Phrases and Expressions
Common Phrases and ExpressionsWhat?: EeKey (Iki)
Why?: KooKee? (Kuki)
How?: BeeTay (Bite)
Who? (singular): Nday (Nde)
Who? (plural): BahnDay (Bande)
When?: ReeAhDee? (Ryali)
What is this?: EeKeeNeeKee? (Iki n’iki?)
What is this?: NeeGeeKee? (N’igiki?)
But: AhREECoh (Ariko)
Or: CheeahnGwa (Cyangwa)
Both: YohmBee (Yombi)
Because: KooKoh (Kuko)
Very: CHAHNay (Cyane)
Is: Nee (Ni)
And: Nah (Na)
Also: KahnDee (Kandi)
Always: EeTayKah (Iteka)
Never: NhabGwo (Ntabwo)
I want: NDah SHAHkah (Ndashaka)
I never want: DTABgoneSHAHkah (Ntabwonshaka)
I don’t want: SeenShahKah (Sinshaka)
I like: nHoonDah (Nkunda)
I don’t like: SeenHoonDah (Sinkunda)
Isn’t that so? (If you say it): See Byoh? (Si byo?)
Isn’t that so? (In response to something someone else has said): Nee Byoh? (Ni byo?)
Where is the bathroom?: AhHo KweetOoMah Nee Hay? (Aho kwituma ni he?)
Do you need to go to the bathroom? (singular): OoRah ShahKah Kwee TooMah? (Ura shaka kwi tuma?)
Do you need to go to the bathroom? (plural): MooRah ShahKah Kwee TooMah? (Mura shaka kwi tuma?)
Bless You (after a sneeze): KeeRah (Kira) or, more formally, MooRahKeeRay (Murakire)
You’re welcome (after the "Bless You"): TooAySay
It’s good: Nee Byeeza (Ni byiza)
That’s right/Isn’t that right?: Nee Beeyo (Ni byo)
Truly: KahBeeSah (Kabisa)
Listen: OomVah! (Umva!)
Go ahead: KohMayZah (Komeza)
I love you: NDah GooKoonDah (Nda gukunda)
What are you saying?: OoTeeKee? (Uti iki?)
What are you doing?: OoRahKohReeKee? (Urakora iki?)
Who are you looking for: OoRahShahKahnDay? (Urashaka nde?)
No one: NhaWay (Ntawe)
This: OoYoo (Uyu)
That: OoWoh (Uwo)
That (over there): OoReeYah (Uriya)
You know: OoRahKeeZee (Urakizi)
Miscellaneous Phrases
I am an American (woman): NDOOmnyaMayreekah KahZEE (Ndu mnyamerikakazi)
I am an American (man): NDOOmnyaMayreekah (Ndu mnyamerika)
What’s next?: EeKeenDee? (Ikindi?)
This is difficult: BeeRahKohMayYee (Birakomeye)
This is easy: BeeRohRohSheeYay (Biroroshye)
I love Rwanda: NdahKoonDah OorGwahnDah (Ndakunda urwanda)
I love Rwanda: NhoonDah OorGwanDah (Nkunda urwanda)
God Bless You: EeMahNah AhGooHay OoMooGeeSha (Imana aguhe umugisha)
Thank God: EeMahNeeSheemWay (Imana ishyimwe)
I’m tired: EndAHNahnEEway (Ndananiwe)
I’m happy: NdeeSheemYay (Ndishimiye)
Are you happy?: OoReeSheemYay? (Urishimiye?)
I’m unhappy: NHahbGoh NeeSheemYay (Ntabwo nishimiye)
Are you unhappy? NHahbGoh OoReeSheemYay? (Ntabwo urishimiye?)
I live in America: NHOOYay MooRee AhMayReeKAH (Ntuye muri Amerika)
How much time will you spend in Rwanda?: OoZahMahRah EeKeeHeeGeeHay MoorGwanDah? (Uzamara ikihe igihe murwanda?)
Happy Birthday: EeSahBooKooRoo NZeeZah YahMahVooKoh (Isabukuru nziza y’amavuko)
Happy Wedding Anniversary: EeSahBooKooRoo Yoh GooSheenGeerGwa (Isabukuru yo gushyingirwa)
Happy Wedding Day: OoMoonSee MweeZah Yoh GooSheenGeerGwa (Umunsi mwiza yo gushyingirwa)
You are crazy (this should be reserved for good friends only, otherwise, an insult!): OoMooSahZee (Umu saze)
You are cute/pretty: OoRee MweeZah (Uri mwiza)
It is pretty: Nee HayZah (Ni Heza)
You are crazy (Swahili): WayWay Cheesy
Be strong/Get better: KohMayRah! (Komera!)
Rest well: OoRooHooKay NayZah (Urukuke neza)
There is no power in the area: OoMooReeRoh WahGeeAy (Umuriro wagiye)
My name is not "Muzungu": NHahbGoh NeetGwah MooZoonGoo (Ntabwo nitwa "Muzungu")
