Swahili Vocabulary - Swahili and English translations

The Kamusi Project The Internet Living Swahili Dictionary

Greetings

*Jambo*	*Hello*
*Habari gani?*	*How are you?*
*Nzuri sana*	*I'm fine, Thank you.*
*Jina lako nani?*	*What is your name?*
*Jina Lango ni*	*My name is ......*
*karibu*	*welcome*
*kwaheri*	*good bye*

Common Questions

*Bei gani?*	*How much does this cost?*
*ghali sana*	*expensive*
*pugunza bei kidogo*	*come down a little (in price)*
*rahisi*	*cheap*
*Nani?*	*Who?*
*Nini?*	*What?*
*Kwa nini?*	*Why?*
*Lini?*	*When?*
*Wapi?*	*Where?*
*Gani?*	*Which*
*Naweza kukaa wapi?*	*Where can I stay?*
*Naweza kukaa hapa?*	*Can I stay here?*
*Inaondoka lini?*	*When does it leave?*
*Tutafika lini?*	*When will we arrive?*
*Naenda wapi?*	*Where are you going?*
*Sema tena?*	*Could you repeat that?*
*Choo ni wapi?*	*Where is the bathroom?*

Useful Sentences

*Sisemi kiswahili*	*I don't speak Swahili*
*Sifahamu/Sielewi*	*I don't understand*
*Sema pole pole*	*Speak slowly*
*sijui*	*I don't know*
*Nataka kushuka hapa*	*I want to get off here*
*Naenda*	*I'm going to*
*Twende*	*Let's go (carry on, etc.)*
*Moja kwa moja*	*straight ahead*

Days Of The Week

*Jumatatu*	*Monday*
*Jumanne*	*Tuesday*
*Jumatano*	*Wednesday*
*Alhamisi*	*Thursday*
*Ijumaa*	*Friday*
*Jumamosi*	*Saturday*
*Jumapili*	*Sunday*

Numbers 1 To 10

*moja*	*one*
*mbili*	*two*
*tatu*	*three*
*nne*	*four*
*tano*	*five*
*sita*	*six*
*saba*	*seven*
*nane*	*eight*
*tisa*	*nine*
*kumi*	*ten*

Animal Names

*simba*	*lion*
*tembo*	*elephant*
*kifaru*	*rhinoceros*
*chui*	*leopard*
*kiboko*	*hippopotamus*
*nyati*	*buffalo*
*twiga*	*giraffe*
*punda milia*	*zebra*
*fisi*	*hyena*
*swara*	*antelope*
*sungura*	*hare*
*mamba*	*crocodile*
*bwhea*	*jackal*
*ng'ombe*	*cattle*
*mbuzi*	*goat*
*nyoka*	*snake*

Other Commonly Used Vocabulary

*ndiyo*	*yes*
*hapana*	no
*asante sana*	*thank you*
*rafiki*	*friend*
*mimi*	me
*wewe*	*you*
*sababu*	*because*
*hapa*	*here*
*sasa*	*now*
*juu*	up
*chini*	*down*
*yangu*	*It is mine.*
*tafadhali*	*please*
*bana*	*man*
*mama*	*woman*
*mtoto/watoto*	*child/chlidren*
*leo*	*today*
*kesho*	*tommorrow*
*safari*	*journey*
*uhuru*	*freedom*
*nataka*	*I want*
*sitaki*	*I don't want*
*mlima*	*mountain*
*hakuna matata*	*no problem*

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