Body Parts

1. Umutwe

   Head

   Usage

   Show this at a clinic and point to your own head

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imitwe".

2. Umusatsi

   Hair

   Usage

   Used at a salon or barber; the plural "imisatsi" covers hair as a whole

   Grammar Note

   A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imisatsi".

3. Isura

   Face

   Usage

   Use it to mark the treatment area at a spa, or to show where a skin problem is; "mu maso" means "in the face"

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 (i-) noun; the plural is "amasura".

4. Ijisho

   Eye

   Usage

   Use for one eye when reporting an eye problem

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun with the irregular plural "amaso".

5. Ugutwi

   Ear

   Usage

   For earache or trouble hearing

   Grammar Note

   A class 15 (ugu-) noun; the plural is "amatwi".

6. Izuru

   Nose

   Usage

   For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "amazuru".

7. Akanwa

   Mouth

   Usage

   For mouth ulcers or pain inside the mouth

   Grammar Note

   A class 12 (aka-) noun; the plural is "utunwa". "Aka-" is the diminutive prefix, but here the form is neutral.

8. Iryinyo

   Tooth

   Usage

   For toothache; also works at a dental reception

   Grammar Note

   A class 5 noun; the plural is "amenyo".

9. Ururimi

   Tongue

   Usage

   For a burn or a change in taste; the same word also means "language"

   Grammar Note

   A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "indimi".

10. Ijosi

    Neck

    Usage

    The outside of the neck; the inside of the throat is "umuhogo"

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amajosi".

11. Umuhogo

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat, at a pharmacy or a clinic

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imihogo".

12. Urutugu

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain, or to mark where you want a massage

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "intugu".

13. Ukuboko

    Arm

    Usage

    For an injured arm; Kinyarwanda keeps "ukuboko" (arm) and "ikiganza" (hand) apart

    Grammar Note

    A class 15 (uku-) noun; the plural is "amaboko".

14. Inkokora

    Elbow

    Usage

    For a painful or grazed elbow

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 (in-) noun; the plural is identical.

15. Ikiganza

    Hand / palm

    Usage

    For a painful or injured hand

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-) noun; the plural is "ibiganza".

16. Urutoki

    Finger

    Usage

    To point out an injured finger

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "intoki".

17. Urwara

    Nail

    Usage

    At a nail salon, or to say a nail is broken or torn off

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "inzara".

18. Igituza

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or breathlessness; point to your ribcage

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (igi-) noun; the plural is "ibituza".

19. Inda

    Belly / abdomen

    Usage

    To show where a stomach ache is. It also means pregnancy, so always point to the spot that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 (in-) noun; the plural is identical.

20. Umugongo

    Back / lower back

    Usage

    Kinyarwanda does not split "back" from "lower back", so point to where it hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imigongo" — also the name of Rwanda's traditional ridged cow-dung art.

21. Ikibuno

    Buttock / hip

    Usage

    For where an injection goes, or soreness after a long journey

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-) noun; the plural is "ibibuno".

22. Ukuguru

    Leg

    Usage

    The whole leg; from the ankle down is "ikirenge"

    Grammar Note

    A class 15 (uku-) noun; the plural is "amaguru".

23. Ivi

    Knee

    Usage

    For a sore or injured knee — a common word after gorilla trekking

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amavi".

24. Ikirenge

    Foot

    Usage

    For pain in the sole or top of the foot; the whole leg is "ukuguru"

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-) noun; the plural is "ibirenge".

25. Uruhu

    Skin

    Usage

    For a rash, insect bite or sunburn

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "impu".

26. Amaraso

    Blood

    Usage

    The base word for tests, transfusions and bleeding

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 (ama-) noun used in the plural form with singular meaning.

27. Igufa

    Bone

    Usage

    Point to the sore spot if you suspect a fracture

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is "amagufa".

28. Umutima

    Heart

    Usage

    For explaining a heart condition; figuratively it also means the heart as feeling

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imitima".

29. Amara

    Intestines

    Usage

    Used when discussing stomach trouble or diarrhoea; normally in the plural

    Grammar Note

    A class 6 (ama-) plural.

30. Ibihaha

    Lungs

    Usage

    For a cough or difficulty breathing; Kigali sits above 1,500 m and some visitors feel short of breath

    Grammar Note

    A class 8 (ibi-) plural; the singular is the class 7 "igihaha".

31. Umwijima

    Liver

    Usage

    For discussing a condition or medication. The same spelling also means darkness, so keep it to medical contexts

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imyijima".

32. Impyiko

    Kidneys

    Usage

    Used when explaining a kidney condition or stones

    Grammar Note

    A class 9/10 noun used with the same form for singular and plural.

33. Ubwonko

    Brain

    Usage

    Used for scans after a head injury

    Grammar Note

    A class 14 (ubu-) noun; not counted for number.

34. Umubiri

    Body

    Usage

    The base word for feeling unwell all over, when you cannot localise the pain

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; the plural is "imibiri".

Browse all TravelPhrases languages