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50 Essential Kinyarwanda Words
Learning the basics of any language is the best place to start, especially in this case when learning the Kinyarwanda Language.
Whether to talk to family and friends or just to expand your language skills, knowing some basic Kinyarwanda words and phrases can be useful.
Here is a guide to 50 Essential Kinyarwanda words and phrases divided into categories to get you started right away.
How many Kinyarwanda words do I need to know?
The Kinyarwanda language has tens of thousands of words, but you only need a few of them to be able to communicate and start having simple conversations. These words are common and mostly used, giving the most usage. This can help you set a solid foundation for many situations like greeting people, ordering food, or being able to ask for directions.
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100 words: Understand 50% of daily conversations, introduce yourself & ask basic questions
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300 words: Understand 65% of daily conversations, can express simple needs
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1000 words: Understand 80-85% of daily conversations, handle most everyday situations
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2,500 words: Understand 95% of native conversations, and express complex thoughts
Essential Kinyarwanda words
Knowing these most used words can help you enable beginners to engage in basic conversations and understand everyday expressions. Below is a list of 50 Essential Kinyarwanda words, their meanings, and some example sentences to help show their usage in actual context.
Basic Greetings & Phrases
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Muraho → Hello
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Mwaramutse → Good morning
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Mwiriwe → Good evening
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Murabeho → Goodbye
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Murakoze → Thank you (very much)
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Amakuru? → How are you? (formal)
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Ni meza → I’m well!
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Bite? → How are you? (informal)
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Ni byiza→ I’m fine?
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Witwa nde? → What is your name?
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Nitwa →My name is…
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Yego → Yes
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Oya → No
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Ntakizabo → No problem
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Mbabarira → I am sorry
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Simbyumva → I don’t understand
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Uvuga icyongereza → Do you speak English
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Mvuga icyongereza → I speak English.
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Bingahe? → How much does it cost?
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Ubwiherero burihe? → Where are the toilets?
Numbers in Kinyarwanda
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Rimwe - One
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Kabiri - Two
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Gatatu - Three
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Kane - Four
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Gatanu - Five
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Gatandatu - Six
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Karindwi - Seven
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Umunani - Eight
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Icyenda - Nine
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Icumi - Ten
Essentials Verbs
Understanding basic Kinyarwanda verbs is important when communicating while beginning to learn. The verbs below are helpful to use when expressing needs or engaging in basic conversation.
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Kuba - To be Ex. Ndi umugabo/umukobwa - I am a man/woman.
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Kugira - To have Ex: Mfite imodoka - I have a car
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Gukora - To do, make, work Ex: Nkora umukora - I do homework
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Kujya - To go Ex: Njya ku iduka - I’m going to the store
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Kubona - To see Ex: Mbona inzu - I see the house
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Gushaka - To want Ex: Ndashaka amazi - I want to water
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Kuvuga - To speak, say, tell Ex: Mvuga icyongereza - I speak English
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Gushobora - To be able to, can Ex: Nshobora kubikora - I can do it
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Gufata - To take Ex: Mfata bisi - I’m taking the bus
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Kumenya - To know Ex: Nzi urugendo - I know the way
10 MOST Essential nouns
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Umuntu - Person
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Ikintu - Thing
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Igihe - Time
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Ahantu - Place
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Amazi - Water
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Ibiro - Food
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Umuryango - Family
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Inzu - House
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Akazi - Work, job
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Inshuti - Friend
Common Questions
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-nde? - who?
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-iki? - what?
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-he? - where?
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ryari? - when?
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Kuki? - why?
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-gute? - how?
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Angahe? - how much?/how many?
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Ni iki? - what is it?
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Ni nde? - Who is it?
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Uri he? - Where are you?
How many words do you need for a basic conversation?
To be able to have basic conversations in Kinyarwanda, you typically need to know around 500 to 1,000 words. This range should include words and phrases that are common and cover everyday topics, enabling you to understand and participate in simple conversations with native speakers.
Learning these commonly used words will improve your Kinyarwanda and will enable you to communicate effectively in various situations, such as ordering in restaurants, asking for directions, or talking to native speakers.
How can I learn Kinyarwanda fast?
To learn French quickly, you should immerse yourself in the language by doing some of the following practices:
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Daily Practice: Spend at least 20 minutes each day learning Kinyarwanda.
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Language material: Use beginner learning materials for structured lessons and practice.
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Media Consumption: Watch videos in Kinyarwanda, listen to French music and even podcasts.
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Practice speaking: Engage in conversations with native speakers.
How can I practice Kinyarwanda words?
Practicing French vocabulary can be useful and effective with the following methods:
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Flashcards: Create or use digital flashcards to practice new words.
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Speaking: Practice using new words in daily conversations with native speakers.
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Writing: Write short stories or journals using new vocabulary.
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Reading: Read books, articles, and news in Kinyarwanda to understand words in their context.
In Conclusion: 100+ Basic Common Words in the Kinyarwanda
Learning the most common Kinyarwanda words and phrases will give you a solid base to start speaking. Learning Kinyarwanda vocabulary through practical catered topics like greetings, numbers, and common questions can help you navigate daily conversations more easily. Practice is key, and immersing yourself in the Kinyarwanda language and culture is very important when wanting to enhance your language-learning skills.