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Most Common Kinyarwanda Words
Ikinyarwanda
Essential Kinyarwanda vocabulary with pronunciation guides. Nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs.
Nouns
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| umuntu | person | oo-MOON-too |
| inzu | house | EEN-zoo |
| amazi | water | a-MA-zi |
| ibiryo | food | ee-BEER-yo |
| akazi | work | a-KA-zi |
| inzira | road / path | in-ZEE-ra |
| izina | name | ee-ZEE-na |
| umwana | child | oom-WA-na |
| se | father | se |
| nyina | mother | NYI-na |
| ubutaka | land | oo-boo-TA-ka |
| igiti | tree | ee-GEE-ti |
| uruzi | river | oo-ROO-zi |
| inshuti | friend | in-SHOO-ti |
| ijoro | night | ee-JO-ro |
| umunsi | day | oo-MOON-si |
| amafaranga | money | a-ma-fa-RAN-ga |
| igitabo | book | ee-gee-TA-bo |
| urugo | home / family | oo-ROO-go |
| umuriro | fire | oo-moo-REE-ro |
Verbs
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| genda | to go | GEN-da |
| kuza | to come | KOO-za |
| kurya | to eat | KOOR-ya |
| kunywa | to drink | KOON-ywa |
| gusinzira | to sleep | goo-sin-ZEE-ra |
| kubona | to see | koo-BO-na |
| kuvuga | to speak | koo-VOO-ga |
| kumenya | to know | koo-MEN-ya |
| gukora | to work | goo-KO-ra |
| kugura | to buy | koo-GOO-ra |
| kwiga | to learn | KWEE-ga |
| kumva | to hear | KOOM-va |
| gushaka | to want | goo-SHA-ka |
| guhunga | to run | goo-HOON-ga |
| kwicara | to sit | kwee-CA-ra |
| guhagarara | to stand | goo-ha-ga-RA-ra |
| gufasha | to help | goo-FA-sha |
| guha | to give | GOO-ha |
| kubona | to find | koo-BO-na |
| gukora | to do / make | goo-KO-ra |
Adjectives
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| -nini | big | NEE-ni |
| -to | small | to |
| -iza | good | EE-za |
| -bi | bad | bi |
| -sha | new | sha |
| -kuru | old | KOO-roo |
| -era | white / clean | E-ra |
| -isu | black | EE-soo |
| -tukura | red | too-KOO-ra |
| -tari | cold | TA-ri |
| -shyushye | hot | SHYOO-shye |
| -komeye | strong / hard | ko-ME-ye |
| -nozze | soft | NOZ-ze |
| -nshi | many | nshi |
| -ke | few | ke |
| -refi | tall / long | RE-fi |
| -gufi | short | GOO-fi |
| -ryoha | sweet | RYOH-ha |
| -komeye | strong | ko-ME-ye |
| -imbonerahamwe | beautiful | im-bo-ne-ra-HAM-we |
Adverbs
| Word | English Meaning | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| ubu | now | OO-boo |
| ejo | tomorrow / yesterday | E-jo |
| ejo hashize | yesterday | E-jo ha-SHEE-ze |
| hano | here | HA-no |
| aho | there | A-ho |
| kare | already | KA-re |
| buri gihe | always | BOO-ri GEE-he |
| cyane | very / truly | CYAN-e |
| gusa | only | GOO-sa |
| kandi | also / and | KAN-di |
| vuba | quickly | VOO-ba |
| buhoro | slowly | boo-HO-ro |
| hamwe | together | HAM-we |
| kuko | because | KOO-ko |
| niba | if | NEE-ba |
| ariko | but | a-REE-ko |
| none | so / now then | NO-ne |
| mbere | before / first | MBE-re |
| hanyuma | after / then | ha-NYOO-ma |
| ntabwo | never / not | nta-BWO |