Kinyarwanda
simbyumva
seem-BYOOM-vah
How to say it
Kinyarwandasimbyumvaseem-BYOOM-vahsoon
EnglishI don't understandsoon
Frenchje ne comprends passoon
Meaning
a common spoken phrase meaning that the speaker does not understand or follow what is being said.
Good to know
an everyday spoken contraction of sinabyumva ('I do not understand it'); heard in conversation more than in writing.
Examples
- Ndakunda umuryango.I love my family.
- Simbyumva neza icyo uvuga.I don't understand well what you're saying.
- Simbyumva, wasubiramo?I don't understand, can you repeat that?
- Nkuko simbyumva, ndabaza umwarimu.Since I don't understand, I'm asking the teacher.