Yes, no and the essentials in Swahili
The small words that carry half of every conversation, and the ones that rescue it. Play the ten Swahili words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Swahili phrases in this lesson
- 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?
The affirmative. Sometimes you will hear "ee" or just a head nod. "Ndiyo sana" (yes very much) for strong agreement.
The standard refusal. "Hakuna" (there is none) serves the same purpose in many contexts. Softening it: "hapana, asante" (no thanks) is polite and constant.
The all-purpose okay, meaning fine or agreed. "Sawa sawa" is very okay, everything is fine. Also used to confirm understanding: "unaeleweka?" "sawa" (do you understand? okay).
Your escape hatch. Swahili speakers will slow down and use simpler words, or switch to English if you are a tourist. Fluency jumps when locals do this, so do not hesitate to ask.
English proficiency is high in urban East Africa, especially Kenya. Asking in Swahili first shows respect. Kiingereza literally means the English language (ki- prefix for languages).
Literally "repeat, please".
Polepole, slowly, is also the East African attitude to life.