Directions

1. Hehe?

   Where is it?

   Usage

   Asked while pointing at the thing or place you are looking for

   Grammar Note

   hehe is the question word "where" and goes at the end; it also follows a subject, as in Ishure riri hehe? (where is the school?)

2. Genda ugororotse

   Go straight

   Usage

   When giving directions

   Grammar Note

   genda is the imperative of "to go"; ugororotse comes from kugororoka (to be straight) and means "straight". Composed from dictionary-verified words with regular grammar

3. Ni hafi

   It is near

   Usage

   For saying a place is close; hafi means "near"

   Grammar Note

   Ni is "it is"; hafi (near) follows. It can be followed by y' + noun, as in Inzu yanje iri hafi y'urusengero. (my house is near the church)

4. Ni kure

   It is far

   Usage

   For saying a place is far away

   Grammar Note

   Ni (it is) + kure (far), built like Afrika y'epfo ni kure. (South Africa is far)

5. Ndazimiye

   I am lost

   Usage

   When you have lost your way

   Grammar Note

   n- (I) + -da- (present) + -zimiye (perfect of kuzimira, "to get lost")

6. Urafise ikarata?

   Do you have a map?

   Usage

   When you are unsure of the way and want to see a map

   Grammar Note

   urafise is "you have"; ikarata means "map" or "card". The rising tone makes it a question

7. Ikibuga c'indege kiri hehe?

   Where is the airport?

   Usage

   When asking the way to the airport

   Grammar Note

   ikibuga c'indege, literally "the field of the plane", is the airport; kiri is "is" agreeing with ikibuga

8. Ishure riri hehe?

   Where is the school?

   Usage

   When asking where the school is

   Grammar Note

   ishure is "school"; riri is "is" agreeing with it, and hehe at the end means "where"

9. Urusengero ruri hehe?

   Where is the church?

   Usage

   When asking where the church is

   Grammar Note

   urusengero is a building for worship, i.e. a church; ruri is "is" agreeing with it

10. Ndi hehe?

    Where am I?

    Usage

    When lost and wanting to know where you are

    Grammar Note

    ndi is "I am"; hehe (where) follows

11. Hagarara hano

    Stop here

    Usage

    When asking a taxi or bus driver to stop

    Grammar Note

    guhagarara means "to stop" and hagarara is the imperative; hano means "here"

12. Iburyo

    Right

    Usage

    A one-word direction

    Grammar Note

    iburyo is "right"; with the locative i- it also means "on the right"

13. Ibumoso

    Left

    Usage

    A one-word direction

    Grammar Note

    ibumoso is "left"; with the locative i- it also means "on the left"

14. Imbere

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    When pointing ahead

    Grammar Note

    imbere is "front"; the opposite of inyuma (behind) in Raba inyuma! (look behind you)

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