Nkore is a Bantu

Bantu languages

The Bantu languages constitute a traditional sub-branch of the Niger–Congo languages. There are about 250 Bantu languages by the criterion of mutual intelligibility, though the distinction between language and dialect is often unclear, and Ethnologue counts 535 languages...

 language spoken by the Nkore (Banyankore) and Hema (Hima)

Hema people

The Hema, or Hima, are an ethnic group with about 160,000 members located in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular the Ituri region and Orientale province, as well as parts of Uganda and Rwanda...

 peoples of Southwestern Uganda

Uganda

Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...

 in the former province of Ankole

Ankole

Ankole, also referred to as Nkore, is one of four traditional kingdoms in Uganda. The kingdom is located in the southwestern Uganda, east of Lake Edward. It was ruled by a monarch known as The Mugabe or Omugabe of Ankole. The kingdom was formally abolished in 1967 by the government of President...

.

There are approximately 2,330,000 native speakers, mainly found in the Mbarara

Mbarara

Mbarara is a town in Western Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Mbarara District and the location of the district headquarters. It is also the largest urban centre in Western Uganda.-Location:...

, Bushenyi

Bushenyi

Bushenyi is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Bushenyi District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town, in keeping with the practice in most of the districts in the country.-Location:...

, Ntungamo

Ntungamo

Ntungamo is a town in Western Uganda. It is the largest town in Ntungamo District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...

, Kiruhura

Kiruhura

Kiruhura is a town in Western Uganda. It is the largest town in Kiruhura District and the district headquarters are located in there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...

, Ibanda

Ibanda

Ibanda is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Ibanda District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town.-Location:...

, Isingiro

Isingiro

Isingiro is a town in Western Uganda. It is the main municipal, administrative and commercial center of Isingiro District and the district headquarters are located there. The district is named after the town.-Location:...

, and Rukungiri

Rukungiri

Rukungiri is a town in Western Uganda. It is the 'chief town' of Rukungiri District and the district headquarters are located there. The district was named after the town in 1980.-Location:...

 districts. Runyankole is part of an East and central African language variously spoken by the Nkore, Kiga, Nyoro, and Tooro people in Uganda; the Nyambo, Ha and Haya in Tanzania

Tanzania

The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...

; as well as some ethnic groups in the Congo region, Burundi

Burundi

Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...

 and Rwanda

Rwanda

Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

. They were part of the Bunyoro-Kitara Kingdom of the 14-16th century.

There is a brief description and teaching guide for this language, written by Charles Taylor

Charles V. Taylor (linguist)

Dr. Charles V. Taylor was an Australian linguist and the author of at least 19 books on topics ranging from African linguistics to church history. He was also known as a Bible teacher and a frequent Christian magazine contributor.- Eduacation :...

 in the 1950s, and an adequate dictionary in print. Whilst this language is spoken by almost all the Ugandans in the region, most also speak English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, especially in the towns. English is the official language, and the language taught in schools.

Nkore is so similar to Kiga (84%–94% lexical similarity) that some argue they are dialects of the same language, a language called Nkore-Kiga by Charles Taylor

Charles V. Taylor (linguist)

Dr. Charles V. Taylor was an Australian linguist and the author of at least 19 books on topics ranging from African linguistics to church history. He was also known as a Bible teacher and a frequent Christian magazine contributor.- Eduacation :...

.

Basic Greetings

A simple knowledge of greeting

Greeting

Greeting is an act of communication in which human beings intentionally make their presence known to each other, to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other...

s can serve to break down barriers between foreigners and Ugandans. The greeting Agandi, implying, "How are you?" but literally meaning "other news!", can be replied with Ni marungi, which literally means "good news!".

The proper greetings are Oraire ota? or Osiibire ota?, literally translated "How was your night?" and "How was your day?". "Good night" is Oraare gye and "Good day" is Osiibe gye.

Here are a few names one might use in a greeting:

• Madam – Nyabo
• Sir – Ssebo
• Baby – omwana
• Baby boy – omwojo
• Baby girl – omwishiki

Food

• Ebitocye: Matooke or Bananas
• Obuhunga – Maize Meal or corn bread
• Ebihimba – Beans
• Enyama – meat
• Oburo – Millet Bread

Other Useful Words and Phrases

• Good morning. How are you?

Oraire ota (orei-rota)
Replies: I'm fine
Ndeire gye (ndei-re-jeh) or Ndyaho (indi-aho)

• Good morning. Did you sleep well?

Oraire gye? (orei-reh-jeh)
Reply: Yes, fine, okay
Kare (Kar-eh)

• Good afternoon. How are you?

Osiibire ota (o-see-bire-ota)
Replies: Nsiibire gye (insi-bi-reje) or Osiibire gye (Osi birejge)

• Good afternoon. How has your day been?

Waasiiba ota (wasi-wota)
Reply: Fine, good – Naasiiba gye (nasi-baje)

• Thank you Yebare (Ye-ba-re)