Numbers

1. Rimwe, kabiri, gatatu

   Rim-we, ka-bi-ri, ga-ta-tu

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basic Kinyarwanda numbers 1–3

   Grammar Note

   Kinyarwanda numbers are Bantu-family words where prefixes change according to the noun class context.

2. Kane, gatanu, gatandatu

   Ka-ne, ga-ta-nu, ga-tan-da-tu

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Kinyarwanda numbers 4–6. Useful for market shopping.

   Grammar Note

   The "ga-" prefix is the base form of numbers. Other noun classes use prefixes like "aba-", "imi-".

3. Karindwi, umunani, icyenda

   Ka-rin-dwi, u-mu-na-ni, i-cyen-da

   Seven, eight, nine

   Usage

   Kinyarwanda numbers 7–9.

   Grammar Note

   Eight and nine have different noun class prefixes (umu-, icy-) reflecting Kinyarwanda's class system.

4. Icumi

   I-cu-mi

   Ten

   Usage

   The Kinyarwanda word for ten. Useful for prices and time.

   Grammar Note

   Larger numbers use "icumi na + digit": "icumi na rimwe" (11), "icumi na kabiri" (12).

5. Ijana, igihumbi

   I-ja-na, i-gi-hum-bi

   One hundred, one thousand

   Usage

   Large numbers. Essential for shopping with Rwandan francs (RWF).

   Grammar Note

   Rwanda Franc is approximately 1200 RWF per USD. Plural: "ibihumbi bibiri" (2000).

6. Icumi na rimwe, icumi na kabiri

   I-cu-mi na rim-we, i-cu-mi na ka-bi-ri

   Eleven, twelve

   Usage

   Kinyarwanda numbers 11 and 12. Learn how to combine with "na" (and)

   Grammar Note

   "na" means "and" in Kinyarwanda. "icumi na [digit]" forms numbers 11–19

7. Makumyabiri

   Ma-ku-mya-bi-ri

   Twenty

   Usage

   Kinyarwanda word for twenty. Useful for prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "makumyabiri" means "two tens". Tens 20–90 use "makumya + number"

8. Makumyatatu, makumyane

   Ma-ku-mya-ta-tu, ma-ku-mya-ne

   Thirty, forty

   Usage

   Kinyarwanda numbers 30 and 40. Used in price negotiations

   Grammar Note

   "makumya-" is the prefix for multiples of ten. A structure shared across Bantu languages

9. Magana abiri na makumyatanu

   Ma-ga-na a-bi-ri na ma-ku-mya-ta-nu

   Two hundred and fifty

   Usage

   A commonly used number — e.g. 250 Rwandan francs in shopping

   Grammar Note

   Large numbers combine "hundreds + na + remainder". "magana" is the plural of "ijana" (hundred)

10. Ni angahe? Duhindure amafaranga

    Ni an-ga-he? Du-hin-du-re a-ma-fa-ran-ga

    How much? Let's exchange money

    Usage

    A practical phrase combining price inquiry with currency exchange

    Grammar Note

    "duhindure" is the hortative subjunctive "let us exchange". Rwanda uses Rwandan francs (RWF)

11. Mfite imyaka makumyabiri na karindwi

    Mfi-te i-mya-ka ma-ku-mya-bi-ri na ka-rin-dwi

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age — the answer to "Ufite imyaka ingahe?" ("How old are you?")

    Grammar Note

    Age is stated as "I have N years". Swapping the subject prefix u- of "Ufite" for the first-person n- assimilates to m before f, giving "Mfite". Compound numerals are tens + na + units, with seven in its counting form "karindwi".

12. Uyu mwaka nzaba mfite imyaka makumyabiri n'umunani

    U-yu mwa-ka nza-ba mfi-te i-mya-ka ma-ku-mya-bi-ri n'u-mu-na-ni

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying the age you will reach this year

    Grammar Note

    The future inserts -za- after the subject prefix. Eight is "umunani", and the connective "na" elides before the vowel to give "n'umunani" — the apostrophe is not dropped. "Umwaka" is class 3, so its demonstrative is "uyu".

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