Page Type: languageKinyarwanda | Ethnologue

KIN ISO 639-3

Kinyarwanda

Ikinyarwanda Autonym

A language of Rwanda

ISO 639
kin
Alternate Names
Hima, Orunyarwanda, Ruanda, Rwanda, Rwandan, Urunyaruanda
Autonym
Ikinyarwanda
Population
11,600,000 in Rwanda (2018 J. Leclerc). Total users in all countries: 13,133,980.
Language Status
1 (National). Statutory national language (2003, Constitution, Article 5).
Classification
Niger-Congo, Atlantic-Congo, Volta-Congo, Benue-Congo, Bantoid, Southern, Narrow Bantu, Central, J, Ruanda-Rundi (D.61)
Dialects
Igikiga (Igishiru, Ikigoyi, Kiga, Tshiga), Bufumbwa, Hutu (Hera, Lera, Ndara, Ndogo, Shobyo, Tshogo, Ululera), Rutwa (Twa), Gitwa, Ikinyanduga. Mutually intelligible with Rundi [run].
Typology
SVO; 16 noun classes; no articles; verb affixes mark person, number; tense and aspect; 24 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; tonal.
Language Development
Literature. Radio. Dictionary. Grammar. Texts. Bible: 1954–1993.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kinyarwanda
Writing
Braille script [Brai]. Latin script [Latn], primary usage.
Other Comments
Christian, Muslim, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kinyarwanda
User Population
30,000 in Burundi (2017).
Dialects
Twa.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Burundi
Language Name
Kinyarwanda
User Population
5,250 in Canada (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Canada
Language Name
Kinyarwanda
User Population
250,000 in Democratic Republic of the Congo (UBS).
Location
Nord-Kivu province: Rwanda border lakes area; Sud-Kivu province: west of Bujumbura.
Dialects
Bwisha (Kinyabwisha), Mulenge (Kinyamulenge), Twa.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Dialects may need separate literature. Traditional religion, Christian.
View other languages of Democratic Republic of the Congo
Language Name
Kinyarwanda
User Population
8,730 in Kenya (2019 census). , based on nationality.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Kenya
Language Name
Fumbira
User Population
1,240,000 in Uganda (2014 census), increasing. Census based on tribal affiliation; 713,000 Bafumbira, 524,000 Banyarwanda (2014 census).
Location
Kisoro district; Kabale and Ntungamo districts.
Language Status
5 (Dispersed)
Other Comments
Akin to Kinyarwanda [kin] in Rwanda, which probably no longer exists in Uganda, or if so, is known as Fumbira.
View other languages of Uganda

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