Learn Kinyarwanda ten words at a time
Ikinyarwanda
Ten short games: the 102 most useful Kinyarwanda words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Murahomoo-RAH-hoh
- Hello
- Mwaramutsemwah-rah-MOOT-seh
- Good morning
- Mwiriwemwee-REE-weh
- Good evening
- Murabehomoo-rah-BEH-hoh
- Goodbye
- Tuzabonanatoo-za-bo-NA-na
- See you
- Ndakwinginzen-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh
- Please
- Murakozemoo-rah-KOH-zeh
- Thank you
- Nta kibazon-tah kee-BAH-zoh
- You're welcome
- Mbabariram-bah-bah-REE-rah
- Sorry
- Ihanganeee-hahn-GAH-neh
- Excuse me
- Nishimiye kukumenyanee-shee-MEE-yeh koo-koo-MEH-nyah
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Ndashaka...n-dah-SHAH-kah
- I would like...
- IkiEE-kee
- This one
- Ni angahe?nee ahn-gah-HEH
- How much is it?
- Fagitire, ndakwinginzefah-gee-TEE-reh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh
- The bill, please
- N'ikaritanee-kah-REE-tah
- By card
- Mu mafarangamoo mah-fah-RAHN-gah
- In cash
- Amaziah-MAH-zee
- Water
- Ikawaee-KAH-wah
- Coffee
- Icyayiee-CHA-yee
- Tea
- ByeriBYEH-ree
- Beer
- Nta...n-TAH
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- YegoYEH-goh
- Yes
- OyaOH-yah
- No
- SawaSAH-wah
- Okay
- Simbyumvaseem-BYOOM-vah
- I don't understand
- Uvuga Icyongereza?oo-VOO-gah ee-choh-ngeh-REH-zah
- Do you speak English?
- Subiramosoo-bee-RAH-moh
- Can you repeat that?
- Gahoro gahorogah-HOH-roh gah-HOH-roh
- Slowly, please
- Iki ni iki?EE-kee nee EE-kee
- What is this?
- Nkeneye...n-keh-NEH-yeh
- I need...
- Wamfasha?wahm-FAH-shah
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- RimweREEM-weh
- One
- Kabirikah-BEE-ree
- Two
- Gatatugah-TAH-too
- Three
- KaneKAH-neh
- Four
- Gatanugah-TAH-noo
- Five
- Gatandatugah-tahn-DAH-too
- Six
- Karindwikah-REEN-dwee
- Seven
- Umunanioo-moo-NAH-nee
- Eight
- Icyendaee-CHEN-dah
- Nine
- Icumiee-CHOO-mee
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Ufite...?oo-FEE-teh
- Do you have...?
- ...iri he?EE-ree heh
- Where is...?
- Birafunguyebee-rah-foon-GOO-yeh
- Open
- Birafunzebee-rah-FOON-zeh
- Closed
- Ushaka isashe?oo-SHAH-kah ee-SAH-sheh
- A bag?
- Birahenze cyanebee-rah-HEN-zeh CHAH-neh
- Too expensive
- Nafashe icyumbanah-FAH-sheh ee-CHOOM-bah
- I have a reservation
- Ifunguro rya mu gitondo ririmo?ee-foon-GOO-roh ryah moo gee-TOHN-doh ree-REE-moh
- Is breakfast included?
- Ijambo ry'ibanga rya wifi ni irihe?ee-JAHM-boh ree-BAHN-gah ryah WAI-fai nee ee-REE-heh
- What's the wifi password?
- Nshobora...?n-shoh-BOH-rah
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and a compliment to the kitchen.
- Ameza y'abantu babiriah-MEH-zah yah-BAHN-too bah-BEE-ree
- A table for two
- Menu, ndakwinginzeMEH-noo, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh
- The menu, please
- Ni iki wangira inama?nee EE-kee wahn-GEE-rah ee-NAH-mah
- What do you recommend?
- Sinrya...SEEN-ryah
- I don't eat...
- Ndwara iyo ndiye...n-DWAH-rah EE-yoh n-DEE-yeh
- I'm allergic to...
- Inyamaee-NYAH-mah
- Meat
- Inkokoeen-KOH-koh
- Chicken
- IfiEE-fee
- Fish
- Biraryoshyebee-rah-RYOH-shyeh
- It's delicious
- Kubuzima!koo-boo-ZEE-mah
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Amakuru?ah-mah-KOO-roo
- How are you?
- Ni meza, murakozenee MEH-zah, moo-rah-KOH-zeh
- I'm fine, thanks
- Nawe?NAH-weh
- And you?
- Witwa nde?WEE-twah n-DEH
- What's your name?
- Nitwa...NEE-twah
- My name is...
- Uturuka he?oo-too-ROO-kah heh
- Where are you from?
- Nturuka...n-too-ROO-kah
- I'm from...
- Ndabikunzen-dah-bee-KOON-zeh
- I like it
- Ni byiza cyanenee BYEE-zah CHAH-neh
- It's beautiful
- Murakaza nezamoo-rah-KAH-zah NEH-zah
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Ubwiherero buri he?oo-bwee-heh-REH-roh boo-REE heh
- Where is the toilet?
- Nagera ... nte?nah-GEH-rah ... n-TEH
- How do I get to...?
- Ibumosoee-boo-MOH-soh
- To the left
- Iburyoee-BOO-ryoh
- To the right
- Komeza imberekoh-MEH-zah eem-BEH-reh
- Straight ahead
- HanoHAH-noh
- Here
- Sitasiyo ya gari ya moshisee-tah-SEE-yoh yah GAH-ree yah MOH-shee
- Train station
- BisiBEE-see
- Bus
- Ikibuga cy'indegeee-kee-BOO-gah chee-n-DEH-geh
- Airport
- Itike imwe, ndakwinginzeee-TEE-keh EEM-weh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- UbuOO-boo
- Now
- NyumaNYOO-mah
- Later
- Uyu munsiOO-yoo MOON-see
- Today
- EjoEH-joh
- Tomorrow
- Iri joroEE-ree JOH-roh
- Tonight
- Ryari?RYAH-ree
- When?
- Mufungura ryari?moo-foon-GOO-rah RYAH-ree
- What time does it open?
- Akanya gatoah-KAH-nyah GAH-toh
- One moment, please
- Iminotaee-mee-NOH-tah
- Minutes
- Amasahaah-mah-SAH-hah
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Mutabare!moo-tah-BAH-reh
- Help!
- Hamagara mugangahah-mah-GAH-rah moo-GAHN-gah
- Call a doctor
- Polisipoh-LEE-see
- Police
- Farumasifah-roo-MAH-see
- Pharmacy
- Ibitaroee-bee-TAH-roh
- Hospital
- Nayobyenah-YOH-byeh
- I'm lost
- Ndumva ntameze nezan-DOOM-vah n-tah-MEH-zeh NEH-zah
- I don't feel well
- ByibweBYEE-bweh
- It was stolen
- Ni ibintu byihutirwanee ee-BEEN-too byee-hoo-TEER-wah
- It's an emergency
- Ndeka!n-DEH-kah
- Leave me alone