GREETINGS/INTRODUCTION

Hi (how are you?)

Jambo

No problems (response)

Sijambo

How are things?

Habari?

Fine, etc.

Nzuri

Goodbye to one/ goodbye to many

Kwaheri/Kwaherini

Come in

Karibu

Thank you

Asante

Mr.(respectful to man)

Bwana

Mrs., Miss (respectful adult woman)

Mama

youth/youths

kijana/vijana

child/children

mtoto/watoto

What is your name?

Jina lako nani?

My name is...

Jina langu ni...

What are you called?

Unaitwaje?

I am called...

Nina itwa...

TENSES

present

-na-

past

-li-

future

-ta-

immediately past or continuing

-me-

USEFUL WORDS

yes

ndiyo

no

hapana

expensive

ghali sana

cheap

rahisi

right

kulia

left

kushoto

up

juu

down

chini

friend

rafiki

Pardon

Samahani, or "pole

Where is?

Wapi?

here

hapa

when?

lini?

now

sasa

soon

hivi karibuni

why?

kwa nini?

because

kwa sababu

who?

nini?

what?

nani?

which?

gani?/gapi?

true

kweli

and/with

na

or

au

(they, he, she) are

ni

TIME

What time is it?

ni saa ngapi?

three o'clock

saa tisa

quarter past

na robo

half past

na nusu

quarter to

kaso robo

minutes

dakika

early

mapema

yesterday

jana

today

leo

tomorrow

kesho

daytime

mchana

nighttime

usiku

dawn

alfajiri

morning

asubuhi

which day?

siku gani?

PRONOUNS

Me, I

Mimi, Ni

You

Wewe, U

Him/Her

Yeye

He/She

A

Us, We

Sisi, Tu

You (plural)

Ninyi, M

Them, They

Wao , Wa

DAYS

Monday

Jumatatu

Tuesday

Jumanne

Wednesday

Jumatano

Thursday

Alhamisi

Friday

Ijumaa

Saturday

Jumamosi

Sunday

Jumapili

Holiday

Sikukuu

USEFUL PHRASES

I don't understand

Sifahamu/Sielewi

I don't speak Swahili

Sisemi kiswahili

How do you say in Swahili?

Unasemaje kwa kiswahili...?

Could you repeat that?

Sema tena

Speak slowly

Sema pole pole

I don't know

Sijui

Where can I stay?

Naweza kukaa wapi?

Can I stay here?

Naweza kukaa hapa?

How much?

Ngapi?

How much money is...?

(ni)Pesa ngapi...?

What price?

(ni)Bei gani...?

I want...

Nataka...