Adjectives

1. Inzu nini

   A big house

   Usage

   For size; adjectives follow the noun

   Grammar Note

   inzu (house, in- class) followed by nini (big); adjectives of this class begin with a nasal

2. Inzu ntoya

   A small house

   Usage

   For size, as in Inzu yanje ni ntoya. (my house is small)

   Grammar Note

   inzu followed by ntoya (small), the same in- class form

3. Ikanzu nshasha

   A new dress

   Usage

   For something new; ikanzu is a dress

   Grammar Note

   ikanzu (dress) followed by nshasha (new)

4. Inzu nziza

   A nice house

   Usage

   For praising something good or beautiful

   Grammar Note

   inzu followed by nziza (good, beautiful), as in Ni inkuru nziza. (it is good news)

5. Inkuru mbi

   Bad news

   Usage

   For delivering bad news, as in Ndagufitiye inkuru mbi. (I have bad news for you)

   Grammar Note

   inkuru (news) followed by mbi (bad)

6. Amazi ashushe

   Hot water

   Usage

   For asking for hot water

   Grammar Note

   amazi (water, ama- class) followed by ashushe (hot); the adjective agrees with the ama- class

7. Birahenze

   It is expensive

   Usage

   When a price feels too high; a good opener before bargaining

   Grammar Note

   bi- (they, things) + -ra- (present) + -henze (perfect of guhenda, "be expensive")

8. Birahendutse

   It is cheap

   Usage

   When the price is low

   Grammar Note

   bi- (they) + -ra- (present) + -hendutse (perfect of guhenduka, "become cheap")

9. Ibitabu vyinshi

   Many books

   Usage

   For saying that there are many of something

   Grammar Note

   ibitabu (books, ibi- class) followed by vyinshi (many); vy- is the agreeing form for this class

10. Amahera make

    A little money

    Usage

    For saying that there is little of something

    Grammar Note

    amahera (money, ama- class) followed by make (little, few), as in Haguye amama make y'imvura. (a few drops of rain fell)

11. Ni hafi

    It is near

    Usage

    For nearness, as in Inzu yanje iri hafi y'urusengero. (my house is near the church)

    Grammar Note

    ni means "is" and hafi means "near"; hafi y'... is "near ..."

12. Ni kure

    It is far

    Usage

    For distance, as in Afrika y'epfo ni kure. (South Africa is far away)

    Grammar Note

    ni means "is" and kure means "far"

13. Inzira ndende

    A long way

    Usage

    For a long journey, as in Twagenze inzira ndende. (we have come a long way)

    Grammar Note

    inzira (way) followed by ndende (long)

14. Ni muto

    He or she is young

    Usage

    For youth; the same word also describes a small family, as in Umuryango wanje ni muto.

    Grammar Note

    ni means "is" and muto means "young, small"; the form changes with the subject's noun class

15. Kare

    Early

    Usage

    For being early, as in Ntugaruke kare cane! (don't come back too soon)

    Grammar Note

    kare is an adverb meaning "early" or "soon"

16. Biraryoha

    It is delicious

    Usage

    For praising food

    Grammar Note

    bi- (they, things) + -ra- (present) + -ryoha (kuryoha, "be delicious")

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