Isabelle created this translation, and would like everyone to know that her favorite Swahili phrase is: Weka taka-taka katika pipa., which means, "Use the litter bin/garbage can.
Check out these excellent Swahili language lessons.
Isabelle has tried to be as colloquial as possible.
(important: i is pronounced ee. i.e. siwezi = seewehzee)
- hello/good morning
- jambo
- yes
- ndio
- no
- hapana
- Good evening.
- Habari za siku.
- See you later.
- Tutaonana.
- What's up?
- Habari?
- please
- tafadhali
- sorry
- pole
- open/closed
- wazi/funga
- pull/push
- kutoa/kusukuma
- small/big
- ndogo/mkubwa
- Do you speak English?
- Unasikia kiingereza?
- I don't speak Swahili.
- Siwezi kusema Kiswahili.
- I only speak a little Swahili.
- Nasema Kiswhahili kidogo tu.
- I understand.
- Nasikia.
- I don't understand.
- Sikusikia.
- Could you say that again please.
- Sema mara ngine, tafadhali.
- Could you please speak more slowly.
- Sema pole pole, tafadhali.
- Could you write that down.
- Naweza kuandika, tafadhali.
- My bag/wallet/passport was stolen!
- Wameiba mfuko/karatasi/cheti cha njia yango!
- I need a doctor!
- Nataka daktari!
- sick
- mugonjwa
- enough
- basi
- Call the police!
- ita polisi
- Good bye!
- kwaheri
- How are you?
- Habari?
- Good, thanks, and you?
- Mzuri, asante, habari ya kwako?
- Thank you very much.
- Asante sana.
- Very well, thanks.
- Mzuri sana, asante.
- good
- mzuri
- very good
- mzuri sana
- please
- tafadhali
- You're welcome.
- Karibu.
- May I?
- Wezekana?
- Excuse me.
- Samahani.
- a little
- ndogo
- What is your name?
- Jina lako nani?
- My name is Mahimbo.
- Jina langu Mahimbo.
- straight ahead
- moja pa moja
- Is anyone there?
- Hodi!
- Where is...?
- Iko wapi...?
- beach/ocean
- bahari
- right
- kuria
- left
- kushoto
- mon
- jumatatu
- tue
- jumainne
- wed
- jumatano
- thurs
- alhamisi
- fri
- ijumaa
- sat
- jumamosi
- sun
- jumapili
- How old are you?
- Ulizaliwa moika gani? (what year where you born?)
- Where were you born?
- Ulizaliwa wapi?
- I'm American.
- Mimi ni Americani.
- I am English.
- Mimi ni Ingereza.
- I come from Belgium.
- Mimi na toka Ubelgiji/Kifransa(France)/America/Germani/Ingeresa. (England)
- Have you ever been to Kenya?
- Umekwisha kutembeya Kenya?
- never
- bado
- litter/trash
- taka taka
- Use the garbage can.
- Weka taka taka katika pipa.
- I'm on a trip.
- Miko na safari.
- holiday/bank holiday
- siku kuu
- Where do you work?
- Unafanja kazi wapi?
- I work as a doctor.
- Kazi yangu ni daktari.
- Where do you come from?
- Unatoka wapi?
- how much?
- Ngapi?
- a little/small
- ndogo/kidogo
- a lot/big
- mingi/mkubwa
- give me
- leta
- a pen
- karamu
- 1
- moja
- 2
- mbili
- 3
- tatu
- 4
- inne
- 5
- tano
- 6
- sita
- 7
- saba
- 8
- nane
- 9
- tisa
- 10
- kumi
- 11
- kumi na moja
- 12
- kumi ne mbili
- 20
- ishirini
- 30
- sarasini
- 40
- arubaini
- 50
- hamsini
- 60
- sitini
- 70
- sabini
- 80
- themanini
- 90
- tisini
- 100
- mia moja
- 200
- mia mbili
- 1000
- elfu moja
- 2000
- elfu mbili
- beer
- pombe/beer
- I would like to pay.
- Mi nataka kulipa.
- Where are the toilets?
- Choo iko wapi?
- Where is the bank?
- benki iko wapi?
- men/women
- wanaume/wanawake
- there
- kule
- It's there.
- Iko kule.
- yesterday
- djana
- today
- leo
- tomorrow
- kesho
- The day after tomorrow.
- Kesha kutwa.
- morning
- asubuhi
- evening
- usiku
- What do you want?
- Unataka nini?
- Who do you want?
- Unataka nani?
- What are you doing?
- Unafanya nini?
Of course, I'm just a "muzungu" (white person) so maybe some may disagree with my grammar... but i'm pretty sure i didn't make too many mistakes!
Swahili Language Links
Kiswahili Home Page
Useful Swahili
Swahili Online Study Aids
Kiswahili Grammar Notes
Swahili bad words from insultmonger.com (warning: porn ads on some pages)
