TELLING TIME IN SHI LANGUAGE

Okuganja omu mashi (Counting in Mashi)

0=Bushà(nka ntahyo rhugwerhe) :Zero, Nought/Nil
0=popwe(nka ntahyo hisigire) :Nothing
1=ciguma :One
2=bibirhi(bibiri) :Two
3=bisharu : three
4=bini : four
5=birhanu : five
6=ndarhu :six
7=nda : seven
8=munani : eight
9=mwenda : nine
10=ikumi :ten
11=ikumi na ciguma : eleven
12=ikumi na bibiri(bibiri) :twelve
13=ikumi na bisharu :thirteen
14=ikumi na bini : fourteen
15=ikumi na birhanu : fifteen
16=ikumùi na ndarhu : sixteen
17=ikumi na nda : seventeen
18=ikumi na munani : eighteen
19=içkumi na mwenda :nineteen
20=makumi abirhi(abiri) : twenty
21=makumi abirhi na ciguma : twenty one
22=makumi abirhi na bibirhi(bibiri) : twenty two
23=makumi abirhi na bisharhu : twenty three
24=makumi abirhi na bini : twenty four
25=makumi abirhi na birhanu : twenty five
26=makumi abirhi na ndarhu : twenty six
27=makumi abirhi na nda : twenty seven
28=makumi abirhi na munane :twenty eight
29=makumi abirhi na mwenda:twenty nine
30=makumi asharhu: thirty
40=makumi ani: forty
50=makumi arhanu: fifty
60=makumi gali ndarhu:sixty
70=makumi gali nda : seventy
80=makumi gali munani : eighty
90=makumi gali mwenda : ninety
100=igana : a or one hundred
1.000=Cihumbi: One thousand
2.000= Bihumbi bibirhi: Two thousand
3.1420=Bihumbi bisharhu n'igana magana ani na makumi abirhi.

Note that the you separate figures with a mark ".", not a comma as it is the case in English. Also, when pronouncing the figures, after thousand/hundred/tens "and" is used to separate numbers.


Telling Time

Learners of Mashi should know that there are various words people use in order to demarcate periods of the day. These words correspond to the -time when “the bell is rung at the Parish/Mission”.

Some important words:

 sezi = Morning
 Bijingo = Evening
 Mushi = Day
 Budufu = Night

In fact, Mashi time runs from down to dusk, which is the case for Swahili, for example, which runs from midday to midnight. Learners of Mashi should know that, the day begins with daylight rather than midnight.
When by the English time is less than 6, six is added to it.
Example:
 5: 00 = 5 + 6 = 6: 00’
Nsaa Kumi na nguma
(Eleven o’clock)
 3: 00 = 3+6 = 9: 00’
Ns’isharhu
(= There o’clock)
However, if the hour is 6 or more, six is subtracted from it. Thus,

 7: 00 = 7 – 6 = 1: 00’
Nsa nguma (One o’clock)
 8: 00: 8 – 6 = 2: 00’
Ns’ibirhi = Two o’clock.

 Early in the morning: mucherachera (this is used when the sky is red, it comes before sezi sezi, the time when you can see the sun rising eg: 6: 00’)
 From dawn to dusk: Kurengera sezi Kuhika bijingo
 Until dawn: Kuhika sezi
 Nsinga ezo okola ogogwerhe aho?
 What time is it?
 Can you tell the time?

Possible answers

 Zikola midi: It is noon
 Zikola midi yobudufu: It is midnight
 Zikola ns’isharhu n’eminiti isharu : It is three minutes past nine
 Zikola nsa munani n’enusu : It is half pats two
 Zikola ns’ibirhi z’obudufu : It is 8: 00 p.m
 Zikola nguma : It is one o’clock
 Zikola ns’irhanu zibuzire miniti ikumi : It is ten (minutes) to eleven
 Zikola nsa mwenda zibuzire miniti mwenda : It is nine minutes to three.

HOW TO GREET PEOPLE IN MASHI

Greetings: Okulamusa
1. In the morning:
b. Namalamusa: Good morning
c. Ndamusize: Good morning
d. Rulamusize, woliha: Good morning, please
e. Rhwamalamusa
f. Ka wazusire, Jérôme: (Lit. have you woken up Jerome?) :
Hello , Good morning Mr. Jerome
g. Mpanyire omusingo: Good morning
h. Namahana omusingo: Good morning

i. 2. In the afternoon:Mushi
• Mwalegerire, woliha: Good afternoon
• Ka mwalegerire: Good afternoon

3. In the evening: Bijingo
Good evening can be said as follows:
• Mwalegerire, woliha!
• Ka mwalegerire!
• Mpanyire omusing, woliha!
• Namahana omusingo, woliha!
Beware:
 Good evening: asinge, mwalegerire
 Good night: Obuce bufumu

The Days of the week in Mashi/Shi Language

Introduction

"Mashi" or "Shi language" is a language spoken in the Bushi Kingdom, that is by thousands of Bashi, as their mother tongue -and even as vernacular language in some areas- in Kabare, Ngweshe, Kaziba, Nindja, part of Kalehe( Kalonge, ...), Mwenga Territory(especially, in Luhwindja, Burhinyi, etc.), Sud-Kivu Province, Democratic Republic Of the Congo.

Of the words that seem not to be used by many a speaker of the present language, there are:
- The days of the week
- The Months of the year

You will note that they prefer saying for example: the first day/month isnstead of Monday/January.

For this reason, some data relating to the days of the week and the months of the year have been collected with the purpose of preserving this cultural heritage.

Ensiku z'omugobe/The Days of the Week

• Mugobe: Monday


• Ifululira: Tuesday


• Ciduhu: Wednesday


• Ishenyera: Thursday


• Luwinda: Friday


• Kashwera: Saturday


• Luzira: Sunday

Ensiku zo zihima ononera:

Beware:

• Olusiku: (a) day


• Ensiku:(some) days


• Ene: today


• Njo: Yesterday


• Lishinjo: before yesterday


• Irhondo: tomorrow


• Lusirhondo: after tomorrow


• Irhondo sezi: tomorrow morning


• Irhondo mushi: tomorrow during the day


• Irhondo bijingo: Tomorrow evening

Please find the english translation of the following proverb: "Ensoku zo zihima ononera"

SYNDROME DE LA MAILIOSE, QUID?

DEFINITION:

En correspondance administrative, le rédacteur est symptomatique ou malade du Syndrome de la Mailiose (ou d'Emailiose) lorsqu'il(elle):

1. cultive en lui cette audance d'écrire des mails quand çela ne vaut pas la peine;

2. copie des personnes qui ne sont pas directement concernés par la correspondance;

3. a l'habitude de transmettre, intentionnellement, des messages dont les contenus sont de nature à attiser la haine entre collegues de service;

4।il écrit le message dont l'objet pour lequel écrit trouverait une solution, meme en se communiquant verbalement;


REMEDES

1. Esprit d'équipe ou professionnel

2. Culture des notions de correspondance administrative.

3. Compassion ( car en copiant les plus hautes autorités hiérarchiques, dans des mails, d'aucuns ont tendance à porter les destinataires sous un faux jour, bref ils ont tendance à faire une mauvaise campagne contre leurs collègues).

4. Evitement de meler le patron dans les affaires collegues-collègues.

5. Conformité aux normes administratives.

6. Ne répondre qu'après examen munitieux de la correspondance(pas à la hate)

7. ne pas répondre aux banalité par des banalités( soyez raisonnable).


Pouvez-vous en ajouter d'autres?......

KWA NINI SI VIZURI KUTUMIA DAWA ZA ASILI KABLA YA KUONA MGANGA?

Dawa za asili ni nzuri sana kwa kutiba magonjwa mengi. Tangu myaka mingi iliyopita katika historia ya wanaadamu, matumizi ya dawa za asili ilikuwa njia mojawapo iliyowasaidia wagonjwa kadhaa. Hata kwa wakati wetu,  dawa tunazoita za kizungu zinapoonekana hazitendi, wagonjwa wengi wanapata matibabu wakitumia majani ama dawa za asili.

Lakini tungejibu kwenyi swali hii: je dawa za asili ni nzuri kwa matibabu? Ni kweli jibu inaweza kuwa ndio lakini tunapaswa kujuwa kwamba kwa njia moja ao jingine dawa za asili zisipotumiwa kwa njia inayo sawazika, zinaweza kuwa sumu kwetu. Kwa hiyo, tutafaya vema ikiwa tutajikaza kutumiya dawa kiisha kuwaona waganga ama madaktari (wanaojulikana kiserkali) kwa sababu kuna alama za magonjwa zinazofanana. Kwa mfano, inajulikana, na hata kisayansi,  kwamba mtu anaweza fikiria amekuwa na tumia dawa za kutunza mafuwa anapotowa makamasi. Lakini tusisahau kwamba kuna magonjwa megine kama vile magonjwa fulani ya maini(liver katika lugha ya kiingereza) inaweza kuwa chanzo cha kutoa makamasi. Pia, kuna wale ambao wanaouguwa ugonjwa unaoitwa gastrite(kifaransa ama gastritis kwa lugha ya kiingereza). Wengi kati yao wanafikiria kwamba walipewa sumu. Kwa hiyo, wamoja wanatumiya madawa za kutapikisha sumu bila kupimwa wakifikiria kwamba watajiepusha na matokeo mabaya ya sumu. Lakini, kwa mshangao, wanaendelea kuuguwa kwa sababu wapowana jiwekya akiba ya madawa yasiyo faa mwilini kiisha yanawaletea shida. Ndiyo maana tunahitaji uangalifu mbele ya yote.

Watu wengi wanajikuta wamekuwa wagonjwa saana kwa sababu yakutumiya dawa za asili kwa njia isiyofaa.

Na waganga wengi wamewapa wagonjwa madawa za asili bila kufikiria chemical properties zinazoweza kuwa ndani yazo,  shauri za kiganga, kwa vyovyote bila uangalifu.

Tukifikiria mambo ambayo tunatoka  kuzungumzia, tutafanya matibabu kupitia dawa za asili kuwa moja wapo ya njia nzuri kwakutunza afya yetu na ya jamii.

BUKAVU SWAHILI

Democratic Republic of Congo

Let’s Learn Bukavu Swahili

Some Everyday Phrases

Shamsaf J.J.

2

Some Everyday Phrases

By Shamsaf J.J.

Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo

Email: -

jjshamsaf@yahoo.fr

-

shamsafjeanjacques@ymail.com

Phone: - +243999464423

- +243812809690

- +243853791855

Shamsaf J.J.

June 2004

3

To the reader

Linguistically speaking, it is obvious that the Swahili spoken in Bukavu can be

subdivided into a language of high prestige, that is used in formal texts, by the

Government, NGO’s, etc. and that of low prestige, that is the spoken vernacular

Swahili. Special attention will be devoted to the latter. This dialect of Swahili has

borrowed a lot of French, English, and other foreign languages seeing that there is

no language that can be richer than another. This can be proved by many a

linguistic reasons.

Mastery of these everyday phrases, will allow people from foreign linguistic

communities to share ideas with both Bukavu people and those from other parts of

the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This piece of work is far from being perfect.Your contribution is welcome.

Thank you,

Shamsaf J.J.

jjshamsaf@yahoo.fr

4

Mazungumzo/Maongezi/converation: Conversation

-

Kuongeya: to chat, to converse, to have a dialogue

-

Tuongeye kidogo: Let’s have a chat

-

Kuuliza: To ask

-

Kujibia: to answer

-

Jibu: answer

-

Minasema: I say

-

Unasema: you say

-

Unasemanini/aye? : What do you say/mean?

-

Maongezi ya amani/necociation: Peace talks

-

Tuko na reunion: We have a meeting

-

- salamu: greetings

Invitation( Std Swahili: Aliko): Invitation

-

Habari /Habari gani?/Aye X? How is it X?

-

Muzuri/Ni sawa/Bien/Niko bien/Niko wa bien/ok

-

Na weye ? And you ?

-

Niko bien

-

Uko wapi ? Where are you ?

-

Niko mukazi: I am at work

-

Kunyumba: (At) home

-

Inje: outside

-

Ndani: inside

-

Kwako: at yours

-

Ku labo: at the lab

-

Mu labo: in the

-

Mu soko: in the market

-

Kwangu; at mine

-

Place de l’independence

Ku Place de l’Independence: at

-

Tutaonana : See you

-

Kesho

-

Magarigi : ( this) evening

-

Busiku : This night

-

Asubui : in the morning

-

time ?/when ?

Saa ngapi? At what

-

Saa moya: at 7a.m.

-

Saa mbili: at 8a.m.

-

Where?Wapi?

-

good night

Mutalala bien/muzuri: Have a

-

good day

Mushinde bien/muzuri: have a

-

Minaenda: I am going

-

Minakuya: I am coming

-

Kuya: Come

-

Wende: go

-

us/me/

Unauzi: you are disturbing

-

Twende: let’s go

-

me….

Unitumiye…: please send

-

Sitaki: I do not want

-

Sawa: ok

-

going/traveling/flyng to Dubai

Mia enda Dubai: I a

5

-

what day will you come back?

Utarudia siku gain: When /

-

/ myezi/Myaka mbili: I am

going to be back

tomorrow/after a month/two

months/years

Ndarudia Kesho/ Kisha mwezi

-

Unanipotea: I miss you

-

you do?

Unafanya kazi gain: What do

-

I am radio/TV repairman

Niko réparateur wa radio/TV :

-

player

Lecteur ya CD/cassette: CD

-

CD-ROM: C

Lecteur ya disquette/disque

-

groupe : Generator

-

moto: Matobike/motobicycle

-

kinga: Bicycle/Bike

-

ordi(nateur): computer

Kazi: Job

Mwalimu: teacher, professor

Munganga: Nurse

Docteur: Doctor

Askari/soldat: Soldier

Polisi/policier( ère):

policeman/woman

Padiri : priest

Masoeur : nun

Muchuruzi : seller/vendor

Boucher : butcher

Joueur : player

Chauffeur : driver

Musicien : musician

Muimbaji : singer

Mchunga Ngombe/mbuzi : shepherd

Muhubiri: preacher

Boy: houseworker

Yaya:

Accoucheuse: mid-wife

Mutu wa leta(or L’Etat): public

servant

Taximan ( or chauffeur wa ma bus/wa

taxi): taximan

-

Niko mwalimu: I am a teacher

-

Niko munganga: I am a nurse

-

he do?

Anafanya kazi gan: What does

-

preacher

Anakuwaka muhubiri: he is a

-

a driver

Anatembezaka mitugari: he is

-

Voiture: car

-

Train: train

-

Bateau: ship

-

Avion: aircraft/ plane

-

Camionnette: van

-

Camion: lorry

-

Bisi/bus: bus

-

buchuruzi: he is a seller/a

dealer/businessman

Anauzishaka/anafanyaka

-

kadutu: he sells shoes in

Kadutu Market

Anauzishaka biato mu soko ya

-

clothing

(Ma)nguo : clothes/items of

-

mashemise/chemise: shirts

-

tomorrow lo: pairs of trousers

Mapanta I am traveling

-

Chapeau: hat

-

parts

Pièces de rechanche/: Spare

-

Pince:pliers

-

Pinceau: brush

-

Tourne –vis: screw-driver

-

Vis: screw

-

Télécommande:remote control

-

by remote control

Kutelecommander: To operate

-

Kutelecharger: to download

-

Magneto: video recorder

-

video

Kuenregistrer ku magneto: to

-

Enregistrer: to record

-

Enregistreur:recordeur

-

Ampli: Amplifier

-

Fiche: plug

6

-

Cable: cable

-

Adaptateur: adapter

-

Elvateure: Elevator

-

Equaliseur:Equalizer

-

Microphone:microphone

-

Baffle:baffle (board)

-

Haut parleur:Loud speaker

-

Tuiteur:Tuitor

-

film : Film

-

telephone

telephone sans fil : wireless

-

telephone

telephone portable : mobile

-

chargeur: charger

-

Prise: plug, socket

-

Kufurahi: to be happy

-

Minafurahi: I am happy

-

thank

Kushukuru, kupiga assent: to

-

Minakushukuru: Thank you

-

Kusirika: to be angry

-

not happy

Mina sirika: I am angry, I am

-

Misifurahi:

-

did was not a good action

Haukufanya bien: what you

-

Msamaha: forgiveness

-

forgive me

Unisamehe/pardoner (basi):

-

that

Sikujuwa: I did not mean to do

-

journey

Safari/voyage: voyage, travel,

-

voyager Kesho: I am traveling

tomorrow

Niko na voyager kesho or nda

-

Leo: today

-

Jana: Yesterday

-

yesterday

Alivoyager jana: he travelled

-

Alienda wapi: where did he go?

-

went to Europe/He has

travelled to ….

Alienda bulaya/Mikili/poto: He

-

will you be back?

Utarudia wakati gain? : When

-

Sijuwe: I do not know

-

maybe at the end of this month

Labda mwisho wa mwezi:

-

the year

Mwisho wa mwaka: the end of

-

Siku: day

-

Week: posho, wiki, semaine

-

Saa: watch/time

-

Saa: hour

-

Saa moya: an/one hour

-

Ni saa ngapi? What time is it?

-

past seven

Ni saa moya na nusu: It is half

-

Moya: one

-

Mbili: two

-

Tatu: three

-

Ine( Std Swahili: Nne): four

-

Tano: five

-

Sita: six

-

Saba: seven

-

Mnane: eight

-

Kenda: nine

-

Kumi: ten

-

Kumi na moya: eleven

-

Kumi na mbili: twelve

-

Kumi na tatu: thirteen

-

Kumi na ine: fourteen

-

Kumi na tano: fifteen

-

Kumi na sita: sixteen

-

Kumi na saba: seventeen

-

Kumi na mnane: eighteen

-

Kumi na kenda: nineteen

-

Makumi mbili: Twenty

-

twenty- one

Makumi mbili na moya:

-

twenty-two

Makumi mbili na mbili:

-

Makumi mbili na tatu: twentythree

-

Makumi tatu: thirty

-

Makumi ine: forty

-

Makumi tano: fifty

-

Makumi sita: Sixty

-

Makumi saba: seventy

-

Makumi mnane: eighty

-

Makumi kenda: ninety

7

-

Mia moya: A/one hundred

-

Mia mbili: two hundred

-

Mia tatu: three hundred

-

Elfu moya: a/onethousand

-

thousand

N.B.: It is not a sin in Bukavu

Swahili to use the above mentioned

numbers in French when telling

the time, counting, etc be it in

colloquial or formal speech. They

are used as loan words in this

language

People will say:

Ina kuwa sept heures: it is seven

o’clock

Tuta kuya Na seize heures vingt

(minutes): we will come at 4

o’clock p.m.

Inko Na kuya na 12 heures moins

vingt/ midi ku kosa miniti makumi

mbili: I am comong at twenty

minutes to twelve

Ina eneya 8 heures juste/saa mbili:

It is eight sharp

Deux : Elfu mbili: two

Adresse/ kupanga: Address/

Accommodation

-

sorry to trouble/disturb you

- Unaeneya/ Unaweza niambia

adresse ya …: Can you tell me X’s

address/Can you tell me the place

where X lives?

Pardon Kuku deranger: I am

-

wapi/Kunyomba ni wapi?:

Where do you live?

Unaikalaka wapi/Kwako

-

Bagira

Kwangu Bagira: I live in

-

at 1 Kolwezi Street

Ku Sentier Kolwezi No 1: I live

-

ni Mu ville/ town : I live in

town

Kwangu mu Ville/Kunyumba

-

Ni mbali: It is too far

-

Barabara/avenue: road/avenue

-

Sentier: Street

-

Province: province

-

Hapana: No, it is not

-

tu: only one kilometre

Tu(Pron. /tu/): only

Kilometre moya tu/1 kilometre

-

(moto) gari: do you go on foot

or by bus/car?

Una endaka na migulu ao na

-

bus

Mina endaka na Bus: I go by

-

you pay?

Unalipaka ngapi: how much do

-

Iko bey ? It is expensive?

-

Bey chini: Cheap

-

Bey (kali) sana: very expensive

-

let

Nyumba ya ku panga: House to

-

Kupangisha: to let/to rent (out)

-

Kupanga: to rent

Food/meal: Chakula, Byakula

-

Bugali: Cassava bread

-

Wali: cooked rice

-

Mchele: rice

-

Mihogo: cassava

-

Sombe: cassava leaves

-

Nyama : meat

-

Nyama ya ngombe: beef

-

Nyama ya kondolo: mutton

-

Nyama ya nguruwe: pork

-

Getre: Pork

-

- Dende: guinea pig

Nyama ya Kuku: chicken

-

Mbuzi: goat

-

Sungura: rabbit

-

Saucisson: sausage

-

Beignet: fritters/doughnuts

-

Kalanga: groundnuts

-

Maragi: beans

-

Soja: soya

-

Chai: tea

-

Bui: porridge

8

-

with/and sombe/cassava leaves

Bugai na sombe: bread

-

Mina sikia njala: I am hungry

-

Minashiba: I am fed up/full

-

Njala: hunger

-

Unashiba: you are full/fed up

-

mihindi: I like/prefer

corn/maize bread

Minapendaka bugaali ya

-

somebody to share food with

you)

Karibu kumeza( When calling

-

meal

Bon appetite: Enjoy it/your

-

Kiu: thirst

-

thirsty

Niko kiu/minasikia kiu: I am

-

feel like drinking

Mina sikia kiu : I am thirsty/I

-

a bottle?

Cupa ni ningapi: how much is

-

Maziwa; milk

-

Chai: tea

-

Kawa/Café; coffee

-

Pombe: beer

-

Sucré : Soft drink

-

Kudamer/Kukula: to eat

-

Kukunywa/Kudoser: to drink

Jamaa/ Ndoa/….: Family/Marriage….

-

Baba: Father

-

Mama: mother

-

Bwana; husband

-

Bibi: wife

-

Bwanangu: my husband

-

Bibi yangu: my wife

-

Bwana yake: her husband

-

Bibi yake: His wife

-

husbands

Ba bwana (bake): her

-

Ba bibi yake/bake: her wives

-

father/grandmother/

Grandparent

Tate: grand

-

Mtoto: child

-

Batoto: children

-

Fille wangu: my daughter

-

Garcon wangu: my son

-

Kaka: brother

-

Sister: dada

-

brother/sister

Mudogo yangu: my kd/youn g

-

Muyomba: uncle

-

Shangazi: aunt

-

father is older than him)

Ba muloko: uncle( if your

-

older than your father )

Ba mukubwa: uncle( he is

-

see above )

Ma mukubwa/mudogo: aunt(

-

Niko mzazi: I am a parent

-

bathcellor/single

Niko celibataite: I am a

-

Marié(e): married

-

Ndugu: brother/relative

-

brother/family member

Ndugu yangu: my

-

Dada yangu: my sister

-

Connaissance: acquaintance

-

Rafiki yangu: My friend

-

Adui yangu: my enemy

-

Fiancée(e) yangu: my fiancé(e)

-

Fiancailles : Engagement

-

Divorce: divorce

-

Ndoa, Marriage

-

to get married

Atalunga(ndoa): he/she is going

-

is going to marry the king’s

daughter

Ataowa mtoto wa mwami: He

-

going to marry the president

Ataolewa na President: she is

-

Dot/mali: dowry

-

marriage, birth)

Faire-part: announcement( of

Nyumba: house

Msonge: hut

Boutique: shop

Magasin: store/ Big shop

9

(Nyumba ya) building: building

Bureau: Office

Kanisa: Church

Minaenda ku kanisa: I am going to

church

Muskiti/Mosqué

Jumba la Ufalme/ Salle du Royaume:

Kingdom Hall

Salle: Hall

Salle de cinema: Cinema

Salle de jeux: playroom, games room

Cthedrale : Cathedral

Salon ya kunyolea/ Salon de coiffure :

Hair dressing salon

Masomo : School

Hôtel : Hotel

Bar : bar

-

Chumba: room

-

Mbaraza/salon: livingroom

-

Chumba ya kulalia: bedroom

-

Mafiga: Kitchen

-

Depot: store

-

study

Salle d’etuude/ya kujifunzia:

-

Salle a manger: Dining room

-

Somo : Classroom

Evénements/ Cérémonies: Events/

ceremonies

-

Kilio: mourning

-

Joy: furaha

-

Ndoa: marriage

-

Ubatizo:baptism

-

nomination

Investiture: Investiture,

-

Fete: party

-

Foire: fair

-

Kermesse: fête, village fair

-

Cérémonie: ceremony

-

Maziko: funeral, burial

-

Kucheza: to dance

-

Kuimba: to sing

-

Nyimbo: song

-

Chorale: Choir

-

Orchestre: band

To Be: Kukuwa:

-

human being.

Mtoto: child,

Mtutu mweusi: a black person

Muzungu: white man

Murefu: tall

Mufupi: short

Munene: fat

-a kugonda: thin

- Niko wa ku gonda: I am thin

Niko na gonda: I am getting

thinner (and thinner)

- Niko mu bureau yangu: I am in

my office

Niko mutu: I am a man/

-

woman

Uko mwanamke: you are a

-

soldier

( Baba) iko soldat: Dad is a

-

is a seller Uko mulevi: you are

drunk

Mama ni/iko mchuruzi: Mom

-

Iko mmulimaji: he is a farmer

-

ku EP Bulenga: My sister is

teacher at Bulenga Primary

School

Dada yangu ni /iko mwalimu

-

is money in the drawer

Kuko makuta mu tiroir: there

-

is a town

Mbandaka ni ville: Mbandaka

-

country

Kongo in nchi: Congo is a

-

Tuko batu: we are men

-

yake: Mom is her (bed)room

Mama iko mu chumba is in her

-

Aline is not a football player

Batoto: children

Banafunzi: pupils

Aline haiko joueur wa foot:

10

-

Tuko banafunzi: we are pupils

-

drivers

Muko bacauffeurs: you are

-

students

Muko baétudiants: you are

-

journalists

Biko ba journalists: they are

-

home

Sko kunyumba: I am not (at)

-

yours

Hauko Kwako: you are not at

-

Kinshasa

Haiko Kinshasa: He is not in

-

is not in Kalemye

Bubala haiko kalemye: Bubala

-

goat is not a wild animal

Mbuzi haiko Nyama ya pori: a

-

not students

Hatuko baétudiants : we are

To Have: (Ku)wa na

-

have a house in kadutu

Niko na nyumba kadutu: I

-

have a plantation in Butembo

Niko na plantation Butembo: I

-

have some drinking water

Uko na maji ya kunywa: you

To Call: kuita

-

calling you

Minakuita: I call you/ I am

-

Unaniita: you call me

-

Niko na kuita: I am calling you

-

yesterday

Nilikuita jana: I called you

-

Aliniita: He/She called me

-

you

Tuna kuita: we (are) calling

-

Uniite: call me

-

Tuitane: let’s call each other

-

Umuite: call him/her

-

will call you

Atakuita: he is calling you/he

-

Sitakuita: I won’nt call you

-

you going to call me?

Utaniita: Will you call me?/Are

To Drive: Kutembeza

-

driving now

Nikonatembeza saa hii: I am

-

you drive a car/vehicle?

Unatembezaka motogari? : Do

-

how to drive

Sijuwe tembeza: I do not know

-

Tembeza: Drive

-

Unitembeze: Drive me

-

Anatembezaka: He/she drives

-

Alitemebeza: He/she drove

-

(Mi)sitatembeza: I won’t drive

-

drive

Hautatemebza: you won’t

-

Hatutatembeza: we won’t drive

-

Musitembeze: do not drive

The Human body: mwili ya mutu

Kichwa: head

Macho: eyes

Mapuwa: noses

Lipuwa: nose

Lisikio: ear

Masikio: ears

Machafu: cheeks

Mandevu: beard

Ma poils: hairs

Nywele: hair

Buso/sura: face

Kiwiliwili: trunk

Kifua/tolo: Chest

Maziba: breast

Tumbu:belly

Kiuno:waist

Estomac: stomach

Mugongo: back

Libega: shoulder

Mabega: shoulders

Cuisse: tigh

Ligoti: knee

11

Magoti: knees

Piga magoti: kneel down

Mukono: arm

Mikono: arms

Kidole: finger, toe

Bidole: fingers, toes

Lukucha: nail

Makucha: nails

Unikamate mukono: take my hand

Kamata muono: Shake my hand

Kamata mukono: shake my hand

Litako/vodo/fuso: buttock

Matako/Mafuso/ Ma vodo( very

informal Swahili): buttocks

Gouvernement: Government

L’Etat: Authorities, government,

Public Service

Soldat: soldier

Politicien: politician

Député/Parlementaire:

Deputy/Member of Parliament

Gouverneur: governor

Maire (de la ville): mayor

Reference: Wiki