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Common Kinyarwanda Phrases
Essential Kinyarwanda (Ikinyarwanda) phrases with pronunciation guides.
👋Greetings & Basics
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Muraho | mu-RA-ho |
| Good morning | Mwaramutse | mwa-ra-MUT-se |
| Good evening | Mwiriwe | mwi-RI-we |
| Good night | Buhoro | bu-HO-ro |
| How are you? | Amakuru? | a-ma-KU-ru |
| I'm fine, thank you | Ni meza, urakoze | ni ME-za u-ra-KO-ze |
| What is your name? | Witwa nde? | wi-TWA NDE |
| My name is... | Nitwa... | NI-twa... |
| Nice to meet you | Nishimiye kukumenya | ni-shi-MI-ye ku-ku-ME-nya |
| Please | Nyamuneka | nya-mu-NE-ka |
| Thank you | Urakoze | u-ra-KO-ze |
| You're welcome | Nta kibazo | nta ki-BA-zo |
| Yes | Yego | YE-go |
| No | Oya | O-ya |
| Sorry | Mbabarira | mba-ba-RI-ra |
| Excuse me | Mbabarira | mba-ba-RI-ra |
| Goodbye | Murabeho | mu-ra-BE-ho |
| See you later | Tuzabonana | tu-za-bo-NA-na |
| I don't understand | Ntabyumva | nta-BYUM-va |
| Do you speak English? | Uvuga Icyongereza? | u-VU-ga i-chon-ge-RE-za |
✈️Travel
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the airport? | Aeroport iri he? | ae-ro-PORT i-ri HE |
| How much does this cost? | Ibi bitwara angahe? | i-bi bi-TWA-ra an-GA-he |
| I need a taxi | Ndakeneye taxi | nda-ke-NE-ye TAK-si |
| Where is the hotel? | Hoteri iri he? | ho-TE-ri i-ri HE |
| I have a reservation | Nifuza icyumba | ni-FU-za i-CHUM-ba |
| Train station | Sitasiyo ya gari ya moshi | si-ta-SI-yo ya GA-ri ya MO-shi |
| Bus stop | Ahahagarara basi | a-ha-ha-ga-RA-ra BA-si |
| Ticket | Tiketi | ti-KE-ti |
| Passport | Pasiporo | pa-si-PO-ro |
| Help! | Fungura! | fun-GU-ra |
| I'm lost | Nabaye inzererezi | na-BA-ye in-ze-re-RE-zi |
| Turn left | Hindukira ibumoso | hin-du-KI-ra i-bu-MO-so |
| Turn right | Hindukira iburyo | hin-du-KI-ra i-BU-ryo |
| Straight ahead | Genda imbere | GEN-da im-BE-re |
| How far is it? | Ni kure kangahe? | ni KU-re kan-GA-he |
| Museum | Inzu ndangamurage | IN-zu ndan-ga-mu-RA-ge |
| Beach | Inkombe y'inyanja | in-KOM-be yin-YAN-ja |
| Hospital | Ibitaro | i-bi-TA-ro |
| Pharmacy | Pharmasiyo | far-ma-SI-yo |
| Police station | Akarere ka polisi | a-ka-RE-re ka po-LI-si |
🍽️Food & Dining
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I'm hungry | Nshonje | NSH-on-je |
| I'm thirsty | Ninywa | NIN-ywa |
| The menu, please | Menyu, nyamuneka | ME-nyu nya-mu-NE-ka |
| Water | Amazi | a-MA-zi |
| Coffee | Ikawa | i-KA-wa |
| Bread | Umugati | u-mu-GA-ti |
| Meat | Inyama | i-NYA-ma |
| Vegetarian | Udafite inyama | u-da-FI-te i-NYA-ma |
| Delicious | Biryoshye | bi-RYOSH-ye |
| The bill, please | Fagitire, nyamuneka | fa-gi-TI-re nya-mu-NE-ka |
| I am allergic to... | Ngira aleriji ya... | NGI-ra a-le-RI-ji ya... |
| No sugar | Nta sukari | nta su-KA-ri |
| Breakfast | Ifunguro ryo mu gitondo | i-fun-GU-ro ryo mu gi-TON-do |
| Lunch | Ifunguro rya saa sita | i-fun-GU-ro rya SA-a SI-ta |
| Dinner | Ifunguro rya nijoro | i-fun-GU-ro rya ni-JO-ro |
| Restaurant | Resitora | re-si-TO-ra |
| Table for two | Tafulo ku bantu babiri | ta-FU-lo ku BAN-tu ba-BI-ri |
| Beer | Inzoga | in-ZO-ga |
| Wine | Divayi | di-VA-yi |
| Dessert | Dessert | de-SERT |
🚨Emergency
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | Fungura! | fun-GU-ra |
| Call the police! | Hamagara polisi! | ha-ma-GA-ra po-LI-si |
| I need a doctor | Ndakeneye muganga | nda-ke-NE-ye mu-GAN-ga |
| Fire! | Umuriro! | u-mu-RI-ro |
| Ambulance | Ambulanse | am-bu-LAN-se |
| I've been robbed | Bangajije | ban-ga-JI-je |
| I'm injured | Ndavunitse | nda-vu-NI-tse |
| Emergency | Ikibazo gikabije | i-ki-BA-zo gi-ka-BI-je |
| Where is the hospital? | Ibitaro biri he? | i-bi-TA-ro bi-ri HE |
| Lost passport | Pasiporo yabujijwe | pa-si-PO-ro ya-bu-JI-jwe |
| I need help | Ndakeneye ubufasha | nda-ke-NE-ye u-bu-FA-sha |
| Danger | Ingorane | in-go-RA-ne |
| Stop! | Hagarara! | ha-ga-RA-ra |
| Thief! | Umujura! | u-mu-JU-ra |
| I'm sick | Ndwaye | NDW-a-ye |
💼Business
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Mwaramutse | mwa-ra-MUT-se |
| I have a meeting | Mfite inama | mfi-TE i-NA-ma |
| Business card | Ikarita y'akazi | i-ka-RI-ta ya-KA-zi |
| What is your email? | Imeli yawe ni iyihe? | i-ME-li YA-we ni i-YI-he |
| I work for... | Nkorera... | nko-RE-ra... |
| Manager | Umuyobozi | u-mu-yo-BO-zi |
| Meeting | Inama | i-NA-ma |
| Office | Biro | BI-ro |
| Budget | Ingengo y'imari | in-GEN-go yi-MA-ri |
| Invoice | Fagitire | fa-gi-TI-re |
| Contract | Amasezerano | a-ma-se-ze-RA-no |
| Deadline | Igihe cy'imperuka | i-GI-he chim-pe-RU-ka |
| Partnership | Ubufatanye | u-bu-fa-TA-nye |
| Thank you for your time | Urakoze igihe cyawe | u-ra-KO-ze i-GI-he CHA-we |
🔢Numbers & Time
| English | Kinyarwanda | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| One | Rimwe | RIM-we |
| Two | Kabiri | ka-BI-ri |
| Three | Gatatu | ga-TA-tu |
| Four | Kane | KA-ne |
| Five | Gatanu | ga-TA-nu |
| Six | Gatandatu | ga-tan-DA-tu |
| Seven | Karindwi | ka-rin-DWI |
| Eight | Umunani | u-mu-NA-ni |
| Nine | Icyenda | i-CHYEN-da |
| Ten | Icumi | i-CU-mi |
| Twenty | Makumyabiri | ma-ku-mya-BI-ri |
| Fifty | Mirongo itanu | mi-RON-go i-TA-nu |
| One hundred | Ijana | i-JA-na |
| One thousand | Igihumbi | i-gi-HUM-bi |
| What time is it? | Ni saa zingahe? | ni SA-a zin-GA-he |
| Today | Uyu munsi | U-yu MUN-si |
| Tomorrow | Ejo hazaza | E-jo ha-ZA-za |
| Yesterday | Ejo hashize | E-jo ha-SHI-ze |
| Monday | Kuwa mbere | KU-wa MBE-re |
| Friday | Kuwa gatanu | KU-wa ga-TA-nu |
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