Some
Useful Swahili Phrases
| Swahili
is the National language of Tanzania.It is also is also spoken
extensively in Kenya, Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi and Congo. Terms and words listed in
the table below, were compiled to help you to communicate more
effectively during your wildlife safaris and tours in Tanzania.
Most of the local population and more specifically those involved
in the tourism industry, can all communicate in basic English, but
for obvious reasons it is greatly appreciated in Tanzania, if you
can master a couple of basic Swahili words and phrases |
|
SWAHILI
PHRASES, TERMS AND WORDS |
|
GENERAL
TERMS |
|
ENGLISH |
SWAHILI |
|
Welcome
/ Come in |
Karibu |
|
Fine |
Nzuri |
|
Goodbye |
Kwaheri |
|
Hello |
Jambo
/ Habari |
|
How
are you? |
Habari
yako? |
|
How
much? |
Ngapi? |
|
May I
take your picture? |
Naweza
kukupiga picha? |
|
No |
Hapana |
|
Please |
Tafadhali |
|
Today |
Leo |
|
Tomorrow |
Kesho |
|
Morning |
Asubuhi |
|
Evening |
Jioni |
|
Night |
Usiku |
|
Tonight |
Leo
usiku |
|
How
much does it cost? |
Shilingi
Ngapi? |
|
Where
is? |
Wapi? |
|
Yes |
Ndiyo |
|
Later |
Baadae |
|
One |
Moja |
|
Two |
Mbili |
|
Three |
Tatu |
|
Four |
Nne |
|
Five |
Tano |
|
Six |
Sita |
|
Seven |
Saba |
|
Eight |
Nane |
|
Nine |
Tisa |
|
Ten |
Kumi |
|
Meat |
Nyama |
|
Rice ( cooked) |
Wali |
|
Chicken |
Kuku |
|
Eggs |
Mayai |
|
Fish |
Samaki |
|
Lamb |
Kondoo |
|
Milk |
Maziwa |
|
Coffee |
Kahawa |
|
Water |
Maji |
|
Beer |
Bia /
Pombe |
|
Tea |
Chai |
|
Sugar |
Sukari |
|
Salt |
Chumvi |
|
Bread |
Mkate |
|
Ice |
Barafu |
| Lion |
Simba |
| Buffalo |
Mbogo |
| Elephant |
Tembo |
| Leopard |
Chui |
| Hippo |
Kiboko |
| Giraffe |
Twiga |
| Bird |
Ndege |
| Cheetah |
Duma |
| GENERAL |
| Do
you speak English |
Unaongea
Kiingereza? |
| Hot
water please |
Maji
ya moto tafadhali |
| Stop |
Simama |
| Porter |
Mpagazi |
| Rope |
Kamba |
| Slowly |
Polepole |
| Hurry |
Haraka |
| Toilet
paper |
Karatasi
ya choo |
| Left |
Kushoto |
| Right |
Kulia |
| Carry
on straight |
Nenda
moja kwa moja |
| I'm
lost |
Nimepotea |
| I
want to go down |
Nataka
kwenda chini |
| Do
you have a map? |
Unayo
ramani? |
| Where
are we? |
Tupo
wapi? |
| How
far is it? |
Ni
umbali gani? |
| I
am thirsty |
Nasikia
kiu |
| I'm
tired |
Nimechoka |
| I
am cold |
Ninahisi
baridi |
| My
head aches |
Kichwa
kinauma |
| Diarrhea |
Kuharisha |
| Nausea |
Najisikia
kutapika |
| Vomiting |
Kutapika |
| I
feel better |
Najisikia
Afadhali / Nafuu |
| There
has been an accident |
Pametokea
ajali |
| Get
a doctor |
Mwite
daktari |
| Bring
blankets please |
Tafadhali
lete Blanketi |
| He
has fallen |
Ameanguka |
|
|
|