Language/Kinyarwanda/Grammar/Personal-Pronouns
Personal pronouns are essential in any language, as they allow us to refer to people or objects without constantly repeating their names. In this lesson, you will learn about personal pronouns in Kinyarwanda, including subject and object pronouns, as well as possessive pronouns.
Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns replace the subject of a sentence. They are often used at the beginning of a sentence and allow us to talk about ourselves and others. Here are the subject pronouns in Kinyarwanda:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mfite | mɸi.te | I have |
| Wavuze | wa.vu.ze | You said |
| Yageze | ja.ɡe.ze | He/She arrived |
| Tujyane | tu.ʤjane | We talk |
| Mwanyine | mwa.ɲine | Y'all (informal) eat |
| Babyeyi | ba.bjɛ.ji | They go |
Some things to note: - Kinyarwanda does not distinguish between gender in the subject pronouns (except in the third person singular, see below). - The subject pronouns don't have a formal/informal distinction (except in the second person singular, see below). - Mwanyine is commonly used, but it's not very respectful. For more formal situations, use murumuna or murumuke.
Here are some examples:
- Mfite umwana - I have a child.
- Yageze amahoro - He/She arrived safely.
- Tujyane inka - We talk about cows.
- Babyeyi mu ishuri - They go to school.
Object Pronouns
Object pronouns replace the object of a sentence. They are often used after a verb and allow us to talk about receiving or doing something to ourselves or others. Here are the object pronouns in Kinyarwanda:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nd | nɗ | Me |
| W | w | You (formal or plural) |
| Ke, Je | ke, ʤe | Him/Her |
| Tu | tu | Us |
| Mu | mu | Y'all |
| Be, Je | be, ʤe | Them |
Some things to note: - Kinyarwanda distinguishes between gender in the third person object pronouns. - Kinyarwanda has two forms for the third person singular: ke for masculine gender and je for feminine gender. - Kinyarwanda uses the same pronoun for "you" (formal or plural) in the subject and object position: "w".
Here are some examples:
- Ndashaka kugenda nawe - I want to go with you.
- Ndagukunda - I love you.
- Ndi mukuru - I am big.
- Twubaka ibintu - We cook things.
- Murabyibuka iyo myaka? - Do you remember those years?
- Baranye - They see them.
Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns express ownership or belonging. They often come before a noun and tell us who something belongs to. Here are the possessive pronouns in Kinyarwanda:
| Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Wanjye | wa.ɲʤe | Mine |
| Wawe | wa.we | Yours (singular) |
| Wayo | wa.jo | His/Hers/Its |
| Wacu | wa.ʧu | Ours |
| Wanyu | wa.ɲu | Yours (plural) |
| Wayira | wa.jira | Theirs |
Some things to note: - Kinyarwanda distinguishes between singular and plural forms of "yours," but not between formal and informal. - There is no distinction between masculine and feminine in the possessive pronouns.
Here are some examples:
- Umwana wanjye - My child.
- Imana yawe - Your God.
- Inka yacu - Our cow.
- Amavubi wanyu - Your (plural) team.
- Mitima yabo - Their hearts.
Congratulations! You now know the personal pronouns in Kinyarwanda. Practice using them in different contexts, and you'll be well on your way to fluency.