Transportation

1. Ndashaka kujya i Kigali

   Nda-sha-ka ku-jya i Ki-ga-li

   I want to go to Kigali

   Usage

   Used to tell a driver your destination in a taxi or moto-taxi

   Grammar Note

   "i" is the Kinyarwanda locative preposition before city names. Other locatives such as "mu" and "ku" are used with smaller towns and villages.

2. Urugendo ni angahe?

   U-ru-gen-do ni an-ga-he?

   How much is the fare?

   Usage

   Used to ask the fare for a taxi or moto-taxi (bajaji) in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   In Kigali, moto-taxis (motorcycle taxis) are very common. Helmets are mandatory for passengers.

3. Urugendo rufata igihe kingana iki?

   U-ru-gen-do ru-fa-ta i-gi-he ki-nga-na i-ki?

   How long does the journey take?

   Usage

   Used to ask travel time for long-distance bus or transport

   Grammar Note

   "urugendo" means "trip/journey". The main bus terminal in Kigali is in Nyabugogo district.

4. Nyamuneka hagarara hano

   Nya-mu-ne-ka ha-ga-ra-ra ha-no

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to stop at your destination

   Grammar Note

   "to stop" is "guhagarara"; the imperative is "hagarara". A polite request puts "nyamuneka" ("please") in front.

5. Inzira ijya ku kibuga cy'indege iri hehe?

   In-zi-ra i-jya ku ki-bu-ga cy'in-de-ge i-ri he-he?

   Where is the road to the airport?

   Usage

   Used to ask directions to Kigali International Airport (Kanombe Airport)

   Grammar Note

   "ikibuga cy'indege" literally means "field of planes" and is the word for an airport. "cy'" is the class 7 connective in Kinyarwanda.

6. Nyamuneka mpagarike hano.

   Nya-mu-ne-ka mpa-ga-ri-ke ha-no.

   Please stop here

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to stop at your destination

   Grammar Note

   "mpagarike" is the subjunctive of guhagarika (to stop) with the object "me", used as a request. "hano" means "here"

7. Ni hehe nshobora guhindura amafaranga?

   Ni he-he nsho-bo-ra gu-hi-ndu-ra a-ma-fa-ran-ga?

   Where is the money exchange?

   Usage

   Used to find a currency exchange in Kigali or tourist areas

   Grammar Note

   "ni hehe?" is the standard Kinyarwanda question for location. "hehe" is the question word "where"

8. Ndashaka kujya ku kibuga cy'indege

   Nda-sha-ka ku-jya ku ki-bu-ga cy'in-de-ge

   I want to go to the airport

   Usage

   Used to request transport to the airport in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   "kibuga cy'indege" literally means "place of airplanes". Kigali International Airport is Rwanda's main airport

9. Moto

   Mo-to

   Motorcycle taxi (mototaxi)

   Usage

   Refers to the mototaxi, a common form of transport in Rwanda

   Grammar Note

   Mototaxis (moto) are Rwanda's most popular short-distance transport. Wearing a helmet is legally required

10. Ndashaka gutembera mu murwa

    Nda-sha-ka gu-tem-be-ra mu mur-wa

    I want to walk around the city

    Usage

    Used to express wanting to walk and explore Rwanda's safe, clean capital

    Grammar Note

    Kigali is one of Africa's safest and cleanest capitals, known for being very walkable for tourists

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