Basic Swahili

In case anyone would like to learn a bit of Swahili, here’s some important words/phrases. Note that the pronunciation is basically like Spanish or Japanese, with the accent on the second-to-last syllable:

“choo”: “bathroom”
“choo kiko wapi?”: “where is the bathroom?”

“asante”: “thank you”
“pole”: “sorry”
“karibu”: “welcome”
“tafadali”: “please”

“habari za asubuhi”: “good morning” (literally: “what’s your news of this morning?”)
“habari za mchana”: “good afternoon” (literally: “what’s your news of this afternoon?”)
“habari za jioni”: “good evening” (literally: “what’s your news of this evening?”)
“habari yako”: “how are you?” (literally: “what’s your news?”)
“habari”: “how are you?” (literally: “what’s your news?”)
“habari za ____”: some kind of greeting (literally: “what’s your news of ___?”)

“nzuri”: “good” (used as a response to “habari za ____”)
“safi”: “hella good” (used as a response to “habari za ____”)
“salama”: “peaceful” (used as a response to “habari za ____”)

“shikamoo”: “hello” (respectful, said to old people and people in authority/your boss)
“marahaba”: “hello” (response to “shikamoo”)

“hujambo”: “hello” (said by old people/people in authority/said to children)
“sijambo”: “hello” (response to “hujambo”)

“hello”: “hello” (used only on the phone)

“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kiingereza?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know English?”
“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kijapan?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know Japanese?”
“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kispania?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know Spanish?”
“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kijermani?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know German?”
“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kichina?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know Chinese?”
“Pole, sijui Kiswahili. Unajua Kifransia?”: “Sorry, I don’t know Swahili. Do you know French?”