Money & Exchange

1. Ni angahe?

   ni an-ga-he?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   The simplest way to ask the price

   Grammar Note

   "Angahe" is the Kinyarwanda quantitative question word. "Ni angahe?" is concise and widely used for price inquiries. Rwanda's currency is the Rwandan Franc (RWF).

2. Amafaranga yanjye nta yo

   a-ma-fa-ran-ga yan-jye nta yo

   I have no money

   Usage

   Saying you have no money

   Grammar Note

   "Amafaranga" is a class 6 (ama-) collective noun derived from "franc". "Nta yo" expresses non-existence.

3. Banki iri hehe?

   ban-ki i-ri he-he?

   Where is the bank?

   Usage

   Asking where the bank is

   Grammar Note

   "Banki" is borrowed from English "bank" (class 9). "Iri" is the class 9 copula. Major banks in Rwanda include Bank of Kigali (BK) and Equity Bank.

4. Kwishyura n'ikarita bishoboka?

   kwi-shyu-ra n'i-ka-ri-ta bi-sho-bo-ka?

   Is it possible to pay by card?

   Usage

   Asking if card payment is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Kwishyura" is the infinitive of "to pay". "Bishoboka" is an impersonal verb form meaning "it is possible". "Ikarita" is borrowed from French "carte" (as in the other card cards), and "n'" is "na" (with/by) contracted before a vowel.

5. Hindura amafaranga

   hin-du-ra a-ma-fa-ran-ga

   Exchange money

   Usage

   Exchanging currency at a bureau de change

   Grammar Note

   "Hindura" is the imperative of "guhindura" (to change/convert). The verb "guhindura" is used for both general change and financial exchange.

6. Nta mafaranga y'ibiceri mufite?

   nta ma-fa-ran-ga y'i-bi-ce-ri mu-fi-te?

   Is there no change?

   Usage

   Asking about receiving change

   Grammar Note

   "Nta" is the negative existential "there is no". "Amafaranga" is class 6 "money" and "ibiceri" are coins, so "amafaranga y'ibiceri" is small change. "Mufite" is the polite "you have" ("mu-" you pl. + "fite" have).

7. Igiciro ni kinini cyane

   i-gi-ci-ro ni ki-ni-ni cya-ne

   The price is very expensive

   Usage

   Expressing that the price is too expensive

   Grammar Note

   "Igiciro" is a class 7 noun. The adjective "kinini" uses "ki-" to agree with class 7. All adjectives in Kinyarwanda agree with the noun class.

8. Igiciro ni gito

   i-gi-ci-ro ni gi-to

   It is cheap

   Usage

   Saying something is cheap

   Grammar Note

   "Igiciro" is a class 7 noun and the adjective "gito" (small) agrees with class 7. "Igiciro ni gito" means "the price is low", i.e. cheap.

9. Ndashaka kuganirira igiciro

   nda-sha-ka ku-ga-ni-ri-ra i-gi-ci-ro

   I want to negotiate the price

   Usage

   Requesting to negotiate the price at a market

   Grammar Note

   "Kuganirira" is the applicative of "kuganira" (to talk), "to discuss about". "Kuganirira igiciro" is price negotiation, the same wording as "Dushobora kuganirira igiciro?" in the Markets & Souvenirs category. Bargaining at the market (amasoko) is a common commercial practice in Rwanda.

10. Ndashaka irisiti

    nda-sha-ka i-ri-si-ti

    I want a receipt

    Usage

    Requesting a receipt after a purchase

    Grammar Note

    "Irisiti" is borrowed from English "receipt" (class 5, i- prefix). English is an official language in Rwanda, and many commercial terms are borrowed from English.

11. Ikarita

    Card

    Usage

    Show that you want to pay by card

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