guhongera

How to say it

Meaning

to give someone money, a gift, or a service to win their favor, calm their anger, or make up for a wrong done to them.

Good to know

Covers three related situations that context sorts out: paying respect to someone of high status, offering a bribe to an official, and paying compensation to someone you have wronged.

Examples

• Yagiye guhongera umwami w'igihugu.He went to pay his respects to the king.
• Ntukagerageze guhongera umucamanza.Don't you dare try to bribe the judge.
• Bamuhongeye inka kubera ivyo yononnye.They paid him a cow in compensation for what he had damaged.
• Twahonzwe n'abo twari twivuguruje.We were paid reparations by those we had a dispute with.