kinyarwanda

Kinyarwanda is a Bantu language spoken by the Banyarwanda people. It is the most widely spoken language in Rwanda and is one of the country's four official languages, alongside English, French, and Swahili. Kinyarwanda is also spoken by Rwandan diaspora communities in neighboring countries such as Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The language belongs to the Niger-Congo language family and is part of the Rwanda-Rundi subgroup, which also includes Kirundi, the language spoken in Burundi. This close linguistic relationship means that speakers of Kinyarwanda and Kirundi can generally understand each other. Kinyarwanda has a rich oral tradition, with proverbs, folktales, and songs playing an important role in its cultural transmission.

Historically, Kinyarwanda was primarily a spoken language. The development of a written standard and its use in education and administration became more prominent during and after the colonial period. The Rwandan orthography has undergone revisions over time to standardize spelling and grammar. Despite the influence of other languages, Kinyarwanda remains a vital element of Rwandan national identity and is actively used in daily life, media, and government. Efforts are ongoing to promote and preserve the language.