Useful phrases in Kinyarwanda

A collection of useful phrases in Kinyarwanda, a Bantu language spoken in mainly in Rwanda.

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See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.

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 iminsi tutabonana
What's your name? Witwa nde?
Nitwa gute?
My name is ... Nitwa ...
Where are you from? Muturuka he?
I'm from ...  
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)
Turongera
Good luck! Amahirwe masa
Mwishyuke
Cheers! Good Health!
(Toasts used when drinking)
Kubuzima bwacu!
Have a nice day Umunsi mwiza
Bon appetit /
Have a nice meal
Muryoherwe
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  
Do you speak English? Uvuga icyongereza?
Do you speak Kinyarwanda? Uvuga Ikinyarwanda?
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
 
How do you say ... in Kinyarwanda? Uvuga ngwiki ... mu Kinyarwanda?
Excuse me Imbabazi
Ndasaba inzira
Mbabarira (sg)
Mutubabarire (pl)
How much is this? Nangahe?
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  
This lady will pay for everything  
Would you like to dance with me?  
I miss you Ndagukumbuye
I love you Ndagukunda
Get well soon Urware ubukira
Go away! Genda!
Leave me alone! Mvaho!
Ndakwiyamye!
Help!  
Fire!  
Stop!  
Call the police! Hamagara polisi!
Christmas greetings Noheri nziza n'umwaka mushya muhire
Easter greetings Pasika Nziza
Birthday greetings Isabukuru rwiza
Ugire umunsi mwiza wivuko ryawe
One language is never enough  
My hovercraft is full of eels Gutwara ibintu nabantu kumaz
(My water car is full of thin fish)

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