Kiswahili provides a valuable tool for understanding and engaging with the region.




Kiswahili's prevalence in various African organizations, such as the African Union and the East African Community, highlights its role as a significant African language. There's a push for Kiswahili to become Africa's lingua franca. For anyone interested in East African culture, travel, or research, Kiswahili provides a valuable tool for understanding and engaging with the region.

Kiswahili words have even made their way into Western popular culture, such as the word "Jenga" from the popular wooden block game, derived from the Kiswahili verb for "build". The African American holiday Kwanzaa derives its name from the Kiswahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "the first fruits of the harvest".

    Basic Swahili Phrases for Travelers

    If your Swahili needs are more simple, browse the list below to find a few top phrases to practice before you leave on vacation.

    Greetings

    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?

    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: Ljumaa
    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: 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/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
    Mosquito net: chandalua
    Headache: umwa kichwa
    Diarrhea: harisha/endesha
    Vomiting: tapika
    Medicine: dawa

    Animals

    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

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