Basic Nouns

1. Amazi

   Water

   Usage

   Ask for drinking water; pair it with “bottle” if you want sealed water

   Grammar Note

   "Amazi" is a class 6 noun with no singular. Kinyarwanda nouns carry a class prefix (umu-, ama-, ibi-, uru- …).

2. Ibiryo

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food; useful when hunting for somewhere to eat

   Grammar Note

   A class 8 (ibi-) noun; the singular "ikiryo" is rarely used.

3. Amafaranga

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for paying and changing currency

4. Ubwiherero

   Toilet

   Usage

   Combine it with the “where” question

5. Tisu

   Tissue

   Usage

   Many toilets have no paper — use this word to buy some

   Grammar Note

   A loan from French/English "tissue."

6. Imiti

   Medicine

   Usage

   At a pharmacy; combine it with gestures for your symptom

   Grammar Note

   A class 4 (imi-) plural; a single medicine is "umuti."

7. Imizigo

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, carrying on, or reporting lost bags

   Grammar Note

   A class 4 (imi-) plural; one bag is "umuzigo."

8. Urufunguzo

   Key

   Usage

   At hotel reception when collecting or returning it

   Grammar Note

   A class 11 (uru-) noun; the plural is "imfunguzo."

9. Itike

   Ticket

   Usage

   Covers both transport tickets and admission tickets

10. Pasiporo

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at check-in, currency exchange, and any police check

11. Telefone

    Phone

    Usage

    When you need to borrow one or ask for a number

12. Chargeur

    Charger

    Usage

    To borrow one at a hotel or café, or buy one in a shop

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "chargeur"; English "charger" is also understood in Rwanda.

13. Sitasiyo

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

    Grammar Note

    A loan from French "station."

14. Ibitaro

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

15. Polisi

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; combine it with “where?”

16. Iduka

    Shop

    Usage

    When looking for somewhere to buy something

17. Icyumba

    Room

    Usage

    Use it when asking a hotel about vacancies

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-/icy-) noun; the plural is "ibyumba."

18. Umuhanda

    Road

    Usage

    The base word when asking the way

19. Umuryango

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic; showing photos goes a long way

20. Izina

    Name

    Usage

    For introductions and for giving your name at a counter

21. Umutwe

    Head

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; plural "imitwe."

22. Ijisho

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; the plural is the irregular "amaso."

23. Iryinyo

    Tooth

    Usage

    Point at the part of your body that hurts

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amenyo."

24. Umuhogo

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun.

25. Ijosi

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your neck

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amajosi."

26. Inda

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Show where your stomach ache is; the same word also means pregnancy, so point clearly

    Grammar Note

    A class 9 noun.

27. Umugongo

    Back / lower back

    Usage

    Point at your back or lower back

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; plural "imigongo."

28. Ikirenge

    Foot

    Usage

    Point at your foot

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-) noun; plural "ibirenge."

29. Ukuguru

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at your leg

    Grammar Note

    A class 15 (uku-) noun; plural "amaguru."

30. Ikiganza

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at your hand

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (iki-) noun; plural "ibiganza."

31. Ukuboko

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at your arm

    Grammar Note

    A class 15 (uku-) noun; plural "amaboko."

32. Igituza

    Chest

    Usage

    Point at your chest

    Grammar Note

    A class 7 (igi-) noun; plural "ibituza."

33. Ugutwi

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at your ear

    Grammar Note

    A class 15 (ugu-) noun; plural "amatwi."

34. Urutugu

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at your shoulder

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; plural "intugu."

35. Ivi

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at your knee

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amavi."

36. Urutoki

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at your finger

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun; plural "intoki."

37. Uruhu

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at your skin when showing a rash or irritation

    Grammar Note

    A class 11 (uru-) noun.

38. Izuru

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at your nose

    Grammar Note

    A class 5 noun; plural "amazuru."

39. Umunwa

    Mouth

    Usage

    Point at your mouth

    Grammar Note

    A class 3 (umu-) noun; plural "iminwa."

40. Hoteri

    Hotel

    Usage

    Show where you want to go, or ask for a hotel

41. Ikibuga cy'indege

    Airport

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi driver as your destination

42. Sitasiyo ya bisi

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Ask where the bus stop is

43. Aho bavunjira amafaranga

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Look for a place to change money

44. Aho bamesera imyenda

    Laundry

    Usage

    Look for a place to wash clothes

45. ATM

    Usage

    Look for a cash machine

46. Ambasade

    Embassy

    Usage

    Show that you need to reach your embassy; Rwanda uses this French-derived word

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