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Lesson 7 of 10
Meeting people in Swahili
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. 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
- 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
Habari means news, gani means which, so literally what news. This is the standard formal greeting to a stranger or elder. The expected answer is "nzuri" (good) or "habari nzuri" (good news).
Literally "good, thanks".
Literally and you, the standard volley back in conversation. Swahili people return greetings consistently, so this is always appropriate to ask after answering about yourself.
Literally "it is pleasing to look at".
Literally "come near". It also answers asante, thank you, as "you're welcome".