BASIC SWAHILI TERMS

30 terms that will be used in my AAS 115 class

Good Morning?

Harbari za Asubuni?

Good Afternoon?

Harbari za Mchana?

Good Evening?

Harbari za jioni?

Good Night

Usiku mwema 

Goodbye

Kwaheri

Good luck

Kila la heri

Hello (to one person)

Hujambo

Hello (response to singular)

Sijambo

How are you?

Harbari gani?

Can I go to the Bathroom?

Ninaweza kwenda bafuni?

I have understood

Nimeelewa

I have not understood

Sijaelewa

Excuse Me

Samahani

No

Hapana

Yes

Ndiyo

Okay

Sawa

Nice to meet you

Nimefurahi kukufahamu

See you later

Tutaonana

Sorry (for sympathy)

Pole

Sorry I am late

Samahani nimechelewa

Repeat please

Rudia tafadhali

Thank you

Asante

Thank you very much

Asante sana

Welcome

Karibu

Grandfather

Babu

Hujambo mwanafunzi? (Hello, student)

Sijambo Mwalimu? (Hello, Teacher)

Habari yako? (what is the response)

Nzuri

Grandmother

Bibi/nyanya

Dad

Baba

Mom

Mama

Brother

Kaka

Sister

Dada

Sibling

ndugu

How is your father? & response

Baba yako hajambo? (hajambo)

How is your mother? & response

Mama yako hajambo? (hajambo)

How is your sister? & response

Dada yako hajambo? (hajambo)

How is your brother? & response

Kaka yako hajambo? (hajambo)

How is your family? & response

Familia yako hawajambo? (hawajambo)

How is your home? & response

Hawajambo nyumbani? (hawajambo)

How is your family? (harbari) & response

Habari za familia? (nzuri)

Shikamoo!

Marahaba

Friend

rafiki

How is today?

Habari za leo?

How is your work? & response

Habari za kazi? (nzuri)

How is your studies? & response

Habari za masomo? (nzuri)

Any news from home? & (response)

Habari za nyumbani? (nzuri)

How have you been over the many days? & response

Habari za siku nyingi? (nzuri)

How is your school? & response

Harbari za shule? (nzuri)

How did you wake up? & response

Umeamkaje? (salama/vyema (well))

Delete

Mmeamkaje?

Means I

Mimi

Means you

Wewe

Means he/she

yeye

Means we

Sisi

Means y’all

Nyinyi

Means they

Wao

Informal Greetings

Mambo vipi? Poa/freshi/fiti

Niaje? Poa/freshi/fiti

Sasa? Poa/freshi/fiti

Vipi? Poa/freshi/fiti

Inakwendaje? Poa/freshi/fiti

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My name is….

Jina langu ni…

What is your name?

Jina lako ni nani?

And you?

Na wewe je?

My name is …. and my swahili name is…

Jina langu ni … na jina langu la Kiswahili ni ….

Goodnight

lala salama

Can you help me?

Unaweza kunisaidia?

Just a little bit

Kidogo tu!

Do you speak swahili?

unasema kiswahili

How do you say …. in Kiswahili?

Unasemaje …. kwa kiswahili?

I’m from…

ninatoka

I am called…

Ninaitwa

To be called

\-itwa

Where are you from?

Unatoka wapi?

I am from the country of…

Mimi ninatoka katika nchi ya ….

America

Marekani

My nationality is…

Mimi ni …

I am from the state of…

Mimi ninatoka katika jimbo la ….

Which state are you from?

Unatoka jimbo gani?

I am from the town of…

Mimi ninatoka mji wa …

Which town are you from?

Unatoka mji gani?

stay

\-kaa

live

\-ishi

near

karibu

road/street

barabara

I live near this street, in ---- city, in ____ state.

Ninakaa karibu na barabara ya __street_, katika mji wa __town_, jimbo la __state__.

Now

sasa

Which school do you go to?

Je unasoma katika chuo gani?

I study at ____

Ninasoma katika Chuo Kikuu cha _________

What is your major?

Unasomea nini?

I study economics.

Ninasomea uchumi

Which languages do you speak?

Unasema lugha gani?

I speak english and swahili.

Mimi ninazungumza kiingereza na kiswahili.

How many?

Ngapi

Which (ones)?

Gani?

Where?

Wapi?

Who?

Nani?

What?

Nini?

When?

Lini?

Why?

Kwa nini?

Wewe ni raia wa nchi gani?

What nationality are you?

Where do live now?

Wewe unakaa wapi sasa?

to Crochet

kufuma

to Shop

kununua