The Swahili course
Learn Swahili ten words at a time
Kiswahili
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Swahili words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Swahili challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Swahili · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Hujambohoo-JAM-boh
- Hello
- MamboMAM-boh
- Hi
- Habari za asubuhiha-BAH-ree za a-su-BOO-hee
- Good morning
- Usiku mwemaoo-SEE-koo MWEH-ma
- Good night
- Asante sanaa-SAHN-teh SAH-na
- Thank you very much
- Asantea-SAHN-teh
- Thanks
- Karibuka-REE-boo
- You're welcome
- Tafadhalita-fa-DHA-lee
- Please
- Samahanisa-ma-HA-nee
- Excuse me
- Kwaherikwa-HEH-ree
- Goodbye
Swahili · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Bia moja, tafadhalibee-AH MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One beer, please
- Hii moja, tafadhalihee-EE MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One of these, please
- Kahawa moja, tafadhalika-HA-wa MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One coffee, please
- Mbili, tafadhalim-BEE-lee, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- Two, please
- Moja zaidi, tafadhaliMOH-ja zah-EE-dee, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One more, please
- Ni bei gani?nee BAY-ee GAH-nee
- How much is it?
- Bili, tafadhaliBEE-lee, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- The bill, please
- Yote tuYOH-teh too
- That's everything
- Kwa afya!kwa AH-fya
- Cheers!
- Afya!AH-fya
- Bless you
Swahili · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- Ndiyon-DEE-yoh
- Yes
- Hapanaha-PAH-na
- No
- SawaSAH-wa
- Okay
- Hakuna matataha-KOO-na ma-TAH-ta
- Sure, no problem
- Sijuisee-JOO-ee
- I don't know
- Sielewisee-eh-LEH-wee
- I don't understand
- Unasema Kiingereza?oo-na-SEH-ma kee-een-geh-REH-za
- Do you speak English?
- Kidogokee-DOH-goh
- A little
- Bila shakaBEE-la SHA-ka
- Of course
- Kila kitu nzuriKEE-la KEE-too N-ZOO-ree
- Everything is fine
Swahili · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- MojaMOH-ja
- One
- Mbilim-BEE-lee
- Two
- TatuTAH-too
- Three
- NneN-NEH
- Four
- KumiKOO-mee
- Ten
- Hamsiniham-SEE-nee
- Fifty
- Miamee-AH
- One hundred
- Shilingishee-LEEN-gee
- Shilling
- Kwa kadikwa KAH-dee
- By card
- PesaPEH-sa
- In cash
Swahili · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- Mkatem-KAH-teh
- Bread
- Maziwama-ZEE-wa
- Milk
- Jibinijee-BEE-nee
- Cheese
- MajiMAH-jee
- Water
- Mfuko?m-FOO-koh
- A bag?
- Una...?OO-na
- Do you have...?
- Wapi...?WAH-pee
- Where is...?
- Hiihee-EE
- This one
- Hakuna kingineha-KOO-na keen-GEE-neh
- Nothing else
- Kwa heri ya leokwa HEH-ree ya LEH-oh
- Have a nice day
Swahili · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Meza kwa watu wawiliMEH-za kwa WAH-too wa-WEE-lee
- A table for two
- Menyu, tafadhaliMEH-noo, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- The menu, please
- Kahawa moja, tafadhalika-HA-wa MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One espresso
- Glasi ya divaiGLAH-see ya dee-VY
- A glass of wine
- Bia safibee-AH SAH-fee
- Draft beer
- Ugali na sukumaoo-GAH-lee na soo-KOO-ma
- Smørrebrød
- Nzuri sanaN-ZOO-ree SAH-na
- It's delicious
- Bila barafuBEE-la ba-RAH-foo
- Without ice
- Chakula cha kuendacha-KOO-la cha koo-EN-da
- To take away
- Badiliko ni lakoba-dee-LEE-koh nee LAH-koh
- Keep the change
Swahili · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Habari gani?ha-BAH-ree GAH-nee
- How are you? (polite)
- Habari yako?ha-BAH-ree YAH-koh
- How are you? (casual)
- Jina langu ni nzuriJEE-na LANG-oo nee N-ZOO-ree
- I'm fine
- Nawe?NAH-weh
- And you?
- Kuna nini?KOO-na NEE-nee
- What's new?
- Jua nzuri, si ndiyo?JOO-a N-ZOO-ree, see N-DEE-yoh
- Nice weather, huh?
- Tutaonanatoo-ta-oh-NAH-na
- See you soon
- Jioni nzurijee-OH-nee N-ZOO-ree
- Have a nice evening
- Salimi familiasa-LEE-mee fa-mee-LEE-ah
- Say hi to the family
- Kwa herikwa HEH-ree
- All the best
Swahili · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Choo kiko wapi?choh KEE-koh WAH-pee
- Where is the toilet?
- Kushotokoo-SHOH-toh
- Left
- Kuliakoo-LEE-ah
- Right
- Sio mbelesee-OH m-BEH-leh
- Straight ahead
- HapaHA-pa
- Here
- HapoHA-poh
- There
- BasiBAH-see
- Bus
- Steshenisteh-SHEH-nee
- Train station
- Kiti moja, tafadhaliKEE-tee MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One ticket, please
- Simama hapa, tafadhalisee-MAH-ma HA-pa, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- Stop here, please
Swahili · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- LeoLEH-oh
- Today
- KeshoKEH-shoh
- Tomorrow
- JanaJAH-na
- Yesterday
- SasaSAH-sa
- Now
- Baadayeba-ah-DAH-yeh
- Later
- Ni saa ngapi?nee SAH N-GAH-pee
- What time is it?
- Jumatatujoo-ma-TAH-too
- Monday
- Jumamosijoo-ma-MOH-see
- Saturday
- Jumapilijoo-ma-PEE-lee
- Sunday
- Saa ya kupumzikaSAH ya koo-POOM-zee-ka
- The weekend
Swahili · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Msaada!m-sah-AH-da
- Help!
- Piga simu mgangaPEE-ga SEE-moo m-GANG-a
- Call a doctor
- Polisipoh-LEE-see
- Police
- Duka la dawaDOO-ka la DAH-wa
- Pharmacy
- Hospitalihos-pee-TAH-lee
- Hospital
- Mimi nimekwamaMEE-mee nee-meh-KWAH-ma
- I'm lost
- Mimi sijui jotoMEE-mee see-JOO-ee JOH-toh
- I don't feel well
- Simu yanguSEE-moo YAHN-goo
- My phone
- Imeniibwaee-meh-nee-EE-bwa
- It was stolen
- Ni kisa harakanee KEE-sa ha-RAH-ka
- It's urgent