Swahili or Kiswahili, is an official language of Tanzania, Kenya (English is the official language the government of Kenya and is widely spoken in urban areas), the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Uganda. Swahili speakers can also be found in surrounding countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda, and Mozambique. While only 5-10 million people speak Swahili as their first language, as a second language, there are over 50 million speakers, 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 some Bantu languages, like Xhosa and Zulu are click languages, Swahili does not use clicks, 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 "a" in "say" but without moving your mouth)
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".

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 not pronounced as it is in English. Actually, like the vowels, the "r" sound is the same as Spanish and Japanese; a soft "r" that sometimes sounds like a "d".

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.

Common diphthongs

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

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 (shee-kah-moh) (response: Marahaba). Some people frown on the use of Shikamoo because it started out as a servant's greeting to his/her master.

Hello. (informal)

Mambo vipi? (How are things?)

Response to informal hello

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

How are you?

Habari yako? (lit.: Your news?)

How are you? (alternative)

Ukoje? Response: Niko salama.

How are you? (alternative)

U hali gani? (lit.: What's your condition?)

How are you today?

Habari ya 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 ni nani?

My name is ______ .

Jina langu ni ______.

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

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.

Tuonane baadaye.

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.

Ninasema Kiswahili kidogo tu.

Do you speak English?

Unasema 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.

Problem(s)

Leave me alone.

Uniache!

Don't touch me!

Usiniguse!

I'll call the police.

Nitaita polisi!

Police!

Polisi!

Help!

Msaada!

Stop! Thief!

(Saying this in Swahili could likely result in violent death for the thief at the hands of self appointed vigilantes. Your item may or may not be recovered.) Simama, mwizi!

I need your help.

Ninaomba 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.

I need a doctor.

Ninahitaji daktari.

Can I use your phone?

Ninaomba 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

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, the morning does not begin at midnight (12 AM); instead, it begins at 7:00 AM. Daytime revolves around the rising and setting of the sun, which typically begins to rise around 7 AM and set at 7 PM in the areas where Swahili is spoken. For English speakers, this can be confusing; however, those who learn how to tell time in Swahili will admit that it is more logical than the English system, in which midnight is considered "morning", even though no one begins their day at midnight.

So, to say the time in Swahili, you need to add (or subtract) 6 from the English time. 7:00 in America will be expressed as the first hour (1:00) in Swahili. AM is expressed with asubuhi (morning) and PM is typically marked with usiku (night). Because the daytime begins at 7 AM, hours from midnight to 6 AM will be expressed with usiku, as these are nighttime hours in Swahili. Jioni (evening) can be used in place of usiku for hours that are not so late, such as 7 PM.

7 o'clock AM

saa moja asubuhi

7.15 AM

saa moja na robo asubuhi

7.20 AM

saa moja na dakika ishirini asubuhi

7.30 AM

saa moja na nusu asubuhi

7.45 AM

saa mbili (kasoro robo = kasorobo)

7.50 AM

saa mbili kasoro dakika kumi asubuhi

8 o'clock AM

saa mbili asubuhi

9 o'clock AM

saa tatu asubuhi

Noon (12 o'clock PM)

saa sita asubuhi

1 o'clock PM

saa saba mchana

2 o'clock PM

saa nana mchana

6 o'clock PM

saa kumi na mblili mchana

7 o'clock PM

saa moja usiku

8 o'clock PM

saa mbili usiku

9 o'clock PM

saa tatu usiku

Midnight (12 o'clock AM)

saa sita usiku

Duration

dakika_____ minute(s)

saa (masaa)_____ hour(s)

siku_____ day(s)

wiki_____ week(s)

mwezi (miezi)_____ month(s)

mwaka (miaka)_____ year(s)

duration ____ muda

how long ____ muda gani

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 roughly "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

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 ya kwenda ____ pesa ngapi?

One ticket to _____, please.

Naomba tikiti moja ya kwenda ____.

Where does this train/bus go?

Treni/basi hii inakwenda wapi?

Does this train/bus stop in _____?

Treni/basi itakwenda ____?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?

Treni/basi itaondoka lini?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?

Treni/basi itafika lini _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?

Je, ninakwenda ____

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?

...the _____ hotel?

Hoteli _____ iko wapi? (but 'hoteli' often refers to a place to eat, especially in Kenya)

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

ubalozi wa Marekani/Canada/Uingereza

Embassy

Ubalozi

Consulate

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

Where are there a lot of...

...hotels?

hoteli

...restaurants?

migahawa (singular is 'mgahawa')

...bars?

Baa (same in plural)

Club

Kilabu

...sites to see?

Can you show me on the map?

Unaweza nionyesha katika ramani? (maps are not widely understood; street names and directions are less frequently used than local landmarks, which you need to learn for each area. Bus stations, bus stops, expensive hotels, monuments, and even some very unlikely items, 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 _____

close to _____

Karibu na

past the _____

Baada ya ____/Pita ya _____

before the _____

Kabla ya ____

Watch for the _____.

Angalia kwa ____

intersection

north

Kaskazini

south

Kusini

east

Mashariki

west

Magharibi

uphill

kwenye mlima

downhill

Taxi

Taxi!

Take me to _____, please.

Nipeleke......, tafadhali

How much does it cost to get to _____?

itakuwa pesa ngapi kunifikisha------?

Take me there, please.

Tafadhali nipeleke huko basi:

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?

Je, unavyo vyumba?/Je, 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...

Self contained (with bathroom)

Selfi contain

Not self contained (without bathroom)

Non/not selfi contain

...bedsheets?

Shuka

...a bathroom?

Bath

Bafu

Shower

Showa/nyunyu/bafu ya manyunyu

...a telephone?

Simu

...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 for me?

Unaweza kubadilia pesa mimi?

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

lion

simba

ostrich

mbuni

snake

nyoka

turtle

warthog

zebra

punda milia