Tag: Kinyarwanda

Kinyarwanda, Rwanda4 Comments

Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

imadahmed

A conversation with a moto-driver at the beginning of a journey may go as follows: You: Yewe! You: Bitte Driver: Sawa You: Ndashaka kujya kuri Nakaumatt, mu mujji Driver: Yego You: Nangahe? Driver: Magana umanani You: Oya, ibi birahenze Driver: Magana atandatu You: Sawa. Ufite amafaranga mato? Driver: Yego You:  Utware bohoro kandi neza You: Hey! You: Hi Driver: Hey You: I’d like to go to the Nakaumatt in town Driver: Sure You: How much? Driver: 800 You: No, that’s too much Driver: 600 You: Okay. Do you have change? Driver: Yes You: Drive slowly and safely attention! (when hailing … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: getting around, instructions to taxi drivers

Kinyarwanda, Rwanda12 Comments

Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

imadahmed

greeting for the first time – muraho good morning – mwara mutse hello – mwiriwe have a good day – umunsi mwiza have a good day (16-18h) – umugoroba mwiza good evening – muraramukeho, umugoroba mweza good night – ijoro geza good-bye (to a lot of people) – muririrweho farwell – murabeho go well – urugenda gweza go = genda good weekend – icyumweru cyiza have a good day at work – akazi keza have good weather – mugire ibihe byiza Q: how goes it? – amakuru? A: well  – ni meza Q: abandi baraho? – how are your people? … Continue reading Kinyarwanda: greetings and pleasantries

Kinyarwanda3 Comments

Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website

imadahmed

First of all, welcome to Rwanda! You’ll enjoy the idyllic weather in this beautiful, clean and safe country. If you’re planning on staying here a while, you’ll probably want to learn the native language Kinyarwanda for your own sanity and as a courtesy to the people here who don’t speak English, French or Swahili. Unfortunately, Kinyarwanda is a difficult language to learn. The language has many idiosyncrasies and irregularities – and not just regarding adjectives and verbs. Even nouns, such as numbers, change, depending on context. It’s also difficult finding written resources that can aid your learning. The approach I’ve taken to … Continue reading Introduction to Kinyarwanda on this website