Kandi iwe? = and you? (sounds kandiwe)

Object infinixes for people are:

- N = me
- Ku = you
- Mu = him/her
- Tu = us
- Ba = them
- Ba = them
So Nibakweta conjugated is:
- Nibanyeta
- Nibakweta
- Nibamweta
- Nibatweta
- Nibabeeta
- Nibabeeta

Nibabeeta baha? = what are they called

This infix thing is needed because it represents the object and not the subject of the verb

Noonyeta = you call me

Ninkweta = I call you
Nibatweta = they call us
Nibabeeta = they call them

Nibatushomesa = they teach us

Noonshomesa Rukiga = you are teaching me rukiga

Nibabareeba omu club = they see them in the club

Tinkubareeba = I don’t see them

Tibakubareeba = They don’t seem them
(remember that ti- + subject prefix is always followed by the infinitive ku/kw)
Tokumureeba = you don’t see her

Negative markers:
- tin
- to
- ta
- titu
- timu
- tiba

Any word starting with T can be assumed to be a negative

Nibakweta oha?
Niiwe oha?
These two mean pretty much the same thing, but the second one is more like “and you?”
so you need the proper question first

Niiwe oha? = It is you who?

Niinye Chris = It is me Chris

Nibakweta oha?
Nibanyeta Chris

Niiwe oha?
Niinye Chris

This is different from Nyine (I have). They sound very similar.

- Eiziina ryangye niinye Chris

- Eiziina ryawe niiwe oha?

Eiziina = name

Possessive suffixes:
-angye = mine
-awe = yours
-e
-aitu
-anyu
-abo

The prefix for the possessive depends on the noun class (of which there are nine)

Emphatics:
Niinye = it is me
Niiwe = it is you
Niwe = it is him/her
Nitwe = it is us
Nimwe = it is you (plural)
Nibo = it is them

Richard na Chris nibo bashoma Rukiga = Richard and Chris it is them they are studying Rukiga

Homework:
Write some sentences using the object infixes with different verbs. Stretch yourself!

1) Nibabareeba omu kampala

2) Noonenywa bell WRONG just say noonywa bell, or use object infix for Bell which is –
gi-, making nooginywa
3) Noonreeta ekitookye? WRONG should use verb ku-reetera, making it noondeetera
ekitookye
4) Nimbagurira ebintu
5) Nimumanya
6) Ninbagyenda omu bwindi WRONG not a transitive verb
7) Ninmuteeka posho n’ebihimba WRONG the verb changes to ku-teekyera (to cook for
someone) making ninmuteekyera posho n’ebihimba
8) Tinkumureetera akatebe
 9) Tokungarakamu ekibuuzo kyangye
10) Tokuruga England

Class 4:

Oturo = sleep
Kakye kakye = little
Abantu = people
Abantu baingi = a lot of people
- ingi = many/a lot (adj.)
embwa = dog

ku-beiha = to deceive/lie
This is used a lot in the context of “you’re joking” = noobeiha

Emponu = pig

-hango = big, large, wide (adj.)

List of household items:

- radio = radiyo
- bicycle = egaari
- corrugated iron sheets = amabaati
- grass thatch = ekinyansi
o enju y’ekinyansi = a grass thatch house
- soil = eitaka
- wall = ekisiika
- floor = ahansi
- down = ahansi
- window = edirisa
- door = orwigi
- room = ekishengye
- stove (kerosene) = sitoovu
- stove (charcoal) = sigiri
- saucepan = esofuriya
- bed = ekitanda
- plate = esowani
- spoon = ekigiiko
- fork = ehuuma
- knife = omutsyo
- panga = omuhoro
- living room / eating place = eiriro
Clothes
- shirt = esaati
- trousers = empare
- skirt = sikaati
 - bag = enshaho
- hat = enkofire
- shoes = enkaito
- traditional sash dress with big shoulders = boodingi
- other dress = ekiteteeyi
- ekooti = coat
Farming
- hoe = efuka
- garden = omusiri
- field = omusiri
- crops = ebihingwa
- to harvest = ku-sharura

There are abundant words relating to agriculture. For example, there are different words for
harvesting millet, g-nuts and matooke, to give but a few examples.

Community
- village = ekyaro
- daily market = akatare
- periodic market = ekikomera
- shop = eduuka (amaduuka pl.)
- trading centre = aha maduuka (lit. “at the shops”)
- school = eishomera
- health centre = eirwariro (lit. “place where you get sick”)

More on introductions:
- you don’t always have to have a subject in the word to use an object infix. For example,
Naashemererwa kukureeba. Here the first word means “I am glad” and the second “to
see you”. So it is an infinitive with an object infix. The second ku is the infix.

Usually nouns come before modifiers (eg adjectives). E.g. “house white” instead of “white
house”. You then need to use the noun class to change the prefix of the adjective.

Eiziina ryangye niinye = my name is

Eiziina ryawe niiwe = your name is
Eiziina rye niwe = his name is

Ogu = This one (near)

Ogwo = That (referential)
Oriya = That (distance)

Ogu ni oha? = who is this?

Ogu nibamweta oha? = This one they are calling him how?

Richard takumanya Jose, kwonka, nimumanya = Richard doesn’t know Jose, but I know him
Nahabwekyo = therefore

Ahakuba = because
Ahanki = why?

Names are emphasised, so you always need to use niinye which is an emphatic

Leave-taking

- Kare sebo/nyabo
o Kare ogumeho (ogumeho = stay well)
- Osiibe gye = spend the day well (normally said in the morning)
o Naiwe osiibe gye
- Ogyende gye = go well
o Naiwe ogyende gye
- Oraare gye = have a good night (usually said in the evening)
o Naiwe oraare gye

These are not fixed questions and responses. They can pretty much all be used in any
combination.

Ondamukize abomuka = greet for me the people at home

Plurals:
- Kare basebo/banyabo
o Kare mugumeho
- Musiibe gye
o Naimwe musiibe gye
- Mugyende gye
o Naimwe mugyende gye
- Muraaregye
o Naimwe muraare gye

XXXXXX nikimanyisa ki? = what does XXXXXXX mean?

Oramutsye Sarah = you greet Sarah

SP + OVS with final A on the stem changed to –e

This is a subjuntive and is used when being polite

Pretty much all verbs in Rukiga end in –a

Class five:

Gi = sounds like the letter g

Ekicweka = part
Kicweka ki omu kampala = what part of kampala

Haihi na = near to (pronounced heehee)

Enyima ya = behind
Hare = far
Ahagati ya = between
Aha rubaju rua = besides
Omu maisho ga = in front of
Omunda ya = inside
Ahansi ya = under/below
Aha mukono gwa buryo = right hand side
Aha mukono gwa bumosho = left hand side
Mukono = hand
Bumosho = left
Buryo = right

Ku-hika = to arrive/reach
Kw-ata = to take a path

Today past tense prefixes:

- Naa-
- Waa-
- Yaa-
- Twa-
- Mwa-
- Baa-

Simple “if” = naahika

Naahika Kampala, ninyija kukureeba = if I reach kampala, I will see you

Verbs relating to where people live/directions:

- ku-ruga = to come from (also preposition FROM)
- ku-tuura = to live/stay
- ku-hika = to reach/arrive (also preposition TO)
- ku-tambura = to walk/travel
- ku-raara = to spend the night

nooraara nkahi? = where do you spend the night (where do you live)
notuura na oha? = who do you live with

owaanyu ni nkahi?
Owaitu ni England

Owaanyu = your home area

Owaitu = our home area

Owaitu sounds like o-wheat-oo

Bath omuri England = Bath is part of England

Nintuura omu Kampala = I live in Kampala

Omuri = within

Taata = father
Maama = mother
Munyanyazi = sister/brother (sibling)

Kw-eshongora = to sing
Ku-zina = to dance

-kuru = old/important
-to = young
-kye = small/little

munyanyazi ni muto = sister is younger

ori mukuru kumukira = you are old you exceed her (you are older than her)

ku-vuga = to drive/ride

owangye = my home area

owaawe = your home area
owe = his/her home area
owaitu = our home area
owaanyu = your home area
owaabo = their home area

owa-/ow- + possessive suffix makes a possessive locator

culturally it is not asked where an individuals home place is. Rather it is common to use the
plural “our home place”, “your home place (pl.)”

ku-tayaaya = to visit
ku-teekateeka = to think
kw-ijuka = to remember

Far past tense:

- subject prefix + ka + original verb stem
- nkagyenda = I went
- akagyenda = he went
enkoko = chicken

ku-fa = to die
ku-rwara = to be sick
ku-gumizamu = to continue

naanye = me too

kurikayo = welcome back

naarugayo = I’ve come back

The -YO at the end of the word signifies an indefinite form of “there”. -HO is “there” but
definite. –MU signifies motion in or into something

Naruga eduuka? = are you coming from the shops?

Eego. Narugaho. = yes. I am coming from there.

Richard would like me to find somebody with whom I can practice my Rukiga. I need to go and
look in the trading centre or something. I can go and ask Mick if his girlfriend would speak with
me. This is my assignment for the weekend.

Ku-reeba-na = to see each other

-na = reciprocal suffix

kugyendana = to go together
kutamburana = to walk together
some of these things are considered quite funny by bakiga. They wonder how it can be
possible to do certain things together.

Tureebane nyencakare = let’s see each other tomorrow

Tenses we have seen now are present continuous, recent past, far past, yesterday past, near
future. We have not yet seen the far future or the subjunctive, or the conditional (if tenses).

Homework:
- construct a chart of the tenses that I know and the prefixes and negative prefixes for
each
 FAR PAST TENSE

Subject prefix + KA + original verb stem

Nka-reeba = I saw Tinda-reebire = I didn’t see

Oka-reeba = You saw Tora-reebire = You didn’t see
Aka-reeba = He/she saw Tara-reebire = He/she didn’t see
Tuka-reeba = We saw Titura-reebire = We didn’t see
Muka-reeba = You saw Timura-reebire = You didn’t see
Baka-reeba = They saw Tibara-reebire = They didn’t see

YESTERDAY PAST
TENSE

Subject pronoun + Modified verb stem

Nsiibire = I spent the night Tin-siibire = I didn’t spend the night

Osiibire = You spent the night To-siibire = You didn’t spend the night
Asiibire = He/she spent the night Ta-siibire = He/she didn’t spend…
Tusiibire = We spent the night Titu-siibire = We didn’t spend the night
Musiibire = You spent the night Timu-siibire = You didn’t spend the night
Basiibire = They spent the night Tiba-siibire = They didn’t spend….

TODAY PAST TENSE

Modified subject pronoun + Original verb stem

Naa-ramutsya = I greeted Tinaa-ramutsya = I didn’t greet

Waa-ramutsya = You greeted Tiwaa-ramutsya = You didn’t greet
Yaa-ramutsya = He/she greeted Tiyaa-ramutsya = He/she didn’t greet
Twa-ramutsya = We greeted Titwa-ramutsya = We didn’t greet
Mwa-ramutsya = You greeted Timwa-ramutsya = You didn’t greet
Baa-ramutsya = They greeted Tibaa-ramutsya = They didn’t greet

PRESENT
CONTINUOUS TENSE
Ni + Subject pronoun + original verb stem

Nin-gamba = I am speaking Tinku-gamba = I am not speaking

Noo-gamba = You are speaking Toku-gamba = You are not speaking
Na-gamba = He/she is speaking Taku-gamba = He/she is not speaking
Nitu-gamba = We are speaking Tituku-gamba = We are not speaking
Nimu-gamba = You are speaking Timuku-gamba= You are not speaking
Niba-gamba = They are speaking Tibaku-gamba = They are not speaking
Class 6:

Ku-hinduka = to change
Ku-hindura = to turn/change (cause to change)
Ku-garuka = to return
Bagarukire = they came back
Kw-ijura = to be full

Giving commands/polite requests:

Entaniso = difference
Entaniso eri ahagati ya ……. na ………….= the difference between xxxx and xxxx
Nka = like (as in similar to)

Imperative:
- All original verb stems are commands to the second person singular
- Gyenda! = Go!
- Ija! = come!

Kw-iruka = to run
- Iruka! = Run!

To construct a command to many people, you have to use a subjunctive: (bugger)

- To make a subjunctive, we change the final “a” of the verb into an “e” and attach the
normal prefix

So go! To many people is “mugyende!”

Run! To many is “Mwiruke!”

- ku-yamba = to help

nyamba kukora subjunctive! = help me to use the subjunctive!

Nyama here uses a command with an object infix on the front. Help me…

To be polite to the second person singular, you use a subjunctive also.

- gyenda! becomes ogyende
- iruka! becomes oiruke

Culturally, this singular subjunctive is not often used. It is not considered excessively rude to
use a command form. Using very polite language is considered unnatural.

The subjunctive is also used to give lists of commands.

- Gyenda omu nju, orete ekitabo, ogyende ah’eishomero.
- The first command is normal, and then the rest take the subjunctive
Ku-reta = to bring

The subjunctive is used to avoid abrupt commands by being polite, and to give successive
commands. It does not have any other uses, and it is only available in the present tense.

Culturally the bakiga do not ever give a negative response to a greeting. This is rather like
English.

Plurals:
1) Osiibire ota? = Musiibire muta?
2) Oraire gye sebo? = Muraire gye basebo?
3) Eego, ndi gye = Eego turi gye
4) Ori ota? = Muri muta?
5) Nsiibire gye. Shana iwe? = Tusiibire gye. Shana imwe?
6) Asiibire ata? = Basiibire bata?
7) Ndaire kurungi = Turaire kurungi
8) Naasiiba gye = Twasiiba gye
9) Kare sebo = Kare basebo
10) Ninkunda taata na maama = Nitukunda taata na maama
11) Waasiiba ota nyabo? = Mwasiiba muta banyabo?
12) Nooruga nkahi? Ninduga Amerika. = Nimuruga nkahi? Nituruga Amerika.

Near future:
- Conjugate kw-ija in the present continuous, then add the infinitive of the verb
- Ninija kuza Mbarara. = I will soon go to mbarara

Ku-tandika = to start/begin
Ku-heza = to finish
Ku-hindura = to translate

ebaruha = letter

Make sentences:
1) Omuka baraire bata?
2) Oraire gye nyabo?
3) Noogamba ki Jenny?
4) Osiibire ota Kabayo?
5) Maama araire kurungi?
6) Ndi gye. Shana iwe?
7) Olivia nagamba ki?
8) Mwasiiba muta banyabo?
9) Yebare emirimo
10) Ori gye sebo?
11) Kizito asiibire ata?
12) Ndaire kurungi. Shana iwe?
Responses:
1) Agandi? Nimarungi
2) Oraire gye sebo? Eego. Ndaire kurungi
3) Oraire nkahi? Ndaire omu Kololo
4) Ori ota? Ndi gye
5) Ori oha? Nibanyeta Chris
6) Yebare emirimo Niiwe gyebare

Translation:
1) I have spent the day well = Nsiibire gye / Naasiiba gye
2) I am fine. What’s the news? = Ndi gye. Agandi?
3) Did Paul spend the day well? = Paul yaasiiba gye?
4) In the morning = Omu kasheeshe
5) Evening = Omwabazyo
6) We are fine. Except you (pl.) = Turi gye. Shana imwe?
7) Is he Richard? Yes he is Richard. = Ni Richard? Eego. Ni Richard
8) Stay well ladies and gentlemen. = Mugumeho basebo na banyabo
9) How did they spend the night? = Baraire bata?
10) Ok, bye. Thank you very much = Yebare munonga. Kare
11) I come from Amerika = Ninduga Amerika
12) I stay in Mityana = Nintuura omu Mityana
13) Its good news = Nimarungi

ahari = about (as in talk about)

nouns beginning eki are pluralised to ebi-

-orobi = easy/simple
-gumire = tough, hard, difficult

ikumi na mukaaga = ten + 6 = sixteen

ku-jwara = to wear

omwojo = boy
omwishiki = girl

When you are saying that something is “for” something, you use “of” instead, such as:
- ebintu by’okurya = things for eating
- ekintu ky’okurya = a thing for eating
These would normally be bya, kya, but they contract with the o. Kurya starts with O because
it is the noun eating, rather than the verb to eat. It is literally things of eating.

Eby’okurya = food
Eby’okunywa = drinks
Eby’okubyamaho = specific place for sleeping

For the near future you can also use ku-za as well as kw-ija, especially when it is very
immediate in the future

Bwanyima = after (and later on)

Bwanyima eishomero = after school
Kareho = before (and earlier on)

Ku-zaana = to play

Hamwe = together

Nibazaana hamwe = they play together

Buriijo = often as well as always

Homework:
Take the noun chart and begin to look at it. Try to familiarise myself with it.

Class seven:

Emirimo y’abanti = professions of people

Omuhingi = farmer
Omushuubuzi = trader
Omuhereza w’omu hoteeri = waiter
Omuteeki = Cook
Omurinzi = Guard
Omushomesa = teacher
Omwami = chief
Omufumu = doctor (traditional)
Dokita = doctor (borrowed from English)
Omukuru w’ediini = priest
Ediini = religion
Omworeki = guide
Dereva = driver
Omuvugi = driver (from ku-vuga, to drive)
Omuhinduzi = interpreter
Omutezi = artist (drawer of pictures)
Omubaizi = carpenter
Omwegi = student
Omubazizi = tailor

The fact that all of these things start with Omu tells you that it is in the people class. We are
going to look now at how a noun is put together in rukiga runyankore.
Ku-ronda = to look for

Parts of a rukiga noun:

O-mu-hingi = farmer

O = initial vowel (can change)

Mu = class prefix (can change)
Hingi = root (doesn’t change)

The initial vowel is determined by the vowel in the class prefix. If the vowel in the class prefix
is U then the initial vowel will be O. If the class prefix vowel is A then the initial vowel is A. If
the class prefix vowel is I then the initial vowel is E.
- U O
- A A
- I E

So Omuhingi (sing) goes to Abahingi (plural)

Ekitabo goes to Ebitabo. It is in the Ki Bi class.

All nouns in the language fit into one of the nine noun classes, and have second and third letters
which are one of the noun class combinations. The major exceptions to this are words borrowed
from other languages, such as emotoka, which don’t fit with this at all. These ones are all
lumped into the N N class, even if they don’t have N’s in the right places.

N N class nouns have the same singular as plural

Enju – enju (N N class)
Ekintu – ebintu (Ki Bi class)
Omuntu – Abantu (Mu Ba class)

Singular noun English equivalent Plural noun Noun class

Orushozi Hill Enshozi Ru-N
Enyonyi Bird/plane Enyonyi N-N
Emeeza Table Emeeza N-N
Amaizi Water Amaizi N-N
Ekinyansi Grass Ebinyansi Ki-Bi
Omwana Child Abaana Mu-Ba
Omutsyo Knife Emitsyo Mu-Mi
Ediriso Window Ediriso N-N
Akatebe Stool/small chair Obutebe Ka-Bu
Eriisho Eye Amaisho Ri-Ma
Eriino Tooth Amaino Ri-Ma
Eitama Cheek Amatama Ri-Ma
Eipapaari Pawpaw Amapapaari Ri-Ma
Almost all nouns in the Ri-Ma class have just “I” as their class prefix, instead of Ri. Those
with Ri are just a few body parts (like in the table above)
- E.G. Eitaka is in the Ri-Ma class, despite not being Ri (plural is amataka)
- Eitama (cheek) is another example (plural is amatama)

Other than the Mu Ba class, there are not very many rules for what kind of class a noun should
be in.

Nouns can be moved into different classes than their own, but this changes the meaning of the
noun a bit. For example, Omukazi (wife) which should by rights be in Mu Ba, can be moved to
Ki-Bi class, making Ekikazi. This means that the woman is massive and very fat.
- Ki-Bi magnifies the noun
- Ka-Bu diminishes the noun
- Ru-N elongates the noun, and make things crazy and unkempt

An example of this in action is –tebe. Entebe is chair, but if it is moved to the Ka-Bu class it
becomes Akatebe, which is a small chair. The chair is diminished by being moved to this class.

If it is already in that class and you want to make it big for example, you need to use the
adjective –hango (big). E.g. Ekitabo kihango = big book. In this case the noun class prefix is
also the adjective prefix.

Dereva w’omwegi = a driver who is learning

Ku-naaba = to wash oneself

Otafayo = don’t worry/don’t mind

Ku-gorora = to straighten / iron

Ningorora ebijwaro byangye = I iron my clothes

Eihurire = newspaper (this is in the Ri-Ma class)

Kyantsya = breakfast
Kyamushana = lunch
Kyakiro = dinner

Omushana = sunshine

Kw-aka = to shine/light a fire

Omushana nigwaka = the sunshine is shining

Ebitabo byangye biri omu nshaho yangye. = my books are in my bag

Dokita w’aimaino = doctor of teeth (or dentist)

Inginiya = engineer

Ku-juba = to fish / swim

Ekyenyanja = fish

Ku-bazira = to make clothes

Ente = cow

Bungereza = England (!)

Nigaahe? = agaandi?
Nimarungi

Muri muta okwo? = how are you at that place? (Okwo is referential that for Mu-Ma class)

Nimpandiika = I write / I am writing

- Nh > mp

Orubaho = blackboard

Ku-tera = to beat, as in a naughty child (v. adaptable verb, also means to take pictures, to make a
phone call, to play football)

Ekishani = photograph
Esimu = phone
Omupiira = football

Ku-gaanira = to converse

Aheeru = outside

Ku-sheka = to laugh/giggle
Ku-hurira = to listen, to hear, to feel
Kw-etegyereza = to understand

To make a verb into a profession, you attach Omu on the front, and then change the final “a” on
the verb stem into “I”

Ku-gyezaho = to try

Homework:
Put professions and other nouns in my list into the plural form

Class eight:

There is one extra noun class into which all places are put. This is known as “Ha”.
- Omuka ni harungi?
- Owa Chris ni hakye = Chris’ place is small

When it comes to clashes of sounds when nouns are changed, the root always wins because this
is what determines the meaning of the noun. So for example, Omwegi (student) is Omu-egi, but
ue doesn’t work so it is the U which gives way to become a W. In the plural, it should be Aba-
egi, but ae doesn’t work also so it becomes Abeegi. Again, it is the prefix vowel which gives
way.

Aba-ojo X = aboojo
Aba-oreki X = abooreki
Omu-ojo X = Omwojo

Richard will give me a list of all the contractions tomorrow

All nouns in the people class “Mu-Ba” must have a plural, even if they don’t look like they are
in this class. For these words, Ba is usually added as a prefix.
- Sebo = basebo
- Nyabo = banyabo
- Inginiya = bainginiya

Adjectives:

The following are regular adjectives:

-rungi = good, nice, beautiful
-bi = bad, ugly
-gufu = short
-raingwa = tall, wide
-kuru = old, important
-kye = small, little
-hango = big
-ingi = many
-sya = new

To make a sentence you have to attach the correct class prefix to these, depending on the noun
which they are describing.
- Omushaija murungi = a good man
- Ekikopo kihango = big cup
- Ebikopo bihango = big cups
With the N N class it works the same – with an N being placed in front of the adjective, but this
can make some complicated contractions.
- Enju nhango X = Enju mpango

Some common contractions:

- nr = nd
- nb = mb
- nh = mp
- u(+vowel) = w(+vowel)
- ao = oo
- ae = ee

abazaire = parents
peteroli = petrol

Abaana barungi nibahurira abazaire baabo = good children listen to their parents

Dereva murungi navuga mpora mpora omu koona = a good driver drives slowly at corners

Dereva mubi navuga bwanyima y’okunywa = a bad driver drives after drinking

Omuzaire mubi natera omwana we manonga = a bad parent beats their child a lot

Emotoka nkuru tekugyenda mangu mangu = an old car doesn’t go very fast

Emotoka nsya neenywa peteroli nkye = a new car drinks little petrol

Ekikazi kihango nikijwara ebijwaro bihango = big women wear big clothes

Ekikazi kihango kigufo = big fat short women

When describing how something is, in the third person you always use Ni as “it is”, rather than
ari, kiri, or whatever.

Esente = money

Abaibi = theives

Yuniversity ya makerere neeyombeka hosteeri nsya nyingi = The university of makerere is

building lots of new hostels
- Neeyombeka breaks down as follows:
o Ni-e-ombeka
o Ie = ee so Nee-ombeka
o Eo = eyo (y inserted because neither letter can be changed here as they have
meaning)
 Neeyombeka
Ku-guma = to be difficult/tough
MVS = gumire

Chris agumire = Chris is a tough person

- agumire here is an adjective made from the MVS of ku-guma
- -gumire = tough

Kukoseza Rukiga dictionary kigumire = to use the dictionary is tough

Okukoseza Rukiga dictionary kigumire = using the dictionary is tough
- Both these sentences are fine

Ekiteteeyi kya Irene ni kirungi = the dress of Irene it is nice

Ekitabo kyangye kiri omuka = my book is at home

Ku-guruka = to fly

Ni is used as “is” when describing something, whereas –ri is used for locating something

Ekiteteeyi kya Irene ni kirungi, kwonka, ekiteteeyi kya Irene kiri omu enju ye = Irene’s dress is
pretty, but Irene’s dress is in her house

Class nine:

Okubara = Counting
Ku-bara = to count
Numbers:

Emwe
Ibiri
Ishatu
Ina
Itaano
Mukaaga
Mushanju
Munaana
Mwenda
Ikumi

One through to five require a class prefix, but from six onwards the numbers do not change.

Itwe turi entaama ento, Emwe, Ibiri, Ishatu, Ina, Itaano, Mukaaga, Mushanju, Munaana,
Mwendea, N’ikumi
- This is a song which children learn at school for counting. It means “ we are little sheep
one, two three etc”
-ngahi = the root how many

Nyine ente zingahi = how many cows?

Oine abakazi bangahi? = how many women/wives do you have?

Ekyeshongoro = a song

Akame = a rabbit
Akatunda = passion fruit
Obuta = arrow
Omuti = a tree
Omuti gw’ekitookye = a tree of banana = a banana tree

Obuta is in the Bu Ma class, which does not include very many words. It is the rarest class.

Homework:

Identify at least two nouns in each class, and use them to make sentences with singulars and
plurals (and numbers).

MU BA class:
- Nintambura n’omworeki omwe
- Nibatambura n’abooreki babiri
- Omuka, nyine omuzaire omwe
- Omuka, nyine abazaire babiri

KI BI class:
- Taata wangye aine ekitanda kimwe
- Maama wangye aine ebitanda bibiri
- Abeegi baine ekitabo kimwe
- Abeegi baine ebitabo bina

KU MA class:
- Taata wangye aine okutu kumwe
- Taata wangye aine amatu abiri
- Ogu omwaka, gwine okushwerana kumwe
- Ogu omwaka, gwine amashwerana ashatu

BU MA class:
- Noonfa na obuta bumwe
- Noonfa na amata ataano
- Ninteeka omu obuteeko bumwe
- Nibateeka omu amateeka ashatu

MU MI class:
- Omusiri gwine omuti gumwe
 - Omusiri gwine emiti etaano
- Naheza omu Makerere bwanyima omwaka gumwe
- Naheza omu Makerere bwanyima emyaka ena

RI MA class:
- Aine eiziina rimwe
- Baine amaziina abiri
- Enju yangye eine eiriro rimwe
- Enju yaawe eine amariro ana

RU N class:
- Eishomero eine orubaho rumwe
- Eishomera eine embaho ishatu
- Enju yangye eine orwigi rumwe
- Enju yangye eine enyigi ibiri

KA BU class:
- Kampala haire akatare kamwe
- London haire obutare buna
- Omu omusiri hariyo akame kamwe
- Omu omusiri hariyo obume butaano

N N class:
- Richard aine emotoka emwe
- Richard taine emotoka ibiri
- Nyine esaati emwe
- Nyine esaati itaano

Class ten:

Review class.

20 = Makumi abiri / abiri

30 = Makumi ashatu / ashatu
40 = Makumi ana / ana
50 = Makumi ataano / ataano
60 = Nkaaga
70 = Nshanju
80 = Kinaana
90 = Kyenda
100 = Kikumi / Igana
200 = Bibiri
300 = Bishatu
400 = Bina
500 = Bitaano
600 = Rukaaga
700 = Rushanju
800 = Runaana
900 = Rwenda
1000 = Rukumi
2000 = enkumi ibiri
3000 = enkumi ishatu
4000 = enkumi ina
5000 = enkumi itaano
6000 = kakaaga
7000 = kashanju
8000 = kanaana
9000 = keenda
10000 = Omutwaro gumwe
20000 = emitwaro ebiri
30000 = emitwaro eshatu
40000 = emitwaro ena
50000 = emitwaro etaano

100000 = emitwaro ikumi

200000 = emitwaro abiri

1000000 = miriyoni (sounds like million)

byombi = both

nibakozesa byombi = they use both

506 = bitaano na mukaaga

668 = rukaaga nkaaga na munaana
1975 = rukumi rwenda nshanju n’itaano
8888 = kanaana runaana kinaana na munaana
39 = ashato na mwenda
15000 = omutwaro gumwe n’enkumi itaano

ekicweka (part) can be used to mean half of whatever you have just said. It is used in this way
with numbers so that it always means 5000. So another way of saying 15000 is to say
“omutwaro gumwe n’ekicweka” = lit. 10000 one and a part
- This rule is only for the omutwaro emitwaro numbers

45000 = emitwaro ena n’enkumi itaano

45000 = emitwaro ena n’ekicweka

52750 = emitwaro etaanu enkumi ibiri rushanju n’ataano

40500 = emitwaro ena na bitaano
81600 = emitwaro munaana rukumi na rukaaga
11650 = omutwaro gumwe rukaaga n’ataano
kw-ongyeraho = to add on
ku-sharaho = to cut a price
ku-shashura = to pay
ku-seera = to overcharge

ebeeyi = price

Entebe ni shiringi zingahi? = How much is this chair? (lit. chair it is shillings how many?)
- Zingahi is agreeing with the noun shiringi – so it is always Shiringi zingahi? In the question
how much?

Shiringi = shillings
Doora = dollar
Pawunda = pound

Computer nkagigura pawunda rukumi na kikumi = the computer cost 1100 pounds

Ningira = maybe
Ninteekateeka = I think so ~ maybe
Kuteekateeka = to organise as well as to think

Class eleven:

Reported speech:

Erizooba nituza kushoma reported speech = today we are going to study reported speech

Question: Naagira nta? = what have I said?

Response: Naagira ngu erizooba nituza kushoma reported speech. = I have said that …….

Ku-gira = to say

“Ninduga England”
Naagira ngu ninduga England = I said that I come from England

Jose: Owaitu ni Mbarara haiha n’eishomero rya Ntare.

Question: Yaagira ata?
Response: Jose yaagira ngu owaabo ni Mbarara………

Richard: Ndi omushaho w’amaino

Question: Waagira ota?
Answer: Naagira ngu ndi omushaho w’amaino

Group: Nitutuura omu tawuni ya Kasese omu maisho ga Caltex

Question: Mwagira muta?
Group: Twagira ngu nitutuura omu tawuni ya Kasese omu maisho ga Caltex.

Richard: Ninyija aha boda boda buri zooba

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu ninyija aha boda boda buri zooba

Richard: Tinyine mwana

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu tinyine mwana

Richard: Nanshomesa orujungu

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu nanshomesa orujungu

Group: Buriijo nitureeba omupiira aha T.V.

Question: Mwagira muta?
Group: Twagira ngu buriijo nitureeba omupiira aha T.V.

Richard: Omuka owaabo ni Entebe

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu omuka owaabo ni Entebe

Richard: Takumanya kuvuga motoka

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu takumanya kuvuga motoka

Richard: Omuteeki wa CLC yaagyenda

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu omuteeki wa CLC yaagyenda

Richard: Abaana b’eishomero baza aha kanisa

Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu abaana b’eishomero baza aha kanisa

Ekanisa = church
Ngu = that

Richard: Naaruha
Question: Waagira ota?
Richard: Naagira ngu naaruha

Richard: Naaruha
Question: Richard yaagira ata?
Response: Richard yaagira ngu yaaruha

Richard: Irene naronda ekitabo

Question: Richard yaagira ata?
Response: Richard yaagira ngu Irene naronda ekitabo

Richard: Banywani bangye tibakwija erizooba

Question: Richard yaagira ata?
Response: Richard yaagira ngu banywani be tibakwija erizooba

Ku-gira can be used in this way in all the past tenses (immediate, yesterday, far).

Ku-gira (gizire)

Kw-oreka = to show/demonstrate

Nka = can mean for example

Bwanyima can mean Then

Reeru can also be used as then

They are often used together – reeru bwanyima = then later

After ku-gira in reported speech, you always use the rest of the sentence in the present
continuous, even if you are reporting speech from some time ago

Ku-gira in tense + ngu + present continuous verb

These phrases like waagira ota? Can be used when you don’t understand what’s going on as a
way of asking for things to be repeated for your benefit. This will be useful.

Ku-bura = to get lost

Kw-imuka = to wake up

Kw-eyerera = to sweep

Akacumu = pen (pronounced akachumu)

This literally means a small spear

Ku-kyerererwa = to be late
Ku-shemererwa = to be happy

Okuzaana omupiira na Jose, ni nk’okubyama omu kasheeshe = playing football with Jose is like
sleeping in the morning

Okuteeka chapatti ni nk’okutambura omu bus = cooking chapattis is like travelling in the bus

Ni = it is
Ti = it isn’t

Okubyama omu eihangwe ni nk’okuguruka haihi n’eiguru = sleeping in the daytime is like
flying close to heaven

Okukora omu eishomero ti nk’okusheka n’abaana = working in school is not like joking with
children

Okukunda omukazi ni nk’okuhinga omusiri muhango = loving a woman is like cultivating a

large field

Homework:

Write a story in reported speech, about what one of my friends did. I should make it as detailed
as possible so that we can correct my errors. I should use akagira ngu as much as possible. I
should try to have multiple personalities in the story to get lots of infixes involved.

Homework Story:

Nyine munywani nibamweta Angus. Angus nakunda munonga kuzaana Cricket. Buri mwaka,
Angus nagyenda omu tour na team ye. Akangambira ahari tour ye omu enkumi ibiri n’eshatu.
Yaangira ngu okutayaaya oku, bakatayaaya France. Omu France, bakatuura omu hoteeri, omu
Paris. Bakaza kuhika France omu enyonyi. Omu eihangwe, nibazaana cricket na teams kuruga
Paris. Kwonka, yaangira ngu omu mwabazyo, nibaza kunywa amaarwa maingi na banywani
baabo. Banywani okunywa amaarwa maingi, nibakora ebintu bingi! Nibeeshongora, nibazina,
nibairuka kuhika abakazi… Yaagira ngu izooba rimwe, bakabyama munonga, kandi
nahabwekyo omuhereza w’omu hoteeri akatekwa kubaimutsya! Yaangira ngu bwanyima,
omwibi akabaiba ensente nyingi, kandi tibashemererwa. Reeru bwanyima, tibareenzire kutuura
omu France, nahabwekyo bakaija omu England.

Amaarwa = beer

Class twelve:

Ku-bugana = to meet
Ku-shanga = to find
Ku-bona = to find
Ku-guza = to sell
Ku-kwata = to take, hold, turn (as in turn left)

Ekitekateeko = idea/opinion

Naahindura ekitekateeko kyangye = I changed my mind

The “simple if” is used in situations of doubt or for things which are uncertain or unfulfilled.
This is very much like the French subjunctive. The simple if is the today past prefix, plus the
OVS, plus the rest of the sentence. E.G. Waaronda noobona! = If you look you find

Waashoma grammar, noobassa kwetegyereza! = If you study grammar, you are able to
understand!

Takora practice, noobaasa kugamba kurungi = If we practice, you will be able to speak

This is like the conditional tense in European languages.

Naagamba mpora, tokubaasa kuhurira = If I speak quietly, you won’t be able to hear.

Naagamba mpora, tokubaasa kumpurira = If I speak slowly, you won’t be able to hear me

Yaagamba mpora, tinkubaasa kumuhurira = If he speaks speak quietly, I won’t be able to hear
him

Ku-rira = to cry

Waasheeka munonga, noobaasa kurira = If you laugh hard, you will cry

Ekirabo = a gift

Ku-kuha = to give

Waijo kareho nyencakare, noobaasa kushoma kurungi = If you come early tomorrow, you can
do good work.

Kareho = kare = kare can also mean early

Kareho = means something more like before, earlier, etc
Kare = means something more like early

Naarya enkoko, ninkunda kunywa white wine

Waatuura England, noomanya ngu hariyo ebi’okurya bingi omu ensi. = If you lived in England,
you would know that there are many foods in the world

Ensi = world

Class thirteen:

Okugamba eshaaha omu Rukiga = telling the time in Rukiga

The key word is eshaaha. This means:

- Hour(s)
 - Time
- Watch(es)

Ni shaaha zingahi? = What time is it?

Note:
- The Bantu way of telling the time is different from the UK way.
- 6am UK = 12 bantu
- 7am UK = 1 bantu
- 8am UK = 2 bantu
- 9am UK = 3 bantu
- 10am UK = 4 bantu
- 11am UK = 5 bantu
- noon UK = 6 bantu
- 1pm UK = 7 bantu
- 2pm UK = 8 bantu
- 3pm UK = 9 bantu
- 4pm UK = 10 bantu
- 5pm UK = 11 bantu
- Then it goes round again for the evening. They don’t say am and pm, but omu eihangwe
and omu ekiro.
- Shaaha emwe ya kasheeshe = one hour in the morning = 7 am UK time

The whole concept is that the day begins really at around 6 and ends around 6, so it makes sense
to count time this way.

- Hati ni shaaha ishatu n’ekicweka = Now the time is 9:30. This form uses ekicweka (part)
to represent half an hour

Edakiika = minute

Hati ni shaaha ishatu n’edakiika ashatu n’emwe = Now the time is 9:31

They don’t have any phrases like quarter to, or anything like that. It’s always just the time
exactly from the previous hour.

Wangi = yes please, and is only used in response to a call.

Chris?! Wangi! = Chris?! Yeah!

03:30 = ni shaaha mwenda n’ekicweka z’ekiro = it is half three in the morning

05:00 = ni shaha ikumi n’emwe z’omwabazyo = it is five in the morning

The attachment of the time of day marker is the only way to distinguish between the two halves
of the day. Without z’omwabazyo, the last sentence would be five in the morning or five in the
evening, and you wouldn’t know which.
Exercise:

1) Ni shaaha ibiri edakiika makumi ana n’itaano

2) Ni shaaha ikumi n’emwe
3) Ni shaaha mukaaga edakiika ana
4) Ni shaaha ikumi n’ibiri
5) Ni shaaha ishatu
6) Ni shaaha ikumi n’emwe edakiika ataanu itaano
7) Ni shaaha mwenda
8) Ni shaaha ibiri edakiika ataano
9) Ni shaaha munaana edakiika ana
10) Ni shaaha mukaaga edakiika ana

Enyamaishwa = wildlife
Obwire = weather, period
Nka = roughly/approximately
Ebyombeko = buildings
Ekyombeko = building
-raingwa = tall
Oruguuto = road
Enguuto = roads
Ku-remwa = to fail
Ku-tunga = to get
Ku-zaarwa = to be born

Nyine emyaka ………… = I am ……… years old

Nyine emyaka abiri n’ishatu = I am 23

Nkazaarwa omu rukumi rwenda na kinaana = I was born in 1980

Obwegyese = education
Okushoma = education

Ku-singa = to win, pass exams

Buzima = really, of course

When making a description of the past in Rukiga, you use a narrative tense, which is the recent
past. So you might start a story in the far past, and then switch into the recent past as you go on
telling it.

Class fourteen:

Shaaha is used for telling the time, and eshaaha for giving a number of hours
Ku-sharamu = to decide/choose
Ku-shara = to cut

-mu = suffix meaning in, inside

-ho = suffix meaning a specific place
-yo = suffix meaning a non-specific place

Dates:

Eizooba = day
Okwezi = month
Omwaka = year

Amazooba = days
Ameezi = months
Emyaka = years

Amazooba ga wiiki = days of the week

Ameezi ga omwaka = months of the year

Wiiki = week

Omugurusi = an old man

Days of the week:

- Orw’okubanza = Monday
- Orwakabiri = Tuesday
- Orwakashatu = Wednesday
- Orwakana = Thursday
- Orwakataano = Friday
- Orwamukaaga = Saturday
- Sande = Sunday

Omu Kampala harimu ebintu bingi by’okukora = In Kampala there are lots of things to do

Chris na nyowe, nitushoma rukiga = Chris and I are studying rukiga.

Nyowe is a self-standing personal pronoun.

Orunaaku rw’okubanza = day the first. This is the derivation of Monday.

Omushaija ori kushoma rukiga ni Chris = The man who is studying Rukiga is Chris.
- Here o in ori is the relative subject prefix singular in the Mu Ba class.
- This is a relative subject pronoun – used when the subject is known and mentioned
somewhere else in the sentence. In English it is basically “who”
- In contrast, there is also an indirect subject pronoun, which translates as “whom”
Omushaija ori kunreeba = The man who is seeing me
Omushaija ou ndi kureeba = The man whom I am seeing

Embwa eri kurya ekitookye = The dog that is eating the banana
Embwa ei ndi kuha ekitookye = The dog that I gave the banana

(Whom is for people only)

Wiiki ehweire = last week

Orwakataano oruhweire = last Friday

Emizaano = sports

Ku-kwata = to touch
Ku-tambura = to move

Naaba nyine Frisbee, tinkubaasa kutambura = were I to have the Frisbee, I can’t move

Waaba otaine = if you don’t have

- otaine is in the conditional tense which I haven’t seen before

ku-kwata = to catch

omuzaani = player
abazaani = players

ku-tambika = to throw

ekigambo/ebigambo = word/words

ekooti = coat

Omushaija ori kuza omu katare. Nayenda kugura ekooti aha maduuka omu tawuni.
Nateekateeka ahari ekooti nungi. Yaahika omu eduuka, kandi yaareba ekooti omu edirisa.
Yaakunda egyo, nahabwekyo yaasharamu kutahamu eduuka. Omu eduuka, harimu ekooti ningi.
Yaareba ekooti, kandi yaajwaraho emwe. Yaareba ekooti omu ndeberwamu, kwonka ni mpango
munonga. Reeru, yaasharamu ngu ekooti egi ekaba eri mbi. Akagigarura omu amadaara. Reeru
bwanyima, yaatwara ekooti endiijo, kandi egi ekaba eri nungi. Yaasharamu kugigura. Ekagura
doora igana. Akagishashura kandi akagyenda eduuka.

Endeberwamu = mirror
Amadaara = shelf

Class fifteen:
Kw-ombeka = to build

State/condition tense:
It applies when:
1) Describes something that is already done by the time you talk about it
2) It applies to about 15-20 verbs in Rukiga
e.g.
- Kw-ombeka (ombekire) = to build
- Ku-teeka (teekire) = to cook
- Ku-siiba (siibire) = to spend the day
- Ku-shutama (shutami, shutamire) = to sit down
- Ku-byama (byami, byamire) = to sleep
- Kw-emerera (emereire) = to stand / to stop
- Ku-jwara (jwire) = to wear
- Ku-tegyereza (tegyereize) = to wait for
“I am standing” uses this tense, and is “nyemereire”. Basically it is just the subject prefix plus
the MVS for the verb. In other words, it is identical to the yesterday past tense. This is a bit
confusing. (The y in nyemereire comes because for some reason you can’t use “ne” in Rukiga
because they don’t like the way it sounds).

Enju eyombekire omu itaka = the house is built of mud

Enku = firewood
Amakara = charcoal

Ku-juura = to strip/undress

Goonya = crocodile

Omwerere = baby
Abeerere = babies

Ogu ni muhango kukira ogwo = This one is bigger than that one. (lit, this one is big to exceed
that one)

Feelings:
Kugira (to have) …………….

Ekiniga = anger
Embabazi = love, kindness
Oburihe = tiredness, fatigue
Amaani = energy, strength
Ekibiga, ekyoya = warm/hot
Obusaasi = sad
Obwoba, obutiini = shocked/scared
Okutiina = fear, worried
Okushemererwa = happy
Rukundo = love/affection
Rwango = dislike, hatred
Embeho = coldness
Emicwe = manners/behaving (mirungi ninga mibi)
Amagara = health/life (marungi ninga mabi)
Oburwaire = sickness/bad health
Okushoberwa = confusion
Okutangaara = surprise

Enjoka = worms/snakes
Omushweija gw’ensire = fever of mosquitoes = malaria
Ensire = mosquito
Sirimu = AIDS
Enjoka z’omunda = worms of the stomach
Omunda = the stomach

Ku-naabisa = to wash someone else

Continuous tenses:

I am walking
I was walking
- These sentences in English use auxiliary verbs, in this case “to be”

In Rukiga the verb used is also ku-ba = to be

Progressive tenses:
In present continuous tense:
- Nimba
- Nooba
- Naba
- Nituba
- Nimuba
- Nibaba
(this is completely different from the normal conjugation based around –ri)

After this auxiliary comes the main verb, conjugated in the present continuous tense. The
auxiliary must be conjugated into the tense which you want to use.
E.g.
- Shaaha ishatu n’ekicweka omu kasheeshe, naaba ninshoma omu CLC
- Nyomwabazyo, shaaha ishatu n’ekicweka omu kasheeshe, mbaire ninshoma omu CLC
- Wiiki ehweire, shaaha ishatu n’ekicweka omu kasheeshe, nkaba ninshoma omu CLC
- Hati, nimba ninshoma omu CLC
For something which is happening absolutely now, you use –rimu (to be in), so the auxiliaries
are:
- ndimu
- orimu
- arimu
- turimu
- murimu
- barium

The nimba, nooba, naba tense is used when you are talking about an activity which is repeated
at a specific time, like ten O’clock every day.
e.g.
- Buri zooba shaaha ibiri edakiika ena n’itaano, nimba ninza omu CLC
= every day at 8:45, I am going to CLC

The state/conditional tense and the progressive tenses can be combined. E.g.
- Nyencakare, shaaha ishatu omu kasheeshe ninyija kuba mbyami = Tomorrow, at 9am, I
will be asleep. Byami is in the state/condition tense and ninyija kuba is the near future of
the progressive tense.

Ku-siimura = to wipe

Some verbs which don’t take the reciprocal suffix –na can take hamwe (together) instead. So
you can say nibagaanira hamwe = they are talking together

Ku-ta = to put

Bowulo = bowl
Eshuuka = bed sheets
Jaaga = jug
Egiraasi = a glass
Baasi = bus
Takisi = taxi

Ku-tegyereza = to wait

Eishokye = hair
Eraangi = colour
Ku-siga = to paint

Nasiga ekisiika eraangi = he’s painting the wall a colour

Obwato = a boat

Forogo = forked hoe

Kw-oga = to swim / wash your body

Eshandukye = box, suitcase, coffin

Omwombeki = builder

Ku-kiriza = to lift

Amatafaari = bricks

Nibagaanira aha kugura emotoka mpango = they discuss how to buy a big car

Roore = lorry

Omugaati = bread

Class sixteen:

Eihema = tent
Banda = banda

Banda ni enju omu ekinyansi omu Rukiga.

Ekifuuha = grass thatch house

Enjura = rain

Ku-gwa = to fall

Enjura ekagwa = the rain fell / it rained

Kw-otsya = to roast

Orugyendo = journey

Ku-terera = to call someone on the phone

Nintera esimu Richard = I am calling by phone Richard

Ninterera Richard = I am calling Richard

There are two types of verb. The prepositional verbs which are effectively the equivalent of a
verb plus a preposition in English, and then the normal verbs. There are many examples,
including ku-gura (to buy) ku-gurira (to buy something for someone)

Embuzi = goat
Entaama = sheep
Ekicuncu = lion

Ku-kura = to grow
Kw-ita = to kill
Ku-shereka = to hide
Ku-zaanazaana = to play around / take a risk

Ekicuncu ky’ekikazi = female lion

Card games:
- Omutima = hearts
- Ekitiiho = spades
- Akamuri = clubs (flowers)
- Dayi = diamonds

Greetings:

- Oraire gye sebo/nyabo?

- Eego. Oraire ota?
- Ndaire kurungi. Shana iwe?
- Ndaire gye

- Oraire ota?
- Ndaire kurungi / Ndaire gye

- Osiibire ota sebo?

- Nsiibire gye sebo. Shana iwe?
- Nsiibire kurungi

- Oraire gye sebo?

- Eego. Agandi?
- Nimarungi. Shana iwe?
- Ndyaho.

- Agandi?
- Ni gye

- Omuka baraire bata?

- Omuka baraire gye/kurungi

- Oraire ota sebo?

- Ndaire gye. Agandi?
- Nimarungi. Noogamba ki?
- Tinyine nshonga

- Omuka baraire bata?

 - Tibaine nshonga

- Omuka bari bata?

- Omuka bari gye.

- Ori ota?
- Ndi gye. Shana iwe?

- Chris na Richard bari gye?

- Eego, tibaine nshonga

- Visitor: Kodi kodi

- Host: Ni oha?
- Visitor: Ndi Richard
- Host: Ee, Richard. Tahamu!
- Host: Nakushemererwa! (I’m glad to see you!)
- Visitor: Niinye naakira (I am more than glad)
o Then exchange normal greetings
- Host: Akatebe, shutama aha. (This stool, sit here)
- Visitor: Yebare munonga.

- Yebare emirimo
- Kare / Niiwe gyebare

- Nakushemererwa!
- Niinye naakira

How do you say “It is raining”?. Is it Hati, enjura negwa, ninga Hati, enjura erimu negwa?
- Either one is fine.

Class seventeen:

Measuring things in Rukiga Runyankore:

Ebipimo n’ebipimiso = weights and measures

Ku-shaba = to request, ask, demand

Egiraasi y’amaizi = a glass of water

Egiraasi y’obutunda = a glass of passion fruit juice

Ecupa = bottle (pronounced echupa)

Ecupa y’amaarwa = a bottle of beer

Ku-pima = to measure

Shukari = sugar

Kiro = kilo

Kiro ya shukari = a kilo of sugar

Hafu kiro ya shukari = half a kilo of sugar

Ekicweka kiro ya shukari = half a kilo of sugar

Hafu = half
- Half is only understood when referring to things, and not more abstract concepts like
half an hour

Omurengo = a pile

Omurengo gwa emondi = a pile of Irish potatoes

Omurengo gwa enyaanya = a pile of tomatoes

Ejerikani y’amaizi = jerry can of water

Ekidomora ky’amaizi = jerry can of water

Enyama = meat

Kiro y’enyama = a kilo of meat

Ebijuma = fruits
Emboga zirikwiragura = vegetables

Ku-biika = to keep / to store

Ku-bika = to announce the death of a person

Oborofa = dirt

Salad eine oburofa = Salad has dirt

Akaveera = plastic bag

Paketi = a packet
- These are like the kind of plastic sachets which waragi comes in up country, or a box
- Basically its anything which is prepacked

Switi = sweets
Omwonyo = salt
Ekibiriti = a matchbox
Lita = litre (it is not Rita because this is a girl’s name)
Munomuno = especially

Ku-ramuza = to bargain / haggle

Eshenda = pepper

The price of a pile normally stays the same, but the number of items in it may fluctuate
depending on the season and that kind of thing.

Omuyembe = mango

Class eighteen:

Ameezi g’omwaka = months of the year

Erizooba n’ebiro abiri na kimwe okw’okubanza enkumi ebiri n’ena

Okw’okubanza = January
Okwakabiri = February
Okwakashatu = March
Okwakana = April
Okwakataano = May
Okwamukaaga = June
Okwamushanju = July
Okwamunaana = August
Okwamwenda = September
Okw’ikumi = October
Okw’ikumi na kumwe = November
Okw’ikumi n’ebiri = December

Ebiro = days

Ebiro by’okwezi = the date (lit., days of the month)

Valentine’s ni ebiro ikumi na bina okwakabiri

Christmas ni ebiro abiri na bitaano okw’ikumi n’ebiri
World aids day ni ebiro abiri na kimwe okw’ikumi n’ebiri
Birthday ya Chris ni ebiro ashatu okwakataano
Hero’s day ni ebiro abiri mukaaga okw’okubanza

Tukatandika kushoma rukiga ebiro abiri na bibiri okw’ikumi n’ebiri enkumi ibiri n’eshatu

Ebiro bikuru = important dates / public holidays

Tikiro kikuru = it isn’t a public holiday

Esimu yaawe ekakorwa Nokia = your phone is made by Nokia

 - the W in the verb ku-kora makes it in the passive voice
Nokia ekakorwa esimu yaawe
- Nokia made your phone

Kibanza = first of the month, and you don’t need to say Ebiro before it

Kibanza okwamushanju = the first of July

Ekiro ky’okuzaarwa = birthday

Okwakataano enkumi ebiri n’ena

Sande Orw’okuba Orwakabiri Orwokasha Orwakana Orwakataa Orwamuka
nza tu no aga
Ebiro Ebiro Kibanza
ashatu ashatu na
kimwe
Ebiro bibiri Ebiro Ebiro bina Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro
bishatu bitaano mukaaga mushanju munaana
Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro ikumi
mwenda ikumi ikumi na ikumi na ikumi na ikumi na na bitaano
kimwe bibiri bishatu bina
Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri
ikumi na ikumi na ikumi na ikumi na na kimwe na bibiri
mukaaga mushanju munaana mwenda
Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri Ebiro abiri
na bishatu na bina na bitaano na na na na mwenda
mukaaga mushanju munaana

Enaamba = number
Kakire! = bless you! (after sneezing)
Zonka = only

A) How much do you sell a handkerchief?

i. Akatambara ni shiringi zingahi?
B) It is 2000 shillings only
i. Ni enkumi ebiri zonka
C) No thank you, you overcharge!
i. Ngaha yebare, nooseera!
D) Do you sell popcorn here?
i. Noguza popcorn aha?
E) Yes Madam, how many kilograms do you want?
i. Eego nyabo. Noyenda kiro zingahi?
F) Give me one kilogram. How much money is that?
i. Mpa kiro emwe. Ni shiringi zingahi?
G) It is eight hundred shillings. I measure?
i. Ni shiringi runaana. Npime?
 H) Yes.
i. Eego
I) Thank you very much. Come another time.
i. Yebare munonga. Oije obwire obundi.
J) Ok. Let me go now.
i. Kare. Kandgyende.

Kandgyende = let me go. The Ka means let, the n is me, and the gyende is go.
- Ka is used as an instruction to someone else.

Nikwo = that’s it
Buzima = truly
Ohikire = you are right

Amati = milk

Nyine shiringi bitaano zonka = I have only five hundred shillings

Omurundi = again

Omurundi ogundi = another time

Class nineteen:

Nyomwabazyo, abaserukare baterire bodaboda dereva yangye, kandi bamuibire!

Omuserukare = soldier

Kw-emerera = to stop
Kw-emereza = to stop someone

Amwemereize = he stopped him

Kw-ija (izire)
Garukamu (garukiremu)

Omushaara = salary

Omworo = a poor person

Obworo = poverty

Omu biro by’omu maisho = in days in front = in the future

Abantu ba burijo = everyday people / citizens

Abantu b’omu kyaro eki = people from this village = locals
Wiiki eri kwija = next week = week that is to come
Wiiki ehweire = last week

Ku-humura = to rest

Ekintu = something

Emyaka ikumi ehweire = ten years ago

Emyaka ikumi ehweire omu England, abantu bakaba batakukora omu Sande = ten years ago in
England, people were not working on Sunday

Abantu bakaba batakukora = were not working (far past) in progressive tense

In progressive tenses the negation is usually Ta instead of Ti

Mbaire nindeeba tv = yesterday I was watching TV

Mbaire ntakureeba tv = yesterday I wasn’t watching TV
Mbaire ntarikureeba tv = yesterday I wasn’t watching TV

Eishomo = lesson / class

Amashomo = lessons

Eizooba rya buriijo = a normal day

Ebiro bibiri ebihweire = two days ago

Tinkagireebire = I have not yet seen it (this is a special tense that we will see properly later. The
“not yet” tense)

Omu ekishani eki, hariyo eka aheeru omu maisho g’enju yaabo. Hariyo abaana bataano, kandi
abashaija babiri. Kwonka, tiharimu abakazi. Eka baine obworo munonga. Baine ebijwaro bibi
kandi by’ebirofa. Abashaija ni bakuru, kandi omwe aine oburihe, kandi omwe aine obusaasi.
Enju yaabo ni nkye, na ekishengye kimwe zonka. Abaana tibaine ebijwaro, kandi bari bato
bakye. Omwana omwe arwaire munonga, kandi taata we namukwata. Omwojo omwe aine
omunda muhango, ahakuba akaba narya ebyo’kurya bikye. Hariyo omuhanda kuruga enju yaabo
kuhika emiti n’ekinyansi.

Omu maisho g’enju, embeba ibiri niziiruka. Enju ni mbi, kandi ebisiika nibigwa. Enju eshakeize
ekinyansi. Omwojo omwe nabyama aha mugongo gwe. Ahansi, hariho embari z’enyungu na
turei nkuru.

Homework is to continue describing this picture

Omuhanda = path
Eka = family
Ku-shakara = to roof

Enju eshakeize ekinyansi = the house is roofed by grass

Omugyenzi = the late… (somebody dead)

Class 20:

Omu katare:

Enanaansi = pineapple

Ku-shushana = to resemble / look like

Ku-byara = to plant

Ebijwaro omu katare k’Owino ni bibi, ninga ti birungi.

Ku-nya = to defecate
Ku-rebeka = to appear / seem

The emphatics like ninye and niiwe are only used when talking about names. These are different
from the stand-alone personal pronouns like nyowe which are just used as a tool for expression
but are not really necessary. E.g. Nyowe, ninkunda kunywa kyi = Me, I like to drink Chai

Akatunguru = onion
Omuriingo = type / variety

Ku-gwa iraro = to fall mad

Ente nizigwa iraro = the cows are going mad

Class 21:

We sat outside and didn’t write anything down.

Class 22:

Nyine amatsiko = I have hope

- This is how you express hoping something – there is no verb to hope

Nyine amatsiko ngu = I hope that (sounds like just two words)

Eka = family
Amaka n’abantu = people’s families

Abanya buzaare = relatives

Shwenkuru = grandfather
Nyakwenkuru = grandmother

Nyakoromi = Mother’s brother (maternal uncle) (Michael)

Nyakwento = Mother’s sister (maternal aunt) (Carol)

Shwento = Father’s brother (Paternal uncle) (Richard etc)

Shwenkazi = Father’s sister (Paternal aunt) (?)

Mutabani wangye = my son, Batabani bangye = my sons

Muhara wangye = my daughter, Bahara bangye = my daughters

Mukuru = older sibling

Murumuna = younger sibling
Murumuna wangye = Younger sibling of same sex
Mukuru wangye = Older sibling of the same sex
Munyanyazi = sibling (only used for the other sex from yourself)

Munyanyazi wa nyakoromi = Different gender cousin by maternal uncle

Murumuna wa nyakoromi = Younger cousin by maternal uncle
Mukuru wa nyakoromi = Older cousin by maternal uncle

Mukuru wa shwento = Older cousin by paternal uncle

Murumuna wa shwento = Younger cousin by paternal uncle
Munyanyazi wa shwento = Different gender cousin by paternal uncle

These are the same for aunts as for uncles

Mutabani wangye = My nephew

Muhara wangye = My niece
- Nephews and nieces are basically considered to be your children

Third person relatives:

Muka shwento = wife of maternal uncle (maternal aunt in law)
Iba wa shwenkazi = husband of maternal aunt (maternal uncle in law)
Muka taata = wife of father (not mother, so like a step mother)

-ona = all (adjective)

Abantu bona = everybody

Chris ni mukuru wa Jess = Chris is the older sibling of Jess

Ku-shwerana = to marry each other
- bakashwerana = they married each other

Ku-shwera = to marry
Ku-zaara = to bear child
Ku-zaarwa = to be born (passive)

Ngu = that (reported speech, indirect speech)

-ti = that (direct speech)
- This is used to quote exact words

Amagara = life

Juba = recently

Kw-ikiriza = to believe

Ekitinisa = respect, recognition etc

Ekiconco = gift
Ekirabo = present
Ruhanga= god
Emboga = sauce
Embogo = buffalo

Ku-hanga = to create

Ku-hingura = to pass by something

Ku-shuuma = to go downhill, or to slope
Ku-temba = to go uphill / climb
- Nkatemba takisi za bugolobi = I boarded a taxi in Bugolobi
- Kutemba can mean board as well as climb
Ku-rugamu = to exit

Aha muheru gwa = at the end of

Aha ntandikiro ya = at the beginning of

Omutayaayi = a visitor/tourist

Amashanyarazi = electricity

Ninteekateeka ngu naagashashura, nibagampa = I think that if I pay for it, they will give me it

Class 23:
Entambura = transport
Engyendo = journeys

Omwijukuru = grandchild
Abuijukuru = grandchildren

Efuzi = orphan

Ekigombe = group

Ebibumbe = clay crafts

Ebintu ebibizire = wooden crafts (things which are carpented)
Ebintu ebirukire = woven mats / baskets (things which are woven)

Ninyenda kumanya ebintu ebi nibikorwa bita? = I want to know how these things are made
Ninyenda kumanya ori kugora? = I want to know who makes them

Ku-kurira = to grow up in / to grow from (prepositional variation of ku-kura to grow)

Ku-reberera = to look after
Ku-naga = to throw away

Eshande = juice

Kw-oma (omire) = to be dry

Kw-otsya (okize) = to roast

Eky’enyanja = fish
Enyanja = lake
Emputa = nile perch

Omwika = smoke
Egaari y’omwika = train (lit. bicycle of smoke)

Ku-terera (tereire) = to be flat/calm/still

Kabale hatereire = Kabale is flat

Omucuucu = dust

Ku-pangisa = to rent / hire

Endagiriro = directions

Ku-shoborora = to explain
Ku-toora = to take a path, to go a certain way
Conductor – noija kutora nkahi = Conductor? Where are you going?

Ekyapa = roadsign
Ekibira = forest

Ku-shemereire = should/ought
Ku-shesya = funny

Shemereire is more like the french “devoir” – it’s not as strong as Tekwa

Class 24:

Omuriro = fire
- This is used to explain that an inanimate object is hot. For example, oruguuto rwine omuriro =
the road is hot

Ku-teeba = to score (in sport)

Maraya = prostitute
Empundu = chimpanzee
Engagi = gorilla

Ku-gyema = to compell, to make somebody do something

Ku-cuga = to fuck

It is vital to understand the mind of the speaker in Rukiga. Not everything they are saying is a
direct translation of English, it is often something different. Eg. Agandi is not a version of hi, it
is “what’s the news?” This is very different.

Ku-bura = to get lost

Ku-naga = to lose something

Noobaasa kunyamba = can you help me?

Nyine ekibuuzo = I have a question

Omusiru = stupid
Kugira amagyezi = to have intelligence (to be clever)

Class 25:

Kw-eshereka = to hide oneself

If you put the vowel e before an OVS, it becomes reflexive

So kw-eshereka is to hide oneself, whereas ku-shereka is to hide

Ku-reeba is to see, kw-ereeba is to see oneself
Embaga = party
-orobi = easy / simple

Progressive tense revision:

- Nkaba ningamba (far past)
- Mbaire ningamba (yesterday)
- Naaba ningamba (juba)
- Ndimu ningamba (right now)
- Ninyija kuba ningamba (future)

Ku-saasira = to forgive
Ku-shasha = to feel pain

Nsaasira = forgive me

Use of Obu for when:

Naaba ninshoma eihurire obu waija omu ofiisi = I was reading the newspaper when you came
into the office

Naaba ningamba na Ven obu Herbert yaareeta amaize g’okunywa = I was talking with Ven
when Herbert brought the drinking water

Obu tubaire turi aha nyanja, tureebire goonya ibiri = When we were at the beach, we saw two
crocodiles

Nkaba ningambira aha simu obu naabugana munywani wangye = I was talking on the phone,
when I met my friend.

Ku-gambira = to talk from something, or in a certain way

Omwojo w’emicwe = a boy with good manners / a well behaved boy

In the future, we don’t use Obu as a ”when” construction, rather we use “ku” as an “if”
construction
- It works as ku+subject prefix+ra+subjunctive

Ku araije shaaha ina = if you come at ten

Ninyija kuba ningamba ku araije shaaha ina = I will be talking if you come at ten

Ekyakorwa = something which has been made / done

Not yes tense:

Ti+SP+ka+MVS
 - Tinkamureebire erizooba = I have not yet seen him

Never tense:
Ti+SP+ka+OVS+ga
- Tinkamureebaga = I have never seen him

Ever tense:
SP+ra+MVS
- Oragyenzire aha scooter = have you ever travelled on a scooter?
- Eego, ndagyenzire aha scooter.
- (Ninga) Ngaha, tinkagyendaga aha scooter

Still tense:
SP+ki+OVS
- Nkiri aha = I am still here
- Ninkireeba tivi = I am still watching TV

Ku-mara = to have enough

Esente tizikumara = the money is not enough

System = enkora

Kw-ohereza = to send

Ku-siga = to leave behind

Omurundi gumwe = once

Omurundi ogundi = one other time

Emirundi ebiri = twice

Emirundi endiijo = two other times

Omurundi Emirundi. These are in the Mu Mi class. Ogundi is the singular of other, and endiijo
is the plural of other.
- To say again you say “one other time” = omurundi ogundi

Nootunga bintu ki kuruga omu batayaayi = What things do you get from tourists?

Ku-basika = to be possible

Nikibasika = it is possible

The object infix for an undefined “it” is always “ki/bi” because it is a thing, ekintu. If you have
two different things from different classes and you want to refer to them as “they”, then they are
ebintu and the infix is “bi”.