u Rwanda
[uɾɡwaːnda]
The English phrase "Rwanda" is translated into Kinyarwanda as u Rwanda.
u Rwanda is the name of the country. In formal contexts, the name may appear simply as Rwanda.
Meaning: country (name)
Did you know?
- The name u Rwanda comes from an archaic verb meaning 'to expand'. It shares a linguistic root with the Zulu word anda, which means 'to multiply'.
- The grammatical prefix u in u Rwanda identifies the country as part of a specific noun class that is distinct from how people or animals are categorized in Kinyarwanda.
- Rwanda is often called le pays des mille collines in French, but in Kinyarwanda, the concept of the 'land of a thousand hills' describes the physical geography that shaped the early kingdom.
Examples in context
- U Rwanda ni igihugu cyiza.Rwanda is a beautiful country.
Example conversation
Eric and Claudine are talking about their home.
- EricClaudine, utuye mu Rwanda?Claudine, do you live in Rwanda?
- ClaudineYego, u Rwanda ni hafi.Yes, Rwanda is nearby.
- EricNshaka gusura u Rwanda.I want to visit Rwanda.
- ClaudineUrakaza neza i Rwanda!You are welcome to Rwanda!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “rwanda” translations and entries u Rwanda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries u Rwanda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
