Wine & Spirits

1. Mwampe urutonde rw'inzoga?

   May I see the wine list?

   Usage

   Requesting a wine list at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "rw'" = class 11 genitive

2. Mungire inama y'inzoga y'akarere?

   Can you recommend a local wine or spirit?

   Usage

   Asking for a local beverage recommendation

   Grammar Note

   "Mu-" = polite 2nd person plural. "kugira inama" = to advise

3. Nshaka divayi y'umutuku / y'umweru / rozé.

   I'd like red / white / rosé wine.

   Usage

   Ordering a specific type of wine

   Grammar Note

   "y'" = genitive particle

4. Nshaka ikirahure kimwe / icupa rimwe.

   I'd like a glass / a bottle please.

   Usage

   Specifying glass or bottle

   Grammar Note

   "kimwe / rimwe" = one (numeral, agreeing with class 7 "ikirahure" and class 5 "icupa")

5. Ni izihe nzoga zihuye n'iri funguro?

   What pairs well with this dish?

   Usage

   Asking about wine and food pairing

   Grammar Note

   "n'iri funguro" = "with this meal". "ifunguro" ("meal") is class 5, so the demonstrative is "iri". Note: "isoko" means "market", not "dish"

6. Alkohol iri mu nzoga ni ingahe ku ijana?

   What is the alcohol content?

   Usage

   Asking about alcohol percentage

   Grammar Note

   "ingahe ku ijana" = how many percent ("ingahe" agrees with class 9)

7. Divayi idafite isukari / ifite impumuro y'imbuto / iryoha neza.

   This is dry / fruity / smooth.

   Usage

   Describing wine taste

   Grammar Note

   "i-" is the class 9 subject prefix (divayi). "idafite" is a negative relative form meaning "that does not have"

8. Mungire inama y'inzoga yo mu Rwanda / urwagwa / ikigage?

   Can you recommend a Rwandan drink / urwagwa / ikigage?

   Usage

   Asking for local drink recommendations

   Grammar Note

   Traditional Rwandan drinks include "urwagwa" and "ikigage" (both home-brewed beers). Note: "icyangombwa" means "a requirement / certificate", not "a spirit"

9. Nshaka kugerageza inzoga zinyuranye.

   I'd like to do a wine tasting.

   Usage

   Expressing desire for a wine tasting

   Grammar Note

   "zinyuranye" = various/different

10. Mushobora kuduha ibyo kugerageza?

    Do you offer tastings / samples?

    Usage

    Asking if samples are available

    Grammar Note

    "ibyo + infinitive" = "things to do something with". "kuduha" = "to give us"

11. Sinashaka inzoga irimo isukari nyinshi.

    Not too sweet, please.

    Usage

    Requesting something not too sweet

    Grammar Note

    "Sinashaka" = "I don't want"

12. Inzoga isanzwe y'ahantu ni iyihe?

    What's the house wine?

    Usage

    Asking about the house wine

    Grammar Note

    "iyihe" = which one?

13. Inzoga ituruka mu karere kahe?

    What region is this wine from?

    Usage

    Asking about the wine's origin region

    Grammar Note

    "kahe" = which (location question)

14. Nshaka cocktail ikozwe na [inzoga].

    I'd like a cocktail made with [spirit].

    Usage

    Ordering a cocktail with a specific spirit

    Grammar Note

    "ikozwe" = passive participle "made"

15. Ku buzima bwanyu!

    Cheers! / Let's toast!

    Usage

    Saying cheers when toasting

    Grammar Note

    "ku buzima bwanyu" = "to your (pl.) health", the standard toast. ubuzima = health/life, bwanyu = your (pl.)

16. Inzoga irakonje?

    Is this wine chilled?

    Usage

    Checking if wine is chilled

    Grammar Note

    "ira-konje" is the stative form of gukonja ("to be cold"), meaning "is cold". The subject "inzoga" is class 9

17. Mufite ibinyobwa bidafite alkohol?

    Do you have non-alcoholic options?

    Usage

    Asking for non-alcoholic beverages

    Grammar Note

    "bidafite" = "without/doesn't have" (class 8)

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