Kenya is a country made up of many tribes; 43 and more and swahili/ kiswahili (being the national language) stands out as the language that unifies these groups. Swahili has taken root in many countries as well and is widely spoken in regions of Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, the Congo and Zambia; it is the most widely spoken African language.
In Kenya, “JAMBO” swahili for “hello” is a greeting most commonly associated with tourists and is often the first word learnt …this is also evident in the famous welcoming song “Jambo Bwana” by them mushrooms.
While exploring the beautiful Kenya, learning a little swahili will come a long way in helping you enjoy a smooth and enjoyable adventure when interacting with the locals.
This guide will give you access to some helpful basic Swahili:
USEFUL GREETINGS
|
Jambo (informal used on tourists) or Hujambo? (Hello, good day, how are you?) |
Jambo or Sijambo (the response) I’m fine! |
|
Habari? How are things? |
Nzuri (Fine, good) |
|
Hodi! Hello? Anyone in? (said on knocking or entering) |
Karibu Come in, enter, welcome(also said on offering something) |
|
Kwaheri/ ni |
Goodbye to one/ many |
|
Asante/ ni |
Thank you to one/ many |
|
Bwana
Mama |
Mister, the equivalent of monsieur in French
Like the French madame or madamoiselle, for adult women |
|
Kijana
Mtoto |
Youth, teenager(plural,vijana)
Child, kid(plural,watoto) |
BASIC NEEDS
|
Where can I stay? |
Naweza Kukaa wapi? |
|
Can I stay here? |
Naweza kukaa hapa? |
|
Room/s |
Chumba/vyumba |
|
Bed/s |
Kitanda/vitanda |
|
Chair/s |
Kiti/viti |
|
Table/s |
Meza |
|
Toilet, bathroom |
Choo, bafu |
|
Washing water |
Maji ya kuosha |
|
Hot/cold water |
Maji moto/baridi |
|
I’m hungry |
Ninasikia njaa |
|
I’m thirsty |
Nina kiu |
|
Is there any? |
Iko… or Kuna?… |
|
Yes there is… |
Iko…or kuna… |
|
No there isn’t any |
Hakuna |
|
How much? |
Ngapi? |
|
money |
Pesa |
|
What price? |
Bei gani? |
|
How much does it cost? |
Pesa Ngapi? |
|
I want… |
Nataka |
|
I don’t want |
Sitaki |
|
Give me/Bring me (can I have?) |
Nipe/Niletee |
|
Again |
Tena |
|
Enough |
Tosha/basi |
|
Expensive |
Ghali/sana |
|
Cheap(also”easy”) |
Rahisi |
|
Fifty cents |
Sumni |
|
Reduce the price,come down 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 |
TRAVEL AND DIRECTIONS
|
Bus/es |
Bas,basi / mabasi |
|
Car /s, Vehicle/ s |
Gari/ Magari |
|
Taxi |
Teksi |
|
Bicycle |
Baiskeli |
|
Train |
Treni |
|
Plane |
Ndege |
|
Boat / Ship |
Chombo / Meli |
|
Petrol |
Petroli |
|
Road, path |
Njia/ ndia |
|
Highway |
Barabara |
|
On foot/ Walking |
Kwa miguu |
|
When does it leave |
Inaondoka lini? |
|
When will you arrive? |
Tutafika lini? |
|
Slowly |
Pole pole |
|
Fast, quickly |
Haraka |
|
Wait! / hang on a moment! |
Ngoja!/ ngoja kidogo! |
|
Stop! |
Simama! |
|
Where are you going |
Unaenda wapi |
|
To where? |
Mpaka wapi? |
|
From where? |
Kutoka wapi? |
|
How many kilometers? |
Kilometa ngapi? |
|
I’m going to |
Naenda |
|
Move along, squeeze up a little |
Songa!/ songa kidogo! |
|
Let’s go, carry on |
Twende, endelea |
|
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 |
General Words and Phrases
|
English |
Swahili |
|
And |
Na |
|
Big |
kubwa |
|
Small |
ndogo |
|
A lot of |
nyingi |
|
Other/ Another |
Ingine |
|
Not bad |
Si mbaya |
|
Danger |
Hatari |
|
Drink (noun) |
Kinywaji |
|
Drink (verb) |
Kunywa |
|
Eat |
Kula |
|
Excuse me! |
Samahani! |
|
Food |
Chakula |
|
Friend |
Rafiki |
|
Good |
Nzuri |
|
Goodbye! |
Kwaheri! |
|
Help me, please! |
Nisaidie, tafadhali! |
|
Here |
Hapa |
|
Hot |
Moto |
|
How? |
Vipi? |
|
I am angry. |
Nimekasirika. |
|
I am traveling. |
Ninasafiri. |
|
I am happy. |
Nimefurahi. |
|
I can speak Swahili. |
Ninaweza kusema Kiswahili. |
|
I can’t speak Swahili. |
Siwezi kusema Kiswahili. |
|
I love you! |
Ninakupenda! |
|
Motorcycle |
Pikipiki |
|
No! |
Hapana! |
|
OK! |
Sawa! |
|
Please |
Tafadhali |
|
Sorry! (apologize) |
Samahani! |
|
Sorry! (sympathize) |
Pole! |
|
Sweet |
Tamu |
|
Thank you! |
Asante! |
|
Thank you very much! |
Asante sana! |
|
There |
Pale |
|
Very |
Sana |
|
Water |
Maji |
|
Welcome! |
Karibu! |
|
What? |
Nini? |
|
When? |
Wakati gani? |
|
Where? |
Wapi? |
|
Where are you going to? |
Unakwenda wapi? |
|
Which? |
Ipi? |
|
Yes! |
Ndio |
|
Fine, cool |
Safi |
|
Completely |
Kabisa |
|
Just, only |
Tu(kitanda kimoja tu-just ona bed) |
|
Thing/ s |
Kitu/ vitu |
|
Problems, hassles |
Wasiwasi, matata |
|
No problem |
Hakuna wasiwasi/ Hakuna matata |
|
Friend |
Rafiki |
|
Sorry, pardon |
Samahani |
|
It’s nothing |
Si kitu |
|
Excuse me (let me through) |
Hebu |
|
What’s up? |
Namna gani? |
|
If God wills it |
Inshallah (heard often on the coast) |
|
Please |
Tafadhali |
|
Take a picture of me! |
Piga picha mimi! |
|
Help the poor! |
Saidia maskini! |
|
Ok, right, fine |
Sawa |
Numbers
|
English |
Swahili |
English |
Swahili |
|
1 |
Moja |
40 |
Arubaini |
|
2 |
Mbili |
50 |
Hamsini |
|
3 |
Tatu |
55 |
Hamsini na tano |
|
4 |
Nne |
60 |
Sitini |
|
5 |
Tano |
70 |
Sabini |
|
6 |
Sita |
80 |
Thamanini |
|
7 |
Saba |
90 |
Tisini |
|
8 |
Nane |
100 |
Mia |
|
9 |
Tisa |
136 |
Mia moja thalathini na sita |
|
10 |
Kumi |
999 |
Mia tisa tisini na tisa |
|
11 |
Kumi na moja |
1000 |
Elfu |
|
12 |
Kumi na mbili |
1997 |
Elfu moja mia tisa tisini na saba |
|
17 |
Kumi na saba |
Half |
Nusu |
|
20 |
Ishirini |
Two and a half |
Mbili na nusu |
|
24 |
Ishirini na nne |
Quarter |
Robo |
|
30 |
Thalathini |
Forty seven and three quarters |
Arubaini na saba na robo tatu |
Time
|
English |
Swahili |
|
Time |
Saa |
|
Hour |
Saa |
|
Watch/Clock |
Saa |
|
Morning |
Asubuhi |
|
Evening |
Jioni/Usiku |
|
Afternoon |
Mchana |
|
Late afternoon |
Alasiri/Jioni |
|
Dusk |
Magharibi |
|
Night |
Usiku |
|
Late night |
Usiku wa manane |
|
Early morning |
Alfajiri |
|
What time is it? |
Saa ngapi? |
|
8 o’clock in the morning |
Saa mbili kamili asubuhi |
|
8 o’clock sharp |
Saa mbili barabara |
|
Noon |
Saa sita mchana |
|
4:25 p.m. |
Saa kumi na dakika ishirini na tano alasiri |
|
6:00 p.m. |
Saa kumi na mbili kamili jioni |
|
8:15 p.m. |
Saa mbili na robo usiku |
|
7:45 p.m. |
Saa mbili kasorobo usiku |
|
9:30 a.m. |
Saa tatu unusu asubuhi (also: Saa tatu na nusu asubuhi) |
|
Now |
Sasa |
|
Today |
Leo |
|
Yesterday |
Jana |
|
Tomorrow |
Kesho |
|
Day before yesterday |
Juzi |
|
Day after tomorrow |
Kesho-kutwa |
|
Day |
Siku |
|
Week |
Wiki |
|
Month |
Mwezi |
|
Year |
Mwaka |
|
Century |
Karne |
|
Sentence/Phrase |
Response |
|
Habari! (Hello!/Hi!) |
Nzuri! (Good!/Fine!) |
|
Ninaitwa Charles. Wewe unaitwaje? |
Ninaitwa Mary. Nimefurahi kukujua. |
|
Unazungumza Kiswahili? |
Ndio! Ninazungumza Kiswahili. Kidogo tu! Hapana! Sizungumzi Kiswahili. Ninazungumza Kiingereza tu! |
|
Ninatokea Marekani. Wewe unatokea wapi? |
Ninatokea Japani. Nipo hapa kwa matembezi. Ninatokea Uingereza. Nipo hapa kwa kazi. Ninatokea Ujerumani. Nimekuja kujifunza Kiswahili. |
|
Kwaheri! Nimefurahi kukutana na wewe. |
Karibu! Nimefurahi pia kukutana na wewe. |
|
Utapenda kunywa nini? |
Nitakunywa maji tu. Nina kiu sana! Nitakunywa kahawa bila maziwa. Nitakunywa chai na maziwa na sukari kidogo. Nitakunywa soda. CocaCola, tafadhali. |
|
Tafadhali niletee chakula moto haraka. Nina njaa sana! |
Huu hapa wali, samaki, mbatata, na saladi. Nitakuletea keki baadaye. |
Animals
|
English |
Picture |
Swahili |
|
Baboon |
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Bird(s) |
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Buffalo |
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Cat |
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Cheetah |
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Chimpanzee |
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Cow/Ox |
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Deer |
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Dog |
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Donkey |
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Elephant |
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Giraffe |
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Goat |
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Hippopotamus |
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Hyena |
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Impala |
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Leopard |
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Lion |
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Monkey |
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Ostrich |
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Peacock |
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Pig |
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Python |
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Rhinoceros |
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Sheep |
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Snake |
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Warthog |
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Wild Boar |
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Wild Dog |
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Zebra |
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Zuru Kenya 