Here is a list of daily phrases in Kinyarwanda.
A collection of useful phrases in Kinyarwanda, we at Step Town Hotel have concocted a list of useful words you may need to know when travelling to Rwanda.
As Rwanda is a foreign country for most of you, you might want to learn new cool phrases. As travelers we know how hard it is to learn a new language, nevertheless we challenge to try these few everyday phrases. At Step Town Hotel we will be with you every step of the way, nothing is more fulfilling than leaving Rwanda knowing our language.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| English | Ikinyarwanda (Kinyarwanda) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Murakaza neza |
| Hello (General greeting) | Muraho Bite (inf) |
| How are you? | Amakuru? (News?) Amakuru yawe? (Your news?) Umeze gute? (You good?) – sg Mumeze gute? (You good?) – pl Biri kugenda bite? (inf) Bite byanyu? (inf) Bite se? (inf) Bite se sha? (inf) |
| Reply to ‘How are you?’ | Ni meza Meza neza (I go good) Tumeza neza (We go good) Nibyiza, murakoze, nawe se? |
| Long time no see | Hashize ijyihe kirekire tuta bonana |
| What’s your name? | Witwa nde? |
| My name is … | Nitwa … |
| Where are you from? | Muturuka he? |
| I’m from … | Nturuka |
| Pleased to meet you | Ndabishimiye (sg) Nishimiye kuba menya (pl/frm) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) | Mwaramutse |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) | Mwiriwe |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) | Mwiriwe neza |
| Good night | Muramuke |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) | Murabeho Mwirirwe (afternoon) Muramuke (evening) |
| Good luck! | Amahirwe masa |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) | Kubuzima bwacu! |
| Have a nice day | Umunsi mwiza |
| How was your day? | Umunsi wangenze ute? |
| How was your night? | Ijoro ryagenze gute? |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal | Muryoherwe |
| The meal was delicious | Ibyo kurya byari biryoshye |
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey | Urugendo rwiza |
| I understand | Ndabyumva |
| I don’t understand | Simbyumva |
| Yes | Yego |
| No | Oya |
| I don’t know | Simbizi |
| Please speak more slowly | Vuga buhoro buhoro |
| Please say that again | Subiramo Ushobora gusubiramo? |
| Please write it down | Binyandicyire |
| Do you speak English? | Uvuga icyongereza? |
| Do you speak Kinyarwanda? | Uvuga Ikinyarwanda? |
| Yes, a little (reply to ‘Do you speak …?’) | Gike |
| How do you say … in Kinyarwanda? | Uvuga ngwiki … mu Kinyarwanda? |
| Excuse me | Imbabazi Ndasaba inzira Mbabarira (sg) Mutubabarire (pl) |
| How much is this? | Ni angahe? |
| How much do I pay? | Ndishyura angahe? |
| Sorry | Mbabarira Ihangane |
| Please | Nyamuneka Kunezeza |
| Thank you | Murakoze Urakoze |
| Reply to thank you | Ntacyo |
| Where’s the toilet / bathroom? | Aho kwituma ni he? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Uyu mugabo araza kwishyura |
| This lady will pay for everything | Uyu mugore araza kwishyura |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Urashaka ko tubyinana |
| I want to relax | Ndashaka kuruhuka |
| I miss you | Ndagukumbuye |
| I love you | Ndagukunda |
| Get well soon | Urware ubukira |
| Go away! | Genda! |
| Leave me alone! | Mvaho! Ndakwiyamye! |
| Help! | Mfasha |
| Fire! | Umuriro |
| Stop! | Hagarara |
| Call the police! | Hamagara polisi! |
| Christmas greetings | Noheri nziza n’umwaka mushya muhire |
| Easter greetings | Pasika Nziza |
| Birthday greetings | Isabukuru nziza Ugire umunsi mwiza w’amavuko |