- HubPages»
- Travel and Places»
- Visiting Africa»
- Travel to Eastern Africa
Broken Yet Powerful Swahili For Travelers to East Africa
Swahili/ Kiswahili
The Swahili language or KiswahiliI is a Bantu language and the mother tongue of the Swahili people. It is spoken by various communities inhabiting the African Great Lakes region and other parts of Southeast Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The closely related Comorian language, spoken in the Comoros Islands, is sometimes considered a Swahili dialect.
Although only around five million people speak Swahili as their mother tongue, it is used as a lingua franca in much of Southeast Africa. The total number of Swahili speakers exceeds 140 million.[8] Swahili serves as a national or official language of four nations: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is also one of the official languages of the African Union.
Some Swahili vocabulary is derived from Arabic through contact with Arabic-speaking Muslim inhabitants of the Swahili Coast. It has also incorporated German, Portuguese, English, Hindi and French words into its vocabulary through contact with empire builders, traders and slavers during the past five centuries.
Greetings in Swahili
In Swahili (Kiswahili) a lot of importance is given to greetings. A healthy conversation starts after a good greeting session. When people meet they start the conversation with greetings which includes checking well being of family and loved ones.
It is advisable for travelers to get acquainted with following Swahili greetings. It helps kick start a good conversation.
Greeting in English
| Greeting in Swahili
| Reply in English
| Reply in Swahili
|
Hello (To people of same age or younger)
| Jambo
| Hello
| Jambo
|
Hello (To elder people)
| Shikamoo
| I am delighted
| Marahaba
|
Good Morning/ How are you this Morning?
| Habari za asubuhi
| Fine
| Nzuri/ Safi
|
Good Afternoon/ How are you this Afternoon?
| Habari za mchana
| Fine
| Nzuri/ Safi
|
Good Evening/ How arre you this Evening?
| Habari za jioni
| Fine
| Nzuri/ Safi
|
Good Night
| Habari za Usiku
| Fine
| Nzuri/ Safi
|
How are You?
| Habari Yako
| Fine
| Nzuri/ Safi
|
How are you doing?
| Mambo
| Fine
| Poa/ Safi
|
May I Come In
| Hodi! Hodi!
| Welcome
| Karibu
|
Welcome
| Karibu
| Thank You
| Asante
|
Thank You
| Asante
| Welcome
| Karibu
|
Sorry
| Pole
| Thanks
| Asante
|
Excuse Me/ Sorry
| Samahani
| Sorry
| Pole
|
Bye
| Kwaheri
| Bye
| Kwaheri
|
Numbers in Swahili. You can not shop in local market without knowledge of numbers.
English
| Swahili
|
|---|---|
One
| Moja
|
Two
| Mbili
|
Three
| Tatu
|
Four
| Nne
|
Five
| Tano
|
Six
| Sita
|
Seven
| Saba
|
Eight
| Nane
|
Nine
| Tisa
|
Ten
| Kumi
|
Hundred
| Mia
|
Thousand
| Elfu
|
One Hundred Thousand
| Laki
|
Million
| Millioni
|
Some Examples:
| |
105 - Mia Tano
| |
5,010 - Elfu Tano na Kumi
|
Vocabulary to Help You Order in Restaurant
Water - Maji
Milk - Maziwa
Coffee - Kahawa
Tea - Chai
Beer - Bia
Rice - Wali
Egg - Mayai
Bread - Mkate
Butter - Siagi
Chicken - Kuku
Meat - Nyama
Beef - Ngombe
Mutton - Mbuzi
Fish - Samaki
Hot - Moto eg. Hot Tea - Chai Moto
Cold - Baridi eg. Cold Beer - Bia Baridi
How to address a person?
If you need to address a stranger who is -
A male of your age - "Kaka" (It means brother. eg. You can use it to call a waiter)
A female of your age - "Dada" (It means sister. eg. You can use it to call a waitress)
A senior/ old man - "Mzee" (It means a wise man.) or "Baba" (It means father)
A senior/ old lady - "Mama" (It means mother)
Friend - "Rafiki"
Security/ Watchman - "Askari"
Hope, you would have enjoyed learning Basic Swahili. I am sure this article can serve as a quick ready reference when you are traveling to East Africa.
Asante! Kwaheri!
