ubwicanyi
oo-bwee-CHAH-nyee
How to say it
Kinyarwandaubwicanyioo-bwee-CHAH-nyee
Englishkilling, murder; massacre
Frenchmeurtre, tuerie ; massacre
Meaning
The act of killing people on purpose, whether one murder judged in court or the mass killing of many people. It is the word used for the killings of the 1994 genocide.
Good to know
A bu class noun with no plural: ubwicanyi bukabije, horrific killings; icyaha cy'ubwicanyi, the crime of murder. It comes from kwica, to kill; a killer is umwicanyi.
Examples
- Polisi irimo gukora iperereza ku bwicanyi bwabereye muri uyu mudugudu.The police are investigating the killing that took place in this village.
- Urukiko rwamuhamije icyaha cy'ubwicanyi.The court found him guilty of murder.
- Abaturage bamaganye ubwicanyi bwakorewe umucuruzi w'aho.The residents condemned the murder of a local trader.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.