100 Common Swahili Phrases and Words for Travelers

Swahili is spoken in several countries across East Africa. How did this African language become one of the most widely used languages in the world? What basic Swahili phrases might you need while traveling? This article explores these questions and provides essential phrases for your journey.

The Origins of Swahili

Swahili originated as a dialect along the coast of East Africa. Initially, it was a local dialect used by fishermen, farmers, and herders. As trade developed in the early first millennium, Swahili began to spread along the coastline, influenced by Arabic and various indigenous African languages, as well as words from English, German, and Portuguese.

Over time, Swahili became a common means of communication for diverse groups, including immigrants from across Africa, traders from Asia and the Persian Gulf, Indian settlers, and European colonizers. This blend of cultures and languages allowed Swahili to evolve into a lingua franca, incorporating elements from Arabic, Portuguese, Persian, Spanish, English, German, and Hindi.

Swahili and the Fight for Independence

The 20th century played a significant role in the development of Swahili, particularly as it became a symbol of political collaboration during the independence movements in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania in the early 1960s. Swahili enabled freedom fighters to communicate their shared aspirations despite the diversity of their native languages. For many, the rise of Swahili represented a cultural and personal independence from colonial powers.

After gaining independence, political leaders promoted Swahili as a vital part of national identity, culture, and the economy. Under President Julius Nyerere, Tanzania became one of the first African nations to declare a native language as official. Nyerere even translated works of Shakespeare into Swahili to elevate the language’s status.

The Global Reach of Swahili Today

Today, Swahili is one of the most widely spoken languages, with around 200 million speakers. It holds official status in Tanzania and Kenya and is commonly used in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Comoros Islands. It is also spoken in parts of Burundi, Rwanda, northern Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Somalia, South Sudan, and even in Oman and Yemen.

Swahili is recognized as an official language of the African Union, and various global media outlets, including the BBC and Radio France Internationale, broadcast news in Swahili. In November 2021, UNESCO declared July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day, commemorating the day in 1954 when Swahili was declared an important tool in the struggle for independence.

Essential Swahili Phrases for Travelers

Learning some basic Swahili phrases can enhance your travel experience. While many people in Tanzania’s tourism industry speak English, knowing a few words in Swahili can help you connect with locals. Here’s a list of essential phrases to assist you during your travels:

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] – BankSafari – [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
• Shida kidogo – [shee-dah kee-doh-goh] – Small problem

By familiarizing yourself with these phrases, you can enhance your travel experience and connect more meaningfully with the local culture during your time in Tanzania and other Swahili-speaking regions.