![travel photo to inspire Kinyarwanda language students](../media/travel_kinyarwanda.jpg)
ALPHABET MATCHING GAME VOCABULARY FLASHCARDS
Why Learn Kinyarwanda?
Communication skills developed while learning Kinyarwanda can improve your interpersonal skills in your native language as well. Understanding Kinyarwanda enhances your opportunities in government, business, medicine, law, technology, military, industry, marketing, etc. Communication skills developed while learning Kinyarwanda can improve your interpersonal skills in your native language as well. The study of Kinyarwanda teaches and encourages respect for other people.
Kinyarwanda Alphabet & Pronunciation
A a
[a/aː]
[a/aː]
B b
[β/b]
[β/b]
C c
[t͡ʃ]
[t͡ʃ]
Cy cy
[c]
[c]
D d
[d]
[d]
E e
[e/eː]
[e/eː]
Ff
[f]
[f]
G g
[g/ɟ]
[g/ɟ]
H h
[h]
[h]
I i
[i/iː]
[i/iː]
J j
[ʒ]
[ʒ]
Jy jy
[ɟ]
[ɟ]
K k
[k/c]
[k/c]
M m
[m]
[m]
N n
[n/ŋ]
[n/ŋ]
Ny ny
[ɲ]
[ɲ]
O o
[o/oː]
[o/oː]
P p
[p]
[p]
Pf pf
[p͡f]
[p͡f]
R r
[ɾ]
[ɾ]
S s
[s]
[s]
T t
[t]
[t]
Ts ts
[t͡s]
[t͡s]
U u
[u/uː]
[u/uː]
V v
[v]
[v]
W w
[w]
[w]
Y y
[j]
[j]
Z z
[z]
[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 |