🇧🇮Burundi
Kirundi vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Kirundi 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
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Muraho | Hello (to several) | Culture: Quasi-identique au kinyarwanda. "Uraho" pour une personne. |
| Uraho | Hello (one person) | |
| Mwaramutse | Good morning | |
| Mwiriwe | Good afternoon | |
| Murabeho | Goodbye | |
| Urakoze | Thank you (one person) | |
| Murakoze | Thank you (formal) | |
| Bite? | How's it going? (informal) | |
| Ni meza | It's fine | |
| Imbabazi | Sorry / Mercy |
Food & drinks
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ibifungurwa | Food | |
| Amazi | Water | |
| Inyama | Meat | |
| Amafi | Fish | |
| Bugari | Corn porridge | |
| Ibiharage | Beans | |
| Ibirayi | Potatoes | |
| Ikawa | Coffee | |
| Urwagwa | Banana beer | Culture: L'urwagwa est la bière de banane traditionnelle du Burundi, consommée lors des cérémonies. |
| Umutsima | Corn and cassava dish |
Family
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dawe | My father | |
| Mawe | My mother | |
| Umwana | Child | |
| Mukuru wanje | My elder | |
| Umugabo | Husband / Man | |
| Umugore | Wife / Woman | |
| Sogokuru | Grandfather | |
| Nyirakuru | Grandmother | |
| Umuryango | Family | |
| Inshuti | Friend |
Human body
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Umutwe | Head | |
| Ijisho | Eye | |
| Iryino | Nose | |
| Umunwa | Mouth | |
| Ugutwi | Ear | |
| Ukuboko | Hand / Arm | |
| Ukuguru | Foot / Leg | |
| Umutima | Heart | |
| Inda | Stomach | |
| Umubiri | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| rimwe | One | |
| kabiri | Two | |
| gatatu | Three | |
| kane | Four | |
| gatanu | Five | |
| gatandatu | Six | |
| indwi | Seven | |
| umunani | Eight | |
| icenda | 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 indwi | Seventeen | |
| icumi na umunani | Eighteen | |
| icumi na icenda | Nineteen | |
| makumyabiri | Twenty |
Colors
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| umweru | White | |
| uturagara | Black | |
| gitukura | Red | |
| buluu | Blue | |
| icatsi | Green | |
| umuhondo | Yellow | |
| ivu | Grey | |
| ikivumba | Brown |
Animals
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Intare | Lion | |
| Inzovu | Elephant | |
| Imbwa | Dog | |
| Inkoko | Chicken | |
| Inka | Cow | |
| Impene | Goat | |
| Amafi | Fish | |
| Inyoni | Bird | |
| Ingwe | Leopard | |
| Inzobe | Crocodile |
Home & daily life
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Inzu | House | |
| Umuryango | Door | |
| Icumba | Room | |
| Isoko | Market | |
| Ishure | School | |
| Amafaranga | Money | |
| Imyenda | Clothes | |
| Umuriro | Fire | |
| Akazi | Work | |
| Amahoro | Peace | Culture: "Amahoro" (paix) est un concept central dans la culture burundaise et la salutation la plus profonde. |
Time & weather
| Ikirundi | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Uyu musi | Today | |
| Ejo hashize | Yesterday | |
| Ejo hazoza | Tomorrow | |
| Izuba | Sun | |
| Ijoro | Night | |
| Imvura | Rain | |
| Ubukonje | Cold | |
| Ubushushe | Heat | |
| Umuyaga | Wind | |
| Ibihe vy'imvura | Rainy season |
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