Adverbials in Rukiga

Adverbials are, most basically, words that modify or describe a verb. The following is a list of key adverbials for Rukiga learners to learn with adverbials focused on time. Learners will often hear these words used through Rukiga speech, particularly when engaging in story telling.

• Obwa kare – A long time ago
• Obwa kare nakare – Some immemorial time back
• Ira – Earlier/formerly
• Iraho – A bit earlier
• Ira n’ira – A Long time ago
• Kare – Early
• Kareho – A bit earlier
• Aha bwire bumwe – Once upon time/at one time
• Buriijo – Every other day
• Hakaba – There was
• Hakaba hariho – There (there) was/ there existed
• Hakabaho – There happened
• Hariyo – There there is
• Hakabayo  – There (there) was/ there happened
• Hari  – There
• Harimu – In there, there is
• Omuri  – Among/ within
• Omukashumi kakye – In a short time
• Omu bwire obu  –  In the meantime/ in this time
• Obumwe n’obumwe – Sometimes
• Obundi na obundi – Every other time
• Ahagati ya-/rwagati ya-  – In the middle of…
• Okwezi okuhweire – Last month/ the month that ended
• Okwezi okuhweireho – The month that just ended
• Omwaka oguhweire – The year that just ended
• Omwaka oguhingwire – The year that passed by
• Omwaka oguhingwireho – The year that just passed by