Language/Kinyarwanda/Vocabulary/Basic-Greetings

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Kinyarwanda → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Greetings

Welcome to the lesson on Basic Greetings in Kinyarwanda! Greetings are the very essence of communication, especially in a culture where relationships and respect are highly valued. In Rwanda, how you greet someone can set the tone for the entire interaction. This lesson will introduce you to various ways to greet both formally and informally, how to say goodbye, and express gratitude.

Understanding greetings is crucial as they are often the first words exchanged between individuals. A simple "hello" can open doors to friendships, conversations, and deeper cultural exchanges. In this lesson, we will cover:

• Formal greetings

• Informal greetings

• Saying goodbye

• Expressing thank you

Let’s dive in and learn how to connect with others in Kinyarwanda!

Formal Greetings

Formal greetings are typically used in professional settings or when addressing someone older or of higher status. They convey respect and politeness. Here are some common formal greetings in Kinyarwanda:

Kinyarwanda	Pronunciation	English
Muraho !! /muˈra.ho/	Hello (formal)
Amakuru? !! /amaˈku.ɾu/	How are you? (formal)
Nimeza !! /niˈme.za/	I am fine (response)
Urakaza neza !! /uɾaˈka.za ˈne.za/	Welcome (formal)
Mwiriwe !! /mwiˈɾi.we/	Good afternoon/evening
Ndagutegereje !! /nda.gu.te.ɡeˈɾe.ʒe/	I have been waiting for you
Ni byiza kukubona !! /ni ˈbi.iza ku.kuˈbo.na/	It’s nice to see you
Urakoze !! /uɾaˈko.ze/	Thank you (formal)
Ndabashimira !! /nda.ba.ʃiˈmi.ɾa/	I appreciate you
Bwakeye bwiza !! /bwaˈke.je ˈbwi.za/	Good morning (after dawn)

Informal Greetings

Informal greetings are used among friends, family, and peers. They are more casual and reflect warmth and familiarity. Here are some informal greetings you can use:

Kinyarwanda	Pronunciation	English
Oya !! /oˈja/	Hi
Bite? !! /biˈte/	What's up? (informal)
Noriwe? !! /noˈɾi.we/	How are you doing? (informal)
Kagame! !! /kaˈɡa.me/	Yo!
Turi he? !! /tuˈɾi he/	Where are we? (informal)
Ndagukumbuye !! /nda.gu.kumˈbu.ʏe/	I missed you
Ndaguhaye !! /nda.guˈha.ye/	I have brought you
Wiriwe? !! /wiˈɾi.we/	How is your day?
Umunsi mwiza !! /uˈmun.si ˈmwi.za/	Have a good day!
Turi kumwe !! /tuˈɾi ˈkum.we/	We are together

Saying Goodbye

When it's time to part ways, Kinyarwanda has various expressions to say goodbye. Here are some common phrases:

Kinyarwanda	Pronunciation	English
Murabeho !! /muɾaˈbe.ho/	Goodbye (formal)
Urabeho !! /uɾaˈbe.ho/	Goodbye (informal)
Sawa !! /ˈsa.wa/	Okay, see you later
Ntegereje!! /n.te.ɡeˈɾe.ʒe/	I'll be waiting
Nzakubona !! /nza.kuˈbo.na/	I will see you
Nzakubona ejo !! /nza.kuˈbo.na ˈe.ʤo/	I will see you tomorrow
Sijye mumara!! /siˈj.je muˈma.ɾa/	Don't take long
Mugende neza !! /muˈɡen.de ˈne.za/	Go well (to multiple people)
Nzakora !! /nzaˈko.ɾa/	I will work on it
Mwigendere !! /mwiɡenˈde.ɾe/	Travel well (to someone)

Expressing Thank You

Expressing gratitude is an essential part of communication. In Kinyarwanda, here’s how to say thank you:

Kinyarwanda	Pronunciation	English
Urakoze !! /uɾaˈko.ze/	Thank you (formal)
Murakoze !! /muɾaˈko.ze/	Thank you (to multiple people)
Ndabashimira !! /nda.ba.ʃiˈmi.ɾa/	I appreciate you (formal)
Ndagukunda !! /nda.guˈkun.da/	I love you (informal)
Urakoze cyane !! /uɾaˈko.ze ˈtʃa.ne/	Thank you very much
Urakoze ku bintu byose !! /uɾaˈko.ze ku ˈbin.tu ˈbjo.se/	Thank you for everything
Ndakubaha !! /nda.kuˈba.ha/	I respect you
Urakoze kenshi !! /uɾaˈko.ze ˈken.ʃi/	Thank you often/regularly
Urakoze rwose !! /uɾaˈko.ze ˈɾwo.se/	Thank you so much
Ndabashimiye !! /nda.ba.ʃiˈmi.ɾe/	I am grateful to you

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Now that you have learned various greetings, it's time for some practice! Below are 10 exercises designed to help reinforce your understanding of Kinyarwanda greetings.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the following sentences using the appropriate greeting:

1. __________ (Hello) mwiriwe.

2. __________ (Goodbye) urabeho.

3. __________ (Thank you) cyane.

4. __________ (What’s up?) bite?

5. __________ (I missed you) ndukumbuye.

Exercise 2: Match the Greeting

Match each Kinyarwanda greeting with its English translation:

Kinyarwanda	English
Muraho !!	a. Thank you
Amakuru? !!	b. Goodbye
Urakoze !!	c. Hello
Nzakubona !!	d. How are you?
Urabeho !!	e. I will see you

Exercise 3: Translate the Following

Translate the following English greetings into Kinyarwanda:

1. Good afternoon: __________

2. I appreciate you: __________

3. How is your day?: __________

4. I will be waiting: __________

5. Travel well: __________

Exercise 4: Conversation Practice

Create a short dialogue between two friends meeting after a long time. Use at least three greetings from this lesson.

Exercise 5: Identify the Greeting

Listen to a recording (imaginary) of a conversation in Kinyarwanda. Identify the greeting used.

Exercise 6: Create Your Own Scenarios

Write three different situations in which you would use formal greetings.

Exercise 7: Role Play

Pair up with a friend and practice greeting each other using both formal and informal greetings.

Exercise 8: Group Activity

In groups, create a skit that includes greetings, farewells, and expressions of gratitude. Perform it in front of the class.

Exercise 9: Journal Entry

Write a journal entry about a day when you had to greet someone important. Describe how you felt and what greeting you used.

Exercise 10: Review and Reflect

Reflect on what you have learned in this lesson. Write down what you found most interesting or challenging about Kinyarwanda greetings.

Answers to Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Muraho

2. Urabeho

3. Urakoze

4. Bite?

5. Ndagukumbuye

Exercise 2: Match the Greeting

| Kinyarwanda || English

|-

| Muraho || c. Hello

|-

| Amakuru? || d. How are you?

|-

| Urakoze || a. Thank you

|-

| Nzakubona || e. I will see you

|-

| Urabeho || b. Goodbye

Exercise 3: Translate the Following

1. Good afternoon: Mwiriwe

2. I appreciate you: Ndabashimira

3. How is your day?: Wiriwe?

4. I will be waiting: Ntegereje

5. Travel well: Mwigendere

Exercise 4: Conversation Practice

Friend 1: Muraho! (Hello!)

Friend 2: Bite? (What’s up?)

Friend 1: Ndagukumbuye! (I missed you!)

Friend 2: Nanjye, nari mbihangayikishije. (Me too, I was worried.)

Exercise 5: Identify the Greeting

[Students are to listen to the imaginary recording and note the greetings they hear.]

Exercise 6: Create Your Own Scenarios

[Students write down their scenarios, e.g., meeting a teacher, addressing a guest, etc.]

Exercise 7: Role Play

[Students practice greetings in pairs.]

Exercise 8: Group Activity

[Students perform their skits based on greetings.]

Exercise 9: Journal Entry

[Students write their journal entries based on their experiences.]

Exercise 10: Review and Reflect

[Students reflect on their learning experiences.]

Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on Basic Greetings in Kinyarwanda. Remember, greetings are more than just words; they are the warmth that connects us. As you continue your journey in learning Kinyarwanda, keep practicing these greetings, and you will find that they will become second nature.

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

Sources

• 1.) Greetings and Introductions - Learning Kinyarwanda
• Useful phrases in Kinyarwanda

Other Lessons

• Family Members
• Education
• Express Surprise
• Animals
• Days of the Week
• Geography
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Eating and Drinking
• Common Foods

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