Kinyarwanda — top 395 words
High-frequency vocabulary for English speakers. Reveal each card, then rate your recall — the schedule adapts (SM-2) and is stored on your device.
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Full word list
| # | Kinyarwanda | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | muraho | hello (formal) |
| 2 | bite | hi / how are you? |
| 3 | murakoze | thank you |
| 4 | murakoze cyane | thank you very much |
| 5 | yego | yes |
| 6 | oya | no |
| 7 | mfashe | please / help me |
| 8 | murakaza neza | welcome |
| 9 | amahoro | peace / hello |
| 10 | nibyo | that's right |
| 11 | nta | no / not / none |
| 12 | bwana | sir / Mr. |
| 13 | nyakubahwa | honourable |
| 14 | inshuti | friend |
| 15 | umuryango | family / door |
| 16 | ababyeyi | parents |
| 17 | se | father |
| 18 | nyina | mother |
| 19 | mukuru | elder / older sibling |
| 20 | murumuna | younger sibling |
| 21 | umugabo | man / husband |
| 22 | umugore | woman / wife |
| 23 | umwana | child |
| 24 | abana | children |
| 25 | umuntu | person |
| 26 | abantu | people |
| 27 | undi | other / another |
| 28 | buri | every / each |
| 29 | wa | of (possessive) |
| 30 | ni | is / am / are |
| 31 | na | and / with |
| 32 | ariko | but / however |
| 33 | kuko | because |
| 34 | kugira ngo | in order to |
| 35 | niba | if |
| 36 | igihe | time / when |
| 37 | none | now / so |
| 38 | rero | therefore |
| 39 | mbere | before / first |
| 40 | nyuma | after / behind |
| 41 | hafi | near / almost |
| 42 | kure | far |
| 43 | hino | here |
| 44 | hariya | there |
| 45 | aho | there / where |
| 46 | iki | this / what? |
| 47 | icyo | that |
| 48 | uyu | this (person) |
| 49 | uwo | that (person) |
| 50 | aba | these (people) |
| 51 | izo | those |
| 52 | gute | how? |
| 53 | nde | who? |
| 54 | he | where? |
| 55 | ryari | when? |
| 56 | kuki | why? |
| 57 | angahe | how many? |
| 58 | kumva | to hear / understand / feel |
| 59 | kuvuga | to speak / say |
| 60 | gusobanura | to explain |
| 61 | kwandika | to write |
| 62 | gusoma | to read |
| 63 | kwiga | to study / learn |
| 64 | gukora | to work / do |
| 65 | kuva | to come from / leave |
| 66 | kuja | to come |
| 67 | kugenda | to go / walk |
| 68 | gutura | to live / reside |
| 69 | kuririmba | to sing |
| 70 | kurarika | to sleep |
| 71 | kuzinduka | to wake up |
| 72 | gufata | to take / hold / catch |
| 73 | guha | to give |
| 74 | kubona | to see / find / get |
| 75 | kureba | to look / watch |
| 76 | gusobanukirwa | to understand well |
| 77 | kwibuka | to remember |
| 78 | kurima | to farm / cultivate |
| 79 | kugura | to buy |
| 80 | kugurisha | to sell |
| 81 | kurya | to eat |
| 82 | kunywa | to drink |
| 83 | gufungura | to open / have a meal |
| 84 | gufunga | to close / lock |
| 85 | kuvoma | to fetch water |
| 86 | guteka | to cook |
| 87 | kwambara | to wear / dress |
| 88 | kubara | to count |
| 89 | gutanga | to give / offer / start |
| 90 | gusaba | to ask / request |
| 91 | gusubiza | to answer / reply |
| 92 | kuganira | to discuss / chat |
| 93 | guseka | to laugh |
| 94 | kurira | to cry / flow |
| 95 | gutinya | to fear |
| 96 | gukunda | to love / like |
| 97 | gutekereza | to think |
| 98 | kwizera | to trust / believe |
| 99 | guhangayika | to worry |
| 100 | gutunga | to own / possess |
| 101 | gusabana | to borrow / share |
| 102 | ubwenge | intelligence / wisdom |
| 103 | imbaraga | strength / energy |
| 104 | ubuzima | health / life |
| 105 | indwara | disease / illness |
| 106 | umubiri | body |
| 107 | umutwe | head |
| 108 | amaso | eyes |
| 109 | amatwi | ears |
| 110 | inyonga | hand |
| 111 | amaguru | legs / feet |
| 112 | umunwa | mouth |
| 113 | inzara | hunger |
| 114 | inyota | thirst |
| 115 | imana | God |
| 116 | isengesho | prayer |
| 117 | itorero | church |
| 118 | icyumweru | week |
| 119 | ukwezi | month |
| 120 | umwaka | year |
| 121 | uyu munsi | today |
| 122 | ejo | yesterday / tomorrow |
| 123 | ejo hashize | yesterday |
| 124 | ejo hazaza | tomorrow |
| 125 | ubu | now / currently |
| 126 | noneho | right now |
| 127 | amasaha | hours / time |
| 128 | mu gitondo | in the morning |
| 129 | nijoro | at night |
| 130 | nimugoroba | in the evening |
| 131 | umuriro | fire / fever |
| 132 | amazi | water |
| 133 | ibyokurya | food |
| 134 | inzoga | beer / alcohol |
| 135 | amata | milk |
| 136 | isukari | sugar |
| 137 | umunyu | salt |
| 138 | ibiryaro | vegetables |
| 139 | imbuto | seed / fruit |
| 140 | uburo | sorghum / millet |
| 141 | ibiharage | beans |
| 142 | ibirayi | potatoes |
| 143 | inshyushyu | hot pepper |
| 144 | inyama | meat |
| 145 | ifi | fish (pl.) |
| 146 | ikijumba | sweet potato |
| 147 | ubugari | ugali / porridge |
| 148 | ameza | table |
| 149 | inzira | path / road |
| 150 | umuhanda | road / street |
| 151 | imodoka | car |
| 152 | bisi | bus |
| 153 | indege | airplane / bird |
| 154 | umudugudu | village |
| 155 | umujyi | city / town |
| 156 | iwacu | our home |
| 157 | inzu | house / building |
| 158 | ikiraro | bridge |
| 159 | isoko | market |
| 160 | ibitaro | hospital |
| 161 | ishuri | school |
| 162 | kaminuza | university |
| 163 | leta | government / state |
| 164 | perezida | president |
| 165 | minisitiri | minister |
| 166 | polisi | police |
| 167 | itegeko | law / rule |
| 168 | iterambere | development / progress |
| 169 | ubukungu | economy |
| 170 | amafaranga | money |
| 171 | banki | bank |
| 172 | akazi | work / job |
| 173 | umushahara | salary |
| 174 | umurimo | profession / work |
| 175 | uburere | upbringing / education |
| 176 | ubumenyi | knowledge / science |
| 177 | ubushakashatsi | research |
| 178 | intego | goal / aim |
| 179 | icyizere | hope / trust |
| 180 | amahirwe | opportunity / luck |
| 181 | ibibazo | problems / questions |
| 182 | ibisubizo | answers / solutions |
| 183 | icyemezo | decision / certificate |
| 184 | amategeko | laws / rules |
| 185 | ingufu | force / power |
| 186 | umurenge | sector (admin.) |
| 187 | akarere | district |
| 188 | igihugu | country / nation |
| 189 | Afrika | Africa |
| 190 | Rwanda | Rwanda |
| 191 | Kigali | Kigali (capital) |
| 192 | umuganda | community work |
| 193 | gahunda | program / plan |
| 194 | imbere | future / front |
| 195 | ikibazo | problem / question |
| 196 | igisubizo | answer / solution |
| 197 | amahoro | peace |
| 198 | ubwiyunge | reconciliation |
| 199 | umuvuduko | speed |
| 200 | inkuru | story / news |
| 201 | radio | radio |
| 202 | televiziyo | television |
| 203 | telefoni | telephone / phone |
| 204 | interineti | internet |
| 205 | mudasobwa | computer |
| 206 | ibaruwa | letter / email |
| 207 | ubutumwa | message |
| 208 | igitabo | book |
| 209 | ikinyamakuru | newspaper |
| 210 | ubuyobozi | leadership / management |
| 211 | kuvumbura | to discover |
| 212 | guhuza | to connect / unite |
| 213 | gusubira | to return |
| 214 | gutangira | to begin |
| 215 | kurangira | to finish / end |
| 216 | gukomeza | to continue |
| 217 | guhagarara | to stop |
| 218 | kugira | to have / be |
| 219 | kubaho | to exist / live |
| 220 | kuzuka | to rise / be reborn |
| 221 | gupfa | to die |
| 222 | kuvuka | to be born / sprout |
| 223 | gutera | to plant / attack |
| 224 | gufasha | to help / assist |
| 225 | kubaka | to build |
| 226 | gutwara | to carry / drive |
| 227 | kohereza | to send |
| 228 | kwakira | to receive / accept |
| 229 | gufatanya | to cooperate |
| 230 | kwiyemeza | to decide |
| 231 | guhitamo | to choose |
| 232 | gusuzuma | to examine / check |
| 233 | gukura | to grow / develop |
| 234 | kwibagirwa | to forget |
| 235 | gutandukana | to separate |
| 236 | kuvugana | to agree / consult |
| 237 | gukemura | to solve |
| 238 | gucunga | to manage |
| 239 | kwita ku | to take care of |
| 240 | kwishimira | to enjoy / be glad |
| 241 | gushimira | to thank / appreciate |
| 242 | ukuri | truth |
| 243 | ibinyoma | lies |
| 244 | amashanyarazi | electricity |
| 245 | amazi meza | clean water |
| 246 | imvura | rain |
| 247 | ikiyaga | lake |
| 248 | uruzi | river |
| 249 | umusozi | mountain / hill |
| 250 | ubutaka | land / soil |
| 251 | igiti | tree |
| 252 | umurima | farm / field |
| 253 | gukoresha | to use / employ |
| 254 | gutunganya | to organise |
| 255 | kuronka | to get / obtain |
| 256 | kwiyongera | to increase / grow |
| 257 | kugabanuka | to decrease |
| 258 | gutakaza | to lose |
| 259 | kwinjira | to enter |
| 260 | gusohoka | to exit |
| 261 | kuruha | to get tired |
| 262 | kupumuka | to rest |
| 263 | gukiza | to heal / save |
| 264 | kubaza | to ask / inquire |
| 265 | kwemera | to agree / accept |
| 266 | kwanga | to refuse / dislike |
| 267 | gushiraho | to establish |
| 268 | izina | name |
| 269 | ubushobozi | ability / capacity |
| 270 | ubutwari | courage |
| 271 | ubumwe | unity |
| 272 | ubutabera | justice |
| 273 | ukwemera | faith / belief |
| 274 | urukundo | love |
| 275 | amizero | hope / optimism |
| 276 | agaciro | value / dignity |
| 277 | uburinganire | equality |
| 278 | ubumuntu | humanity |
| 279 | inka | cow |
| 280 | ihene | goat |
| 281 | ingurube | pig |
| 282 | inkoko | chicken |
| 283 | imbwa | dog |
| 284 | ifu | flour |
| 285 | umusatsi | hair |
| 286 | imyenda | clothes |
| 287 | inkweto | shoes |
| 288 | ingofero | hat / cap |
| 289 | umurimyi | farmer |
| 290 | intwali | hero / brave person |
| 291 | urugamba | struggle / journey |
| 292 | amakuru | news / greetings |
| 293 | umushyikirano | dialogue / consultation |
| 294 | ubwoko | type / kind / ethnicity |
| 295 | igiti | tree |
| 296 | isoko | market / source |
| 297 | imyaka | crops / age / years |
| 298 | ubworozi | livestock / animal rearing |
| 299 | umuryango | family / clan |
| 300 | ubuvandimwe | brotherhood / kinship |
| 301 | imbuga nkoranyambaga | social media |
| 302 | inyandiko | document / text / writing |
| 303 | serivisi | service |
| 304 | sosiyete | company / society |
| 305 | igikorwa | activity / action |
| 306 | umubano | relationship / neighbourhood |
| 307 | amajyambere | advancement / progress |
| 308 | ishoramari | investment |
| 309 | imari | finance |
| 310 | ubucuruzi | commerce / trade |
| 311 | iminsi | days |
| 312 | impapuro | paper / documents |
| 313 | inzego | levels / structures |
| 314 | intara | province |
| 315 | umugabane | district area |
| 316 | agace | small area / cell |
| 317 | umugi | city / town |
| 318 | isi | earth / world |
| 319 | uko bimeze | as it is / the situation |
| 320 | ubuzima bwiza | good health |
| 321 | amatangazo | announcements / ads |
| 322 | imbugabugwa | software / app |
| 323 | umukuru | leader / elder / head |
| 324 | ubuhamya | testimony / evidence |
| 325 | inshuti za hafi | close friends |
| 326 | akazi ka leta | government job |
| 327 | ubushakashatsi bwa siyansi | scientific research |
| 328 | gutsinda | to win / to overcome |
| 329 | guhangana | to face / to confront |
| 330 | gufatwa | to be caught / arrested |
| 331 | guhabwa | to be given |
| 332 | kwandikwa | to be written |
| 333 | gusomwa | to be read |
| 334 | kugezwa | to be sent / delivered |
| 335 | kubonwa | to be seen / found |
| 336 | kuvugwa | to be spoken / said |
| 337 | kwigwa | to be taught / studied |
| 338 | gukorwa | to be done / worked |
| 339 | kujya | to go (variant) |
| 340 | kuza | to come (variant) |
| 341 | guhunga | to flee / escape |
| 342 | gushonga | to melt / dissolve |
| 343 | gusiga | to smear / leave behind |
| 344 | gukata | to cut |
| 345 | gushona | to sew / to sink |
| 346 | gukeba | to pick / select |
| 347 | gukanda | to press / massage |
| 348 | gusekera | to laugh at |
| 349 | gutwikurura | to uncover / reveal |
| 350 | kwibaza | to wonder / ask oneself |
| 351 | kunanirwa | to fail / be unable |
| 352 | guhinduka | to change / transform |
| 353 | guhindura | to change / translate |
| 354 | kwangana | to be equal / match |
| 355 | kunyurwa | to be satisfied |
| 356 | gutekwa | to be cooked |
| 357 | gutunikwa | to be pierced |
| 358 | gukomereka | to be wounded |
| 359 | gukomerwa | to be injured |
| 360 | kwishyura | to pay |
| 361 | kugabana | to divide / share |
| 362 | gukanguka | to wake up / be alert |
| 363 | kwiringira | to rely on |
| 364 | gusengera | to pray for |
| 365 | kwibohora | to free oneself |
| 366 | kudindira | to wait |
| 367 | gutegereza | to wait patiently |
| 368 | gushaka | to want / look for / marry |
| 369 | gukora intambwe | to take a step |
| 370 | kwamamaza | to advertise / publicize |
| 371 | gusangira | to share / eat together |
| 372 | ibihugu | countries |
| 373 | isi yose | the whole world |
| 374 | amoko | ethnicities / kinds |
| 375 | indangagaciro | values / principles |
| 376 | ubugiraneza | generosity |
| 377 | inyangamugayo | integrity / honesty |
| 378 | kwisuzuma | self-evaluation |
| 379 | kubyara | to give birth |
| 380 | umurwayi | patient / sick person |
| 381 | umuganga | doctor |
| 382 | umuforomo | nurse |
| 383 | amafuti | fuel / oil |
| 384 | umurambi | hill / ridge |
| 385 | icupa | bottle |
| 386 | agaseke | small basket |
| 387 | umutego | trap / target / price |
| 388 | gucuruza | to trade / sell |
| 389 | gutera imbere | to make progress |
| 390 | kwita | to call / name |
| 391 | kwitwa | to be called |
| 392 | indangamuntu | identity card |
| 393 | ububyutu | speed / agility |
| 394 | ivugurura | reform / renewal |
| 395 | iterambere ry'igihugu | national development |