Ikinyarwanda
Kinyarwanda
Bantu
Kinyarwanda (Ikinyarwanda; ISO 639-1: rw, ISO 639-3: kin) is a Great Lakes Bantu language spoken throughout Rwanda and in neighboring parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Tanzania. Rwanda recognizes it as the national language and as one of four official languages alongside English, French, and Kiswahili. It is closely related to Kirundi, and the two are largely mutually intelligible, forming part of a broader Rwanda-Rundi dialect continuum. Kinyarwanda is tonal and has the characteristic Bantu system of noun classes, with agreement marked across adjectives, pronouns, and verbs; verbs can contain several prefixes and suffixes expressing subject, object, tense, aspect, and derivation. It is written in a standardized Latin orthography and is used widely in daily life, broadcasting, literature, education, and public communication.
Where it is spoken
87 core words in Kinyarwanda
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Sources
Words compared
Compared with languages in the same classification: Bantu
| Meaning | Kinyarwanda | Kirundi | Runyankole | Chiga | Nyoro | Tooro | Nyaturu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | amazi /amaːzi/ | amazi /amaːzi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | amaizi /amaizi/ | maji /madʒi/ |
| Fire | umuriro /umuɾiɾo/ | umuriro /umuɾiɾo/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omuriro /omuriro/ | omurro /omurro/ | omurro /omurro/ | moto /moto/ |
| Sun | izuba /izuba/ | izuba /izuba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | eizooba /eizoːba/ | izooba /izoːba/ | izooba /izoːba/ | yura /juɾa/ |
| Moon | ukwezi /ukwezi/ | ukwezi /ukwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | okwezi /okwezi/ | umweri /umweɾi/ |
| Star | inyenyeri /iɲeɲeri/ | inyenyeri /iɲeɲeri/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyonyoozi /eɲoɲoːzi/ | enyunyuunzi /eɲuɲuːnzi/ | enyunyunzi /eɲuɲuːnzi/ | njota /ndʒota/ |
| Night | ijoro /iʒoro/ | ijoro /iʒoro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /etʃiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | ekiro /ekiro/ | utiku /utiku/ |
| Rain | imvura /imˈvura/ | imvura /imˈvura/ | enjura /enˈdʒura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | enjura /eɲɟura/ | mbura /mbura/ |
| Snow | shelegi /ʃeleɡi/ | shelegi /ʃeleɡi/ | — | — | ebirika /eβirika/ | ebirika /eβirika/ | seluji /seludʒi/ |
| Wind | umuyaga /umujaɣa/ | umuyaga /umujaɣa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | omuyaga /omujaɡa/ | mpefo /mpefo/ |
| Earth | ubutaka /uɓutaka/ | ubutaka /uɓutaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | eitaka /eitaka/ | itaka /itaka/ | itaaka /itaːka/ | irongo /iɾoŋɡo/ |
| Stone | ibuye /iˈɓuje/ | ibuye /iˈɓuje/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | eibaare /eiˈbaːre/ | ibaale /iβaːle/ | ibaale /iβaːle/ | igwe /iɡwe/ |
| Mountain | umusozi /umusozi/ | umusozi /umusozi/ | orushozi /oruʃozi/ | omusozi /omusozi/ | orusozi /orusozi/ | orusozi /orusozi/ | gitanto /ɡitanto/ |
| Sea | inyanja /iɲandʒa/ | inyanja /iɲaːndʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲdʒa/ | enyanja /eɲaɲɟa/ | enyanja /eɲaːndʒa/ | irambo /iɾambo/ |
| Mother | mama /maːma/ | mama /maːma/ | maawe /maːwe/ | nyina /ɲina/ | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | nyinya /ɲiɲa/ | mama /mama/ |
| Father | papa /paːpa/ | data /data/ | tata /tata/ | ishe /iʃe/ | isho /iʃo/ | isho /iʃo/ | tata /tata/ |
| Daughter | umukobwa /umukobwa/ | umukobwa /umukobwa/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | omuhara /omuhara/ | muncha /muntʃa/ |
| I | njye /ɲɟe/ | jewe /ʒewe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | nyowe /ɲowe/ | une /une/ |
| You | wowe /wowe/ | wewe /wewe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | iwe /iwe/ | uwe /uwe/ |
| We | twebwe /twebwe/ | twebwe /twebwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | itwe /itwe/ | sese /sese/ |
| Name | izina /izina/ | izina /izina/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | eiziina /eiziːna/ | ibara /iβara/ | ibara /iβara/ | rina /ɾina/ |
| Person | umuntu /umuntu/ | umuntu /umuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | omuntu /omuntu/ | muntu /muntu/ |
| Head | umutwe /umutwe/ | umutwe /umutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | omutwe /omutwe/ | itwe /itwe/ |
| Eye | ijisho /iʒiʃo/ | ijisho /iʒiʃo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriisho /eriːʃo/ | eriiso /eriːso/ | eriiso /eriːso/ | riho /riho/ |
| Ear | ugutwi /uɣutwi/ | ugutwi /uɣutwi/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | okutu /okutu/ | ikutwi /ikutwi/ |
| Nose | izuru /iˈzuɾu/ | izuru /iˈzuɾu/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | enyindo /eɲindo/ | mpura /mpuɾa/ |
| Mouth | akanwa /akanwa/ | umunwa /umunwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | akanwa /akanwa/ | momo /momo/ |
| Tooth | iryinyo /irjiɲo/ | iryinyo /irjiɲo/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | eriino /eriːno/ | iino /iːno/ | ino /ino/ |
| Tongue | ururimi /ururimi/ | ururimi /ururimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orurimi /orurimi/ | orulimi /orulimi/ | orulimi /orulimi/ | urimi /urimi/ |
| Hand | ikiganza /ikiɡanza/ | ikiganza /ikiɡanza/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | omukono /omukono/ | ukuboko /ukuboko/ |
| Foot | ikirenge /ikirenɡe/ | ikirenge /ikirenɡe/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigyere /ekiɡjere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | ekigere /ekiɡere/ | mughuu /muɣuː/ |
| Heart | umutima /umutima/ | umutima /umutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | omutima /omutima/ | umutima /umutima/ |
| Bone | igufwa /iɡufwa/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | eigufa /eiɡufa/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | igufa /iɡufa/ | ikufa /ikufa/ |
| Blood | amaraso /amaraso/ | amaraso /amaraso/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | eshagama /eʃaɡama/ | esagama /esaɡama/ | esagama /esaɡama/ | sakami /sakami/ |
| Poop | amase /amase/ | amavyi /amavji/ | amazi /amazi/ | amazi /amazi/ | amazi /amazi/ | amaazi /amaːzi/ | — |
| Love | urukundo /uɾukundo/ | urukundo /uɾukundo/ | rukundo /rukundo/ | kukunda /kukunda/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | kugonza /kuɡonza/ | butogwa /butoɡwa/ |
| Tree | igiti /iɡiti/ | igiti /iɡiti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | omuti /omuti/ | umuti /umuti/ |
| Dog | imbwa /imbwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | embwa /embwa/ | imbwa /imbwa/ |
| Cat | injangwe /indʒaŋɡwe/ | akayabu /akajabu/ | enjangu /endʒaŋɡu/ | kapa /kapa/ | paaka /paːka/ | paaka /paːka/ | paka /paka/ |
| Fish | ifi /ifi/ | ifi /ifi/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | eky'enyanja /etʃeɲaɲdʒa/ | encu /eɲtʃu/ | echu /etʃu/ | somba /somba/ |
| Bird | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ | inyoni /iˈɲoni/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | enyonyi /eɲoɲi/ | nyonyi /ɲoɲi/ |
| Butterfly | ikinyugunyugu /ikiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ | ikinyugunyugu /ikiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ | ekihuguuhugu /ekihuɡuːhuɡu/ | ekinyugunyugu /etʃiɲuɡuɲuɡu/ | — | ekihoiholya /ekihoiholja/ | — |
| Egg | igi /iɡi/ | igi /iɡi/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | eihuri /eihuri/ | ihuli /ihuli/ | ihuli /ihuli/ | ighe /iɣe/ |
| Bear | idubu /iduβu/ | idubu /iduːbu/ | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | edubu /edubu/ | — |
| Horse | ifarashi /ifaˈraʃi/ | ifarashi /ifaraʃi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embaraasi /embaraːsi/ | embarasi /embarasi/ | nyumbu /ɲumbu/ |
| House | inzu /inzu/ | inzu /inzu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | enju /endʒu/ | nyumba /ɲumba/ |
| Milk | amata /amata/ | amata /amata/ | amate /amate/ | amate /amate/ | amata /amata/ | amata /amata/ | maya /maja/ |
| Honey | ubuki /ubuki/ | ubuki /ubuki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwuuki /obwuːtʃi/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | obwoki /obwoki/ | ruke /ruke/ |
| Salt | umunyu /umuɲu/ | umunyu /umuɲu/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omwonyo /omwoɲo/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | omunyu /omuɲu/ | munyu /muɲu/ |
| Wine | divayi /divaji/ | umuvinyu /umuviɲu/ | viino /viːno/ | viino /viːno/ | eviini /eviːni/ | eviini /eviːni/ | divai /divai/ |
| Rice | umuceri /umuˈtʃeri/ | umuceri /umutʃeri/ | omukyeeri /omukjeːri/ | omukyeeri /omutʃeːri/ | — | — | — |
| Chocolate | shokora /ʃokora/ | amashokola /amaʃokola/ | — | — | — | chocolate | — |
| Iron | icyuma /iˈtʃuma/ | icuma /iˈtʃuma/ | ekyoma /eˈkjoma/ | obutare /obutare/ | ekyoma /ekjoma/ | ekyoma /ekjoma/ | ichuma /itʃuma/ |
| Wheel | uruziga /uɾuziɡa/ | ipine /ipine/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | enyamuziga /eɲamuziɡa/ | — |
| Silk | hariri /hariri/ | ihariri /ihariri/ | riiri /riːri/ | riiri /riːri/ | liiri /liːri/ | liiri /liːri/ | hariri /haɾiɾi/ |
| Book | igitabo /iɡitabo/ | igitabo /iɡitabo/ | ekitabo /ekitabo/ | ekitabo /etʃitabo/ | ekitabu /ekitaβu/ | ekitabu /ekitaβu/ | gitabu /ɡitabu/ |
| Eat | kurya /kuɾja/ | kurya /kuɾja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kurya /kurja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kulya /kulja/ | kuria /kuɾia/ |
| Drink | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ | kunywa /kuɲwa/ |
| Sleep | gusinzira /ɡusinzira/ | gusinzira /ɡusinzira/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kubyama /kubjama/ | kurara /kuɾaɾa/ |
| One | rimwe /ɾimwe/ | rimwe /ɾimwe/ | emwe /emwe/ | rumwe /rumwe/ | emu /emu/ | emoi /emoi/ | umwe /umwe/ |
| Two | kabiri /kabiri/ | kabiri /kabiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | ibiri /iβiri/ | aviri /aβiri/ |
| Three | gatatu /ɡatatu/ | gatatu /ɡatatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | ishatu /iʃatu/ | isatu /isatu/ | isatu /iːsatu/ | itatu /itatu/ |
| Four | kane /kane/ | kane /kane/ | eina /eina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /ina/ | ina /iːna/ | inne /inːe/ |
| Five | gatanu /ɡataːnu/ | gatanu /ɡataːnu/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /itaːno/ | itaano /iˈtaːno/ | itaano /iˈtaːno/ | itano /itano/ |
| Hundred | ijana /iʒana/ | ijana /iʒana/ | igana /iɡana/ | igana /iɡana/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | kikumi /tʃikumi/ | ighana /iɣana/ |
| Hello | muraho /muɾaːho/ | amahoro /amahoɾo/ | agandi /aɡandi/ | oraire /oraire/ | oraire ota /oraire ota/ | oraire ota /oraire ota/ | mbukire /mbukiɾe/ |
| Thank you | murakoze /muɾakoze/ | murakoze /muɾakoze/ | webare /webare/ | webare /webare/ | webale /webale/ | webale /webale/ | asante /aˈsante/ |
| Good | byiza /bjiza/ | nziza /nziza/ | kirungi /kiruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kurungi /kuruŋɡi/ | kihi /kihi/ |
| New | gishya /ɡiʃja/ | nshasha /nʃaʃa/ | ekisya /ekisja/ | ekisya /etʃisja/ | ekihyaka /ekihjaka/ | ekihyaka /ekihjaka/ | mpya /mpja/ |
| Red | utukura /utukura/ | gutukura /ɡutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | kutukura /kutukura/ | ntune /ntune/ |
| White | umweru /umweru/ | umweru /umweru/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | kwera /kwera/ | njeru /ndʒeru/ |
| Black | umukara /umukara/ | umukara /umukara/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | kwiragura /kwiraɡura/ | njiutiki /ndʒiutiki/ |
| Green | icyatsi /iˈtʃaːtsi/ | akatsi gatoto /akatsi ɡatoto/ | kibabi /kibabi/ | kinyaasi /tʃiɲaːsi/ | — | — | — |
| Blue | ubururu /ubururu/ | ubururu /ubururu/ | bururu /bururu/ | — | — | bururu /bururu/ | — |
| Computer | mudasobwa /mudasobwa/ | orodinateri /orodinateri/ | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | kompiyuta /kompijuta/ | — | kompyuta /kompjuta/ | — |
| Sushi | sushi /suʃi/ | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tea | icyayi /itʃaːji/ | icayi /itʃaji/ | chai /tʃai/ | cayi /tʃaji/ | — | — | — |
| Coffee | ikawa /ikawa/ | ikawa /ikawa/ | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — | — | kaawa /kaːwa/ | — |
| Sugar | isukari /isukari/ | isukari /isukaɾi/ | shukaari /ʃukaːri/ | sukari /sukari/ | — | — | — |
| Orange | icunga /itʃuŋɡa/ | icunga /itʃuŋɡa/ | omucungwa /omutʃuŋɡwa/ | — | — | — | — |
| Ninety-nine | mirongo cyenda nʼicyenda /miɾoŋɡo tʃenda nitʃenda/ | mirongo icenda nʼicenda /miɾoŋɡo itʃenda nitʃenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | makumi mwenda na mwenda /makumi mwenda na mwenda/ | kyenda na mwenda /tʃenda na mwenda/ | — | makumi kenda na kenda /makumi kenda na kenda/ |
| Internet laughter | hhhh | — | — | — | — | — | — |
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