Swahili also known as Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by approximately 100,000,000 native speakers in Burundi, Comoros, DRCongo, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda.
It is an official language in Kenya and Tanzania.
If you're just starting to learn Swahili, I've put together common Swahili words with English translations to help you easily master the language.
GREETINGS IN SWAHILI/KISWAHILI
| ENGLISH | KISWAHILI |
|---|---|
| Good evening | Habari ya jioni? |
| Good morning | Habari ya asubuhi? |
| Good afternoon | Habari ya mchana? |
| How are you? | Unaendeleaje? |
| How are you today? | Unaendeleaje leo? |
| I am fine. | Niko salama |
| Have a good day. | Uwe na siku njema |
| I am doing great. | Ninaendelea vizuri |
| Hi/Hello.? | habari/hujambo? |
| Nice to meet you. | Nimefurahi kuonana na wewe |
| See you soon. | Tuonane hivi karibuni |
| See you later. | Tuonane baadaye |
LOVE WORDS IN SWAHILI/KISWAHILI
| ENGLISH | KISWAHILI |
|---|---|
| I love you. | Nakupenda |
| I miss you. | Ninakukosa |
| Love you so much | Nakupenda sana |
| I want to see you. | Nataka kukuona |
| I love you with all my heart. | Ninakupenda kwa dhati |
| I love you too | Nakupenda pia |
| I like you. | Nakupenda |
| You are beautiful. | Wewe ni mrembo |
| My love. | Mpenzi wangu |
| You look beautiful. | Unapendeza |
| My beautiful wife. | Mke wangu mrembo |
| I miss you so much, darling. | Nimekukosa mpenzi wangu |
| I need you. | Nakuhitaji |
| You will miss me. | Utanikosa |
| Goodbye, my love. | Kwaheri mpenzi wangu |
| See you tomorrow. | Tutaonana kesho |
| I will marry you. | Nitakuoa |
| I want some space. | Nipe muda |
| I need your love. | Nahitaji upendo wako |
| You are mine. | Wewe ni wangu |
DIRECTIONS IN SWAHILI/KISWAHILI
| ENGLISH | KISWAHILI |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | Uko wapi? |
| Where did you go? | Ulienda wapi? |
| Where do you live? | Unaishi wapi? |
| Where are you going? | Unaenda wapi? |
| Where were you? | Ulikuwa wapi? |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN A CONVERSATION IN SWAHILI/KISWAHILI
| ENGLISH | KISWAHILI |
|---|---|
| How much? | Shingapi? |
| How are you feeling? | Unahisi vipi? |
| How have you been? | Umekuwaje? |
| What is your name? | Jina lako nani? |
| What are you doing? | Unafanya nini? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Unapika nini/unakula nini? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Uko salama mpendwa? |
| When are you coming? | Unakuja lini? |
| How was your night? | Usiku wako ulikuwaje? |
| How are you doing? | Unaendeleaje? |
| How is your family? | Familia yako inaendeleaje? |
| How was your day? | Siku yako ilikuwaje? |
| What is wrong? | Nini mbaya? |
| What do you mean? | Unamaanisha nini? |
| How's the weather over there? | Hali ya anga ikoje hapo? |
| Have you gone to church? | Umeenda kanisani? |
| What is this? | Hii nini? |
| What's going on? | Nini kinaendelea? |
| Are you listening? | Unasikiliza? |
| Have you heard? | Umesikia? |
| Can I go home? | Naweza kwenda nyumbani? |
| Can I ask something? | Naweza kuuliza kitu? |
| How is everything? | Mambo yakoje? |
| What’s your phone number? | Nambari yako ya simu ni ipi? |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATIONS IN SWAHILI/KISWAHILI
| ENGLISH | KISWAHILI |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday | Heri ya kuzaliwa |
| Thank you. | Asante |
| I am sorry. | Samahani |
| You are welcome. | Unakaribishwa |
| Me too! | Mimi pia |
| God bless you. | Mungu akubariki |
| May God protect you | Mungu akulinde |
| Please help me. | Tafadhali nisaidie |
| She is happy. | Amefurahi |
| I don't know. | Sijui |
| I will come tomorrow. | Nitakuja kesho |
| Come here! | Njoo hapa |
| Feel at home. | Jisikie nyumbani |
| Be blessed. | Ubarikiwe |
| I am coming soon | Nakuja hivi karibuni |
| Leave me alone. | Niache |
| It is okay. | Ni sawa |
| I am going home. | Naenda nyumbani |
| I don't want. | Sitaki |
| Love is a beautiful thing. | Upendo ni kitu kizuri |
| Let me try. | Acha nijaribu |
| Welcome home. | Karibu nyumbani |
| I reached home safely. | Nilifika nyumbani salama |
| God is good. | Mungu ni mwema |
| I don't understand. | Sielewi |
| We are happy to see you. | Tumefurahi kukuona |
| I have it. | Ninayo |
| Rest in peace. | Pumzika kwa amani |
| I don't have money. | Sina pesa |
| I am done. | Nimemaliza |
| I am going to the shop. | Naenda dukani |
| Happy new year. | Heri ya mwaka mpya |
| Bad manners. | Tabia mbaya |
| Stop using your phone. | Acha kutumia simu yako |
| I need a favour, please. | Tafadhali nahitaji msaada |
| Haven’t seen you for ages. | Sijakuona kwa muda mrefu |
| Great to see you again. | Nimefurahi kukuona tena |
| I really appreciate it. | Nashukuru sana |
| You made my day | Umeifanya siku yangu |
| No problem | Hakuna tatizo |
| We're hiring. | Tunaajiri |
Don't give up! Developing proficiency in a language requires regular effort, but it doesn't necessarily have to be challenging. A key tip is to learn at least five Swahili words every day from the Swahili dictionary to improve your skills.
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