Kirundi
kwubaka
Word parts: kw-ubaka
koo-BAH-kah
How to say it
Kirundikwubakakoo-BAH-kahsoon
Englishto buildsoon
Frenchbâtir, construiresoon
Meaning
to build or construct something, and by extension - since building one's own house is traditionally seen as a precondition of marriage - to be or become married.
Good to know
the marriage sense is a well-known euphemism: Ndubatse means 'I am married' (literally 'I have built'), and Sindubaka means 'I am not yet married'.
Examples
- Ndashaka kwubaka inzu nziza.I want to build a nice house.
- Ndubatse.I am married (literally: I have built).
- Sindubaka.I am not married yet (literally: I haven't built yet).
- Umusore agomba kwubaka imbere yo kurongora.A young man must build his own house before marrying.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.