Posts tagged Tanzania

Swahili Guide

By: Lindsay Clark on Monday, August 3rd, 2009 at 12:19 pm

Here it is, your Swahili guide for East Africa.

The basics:

Jambo – Hello
Mambo – Hey, sup, how goes it, ya good? (I didn’t really understand this one…haha)
Poa – Good, sup, hey, all’s good. (Again…don’t know for sure but they use this all the time.)
Habari gani? – How are you?
Nzuri – Fine
Hakuna Matata – No Worries
Asante sana – Thanks a Lot
Tafadhali – Please
Karibu – Welcome
Ndio – Yes
Hapana – No
Sawasawa – OK

Some good phrases for conversation:

Twende – Let’s Go
Niko Tayari – I’m Ready
Unasemaji? – What did you say?
Nimefurahi – I’m Happy
Kila siko – Every Day
Ulikuwa wapi? – Where were you?
Nilikuliza – I Asked You
Taratibu – Take it Slow
Kwaheri – Goodbye
Tutaonana tena – See You Again

In case you want to dig deeper into the language:

Mimi – I
Wewe – You
Mme – He
Mke – She
Msichana – Girl
Mwanaume – Boy
Mtoto – Baby
Baba – Father
Dada – Sister
Kaka – Brother
Mama – Mother
Mjomba – Uncle

Numbers, yo, in case you want to haggle hardcore:

Moja – 1
Mbili – 2
Tatu – 3
Nne – 4
Tano – 5
Sita – 6
Saba – 7
Nane – 8
Tisa – 9
Kumi – 10
Kumi na moja – 11
Ishirini – 20
Hamsini – 50
Mia moja – 100
Mia mbili – 200
Elfu – 1000

Good terms to know while on safari:

Pole, Pole – Slowly, Slowly (used all the time to tell you ‘take your time’)
Wanyama – Wild Animals
Tembo – Elephant
Twiga – Giraffe
Simba – Lion
Pumba – Warthog
Kidogo – Small
Kubwa – Big

When you’re jones’ing for some grub:

Bia – Beer
Nataka pombe? – Can I have a beer?
Matoke – Mashed Plantains
Sukari – Sugar
Kahawa – Coffee
Nyama choma – Spit-Grilled Meat

Some crowd Pleasers (and some odd ones…why did they teach me these?):

Maisha marefu – Cheers (to long life)
Mikono juu! – Hands up!
Makofi – Clap your hands
Wacha mchezo – Stop playing
Hapana piga mama – Do not beat your wife
Wacha ujinga – Stop your nonsense
Mimi si mamako – I am not your mom