Nkore language

See also: Nkore-Kiga language

Nkore
Runyankore
Native to	Uganda
Native speakers	2.3 million (2002)
Language family	Niger–Congo Atlantic–Congo Benue–Congo Bantoid Bantu Northeast Bantu Great Lakes Bantu Nyoro–Ganda Nkore
Standard forms	Kitara
Dialects	Hima
Language codes
ISO 639-2	nyn
ISO 639-3	nyn
Glottolog	nyan1307
Guthrie code	JE.13

Nkore (also called Nyankore, Nyankole, Nkole, Orunyankore, Orunyankole, Runyankore, and Runyankole) is a Bantu language spoken by the Nkore (Banyankore) and Hema peoples of Southwestern Uganda in the former province of Ankole.

There are approximately 2,330,000 native speakers, mainly found in the Mbarara, Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Kiruhura, Ibanda, Isingiro, and Rukungiri districts. Runyankole is part of an East and central African language variously spoken by the Nkore, Kiga, Nyoro, and Tooro people in Uganda; the Nyambo, Ha and Haya in Tanzania; as well as some ethnic groups in the Congo region, Burundi and Rwanda. They were part of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of the 14-16th centuries.

There is a brief description and teaching guide for this language, written by Charles Taylor in the 1950s, and an adequate dictionary in print. Whilst this language is spoken by almost all the Ugandans in the region, most also speak English, especially in the towns. English is the official language, and the language taught in schools.

Nkore is so similar to Kiga (84%–94% lexical similarity) that some argue they are dialects of the same language, a language called Nkore-Kiga by Charles Taylor.

Basic greetings

The greeting Agandi, implying, "How are you?" but literally meaning "other news!", can be replied with Ni marungi, which literally means "good news!".

The proper greetings are Oraire ota? or Osiibire ota?, literally translated "How was your night?" and "How was your day?". "Good night" is Oraare gye and "Good day" is Osiibe gye.

Here are a few names one might use in a greeting:

• Madam – Nyabo
• Sir – Ssebo
• Child – omwana
• Boy – omwojo
• Girl – omwishiki

Food

• Ebitokye: Matooke or Bananas
• Obuhunga – Maize Meal or corn bread
• Ebihimba – Beans
• Enyama – meat
• Oburo – Millet Bread

Other words and phrases

• No: ngaaha (ing-gah-ha)or apaana (ah-pah-nah)
• yes: Eego (egg-oh)
• Thank you: Webare (Way-ba-re)
• Thank you very much: Webare munonga (Way-ba-lay mu-non-ga)
• You're welcome (literally: Thank you for appreciating): Webare kusiima (way-ba-re koo-see-mah)
• I like/love you: Ninkukunda (nin-koo-coon-dah) or ninkukunda munonga (nin-koo-coon-dah moo-non-gah)
• My name is ____: Eizina ryangye ninye ______ (ey-zeen-ah riya-gye ni-nye___) or ndi _____ (in-dee ______)
• I am from _____: Ninduga_____ (nin-doog-ah_____)
• It's how much shillings/money? Ni shiringi zingahi? (Knee shi-rin-gee zin-gah-hee) or ni sente zingahi?

• Good morning. How are you?

Oraire ota (orei-rota) Replies: I'm fine Ndeire gye (ndei-re-jeh) or Ndyaho (indi-aho)

• Good morning. Did you sleep well?

Oraire gye? (orei-reh-jeh) Reply: Yes, fine, okay Kare (Kar-eh)

• Good afternoon. How are you spending your day?

Osiibire ota (o-see-bee-rota) Replies: Nsiibire gye (insi-bi-reje)

• You are spending your day well?

Osiibire gye (Osi birejge) Replies: Yes- Eego (egg-oh)or nsiibire gye

• Good afternoon. How has your day been?

Waasiiba ota (wasib-wota) Reply: Fine, good, I've spent it well – Naasiiba gye (nasi-baje)

See also

• Runyakitara language