Language/Kinyarwanda/Vocabulary/Feelings-and-Emotions
Hi Kinyarwanda learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn Kinyarwanda vocabulary related to feelings and emotions. We will cover a range of words that describe how we feel, and explore cultural aspects of emotion expression in Rwanda.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: Express Surprise & How to say Good Bye?.
Basic emotions in Kinyarwanda[edit | edit source]
Emotions are central to human experiences, shaping how we perceive the world and interact with others. They are universal, and recognized in any culture, but differ in terms of how they are expressed and experienced. In Kinyarwanda, there are several words that describe basic emotions. Here are some of them:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ameze neza | ah-meh-zeh neh-zah | happy |
| imyaka yanjye ni nyinshi | e-mya-kah yanh-jeh nee neen-shee | old |
| umutima urambere | oo-moo-tee-mah oo-rahm-beh-reh | brave |
| ikizere | ee-kee-zeh-reh | hopeful |
| intwari | eent-wah-ree | brave, courageous |
| uburere | oo-boo-reh-reh | patient |
| ubunebwe | oo-boo-neh-bweh | calm |
| imbaraga | eem-bah-rah-gah | strong, powerful |
Let's practice using these words in context!
- A: Umeze neza? (Are you happy?)
- B: Yee, ndashimira. (Yes, I am happy.)
- A: Mfite uburere. (I am patient.)
- B: Ni umunsi mwiza kandi buri muntu ari wowe. (It's a beautiful day and everyone expects you.)
- A: Ndambaraga. (I am strong.)
- B: Ni byiza kugirango ujye utanga amahoro ku isi. (It's good to bring peace to the world.)
Expressing emotions in Rwanda[edit | edit source]
In Rwanda, expressing emotions is an important part of social interaction, but it is done differently than in some Western cultures. Expressing negative emotions like anger, frustration, or sadness in public is widely perceived as inappropriate, but that doesn't mean that Rwandans don't experience these emotions. Instead, they are more likely to express them indirectly, through stories, songs or metaphors.
For example, using proverbs is a common way to communicate emotions in Rwanda. One such proverb is "Umva agaciro k'umuntu, nmva indwara y'umwami" which means "I hear the worth of a person, I also hear the king's sickness". It implies that even high-ranking individuals can experience hardship or pain.
Art and dance are also significant ways of expressing emotions in Rwandan culture. The famous Intore dance, for example, originates from the time of the Rwandan monarchy, when it was a dance of warriors. Now it is performed on occasions such as weddings or national holidays, and aims to display Rwandan culture and courage.
More emotions in Kinyarwanda[edit | edit source]
Let's take a look at some additional words related to emotions that you can use in everyday conversation.
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| arashoboye | ah-rah-shoh-boh-yeh | disappointed |
| ashimwe | ah-sheem-weh | thankful |
| bibaye | bee-bah-ye | proud |
| dusangiye | doo-san-gih-ye | excited |
| ingoma | een-goh-mah | happy, joyful |
| kwishingura | kwee-shin-goo-rah | anxious |
| kwizera | kwee-zeh-rah | confident |
| umwezi nyawo | oo-mwez-ee nyah-woh | lonely |
Now let's see how we can use them in conversation.
- A: Yibwira nka mafranga atanditse muri wallet yawe. (Tell me, how much money do you have in your wallet?)
- B: Narashoboye cyane kuko jye nahabwa nibimenyetso n'amazu. (I am very disappointed because I was robbed of my valuables and money.)
- A: Ndashima cyane kuko igitabo cyanjye cya 45 cyacyariye muri biblioteke. (I'm very happy because my book from 45 is in the library.)
- B: Ahubwo inda shingiro ryawe, ni ryo bimwe byaramutse bikorwa. (Instead, your anxiety is one of the things that were done.)
- A: Ukora iki? (What are you doing?)
- B: Ndashimwe kuko nali ngomba kupfimba indwara zanjye. (I am grateful because I managed to cure my illness.)
- A: Uracyakora? (What are you doing?)
- B: Ndioya fasha abana kwiyandikisha amasomo abanza. (I am proud to help children learn how to write.)
Summary[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we've covered Kinyarwanda vocabulary related to feelings and emotions. We've seen how emotions are expressed differently in Rwandan culture and learned some common expressions used in everyday conversations. Remember, practicing with native speakers is the best way to improve your language skills. Don't hesitate to join the Polyglot Club website, where you can find native speakers and ask them any questions. And for more vocabulary, visit the Vocabulary page of the Kinyarwanda language on Polyglot Club.
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