Looking for practical Rundi to Swahili phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Rundi phrase first, then the Swahili translation (Swahili) — 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 Swahili.
Tip: focus on one section per day (travel Monday, dining Tuesday, and so on) if you are preparing for a Swahili-speaking trip in a few weeks.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Rundi to Swahili 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
Habari(na-kee)
Urakoze
Asante(oo-rah-koh-zeh)
Mwaramutse
Habari ya asubuhi(mwa-rah-moot-seh)
Mwiriwe
Habari ya mchana(mwee-ree-weh)
Mwiriwe
Habari ya jioni(mwee-ree-weh)
Ijoro ryiza
Usiku mwema(ee-jo-roh ree-zah)
Nzakubona
Tutaonana baadaye(nza-koo-boh-nah)
Nuhagurane
Kwaheri(nuh-ha-goo-rah-neh)
Icyo witwa n'iki?
Jina lako nani?(ee-cho wee-twah n'ee-kee)
Nitwa John
Jina langu ni John(nee-twah John)
Umeze gute?
Habari gani?(oo-meh-zeh goo-teh)
Nishimiye kukumenya
Nafurahi kukutana na wewe(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?
Unazungumza Kiingereza?
Sinavuga Hindi neza.
Sizungumza Hindi vizuri.
Sinumva.
Sielewi.
Ndagusaba uvuge buhoro.
Tafadhali ongea polepole.
Woshobora kubivuga ukundi?
Unaweza kusema tena?
Ihantu h'ubwiherero ni hehe?
Choo kiko wapi?
Nkoze nte ngo ngerere mu mugi?
Ninafika vipi katikati ya jiji?
Hindukira ibumoso.
Geuka kushoto.
Hindukira iburyo.
Geuka kulia.
Genda imbere.
Nenda moja kwa moja.
Igiciro ni igiki?
Nauli ni kiasi gani?
Tike imwe, ndakwinginze.
Tiketi moja, tafadhali.
Birakomeye kuva hano?
Je, ni mbali na hapa?
Ndi mu kaga.
Nimepotea.
Nshobora kugura ikarita ya SIM hehe?
Ninaweza kununua kadi ya SIM wapi?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yego
Ndio
Oya
Hapana
Birashoboka
Pengine
Ndemera
Ninakubaliana
Ntidemera
Sikubaliani
Ivyo birashimishije
Inasikika vizuri
Utekereza iki?
Unafikiriaje?
Urashobora kumfasha?
Unaweza kunisaidia?
Nkeneye gufasha
Nahitaji msaada
Teza akanya
Subiri kidogo
Ndi umwiyahuzi
Ninasikitika
Nta kibazo
Hakuna shida
Ishimwe
Hongera
Isabukuru nziza
Siku ya kuzaliwa njema
Urugendo rwiza
Safari njema
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Aho hantu y'igari?
Kituo cha treni kiko wapi?(Aho hantu y'igari?)
Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?
Kituo cha basi kiko wapi?(Aho hantu y'ibisohoka?)
Ihagararo ni irihe?
Ni jukwaa gani?(Ihagararo ni irihe?)
Igihe ni igiki gishika?
Inatoka saa ngapi?(Igihe ni igiki gishika?)
Ubu ni bwo buryo?
Je, hii ndiyo njia sahihi?(Ubu ni bwo buryo?)
Birahari hafi
Iko karibu hapa(Birahari hafi)
Birahari kure
Iko mbali na hapa(Birahari kure)
Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?
Unaweza kunionesha kwenye ramani?(Urashobora kumfasha ku ikarita?)
Hagarara hano, nyabuna
Simama hapa, tafadhali(Hagarara hano, nyabuna)
Bifata igihe kingana iki?
Inachukua muda gani?(Bifata igihe kingana iki?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Iyi irahenda angahe?
Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?
Iyo irahenda cane
Hiyo ni ghali sana
Ufise ikintu ciza cane?
Je, una kitu chochote cha bei nafuu?
Noshobora kwishyura n'ikarita?
Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?
Nkeneye ameza y'abantu babiri
Ningependa meza ya watu wawili
Ibarura, ndakwinginze
Tafadhali, bili
Serivisi irarimwo?
Je, huduma imejumuishwa?
Ndi umworozi w'ibihingwa
Mimi ni mboga
Ntimukore ibiryo biryoshye, ndakwinginze
Tafadhali, sina chakula chenye pilipili
Iyi iraryoshye
Hii ni tamu
Noshobora kubona urutonde rw'ibiryo?
Naweza kupata menyu?
Igikombe c'amazi, ndakwinginze
Tafadhali, glasi ya maji
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Terefona polisi
Piga simu polisi
Terefona ambulance
Piga simu ya wagonjwa
Ndakeneye umuganga
Nahitaji daktari
Ndumva ndarwaye
Ninajisikia mgonjwa
Ndi umunyabwoba ku mbuto z'ibihaza
Nina mzio wa karanga
Ihoteri yegereye iri hehe?
Hospitali iliyo karibu iko wapi?
Birandya hano
Inaniuma hapa
Nabuze pasiporo yanje
Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu
Woshobora guterefona ihoteli yanje?
Unaweza kupiga simu hoteli yangu?
Mfasha!
Nisaidie!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nishimiye kukumenya
Nafurahi kukutana nawe
Tugire inama
Tuweke mkutano
Igihe kiwukora?
Ni saa ngapi inakufaa?
Nzohereza raporo uyu munsi
Nitaituma ripoti leo
Dushobora kuganira ejo?
Tunaweza kuzungumza kesho?
Nyabuna, reba dosiye iri hamwe
Tafadhali pata faili iliyoambatishwa
Urakoze ku mwanya wawe
Asante kwa muda wako
Ntegereje gukorana nawe
Natarajia kufanya kazi na wewe
Woshobora gusobanura ico?
Unaweza kufafanua hiyo pointi?
Ndemeye kubandanya
Nitarudi kwako
Igihe ntarengwa ni ku wa gatanu
Muda wa mwisho ni Ijumaa
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.