wa

How to say it

Meaning

Links a singular noun of the umu class to what it belongs to or comes from, like English 'of': umwana wa Petero, Peter's child. Before a noun it can also mean that one we spoke of: wa mugabo, that man.

Good to know

It agrees with the noun before it: umwana wa, abana ba, inka ya, inka za, igitabo cya, ibitabo bya, ijambo rya, ubuzima bwa, urugo rwa. Before a vowel the a drops: umwana w'umuturanyi, the neighbor's child. It also makes ordinals: umwanya wa mbere, first place.

Examples

• Umwana wa Kamanzi yatsinze ikizamini.Kamanzi's child passed the exam.
• Wa mugore twabonye ejo yagarutse.That woman we saw yesterday has come back.
• Umukino wa nyuma uzaba ejo.The final match will be tomorrow.

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