Swahili Words

Basic Swahili phrases for travelers

While many East Africans speak some English or French, knowing a few words of Swahili will really help you out in the more rural areas and along the coast. Since Swahili is a second language to most East Africans, they'll understand a little broken Swahili, and they'll certainly appreciate your efforts.

Greetings

Greetings are important in East Africa and you do not launch into a conversation or even ask a question without first saying "hello, how are you?".

          • Hello = Jambo / hujambo / Salama
          • How are you? = Habari gani  Fine (response) = Nzuri
          • Goodbye = Kwa heri / Kwa herini (more than one person)
          • See you later = Tutaonana
          • 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 = Starehe
          • 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/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 = chandalua

Days and numbers

          • Today = leo
          • Tomorrow = kesho
          • Yesterday = jana
          • Now = sasa
          • Later = baadaye
          • 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 = samaki
          • Beef = nyama ng'ombe
          • Fruit = matunda
          • Vegetables = mboga

Health

          • Where can I find a ... = Naweza kupata ... wapi?
          • Doctor = daktari/mganga
          • 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/endesha
          • Vomiting = tapika
          • Medicine = dawa

Animals

When you're on safari in East Africa many of the guides and trackers will speak Swahili.

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