ubufasha
The Kinyarwanda word for help is ubufasha.
Meaning: transitive: provide assistance to (someone or something) (verb)
Did you know?
- In Rwanda, the concept of 'helping' is deeply tied to Umuganda, a mandatory monthly community work day where citizens provide 'help' to the public by cleaning streets or building schools.
- Because Kinyarwanda is a tonal language, the way you pitch your voice when asking for ubufasha can change the meaning of the sentence, though the written form remains the same.
- The root of ubufasha is related to the verb gufasha, which can also mean 'to support' or 'to prop up' physically. This creates a linguistic link between providing emotional or financial help and the physical act of holding something up.
Example conversation
Patrick and Beatrice are organizing a charity event.
- PatrickPatrick: Beatrice, tugomba gutanga ubufasha.Beatrice, we need to provide help.
- BeatriceBeatrice: Ni byo, tugomba gufasha abagosi.That's true, we need to help the refugees.
- PatrickPatrick: Twatangira he guha ubufasha?Where should we start giving assistance?
- BeatriceBeatrice: Twatangira ku ishuri rya hafi.We should start at the nearby school.
