kuvuna

How to say it

Meaning

to break a bone or any slender thing, or to defend and help someone, or to forbid something.

Good to know

this single root covers both physical breaking and the more abstract senses of defending or forbidding, so context decides which meaning is meant.

Examples

• Yavunye ukuguru mu bipimo.He broke his leg in the game.
• Ndavuna umwana wanje mu ngorane.I stand up for my child when he's in trouble.
• Ntibavuna kuraba mu kibanza kimwe.They are forbidden from looking in that same spot.
• Umugambwe waravuze uko bimeze.The stick broke exactly how it looked like it would.

The same word in