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Banyankore Idiomatic Wealth

THE BANYANKORE IDIOMATIC WEALTH
Did you know that Runyankore-Rukiga has got *idioms*? Here are 100 idioms that can make your usage of your local language richer. 

1. Akaanya bwanya. In a very short time

2. *Akangara teete*. Living in hard conditions or sometimes it means having no shelter.

3. *Ekireenga bazaana*. The evening part of the day, when the sun is setting. 

4. *Ow'omutima Mukye*. A person prone to falling into temptation, or someone with limited self-control. 

5. *Amihiisa nyungu* a conversation that is meant just to pass time

6. *Amadinga dingiso* sweating uncontrollably

7. *Biguru byampitsi* doing something very fast, usually with no diligence

8. *Boote boote* a very old and frail

9. *Buguru butakora hansi* moving, running or walking very fast

10. *Buso bwa ntaama* head on collision.

11. *Bukyeire bwaizire*  now and then

12. *Eituumbi mahiihi* very early morning around 4AM

13. *Ekiita mukago* a fine paid for marrying a relative

14. *Ekikuunga mutsitsa*  a big crowd

15. *Ekiriira ndugu* a greedy person, who hides from others when eating

16. *Ekiteera njogyera* a child who is just beginning to walk

17. *Ekitema bakazi* a cutting object that is too blunt to cut

18. *Ekitundama nibakoza* a very dull person

29. *Ekyoga ruganda* a person who has been disowned by his family members

30. *Embura bujune* a needy person

31. *Embura mukoro* an idle person

32. *Empenda rubango* a girl whose bride price is meant for the father alone

33. *Endengwa mwaka* stored crops that have been kept for a long time

34. *Endiira kukinduka* a person that eats too much

35. *Engyenda kiro* red ants

36. *Enkuuku mbisi* a complicated person or situation

37. *Enkwata buta* a brave person

38. *Enkwata rugo* cows paid as advance bride price to show commitment or engagement

39. *Enzira kareju* a person who has reached marriage age but has not yet married

40. *Kaisho mpande* a suspicious look

41. *Kateera rume* a go between the two families in the process of marriage

42. *Kiraarira oseire* a person that doesn't want to work, but seeks company of people with ready food

43. *Ntabo yaago* an alcohol addict

44. *Obushezya migyere* having a habit of always lamenting, whining and self pity. 

45. *Obuteera kishaka* something given or money paid to someone for looking for herbs. 

46. *Obwijura nju* marrying a sister of the late wife

47. *Okucwa engondo* to put tattoos on the body

48. *Okucwa enshusha*  to break virginity

49. *Okufa mamigye* suffering in silence

50. *Okugamba mafuzi* speaking on a low tone, of being soft spoken

51. *Okugwa aha mahega* a girl staying long before getting married

52. *Okugwa enshazi* blacking out or fainting also *okugwa kihumura* fainting in shock

53. *Okugwa omunda* hugging someone

54. *Okugwera orubaju* being partial or not objective

55. *Okuha engata* Chasing away someone 

56. *Okuhanda bunaku* using a lot of energy to do work yet without showing signs of weakness

57. *Okuhanga amaisho* to fix eyes on someone or something. Or having hopes in someone or something

58. *Okuhenda amaisho* to close the eyes of a dead person. 

59. *Okuhenda endosho* a ritual for a man after he has lost his mother in-law

60. *Okukama obwasi* to milk a cow that has lost its calf. 

61. *Okukirira hakye* narrowly escaping

63. *Okukubuura obusinde* the first visit of a newly married couple to their parents after their honeymoon. 
   
64. *Okunyeeta buroro* growing up yet not able to do work. 

65. *Okunywera omufunguro* to accept to suffer for someone

66. *Okuraga bunyena* having irregular menstrual cycle 

67. *Okuribata omwariro* cheating on a wife that has just given birth

68. *Okurya ibanga* to steal the show, or to earn respect

69. *Okurya majuuju* eating wastefully. 

70.  *Okusiimba eicumi* to resist or refuse to do something

71. *Okutaasya amahasha* to perform a ritual of taking twins to their grandparents. 

72. *Okuteera ekimangaza* afternoon time about 4PM

73. *Okuteera obukumbi* cracking jokes between clans on friendly terms 

74. *Okuteerwa amahungu* being so sorrowful especially after death of a beloved

75. *Okuteera embari* grinding millet badly

76. *Okwata amabanga/Okwata enaama* to disclose secrets

77. *Okwegamba orubango* to be the first spear

78. *Okwiba empimbi* a newly married wife taking food from her parents in law not in an official way. 

79. *Okwita ekihara*  cheating on an expectant wife

80. *Okwita enju* a woman cheating when they are still building a new house

82. *Okwita oburo* cheating on your partner before or towards harvest time 

83. *Omukazi w'ebibero birungi* a woman that comes with favor in her marriage

84. *Okugyenda oyebembeize enkokora* going to visit having some gifts for the hosts 

85. *Embabazi za nyina kakondo* having suspicious kindnesses

86. *Okurya obuwha* eating the final meal with no hope of where the next will come from

87. *Maheembe* someone with all authority or powerful

88. *Okushandaga obutaka* killing someone mercifully after a long sickness or old age to save them from too much pain. 

89. *Kugareberamu (nk'ensoonzi)* crying or having teary eyes 

90. *Okuza Owanyamuyongo* to die 

91. *Okuhwa aha magufa* losing a lot weight. 

92. *Okumira emityoko* to silvate 

93. *Okuceba entura* walk bare foot. 

94. *Orukaanga booro* a drizzle

95. *Rwemereza bagyenzi* a plant that has yielded highly especially planted by the roadside

96. *Okuteera engaanja* being mean at giving

97. *Gamanywa embeba* a person that knows secrets especially household secrets. 

98. *Kaitwa munigo* a person with short neck

99. *Kachu kakye* in a short while. 

100. *Kaasha k'abakwe* a good looking heifer, worthy of giving out as a gift to in-laws.
 

Rurekyera Geofrey 

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