Not Knowing, Hearing, Understanding; A Conditional Thank You

First off, there are a great many recent notes that I should like to add to this page, but can currently only be found in the text and footnotes of the dialogues.  Therefore, I'd encourage the interested reader to check them out straight away, if he or she has not already done so.

Not Knowing:

• urazi ___ ? -- do you know _____ ? (a person or fact)
• oya, sinzi. -- no, I do not know ("si" negating first person verbs, "n" meaning "I")
• ura ntuzi -- you | do not know ("ntu" negating 2nd person verbs)

Not Hearing or Understanding:

• urumva? -- understand? (from "kwumva" -- to hear or understand)
• sinumva -- I don't understand
• "si" (negation) + "n" (I) + "umva" (understand)
• sindavyumva -- I don't understand them (e.g. words, maths, etc.)

A Conditional Thank You:

• uzoba ukoze -- "...a conditional thank you.  In other words, you know I appreciate what you will do for me but you have [yet] to do it."

Dialogue 3: Going to Lunch

Here's the third of the fully-annotated Kirundi dialogues that I've been working on. 

Dialogue 1 was posted on April 18th, Dialogue 2 on June 1st. Soon to come:

Dialogue 4: Meeting a Friend
Dialogue 5: Making and Appointment

Direct Link to fully annotated document:Dialogue 3: Going to Lunch

Text without Annotations:

Eating Lunch: gufungura ivyo ku murango

{ to eat | for | daytime }

A: Are you hungry?

Urashonje?

{ you are hungry ? }

B: Yes, I'm very hungry.

Ego, ndashonje cane.

{ yes , | I am hungry | very . }

A: Me too. Come , let's go eat lunch.

Nanje ndashonje, ingo tugende kurya.

{ And I | I am hungry , | come | let’s go | to eat . }

B: Where do you want to go?

Ushaka kuja he?

{ you want | to go | where ? }

A: I know a good restaurant. Can you drive?

Ndazi uburīro bwiza. Urashobora gutwara?

{ I know | an eating place | good/nice . | Are you able | to drive ? }

B: Yes. Can you give directions?

Ego. Urashobora kunyobora?

{ Yes . | Are you able |to guide me ? }

A: Yes.

Ego.

B: Come, let's go.

Ingo tugende.

{ come | let’s go }

A: Hey, unlock the car.

Hewe, ugura imodoka.

{ (hey) you , | you open | car . }

B: Oh, sorry. Get in.

Mbabarira. Injira.

{ I’m sorry . | Enter. }

A: Here we go!

Tugende!

{ let’s go ! }

...

A: Turn on the lights. It’s Dark.

Atsa amatara. Hari umwijima.

{ Turn on | the lights . | There is / are | darkness . }

A: Turn right.

Katira iburyo.

{ turn | right }

A: Continue going straight:

Komeza ugenda Imbere.

{ continue | you go | front . }

A: Turn Left.

Katira Ibubamfu.

{ turn | left }

A: Okay, you can stop.

Hagarara.

{ stop }

B: Have we arrived?

Twashitse?

{ we have arrived ? }

A: Yes, we are here.  You can get out.

Ego, twashitse.  Urashobora gusohoka.

{ yes , | we have arrived . | you are able | to go outside . }

B: Great, I’m excited.

Sawa, ndanezerewe.

{ good , | I am happy/excited . }

A: Don’t forget to (or remember to) turn off the lights

Ntiwibagire zimya amatara.

{ don’t forget | turn off | the lights . }

B: Thanks, I forgot.

Urakoze, nibagiye.

{ thank you | I forgot . }

A: I hope you like the food.

Nizeye ko ukunda ivyokurya vy’aha.

{ I hope | that | you like | food | of here }

Or:

Nizere ko ubikunda.

{ I hope | that | you like them (the food). }

Or:

Nizeye ko uhakunda.

{ I hope | that | you like (it) here }

Dialogue 2: Making a Doctor's Appointment

Here's the second of the fully-annotated Kirundi dialogues that I've been working on.  Dialogue 1 was posted on April 18th.  Soon to come:

Dialogue 3: Gufungura ivyo ku Murango (Going to Lunch)
Dialogue 4: Meeting a Friend
Dialogue 5: Making and Appointment

Direct Link to fully annotated document:

Dialogue 2: Making a Doctor's Appointment

Text without Annotations:

Dialogue 2: Isango na Muganga (Making a Doctor's Appointment)

(following A & B pleasantries...)

A: I want a doctor's appointment:

Nshaka isango na muganga.  

{ I want | appointment | with | doctor }

B: Okay. Are you sick?

Ntangorane. Urarwaye?  

{ No problem. | You are sick ? }

A: Yes. My chest hurts and I am weak.

Ego. Igituntu kirababara kandi nta ngonga mfise.

{ Yes. Chest | hurts | and/also |no/negation |strength| I have . }

B: That isn't good. I will call now to make an appointment.

Ivyo sivyiza. Reka rero mpamagare kugira ngo nsabe iyo isango.

{ Those | not good . Let | then | me call | in order to | I request | the | appointment . }

B: Who is your PCP?

Umuganga wawe ni nde?

{ Doctor | yours | is | who? }

A: My PCP is Dr. Smith:

Umuganga wanje ni Dr Smith.

{ Doctor | my | is | Dr. Smith }

B: What is Dr. Smith’s phone number?

(Nimero za) telephone yiwe ni kangahe?

{ Number | of | telephone | his/her/its | is | how many / what number ? }

or

urafise nimero za telephone yiwe?

{ Do you have | number | of | telephone | his ? }

A: Dr. Smith’s phone number is 987-654-3210.

Ni 987 654 3210

{ (It) is | … }

B: Which hospital is he at?

Akorera mu bitaro ibihe?

{ he/she/it works at | in | hospital | which  ? }

A: He is at Allegheny General Hospital.

Ari Muri Allegheny General Hospital.

{ He/she/it is | in/at | Allegheny General Hospital }

B: When can you go to the hospital?  

Ushobora kuja kwa muganga ryari?

{ You are able | to go | at/to | doctor | when ? }

A: I can go in the morning on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday..

Nshobora kugenda kuwambere, kuwakabiri, canke kuwagatutu…

{ I am able | to go | Monday , | Tuesday , | or | Wednesday … }

B: Okay. Please wait while I call.

Ntangorane. Ubishoboye, Rindira mpamagare.

    { No problem . | If you can , | wait | I call }

A: I will wait.

    Ndarindira.  

{ I wait }

...

B: Your appointment is the day after tomorrow at 9:00.

Isango yawe ni hirya y’ejo satatu zo mu mugitondo.

{ Appointment | yours | is | the day after tomorrow | nine | of | in | morning }

A: Thank you!

Urakoze.

{ Thank you }

B: You’re welcome.

Nawe urakoze gushima.

{ You too | thank you | to thank (for thanking) }

Stoplights

Green light: Amatara y’irwatsi rutoto.

Red light: Amatara atukura

Yellow light: Amatara y’umuhondo

Another Saying

umuvo ntuca ku mwbo

a stream of water | doesn't pass | on/over | a hole

(remember that "ntuca" is pronounced "nhucha")

Is Going to Call vs Will Call

John araza kugutelephona -- John | he is going | to call
ndaza kugutelephona -- I am going | to call
uraza kugutelephona -- you are going | to call

nzogutelephona -- I will call (simple future tense)

Yes?

When someone calls your name, a respectful way to say "yes?" is:

sabwe -- be asked

This is from

gusabwa -- to be asked

which is in turn from

gusaba -- to ask

Dialogue 1: At The Office

Here's the first in a series of annotated dialogues that I've been working on.  I hope to create and upload audio recordings of it soon.

Direct Link to fully annotated document:

Dialogue 1: Ku Biro (At The Office)

Text without Annotations:

Office Visit: Ku Biro (at the office)

A: <knocks>

<kudodora>  { to knock }

B: Come in!  … Ah, B.  Welcome.

Injira! ... Ah, B. Kaze.   { Enter ! ... Ah, B. Welcome }

A: Good Morning.

Mwaramutse.  { it became morning (?) }

B: Good morning. How is it going?

Mwaramutse neza. Gute?   { it became morning | well . How (is it going) ? }

Other acceptable alternatives:

Bwakeye neza?  { it became morning | well ? }

Amakuru?  { news ? }

Amakuru maki?  { news | what ? }   

Amakuru yawe?   { news | your ? }

Amakuru y’imisi? (amakuru ya imisi?)  { news | of | days ? }  (meaning: how have you been?)

Urakomeye?  { you are strong ? }

Uraho? (uri aho?) { you are | there ? } (meaning: how are you?)

Murivyura?  { (do) you get yourselves up (without help) ? } (meaning: are you well?)

A: It’s good.

Ni neza.  { (it) is | good }

Other possible responses:

Ndakomeye { I am strong }

Ndaha (ndi aha?)   { I am | here } (meaning: I am fine)

Ndivyura.  { We get ourselves up (without help) ? } (meaning: I am well?)

B: Good.  Do you have time now? (or Can you talk? or Can you help me?)

Sawa.

Urafise umwanya ubu nyene?  { you have | time | now | immediately ? }

Urafise umwanya ngo umfashe ubu nyene?  

{ you have | time | in order to / to | to help me | now | immediately ? }

Urashobora kuvuga?  { you can | speak ? }

Urashobara kumfasha?  { you can |to help me ? }

B: Yes, I have time [or I can help you now].  What brings you here? What do you need?

Ego, ndawufise.  { Yes, I have time }

Ndashobora kugufasha.   { I can | to help you }

Ugenzwa namaki?  { brings you | what ? }

Ukeneye iki?  { you need | what ? }

A: I need medical insurance.

Nkeneye uburyo bwo kwivuza.   { I need | ways | of | to seek medical treatment }

B: Okay, have a seat.  We can fill out an application.

Sawa, icara. Dushobora kwuzuza impapuro.   { Okay, sit.  We can | fill out | papers }

A: Thank you.

Urakoze.

B: Did you bring ID?

Wazanye ID?

Wazanye karanga muntu?  { did you bring | what identifies / points to | a person ? }

A: Yes, here it is (or Here is my ID)

Ego, ngiyi.    { yes, here it is }

ID yanje iri ngaha.  { ID | my | is | here }

Karanga muntu yanje iri ngaha  { what identifies | a person | my | is | here }

B: Thank you... do you have your Green Card?

Urakoze... urafise Green Card?  { Thank you ... do you have | a Green Card ? }

A: No, I do not have a Green Card.

Oya, simfise Green Card.  { No, I do not have | a Green Card }

Oya, nta Green Card fise. { No, no | Green Card | I have }

Oya, ntayo nfise. { No, no-it | I do not have }

B: No problem. Did you bring your I-94?

Ntangorane    { no problem }

Ntakibazo   { no problem }

Wazanye I-94?  { did you bring |  (your) I-94 }

A: Yes, here you go.

Ego, akira.   { yes, accept/receive }

B: What is your phone number?

    (inimero za) telefone yawe ni kangahe.

{ ( the number | of ) telephone | your | is | how many ? }

A: My telephone number is 123-456-7890.

Telefone yanje ni 123-456-7890.   {  telphone | my | is | 123-456-7890 }

B: Thank you. What is your address?

Urakoze. Uba he(he)?  { Thank you.  You reside | where ? }

A: My address is 123 City St, PGH, PA 15222

Mba kuri 123 city... { I reside | on/at | [address] }

B: Okay, I'm finished. Take this to the Welfare Office.

Sawa ndahejeje.  { okay | I am finished }

Jana ibi ku biro vya welfare.  { take/go with | these | to | office |of | welfare }

A: Thank you! I will take it tomorrow.

Urakoze. Nzokijana ejo.  { Thank you.  I will take it | tomorrow }

B: Anything else?

Hari ibindi ukeneye?  { is/are there | other things |  you need ? }

A: No, thank you. I am leaving.

Oya, urakoze. Ndagiye.  {  no, thank you.  I am going }

B: See you later.

Tuzosubira.

A: Have a good afternoon.

Ugire umuhingamo mwiza.  { have | afternoon | good }

Misc

sinfise ____ -- I do not want ____

In Kirundi, "ikibazo" means "a question" (plural: "ibibazo"), but in Kinyarwanda this same word means "an issue."  The word for "issue" in Kirundi is "ingorone."

You're Welcome, See You Next Month

You're Welcome:

• in response to "urakoze" or "wakoze" one might say
• urakoze gushima -- thank you for thanking
• korerwa -- be served (also from "gukora" -- "to work or do" -- just like "urakoze")

See you next month:

• tuzosubira mu ukwezi kuza -- see you later | in | moon/month | to come