Useful Swahili phrases

A collection of useful phrases in Swahili, a Bantu language spoken in much of east Africa by about 140 million people.

Click on the English phrases to see them in many other languages.

Key to abbreviations: sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person), inf = informal 

English kiSwahili (Swahili) Welcome Karibu (sg) Karibuni (pl) Hello Habari (inf) Hujambo (sg) Hamjambo (pl) Sijambo (reply) How are you? Habari? Hujambo? Habari yako? Habari gani? Fine thanks, and you? Nzuri / Sijambo What's your name? Jina lako ni nani? My name is ... Jina langu ni ... Where are you from? Unatoka wapi? I'm from ... Natoka ... Pleased to meet you Nafurahi kukuona / Nimefurahi kukutana nawe Good morning Habari ya asubuhi Good afternoon Habari ya mchana Good evening Habari ya jioni Good night Usiku mwema / Lala salama (sleep well) Goodbye Kwaheri Good luck Kila la kheri! Cheers/Good health! Maisha marefu! Afya! Vifijo! Have a nice day Nakutakia siku njema! Bon appetit Ufurahie chakula chako (sg) Furahieni chakula chenu (pl) Bon voyage Safari njema! I understand Naelewa I don't understand Sielewi  Please speak more slowly Tafadhali sema polepole Please write it down Waweza kuiandika? Do you speak English? Unazungumza kiingereza? Do you speak Swahili?> Unazungumza kiSwahili? Yes, a little Ndiyo, kidogo tu How do you say ... in Swahili? Unasemaje ... kwa Kiswahili? Excuse me Samahani nipishe (to get past) Samahani (to get attention or say sorry) How much is this? Hii ni bei gani? Sorry Samahani Please Tafadhali Thank you Asante Asante sana (sg) Asanteni (pl) You're welcome Asante kushukuru No thanks La asante Where's the toilet? Choo kiko wapi? This gentleman/lady will pay for everything Mtu huyu atalipia kila kitu Would you like to dance with me? Tucheze ngoma? Utapenda kudansi? I love you Ninakupenda Get well soon Ugua pole Help! Unasemaje ... kwa Kiswahili? Fire! Moto! Stop! Usifanye hivyo! Call the police! Mwite polisi! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Krismasi Njema / Heri ya krismas Heri ya mwaka mpya Happy Easter Heri kwa sikukuu ya Pasaka Happy Birthday Nakutakia mema kwa siku yako ya kuzaliwa! Siku-kuo ya zaliwa njema! Furaha Ya Siku Ya Kuza Liwa! My hovercraft is full of eels Why this phrase? Gari langu linaloangama limejaa na mikunga One language is never enough Lugha moja haitoshi
Corrections, recordings and some translations by Ylanne Sorrows and Rushomesa Remigius If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me. sursa: Omniglot Omniglot is an encyclopedia of writing systems and languages.