Swahili Words and Phrases
(Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda)
General Expressions
English | Swahili |
Hello | Jambo |
How are you? | Habari? |
Fine, good | Mzuri |
Good bye | Kwaheri |
Mister/Sir/Husband | Bwana |
Madam/Wife | Bibi |
Yes | Ndio |
No | Hapana |
Please | Tafadhali |
Thank you | Asante |
Thank you very much | Asante Sana |
Today | Leo |
Tomorrow | Kesho |
Yesterday | Jana |
Toilet | Choo |
Left | Kushoto |
Right | Kulia |
I want | Nataka |
I would like | Ningetaka |
How Much? | Pesa ngapi? |
How many? | Ngapi |
Where is? | Iko wapi? |
When? | Lini? |
To eat | Kula |
Food | Chakula |
Water | Maji |
Coffee | Kahawa |
Tea | Chai |
Milk | Maziwa |
Beer | Pombe |
Bread | Mkate |
Butter | Siagi |
Sugar | Sukari |
Salt | Chumvi |
Hot/Fire | Moto |
Cold | Baridi |
Ice | Barafu |
Forgive me | Samahani |
Sleep well | Lala Salama |
Long Life! (Cheers) | Maisha marefu! |
Slowly | Pole Pole |
Fast | Haraka |
Quickly | Upesi |
Ngoja | Wait |
Shop | Duka |
Guest | Mgeni |
To sleep | Kulala |
Numbers
One | Moja |
Two | Mbili |
Three | Tatu |
Four | Nne |
Five | Tano |
Six | Sita |
Seven | Saba |
Eight | Nane |
Nine | Tisa |
Ten | Kumi |
Eleven | Kumi na moja |
Twenty | Ishirini |
Thirty | Thelathini |
Forty | Arobaini |
Fifty | Hamsini |
Sixty | Sitini |
Seventy | Sabini |
Eighty | Themanini |
Ninety | Tisini |
Hundred | Mia |
Thousand | Elf |
Animals – Wanyama
Aadvark | Muhanga |
Roan Antelope | Korongo |
Sable Antelope | Palahala |
Baboon | Nyani |
Buffalo | Nyati |
Bushbaby | Komba |
Bushbuck | Pongo |
Pig | Nguruwe |
Caracal | Simba Mangu |
Cheetah | Duma |
Chimpanzee | Sokwe mtu |
Civet | Fungo |
Dik Dik | Dikidiki |
Eland | Pofu |
Elephant | Ndovu/Tembo |
Fox | Mbweha |
Gazelle | Swara |
Genet | Kanu |
Giraffe | Twiga |
Gorilla | Makaku |
Hare | Sungura |
Hartebeest | Kongoni |
Hedgehog | Kalunguyeye |
Hippo | Kiboko |
Honey badger | Nyegere |
Hyena | Fisi |
Hyrax | Pimbi |
Jackal | Mbweha |
Klipspringer | Mbuzimawe |
Kudu | Tandala Mdogo |
Leopard | Chui |
Lion | Simba |
Mongoose | Nguchiro |
Leopard | Chui |
Monkey | Tumbili |
Oryx | Choroa |
Otter | Fisi maji |
Pangolin | Kakakuona |
Porcupine | Nunguri |
Rhino | Kifaru |
Topi | Nyamera |
Warthog | Ngiri |
Waterbuck | Kuro |
Wild dog | Mbwa mwitu |
Wildebeest | Nyumbu |
Zebra | Pundamilia |