bite, nitwa
The English phrase "hello, my name is" is translated into Kinyarwanda as bite, nitwa.
This phrase is used to greet someone and introduce yourself by stating your name.
What does it mean word for word?
The word nitwa is a combination of the pronoun ni (is/am) and the verb gutwa (to be called), literally meaning "I am called".
How does it change in a sentence?
In Kinyarwanda, you do not say 'my name is [name]'. Instead, you use the verb form nitwa to say 'I am called [name]'. Ndi is used to introduce oneself and translates to I am.
Did you know?
- An introduction starting with nitwa can act as a gateway to a person's life story, as Rwandan names are often deeply tied to the specific circumstances of a person's birth.
- While bite is common among peers, using it with an elder or a high-ranking official can be seen as a sign of disrespect.
- Because Kinyarwanda is a tonal language, the pitch of the syllables in nitwa can technically change the word's meaning, though the context of an introduction usually prevents confusion.
Example conversation
Beatrice and Patrick meet for the first time at a community event.
- BeatriceBite, nitwa Beatrice.Hello, my name is Beatrice.
- PatrickMuraho, nitwa Patrick.Hello, my name is Patrick.
- BeatriceNishimiye kukumenya, Patrick.Nice to meet you, Patrick.
- PatrickNawe kandi, Beatrice.You too, Beatrice.
