We highly recommend learning a few basic Swahili phrases before you go. Conversing with the people you meet in their language goes a long way toward bridging the cultural gap.
Hello jambo, hujambo, salama
How are you? habari gani
Fine (response) nzuri
Goodbye kwa heri, kwa herini (more than one person)
See you later tutaonana
Nice to meet you nafurahi kukuona
Goodnight lala salama
OK Sawa
Yes ndiyo
No hapana
Thank you asante
Thank you very much asante sana
Please tafadhali
Excuse me samahani
You’re welcome Karibu
Can you help me? tafadhali, naomba msaada
What is your name? jina lako nani?
My name is jina langu ni
May I take a picture? naomba kupiga picha
Dates
Today leo
Tomorrow kesho
Yesterday jana
Now sasa
Later baadaye
Monday Jumatatu
Tuesday Jumanne
Wednesday Jumatano
Thursday Alhami
Friday Ljumaa
Saturday Jumamosi
Sunday Jumapili
Numbers
1 moja
2 mbili
3 tatu
4 nne
5 tano
6 sita
7 saba
8 nane
9 tisa
10 kumi
Hot/cold ya moto/baridi
Water maji
Hot water maji ya moto
Drinking water maji ya kunywa
Soda soda
Beer bia
Milk maziwa
Meat nyama
Chicken nyama kuku
Fish sumaki
Beef nyama ng’ombe
Fruit matunda
Vegetables mboga
Animal wanyama
Buffalo nyati/mbogo
Cheetah duma/ chita
Elephant tembo/ndovuh
Giraffe twiga
Hippo kiboko
Hyena fisi
Leopard chui
Lion simba
Rhino kifaru
Warthog ngiri
Wildebeest nyumbu
Zebra punda milia
