Time and days in Swahili
Now, later, tomorrow, what time it opens and one moment please. 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
- 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
Immediately. Sasa hivi means right now, this very moment. Wakati huu (this time) is more formal but less common in conversation. The Swahili pace is relaxed so sasa might mean soonish.
"Baadaye" can mean anything from an hour to some day. "Tutaonana baadaye", see you later.
Simple and always used. Karibuni (recently) and leo leo (right now, today) emphasize immediacy. Kivitendo (the afternoon) comes after leo for timing the day.
Kesho yake is the day after tomorrow. Kesho kutwa is tomorrow morning. Kesho jioni is tomorrow evening. The pattern extends: jana (yesterday), kesho (tomorrow).
Swahili time starts counting at dawn, so 7 am is saa moja, hour one.
Literally "wait a little".
Also means clock and watch.