Book Lesson 1

Question 1

A person

Answer 1

U-muntu

Question 2

People

Answer 2

Aba-ntu

Question 3

A place

Answer 3

Aha-ntu

Question 4

A thing / things

Answer 4

Iki-ntu / ibi-ntu

Question 5

A little thing / little things

Answer 5

Aka-ntu / utu-ntu

Question 6

A method, a way

Answer 6

Uku-ntu

Question 7

Generosity

Answer 7

Ubu-ntu

Question 8

5 key principles of Kinyarwanda

Answer 8

1. All nouns are made up of two parts - prefix + root. The root is the main part of the word. However, it has no meaning without the prefix.
2. The noun dominates the sentence. Its prefix will govern every other word in simple sentences (concordial agreement).
3. Nouns are classified roughly into natural groups not based on gender (originally 14, now 10). Each group as its own prefixes.
4. Kinyarwanda is agglutinative - many ideas can be “glued together” into a single word. All word are made up of a root/radical and affixes (pre-/in-/suffix).
5. Agglutinative tendencies come into play even when one word follows another. No two vowls at word beginnings or endings may occur in juxtaposition without one of the being either eluded (dropped) or assimilated (changed) when spoken.

Question 9

A rebel / rebels

Answer 9

Umu-gome / aba-gome

Question 10

Acacia tree / acacia trees

Answer 10

Umu-nyinya / imi-nyinya

Question 11

Bamboo / pl. bamboo

Answer 11

Umu-gano / imi-gano

Question 12

String / strings

Answer 12

Umu-gozi / imi-gozi

Question 13

Belt / belts

Answer 13

Umu-kandara / imi-kandara

Question 14

Stream / streams

Answer 14

Umu-gezi / imi-gezi

Question 15

Fire& electricity

Answer 15

Umu-riro

Question 16

Rainbow

Answer 16

Umu-kororombya

Question 17

Lion / lions

Answer 17

In-tare

Question 18

Dog / dogs

Answer 18

Im-bwa

Question 19

Goat / goats

Answer 19

I-hene

Question 20

Red ant / red ants

Answer 20

In-tozi

Question 21

Snake / snakes

Answer 21

In-zoka

Question 22

A chose one / chose ones

Answer 22

In-tore

Question 23

God / gods

Answer 23

Im-ana

Question 24

A mountain range

Answer 24

Imisozi

Question 25

Stone / stones

Answer 25

I-buye/ ama-buye

Question 26

Word / words

Answer 26

I-jambo / ama-gambo

Question 27

Knee / knees

Answer 27

I-vi / ama-vi

Question 28

Nostril / nostrils

Answer 28

I-zuru / ama-zuru

Question 29

Tooth / teeth

Answer 29

I-ryinyo / am-enyo

Question 30

Water

Answer 30

Ama-zi

Question 31

Milk

Answer 31

Ama-ta

Question 32

Oil

Answer 32

Ama-vuta

Question 33

Blood

Answer 33

Ama-raso

Question 34

Tears

Answer 34

Ama-rira

Question 35

Infant / infants

Answer 35

Uru-hinja / im-pinja

Question 36

River / rivers

Answer 36

Uru-zi / in-zuzi

Question 37

Rabbit / rabbits

Answer 37

Uru-kwavu / in-kwavu

Question 38

Authority

Answer 38

Ubu-basha

Question 39

Laziness

Answer 39

Ubu-te

Question 40

Life, existence

Answer 40

Uku-baho

Question 41

A place

Answer 41

Aha-ntu