Kirundi Survival Phrases


I cannot promise that you will know Kirundi in 7 days, or even 7 weeks. I've been here for 3 months, and it's just now clicking! ah.

 but anyways, I have found that there is a severe lack of Kirundi on the internet. Here is my contribution.

Just in case you ever find yourself in Burundi or Rwanda...
(they pronounce it gwanda, in Kirundi, fun fact),
here are some survival phrases.
…Or what I know.
Or really what a teacher at the school deemed important for communication.

Also, rw makes an "gw" sound, c always sounds like "ch", and e's on the ends of words are pronounced.

Yes -- Ego (like leggo my eggo!)
No -- Oya (like saying 'oh yeah!', ...except it's opposite day)
Thank you -- Urakoze (or murakoze, if you're thanking a crowd)
Sit -- Icara
Down -- Hasi
Children -- Abana
Come -- Ingo
Here -- Ngaha
There -- Hariya
Go -- Genda
In -- mu

Can I take your picture? -- Noshobora kubafotora? 
To try -- Kugerageza
What is your name? -- Witwa gute?
My name is ____ -- Jewe nitwa ______
Friend -- Mugenzi
How are you? -- Nisawa?
Good Morning -- Mwaramutse
Good Afternoon-- Miwiriwe
It is peace? (as a greeting) -- N'amahoro?
To pray -- Kusenga
Let's go! -- Tugende!

To speak -- kuvuga (the command, "speak!" is vuga)
To sing -- Turirimbre
to look -- Kuraba
To be quiet -- Guhora
Me -- jewe (jay-way)
You -- wewe (way-way)
this -- iki
that -- ico
Where? -- hehe? (hay-hay)
I don't know -- Sindabizi
What is this? -- iki n'igiki?
What is this in Kirundi? -- Iki n'iki mu Kirundi?

1 comment:

  1. Thanks Makenzie for your contribution. This made my day! I am a burundian living in Texas and I must say that it is rare to find some kirundi phrases on the internet. Urakoze cane :)

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