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110 common Swahili phrases and words

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In which countries is Swahili spoken? How did an African language become one of the most widespread in the world? What basic Swahili phrases might you need while traveling? Find out in this article by Altezza Travel.

Do you know many languages that originated as a dialect on the edge of a continent, developed over two millennia under the influence of European and Eastern civilizations, became a political symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence, and were eventually recognized internationally? Allow us a brief prologue.

Initially, this article was conceived as a small phrasebook for travelers looking to learn Swahili words and phrases. But when, during its preparation, the browser window became filled with notes from a Harvard professor, UNESCO documents in French, and dozens of academic resources from around the world, it became clear: a simple list with transcriptions wouldn't suffice. So, the Altezza Travel editorial team presents the history, socio-cultural context, and, of course, the most famous and useful words and phrases in Swahili for your journey.

Skip the history of Swahili and go straight to the phrasebook

The Swahili language history: along the coast of East Africa

To avoid confusion, let's clarify: Swahili is also the name of a people from the eponymous region on the East African coast, which includes Zanzibar, mainland Tanzania, Kenya, and Mozambique. The language they speak was once just an obscure island dialect used by local fishermen, farmers, and herders. With the development of trade at the beginning of the first millennium, they established extensive contacts with coastal peoples, and Swahili began to spread along the shoreline. Swahili is primarily influenced by Arabic and indigenous African languages, but it also incorporates words from English, German, and Portuguese.

Gradually, it became a means of communication for everyone who arrived on the coast of East Africa. Immigrants from all over the continent, traders from Asia and the Persian Gulf countries, Indian settlers, and European colonizers adapted it for their purposes, incorporating their own cultural and ethnic elements. Thus, it gained the status of a lingua franca – a common language – with elements of Arabic, Portuguese, Persian, Spanish, English, German, and Hindi.

Swahili people: fighting for independence

A special role in the development of Swahili is attributed to the events of the 20th century. It was then that the language acquired a socio-political context that largely determined its future.

According to Professor John M. Mugane of Harvard University, Swahili functioned as an international medium of political collaboration during the decades leading up to the independence of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in the early 1960s. It enabled freedom fighters across the region to communicate their shared aspirations despite the wide variation in their native languages. For some Africans, the rise of Swahili marked true cultural and personal independence from European colonizers and their authoritative languages.

After gaining sovereignty, political leaders began to use and promote Swahili as an important component of history, culture, and even the economy. Under President Julius Nyerere (1962–1978), Tanzania became one of two African states to declare a native language official, the other being Ethiopia with Amharic. To elevate the status and demonstrate the expressiveness of Swahili, Nyerere personally translated two of William Shakespeare's works: Julius Caesar and The Merchant of Venice.

Moreover, Professor Mugane points out that, thanks to Nyerere, the term "Swahili" itself came to symbolize Tanzanian citizenship, intertwining with post-colonial narratives. The working class, forced to live a very modest lifestyle, was held up as the ideal, in contrast to the elite segment of the population that was Western-oriented. Over time, this concept transcended Tanzania's borders, becoming, in a way, the emblem of an entire generation — poor but free and dignified.

The reach of Swahili: a 21st-century overview

Today, it is one of the most widespread languages, not only in Africa: around 200 million people speak it. It has official status in Tanzania and Kenya, is widely used in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Comoros Islands. To a lesser extent, it's spoken in Burundi, Rwanda, northern Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, and even Oman and Yemen.

Swahili is an official language of the African Union. Considering the population of the member countries of this organization, they could have chosen from about 2,000 languages. Additionally, global media outlets like the BBC, Radio France Internationale, China Radio International, NHK World Radio Japan, UN Radio, and others broadcast news programs in this language.

In November 2021, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day. Professor Kennedy Gastorn, Tanzania's Permanent Representative to the UN headquarters in New York, explained the choice of the date: on this day in 1954, the Tanganyika African National Union, led by Julius Nyerere, declared Swahili an important tool in the struggle for independence. And you already know what happened next.

Essential Swahili phrases for travelers. Learn Swahili online.

The most common questions on this topic relate to how to say "hello," "goodbye," "thank you," "please" in Swahili, or how to correctly read and pronounce basic Swahili words. There are two pieces of good news. First, in this language, almost everything is read and pronounced as it's written. Second, we've already compiled all the common Swahili words and phrases you’ll need for your travels. 

Although most staff in Tanzania's tourism industry speak English, taking the time to learn some useful Swahili phrases can make your trip even more enjoyable. Most locals understand this widely spoken language and would be delighted to have a chat. If you're looking for quick and easy Swahili translation for your travels, the following list of essential phrases will help you navigate various situations.

Swahili greetings and essential words:

Jambo / Habari[jahm-boh / ha-bah-ree] – Hello, good day

Kwaheri[kwah-heh-ree] – Goodbye

Habari za asubuhi[ha-bah-ree zah ah-soo-boo-hee] – Good morning

Lala salama / Usiku mwema[lah-lah sah-lah-mah / oo-see-koo mweh-mah] – Good night

Pole[poh-leh] – I'm sorry (expressing sympathy)

Samahani[sah-mah-hah-nee] – Excuse me, sorry (when addressing someone)

Ndiyo[n-dee-oh] – Yes

Hapana[hah-pah-nah] – No

Asante[ah-sahn-teh] – Thank you (to one person)

Asanteni [ah-sahn-teh-nee] – Thank you (to several people)

Mbaya[m-bah-yah] – Bad

Nzuri[n-zoo-ree] – Good

Karibu[kah-ree-boo] – You're welcome (response to thanks)

Places:

Soko [soh-koh] – Market

Duka[doo-kah] – Shop

Hospitali[hoh-spee-tah-lee] – Hospital

Nyumba[nyoom-bah] – House

Hoteli [hoh-teh-lee] – Hotel

Uwanja wa ndege[oo-wahn-jah wah n-deh-geh] – Airport

Stesheni [steh-sheh-nee] – Station

Benki [behn-kee] – Bank

Safari [sah-fah-ree] – Journey, trip

Animals:

Tembo[tehm-boh] – Elephant

Nyati [nyah-tee] – Buffalo

Kifaru[kee-fah-roo] – Rhinoceros

Simba[seem-bah] – Lion

Chui [choo-ee] – Leopard

Swala[swah-lah] – Gazelle

Kiboko[kee-boh-koh] – Hippopotamus

Duma[doo-mah] – Cheetah

Twiga[twee-gah] – Giraffe

Punda milia [poon-dah mee-lee-ah] – Zebra

Transport:

Gari[gah-ree] – Car, vehicle

Pikipiki[pee-kee-pee-kee] – Motorcycle

Boti [boh-tee] – Boat

Treni[treh-nee] – Train

Ndege [n-deh-geh] – Airplane

Basi [bah-see] – Bus

Teksi [tehk-see] – Taxi

Pole pole[poh-leh poh-leh] – Slowly, don't rush

Haraka haraka[hah-rah-kah hah-rah-kah] – Quickly, hurry up

Directions:

Mbele [m-beh-leh] – Ahead, in front

Nyuma [nyoo-mah] – Behind

Kulia[koo-lee-ah] – Right

Kushoto[koo-shoh-toh] – Left

Kaskazini [kahs-kah-zee-nee] – North

Kusini[koo-see-nee] – South

Mashariki [mah-shah-ree-kee] – East

Magharibi[mah-ghah-ree-bee] – West

At the hotel:

Kiyoyozi [kee-yoh-yoh-zee] – Air conditioner

Taulo[tah-oo-loh] – Towel

Mtandao[m-tahn-dah-oh] – Internet

Chakula cha asubuhi [chah-koo-lah chah ah-soo-boo-hee] – Breakfast

Chakula cha mchana[chah-koo-lah chah m-chah-nah] – Lunch

Chakula cha jioni[chah-koo-lah chah jee-oh-nee] – Dinner

In the restaurant/shop:

Maji [mah-jee] – Water

Chakula[chah-koo-lah] – Food

Mkate [m-kah-teh] – Bread

Nyama[nyah-mah] – Meat

Samaki[sah-mah-kee] – Fish

Kuku [koo-koo] – Chicken

Wali [wah-lee] – Rice

Kinywaji[kee-nywah-jee] – Drink

Barafu [bah-rah-foo] – Ice

Kahawa[kah-hah-wah] – Coffee

Chai [chai] – Tea

Maziwa[mah-zee-wah] – Milk

Chumvi [choom-vee] – Salt

Pilipili[pee-lee-pee-lee] – Pepper

Sukari [soo-kah-ree] – Sugar

Jibini – [jee-bee-nee] – Cheese

Fruits and vegetables:

Mboga[m-boh-gah] – Vegetables

Matunda[mah-toon-dah] – Fruits

Parachichi[pah-rah-chee-chee] – Avocado

Embe[ehm-beh] – Mango

Nanasi[nah-nah-see] – Pineapple

Chungwa[choong-wah] – Orange

Ndizi [n-dee-zee] – Banana

Tikiti maji[tee-kee-tee mah-jee] – Watermelon

Karoti[kah-roh-tee] – Carrot

Nyanya[nyah-nyah] – Tomato

Tango [tahn-goh] – Cucumber

Kitunguu [kee-toon-goo] – Onion

Kiazi[kee-ah-zee] – Potato

Finance:

Pesa [peh-sah] – Money

Kadi ya benki[kah-dee yah behn-kee] – Debit card

Bili [bee-lee] – Bill

Bei [beh-ee] – Price

Rahisi [rah-hee-see] – Cheap

Ghali[ghah-lee] – Expensive

Questions:

Nini [nee-nee] – What?

Nani[nah-nee] – Who?

Kwa nini [kwah nee-nee] – Why?

Wapi[wah-pee] – Where?

Lini[lee-nee] – When?

Ngapi[ngah-pee] – How many? How much?

Gani [gah-nee] – Which? What kind?

Basic Swahili phrases:

Mimi ni...[mee-mee nee] – My name is...

Ninafuraha kukutana nawe[nee-nah-foo-rah-hah koo-koo-tah-nah nah-weh] – Nice to meet you

Habari gani?[ha-bah-ree gah-nee] – How are you?

Bei gani?[beh-ee gah-nee] – How much does it cost?

Iko wapi...?[ee-koh wah-pee] – Where is...?

Ninatoka nchi ya... [nee-nah-toh-kah n-chee yah] – I am from...

Sifahamu / Sielewi[see-fah-hah-moo / see-eh-leh-wee] – I don't understand

Siongei Kiswahili[see-ohn-geh-ee kee-swah-hee-lee] – I don't speak Swahili

Rudia tena[roo-dee-ah teh-nah] – Can you repeat?

Unaweza kunisaidia?[oo-nah-weh-zah koo-nee-sah-ee-dee-ah] – Can you help me?

Maisha marefu[mah-ee-shah mah-reh-foo] – A toast to "long life"

Hakuna matata / Hamna shida [hah-koo-nah mah-tah-tah / hahm-nah shee-dah] – No problem or no worries (famous Swahili word from The Lion King)

Shida kidogo[shee-dah kee-doh-goh] – Small problem (often used even when the problem isn't small)

Published on 15 November 2024 Revised on 15 November 2024
About the author
Agnes Mkumbo
Agnes is a vital member of the Altezza operations team, boasting extensive experience in Kilimanjaro and in-depth knowledge of Tanzania's safari parks. Additionally, she holds an Advanced Open Water diving certification, a rare achievement in Kilimanjaro. Read full bio
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