Getting around in Swahili
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. 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
- 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
Choo is the toilet. Signs read Wanawake (women) and Wanaume (men). Public restrooms are rare; cafes and restaurants are where you ask. Sometimes a small payment is expected.
Literally "how will I arrive at ...?".
Kulia is right. Directions come quick: kushoto sana (far left) or just "kushoto kwa karibu" (left nearby). Pointing always accompanies verbal directions.
The opposite of kushoto. Both terms are directional verbs in Swahili, so "nenda kushoto" means go left. Hand gestures supplement everything.
Literally "one by one", meaning straight on.
Pointing is always included with hapa. Hapo (there) and huko (way over there) complete the location trilogy. Humu (here on my side) shows possession or close location.
Direct from English. Trains are rare in East Africa; matatus dominate. Some cities have central bus terminals. Asking "karibu stesheni" (near the station) helps the matatu conductor drop you close.
The minibus is matatu (literally three-three, from the fare). Basi is the larger coach bus for longer routes. Matatus are the soul of African travel, colorfully painted, always overcrowded, and the only realistic transport option outside cities.
Literally "field of the bird".