Language/Rundi/Vocabulary/Days-and-Months
In this lesson, we will learn about the names of the days and months in Rundi, as well as important time-related vocabulary. Knowing how to express time is essential for effective communication in any language, and Rundi is no exception. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to use the days of the week and months of the year with confidence, as well as tell time and talk about calendars in Rundi.
Days of the Week
In Rundi, the days of the week are named after celestial bodies, with one exception. Here is a table showing the names of the days of the week in Rundi, their pronunciation, and their English translations:
| Rundi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Icyumweru | ee-choom-weh-roo | Monday |
| Utarumwe | oo-tah-roo-mweh | Tuesday |
| Umwambere | oom-wahm-beh-reh | Wednesday |
| Umugoroba | ooh-moo-go-roh-bah | Thursday |
| Uwukwe | oo-woo-kweh | Friday |
| Umunani | ooh-moo-nah-nee | Saturday |
| Ku w'Imana | koo-wee-mah-nah | Sunday |
Note that the last day of the week, "Ku w'Imana," literally means "day of God" and is equivalent to the English word "Sunday." It is common in Burundi to attend church on this day, so you may hear this term used in that context.
Here are a few sentences using the days of the week in Rundi:
- Ndi muri icyumweru - I am in on Monday.
- Nsonga kuzuzana utarumwe - Let's meet on Tuesday.
- Twagize umwambere ni ko kutuyemo - We had a meeting on Wednesday.
- Uwukwe ni isabato - Friday is the Sabbath day.
- Umunani twumva ngo ni cumi diva atandatu - We heard on Saturday that it was ten below freezing.
- Ku w'Imana turiko twenda kwisi - On Sunday we usually go to the countryside.
Months of the Year
Like the days of the week, the months of the year in Rundi are also named after celestial bodies. Here is a table showing the names of the months in Rundi, their pronunciation, and their English translations:
| Rundi | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Nzero | n-zeh-roh | January |
| Ukuboza | oo-koo-boh-zah | February |
| Rushama | roo-shah-mah | March |
| Ntwarante | n-twa-rahn-teh | April |
| Kamena | kah-meh-nah | May |
| Gatandatu | gah-tahn-dah-too | June |
| Kanama | kah-nah-mah | July |
| Ntakira | n-tah-kee-rah | August |
| Ukwakira | oo-kwah-kee-rah | September |
| Urwamagana | oor-wah-mah-gah-nah | October |
| Ugushyingo | oo-goo-shee-nyoh | November |
| Ukuboza | oo-koo-boh-zah | December |
It is worth noting that the second month of the year, "Ukuboza," is named twice in the Rundi calendar, both in February and December.
Here are a few sentences using the months of the year in Rundi:
- Ndaguhaye akazi kuri Nzero - I started working in January.
- Kuri Ukuboza hari imyaka irindwi - There are leap years in February.
- Rushama ni n'ubwo tuzwi neza - March is when we hear well.
- Igitondo cy'Easter kizatangira kuri Ntwarante - The Easter weekend will start in April.
- Mu myaka ya Gatandatu nibwo tujya ahari - We usually go there in June.
- Nzoba narisabwe muri Kanama - My birthday is in July.
- Ntafashwe gusura uko tukimara kwakira - We can't wait to finish September.
- Urwamagana ni yo mwezi w'imyaka yacu - October is our month of the year.
- Abami babonye hamwe ku gushyingo - The three of them were seen together in November.
- Ku cyumweru cyo hakurya ukuboza tugeze - We'll arrive on the Sunday before December.
Telling Time
To express time in Rundi, you need to be familiar with numbers (see previous section) and some time-related vocabulary. Here are some examples of how to tell time in Rundi:
- Saa moja - One o’clock (literally “hour one”)
- Saa mbiri - Two o’clock (literally “hour two”)
- Saa tatu na robo - Half past three (literally “hour three and a half”)
- Saa kumi n'ebyiri - Ten minutes to two (literally “hour ten and two”)
- Saa mbere ya saa saba - One before seven o’clock (literally “hour one of hour seven”)
Here are a few useful phrases when talking about time in Rundi:
- Saa ngapi? - What time is it?
- Ni saa tano - It is five o'clock.
- Ni saa tatu na dakika ameza - It's thirty minutes past three.
Note that Rundi speakers typically use the 24-hour clock rather than the 12-hour clock. However, in some contexts, such as train schedules or restaurant reservations, the 12-hour clock may be used as well.
Calendar Vocabulary
To round out our discussion of time-related vocabulary, let's take a look at some common terms you're likely to encounter on calendars, schedules, and other time-related materials in Rundi.
- Imyaka - Years
- Iminsi - Days
- Igihe - Time/hours
- Gikondo - Season
- Isaha - Clock/watch
- Ikingiro - Time zone
- Icyubahiro - Daylight saving time
Here are a few examples of how to use these words in a sentence:
- Kumwe muri imyaka - Once a year
- Iminsi itanu - Five days
- Isaha irindwi - 24 hours
- Gikondo cya vuba - Spring season
- Isaha irohatse - Broken watch
- Ikingiro cya ya Sanghai - Shanghai time zone
- Icyubahiro cyo 2022 - 2022 daylight saving time
Congratulations! You have completed the section on Numbers and Time. You should now feel confident in your ability to use the days of the week and months of the year, tell time, and discuss calendars and schedules in Rundi. Keep practicing and building your vocabulary, and you'll be speaking Rundi like a pro in no time!