🇷🇼Rwanda
Kinyarwanda vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Kinyarwanda vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Muraho | Hello (formal, to several) | Culture: "Muraho" pour plusieurs ou en situation formelle. "Uraho" pour une seule personne. |
| Uraho | Hello (to one person) | |
| Mwaramutse | Good morning (formal) | |
| Mwiriwe | Good afternoon | |
| Murabeho | Goodbye | |
| Murakoze | Thank you | |
| Murakoze cyane | Thank you very much | |
| Ndabizi | You're welcome | |
| Ihangane | Sorry / Patience | |
| Amakuru? | What's new? / How are you? |
Food & drinks
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ibiryo | Food | |
| Amazi | Water | |
| Inyama | Meat | |
| Ifi | Fish | |
| Ubugali | Corn porridge | Culture: L'ugali (ubugali) est le plat de base au Rwanda, accompagné de haricots ou de légumes verts. |
| Ibishyimbo | Beans | |
| Ibirayi | Potatoes | |
| Imboga | Vegetables | |
| Ikawa | Coffee | Culture: Le Rwanda produit un café de très haute qualité, notamment le café bourbon arabica de Gisenyi. |
| Inzoga | Beer / Alcoholic drink |
Family
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Papa | Father | |
| Mama | Mother | |
| Umwana | Child | |
| Mukuru | Elder sibling | |
| Murumuna | Sibling (same gender) | |
| Umugabo | Husband / Man | |
| Umugore | Wife / Woman | |
| Sogokuru | Grandfather | |
| Nyirakuru | Grandmother | |
| Inshuti | Friend |
Human body
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Umutwe | Head | |
| Ijisho | Eye | |
| Amazuru | Nose | |
| Umunwa | Mouth | |
| Ugutwi | Ear | |
| Ukuboko | Hand / Arm | |
| Ukuguru | Foot / Leg | |
| Umutima | Heart | |
| Inda | Stomach | |
| Umubiri | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| rimwe | One | |
| kabiri | Two | |
| gatatu | Three | |
| kane | Four | |
| gatanu | Five | |
| gatandatu | Six | |
| karindwi | Seven | |
| umunani | Eight | |
| icyenda | Nine | |
| icumi | Ten | |
| icumi na rimwe | Eleven | |
| icumi na kabiri | Twelve | |
| icumi na gatatu | Thirteen | |
| icumi na kane | Fourteen | |
| icumi na gatanu | Fifteen | |
| icumi na gatandatu | Sixteen | |
| icumi na karindwi | Seventeen | |
| icumi na umunani | Eighteen | |
| icumi na icyenda | Nineteen | |
| makumyabiri | Twenty |
Colors
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| cʼumweru | White | |
| cʼunyunji | Black | |
| gituku | Red | |
| buluu | Blue | |
| icyatsi | Green | |
| umuhondo | Yellow | |
| gaferi | Grey | |
| ibara ryʼuturutu | Brown |
Animals
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Intare | Lion | |
| Inzovu | Elephant | |
| Imbwa | Dog | |
| Inkoko | Chicken | |
| Inka | Cow | Culture: La vache est un symbole de richesse et de prestige au Rwanda. Le Inyambo (vache aux longues cornes) est une espèce rwandaise sacrée. |
| Impene | Goat | |
| Ifi | Fish | |
| Inyoni | Bird | |
| Ingagi | Gorilla | Culture: Le Rwanda est l'un des trois seuls pays au monde où vivent des gorilles de montagne sauvages (Parc des Volcans). |
| Inzobe | Crocodile |
Home & daily life
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inzu | House | |
| Umuryango | Door / Family | |
| Icumbi | Room | |
| Isoko | Market | |
| Ishuri | School | |
| Amafaranga | Money | |
| Imyenda | Clothes | |
| Umuriro | Fire | |
| Akazi | Work | |
| Ubudehe | Community work | Culture: "Ubudehe" est le concept rwandais de travail collectif communautaire, pilier de la reconstruction nationale. |
Time & weather
| Ikinyarwanda | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Uyu munsi | Today | |
| Ejo hashize | Yesterday | |
| Ejo hazaza | Tomorrow | |
| Izuba | Sun | |
| Ijoro | Night | |
| Imvura | Rain | |
| Ubukonje | Cold | |
| Ubushyuhe | Heat | |
| Umuyaga | Wind | |
| Igihe cy'imvura | Rainy season |
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