Swahili phrasebook

Swahili (Kiswahili), is an official language of United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Swahili speakers can also be found in surrounding countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda, and Mozambique. While Swahili is primarily spoken natively along the coast and islands of Kenya and Tanzania, it is the lingua franca across all of Tanzania, most of Kenya, eastern DRC, and some parts of Uganda, making it the most widely spoken African language in the world. As a part of the Bantu language family, Swahili is related to a variety of languages from Southern Africa to Central to West Africa. While the vast majority of Bantu languages are tonal, and a few like Xhosa and Zulu also incorporate clicks into their phonetics, Swahili does not use clicks or tones, so pronunciation is generally not difficult for English speakers.

Pronunciation guide

Vowels

Swahili has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. If you are familiar with Spanish, Italian or Japanese, the vowels are pronounced the same. If not, they are pronounced:

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")
E - eh (Like the "e" in "ten")
I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")
O - oh (Like the "o" in "so" but without moving your mouth)
U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Vowels in Swahili always make the same sounds, even when combined with other vowels. There are no silent letters or diphthongs in Swahili, so vowels will always make the same sound, and it is important that you pronounce each vowel, even when one vowel follows another. For example, in the word "daawa" (lawsuit), you must say "dah-ah-wah", pronouncing both of the a's. Simply saying "dah-wah" (dawa) changes the meaning to "drug/medicine".

There are no diphthongs in Swahili; however, foreign names and loan words may contain them.

Consonants

The following consonants are pronounced the same as in English:

b 

like the "b" in "bay"

d 

like the "d" in "dog"

f 

like the "f" in "fun"

g 

like the "g" in "gut"

h 

like the "h" in "hen"

j 

like the "j" in "jam"

k 

like the "k" in "kit"

l 

like the "l" in "lump"

p 

like the "p" in "pot"

s 

like the "s" in "sun"

t 

like the "t" in "tip"

v 

like the "v" in "van"

w 

like the "w" in "win"

y 

like the "y" in "yellow"

z 

like the "z" in "zebra"

Other consonants

m 

like the "m" in "mop".

n 

like the "n" in "numb"

Although "m" and "n" are pronounced the same in Swahili as they are in English, unlike English, these letters can often be found at the beginning of words followed by other consonants, such as "t", "d", etc. Since Swahili has no silent letters, it is important to pronounce these sounds. So for words like "Mchana" (afternoon) and "Ndugu" (sibling/relative), you need to pronounce the "m" and "n" sounds along with the following consonant sounds.

r 

The "r" sound is rolled as it is in Spanish.

Consonant pairings

ch 

like the "ch" in "chat"

ng 

like the "ng" in "sing"

ny 

like the "ni" in "onion"

gh 

officially pronounced similar to the "ch" in "loch", you can alternatively just pronounce it with a hard "g", like the "g" in "gut" (as mentioned above)

sh 

like the "sh" in "dash"

th 

like the "th" in "thank". It is never pronounced like the "th" in "those". That "th" is spelled "dh" in Swahili.

dh 

like the "th" in "the". It is important not to confuse "dh" with the Swahili "th" above. Sometimes pronounced as a "z" sound depending on the dialect.

Phrase list

Basics

Note that greetings in 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 (to one person) 

Hujambo (response: Sijambo)

Hello (to a group) 

Hamjambo (response: Hatujambo)

Hello to an older person or authority figure.

Shikamoo (response: Marahaba). Typically only used in traditional settings.

Hello (informal) 

Mambo vipi? (How are things?)

Response to informal hello 

Mzuri (good), Safi (clean/in order), Poa (cool), Poa kichizi kama ndizi (crazy cool like a banana)

How are you? 

Habari yako? (Your news?)

How are you? (alternative)

Ukoje? (response: niko salama)

How are you? (alternative)

U hali gani? (What's your condition?)

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?

Fine, thank you. 

Nzuri, asante.

What is your name? 

Jina lako nani?

My name is ______ . 

Jina langu ______.

Where are you from? 

Unatoka wapi?

I am from _______. 

Ninatoka _______.

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 

Kwaheri.

Good night. 

Usiku mwema.

Sleep well. 

Lala Salama.

Did you sleep well? 

Umelalaje?

Umeamkaje (lit.: did you wake up well?)

See you later. 

Tuonane baadaye.

Later. 

Baadaye.

See you tomorrow. 

Tutuonana kesho.

My Swahili is terrible 

Kiswahili changu ni kibaya sana.

I can't speak Kiswahili. 

Siwezi kuongea Kiswahili.

I only speak a little Kiswahili. 

Ninaongea Kiswahili kidogo tu.

Do you speak English? 

Unaongea Kiingereza?

Bathroom 

Bafu

Toilet 

Choo

Help! 

Msaada!

Where is the _______? 

_____(e.g. bathroom, police station...) iko wapi?

Grammatically, this would depend on the noun class of the object in question. E.g. for bathroom, it would be "kiko", not "iko". There are 18 noun classes in Swahili, but sticking with the root "iko" in this case should still be understood.

Problem(s)

Leave me alone. 

Uniache!

Don't touch me! 

Usiniguse!

I'll call the police. 

Nitaita polisi!

Police! 

Polisi!

Stop, thief! 

Simama, mwizi!

I need your help. 

Naomba msaada.

I'm lost. 

Nimepotea.

I lost my bag. 

Nimepoteza mfuko wangu.

I lost my wallet. 

Nimepoteza pochi.

I'm sick. 

Mimi ni mgonjwa.

I've been injured. 

Nimeumia

I need a doctor. 

Nahitaji daktari.

Can I use your phone? 

Naomba kutumia simu yako?

No Problem. 

Hakuna matata.

Numbers

One. 

Moja

Two. 

Mbili

Three. 

Tatu

Four. 

Nne

Five. 

Tano

Six. 

Sita

Seven. 

Saba

Eight. 

Nane

Nine. 

Tisa

Ten. 

Kumi

Eleven. 

Kumi na moja ("Ten and one")

Twenty. 

Ishirini

Thirty. 

Thelathini

Forty. 

Arobaini

Fifty. 

Hamsini

Sixty. 

Sitini

Seventy. 

Sabini

Eighty. 

Themanini

Ninety. 

Tisini

One Hundred. 

Mia moja

One Thousand. 

Elfu moja

One Hundred Thousand. 

Laki moja

One Million. 

Milioni Moja

Time

now 

Sasa

later 

Baadaye

before 

Kabla ya

after 

Baada ya

morning 

Asubuhi

afternoon 

Mchana

evening 

Jioni

night 

Usiku

Clock time

What time is it? 

Saa ngapi?

In Swahili, counting the time does not begin from midnight and instead begins from 6:00 AM. As a result, what's literally translated as second hour (saa mbili) refers to 8:00 AM. Time is still split between twelve hour morning and night segments, so to be specific the words for morning or afternoon (asubuhi or mchana) and night (usiku) will be appended when necessary (i.e saa mbili usiku is 8:00 PM).

7:00 AM 

saa moja asubuhi (lit. first hour morning)

7:15 AM

saa moja na robo asubuhi (lit. first hour and quarter morning)

7:20 AM

saa moja na dakika ishirini asubuhi (lit. first hour and minutes twenty morning)

7:30 AM

saa moja na nusu asubuhi (lit. first hour and half morning)

7:45 AM

saa mbili kasorobo asubuhi (lit. second hour minus quarter morning)

7:50 AM

saa mbili kasoro dakika kumi asubuhi (lit. second hour minus minutes ten morning)

8:00 AM 

saa mbili asubuhi

9:00 AM

saa tatu asubuhi

12:00 PM

saa sita asubuhi

1:00 PM 

saa saba mchana

2:00 PM 

saa nana mchana

6:00 PM 

saa kumi na mblili mchana (lit. twelfth hour afternoon)

7:00 PM 

saa moja usiku (lit. first hour night)

8:00 PM 

saa mbili usiku

9:00 PM 

saa tatu usiku

12:00 AM

saa sita usiku

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

dakika _____

_____ hour(s) 

saa (masaa) _____

_____ day(s) 

siku _____

_____ week(s) 

wiki _____

_____ month(s) 

mwezi (miezi) _____

_____ year(s) 

mwaka (miaka) _____

Days

In Swahili, the first day of the week is Saturday. The name of Saturday combines juma (week) and mosi (one/first). You can think of it as meaning "the first of the week". The other days are the same, with the exception of Thursday and Friday, which do not follow the pattern.

Saturday 

Jumamosi

Sunday 

Jumapili

Monday 

Jumatatu

Tuesday 

Jumanne

Wednesday 

Jumatano

Thursday 

Alhamisi

Friday 

Ijumaa

Months

Month 

mwezi

In Tanzania, the words in parentheses are rarely used. Instead, they refer to them as first month, second month, etc.

January 

Mwezi wa kwanza (Januari)

February 

Mwezi wa pili (Februari)

March 

Mwezi wa tatu (Machi)

April 

Mwezi wa nne (Aprili)

May 

Mwezi wa tano (Mei)

June 

Mwezi wa sita (Juni)

July 

Mwezi wa saba (Julai)

August 

Mwezi wa nane (Agosti)

September 

Mwezi wa tisa (Septemba)

October 

Mwezi wa kumi (Oktoba)

November 

Mwezi wa kumi na moja (Novemba)

December 

Mwezi wa kumi na mbili (Desemba)

Seasons

Swahili-speaking countries generally experience two seasons: rainy-and-hot and cold-and-dry. Swahili does not have words for "autumn" or "spring", etc.

Season 

majira

summer 

kiangazi

winter 

majira ya baridi

spring 

majira ya machipuko

fall  

majira ya majani kupukukika

Writing time and date

Colors

black 

nyeusi

blue 

kibuluu

brown 

kahawia

colours 

rangi

gray 

kijivu

green 

kijani

orange 

machungwa

pink 

waridi

purple 

urujuani

red 

nyekundu

white 

nyeupe

yellow 

njano

Transportation

Bus and train

Minibus (Kenya, Uganda) 

Matatu

Minibus (Tanzania) 

Daladala

Passenger 

Abiria

How much is a ticket to _____? 

Tikiti kuenda ____ pesa ngapi?

One ticket to _____, please. 

Naomba tikiti moja kuenda ____.

Where does this train/bus go? 

Treni/basi hii inakuenda wapi?

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

Treni/basi itakuenda ____?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

Treni/basi itaondoka kwa ____ lini?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

Treni/basi itafika _____ lini?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

Je, ninakuenda ____ ?

I want to go to ____ 

Ninataka kuenda ____

Which direction? 

Mwelekeo upi?

...the train station? 

stesheni cha treni?

...the bus station? 

stesheni cha basi?

...the airport? 

uwanja wa ndege?

...downtown? 

mjini?

Town center 

Katikati ya mjini

...the youth hostel? 

hosteli ya vijana?

...the _____ hotel? 

hoteli _____ ? (note "hoteli" can also refer to restaurants)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British embassy? 

ubalozi wa Marekani/Canada/Australia/Uingereza

Embassy 

Ubalozi

Consulate 

Balozi ndogo (but probably better to ask for "Ubalozi")

Where are there a lot of... 

Wapi kuna mengi ya ...

...hotels? 

hoteli?

...restaurants? 

restorenti? (also "migahawa")

...bars? 

baa?

...clubs 

kilabu?

...sites to see? 

maeneo ya kuona?

Can you show me on the map? 

Unaweza nionyesha katika ramani? (Note that maps are not widely used or understood. Street names and directions are less frequently used than local landmarks, which you will need to learn for each area. Bus stations, bus stops, hotels, monuments, churches, and other establishments typically constitute recognized landmarks.)

Where is it on the map? 

Iko wapi katika ramani?

street 

streeti

highway 

barabara

Turn left. 

Pinda kushoto

Turn right. 

Pinda kulia

left 

kushoto

right 

kulia

straight ahead 

moja kwa moja

towards the _____ 

ukielekea _____

close to _____ 

karibu na _____

past the _____ 

baada ya ____/pita ya _____

before the _____ 

kabla ya _____

Watch for the _____. 

angalia kwa _____.

intersection 

kona

north 

kaskazini

south 

Kusini

east 

mashariki

west 

magharibi

uphill 

juu mlima

downhill 

chini mlima

taxi

teksi

Take me to _____, please.

Nipeleke _____, tafadhali.

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

Itakuwa pesa ngapi kuenda _____?

Take me there, please. 

Nipeleke huko, tafadhali.

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

Vyumba vipo?

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

Chumba cha mtu moja/watu wawili ni bei gani ?

Does the room come with... 

Chumba kina ...?

...bedsheets? 

shuka

...a bathroom? 

bafuni

...toilet? 

choo

...shower?

bafu ya manyunyu

...a telephone? 

simu

...internet? 

intaneti

...a TV?

runinga

May I see the room first? 

Naweza kukiona chumba kwanza?

Do you have anything quieter? 

Kuna nafasi kimya zaidi?

...bigger? 

kikubwa?

...cleaner? 

kisafi?

...cheaper? 

bei nafuu?

OK, I'll take it. 

Sawa basi, nitakichukua.

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

nitakitumia usiku ____.

Can you suggest another hotel? 

Do you have a safe? (...)

...lockers? 

Is breakfast/supper included?

What time is breakfast/supper? 

)

Please clean my room. 

Can you wake me at _____? 

I want to check out. 

Ninataka kuondoka.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

Do you accept British pounds? 

Do you accept credit cards? 

Can you change money? 

Unaweza kubadilia pesa?

Where can I get money changed? 

Ninaweza kubadilisha pesa wapi?

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

What is the exchange rate? 

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

Meza kwa mtu moja/watu wawili, tafadhali.

We are two/three/four. 

Tuko wawili/watatu/wanne.

Can I look at the menu, please? 

Ninaweza kuangalia menu, tafadhali.

Can I look in the kitchen? 

Ninaweza kuona jikoni?

Is there a house specialty? 

Is there a local specialty? 

I'm a vegetarian. 

Mimi ni mla mboga

Vegetarian food 

Chakula mboga mboga

I don't eat pork. 

Sili nyama ya nguruwe

I don't eat beef. 

Sili nyama ya n'gombe

I don't eat goat. 

Sili nyama ya mbuzi

I only eat kosher food. 

Ninakula chakula halali tu.

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

Punguza mafuta/siagi/

No bones. 

Bila mafupa

fixed-price meal 

a la carte 

breakfast 

kifungua kinywa / chakula cha asubuhi

lunch 

chakula cha mchana

Food  

Chakula

tea 

chai

supper 

chakula cha jioni

I want _____. 

Ninataka

I request _____. Naomba _____. (more polite than 'I want', especially in Tanzania)

I want a dish containing _____. 

Banana  

Ndizi

Goat  

Mbuzi

chicken 

Kuku

beef 

Ng'ombe

fish 

Samaki

ham 

sausage 

cheese 

Jibini

Egg/eggs 

Yai/Mayai

salad 

Saladi

(fresh) vegetables 

Mboga (singular), Maboga (plural)

Fresh 

freshi

(fresh) fruit 

Mtunda (singular), Matunda (plural)

bread 

Mkate

toast 

Tosti (but there is a brand of bread called 'Tosti' so you will also find a 'Toasted toast' entry on some menus!)

noodles/pasta 

Tambi (invariably, spaghetti unless you are in a specialist restaurant)

rice 

Wali (cooked rice), Mchele (uncooked) Mpunga (rice plant)

beans 

Maharage

May I have a glass of _____? 

Ninaomba glasi moja ya ____.

May I have a cup of _____? 

Ninaomba kikombe kimoja cha ____.

May I have a bottle of _____? 

Ninaomba chupa moja ya ____.

coffee 

Kahawa (this will usually be instant coffee. It's rare to find real coffee except in specialist establishments or those frequented by tourists)

tea (drink) 

Chai

spiced tea 

Chai ya masala (tea is often spiced with masala mix or ginger

Tea with milk 

Chai ya maziwa

Tea without milk 

Chai ya rangi (literally, 'tea with color')

juice 

juisi

(bubbly) water 

water 

Maji

beer 

Pombe, Bia (Pombe often refers to a local brew and many of these are unsafe to drink. Better to ask for a beer by brand name or ask 'Bia gani ipo?', 'What beers do you have?'

red/white wine 

Mvinyo/wini nyekundu/nyeupi

May I have some _____? 

Ninaomba

salt 

Chumvi

black pepper 

pilipili manga

butter 

Siagi (But you are likely to get margarine, at best. You will probably need to ask for margarine by a brand name, such as 'Blue Band')

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Samahani/ebu (the latter is less formal)

Excuse me, waiter? (to a waiter, 'Kaka', to a waitress, 'Dada')

I'm finished. 

Nimemaliza

It was delicious. 

Chakula ni kitamu

Please clear the plates. 

Uondoe masahani tafadhali

The check, please. 

Naomba bili, tafadhali

Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Pombe ipo?

Is there table service? 

A beer/two beers, please. 

Bia moja/mbili, tafadhali.

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

Glasi mvinyo/wini nyekundu/nyuepi, tafadhali

A pint, please. 

(Pint measure is not used in East Africa, bottles are usually half litre, sometimes 375ml. People order by the bottle and if there are two sizes, they say 'kubwa' for large or 'ndogo' for small.

A bottle, please. 

Chupa moja, tafadhali.

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

whiskey 

Whiskey

vodka 

Vodka

rum 

water 

Maji

club soda 

tonic water 

orange juice 

juici/maji ya machungwa

Coke (soda) 

Koka

Do you have any bar snacks? 

Snaki ipo?

One more, please. 

Moja nyingine,tafadhali

Another round, please. 

When is closing time? 

Saa ya kufunga ni lini?

Cheers! 

Maisha marefu

Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

Kuna hii ya kunitosha?

How much is this? 

Pesa ngpai?

That's too expensive. 

Ni ghali mno.

Would you take _____? 

Utakubali-----

expensive 

Ghali

cheap 

Rahisi

I can't afford it. 

Sina pesa za kutosha

I don't want it. 

Sitaki

You're cheating me. 

I'm not interested. 

OK, I'll take it. 

Sawa, nitachukua.

Can I have a bag? 

Nipe mfuko mmoja tafadhali.

Do you ship (overseas)? 

I need... 

Ninahitaji

...toothpaste. 

Dawa ya meno

...a toothbrush. 

Mswaki

...tampons. 

...soap. 

Sabuni

...shampoo. 

shampoo ya nywele

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

dawa ya kupambana na maumivu

...cold medicine. 

Dawa ya mafua

...stomach medicine. 

Dawa ya tumbo

...a razor. 

wembe

...an umbrella. 

Mwavuli

...sunblock lotion. 

...a postcard. 

...postage stamps. 

stempu

...batteries. 

makaa

...writing paper. 

Karatasi ya kuandika

...a pen. 

Kalamu

...English-language books. 

Kitabu cha Kiingereza (singular) / Vitabu vya Kiingereza (plural)

...English-language magazines. 

...an English-language newspaper. 

Gazeti la Kiingereza

...an English-English dictionary. 

Kamusi ya Kiingereza

Driving

I want to rent a car. 

Ninataka kukodi gari.

Can I get insurance? 

Ninaweza kupata bima?

stop (on a street sign) 

Simama

one way 

yield 

no parking 

Hairuhusiwi kuegesha (parking not permitted)

speed limit 

Slow down 

Punguza mwendo

gas (petrol) station 

Stesheni/stesheni ya mafuta/stesheni ya mafuta ya gari

petrol 

Mafuta/mafuta ya gari

diesel 

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

sijafanya kitu kibaya

It was a misunderstanding. 

Where are you taking me? 

Am I under arrest? 

Je, mimi chini ya kukamatwa?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

nataka kuogea na wakili

Can I just pay a fine now? 

Country and territory names

United States 

Marekani

Canada 

Kanada

Mexico 

Meksiko

Brazil 

Brazil

United Kingdom 

Uingereza

Ireland 

Eire, Ayalandi

Russia 

Urusi

France 

Ufaransa

Netherlands 

Uholanzi

Germany 

Udachi, Ujerumani

Italy 

Italia

Kenya 

Kenya

Tanzania 

Tanzania

Zanzibar (Tanzanian Island) 

Unguja

Uganda 

Uganda

Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo

South Africa 

Afrika Kusini

Nigeria 

Nijeria

Ethiopia 

Uhabeshi

China 

Uchina

Japan 

Japani

Singapore 

Singapuri

South Korea 

Korea Kusini

India 

Uhundi

Israel 

Uyahudi

Australia 

Australia

New Zealand 

Nyuzilandi

On safari

cheetah  

duma

elephant 

tembo

giraffe  

twiga

hippo  

kiboko

leopard  

chui

lion  

simba

ostrich  

mbuni

snake  

nyoka

turtle  

warthog  

Ngiri

zebra  

punda milia