Learn Some Swahili

Well done on making an effort to learn a few words of Swahili before coming to East Africa!
Best of luck!

Greetings

Greetings are important in East Africa and you don’t launch into a conversation or even ask a question without first saying “hello, how are you?”

• Hello = Jambo or  Salama
• How are you? = Habari gain?
• Fine (response) = Nzuri
• Goodbye = Kwa heri
• See You Later = Baadae
• Nice to meet you = Nafurahi kukuona
• Goodnight = Lala salama

Civilities

• Yes = Ndiyo
• No = Hapana
• Thank you = Asante
• Thank you very much = Asante sana
• Please = Tafadhali
• OK = Sawa
• Excuse me = Samahani
• You’re Welcome = Karibu
• Can you help me? = Tafadhali, naomba msaada
• What is your name? = Jina lako nani?
• My name is = Jina langu ni …
• Where are you from? = Unatoka wapi?
• I’m from .. = Natokea …
• May I take a picture? = Naomba kupiga picha
• Do you speak English? = Unasema kiingereza?
• Do you speak Swahili? = Unasema Kiswahili?
• Just a little bit = Kidogo tu!
• How do you say in Swahili? = Unasemaje kwa Kiswahili
• I don’t understand = Sielewi
• Friend = Rafiki

Getting Around

• Where is the … = ni wapi …
• Airport = uwanja wa ndege
• Bus station = stesheni ya basi
• Bus stop = bas stendi
• Taxi stand = stendi ya teksi
• Train Station = stesheni ya treni
• Bank = benki
• Market = soko
• Police station = kituo cha polisi
• Post Office = posta
• Tourist Office = ofisi ya watali
• Toilet/bathroom = choo
• What time is the … leaving? = inaondoka saa … ngapi?
• Bus = basi
• Minibus = matatu (Kenya); dalla dalla (Tanzania)
• Plane = ndege
• Train = treni or gari la moshi
• Is there a bus going to …? = Kuna basi ya …?
• I’d like to buy a ticket = Nataka kununua tikiti
• Is it near = Ni karibu?
• Is it far = Ni mbali?
• There = huko
• Over there = pale
• Ticket = tikiti
• Where are you going? = Unakwenda wapi?
• How much is the fare? = Nauli ni kiasi gani?
• Hotel = hoteli
• Room = chumba
• Reservation = akiba
• Are there any vacancies for tonight? = Mna nafasi leo usiko? (Kenya: Iko nafasi leo usiku?)
• No vacancies = Hamna nafasi. (Kenya: Hakuna nafasi)
• How much is it per night? = ni bei gani kwa usiku?
• Mosquito net = chandarua

Days and Numbers

• Today = leo
• Tomorrow = kesho
• Yesterday = jana
• Now = sasa
• Later = baadae
• Every day = kila siku
• Monday = Jumatatu
• Tuesday = Jumanne
• Wednesday = Jumatano
• Thursday = Alhamisi
• Friday = Ijumaa
• Saturday = Jumamosi
• Sunday = Jumapili
• 1 = moja
• 2 = mbili
• 3 = tatu
• 4 = nne
• 5 = tano
• 6 = sita
• 7 = saba
• 8 = nane
• 9 = tisa
• 10 = kumi
• 11 = kumi na moja (ten and one)
• 12 = kumi na mbili (ten and two)
• 20 = ishirini
• 21 = ishirni na moja (twenty and one)
• 30 = thelathini
• 40 = arobaini
• 50 = hamsini
• 60 = sitini
• 70 = sabini
• 80 = themanini
• 90 = tisini
• 100 = mia
• 200 = mia mbili
• 1000 = elfu
• 100,000 = laki

Food and Drinks

• I’d like = nataka …
• Food = chakula
• Hot/cold = ya moto/baridi
• Water = maji
• Hot water = maji ya moto
• Drinking water = maji ya kunywa
• Soda (soft drinks) = soda
• Beer = bia
• Milk = maziwa
• Meat = nyama
• Chicken = nyama kuku
• Fish = sumaki
• Beef = nyama ng’ombe
• Fruit = matunda
• Vegetables = mboga

Health

• Where can I find a … = Naweza kupata … wapi?
• Doctor = daktari
• Hospital = hospitali
• Medical Center = matibabu
• I’m sick = mimi ni mgonjwa
• I need a doctor = nataka kuona daktari
• It hurts here = naumwa hapa
• Fever = homa
• Malaria = melaria
• Headache = umwa kichwa
• Diarrhoea = harisha or endesha
• Vomiting = tapika
• Medicine = dawa

Animals

• Animal = wanyama
• Buffalo = Nyati
• Cheetah = Duma
• Cow = N’gombe
• Elephant = Tembo
• Giraffe = Twiga
• Goat = Mbuzi
• Hippo = Kiboko
• Hyena = Fisi
• Leopard = Chui
• Lion = Simba
• Rhino = Kifaru
• Warthog = Ngiri
• Wildebeest = Nyumbu
• Zebra = Punda milia