Learn Swahili ten words at a time
Kiswahili
Ten short games: the 102 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.
Greetings and politeness
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- Hujambohoo-JAM-boh
- Hello
- Habari za asubuhiha-BAH-ree za a-su-BOO-hee
- Good morning
- Habari za jioniha-BAH-ree za jee-OH-nee
- Good evening
- Kwaherikwa-HEH-ree
- Goodbye
- Tutaonanatoo-tah-oh-NA-na
- See you
- Tafadhalita-fa-DHA-lee
- Please
- Asantea-SAHN-teh
- Thank you
- Si kitusee KEE-too
- You're welcome
- Naomba radhina-OHM-ba RAH-dhee
- Sorry
- Samahanisa-ma-HA-nee
- Excuse me
- Nafurahi kukutana nawena-foo-RAH-hee koo-koo-TAH-na NAH-weh
- Nice to meet you
Order anything by pointing
I would like, this one, how much, the bill: survive any counter or menu.
- Ningependa...neen-geh-PEN-da
- I would like...
- Hiihee-EE
- This one
- Ni bei gani?nee BAY-ee GAH-nee
- How much is it?
- Bili, tafadhaliBEE-lee, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- The bill, please
- Kwa kadikwa KAH-dee
- By card
- PesaPEH-sa
- In cash
- MajiMAH-jee
- Water
- Kahawaka-HAH-wa
- Coffee
- ChaiCHAI
- Tea
- BiaBEE-a
- Beer
- Bila...BEE-la
- Without...
Yes, no and the essentials
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it.
- Ndiyon-DEE-yoh
- Yes
- Hapanaha-PAH-na
- No
- SawaSAH-wa
- Okay
- Sielewisee-eh-LEH-wee
- I don't understand
- Unasema Kiingereza?oo-na-SEH-ma kee-een-geh-REH-za
- Do you speak English?
- Rudia, tafadhaliroo-DEE-a, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- Can you repeat that?
- Polepole, tafadhalipoh-leh-POH-leh, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- Slowly, please
- Hii ni nini?HEE nee NEE-nee
- What is this?
- Nahitaji...na-hee-TAH-jee
- I need...
- Unaweza kunisaidia?oo-na-WEH-za koo-nee-sa-ee-DEE-a
- Can you help me?
Counting to ten
One to ten, for prices, platforms, rooms and how many beers.
- MojaMOH-ja
- One
- Mbilim-BEE-lee
- Two
- TatuTAH-too
- Three
- NneN-NEH
- Four
- TanoTAH-noh
- Five
- SitaSEE-ta
- Six
- SabaSAH-ba
- Seven
- NaneNAH-neh
- Eight
- TisaTEE-sa
- Nine
- KumiKOO-mee
- Ten
Shops and hotels
Open, closed, a bag, the wifi password: the checkout and the front desk.
- Una...?OO-na
- Do you have...?
- ...iko wapi?EE-koh WAH-pee
- Where is...?
- WaziWAH-zee
- Open
- Imefungwaee-meh-FOON-gwa
- Closed
- Mfuko?m-FOO-koh
- A bag?
- Ghali sanaGHAH-lee SAH-na
- Too expensive
- Nimeweka nafasinee-meh-WEH-ka na-FAH-see
- I have a reservation
- Kifungua kinywa kimejumuishwa?kee-foon-GOO-a KEE-nywa kee-meh-joo-moo-EE-shwa
- Is breakfast included?
- Nenosiri la wifi ni lipi?neh-noh-SEE-ree la WAI-fai nee LEE-pee
- What's the wifi password?
- Naweza...?na-WEH-za
- Can I...?
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, what you cannot eat, and 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
- Unapendekeza nini?oo-na-pen-deh-KEH-za NEE-nee
- What do you recommend?
- Sili...SEE-lee
- I don't eat...
- Nina mzio wa...NEE-na m-ZEE-oh wa
- I'm allergic to...
- NyamaNYAH-ma
- Meat
- KukuKOO-koo
- Chicken
- Samakisa-MAH-kee
- Fish
- Ni tamu sananee TAH-moo SAH-na
- It's delicious
- Kwa afya!kwa AH-fya
- Cheers
Meeting people
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes.
- Habari gani?ha-BAH-ree GAH-nee
- How are you?
- Nzuri, asanteN-ZOO-ree, a-SAHN-teh
- I'm fine, thanks
- Nawe?NAH-weh
- And you?
- Jina lako nani?JEE-na LAH-koh NAH-nee
- What's your name?
- Jina langu ni...JEE-na LAHN-goo nee
- My name is...
- Unatoka wapi?oo-na-TOH-ka WAH-pee
- Where are you from?
- Natoka...na-TOH-ka
- I'm from...
- Ninaipendanee-na-ee-PEN-da
- I like it
- Inapendezaee-na-pen-DEH-za
- It's beautiful
- Karibuka-REE-boo
- Welcome
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Choo kiko wapi?choh KEE-koh WAH-pee
- Where is the toilet?
- Nitafikaje...?nee-ta-fee-KAH-jeh
- How do I get to...?
- Kushotokoo-SHOH-toh
- To the left
- Kuliakoo-LEE-ah
- To the right
- Moja kwa mojaMOH-ja kwa MOH-ja
- Straight ahead
- HapaHA-pa
- Here
- Steshenisteh-SHEH-nee
- Train station
- BasiBAH-see
- Bus
- Uwanja wa ndegeoo-WAN-ja wa n-DEH-geh
- Airport
- Tiketi moja, tafadhalitee-KEH-tee MOH-ja, ta-fa-DHA-lee
- One ticket, please
Time and days
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please.
- SasaSAH-sa
- Now
- Baadayeba-ah-DAH-yeh
- Later
- LeoLEH-oh
- Today
- KeshoKEH-shoh
- Tomorrow
- Leo usikuLEH-oh oo-SEE-koo
- Tonight
- Lini?LEE-nee
- When?
- Mnafungua saa ngapi?m-na-foon-GOO-a SAH-a NGAH-pee
- What time does it open?
- Subiri kidogosoo-BEE-ree kee-DOH-goh
- One moment, please
- Dakikada-KEE-ka
- Minutes
- SaaSAH-a
- Hours
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Msaada!m-sah-AH-da
- Help!
- Mwite daktarim-WEE-teh dak-TAH-ree
- Call a doctor
- Polisipoh-LEE-see
- Police
- Duka la dawaDOO-ka la DAH-wa
- Pharmacy
- Hospitalihos-pee-TAH-lee
- Hospital
- Nimepoteanee-meh-poh-TEH-a
- I'm lost
- Sijisikii vizurisee-jee-see-KEE-ee vee-ZOO-ree
- I don't feel well
- Imeibiwaee-meh-ee-BEE-wa
- It was stolen
- Ni dharuranee dha-ROO-ra
- It's an emergency
- Niache!nee-AH-cheh
- Leave me alone