Phrases › Swahili
Phrases
In Swahili, hello is Habari and thank you is Asante. Here are 71 everyday Swahili phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Swahili · How to say thank you in Swahili · How to say goodbye in Swahili · How to say please in Swahili · How to say sorry in Swahili · How to say how are you in Swahili · How to say nice to meet you in Swahili · How to say my name is in Swahili
| English | Swahili | Say It Like |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Habari 'Jambo' is the simpler tourist-facing greeting also widely understood | hah-BAH-ree |
| Goodbye | Kwaheri | kwah-HEH-ree |
| Please | Tafadhali | tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| Thank you | Asante | ah-SAHN-teh |
| Yes | Ndiyo | n-DEE-yoh |
| No | Hapana | hah-PAH-nah |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Samahani covers both excuse me and sorry | sah-mah-HAH-nee |
| Do you speak English? | Unazungumza Kiingereza? | oo-nah-zoo-NGOOM-zah kee-ee-ngeh-REH-zah? |
| I don't understand | Sielewi | see-eh-LEH-wee |
| Please speak slowly | Tafadhali ongea pole pole | tah-fah-DHAH-lee oh-NGEH-ah POH-leh POH-leh |
| How much is it? | Bei gani? | BAY GAH-nee? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Choo kiko wapi? | CHOH-oh KEE-koh WAH-pee? |
| I'd like this, please | Nataka hii, tafadhali | nah-TAH-kah HEE-ee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| The bill, please | Bili, tafadhali | BEE-lee, tah-fah-DHAH-lee |
| Where is …? | … iko wapi? | … EE-koh WAH-pee? |
| Help! | Msaada! | m-sah-AH-dah! |
| I need a doctor | Nahitaji daktari | nah-hee-TAH-jee dahk-TAH-ree |
| Call the police! | Piga simu polisi! | PEE-gah SEE-moo poh-LEE-see! |
| I don't speak Swahili | Sizungumzi Kiswahili "Sijui Kiswahili" (I don't know Swahili) also works | see-zoo-NGOOM-zee kee-swah-HEE-lee |
| Can you help me? | Unaweza kunisaidia? | oo-nah-WEH-zah koo-nee-sah-ee-DEE-ah? |
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Hello | Habari or: Hujambo (reply: Sijambo) |
| How are you? | Habari yako? polite plural: Habari zenu? |
| I'm fine, thank you. | Nzuri, asante. |
| And you? | Na wewe? polite: Na wewe je? |
| What's your name? | Jina lako nani? or: Unaitwa nani? |
| My name is … | Jina langu ni … put your name in the gap |
| Nice to meet you. | Nimefurahi kukutana nawe. |
| Where are you from? | Unatoka wapi? to several people: Mnatoka wapi? |
| I'm from … | Natoka … put your country in the gap |
| Goodbye, see you later. | Kwaheri, tutaonana baadaye. said to several people: Kwaherini |
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Slower, please. | Tafadhali ongea polepole to several people: ongeeni |
| Again, please. | Tafadhali rudia tena polite: Naomba urudie tena |
| I don't understand. | Sielewi |
| How do you say … in Swahili? | Unasemaje … kwa Kiswahili? pointing: Hii inaitwaje kwa Kiswahili? |
| What does … mean? | … ina maana gani? |
| Can you write it down, please? | Tafadhali, unaweza kuniandikia? |
| I'm learning Swahili. | Ninajifunza Kiswahili |
| One moment, please. | Subiri kidogo, tafadhali to several people: Subirini kidogo |
| English | Swahili |
|---|---|
| Take me to the airport, please. | Tafadhali nipeleke uwanja wa ndege |
| Take me to this address, please. | Tafadhali nipeleke kwenye anwani hii |
| How much is it to go to …? | Ni bei gani kwenda …? Put the place name in the gap |
| Stop here, please. | Tafadhali simama hapa Also: "Naomba usimame hapa" |
| One ticket to …, please. | Naomba tiketi moja ya kwenda … Put the place name in the gap |
| Which bus goes to …? | Basi gani linakwenda …? Put the place name in the gap |
| Where is the train station? | Stesheni ya treni iko wapi? |
| I'm lost. | Nimepotea |
| Call an ambulance! | Ita gari la wagonjwa! "Ambulensi" is also understood |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Duka la dawa liko wapi? Also "famasi" |
| I'm allergic to … | Nina mzio wa … Put the thing you react to in the gap |
| It hurts here. | Inauma hapa Point to the spot |
| I've lost my passport. | Nimepoteza pasipoti yangu |
| My bag was stolen. | Begi langu limeibiwa |
| A table for two, please. | Naomba meza ya watu wawili |
| The menu, please. | Naomba menyu, tafadhali |
| I'm vegetarian. | Mimi ni mlaji wa mboga tu Lit. "I only eat vegetables" |
| Water, please. | Naomba maji, tafadhali |
| Is it spicy? | Je, ina pilipili? Lit. "Does it have chili?" |
| I have a reservation. | Nimeweka nafasi Lit. "I have made a booking" |
| Is breakfast included? | Je, kifungua kinywa kimejumuishwa? |
| What is the Wi-Fi password? | Nenosiri la Wi-Fi ni nini? |
| What time is checkout? | Muda wa kutoka hotelini ni saa ngapi? |
| Where is the nearest grocery store? | Duka la vyakula la karibu liko wapi? duka kubwa or supamaketi = supermarket |
| Can I pay by card? | Je, naweza kulipa kwa kadi? |
| Where is an ATM? | Mashine ya ATM iko wapi? |
| That's too expensive. | Ni ghali sana |
| I'm just looking. | Naangalia tu |
| How do you say this in Swahili? | Hii inaitwaje kwa Kiswahili? |
| My name is … | Jina langu ni … Put your name in the gap |
| I'm from … | Natoka … Put your country or city in the gap |
| Can you write it down? | Je, unaweza kuiandika? |
| Can you say that again, please? | Tafadhali rudia tena |
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