Vocabulary: Amasano yo mu muryango 'Family relationships'.

There  are specific words and terms used to indicate family relationships in Kinyarwarwanda. In  this section we will explore them and give examples to draw their distinct classifications they are gouped into. For example: primary, secondary and extended relationships. In fact, family relationships are basically created by the way of marriage.

Vocabulary
Term Translation Example Sentence Example Translation
Umugabo Husband, man Gakiga ni umugabo wa Mwitende. Gakiga is Mwitende's husband
Umugore Wife, woman Mwitende ni umugore wa Gakiga. Mwitende is Gakiga's wife.
Umwana A child Karega ni umwana wa Gakiga. Karega is Gakiga's child.
Ababyeyi Parents Gakiga na Mwitende ni ababyeyi ba Karega Gakiga and Mwitende are Karega's parents.
Umuhungu The son Karega ni umuhungu wa Gakiga Karega is Gakiga's son.
Umukobwa The daughter Umuhoza ni umukobwa wa Mwitende. Umuhoza is Mwitende's daughter.
Mushiki Sister Umuhoza ni mushiki wa Karega. Umuhoza is Karega's sister
Musaza The brother Karega ni musaza wa Umuhoza. Karega is Umuhoza's brother.
Data, so ,se My father, your father, his/her father Data ni umuhinzi, so ni umuhinzi, se ni umuhinzi My father is a farmer, your father is a farmer, his/her father is a farmer.
Marume, nyokorome, nyirarume My uncle, your uncle, his/her uncle Kabera ni marume, Kabera ni nyokorome, Kabera ni nyirarume. Kabera is my uncle, Kabera is your uncle, Kabera is his/her uncle.
Mubyarra Cousin Mukamana ni mubyara wanjye. Mukamana is my cousin.
Sogokuru Grand father Rulinda ni sogokuru Rulinda is my grandfather
Nyogokuru My grand mother Nyiramana ni nyogokuru Nyiramana is my grandmother.
Umwuzukuru Grand child Gakire ni umwuzukuru wa Rulinda. Gakire is Rulinda's great son.
Umwishywa Nephew, niece Karani ni mwishywa wa Bwenge. Karani is Bwenge's nephew.
Umugabo wa mama My step father Sano ni umugabo wa mama. Sano is my step father.
Mukadata, Mukaso, Mukase, My step mother, your step mother, his/her step mother. Kangabe ni mukadata. Kangabe ni mukaso. Kangabe ni mukase. Kangabe is my step mother.
Muramu, muramukazi brother-in-law, sister -in-law Karega ni muramu wanjye. Mukamusoni ni muramukazi wanjye. Karega is my brother in-law.