Shopping

1. Ibi bigura amafaranga angahe?

   I-bi bi-gu-ra a-ma-fa-ra-nga an-ga-he?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Standard phrase for asking the price of an item in any shop or market

   Grammar Note

   Rwanda uses the Rwandan franc (RWF). "amafaranga" means "money", and "amafaranga angahe" asks "how much".

2. Bihenze cyane. Ushobora kugabanya?

   Bi-hen-ze cya-ne. U-sho-bo-ra ku-ga-ba-nya?

   It is too expensive. Can you lower the price?

   Usage

   Used when bargaining at markets like Kigali's Nyabugogo market

   Grammar Note

   "ushobora" asks "are you able to?" in Kinyarwanda. "kugabanya" is the infinitive "to reduce/discount".

3. Ndareba gusa

   Nda-re-ba gu-sa

   I am just looking

   Usage

   Used to tell an eager seller you are only browsing

   Grammar Note

   "gusa" means "just/only" in Kinyarwanda and is placed at the end of the phrase.

4. Ndashaka kugura ibi

   Nda-sha-ka ku-gu-ra i-bi

   I want to buy this

   Usage

   Used to express your decision to purchase an item

   Grammar Note

   "kugura" is the Kinyarwanda infinitive "to buy". "ndashaka kugura" means "I want to buy".

5. Ufite urusaho?

   U-fi-te u-ru-sa-ho?

   Do you have a bag?

   Usage

   Used to ask for a bag. Rwanda banned plastic bags in 2008 — expect cloth or paper bags.

   Grammar Note

   Rwanda was one of the first nations to ban plastic bags (2008). Always bring a reusable bag when shopping.

6. Mbona iki ni cyiza cyane

   Mbo-na i-ki ni cyi-za cya-ne

   I think this is very good

   Usage

   Used to express approval of an item when shopping

   Grammar Note

   "mbona" is a versatile verb meaning "I think/see/find" in Kinyarwanda

7. Ndashaka kuvugana ku giciro.

   Nda-sha-ka ku-vu-ga-na ku gi-ci-ro.

   I want to negotiate the price

   Usage

   Used to initiate price negotiation at Rwandan markets

   Grammar Note

   Price negotiation is common at Rwandan markets. Kigali Craft Centre is a popular shopping spot

8. Ndashaka agaseke k'ubukorikori

   Nda-sha-ka a-ga-se-ke k'u-bu-ko-ri-ko-ri

   I want to buy traditional basket weaving

   Usage

   Used to shop for Rwanda's famous traditional woven baskets

   Grammar Note

   Rwandan agaseke baskets are world-famous handicrafts made by women's cooperatives — a top souvenir

9. Ni angahe ibi byose?

   Ni an-ga-he i-bi byo-se?

   How much is all of this?

   Usage

   Used to ask the total price when buying multiple items

   Grammar Note

   "byose" means "all/everything" in Kinyarwanda. "ibi byose" = "all of these things"

10. Murakoze. Ndazagaruka

    Mu-ra-ko-ze. Nda-za-ga-ru-ka

    Thank you. I will come back.

    Usage

    Used to politely show intent to return to the shop

    Grammar Note

    "ndazagaruka" is the future tense of "kugaruka" (to return). "-za-" marks the future tense

11. Sinkeneye irisiti

    Sin-ke-ne-ye i-ri-si-ti

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt — the negative answer to "Ukeneye irisiti?" ("Do you need a receipt?")

    Grammar Note

    Negation places si- before the subject prefix: nkeneye becomes sinkeneye. When the object is spelled out as a noun, no object prefix is added ("Sinkeneye" + noun). Official documents call a receipt "inyemezabuguzi", but the everyday word at a till is "irisiti".

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