Language/Kinyarwanda/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Kinyarwanda learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on the plural form of Kinyarwanda nouns. Nouns are typically used to describe people, places, and things. To form the plural of Kinyarwanda nouns, we add a specific suffix to the noun. It's important to understand this concept because plurals are commonly used in everyday conversation.
Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: How to Use Be, Negation & Conditional Mood.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In Kinyarwanda, a noun refers to people, places, or things, and the plural form is simply the addition of a singular suffix. The Kinyarwanda language has a rich history and is the native language to the people of Rwanda. Learning Kinyarwanda can be an exciting journey, as it will allow you to communicate with locals and understand the country's cultural nuances.
To improve your Kinyarwanda find native speakers and ask them any questions! You can also check out the Polyglot Club website to improve your language skills or schedule a language exchange with someone in Rwanda.
Basic Plural Suffix[edit | edit source]
To form the plural of Kinyarwanda nouns, we will add the suffix "-bo" to the singular form. In some cases, a vowel may be added after the noun to make it easier to pronounce. The table below shows some examples of singular and plural nouns.
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| umwana | oomwana-bo | Child (singular) - Children (plural) |
| ubwoko | ubwoko-bo | Tribe (singular) - Tribes (plural) |
| umurima | oomurima-bo | Farmer (singular) - Farmers (plural) |
| umunsi | oomunsi-bo | Day (singular) - Days (plural) |
Keep in mind that when adding the plural suffix, the stress shifts to the last syllable. For example, the singular form of "farmer" is pronounced "oo-mu-REE-ma" and the plural form is pronounced "oo-mu-ree-ma-BO."
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
There are some irregular plurals in Kinyarwanda that don't follow the basic plural suffix rule. These irregulars are formed by modifying the stem of the singular noun in some way.
Nouns With "a"[edit | edit source]
The "a" class of nouns has a singular prefix "u-" and plural prefix "i-." Here are some examples:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| umuhanzi | aba-hanzi | Musician (singular) - Musicians (plural) |
| umuhanda | imi-handa | Road (singular) - Roads (plural) |
Note that the "u-" in the singular form becomes "aba-" in the plural form and "i-" in the plural form becomes "imi-."
Nouns with "e"/"i"[edit | edit source]
The "e"/"i" class of nouns has a singular prefix "i-" and plural prefix "zi-." Here are some examples:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| imfura | z'imfura | Footprint (singular) - Footprints (plural) |
| igiti | z'igiti | Tree (singular) - Trees (plural) |
Note that the singular prefix "i-" becomes "zi-" in the plural form.
Nouns with "u"[edit | edit source]
The "u" class of nouns has a singular prefix "ku-" and plural prefix "tu-." Here are some examples:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kurutuku | turutuku | Bat (singular) - Bats (plural) |
| gusukuza | gutusukuza | Growth (singular) - Growths (plural) |
Here, the singular prefix "ku-" becomes "tu-" in the plural form.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
To give you a better understanding of how to use plural nouns in everyday conversation, let's have a look at the following dialogue:
- Person 1: Ni muhana wacu, aba-hanzi benshi baratwite. (This is our musician, many musicians were invited.)
- Person 2: Imi-handa zitandukanye zigenda ku isonga ry'ubwoko bwacu. (Different roads lead to our tribe's headquarters.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Well done! You've learned how to form the plural of Kinyarwanda nouns. Be sure to practice by having conversations with native speakers.
If you want to learn more about Kinyarwanda find native speakers on Polyglot Club and improve your language skills.
Sources[edit | edit source]
- Kinyarwanda Noun Plurals | Flashcards
- Kinyarwanda - Wikipedia
- Kinyarwanda and Kirundi Comparative Grammar
Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Adjectives & How to Use Have.