This is a brief introduction to Swahili with basic instruction about pronunciation and important words and phrases. Anywhere you travel in East Africa, the ability to communicate in Swahili will greatly enhance your experience. Even if you do not plan on studying the language in-depth, we strongly suggest learning and using basic greetings and phrases. The locals will greatly appreciate your efforts and will be all the more welcoming to you during your stay.

Pronunciation

  • a   –  as in father
  • b   –  as in bat
  • ch –  as in chop
  • d   –  as in dad
  • dh –  as in this
  • e    –  halfway between get and gait
  • f    –   as in family
  • g   –   as in game
  • gh –  halfway between ‘k’ in keep and ‘g’ in get
  • h   –  as in home
  • i    –  as in see
  • j   –   as in jump
  • k  –  as in kennel
  • kh- like ‘ch’ in J.S. Bach
  • l   – as in long
  • m – as in mill
  • n  – as in neat
  • ng’ – as in song
  • ny  – like the Spanish ñ, or the first ‘n’ in onion
  • o    – as in old
  • p   –  as in pin
  • r   –  as in rabbit
  • s  –   as in small
  • sh –    as in shallow
  • t   –  as in time
  • th  – as in thick
  • u  –  as in roof v as in vote
  • w – as in women
  • y  – as in yolk
  • z  – as in zero
Greetings Translation and transliteration
May I come in? Hodi (hoh-dee)
Welcome/Come in Karibu (kah-ree-boo)
Hello Jambo (jah-mboh)
Goodbye Kwaheri (kwah-heh-ree)
How are you? Habari yako? (hah-bah-ree yah-koh)
Very well Mzuri sana
…and you? Na wewe je?
Okay Sawa
What’s up? (informal) Mambo?
What’s up with you? Cool Vipi, Poa

 

Introductions Translation and transliteration
My name is… Jina langu ni… (jee-nah lah-ngoo)
What is your name? Jina lako ni nani? (jee-nah lah-koh nah
nee)
What do you call yourself? Unaitwa nani?
I call myself… Ninaitwa…
Pleased to meet you. Nimefurahi kukutana
I am from America. Ninatoka nchi ya Amerika.
Where are you from? Unatoka wapi? (wah-pee)
I am a student. Mimi ni mwanafunzi.
I am doing work for … Ninafanya kazi kwa…

 

 

Etiquette Translation and transliteration
Thank you Asante (ah-sah-nteh)
You are welcome Karibu (kah-ree-boo)
Please Tafadhali (tah-fah-thah-lee)
My sympathy (Sorry) Pole (poh-leh) or Samahani
Excuse me Nisamehe (nee-sa-meh-heh),
Samahani

 

Relationships/Titles Translation and transliteration
Me Mimi
You Wewe
Us Sisi
Him/Her Yeye
Them Wao
Friend/Pal Rafiki (rah-fee-kee)
Family Jamii (jah-mee)
Daughter (in Luo) Nyar
Daughter Binti
Son Mwana (mwah-nah)
Relative/Brother Ndugu (ndoo-goo)
Brother Kaka
Sister Dada (dah-dah)
Father Baba (bah-bah)
Mother Mama
Doctor Daktari (dahk-tah-ree)
Teacher Mwalimu
Sir Bwana (bwah-nah)
Man, Men Mwanaume, Wanaume (wah-nah-oo- meh)
Woman, Women Mwanamke, Wanawake (wah-nah-
wah-keh)
A young person Kijana (kee-jah-nah)
Girl, young women Msichana (msee-chah-nah)
Old man (term of respect) Mzee
Drinks Translation and transliteration
I am thirsty Ninasikia kiu
I would like… Ninaomba…
I want… Nataka…
Drinks/Beverages Kinywaji
Coffee Kahawa (kah-hah-wah)
Tea Chai
Water Maji (mah-jee)
Milk Maziwa
Beer Bia

 

Food Translation and transliteration
I am hungry Ninasikia njaa
Food Chakula (chah-koo-lah)
Bread Mkate (mkah-teh)
Meat Nyama (nyah-mah)
Fish Samaki (sah-mah-kee)
Vegetables Mboga (mboh-gah)
Fruit Matunda (mah-too-ndah)
Chicken Kuku
Corn Mahindi
Locations Translation and transliteration
Market Soko (soh-koh)
Mosque Msikiti
Church Kanisa (kah-nee-sah)
Shop Duka
School Shule (shoo-leh)
Hospital Hospitali (hoh-spee-tah-lee)
Home Nyumba – Nyumbani
Bathroom/Toilet Choo (choo)
Shower Kioga (kee-oh-gah)
Kitchen Jiko (jee-koh)
Garden Shamba (shah-mbah)
Cost Translation and transliteration
How much? Pesa ngapi (peh-sahn gah-pee)
How many? Ngapi (ngah-pee)
Money Pesa (peh-sah)
Price Bei (beh-ee)
Expensive Ghali (ghah-lee)
Cheap Rahisi (rah-hee-see)

 

Translation and transliteration
Morning Asubuhi (ah-soo-boo-hee)
Afternoon Mchana (mchah-nah)
Evening Jioni (jee-oh-nee)
Night Usiku (oo-see-koo)
Numbers Translation and transliteration
Sufiri 11 Kumi na moja 30 Thelathini 1000 elfu
1 Moja 12 Kumi na mbili 40 Arobaini
2 Mbili 13 Kumi na tatu 50 Hamsini
3 Tatu 14 Kumi na nne 60 Sitini
4 Nne 15 Kumi na tano 70 Sabini
5 Tano 16 Kumi na sita 80 Themanini
6 Sita 17 Kumi na saba 90 Tisini
7 Saba 18 Kumi na nane 100 Mia
8 Nane 19 Kumi na tisa 102 Mia na mbili
9 Tisa 20 Ishirini 200 Mia mbili
10 Kumi 23 Ishirini na tatu 250 Mia mbili na hamsini

 

 

Useful Words/Phrases Translation and transliteration
Yes Ndiyo
No Hapana
Maybe Labda
Now Sasa
Later Baadaye
Long life Maisha marefu
No worries/problems Hakuna matata
I am satisfied (by this meal) Nimeshiba.
I want… Nataka… (nah-tah-kah)
I want to go… Nataka kwenda…(nah-tah-kah kweh-
ndah)
I want to buy… Nataka kununua…
I am tired. Nimechoka.

 

I am lost. Nimepotea
I don’t know. Sijui.
I don’t understand. Sifahamu.
How do you say…in Swahili? Unasemaje… kwa Kiswahili?
Can you repeat that please? Sema tena tafadhali.
Repeat that slowly Sema tena pole pole
Who? Nani?
What? Nini?
Why? Kwa nini?
Where? Wapi?
When? Lini?
Swahili Proverb/Phrases Translation and transliteration
Together for one goal. Pamoja kwa lengo moja.
A proverb that has a similar Haba na haba hujaza.
meaning to: “a journey of thousand miles
starts with one step.”
Slowly is the best course Pole pole ndiyo mwendo
Hurry has no blessing Haraka haraka haina baraka
He who praises rain has been rained Asifuye mvuwa imemnyeshea
on
To live long is to see much Kuishi kwingi ni kuona mengi
To get lost is to learn the way Kupoteya njia ndiyo kujua njia
Miscelaneous Translation and transliteration
Peace Amani (ah-mah-nee)
Love Upendo (oo-peh-ndoh)
Work Kazi (kah-zee)
Enough Inatosha/basi
Beautiful Mrembo (mreh-mboh)
Slowly Pole pole (poh-leh)
Strength Nguvo
Bad Mbaya (mbah-yah)
Long life Maisha marefu
Cool Poa

 

 

 

Beautiful Nzuri/Mzuri
Sick Gonjwa (goh-njwah)
Good Nzuri
Piece of cloth worn by a woman Kanga