Laundry

1. Ese hari serivisi yo kumesa imyenda hano?

   Is there a laundry service here?

   Usage

   Used when asking about laundry service at a hotel

   Grammar Note

   "ese hari" starts a yes/no question meaning "is there". The specific verb for washing clothes is "kumesa"; "gusukura" is the general verb "to clean"

2. Ndashaka kumesa imyenda myinshi.

   I would like to wash a lot of clothes.

   Usage

   Used when dropping off a large amount of laundry

   Grammar Note

   "ndashaka" means "I want to". The class 4 noun "imyenda" takes the agreeing form "myinshi" for "many"

3. Imyenda izarangira ryari?

   When will the laundry be ready?

   Usage

   Used to ask when the laundry will be done

   Grammar Note

   "izarangira" is the future form of "will be finished"

4. Ni angahe kumesa umwenda umwe?

   How much does it cost to wash one item of clothing?

   Usage

   Used when asking about the price per item for laundry service

   Grammar Note

   "angahe" asks about price or quantity. For a single item use the class 3 singular "umwenda" with the agreeing numeral "umwe"; the plural "imyenda" cannot take "imwe"

5. Nyamuneka mumese imyenda yanjye buhoro.

   Please wash my clothes gently.

   Usage

   Used when requesting gentle washing for delicate fabric

   Grammar Note

   A request is "nyamuneka" ("please") plus the subjunctive ("mumese" = "wash", 2pl). "buhoro" means "slowly / gently". Note: "irambye" means "long-lasting", not "delicate", and "gato" does not mean "gently"

6. Iri shati rikeneye ipasi.

   This shirt needs to be ironed.

   Usage

   Used when requesting ironing service for a shirt

   Grammar Note

   "ishati" ("shirt") is a class 5 noun, so the demonstrative is "iri" and the verb takes the class 5 subject prefix "ri-" ("rikeneye" = "needs", from "gukenera"). The iron itself is "ipasi"; the verb is "kugorora" ("to straighten / to iron"). "gufashine" is not a Kinyarwanda word

7. Imyenda yanjye yumye.

   My clothes are dry.

   Usage

   Used when checking that clothes have dried properly

   Grammar Note

   "to be dry" is "kuma"; with a class 4 subject the perfective is "yumye". Note: "yarashye" is the past of "gushya" ("to burn") and would say the clothes got scorched. "nyamuneka" means "please", not "thank goodness", so it has been dropped

8. Amasogisi afite umwanda akeneye kumeswa.

   The dirty socks need to be washed.

   Usage

   Used when dropping off specific dirty laundry items

   Grammar Note

   Sock is "isogisi", plural "amasogisi" (class 6), so the subject prefix is "a-". "To be dirty" is expressed as "gufite umwanda" ("to have dirt"). The passive infinitive inserts -w- before the final -a: "kumeswa". Note: "ubwoba" means "fear" and "ijosi" means "neck", so the original sentence was about neither socks nor laundry

9. Ese mushobora gukura ikizinga cy'amazi kuri ibi?

   Can you remove the water stain from this?

   Usage

   Used when asking to remove a stain from clothing

   Grammar Note

   "mushobora" is the plural "can you". A stain is "ikizinga" (class 7), so the connective is "cy'". Note: "inkweto" means "shoes", not "stain"

10. Ndashaka gusubizwa imyenda yanjye.

    I would like my clothes returned.

    Usage

    Used when picking up clean laundry from the service

    Grammar Note

    Verbs after "ndashaka" name the desired action. "to return (something)" is "gusubiza"; the passive inserts -w- before the final -a, giving "gusubizwa". Washing and drying are understood from the laundry context. Note: "yashye" belongs to "gushya" ("to burn") and would say the clothes were scorched, and "yanguriye" does not mean "for me"

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