ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why learn Kinyarwanda?
Knowing Kinyarwanda opens the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, and science Four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade. Creativity is increased with the study of Kinyarwanda. The study of Kinyarwanda teaches and encourages respect for other people.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Kinyarwanda?
*** NOTES *** sometimes known simply as Rwanda, is spoken by more than 90% of the population of Rwanda, where it is the official language along with English, Swahili and French. Other speakers live in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kinyarwanda speakers will also understand Kirundi, spoken in Burundi. Kinyarwanda is a tonal language - a high and a low tone are used to distinguish meaning and grammatical features.
Kinyarwanda Alphabet & Pronunciation
[a/aː]
[β/b]
[t͡ʃ]
[c]
[d]
[e/eː]
[f]
[g/ɟ]
[h]
[i/iː]
[ʒ]
[ɟ]
[k/c]
[m]
[n/ŋ]
[ɲ]
[o/oː]
[p]
[p͡f]
[ɾ]
[s]
[t]
[t͡s]
[u/uː]
[v]
[w]
[j]
[z]
Basic Phrases in Kinyarwanda
| Hello | Muraho |
|---|---|
| Goodbye | Muraho |
| Yes | Yego |
| No | Oya |
| Excuse me | Mumbabarire |
| Please | Nyamuneka |
| Thank you | Murakoze |
| You are welcome | Urahawe ikaze |
| Do you speak english | Uvuga icyongereza? |
| Do you understand | Urumva? |
| I understand | Ndabyumva |
| I do not understand | Sinumva |
| How are you | Mumeze mute? |
| Fine thanks | Nibyiza, urakoze! |
| What is your name | Witwa nde? |
| My name is | Nitwa |
| Pleased to meet you | Nishimiye guhura nawe |
Kinyarwanda Grammar
Kinyarwanda Nouns
| Man | Umuntu |
|---|---|
| Woman | Umugore |
| Boy | Umuhungu |
| Girl | Umukobwa |
| Cat | Injangwe |
| Dog | Imbwa |
| Fish | Amafi |
| Water | Amazi |
| Milk | Amata |
| Egg | Amagi |
| House | Inzu |
| Flower | Indabyo |
| Tree | Igiti |
| Shirt | Ishati |
| Pants | Ipantaro |
Kinyarwanda Adjectives
Colors in Kinyarwanda
| Black | Umukara |
|---|---|
| White | Cyera |
| Red | Umutuku |
| Orange | Orange |
| Yellow | Umuhondo |
| Green | Icyatsi |
| Blue | Ubururu |
| Purple | Ibara ry'umuyugubwe |
| Pink | Umutuku |
| Gray | Imvi |
| Brown | Umukara |
Numbers in Kinyarwanda
| Zero | Zeru |
|---|---|
| One | Imwe |
| Two | Bibiri |
| Three | Bitatu |
| Four | Bine |
| Five | Bitanu |
| Six | Atandatu |
| Seven | Karindwi |
| Eight | Umunani |
| Nine | Icyenda |
| Ten | Icumi |
| Eleven | Cumi n'umwe |
| Twelve | Cumi na kabiri |
| Twenty | Makumyabiri |
| Thirty | Mirongo itatu |
| Forty | Mirongo ine |
| Fifty | Mirongo itanu |
| Sixty | Mirongo itandatu |
| Seventy | Mirongo irindwi |
| Eighty | Mirongo inani |
| Ninety | Mirongo cyenda |
| Hundred | Ijana |
| Thousand | Igihumbi |
Kinyarwanda Verbs
| To be | Kuba |
|---|---|
| To have | Kugira |
| To want | Gushaka |
| To need | Gukenera |
| To help | Gufasha |
| To go | Kugenda |
| To come | Kuza |
| To eat | Kurya |
| To drink | Kunywa |
| To speak | Kuvuga |
Building Simple Sentences
More Complex Kinyarwanda Sentences
| And | Na |
|---|---|
| Or | Cyangwa |
| But | Ariko |
| Because | Kubera |
| With | Hamwe na |
| Also | Na |
| However | Ariko |
| Neither | Nta na kimwe |
| Nor | Cyangwa |
| If | Niba |
| Then | Hanyuma |
Useful Kinyarwanda Vocabulary
Kinyarwanda Questions
| Who | Ninde |
|---|---|
| What | Iki |
| When | Ryari |
| Where | He |
| Why | Kubera iki |
| How | Gute |
| How many | Bangahe |
| How much | Angahe |
Days of the Week in Kinyarwanda
| Monday | Ku wa mbere |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | Ku wa kabiri |
| Wednesday | Ku wa gatatu |
| Thursday | Ku wa kane |
| Friday | Ku wa gatanu |
| Saturday | Ku wa gatandatu |
| Sunday | Ku cyumweru |
| Yesterday | Ejo |
| Today | Uyu munsi |
| Tomorrow | Ejo |
Months in Kinyarwanda
| January | Mutarama |
|---|---|
| February | Gashyantare |
| March | Werurwe |
| April | Mata |
| May | Gicurasi |
| June | Kamena |
| July | Nyakanga |
| August | Kanama |
| September | Nzeri |
| October | Ukwakira |
| November | Ugushyingo |
| December | Kigarama |
Seasons in Kinyarwanda
| Winter | Imbeho |
|---|---|
| Spring | Isoko |
| Summer | Icyi |
| Autumn | Igihe cy'izuba |
Telling Time in Kinyarwanda
| What time is it | Ni gihe ki? |
|---|---|
| Hours | Amasaha |
| Minutes | Iminota |
| Seconds | Amasegonda |
| O clock | Isaha |
| Half | Kimwe cya kabiri |
| Quarter past | Igihembwe gishize |
| Before | Mbere |
| After | Nyuma |
