|
|
Useful Swahili phrases
Here are some
common words with their translation in Swahili which a visitor will find them helpful. |
| GENERAL |
YA KAWAIDA |
| Hullo |
Jambo! |
| How are you? |
Habari /Habari gani? |
| Good, fine/very well |
Nzuri |
| Bad |
Mbaya |
| Thank you (very much) |
Asante (sana) |
| Please |
Tafadhali |
| Goodbye/Goodnight |
Kwaheri / Lala salama |
| Welcome |
Karibu |
| Danger |
Hatari |
| Friend |
Rafiki |
| Sorry |
Samahani, Pole |
| Excuse me please |
Nisamehe, Samahani |
| |
|
| BAR AND RESTAURANT |
MGAHAWA |
| A lot/plenty |
Nyingi |
| Beer |
Pombe/Bia |
| Bread |
Mkate |
| Butter |
Siagi |
| Very well, thanks. |
Vizuri, asante |
| Coffee |
Kahawa |
| Egg(s) |
Yai (Mayai) |
| Enough |
Basi/Inatosha |
| Fish |
Samaki |
| Food |
Chakula |
| Fruit(s) |
Tunda (Matunda) |
| Ice/Cold |
Barafu/Baridi |
| Meat |
Nyama |
| Milk |
Maziwa |
| Onion |
Kitunguu |
| Potato(es) |
Kiazi (Viazi) |
| Rice (Cooked rice) |
Mchele (Wali) |
| Salt |
Chumvi |
| Small, little / Big |
Kidogo/Kikubwa |
| Sugar |
Sukari |
| Sweets |
Peremende |
| Sweet |
Tamu |
| Tea |
Chai |
| Vegetables |
Mboga |
| Warm, hot / fire |
Moto |
| Water |
Maji |
| |
|
| ON BUYING |
KWA KUNUNUA |
| How much? |
Bei gani? |
| Expensive (Very) |
Ghali (sana) |
| Shilling(s) |
Shilingi |
| Please give me discount |
Tafadhali nipunguzie |
| |
|
| NUMBERS |
NAMBARI |
| One |
Moja |
| Two |
Mbili |
| Three |
Tatu |
| Four |
Nne |
| Five |
Tano |
| Six |
Sita |
| Seven |
Saba |
| Eight |
Nane |
| Nine |
Tisa |
| Ten |
Kumi |
| Half |
Nusu |
| Quarter |
Robo |
| |
|
| TIME |
WAKATI |
| What time is it? |
Saa ngapi? |
| Now |
Sasa |
| Minute |
Dakika |
| Morning |
Asubuhi |
| Evening |
Jioni |
| Afternoon |
Alasiri |
| Today |
Leo |
| Yesterday |
Jana |
| Tomorrow |
Kesho |
| Time / Hour |
Muda/Saa |
| Night |
Usiku |
| Day |
Siku |
| |
|
| DAYS OF THE WEEK |
SIKU ZA JUMA |
| Sunday |
Jumapili |
| Monday |
Jumatatu |
| Tuesday |
Jumanne |
| Wednesday |
Jumatano |
| Thursday |
Alhamisi |
| Friday |
Ijumaa |
| Saturday |
Jumamosi |
| |
|
| EVERDAY WORDS |
MANENO YA KILA SIKU |
| Post Office |
Posta |
| Telephone |
Simu |
| Bank |
Benki |
| Hotel |
Hoteli |
| Village(s) |
Kijiji(Vijiji) |
| Freedom |
Uhuru |
| Unity |
Umoja |
| Progress |
Maendeleo |
| Teacher(s) |
Mwalimu(Waalimu) |
| School |
Shule |
| Countryman (men) |
Mwananchi(Wananchi) |
| Citizen(s) |
Raia |
| Garden (Farm) |
Bustani (Shamba) |
| Street / Road |
Mtaa / Barabara |
| Where? |
Wapi? |
| Why? |
Kwa nini? |
| When? |
Lini? |
| How |
Vipi? |
| Self reliance |
Kujitegemea |
| Letter |
Barua |
| Paper |
Karatasi |
| Pen |
Kalamu |
| Mosque |
Msikiti |
| Church |
Kanisa |
| Book(s) |
Kitabu (Vitabu) |
| |
|
| FAMILY WORDS |
MAJINA YA JAMII |
| Man (Men) |
Mwanaume (Wanaume) |
| Woman (Women) |
Mwanamke (Wanawake) |
| Mister, Sir |
Bwana |
| Child (children) |
Mtoto (Watoto |
| Old man (men) |
Mzee (Wazee) |
| Girl(s) |
Msichana (Wasichana) |
| Madam |
Bibi |
| Boy(s) |
Kijana (Vijana) |
| |
|
| GAME ANIMALS |
WANYAMA WA MSITUNI |
| Leopard(s) |
Chui |
| Rhinoceros |
Kifaru (Vifaru |
| Buffalo(s) |
Nyati |
| Lion(s) |
Simba |
| Elephant(s) |
Tembo / Ndovu |
| Cheetah |
Duma |
| Baboon Monkey |
Nyani / Tumbili |
| Chimpanzee, Apes |
Sokwe |
| Zebra |
Pundamilia |
| Giraffe |
Twiga |
| Impala |
Swalapala |
| Hyena |
Fisi |
| Warthog |
Ngiri |
| Boar |
Nguruwe Mwitu |
| Hippo(s) |
Kiboko (viboko) |
| |
|
| YOUR CONVENIENCE |
MANENO YA KUKUFAA |
| Bring |
Lete |
| May I have |
Tafadhali nipe |
| I want |
Ninataka |
| Come with me/Let's go |
Twende pamoja / Twende |
| What is your name? |
Jina lako nani? |
| Where do you come from? |
Unatoka wapi? |
| Please, sit down |
Tafadhali keti chini |
| Come here, please |
Njoo hapa tafadhali |
| Help! Fire! Thief! |
Saidia! Moto! Mwizi! |
| Call a Policeman |
Mwite Polisi |
| Has my luggage been brought down? |
Mizigo yangu imeteremshwa chini? |
| I am lost |
Nimepotea |
| Taxi Cab! |
Teksi! |
| Stop here |
Simama hapa |
| Wait here |
Ngoja hapa |
| Please show me the way |
Nionyeshe njia tafadhali |
| Where is the hotel? |
Hoteli iko wai? |
| I want to go to bed (sleep) |
Nataka kwenda kulala |
| Slowly |
Polepole |
| |
|
| PROVERBS |
METHALI |
| Let sleeping dogs lie |
Usimwamshe aliyelala |
| Haste makes waste |
Haraka haraka haina baraka |
| Where there is a will there is a way |
Penye nia ipo njia |
| Slow and steady wins the race |
Pole pole ndio mwendo. |
|
Home - Northern
Park Safaris - Hikes and Climbs - Educational
Safaris - Klub Afriko Hotel
Travel Information - Photos and Videos
- Guestbook
Contact Klub Afriko
|