Kinyarwanda: Beginners Guide

No need to get into the description of what you need to know as a beginner. Let's dive in! Here is a list of the Basic Kinyarwanda vocabulary words that every beginner should know, so you can start conversing in Kinyarwanda.

Greetings

• Muraho - Hello, Hi

If you want to say Hello or Hi to someone that you have not seen in a while it is best to say "Muraho."

• Mwaramutse - Good Morning

Now that you know how to say Hello if you want to say Good Morning it is "Mwaramutse"

Mwiriwe - Good Evening/Afternoon

Good evening and afternoon are the same in Kinyarwanda, it is Mwiriwe.

Muramuke - Good Night

If you want to say "Goodnight" to someone in Kinyarwanda you say Muramuke.

Amakuru - How are you? <------- Formal

• Ni meza - I'm doing well.

In Kinyarwanda, you say Amakuru if you haven't seen someone in a while if you are talking to a large number of people, or if you are speaking formally with someone.

Bite - What's new? (slang) <----- Informal

• Ni byiza - I'm good

Bite in Kinyarwanda is the informal way of saying what up to someone, this can be towards a friend, a peer, or someone you are comfortably informal with.

Bitese - How's it going? (slang) <---- More informal

• Ndaho - It's going alright

Bitese is less commonly said but it still means the same as Bite, but it is less formal. You would reply by saying Ndaho.

Umeze ute - How are you doing?

• Meze neza - I'm doing good

Umeze ute, this phrase is used more by adults but it has a similar meaning to Amakuru. You would respond to some by saying "Meze neza"

Common Kinyarwanda Phrases for Beginners

Yego - Yes

Oya - No

Witwe nde? - What is your name?

• Nitwa [Your name] - My name is [Your name]
  

Sinumva - I don't know

If you don't know what someone is talking about, it is best to use this phrase.

Mbabarira - I'm sorry

Nyamuneka - Please

In Kinyarwanda, the phrase Nyamuneka isn't often used but it still means please.

Sawa (sometimes meaning goodbye) - Okay

This phrase originally came from Swahili, but it has been used so much that it has been adopted by the Kinyarwanda Langauge.

Birumvikana - Of course

In Kinyarwanda, if someone says Murakoze, you would reply by saying "Murakoze neza." But you could still respond by saying "Birumvikana"

Mumbabarire - Excuse me or Sorry

Marakaza Neza - Welcome (Often use Karibu from Swahili)

Marakaze Neza is not used as much in Kinyarwanda anymore, but it still is a useful phrase to know in day-to-day interactions.

Murakoze (cyane)! - Thank you (so much)!

• Urakaza neza - You are Welcome.

If you want to thank someone you can simply just say Murakoze.

Ndishimiye kubamenya - Nice to meet you.

After meeting someone it is best to conclude by saying: Ndishimiye kubamenya. Literal meaning: I am pleased to meet you.

Tuzakubona vuba - See you soon.

Tuzakubona nyuma - See you later.

Murabeho - Goodbye/Bye

Murabeho isn't used as much in Kinyarwanda as well, most people use (Sawa) from Swahili, but it is still essential when learning.

Useful Questions in Kinyarwanda

If you want to ask someone what language they speak, it would be best to use these phrases:

Uravuga icyongereza - Do you speak English?

• ikinyarwanda - Kinyarwanda

• igifaransa - French

• igiswahiri - Swahili

• Possible Answers:

  • Yego, Ndavuga icyongereza - Yes, I speak English

  • Ndavuga bike - I speak a little bit

  • Oya, Simvuga icyongereza - No, I don't speak English.

  • Simbyumva - I don't understand

    • Urashobora gusubiramo? - Can you repeat that?

    • Wavuze iki? - What did you say?

    • Ongera ugaruke? - Come again?

Ni saa gihe - What time is it?

• Ni saa - It is ___

If you want to ask someone what time it is you would say, Ni saa gihe. To reply with what time it is, you would say Ni saa ... and continue.

If you want to ask where the bathroom is or something in general it is best to use these phrases below:

Waba uzi aho ubwiherero buri? - Do you know where the bathroom is?

Ubwiherero buri he? - Where is the bathroom?

• Ubwiherero burahari - The bathroom is there.

  • Next to - kurunde

  • Across from - hakurya

  • To the right - iburyo

  • To the life - ibumoso

  • Behind - inyuma

  • In front of - imbere

  • Cross the street - kwambuka umuhanda

  • Take a lift - Fata ibumoso

  • Turn a right - Hindura iburyo

  • Keep going straight - Komeza

Can you help me, I am lost - Can you help me, I am lost

• I want to go to ___. - Ndashaka kujya ___.

How much does it cost? - Bangahe?

• It costs ___ - Birasaba____

Question Words:

• Who? - Ninde?

• What? - Niki?

• Where? - Ari he?

• How? - Nigute?

• When? - Ryari?

• Why? - Kubera iki?

Numbers in Kinyarwanda

Knowing the numbers in Kinyarwanda is important so you can know how to participate in daily activities such as shopping, telling the time, and managing money.

Zeru - Zero (0)

Rimwe - One (1)

Kabiri - Two (2)

Gatatu - Three (3)

Kane - Four (4)

Gatanu - Five (5)

Gatandatu - Six (6)

Karindwi - Seven (7)

Umunani - Eight (8)

Icyenda - Nine (9)

Icumi - Ten (10)

Cumi n'umwe - Eleven (11)

Cumi na babiri - Twelve (12)

Cumi na batatu - Thirteen (13)

Cumi na kane - Fourteen (14)

Cumi na batanu - Fifteen (15)

Cumi na gatandatu - Sixteen (16)

Cumi na karindwi - Seventeen (17)

Cumi n'umunani - Eighteen (18)

Cumi n'icyenda - Nineteen (19)

Makumyabiri - Twenty (20)

Mirongo itatu - Thrithy (30)

Mirongo ine - Forty (40)

Mirongo itanu - Fifty (50)

Mirongo itandatu - Sixty (60)

Mirongo irindwi - Seventy (70)

Mirongo inani - Eighty (80)

Mirongo cyenda - Ninety (90)

Ijana - One hundred (100)

Advice for using the basics

Learning these basics is merely the beginning of communicating with others. If you want to master your Kinyarwanda vocabulary skills, I would recommend following these next few steps

• Get a dictionary - Find words that you can use to help you build up your core vocabulary

• Learn relevant words - Learn words that you find relevant to your interests so you can surround yourself with useful words that you use in everyday conversation. But also learn general topics so you can have a solid basis in the language.

• Immerse yourself in media - One of the best ways to improve your vocabulary and pronunciation is immersing yourself in Kinyarwanda culture/media so you can have a better understanding of the sound of the language, and its general structure of words and phrases.

• Have conversations - Practicing with someone who speaks in the language you are learning is the best way of developing your speech and confidence in the language. It will help you learn new words and take your skills to the next.