Accessibility

1. Aho hantu hashobora gukoreshwa n'abantu bafite ubumuga bwo gutwara intebe zifite amakoru?

   A-ho han-tu ha-sho-bo-ra gu-ko-re-shwa n'a-ban-tu ba-fi-te u-bu-mu-ga bwo gu-twa-ra in-te-be zi-fi-te a-ma-ko-ru

   Is this place wheelchair accessible?

   Usage

   Ask whether a place can be entered by someone using a wheelchair

   Grammar Note

   Kinyarwanda uses Bantu noun-class prefixes on verbs; "ha-" is the locative class prefix indicating place.

2. Mufite elevator?

   Mu-fi-te e-le-va-tor

   Do you have an elevator / lift?

   Usage

   Ask whether a building has an elevator

   Grammar Note

   "Mufite" is the second-person plural present of "kugira" (to have), used for polite address.

3. Nkenera icumbi rifite ibikoresho by'ubufasha bw'abantu bafite ubumuga.

   N-ke-ne-ra i-cum-bi ri-fi-te i-bi-ko-re-sho by'u-bu-fa-sha bw'a-ban-tu ba-fi-te u-bu-mu-ga

   I need a room with accessibility features.

   Usage

   Request an accessible room when checking into a hotel

   Grammar Note

   "Nkenera" is the first-person singular present of "gukenerana" (to need). Noun-class agreement is seen in "icumbi rifite".

4. Haba hariho inzira itarinzwe cyangwa irembo ritarinzwe n'inzitizi?

   Ha-ba ha-ri-ho in-zi-ra i-ta-rin-zwe cya-ngwa i-re-mbo ri-ta-rin-zwe n'in-zi-ti-zi

   Is there a ramp or step-free entrance?

   Usage

   Ask about step-free or ramped access at the entrance of a building

   Grammar Note

   "Haba hariho" is an existential question form meaning "is there". "Cyangwa" is the conjunction "or".

5. Umusarani w'abantu bafite ubumuga uri he?

   U-mu-sa-ra-ni w'a-ban-tu ba-fi-te u-bu-mu-ga u-ri he

   Where is the accessible restroom?

   Usage

   Ask where the accessible toilet is located in a building

   Grammar Note

   "Uri he?" is the standard Kinyarwanda question for "where is it?", using the locative interrogative "he".

6. Nfite ubumuga bwo kureba — mushobora gufasha?

   N-fi-te u-bu-mu-ga bwo ku-re-ba — mu-sho-bo-ra gu-fa-sha

   I am visually impaired — can you help me?

   Usage

   Inform someone of a visual impairment and ask for assistance

   Grammar Note

   "Nfite" is the first-person singular of "kugira" (to have). "Mushobora + infinitive" means "can you (plural/polite)".

7. Mufite menu yanditse n'inyuguti nini?

   Mu-fi-te me-nu ya-ndi-tse n'i-nyu-gu-ti ni-ni

   Do you have large-print menus?

   Usage

   Request a large-print menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Yanditse" is the passive perfect participle of "kwandika" (to write), meaning "written". "Nini" means "big/large".

8. Haba hariho amakuru yo kumva?

   Ha-ba ha-ri-ho a-ma-ku-ru yo ku-mva?

   Are there audio guides available?

   Usage

   Ask whether audio guides are available at a museum or attraction

   Grammar Note

   "Yo" is a linking particle connecting the noun to the infinitive "kumva" (to hear/listen). Kinyarwanda has no established single word for "audio guide", so this describes it as "amakuru yo kumva" (information for listening). If that does not land, the English term "audio guide" is widely understood.

9. Nkoresha igikoresho cyo kumva — nyamuneka vuga neza.

   N-ko-re-sha i-gi-ko-re-sho cyo ku-mva — nya-mu-ne-ka vu-ga ne-za

   I use a hearing aid — please speak clearly.

   Usage

   Inform someone you use a hearing aid and ask them to speak clearly

   Grammar Note

   "Nkoresha" is the first-person singular of "gukoresha" ("to use") and "neza" is the adverb "well / clearly". A hearing aid is described as "igikoresho cyo kumva" ("a device for hearing"): "gutunga" means "to own", and "nyamara" is the conjunction "however", not "please" — the request word is "nyamuneka".

10. Nshoboye kwinjira n'imbwa yanjye yo gutwara?

    N-sho-bo-ye kwin-ji-ra n'im-bwa yan-jye yo gu-twa-ra

    Can I bring my service / guide dog?

    Usage

    Ask whether a service or guide dog is permitted to enter the premises

    Grammar Note

    "Nshoboye + infinitive" asks for permission/ability in the first person. "Yo gutwara" links the noun with "to guide/assist".

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