Food & Drinks

1. Ndashaka kureba menu

   Nda-sha-ka ku-re-ba me-nu

   I want to see the menu

   Usage

   Used at a restaurant to ask for the menu

   Grammar Note

   Kinyarwanda infinitives begin with "ku-". "ndashaka + infinitive" expresses "I want to [do something]".

2. Ndashaka ubugali n'isombe

   Nda-sha-ka u-bu-ga-li n'i-som-be

   I want ugali and isombe (cassava leaves)

   Usage

   Used to order traditional Rwandan food. Isombe (cassava leaf stew) is a Rwandan staple.

   Grammar Note

   "n'" is the Kinyarwanda conjunction "and", connecting with the following noun.

3. Birashimishije cyane!

   Bi-ra-shi-mi-shi-je cya-ne!

   It is very delicious!

   Usage

   Used to compliment food. The highest praise for a cook.

   Grammar Note

   "birashimishije" is the present form of "gushimisha" (to please). "bi-" is the subject concord prefix.

4. Sindya inyama

   Sin-dya i-nya-ma

   I don't eat meat

   Usage

   Important phrase for communicating dietary restrictions in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   Kinyarwanda negation adds "si-" to the subject prefix. "ndya" is the 1st person form of "kurya" (to eat), so "sindya" = "I don't eat".

5. Murakoze — ibyo biryo byari byiza cyane

   Mu-ra-ko-ze — i-byo bi-ryo bya-ri byi-za cya-ne

   Thank you — the food was very good

   Usage

   Used after a meal to thank the cook or host

   Grammar Note

   "murakoze" is the polite thank you. "urakoze" is for one person informally; "murakoze" for formal/plural.

6. Ndashaka ibiryoyo

   Nda-sha-ka i-bi-ryo-yo

   I want dessert

   Usage

   Used to order dessert after a meal in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   Popular Rwandan desserts include sweet bananas and "imigati ya teke" (banana cake)

7. Ndashaka ikawa

   Nda-sha-ka i-ka-wa

   I would like coffee

   Usage

   Used to order coffee — Rwanda is known for high-quality specialty coffee

   Grammar Note

   Rwandan coffee is world-renowned. Western and Southern province coffees are especially prized

8. Ni angahe?

   Ni an-ga-he?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of food or drinks

   Grammar Note

   "ni angahe?" is the standard Kinyarwanda phrase to ask a price. Essential for markets and street food

9. Ndashaka amazi

   Nda-sha-ka a-ma-zi

   I would like water

   Usage

   Basic phrase to order water with a meal

   Grammar Note

   Say "amazi y'ibidodo" (mineral water) or specify temperature. Tap water safety varies in Rwanda

10. Mfite alérgie y'ibiryo

    M-fi-te a-lé-rgie y'i-bi-ryo

    I have a food allergy

    Usage

    Important phrase for communicating food allergies in Rwanda

    Grammar Note

    "alérgie" is a loanword from French; "y'ibiryo" means "of food". The "Mfite alérgie y'…" pattern

11. Umuceri

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    Point at rice when ordering

12. Umugati

    Bread

    Usage

    Point at bread when ordering or shopping

13. Inyama

    Meat

    Usage

    Point at meat in general; use the separate cards for each kind

14. Imboga

    Vegetables

    Usage

    Point at vegetables

15. Imbuto

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point at fruit; the word also means seed, so point at the item itself in a market

16. Isupu

    Soup

    Usage

    Order soup

17. Ibiryo bikaze

    Spicy food

    Usage

    Ask whether a dish is spicy

18. Ibiryo bitatetse

    Raw, uncooked food

    Usage

    Check whether food is uncooked

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