Kinyarwanda
gutsemba
Word parts: gu-tsemba
goo-TSEH-mbah
How to say it
Kinyarwandagutsembagoo-TSEH-mbahsoon
Englishto destroysoon
Frenchdétruire, exterminersoon
Meaning
to destroy completely or wipe out, especially a group of people or living things.
Good to know
a strong verb; in Rwanda it carries heavy historical weight from its association with the Genocide against the Tutsi.
Examples
- Umuriro watsembye ishyamba ryose.The fire destroyed the whole forest.
- Ntawe wemerewe gutsemba ubwoko bw'inyamaswa zirinzwe.No one is allowed to exterminate protected species.
- Indwara yatsembye amatungo menshi mu karere.The disease wiped out many livestock in the district.
- Twibuka abatsembwe muri Jenoside yakorewe Abatutsi.We remember those who were exterminated in the Genocide against the Tutsi.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.