Swahili, the national language of East Africa, is predominantly a Bantu language with great influences from the Arabic language. Arabic influences have thought to have come over during trade with Arab and Persian merchants! Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the word Swahili itself actually stands for “The Coast”. Although Arabic and Bantu languages are the main roots for Swahili there are plenty of words that have been derived from English, Germany and Portugal. The correct way to say Swahili for the local man is usually Kiswahili.
Although most locals speak English as a second language, it is always good to keep some common words handy for your once-in-a-lifetime Safari trip! If there are words or phrases you wish to know that are not included in the list below, please feel free to speak to your local Tour guide or driver at any time!
Greetings
Hello = jambo/ hujambo/ salama
How are you? = habari gani
Fine (response) = nzuri
Goodbye = kwa heri/kwa herini(more than one peson)
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 = 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
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
Diarrhoea = 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
