List Of Useful Swahili Phrases And Expressions To Learn Before Visiting East Africa

Traveling to East Africa for business? Before you go, we recommend learning these useful Swahili expressions and phrases.

One of the most common mistakes that Western visitors make when visiting Kenya and Tanzania, or East Africa in general, is failing to learn a few basic Swahili words. While this may seem like a minor detail, it can have a major impact on your overall experience.

Knowing just a few simple phrases will save you from being frustrated at misunderstandings or having to compensate for miscommunication with gestures or bodily expressions (which don’t always come across clearly).

Even better, knowing a few Swahili sayings, Swahili slang, and inspiring Swahili words like hakuna matata will undoubtedly enhance your visit to East Africa.

Basic Swahili Phrases and Their English Translation

What is Swahili?

Swahili is a native language of the Swahili people, who speak it as their first language. The Swahili (also known as the Waswahili) are a Bantu ethnic group who live in East Africa.

Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania all use Swahili as their official language, and Swahili is predominantly a rich mixture of local Bantu languages and Arabic.

Common Swahili greetings and their meanings

Common and famous Swahili phrases like hakuna matata which was featured in the Lion King movie opened up Swahili to the rest of the globe.

• Hujambo-Hello

This is a handy Swahili phrase—a typical way to greet someone.

Sasa–Hey/hi, is often used as a meet-up greeting by Kenyans.

Useful Swahili phrases and expressions used in tandem with greetings include:

• Habari gani: How are you?

So, if you’re looking for a way of asking a person how they are, you can extend the greeting by using the Swahili phrase “Habari gani?”

It is a phrase used to inquire about a person’s identity. It is the most courteous way of asking their name instead of “you,” which is Swahili for “wewe“.

Following is a list of further English to Swahili sentences and their meanings.

• Fine (response to ‘how are you’): nzuri/salama/njema
• See you later, Tuaonana. A polite way of saying you will see or meet a local at another time is to say you look forward to seeing them soon.
• Nice to meet you: Nafurahi kukuona
• Goodnight: lala salama/usiku mwema
• Goodbye: kwa heri/ kwa herini (more than one person)

A formal way of saying goodbye is much more important than you can imagine. An East African will appreciate your polite manner and can end up assisting you even further.

Swahili Etiquett Phrases

Going to a foreign land will be a memorable experience only if you have a pleasant time. Learning etiquettes and observing Kenyan culture and customs are essential components of having a pleasant trip.

• Asante – Thank you Yes, this is the most important phrase you should learn in Swahili: how to express gratitude.
• Hapana asante -No, thank you. You can politely decline a person’s offer if you don’t want it by saying “hapana asante.”
• Yes: ndiyo
• No: hapana
• Thank you very much: asante sana
• Please: tafadhali
• OK: sawa
• Excuse me: samahani
• You’re welcome: karibu
• Can you help me?: tafadhali, naomba msaada/ tafadhali nisaidie
• What is your name?: jina lako nani?/unaitwa nani?
• My name is (response): jina langu ni. A proper response from a local person would be “my name is”: ‘jina langu ni/naitwa”.
• Where are you from?: unatoka wapi?
• May I take a picture?: naomba kupiga picha/naweza piga picha?
• Do you speak English?: unaongea Kiingereza?
• Do you speak Swahili?: Je, unazungumza Kiswahili?
• How do you say… in Swahili?: unasemaje… kwa Kiswahili
• I don’t understand: sielewi
• Friend: rafiki
• To express gratitude towards a person and let them know you appreciate their presence, you’re telling someone that meeting a them has enhanced your life in one aspect or another.

Learning to Speak Basic Swahili Phrases

• There are numerous online tools available to assist you in learning Swahili, including the Playstore and Apple Store apps, online Swahili dictionary and pronunciation guides (did you know? : Kamusi means “dictionary” in Swahili), and online Swahili translation websites.
• You can also stream BBC Radio, VOA, and DW Swahili channels or Youtube Swahili channels, so as to become familiar with the language by picking up terms and phrases, as well as a Swahili phrasebook to aid you on your travels.

Common Swahili words and their English translations

Going to a foreign land will be an unforgettable experience only if you have a pleasant time. And to get that, it’s best for us to be as polite and respectful to the locals as possible.

It is vital that you become familiar with some of the most useful Swahili phrases and expressions; doing so will make your overall East African experience much more enjoyable and memorable.

Familiarizing with locality

• Where can i find…?: ni wapi nitapata..?
• Person: mtu
• Pass here: pitia hapa
• Man (mwanume), boy (kijana), girl(msichana), woman(mwanamke/dada)
• Airport: uwanja wa ndege
• Bus station: stesheni ya basi
• Train Station: stesheni ya treni
• Bank: benki
• Market: soko
• Police station: kituo cha polisi
• Post office: posta
• Chief’s Office: ofisi ya chifu
• Tourist: mtalii
• 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
• Lodging: chumba cha kupanga/kulala
• How much is a room?: chumba ni pesa ngapi?

Days and Numbers in Swahili

• Today: leo
• Tomorrow: kesho
• Yesterday: jana
• Now: sasa
• Later: baadaye
• Every day: kila siku
• Monday: Jumatatu
• Tuesday: Jumanne
• Wednesday: Jumatano
• Thursday: Alhamisi
• Friday: Ijumaa
• Saturday: Jumamosi
• Sunday: Jumapili
• 1: moja
• 2: mbili
• 3: tatu
• 4: nne
• 5: tano
• 6: sita
• 7: saba
• 8: nane
• 9: tisa
• 10: kumi
• 20: ishirini
• 23: ishirni na tatu
• 30: thelathini
• 40: arobaini
• 50: hamsini
• 60: sitini
• 70: sabini
• 80: themanini
• 90: tisini
• 100: mia
• 200: mia mbili
• 1000: elfu
• 100,000: laki/elfu mia moja

Common domestic and wild animal names in Swahili

• Animal: mnyama
• Buffalo: nyati/mbogo
• Dog: mbwa
• Cat: paka
• Cheetah: duma
• Cow: n’gombe
• Elephant: tembo/ndovu
• Snake: nyoka
• Giraffe: twiga
• Goat: mbuzi
• Hippo: kiboko
• Hyena: fisi
• Leopard: chui
• Lion: simba
• Rhino: kifaru
• Warthog: ngiri
• Wildebeest: nyumbu
• Zebra: punda milia

Swahili names for local foods and drinks

• I’d like: nataka/naomba
• Food: chakula
• Hot/cold: moto/baridi
• Water: maji
• Hot water: maji moto
• Drinking water: maji ya kunywa
• Soda: soda
• Beer: bia/pombe
• Milk: maziwa
• Meat: nyama
• Chicken: nyama ya kuku
• Fish: samaki
• Beef: nyama ya ng’ombe
• Nyama choma: roasted meat
• Fruit: matunda
• Vegetables: mboga

Common Swahili health terms and their English translation

• Can i see a doctor?: naweza ona daktari?
• Doctor: daktari
• Hospital: hospitali
• Clinic: kliniki
• Nurse: mwuguzi
• I am sick: mimi ni mgonjwa
• Pain: maumivu
• I have pain allover: Nina maumivu kila pahali
• dirrhoea: kuhara/kuendesha
• It hurts here: naumwa hapa
• Fever: homa
• Malaria: malaria
• Mosquito net: chandarua cha mbu
• Headache: umwa na kichwa/maumivu ya kichwa
• Vomit: tapika
• Medicine: dawa

Useful Swahili phrases and expressions are a necessity for those traveling to East Africa. Before you embark on your journey consider learning a few Swahili words, I promise you, it will come in handy.