Kinyarwanda Is a Rich Language of Bantu Origin. This Book of Phrases
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Kinyarwanda is a rich language of bantu origin. This book of phrases is to help Questions end, for the most part, in a high tone and statements in a low tone as you begin your journey into becoming a speaker of the heart language of as in English. many as 20 million people from the Great Lakes region of Africa. Lastly, when saying a phrase it needs to flow. This is done when words ending in vowels have the last letter dropped when the appear before words The following is an abbreviated pronunciation guide taken from Kinyarwanda beginning with a vowel. for Beginners by Betty Ellen Cox and Cakuba Faustin. That book will give you For example: a much deeper understanding of the nuances of this language than a simple written: Yemwe aba hano. becomes phrase book especially in consideration of the eleven classes of words that are spoken: Yemw' aba hano. pronounced as one word. not dealt with here. Pronunciation: Quick Reference Good Morning Mwaramutse (ho). A. The vowels: Good Afternoon Mwiriwe (ho) a is broad as in far Please Nyabuneka e is almost like a in hay Thank you. Urakoze i is almost like ee in bee Yes Yee! o is almost like o in obey No Oya! u is like oo in food Excuse me. Mbabarira B. The consonants: Do you speak English? Uvuga icyongereza? d, f, h, k, m, n, p, s, t, v, w are pronounced practically the same as in Where can I find ...? Ni he nabona ...? English (with the exception of k when it is followed by e or i has more of a ch Where can I buy ...? Ni he nagura ...? sound as in church). How far? Kure kungana iki? b has a very soft sound with the lips barely touching, unless it is preceded How much does it cost? N' angahe? by m when it is quite hard. It does not have the rather explosivve I want ... Ndashaka ... quality that it has in English. What does this mean? Ibi bisobanura iki? c always has the sound of ch as in church. I don't understand. Sinumva. j has a very soft sound, like z in azure. When does ... open? Bakingura ... ryari? g when followed by an i or e it is softened as in gem. When does ... close? Bakinga ... ryari? l is used mainly in words of foreign origin. However in many books What time is it? Ni gihe ki? where one might expect ri, li is written. But the sound is the same as Where are the toilets? Imisarani iri he? for r (see below). Help me, please. Nyabuneka mfasha. r has a slight trill sound, as if you tried to say d, l, and r at the same time. I am American. Ndi Umunyamerika. The tounge should just flip against the roof of the mouth. y as in you. It is never a vowel like y in baby or by. (In combination Some Basic Expressions with other consonants, see below) Yes Yee / Yego z as in zone. No Oya bw is pronounced bg. Be careful not to put a vowel sound between these Please Nyabuneka, Nyabuna two letters Thank you Urakoze, Murakoze rw is pronounced as if there were a soft g between the r and the w. No, thank you Oya, urakoze. ry also has a slight g sound between the r and the y but not very strong. Yes, please Yee, nyabuneka Or it is pronounced as you would a d and a y together. Thank you very much Urakoze cyane. nt / nk are pronounced through the nose with little aknowledgement of the t or That is all right Ni byo, ni sawa k and need to be learned from a native speaker. Don't mention it. Si cyane. You are welcome. Murakaza neza. How do I get to ...? Nagera nte i (or ku)..? Greetings When does ... open? Ni ryari bakingura ...? Good morning. Mwaramutse (ho) When does ... close? Ni ryari bakinga? Good afternoon. Mwiriwe (ho) What do you call this in Iki (Ibi) byitwa go iki Good evening. Mwiriwe (ho) Kinyarwanda? mu kinyarwanda? Good night. Ijoro ryiza/ muramukeho What do you call these Biriya byitwa ngo iki Goodbye (am) Mwirirwe (ho) in Kinyarwanda? mu kinyarwanda? Goodbye (pm) Muramuke (ho) What does this mean? Ibi bisobanura iki? See you soon. Ni aho mu kanya Is that correct? Ibi ni ukuri? Go in peace. Murabeho / Did I pronouce it well? Nabivuze neza? Mugire amahoro Do you speak English? Mbese uvuga icyongereza? How are you? Umeze ute? Is there anyone here who Hano haba hari Mumeze mute? speaks ...? umuntu uvuga ...? I am fine. Meze neza. I don't speak much Kinya- Simvuga We are fine. Tumeze neza. rwanda. ikinyarwanda kinshi. What is your name? Witwa nde? Can you speak more slowly? Wavuga witonze? My name is... Nitwa ..... Can you repeat that? Subiramo. This is Mr .... Uyu ni Bwana ... Please, write it down. Wabinyandikira? This is Mrs... Uyu ni Madamu ... Can you translate this for me? Wabinsobanurira? This is Miss.. Uyu ni umukobwa witwa.. I understand. Ndasobanukiwe. I am happy to know you. Ndishimye kubamenya. I don't understand. Sinsobanukiwe. How is it going? Biri kugenda bite? Do you understand? Urasobanukiwe? Bite byanyu? Can I have ...? Mbese nabona ...? Fine, thanks, and you? Nibyiza, murakoze, nawe se? Can we have...? Mbese twabona ...? Excuse me. Mbabarira. Can you show me ...? Wanyereka ...? Mutubabarire. (to more than one person) Can you help me? Wamfasha ...? Sorry. Mbabarira. Can I help you? Nshobora kugufasha? You're welcome Murakaza neza. Can you tell me ...? Ushobona kumbwira? Can you direct me to ...? Wanyobora i (ku) ...? Questions (Ibibazo) Where? Hehe? Wanting (Ibikenewe) How? Gute? I would like ... Ndashaka ... When? Ryari? I need ... Nkeneye ... What? Iki? We would like ... Turashaka ... Why? Kuki?/ Kubera iki? We need ... Dukeneye ... Who? Inde?/ Ni nde? What do you want? Murashaka iki? Which? Ikihe? (class dependant) What do you need? Mukeneye iki? Where is ...? ... ri he? (class dependant) Please give me ... Nyabuneka mpa ... Where can I find ...? Ni he nshobora kubona ...? Bring me ... Nzawira ... How far? Kure kungana iki? Show me ... Nyereka ... How long? Hareshya hate? I'm hungry. Ndashonje. Bireshya bite? (class dependant) Mfite inzara. How many? Bangahe? Angahe? Ingahe? (c.d.) I'm thirsty. Mfite inyota. How much does it cost? Bigura angahe? I want something to eat. Ndashaka icyo kurya. I want something to drink. Ndashaka icyo kunywa. Where can I change money? Nashobora kumvunjira he? ... I'm tired. Ndananiwe. money amafaranga ? I'm lost. Natakaye. dollars amadolari ? I'm looking for ... Ndi gushaka ... traveller's checks sheki z'urugenda ? It is important. Ni ingenzi, ni ngombwa. What is the rate of exchange? Ikivunjo ni angahe? It is urgent. Birihutirwa. How do I go to ...? Nagera nte ku ...? Hurry up! Ihute. Where is a taxi for ...? Tagisi yerekera ... irihe? How much to go to ...? Ni angahe kugera ku (or i)..? Arrival (Kugera ahantu) Here is my passport. Dore paseporo yanjye. Hotel (Ihoteli) Ngiyi paseporo yanjye. I want to make a reservation. Ndashaka guteganya. I'll be staying a few days. Nzamara iminsi mike hano. Where is the nearest hotel? Hoteli ya bugufi ni iyihe? I'll be staying a few weeks. Nzamara ibyumweru bike hano. Is it expensive? Irahenda? I don't know yet. Sindabimenya. Where is a cheap guest Amacumbi y'abashyitsi I'm here on vacation. Ndi hano ku mpamvu y'ibiruhuko. house? ahendutse ari he? I'm here for business. Nje muri afere. I want a single room. Ndashaka icyumba cy'umuntu umwe. I'm just passing through. Ndi kwitemberera gusa. I want a double room. Ndashaka icyumba cy'abantu babiri. I'm sorry, I don't understand. Nyabuneka, sinsobanukiwe. I want a room for my family. Ndashaka icyumba cy'umuryango wanjye. Nyabuneka, sinumvise neza. Not too expensive. Si igihendo cyane. I have nothing to declare. Ntacyo mfite nerekana. Ntigihenze cyane. I have ... Mfite... How much is it per night? Ijoro rimwe ni angahe? It is for personal use. Ni icyo nkoresha kugiti cyanjye. What is included? Hateganijwemo iki? It is a gift. Iyo ni impano. Is breakfast included? Mu giciro harimo icyo gusamura? Your passport, please. Paseporo yawe, nyabuneka! Do you have anything to Hari ikintu ufite cyo Car Rental (Gukodesha imodoka) declare? kwerekana? I want to rent a car. Ndashaka gukodesha imodoka. Please, open this bag. Fungura iyi valisi I want it for ... days. Nshaka kuyimarana iminsi .... (or) iki gikapo. Is mileage included? Mbese ni ku kilometero muri icyo giciro? You will have to pay duty Uratanga imisoro kuri Is gasoline included? Harimo ikiguzi cya lisansi? on this. iki. (or kuri ibi). Is insurance included? Mu bukodeshe harimo ikiguzi cy' Do you have more luggage? Hari indi mitwaro ufite? ubwishigizi? Porter! Umwikorezi Can I use a credit card? Nakoresha ikarita yo kubikuza? Please take this luggage. Nyabuneka, fata uyu mutwaro. (or) iki Here is my driver's license. Ngiyi permi yanjye y'ubushoferi. gikapo. That is mine. Iki ni icyanjye. (c.d.) Taxi (itagisi) That is my bag. Uyu ni umutwaro yanjye. Where can I get a moto taxi? Nabona itagisi - moto hehe? That is my suitcase. Iyi ni ivalisi yanjye. Where can I get a taxi? Nabona itagisi hehe? There is one piece missing. Hari igice kibura. How much to go to ...? Ni angahe kugera i (ku) ...? Please take this to the ... Nyabuneka jyana ibi mu (muri) ... How far is it to ...? Kugera i (ku) ... hareshya hate? car imodoka. Take me to ... Njyana i (ku) ... bus bisi. this address iyi adresi taxi tagisi. the airport ku kibuga cy'indege How much is that? Ni angahe?/ the town center mu mugi rwagati Ndariha angahe? the market ku isoko the central station gare rutiyeri It is too dark.