Kirundi Study & Dictionary

little ▶ -to, –to-to, –toya, –tonya
(a little) –ke, –keya, –kenya
(~ by ~) buhoro, buhoro-buhoro
(to add to ~ by ~) gutororokanya
(to go forward ~ by ~) kwūngururuza

En-En dictionary

lie ▶ (deception) ikinyoma
(to ~) kubēsha, kurema, kurementanya
(a little) kubēshabesha
(about) kurementaniriza, kwānguha, kudendekeranya, guhūmba

En-En dictionary

slip ▶ kunyerera
(down on spear, meat if it slips it's supposedly diseased) gushōka
(out little by little, e.g. nail) kwīdohōra

En-En dictionary

step ▶ intambuko
(measure by steps) itāmbwe
(place where steps are cut in hillside) ubukiru
(to ~) gutambuka
(aside to make light) gukīngūra, gukīnguruka
(on) guhonyora
(take little steps) kunyonyera

En-En dictionary

child ▶ umwāna, umugisye, umukeme, umurerwa
(before he begins to know anything) igitambamboga, igitwengerabarozi
(disobedient) intabarirwa
(first-born) imfura
(healthy, about 4 months) ikibunduguru
(illegitimate) igihūmbu, ikivyārwa
(learning to walk) ikidegedege, intavyi
(male) umuyibigi
(of) mwene
(of mixed marriage) ikivyārwa
(only) ikinege, umwāna w'ikinege
(derogative) umuhimbiri
(small) ikibondo
(starting to know a little) umwankavu
(that doesn't grow properly) imfunya
(unwanted or orphan) intābwa
(up to 8 or 10 years) umugimbi
(weaned) umucūko, umukurira
(youngest or favourite) umuhererezi
(~ care) ubuhinga bwo kurera abana
(~ benefit) imfashanyo y'umuryango

En-En dictionary

akēbo (utw-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ 1. little basket, 2. basketry, wickerwork

akantu (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ little thing (from ikintu)

gutorora (-toroye) v ▶ to gather up little sticks, to glean

disease ▶ indwāra
(AIDS) sida
(billharcia) birariziyoze
(boil, abscess) igihute
(burn) ubushe
(bronchitis) indwara yo mu mahaha
(chicken pox) ibihara, agasāma
(diarrhea) ugucibwamwo, uguhitwa, ugucisha epfo
(elephantiasis) imisozi
(epilepsy) intandara
(eyes: certain kind of conjunctivitis) uburire
(fever) inyonko
(goiter) umwīngo
(gonorrhea) igisokoro
(leprosy) imibēmbe
(malaria) marariya, inyonko
(meningitis) umugiga
(mole) isunūnu
(mumps) amasambambwika
(pleurisy) umusōnga
(pneumonia) umusōnga
(recurrent fever) kimputo (Sw.)
(rheum, disease of eyes) ururire
(rheumatism) amakonyera, imisozi, imikuku
(smallpox) akarānda
(sore, little) akarōnda
(syphilis) agashāngāra
(tick fever) kimputo (Sw.)
(typhus) tifusi
(tuberculosis) igitūntu, agatūntu
(ulcer) igikomere
(ulcer, bad) igisebe
(ulcer, pain from tropical) igitema
(wart) isunūnu, intongāngira
(whooping cough) akānira, inkorora y'akanira
(yaws) ibinyoro
(cause of ~ something supposed to be in person making him sick) ibitēga
(person sick with wasting ~) umunywera
(to be a contagious ~) kwāndukira
(to catch contagious ~) kwāndura, kwāndukirwa
(to transmit) kwāndukiza
(to have an incurable ~) kugīrīra
(to improve, begin to feel better) gutenzukirwa

En-En dictionary

akabuyē (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ pebble, little stone

kwīdohōra (-īdohōye) v ▶ 1. to get away secretly, 2. sneak out of an argument or obligation, 3. to slip out little by little (of nail, etc.)

indagala (in-) 3 class 3
singular: i-,in-
plural: i-,in- ▶ little fish

transplant ▶ (young plants for transplanting) ingemwe, umuvyāro
(to ~) kubadika, kubātura
(to make little hole in ground for planting tree or plant) gukoba

En-En dictionary

-ke adj ▶ few, scanty, a little

uduta 7 ▶ little milk (from amata)

utuzi 7 ▶ little water (from amāzi)

kudiridimba (-diridimvye) v ▶ to run like a little child

kudiririmba (-diririmvye) v ▶ to run like a little child

kuzirukanya (-zirukanije) v ▶ 1. to give penuriously, put in only a little (e.g. salt), 2. to infringe, violate, contravene

uruhererezi (impererezi) 6 class 6
singular: uru-
plural: in- ▶ little finger

akāyi 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga- ▶ little tea, breakfast tea (diminutive of icāyi)

gutororokanya (-tororokanije) v ▶ 1. to come one by one, to add to little by little, 2. put together, gather up, collect

-keya adj ▶ few, scanty, a little

ahead ▶ (to go ~ a little) kwūnguruza
(to be ~ of) gutānga

En-En dictionary

flock ▶ isho, ubusho, urwūri
(of little birds) urwīha
(of sheep or goats) inzirikwa
(to entrust ~ to another to pasture) kuragiza
(to watch flock) kuragira

En-En dictionary

-kenya adj ▶ few, scanty, a little

agati (udu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ twig, little stick

akāna (ut-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ little child (from umwāna)

iduka (ama-) 5 class 5
singular: i-,iri-
plural: ama- ▶ little shop (Sw.)

ubutumba 8 class 8
singular: ubu- ▶ (no pl.) little hills, knolls

inguru (in-) 3 class 3
singular: i-,in-
plural: i-,in- ▶ little stones taken from bottom of stream and offered to spirits in a little house

urwīha (imp-) 6 class 6
singular: uru-
plural: in- ▶ flock of little birds

kuvugako (-vuzeko) v ▶ to talk a little of something

kwōtsako (--kejeko) v ▶ to roast a little of

akagabo (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ 1. thumb, 2. little man

kuvurūnga (-vurūnze) v ▶ to make a little dough, to stir, mix, to roll about on ground (vi)

bukebuke adv ▶ slowly, little by little, step by step (from -ke)

akabāngo (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ little sliver

akarōnda (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ little sore

umucānwa (imi-) 2 class 2
singular: umu-
plural: imi- ▶ a little fire, spark, fever

umuvyāro (imi-) 2 class 2
singular: umu-
plural: imi- ▶ little plant for transplanting, small trees that start up around big one

kunyonyera (-nyonyeye) v ▶ to mince along or take little steps

kwūnguruza (-ūnguruje) v ▶ 1. to go a little ahead, 2. to give a lift

agahēngekezo 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga- ▶ (no pl.) little place of refuge, narrow escape, remnant of clan or family

umukēcuru (aba-) 1 class 1
singular: umu-
plural: aba- ▶ old woman, widow (not very respectful term, can be used though by little children, or by grandchildren towards their grandmother)

akaburūngu (utu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ 1. period, full stop, (punctuation), 2. little dot

kubēshabesha (-bēshabeshe) v ▶ to tell little lies, to fool

kwūngururuza (-ūngururuje) v ▶ 1. to go forward little by little, 2. to prolong

add ▶ kugereka, kugerekeranya, gusukiranya, gutēranya
(little by little) gutororokanya
(to what one has) gusorōra

En-En dictionary

dough ▶ (to mix) gucūmba
(to make a little) kuvurūnga

En-En dictionary

forward ▶ (to go) gutēra imbere
(to go ~ little by little) kwūngururuza
(to go steadily) kuramiriza

En-En dictionary

go ▶ kugenda, kwigira, kuja
(after) kugīra
(ahead a little) kwūnguruza
(all through a house) kuvōgera
(around) kuzunguruka, gukīkira, gukīkuza, kuzīngūka
(around difficulty) kuzunguruka umutego, gukikuza umutego
(around 'Robinhood's barn') gukingitiranya
(aside with someone to talk privately) kwīkebukana
(astray) kuzimira
(away secretly) kwīdohōra
(back and forth) kunyura
(back on what he said, make one) kurahuruza
(backward) kwītūtānya, kugēnda umugōngo
(backward inadvertently) gufūtānya
(beyond) kurēnga
(by car) kugēnda n'umuduga
(by boat) kugēnda n'ubwato
(by land rather than cross river or lake) guca i musozi
(carefully not knowing path) kwātīra
(elsewhere) kugerēra
(everywhere) gukwiragirana, guhetūra
(far away) kwāmbuka, guhaba
(for food) gusuma
(forward) gutēra imbere
(forward little by little) kwūngururuza, kwūnguruza
(forward steadily) kuramiriza
(for a walk) kugēndagēnda
(from one thing to another) kurārāta
(from place to place) kunyuragiza, kuyugayuga
(gaily) kudayadaya
(here and there, child) kurērēta
(home) gutāha, kuganūka
(home from work) kugodoka
(home, of wife when angry) kugēnda buje
(into danger without regard to oneself) kwīroha
(let's go!) hoji, hogi, tugende
(naked) gufurama, kugēnda amēnya, kugēnda gusa
(on tiptoe) kuyōmbōka
(out, fire, light) kuzima
(out to a certain place) gusokoroka
(outside) gusohoka
(to prepare to go) kwīkora
(quietly) kuyōmbōka
(rapidly) gukinagira
(reluctantly) kwīyumānganya
(right in path, animal) gutōta
(round) gukikuza
(secretly because of fear) kwōmba
(seperate ways) gutāna
(slowly) kugoyagoya
(slowly, of convalescent) kwāndāra
(softly) kuyōmbōka
(steadily forward) kuramiriza
(stealthily) kunyobanyoba, kwiyombayomba, kuyombayomba
(straight forward) gutūmbereza
(through a narrow pass) kunyegētera
(to bed) kuryāma
(to chief or superior for something) kwītwāra, gushengera, gushengerera
(to find food) gusuma
(to help another in his work) gusāsīra
(to meal uninvited) kwigemagema
(to meet) gusanganira, gutegēra
(together to produce food for guests) gutērēra
(together to see, crowd) gukōndōrera
(toward) kurora, kwerekera, kwerekeza
(uncertain of the way) guhushagirika
(uncertainly) kudāguza
(up, as hill) kudūga
(up in smoke) gupfūnduka
(walking, esp. at night) kwīkanya
(to wedding) gutāha ubukwe
(well, to cause to ~) kugēnza
(with) kwāmbukana, kujāna

En-En dictionary

run ▶ kwīruka
(as water) gutēmba
(down hill) gukoragurika
(to jump up and run quickly) kwūbuka
(like a little child) kudiririmba
(out bit by bit till all is gone) gushīrīra
(out to see something, usually of a crowd) gushwabāduka
(over) gusēsekara
(very fast) kwīrukānga, gushīnga amano
(to lean forward preparing to run) gutuna

En-En dictionary

buhoro-buhoro adv ▶ 1. very slowly, 2. little by little, 3. gently, 4. carefully, 5. softly, lightly, slightly

nyabugoro n ▶ little house built for spirit of one who has died

agacupa (udu-) 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga-
plural: utu-,udu- ▶ little jar, small bottle

akunyu 7 class 7
singular: aka-,aga- ▶ little salt (from umunyu)

umwankanvu (ab-) 1 class 1
singular: umu-
plural: aba- ▶ child starting to know a little

umwankavu (ab-) 1 class 1
singular: umu-
plural: aba- ▶ young child, starting to know a little

-to adj ▶ 1. small, little, 2. young, 3. thin

-tō-to adj ▶ 1. small, little, 2. young, 3. thin

-tonya adj ▶ small, little, young

-toya adj ▶ small, little, young

kunywako (-nyōyeko) v ▶ to drink a little, to taste a sip

kuryako (-rīyeko) v ▶ to eat a little, to taste just a bite

basket ▶ (big) intonga, igitēbō
(deep, uncovered) ikigagara, igisāmba, igisāngāza
(flat, small) icibo
(flat with lid) inkōko
(little) akēbo
(shallow) ikivūmvu
(tall) inkēnga
(tall, pointed) igiseke, igisīmbo
(border of) umusōzo
(lid, cover) umutemere
(nicely made) indemano
(to cover) kurumya
(to remove lid) kurumūra
(to be upside down) kwūbika

En-En dictionary

bird ▶ ikiguruka
(little ones) inyoni
(crane, golden-crested) umusāmbi
(crow) igikōna
(dove) intunguru, inuma
(duck) imbati
(eagle) inkona, inkukuma, ikinyakabaka, impūngu
(goose, wild) igisafu
(hawk) igisiga
(kite) ikinyakabaka
(parrot) gasuku
(partridge) inkwāre
(robin, African) inyōmvyi
(that sucks honey, black with red throat, or metallic green) umunūni
(wagtail) inyamanza

En-En dictionary

finger ▶ urutoke
(thumb) urukumu
(index) nkumbaruboko
(middle) nsūmbazōse
(fourth) marere
(little) uruhererezi
(extra) indorerezi

En-En dictionary

gather ▶ kumyōra
(building materials) guhumbira
(firewood) gusēnya
(food from garden) gusoroma, kwāha
(fruit) kwāmūra
(in loose garment at waist and tie) gukenyera
(little sticks) gutōrōra
(manure for garden) kuvūmbura
(up) kwāndura, gusorōranya, gutororokanya
(pollen and nectar) kudaha
(up grass that has been spread out) gusasūra

En-En dictionary

hill ▶ umusozi, umudūgo, umutumba
(brow of) igikombe
(of earth, to plant in) iburi
(slope of) inkūka, akamanuko, umurwa
(top of) impīnga
(little hills) ubutumba
(very big ~) igisozi
(white ant hill) umugina

En-En dictionary

house ▶ inzu
(in ruins) umusaka
(little ~, built for spirit of one who has died) nyabugoro
(of king) ingoro
(temporary) urusāgo, igikāri
(small, cabin) akazu
(with high pointed roof) umushonge, agashūngēre
(place opposite door of ~) umukōndo
(to cause to fall down) gusambūra, gusēnyura, guhenūra
(to chase others out of ~) guturumbura
(to fall down) gusāmbuka, gusēnyuka, guhenuka
(to put roof on) gusakāra
(to repair a) gusanura

En-En dictionary

mushroom ▶ igihepfo, igihefo, igihefu, ikizinu
(little) ubumegeri

En-En dictionary

refuge ▶ ubuhūngiro, ubwīrukiro, ubukiriro, uburuhūkiro
(little place of) agahēngekezo

En-En dictionary

shop ▶ (boutique) ibutike
(little shop) iduka
(carpenter) ibarizo, isaramara
(baker's) icumbiro ry'imikate
(cake ~) icumbiro n'iriro ry'imikate
(butcher's) idandarizo ry'inyāma

En-En dictionary

sore ▶ igikomere
(little) akarōnda
(to be) gutonekara
(in one's muscles) kunywāguka
(to hit a ~ place) gutoneka
(to have running sores) kujējēta

En-En dictionary

little found in: Kirundi I (Study lessons)

▶ Introduction

lesson 1 ▶ Class 1 umu–, aba–

lesson 8 ▶ Adjectives I

lesson 9 ▶ Adjectives II

lesson 26 ▶ Class 7 aka–, utu–

lesson 34 ▶ Chart of the Classes

lesson 40 ▶ Review 31 - 39

lesson 41 ▶ –ose (All, Every)

lesson 44 ▶ Some verbs

lesson 46 ▶ Adjective Chart