Some great key Swahili phrases to make you feel like the cool kid in town!

The National Language of Tanzania is Swahili, English is spoken but not by all and a few friendly greetings always go down well. We have put a few here if you fancy having a go….

Greetings and farewells
Good morning - Habari za asubuhi?

Good afternoon (daytime) - Habari za mchana?

Good evening (Generally used between 4-7pm) - Habari za jioni?

Good night (Generally used after 7pm) -Habari za usiku?

Sleep well -Lala salama

Goodbye (For many people say Kwa herini) -Kwa heri

Hello/hi -Habari

There is a different greeting for anyone older than you and/or well respected = ”shikamoo” the reponse would be… “marahaba”

Nice to meet you -Nafurahi kukutana na wewe

See you -Tutatonana

What’s up? (Used to great age mates) -Vipi? or Mambo vipi?

Response to “what’s up” -Poa or Safi

See you later -Baadaye

How are you? -Hujambo?

You may also hear “jambo” used as a greeting, this is not true Swahili and used to greet tourists. You should still respond with “sijambo”

I am fine thanks -Sijambo

Pleasantries
Thank you/thanks -Asante

Thank you very much -Asante sana

No -Hapana

Yes -Ndiyo

Okay -Sawa

Sorry (Also used to say “excuse me”) -Samahani

You will also often hear people say “pole”, this doesn’t have a direct English translation but is commonly used as a display of sympathy

Please -Tafadhali

Yes please -Ndiyo tafadhali

No thanks -Hapana asante

Don’t mention it -Sio kitu

Could you please…? -Tafadhali, unaweza…?

Miscellaneous
I see/I understand -Naelewa

I don’t understand -Sielewi

Do you speak English? -Je unaongea Kiingereza?

I don’t know Swahili -Sijui Kiswahili

Could you repeat that? -Unaweza kusema tena?

Could you speak more slowly? -Sema pole pole zaidi

What is that? -Hiyo ni nini?

I’d like… -Ninaomba…

Can you….? -Unaweza…?

How much is it…? (Used for currency) -Ni bei gani?, Ni kiasi gani? (Used for quantity) -

Is it far? - Ni mbali?

Where is it…? -Iko wapi?

Where is he/she…? (Swahili does not distinguish between male or female!) -Yuko wapi?

Can I have….? -Naweza kupata..?

I can’t…. -Siwezi

White person/people--You will here this a lot, generally it is not stated as an insult, although it may begin to tire, especially when people know your name!
Mzungu/wazungu

Toilet -Msalani
To ask where is the toilet you would say “Msalani iko wapi?”

This is the more polite form sometimes you may hear choo.

Well thats certainly enough to be going on with... let us know if you are done and would like more!!!!