Bakiga Culture
Here you can pick up tips about the Culture in rural Uganda and start to learn the language, Rukiga.
Rukiga Vocab
Note that words are spelt phonetically in most cases
Greetings
Greetings are very important in Bakiga culture. You can have conversations that last a couple of minutes and all you have actually done is greet people in a variety of different ways! Hence why there are multiple ways of saying both “Hi” and “I am fine”…
Agandi? = Hi, how are you?
Negambatchi? = Hi, how are you?
Imbera? = Hi, how are you?
Orleo? = Hi, how are you?
Omorumota? = Hi, how are you? (to more than one)
Nige = I am fine
Nimarunji = I am fine
Nickarunji = I am fine
Yego = I am fine
Yaho = I am fine
Trejo = I am fine
Olileje = good morning
Aussivileje = good afternoon
Oraleje = good night
Kabanga leo = maximum respect! (another greeting!)
Kale! = Bye!
Tubane tulebana = see you later
Useful Phrases
Yebare = thank you
Yebare munonga = thank you very much
Nizingahe = how much is it?
Ninyingi! = too much!
Ninyendo quego Rukiga = I want to learn Rukiga
Ezina-rawhey Olioha? = what’s your name?
Zinajanje… = my name is…
Wangambaho = I understand you
Nizahey? = where are you going?
Munwanyi (banywanyi) wanje = my friend(s)
Tejende! = Let’s go!
Catchi = a little
Pora-pora = slowly slowly
Kandi = also
Otakwatcho! = do not touch!
Jenda! = Go away!
Esha = come here
Bas = okay
Nunc = so and so
Wanji = What?
Ngaho = no
Eego = yes
Ni kirungi = it is good
People
Bana = children
Abantu = people
Mzungu = white person
Bazungu = white people
Makiga = local tribesman
Bakiga = local tribes-people
Tata = father
Mama = mother
Mzee = old man
Omukikuru = old woman
Ssebo = sir
Nyabo = woman/madam
Omukazi = a wife
Omwana = a child
Omushaija = a man
Numbers
Emwe = 1
Ibiri = 2
Ishatu = 3
Ina = 4
Itano = 5
Mokaaga = 6
Moshanshu = 7
Monaana = 8
Mwenda = 9
Ikumi = 10
Ikumi n’emwe = 11
Ebiri = 20
Ashatu = 30
Ana = 40
Atano = 50
Nkaaga = 60
Nshanshu = 70
Kinaana = 80
Kyenda = 90
Kikumi = 100
Bibiri = 200
Bishatu = 300
Bina = 400
Bitaano = 500
Rukaaga = 600
Rushansha = 700
Runaana = 800
Rwenda = 900
Rukumi = 1000
Animals
Ente = cow
Embuzi = goat
Enkoko = chicken
embwa = dog
Emponu = pig
Food
Ananasi = pineapple
Eminachi = small banana
Bugoya = big banana
Obutunda = passion fruit
Amaizi = water
Do-do = beans and greens
Matoke = plantain dish
Ebbihimba = bean stew
Things
Entebe = chair
Emeeza = table
Ekitabo = book
Ekimuri = flower
Radiyo = radio
Egaari = bicycle
Edirisa = window
Orwigi = door
Ekishengye = room
Sitoovu = stove (kerosene)
Sigiri = stove (charcoal)
Ekitanda = bed
Esowani = plate
Ekigiiko = spoon
Ehuuma = fork
Omutsyo = knife
Eshagama = blood
Shamba = garden
Omuchuchu = dust
Echidongo = guitar
Religion
Ruhanga = God
Katushabe = Let us pray
Assimwe = praise God
Onshongoro = hymn
Embabazi = grace
Jesu Christo = I wonder?!
Tendereza = praise God
Nkajunwa = I am a Christian
Amina = Amen
Other
Pikipiki = Motorbike is
Emotoka = motorcar
Oturo = sleep
Noobeiha = you’re joking
Esaati = shirt
Empire = trousers
Sikaati = skirt
Enshaho = bag
Enkofire = hat
Enkaito = shoes
Ekooti = coat
Ekyaro = village
Ekikomera = periodic market
Eduuka (amaduuka pl.) shop/s
Eishomera = school
Rukiga Vocab
Note that words are spelt phonetically in most cases
Greetings
Greetings are very important in Bakiga culture. You can have conversations that last a couple of minutes and all you have actually done is greet people in a variety of different ways! Hence why there are multiple ways of saying both “Hi” and “I am fine”…
Agandi? = Hi, how are you?
Negambatchi? = Hi, how are you?
Imbera? = Hi, how are you?
Orleo? = Hi, how are you?
Omorumota? = Hi, how are you? (to more than one)
Nige = I am fine
Nimarunji = I am fine
Nickarunji = I am fine
Yego = I am fine
Yaho = I am fine
Trejo = I am fine
Olileje = good morning
Aussivileje = good afternoon
Oraleje = good night
Kabanga leo = maximum respect! (another greeting!)
Kale! = Bye!
Tubane tulebana = see you later
Useful Phrases
Yebare = thank you
Yebare munonga = thank you very much
Nizingahe = how much is it?
Ninyingi! = too much!
Ninyendo quego Rukiga = I want to learn Rukiga
Ezina-rawhey Olioha? = what’s your name?
Zinajanje… = my name is…
Wangambaho = I understand you
Nizahey? = where are you going?
Munwanyi (banywanyi) wanje = my friend(s)
Tejende! = Let’s go!
Catchi = a little
Pora-pora = slowly slowly
Kandi = also
Otakwatcho! = do not touch!
Jenda! = Go away!
Esha = come here
Bas = okay
Nunc = so and so
Wanji = What?
Ngaho = no
Eego = yes
Ni kirungi = it is good
People
Bana = children
Abantu = people
Mzungu = white person
Bazungu = white people
Makiga = local tribesman
Bakiga = local tribes-people
Tata = father
Mama = mother
Mzee = old man
Omukikuru = old woman
Ssebo = sir
Nyabo = woman/madam
Omukazi = a wife
Omwana = a child
Omushaija = a man
Numbers
Emwe = 1
Ibiri = 2
Ishatu = 3
Ina = 4
Itano = 5
Mokaaga = 6
Moshanshu = 7
Monaana = 8
Mwenda = 9
Ikumi = 10
Ikumi n’emwe = 11
Ebiri = 20
Ashatu = 30
Ana = 40
Atano = 50
Nkaaga = 60
Nshanshu = 70
Kinaana = 80
Kyenda = 90
Kikumi = 100
Bibiri = 200
Bishatu = 300
Bina = 400
Bitaano = 500
Rukaaga = 600
Rushansha = 700
Runaana = 800
Rwenda = 900
Rukumi = 1000
Animals
Ente = cow
Embuzi = goat
Enkoko = chicken
embwa = dog
Emponu = pig
Food
Ananasi = pineapple
Eminachi = small banana
Bugoya = big banana
Obutunda = passion fruit
Amaizi = water
Do-do = beans and greens
Matoke = plantain dish
Ebbihimba = bean stew
Things
Entebe = chair
Emeeza = table
Ekitabo = book
Ekimuri = flower
Radiyo = radio
Egaari = bicycle
Edirisa = window
Orwigi = door
Ekishengye = room
Sitoovu = stove (kerosene)
Sigiri = stove (charcoal)
Ekitanda = bed
Esowani = plate
Ekigiiko = spoon
Ehuuma = fork
Omutsyo = knife
Eshagama = blood
Shamba = garden
Omuchuchu = dust
Echidongo = guitar
Religion
Ruhanga = God
Katushabe = Let us pray
Assimwe = praise God
Onshongoro = hymn
Embabazi = grace
Jesu Christo = I wonder?!
Tendereza = praise God
Nkajunwa = I am a Christian
Amina = Amen
Other
Pikipiki = Motorbike is
Emotoka = motorcar
Oturo = sleep
Noobeiha = you’re joking
Esaati = shirt
Empire = trousers
Sikaati = skirt
Enshaho = bag
Enkofire = hat
Enkaito = shoes
Ekooti = coat
Ekyaro = village
Ekikomera = periodic market
Eduuka (amaduuka pl.) shop/s
Eishomera = school
| rukiga-training.pdf |
| rukiga_lessons.doc |
