Lhukonzo PDF
Lhukonzo PDF
Lhukonzo PDF
GRAMMAR
CONTENTS
PRELUDE......................................................................................................................2
Lhukonzo Orthography..............................................................................................4
Nouns and Pronouns ..................................................................................................6
Adverbs and Adjectives .............................................................................................8
Tenses, verbs and sentences.......................................................................................8
Classes of Nouns......................................................................................................11
Objective Pronouns..................................................................................................13
Indicative Pronouns .................................................................................................14
Interrogative pronouns .............................................................................................18
Preposition ...............................................................................................................21
Bakonzo clans and theur totems ..............................................................................23
Bakonzo names ........................................................................................................23
Bakanzo Dances:......................................................................................................24
Class: E- ESYO........................................................................................................25
The Irregular Verb: Asi Know..............................................................................25
The verb eribya tobe and to become ....................................................................28
Pronoun Description ................................................................................................33
Passive form.............................................................................................................35
Conjunctive : IF .......................................................................................................36
Imperative Mood......................................................................................................37
Possessive Adjectives + Pronouns ...........................................................................38
ABAKONZO N, EMIBERE YABO .......................................................................44
Amena aw,obubuthiranwa wano: (family names) AwAbalhume. .........................45
1
PRELUDE
A human being does not realize that he or she exists till he or she reaches the age
of reason, and understands his or her environment. The age of reason brings a
person to the state of self realization. When that stage is reached, life starts taking
its course. Afterwards there comes the time of maturity. Maturity is the stage
when a person starts making personal decisions. However, people mature at
different ages.
I happened to be born among the Bakonzo, a tribe living along the Rwenzori
Mountains, formerly known as the Mountains of the Moon. Having reached the
state of understanding, I came to realize that Lhukonzo language has been spoken
for centuries, but its literature has not been produced. For this reason, I decided to
sit down and write this book for the good of those people who want to learn the
Lhukonzo language.
Note: This material is taken from a book written by Father Kambale, and
plubished by Marianum Presss, P.O. Box 22, Kisubi. The book was sponsored by
OPAM, Via Monte dell Farina, 64, 00186 Rome, Italy.
2
Contents
Chapter one
1. Lhukonzo orthography 5
2. Nouns and Pronouns 5
3. Adverbs and Adjectives 7
4. Tenses, Verbs and Sentences 8
5. Classes of Nouns 11
6. Objective Pronouns 13
7. Indicative Pronouns 13
8. Bakonzo clans and their Totems 23
9. Bakonzo Names 23
10. Bakonzo Dances 23
Chapter Two
3
Chapter One
Lhukonzo Orthography
1. Lhukonzo language has five (5) vowels and sixteen (16) consonants.
1. bb 2. bw 3. by 4. dw 5. fw 6. gh 7. kw 8. ky
9. lh 10. ly 11.mb 12.mw 13. my 14. nd 15.ng 16. nw
17. ny 18. nz 19. pw 20. py 21. rw 22. ry 23. sw 24. sy
25. th 26. ts
Dipthongs:
Erikania - To talk.
Omunio - the act of passing a leg over somebody.
Ekirengekanio - A thought.
1. bbw 2. mbw 3. mby 4. lhw 5. ndw 6.ndy 7. ngw 8. ngy 9. nyw 10. nzw
11. thw 12. thy 13 tsy.
E.g.: Ghenda - go
Eri-ghenda -To go
4
The following words and Nouns bear the double consonants
mentioned:
1. Eribbasa To cool down
2. Obwabu Beer
3. Ebyeya Feathers
4. Eridwangya To conflict
5. Erighenda fwa To go aimlessly
6. Erikwa To die
7. Olhulha An intestine
8. Ekyuna A hole
9. Ebyalya Food
10. Embaya A he Goat
11. Omwagha Arrogance
12. Emyaka Years
13. Enda Stomach
14. Olhukanga Rib
15. Omunwe A finger
16. Enyama meat
17. Ezalha Hunger
18. Eripwetha To become weak
19. Pyapyapya Very sharp
20. Orwangara An open place
21. Eryubaha To fear
22. Eriswekera To mock
23. Omusyakuhu An old man
24. Thatha Father
25. Eritsaha To go into exile.
Some of the words and nouns that bear triple consonants are:
1. Eribbwilinga To fasten
2. Embwa A dog
3. Embyani The heavens
4. Olhuwanzo Love
5. Obundwendwe Beans that are not yet fully developed
6. Esyondyo Hairs that grow on genetic parts.
7. Enggwe A leopard
8. Omungya Tomorrow
9. Erinywa To drink
10. Omwanzwa The beloved
11.Erithalyo A stone that sharpens
12. Eritswa To escape
13. Erithwalha To take
14. Eriyitsyuda To jump
5
The letter g exists in Lhukonzo, but it is not used alone with the
vowels.
E.g.: ga ge gi go gu dont apply in Lhukonzo: unless the word used is borrowed from
another languages. For example: Omugaga- A rich man.
In Lhukonzo the letter g usually goes with n before it and with h after it. Eg.
Ngaghenda I am going
The letter z exists in Lhukonzo, but it is not used alone with a vowel like the
letter g. E.g.: za ze zi zo zu dont apply z is always used with n before it.
For example: Enzalha Hunger.
There is a strong l and a soft l
Subjective pronouns:
Ingye I Nyiri I am
Iwe You Indi I am
Iyo she/he Uli you are
Ithwe We Nimu He/she is
Inywe You Thuli we are
Ibo They Niba They are
Alternative:
Ningye nga bugha I am the one speaking
Niwe uka bugha You are the one speaking
Nithwe thuka bugha we are the ones speaking
Yu-ka- thuka- bugha You are the ones speaking
Baba ka bugha They are the ones speaking.
Emphasis (positive)
Nina-ngye I am the very one
Nina-we You are the very one
Nina-yo He/she is very one
Nina-thwe we are the very one
Nina-nywe you are the very ones
Nina-bo They are the very ones.
Alternative:
Yona-ya He/she is the very one
Bana-bo They are the very ones
Emphasis (Negation)
Singye I am not the one
Siwe You are not the one
Siyo He/she is not the one
Sithwe We are not the ones
Sinywe You are not the ones
Sibo They are not the ones
7
Adverbs and Adjectives
8
Erilhawulha To diagnose
Erighotha To surround
Eryotha To warm oneself on fire
Erikubaghalya To roll.
A sentence: Are words especially with subject and predicate or object that form a
statement, question or request, making complete sense.
E.g.: Hathya Now or buli kiro Every day
Ngalya ebyalya I am eating food
Ukalya ebyalya You are eating food
Akalya ebyalya She is eating food
Thukalya ebyalya We are eating food
Mukalya ebyalya You are eating food
Bakalya ebyalya They are eating food.
Tenses:
Munabwire - Today
Ngendirya - I will eat
Ukendirya You will eat
Akendirya He will eat
Thukendirya We will eat
Mukendirya You will eat
Bakendirya They will eat.
9
Muthukalya We ate Thwalire We have eaten
Mumukalya you ate Mwalire You have eaten
Munbakalya They ate balire they have eaten
In the aboue sentences: Muhindo, Embwa, Omumbesa, are subjects and ebylya,
enyama, omwana are objects.
NEGATION
3. omungya Tomorrow
Singedisalya I wont eat
Syendisalya you wont eat
Syendisalya Wont eat
Sibendisalya They wont eat.
4. Mulighollho Yesterday
Mwinderya I didnt eat
Muwundthery You didnt
Mwathalya He/ She didnt eat
Muthutherya We didnt eat
Mutherya You didnt eat
Mubatherya they didnt eat.
Classes of Nouns
11
Singular plural
1. Mu.. ba.. Mundu - Bandu
2. ki.. bi. Kindu - Bindu
3. mu mi. Muthi - Mithi
4. ri ..ma.... Ribwe - Mabwe
5. ka.bu.. Kahuka - Buhuka
6. lhunyu Lhusi - Nyusi
7. bu.ma. Butseke Matseke
8. Kuma Kuboko Maboko
9. Bwi..mi Bwiruka Miruka
10. lhu. Ma. lhulha - malha
11. yi si. Yisuki sisuki
12. kyo byo. Kyondo byondo
13. kyu byu. Kyuna byana
14. lhu. Syo. Lhumekeke syomekeke.
15. kya. Bya kyambu byambu
16. mwa mya.. mwaka myaka
17. mu.. my mutso myuts
18. lhuki ngi lhukigha ngigha
19. lhuba.. mba.. lhubanza mbanza
20. mwi. Bi mwigha bigh
21. bwe. Me.. bwerere mwerere
22 bwa. Ma. Bwabu mabu
23. mwe.... be mwe ma bema
24. mwa ba .. mwana bana
25. lhu.. ngu. Lhughuthu nguthu
26. lho... bo.. lhokwe bokwe
27. ri..me. Riko bokwe
28. ka hya kana hyena
29. ka.ma Ka- maka
30. Lhu.. nyi.. lhutho nyitho
31. lhwi.. nyi.. lhwimbo nyimbo
32. lhubi. Mbi lhubibi mbibi
33. mu bu.. muhwa buhwa
34. bu.. mu. Buno muno
35. ryo. Mo. Ryoli - muno
36. ka. Thu. Kalikuku - thulikuku
37. ka hi. Kathwa - hithwa
38. Lhu si.. lhuseke siseke
39. mwo. Myo mwokyo - myokyo
40. Lhuywi... nzwi. Lhuywire nzwir
41. Lhwe. Bwe. Lhuweya bweya
42. mwi. Mi mwinda - minda
43. kye.. bye.. kyeya byeya
44. e . Syo. Embene Esyombene
45. ka bwa Kana- bwana
When these nouns are spoken about, they are constructed as follows:
Objective Pronouns
13
Thu stands for us
Nyu stands for you
Bo stands for Them
E.g.: Buugha nag he I am speaking to you
Ngabugha na wu I am speaking to him or her
Ngabugha na yo He/she is speaking to us
Akabugha ne thu he are speaking to them
Akabugha na bo we are speaking to them.
Indicative Pronouns
Indicative pronouns are constructed according to their classes:
E.g.: Omulhume oyu this man
abalhume aba the men
omuthi oyu This tree
Emithi eyi These trees
Ekisoro eki This animal
Ebisoro ebi These animals
CLASS MU BA
Yo-yo That is the one
Ba-bo Those are the ones
CLASS KI BI
Kye- kyo That is the one
Bye byo Those are the ones
CLASS MU MI
Wo yo That is the one
Ye yo Those are the ones
Class RI MA
Lye ryo That is the one
Wa yo These are the ones
. oo.
CLASS MU BA
Yo bi This is the one
Ba ba These are the ones
CLASS KI BI
Kye ki This is the one
Bye bi These are the ones
14
MU MI
Wo-yu this is the one
Ye- yi These are the ones
Class ri ma
Lye ri This is the one
Wa - ya these are the ones
Class mu- ba
Yo- lya There he is
Baba-lya there they are
Class ki-bi
Kya- kirya there it is
Bya-birya There they are.
Class mu - mi
Wo lya There it is.
Ye nya There they are.
Class ri- ma
Lyali rya there it is
Wa lya There they are
Class mu-ba
Oyu This one
Aba These ones
Class ki- bi
Eki this one
Ebi these ones
Class mu mi
Class Ri-ma
Eri this one
Aya these ones
Class mu ba
Oyo that one
Abo Those ones
Class ki bi
Class mu mi
Oyo that one
15
Eyo Those ones
Class ri-ma
Eryo that one
Ayo Those ones
oo
Then: (conjunction)
Ngalya nanga-ghenda Let me eat then go
Ngalye nana-ghenda Let him eat then go
Alye ana- ghenda Let us eat then go
Mulye mwana-ghenda You eat then go
Balye bana-ghenda Let them eat then go
Who:
Ningye ngalya I am the one who is eating
Niwe ukalya You are the one who is eating
Yu kalya He is the one who is eating
Nithwe- Thukalya We are the ones who are eating
Ninywe- mukalya You are the ones who are eating
Baba- They are the ones who are eating
What:
Nga-lya-ki? What am I eating?
Uka-lya-ki? What are you eating?
Aka-Lha-ki? What is he eating?
Thuka-lya-ki? What are ew eating?
Muka-lya-ki? What are you eating?
BAka-lya-ki? What are they eating?
Who? (interrogative)
Ningye-ndi Who am I?
Niwe-ndi Who are you?
Ya-ndi Who is he?
Nithwe-bahi who are you?
Ba-bahi who are they?
Bo-bahi Who are they?
Whom? (interrogative)
Sing: Wahayi ( ukam Inyisaya wahayi-Whom do you mean?)
Sing: lyandi-whom (ukam Inyisaya iyandi-whom do you mean?)
Plu: Bahi- whom (ukam Inyisaya bahi-whom do you mean?)
Plu: bahayi- bahayi
17
Long ago - kera
Munasa nyithi How did I come
Munasa indi How did I come
Muwasa uthi How did you come
Mwasa athi How did he come
Muthwasa thuthi How did we come
Mumwasa muthi How did you come
Mubasa bathi How did they come
When? (Interrogative)
Today- munabwire
Ngalyasa-Mughulhu wahi? When did I come?
Indyasa- Mughulhu wahi? When did I come?
Ulyasa-muwulhu wahi? When did you come?
Alyasa-muwulhu wahi? When did he come?
Thulyasa-muwulhu wahi? When did we come?
Mulyasa-muwulhu wahi? When did you come?
Balyasa-muwulhu wahi? When did they come?
Tomorrow-Omungye
Interrogative pronouns
Class mu-ba
Oyu nindi? Who is this?
Aba nibahi? Who are these?
Oyo nindi? Who is that?
Abo ni bahi? Who are those?
Class ki-bi
Eki ni kihi? What is this?
Ebi ni bihi? What are these?
Eyo ni kihi? What is that?
Ebyo ni bihi? What are those?
Class mu-mi
18
Oyo ni muhi? What is this?
Eyi ni muhi? What are these?
Oyo ni muhi? What is that?
Eyo ni bihi What are those?
Class ri-ma
Eri ni rihi? What is this?
Eya ni mahi? What are these?
Eryo ni rihi? What that?
Ayo ni mahi? What are those?
Why (Inerrogative)
Now hathya or Every day buli kiro.
Alternative:
Ekireka inghenda niki? Ngaghendera ki?
-Why am I going? Why am I going?
Ekireka iwaghenda niki? Ukaghendera ki?
-Why is he going? Why are you going?
Ekireka ithwaghenda niki? Akaghendera ki?
Why is he going? Why is he going?
Ekireka ithwaghenda niki? Thukaghenda ki?
Why are we going? Why are we going?
Ekireka imwaghenda niki Bakaghendera?
Why are you going? Why are they going?
Ekireka imbaghenda niki? Mukaghendera ki?
-why are they going? Why are you going
oo
Altenative:
19
Why should:
Ekyangaleka inghenda niki? Why should I go?
Ekyangaleka iwaghenda niki? Why should you go?
Ekyangaleka iniaghenda niki? Why should he go?
Ekyangaleka ithwaghenda niki? Why should we go?
Ekyangaleka ibaghenda niki? Why should you go?
Munabwire- today
Ngendikwira ki? What will I die for?
Ukendikwiraki? What will you die for?
Akendikwiraki? What will he die for?
Thukendikwiraki? What will we die for?
Mukendikira ki? What will you die for?
Bakendikwira ki? What willthey die for?
Whom ? (interrogative)
Now-Hathya:
Singular:
Ngalya nandi With whom am I eating?
20
Ukalya-nandi With whom are you eating?
Akalya-nandi With whom is he eating?
Thukalya-nandi With whom are you eating?
Mukalya-nandi With whom are we eating?
Bakalya-nandi They whom are they eating?
Plural:
Ngalya-nabahi With whom am I eating?
Ukalya nabahi With whom are you eating?
Akalya-nabahi With whom is he eating?
Thukalya-nabahi With whom are we eating?
Mukalya-nabahi With whom are they eating?
Bakalya nabahi With whom are they eating?
Preposition
A preposition is: a word used to express the relations of a word to another word: or a
noung to another noun, or a pronoun to another.
Na means with
Oo means in or into
Oko means on
Examples:
Ngalya na Kambere I am eating with Kambere
Ngkere omo nyumba I am sitting in the house
Ngikere oko kithumbi I am sitting on a seat
Ngaghenda omo nyumba I am going into the house
E means to or from
21
When the movement originates from inside: Omo stands for inside; and when the
movement originates from the top: Oko stands for top.
Examples:
Masika akalhwa omo nyumba
- Masika is coming from the house
Kabugho akalhwa oko kithwa
- Kabugho is coming from the mountain
Alternative:
Nabere ingaghenda e bwera munabandana e ndale.
- When I was going to bwera I met alion.
Wabere ukaghenda e bwera muwabandana e ndala.
-When you went to bwera you met a lion
Abere akaghemda e bwera mwabandana e ndale
- When he was going to bwera he met a lion
Babere ibakaghenda e bwera mubadandana e ndale.
- When they were going to bwera they met a lion.
As soon as:
Nanabere ingahika munalya
As soon as I arrived Iate
Wanabere iwukahika muwalya
As soon as he arrived he ate
22
Anabere akahika mwalya
As soon as we arrived we ate
Thwna bere ithukahika muthwalya
As soon as we arrived we ate
Mwanabere imukahika mumwalya
As soon as you arrived you ate.
Banabere ibakahika mubalya
- As soon as they arrived they ate.
Alternative:
Nabere nanahika nalya
As soon as Iarrived I ate
Wabere wanahika walya
As soon as you arrived you ate
Abere anahika alya
As soon as he arrived he ate
Thwabere thwanahika thwalya
As soon as you arrived they ate.
Mwabere mwanahika mwalya
As soon as you arrived you ate
Babere banahika balya balya
As soon as they arrived ate.
Clan Totem
1. Abasu Engabi-Ekisu-Enyamulimi
2. Abaswagha Engwe-akayundi-Akahungera
1. Abahiira Enganga
2. Abakiira Embogho
3. Abathangi Embwa Ekibbandu
4. Abahambu Endungulha
5. Abahambu Engabi
6. Abaseru Engabi
7. Abasongora Engabi
8. Ababinga Ebbaku.
NB: Abaseru This clan treats broken bones.
Bakonzo names
Male Female
1st born: Kambere or Baluku, Masika or Kanyere
Nzanzu,
2nd born: Bwambale, Kambale,
Kambasu or Tsongo Biira, Kabiira
3rd born: Masereka, Mathe,
Kabuhyahya or Walina Kabugho or Kaswera
4th born: Kule, Kakule Mbambu, Kathungu
5th born: Thembo, Kathembo Thungu, Kathungu
23
6th born Mbusa, Kabusa Kyakimwa
7th born: Ndungo Nzyabake
8th born: Kathya or Kalibanda.
Twins:
The first born is called Nguru both male and female.
The second born is called Ndobya both male and female.
The one who follows the twins either male or female is called Kitsa. The one who
follows Kitsa is called Kamalha both male and female.
Bakanzo Dances:
1. Ekikiibi 5. Ekiseghera
2. Amasinduko 6 .Omukumo
3. Endara 7. Omukobo
4. Amahandi 8. Eluma.
24
CHAPTER TWO
Lhukonzo is a launguge spoken yb the people called Bakonzo. They live in the western
Uganda. Others live in the Eastern Zaire and are known as the banandi. They have
the same customs as the Bakonzo in Uganda.
Class: E- ESYO
All nouns beginning with E in singular and followed by the followinG consonants:
Mb, Nd, Ng, Nz, Ny, and in plural, they begin with Esyo
Eg.
Singular Plural
Embene Esyomene
A goat Goats
Ende Esyonde
A cow cows
Engunza Esyongunza
A bag Bags
Enzoka Esyonzoka
A snake snakes
Enyuma Esyonyuma
A bedbug Bedbugs
N.B There are some nouns which are neither singular nor plural.
Those dont have classes.
The examples are:
Amaghetse Water
Obubuya Beauty
Obuuha Jealousy.
Olhukengerwa Respect
Obukuuthu Silence
Obusingiri Fornication
It has no infinitive.
Positive
Ngasi I know
Nyasi I know
Wasi You know
Asi He/she knows
Thwasi We know
Mwasi You know
25
Basi They know
Altenative
Nganasi I know
Nyinasi I know
Unasi You know
A nasi Heshe/ knows
Thunasi We know
Munasi You know
Banasi They know
Negation
Singasi I dont know
Sinyasi I dont know
Siwasi You dont know
Syasi He/she doesnt know
Sithwasi We dont know
Simwasi You dont know
Sibasi they dont know
Positive ( perfect)
Nabya inganasi I knew
Nabya inyinasi I knew
Wabya iwunasi You knew
Abya inianasi He/she knew
Thwabya inianasi We knew
Mwabya ithunasi You knew
Babya imunasi They knew
Negation
Singabya ngasi I didnt know
Sinyabya nyasi I didnt know
Siwabya wasi You didnt know
Sabya asi He didnt know
Sithwabya mwasi we didnt know
Simwabya mwasi You didnt know
Sibabya basi They didnt know
oo.
Alternative
Ingyowene I alone
Iwowene You alone
Iyowene He/she alone
Ithwibene We alone
Inywibene You alone
Ibobene They alonbe
Verb Asi
Ngayasi I know myself
Uyasi You know yourself
Ayasi He/she kbows him/herself
Thuyasi We know ourselves
Muyasi You know yourself
Bayasi They know themselves.
Alternative:
Nganayasi I kwon myself
Unayasi You know your self
Anayasi we know oursself
Munayasi You know youself
Banayasi they know themselves
Negation:
Singayasi I dont know myself
Siwuyasi You dont know him/her self
27
Siyayasi He doesnt know themselves
Sithunyasi We dont know ourselves
Sithunyasi You dont know themselves
Sibayasi They know themselves.
Ngabye Let me be
Ubye You be
Abye Let him/her be
Thubye Let us be
Mubye You be
Babye Let them be.
oo.
Munabwire Today
Ngendi-bya I will be
Ukendi-bya You will be
Akendi-bya He will be
Thukendi-bya We will be
Mukendi-bya You will be
Bakendi-bya they will be
28
Banabya They used to be
Munabwire-today
Nabere I have become
Wabere You have become
Abere He/she has become
Thwabere We have become
Mwabere you have become
Babere They have become
Kera-long ago
Munabya mubere I became the first
Muwabya mumbere You became the first
Mwabya mumbere He became the first
Muthwabya bambere We became the first.
Mumwabya bambere You became the first
Mubabya bambere They became the first
NEGATION:
Munathabya I didnt become
Muwathabya You didnt become
Mwathabya We didnt become
Muthwathabya You didnt become
Mumwathabya they didnt become
Negation:
Namathibitha sindi-bya mukoni
Namathibitha sinyiri-bya mukoni
- When I run I dont become sick
Wamathibitha siwuli-bya mukoni
- When you run you dont become sick
Amathibitha Sali bya mukoni
- When he/she runs he/she doesnt become sick
Thwamathibitha sithuli-bya bakoni
- When we run we dont become sick
Mwamathibitha simuli-bya bakoni
- When you run you dont become sick
Bamathibitha sibali-bya bakoni
- When they run they dont become sick
Munabwire Today
NEGATION:
Nga-withe I have
U- withe You have
A-withe He/she has
Thu-withe we have
Mu-withe You have
Ba-withe They have
Nga-with esyombene
-I-have goats
U-with esyonbene
-You -have goats
A- with esyombene
-He -has goats
Thu - with esyombene
-We -have goats
Mu-with esyombene
- You -have goats
Ba-with esyombene
- They have goats
Negation
Singa- withe I dont have
Siwu-withe you dont have
Siya-withe he dont have
Sithu- withe we dont have
Simu- with you dont have
Siba-with they dont have
31
Nga-withe ki What do I have?
U-withe ki What do you have?
A- withe ki What does he have?
Thu-withe ki What do we have?
Mu-withe ki What do youhave?
Ba-withe ki What do they have?
Ngana-withe I do have
Una-withe you do have
A na-withe he does have
Thuna- with we do have
Muna-with You do have
Bana-with They do have
Ngana-with ebyaghe
-I have yours
Ana-with ebyenyu
-he has his
Thuna-with ebyethu
You have yours
Bana-with ebyabo
They have theirs.
NGINA CAN
Nangina I can
Wangina You can
Angina He can
Thwangina We can
Mwangina You can
Bangina They can
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POSITIVE
Ingye nga with nanginabugha
- I who have can speak
I we u-with wanginabugha
- You who have can speak
Oyu-withe anginabugha
- He who has can speak
Ithwe thu-with thwanginabugha
- We who have can speak
Inywe mu-with mwanginabugha
- You who have can speak
Aba with banginabugha
- Those who have can speak
NEGATION
Ingye ngatha-with sinangabugha
- I who dont have cannot speak
Iwe utha-with siwangabugha
- You who dont have cannot speak
Oyutha-with syangabugha
- He who doesnt have cannot speak
Ithwe thutha-with sihwangabu gha
- We who dont have cannot speak
Inywe mutha-with simwangabugha
- You who dont have cannot speak
Abatha- with sibangabugha
- those who dont have cannot speak
oo
Pronoun Description
Nga-ghenda I am going
Uka-ghenda You are going
Aka-ghenda He is going
Thu-ghende We are going
Muka-ghenda You are going
Baka-ghenda They are going
oo.
1. Muga-nyirre You forgive me
2. Mu-gha-nyire You forgive him
3. Mu-ba-ghanyire You forgive them
4. Muthu-ghanyire You forgive us
5. Mu-mu-ghanyire You forgive him
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4. Akendi- ku- thwalha Ku stands for you
- He will take you
5. Akendi-mu-thwalha Mu stands for us
-He will take him
6. Akendi- thu-thwalha Thu stands for you
- He will take us
7. Akendi-ba-thwalha Ba stands them
-He will take you
8. akendi-ba-thwalha Ba stands for them
-He will take them
9. Akendithwalha-bo Bo stands for them
-He will take them.
Passive form
Erya ghalibwa To be tortured
Hathya now
Ngaghalibawa I am being tortured
Ukaghalibawa You are being tortured
Akaghalibwa He is being tortured
Thukaghalibawa We are being tortured
Mukaghalibawa You are beding tortured
Bakaghalibawa They are being tortured
Munabwire Today
35
mwa- ghalibawa You were being tortured
Ba- ghalibawa They were being tortured
Muna-ghalibwa I was tortured
Muwa- ghalibwa You were tortured
Mua-ghalibwa He was tortured
Muthwa-ghalibwa We were tortured
Mumwa-ghalibwa You were tortured
Muba-ghalibwa They were tortured
Munabwire Today
Munyika ghalibawa I have been tortured
Muwuka- ghalibawa You have been tortured
Mwaka ghalibawa He has been tortured
Muthuka- ghalibawa we have been tortured
Mumuka-ghalibawa You were tortured
Mubaka- ghalibawa They have been tortured
OR
Nga-nzirwe I am loved
Wa-nzirwe You are loved
Thwa-nzirwe He is loved
Mwa-nzirwe You are loved
Ba-nzirwe They are loved
Conjunctive : IF
Munabwire Today
Ngendighennda wama-nza
-I will go if I want
Ukendighenda wama-nza
-You will go if you wants
Akendighenda thwama-nza
- We will go if we want
Mukendighenda mwama-nza
-you will go if you want
Bakendighenda bama-nza
-they will go if they want
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Bakendisyaghenda bamasya- lhama
-They shall go if they recover.
Imperative Mood
The verb beginning with the following syllables, when used applying to the first
person in the imperative mood, change as I will indicate.
1. Re changes to nde
2. thwa change to ndwa
3. sa change to nza
4. gha change to nga
5. bu mbu
6. tsa nza
7. ha mba
8. he mbe
9. swi nzwi
10. su nzu
11. ku ngu
12. hu mbu
13. swe nzwe
14. si nzi
15. wa ngwa
16. so nzo
17. lho ndo
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18. lhwi ndwi
1. Nde-ke leave me
2. ndwa-le take me
3.Nza- bule Save me
4. Nga-nyire forgive me
5. Mbu-lhaye ask me
6. Nza-ndaye spoil me
7. mba mbe catch me
8. Mbe-ke carry me
9. Nzwi-raye beat me
10. Nzu-bulhaye bring me back
11. Ngu-ndule Unitie me
12. Mbu-lhukaye let me out
13. Nzwe-kere ridicule
14. Nzi-ghe leave me behind
15. Ngwa-thikaye assist me
16. Nzo-ndaye seek me
17. Ndo-ghe bewitch me
18. Ndwi-ke Release me.
Singular
Waghe my
Wawu Your
Wiwe His/her
Wethu our
Wenyu You
Wabo Their
E.g.:
Waghe my
Wawu your
Wiwe his/hers
Wethu our
Wenyu your
Wabo their
Plural
Baghe my
Bawu your
Bethu his
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Benyu our
Benyu your
Babo Their
E.g.:
Abana baghe my children
Abana bawu your children
Abana biwe his/her children
Abana bethu our children
Abana benyu your children
Abana babo Their children
Singular
Niwa-ghe He is mine
Niwa- wu He is yours
Niwi-we He is His/hers
Niwe thu He is ours
Niwe-nyu He is yours
Niwa- bo He is theirs
E.g.:
Omwana niwa-ghe The child is mine
Omwana niwa-wu The child is yours
Omwana niwi-we The child is his/hers
Omwana niwe-thu The child is ours
Omwana niwe-nyu The child is yours
Omwana niwa-bo The child is theirs
Plural:
niba-ghe they are mine
Niba wu they are yours
Niba-we The are His/hers
Niba-thu they are ours
Niba-nyu They are yours
Niba-bo They aretheirs
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CLASS KI-BI
Singular
Ekindu kyaghe my thing
Ekindu kyawu Your thing
Ekindu kiwe His/she thing
Ekindu kyethu our thing
Ekindu ktenyu your thing
Ekindu kyabo Their thing
Plural:
Ebindu byaghe my things
Ebindu byawu your things
Ebindu biwe His things
Ebindu byethu our things
Ebindu byenyu your things
Ebindu byabo there things
Class mu mi
Singular:
Omuthi waghe My tree
Omuthi wawu Your tree
Omuthi wiwe His tree
Omuthi wethu our tree
Omuthiwenyu your tree
Omuthiwabo their tree
Plural:
Emithi yaghe My trees
Emithi yawu your trees
Emithi yiwe his trees
Emithi Yethu our trees
Emithi yenyu your trees
Emithi yabo Their trees
Plural
Esyonyusi syaghe My rivers
Esyonyusi syawu Your rivers
Esyonyusi siwe His rivers
Esyonyusi syethu Our rivers
Esyonyusi syenyu Your rivers
Esyonyusi syabo Their rivers
40
CLASS BU- MA
Singular:
Obukamatha bwaghe my banana
Obukamatha bwawu your banana
Obukamatha bwiwe his banana
Obukamatha bwethu Our banana
Obukamatha bwenyu your banana
Obukamatha bawbo Their banana
Plural
CLASS RI MA
Singular
Eririmalyaghe my garden
Eririma lyawu your garden
Eririma liwe his garden
Eririma lyethu our garden
Eririma lyenyu your garden
Eririma lyabo their garden
Plural
Amalima aghe My gardens
Amalima awu Your gardens
Amalima iwe His gardens
Amalima ethu Our gardens
Amalima enyu You gardens
Amalima abo Their gardens
Class ka-bu
Singular
Akahuka kaghe my insect
Akahuka kawu your insect
Akahuka kiwe His insect
Akahuka kenyu their insect
Akahuka kabo your insect
Plural
Obuhuka bwaghe My insects
Obuhuka bwawu your insects
Obuhuka bwethu Our insects
Obuhuka bwewe His insects
Obuhuka bwabo Their insects
41
Class ku-ma
Singular
Okuboko kwaghe my arm
Okuboko kwawu your arm
Okuboko kwiwe his arm
Okuboko kwethu our arm
Okuboko kwenyu your arm
Okuboko Kwabo Their arm
Plural
Amaboko aghe My arms
Amaboko awu Your arms
Amaboko iwe His arms
Amaboko ethu Our arms
Amaboko enyu Your arms
Amaboko abo Their arms
When an action is going to take place, ya stands for going to or about to. Eg.
Ngaya I am going to eat
Ukaya-Iya You are going to eat
Akaya Iya He is going to eat
Thukaya-Iya We are going to eat
Mukaya-Iya You are going to eat
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Bakaya-Iya They are going to eat
1. Omulhume akaya-Iya
-The man is going to eat
Ablhume bakaya-Iya
- The men are going to eat
2. Ekisoro Kikaya-Iya
- The animal is going to eat
Ebisoro bikaya Lya
- the animals are going to eat
3. Omuthi akaya- there
- The tree is going to fall
Emithi yikaya-thera
- The trees are going to fall
4. Eribwe likaya - Kumbaghala
- The stone is going to roll
Amabwe akaya Kumbaghalha
- The stone s are going to roll
5. Akahuka kakaya holha
- The insects are going to die.
Obuhuka bukaya holha
- the insects are going to die
6. Olhuhi Ihukaya Sa
- war is coming
Esyonyuhi sikaya sa
- Wars are comming
7. Obugheni bukaya sa
- A feast is coming
Amagheni akaya sa
- Feasts is coming
8. Okuboko kukaya bbunika
-The arm is going to break
Amaboko akaya - bbunika
- The arms are going to break.
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ABAKONZO N, EMIBERE YABO
44
Amena awAbakali.
1. Masika Kutse Kanyere oyo yomwana omuna omumbere owobukali.
2. Biira, Kutse kabiira, oyo yomwana owowbukali iwa kabiri.
3. Kabugho kutse kaswera, oyo yomwana owbukali owa kasathu.
4. Mbambu kutse Kahambu, oyo yoomwana owobukali owa kathano.
5. Thungu kutse Kathungu oyo yo omwana owobukali owa kathano.
6. Kyakimwa, oyo yomwana owobukali owe ndathu.
7. Nzyabake. Oyo y,omwana owobukali owirinda.
8. Kathya kutse Kalibanda, oyo y,omwana owobukali owa munani.