Subtle Differences in Pronunciation, A Useful Phrase, Another Singular/Plural Noun Pattern, Some Compliments, and Another Useful Phrase

A subtle difference of pronunciation:

1. intóre: a single handful of bread used for scooping food
2. intǒre:
1. a traditional dancer
2. a person who is beautiful/handsome (noun).
3. beautiful/handsome (adjective)
3. intore: a kind of pepper-like vegetable, plural form.

A useful phrase:

uri intǒre – you are beautiful/handsome (“uri” meaning “you are”)

Another Singular/Plural Noun Pattern:

Singular	Plural	Meaning
Urutore	Intore	A pepper like vegetable
Urutoke	Intoke	Finger
Urusyo	Insyo	A traditional grindstone

Some compliments:

• if you want to say that someone is a good person, you can say:
  urumwana mwiza
  which literally means “you are a good child”
  • urumwana is two words concatenated due to the rules against vowel repetition:
    • uri – you are
    • umwana – child
    • yields ur(i)umwana
  • mwiza is an adjective meaning “good” or “beautiful/handsome.”
    • Remember that in Kirundi, Adjectives always follow the noun that they modify!
• A similar phrases that can be used to compliment a parent on their child is
  ufise umwana mwiza
  literally, “you have a good/beautiful child”
  • ufise – you have

Another useful phrase:

• urumva – a form of the verb “to hear”
  • Commonly used my teacher to ask someone if they have understood what he has said. This usage is a little bit harsh, though acceptable.
  • It can also be used to introduce an explanation