Msafiri’s Swahili Phrase guide

May 23, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

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

Common Dialogue

Sentence/Phrase	Response
Habari! (Hello!/Hi!)	Nzuri! (Good!/Fine!)
Ninaitwa Charles. Wewe unaitwaje? (My name is Charles. What’s your name?)	Ninaitwa Mary. Nimefurahi kukujua. (My name is Mary. I’m pleased to know you.)
Unazungumza Kiswahili? (Do you speak Swahili?)	Ndio! Ninazungumza Kiswahili. (Yes! I speak Swahili.) Kidogo tu! (Just a little bit!) Hapana! Sizungumzi Kiswahili. Ninazungumza Kiingereza tu! (No! I don’t speak Swahili. I only speak English!)
Ninatokea Marekani. Wewe unatokea wapi? (I’m from the United States of America. Where are you from?)	Ninatokea Japani. Nipo hapa kwa matembezi. (I’m from Japan. I’m visiting here.) Ninatokea Uingereza. Nipo hapa kwa kazi. (I’m from U.K. I’m here on business.) Ninatokea Ujerumani. Nimekuja kujifunza Kiswahili. (I’m from Germany. I’ve come to learn Swahili.)
Kwaheri! Nimefurahi kukutana na wewe. (Goodbye! I’m pleased to meet you.)	Karibu! Nimefurahi pia kukutana na wewe. (Goodbye! I’m also pleased to meet you.)

Utapenda kunywa nini? (What would you like to drink?)	Nitakunywa maji tu. Nina kiu sana! (I’ll just drink water. I’m very thirsty.) Nitakunywa kahawa bila maziwa. (I’ll drink coffee without milk.) Nitakunywa chai na maziwa na sukari kidogo. (I’ll drink tea with milk and little sugar.) Nitakunywa soda. CocaCola, tafadhali. (I’ll drink soda. CocaCola, please.)
Tafadhali niletee chakula moto haraka. Nina njaa sana! (Please bring me some hot food quickly. I’m very hungry!)	Huu hapa wali, samaki, mbatata, na saladi. Nitakuletea keki baadaye. (Here is rice, fish, potatoes, and salad. I’ll bring you cake later.)

Animals

English	Picture	Swahili
Baboon		Nyani
Bird(s)		Ndege
Buffalo		Nyati
Cat		Paka
Cheetah		Duma
Chimpanzee		Sokwe
Cow/Ox		Ng’ombe
Deer		Paa
Dog		Mbwa
Donkey		Punda
Elephant		Tembo/Ndovu
Giraffe		Twiga
Goat		Mbuzi
Hippopotamus		Kiboko
Hyena		Fisi
Impala		Swara
Leopard		Chui
Lion		Simba
Monkey		Kima
Ostrich		Mbuni
Peacock		Tausi
Pig		Nguruwe
Python		Chatu
Rhinoceros		Kifaru
Sheep		Kondoo
Snake		Nyoka
Warthog		Ngiri
Wild Boar		Nguruwe-mwitu
Wild Dog		Mbwa-mwitu
Zebra		Punda-milia

Events

Miss Tourism Kenya set to take stage in September

May 22, 2013 zurukenya 2 Comments

Miss Tourism Kenya is geared towards promotion of Tourist attraction sites as well as creating awareness of Kenya’s diversity in flora and fauna. The event is globally recognized and its aim is to promote tourism both internationally and locally. This year’s contest will feature county competitions as Kenya has since recognized a new form of government.

The County Competitions will follow a ‘heats’ model whereby preliminary competitions will be organized and some contestants selected to go further to the County Final competition. At the County Final contest, every county will parade a minimum of 12 contestants from which a County Delegate will be selected to represent that county at the National Final competition in Nairobi. Heats therefore will be organized in the major towns of each county. Training for the competition will focus highly on Deportment, Beauty, Public Speaking and Personality.

To join the Miss Tourism Kenya Contest follow the link; http://misstourismkenya.co.ke/contest.html and apply!

Events

Kenya to host Africa’s Travel Industry ”Oscars”

May 17, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

The Kenya Tourism Board have been bestowed the owner of hosting this year’s World Travel Awards (WTA) – African region. The Awards, dubbed “Oscars of the Travel Industry” will be held on the 16^thof October and are bound to highly boost Kenya’s tourist market. The hosts were awarded – Africa’s leading Tourism Board – by WTA last year in December and also scooped the – Best African Tourism Board – in the Africa Safari awards held in London in February; beginning of this year.

“That WTA has chosen Kenya for the African region ceremony as part of the world grand tour, is an endorsement of the country as a preferred tourism destination in the world”, Says KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa. Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, WTA, added, “The selection of our hosts is fundamental to the success of our awards programme, and Kenya as a nation has all the ingredients to rise to the challenge of hosting our Africa Ceremony – a warm, vibrant and progressive nation, brimming with enthusiasm and creativity. Tourism is vital to Kenya’s economy, contributing 12 percent to its GDP and sustaining one in ten jobs. The future is bright for Kenya, given the nation’s overwhelming natural resources, its unrivalled wildlife experiences and pristine beaches.”

For further details, including entry forms and closing deadlines for nominations, visit www.worldtravelawards.com/nominate.

For further World Travel Awards press info contact:

t: +44 (0)20 7925 0000
e: pr@worldtravelawards.com
w: www.worldtravelawards.com

About Kenya

KENYA

May 17, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

Kenya is world-famous for its diversity in cultures, wildlife and stunning landscapes which lend the countries placement as a top tourist destination not only in Africa but worldwide. The country has a range of famed national parks; Tsavo National Park, Amboseli National Park, Masai Mara, Samburu National Park, Lake Nakuru National Park, Aberdares National Park amongst others, making it the premier of wildlife safari.

Kenya has lots to offer under one roof and guests will not fall short of things to do here from bird-watching, trekking, ballooning over the Masai Mara, snorkelling at the Marine National Park in Malindi, Cultural safaris; getting to know the amazing people of Kenya to dining in the bush, staring at the African night sky in the wilderness, and lots…lots more.

Home, Press

Tourism Cabinet Secretary Takes Oath of Office

May 17, 2013 zurukenya Leave a comment

Although amidst opposition, in reference to her suitability to take office by members of the committee on appointment, Mrs. Phyllis Kandie can finally breathe a sigh of relief as the new Tourism cabinet secretary. This docket also incorporates East African affairs and Commerce. Seeing as the ministerial positions are no longer politically based (cabinet secretaries are not inclined to any political party and/or are not politicians) Kenyans are hopeful to see immense growth and development having that the appointment of the new cabinet in place is mainly (the loyalty card was used on some obvious appointments) based on Merit.

Mrs. Kandie comes into office at a time when the tourism sector is experiencing major challenges that need to be dealt with immediately if growth in ratings and arrivals is to be expected. For instance the docket is at the moment lacking directors and members of various boards that fall under it after the outgoing minister Dan Mwazo went on a firing rampage in the name of transforming the ministry. Furthermore, the current insecurity situation in the country has proven to be a threat to tourism as well with the number of arrivals reducing by the day. Other challenges include; increase of wildlife poaching, poor marketing of Kenya as a tourism destination, Failure of implementing the Tourism Act and also the fact that this year was an election year, many tourists preferred to stay away in fear of a repeat post-election violence occurrence.

With this and many more other factors in tow, Mrs. Phyllis Kandie sure has her work cut out for her. As president Uhuru Kenyatta expressed, the tourism sector expects to expand to 3 million visitors and therefore she definitely has a lot of work to do; not time for dilly-dally. Hopefully her background and experience in various sectors will help catapult this industry to the top.