Movement & Navigation Builder
The essential tool for navigating the “Land of a Thousand Hills.” Use this builder to give clear directions to moto-taxi drivers, taxi drivers, or to find your way around Kigali’s neighborhoods.
How to Direct Your Driver:
Combine a command from Step 1 (The Engine) with a direction or landmark from Step 2 (The Galaxy).
Example: Kata (Turn) + Iburyo (Right) = Kata iburyo
📚 Navigation Pronunciation Tips
- Zamuka/Manuka: “Zah-moo-kah” (Go up) / “Mah-noo-kah” (Go down). Essential for Kigali hills.
- Iburyo/Ibumoso: “Ee-boo-ryoh” (Right) / “Ee-boo-moh-soh” (Left).
- Hagarara: “Hah-gah-rah-rah.” Say it firmly when you want to stop.
- Loanwords: Many navigation terms come from French (e.g., “Feu rouge” for traffic lights).
Step 1: The Movement Engine
Choose your command or intention (Turn, Stop, Go straight, I am going to…).
| Subject | Verb Root | Resulting Phrase | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N- (I) | -jya | Ngiye | I am going to | |
| Tu- (We) | -jya | Tugiye | We are going to | |
| (Command) | -hagarara | Hagarara | Stop | |
| (Command) | -kata | Kata | Turn | |
| (Command) | -genda | Genda muremure | Go straight | |
| (Command) | -subira | Subira inyuma | Go back | |
| (Command) | -komeza | Komeza | Keep going | |
| It (Place) | -ri | Hari | There is / It is at | |
| It (Place) | -ri | Hegereye | It is near | |
| It (Place) | -ri | Harimo | It is inside | |
| N- (I) | -shaka | Nshaka kujya | I want to go to | |
| Tu- (We) | -shaka | Turashaka kujya | We want to go to | |
| N- (I) | -reba | Ndareba | I am looking for | |
| U- (You) | -reba | Urareba | Are you looking for | |
| (Command) | -tegereza | Tegereza hano | Wait here | |
| (Command) | -manuka | Manuka | Go down | |
| (Command) | -zamuka | Zamuka | Go up | |
| (Command) | -ambuk | Ambuka | Cross over | |
| (Command) | -hindura | Hindura | Change/Turn around | |
| N- (I) | -geze | Ngeze | I have arrived at | |
| Tu- (We) | -geze | Tugeze | We have arrived at | |
| (Question) | -ri | He? | Where is? | |
| (Question) | -ri | Iki? | What is? |
➕
Step 2: The Movement Noun Galaxy
Choose the direction or landmark. Use the search bar to find specific neighborhood names, landmarks like “Roundabout,” or directional sides.
| Category | Kinyarwanda | English | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Directions & Sides | Iburyo | Right | |
| Directions & Sides | Ibumoso | Left | |
| Directions & Sides | Imbere | Front/Ahead | |
| Directions & Sides | Inyuma | Behind/Back | |
| Directions & Sides | Hagati | In the middle | |
| Directions & Sides | Hejuru | Up/Top | |
| Directions & Sides | Hasi | Down/Bottom | |
| Directions & Sides | Hafi | Near | |
| Directions & Sides | Kure | Far | |
| Directions & Sides | Muremure | Straight ahead | |
| Directions & Sides | Amajyaruguru | North | |
| Directions & Sides | Amajyepfo | South | |
| Directions & Sides | Iburasirazuba | East | |
| Directions & Sides | Iburengerazuba | West | |
| Directions & Sides | Iruhande | Beside/Next to | |
| Directions & Sides | Hano | Here | |
| Directions & Sides | Hariya | Over there | |
| Directions & Sides | Inyuma ya | Behind of | |
| Directions & Sides | Imbere ya | In front of | |
| Directions & Sides | Hafi ya | Close to | |
| Landmarks | Uruziga | Roundabout | |
| Landmarks | Sitasiyo | Gas station | |
| Landmarks | Hoteli | Hotel | |
| Landmarks | Isoko | Market | |
| Landmarks | Banki | Bank | |
| Landmarks | I-posita | Post office | |
| Landmarks | Kiliziya | Church | |
| Landmarks | Umusigiti | Mosque | |
| Landmarks | Ishuri | School | |
| Landmarks | Ivuriro | Clinic | |
| Landmarks | I-bitaro | Hospital | |
| Landmarks | Farumasi | Pharmacy | |
| Landmarks | I-resitora | Restaurant | |
| Landmarks | Akabari | Bar | |
| Landmarks | Sinema | Cinema | |
| Landmarks | Parikingi | Parking lot | |
| Landmarks | Garaje | Garage | |
| Landmarks | I-duka | Shop | |
| Landmarks | Amaduka | Supermarket | |
| Landmarks | I-kibuga cy'indege | Airport | |
| Landmarks | I-sitasiyo ya bisi | Bus station | |
| Landmarks | I-biro | Office | |
| Landmarks | I-biro bya polisi | Police station | |
| Landmarks | Ambasade | Embassy | |
| Landmarks | Uruganda | Factory | |
| Landmarks | I-stade | Stadium | |
| Landmarks | Inzu ndangamurage | Museum | |
| Landmarks | I-posita | Post office | |
| Landmarks | Umupaka | Border | |
| Landmarks | I-shantiye | Construction site | |
| Landmarks | Shitingi | Tents/Refugee camp | |
| Landmarks | Gereza | Prison | |
| Landmarks | I-rimbi | Cemetery | |
| Landmarks | I-kigo | Center/Complex | |
| Landmarks | I-kibuga cy'umupira | Football field | |
| Landmarks | Umuryango | Entrance/Gate | |
| Landmarks | I-rembo | Main gate | |
| Landmarks | Ururabo | Flower garden | |
| Landmarks | I-kanzu | Junction | |
| Landmarks | Feu rouge | Traffic lights | |
| Geography & Features | Umusozi | Hill/Mountain | |
| Geography & Features | I-kibaya | Valley | |
| Geography & Features | I-kiyaga | Lake | |
| Geography & Features | Uruzi | River | |
| Geography & Features | Umusezero | Waterfall | |
| Geography & Features | I-shyamba | Forest | |
| Geography & Features | I-mbuga | Garden/Park | |
| Geography & Features | I-barabara | Road | |
| Geography & Features | Umuhanda wa kaburimbo | Tarmac road | |
| Geography & Features | Umuhanda w'ibitaka | Dirt road | |
| Geography & Features | Nzira | Path | |
| Geography & Features | I-kiraro | Bridge | |
| Geography & Features | Akagari | Cell/Village unit | |
| Geography & Features | Umudugudu | Village | |
| Geography & Features | Umurenge | Sector | |
| Geography & Features | Akarere | District | |
| Geography & Features | Intara | Province | |
| Geography & Features | Umugi | City | |
| Geography & Features | Akagari | Neighborhood | |
| Geography & Features | Icyaro | Countryside | |
| Geography & Features | I-fata | Corner | |
| Geography & Features | Ahazamuka | Uphill slope | |
| Geography & Features | Ahamanuka | Downhill slope | |
| Geography & Features | Bariyeri | Checkpoint | |
| Geography & Features | Poto y'umuriro | Power pole | |
| Geography & Features | Igiti | Tree | |
| Geography & Features | Inzu y'umweru | White house | |
| Geography & Features | Inzu y'umuhondo | Yellow house | |
| Geography & Features | Inzu y'icyatsi | Green house | |
| Geography & Features | Inzu y'umutuku | Red house | |
| Geography & Features | Inzu y'ubururu | Blue house | |
| Geography & Features | I-baraza | Balcony/Porch | |
| Geography & Features | I-shakoshi | Backpack (Location context) | |
| Geography & Features | Moteri | Engine (Location context) | |
| Geography & Features | Umuhanda munini | Main road | |
| Geography & Features | Umuhanda muto | Small street | |
| Geography & Features | I-karitsiye | Local area | |
| Geography & Features | Ahantu | Place | |
| Geography & Features | Ikerekezo | Destination | |
| Geography & Features | Icyapa cyo guhagarara | Stop sign |
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- You may listen and learn from them on this website
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Step 1: Engine
Select an action…
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Step 2: Galaxy
Select a noun…
