Language/Kinyarwanda/Vocabulary/Eating-and-Drinking

Kinyarwanda → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Drink → Eating and Drinking

Eating and drinking are essential parts of daily life. In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about food and drink in Kinyarwanda, including how to order at a restaurant and ask for the bill. Rwandan cuisine is diverse and includes dishes like cassava, sweet potatoes, bananas, maize, beans, and fruits such as mangoes, papayas, and pineapples. So, get ready to explore some delicious food-related vocabulary in Kinyarwanda!

Vocabulary

Here is a table of common food and drink words in Kinyarwanda:

Kinyarwanda	Pronunciation	English
Inka	een-kah	Chicken
Isambaza	ees-am-bah-zah	Catfish
Igisafuriya	ee-gee-sah-foo-ree-yah	Sausage
Igitoki	ee-gee-toh-kee	Green banana
Yasemi	yah-seh-mee	Rice
Imyumbati	ee-myoom-bah-tee	Potato
Ibinyomoro	ee-bee-nyoh-moh-roh	Salt
Ibitoke	ee-bee-toh-keh	Cassava
Amazi	ah-mah-zee	Water
Ibinyomora	ee-bee-nyoh-mor-ah	Pepper

To ask for something to eat or drink, use the phrase "Nifuzaga ____" which means "I want ____". For example, "Nifuzaga inka" means "I want chicken". Similarly, to ask for something to drink, use the phrase "Nifuzaga amazi" which means "I want water".

To say that you don't want something, use the phrase "Ntuzifuzi ___" which means "I don't want ____". For example, "Ntuzifuzi ibirayi" means "I don't want beer".

You can also use the phrase "Nimwe, nifuzaga menu" which means "Excuse me, I want the menu".

At the Restaurant

When you visit a restaurant in Rwanda, you will be greeted with "Murakaza neza" which means "Welcome". If you want to order something, you can use the phrase "Nifuzaga ____" which means "I want ____". For example, you can say "Nifuzaga isambaza" which means "I want catfish".

To ask for the bill, use the phrase "Nifuzaga konti" which means "I want the bill".

Here is a conversation example:

Maître d': Murakaza neza! Customer: Murakoze. Maître d': Nimwe, nifuzaga menu? Customer: Yego, nifuzaga menu. Maître d': Ugomba kuba nifite? (What would you like to have?) Customer: Nifuzaga inka. (I want chicken.) Maître d': Yego. (Alright.) (waiter brings chicken) Customer: Murakoze. (waiter serves the meal) (waiter brings the bill) Customer: Nifuzaga konti. (I want the bill.) (waiter brings the bill) Customer: Murakoze.

Conclusion

In conclusion, learning food and drink vocabulary is a crucial part of learning any language, and Kinyarwanda isn't an exception. This lesson taught you some of the basic food and drink vocabulary in Kinyarwanda and how to order food and drinks at a restaurant. Keep practicing and don't be afraid to explore new flavors and dishes from Rwanda!

Table of Contents - Kinyarwanda Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Noun Classes
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Present Tense
• Past Tense

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Describing Nouns
• Describing Verbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Eating and Drinking

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Asking Questions
• Negating Sentences

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Rwandan Customs and Traditions

• Traditional Celebrations
• Rwandan Etiquette

Other Lessons

• Common Foods
• Education
• Food
• Describing Relationships
• Days of the Week
• Modes of Transportation
• Basic Greetings
• Telling Time
• Count to 10
• Introducing Yourself

Sources

• Level 20 - Food and Drinks - Kinyarwanda Phrases - Memrise
• Trainee Kinyarwanda Book Table of Contents
• Kinyarwanda - DICTIONARY