KENYA SAFARIS |
|---|
| You are here: home/swahili coast/swahili phrases |
|---|
| Swahili Phrases |
|---|
The Swahili language is of Bantu origin loyal to Bantu grammar and has borrowed vocabulary from Arabic and a number of other languages. The word ‘Swahili’ or 'sawahil' comes from Arabic and it means ‘The Coast.’ It later came to be used to refer to the people and the language. It is widely spoken within East Africa and parts of Central Africa. A few African countries use Swahili as their official language.
Swahili is spoken in the following countries: - Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and some areas of Somalia.
Swahili is a reasonably easy language to learn since you basically pronounce what you read (for example, mama = mother, baba = father). Other languages have click sounds, or intonation in the pronunciation.
See Below some English to Swahili words:-
| English | Swahili |
| Hello | Jambo |
| How are you? | Habari |
| Fine | Nzuri |
| And you? | Na wewe? |
| Where are you from? | Unatoka wapi? |
| I am from… | Natoka… |
| Goodbye | Kwaheri |
| Help me | Nisaidie |
| I am hungry | Nina njaa |
| I am thirsty | Nina kiu |
| I | Mimi |
| You | Wewe |
| We | Sisi |
| Sir | Bwana |
| Madam | Bi |
| Mother | Mama |
| Father | Baba |
| Sister | Dada |
| Brother | Kaka |
| Kin | Ndugu |
| Family | Familia |
| There is… | Kuna… |
| There isn’t… | Hakuna … |
| Okay | Sawa sawa |
| I’m just looking! | Naangalia tu |
| I don’t want | Sitaki |
| Please | Tafadhali |
| Excuse me | Samahani |
| Thank you (very much) | Asante (sana) |
| No problem | Hakuna Matata |
| Good | Nzuri |
| Bad | Mbaya |
| Quick | Upesi or Haraka |
| Slow | Pole pole |
| Sorry | Pole |
| Call the police | Ita police |
| Hot | Moto |
| Cold | Baridi |
| Hot (spicy) | Kali |
| Big | Kubwa |
| Small | Ndogo |
| Open | Fungua |
| Close | Funga |
| Very | Sana |
| Absolutely | Kabisa |
| Coffee | Kahawa |
| Tea | Chai |
| Milk | Maziwa |
| Sugar | Sukari |
| Salt | Chumvi |
| Food | Chakula |
| Water | Maji |
| With/ Without | Na/ Bila |
| Danger | Hatari |
| Thief | Mwizi |
| Doctor | Daktari |
| Hospital | Hospitali |
| Medicine | Dawa |
| Chemist | Duka la dawa |
| Telephone | Simu |
| Sunday | Jumapili |
| Monday | Jumatatu |
| Tuesday | Jumanne |
| Wednesday | Jumatano |
| Thursday | Alhamisi |
| Friday | Ijumaa |
| Saturday | Jumamosi |
| Today | Leo |
| Tomorrow | Kesho |
| Yesterday | Jana |
| Morning | Asubuhi |
| Afternoon | Alasiri |
| Evening | Jioni |
| Night | Usiku |
| Yes | Ndiyo |
| No | Hapana |
| Now | Sasa |
| Later | Baadaye |
| Ready | Tayari |
| Not yet | Bado |
| What | Nini |
| When | Lini |
| Where | Wapi |
| Which | Ipi |
| Who | Nani |
| Why | Kwa nini |
| What are you saying? | Unasemaje? |
| I don’t know | Sijui |
| I don’t understand | Sielewi |
| 1 (one) | Moja |
| 2 (two) | Mbili |
| 3 (three) | Tatu |
| 4 (four) | Nne |
| 5 (five) | Tano |
| 6 (six) | Sita |
| 7 (seven) | Saba |
| 8 (eight) | Nane |
| 9 (nine) | Tisa |
| 10 (ten) | Kumi |
| Car | Gari |
| Bicycle | Baiskeli |
| Aeroplane | Ndege |
| Road | Barabara |
| Shop | Duka |
| Safari | Journey |
For more Swahili (see: Internet Living Swahili Dictionary)
To visit part of the original and first swahili people please find in Swahili Coast or the islands of Zanzibar, Pemba or Mafia.
| FOR BEST SAFARIS TO TANZANIA PLEASE CLICK HERE Click here to Email us for more information for Tanzania Safari you desire |
|---|
Please contact the webmaster if any area of the site is not responding. African Legends – Tanzania Safari | Kilimanjaro Climbing | Zanzibar Holidays |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
