Amazi
Water
Usage
For asking for drinking water
Grammar Note
amazi is an ama- class noun; adjectives agree with that class (amazi ashushe = hot water)
Ibifungurwa
Food
Usage
A general word for food; when ordering it is clearer to name the dish after Ndashaka...
Grammar Note
ibifungurwa is a plural ibi- class noun for food and meals, from the root of gufungura (to have a meal)
Amahera
Money
Usage
The general word for money; not the Kinyarwanda amafaranga
Grammar Note
amahera is the plural of ihera (a unit of money) in the ama- class; angahe in Ni angahe? agrees with it
Umusarani
Toilet
Usage
When looking for a toilet; follow with uri hehe?
Grammar Note
umusarani is an umu- class noun; the plural is imisarani
Umuti
Medicine
Usage
At a pharmacy or clinic when asking for medicine
Grammar Note
umuti is an umu- class noun (plural imiti) and can also mean "cure"
Imizigo
Luggage
Usage
For talking about baggage at the airport or hotel
Grammar Note
imizigo is the plural of umuzigo (load, package) in the imi- class
Urupfunguruzo
Key
Usage
For asking for a room key
Grammar Note
urupfunguruzo is an uru- class noun; the dictionary also lists the form urupfunguzo
Itike
Ticket
Usage
For transport or entry tickets; count them as Itike imwe (one ticket)
Grammar Note
itike is an i- class noun
Igitabo c'inzira
Passport
Usage
The document shown at borders and check-ins
Grammar Note
igitabo (book) + c' (of) + inzira (way): literally "book of the way"
Terefone
Phone
Usage
The phone itself; it is also spelled telefone
Grammar Note
terefone is an i- class noun
Istasiyoni
Station
Usage
A place where vehicles arrive and leave; a bus stop is igituro ca bisi
Grammar Note
istasiyoni is a loanword spelled as in the dictionary
Ibitaro
Hospital
Usage
Names the place to go when you are unwell
Grammar Note
ibitaro is an ibi- class noun for a dispensary or hospital
Polisi
Police
Usage
When calling or looking for the police; one officer is umupolisi
Grammar Note
polisi is a loanword; one officer is umupolisi, several are abapolisi
Iduka
Shop
Usage
A small shop; the plural is amaduka
Grammar Note
iduka is an i- class noun of Swahili origin with an ama- class plural
Icumba
Room
Usage
A room in a house or hotel; the plural is ivyumba
Grammar Note
icumba means room and its plural is ivyumba; ic-/ivy- are the forms of the ki-/bi- class prefixes before a vowel
Inzira
Road
Usage
Means path, direction or way; used when asking for directions
Grammar Note
inzira is an in- class noun; the plural is the same
Umuryango
Family
Usage
When talking about family; the same word also means a door
Grammar Note
umuryango is an umu- class noun (plural imiryango), as in Umuryango wawe uri hehe? (where is your family?)
Izina
Name
Usage
The word for a name when asking or giving it
Grammar Note
izina is an i- class noun with the plural amazina; ryawe in izina ryawe (your name) agrees with it
Umutwe
Head
Usage
For describing a headache or an injury
Grammar Note
umutwe is an umu- class noun; the plural is imitwe
Ijisho
Eye
Usage
For eye problems; the plural amaso is also used for "face"
Grammar Note
ijisho is an i- class noun with the plural amaso
Iryinyo
Tooth
Usage
For tooth pain; the plural is amenyo
Grammar Note
iryinyo is a ri- class noun with the plural amenyo
Umuhogo
Throat
Usage
For a sore throat: Ndababara mu muhogo. (my throat hurts)
Grammar Note
umuhogo is an umu- class noun; mu muhogo means "in the throat"
Inda
Stomach
Usage
For stomach trouble; the same word also means pregnancy
Grammar Note
inda is an in- class noun
Umugongo
Back
Usage
For back or waist pain
Grammar Note
umugongo is an umu- class noun for the back of a person or animal
Ikirenge
Foot
Usage
The foot below the ankle; the plural is ibirenge
Grammar Note
ikirenge is a class 7 noun; kugenda n'ibirenge means "to walk barefoot"
Ukuguru
Leg
Usage
For leg pain or injury; the plural is amaguru
Grammar Note
ukuguru is an uku- class noun with the ama- class plural amaguru
Ikiganza
Hand
Usage
The hand or palm; the plural is ibiganza
Grammar Note
ikiganza is a class 7 noun
Ukuboko
Arm
Usage
For arm pain or injury, as in Ukuboko kwanje (my arm)
Grammar Note
ukuboko is an uku- class noun, so the possessive takes the ku- form: kwanje
Ugutwi
Ear
Usage
For ear problems; the plural is amatwi
Grammar Note
ugutwi is an ugu- class noun with the plural amatwi, as in Tega amatwi! (listen!)
Urutugu
Shoulder
Usage
For stiff or painful shoulders
Grammar Note
urutugu is an uru- class noun
Ivi
Knee
Usage
For knee pain; the plural is amavi
Grammar Note
ivi is an i- class noun, used in sentences like Ndacababara ivi. (my knee hurts)
Urutoki
Finger
Usage
For a hurt finger
Grammar Note
urutoki is an uru- class noun
Uruhu
Skin
Usage
For skin problems
Grammar Note
uruhu is an uru- class noun
Izuru
Nose
Usage
For nose problems; the plural is amazuru
Grammar Note
izuru is an i- class noun
Umunwa
Mouth / lip
Usage
For mouth or lip problems, as in Umunwa wanje wariwumye. (my mouth is dry)
Grammar Note
umunwa is an umu- class noun; the dictionary gives "lip", and in speech it can also mean mouth
Ihoteri
Hotel
Usage
For naming or asking about a hotel, as in Fata itagisi ikujana kw'ihoteri. (take a taxi to the hotel)
Grammar Note
ihoteri is a loan from French hôtel in the i- class; kw'ihoteri means "to/at the hotel"
Ikibuga c'indege
Airport
Usage
For asking the way to the airport
Grammar Note
ikibuga (grounds) + c' (of) + indege (airplane): literally "grounds of the airplane"
Igituro ca bisi
Bus stop
Usage
For asking where to catch the bus
Grammar Note
igituro (stopping place) + ca (of) + bisi (bus)
Ambasade
Embassy
Usage
When you need to contact your own embassy
Grammar Note
ambasade is a loanword from French
More Kirundi phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Health & Hospital
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Convenience Store
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences