Swahili Language

Learn the Swahili language before your Kenya safari! Swahili, also referred to as Kiswahili, is Kenya's national language is alongside English, widely spoken across the country.

It is also widely spoken in Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia qualifying it as a regional lingua franca.

It incorporates African Bantu language and Arabic elements, reflecting the centuries' old interactions of these peoples on the East African Coast.

Kiswahili is certainly one of the easiest languages to learn so the words and phrases below should be a piece of cake. So, imbibe them with gusto!

Salutations

Hello - Jambo

Good morning - Habari za asubuhi?

Good afternoon - Habari za mchana?

Good evening - Habari za jioni?

Good night – lala salama

Basic Words and Phrases

Sorry - samahani

There are no worries - Hakuna matata

What is your name? - Jina lako nani?

My name is Susan - Jina Langu ni Susan.

Where are you from? - Unatoka wapi?

Where are you staying? - Unakaa wapi

I am from - Ninatoka

See you – Tutaonana

Goodbye - Kwaheri

Yes - Ndiyo

No - Hapana

But - lakini

I don't speak Swahili - Sisemi Kiswahili

I want to learn Swahili - Nimetaka kujua Swahili

Please speak slowly - Tafadhali sema pole pole

I don't know - Sijui

Where? - Wapi?

Here - Hapa

When? - Lini?

Now - Sasa

Why? - Kwa nini?

Because - Kwa sababu

Who? - Nani?

What? - Nini?

Which? - Gani?

Everyday Needs

Can I stay here? - Naweza kukaa hapa?

Toilet, bathroom - Choo, bafu

Water - maji

Cold water - Maji baridi

Hot water - Maji moto

I'm hungry - Ninasikia njaa

I'm thirsty - Nina kiu

I want - Nataka

I don't want - Sitaki

Give me - Nipe/Niletee

There isn't any – Hakuna

Again - Tena

Enough - Tosha/basi

Please bring the bill - Tafadhali, lete cheki

Money - Pesa

How much? - Ngapi?/ bei gani?

Expensive – bei kali

Reduce the price a little - Punguza kidogo

Shop - Duka

Bank - Benki

Post office - Posta

Café/ restaurant - Hoteli

Telephone - Simu

Cigarettes - Sigara

I'm ill - Mimi mgonjwa

Doctor - Daktari

Hospital - Hospitali

Police - Polisi

Interesting? Scroll on to complete your "Swahili language" safari...

Travel

Vehicle/s - Gari/ Magari

Taxi - Teksi

Plane - Ndege

Boat - Chombo

Ship - Meli

Fuel - Mafuta

Petrol - Petroli

Road - Njia

Highway - Barabara

When does it leave? - Inaondoka lini?

When will we arrive? - Tutafika lini?

Slowly - Polo pole

Go faster/ quickly - Haraka

Wait a bit - ngoja kidogo

Stop - Simama

Where are you going? - Unaenda wapi

Where to? - Mpaka wapi?

Where from? - Kutoka wapi?

How many kilometers? - Kilometa ngapi?

I'm going to - Naenda

Let's go - Twende

Straight ahead - Moja kwa moja

Right - Kulia

Left - Kushoto

Up - Juu

Down - Chini

I want to get off here - Nataka kushuka hapa

The car has broken down - Gari imearibika

Numbers

1 - Moja

2 - Mbili

3 - Tatu

4 - Nne

5 - Tano

6 - Sita

7 - Saba

8 - Nane

9 - Tisa

10 - Kumi

11 - Kumi na moja

20 - Ishirini

21 - Ishirini na moja

30 - Thelathini

40 - Arobaini

50 - Hamsini

60 - Sitini

70 - Sabini

80 - Themanini

90 - Tisini

100 - Mia moja

151 - Mia moja na hamsini na moja

1,000 – Elfu moja

5,000 – Elfu tano

Time

What time is it? - Saa ngapi?

5 o'clock - Saa kumi na moja

Quarter past - Na robo

Half past - Na nusu

Quarter to - Kasa robo

Minutes - Dakika

Early – Mapema

Days of the Week

Tuesday - Jumanne

Wednesday - Jumatano

Thursday - Alhamisi

Friday - Ijumaa

Saturday - Jumamosi

Sunday - Jumapili

Yesterday - Jana

Today - Leo

Tomorrow - Kesho

Day time - Mchana

Night time - Usiku

Morning - Asubuhi

Last week - Wiki iliopita

This week - Wiki hii

Next week - Wiki ijayo

This year - Mwaka huu

This month - Mwezi huu

And that, sadly, ends your "Swahili language" safari! Take heart though as you find more Swahili phrases in the highly acclaimed Swahili Phrasebook. For a comprehensive Kiswahili language course (complete with books and CDs), check out Teach Yourself Swahili.

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