Cooking & Markets

1. Muteka isombe ute?

   How do you prepare isombe?

   Usage

   Used when learning to make isombe, a traditional Rwandan dish of cassava leaves

   Grammar Note

   "ute" means "how" and is used to ask about method

2. Ubu bugali bwakozwe n'iki?

   What ingredients is this ugali made from?

   Usage

   Used when asking about ingredients in ugali, a staple starchy dish

   Grammar Note

   "bwakozwe n'" is passive voice meaning "made from/with"

3. Ndashaka kwiga guteka inkoko.

   I would like to learn how to cook chicken.

   Usage

   Used in a cooking class to express interest in learning to cook chicken

   Grammar Note

   "kwiga" means "to learn" and is the infinitive form. Chicken is "inkoko"; note that "ingohe" means "eyelash", not "chicken"

4. Ese hari ibirungo birimo urusenda mu gitabo cyo guteka?

   Are there spicy seasonings in the recipe?

   Usage

   Used to check if a dish contains spicy ingredients

   Grammar Note

   "birimo urusenda" means "contain chili (urusenda)", i.e. spicy; "birimo" agrees with "ibirungo" (class 8) and means "contain"

5. Amasaka ashyirwa mu mazi akonje.

   The grains are soaked in cold water.

   Usage

   Used when explaining the soaking step in grain preparation

   Grammar Note

   "ashyirwa mu" is passive voice meaning "placed into"

6. Ibishyimbo bigomba gutekwa nibura iminota cumi.

   Beans need to be boiled for at least ten minutes.

   Usage

   Used when teaching cooking time for beans, a Rwandan staple

   Grammar Note

   "nibura" means "at least"

7. Teka ibishyimbo biryoshe.

   Cook the beans deliciously.

   Usage

   A simple instruction used when asking someone to cook beans nicely

   Grammar Note

   "biryoshe" is the adjective "delicious" in the form agreeing with "ibishyimbo" (class 8); literally "cook the delicious beans"

8. Amata yongera uturire mu mafuta.

   Milk adds flavor when combined with oil.

   Usage

   Used when explaining traditional Rwandan cooking techniques

   Grammar Note

   "yongera" means "adds/increases" and agrees with the subject's noun class. Milk is amata, a class 6 noun, so the subject concord is ya-, giving yongera

9. Inyanya n'ibirayi bikaranganywa hamwe.

   Tomatoes and potatoes are sautéed together.

   Usage

   Used when describing a basic Rwandan cooking step

   Grammar Note

   "n'" is a conjunction meaning "and" (before consonants)

10. Musogongere gato mbere yo kwongera imyunyu.

    Taste a little before adding salt.

    Usage

    Used in a cooking lesson when advising on seasoning

    Grammar Note

    "mbere yo" means "before doing"

11. Umunyu

    Salt

    Usage

    Ask for or buy salt

12. Isukari

    Sugar

    Usage

    Ask for or buy sugar

13. Urusenda

    Chilli pepper

    Usage

    Ask for chilli, or say you want it left out

14. Amavuta yo guteka

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Buy cooking oil

15. Foromaje

    Cheese

    Usage

    Ask for or buy cheese; from French "fromage"

16. Ubuki

    Honey

    Usage

    Ask for or buy honey

17. Igitunguru

    Onion

    Usage

    Ask for onion, or say you want it left out

18. Tungurusumu

    Garlic

    Usage

    Ask for garlic, or say you want it left out

19. Ikivuguto

    Fermented milk (yoghurt)

    Usage

    Rwandan fermented milk, the closest local equivalent of yoghurt

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