Religion & Temples

1. Kiliziya iri he?

   ki-li-zi-ya i-ri he?

   Where is the church?

   Usage

   Asking where a church is

   Grammar Note

   "Kiliziya" means "church" (class 9) and "iri he" asks "where is it". About 85-90% of Rwanda's population is Christian, mainly Catholic and Protestant. Protestant churches are also called "itorero".

2. Mwuka Wera ni inkomoko y'imbabazi

   mwu-ka We-ra ni in-ko-mo-ko y'im-ba-ba-zi

   The Holy Spirit is the source of grace/forgiveness

   Usage

   Discussing Christian teachings about the Holy Spirit

   Grammar Note

   "Mwuka" means spirit/breath, modified by "Wera" (holy). "Inkomoko" is a class 9 noun meaning source/origin. Christian vocabulary is richly developed in Kinyarwanda.

3. Imana iri hose.

   I-ma-na i-ri ho-se.

   God is present everywhere

   Usage

   Expressing the omnipresence of God

   Grammar Note

   "Imana" is both the name of the traditional Rwandan supreme deity and now used for the Christian God. "Iri hose" means "is everywhere".

4. Ndashimira Imana.

   nda-shi-mi-ra I-ma-na.

   I thank God

   Usage

   Expressing gratitude and praise to God

   Grammar Note

   "Ndashimira" is the first person singular present of "gushimira" (to thank). Religious expressions are deeply embedded in everyday Kinyarwanda conversation.

5. Imigisha y'Imana yuzuye isi

   i-mi-gi-sha y'I-ma-na yu-zu-ye i-si

   The blessings of God fill the earth

   Usage

   Expression used in worship or prayer

   Grammar Note

   "imigisha" is the class 4 plural of "umugisha" ("blessing"); the connective ("y'Imana") and the verb ("yuzuye") take class 4 agreement to match.

6. Dusengera hamwe.

   du-sen-ge-ra ha-mwe.

   We pray together

   Usage

   Describing communal worship or a prayer gathering

   Grammar Note

   "Dusengera" is the first person plural present (du-) of "gusenga" (to pray), and "hamwe" means "together". Church attendance on Sundays is very high in Rwanda.

7. Ukwemera kwanjye ni ukwiza

   u-kwe-me-ra kwan-jye ni u-kwi-za

   My faith is good / righteous

   Usage

   Expressing one's personal faith or religious beliefs

   Grammar Note

   "Ukwemera" is a nominalized class 15 infinitive (ku-). "Kwanjye" is the class 15 first person possessive. Infinitives frequently function as nouns in Kinyarwanda.

8. Kiliziya y'i Roma

   ki-li-zi-ya y'i Ro-ma

   Roman Catholic Church

   Usage

   Referring to the Roman Catholic Church in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   "Kiliziya" is a loanword from Latin "ecclesia" (French "église") meaning church. "Y'i Roma" contracts "ya" (connector) + "i Roma". Rwanda's Catholic Church has a complex history with the 1994 genocide.

9. Gusengera hamwe ni icyo dukora

   gu-sen-ge-ra ha-mwe ni i-cyo du-ko-ra

   Worshipping together is what we do

   Usage

   Expressing the culture of communal worship

   Grammar Note

   "Icyo" is a class 7 relative pronoun meaning "what/that which". "Dukora" is first person plural present "we do". "Gusengera" is the infinitive for "to worship".

10. Amahoro y'Imana abeho

    a-ma-ho-ro y'I-ma-na a-be-ho

    May the peace of God be with you

    Usage

    Religious blessing or farewell

    Grammar Note

    "Amahoro" is a class 6 noun. "Abeho" is the subjunctive of "kubaho" (to exist) meaning "may it be". "Amahoro" (peace) is one of the most cherished words in Kinyarwanda.

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