Are you eager to speak atleast a word today with your friends who
communicate fluently in Swahili? I can't speak in many languages and
I know how it feels not to know one that all your neighbours do. Here
are some of the commonly used phrases in swahili.
- Greetings
Speaker
|
Listener
|
Hujambo!/Habari yako? How are you?
|
Sijambo!/ Am fine
|
Sabalkheri! Goodmorning!
|
Alkheri! Goodmorning too
|
Jioni njema! Goodevening!(when parting)
|
Nawe pia You too
|
Usiku mwema! Good night
|
Nawe pia! You too
|
Alamsiki! Good night
|
Binuru! Goodnight too
|
Pole sorry( Used
when giving comfort)
|
Nishapoa I am better now
|
Shikamoo! I respect you (young
person to an adult)
|
Marahabaa! I acknowledge
|
- Common daily phrases
Swahili
|
English
|
Tafadhali/ Naomba
|
Please
|
Nipishe
|
Pave way for me
|
Pole
|
sorry
|
Asante
|
Thank you
|
Njoo
|
Come
|
Nipe...
|
Give me
|
Naenda...
|
I am going
|
Nataka...
|
I want
|
Unaitwa nani?
|
What is your name?
|
Ninaitwa...
|
My name is...
|
Nchi yangu ...
|
My country is...
|
Nakupenda...
|
I love you
|
Huyu ni rafiki yangu
|
This is my friend
|
Gari limefika
|
The vehicle has arrived
|
Ninapika...
|
I am cooking
|
Nipeleke...
|
Take me...
|
Unaenda wapi?
|
Where are you going?
|
Nala
|
I am eating
|
Naelewa
|
I understand
|
Naja
|
I am coming
|
Unanisumbua
|
You are disturbing me
|
Wacha mchezo/mzaha!
|
Stop joking!
|
Twende
|
Lets go
|
Utatoka saa ngapi?
|
At what time will you leave?
|
Ni saa ngapi?
|
What's the time?
|
Nimechoka
|
I am tired
|
Napenda
|
I like
|
- Meals
Chakula
|
Food
|
Staftahi
|
Breakfast
|
Chamcha
|
Lunch
|
Chajio
|
Supper
|
- Times of the dayWakati/ SaaTimeAlfajiriDawnAsubuhiMorningMchanaNoonAdhuhuriAfternoonAlasiriEarly EveningJioniLate evening/DuskUsikuNight
- Vocubulary at Home
Nyumbani
|
Home
|
Kiingilio
|
Entrance
|
Lango
|
Gate
|
Baraza
|
|
Mlango
|
Door
|
Chumba
|
Room
|
sebule
|
Sitting room
|
Chumba cha maakuli
|
Dining room
|
Chumba cha kulala
|
Bedroom
|
Chumba cha kusoma
|
Study room
|
Jikoni
|
Kitchen
|
Bafu
|
Bathroom
|
Choo/Msala
|
Toilet/ Latrine
|
Vifaa vya nyumbani
|
Home tools/accessories
|
Kiti
|
chair
|
Meza
|
table
|
Kabati
|
Cupboard
|
Kikombe
|
Cup
|
Sahani
|
Plate
|
Sufuria
|
Sufuria
|
Kijiko
|
Spoon
|
Mwiko
|
Cooking Stick
|
Gilasi
|
Glass
|
Mbuzi
|
Grate
|
Chungu
|
Pot
|
Kichungi
|
Sieve
|
Televisheni/ Runinga
|
Television
|
Redio
|
Radio
|
Simu/ Rununu
|
Phone
|
Tarakilishi
|
Computer
|
Pakatalishi
|
Laptop
|
6 Vocabulary at the work place
The table below shows various vocubulary as well as common sentences
you may use while at the job place.
Swahili
|
English
|
Twende
kazini
|
Lets go
to work
|
Nitachelewa
|
I will be late
|
Fanya kazi!
|
Work!
|
Fanya bidii
|
Work hard
|
Ajira
|
Employment
|
Ajiri
|
Employ
|
Ajiriwa
|
Be employed
|
Futa kazi
|
Sack (dismiss from employment)
|
Afisi/ofisi
|
Office
|
Afisa
|
Officer
|
Bwana
|
Sir
|
Mwenyekiti
|
Chairman
|
Katibu/ sekritari
|
Secretary
|
Hasibu
|
Accountant
|
Karani
|
Receptionist
|
Mlinzi
|
Guard
|
Mkutano
|
Meeting
|
Mkutanoni
|
In the meeting
|
Ratiba
|
Program
|
Mradi
|
Project
|
Date
|
Tarehe
|
7. Know
your environment in Swahili
|
Swahili
|
English( singular form)
|
|
|
Singular
|
Plural
|
|
|
Mazingira
|
Mazingira
|
Environment
|
|
Msitu
|
Misitu
|
Forest
|
|
Maji
|
Maji
|
Water
|
|
Kilima
|
Vilima
|
Hill
|
|
Mlima
|
Milima
|
Mountain
|
|
Mti
|
Miti
|
Tree
|
|
Unyasi
|
Nyasi
|
Grass
|
|
Uwanja/ Kiwanja
|
Wanja/ Viwanja
|
Field
|
|
Mnyama
|
Wanyama
|
Animal
|
|
Ubao
|
Mbao
|
Timber
|
|
Mche
|
Miche
|
Seedling
|
|
Mdudu
|
Wadudu
|
Insect
|
|
Uhifadhi/ Utunzaji
|
-
|
conservation
|
|
Hifadhi/ Tunza
|
-
|
conserve
|
|
Mbuga
|
-
|
Reserve
|
|
Jangwa
|
Majangwa
|
Desert
|
|
Tabia-nchi
|
-
|
Climate
|
|
Hali ya anga
|
Hali za anga
|
weather
|
|
Mvua
|
-
|
Rain
|
|
Msitu wa mvua
|
-
|
Rain forest
|
|
Bonde
|
Mabonde
|
valley
|
|
Ramani
|
-
|
Map
|
|
Udongo
|
-
|
Soil
|
|
Mchanga
|
-
|
Sand
|
|
Jiwe
|
Mawe
|
Stone
|
|
Tawi
|
Matawi
|
Branch
|
|
Jani
|
Majani
|
Leaf
|
|
Mzizi
|
Mizizi
|
Root
|
|
Kichaka
|
Vichaka
|
Bush
|
|
Mwitu
|
|
Thicket
|
|
Ukataji wa miti
|
-
|
Cutting of trees
|
|
Bahari
|
Mabahari
|
Ocean
|
|
Ziwa
|
Maziwa
|
Lake
|
|
Mto
|
Mito
|
River
|
|
Kijito
|
Vijito
|
Stream
|
|
Chemchemi
|
-
|
Spring
|
|
Mashariki
|
-
|
East
|
|
Magharibi
|
-
|
West
|
|
Kaskazini
|
-
|
North
|
|
Kusini
|
-
|
South
|
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