Directions

1. Ni hehe?

   ni he-he?

   Where is it?

   Usage

   Simple question asking where something is

   Grammar Note

   "Hehe" is the Kinyarwanda locative question word (where). "Ni" is the copula. "Ni hehe?" is the simplest way to ask where something is.

2. Jya iburyo

   jya i-bu-ryo

   Go to the right

   Usage

   Directing someone to turn right

   Grammar Note

   "Jya" is the imperative of "kujya/kugenda" (to go). "I-" is the locative prefix. Learn "iburyo" (right) and "ibumoso" (left) as an antonym pair.

3. Jya ibumoso

   jya i-bu-mo-so

   Go to the left

   Usage

   Directing someone to turn left

   Grammar Note

   "Ibumoso" = "i" (locative) + "bumoso" (left direction). Paired with "iburyo" (right) for directional vocabulary.

4. Komeza ugende imbere

   ko-me-za u-gen-de im-be-re

   Keep going straight ahead

   Usage

   Directing someone to continue straight

   Grammar Note

   "Komeza" is the imperative of "gukomeza" (to continue). "Ugende" is the subjunctive of "kugenda" (to go), expressing "so that you go/walk".

5. Hari hafi

   ha-ri ha-fi

   It is nearby

   Usage

   Telling someone the destination is close

   Grammar Note

   "Hari" is the locative "it is at (that place)" (ha- class). "Hafi" is a locative adverb meaning "near". Antonym: "kure" (far).

6. Ni kure cyane

   ni ku-re cya-ne

   It is very far

   Usage

   Indicating the destination is quite far away

   Grammar Note

   "Cyane" is the most commonly used intensifier in Kinyarwanda, meaning "very/a lot". It is used in many contexts like "murakoze cyane" (thank you very much).

7. Inzira ni iyihe?

   in-zi-ra ni i-yi-he?

   Which road is it?

   Usage

   Asking which road to take

   Grammar Note

   "Iyihe" is a class 9 interrogative pronoun "yi-" + "-he" (which). "Inzira" is a class 9 noun (in- prefix) meaning road/path.

8. Ndabuze inzira

   nda-bu-ze in-zi-ra

   I got lost

   Usage

   Reporting that you are lost

   Grammar Note

   "Ndabuze inzira" = "I have lost the way", i.e. "I am lost".

9. Mapa ufite?

   ma-pa u-fi-te?

   Do you have a map?

   Usage

   Asking if someone has a map

   Grammar Note

   "Mapa" is borrowed from English "map". "Ufite" is the second person singular present of "kugira" (to have). Kinyarwanda has many English and French borrowings.

10. Hagati y'umujyi ni hehe?

    ha-ga-ti y'u-mu-jyi ni he-he?

    Where is the city center?

    Usage

    Asking for directions to the city center

    Grammar Note

    "Y'umujyi" contracts "ya" (the connector agreeing with "hagati") + "umujyi". "Hagati" means "middle". "Umujyi" is a class 3 noun (umu- prefix).

11. Iburyo

    Right

    Usage

    Show "right" to a driver

12. Ibumoso

    Left

    Usage

    Show "left" to a driver

13. Imbere

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show that you want to keep going straight ahead

14. Subira inyuma

    Go back

    Usage

    Ask the driver to turn back

15. Hagarara!

    Stop

    Usage

    Ask the driver to stop here

16. Amajyaruguru

    North

    Usage

    Point out a compass direction on a map; also used in province names

17. Amajyepfo

    South

    Usage

    Point out a compass direction on a map; also used in province names

18. Iburasirazuba

    East

    Usage

    Point out a compass direction on a map; also used in province names

19. Iburengerazuba

    West

    Usage

    Point out a compass direction on a map; also used in province names

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