Essential Swahili Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Swahili words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Hujambo.

Hello.
Kwa heri.
Goodbye.
Unasema Kiingereza?
Do you speak English?
Sielewi.
I don't understand.
Kidogo.
A little.
Ndiyo. Hapana.
Yes. No.
Ni bei gani?

How much is it?
Ghali sana / Ghali mno. Haya / Sawa.
Too expensive. OK.
Tafadhali.
Please.
Asante (sana).
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Jina lako ni nani? What is your name? Jina langu ni ... My name is ... Habari gani? How are you? Nzuri. Na wewe? Fine. And you? ... iko wapi? Where is ...? Choo kiko wapi? Wanaume/Wanawake Where is the toilet? Men/Women Nasikitika. Samahani. Sorry. Excuse me. Hakuna shida. No problem. Naomba ... Nataka ... I want ... Siombi ... Sitaki ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

Unatokea wapi?
Where are you from?
Ninatokea Australia.*
I am from Australia.
Nipe bili, tafadhali.
The bill, please.
Nimepotea.
I am lost.
Simama! Subiri!
Stop! Wait!
Hapa, hapo, pale.
Here, there, over there.
Teksi. Hoteli. Uwanja wa ndege. Stesheni.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Napenda ...
I like ...
Sipendi ...
I don't like ...

moja, mbili, tatu, nne, tano.
one, two, three, four, five.
sita, saba, nane, tisa, kumi.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
Marekani - America
Kanada - Canada
Uingereza - England
Ayalendi - Ireland
Nyuzilandi - New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Afya!
Cheers!

njema / mbaya
good / bad
kubwa / ndogo
big / small
karibu / mbali
near / far
kasoro / zaidi
less / more
moja nyingine / inatosha
another / enough

Nakula mboga tu.
Mimi ni mla mboga.
I am vegetarian.
Sili nyama.
Sipendi nyama.
I don't eat meat.
... nyama kuku.
... chicken.
... samaki.
... fish.

Nina mzio wa njugu.
I am allergic to nuts.
... karanga.
... peanuts.
... samaki.
... fish.
... chakula cha samaki.
... seafood.
... mayai.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Stress is on penultimate (second from last) syllable.
eg: asante, asanteni

Consonants:
b is an implosive b (ɓ or like ʔb)
ch is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
d is an implosive d (ɗ or like ʔd)
dh is pronounced as th as in this (ð)
g is an implosive g (ɠ or like ʔg)
gh is pronounced as gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
j is an implosive j, pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
kh is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x)
m and n before a consonant indicate pre-nasalisation, eg. nd = ⁿd
ng is pronounced as ng as in finger (ŋg)
ng' is pronounced as ng as in singer (ŋ)
ny is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
sh is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
th is pronounced as th as in thick (θ)