Looking for practical Rundi to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: when a Krio phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Rundi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Rundi to Krio translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Naki
Hello(na-kee)
Urakoze
Tenki(oo-rah-koh-zeh)
Mwaramutse
Gud mɔnin(mwa-rah-moot-seh)
Mwiriwe
Gud aftanun(mwee-ree-weh)
Mwiriwe
Gud ivnin(mwee-ree-weh)
Ijoro ryiza
Gud nait(ee-jo-roh ree-zah)
Nzakubona
Si yu leta(nza-koo-boh-nah)
Nuhagurane
Bai(nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)
Icyo witwa n'iki?
Wetɛn na yu neym?(ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)
Nitwa John
Ma neym na John(nee-twah John)
Umeze gute?
Ow yu de?(oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Naes fo mit yu(nee-shee-mee-yeh koo-koo-meh-nya)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Uravuga Icyongereza?
Yu sabi English?
Sinavuga Hindi neza.
A no sabi Hindi well.
Sinumva.
A no sabi.
Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.
Plis, tok slow.
Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?
Weh na di toilet?
Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Hindukira ibumoso.
Turn left.
Hindukira iburyo.
Turn right.
Genda imbere.
Go straight.
Igiciro ni igiki?
Ow much na di fare?
Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.
One ticket, plis.
Birakomeye kuva hano?
E far from ya?
Ndi mu kaga.
A don lost.
Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Yes
Oya
No
Birashoboka
Maybe
Ndemera
A mi agree
Ntidemera
A no agree
Ivyo birashimishije
Dat na fine
Utekereza iki?
Wet in you tink?
Urashobora kumfasha?
You fit help me?
Nkeneye gufasha
A need help
Teza akanya
Wait small
Ndi umwiyahuzi
A sorry
Nta kibazo
No problem
Ishimwe
Congratulations
Isabukuru nziza
Happy birthday
Urugendo rwiza
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho hantu y'igari?
Weh na di train station?(Aho hantu y'igari?)
Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?
Weh na di bus stop?(Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?)
Ihagararo ni irihe?
Which platform na im?(Ihagararo ni irihe?)
Igihe ni igiki gishika?
Wetin time e go lef?(Igihe ni igiki gishika?)
Ubu ni bwo buryo?
Dis na di right way?(Ubu ni bwo buryo?)
Birahari hafi
E dey near here(Birahari hafi)
Birahari kure
E far from here(Birahari kure)
Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuna
Stop here, pliz(Hagarara hano, nyabuna)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
How long e go tek?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi irahenda angahe?
How much dis cost?
Iyo irahenda cane
Dat too expensive.
Ufise ikintu ciza cane?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
I fit pay by card?
Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri
I wan table for two.
Ibarura, ndakwinginze
Di bill, please.
Serivisi irarimwo?
Service dey include?
Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa
I na vegetarian.
Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze
No spicy food, please.
Iyi iraryoshye
Dis dey sweet.
Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
I fit get di menu?
Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Terefona polisi
Call di police
Terefona ambulance
Call ambulance
Ndakeneye umuganga
A need doctor
Ndumva ndarwaye
A dey feel sick
Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza
A get allergy for peanuts
Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Birandya hano
E dey pain here
Nabuze pasiporo yanje
A don lose mi passport
Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?
You fit call mi hotel?
Mfasha!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye kukumenya
Na nice for meet you
Tugire inama
Make we plan wan meeting
Igihe kiwukora?
Wetin time go work for you?
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
A go send di report tiday
Dushobora kuganira ejo?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe
Abeg find di file wey attach
Urakoze ku mwanya wawe
Tenki for your time
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
A dey look forward for work with you
Woshobora gusobanura ico?
You fit clarify dat point?
Ndemeye kubandanya
Make I get back to you
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.