Learn Kirundi
Learn Kirundi online with an app designed to get you speaking in minutes. You'll gain confidence through short lessons on everyday phrases you can use with family, friends or when visiting Burundi and East Africa. Start today.
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Speak Kirundi with confidence
Many people want to learn Kirundi to connect with family or prepare for travel to Burundi. Unfortunately, finding quality Kirundi language resources that actually help you speak can feel impossible.
uTalk changes that. We'll help you avoid:
- Feeling lost when trying to chat with native speakers in Burundi
- Searching endlessly for audio recordings of how words are really pronounced
- Wasting time on courses that ignore practical everyday vocabulary and real conversations
Learn to speak Kirundi quickly, and unlock meaningful connections.
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Three steps to learn Kirundi online
No classes to schedule, and no confusion. Just a simple path forward.
Start in minutes
Subscribe now, download the app or open the web app. Choose Kirundi and select your first category.
Get StartedPractise real phrases
Learn through short lessons with native speaker audio and memory-boosting games. Reviews focus on the words you get wrong so you can learn faster.
Speak like a local
Try out your new Kirundi skills in real life. Beginners and more experienced learners can now build basic and practical spoken language skills and start enjoying rewarding experiences.
Why uTalk is the best Kirundi learning app
uTalk helps you learn how to speak Kirundi, also called Rundi, and recognise essential words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready whenever you are.
Speak first
Real content for greetings, family, travel and everyday spoken Kirundi.
Authentic native speakers
Learn from people who grew up speaking Kirundi, not computer-generated voices. Hear how the language is spoken across Burundi.
Beginner friendly, fun and effective
Game-like lessons build confidence. Content is short, focused and rooted in real life situations.
Speak Kirundi today – Common phrases and audio
uTalk helps you learn how to speak and recognise key words and phrases. It's app-based, online and ready when you are.
Nipfuza ikawa, mugabo.
I’d like a coffee, please.
Ndabaramukije.
Hello.
Ego.
Yes.
Ego mugabo.
Yes please.
Oya.
No.
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Oya urakoze.
No thanks.
Ndatakamvye.
Please.
Urakoze.
Thank you.
Urakoze cane gose.
Thank you very much.
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N'ubutaha.
You’re welcome.
Ibiyeri bibiri, mugabo.
Two beers, please.
bisi
bus
umuduga
car
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itagisi
taxi
gari ya moshi
train
igituro ca gari ya moshi
railway station
ikibuga c'indege
airport
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ihoteli
hotel
igitabo c'inzira
passport
telefone
telephone
Urantunga.
Excuse me.
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Ni isaha zingahe?
What time is it?
Ndabasavye munsubiriremwo?
Can you repeat that please?
Mugabo vuga bukebuke.
Please speak more slowly.
Ntaco numvise.
I don’t understand.
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Ngirira ikigongwe.
Sorry.
Utuzu twa sugumwe turi he?
Where are the toilets?
Sugumwe y'Abagore
Ladies’ Toilet
Sugumwe y'Abagabo
Gents’ Toilet
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Kuri pulaje ni he?
Where is the beach?
Ibanki iri he?
Where is the bank?
Iki kigurwa angahe?
How much does this cost?
ikarata y'ibanki yo kuronkeraho ingurane
credit card
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imashini itanga amahera
cash machine
Ndabasezeye.
Goodbye.
parasetamolo
paracetamol
impfunguruzo
keys
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ikarata
map
ibubamfu
left
iburyo
right
rimwe
one
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kabiri
two
gatatu
three
Fun facts | Kirundi
- If you tell a woman ‘you have eyes like a calf’ - ‘ufise amaso y’inyana’ - you are complimenting her on her beauty.
- Friends often say goodbye with the words ‘turi kumwe’ - ‘we are together’ - to express a feeling of unity even when they are physically apart.
- The rock (pictured above) is a Burundi landmark called ‘La Pierre de Livingstone et Stanley’. The disputed story goes that it marked the location where explorer Dr David Livingstone and journalist Henry Morton Stanley first met.
- The expression ‘have cows and children’ – ‘urakagira inka n’ibibondo’ - means to wish someone good fortune. (This would be inappropriate to say to a woman past childbearing age.)
- The expression ‘ants talk while on a bone’ - ‘ubunyegeri buyagira kwi gufa’ - describes how Burundians like to chat over food and drink.
- A common saying is: ‘Nta ndagukunda nka kwankira umwana’ - ‘You cannot say you like me, if you do not like my child’.
How our Kirundi lessons work
Learning a new language should feel straightforward. Start with basic greetings and high-frequency words. Then move on to practical categories such as family, numbers and essential phrases. Lessons are short, engaging and built for beginners. You'll practise with native speaker audio recordings, and then you'll be tested on what you've learned to create stronger memories. Review sessions adapt to your needs by testing you more often on any words you find tricky.
Select a category, and the app orders the content so you make rapid progress. Choose English or another language to learn Kirundi from if you prefer. You can learn online or offline, using uTalk on mobile or desktop. Switch categories any time, and follow the path that suits your goals. If you have questions, check the in-app help or contact support. We're a friendly, UK-based team, and we're here to help.
Kirundi and Kinyarwanda: mutually understandable languages
Here’s a guide to the frequently confused ‘Kirundi’ and ‘Kinyarwanda’.
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Key points
- Kirundi is the official language of Burundi and is spoken by around nine million people. It's a Bantu language primarily used in Burundi, parts of Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Kinyarwanda is the official language of Rwanda and is extremely similar to Kirundi. In fact, the two languages are mutually intelligible, meaning speakers of one can generally understand speakers of the other. Both belong to the same language group within the Bantu family.
- While Kirundi and Kinyarwanda share a lot of vocabulary and grammar, there are small differences in pronunciation and some words vary. Although, if you learn Kirundi, you'll be able to communicate effectively in Rwanda too, and vice versa.
Kirundi in East Africa: regional context
- Kirundi is the language spoken in Burundi, which is a country in the Great Lakes region of East Africa. Swahili is also widely understood in Burundi, especially for trade and regional communication.
- If you're interested in learning languages from this part of East Africa, uTalk also offers Swahili, Kinyarwanda and Luganda. Each has its own history and use across the region. Learning Kirundi opens doors in Burundi, while Swahili helps you communicate more broadly across East Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
- There are many Bantu languages used across the continent. uTalk supports 150+ languages, so you can discover options and even study more than one if you'd like.
"We understand learning Kirundi can feel challenging"
"It's frustrating when resources for the language you want to learn are scarce or of poor quality. At uTalk, we recorded Kirundi because every language is precious to us, and Kirundi is an essential part of the culture of Burundi and the wider Great Lakes region. We also recorded real native speakers so you can learn the language as it's genuinely spoken, not an artificial version of it."
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Richard Howeson
uTalk Founder
Why learners trust uTalk
We go out of our way to support minority and regional languages with content recorded by native speakers. The app works for English speakers and for speakers of more than 140 other languages. Check reviews to see how learners turn daily practice into real progress.
Your journey learning Kirundi
You'd like to connect with family, discover your roots or communicate for work or travel. Kirundi is the official language of Burundi and is spoken by millions in East Africa. Finding quality Kirundi lessons can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.
Get StarteduTalk can help. Choose a category to begin with or start with First Words, such as ndabaramukije. Then build a vocabulary of useful words and phrases for real life situations. You'll listen to native speakers, record yourself copying them and compare the two. Games make it fun for beginners, but the content is practical for everyone. You can learn online or offline. You can follow a guided learning pathway or you can explore, choosing for yourself what you want to learn and when.
Learning a language with uTalk means speaking Kirundi with confidence, understanding more of what people say, and having new skills to use with friends, family and new connections.
Learn real-life topics in Kirundi
Explore the Bantu language family
Kirundi belongs to the Bantu language family, which is one of the largest language groups in Africa. Bantu languages are spoken across much of central, eastern and southern Africa. If you're curious to compare words, sounds or everyday phrases across the family, you can check out our other languages, such as Bemba, Chichewa, Kinyarwanda, Lingala, Luganda, Shona, Swahili, Tswana, Tumbuka, Xhosa and Zulu.
These languages share deep historical roots and often have similar vocabulary and grammatical patterns, so it might make cross-learning a little easier.
Get StartedYour Kirundi questions, answered
Do you offer live online classes or is it just an app?
uTalk is an app and online language learning software. Lessons are digital, short and practical. If you want a tutor, the app still helps you prepare for class and review between sessions.
Can I start as a beginner?
Yes. The course begins with basic greetings and everyday words and phrases and takes you to an A1-A2 level on the CEFR scale. Some of our topics even cover material you’d learn as you grow your skills to B1 or B2.
What application languages do you support? Can I learn without English?
Yes. uTalk works for speakers of more than 140 languages. Choose the one that suits you in Settings.
How is content selected and ordered?
Topics are based on real life situations. You can select any category and the app suggests a smart learning order for beginners. You can change it at any time.
How does uTalk compare with YouTube lessons?
YouTube can be useful, but it’s hard to check pronunciation or get structured reviews. uTalk gives you native speaker audio, games that test tricky words more often and a clear path from basic to practical use.
Where can I learn a language with uTalk?
We’re available on iOS, Android, web, Mac and PC. Get started now and you’ll be directed to download uTalk for your device.
Is Kirundi the same as Rundi?
Yes. Kirundi is sometimes called Rundi. They're the same language, and you may see it listed as Rundi in some resources.
How similar are Kirundi and Kinyarwanda?
Kirundi and Kinyarwanda are mutually intelligible. They're extremely close languages from the same Bantu language group. Speakers of one can usually understand speakers of the other with minimal difficulty.
How fast can I learn to speak Kirundi?
Short, regular sessions work best. Many learners can handle simple conversations after a few weeks of consistent practice. Your speed depends on how often you use the app and how much you review.
Where is Kirundi spoken?
Kirundi is the official language of Burundi and is spoken by around nine million people. It's used primarily in Burundi, and there are some speakers in neighbouring Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Can I learn Kirundi for free with uTalk?
Getting started with uTalk is easy, and you can cancel whenever you want. We want you to love uTalk, so we even offer a 28-Day Money Back Guarantee if you're not satisfied.
Topics
- Accommodation
- Adjectives
- Animals' Bodies
- Animals
- Bathroom
- Body
- Business
- Calendar
- Camping
- Military Peace Keeping
- Clothes
- Colours
- Military Commands
- Football Commentary
- Cooking
- Countries
- Directions
- Disaster Relief - Volunteers
- Natural Disasters
- Doctor
- Emergencies
- Family
- Farming
- First Words
- Food and Drink
- Fruit
- Holiday
- Home
- Illness
- Ingredients
- Military Intelligence
- Kitchen
- Leisure
- Likes and Dislikes
- Football Match Abroad
- Numbers up to Ten Million
- Numbers up to Twenty
- Occupations
- Outdoors
- Places
- Prepositions
- Restaurant
- School
- Shopping Phrases
- Shopping Words
- Essential Phrases
- Social Phrases
- Sports
- Free Starter Words
- Technology
- Time
- Timetable
- Tools
- Transport
- Travelling
- Vegetables
- Driving
- Golf
- Olympics
- Sailing
- Skiing
- Summer Olympics
- Winter Olympics
Get by with basic greetings, words and phrases including 'hello', 'thank you' and 'I'd like a coffee please'.