Ndagukumbuye
The Kinyarwanda phrase for "I miss you" is Ndagukumbuye.
You use Ndagukumbuye to tell someone that you miss them. To add emphasis and say "I miss you very much" or "I miss you a lot," you can add the word cyane to the end of the phrase: Ndagukumbuye cyane.
Meaning: I miss you (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The word Ndagukumbuye is composed of the prefix Nda- (I), the object marker -ku- (you), the root -kumbuye (missed/longed for) and the perfective aspect.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Kinyarwanda, the phrase uses the perfective aspect to express a state that began in the past and continues to the present. This is the standard way to express the feeling of missing someone.
Did you know?
- Because Kinyarwanda is an agglutinative language, the entire sentence 'I miss you' is essentially one long, complex word. The subject, object, and action are all fused together into Ndagukumbuye.
- In many East African cultures, including Kinyarwanda-speaking regions, expressing longing is often considered a sign of deep intimacy. Using Ndagukumbuye too early in a relationship might be seen as quite bold.
- While English uses the word 'miss' to describe both losing an object and longing for a person, the Kinyarwanda root -kumbuye is strictly reserved for the emotional longing for living beings or significant things.
Examples in context
- Ndagukumbuye rwose.I really miss you.
Example conversation
A woman is talking to her partner over a video call.
- BeatriceOlivier, ndagukumbuye cyane.Olivier, I miss you very much.
- OlivierNanjye ndagukumbuye, Beatrice.I miss you too, Beatrice.
- BeatriceEse uzaza kureba umuryango?Will you come to visit the family?
- OlivierYego, nzaza vuba.Yes, I will come soon.
