Kinyarwanda
mbabarira
m-bah-bah-REE-rah
How to say it
Kinyarwandambabariram-bah-bah-REE-rahsoon
Englishexcuse me, sorrysoon
Frenchexcusez-moi / pardonsoon
Meaning
an expression asking for forgiveness or excuse, said when apologizing.
Good to know
polite apology, from the verb -babarira "to forgive"; used for both minor excuses and sincere apologies.
Examples
- Mbabarira, nabaye nkerewe.Sorry, I was late.
- Mbabarira, waba unyemerera kubaza ikibazo?Excuse me, may I ask a question?
- Yambabariye amaze kumenya ibyabaye.He forgave me once he understood what had happened.
- Ntabwo yigeze ambabarira ku byo yankoreye.He never apologized to me for what he did to me.