Language/Rundi/Grammar/Questions

Rundi Grammar - Questions

Hi Rundi learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring questions in Rundi grammar. Asking questions is an important aspect of communication as it allows us to clarify information or seek answers. Understanding how to form questions is crucial to becoming a proficient Rundi speaker. Let's get started!

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Say Hello and Greetings in Rundi, Conditional Mood & Gender.

Basic Question Words

The most common question words in Rundi are "ubu?" and "aibo?" which mean "where?" and "what?" respectively. Here are more examples of basic question words:

Rundi	Pronunciation	English
iki?	ee-kee	what?
icyo?	ee-cho	what?
iki kibazo?	ee-kee kee-ba-zo	what problem?
wowe uba uri hehe?	wo-weh oo-ba oo-ree heh-heh	where are you?
abantu baronse bahuriye he?	a-ban-too ba-ron-se ba-hoo-ree-ye heh	where have all the people gone?

Note that "uba" is the Rundi word for "are" or "am" and "hehe" means "here." It is important to also understand the context of the question as shown in the example "iki kibazo?" which means "what problem?"

Forming Questions with Verbs

To form a question with a verb, you simply add the word "obuntu" at the end of the sentence. This can also be expressed as "obu" or "unu." For example:

Rundi	Pronunciation	English
Wavuze amazina yawe.	wa-vu-ze a-ma-zee-na ya-weh	You said your name.
Wavuze amazina yawe obuntu?	wa-vu-ze a-ma-zee-na ya-weh oh-bun-too	Did you say your name?
Ndi mukunzi wawe.	ndee moo-kun-zee wa-weh	I am your friend.
Ndi mukunzi wawe obu?	ndee moo-kun-zee wa-weh oh-boo	Am I your friend?

Notice that "obuntu" is added at the end of the sentence in the example sentences above. "Obuntu" means "something about" and is used to show that the speaker is seeking information or clarification about what was stated.

Question Words for Yes/No Questions

When asking a yes/no question in Rundi, it is common to add the word "ya" at the beginning of the sentence. For instance, "ya" can be added to "ndakubona" (I see you) to form the question "ya ndakubona?" (Do I see you?). Here are more examples:

Rundi	Pronunciation	English
Ya uri hehe?	ya oo-ree heh-heh	Are you here?
Ya vyinshi uriya?	ya vee-nshi oo-ree-yah	Are you many?
Ya ntibyatinze?	ya ntee-byah-tee-nze	Is it not clear?
Ya wundi uyobewe?	ya woo-ndee u-yo-beh-weh	Is it someone else you're looking for?

Note that "ya" is not required to form a question. However, when "ya" is used, it implies that the speaker is looking for a yes or no answer.

Tag Questions

In Rundi, tag questions are formed by repeating the verb at the end of the sentence in the negative form. For example:

Rundi	Pronunciation	English
Wowe hari umuntu wubaka?	wo-weh ha-ree oo-moon-too oo-ba-ka	You're not a person who cooks, right?
Ese urabona ibintu byose, ntidukwiye?	e-seh oo-ra-bo-na ee-bin-too byo-seh, en-tee-dooh-kwee-ye	You see everything, don't you?

"ntidukwiye" means "aren't we?" and creates a tag question implying an invitation to agree or disagree. Tag questions are a great way to verify information with the listener.

Practice Dialogue

• Person 1: Niba wavuze amazina yawe?
• Person 2: Nayivuze, ni Jean.
• Person 1: Uba uri hehe?
• Person 2: Ndi kwa mama.

Translation:

• Person 1: Did you say your name?
• Person 2: Yes, it's Jean.
• Person 1: Where are you?
• Person 2: I am at my mum's.

Conclusion

Asking questions in Rundi is an essential skill for effective communication. We have seen the importance of knowing question words, forming questions with verbs, using question words for yes/no questions, and tag questions. To improve your Rundi grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Sources

• Kirundi - Wikipedia

Well done on mastering this lesson! Don't miss these related pages to expand your knowledge: Adjectives & How to Use Have.

Other Lessons

• Conditional Mood
• Gender
• Adjectives
• Pronouns
• Give your Opinion
• How to Use Have
• How to Use Be
• Plurals
• Negation