The Kinyarwanda course

Learn Kinyarwanda ten words at a time

Ikinyarwanda

Ten games of ten words: the hundred 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.

Kinyarwanda challenge

Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.

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Kinyarwanda · 0 of 10 lessons passed

Greetings and politeness10 Order anything by pointing10 Yes, no and the essentials10 Numbers and money10 At the supermarket10 Cafe and restaurant10 Small talk and neighbors10 Getting around10 Time and days10 Help and emergencies10

Kinyarwanda · Lesson 1 of 10

Greetings and politeness

Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.

Murahomoo-RAH-hoh: Hello
Murahomoo-RAH-hoh: Hi
Mwaramutsemwah-rah-MOOT-seh: Good morning
Bwiriwebwee-REE-weh: Good night
Urakoze cyaneoo-rah-KOH-zeh CHAH-neh: Thank you very much
Urakozeoo-rah-KOH-zeh: Thanks
Nta kibazon-tah kee-BAH-zoh: You're welcome
Ndakwinginzen-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: Please
Mbabariram-bah-bah-REE-rah: Excuse me
Murabehomoo-rah-BEH-hoh: Goodbye

Flashcards and usage notes →

Kinyarwanda · Lesson 2 of 10

Order anything by pointing

One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.

Imbwire imwe, ndakwinginzeeem-BWEE-reh EEM-weh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One beer, please
Ikintu kinu, ndakwinginzeee-KEEN-too KI-noo, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One of these, please
Kahawa imwe, ndakwinginzekah-HAH-wah EEM-weh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One coffee, please
Kabiri, ndakwinginzekah-BEE-ree, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: Two, please
Umwe uri wundi, ndakwinginzeOO-mweh OO-ree WOON-dee, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One more, please
Ni amafaranga angahe?nee ah-mah-fah-RAHN-gah ahn-gah-HEH: How much is it?
Karata y'ibiciro, ndakwinginzekah-RAH-tah yee-bee-CHEE-roh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: The bill, please
Nkuko nahora...?n-KOO-koh nah-HO-rah: May I...?
Ubwiyunge!oo-bwee-YOON-geh: Cheers!
Umutima wacu!oo-moo-TEE-mah WAH-choo: Bless you

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Kinyarwanda · Lesson 3 of 10

Yes, no and the essentials

The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.

YegoYEH-goh: Yes
OyaOH-yah: No
Okayoh-KAY: Okay
Nta kibazon-tah kee-BAH-zoh: Sure, no problem
Sinziseen-ZEE: I don't know
Sirabwamusee-rah-BWAH-moo: I don't understand
Ubwenge bwacu, ariko ukunyanya Icyongereza?oo-BWEN-geh bwah-choo, AH-ree-koh oo-koo-NYAHN-yah ee-choh-nher-EH-zah: Do you speak English?
Gato kareGAH-toh KAH-reh: A little
Ibyo bi remeziee-BYOH bee reh-MEH-zee: Of course
Ibyo byose nezaee-BYOH BYOH-seh NEH-zah: Everything is fine

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Kinyarwanda · Lesson 4 of 10

Numbers and money

Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.

Imweeem-WEH: One
Kabirikah-BEE-ree: Two
KandiKAHN-dee: Three
KaneKAH-neh: Four
Icumiee-CHOO-mee: Ten
Makumyatanumah-KOO-myah-TAH-noo: Fifty
Ijanaee-JAH-nah: One hundred
Amafarangaah-mah-fah-RAHN-gah: Krone
N'ikaratan'ee-kah-RAH-tah: By card
N'amafarangan'ah-mah-fah-RAHN-gah: In cash

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Kinyarwanda · Lesson 5 of 10

At the supermarket

Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.

Umukateoo-moo-KAH-teh: Bread
Amasiniah-mah-SEE-nee: Milk
Fromagefro-MAHZH: Cheese
Amaziah-MAH-zee: Water
Igikwate?ee-gee-KWAH-teh: A bag?
Haba...?HAH-bah: Do you have...?
Ari hehe...?AH-ree heh-HEH: Where is...?
Ikintu kinuee-KEEN-too KI-noo: This one
Ntibyo bimwen-tee-BYOH bee-mweh: Nothing else
Umunsi wacu mwizaoo-MOON-see wah-choo MWEE-zah: Have a nice day

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Kinyarwanda · Lesson 6 of 10

Cafe and restaurant

A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.

Imbere y'abandi babirieem-BEH-reh yah-BAHN-dee BAH-bee-ree: A table for two
Ikisanduku cy'ibiryo, ndakwinginzeee-kee-sahn-DOO-koo chee-BEE-ryoh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: The menu, please
Kahawa imwe, ndakwinginzekah-HAH-wah eem-WEH, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One espresso
Inzira imwe y'udus, ndakwinginzeeen-ZEE-rah eem-WEH yoo-DOOS, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: A glass of wine
Imbwire ikunzwe, ndakwinginzeeem-BWEE-reh ee-KOON-zweh, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: Draft beer
Ibiryo cy'uko bya Daneee-BEE-ryoh choo-koh byah DAH-neh: Smørrebrød
Ibiryo ni biiza cyaneee-BEE-ryoh nee BEE-zah CHAH-neh: It's delicious
Atari amasanzaah-TAH-ree ah-mah-SAHN-zah: Without ice
Kuri njyeKOO-ree n-JEH: To take away
Kubika itandukaniroKOO-bee-kah ee-tahn-doo-kah-NEE-roh: Keep the change

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Kinyarwanda · Lesson 7 of 10

Small talk and neighbors

How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.

Ubwenge bwacu, amakuru?oo-BWEN-geh bwah-choo, ah-mah-KOO-roo: How are you? (polite)
Amakuru?ah-mah-KOO-roo: How are you? (casual)
Neza cyaneNEH-zah CHAH-neh: I'm fine
Wowe ni ute?woh-WEH nee OO-teh: And you?
Iki cy'ikigiro?EE-kee chee-kee-GEE-roh: What's new?
Ibibondo byiza, si?ee-bee-BOHN-doh byee-ZAH, see: Nice weather, huh?
Tutangiretoo-tahn-GEE-reh: See you soon
Umubira wacu mwizaoo-moo-BEE-rah wah-choo MWEE-zah: Have a nice evening
Hila inzira y'abanyamuryangoHEE-lah een-ZEE-rah yah-bahn-yah-moo-rahn-goh: Say hi to the family
Ubwiyunge byoseoo-bwee-YOON-geh BYOH-seh: All the best

Flashcards and usage notes →

Kinyarwanda · Lesson 8 of 10

Getting around

Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.

Ari hehe ibisoro?AH-ree heh-HEH ee-bee-SOH-roh: Where is the toilet?
Bumosoboo-MOH-soh: Left
Bumweboo-MWEH: Right
Kwiyongere imberekwee-yon-GEH-reh eem-BEH-reh: Straight ahead
AhaAH-hah: Here
AhoAH-hoh: There
Ibisiee-BEE-see: Bus
Steshoni y'amatareniysteh-SHOH-nee yah-mah-tah-reh-NEE: Train station
Tikiti imwe, ndakwinginzetee-KEE-tee eem-WEH, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: One ticket, please
Hagarika aha, ndakwinginzehah-gah-REE-kah AH-hah, n-dah-kwee-NGEEN-zeh: Stop here, please