Looking for practical Kinyarwanda to Mam phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Kinyarwanda phrase first, then the Mam translation (Mam) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Mam.
Tip: when a Mam phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Kinyarwanda wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
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Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Muraho
Xo'j(sho'j)
Urakoze
Tz'ik(tz'ik)
Bwakire bwiza
Xo'j nax(sho'j nax)
Nimugoroba mwiza
Xo'j q'ij(sho'j q'ij)
Mwaramutse mwiza
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Ijoro ryiza
Xo'j k'ux nax(sho'j k'ux nax)
Tuzabonana nyuma
K'ux q'ij(k'ux q'ij)
Murabeho
Xo'j k'ux(sho'j k'ux)
Witwa nde?
Ja' k'ux nax?(ha' k'ux nax?)
Nitwa John
Ja' k'ux nax John(ha' k'ux nax John)
Umeze ute?
Jach' k'ux?(hach' k'ux?)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Nab' k'ux(nab' k'ux)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
¿K'ax k'utun English?
Sinavuga Hindi neza
Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.
Sinumva
Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.
Nyabuneka vuga buhoro
Por favor, k'utun k'ux.
Wabivuga ukundi?
¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?
Aho ubwiherero buri he?
¿Jach'och k'ux?
Nagenda nte ku mugi?
¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?
Hindukira ibumoso
K'utun k'ux.
Hindukira iburyo
K'utun k'ux.
Genda imbere
K'utun k'ux.
Igiciro ni ikihe?
¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?
Itike imwe, nyabuneka
K'utun ch'ich', por favor.
Ni kure hano?
¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?
Ndi mu kaga
Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.
Nshobora kugura SIM card he?
¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Juj(hoo)
Oya
Man(mah)
Birashoboka
K'ux(k'ush)
Ndemeranya
Juj k'ux(hoo k'ush)
Sinemeranya
Man k'ux(mah k'ush)
Birumvikana neza
K'ux juj(k'ush hoo)
Ubitekerezaho iki?
¿Juj k'ux k'ut?(¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)
Urashobora kumfasha?
¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?(¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)
Nkeneye ubufasha
Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)
Tegereza gato
K'ux k'ut(k'ush k'ut)
Ndakwinginze
Juj k'ux k'ut(hoo k'ush k'ut)
Nta kibazo
Man k'ux k'ut(mah k'ush k'ut)
Ibyishimo
K'ux juj k'ut(k'ush hoo k'ut)
Isabukuru nziza
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Ugire urugendo rwiza
K'ux juj k'ut k'ux(k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?
¿Jujuk pa ri tren?(Aho ikigo cy'igariyamoshi kiri?)
Aho ahagarara bisi?
¿Jujuk pa ri bus?(Aho ahagarara bisi?)
Ni iyihe platform?
¿K'ux ri plataforma?(Ni iyihe platform?)
Igihe izava ryari?
¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?(Igihe izava ryari?)
Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?
¿¿K'ux ri camino?(Ese iyi niyo nzira nziza?)
Iri hafi hano
Ri k'ut pa ri.(Iri hafi hano)
Iri kure hano
Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.(Iri kure hano)
Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?(Ushobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuneka
¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?(Hagarara hano, nyabuneka)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.