Swahili 101: Greetings and Questions

Swahili 101: Greetings and Questions

Aug 28, 2014| by administrator

In part 1, we showed you how to say the letters of the alphabet and numbers in Swahili. This time, we're learning some important basic phrases.


GREETINGS

Hello Jambo
How are you? Habari gani?
Very well Mzuri sana
Ok/Fine Nzuri
And you? Na wewe?
Goodbye Kwa heri

 

INTRODUCTIONS

What is your name? Jina lako ni?
My name is… Jina langu ni…
Where are you from? Unatoka wapi?
I am from… Natoka…

 

COURTESY

Excuse me Samahani
Please Tafadhali
Thank you (very much) Asante (sana)
You’re welcome Karibu
Sorry Samahani
Nice to meet you Nafurahi kukuona
Yes Ndiyo
No Hapana
No problem Hakuna matata
Do you understand? Una elewa?
I understand Naelewa
I don’t understand Sielewi

 

QUESTIONS

When? Lini?
Where? Wapi?
Why? Kwa nini?
How? Aje?
Who? Nani?
What? Nini?
How much does it cost? Ni bei gani?
How do you say -- in Swahili? Unasemaje -- kwa Kiswahili?
Do you speak English? Unaoungea kiingereza?
Where is the bathroom? Wapi bafu?

 

WORDS

Water Maji
Hot Moto
Cold Baridi
Doctor Daktari
Hospital Hospitali
Today Leo
Tomorrow Kesho
Yesterday Jana
Airport Uwanja wa ndege
Hotel Hoteli

 

Are there any other phrases you'd like to learn in Swahili? Let us know in the comments.