Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Consonants

Common diphthongs

Phrase list

Basics

Note that greetings is Swahili are very important, and long and drawn out - you can go back and forth several times, using not one but all of the greetings you know. ; Hello. : Hujambo (response: Sijambo) ; Hello to an older person or authority figure. : Shikamoo (''she-ka-moe'') (response: Marhaba) ; Hello. (''informal'') : Sasa / Mambo / Jambo (generally said only to tourists) ; Response to informal hello : Nzuri (fine), Safi (clean/in order), Poa (cool), Poa kichizi kama ndizi (cool like a crazy banana) ; How are you? : Habari (''ha-ba-ree'') ; How are you today? : Habari za leo? ; How are you this morning? : Habari za asubuhi ; How are you this afternoon? : Habari za mchana ; How are you this evening? : Habari za jioni ; How was your journey / trip / safari? : Habari za safari ; How have you been today? : Umeshindaje leo? ; Fine, thank you. : Nzuri, asante ; What is your name? : Jina lako nani? ; My name is ______ . : Jina langu ni ______ ; Where are you from? : Unatokea wapi? ; I am from _______. : Ninatokea _______(your country) ; Please. : Tafadhali ; Thank you (very much). : Asante (sana) ; You're welcome. : Karibu. ; Yes. : Ndiyo ; No. : Hapana ; I don't need. ''(Polite way of saying you don't want to buy anything)'' : Sihitaji ; Excuse me. (''getting attention'') : Samahani ; I'm sorry (in the sense of "pardon me"; used for minor transgressions). : Samahani ; I'm sorry (in the sense of "please forgive me for wronging you"; used for major transgressions) : Nasikitika. ; Goodbye : Kwa heri. ; Good night. : Usiku mwema ; Sleep well. : Lala Salama ; Did you sleep well? : Umelalaje? : Umeamkaje (lit.: did you wake up well?) ; See you later. : Tutuonana ; Later. : Baadaye ; See you tomorrow. : Tutuonana kesho ; My Swahili is terrible : Kiswahili changu ni kibaya sana. ; I can't speak Kiswahili. : Siwezi kusema Kiswahili ; I only speak a little Kiswahili. : Ninaongea Kiswahili kidogo tu ; Do you speak English? : Wazungumza Kiingereza? ; Bathroom : Maliwato. ; Toilet : Choo ; Help! : Msaada! ; Where is the _______? : Iko wapi _____(e.g. bathroom, police station...)

Problem(s)

:(Ma)tatizo :Shida :Shida kidogo (small problem) :Shida kubwa (big problem)

Numbers

; One. : Moja ; Two. : Mbili ; Three. : Tatu ; Four. : Nne ; Five. : Tano ; Six. : Sita ; Seven. : Saba ; Eight. : Nane ; Nine. : Tisa ; Ten. : Kumi ; Twenty. : Ishirini ; Thirty. : Thelathini ; Forty. : Arobaini ; Fifty. : Hamsini ; Sixty. : Sitini ; Seventy. : Sabini ; Eighty. : Themanini ; Ninety. : Tisini ; One Hundred. : Mia moja ; One Thousand. : Elfu moja

Time

What time is it? - Saa ngapi?

Clock time

Duration

Days

# monday : Jumatatu # tuesday : Jumanne # wednesday : Jumatano # thursday : Alhamisi # friday : Ijumaa # saturday : Jumamoshi # Sunday : Jumapili

Months

Writing time and date

Colors

Transportation

Bus and train

; Minibus : Matatu (Kenya, Uganda) ; Minibus : Daladala (Tanzania) ; Passenger : Abiria

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Hela/ Pesa

Eating

; Banana : Ndizi ; Goat : Mbuzi ; Water : Maji

Bars

To Health

Kwa Afya

Shopping

Driving

Authority

On safari

; Lion : Simba ; Elephant : Tembo ; Hippo : Kiboko ; Giraffe : Twiga ; Cheetah : Duma ; Ostrich : Mbuni