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