Swahili, also known as Kiswahili, is a Bantu language and the first language of the Swahili people. It’s a lingua franca of the African Great Lakes region and other parts of East and Southern Africa, including Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Learning Swahili can significantly enhance your experience in these regions, allowing for deeper cultural connections and understanding. This lesson covers essential conversational phrases and questions in Swahili, designed to facilitate various social interactions.

Greetings

• Hello/Hi – “Habari” / “Jambo” (more common among tourists)
• Good morning – “Habari ya asubuhi”
• Good afternoon – “Habari ya mchana”
• Good evening – “Habari ya jioni”
• Goodbye – “Kwaheri”

Introducing Yourself or Others

• My name is [name]. – “Jina langu ni [name].”
• This is [name]. – “Huyu ni [name].”
• I am from [country]. – “Ninatoka [country].”
• I live in [city/place]. – “Naishi [city/place].”

Asking for Directions or People

• Where is the [place]? – “[Place] iko wapi?”
• How do I get to [place]? – “Nawezaje kufika [place]?”
• Is this the way to [place]? – “Je, hii ndiyo njia ya kwenda [place]?”
• Can you show me on the map? – “Unaweza kunionyesha kwenye ramani?”

Solving a Misunderstanding

• Sorry, I don’t understand. – “Samahani, sielewi.”
• Can you please repeat that? – “Tafadhali, unaweza kurudia?”
• I mean… – “Nina maana…”
• What does [word] mean? – “[Word] ina maana gani?”

Farewell Expressions

• See you later – “Tutaonana baadaye”
• Take care – “Kuwa salama”
• Have a good day – “Uwe na siku njema”

Travel and Dining

• I would like to book a room. – “Ningependa kuhifadhi chumba.”
• Can I see the menu, please? – “Naweza kuona menyu tafadhali?”
• I am vegetarian. – “Mimi ni mboga.”
• The bill, please. – “Naomba bili.”

Shopping

• How much does this cost? – “Hii inagharimu kiasi gani?”
• Do you have this in another size? – “Unayo hii kwa saizi nyingine?”
• I’m just looking, thanks. – “Ninatazama tu, asante.”
• Can I pay by card? – “Naweza kulipa kwa kadi?”

Dating and Love

• You look beautiful. (to a woman) / You look handsome. (to a man) – “Unaonekana mzuri.” / “Unaonekana mtanashati.”
• I miss you. – “Ninakukosa.”
• I love you. – “Ninakupenda.”
• Would you like to go out with me? – “Ungependa kutoka na mimi?”

Emergencies

• Help! – “Msaada!”
• Call the police! – “Ita polisi!”
• I need a doctor. – “Nahitaji daktari.”
• Where is the nearest hospital? – “Hospitali ya karibu iko wapi?”

These phrases offer a solid foundation for basic communication in Swahili. Practice speaking and listening regularly, engage with Swahili media, and don’t hesitate to converse with native speakers. Remember, language learning is a journey—embrace mistakes as learning opportunities and continue to explore the rich linguistic and cultural nuances of the Swahili language.