CEFR Level

Kinyarwanda — Beginner Vocabulary

561 words

Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases.

#	Word	Type	Definition
1	ababaji	Noun	plural of umubaji.
2	abana	Noun	plural of umwana.
3	abantu	Noun	plural of umuntu (“person”).
4	abarimyi	Noun	plural of umurimyi.
5	abarozi	Noun	plural of umurozi.
6	abibyi	Noun	plural of umwîbyi.
7	abirabura	Noun	plural of umwirabura.
8	abivyi	Noun	plural of umwîvyi.
9	abuzukuru	Noun	plural of umwuzukuru.
10	ahantu	Noun	place, location.
11	akabago	Noun	period (punctuation mark).
12	akabande	Noun	diminutive of umubande: small valley.
13	akabarankuru	Noun	newspaper, news magazine.
14	akabati	Noun	cupboard, cabinet.
15	akabuye	Noun
16	akanwa	Noun	inside of the mouth.
17	akazi	Noun	work, job.
18	amababa	Noun	plural of ibaba.
19	amabagiro	Noun	plural of ibagiro.
20	amabanga	Noun	plural of ibanga.
21	amabara	Noun	plural of ibara.
22	amabaruwa	Noun	plural of ibaruwa.
23	amacandwe	Noun
24	amacumi	Noun	plural of icumi.
25	amagambo	Noun	plural of ijambo.
26	amagana	Noun	plural of ijana.
27	amagi	Noun	plural of igi and irigi.
28	amahoro	Noun
29	amajambo	Noun	plural of ijambo.
30	amakenga	Noun	suspicions.
31	amakumi	Noun	plural of icumi.
32	amakuru	Noun	news, information.
33	amaraso	Noun
34	amariba	Noun	plural of iriba.
35	amasaka	Noun	plural of ishaka.
36	amasazi	Noun	plural of isāzi.
37	amase	Noun	dung (of a large animal, like a cow or elephant).
38	amashuri	Noun	plural of ishuri.
39	amaso	Noun	plural of ijisho.
40	amata	Noun
41	amate	Noun
42	amateka	Noun
43	amatwi	Noun	plural of ugutwí (“ear”).
44	amavuta	Noun
45	amayira	Noun	plural of inzira.
46	amazi	Noun
47	amazina	Noun	plural of izina.
48	amazu	Noun	plural of inzu.
49	amazutu	Noun	heating oil, oil for fuel.
50	ambara	Verb	wear (clothing).
51	amenyo	Noun	plural of iryinyo.
52	ameza	Noun	table, desk.
53	amezi	Noun	plural of ukwezi.
54	amoya	Noun	plural of iryoya.
55	anga	Verb	reject, refuse.
56	anka	Verb	reject, refuse.
57	babara	Verb	be in pain, hurt.
58	badata	Noun	plural of dātá.
59	banyina	Noun	plural of nyina.
60	banza	Verb	begin (by doing something) (usually followed by an infinitive).
61	bara	Verb	to count, calculate.
62	basha	Verb	can, be able.
63	baza	Verb	to do carpentry, carve or sculpt wood.
64	besha	Verb	lie, deceive.
65	beshya	Verb	lie, deceive.
66	bona	Verb	to find, get.
67	bumba	Verb	to mould (usually from clay).
68	byara	Verb	bear a child, give birth.
69	byina	Verb
70	cura	Verb	to forge from metal.
71	data	Noun	my paternal uncle.
72	era	Verb	be pure, be innocent.
73	fasha	Verb
74	fata	Verb	take, get.
75	gaya	Verb	be ungrateful.
76	goma	Verb	rebel, revolt.
77	gukura	Verb	infinitive of -kura.
78	gumbaha	Verb	be(come) sterile, infertile.
79	gupfa	Verb	infinitive of -pfa.
80	gura	Verb
81	gusangira	Verb	infinitive of -sangira.
82	guseka	Verb	infinitive of -seka.
83	gushima	Verb	infinitive of -shima.
84	gwa	Verb
85	ha	Verb
86	hanura	Verb	to warn, advise, prophesy.
87	heta	Verb
88	higa	Verb
89	hinga	Verb	cultivate, plow.
90	hisha	Verb	hide, conceal.
91	hora	Verb	to be(come) quiet, be(come) calm.
92	hunga	Verb
93	iba	Verb
94	ibaba	Noun
95	ibabi	Noun
96	ibagiro	Noun	butcher's shop, slaughterhouse.
97	ibahasha	Noun
98	ibanga	Noun
99	ibanki	Noun	bank (financial institution).
100	ibara	Noun	colour, color.
101	ibarura	Noun
102	ibaruwa	Noun	letter (written communication).
103	ibere	Noun	breast, teat.
104	ibibabi	Noun	plural of ikibabi.
105	ibibambasi	Noun	plural of ikibambasi.
106	ibiganza	Noun	plural of ikigānza.
107	ibihugu	Noun	plural of igihugu.
108	ibintu	Noun	plural of ikintu.
109	ibiro	Noun	office(s).
110	ibiryo	Noun
111	ibitaro	Noun	hospital(s).
112	ibombo	Noun	faucet, tap.
113	ibumba	Noun	pottery clay.
114	ibuye	Noun	stone, rock.
115	ibwami	Noun	at the royal court.
116	ica	Verb
117	icana	Noun	augmentative of umwana: young of any large animal: cub, colt, etc.
118	icari	Noun
119	icayi	Noun
120	icokurya	Noun
121	icondo	Noun
122	icuma	Noun	something made of metal.
123	icumi	Noun
124	icunga	Noun	orange (fruit).
125	icyana	Noun	augmentative of umwana: young of any large animal: cub, colt, etc.
126	icyari	Noun
127	icyatsi	Noun
128	icyayi	Noun
129	icyokurya	Noun
130	icyondo	Noun
131	icyuma	Noun	something made of metal.
132	idakika	Noun
133	idirisha	Noun
134	idirishya	Noun
135	ifaranga	Noun
136	ifi	Noun	fish, fish hook.
137	iga	Verb	learn, study.
138	igare	Noun	any wheeled vehicle that holds a single person, like a wheelchair.
139	igi	Noun
140	igicumuro	Noun	crime, transgression, sin.
141	igihembo	Noun	salary, wage, reward.
142	igihere	Noun
143	igiheri	Noun
144	igihugu	Noun
145	igihumbi	Noun
146	igikere	Noun	frog, toad.
147	igikeri	Noun	frog, toad.
148	igikona	Noun	a crow; (in particular) a pied crow (Corvus albus).
149	igikori	Noun
150	igikoro	Noun
151	igisha	Verb	Causative of -iga: teach.
152	igishanga	Noun	marsh, swamp.
153	igitabo	Noun
154	igitabu	Noun	alternative form of igitabo.
155	igitekero	Noun
156	igiti	Noun
157	igitigu	Noun
158	igitunguru	Noun
159	igituntu	Noun	tuberculosis.
160	igufa	Noun
161	igufwa	Noun
162	ihasa	Noun
163	ihene	Noun
164	ihinga	Noun	farming season, the time of year when plowing is done.
165	ijambo	Noun
166	ijana	Noun
167	ijisho	Noun
168	ijuru	Noun	heavens, sky.
169	ikanzu	Noun	a sort of robe, the kanzu.
170	ikara	Noun
171	ikaramu	Noun	pen, pencil.
172	ikaravati	Noun
173	ikawa	Noun
174	ikibabi	Noun
175	ikibambasi	Noun	wall (usually exterior).
176	ikibanza	Noun	building site, site for construction.
177	ikibazo	Noun
178	ikibuye	Noun	augmentative of ibuye: boulder, large stone.
179	ikigagara	Noun	a basket on which one stretches clothes to be perfumed, and beneath which one places a vase containing a fire of aromati…
180	ikiganiro	Noun	conversation, dialogue.
181	ikiganza	Noun
182	ikigori	Noun
183	ikiguzi	Noun	cost, price.
184	ikijigo	Noun
185	ikijumba	Noun	sweet potato.
186	ikijumbu	Noun	sweet potato.
187	ikilo	Noun
188	ikimasa	Noun	cattle that has not produced young.
189	ikime	Noun
190	ikimera	Noun
191	ikinini	Noun	pill (medicinal).
192	ikinjana	Noun
193	ikintu	Noun
194	ikinyejana	Noun
195	ikinyobwa	Noun	drink, beverage.
196	ikinyugunyugu	Noun	butterfly.
197	ikirenge	Noun
198	ikirundo	Noun	heap, pile.
199	ikivura	Noun	augmentative of imvura: downpour, heavy rain.
200	ikiyaga	Noun
201	ikiyiko	Noun
202	ilitiro	Noun
203	imanza	Noun	plural of urubanza.
204	imanzi	Noun	a fallen hero.
205	imari	Noun
206	imbabazi	Noun	forgiveness, pardon.
207	imbaga	Noun
208	imbaho	Noun	plural of urubaho.
209	imbaraga	Noun
210	imbaragasa	Noun
211	imbeba	Noun	mouse, rat.
212	imbogo	Noun
213	imboro	Noun
214	imbwa	Noun
215	imbwakazi	Noun	bitch, female dog.
216	imbyino	Noun
217	imfyisi	Noun
218	imibabaro	Noun	plural of umubabaro.
219	imibare	Noun	plural of umubare.
220	iminyago	Noun	booty, plunder.
221	imiriro	Noun	plural of umuriro.
222	imiryango	Noun	plural of umuryango.
223	imitima	Noun	plural of umutíma.
224	imitwe	Noun	plural of umutwé.
225	imodoka	Noun
226	impano	Noun	gift (something freely given).
227	impene	Noun
228	impu	Noun	plural of uruhu.
229	impyisi	Noun
230	imva	Noun	grave, tomb.
231	imvubu	Noun	hippopotamus.
232	imvura	Noun
233	imyaka	Noun	plural of umwaka.
234	inaga	Noun	earthen pot, cooking pot.
235	inazi	Noun
236	incuti	Noun	relative or close friend.
237	inda	Noun
238	indege	Noun
239	indiga	Noun	a kind of knife.
240	indimi	Noun	plural of ururimi.
241	indimu	Noun	lemon, lime.
242	indogoba	Noun
243	indogobe	Noun	alternative form of indogoba (“donkey”).
244	indoko	Noun	cow with black and white colored neck.
245	indwara	Noun
246	ingagi	Noun	gorilla (ape).
247	ingobyi	Noun	cradle or cloth used to carry a baby.
248	ingohe	Noun	plural of urugohe.
249	ingoma	Noun	reign, kingship.
250	ingona	Noun	crocodile.
251	ingovyi	Noun	cradle or cloth used to carry a baby.
252	ingufu	Noun
253	ingurube	Noun
254	inguvu	Noun
255	ingwe	Noun
256	injangwe	Noun
257	inka	Noun	cow, cattle.
258	inkanga	Noun	guinea fowl.
259	inkigo	Noun	logs arranged above the smelting pit.
260	inkoko	Noun	chicken, fowl.
261	inkono	Noun	clay cooking pot.
262	inkuba	Noun
263	inkura	Noun	rhinoceros; (in particular) black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis).
264	inkwano	Noun	bride price.
265	inoti	Noun	bill, cash.
266	insakara	Noun	guineafowl.
267	inshuti	Noun	relative or close friend.
268	intama	Noun
269	intare	Noun
270	intebe	Noun	chair, seat.
271	interahamwe	Noun	Interahamwe (Hutu paramilitary organization).
272	intorezo	Noun
273	inyama	Noun
274	inyanja	Noun	ocean, sea.
275	inyanya	Noun
276	inyenyeri	Noun
277	inyoni	Noun
278	inyundo	Noun
279	inzara	Noun
280	inzira	Noun	road, path.
281	inzoga	Noun
282	inzoka	Noun
283	inzovu	Noun	ten thousand.
284	inzozi	Noun
285	inzu	Noun
286	inzuki	Noun	plural of uruyúki.
287	ipikipiki	Noun	motorcycle.
288	iragi	Noun	inheritance.
289	iriba	Noun	well, spring.
290	irigi	Noun
291	irima	Noun	farming season, the time of year when plowing is done.
292	iryinyo	Noun
293	iryoya	Noun
294	isabune	Noun
295	isabuni	Noun	alternative form of isabune.
296	isaha	Noun
297	isahane	Noun	alternative form of isahani.
298	isahani	Noun
299	isarura	Noun	harvest time.
300	isazi	Noun	fly (insect).
301	isekurume	Noun	male goat.
302	ishaka	Noun
303	isheja	Noun	dignity, pride.
304	isho	Noun	herd (of cattle).
305	ishu	Noun
306	ishure	Noun
307	ishuri	Noun	young bull (Kirundi).
308	ishyo	Noun	herd (of cattle).
309	isi	Noun	earth, the world.
310	isoko	Noun	spring, fountain, source (of flowing water).
311	isoni	Noun	modesty, shyness.
312	isuka	Noun	hoe (agricultural tool).
313	isukari	Noun
314	ita	Verb	to call, name.
315	itabi	Noun
316	itako	Noun
317	itara	Noun
318	itariki	Noun	date (specific day).
319	itekero	Noun
320	ityazo	Noun	whetstone.
321	ivubi	Noun
322	izina	Noun
323	izuba	Noun
324	izuru	Noun	tiny hole (of a belt etc.).
325	ja	Verb
326	jenerali	Noun	general (military rank).
327	jya	Verb
328	kama	Verb
329	kamatali	Noun	given name (meaning spear).
330	kaminuza	Noun	university.
331	kena	Verb	to be poor, be destitute.
332	kenga	Verb	to distrust, be suspicious of.
333	kiriya	Noun	customer, client.
334	kora	Verb
335	koresha	Verb	Causative of -kora: use, make work.
336	kubita	Verb	hit, strike.
337	kubona	Verb	infinitive of -bona.
338	kubyina	Verb	infinitive of -byina.
339	kugwa	Verb	infinitive of -gwa.
340	kujya	Verb	infinitive of -jya.
341	kunda	Verb	like, love.
342	kunywa	Verb	infinitive of -nywa.
343	kura	Verb	remove, take away.
344	kuroga	Verb	infinitive of -roga.
345	kurya	Verb	infinitive of -rya.
346	kuvyina	Verb	infinitive of -vyina.
347	kwa	Verb	pay bride price.
348	kwiba	Verb	infinitive of -iba.
349	leta	Noun	government.
350	mama	Noun	my maternal aunt.
351	manika	Verb	hang up, suspend.
352	marume	Noun	my maternal uncle.
353	mera	Verb	be in a certain state, feel a certain way.
354	mesa	Verb	wash clothing, launder.
355	miliyari	Noun
356	miliyoni	Noun	alternative spelling of miriyoni.
357	miriyoni	Noun
358	nandibu	Noun	variety of wild banana (Kirundi).
359	nesha	Verb	conquer, triumph.
360	ngerengere	Noun	gazelle (Kirundi).
361	niha	Verb
362	nuka	Verb	stink, smell bad.
363	nyaga	Verb	plunder, take by force.
364	nyina	Noun	his/her maternal aunt.
365	nyobwa	Verb	Passive form of -nywa: be drunk.
366	nyoko	Noun	your maternal aunt.
367	nywa	Verb
368	oga	Verb	bathe, immerse.
369	ogosha	Verb	cut hair: shave, shear, etc.
370	onka	Verb	suckle, nurse at a breast.
371	ota	Verb	warm oneself, get warm.
372	otsa	Verb	roast, burn, bake.
373	oza	Verb	Causative of -oga: clean, wash.
374	papa	Noun
375	perezida	Noun	president.
376	pfa	Verb
377	rabya	Verb	to shine, to flourish.
378	raga	Verb	bequeath, give an inheritance.
379	rambarara	Verb	to stretch out.
380	rasa	Verb	to shoot (with a weapon).
381	ravya	Verb	to shine, to flourish.
382	remera	Verb	be(come) heavy.
383	rima	Verb	cultivate.
384	roba	Verb
385	roga	Verb	bewitch, enchant.
386	rota	Verb
387	ruha	Verb	tire, be tired.
388	ruka	Verb	to vomit, to puke.
389	runda	Verb
390	rusha	Verb	Used as a polite formula when making a request, followed by an infinitive.
391	rushya	Verb	Causative of -ruha: make tired, annoy.
392	rwara	Verb	be sick, be ill.
393	rya	Verb
394	saa	Noun
395	sangira	Verb	to share food or drink; to eat or drink together.
396	sara	Verb	be insane, be crazy.
397	sarura	Verb
398	saza	Verb	be old, be worn out.
399	se	Noun	his/her paternal uncle.
400	seka	Verb	laugh, smile.
401	shaka	Verb	look for, seek.
402	shima	Verb	to thank; praise; admire; be content with.
403	siga	Verb	smear (something onto a surface).
404	so	Noun	your paternal uncle.
405	soma	Verb
406	sonza	Verb	be hungry.
407	subiza	Verb	to answer, reply, respond.
408	tangara	Verb	to marvel, to wonder.
409	teka	Verb
410	tera	Verb	to be shaped (a certain way).
411	tuma	Verb
412	tunga	Verb	own, possess.
413	twara	Verb	drive (a vehicle).
414	tyaza	Verb	Causative of -tyara: sharpen, whet.
415	ubugali	Noun	alternative spelling of ubugari.
416	ubugari	Noun	a kind of porridge, traditionally made from cassava but now commonly made with maize.
417	ubuhanuzi	Noun
418	ubuki	Noun
419	ubukungu	Noun
420	uburo	Noun	finger millet, eleusine.
421	uburozi	Noun	sorcery, witchcraft.
422	ubururu	Noun
423	ubushagama	Noun	cattle blood that is set aside when slaughtering.
424	ubusitani	Noun	orchard(s), garden(s).
425	ubutunzi	Noun	possessions, riches.
426	ubwami	Noun
427	ubwato	Noun	boat, ship.
428	ubwonko	Noun
429	ugutwi	Noun
430	ukuboko	Noun	strength, might.
431	ukuguru	Noun
432	ukuntu	Noun	method, means.
433	ukuri	Noun
434	ukwaha	Noun
435	ukwezi	Noun
436	umubabaro	Noun	sorrow, sadness, grief.
437	umubaji	Noun	carpenter.
438	umubare	Noun	mathematics.
439	umubu	Noun
440	umubumbyi	Noun
441	umubumvyi	Noun
442	umubyeyi	Noun
443	umucamanza	Noun
444	umuceri	Noun
445	umucungwa	Noun	orange (fruit).
446	umucuzi	Noun	blacksmith.
447	umudigi	Noun	swollen belly.
448	umugabo	Noun
449	umuganga	Noun
450	umugati	Noun
451	umugezi	Noun	small river.
452	umugi	Noun	alternative form of umujyi.
453	umugome	Noun	rebel, insurgent.
454	umugore	Noun
455	umuhanuzi	Noun
456	umuheto	Noun	bow (weapon used with arrows).
457	umuhigi	Noun
458	umuhinzi	Noun	farmer, cultivator.
459	umujyi	Noun	town, city, municipality.
460	umukamyi	Noun	milker (person who milks animals).
461	umukarani	Noun	clerk, secretary.
462	umukate	Noun
463	umukene	Noun	pauper, poor person.
464	umukire	Noun	wealthy person.
465	umukono	Noun	handwriting.
466	umukozi	Noun
467	umukunzi	Noun	a beloved friend.
468	umuliyoni	Noun	alternative spelling of umuriyoni.
469	umuniho	Noun
470	umunota	Noun
471	umunsi	Noun
472	umuntu	Noun	person, human.
473	umunuta	Noun
474	umunwa	Noun	mouth, beak.
475	umupfu	Noun	corpse, dead person.
476	umupira	Noun	something made of rubber: eraser, tire, etc.
477	umurabyo	Noun	lightning.
478	umurage	Noun	inheritance.
479	umurambararo	Noun
480	umuravyo	Noun	lightning.
481	umurima	Noun	garden, cultivated plot.
482	umurimo	Noun	job, work, task.
483	umurimyi	Noun	farmer, cultivator.
484	umuriro	Noun
485	umuriyoni	Noun
486	umurozi	Noun	sorcerer, witch.
487	umurwayi	Noun	ill person, sick person.
488	umuryango	Noun	clan, family, lineage.
489	umusaraba	Noun
490	umusarani	Noun	toilet, latrine.
491	umusatsi	Noun	hair (of a human head).
492	umusazi	Noun	madman, insane person.
493	umusenyi	Noun	sand, grain of sand.
494	umuserebanya	Noun
495	umushatsi	Noun	alternative form of umusatsi (“hair (of a human head)”).
496	umushwi	Noun	chick (baby bird).
497	umusi	Noun
498	umusigiti	Noun
499	umusirimu	Noun	a stylish person.
500	umusore	Noun	young man, youth.
501	umusozi	Noun
502	umuswa	Noun	fool, idiot.
503	umuswi	Noun	chick (baby bird).
504	umutetsi	Noun
505	umuti	Noun	medicine, drug.
506	umutima	Noun
507	umutsima	Noun
508	umutunzi	Noun	wealthy person.
509	umutware	Noun	chief, leader.
510	umutwaro	Noun	burden, load.
511	umutwe	Noun
512	umuvyeyi	Noun
513	umuzinga	Noun
514	umuzungu	Noun	white person.
515	umva	Verb
516	umvira	Verb	Applicative of -umva.
517	umwaka	Noun
518	umwambaro	Noun	garment, piece of clothing.
519	umwambi	Noun
520	umwami	Noun
521	umwampi	Noun
522	umwana	Noun
523	umwansi	Noun
524	umwanzi	Noun
525	umwarimu	Noun
526	umwenda	Noun
527	umwera	Noun	white person.
528	umweru	Noun	something bright white, a completely white object.
529	umwibyi	Noun
530	umwigisha	Noun
531	umwijima	Noun
532	umwirabura	Noun	black person, negro.
533	umwivyi	Noun
534	umwotsi	Noun
535	umwuzukuru	Noun	grandson, granddaughter.
536	urubaho	Noun
537	urubanza	Noun	trial, litigation, court case.
538	urubiga	Noun	edge of a container.
539	urubogobogo	Noun	clean, clear.
540	urubu	Noun	yogurt, sour milk (clabbered), sour taste.
541	urugenya	Noun	roulettes made by twining two small ropes around each other, doubling the resultant cord, twining again, and then tying…
542	urugohe	Noun
543	uruhu	Noun	hide, leather, animal skin.
544	urukwavu	Noun	hare, rabbit.
545	urunyanya	Noun
546	urupapuro	Noun	paper, page.
547	ururimi	Noun
548	urusato	Noun	animal skin, hide.
549	uruvyino	Noun
550	uruyuki	Noun
551	uruzi	Noun	large river.
552	utubago	Noun	plural of akabago.
553	utubande	Noun	plural of akabande.
554	utubarankuru	Noun	plural of akabarankuru.
555	vuga	Verb	speak, say.
556	vumbika	Verb	cover the fire with ash.
557	vumbuka	Verb	rush out, be roused.
558	vumbura	Verb	remove from fire.
559	vyara	Verb	bear a child, give birth.
560	vyina	Verb
561	za	Verb

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Kinyarwanda — Beginner Vocabulary

Explore the Ikinyarwanda dictionary