Habari! Hello! / How are you?

Hujambo? How are you?

Sijambo. I’m fine.

Habari za asubuhi? Good morning! / How is your morning?

Habari za mchana? Good afternoon!

Habari za jioni? Good evening!

Usiku mwema. Good night.

Kwaheri. Goodbye.

Tutaonana baadaye. See you later.

Karibu. Welcome.

2. Politeness

Swahili English

Tafadhali. Please.

Asante. Thank you.

Asante sana. Thank you very much.

Karibu. You’re welcome.

Samahani. Sorry / Excuse me.

Pole. Sorry / I’m sorry for what happened.

Hakuna shida. No problem.

Tafadhali nisamehe. Please forgive me.

Nashukuru. I am grateful.

Asante kwa msaada wako. Thank you for your help.

3. Introducing Yourself

Swahili English

Jina langu ni Ali. My name is Ali.

Unaitwa nani? What is your name?

Mimi ni mwanafunzi. I am a student.

Ninatoka Syria. I am from Syria.

Unatoka wapi? Where are you from?

Ninaishi Kuwait. I live in Kuwait.

Unaishi wapi? Where do you live?

Nina miaka kumi na tano. I am fifteen years old.

Una miaka mingapi? How old are you?

Nimefurahi kukutana nawe. Nice to meet you.

4. Questions

Swahili English

Hii ni nini? What is this?

Yeye ni nani? Who is he/she?

Iko wapi? Where is it?

Lini? When?

Kwa nini? Why?

Vipi? How?

Ni kiasi gani? How much?

Hii inamaanisha nini? What does this mean?

Unaweza kunisaidia? Can you help me?

Unaweza kurudia? Can you repeat?

5. Yes / No / Agreement

Swahili English

Ndiyo. Yes.

Hapana. No.

Sawa. Okay.

Bila shaka. Of course.

Ni kweli. That’s true.

Uko sahihi. You are right.

Nakubaliana nawe. I agree with you.

Sikubaliani nawe. I disagree with you.

Labda. Maybe.

Sijui. I don’t know.

6. Everyday Conversation

Swahili English

Unafanya nini? What are you doing?

Ninafanya kazi. I’m working.

Ninasoma. I’m studying / reading.

Subiri kidogo. Wait a little.

Njoo hapa. Come here.

Twende. Let’s go.

Rudi hapa. Come back here.

Usijali. Don’t worry.

Kila kitu kiko sawa. Everything is fine.

Nitarudi hivi karibuni. I’ll be back soon.

7. Feelings

Swahili English

Nina furaha. I’m happy.

Nina huzuni. I’m sad.

Nimechoka. I’m tired.

Nina wasiwasi. I’m worried.

Nina hasira. I’m angry.

Ninaogopa. I’m afraid.

Nimefurahi sana. I’m very happy / excited.

Nimechoshwa. I’m bored.

Nimechanganyikiwa. I’m confused.

Najisikia vizuri. I feel good.

8. Likes & Dislikes

Swahili English

Ninapenda. I like it.

Sipendi. I don’t like it.

Ninapenda sana. I like it very much.

Ninachukia. I hate it.

Ninapenda muziki. I like music.

Ninapenda kujifunza lugha. I like learning languages.

Unapenda nini? What do you like?

Sipendi hilo. I don’t like that.

Napendelea hii. I prefer this.

Napenda kusoma. I like reading / studying.

9. Family & People

Swahili English

Huyu ni kaka yangu. This is my brother.

Huyu ni dada yangu. This is my sister.

Mama yangu yuko nyumbani. My mother is at home.

Baba yangu anafanya kazi. My father is working.

Nina ndugu wawili. I have two siblings.

Una ndugu? Do you have siblings?

Yeye ni rafiki yangu. He/She is my friend.

Huyu ni rafiki yangu. This is my friend.

Huyu ni nani? Who is this?

Wao ni marafiki zangu. They are my friends.

10. School

Swahili English

Ninaenda shuleni. I’m going to school.

Niko darasani. I’m in class.

Nina somo la Kiswahili. I have a Swahili lesson.

Kitabu changu kiko wapi? Where is my book?

Ninahitaji penseli. I need a pencil.

Fungua kitabu. Open the book.

Funga kitabu. Close the book.

Soma hii. Read this.

Andika jibu. Write the answer.

Sielewi. I don’t understand.

11. Food & Drink

Swahili English

Nina njaa. I’m hungry.

Nina kiu. I’m thirsty.

Nataka maji. I want water.

Nataka kula. I want to eat.

Unataka kula nini? What do you want to eat?

Ni tamu. It’s delicious / sweet.

Chakula ni kizuri. The food is good.

Nataka kahawa. I want coffee.

Chakula kiko tayari. The food is ready.

Kuna chakula gani? What food is there?

12. Shopping

Swahili English

Hii ni bei gani? How much is this?

Ni ghali sana. It’s very expensive.

Ni rahisi. It’s cheap.

Nataka kununua hii. I want to buy this.

Una hii kwa rangi nyingine? Do you have this in another color?

Naangalia tu. I’m just looking.

Naweza kulipa kwa kadi? Can I pay by card?

Nataka mfuko. I want a bag.

Una saizi kubwa zaidi? Do you have a larger size?

Sitaki hii. I don’t want this.

13. Directions & Travel

Swahili English

Uwanja wa ndege uko wapi? Where is the airport?

Kituo kiko wapi? Where is the station?

Geuka kulia. Turn right.

Geuka kushoto. Turn left.

Endelea moja kwa moja. Go straight.

Iko karibu. It’s nearby.

Iko mbali. It’s far away.

Nimepotea. I’m lost.

Ninahitaji teksi. I need a taxi.

Ninafikaje huko? How do I get there?

14. Time

Swahili English

Saa ngapi? What time is it?

Ni saa moja. It’s one o’clock.

Ni saa mbili. It’s two o’clock.

Sasa. Now.

Leo. Today.

Kesho. Tomorrow.

Jana. Yesterday.

Asubuhi hii. This morning.

Usiku huu. Tonight.

Baadaye. Later.

15. Weather

Swahili English

Hali ya hewa ikoje? What’s the weather like?

Kuna joto. It’s hot.

Kuna baridi. It’s cold.

Mvua inanyesha. It’s raining.

Theluji inanyesha. It’s snowing.

Kuna upepo. It’s windy.

Kuna jua. It’s sunny.

Anga lina mawingu. It’s cloudy.

Hali ya hewa ni nzuri. The weather is good.

Hali ya hewa ni mbaya. The weather is bad.

16. Phone & Internet

Swahili English

Nipigie simu. Call me.

Nitume ujumbe. Send me a message.

Nitakupigia baadaye. I’ll call you later.

Una Wi-Fi? Do you have Wi-Fi?

Nenosiri ni nini? What is the password?

Sina muunganisho. I don’t have a connection.

Simu yangu haina chaji. My phone has no charge.

Intaneti haifanyi kazi. The internet isn’t working.

Nitume kiungo. Send me the link.

Unaweza kunitumia picha? Can you send me a picture?

17. Problems & Emergencies

Swahili English

Msaada! Help!

Ninahitaji msaada. I need help.

Piga polisi! Call the police!

Piga ambulensi! Call an ambulance!

Kuna tatizo. There is a problem.

Haifanyi kazi. It doesn’t work.

Nimepoteza simu yangu. I lost my phone.

Nimepoteza pesa zangu. I lost my money.

Uko salama? Are you okay?

Usijali. Don’t worry.

18. Common Conversational Expressions

Swahili English

Kweli? Really?

Ni vizuri! That’s good!

Pole sana. I’m very sorry.

Inavutia! That’s interesting!

Kabisa. Exactly / Absolutely.

Labda. Maybe.

Bila shaka. Of course.

Hakika. Certainly / Indeed.

Naelewa. I understand.

Sawa basi. Alright then.

Inategemea. It depends.

Haijalishi. It doesn’t matter.

Usijali kuhusu hilo. Don’t worry about that.

Bahati njema! Good luck!

Hongera! Congratulations!

19. Useful Sentence Patterns

Swahili English

Nataka + verb. I want to + verb.

Nataka kujifunza Kiswahili. I want to learn Swahili.

Ninahitaji + noun. I need + noun.

Ninahitaji msaada. I need help.

Nita + verb. I will + verb.

Nitasoma kesho. I will study tomorrow.

Lazima + verb. I must / have to + verb.

Lazima niende. I have to go.

Naweza + verb. I can + verb.

Naweza kukusaidia. I can help you.

Siwezi + verb. I cannot + verb.

Ningependa + verb. I would like to + verb.

Nina + noun. I have + noun.

Nina muda. I have time.

Hakuna + noun. There is no + noun.

20. Short Natural Dialogue

Swahili English

—Habari! Hujambo? —Hello! How are you?

—Sijambo, asante. Na wewe? —I’m fine, thank you. And you?

—Mimi ni mzima. Unafanya nini? —I’m fine. What are you doing?

—Ninasoma Kiswahili. —I’m studying Swahili.

—Unaipenda Kiswahili? —Do you like Swahili?

—Ndiyo, ninapenda sana. —Yes, I like it very much.

—Unajifunza kila siku? —Do you study every day?

—Ndiyo, ninajaribu kufanya mazoezi kila siku. —Yes, I try to practice every day.

—Bahati njema katika masomo yako! —Good luck with your studies!

—Asante! Kwaheri. —Thank you! Goodbye.