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Swahili or Kiswahili, is the official language of Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda. Swahili speakers can also be found in surrounding countries, such as Burundi, Rwanda, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While only 5-10 million people speak Swahili as their first language, but as a second language, there are over 50 million speakers, making it the most widely spoken African language in the world. As a part of the Bantu language family, Swahili is related to a variety of languages from Southern Africa to West Africa. While some Bantu languages, like Xhosa and Zulu are click languages, Swahili does not use clicks, so pronunciation is generally not difficult for English speakers.

[edit] Pronunciation guide

[edit] Vowels

Swahili has five vowels: a, e, i, o, u. If you are familiar with Spanish or Japanese, the vowels are pronounced the same. If not, they are pronounced:

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")
E - eh (Like the "e" in "bench")
I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")
O - oh (Like the "o" in "cone")
U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Vowels in Swahili always make the same sounds, even when combined with other vowels. There are no silent letters or diphthongs in Swahili, so vowels will always make the same sound, and it is important that you pronounce each vowel, even when one vowel follows another. For example, in the word "daawa" (lawsuit), you must say "dah-ah-wah", pronouncing both of the a's. Simply saying "dah-wah" (dawa) changes the meaning to "drug/medicine".

[edit] Consonants

The following consonants are pronounced the same as in English:

b 

like the "b" in "bay"

d 

like the "d" in "dog"

f 

like the "f" in "fun"

g 

like the "g" in "gut"

h 

like the "h" in "hen"

j 

like the "j" in "jam"

k 

like the "k" in "kit"

l 

like the "l" in "lump"

p 

like the "p" in "pot"

s 

like the "s" in "sun"

t 

like the "t" in "tip"

v 

like the "v" in "van"

w 

like the "w" in "win"

y 

like the "y" in "yellow"

z 

like the "z" in "zebra"

Other consonants

m 

like the "m" in "mop".

n 

like the "n" in "numb"

Although "m" and "n" are pronounced the same in Swahili as they are in English, unlike English, these letters can often be found at the beginning of words followed by other consonants, such as "t", "d", etc. Since Swahili has no silent letters, it is important to pronounce these letters. So for words like "Mchana" (afternoon) and "Ndugu" (sibling/relative), you needs to pronounce the "m" and "n" sounds along with the following consonant sounds.

r 

The "r" sound is not pronounced as it is in English. Actually, like the vowels, the "r" sound is the same as Spanish and Japanese; a soft "r" that sometimes sounds like a "d".

[edit] Consonant pairings

ch 

like the "ch" in "chat"

ng 

like the "ng" in "sing"

ny 

like the "ni" in "onion"

gh 

officially pronounced similiar to the "ch" in "loch", you can alternatively just pronounce it with a hard "g", like the "g" in "gut" (as mentioned above)

sh 

like the "sh" in "dash"

th 

like the "th" in "thank". It is never pronounced like the "th" in "those". That "th" is spelled "dh" in Swahili.

dh 

like the "th" in "the". It is important not to confuse "dh" with the Swahili "th" above.

[edit] Common diphthongs

There are no diphthongs in Swahili however, foreign names and loan words may contain them.

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Note that greetings is Swahili are very important, and long and drawn out - you can go back and forth several times, using not one but all of the greetings you know.

Hello. 

Hujambo (response: Sijambo)

Hello to an older person or authority figure. 

Shikamoo (she-ka-moe) (response: Marhaba)

Hello. (informal) 

Sasa / Mambo / Jambo (generally said only to tourists)

Response to informal hello 

Nzuri (fine), Safi (clean/in order), Poa (cool), Poa kichizi kama ndizi (cool like a crazy banana)

How are you? 

Habari (ha-ba-ree)

How are you today? 

Habari za leo?

How are you this morning? 

Habari za asubuhi

How are you this afternoon? 

Habari za mchana

How are you this evening? 

Habari za jioni

How was your journey / trip / safari? 

Habari za safari

How have you been today? 

Umeshindaje leo?

Fine, thank you. 

Nzuri, asante

What is your name? 

Jina lako nani?

My name is ______ . 

Jina langu ni ______

Where are you from? 

Unatokea wapi?

I am from _______. 

Ninatokea _______(your country)

Please. 

Tafadhali

Thank you (very much). 

Asante (sana)

You're welcome. 

Karibu.

Yes. 

Ndiyo

No. 

Hapana

I don't need. (Polite way of saying you don't want to buy anything) 

Sihitaji

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Samahani

I'm sorry (in the sense of "pardon me"; used for minor transgressions). 

Samahani

I'm sorry (in the sense of "please forgive me for wronging you"; used for major transgressions) 

Nasikitika.

Goodbye 

Kwa heri.

Good night. 

Usiku mwema

Sleep well. 

Lala Salama

Did you sleep well? 

Umelalaje?

Umeamkaje (lit.: did you wake up well?)

See you later. 

Tutuonana

Later. 

Baadaye

See you tomorrow. 

Tutuonana kesho

My Swahili is terrible 

Kiswahili changu ni kibaya sana.

I can't speak Kiswahili. 

Siwezi kusema Kiswahili

I only speak a little Kiswahili. 

Ninaongea Kiswahili kidogo tu

Do you speak English? 

Wazungumza Kiingereza?

Bathroom 

Maliwato.

Toilet 

Choo

Help! 

Msaada!

Where is the _______? 

Iko wapi _____(e.g. bathroom, police station...)

[edit] Problem(s)

Leave me alone. 

Don't touch me! 

I'll call the police. 

Police! 

Help! 

Msaada!

Stop! Thief! 

I need your help. 

It's an emergency. 

I'm lost. 

I lost my bag. 

I lost my wallet. 

I'm sick. 

Mimi ni mgonjwa.

I've been injured. 

I need a doctor. 

Can I use your phone? 

[edit] Numbers

One. 

Moja

Two. 

Mbili

Three. 

Tatu

Four. 

Nne

Five. 

Tano

Six. 

Sita

Seven. 

Saba

Eight. 

Nane

Nine. 

Tisa

Ten. 

Kumi

Twenty. 

Ishirini

Thirty. 

Thelathini

Forty. 

Arobaini

Fifty. 

Hamsini

Sixty. 

Sitini

Seventy. 

Sabini

Eighty. 

Themanini

Ninety. 

Tisini

One Hundred. 

Mia moja

One Thousand. 

Elfu moja

[edit] Time

now 

Sasa

later 

before 

Kabla ya

after 

Baada ya

morning 

Asubuhi

afternoon 

Mchana

evening 

Jioni

night 

Usiku

[edit] Clock time

What time is it? 

Saa ngapi?

one o'clock AM 

two o'clock AM 

noon 

one o'clock PM 

two o'clock PM 

midnight 

[edit] Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ hour(s) 

_____ day(s) 

_____ week(s) 

_____ month(s) 

_____ year(s) 

[edit] Days

Monday 

Jumatatu

Tuesday 

Jumanne

Wednesday 

Jumatano

Thursday 

Alhamisi

Friday 

Ijumaa

Saturday 

Jumamoshi

Sunday 

Jumapili

[edit] Months

Month 

mwezi

January 

Januari

February 

Februari

March 

Machi

April 

Aprili

May 

Mei

June 

Juni

July 

Julai

August 

Agosti

September 

Septemba

October 

Oktoba

November 

Novemba

December 

Desemba

[edit] Seasons

Season 

majira

Spring 

majira ya machipuko

Summer 

kiangazi

Rainy season 

Autumn 

majira ya majani kupukukika

Winter 

majira ya baridi

[edit] Writing time and date

[edit] Colors

black 

-eusi

blue 

-a kibuluu

brown 

-a rangi ya kahawia

colours 

rangi

gray 

-a rangi ya kijivu

green 

-a rangi ya kijani

orange 

-a rangi ya machungwa

pink 

-a waridi

purple 

-a rangi ya urujuani

red 

-ekundu

white 

-eupe

yellow 

-a kimanjano

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus and train

Minibus (Kenya, Uganda) 

Matatu

Minibus (Tanzania) 

Daladala

Passenger 

Abiria

How much is a ticket to _____?

One ticket to _____, please. 

Where does this train/bus go? 

Where is the train/bus to _____? 

Does this train/bus stop in _____? 

When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 

When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 

[edit] Directions

How do I get to _____ ? 

...the train station? 

...the bus station? 

...the airport? 

...downtown? 

...the youth hostel? 

...the _____ hotel? 

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

Where are there a lot of... 

...hotels? 

...restaurants? 

...bars? 

...sites to see? 

Can you show me on the map? 

street 

Turn left. 

Turn right. 

left 

right 

straight ahead 

towards the _____ 

past the _____ 

before the _____ 

Watch for the _____. 

intersection 

north 

south 

east 

west 

uphill 

downhill 

[edit] Taxi

Taxi! 

Take me to _____, please. 

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

Take me there, please. 

[edit] Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

Does the room come with... 

...bedsheets? 

...a bathroom? 

...a telephone? 

...a TV? 

May I see the room first? 

Do you have anything quieter? 

...bigger? 

...cleaner? 

...cheaper? 

OK, I'll take it. 

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

Can you suggest another hotel? 

Do you have a safe? (...)

...lockers? 

Is breakfast/supper included? 

What time is breakfast/supper? 

)

Please clean my room. 

Can you wake me at _____? 

I want to check out. 

[edit] Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

Do you accept British pounds? 

Do you accept credit cards? 

Can you change money for me? 

Where can I get money changed? 

Can you change a traveler's check for me? 

Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 

What is the exchange rate? 

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 

[edit] Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

Can I look at the menu, please? 

Can I look in the kitchen? 

Is there a house specialty? 

Is there a local specialty? 

I'm a vegetarian. 

I don't eat pork. 

I don't eat beef. 

I only eat kosher food. 

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

fixed-price meal 

a la carte 

breakfast 

lunch 

Food  

Chakula

tea (meal) 

supper 

I want _____. 

I want a dish containing _____. 

Banana  

Ndizi

Goat  

Mbuzi

chicken 

beef 

fish 

ham 

sausage 

cheese 

eggs 

salad 

(fresh) vegetables 

(fresh) fruit 

bread 

toast 

noodles 

rice 

beans 

May I have a glass of _____? 

May I have a cup of _____? 

May I have a bottle of _____? 

coffee 

tea (drink) 

juice 

(bubbly) water 

water 

Maji

beer 

red/white wine 

May I have some _____? 

salt 

black pepper 

butter 

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

I'm finished. 

It was delicious. 

Please clear the plates. 

The check, please. 

[edit] Bars

Do you serve alcohol? 

Is there table service? 

A beer/two beers, please. 

A glass of red/white wine, please. 

A pint, please. 

A bottle, please. 

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. 

whiskey 

vodka 

rum 

water 

club soda 

tonic water 

orange juice 

Coke (soda) 

Do you have any bar snacks? 

One more, please. 

Another round, please. 

When is closing time? 

Cheers! 

[edit] Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

How much is this? 

That's too expensive. 

Would you take _____? 

expensive 

cheap 

I can't afford it. 

I don't want it. 

You're cheating me. 

I'm not interested. 

OK, I'll take it. 

Can I have a bag? 

Do you ship (overseas)? 

I need... 

...toothpaste. 

...a toothbrush. 

...tampons. 

...soap. 

...shampoo. 

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

...cold medicine. 

...stomach medicine. 

...a razor. 

...an umbrella. 

...sunblock lotion. 

...a postcard. 

...postage stamps. 

...batteries. 

...writing paper. 

...a pen. 

...English-language books. 

...English-language magazines. 

...an English-language newspaper. 

...an English-English dictionary. 

[edit] Driving

I want to rent a car. 

Can I get insurance? 

stop (on a street sign) 

one way 

yield 

no parking 

speed limit 

gas (petrol) station 

petrol 

diesel 

[edit] Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

It was a misunderstanding. 

Where are you taking me? 

Am I under arrest? 

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. 

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

Can I just pay a fine now? 

[edit] Country and territory names

United States 

Marekani

Canada 

Kanada

Mexico 

Meksiko

Brazil 

Brazil

United Kingdom 

Uingereza

Ireland 

Eire, Ayalandi

Russia 

Urusi

France 

Ufaransa

Germany 

Udachi, Ujerumani

Italy 

Italia

Kenya 

Kenya

Tanzania 

Tanzania

Zanzibar (Tanzanian Island) 

Unguja

Uganda 

Uganda

Democratic Republic of the Congo 

Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo

South Africa 

Afrika Kusini

Nigeria 

Nijeria

Ethiopia 

Uhabeshi

China 

Uchina

Japan 

Japani

Singapore 

Singapuri

South Korea 

Korea Kusini

India 

Uhundi

Israel 

Uyahudi

Australia 

Australia

New Zealand 

Nyuzilandi

[edit] On safari

Cheetah  

Duma

Elephant 

Tembo

Giraffe  

Twiga

Hippo  

Kiboko

Lion  

Simba

Ostrich  

Mbuni

Snake  

Nyoka

Zebra  

Punda Milia

[edit] Learn more

• Swahili Methods for Beginner Students
• Language and Culture